Day: September 16, 2021

The Deputy Minister in the Presidency, Ms. Thembi Siweya, and Premier of the Northern Cape, Dr Zamani Saul, will officially relaunch the Manne Dipico Thusong Centre in Kimberly on 17 September 2021. The centre was recently refurbished and reopened for the public to access various government services.

The centre houses multiple government services that include applications for social grants, identity documents, and municipal and library services.

On the day of the launch, a mobile vaccine site will be set up to encourage members of the public to vaccinate and contribute towards population immunity. Young people will also have an opportunity to register for elections at the invited IEC mobile stall.

Deputy Minister Siweya and Premier Saul will be accompanied by members of the provincial executive committee, local mayor and senior officials from various government departments.

Source: Government of South Africa

Gauteng Premier David Makhura says collaboration between law enforcement agencies and private security companies is critical for crime fighting.

He was speaking during the Operation O Kae Molao road safety and crime prevention blitz in Soweto.

“The police have been working with private security companies… on specific crimes and they committed to also help track perpetrators of specific crimes. We will see much more improved security and public safety when we see cooperation between law enforcement agencies and private security companies. They have done it before and they worked very well even when they were dealing with unrests,” he said.

Makhura also emphasised the importance of ensuring rigorous investigatons in order to secure convictions against those accused of crime.

“It doesn’t help to arrest a lot of people but then when they appear in court, proper detective work has not been done. We do want our police and crime intelligence to also shape up,” he said.

The Premier acknowledged internal weaknesses within law enforcement in the province but said these were being ironed out.

“We used to have serious weaknesses in the leadership of the [police] and all the units like the Hawks (Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation) and crime intelligence. So we met with all of them… and we can see the results of their actions. In Gauteng, there are major improvements with regard to crime intelligence and the Hawks in the province are also shaping up,” he said.

Source: South African Government News Agency

The Minister of Home Affairs Dr Aaron Motsoaledi and Deputy Minister Mr Njabulo Nzuza are scheduled to brief the media on Friday, 17 September 2021 on the state of readiness to offer Home Affairs services during the Voter Registration Weekend.

Source: Government of South Africa

President Cyril Ramaphosa has sent his condolences on the passing of Professor Hlengiwe Buhle Mkhize, the Deputy Minister in The Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities.

Mkhize passed away today at the age of 69.

The President extended his condolences to the family, friends, colleagues, comrades and associates of the late Deputy Minister across the country and internationally.

Mkhize was appointed to The Presidency in May 2019.

President Ramaphosa said Mkhize’s passing constitutes a national loss.

“Prof Mkhize’s legacy is indelible across so many dimensions and sectors of our national life. She distinguished herself as a tireless and passionate anti-apartheid and human rights activist, and campaigner for an end to gender inequality.

“She availed herself for service at the international level, including her representation of Transparency International South Africa in global institutions. Prof Mkhize played a crucial role in conflict resolution during our transition to democracy.

“We owe Prof Mkhize our gratitude and deep respect for the commitment she displayed as a Commissioner of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, Chairperson of the Reparations and Rehabilitation Committee, and trustee of the National Peace Accord Trust.

“She set a profound example for all of us by immersing herself in building a better South Africa, while pursuing a multifaceted path as an academic, from the Universities of Zululand, Natal and South Africa, to Mississippi and Illinois in the United States,” the President said.

President Ramaphosa said Mkhize applied her extraordinary personal achievements to the upliftment of traumatised children, to asserting the equality of oppressed women, to upholding the human rights of victimised and persecuted people around the world, and ensuring the doors of learning would open wide to new generations of South Africans.

“She played her part unselfishly and with great love for humanity. Our task is to keep her legacy intact and build on it,” President Ramaphosa said.

Before her appointment to The Presidency, Mkhize served as Deputy Minister of Correctional Services, Deputy Minister of Economic Development, Deputy Minister of Telecommunications and Postal Services, Home Affairs Minister and Minister of Higher Education and Training.

She was also a former Ambassador to the Netherlands.

Source: South African Government News Agency