Month: August 2023

Government is fully committed to the implementation of the Eskom roadmap and the state retaining 100% control of the three separate entities – Generation, Transmission and Distribution, said the Department of Public Enterprises (DPE).

“The DPE is hereby correcting the misinterpretation and mischievous propaganda arising from a technical letter sent to the Eskom Board,” it said in a statement on Thursday.

The department reminded citizens that the intention to restructure Eskom was first pronounced by President Cyril Ramaphosa’s 2019 State of the Nation Address (SONA) when he mandated the process to transform the structure of the electricity industry to better serve the needs of the country.

The President announced the process of establishing three separate entities – Generation, Transmission and Distribution – under Eskom Holdings.

“The implementation of the Eskom roadmap and current legislation before Parliament will result in a restructured electricity industry.”

Globally, the energy sector is rapidly changing due to new technologies, transforming customer behaviours and climate change policies.

“Eskom’s current structure is no longer suitable to meet the country’s energy needs.”

According to the department, Eskom Holdings currently owns all Generation, Transmission and Distribution assets, of which these assets belong to the state.

“The reform of Eskom requires the ‘restructuring of Eskom’. This means establishing three separate companies housing Generation, Transmission and Distribution businesses – 100% owned by the state,” the statement read.

“To implement the above, corresponding assets need to be transferred from Eskom Holdings to each of the new companies.”

The department said this requires approval in terms of the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA) Section 54 (2), (c) and (d).

In terms of this section, the department said the consent of both Ministers of Finance and Public Enterprises is required for the transfer of these assets into the newly established distribution company.

“The letter to the Board contains the consent of the Minister of Public Enterprises for the transfer of assets from the holding company to the newly established distribution company. Further work still needs to be done and agreed upon in relation to the business and the financial model of the newly established distribution company.”

The department believes that the restructuring process is a crucial part of ensuring energy security in the future for all South Africans.

“The DPE and government are fully committed to the implementation of the roadmap and to retaining 100% control of these entities.

“The public needs to be mindful that there are many vested interests who seem to be intent on undermining energy security and the restructuring process – both of which will be disadvantaging 60 million people.

“This is through misinformation and deliberate distortions aimed at undermining public confidence in the process. This is not in South Africa’s interest,” it said.

Source: South African Government News Agency

The ninth District Development Model (DDM) Presidential Imbizo has kicked off at the Chris Hani District Municipality in the Eastern Cape.

The Presidential Imbizo presents an opportunity for South Africans from all corners of the country to voice out the challenges they face from their everyday lives directly to the President and Cabinet, with a view to tackle them head on.

The President has visited all provinces, with the Eastern Cape imbizo expected to be the last in this round.

Opening the programme for the day, Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Thembi Nkadimeng said the imbizo is an important platform for citizens to get their concerns heard at the highest level.

“It is an honour that we gather here today as part of culmination of an essential journey of the [DDM] Presidential Imbizo that we started.

“This is the last round, our ninth imbizo. What is important is that we give the citizens the opportunity to talk to the President and that is the main reason why we have come here,” she said.

The Minister added that ministers and the President will respond with a way forward on the challenges raised.

“We are here today as part of the [DDM], the Presidential Imbizo to talk to you about service delivery challenges and opportunities in your areas. The President and the ministers will show some of these opportunities and talk about some of the programmes within the DDM framework to show that we are working together.

“We are doing this in support of [municipalities] because we know that basic services are important such as water, sanitation, healthcare [and] education. When we work together as the spheres of government, we can deliver services and improve turnaround time,” she said.

Source: South African Government News Agency

President Cyril Ramaphosa has assured local communities in Tsomo in the Chris Hani District Municipality that providing water to communities is government’s priority.

“Izimbizo are meant for government to listen to communities, whether you have a complaint, you have an opportunity here,” President Ramaphosa told residents on Friday.

The President was speaking at the ninth Presidential Imbizo held in Tsomo in the Chris Hani District Municipality in the Eastern Cape.

The Presidential Imbizo serves as a platform for face-to-face engagement between citizens and senior government leaders, holding the administration accountable and allowing government to consult and update communities on development and service delivery in the relevant areas.

President Ramaphosa commended those people who did not only raise their concerns or grievances, but also commended what government is doing to improve people’s lives.

“There is a lot that government is doing to improve people’s lives, for all your grievances, there are answers,” President Ramaphosa said.

President Ramaphosa also commended the local communities for heeding the call to attend the Imbizo.

“This is the biggest community Imbizo we have ever been to, I thank you all for coming,” said President Ramaphosa.

The local communities were given an opportunity to raise their concerns before President Ramaphosa and his Cabinet ministers.

Water and Sanitation Minister Senzo Mchunu assured the locals that government is doing everything in its power to ensure that there is water in communities.

“We are working in ensuring that our communities get water. We have already started with some of the projects,” Mchunu said.

Mchunu told the locals that money has been allocated to the municipalities to speed up water projects.

Most raised concerns about water, poor road conditions, lack of job opportunities and other services.

Today is the ninth Presidential Imbizo since government commenced with the District Development Model (DDM) programme in March 2022 in Mahikeng in the North West province.

The DDM is an integrated planning model for Cooperative Governance that seeks to ensure an integrated, district-based service delivery approach aimed at fast-tracking service delivery.

The President’s visit here in Tsomo brought hope to many people in the Chris Hani District Municipality.

Siyamthanda Maqoko from Cofimvaba told SAnews that she is happy that the President has visited their area.

“I hope the President is going to address the many challenges that we have here. We have a water problem, our roads are not good. We hope the President is going to address our grievances and all our challenges,” Maqoko said.

Asked how she feels about 30 years of democracy, Maqoko said she is happy because government has done a lot to improve people’s lives.

“Even though there are still challenges, many people who did not have houses, they now have houses, new schools have been built and most households now have electricity,” she said, adding that people now participate in the running of the government.

Maqoko expressed concern about the high number of young people who are taking drugs, appealing to government to create more job opportunities for young people.

“Government must create job opportunities for young people, this will make our youth to stop taking drugs,” she said.

A learner from Tsomo Mission in Tsomo, Ovayo Booi, told SAnews that the President must intervene and ensure that those who do not have houses should be assisted to get houses.

“Government must help our communities to get houses, water and electricity. Government must also build more schools,” Booi said.

Thabisa Zwakala, a mother of three, said she is happy that the President is in their area, which means government has not forgotten about them.

“For the President to come here, this shows that we are important and that government is going to address our grievances,” Zwakala said, adding that she believes that the communities are going to change for the better.

“Our area is very poor, no water and our roads are very bad,” she said.

Prior to engaging with the local communities, President Ramaphosa started the Imbizo by visiting the local Water Treatment Plant which is expected to help provide water in the area.

Upon his arrival, President Ramaphosa was briefed about the plant by the municipal officials.

He then conducted a walkabout at the plant and thereafter proceeded to the Imbizo venue where he was welcomed by the locals.

Source: South African Government News Agency

Voter registration will be held this weekend for four municipal ward by-elections scheduled to take place on Wednesday, 27 September 2023.

Voting stations in the wards listed below will be open this Saturday, 12 August 2023 and Sunday, 13 August 2023, from 08h00 to 17h00 to allow all

eligible voters to register and for current voters to check their registration details and to provide/update address details where necessary.

Voters should take their identity document (ID) with them – either a green barcoded ID book, a smartcard ID, or a valid Temporary ID Certificate.

They will also need to complete their physical home address on registration or provide sufficient particularities of their place of residence.

Documented proof of address (e.g. a municipal account) is not required.

Voters may also check and update their details at their local (municipal) Electoral Commission (IEC) office on weekdays during office hours.

Voters are reminded that it is a criminal offence to register and vote in a ward in which they are not ordinarily resident.

By-elections will be held in the following wards:

In KwaZulu-Natal

Ward 13 in uMhlathuze Municipality – KZN282, 6 837 registered voters, which became vacant as a result of the councillor’s resignation. Registration and voting will take place at the following stations:

Voting District/Station Number

Voting District

43412701

AMABUYE COMBINED SCHOOL

43412723

NDESHENI HIGH SCHOOL

43417043

MKHOBOSA PRIMARY SCHOOL

43418426

EMPEMBENI PRIMARY SCHOOL

In Limpopo

Ward 11 in Blouberg Municipality – LIM351, with 4 473 registered voters, which became vacant as a result of the councillor’s death. Registration and voting will take place at the following stations:

Voting District/Station Number

Voting Station Details

76130209

RAMATEMA HIGH SCHOOL

76130322

RALEKWANA SECODARY SCHOOL

76130535

SEHWIDITSANE PRIMARY SCHOOL

76130568

TSWATSANE PRIMARY SCHOOL

76130704

MANTOTOLE PRIMARY SCHOOL

In the North West

Ward 03 in Madibeng Municipality – NW372, with 4 410 registered voters, which became vacant as a result of the councillor’s death. Registration and voting will take place at the following stations:

Voting District/Station Number

Voting Station Details

86661513

NTOLO HIGH SCHOOL

86661524

MPYATILO PRIMARY SCHOOL

86661535

ROMAN CHURCH MADIDI

86661546

HALL 15

86663368

MMAMONWANA PRIMARY SCHOOL

Ward 03 in Maquassi Hills Municipality – NW404, with 2 956 registered voters, which became vacant as a result of the councillor’s death. Registration and voting will take place at the following stations:

Voting District/Station Number

Voting Station Details

86960032

RAGOGANG PRIMARY SCHOOL

86960076

AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH

Special voting will take place at voting stations as well as through home visits on 26 September 2023 between 08h00 and 17h00. Voters wishing to apply to cast a special vote can apply at their local IEC office during office hours between

11 September 2023 and 15 September 2023.

Applications for special votes can also be made online via the IEC’s website, www.elections.org.za(link is external). Once voters have applied online they will receive an SMS notifying them of the outcome when their application has been processed.

They can also check the status of their special vote application online at www.elections.org.za(link is external).

Voters can also apply for special votes via cellphone by SMSing their identity number to 32249 (charged at R1). The SMS application facility is only available for those applying to cast a special vote at their voting station and NOT for home visits.

For more information on these by-elections contact your local (municipal) IEC office weekdays during office hours. Contact details for all IEC offices are available on the IEC website at www.elections.org.za(link is external) under Contact Us.

For media queries, please contact:

Kate Bapela

Cell: 082 600 6386

For media interviews, please email requests to: [email protected](link sends e-mail)

Follow us on social media:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/IECSouthAfrica(link is external)

Instagram: www.instagram.com/IECSouthAfrica(link is external)

X (formerly Twitter): @IECSouthAfrica

YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/IECSouthAfrica(link is external)

Website: www.elections.org.za(link is external)

WhatsApp: 0600 88 0000

Election timetable for all municipal By-elections called on or before 18 August 2023 to be held on 27 September 2023

The cut-off dates for the various electoral processes for these by-elections are as follows:

18 August 2023

Notice calling the by-election on or before, and opening of nomination of candidates

21 August 2023

Open inspection voters’ roll for objections

28 August 2023

Close inspection voters’ roll for objections

01 September 2023

Electoral Commission to decide on objections to voters’ roll

04 September 2023

Certification of voters’ roll

4 September 2023

Cut-off date and time for submission of nomination of candidates

5 September 2023

Cut-off date to notify party/independent nominator of non-compliance of outstanding candidate documents

8 September 2023

Notices: List of and particulars pertaining to voting stations and mobile voting stations

8 September 2023

The cut-off date for party/independent nominator to submit ID copy and/or signed Acceptance of Nomination

11 September 2023

Opening of applications for special votes

11 September 2023

Compilation and certification of lists of candidates contesting a ward

11 September 2023

Issue certificates to candidates

15 September 2023

Closing of applications for special votes

26 September 2023

Special votes at voting stations and special vote home visits, 08h00 to 17h00

27 September 2023

By-Election date

(Note: All deadlines are at 17h00 on the date listed)

Electoral Commission

Tel: 012 622 5941

Source: Government of South Africa

The Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Ms Barbara Creecy, this morning commended Dr Marcos Orellana, UN Special Rapporteur on Toxins and Human Rights, on his successful visit to South Africa from 31 July – 11 August 2023.

Welcoming the outcome of Dr Orellana’s visit, Minister Creecy urged the United Nations to support South Africa’s journey from environmental racism to sustainable development and realization of the human rights contained in Section 24 of the Constitution.

“We look forward to the outcome of the report and hope that the Special Rapporteur will continue to support South Africa in its quest to improve environmental management and the realization of environmental rights,” said Minister Creecy.

The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment had arranged for Dr Orellana to hold widespread discussions on the problem of chemicals and hazardous waste with government, business, civil society and organised labour. Dr Orellana also conducted site visits.

The Minister emphasised the importance for developing countries to receive technological transfer, technical assistance, and financial assistance to make a safe environment a reality. “Rapid urbanization, industrialization and immigration, combined with fiscal challenges, have negatively impacted on government’s ability to effectively manage environmental challenges,” the Minister said.

Dr Orellana will present a report on his visit and his findings and recommendations to the Human Rights Council in September 2024.

For media enquiries, please contact:

Peter Mbelengwa

Cell: 082 611 8197

Source: Government of South Africa