Day: January 13, 2022

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Minister Mbalula laments accident that claimed 17 lives in Limpopo

Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula has lamented the horrific accident that claimed 17 lives and injured eight people on the N1 near Mookgophong, in Limpopo, on Wednesday.

The head-on collision claimed the life of the bus driver along with the passengers due to the bus catching fire and trapping them inside immediately after impact. The driver of the SUV was also killed on impact.

The Minister joined Limpopo MEC Mavhungu Lerule-Ramakhanya in conveying his heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased and wished the injured a speedy recovery.

“As I convey my heartfelt condolences to these families, I do so with a heavy heart. Young lives pruned at the prime of their lives is a devastating loss to the country. I also wish a speedy recovery to those who survived and are recuperating,” the Minister said.

Mbalula said this horrific incident which claimed so many lives brings an immediate sense of alarm.

He said losing so many people in one instance while they are trapped in a burning bus are visuals no one wants to imagine.

“This is the reality we are constantly confronted with as we put every measure feasible to make our roads safer. Such measures extend to ensuring that vehicles are in a good state of repair and that we conduct ourselves in a manner that saves life and limb on the road,” he said.

Minister Mbalula emphasised that his department will continue to intensify measures to make the country’s roads safe and ensure severe penalties to those who violate the rules with impunity.

Source: South African Government News Agency

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Subsistence farming stimulus vouchers halted

The Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD) has announced that it will be suspending the Presidential Employment Stimulus vouchers programme immediately following unhappiness about the programme’s implementation.

The programme – which is in its second phase – is geared at assisting subsistence farmers to buy means of production through vouchers in order to feed themselves and their families.

Women, youth and people with disabilities, as well as child headed households, farmworkers and farm dwellers were earmarked as the programme’s main beneficiaries.

The department explained that it is “reviewing, reengineering and redesigning” the implementation of the programme to make it more efficient.

“It is unfortunate that the department has received endless complaints from the PES [Presidential Employment Stimulus] beneficiaries and the South African community at large, regarding various challenges on the PES implementation. These implementation challenges cannot be left unattended, hence the decision by the department to temporarily halt the current implementation.”

The department said it will be communicating with beneficiaries on the way forward.

“Beneficiaries are further urged to check their cell phones’ messages as sent by the department from time to time. The department had issued production input vouchers in support of subsistence producers, as part of the Presidential Employment Stimulus in South Africa,” the department said.

Source: South African Government News Agency

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South African nanosatellites to be launched

In a first for the African continent, South Africa is expected to launch three maritime-focussed nanosatellites into orbit on Thursday afternoon.

The three nanosatellites – the first to be entirely developed on the African continent – will be launched from Cape Canaveral in the United States at about 5.25pm.

The three satellites form part of the Department of Science and Innovation’s (DSI) Maritime Domain Awareness Satellite (MDASat) constellation.

When complete, the constellation will comprise of nine satellites which, according to the department, will “detect, identify and monitor vessels in near real-time in support of South African maritime domain awareness”.

Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, Dr Blade Nzimande, described the launch of the constellation satellite as a significant milestone for the country.

“This will further cement South Africa’s position as an African leader in small satellite development, and help the country to capture a valuable share of a niche market in the fast-growing global satellite value chain.”

Nzimande added that although South Africa is making strides in the space industry, specialised skills are needed to take it forward.

He said the department has developed a human capital development programme based at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology; called the cube satellite (CubeSat) programme; which seeks to remedy the lack of professionals and skills in the industry.

“As part of this programme, students are taught engineering principles using CubeSats as training tools. CubeSats are built using the same engineering principles as any other satellite, hence highly specialised and advanced skills are acquired through this programme,” he said.

Source: South African Government News Agency

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Regulator notes decision on publishing of matric results

The Information Regulator of South Africa says it has noted the decision of the Department of Basic Education (DBE) to stop the publication of matric results on public platforms ostensibly in compliance with the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA).

The Regulator met with the department on Wednesday to discuss its approach in bringing the processing of personal information in the form of matric results in compliance with POPIA and the conditions that must be adhered to in so doing.

Earlier this week the department announced that matric results will no longer be published on public platforms citing the Protection of Personal Information Act.

“It is the view of the Regulator that DBE has a duty to ensure that matriculants receive their results and that all matriculants can access the results in an appropriate manner.

“With regards to POPIA, a responsible party such as the DBE, is empowered to decide how to bring its actions or decisions in compliance with POPIA. In this case, the Regulator will assess any decision regarding the publication of matric results based on the provision of POPIA,” the Regulator said in a statement.

The Regulator said that POPIA makes provision for such eventuality under clear rules for safeguarding of the personal information, which is the cardinal principle.

“These rules include, for example, a requirement for agreement between the department and a dissemination platform prescribing how that platform should process the personal information. Such an agreement should bind the platform on processing personal information in terms of POPIA, with a specific requirement for safeguarding of personal information supplied to the dissemination platform,” the Regulator said.

In instances where personal information related to results is being disseminated, the regulator explained that matriculants must be made aware of the intention to publish their information and their right to object thereof.

“POPIA would also require that the matriculants be advised of such an intention to disseminate the information and be advised of their right to object to such dissemination of information,” the Regulator said.

The Regulator added that once an objection has been made, the department has an obligation to remove the complainant’s personal information before publishing.

“Once a matriculant, or a competent adult acting on their behalf, has objected to dissemination of their information, the department and dissemination platform have an obligation to ensure that such personal information is deleted from the record before it is disseminated,” the Regulator said.

Source: South African Government News Agency