Day: October 8, 2022

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South Africa: Traditional leaders urged to use culture to boost tourism

South Africa Deputy President David Mabuza has encouraged traditional leaders to use their rich culture and heritage to boost tourism.

“It is essential that during Tourism Month, we promote our cultural history, encourage visitors to visit heritage sites and cultural artefacts, and attend to events and activities that narrate our folklore and represent our past, the present and where we are heading into the future,” he said.

In South Africa, Tourism Month is celebrated annually in September to highlight the country’s diverse tourism offerings and the sector’s significant contribution to the economy.

“Our heritage is our wealth, and we need to harness this wealth by preserving and trading in what is sacred to us,” he told the attendees, speaking in his capacity as Chairperson of the Inter-Ministerial Task Team established to respond to matters raised by traditional and Khoi-San leaders.

The country’s second in charge on Friday engaged traditional leaders at Mayville Conference Centre in Durban.

This comes after he paid a courtesy call on Isilo Samabandla, King Misuzulu Ka Zwelithini on Thursday.

According to the Deputy President, the ancient San artworks at the Rock Art Centre, the Zulu reed dance, KwaZulu Cultural Museum near Ulundi, which exhibits famous icons of Zulu culture, form part of the tapestry of heritage.

He believes that these attractions hold the potential for the KwaZulu-Natal economy to develop by displaying its glorious history to the world.

“As leaders, it is our responsibility to identify, unlock the potential and nurture all those sectors that hold a promise to create opportunities for the people to earn a livelihood whilst preserving their rich heritage including tourism.”

He also encouraged tourism investment, which will result in a more equitable and sustainable development of traditional communities. 

“Your leadership as traditional and Khoi-San leaders has been, and will continue to be critical to the development of a cohesive, unified, and prosperous society that is democratic in nature, and does not discriminate based on race, gender, sexual orientation and political affiliation.”

The Deputy President told the leaders that government alone cannot bring about the much-needed development in communities.

“Similarly, we cannot achieve our development aspirations and plans, if we work in isolation and detached from the institution of traditional leadership.”

Therefore, he called on the institution located in rural areas, to collaborate with government to identify obstacles that hamper community development.

“Every community and every South African deserve to enjoy the fruits of freedom and democracy, irrespective of location.”

Meanwhile, he urged the leaders to deal with the callous murders of traditional leaders, especially in KwaZulu-Natal.

“We must ask ourselves tough questions about what is happening in the province of KwaZulu-Natal.”

He strongly condemned the killings of traditional leaders and chiefs.

“We must be able to equally commit ourselves to root out the elements within our society that are responsible for such brutal acts, no matter how difficult this can be.”

In addition, he also said that government is prepared to deploy the necessary resources to confront this challenge.

“We urge amakhosi and izinduna to work with us in this regard,” he stressed.

He also spoke of the ongoing interactions between the government and Traditional Leaders in efforts to address obstacles that limit development in rural communities.

“We are making some headway in this area, and you will learn more about it today when a report on the government’s coordinated response to concerns raised by traditional and Khoi-San leaders is presented,” he added.

Source: Nam News Network

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Hawks continuous with disruptive operations tackling illegal mining, chrome worth over R600,000 seized

LIMPOPO – The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation is determined to fight the scourge of illegal mining in the Limpopo Province following a successful disruptive operation that was conducted at Tjibeng Village in Meckleneburg policing area on 06 October 2022.

Members of the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation jointly with Provincial Organised Crime, Limpopo Illegal Mining Task Team, Tactical Response Team and SSG Security company managed to seize chrome stockpiles to the value of over R600 000-00. It is believed that the stockpiles were gathered by suspected illegal miners in the area with the aim of transporting them at a later stage for business purposes.

Although the suspects were not found, their mission was disrupted and more disruptive operations will still be conducted.

Source: South African Police Service

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SAPS FCS Unit in Galeshewe investigating a case of rape, suspects sought

KIMBERLEY – The Galeshewe Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit are investigating an alleged rape of a 34-year-old woman.

It is alleged that on Saturday, 08 October 2022, the victim was found in front of a shanty in Lethabo Park, Roodepan.

It is alleged that she was raped by three unknown men and set alight with paraffin.

The victim is currently receiving medical treatment and is in a critical condition.

Anyone with information can contact Detective Warrant Officer Lesego Oliphant at 082 495 4605 or Captain Sebata Tsiu at 083 210 3820 or Crime Stop on 08600 10111 or send information through the MySAPS App. The investigation continues.

Source: South African Police Service

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South Africa: Laws cover all workers irrespective of race, origin; not xenophobic, says labour deputy minister

Department of Employment and Labour Deputy Minister, Boitumelo Moloi, says the main objective of the National Labour Migration Policy (NLMP) will be to ensure that labour migration to and from South Africa is undertaken in the interests of both migrant workers and the South African economy and society.

While addressing South Africa’s Dialogue on Labour and Mixed Migration Governance – involving work actors (Ministries of Labour, workers and employers’ organisations), she said NLMP aims to provide a national regulatory framework in line with the international labour standards and regional labour migration frameworks.

“The Labour laws in South Africa cover all workers irrespective of race, gender, religious belief or origin. However, what is disturbing, is tendencies by some employers who take advantage of vulnerable workers, given the current high unemployment levels, to exploit them and subject them to unacceptable conditions or undermine the current labour laws and standards,” Moloi said.

She added that these kind of practices have led to sporadic incidents of conflicts and unnecessary frictions between locals and foreign nationals.

She said wherever you go in the SADC region, you will find South African natives moving freely and even other neighbouring foreign nationals enjoying the same freedom as well in South Africa.

“I am raising these because there are people who continue to propagate beliefs that South Africans are Xenophobic. We continue to support initiatives at SADC and the African Union levels aimed at ensuring cooperation in easing the movement of people as a key element of economic and political integration,” the Deputy Minister said.

With the support from the International Labour Organization (ILO), the Department of Employment and Labour has adopted an inclusive and participatory policy development strategy.

The development strategy started in 2015 with a high-level seminar on labour migration management and policy development, the establishment of a road map in 2016 and a task team whose responsibility is to supervise the development of the Labour Migration policy.

“South Africa’s first National Labour Migration Policy mission is to provide a national regulatory framework aligned to international labour standards and regional labour migration frameworks whose main objective will be to ensure that labour migration to and from South Africa is undertaken in the interests of both migrant workers and the South African economy and society,” Moloi said.

ILO Director in the Decent Work Team for Eastern and Southern Africa office in Pretoria, Dr Joni Musabayana, said the Tripartite Dialogue on Labour Migration Governance’s objectives in South Africa are:

To take stock and learn about ongoing finalisation and implementation of South Africa’s labour migration policy;

Identify together 2022-2023 challenges and opportunities in implementing the policy as well as further priorities that the SAMM (Southern Africa Migration Management) project could support to fast track its implementation; and lastly,

Identify national focal points responsible for each of the thematic areas covered by the SAMM project in order to facilitate follow-up.

The country-level dialogues on Labour and Mixed Migration Governance are organised within the framework of the Southern Africa Migration Management (SAMM) project that is financed by the European Union and led by the International Labour Organization.

The four-year project (2020-2023) is designed to improve migration management in the Southern Africa and Indian Ocean region.

Due to the sensitive nature of migration management subject, President Cyril Ramaphosa established an Inter-Ministerial Task Team on Migration and Employment in 2020, led by 12 Ministers and senior Public Servants from various departments led by the Ministers of Employment and Labour and Home Affairs.

The tripartite dialogue – which started on Tuesday will continue in Gauteng.

Source: Nam News Network

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Africa has world’s highest suicide rates – WHO

The World Health Organization says Africa has the highest rate of people dying by suicide in the world.

In a statement, the agency said Africa is home to six of the 10 countries with the highest suicide rates globally.

The continent is said to have one psychiatrist for every 500,000 inhabitants – 100 times less than the WHO recommendation.

Around 11 people per 100,000 per year die by suicide in the African region, higher than the global average of nine per 100,000 people, the WHO says.

Mental health problems account for up to 11% of the risk factors associated with suicide, it continued.

The agency added that mental health workers are mostly located in urban areas on the continent.

The WHO Regional Director for Africa, Matshidiso Moeti, said suicide was a major public health problem, although prevention is rarely a priority in national health programs.

The organisation has now launched a social media suicide prevention campaign in the continent to raise awareness and encourage action.

The social media campaign was launched ahead of World Mental Health Day marked on Oct 10.

The WHO aims to reach 10 million people across the continent.

Source: Nam News Network

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Anti-Gang Unit confiscates firearms in Spandau Village , Eerste Rivier

CAPE TOWN – Police members of the Anti-Gang Unit had their sights set on illegal activities in Sabie Street in Spandau Village, Eerste Rivier on Friday, 07 October 2022. Their commitment to rid the community of unlicensed firearms and ammunition was rewarded when they arrested and detained two suspects in possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition in isolated incidents.

The police members pursued information indicating that a firearm was hidden inside a house. The members operationalised the information and proceeded to the identified residence. Upon entering the premises they conducted a search and confiscated a 12 gauge shotgun with ammunition hidden underneath the bed in the room. The 61-year-old man was arrested and detained on a charge of possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition.

In an unrelated incident the platoon followed up on information of a firearm stored at an unusual place at a residence. The members approached the address and searched the premises and confiscated a 9mm short pistol with ammunition hidden under the paving. They arrested and detained a 35-year-old female on a charge of possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition.

Once charged the suspects are expected to make their respective court appearances in the Blue Downs Magistrate’s Court on the mentioned charges.

Source: South African Police Service