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Planned maintenance to affect water supply in parts of Benoni

Location: News

Planned maintenance to affect water supply in parts of Benoni

The City of Ekurhuleni has reminded customers in Benoni of the planned seven-hour water shutdown to be undertaken on Tuesday.

The shutdown will affect customers in parts of Benoni. It will be implemented from 9am to 4pm to make way for the replacement of faulty valves.

The areas to be affected by shutdown include Airfield, Farrarmere, Farrarmere Gardens and Lakefield.

“To mitigate the effect of the supply interruption, water tankers will supply water to the affected areas. Updates on any development will be communicated through the city’s digital platforms,” the city said in a statement.

Meanwhile, water supply has finally been restored to all the areas in Region 7 following weeks of water outage caused by the breakdown of a pump at the Bronkhorstspruit Water Treatment Plant in Tshwane.

The City of Tshwane said a new pump and motor were successfully installed at the plant last Friday, and pumping started in earnest at around 4pm.

“Full supply has been restored in Ekangala and Rethabiseng, except in Rethabiseng Extension 4, due to the infrastructure network connection. The section will start receiving water once there is enough water pressure in the whole area.

“The high lying area are also receiving water. There are indications that water is gradually trickling in at Ekandustria since this morning. The city apologises profusely to the residents for the inconvenience caused,” the city said on Tuesday. – SAnews.gov.za

GabiK
Tue, 03/19/2024 - 11:11

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South Africa Requires $5.7T to Bridge Infrastructure Investment Gap

Location: News
Energy Capital & Power

Nearly $5.7 trillion is required to close the infrastructure investment gap in South Africa by 2050, according to statements made by Mameetse Masemola, Acting Head of Infrastructure South Africa (ISA), during the Sustainable Infrastructure Development Symposium South Africa (SIDSSA) on Monday.

During a media briefing, Masemola provided an update on projects led by ISA since its enactment in 2020, as well as highlighted efforts being made by the government agency to foster public-private sector cooperation and accelerate infrastructure development.

Taking place on March 17-19 at the Century City Conference Center, SIDSSA brings together key stakeholders in South Africa and across the continent with the aim of driving infrastructure development. SIDSSA 2024 serves as a crucial platform for discussions and partnerships in the infrastructure investment landscape, with a focus on accelerating economic activity through strategic infrastructure plans. Energy Capital & Power – the leading investment platform for the African energy sector – is a media partner for this important platform. For more information, visit www.SIDSSA.org.za.

“Our mandate is to close the infrastructure investment gap… We ensure projects are viable and bankable to attract funding from global investors. We work closely with authorizing departments to ensure fast rollout of projects, while ensuring the projects meet local regulations,” said Masemola.

ISA has led projects across ICT, energy, water and sanitation, transport and human settlement sectors, which have seen substantial growth in recent years.

“These are the sectors that support economic growth and enable South Africa to be competitive globally. Most of the projects were in their early stages in 2020. The value was R230 billion and the value has grown to over R500 billion,” stated Masemola.

In the energy sector, 95% of projects deployed have been private sector-led, including renewable energy projects developed under South Africa's Renewable Independent Power Producer Program (REIPPP), Embedded Generation Program and Just Energy Transition Program. Of the energy sector projects, 25 are under construction under Bid Window 5 of REIPPP, with five having reached financial close and a total of 14,000 jobs expected to be created, added Masemola.

In the transport sector, 15 projects have been announced, of which six represent a total value of R25 billion and are currently under development. Masemola stated that ISA has seen success when it comes to the human settlement sector, with over 9,000 units constructed and 38,000 jobs created since 2020.

Commenting on ISA's current and future project pipeline, Masemola stated that the agency has secured R600 million from South Africa's treasury to invest in projects over the next three years, with 31 projects currently being prepared.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital & Power.

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Government harnessing Land Reform to support growth of agriculture and job creation 

Location: News

Government harnessing Land Reform to support growth of agriculture and job creation 

President Cyril Ramaphosa has emphasised that government is actively implementing various programs and initiatives to enhance the effectiveness of land reform aimed at bolstering agricultural growth and to foster increased employment within the industry.

President Ramaphosa was responding to questions for oral reply in the National Assembly on Tuesday.
 
A Member of Parliament asked the President to elaborate on the integrated plan that government has in place to maintain growth and job creation in the agricultural sector through land reform. 

“Government’s land reform programme is supported by several complementary programmes and initiatives to enable growth and job creation.   

“Through these complementary programmes and initiatives, we are working to ensure that land reform is harnessed more effectively to support the growth of agriculture and agro-processing and to expand employment and livelihoods in this vital industry,” the President said. 

The President told Members of Parliament that land reform is vital to the transformation of our society and to correct historical injustices.   

He noted that redistribution, restitution and the provision of secure tenure also contribute to greater agricultural activity and enable more people to earn a living off farming.   

President Ramaphosa highlighted that in May 2022, the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development signed the Agriculture and Agro-processing Master Plan with partners in business and labour.   

Among many other things, the plan supports the acceleration of land reform and outlines actions that the private sector can take to support optimal use of land available to black farmers as a result of land reform projects.

These actions include support to black farmers and SMMEs at the processing level to have better access to domestic and export markets.   

The plan also encourages large commercial farmers to participate voluntarily in the land reform programme by donating land to historically disadvantaged farmers or participating in joint ventures to facilitate linkages between small- and medium-scale farmers operating on a commercial basis.   

“If the proposed interventions are implemented effectively, the social partners believe that by 2030, the agricultural sector can grow by an additional R32 billion above the ‘business-as-usual’ baseline.   

“Through this plan, they intend to maintain the existing jobs in the sector and create 75,000 new jobs by 2030.   For the economic potential of our land reform programme to be fully realised, we are prioritising broader rural development,” the President said. 

The Integrated Rural Development Sector Strategy of 2023 aims, among other things, to revitalise the rural economy through investment in, and development of rural infrastructure.   

This includes investment in roads, bridges and other transport infrastructure, water and irrigation schemes, public health and education.   

The strategy also provides for support to industries that support rural development, including agriculture and agro-processing, mining, the digital economy, the ocean economy, tourism, arts and culture.   

“Improvements in rural infrastructure are necessary if we are to reap the economic potential of land reform. Beneficiaries of the various land reform projects need to be able to access water resources, get their produce to market, participate in local economic activity and have ready access to funding and other support,” he said. 

The President highlighted that the land reform programme is also supported by initiatives that support skills development and employment, particularly for the youth.   

Through the National Rural Youth Service Corps (NARYSEC) government provides young people with the skills and capabilities to participate in the economy. 

He explained that through such rural development initiatives, more than 1 100 jobs have been facilitated in the current financial year.

He further stated that through the Presidential Employment Stimulus, more than 180 000 agricultural production input vouchers have been issued to subsistence producers.   

The Presidential Employment Stimulus has also worked with the provincial departments of agriculture and social partners to provide support to more than 62 000 subsistence and smallholder producers to strengthen self-employment and food security. – SAnews.gov.za

DikelediM
Tue, 03/19/2024 - 15:02

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Infrastructure investment central to achievement of SA’s development goals

Location: News

Infrastructure investment central to achievement of SA’s development goals

President Cyril Ramaphosa says investment in infrastructure is central to the achievement of the country’s development goals.

“Infrastructure is an enormous economic multiplier, providing dividends for an economy long after the infrastructure has been built,” President Ramaphosa said.

Addressing the 2024 Sustainable Infrastructure Development Symposium of South Africa (SIDSSA) currently underway at the Century City Conference Centre in Cape Town, President Ramaphosa said the symposium is an important part of government’s effort to close the infrastructure spending gap in the country.

“It is estimated that to achieve our infrastructure goals, we need an additional R1.6 trillion in public sector infrastructure investment and a further R3.2 trillion from the private sector by 2030,” President Ramaphosa said.

A number of bold initiatives are being implemented to deliver infrastructure at the required scale and pace.

“We are working on reforms to develop sustainable infrastructure, lift business confidence and encourage investment.

“These reforms include the amendment of the Division of Revenue Act to enable provincial governments to use their infrastructure grants and budget allocations to crowd-in private sector finance for large social infrastructure programmes,” President Ramaphosa said.

READ | National Assembly approves Division of Revenue Amendment Bill

The President said amendments to the public-private partnership regulations, which have recently been published for public comment, are part of broader reforms to mobilise and pool public and private sector resources for infrastructure.    

“The operationalisation of the Infrastructure Fund has seen a steady growth in the portfolio of blended finance projects that use relatively small fiscal allocations to de-risk public infrastructure projects and raise finance in debt capital markets.

“Through the work that has been done in transforming the infrastructure landscape, the total value of the country’s Strategic Integrated Projects has grown from R340 billion in July 2020 to R540 billion now.

“Eighteen projects, valued at around R10 billion, have been completed, covering human settlements, roads, water and sanitation,” President Ramaphosa said.

According to the President, the value of projects currently in construction is over R230 billion.

“Projects worth nearly R170 billion are currently in procurement. In this calendar year, 11 such projects, with a total investment value of R45 billion, are expected to reach financial close.

“To date, Infrastructure South Africa has unblocked a total of R25 billion worth of projects in the renewable energy space using the Infrastructure Development Act to fast-track government authorisations,” the President said.

Hosted by the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI), the symposium, in its third iteration, is intended to shape the conversations about regulatory and policy reforms, among them, innovative funding models for infrastructure development.

Ministers and Deputy Ministers are expected to anchor various panel discussions and technical discussions throughout the symposium.

SIDSSA 2024  will showcase the following outcomes :

-               Launch of the construction book: a repository of infrastructure projects going into procurement/construction in the 2024/2025 financial year.

-               Leaders forum: A gathering of South African Ministers with 22 participating Ministers from the African continent.

-               Top 12 Infrastructure project priorities: These projects will receive project preparation funding from Infrastructure South Africa.

-               Signing of MOU’s with important partners and stakeholders.

The Symposium will also provide the following updates:

-               Update on the gazetted Strategic Integrated Projects.

-               Update on the projects already receiving project preparation support.

-               Infrastructure Fund Project Pipeline.

- SAnews.gov.za

Edwin
Tue, 03/19/2024 - 12:05

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Bands At The Beach Easter Music Fest In Port Alfred Growing Momentum

Location: Entertainment, MyPR

Do you have any plans for the Easter Weekend? Port Alfred is looking good at this stage. Port Alfred—The inaugural Bands At The Beach Music Festival is the highlight of the Port Alfred Easter Festival, which takes place over the Easter Weekend of 29 March—1 April. The Bands At The Beach Music Fest, happening on …

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South Africa and Zimbabwe enter landmark water sharing deal

Location: News

South Africa and Zimbabwe enter landmark water sharing deal

Water and Sanitation Minister Senzo Mchunu and the Zimbabwean Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries and Rural Development, Dr Anxious Jongwe Masuka, have signed an agreement for the transfer of treated water from Beitbridge Water Treatment Works to Musina.

The agreement is the product of the bilateral agreement of cooperation on water resources management, and the establishment and functioning of the Joint Water Commission established by the two countries in 2015. 

The transfer of treated water from Beitbridge Water Treatment Works in Zimbabwe to Musina, Limpopo, is a medium-term solution to address water supply challenges in the area. 

The capacity of the Beitbridge Water Treatment Plant is 35 million cubic metres/annum (96 Ml/day) and is currently not fully utilised in Zimbabwe, with only 10% of the capacity used for Beitbridge. 

Mchunu has welcomed the signing of the agreement and assured the community of Musina that the transfer of water from Beitbridge will alleviate water supply challenges in the area, as the quantities to be supplied are more than the current demand. 

According to the agreement, the two countries will kick-start an implementation plan and oversee the construction of a pipeline and of pump stations to transfer 15 million cubic metres (41 ML/day) of treated water from Zimbabwe to Musina. 

The two implementing agents to oversee the construction projects include the South African Development Bank and the Zimbabwe National Water Authority. The project is expected to be completed in 2026. 

The treated water to be transferred is expected to comply with South Africa’s water quality standards (SANS 241), set by the South African National Bureau of Standards (SABS), which is informed by World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines.

Mchunu said in the interim, the Department of Water and Sanitation is working with the Vhembe District Municipality, which is the Water Services Authority for Musina Local Municipality, in addressing challenges with the existing water infrastructure, including rehabilitating the existing but non-functional boreholes, while the project is being implemented.

“We are looking at operationalising the non-functioning boreholes in Musina and we believe that with the transfer of water from Beitbridge Water Treatment Works, the challenges of water supply in Musina will be a thing of the past. 

“...We are thankful to the government of Zimbabwe to be able to expedite this water sharing deal, which will change the lives of the people of Musina,” Mchunu said.

Masuka also welcomed the contribution of the government of Zimbabwe to ensure that economic development is sustainable in Musina.

“I am very pleased that this day has come to fruition. It has taken years of negotiation and I thank the technical team for having put their very best for their countries to ensure that we come to this level today,” Masuka said.

The Minister reiterated that Zimbabwe is committed to supplying the maximum 15 million cubic metres of treated water per year to Musina town for the duration of the agreement. He is hopeful that the contribution will alleviate the water challenges in Musina, and also contribute to the economic development of the region.

As part of the two-day programme, Mchunu, accompanied by Deputy Minister Judith Tshabalala, held a meeting with Vhembe District and Musina Local Municipality leadership on Friday to discuss immediate, medium- and long-term solutions to water and sanitation challenges affecting the region. 

The leaders later held an imbizo, where they gave an update to the community of Musina on the plans underway to provide them with water, as well as interim measures to alleviate intermittent water provision. – SAnews.gov.za

GabiK
Mon, 03/18/2024 - 09:47

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Municipalities’ expenditure on infrastructure grants low

Location: News

Municipalities’ expenditure on infrastructure grants low

National Treasury has expressed concern at the low expenditure on infrastructure grants by municipalities during the second quarter of the 2023/24 financial year.

“The performance of the infrastructure grants to municipalities during the second quarter was not satisfactory. Low expenditure on infrastructure grants is a source of concern because this slow performance may eventually lead to unspent conditional grants that have to revert to the National Revenue Fund (NRF),” National Treasury said on Monday.

National Treasury said the surrendering of unspent conditional grants to the NRF has negative consequences to the communities that must receive the services linked to the infrastructure to be built.

“The Municipal Infrastructure Grant (MIG) is the highest performing direct infrastructure grant to municipalities during the second quarter, with a performance of 49.3%, which is higher than the 37.6 % reported for the same period in the previous financial year.

“The Integrated Urban Development Grant Water (IUDG) is the second highest performing grant with a performance of 46.7%. The MIG grant has been the highest performing grant for the third consecutive time as at the end of the second quarter year-on-year,” National Treasury said.

National Treasury has released the local government revenue and expenditure report for the second quarter of the 2023/24 financial year (1 July 2023 -31 December 2023).

This report covers the performance against the adopted budgets of local government for the second quarter of the municipal financial year ending on 31 December 2023 and includes spending against conditional grant allocations for the same period.

As of 31 December 2023, R27.8 billion, or 63.5%, of the R43.7 billion allocated to municipalities in direct conditional grants for 2023/24 has been transferred to municipalities.

“The Municipal Disaster Recovery Grant (MDRG) had the lowest spending grant during the second quarter, with a 12.7% expenditure, equivalent to R40.1 million expenditure against the R320 million allocation.

“The Public Transport Network Grant (PTNG) is the second lowest performing grant with expenditure performance of 25%. It should be noted that the PTNG is an infrastructure grant allocated to metropolitan municipalities only and it is an observation that metropolitan municipalities are increasingly struggling to implement this programme,” National Treasury said.

Aggregate trends

Aggregate municipal consumer debts amounted to R338.2 billion (compared to R306.7 billion reported in the first quarter of 2023/24) as at 31 December 2023.

“A total amount of R6.4 billion or 1.9% has been written off as bad debt. The largest component of this debt relates to households and represents 72.7% or R245.8 billion (71.9% or R220.4 billion in the first quarter of the 2023/24 financial year). Debt owed to municipalities in the category of below 90 days, amounts to R43.1 billion,” National Treasury said.

The creditors’ age analysis shows that R104.3 billion is owed by municipalities as at 31 December 2023, an increase of R2.9 billion compared to the R101.4 billion reported in the first quarter of 2023/24.

“The analysis of the collection rates indicates that while municipalities’ year-to-date have budgeted for a 75.6% collection rate, aggregated actual collection performance against billed is only 58.4%. The underperformance of actual collections against billed revenue holds a significant risk for the liquidity position of most municipalities as the planned expenditure is based on a higher performance level,” National Treasury said.

As of 31 December 2023, aggregate municipal spending (for both operating and capital budgets) was 46.3% or R283.5 billion of the total adopted expenditure budget of R612 billion.

“Aggregated billing and other revenue was 50.3% or R310.9 billion of the total adopted revenue budget of R618.5 billion. Capital expenditure was R25.6 billion or 31.1% of the adopted capital budget of R82.5 billion.

“The adopted operating expenditure budget was R536 billion, of which R285.3 billion (53.2%) was spent by 31 December 2023. Municipalities adopted a budget of R154.5 billion for salaries and wages (including remuneration of councillors’ remuneration), representing a R7.9 billion or a 5.4% increase from the adopted budget of R146.6 billion for the 2022/23 municipal financial year,” National Treasury said.

As of 31 December 2023, R72.8 billion or 47.2% of the adopted salary budget, had been spent.

National Treasury said this information is published in terms of Sections 71 of the Municipal Finance Management Act, 2003 (Act No. 56 of 2003) (MFMA), and 30(3) of the Division of Revenue Act, 2023 (Act No. 5 of 2023) (DoRA).

The budgeted figures shown are based on the 2023/24 adopted budgets approved by municipal councils. This second quarter publication covers 257 municipalities on financial information and conditional grant information.

“The Section 71 report facilitates transparency in reporting, better in-year management and the oversight of the financial performance of municipalities against their adopted budgets. This report is, therefore, a management tool that serves as an early warning mechanism for councils, provincial legislatures, and municipal management to monitor and improve municipal performance timeously.

“Improving the credibility of the data strings is a priority for national and provincial treasuries and the submitted data strings are analysed monthly and errors are communicated to municipalities for correction,” National Treasury said.

Further details on this report can be accessed on the National Treasury’s website: www.treasury.gov.za. – SAnews.gov.za

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Mon, 03/18/2024 - 14:46

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Six-month planned maintenance of the Lesotho Highlands Tunnel

Location: News

Six-month planned maintenance of the Lesotho Highlands Tunnel

Water users of the Vaal River System have been reminded about the upcoming six-month closure of the Lesotho Highlands Tunnel for planned maintenance work.

The planned maintenance work on the transfer and delivery tunnels of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP) is scheduled to start from 1 October 2024 to 31 March 2025.

The tunnel system consists of a Transfer Tunnel, linking Katse Dam with Muela Power Station and Muela Dam, and a Delivery Tunnel, linking Muela Dam with the Ash River Outfall Works between Clarens and Bethlehem.

The Department of Water and Sanitation said the inspections and maintenance of the tunnels are conducted at intervals not shorter than five years and not exceeding 10 years. 

“The last maintenance was conducted in 2019. During the shutdown of 2019 it was found that the steel liners in the tunnel urgently need extensive maintenance on both the Republic of South Africa and Lesotho side,” the department said. 

It noted that this process cannot be done in a shorter period than six months. 

The planned maintenance work is being overseen by the Lesotho Highlands Water Commission, a joint governance body between South Africa and Lesotho and will be jointly undertaken by the Lesotho Highlands Development Agency (LHDA) and the Trans Caledon Tunnel Authority (TCTA). 

The work required to be undertaken during the period includes grit-blasting the steel-lined section around the entire circumference and re-applying corrosion protection on the tunnel lining, as well as other maintenance and repair work identified during the 2019 maintenance shutdown. 

The work to be undertaken requires lot of time as it is expected to protect the infrastructure for another 20-30 years. 

“This much-needed maintenance is critical to maintain the integrity of the delivery tunnels as a tunnel failure will risk the transfer of the 780 million m3/annum to the Integrated Vaal River System (IVRS), from which Rand Water draws water to supply its customers. The six months period required to conduct maintenance is thus crucial to avoid any catastrophic event which may result from lack of maintenance,” the department explained.

As a result of the tunnel shutdown, the department said 700 million m3 per annum will be transferred in 2024, and only a shortfall of 80 million m3 from the annual transfer volume will be impacted.

“After the shutdown period, the water transfers will be increased to enable the shortfall in transfers to be recovered. It must be noted that for the IVRS, transferring the full volume (780 million m3) on an annual basis from Lesotho (regardless of the status of the IVRS) does not yield the most efficient use of the system yield,” the department said. 

An analysis was undertaken in May 2023 to assess the risk to the IVRS’ performance because of the outage and to determine the impact of the shutdown on water availability to users in South Africa. 

The results showed that the impact of the outage on the overall IVRS will be insignificant considering that dams in the IVRS such as the Sterkfontein Dam and others are relatively full. 

The standard operating rule is that Sterkfontein Dam releases water to the Vaal Dam when the Vaal Dam reaches a minimum operating level of 18%. 

The department’s analysis indicates that this is unlikely to occur at any probability level in the 2023-2024 operating year (1 May – 31 April). 

The department said further analysis will be undertaken in May 2024 to ensure that there are also no likely risks to water supply from the IVRS in the 2024-2025 operating year. 

However, the department warned that the shutdown will have implications of water supply to users along the Liebenbergsvlei River and its tributaries during that period, as the river directly receives outflows from the tunnel. 

“The towns of Bethlehem, Reitz, and Tweeling as well as licensed irrigators will be affected. The reason for these users being affected is that there will be a significantly reduced amount of water in the Liebenbergsvlei River and its tributaries, from which these users draw their water. 

“In order to secure water during the shutdown for these local users, the Saulspoort Dam will be filled up at the commencement of the shutdown period. DWS analysis indicates that a full Saulspoort Dam will be able to provide water for local requirements including those of Bethlehem, Reitz, and Tweeling for a period of up to nine months which is more than the six months tunnel outage,” the department said. – SAnews.gov.za 

 

GabiK
Mon, 03/18/2024 - 13:19

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Ministers commit to support transboundary cooperation in shared water basin

Location: News

Ministers commit to support transboundary cooperation in shared water basin

Ministers responsible for Water Affairs from the Republics of Botswana, Mozambique, South Africa and Zimbabwe have recommitted their support to deepening transboundary cooperation in the Limpopo River Basin.

During the biannual meeting by the four Member States held recently in Musina, Limpopo, the Ministers, who are all members of the Limpopo Watercourse Commission (LIMCOM), signed an endorsement agreement to make amendments to the existing transboundary agreement of LIMCOM on the shared water basin.

READ | SA, Zimbabwe to sign agreement for treated water transfer to Musina

The Department of Water and Sanitation has been a member of LIMCOM since the Commission was established between the Republics of Botswana, Mozambique, South Africa and Zimbabwe through the LIMCOM Agreement signed in November 2003 in Maputo, Mozambique.

Article 3.1 of the LIMCOM Agreement (Agreement 2003), stipulates that the objective of the Commission is to “advise the Contracting Parties and provide recommendations on the uses of the Limpopo River, its tributaries and its waters for purposes and measures of protection, preservation and management of the Limpopo River”.

With respect to the Commission’s institutional arrangements to deliver its mandate, the 2003 Agreement, under Article 4, stipulates that the principal organ of the Commission is the Council composed of not more than three delegates per country, with the mandate to establish the Secretariat and any other organ as may be necessary.

However, the Commission recognised that Article 4 of the LIMCOM Agreement signed in 2003 did not include the Council of Ministers as the principal organ of decision making. 

As a result, the formalisation of the Council of Ministers as the main policy body will improve the governance structure of LIMCOM and its Secretariat, and also foster closer cooperation for judicious, sustainable and coordinated management, protection and utilisation of shared watercourses. This is in line with the 2000 Revised Southern African Development Community (SADC) Protocol on Shared Watercourses. 

South Africa’s Water and Sanitation Minister, Senzo Mchunu, said it was necessary to include the Ministers so that they execute the mandate regarding the management of the Limpopo River Basin. 

Mchunu said the amendment of the agreement will strengthen South Africa’s relations with the three riparian States which share the Limpopo River Basin and use water from the river to support various socio-economic activities. 

“We are looking forward to execute the mandates given to us by the people through LIMCOM and we hope that Southern Africa will look at their rivers as assets which are instrumental in developing socio-economic activities including agriculture, tourism, energy generation as well as for domestic use,” Mchunu said.

Located in Southern Africa, the Limpopo River Basin encompassing portions of Botswana, Mozambique, South Africa, and Zimbabwe. The basin faces a number of challenges, especially water scarcity.

In South Africa, there are four Water Management Areas (WMA) found in the Limpopo River Basin, and these include Limpopo WMA, Luvuvhu and Letaba WMA, Olifants WMA and Crocodile (West) and Marico WMA. 

However, there is an increasing demand for water to meet the needs of the population and the key economic sectors while faced with limited, if not dwindling, water resources. 

The four Ministers also launched the “Integrated Transboundary River Basin Management for the Sustainable Development of the Limpopo River Basin, spearheaded by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in South Africa, in partnership with the Global Water Partnership-Southern Africa (GWPSA).

The project aims to achieve integrated, cross sectoral, ecosystem-based management of the Limpopo River and to uplift the living standards of the basin’s population and conserve the basin’s resources and ecosystems services.

The project implementation is guided by the LIMCOM Agreement and the principles which are contained in the Revised SADC Protocol on Shared Watercourses of 2000.

The principles include sustainable utilisation; equitable and reasonable utilisation; protection, preservation, and conservation of the environment; and prevention and mitigation of significant harm.

“These principles shall be interpreted according to the provisions of Article 3 of the SADC Protocol and developed in accordance with the best international practices. 

“Furthermore, in the implementation of this project, the Governments of Botswana, Mozambique, South Africa and Zimbabwe commit themselves to uphold the provisions of the SADC Protocol on Gender and Development,” Mchunu said. – SAnews.gov.za

GabiK
Mon, 03/18/2024 - 10:55

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Government activities for the week 18 to 22 March 2024

Location: News

Government activities for the week 18 to 22 March 2024

From Monday, 18 March, to Tuesday, 19 March, Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, Sihle Zikalala, will host the Sustainable Infrastructure Development Symposium South Africa 2024 in Century City, Cape Town.

On Monday, 18 March, Minister of Finance, Enoch Godongwana, will be addressing the European Union funding and policy dialogue at Origins Centre (Wits University west campus) in Johannesburg.

From Monday, 18 March, to Wednesday, 20 March, is the national Conference on Human Rights in South Africa in Gauteng.

On Tuesday, 19 March, the National Library of South Africa commemorates Library Week at Pretoria Campus.

Wednesday, 20 March, President Cyril Ramaphosa will deliver the keynote address at the Second Black Industrialists and Exporters Conference at the Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg.

On Thursday, 21 March, the Human Rights Day celebration at the George Thabe Stadium in Sharpeville, Gauteng. It will also be World Poetry Day.

Friday, 22 March, is World Water Day.

 

 

Janine
Mon, 03/18/2024 - 11:36

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Cape Town Infrastructure Report Launched at Sustainable Infrastructure Development Symposium of South Africa (SIDSSA) Masterclass

Location: News
Energy Capital & Power

Principal Professional Officer for the City of Cape Town Caley Green announced the launch of the city's 2023 Infrastructure Report at a Masterclass during the Sustainable Infrastructure Development Symposium of South Africa (SIDSSA) on March 17.

Evaluating the city's bulk infrastructure from the past year, the updated report builds on its predecessors by focusing on infrastructure across five sectors, including energy, solid waste, water and sanitation, human settlements and transport. According to Green, “The report provides an update on the bulk infrastructure pipeline of projects assessed in the first report. This new report addresses areas of greatest need and highest demand.”

The Masterclass was led by South Africa's Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure Sihle Zikalala and a panel of experts who called on investors and role-players to support an infrastructure-led economic recovery plan in South Africa. 

Taking place on March 17-19 at the Century City Conference Center, SIDSSA brings together key stakeholders in South Africa and across the continent with the aim of driving infrastructure development. SIDSSA 2024 serves as a crucial platform for discussions and partnerships in the infrastructure investment landscape, with a focus on accelerating economic activity through strategic infrastructure plans. Energy Capital & Power – the leading investment platform for the African energy sector – is a media partner for this important platform. For more information, visit https://SIDSSA.org.za/.

During the Masterclass, speakers provided insight into the challenges and opportunities within the country's infrastructure sector. With a focus on infrastructure investment planning, the session explored South Africa's strategy to build state capacity while delivering an aggressive development program and closing the infrastructure investment gap.

“We recognize the importance of this masterclass…” stated Minister Zikalala. “This crucial session marks the beginning of the SIDSSA, which in its third year continues to be a platform to bring together think-tanks like yourselves and critical role-players in the infrastructure investment space.”

The Western Cape government has put a jobs growth and development strategy in place, which is aimed at enabling a R1 trillion economy by 2035. The seven-point plan focuses on short- and medium-term growth based on the need to sustainably enable the economy, drive energy security, ensure access to water and boost resilient investment.

“We must move away from typical thinking around public works within the government space,” stated Director-General for the Western Cape Government Dr. Harry Malila. “We cannot just focus on repairing hospitals and schools; we need to take an economic approach and venture outside of our comfort zone.”

Showcasing South Africa's plan to develop its local content capacity and advance national development goals, local industrialization, skills development, job creation, youth employment and regional economic integration were highlighted as key areas to ensure the implementation of a resilient infrastructure strategy.

“We aim to implement the objectives of the National Skills Development Plan 2030 to increase the number of people that obtain critical or scarce skills needed, and to build the capacity of the construction sector to be economically sustainable and globally competitive,” stated CEO of the Construction Education and Training Authority, Malusi Shezi.

In response to the country's strategy to incentivize infrastructure investment, it was noted during the masterclass that South Africa needs to implement a deliberate effort to mitigate capacity constraints and inefficiency to ensure project completion. This was highlighted as a requisite to attain investor confidence and promote localization and private sector participation in the country's infrastructure sector.

“We have a structural issue in terms of the quantum of infrastructure investment in this country,” stated Development Economist and Senior Lecturer at Stellenbosch University Dr. Nthabiseng Moleko. “We have to shift production towards production sectors. The key priority for that is infrastructure. We have to align investment and enhance the localization of these investments.”

Negligence in infrastructure maintenance has resulted in a lack of confidence in the sector. As such, improved governance, administration and capacity building were highlighted as solutions to addressing infrastructure challenges in South Africa.

“Overall investment has been on a downward trend since 2010 and started picking up in 2022. Despite the overall decline, private sector capital investment continued to grow faster than public sector investment. Yet, much faster growth is needed to expand the economy and reduce unemployment and end poverty,” stated Municipal Infrastructure Support Agency CEO, Mapatane Kgomo.

SIDSSA 2024 is organized by the Investment and Infrastructure Office under the Presidency, in collaboration with the Association of African Exhibition Organizers. The National African Federation for the Building Industry joins as an association partner, while the Development Bank of Southern Africa is the official sponsor of the event. The Masterclass on Sustainable Infrastructure Development is held in collaboration with the National School of Government.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital & Power.

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Mashatile reiterates commitment to accelerated service delivery in N West

Location: News

Mashatile reiterates commitment to accelerated service delivery in N West

Deputy President Paul Mashatile has reaffirmed government’s commitment to continue to provide basic services to its people and ensure that all South Africans have equal rights, as outlined in the Freedom Charter. 

Mashatile said government recognises that accelerated service delivery is not just about efficiency and convenience; it is also about creating a society where every individual has equal access to basic services.

“Improving the delivery of basic services in South Africa is more than just a question of duty; it is also about social fairness, equality, and dignity. By ensuring that everyone has access to essential services, we can empower people, strengthen communities, and create a more successful and inclusive country,” he said.
 
The second-in-command was leading the Thuntsha Lerole Accelerated Service Delivery programme in Rusternburg, North West, on Friday.

Thuntsha Lerole is an initiative led by the North West provincial government aimed at confronting the critical issue of service delivery in communities through strengthened partnerships with government, the private sector as well as civil society organisations.
  
The programme is in accordance with the District Development Model (DDM), which aims to tackle service delivery issues by facilitating collaboration and coordination among all levels of government, from local municipalities to the national government.

It is currently in its third phase, which aims to launch and hand over service delivery projects in identified communities, running from March to May 2024.

READ | District Development Model: A game changer

The Deputy President said they support the 'Early Warning System' in the form of an electronic dashboard that will monitor municipal performance and reporting in a more coordinated manner. 

The Thuntsha-Lerole mobile app, which has now gone live, will provide an interactive communication platform to connect government with citizens, allowing them to report service delivery challenges in real time in their localities.

Through this app, communities will have the ability to promptly escalate service delivery issues to the appropriate department and municipal officials. 

“This will enable speedy responses to challenges such as water disruptions, sewer spillages, electricity outages, and more. Given the high cost of data in our country and the prevalence of poverty in our society, we anticipate that the application will soon become accessible without requiring data, hence enhancing access for individuals, especially those residing in rural areas and townships,” the Deputy President said.

READ | Mashatile calls for accelerated service delivery in communities across SA
 
Mashatile visited several sites in Tlhabane, including a newly-built school and the Tlhabane Community Health Centre, unveiling a state-of-the-art X-ray machine.

He handed over the R2.2 million modern technology X-Ray machine, which was donated to the Health Centre by Glencore Mine. The machine allows doctors and radiographers to view patient scans on display, reducing hospital referrals and wait times. It also stores X-ray records for up to five years, enhancing patient care. 

“Let me express our deepest gratitude, as government, to Glencore Mine for this donation, which will go a long way towards improving the health of our people. It is through working together as social partners that we will attain our country’s developmental aspirations and a better life for all,” Mashatile said. 

The Deputy President said these initiatives are just part of providing solutions to the service delivery challenges faced by the North West community. 

“We are aware that a lot still needs to be done to meet the needs of our people. Greater and more focused endeavours are required, particularly in addressing the reversal of the governance collapse in the province,” he said. 

He highlighted that the 6th administration of government faced difficulties related to the stability and collapse of administration and as a result, the President and Cabinet utilised Section 100 of the Constitution to intervene in the province.

“Nevertheless, I was pleased to hear Acting Premier Nono Maloyi's State of the Province Address, in which it was said that despite these difficulties, your determination remains unshaken and your commitment to serving the people of the North West has been fortified.

“We applaud your ability to successfully implement a sustainable turnaround strategy in all 22 municipalities in the province, using the District Development Model (DDM),” he said.

READ | Mashatile officiates launch of North West service delivery programme. – SAnews.gov.za 

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South African President to Open Sustainable Infrastructure Development Symposium of South Africa (SIDSSA) 2024, Featuring Strong Slate of Ministers

Location: News

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South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa will deliver a keynote and open the Sustainable Infrastructure Development Symposium of South Africa (SIDSSA) 2024, taking place on March 17-19 at the Century City Conference Center in Cape Town. Poised to showcase updates and announcements on new international partnerships and joint ventures in South Africa, SIDSSA 2024 is set to gazette opportunities for investing in infrastructure for stakeholders in the region.

The symposium will feature the participation of South Africa's Deputy President Paul Mashatile, who is expected to showcase the country's long-term plan for driving public and private sector-led infrastructure development while reaffirming the President's stated goal of reaching 5.5% year-on-year economic growth. The Deputy President will deliver a keynote during the SIDSSA 2024 stakeholder dinner.

Taking place on March 17-19 at the Century City Conference Center in Cape Town, the SIDSSA will bring together key stakeholders in South Africa and across the continent with the aim of driving infrastructure development. SIDSSA 2024 serves as a crucial platform for discussions and partnerships in the infrastructure investment landscape, with a focus on accelerating economic recovery through strategic infrastructure plans. For more information, visit https://SIDSSA.org.za/.

This year, the symposium will be held under the leadership of South Africa's Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure Sihle Zikalala, who is expected to address regulatory and policy reforms, explore innovative funding models, showcase the strength of the emerging 2024/2025 pipeline and highlight opportunities for investing in infrastructure in the country. Minister Zikalala will be accompanied by the department's Deputy Minister Bernice Swartz.

Supporting some of South Africa's largest infrastructure projects, including the $34 million Musina Ring Road project and the transformation of the N3 highway into a Smart Freight Corridor, the symposium will feature the participation of the country's Minister of Transport Sindisiwe Chikunga and the department's Deputy Minister Lisa Mangcu. Set to facilitate greater economic activity between South Africa and neighboring countries and positioning the country as a freight and logistics hub for Africa, respectively, the Musina Ring Road and N3 highway projects are poised to drive connectivity and cultivate collaboration throughout the region.

Meanwhile, the participation of South Africa's Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Thembi Nkadimeng promises to showcase and gazette investment opportunities in the country's infrastructure projects for the benefit of all stakeholders. Further bolstering confidence in South Africa's ability to fuel investment in its key sectors, the country's Minister of Tourism Patricia de Lille and Deputy Minister of Communication and Digital Technologies add to the symposium's impressive roster of speakers from the South African Cabinet while facilitating synergy between the objectives of the country's Sustainable Development Plan.

In addition to members from South Africa's Cabinet, SIDSSA 2024 will also feature a strong line-up of international ministers, including Namibia's Minister of Works and Transport John Mutorwa, who is expected to showcase investment opportunities in the country's sustainable mobility systems. Meanwhile, with second phase of the Lesotho Highlands Water project currently underway, the participation of Lesotho's Minister of Home Affairs Lebone Lephema adds to the symposium's theme of inclusive growth in the southern African region.

In alignment with the event's promise to contribute to the accelerated delivery of infrastructure throughout Africa, key infrastructure initiatives in some of Africa's most promising investment destinations will be showcased by Senegal's Minister of Infrastructure, Land Transport and Opening-Up Amadou Mansour Faye and Algeria's Minister of Public Works and Basic Infrastructure Lakhdar Rakhroukh. Additionally, Swaziland's Minister of Work and Transport Chief Ndlaluhlaza Ndwandwe rounds off the southern African region's esteemed host of ministerial delegates.

Serving as the launchpad for major energy project's in South Africa's 2024/2025 pipeline, SIDSSA 2024 will also feature the attendance of South Africa's Deputy Minister in the Presidency Kenny Morolong. The Deputy Minister's participation works in alignment with the event's promise to showcase South Africa's pipeline of 12 infrastructure projects due to start development in 2024/2025.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital & Power.

About SIDSSA 2024:
SIDSSA 2024 is organized by the Investment and Infrastructure Office under the Presidency, in collaboration with the Association of African Exhibition Organizers and Energy Capital & Power. The National African Federation for the Building Industry joins as an association partner, while the Development Bank of Southern Africa is the official sponsor of the event.

Read moreSouth African President to Open Sustainable Infrastructure Development Symposium of South Africa (SIDSSA) 2024, Featuring Strong Slate of Ministers

Zikalala to engage George communities

Location: News

Zikalala to engage George communities

Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Sihle Zikalala will on Saturday engage with forest village communities in George in the Western Cape.

These communities occupy remote government land under the custodianship of the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) and have limited basic services such as water, road infrastructure, economic activities and aging and unmaintained infrastructure.

Forest villages are compact settlements that were established around forest plantations, when the land was allocated to the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) for plantation purposes, to allow plantation workers to be closer to the working sites.

The villages were informally established and mostly situated in remote areas, far away from the urban edge. Some of the challenges faced by the communities is that there is no formal township established and properties could not be transferred to occupants.

Minister Zikalala, together with officials from different government departments and entities, will hold discussions with the communities in a bid to find a permanent solution to the plight of these communities. – SAnews.gov.za

 

Edwin
Fri, 03/15/2024 - 09:36

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Mashatile officiates launch of North West service delivery programme

Location: News

Mashatile officiates launch of North West service delivery programme

Deputy President Paul Mashatile will today officiate the launch of Phase 3 of the Accelerated Service Delivery – Thuntsha Lerole Programme in Tlhabane, Rustenburg.

The Thuntsha Lerole Programme is an initiative led by the North West provincial government aimed at confronting the critical issue of service delivery in communities, through strengthened partnerships with government, the private sector as well as civil society organisations.     

President Cyril Ramaphosa has assigned Deputy President Mashatile to assist in the rollout of the District Development Model (DDM) through effective coordination of the different spheres of government, which will improve the functioning of municipalities and address community service delivery concerns.   

In September last year, the country’s second-in-command, visited the community of Seking village, in the greater Taung Local Municipality to assess the intervention strategies aimed at addressing service delivery challenges in the area.  

“This successful visit offered the opportunity for the Deputy President to engage with government departments, from local municipalities to national government, on efforts to accelerate service delivery in a more effective and coordinated manner,” the Presidency explained. 

Meanwhile, the Deputy President will commence his visit to the Rustenburg Local Municipality, by officiating the official handover of the newly built Seraleng Primary School in Paardekraal. 

The provincial government constructed the primary school to the tune of about R26.5 million. Its infrastructure includes a science laboratory, a computer room, a nutrition centre, 15 multipurpose classrooms and an administration block, amongst others. 

The school, the Presidency said, will contribute to government efforts to increase access to basic education and further promote the culture of learning, teaching and service.  

Deputy President Mashatile will visit the Tlhabane Community Health Centre to unveil a state-of-the-art X-ray machine, which is expected to bring much-needed relief to patients in the local community, who were travelling some great distance to access healthcare services.   

“Furthermore, as part of efforts to bring lasting solutions to the dire challenge of sewer blockages and leaks around the Boitekong area, outside Rustenburg, the Deputy President will witness the handover of a newly completed sewer network project,” the statement read. 

He will also hand over a site to the appointed service provider for the commencement of a water and sewer project, which will benefit the community of Tlhabane township.   

“Deputy President Mashatile will address a community meeting at Tlhabane Stadium after concluding his visit to the Rustenburg Municipality.” 

The Presidency described the feedback session as an important gathering that will provide a platform for leadership to brief members of the community, on several other government services to be delivered as part of the Thuntsha Lerole Programme.

The Acting Premier of the North West, Nono Maloyi, Deputy Minister of Health Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo, the Deputy Minister of Police Cassel Mathale, and members of the North West Provincial Executive Council as well as senior government officials will support the Deputy President. – SAnews.gov.za

 

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eThekwini municipal workers’ strike infringes on human rights

Location: News

eThekwini municipal workers' strike infringes on human rights

Cabinet has expressed concerns at the illegal protest action by eThekwini municipal workers, which has seen violence as well as water and power outages.

“The impact of the strike has seen many residents without water, electricity and waste removal, which is an infringement of the rights of people and a contravention of the Constitution.

"Such behaviour will not be tolerated. Cabinet calls on law enforcement agencies to do all it takes to protect the rights of people,” Minister in The Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni said at the post Cabinet briefing on Thursday.

Ntshavheni said the closing of critical services, such as clinics, is tantamount to sabotage and a threat to life.

“Those found guilty will face the full might of the law,” the Minister said.

READ | KZN government engages businesses amid municipal strike

The EThekwini Municipality has served 79 employees with notices of misconduct for engaging in unlawful conduct, as outlined in the Disciplinary Procedure Collective Agreement. These employees, from different units, face various charges in relation to their participation in the unlawful industrial action, which started on 27 February 2024. – SAnews.gov.za

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Thu, 03/14/2024 - 12:24

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Hazelmere Dam project successfully completed

Location: News

Hazelmere Dam project successfully completed

The raising of the Hazelmere Dam project was successfully completed at a cost of R820 million, increasing the storage capacity of the dam, said Minister in The Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni.

It increased from 23.9 million m3 to 43.6 million m3, which is an increase of 83% for the KwaZulu-Natal dam. 

“To enable this additional stored water to be treated and supplied to the City of eThekwini, the uMngeni-uThukela Water Board has completed a project to increase the capacity of the Hazelmere Water Treatment Works from 55 to 75 millilitres (ML) per day, at a cost of R135 million.

“It will further increase the capacity of the treatment works to 90 ML per day within the next three years at a cost of R25 million,” Ntshavheni said on Thursday.

She was addressing a media briefing on the outcomes of the Cabinet meeting that was held on Wednesday.

During this meeting, Cabinet received a progress report on four strategic Mega Raw Water Resource Augmentation projects executed by the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS).

“The implementation of the Umzimvubu Water Project [in the Eastern Cape] was delayed for many years by [a] lack of funding. However, the access roads to the dam, which is 84% complete, is expected to be completed by June 2024. The construction of the dam, which is at 6%, is expected to be completed in 2028. 

“The Raising of the Tzaneen Dam Project [in Limpopo], which is currently at 40%, is expected to be completed in March 2025, at a cost of R555 million,” the Minister said.

Ntshavheni said the Raising of the Clanwilliam Dam Wall Project in the Western Cape is aimed at meeting the need for additional water for agriculture development, which includes resource-poor farmers.

“The dam wall is being increased by 13 metres to increase its storage capacity from 122 million m3 to 343 m3, which is an increase of 181%. The project is currently at 34% construction and anticipated to be completed in April 2028 at an estimated cost of R3.92 billion,” she said.

Upgrading informal settlements

Cabinet also received a progress report on the implementation of the Informal Settlements Upgrading Partnership Grant Framework/ Policy that was introduced in the 2019/ 2020 financial year.

“The objective of the Grant is to provide the means for households to receive basic services such as water, electricity, roads, stormwater, refuse removal and sanitation services. The target was to upgrade 1500 informal settlements,” the Minister said.

The progress has been reported as follows:

  • A total of 578 informal settlements went through Phase 1 activities, which entailed the business plan and pre-feasibility details of the upgrading of the informal settlements.
  • A total of 1 497 informal settlements went through Phase 2 activities which focus on Security of Tenure and includes the acquisition of land and installation of interim services- basic water and sanitation services pending the formalisation of the settlement, and
  • A total of 197 informal settlements were fully upgraded.

-SAnews.gov.za

 

nosihle
Thu, 03/14/2024 - 13:03

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Concern over learner dropouts and repetition

Location: News

Concern over learner dropouts and repetition

President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed concern over the persistently high rates of learner dropouts and repetition urging stakeholders within the education sector to intensify their efforts in tackling these issues.

The President addressed the opening of the 2024 Basic Education Sector Lekgotla Conference taking place at the Birchwood Conference Centre in Boksburg on Thursday.

Taking place under the theme "Equipping learners with knowledge and skills for a changing world," the 2024 Basic Education Sector Lekgotla aims to deepen the understanding of advancements made within the sector with a special focus on developments achieved over the last decade.

“With a sense of achievement, we report our progress towards universal access to basic education, which currently stands at an impressive 98 %.

“However, dropout and repetition rates are still unacceptably high. I have spoken about this to you all in the past and I have urged all of us to work hard to reduce the dropout rates as well as to attend to the repetition rates,” the President said in his virtual address. 

The President highlighted that poverty, youth criminality, teenage pregnancy, and general violence in some communities as some of the reasons for these high rates.

He added that the burden placed on young people to look after their aged parents and grandparents was also contributing to learner dropout and repetition.

The President told the Lekgotla that government is actively pursuing policies to try to address the obstacles hindering progress in basic education. 

“As the Government, we have continued to pursue pro-poor policies to systematically tackle the multifaceted factors impeding progress in basic education. These policies encompass the establishment of non-fee-paying schools; indeed, 80% of schools in our country do not require fees. 

“Moreover, more than 9.6 million children benefit from the national school nutrition programme, free textbooks, scholar transport, and child support grants provided by the Department of Social Development.”

President Ramaphosa commended numerous efforts aimed at offering educational assistance in areas with the highest need.

He said these concerted efforts signify government’s commitment to enhancing the educational landscape of South Africa, ensuring that every child has the opportunity to succeed, irrespective of their background.

“By addressing these challenges head-on, we reaffirm our dedication to fulfilling Mandela’s vision of education as the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world. 

“We aim to prepare every child in our country for success in a rapidly evolving global context.

“Our commitment is demonstrated through the Three-Stream Curriculum Model, which incorporates technical, vocational and occupational subjects into basic education. This aligns with the nation’s skill requirements and economic objectives, moving beyond traditional academic subjects to expand learners’ prospects,” he said. 

The President highlighted that in the coming year, government is poised to expand the occupational stream into the Further Education and Training Phase. He said this expansion is a testament to government’s resolve to ensure that no learner is left behind.

Early Childhood Development

He further emphasised that Early Childhood Development (ECD) is a key priority for government.

Consequently, government has developed the 2030 Strategy for Early Childhood Development Programmes. The strategy outlines a comprehensive plan to achieve universal access to quality ECD programmes by 2030.

“To ensure that we reach universal access to ECD programmes for children aged 3-5, we will need to provide quality access to an additional 830,000 children. This is over and above the 2.2 million children in this age group who are already accessing ECD programmes.

“We can agree that the essence of a quality education system lies in the professionalism and quality of teachers, who are fundamental at the school level. They are crucial for developing the skills, knowledge and competencies our country needs for faster economic growth,” he said. 

Investing in teachers

Last week, South Africa hosted the 14th International Teacher Task Force Policy Dialogue Forum which emphasised the need for qualified teachers to achieve sustainable development goals and support the Africa Agenda 2063. 

The forum concluded that global investment in teachers is essential to ensuring their competence, professionalism and support.

“We will do everything possible to continue supporting our teachers, who are the combatants for the silent revolution happening in basic education.”

Mother tongue instruction

Turning his attention to the importance of mother tongue instruction, he said it is the cornerstone of the “essential reforms we undertake in basic education and speaks to the broader imperative of decolonising education.”

The President said this goes beyond merely ensuring that children can read with comprehension and that it is a vital component of government’s commitment to educational transformation.

He further expressed his deep support for this development, acknowledging its significance in the journey towards basic education reforms. 

He said the country’s history reminds one of the profound impact of language as a tool of subjugation and oppression.

In recognising this, the country’s commitment to decolonisation and transformation becomes even more urgent, ensuring that language is a bridge to knowledge and empowerment rather than a barrier. 

The President further highlighted that today, all national African Union Agenda 2063 frameworks and international organisations such as the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) endorse the implementation of mother tongue instruction as a pivotal strategy for addressing literacy challenges.

“This widespread support recognises the fundamental role of education in one's first language in enhancing learning outcomes and improving literacy rates.

“In conclusion, let us double our efforts to ensure our children stand on equal footing. This means all shall have access to public schools, the assurance of being taught by a qualified teacher, and the provision of ample workbooks, textbooks and stationery.

“It also means having the necessary learning tools, dignified sanitation facilities, clean running water, basic electricity, and a clean, welcoming environment that guarantees safety for both learners and teachers,” he said. – SAnews.gov.za

 

DikelediM
Thu, 03/14/2024 - 14:29

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