September 5, 2022

Gauteng Health yet to receive report on Charlotte Maxeke Hospital fire

The Gauteng Department of Health (GDoH) has not received any forensic report related to the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital (CMJAH) fire.

This comes after the publication of an article by the Daily Maverick, which claims to have a police forensic report.

“The department has been inundated with media requests for comment,” a statement from the department read on Monday.

“GDoH has unfortunately not seen the so-called report and as such, the department is not in a position to comment on it.”

Parts of the hospital in Parktown, Johannesburg, have been shut down since the fire broke out last year.

The reports then stated that the fire affected the dispensary and spread to various sections of the parking lot multi-storey structure, destroying R40 million worth of stock, personal protective equipment (PPE) to protect workers from COVID-19 and other essentials.

According to the Maverick article, a copy of a South African Police Service (SAPS) forensic report shows that arson was the cause of the fire at CMJAH on 16 April 2021.

The provincial department has since advised the media to confirm with SAPS if they have indeed issued such a report and to who the report was issued.

Source: South African Government News Agency

September 5, 2022

Urgent review to meet housing delivery targets

An urgent review is required as part of measures to meet the upscaled housing delivery targets, says Human Settlements Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi.

“Left to run its course, the current plan will perpetuate the [housing] backlogs and the only way this will change is through a review of policy, funding mechanisms, implementation plans, targets and outputs.

“The review we are proposing is required across income categories, regions and provinces,” Kubayi said at the Human Settlement and Exhibition Indaba currently underway at the Durban Exhibition Centre.

The two-day event started on Sunday. It brings together local governments, parliamentarians, civil society, local communities, the private sector, professionals and practitioners, scientific and academic community, and other relevant stakeholders. It aims to find solutions to the housing challenges.

Kubayi warned that the scale of delivery required to effect the desired development outcomes will not be achieved with the current project pipeline and funding trajectory.

She said the affordable housing sector, including rental and social housing, has been identified as a key opportunity based on the available plans and documentation in place.

“The Affordable Rental and Social Rental Housing programme should serve as a case for good practice implementation. Lessons learnt from these programmes should then be transferred to other priority programmes in the sector and includes the human settlements Bulk and Link Infrastructure Programme (BLP), the Informal Settlements Upgrading Programme (ISUP) and the Integrated Residential Development Programme (IRDP),” said Kubayi.

She said the available resources and policies need to be implemented to realise the required developmental outcomes.

“This can only be achieved by ensuring that investments in the housing sector, which are dispersed by different institutions in the public and the private sector, are brought together in a collaborative framework that will ensure increased impact.

“As government, we are utilising all the available resources to create a conducive environment for partners in the private sector and Development Finance Institutions to invest in the sector,” the Minister said.

Social housing

Within government, Kubayi said, the Department of Human Settlements, including the Social Housing Regulatory Agency (SHRA) and the National Housing Finance Corporation (NHFC), has initiated a collaborative relationship with the Infrastructure Fund (IF) to create a framework for large scale financing proposals for catalysing the implementation of the Social Housing Projects (SHP).

Kubayi said this has potential to increase investment into the sector from R1 billion and 3 000 units per year currently, to about R15 billion and up to 45 000 units per year by 2025.

“This would be a positive step in reducing the estimated investment gap of R144 billion and a backlog of 320 000 units in the social housing sector. In its plans, the NHFC has budgeted debt transaction approvals of R1 billion over the three-year period, which is an average of R362 million per annum.

“Given that the Loan to Value in Social Housing is 30%, this debt approval would necessitate Consolidated Capital Grant (CCG) approvals of R2.3 billion in the same period, or R760 million CCG approvals per annum. This is in line with the SHRA’s MTSF [Mid Term Strategic Framework] allocation of R4 billion, which is an average of R800 million allocation per annum,” Kubayi said.

The Indaba is held under the theme, ‘Transforming Human Settlements environment through accelerated planning, implementation and public-private partnership’.

Source: South African Government News Agency

September 5, 2022

Cabinet Lekgotla assesses progress on government programmes

Government leaders have gathered at the Cabinet Lekgotla to tackle issues on the economy, safety and security, as well as the capacity of the State.

The Lekgotla, held at the Presidential Guesthouse in Tshwane, is taking place after the two-year virtual interactions.

Addressing members of the media on Monday, Minister in the Presidency, Mondli Gungubele, said government will discuss progress on the implementation of infrastructure projects, as it is central to the country’s Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan.

The plan aims to build a new economy and unleash South Africa’s true potential. The overarching goal of the plan is to create sustainable, resilient and inclusive economy.

It will focus on energy security; industrial base to create jobs; mass public employment programme; infrastructure development; macro-economic interventions; green economy; food security, and reviving the tourism sector.

During this year’s State of the Nation Address (SONA), President Cyril Ramaphosa announced R21 billion infrastructure projects to support economic growth and better livelihoods, especially in energy, roads and water management.

Several catalytic projects were expected to start construction this year.

Gungubele said the meeting will discuss economic interventions that have been implemented by top economies and how this affects the country’s fiscal framework.

“…This is key in terms of ensuring that we stay afloat, we are able pay our debt and at the same time, make sure we are able to close the deficit. We will discuss budget pressures and expenditure pressures against the background of the country’s economy,” Gungubele said.

Issues of safety and security measures are also on the table, with a focus on infrastructure theft and vandalism, which takes a toll on the economy.

The outcomes of a survey on government’s public perception survey will also be unpacked.

The Cabinet Lekgotla is an opportunity for the President, Deputy President David Mabuza and Ministers, Deputy Ministers and Directors-General from government departments to meet and strategise on government’s priorities.

The meeting will assess the current administration and the progress made to date in bettering the lives of South Africans.

Source: South African Government News Agency

September 5, 2022

Bogopane-Zulu highlights the dangers of drinking while pregnant

Social Development Deputy Minister, Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu, has urged residents of Carletonville to protect unborn babies against the effects of alcohol.

The Deputy Minister was addressing community members during the fourth day of the 9-9-9 Foetal Alcohol Syndrome campaign in Carletonville on Sunday.

The 9-9-9 Foetal Alcohol Syndrome is an advocacy initiative that seeks to mobilise communities towards protecting unborn babies by educating people, especially women of childbearing age, about the dangers of drinking alcohol while pregnant or breastfeeding.

Some of the symptoms of Foetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) in children include facial abnormalities, learning difficulties, poor problem solving, coordination and socialisation skills, stubbornness, low birth weight and growth retardation and behavioral problems, including the inability to concentrate.

“As we rollout the 9-9-9 Foetal Alcohol Syndrome campaign, my plea to you is that an alcohol-free society begins with me and you. It is in your hands to build strong and resilient families by not drinking alcohol, so we may together contribute towards building an alcohol-free society.

“It is important for all women who are pregnant and those who wish to give birth to healthy babies to avoid alcohol. The damage caused by FAS is permanent and irreversible, and children born with this condition have physical and intellectual problems,” said Bogopane-Zulu.

The Deputy Minister appealed to the community of Carletonville to spread the message about the dangers of drinking while pregnant, as “it is possible to enjoy a non-alcoholic drink”.

One of the pregnant mothers, who preferred to be addressed as Victoria, was afforded an opportunity to share her personal experience.

“I stopped drinking after realising that I am pregnant, and I encourage mothers and future mothers to avoid drinking during pregnancy as I have seen that it is possible to protect our unborn babies. Personally, I was able to stop drinking while pregnant because I have support from my partner,” she said.

Another pregnant mother, who admitted to drinking alcohol during the first trimester, said she was able to stop drinking for the sake of the health and wellbeing of her baby.

In order to prevent the spread of Foetal Alcohol Syndrome, South Africans are encouraged to make use of intervention programmes, including medical treatment, education and awareness, as FAS can be prevented by not drinking alcohol during pregnancy.

Women who are planning to become pregnant are encouraged to adopt a healthy lifestyle before pregnancy.

The Foetal Alcohol Syndrome campaign is part of coordination and implementation of the National Drug Master Plan (NDMP 2019 – 2024), which aims to build a society free of substance abuse.

The NDMP’s objective can only be realised if the Department of Social Development works in collaboration with key social partner, including communities, traditional leaders and faith-based organisations.

The 9-9-9 Foetal Alcohol Syndrome campaign continues today at Boitekong Community Hall in Rustenburg, North West.

On Tuesday, the Deputy Minister will take the campaign to Limpopo at the Regorogile Multipurpose Centre in Thabazimbi.

Source: South African Government News Agency

September 5, 2022

KZN jump starts entrepreneurs’ entry into automotive sector

In a move that will drive economic transformation in the automotive sector, KwaZulu-Natal Premier, Nomusa Dube-Ncube, has met with emerging entrepreneurs to assist them to unlock bottlenecks that are hindering business growth.

The strategic engagement follows a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by the South African Technicians Association (SATA) with Ithala Development Finance Corporation Limited and its subsidiary, Ithala SOC — the financial service provider.

The MoU, signed in 2020, paved the way for the provincial Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs and its entities to collaborate with SATA to ensure that more than 36 members of the organisation are able to provide fleet service and maintenance; panel beating and spray painting; automotive mechanical workshops for heavy duty vehicles, and agricultural maintenance to all tiers of government within the fleet management value chain, amongst others.

Following up on these commitments, Dube-Ncube’s engagement with the association aimed to reengineer economic growth in the automotive sector and boost confidence in the province’s economic recovery, post COVID-19, the July civil unrest, and flood disasters.

During the meeting, SATA raised some challenges including inadequate financial support from Ithala, lack of access to market and unrealistic expectations from the association’s new business start-ups, which affected their long-term growth and sustainability.

Dube-Ncube committed to work with the relevant government departments and other organs of State in order to address challenges raised by SATA.

“Our focus as the provincial government is on reskilling people — be it unemployed graduates or those who have been retrenched or lost their jobs in both informal and formal economies. We want them to be re-absorbed in industries such as the automotive sector,” Dube-Ncube said.

She noted that there are over 7 000 unemployed graduates, and the provincial government believes that the automotive sector is an area where jobs will be created to absorb thousands of unemployed youth, as well as people who lost their jobs due to COVID-19.

“We want rural and township based youth, who are trained as artisans and mechanics, to work in the automotive industry.

“We therefore commit that working together with the other government departments and the Ithala Development Finance Corporation Limited, we will implement measures to ensure the empowerment of entrepreneurs in the automotive industry,” the Premier said.

Source: South African Government News Agency

September 5, 2022

Water dept takes notes from Netherlands

Water and Sanitation Deputy Minister, David Mahlobo, is leading a delegation from the department and Umgeni Water officials to the Netherlands for a benchmarking exercise for the Umgeni Water Learning Academy.

The eleven-member delegation, which includes Umgeni Water Board chairperson, Gabsie Mathenjwa, will visit The Hague Academy and the IHE Delft Institute for Water Education to enhance bilateral engagements, and undertake benchmarking activities.

The visit takes place from 5 – 9 September.

In its five-year corporate plan (2022 – 2027), Umgeni Water has a vision to form a world class learning academy.

Mathenjwa said the plan’s targets are founded on the long-term aspirations, as articulated in Umgeni Water’s strategy, which commits to the following:

• In 2030, South Africa needs to be served by a set of sufficient, financially sound, and well governed State-owned enterprises that address the country’s developmental objectives;

• By 2030, all South Africans have affordable access to sufficient safe water and hygienic sanitation to live healthy and dignified lives, and

• By 2050, Umgeni Water will be a global leader in the sustainable provision of water and related services.

Mathenjwa said Umgeni Water has recognised the need to have collaborative efforts with leading institutions that will enable it to achieve these aspirations and targets.

“Our travel to the Netherlands, as led by Deputy Minister Mahlobo, will be beneficial in terms of understanding the critical components of establishing a learning academy, identifying business models and processes for sustainability, as well as entering into partnership agreements with leading world class institutions in this field,” Mathenjwa said.

The Hague Academy assists municipalities around the world with democracy and water governance, capacity building and training.

The academy mostly trains civil servants, municipalities, State-owned entities and NGOs.

The IHE-DELFT institution is an institute for water education and is the largest international graduate water education knowledge centre on water infrastructure, technology and sciences.

It attracts high-level students and scientists from around the globe, and offers approximately 80 courses, which focus on education, research and capacity building.

Source: South African Government News Agency