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SIU authorised to investigate the O.R Tambo District Municipality

Location: News

SIU authorised to investigate the O.R Tambo District Municipality

President Cyril Ramaphosa has signed Proclamation 172 of 2024, authorising the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) to investigate allegations of serious maladministration in the O.R. Tambo District Municipality in the Eastern Cape province.

This is to recover any financial losses suffered by the State or the municipality.

Proclamation 172 of 2024 authorises the SIU to probe the procurement of five water supply structures. 

The SIU will investigate allegations of serious maladministration for the following contracts:

•              The construction of the Signal Hill Reservoir, and the appointment of Amatola Water Board in 2019 and an alleged irregular payment made to Amatola in 2020.

•              The construction of the Manduli Bulk Water Scheme and the appointment of Ginasonke Engineers and an alleged irregular payment made to Ginasonke in 2019.

•              The construction of the Mganduli Bulk Water Scheme and the appointment of Khwalo's Construction and an alleged irregular payment made to Khwalo in 2019.

•              The supply and installation of a pump at Mhlontlo Cluster 1 and the appointment of Valotone 94 CC and Phoenix Tanks (Pty) Ltd in 2019 and an alleged irregular payment made to the service providers in 2019.

•              The electrification of the Mthatha Dam and Highbury, and the construction of the Thornbill Clear Water Pump Station, and the alleged irregularities regarding payment of Amatola for these projects in 2018 and 2019.

The SIU will also investigate any unauthorised, irregular, fruitless or wasteful expenditure incurred by the department or the State. 

The scope of the investigation also covers any unlawful or improper conduct by department officials or employees, the applicable suppliers or service providers, or any other person or entity which has caused or may cause serious harm to the interests of the public

Furthermore, the investigation will also establish whether there was any unlawful appropriation or expenditure of public money.

The proclamation covers allegations of unlawful and improper conduct that took place between 1 January 2018 and 16 August 2024, the date of the publication of the Proclamation or before 1 January 2018 and after the date of the Proclamation that are relevant to, connected with and incidental to the matters or involve the same persons, entities or contracts investigated. 

In addition to investigating maladministration, malpractice, corruption and fraud, the SIU will identify system failures and make systematic recommendations to improve measures to prevent future losses.

In line with the Special Investigating Units and Special Tribunals Act 74 of 1996 (SIU Act), the SIU will refer any evidence pointing to criminal conduct it uncovers during its investigations to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) for further action.

The SIU is empowered by the SIU Act to institute civil action in the High Court or a Special Tribunal in its name to correct any wrongdoing uncovered during its investigation caused by acts of corruption, fraud, or maladministration. – SAnews.gov.za

Edwin
Tue, 08/20/2024 - 14:47

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Read moreSIU authorised to investigate the O.R Tambo District Municipality

Tributes continue for Prof Muxe Nkondo

Location: News

Tributes continue for Prof Muxe Nkondo

Science, Technology and Innovation Minister, Prof Blade Nzimande, has expressed his shock and great sadness at the news of the passing away of Professor Muxe Nkondo. 

Nkondo, who passed away at the age of 83 on Sunday, has been described as a friend, colleague, and fellow intellectual in the struggle against apartheid and the development of the democratic order in the post-1994 period. 

“Prof Nkondo has a special place in the history of both the struggles leading up to the fall of apartheid and the emergence of a democratic order in the early 1990s. 

“I remember him as a radical scholar, organic intellectual, activist, and a leading figure amongst the first generation of Vice-Chancellors who led our higher education system through its difficult first decades of transformation,” the Minister’s statement read. 

According to Nzimande, Nkondo placed great importance on the recognition of African liberation as a process of not only overcoming the legacies of political disempowerment but one of cultural, social, economic and intellectual emancipation.

“In other words, for him, attainment of formal, political rights must be matched by transformations in all other aspects of human life.” 

The Professor was said to be deeply influenced by radical post-independence and liberation thinkers such as Walter Rodney, Franz Fanon, Amilcar Cabral, CLR James and Steve Biko. 

“He framed the importance of cultural and intellectual freedom at the centre of his work – an orientation that perhaps explains his lifelong commitment to higher education and intellectual work which spanned a wide range of fronts, from higher education, arts and culture, public administration, rural development civil society and economic development.” 

The late academic occupied senior roles as Deputy Vice-Chancellor at the University of the North and Vice-Chancellor of Venda University. 

He was also a leading figure in the association of historically Black universities and campaigned relentlessly for recognition of their distinctive role and place within the higher education landscape, and redress and equity.

At the University of Venda, according to the department, Nkondo pioneered a vision emphasising the rural development mission of the university, rooted in its social context. 

He also promoted a science, technology and innovation agenda of the university that tackled pressing development issues such as water security, food production, sanitation, small business development and cultural production, working closely with local communities.

Indigenous Knowledge Systems

The Professor also served as Chairperson of the technical team and reference group that drafted the Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) National Policy for the Department of Science and Technology (DSI).

“It is hard to pigeon-hole the intellectual contribution of Prof Nkondo as he was truly a polymath, whose contributions spanned a stunning range of areas including science and technology, higher education, arts and culture, public administration, human settlements, tourism, and rural development.” 

According to the Minister, he was not only an African intellectual focusing on the local and national questions of development in South Africa but was also, par excellence, a pan-African intellectual who worked actively across the continent to advance a new African agenda for the African Union (AU) and New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD). 

He was among 500 African scholars invited by the AU in 2004 to Dakar, Senegal, to speak on the role of intellectuals in Africa’s development.  

“The Department of Science and Innovation will surely miss his seminal contributions to our understanding of the role of science and technology in the emancipation of South Africa’s most marginalised communities.” 

Nzimande stated that his contributions to IKS continue to resonate in the DSI’s White Paper on Science and Innovation and Decadal Plan. 

READ | President Ramaphosa mourns passing of Prof Muxe Nkondo

“I wish to join our President, Cyril Ramaphosa, in expressing my heartfelt condolences to the wife of Professor Nkondo, Professor Olga Nyondo and their children and extended family,” he added. – SAnews.gov.za

Gabisile
Tue, 08/20/2024 - 10:32

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Read moreTributes continue for Prof Muxe Nkondo

Emergency work on the fourth Riverlands dam

Location: News

Emergency work on the fourth Riverlands dam

The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) says the fourth dam - upstream of Riverlands in the Swartlands Local Municipality - has been cleared through a side channel spillway created to prevent a more catastrophic collapse of the dam wall.

The department said during an inspection on 12 August 2024, it was established that there is a progressing piping failure (on the downstream slope) at the highest section of the dam wall.

“The integrity of the dam was compromised and hence the possibility of failure was detected. 

"Subsequently, the decision was taken to empty the dam to protect the lives of the community members living downstream.

“The emptying of the dam through the spillway was planned to drain the dam during daytime (from 10am to 4pm), to ensure that the increased outflow from the dam would occur during day light, to enabled it to be managed more easily,” the department said in a statement.

The department said, should Dam 4 failed late in the evening or early morning hours while the public downstream was asleep, the consequences could have been far worse.

The department noted that the fourth dam emptied faster than anticipated, however, the public was precautionarily evacuated, hence no injuries and loss of life were reported.

“The members of the public, who were evacuated, have returned to their homes and the dam wall of Dam 4 has not failed. Very little additional damage was caused by the release of water from Dam 4.

“The damage to infrastructure was caused by the floods of the dam breaks of the previous three dams during the early hours of last week,” the department said.

The department reiterated its commitment to safeguard the lives of the public during emergency conditions, although this sometimes results in difficult decisions having to be taken, including the precautionary evacuation of people if deemed necessary,” the department said.

Investigation into dams failure extended

Meanwhile, Water and Sanitation Minister, Pemmy Majodina, has granted the departmental engineers an extra week to conduct diligent and adequate investigation into the reason behind the failure of three farm dams located in Riverlands.

This follows the failure of three farm dams located in Riverlands that breached, resulting in flooding that caused severe property and infrastructure damage to the affected area, leading to hundreds of people being provided with humanitarian assistance.

Majodina visited the area on 11 August 2024 to get a first-hand information of the disastrous occurrence and was briefed by the team of engineers dispatched by the department to normalise the situation in the area.

The Minister then instituted an investigation on the breach of the three dams and whether the owners of the dams have proper authorisation from the department.

A report was expected in seven days from the day of Majodina’s visit.

Whilst the team on the ground has been working around the clock to expedite the compilation of the report requested by the Minister, the department emphasised that it has to balance the investigation work with its intervention )to mitigate the risk of the failure of the fourth dam, which was at a risk of severe damage as well.

“The department mobilised the construction team currently working at Clanwilliam Dam project for additional capacity to lower the risk of failure of the fourth dam. Furthermore, the department assessed the likelihood of failure of other dams in the area due to persistent rains and a saturated catchment which could have led to other dams reaching their maximum storage capacity,” the department said.

The Department of Water and Sanitation is committed in conducting its regulatory function diligently and depending on the outcomes of the investigation, those responsible for the failure of the three dams will be held accountable. – SAnews.gov.za

GabiK
Mon, 08/19/2024 - 12:17

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Read moreEmergency work on the fourth Riverlands dam

SA journalists scoop two awards at SADC Media Awards

Location: News

SA journalists scoop two awards at SADC Media Awards

Government has congratulated the two South African journalists who won in two categories in this year’s Southern African Development Community (SADC) Media Awards.

Fikile Necter Marakalla was the second prize winner in the Photo Category with her pictures that were published in SA News and Diplomatic Informer.

Marakalla’s winning entry highlighted the strong fraternal, historical as well as social relations between South Africa and the United Republic of Tanzania during the State visit of her Excellency Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan.

Meanwhile, Tshimologo Benjamin Moshatama from Channel Africa Radio was the second prize winner in the Radio Category with his entry on the importance of shared water resources in the SADC regional integration and development as well as the contribution of the Kingdom of Lesotho in the management of shared water resources.

The SADC Media Awards present a unique opportunity for the SADC region’s journalists to be celebrated and recognised by their peers.

“The media plays a critical role in promoting regional integration in the region. We encourage more South African journalists to cover stories that promote regional integration,” Government Communications and Information System (GCIS) Acting Director-General Nomonde Mnukwa said on Monday.

Government has called on media practitioners in South Africa and the region to share their stories that focus on economic well-being, improvement of the standard of living and quality of life, freedom and social justice, peace and security for the people of Southern Africa.

“Media practitioners are encouraged to continually ensure that we popularise projects that are underway in the SADC region. Africa and the region must tell her own stories. It is important that we hear from a range of voices from our diverse nations. By telling our own stories, we will bridge divides between SADC nations,” GCIS said.

The SADC Media Awards are aimed at promoting excellence in the fields of Print Journalism, Radio Journalism, Television Journalism and Photojournalism.  

“The SADC Media Awards serve as a link for coordination and synchronization between formal structures of SADC member states and media. They further seek to bring and enhance partnership between media and government institutions. South Africa’s participation at SADC is guided by the SADC Treaty. The SADC Treaty guides all Member States within the regional bloc,” GCIS said.

The Treaty encourages the people of the region and their institutions to take initiatives to develop economic, social and cultural ties.

GCIS is responsible for the implementation of the SADC Media Awards on behalf of South Africa.

“GCIS would also like to acknowledge the excellent work done by the judges who make up South Africa’s chapter of the SADC Media Awards in our National Adjudication Committee (NAC).  

“These members are drawn from seasoned and experienced media professionals who give freely of their time and expertise to ensure that we can confidently submit entries of the highest standard to the regional competition,” the GCIS said. -SAnews.gov.za

nosihle
Mon, 08/19/2024 - 15:07

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Read moreSA journalists scoop two awards at SADC Media Awards

Let’s harness improved confidence to drive inclusive growth – President

Location: News

Let’s harness improved confidence to drive inclusive growth - President

President Cyril Ramaphosa says government remains committed to collaborating with business, labour unions, and other social partners to advance the structural reforms necessary for fostering inclusive economic growth and creating jobs.

The President said this in his weekly newsletter to the nation on Monday.

“We cannot rebuild our country unless all South Africans work together. We will continue to work with business, labour and other social partners to drive the structural reform process that will boost inclusive economic growth and jobs.

“There is indeed an air of optimism in our country. Let us harness this confidence and goodwill to increase the momentum of our shared efforts to build and strengthen our economy,” the President said.

President Ramaphosa highlighted that over the last few months, the country has seen a growing confidence among investors, business and citizens over the prospects of the economy.

The latest Business Confidence Index published by the South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SACCI) points to an increase in business confidence since the elections in May.

The President noted that this sentiment is evident in the Johannesburg Stock Exchange’s All-Share Price Index, which increased by about 8% from the end of May to the end of July 2024. 

“This is welcome news, particularly in light of the most recent employment figures released by Statistics South Africa, which show that unemployment remains extremely high at 33.5%.

“Business confidence is so important to our efforts to create jobs because it signals an improved business environment and encourages new investment. Greater investment in the economy enables faster growth and more job opportunities,” he said. 

For several years, the country has experienced low levels of business confidence, having been negatively affected by the prolonged electricity crisis, State capture, concerns about corruption, the decline of State-owned enterprises and the manner in which law enforcement agencies had been compromised.

President Ramaphosa further reflected that investors have also been concerned about obstacles to growth, such as delays in the release of broadband spectrum, inefficiencies in ports and rail operations, and regulations that have slowed down licensing processes. 

The President lauded the successful holding of the national and provincial elections in May and the formation of the Government of National Unity, both of which have had a positive effect on business confidence.

He said the progress that has been recorded in the reform process thus far has also contributed to the improved sentiment.

Rooting out corruption

To create a conducive environment, the President said government has shown its determination to tackle corruption.

Bodies like the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), Special Investigating Unit (SIU) and the Hawks have brought several high-profile cases to trial. The permanent establishment of the NPA’s Investigating Directorate has also given further impetus to the fight against corruption.

Crime is also being tackled. Across the country, the President said, initiatives such as Operation Shanela have upped the war on crime.

“We are clamping down on illicit mining operations. Criminal syndicates involved in cable theft and extortion at construction sites are being dealt with. 

“Through a concerted effort from all stakeholders, we have confronted the electricity crisis. We have now had more than 140 consecutive days without load shedding. There has been a huge increase in new power generation capacity. 

“Investors have seen the growth opportunities in the far-reaching energy reforms we are undertaking. Just last week, I signed into law the Electricity Regulation Amendment Act, which will enable the establishment of a competitive electricity market,” the President said.  

The progress made in electricity provision, he said, gives confidence that the country can overcome the problems on the freight rail lines and ports.

Transnet’s recovery plan is showing progress, with the private sector providing significant technical support and resources to Transnet Freight Rail and Port Terminals.

In Gauteng, the Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal, newly launched state-of-the-art passenger trains are now operating along refurbished and reopened rail corridors, offering commuters faster and more affordable transportation options. 

This development is expected to significantly reduce commuting times and costs for users.

Reforms and investment

Additionally, government has implemented changes to immigration regulations to attract skilled professionals, investment and tourists to South Africa. 

Approval processes for water use licences and energy projects have been expedited, and the release of broadband spectrum aims to unlock the full potential of the telecommunications sector.

These reforms are set to drive economic growth and enhance the country’s global competitiveness. 

The country is also making progress on infrastructure investment. According to Nedbank’s Capital Expenditure Project Listing, the value of fixed investment project announcements in the first half of this year rose to approximately R800 billion.

This was up sharply from just over R190 billion in 2023.

The public sector accounts for most of these projects in areas such as energy, transportation, health facility upgrades, roads and housing. 

“As government, we held a meeting with business leaders last week. Business expressed optimism about the recovery and growth of our economy. They committed themselves to a new era of partnership with government. We agreed on key actions we must now take to build on the progress that has already been made,” the President said. – SAnews.gov.za

DikelediM
Mon, 08/19/2024 - 11:08

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Read moreLet’s harness improved confidence to drive inclusive growth – President

Laager Tea4Kidz Rooibos puts a healthy local spin on 3 TikTok foodie trends

Location: MyPR

TikTok has grown into a worldwide sensation, becoming one of the most popular social media platforms in South Africa since its 2016 inception. Among the dance routines, TikTok challenges, and funny videos, lies a wealth of great recipe content and foodie trends for families. Some of the trends are relevant for local audiences while others …

Read moreLaager Tea4Kidz Rooibos puts a healthy local spin on 3 TikTok foodie trends

Sapphire Coast Tourism announces South Africa’s first-ever Splash Tri Dash set for Amanzimtoti Beach

Location: MyPR

Amanzimtoti on KZN’s Sapphire Coast is set to be a hive of activity on Sunday, 25 August 2024 as the country’s first-ever Splash Tri Dash, a super triathlon, gets underway at Amanzimtoti Main Beach with Olympic bronze medalist Henri Schoeman, and South African triathlete Bridget Theunissen set to compete. “We are delighted to be the …

Read moreSapphire Coast Tourism announces South Africa’s first-ever Splash Tri Dash set for Amanzimtoti Beach

Tackling the Troublesome Humming: Expert Insights on Dishwasher Noise Issues

Location: MyPR

Pretoria, South Africa – Homeowners rely on their dishwashers to make daily life easier, but when these appliances start making loud humming noises, it can be both alarming and frustrating. Appliance Repairs Centre, a leading appliance repair service with over 38 years of industry experience, is shedding light on this common issue and offering practical …

Read moreTackling the Troublesome Humming: Expert Insights on Dishwasher Noise Issues

Innovative Financing and Policy Support: Accelerating Renewable Energy Development in Africa (By Ana Hajduka)

Location: News
AOW: Investing in African Energy

By Ana Hajduka, founder and CEO of Africa GreenCo (www.AfricaGreenCo.com).

As Africa's energy sector deregulates, exciting opportunities open up for financial innovation to benefit consumers. Private-sector buyers and traders can mitigate default risk and provide certified green energy at lower cost, writes Ana Hajduka, founder and CEO of Africa GreenCo.

Africa's renewable energy potential is undeniable, but it remains largely untapped. The problem is that the financing landscape for renewable energy and other projects in Africa was previously reliant on state utilities as buyers.

The scale of projects that could be financed in a country were then limited by the fiscal capabilities of that country and the sovereign guarantees it could provide.

This traditional model of relying on countries to provide such guarantees has faced recent challenges, because of increasing debt burdens, and shifting economic priorities.

Opportunities have therefore emerged for innovative financial approaches that will ensure more guarantees can be acquired from other sources and that risk can be diversified across a portfolio of suppliers and customers.  This would see more projects achieving financial close, to ultimately provide more African people with clean energy.

There is also room to not only grow new renewable energy supply, but to create new renewable energy markets on the continent, where that supply can be sold.

As a consequence, the market is opening up to allow alternative buyers of new renewable energy, which can utilize existing regional competitive energy markets to diversify its risks – buyers such as GreenCo.

This is extremely relevant at the moment. Legislation like South Africa's Electricity Regulation Amendment Bill, is set to open up the electricity sector to new supply and trading models. This foreshadows the opening of a competitive spot market for electricity trade in South Africa – linking in the future the South African spot market with that of the Southern African Power Pool.

Namibia did something similar a couple of years ago, as did Zambia.

These regulatory market developments are important as they facilitate innovation and new private sector business models through which there can be a scale up of bankable offtake agreements for new supply. The problem in the region is not lack of projects. It's not lack of funding. It's earning enough lender trust to lend on the back of a  20-25 year power purchase agreement backed by a private sector buyer without state fiscal support.  

Transmission capacity

Transmission constraints are another factor in this emerging scenario. The development of the electricity sector across the region effectively has a ceiling, determined by the available transmission network for new generation.

Previously, development finance institutions would only fund state utilities, and then only when it was proved that sufficient generation would be coming on board to utilize any new transmission infrastructure.

Now, thanks to the growing liberalisation focus in the region, allowing new private sector participants to buy and trade power, these transmission funding inflows can be facilitated. This new supply will be critical to making new transmission investments bankable.

If the private sector can sufficiently guarantee that any proposed new capacity coming on board will utilise the necessary transmission infrastructure, that new capacity effectively backs the viability of the new transmission investing – bringing a direct value add to the state utilities in South Africa and the rest of the SADC region.

Regulatory readiness

But for all of this to fall into place, we need a convergence of the relevant regulatory readiness – and we are already seeing this across the region. In many SADC countries, new legislation is providing the regulatory clarity that the private sector requires to venture into supply, transmission and trade.

The entire ecosystem must work for new entrants, and lenders. Until now, lenders have seldom considered state utilities to be creditworthy, and they have required significant fiscal guarantees to cover the power-purchase obligations of those utilities.

That model is a double whammy. Not only does it encumber utilities with debt for new generation, but it hits the national fiscus as well.

In South Africa, for example, the widely respected REIPPP process has brought online a significant amount of new generation. However, once the South African government started reporting on the process in accordance with IMF fiscal transparency regulations, this added an additional 36% to the contingent liabilities of the national treasury – almost $15 billion - overnight. That is money that can no longer be channeled into education, health and other key infrastructure development (water, transmission etc).

The REIPPP model has been extremely successful in the electricity sector, but it has perhaps outlived its usefulness. There are other priorities, and the private sector should be sufficiently capable to deliver on its own, with the lending community partnering accordingly.

The REIPPP model can be replicated in cases such as storage tenders, and in the transmission space. While transmission is usually considered a government function, it would certainly be possible to incentivize the private sector – and lenders – to enter the space.

New licensees

Across the region, markets are liberalising rapidly. South Africa has shown it can happen almost overnight, as in the case of the country's generation regulations. This has allowed third-party wheeled projects, from generators directly to customers, and facilitated new license applicants in the market such – such as GreenCo.

This shows how market thinking about the development of the electricity sector has fundamentally changed. There is collaboration like never before.

For GreenCo, events like the forthcoming AOW event offer opportunities to align with mining, commercial and industrial offtakers, as well as suppliers and IPPs. For an entity like ours, it's also a chance to show potential customers and suppliers the bankability of our own offtake; that lenders have confidence in our power purchase agreements.

Financial innovation must happen in a way that makes lenders comfortable. What that looks like in our case is that all our payment obligations are backed by an internationally AA- credit rated guarantee provider GuarantCo.

We are entering the South African market operationally ready to supply customers within South Africa and outside; and with financial readiness in the form of innovative guarantee structures to be considered bankable in the market.

The ultimate beneficiaries of this financial innovation must be the consumers. Many are looking to decarbonise their operations – for climate change reasons, and to make their products competitive on international markets.

Affordability is another key consideration. In our case, by being able to provide sufficient operational and financial risk mitigation to the lenders of the generators that supply to us, we can supply electricity far more affordably.

Around 70% of the costs of a generation or renewable energy project is from the cost of debt. Therefore, the more bankable an offtaker is, the lower the debt costs, and the cheaper the electricity – a clear demonstration of the benefits of financial innovation for the end consumer.

  • AOW: Investing in African Energy unites industry leaders to develop policy, share discoveries, secure investment, and shape Africa's energy future. The event runs from October 7 – 11 at the CTICC.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of AOW: Investing in African Energy.

About GreenCo: 
GreenCo is a renewable energy buyer and trader operating in Southern Africa (Zambia, South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia); purchasing power from renewable energy generators and selling that electricity to utilities, private sector offtakers (i.e. commercial and industrial users), national power trading markets and to the competitive markets of the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP). GreenCo is an active trader on SAPP and holds a number of applicable licenses covering its operations within the Southern African region. Through its activities, GreenCo will increase the supply of, and demand for, finance for energy projects, and mobilise private sector capital more quickly towards critical and transformative capacity addition. For more information please see: www.AfricaGreenCo.com

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AOW: Investing in African Energy
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30 years of service delivery

Location: News

30 years of service delivery

By Dr Namane Masemola 

On the 29th of May this year, South Africans went to polls to renew our constitutional democracy based on the will of the people and rule of law. 

For the first time since 1994, there was no outright winner in the national elections and this situation required political parties to negotiate amongst themselves on the formation of the 7th Administration.

The Government of National Unity (GNU) presents a unique opportunity to build on the gains made since 1994 by ensuring collaboration across diverse political parties. This unity allows for a more inclusive approach to governance and multiple perspectives are considered in decision making informed by the statement of intent, which finds it expression in the State of the Nation address, a profound government policy statement that sets the trajectory for socio-economic development.

Working through the GNU, South Africa will be working to, for example, expand services to meet the basic needs of all the people, particularly the majority of those who had been deliberately denied by the apartheid government.

In the past, basic services were provided based on race and black people were excluded. In 1994, 12 million people had no access to safe drinking water, 17 million lived below the poverty line while 21 million had no adequate sanitation. About 2 million were subjected to using the bucket system which was a stark violation of the right to dignity and unhygienic. The urban housing backlog in 1990 was conservatively estimated at 1.3 million units. Including hostels and rural areas, the backlog rose to approximately three million units.

Our villages and townships were almost pitch dark at night as there was non-existent or inadequate street lighting. Most people also used open fires and coal stoves and that led to high levels of sulphur dioxide, which adversely affected the health of many people.

To uplift the material condition of all South Africans, the democratically elected government implemented the Reconstruction and Development Programme aimed at addressing and prioritising the provision of the basic needs of people such as water, electricity, housing, sanitation, refuse and waste removal.

Thirty years into our democracy, South Africa is a vastly different place compared to what it was when the government took over in 1994. Key progress is reflected in the Census 2022, with the number of households in the country having almost doubled from 9,1 million in 1996 to 17,8 million in 2022. In 2022, almost 29,9 percent of household reside in a government-subsidised dwelling or RDP house while over 82,4 percent of households had access to piped water either inside their dwelling or inside their yard.

In 2022, approximately 66,3 percent of households in the country had their refuse removed by a local authority once a week, as opposed to 52 percent in 1996. About 13,7 million people have been provided with homes through various social housing programmes from 1994 to 2022. In 2022, 83.2 percent of households had access to improved sanitation services while those using electricity as the main source of energy for lighting increased from 58,1 percent in 1996 to 94,7 percent in 2022.

Another important intervention was to allow households who cannot afford municipal services access to free basic services through the municipal indigent policy. Through this policy, every poor household is guaranteed to receive at least a minimum standard of basic services such as 6 kilolitres of water and 50 kilowatts of electricity monthly.

This free basic services programme currently supports more than 3.5 million indigent households and reduces the burden of household labour and brings about relief to poor households who experience a lower quality of life. It also ensures that no citizen is denied the right to basic services, regardless of their ability to pay.

As we reflect on the progress we've made since 1994, it's equally important to acknowledge the challenges we face, including the lingering issues inherited from our past, even 30 years into our democracy.

To build on our achievements, we must unite as a nation. Every South African has a role to play in shaping our future. In line with the District Development Model, we need collaboration across all sectors—government, business, and civil society—to drive economic growth, create jobs, and foster hope for a better tomorrow.

*Dr Namane is the CoGTA Deputy Minister.

Matona
Thu, 08/15/2024 - 12:35

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Deputy President Encouraged by Progress Achieved in Restoring Better Living Conditions for the People of Jagersfontein Following the 2022 Mine Dam Disaster

Location: News

The Presidency of the Republic of South Africa
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Deputy President Paul Mashatile has today, Wednesday, 14 August 2024, commended the Free State Provincial Government, the Kopanong Local Municipality,  as well as the Jagersfontein Development Project, on progress achieved in coordinating support, to address the challenges faced by communities in Jagersfontein, following the collapse of a tailings dam wall on September 11, 2022, resulting in a mud slide which damaged infrastructure and homes in the area.

Deputy President Mashatile has been delegated the responsibility to provide leadership in the implementation of rapid response interventions on service delivery and trouble-shooting in service delivery hotspots in the country, by President Cyril Ramaphosa.

In pursuit of this critical mandate, the Deputy President undertook a service delivery oversight visit to Jagersfontein, last year in May, as part of efforts towards finding a lasting solution to service delivery challenges in the municipality, with specific focus on the efficient and equitable supply of water, and the resettlement of community members affected by the Jagersfontein Development Project dam disaster.

The visit by Deputy President Mashatile brought together various role players such, as government, private sector as well as civil society representatives, to deliberate on various mechanisms aimed at improving the functioning of municipality and in particular, on efforts to address the concerns raised by the community of Jagersfontein.  

In this regard, Deputy President Mashatile has expressed his appreciation to all key role players, on progress achieved and also thanked the management of the Jagersfontein Development project in particular, for delivering on their promise to urgently build houses, for the affected community members.      

“The remarkable progress we continue to make, brings us closer towards restoring better living conditions for the people of Jagersfontein. Such progress bears testimony that working together through partnership between government and the private sector, we can create a better life for all our citizens”, said Deputy President Mashatile.

The Deputy President has further emphasised the importance of expediting the process of addressing all other outstanding critical matters of water supply challenges experienced by residents, agricultural support needed, as well as responding to educational needs of youth in the area. 

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

Read moreDeputy President Encouraged by Progress Achieved in Restoring Better Living Conditions for the People of Jagersfontein Following the 2022 Mine Dam Disaster

Mashatile encouraged by progress made in Jagersfontein 

Location: News

Mashatile encouraged by progress made in Jagersfontein 

Deputy President Paul Mashatile has praised the Free State provincial government, the Kopanong Local Municipality, and the Jagersfontein Development Project for progress achieved in coordinating support to address the challenges communities face in Jagersfontein.

This follows the collapse of a tailings dam wall in 2022, resulting in a mudslide which damaged infrastructure and homes in the area.

The responsibility to provide leadership in implementing rapid response interventions on service delivery and troubleshooting in service delivery hotspots has been delegated to the Deputy President by President Cyril Ramaphosa.

The Deputy President undertook a service delivery oversight visit to Jagersfontein, last year in May, as part of efforts towards finding a lasting solution to service delivery challenges in the municipality. 
He focused mainly on the efficient and equitable water supply and the resettlement of community members affected by the Jagersfontein Development Project dam disaster. 

“The visit by Deputy President Mashatile brought together various role players such, as government, private sector as well as civil society representatives, to deliberate on various mechanisms aimed at improving the functioning of municipality and in particular, on efforts to address the concerns raised by the community of Jagersfontein,” said the Presidency in a statement on Wednesday.

The Deputy President has since expressed his appreciation to all key roleplayers, for the progress achieved. 

He also took the time to particularly thank the management of the Jagersfontein Development Project for delivering on their promise to urgently build houses for the affected community members.    

“The remarkable progress we continue to make brings us closer towards restoring better living conditions for the people of Jagersfontein. Such progress bears testimony that working together through partnership between government and the private sector, we can create a better life for all our citizens,” said Deputy President Mashatile.

The country’s second-in-command further emphasised the importance of expediting the process of addressing all other outstanding critical matters of water supply challenges experienced by residents, agricultural support needed, as well as responding to the educational needs of youth in the area. – SAnews.gov.za

Gabisile
Wed, 08/14/2024 - 15:29

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LaMuse Classic 2024 Comes To Muizenberg

Location: MyPR

LaMuse Classic 2024 This weekend, the iconic shores of Surfers Corner, Muizenberg, will come alive as we celebrate Women’s Day with the much-anticipated LaMuse Classic, proudly supported by the Department of Arts and Culture, Surfing South Africa, and The Store. Seventh Anniversary This year, we mark the seventh anniversary of this extraordinary ‘for women, by …

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10 Health Tips For Navigating Menopause

Location: MyPR

Affinity Health, a leading provider of high-quality health coverage, explores 10 health tips for navigating menopause. As we celebrate Women’s month in August, it is essential to acknowledge the significant milestones in a woman’s life, one of which is menopause. “According to the National Institute on Aging, menopause is a natural part of life that …

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Revolutionising Gastrointestinal Care: Austell Pharmaceuticals Launches Tasectan Duo, South Africa’s First Dual-Action Diarrhoea Treatment

Location: MyPR

31 July, Johannesburg – Austell Pharmaceuticals has recently announced the launch of its latest product, Tasectan Duo, an innovative solution for the treatment of diarrhoea. This first-of-its-kind treatment in South Africa brings together the clinically proven anti-diarrhoeal effects of Tasectan with the balancing power of probiotics, creating a combined solution to a common but serious …

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Anastasia Venter and Thomas Lindhorst Are The 2024 SA Surfing Champions.

Location: MyPR

  Mens finalists © Zane De Lange Victoria Bay: In an exciting finish to the 59th SA Surfing Championships, Anastasia Venter is the new Women’s Champion, and defending Men’s Champion Tom Lindhorst retains his title. Buffalo City wins the coveted President’s Cup, and Tyrell Johnson wins the Surfer Of The Contest Award Women’s Finalists © Zane …

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Second phase of Operation Vulindlela to focus on municipalities

Location: News

Second phase of Operation Vulindlela to focus on municipalities

As Operation Vulindlela is expected to enter its second phase, government will focus on stabilising the performance of local government to address the immediate challenges in electricity, water, and other basic services. 

“Without these services, businesses cannot function, and investors cannot invest,” the Deputy Minister of Finance, David Masondo, said on Tuesday.

Addressing the Old Mutual Thought Leaders Forum, Masondo said in the long term, the institutional structure and funding model for local government will be reviewed to ensure that municipalities are financially and operationally sustainable. 

“The ultimate objective should be to balance the need for truly local government that is responsive to the needs of a community, with the need for economies of scale in the delivery of services such as water and electricity.

“However, none of the challenges facing local government will be addressed, if we do not ensure that capable and qualified people are appointed to municipal administrations. The number of people employed in local government has significantly grown since 2006, without a corresponding improvement in outcomes,” the Deputy Minister said.

READ | Government focuses on growing the economy

He said instances of corruption and patronage in the appointment of senior managers, as well as political interference, have contributed to instability and a loss of technical skills.

“To rebuild capability in local government, we will strengthen the regulation and oversight of the appointment process for senior managers and protect the administration from undue political interference,” Masondo said.

Operation Vulindlela is a joint initiative of the Presidency and National Treasury to accelerate the implementation of structural reforms and support economic recovery.

“The second new frontier of reform is to address spatial inequality through housing, transport, and urban policy that turns our cities into dynamic centres of economic activity.

“The high cost of transport shuts out millions of South Africans from employment opportunities, creating labour market frictions and preventing job creation. The lowest quintile of households per capita spends more than 37% of their after-tax income on direct transport costs.

“To promote spatial integration, we will use our housing programs to enable people to live closer to areas of economic opportunity, rather than building houses on the urban periphery,” the Deputy Minister said.

This will require the release of well-located public land for social housing, as well as a review of regulations to unlock investment in low-income housing in our cities.

“In addition, we must shift our expenditure on housing from a supply-driven model, through which the government constructs fully complete houses and hands them over to beneficiaries, to a more demand-driven model that provides people with the means to find housing in areas where they want to live. This will also allow us to leverage private sector capital beyond our fiscal resources,” he said.

Government will also work to restore the passenger rail system to operation and invest in integrated public transport systems that are affordable, reliable, and safe.

The last new area of reform that Operation Vulindlela will prioritise over the coming years is digital transformation.

Digital transformation

In the absence of a clear, focused, and effective digital transformation strategy, South Africa is lagging behind its peers.

“To address this, Operation Vulindlela will work closely with the responsible departments to put in place a comprehensive roadmap for digital transformation focused on digital payments, system inter-operability, and data integration, as the basis for the digitisation of services. 

“This roadmap will support innovation, bring millions of South Africans into the digital economy, and improve access to services. These reforms, in addition to those already completed or underway, will fundamentally transform South Africa’s economy,” the Deputy Minister said. - SAnews.gov.za

nosihle
Tue, 08/13/2024 - 12:20

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Experts urged to add their voice on water and climate issues

Location: News

Experts urged to add their voice on water and climate issues

Water and Sanitation Deputy Minister, David Mahlobo, has implored academia and global experts in research and science to prioritise major water, environment and climate change issues facing the entire global community.

Mahlobo made the call at the International Conference on Water and Environmental Sustainability, currently underway in Richards Bay, KwaZulu-Natal.

The two-day conference which began on Monday, is organised by the University of Zululand in collaboration with the Changán University in China.

The conference presents a distinguished forum for global experts, including researchers, scientists, academics, industry representatives and students to engage in scholarly debate and knowledge exchange.

It is also used to address the ongoing water issues in South Africa, serving as a global platform for experts to discuss and find solutions for pressing challenges related to water scarcity, quality, and management in South Africa.

Addressing delegates on Monday, Mahlobo said the issues of environment and climate change have not been given the priority they deserve.

Mahlobo highlighted challenges, including population growth and migration, which have negatively impacted water availability to the people around the world, and the environment.

He said many countries have not properly planned for population growth and migration which have an impact on the sustainability of water and the environment.

“I therefore urge you that, in your discussions, you must come up with resolutions on how we deal with these issues especially around the finite resource of water. We call on you as the experts in your respective fields to raise your voices with information and knowledge to those in authority,” Mahlobo said.

University of Zululand Vice-Chancellor, Professor Xoliswa Mtose, noted that the conference is held at a time when the world is grappling with a myriad of interconnected issues elaborated in the framework of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

She said this has generated a lot of research and debate among the academia to galvanise national and global development on issues of water and environment.

“The collaboration between the University of Zululand and Changán University in China is on knowledge sharing aimed at addressing the challenges of developments in the water and sustainability as depicted in the Sustainable Development Goals framework.

“Therefore, the research papers to be delivered here today will reflect on the national, continental and global footprint as far as water and environmental issues are concerned,” Mtose said.

The scholars and academics at the conference indicated that the outcomes of the conference will not only influence the global versatile issues of water and environmental sustainability, but also enable them to enhance collaborations and knowledge sharing. – SAnews.gov.za
 

GabiK
Tue, 08/13/2024 - 12:22

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African Energy Week (AEW) 2024 Launches Upstream Oil & Gas Forum Amid African Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Market Expansion

Location: News
African Energy Chamber

Africa's upstream oil and gas sector is attracting substantial investments, with an $800-billion capital expenditure program focusing on LNG alongside traditional deep-water oil projects currently underway. This investment cycle is expected to boost Africa's LNG production capacity at a time when global gas demand is on the rise.

Responding to this environment, African Energy Week (AEW): Invest in African Energy 2024 will host a two-day Upstream Exploration & Production (E&P) Forum spotlighting Africa's LNG prospects. The forum will feature a series of strategic sessions and presentations, highlighting major LNG and floating LNG (FLNG) developments and investment opportunities shaping the sector.

AEW: Invest in African Energy is the platform of choice for project operators, financiers, technology providers and government, and has emerged as the official place to sign deals in African energy. Visit www.AECWeek.com for more information about this exciting event.

Mozambique is at the forefront of Africa's LNG growth, with the $20-billion Mozambique LNG project led by TotalEnergies set to produce 12.8 million tons of LNG per annum by 2028. Eni's second FLNG production project in the country – Coral Norte – and ExxonMobil's Rovuma LNG development are anticipated to reach FID by 2025. The country achieved natural gas sales of $1.7 billion in revenue in 2023, mostly driven by the start up of the Coral Sul FLNG project in November 2022.

The Nigeria LNG (NLNG) Train 7 expansion project is approaching completion, set to boost the country's LNG capacity by 35%, adding roughly 8 million tons per annum. The project is part of Nigeria's broader strategy to enhance its LNG production capabilities to meet both local and regional demand. In June 2024, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation signed a Project Development Agreement (PDA) with marine infrastructure company Golar LNG to deploy a FLNG vessel in the offshore Niger Delta region. The PDA plans to monetize 400-500 million standard cubic feet of gas per day, producing LNG, LPG and condensate, with FID expected by Q4 2024.

Under the Upstream E&P Forum, a session on The Demand Economics Driving the Growth of African LNG and FLNG will explore Africa's LNG portfolio, shedding light on supply and demand dynamics and future investment opportunities. Speakers will include Managing Director & General Manager of Eni Rovuma Basin Marica Calabrese, Africa Finance Corporation Vice President Taiwo Okwor, and senior representatives from Golar LNG, Angola LNG, and UTM Offshore.

In West Africa, Equatorial Guinea is also establishing itself as a major LNG player through its Gas Mega Hub (GMH) initiative, which aims to pool regional gas resources to become a central hub for gas processing, liquefaction and distribution. Last October, US oil and gas company Marathon Oil entered into an LNG sales agreement with commodity trader Glencore for Equatorial Guinea's Alba field, positioning the company for the GMH's next phase of development. Meanwhile, the Greater Tortue Ahmeyim (GTA) LNG project, spanning Mauritania and Senegal, is set to reach first production by Q4 2024, with a capacity of 2.3 million tons per year.

In southern Africa, Angola's LNG market is also growing, launching the second phase of the Falcão natural gas project last December, as well as developing the country's first non-associated gas development project in Soyo. South Africa's Virginia Phase 2 project is set to produce commercial quantities of LNG and liquid helium, with a capacity of 670,000 cubic meters of LNG per day. Meanwhile, the country's Port of Ngqura FLNG project involves the installation of a floating storage and regasification unit, gas-to-power infrastructure, cryogenic pipelines and a terminal for processing, storing, on-site exploitation and distribution of gas acquired from the country's on- and offshore fields.

A session on The Game Changer: Examining African Gas will outline Africa's natural gas reserves, production capacities, infrastructure development and export potential, highlighting potential for transitional energy, power generation and diversified growth. The session will feature senior representatives from Equatorial Guinea's national oil company (NOC) GEPetrol, Seplat Energies, and Mozambican NOC Empresa Nacional de Hidrocarbonetos.

With these developments on the horizon, Africa's leading upstream markets are positioning themselves as key players in the global LNG industry. AEW: Invest in African Energy 2024 will provide a pivotal platform for stakeholders to engage in discussions, forge partnerships and explore new opportunities within Africa's growing LNG sector.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

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