Day: August 2, 2023

The Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Ms Barbara Creecy, will release the Expert Review Panel report on fishing closures and limitations around key penguin colonies on Friday, 4 August 2023.

The Expert Review Panel was set up by the Minister Creecy in December 2022 to review all related science output over the last few years. This experiment sought to understand what, if any, benefits are derived from limiting fishing adjacent to penguin colonies. Competition for food is thought to be one among a set of pressures that are contributing to the decline of the African Penguin population.

The panel, which undertook the assessment from end of December 2022 and submitted its report in July 2023, is chaired by Professor Andre Punt (USA), with members Dr Ana Parma (Argentina), Dr Eva Plaganyi (Australia), Professor Philip Trathan (UK), Professor Robert Furness (UK) and Professor James Sanchirico (USA).

Members of the media are invited to attend the virtual briefing as follows:

Date: 4 August 2023

Time: 10h00

Link: https://shorturl.at/ePRY2(link is external)

To RSVP please contact, Noma Bolani on 066 112 3746 / [email protected](link sends e-mail)

Media enquiries:

Peter Mbelengwa

Cell: 082 611 8197

Source: Government of South Africa

MEC Diale-Tlabela to conduct oversight visit at two road project sites

Gauteng MEC for Transport and Logistics, Kedibone Diale-Tlabela, will on Thursday, 03 August 2023, conduct an oversight visit at two of the Department’s road construction projects, R82 and P214 Roads, respectively, to assess progress.

The R82 connects the City of Johannesburg and the industrial nodes of the Sedibeng District Municipality. The project is undertaken to upgrade the existing single carriageway into a dual carriageway. This is to also improve the road condition as well as its carrying capacity.

MEC Diale-Tlabela will then proceed to Road P241/1, a main road linking Johannesburg and Lenasia. The project entails pavement rehabilitation of the single carriageway (R554) starting at P241/1 and R82 intersection towards the municipal boundary, past the M10 in Lenasia.

Both projects are aligned to the Department’s strategic objective of #GrowingGautengTogether through Smart Mobility as well as the #AgaLeRona Accelerator Programme.

Media is invited and details are as follows:

First project site (R82)

Time: 10h00

Venue: R82

Second project site (P214/1)

Time: 11:30

Venue: P241

Enquiries:

Melitah Madiba

Cell: 073 644 9935

Lesiba Mpya

Cell: 078 450 9841

E-mail [email protected]

Source: Government of South Africa

Minister Ndabeni-Abrahams pays tribute to Ms Pheliswa Mthethwa for a sterling tenure as the Chief Executive Officer of the National Empowerment Fund (NEF)

The Minister for Small Business Development, Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams congratulates Ms Pheliswa Mthethwa for exceptional work during her tenure as the Chief Executive Officer at the National Empowerment Fund.

Ms Mthethwa bows out at the end of this year following a fruitful reign which has seen the NEF provide a line to thousands of aspiring black entrepreneurs wishing to enter the mainstream economy.

During her time at the helm, NEF approved multi-billions in BEE funding, creating a healthy pool of black industrialists and entrepreneurs culpable of lifting the fortunes of black people from poverty to the promised land of prosperity as envisaged by the late state President, Nelson Mandela.

Ms. Mthethwa takes the final bow from the development financing stage, leaving behind a healthy organization which has approved over R13.75 billion in investments for black entrepreneurs, R12.6 billion in company investment to support emerging black industrialists, created over 124 276 jobs and managed to put together 8679 public engagements on how to save and invest mainly in poor black townships, rural areas and even in cities.

She has collected a longlist of accolades, chief amongst them being named 2019 CEO of the Decade by Association of Black Securities and Investment Professionals (ABSIP), 2017 Woman of the Year, also by ABSIP and 2011 Corporate Businesswoman of the Year (Africa Investor) just to name a few of her illustrious accolades.

As we celebrate Women’s Month, we will be reminded of women like Ms Mthethwa who have demonstrated selflessness and worked relentlessly to bring the country to a firm stand on economic development and growth. We salute her determination, leadership, and exceptional work about the country’s transformation agenda. Our sector remains poorer without her, and we are therefore hopeful that she will allow us to tap into her capabilities where necessary.

Amaqobokazana angalala endleleni, yazini kunyembelekile!

Enquiries:

Noko Manyelo

Cell: 063 645 6018

E-mail: [email protected]

Source: Government of South Africa

Minister of the Department of Communications and digital technologies, hon. Mondli Gungubele to deliver the opening address at the BRICS Ministers of Communication meeting

Tomorrow, 3 August 2023, Minister Mondli Gungubele will deliver the official opening address to the 9th BRICS Ministers of Communications Meeting. The Minister is hosting his counterparts from the BRICS member countries: Brazil, Russia, China and India. The Meeting of the ministers of communications is hosted by the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies, and it is a precursor to the main BRICS Summit taking place from 22 to 24 August in Sandton.

The main outcome of the 9th BRICS Ministers of Communications Meeting is a Declaration, which will be based on consensus from all member countries. This Declaration will form part of the declaration of the BRICS Summit, which will be organised by the President of South Africa.

For this this year’s Meeting of Ministers, South Africa has advanced, among others, three main points for consideration:

1. Digital Inclusion

2. Expansion and development of transformative technologies; and

3. Internet Governance and Safety of the Internet

The Minister will deliver the opening address as follows:

Date : 03 August 2023 (Thursday)

Time : 09:00am

Venue : Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC)

For media enquiries:

Ms Tlangelani Manganyi

E-mail: [email protected](link sends e-mail)

Cell: 060 886 4670

Mr Lerato Kojoana

E-mail: [email protected](link sends e-mail)

Cell: 078 952 5584

Source: Government of South Africa