South Africa

Download logo

The Portfolio Committee on Basic Education today received a detailed progress report on infrastructure in terms of the Accelerated School Infrastructure Delivery Initiative (ASIDI) and the Sanitation Appropriate For Education Iniative (SAFE).

The committee heard that ASIDI focuses on providing appropriate school buildings for schools that previously were made of entirely inappropriate materials, appropriate water supply to schools with no water, appropriate sanitation at schools with no toilets and appropriate electricity supply to schools with no electricity supply. SAFE on the other hand focusses on appropriate sanitation at schools dependent on basic pit toilets.

The Department of Basic Education (DBE) informed the committee that it is estimated that in 1996 there were about 1,000 schools made entirely of inappropriate materials. In 2011, there were initially 510 schools on the ASIDI programme. This number decreased to 332 and of the 332 schools made entirely of inappropriate materials, 330 were replaced. Replacement of the two remaining  schools is scheduled for completion in the 2023/24 financial year.

According to the DBE, in 2006 a total of 8 823 schools were recorded with no water supply. In 2011, there were initially 1 117 schools on the ASIDI programme and this number increased to 1 306. The committee heard that of the 1 306 water supply projects, 1 292 were completed and the remaining 14 water supply projects are scheduled for completion in the 2023/24 financial year.

Regarding electricity supply, the committee heard that it was recorded that 15 263 schools were with no electricity supply. In 2011, there were initially 902 schools on the ASIDI programme. This number decreased to 373 and all of the 373 electricity supply projects had been completed.

The committee further heard that in 2006 a total of 3 265 schools were recorded with no toilets. In 2011, there were initially 701 schools on the ASIDI programme. This number increased to 1 087 and all of them have been replaced.

According to the Schools Register of Needs (SRN) in 2006, it was recorded that 9 600 schools depended on basic pit toilets. In 2018, there were initially 3 898 schools on the SAFE programme. This number decreased to 3 395 and of this,  2 728 have been completed. The remaining 667 sanitation projects are scheduled for completion in the 2023/24 financial year.

Committee Chairperson, Ms Bongiwe Mbinqo-Gigaba, said the committee noted and welcomes the improvements regarding maintenance in schools. The committee further appreciated the close monitoring by DBE regarding implementation.

Ms Mbinqo-Gigaba said: “We note that this has taken much longer than many of us would have wanted. We are, however, cognisant of the financial restictions in addressing all these issues at once, finances that the DBE does not have at its disposal due to other challenges in the country. We will continue to monitor the progress with both projects.”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of South Africa: The Parliament.

GoGlobal (https://GoGlobalgeo.com/), a leading Employer of Record (EOR) is expanding its global footprint with the launch of on-the-ground offices in 18 African countries. The strategic move allows GoGlobal to offer comprehensive local coverage in one-third of the African continent, positioning the company as a key player in supporting multinational companies (MNCs) expanding into Africa.

Nick Broughton (https://apo-opa.info/3WEUgO2), Partner at GoGlobal, says, “Africa has undergone a remarkable transformation, evolving from a future prospect to a region teeming with immediate opportunities. With its youthful, talented and highly educated workforce, Africa is a dynamic hub of business potential.”

For companies looking to expand globally in industries such as technology, agribusiness, NGOs, financial services, construction and engineering, Africa is emerging as a land of boundless opportunities. With a growing population, a pool of talented professionals, a promising economy, robust infrastructure development and investor-friendly policies, Africa is quickly becoming top of mind for MNCs worldwide.

Africa's strategic positioning as a hub for international business presents a multitude of benefits, particularly for companies from China, Asia Pacific, Europe, the Middle East and North America. As part of its expansion, GoGlobal is providing end-to-end recruitment solutions, enabling MNCs to build exceptional teams in Africa and secure the right talent for their needs. By tapping into Africa's vast talent pool, MNCs benefit from a dynamic workforce, gaining access to localized insights and cost-effective operations.

“Partnering with an EOR is a way for companies to accelerate their growth strategy in Africa,” says Ashwin Tirvassen (https://apo-opa.info/3IHD6tx), Africa Regional Director, GoGlobal. “Strategic companies are choosing to partner with GoGlobal to navigate cross-border human resources, which can be complex.”

GoGlobal has in-country experts in Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Mali, Malawi, Mauritius, Morocco, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Tunisia, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Broughton adds, “Our deep knowledge of each country's unique cultural customs, language and regulatory environment enables us to provide tailored and personalized solutions to MNCs, empowering them to expand quickly, cost-effectively and compliantly.”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of GoGlobal.

Media Enquiries:
Bonnie Elgie
Associate Director, Content and Communications
GoGlobal
Bonnie.elgie@goglobalgeo.com

About GoGlobal:
GoGlobal (https://GoGlobalgeo.com/) is a people-first international HR and Employer of Record (EOR) service provider, with a globally distributed, naturally diverse remote workforce. GoGlobal's technology-enabled EOR solution allows companies of all sizes to hire people anywhere in the world without the need to set up a local entity, opening new doors to rapid expansion and growth. With a presence in over 120 countries on six continents and growing, GoGlobal helps clients recruit, hire, manage, and pay exceptional talent – quickly, cost-effectively, and compliantly.

The African Banker Awards 2023 Gala Ceremony, the most prestigious event in the African banking calendar, took place last night at the Rixos Hotel in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt on the sidelines of the African Development Bank Annual Meetings. The ceremony was attended by over 300 of the continent's leading bankers, regulators, and policymakers.

Now in its 17^th edition, the African Banker Awards celebrate the achievements of individuals and institutions that have contributed significantly to the growth and development of Africa's banking sector over the past year. 

Highlights from the ceremony:

Esther Kariuki becomes the second woman to win African Banker of the Year Award

Perhaps one of the most coveted prizes of the evening, the African Banker of the Year prize was awarded to Esther Kariuki, Head of Agriculture Business at the Co-op Bank of Kenya. Ms Kariuki has been a central figure in advancing agriculture as a key asset class for her institution. Not only a leader and role model, she was also responsible for considerably increasing lending to the agriculture sector and oversaw the roll-out of the platform Co-op Bank Soko, a digital marketplace that connects the agriculture value chain and ensures, among other things, that small-holder farmers receive a higher price for their produce. 

Afreximbank scores a brace at African Banker Awards 2023

The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) won two prestigious awards in Sharm El Sheikh, in recognition of its growing leadership within Africa's financial services sector. The Cairo-based institution was celebrated as both African Bank of the Year and Development Financial Institution of the Year, making it the sole institution to win more than one award during this year's ceremony.

Mauritius' Harvesh Seegolam wins Central Bank Governor of the Year

The youngest ever serving governor of Mauritius Central Bank, Harvesh Kumar Seegolam, took the Central Bank Governor of the Year Award. Appointed at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Governor Seegolam leveraged Mauritius Investment Corporation (MIC) to provide critical financial support to key sectors of the economy by investing in private sector operators. Its latest returns report demonstrated that the investments made through the MIC have increased in value, despite the challenging economic conditions faced.

South African banks swept many of the Deal of the Year categories. South Africa's Enoch Godongwana won the Minister of Finance of the Year Award. He was recognised for his steadfast management of the economy as finance minister as well as the work he has done to encourage investment to accelerate the energy transition.

The African continent has the highest percentage of women entrepreneurs in the world. Letshego Nigeria took the inaugural AFAWA Bank of the Year Award, a category spotlighting financial institutions empowering female entrepreneurs across the continent. The Affirmative Finance Action for Women in Africa (AFAWA) is a pan-African initiative to bridge the $42 billion financing gap facing women in Africa.

The African Banker Icon was won by veteran dealmaker Miguel Azevedo, head of investment banking for sub-saharan Africa excluding South Africa at Citi. The lifetime achievement award went to another veteran banker, Hisham Ezz Al-Arab, former Managing Director and current Non-executive Chairman of CIB Bank, Egypt's largest private sector bank.

“This year's award ceremony is a testament not only to the vibrancy and dynamism of Africa's banking industry but also its increasing diversity,” said Omar Ben Yedder, Committee Chairman and Group Publisher at IC Publications, publishers of African Banker. “The financial services industry continues to demonstrate excellence, innovation and impact in their respective markets and regions. 

FinTech, Climate Finance, Cross-Border payments are all being shaped by the leaders we are recognising today.”

The ceremony is organised by African Banker magazine with the African Development Bank as its High Patron. This year's AfDB Meetings focused on mobilising private sector finance towards green growth. The 2023 edition was sponsored by the African Guarantee Fund, the Trade and Development Bank (TDB) and Tanzania's CRDB Bank.

Full list of winners:

Banker of the Year

Ms Esther Kariuki, Co-operative Bank of Kenya

Bank of the Year

Afreximbank

African Banker Icon

Miguel Azevedo, Citi

Lifetime Achievement

Mr. Hisham Ezz Al-Arab, Commercial International Bank

Central Bank Governor of the Year

Harvesh Seegolam, Bank of Mauritius

Minister of Finance of the Year

Hon. Enoch Godongwana, South Africa

Sustainable Bank of the Year

Nedbank, South Africa

DFI of the Year

Afreximbank

Fintech of the Year

MFS Africa

SME Bank of the Year

La Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations - CDC

Deal of the Year – Debt

Harmony Gold Company syndicated multi-tranche, multi-currency, loan facility of US$400m and R4bn – Absa & Nedbank

Deal of the Year – Equity

US$298m Infinity Energy equity investment and Lekela Power acquisition – Africa Finance Corporation

Deal of the Year – Agriculture

US$78m funding facility for the Southern Oil Structured Commodity Finance Transaction – Absa

Deal of the Year – Infrastructure

US$900m debt funding facility for Scatec Solar PV plus Battery Storage Project – Standard Bank

Regional Bank of the Year – North

Bank of Africa

Regional Bank of the Year – Southern

Zambia National Commercial Bank (Zanaco)

Regional Bank of the Year – East

CRDB Bank

Regional Bank of the Year – Central

Trust Merchant Bank

Regional Bank of the Year – West

Vista Bank

AFAWA Bank of the Year Award

Letshego, Nigeria

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Banker.

Media Contact:
awards@icpublications.com

African Banker:
African Banker is a quarterly magazine dedicated to banking and finance in Africa. It taps into the growing demand for information about Africa's banking and financial world, a sector that is consolidating rapidly and reshaping the economy of the continent. The magazine is published by IC Publications which also publishes African Business and New African.

Download logo

As Africa celebrates Africa Day on May 25, 350Africa.org (https://www.350.Org) has unveiled the findings of research that reflects on the barriers of renewable energy and climate change policies in parts of West Africa. Among leading obstacles to the adoption of renewable energy identified in the region are lack of awareness, limited technical competence and know-how, limited investment, inadequate financial mechanisms to facilitate and promote investment in renewable energy, lack of tax incentives, lack of local manufacturing and assembly plants, insufficient policy and regulatory frameworks.

The research focused on the state of renewable energy in Benin, Togo, Ghana and Nigeria highlighting potential areas of intervention to support the adoption of renewable energy and foster a just transition to renewable energy on the continent. The report identified the need for strong and steady promotion of renewable energy in the targeted countries, by raising awareness of its benefits and opportunities, removal of financial barriers, implementation of enabling policies, encouraging innovation and research, as well as upskilling of workers.

The report was launched as Civil Society Organizations and grassroots groups under the Afrika Vuka (https://AfrikaVuka.org/) network held actions across the continent to highlight the role of renewable energy as a solution to the region's energy and climate crises. They underscored the need to address the barriers to the build out of community-centered renewable energy systems and the phasing out of fossil fuels, to avert worsening climate impacts, for a continent that already suffers disproportionately from these impacts.

Landry Ninteretse, Regional Director, 350Africa.org said,

“While our continent is sadly on the frontlines of the climate crisis that we have done little to cause, we are fortunate to have access to some of the solutions. Africa's wealth of renewable energy potential presents a great opportunity for the continent to not only address her own energy needs, but also potentially lead the global energy transition. What is required are concerted efforts by governments and other stakeholders to address the barriers to renewable energy - starting with finance and policy- by creating an enabling regulatory environment for its adoption, accelerating the shift away from polluting fossil fuels, while investing consistently in powering up community-centered renewable energy solutions that are absolutely critical to ensuring that we avert catastrophic climate impacts and secure a liveable future for us all.”

Michael Terungwa, Climate activist and Founder - Global Initiative for Food Security and Ecosystem (GIFSEP), Nigeria said,

“We need safe, reliable and sustainable energy systems to drive our economies. Continued dependence on polluting fossil fuels is not an option for us, as it has resulted in a climate crisis that is devastating communities. Just last year, Nigeria suffered flooding that led to the loss of hundreds of lives and displacement of an estimated 1.5 million others. We are counting on the political will of our new leadership to pave the way for the much needed just transition in Nigeria by being intentional in implementing relevant policies that create a conducive environment for the adoption of renewable energy. “

Portia Adu Mensah, National Coordinator - 350 Ghana Reducing Our Carbon(350GROC) said,

“Ghana needs an ambitious and concrete plan for renewable energy as we shoot for at least 30% renewable energy in the country's energy mix by the year 2030. We not only need to break free from fossil fuels, but also ensure that small-scale, off grid community friendly renewable energy is accessible to all. The involvement of communities in this is crucial, to ensure that plans factor in their views and interests as well as safeguard the well-being of the environment.”

Raïssa Oureya from the Renewable Energy Coalition said,

“The recently launched Renewable Energy Coalition (REC) of grassroots groups in Benin and Togo is geared at advocating for the adoption of renewable energy in these two countries that have great potential in renewable energy, but still rely heavily on energy imports. It's critical to maintain the push for a sustainable energy future built on renewables to enhance energy security and address the climate crisis. Beyond the launch of this research, we are holding various actions to raise awareness on the role of renewable energy in enhancing sustainable development in hopes that this will spur a much needed clean energy transition”

Ferron Pedro, South Africa Senior campaigner, 350Africa.org said,

"South Africa's energy crisis is a stark reminder of the dangers of reliance on fossil fuels. A just energy future built on socially owned renewable energy is possible and necessary to ensure access to affordable, safe energy for all while creating millions of green jobs. We call for transparency and meaningful public participation in the implementation of just energy transition programmes to ensure that the needs and interests of workers, communities and marginalized groups are placed centrally in the development of local, job-creating renewable energy industries”.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of 350.org.

Notes to Editors:
More information about the renewable energy research is available here (https://apo-opa.info/3onGQJT)
Photos and videos from the Africa day actions will be made available here (https://apo-opa.info/3OEQ7b6)

Media contacts:
Christine Mbithi
Regional Communications Manager 
350Africa.org
christine.mbithi@350.org

Mamadou Lamine
Africa Digi/comms Specialist
350Africa.org
mamadou.thiam@350.org

Download logo

Deputy President Paul Mashatile will on Thursday, 25 May 2023 respond to Oral Questions in the National Assembly. This is in line with a constitutional mandate for members of Cabinet to account to Parliament for the exercise of their powers and performance.

The questions asked to the Deputy President relate to progress on the land reform programme, stabilising coalition governments, and his role as the President's envoy on South Sudan, among others.

The Deputy President is expected to reassure Parliament of Government's commitment to the land reform process to ensure economic growth and inclusion while guaranteeing food security. 

On the question of stabilising coalition governments, the Deputy President will remind members of the framework for coalitions that has been drafted by the South African Local Government Association to guide political parties on structuring their coalitions for improved service delivery.

The Deputy President had also committed to the National Council of Provinces that he would convene a dialogue to deliberate on a consensus on how to better manage coalition governments so that they are responsive to the needs of communities.

In his capacity as the Special Envoy on South Sudan, Deputy President Mashatile will outline South Africa's plans to assist parties to the Transitional Government of National Unity in South Sudan with the implementation of the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of Conflict in South Sudan.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The Presidency: Republic of South Africa.

Download logo

The global economy faces a perfect storm of stubborn inflation, high interest rates in key economies, trade wars, supply chain difficulties and fallout from the Ukraine crisis which has heightened geopolitical risks. This is having a big impact on emerging and developing market economies, including African economies in the form of fuelling price rises, constrained trade volumes, reduced access to capital markets and food supply problems. African economies as a whole will slightly outperform the global economy this year, with most enjoying higher levels of growth than in 2022.

Published by African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) the Africa's 2023 Growth Prospects: Securing growth resilience in a ‘polycrisis' world report highlights the various factors that are currently plaguing the global economy: stubbornly high inflation, U.S. and Chinese trade and tech wars,  geopolitical tensions and supply chain problems. Following a strong economic recovery from the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, global growth of 3.4% in 2022 was far lower than the IMF forecast of 4.9%, in part reflecting the extremely difficult global economic environment and a dramatic shift towards price stability in the inflation and growth trade-off.

Efforts by key global central banks to rein in inflation must take priority but this is having a negative effect on Africa, with higher external debt servicing costs and a collapse in African sovereign debt issuance. Only three African nations, Angola, Nigeria and South Africa, successfully accessed capital markets in 2022, collectively raising US$6bn, down from the nine that raised almost US$20bn in 2021.

Inflation is proving difficult to tame, while the opening up of the Chinese economy from Covid lockdown measures could further fuel global inflation by releasing pent-up domestic demand. However, “heightened geopolitical tensions, besides preventing opportunities for international cooperation on global issues such as security, climate change and trade, have raised the risk of fragmentation”, the report says.

The Afreximbank report forecasts 4.1% GDP growth for Africa this year, above the global average, with growth shared around the continent, although power shortages and other infrastructural shortcomings will see South African growth slow. The continent has the potential to accelerate its economic prospects, including via increasing infrastructural investment; ongoing structural transformation; improving the macroeconomic environment; digitalisation; and the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA).

Dr Hippolyte Fofack, Afreximbank chief economist and director of research and international cooperation, commented: “Inflation, which hit multi-decade highs and is raising the spectre of stagflation, is likely to emerge as the dominant macroeconomic story, eclipsing the short-lived globalisation of growth resilience post-pandemic...In the immediate term, restraining inflation in the most affected leading economies without provoking a hard landing or a full-blown financial crisis remains the most urgent challenge and risk to both global and African growth.”

The Afreximbank Africa's 2023 Growth Prospects: Securing growth resilience in a ‘polycrisis' world is available at here: https://apo-opa.info/43q8YdQ

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Afreximbank.

Media Contact:
Amadou Labba Sall, 
asall@afreximbank.com

Social Media:
Follow us on:
Twitter: https://apo-opa.info/41qI9VY
Facebook: https://apo-opa.info/3MGRNQi
LinkedIn: https://apo-opa.info/3KBxMYQ
Instagram: https://apo-opa.info/3UA1jH1

About Afreximbank:
African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) is a Pan-African multilateral financial institution mandated to finance and promote intra-and extra-African trade. For 30 years, the Bank has been deploying innovative structures to deliver financing solutions that support the transformation of the structure of Africa's trade, accelerating industrialization and intra-regional trade, thereby boosting economic expansion in Africa. A stalwart supporter of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), Afreximbank has launched a Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) that was adopted by the African Union (AU) as the payment and settlement platform to underpin the implementation of the AfCFTA. Working with the AfCFTA Secretariat and the AU, the Bank is setting up a US$10 billion Adjustment Fund to support countries to effectively participate in the AfCFTA. At the end of 2022, Afreximbank's total assets and guarantees stood at over US$31 billion, and its shareholder funds amounted to US$5.2 billion. The Bank disbursed more than US$86 billion between 2016 and 2022. Afreximbank has investment grade ratings assigned by GCR (international scale) (A), Moody's (Baa1), Japan Credit Rating Agency (JCR) (A-) and Fitch (BBB). Afreximbank has evolved into a group entity comprising the Bank, its impact fund subsidiary called the Fund for Export Development Africa (FEDA), and its insurance management subsidiary, AfrexInsure, (together, “the Group”).   

Download logo

Ahead of the Tourism Budget Vote tomorrow, the Deputy Minister of Tourism, Fish Mahlalela, visited the Agulhas National Park to assess progress on the Department's infrastructure development programme at the Lighthouse Precinct in the Park.

“Cape Agulhas is such a unique place as the official meeting point of the Indian and Atlantic Oceans as well as the most southernmost tip of Africa.  Through product enhancements at the Agulhas National Park, the Department of Tourism aims to boost tourism numbers to the Overberg area,” said the Deputy Minister.

Tourism is one of the main economic drivers and a significant generator of jobs and revenue. To give expression to its mandate, the Department has been at the forefront of the commissioning and construction of destination enhancement tourism facilities through its Working for Tourism which is an Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) to promote economic empowerment, employment opportunities and the transfer of skills to members of the community.

In 2016, the Department signed an agreement with South African National Parks (SANParks) for tourism enhancements at the Agulhas National Park which focussed on the construction of the iconic Map of Africa monument, construction of 1 km road, rehabilitation of the terrain and the re-alignment of the boardwalk. This R14 million project, which was Phase 1, was completed in 2018.

“The second phase namely the Lighthouse Precinct Project, commenced in 2017. It includes a 60-seater ocean view restaurant, a reception area, an interpretive centre, a curio shop, vendor stalls, paving and walkways and a conference facility. This project is set to be completed by early 2024,” said the Deputy Minister.

The Department provided a budget of R54,740,000 for Phase 2 with SANParks being the implementing agent. To date, the project is 43% completed and has employed 88 local people of which 62 were women and 52 youth.

“The Department of Tourism is excited to partner with SANParks on this tourism enhancement project as both Phase I and II serve as a springboard for further tourism developments and job creation in the Overberg region,” concluded Deputy Minister Mahlalela.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Department of Tourism, Republic of South Africa.

Download logo

President Cyril Ramaphosa has today, 23 May 2023, arrived in the Kingdom of Lesotho on a Working Visit for the launch of Phase 2 of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project.

His Majesty King Letsie III, President Ramaphosa and Lesotho's Prime Minister, Samuel Ntsokoane Matekane, will jointly launch this project at the Polihali Dam.

The launch will commence with a sod-turning ceremony and will be followed by formal programme.

The launch is a critical step on the journey to greater water and energy security for South Africans and Basotho, and is a demonstration of the strong relations between the two countries.

It is also a demonstration of the human capital and technology that is shared and deployed jointly as neighbours, in the interest of improving the lives of citizens and economic development in both nations.

South Africa and the Kingdom of Lesotho share a close historic relationship whose substance today entails strengthened economic cooperation between our two countries.

The Working Visit aims to reinforce this relationship in which South Africa and Lesotho are pursuing the common interests of developing the region, creating employment and advancing innovation and technology. 

The Lesotho Highlands Water Project is a partnership between South Africa and Lesotho dating back to a treaty agreed upon by the two governments to supply water to the Vaal River System, which ensures water security for Gauteng, the Free State, the Northern Cape and the North West. 

The binational infrastructure project involves the construction of a network of tunnels and the dams to transfer water from the Orange-Senqu River in the Lesotho Highlands to South Africa, and to use the water delivery system to provide hydro-electric power to the Kingdom of Lesotho.

Phase 1 of the project was completed 20 years ago, in 2003.

The water transfer component of Phase 2 comprises a 165-metre high concrete-faced rock fill dam at Polihali, downstream of the confluence of the Khubelu and Senqu (Orange) Rivers.

This development will also feature a 38-kilometre, concrete-lined gravity tunnel connecting the Polihali reservoir to the Katse reservoir. 

A number of meetings of Ministers and Senior Officials  took place  in Maseru on Monday, 22 May 2023, to prepare for the launch and to deliberate on water and energy cooperation.

These activities are also a precursor to the hosting in Pretoria of the inaugural session of the South Africa-Lesotho Binational Commission. A date for the inaugural session is being firmed up through diplomatic channels.

President Ramaphosa is accompanied by Minister of Water and Sanitation, Mr Senzo Mchunu; Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy, Mr Gwede Mantashe; Minister of Electricity, Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa; and Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Mr Alvin Botes.

The launch will commence  from 13h00 at the Polihali Dam in Malingoaneng.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The Presidency: Republic of South Africa.

Download logo

Water and Sanitation Minister, Mr Senzo Mchunu, has noted, with great concern, the outbreak of Cholera in Hammanskraal and conveys his condolences to families who have lost their loved ones due to the outbreak and wishes a speedy recovery to those who have tested positive and are currently receiving treatment in various medical facilities.

The Hammanskraal community under the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality has been experiencing unreliable and poor-quality potable water supply for an extended period, despite the upgrade of the Temba Water Treatment Plant, to a capacity of 120 megalitres a day (ML/d).

The poor water quality is caused by the failure of the Rooiwal Wastewater Treatment Works to meet the desirable final effluent quality for discharge to the Apies River, which in turn, flows into the Leeukraal Dam. The Wastewater Treatment Works is situated upstream of Hammanskraal and has affected the Leeukraal Dam, where the Temba Water Treatment Works abstracts water for treatment and distribution to residents as potable drinking water.

This has over the years, led to the Department of Water and Sanitation instituting a series of enforcement actions (directives) and compliance requirements against the City, for the City to address the pollution from the Rooiwal Wastewater Treatment Works into the Apies River and Leeukraal Dam. After the City failed to respond to the Department's directives, a legal process was instituted against the City by the Department, with the aim of obtaining a court order to force the City to address the failure of the Rooiwal Wastewater Treatment Works. This legal process is currently underway and to date, the City has opposed the legal action. 

The Department had also directed the City to stop supplying water from the Temba Water Treatment plant to residents of Hammanskraal for human consumption. The City is currently providing potable water to affected communities that were initially supplied by the Temba Water Treatment Plant, through deployment of water tankers.

In 2021 the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) produced a report: “Gauteng Provincial Inquiry into the Sewage Pollution of the City of Tshwane's Rivers and the Roodeplaat Dam”, which recommended, amongst others, that the National Government should take over the water and sanitation function of the City in terms of section 139 (7) of the Constitution, section 63 of the Water Services Act, 1997, and section 19 of the National Water Act ,1998.

The SAHRC recommendations were rejected by the City. The Department engaged with National Treasury for funding for the intervention recommended by the SAHRC, but National Treasury indicated that the City had already been provided with funding for the rehabilitation and upgrading of the Rooiwal Wastewater Treatment Works, through its Urban Settlements Development Grant (USDG) allocations. Consequently, the Department is pursuing legal action against the City for a court order to force the City to use its USDG allocations to rehabilitate and upgrade the Rooiwal Wastewater Treatment Works.

In response to the current Cholera outbreak, the Department has extended the scope of the prior existing technical team of experts in water services and regulations to work on an integrated model to address the current outbreak. The technical team from the Department will work directly with the national and provincial Departments of Health and the City of Tshwane, to assist with matters such as water quality investigations from source, taps, stationary tanks in some households and identifying the causes of the disease outbreak.

The technical team will further extend the intensive assessment of the various water supply systems from Magalies and Rand Water Boards to confirm the current drinking quality standards. The Department has recently, confirmed that the dual water systems supplied by Magalies and Rand Water meet the drinking water quality standards, as per the South African National Standards (SANS) 241.

Further, the Department has been continuously carrying out water quality tests at the Temba Water Treatment Works and at water distribution points in Hammanskraal; the latest tests indicate that the drinking water quality from the Temba Water Treatment work does not meet minimum drinking water quality. The water quality challenges are therefore, in central Hammanskraal, from water supplied by the City.

As immediate action, the Minister has deployed the Deputy Ministers, David Mahlobo and Judith Tshabalala and senior managers of the Department to work with the Gauteng MEC for Health to ensure that work is being carried out effectively.

The Minister will be meeting with the Mayor of Tshwane, Cllr Cilliers Brink before 26 May 2023, with the aim of agreeing on the action plan with timeframes, which the technical team would have developed over and above the current intervention support. Amongst others, the action plan will address how the City of Tshwane will rehabilitate and upgrade the Rooiwal Wastewater Treatment Works to the required production of drinking water quality standards. A joint task team between the Department and the City will then be re-affirmed to oversee the works with continuous reporting to the Minister.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Department of Water and Sanitation, Republic of South Africa.

Download logo

Deadline of 23 May 2023 is fast approaching, and members of the public are left with five (5) days to submit comments on the draft regulations on access and use of government waterworks (state dams) and surrounding state-owned land for recreational purposes.

The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) published a notice for comments draft regulations on Government Gazette Notice No. 48294 on 24 March 2023, opening a 60-day window for interested parties and individuals to submit written comments on the access and use of the government water works for various recreational purposes including commercial activities such as fishing, organised sporting, tourism, accommodation and other events.

The department owns numerous government waterworks (state dams), and according to Section 113 of the National Water Act, 1998 (Act No. 36 of 1998), the water and surrounding state-owned land of state dams may be made available for recreational purposes.

Subsequent to the public comments on the draft regulation, the department will conduct extensive public consultations in all nine provinces across the country with the purpose of soliciting inputs from various stakeholders and members of the public with interests in accessing and using these departmental facilities and infrastructures for recreational purposes.

Details on physical provincial consultations will be communicated in due course.

The main objectives of the draft regulations, amongst others, include:

• To address the need to apply precautionary approaches to recreational water use of state dams;
• To meet the need to utilise recreational water use of state dams to achieve economic growth, human resource development, capacity building, employment creation and sound ecological balance consistent with the development objectives of national government;
• To meet the need to protect the biodiversity of aquatic and associated ecosystems and to minimise pollution of these water resources;
• To meet the need to achieve, to the extent practicable, broad and accountable participation in the decision-making process in resource management planning;
• To meet the need to ensure compatibility of recreational water use with other water uses;
• To meet the need to ensure the safety of recreational water users; and
• To minimise the associated risks of the Department.

Interested individuals have 60 days to submit written comments, from the day of publishing, which is 24 March 2023 in the Government Gazette. Comments can be submitted to muira@dws.gov.za(link sends e-mail), malulekej2@dws.gov.za(link sends e-mail) and nhlabathis@dws.gov.za(link sends e-mail) by 23 May 2023. For more information on the draft regulations and the public consultations, please contact Dr Jabulani Maluleke on 066 300 5533 or Steven Nhlabathi on 083 609 1434.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic Of South Africa: Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment.

Download logo

President Cyril Ramaphosa chaired a meeting of the National Anti-Corruption Advisory Council at Tuynhuys today, Thursday, 18 May 2023, as part of sustaining Government's response to the recommendations of the Judicial Commission (“Zondo Commission”) of Inquiry into Allegations of State Capture, Corruption and Fraud in the Public Sector Including Organs of State.

President Ramaphosa appointed the Council in August 2022 as a multi-sectoral partnership for advocacy and action against fraud and corruption.

The Council augments the work done by law enforcement agencies and plays an independent role in terms of combating corruption and other criminal activities. The Council has been established to deepen the country's efforts to rid society and the administration of corruption, improve investor confidence and secure higher levels of public trust.

Opening today's meeting, President Ramaphosa said the fight against corruption was among the foremost and most urgent tasks at this moment in the country's history.

The President said: “We have seen the effects of corruption across society. The State Capture Commission provided detailed and deeply disturbing insight into how corruption erodes the capability of the state and undermines the foundation of our democratic order.

“But we know that corruption in various guises existed before what is now known as the era of state capture and has continued afterwards.

“The fight against corruption is not simply about preventing and prosecuting criminal acts. It is also about fixing the institutional culture, processes and practices that enable unethical behaviour.”

The Council reported to the President on the creation of thematic workstreams to induce, and advise Government on, an all-of-society response to the prevention and prosecution of corruption.

Workstreams are dedicated to developing advice to the President and Government on areas such as the design of a new anti-corruption institutional architecture for the country, as recommended by the Constitutional Court and the Zondo Commission.

The Council has also reached out to civil society, academia and anti-corruption institutions outside South Africa as part of its focus on the creation of a conducive environment for whistleblowers, safeguarding public procurement against corruption, monitoring of the implementation of the National Anti-Corruption Strategy, and the identification of gaps in legislation that seeks to eradicate corruption.

The Council is due to propose legislative reforms spanning the current Public Procurement Bill, the Protected Disclosures Act and the Political Party Funding Act, to enrich the country's prevention of corruption and action against crimes involving corruption.

The Council has begun to coalesce around the insight that the building of a corruption-free society demands a shift from the current focus on individual acts of criminality to one on combating combating systemic corruption.

President Ramaphosa welcomed the Council's update on its deliberations and stakeholder outreach, as well as its preparations for a national dialogue that can form the basis of a national consensus on and commitment to a corruption-free South Africa.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The Presidency: Republic of South Africa.