Month: August 2023

Human Settlements Minister, Mmamoloko Kubayi, says the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) must probe projects that are affected by poor performance, as contractors who under-deliver or abandon projects must be brought to book.

Kubayi made the call to the Free State Human Settlements Department during a recent oversight visit to Mangaung Metropolitan and Matjhabeng Municipality to assess performance, including delivery of housing units and basic services.

Together with Free State Premier, Mxolisi Dukwana, and Human Settlements MEC, Ketso Makume, Kubayi visited blocked housing projects with the aim of finding solutions.

The department has prioritised the completion of blocked projects, which are expected to deliver close to 10 000 units in the province. The eradication of rural mud houses and asbestos roofs; the provision of basic services and infrastructure in informal settlements and homes for military veterans are also top priority.

During the visits to both municipalities, Kubayi expressed her disappointment with the staggering number of incomplete projects, which deny the poor and vulnerable access to a decent homes.

She raised concern about State funds, amounting to hundreds of millions, that have been spent on incomplete projects.

She further expressed her disappointment at the number of unscrupulous contractors, who were comfortable with siphoning State funds without having delivered a single project milestone.

Kubayi warned that the delivery of houses on time and within budget is non-negotiable.

“We allocated resources and those are meant to change the lives of the people. Poor performance by contractors is a slap in the face of those who live in squalor,” Kubayi said.

She said the department, together with the Free State government, agreed that there must be consequences for those who have denied people their right to dignity.

“When I joined the department, I called on the contractors to return to the abandoned sites and make good on their contractual obligations. We have now resolved that we will go after those who have vanished with government resources.

“The poor performance of one province affects the entire sector and hence the need for all provinces to crack the whip on poor performing contractors to ensure that targets are met,” Kubayi said.

The Minister said for the financial year 2023/24, the department has allocated R19.2 billion to provincial grants and R12.5 billion for municipal grants.

With its budget allocation of close to R1 billion, the Free State has committed that during this financial year, it will deliver close to 10 000 housing units, including the eradication of mud houses and asbestos roofs; providing basic services and infrastructure in informal settlements, and accelerating the delivery of houses for military veterans and completing blocked projects.

In an effort to assist the province to achieve its set targets, the Minister announced that she has agreed to a request to second two officials from the National Human Settlements to provide additional capacity to the provincial department.

She said the two officials are expected to be in the province as early as next week.

Responding to a recent land invasion in Botshabelo in Mangaung, the Minister called on community members to partner with government to deliver sustainable human settlements.

She also warned against “shack lords” and illegal occupation of land, saying it affects service delivery.

The communities were also reminded that the occupation of land unsuitable for human settlements development in many instances results in loss of lives due disasters.

Over 600 title deeds given to elderly women

The oversight visit also included the handing over of 600 title deeds to mostly elderly women beneficiaries.

Kubayi urged the beneficiaries not to fall into the temptation of selling their newly acquired homes or to give them to loan sharks.

“This is proof that a house is yours and belongs to you and your loved ones. Hold on to it and hand it over to your next generations,” Kubayi told beneficiaries.

The Minister also commended women’s contribution to providing sustainable human settlements in many parts of the country, and called for increased allocation of projects towards women contractors, as part of the 40% set aside policy.

Source: South African Government News Agency

Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) has signed a memorandum of agreement (MoA) with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) to address extreme wind disruption to operate in the Port of Cape Town (PoCT).

The TNPA and the CSIR-hosted programme, the Alliance for Collaboration on Climate and Earth Systems Science (ACCESS), and the other institutions intend to establish a series of research projects aimed at understanding the impact of extreme wind disruption on operations for the integrated maritime transport logistics chain at the PoCT.

In the past few years, according to the joint statement, the PoCT lost an average of 1 200 hours per year of operational time due to extreme wind disruption.

“Extreme wind gusts can result in terminal equipment becoming unsafe to operate, thereby impacting terminal operations.

“This sometimes leads to congestion inside and outside the port, resulting in vessels being at anchorage for extended periods. Several industries, including the time-sensitive fruit industry, are severely impacted by wind disruptions in the port,” the statement read.

The parties said experts in various institutions who possess the skills required to address the problem are conducting the research.

Meanwhile, the University of the Witwatersrand’s experts are studying the seasonal climate patterns that result in these extreme winds to establish whether there are trends and whether the wind is indeed intensifying with time.

They are also looking into how wind patterns in the Cape Peninsula and the port are likely to change because of climate change.

In addition, the University of KwaZulu-Natal and the University of Cape Town (UCT) researchers are examining the current and future economic impact of these disruptions on specific value chains to estimate the financial losses and assess the required investment into adaptation measures to deal with the problem.

“The CSIR and UCT are focusing on feasible engineering and operational adaptations to address the challenge.”

TNPA Managing Executive for Western Region ports, Advocate Phyllis Difeto, said the institution appreciates the increasing risk of environmental challenges to port operations.

“Unless these are carefully understood and managed, they can add a burden to the smooth management of the ports, which are vital to the functioning of the country’s economy.

“Climate change presents a growing challenge to shipping and ports in that it impacts the state of both land and sea operations,” Difeto said.

CSIR Senior Researcher and ACCESS Director, Dr Neville Sweijd, noted that extreme weather is the way in which climate change manifests.

“The extreme wind problem in the PoCT is a classic example. It is not a new problem, but potentially a worsening one, and so it will increasingly have an impact on lives and livelihoods all around the Western Cape, especially for those people who are involved in the fruit export industry,” Sweijd added.

He explained that the project seeks to produce solutions that can be used to adapt to and manage extreme wind impacts for the next two years.

“We cannot turn the wind off, but we can learn to better work with it,” he said.

The MoA between TNPA and the research consortium will provide researchers with access to valuable data sources that are required for the study, while national ports authority will facilitate engagements with their key clients and stakeholders.

“Strategic partnerships are critical for a successful and integrated maritime transport logistics chain, and the TNPA continues to collaborate and partner with all stakeholders to optimise the value proposition of the port and the western region,” said Difeto.

Source: South African Government News Agency

Media Development and Diversity Agency (MDDA) to unveil brand-new broadcast studios at uMgungundlovu Community Radio

On Friday 11 August, the Media Development and Diversity Agency (MDDA), led by MDDA Board Member, Ms Marina Clarke, will unveil the brand-new state-of-the-art broadcast studios at uMgungundlovu Community Radio station in Pietermaritzburg under uMgungundlovu District Municipality in KwaZulu-Natal.

The uMgungundlovu Community Radio was established in 2006 as a voluntary association, and was formally registered as an NPO in 2008, and allocated the 107.6 MHz frequency by ICASA. The station’s motto is, the Sound of Choice for the Capital of KwaZulu-Natal. uMgungundlovu Community Radio lives up to this big mandate by broadcasting programmes that inform, educate, entertain, and persuades its listeners to strive for excellence in whatever they do.

The station broadcasts 24 hours a day, seven (7) days a week in the following languages, isiZulu 81%, English 16%, other languages 2% and 1% for Afrikaans.

“As uMgungundlovu Community Radio we strive to express community initiatives, needs, and aspirations through our programming. We believe that our station is a platform for better communication, which provides an opportunity for our community members to exchange development ideas and to debate local, regional, and national issues,” said Ms Nothando Sibiya, Station Manager of uMgungundlovu Community radio.

The MDDA congratulates uMgungundlovu Community Radio for 17 years in the community media sector, and believes that the new state-of the art studios will elevate the quality of broadcasting, making the station appealing to potential partners and propel uMgungundlovu FM 107.6 MHz to even greater heights.

Members of the media are invited to the unveiling as follows:

Date: Friday, 11 August 2023

Time: 09h00-13h00

Venue: 206 Burger Street, Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal

For more information, contact the MDDA Communications unit:

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

Cell: 082 785 6071.

Source: Government of South Africa

Media Development and Diversity Agency (MDDA) to unveil brand-new broadcast studios at Inanda 88.4 FM and launch two (2) community media print projects

On Thursday 10 August 2023, the Media Development and Diversity Agency (MDDA), led by MDDA Board Chairperson, Professor Hlengani Mathebula, will unveil brand-new state-of-the- art broadcast studios at Inanda 88.4 FM. At this occasion, the MDDA will also launch two (2) MDDA funded community print and digital projects, namely Ulwazi magazine, and UniQ magazine. The projects form part of the MDDA’s ongoing work towards promoting the development and diversity of community and small commercial media. The three (3) community media projects are based in the KwaZulu-Natal province.

Inanda 88.4 FM is a 24-hour community radio station that broadcasts in IsiZulu 60% and English 40%. The station is an integral part of the INK (Inanda, Ntuzuma, Kwa-Mashu) urban renewal programme and provides a link to the community grassroots level. The station was established in 2003, licensed in 2006 and officially went on Air in 2009. Its programming format consists of 60% content and 40% music, with South African music represented across genres making up 60% of the playlist.

Meanwhile, UniQ magazine is an online publication founded by four (4) women with ample experience in the media industry. The 100% women owned magazine was launched in March 2014 and is aimed at the LGBTIQI+ community in KZN. Its mission is to “empower lesbian, queer women, trans women, and non-binary people to share culture and stories, connect with each other, and raise visibility while educating everyone on homosexuality.” UniQ magazine’s published content is 70% English and 30% isiZulu, and forms part of strategies that contribute to international debates on human rights.

Ulwazi magazine is a monthly student magazine targeting high school teenagers in the township of Umlazi. The publication produces content that both informs and inspires high school youth in the township and uses many interactive methods to communicate with its audience. Ulwazi magazine is unique in that it addresses topics that are specific to high school learners and news relevant to them. It is available in hard copy as well as a website version where additional information is found. The website allows content to be easily accessed by young people beyond the targeted demographic.

“The MDDA congratulates all three (3) projects which were approved for funding during the 2022/23 financial year. These projects demonstrate the MDDA’s commitment to promoting diversity and access to information by providing grant funding and other non-financial support to historically disadvantaged communities, diminished indigenous languages and cultural groups. Through projects such as Inanda 88.4 FM, UniQ and Ulwazi magazines, the MDDA advances efforts to transform the media landscape at the level of access, ownership, control, and content diversity,” said MDDA Acting CEO, Ms Nomkhosi Peter.

Members of the media are invited to the launch event as follows: Date: Thursday, 10 August 2023

Time: 09h00 – 13h00

Venue: Inanda Seminary Clinic, Port 1, Inanda Glebe, Inanda, 4039

For more information, contact:

MDDA Communications unit

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

Cell: 082 785 6071

Source: Government of South Africa

A workshop on the Disaster Resilience Scorecard for Cities, aimed at promoting catastrophe risk reduction and designing resilient development in response to challenges posed by a swiftly changing urban environment, is starting here on Tuesday.

The three-day workshop, to be facilitated by the City of Windhoek in conjunction with the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) Regional Office for Africa and GIZ Resilience Initiative Africa (RIA), will run until Thursday.

CoW in a media statement on Monday said the workshop seeks to familiarise participants with the ‘Making Cities Resilient 2030’ initiative and its tools, materials, and approaches that improve catastrophe resilience.

The workshop will provide a platform for experts and officials to develop and implement disaster risk reduction action plans based on Making Cities Resilient: 10 Essentials for Building Resilient Cities, as well as to strengthen the link between national-level disaster risk reduction planning and local-level implementation.

It also intends to establish an environment in which participants may share practices and engage in in-depth learning opportunities, according to the statement.

The workshop will further educate local government officials and stakeholders with the skills and knowledge they need to build and implement disaster risk reduction (DRR) strategies and action plans that are consistent with DRR strategies and the Sendai Framework.

“It is critical to have stakeholder support in order to achieve our country’s catastrophe risk reduction goals. As a result, we respectfully ask that our partners and stakeholders support our initiatives in this area. By working together, we can assure sustainable development and create a safer future,” it stated.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

MTC will hold a customer engagement strategy workshop named ‘MTC Interact’ at Gobabis in the Omaheke Region on Wednesday.

The engagement session will allow Gobabis residents and MTC management to share notes on MTC’s customer service, data pricing, shareholding issues, the company’s new business strategy, and realignment efforts to continue sustaining the business model and serving the diverse needs of the 2.4 million customers.

MTC’s Chief Human Capital, Corporate Affairs, and Marketing Officer, Tim Ekandjo, in a media statement on Monday said the session is designed for residents to freely engage MTC management on pressing issues while the company sheds light on the journey ahead and how all shareholders can play a role.

“MTC Interact will be making its premier appearance in cattle country and we expect the 081Nation to come out and engage us. This is not only a good opportunity for the residents, but equally so for management to hear our customers,” said Ekandjo.

Ekandjo added that during the airing, the MTC EXCO team will be discussing not only the strategic initiatives but also issues that the customers experience.

This will be the first time ‘MTC Interact’ takes place outside the Khomas Region since its launch in 2018 and Ekandjo encouraged Omaheke residents to utilise the opportunity.

“Since we launched this initiative in 2018, we have only hosted it digitally in Windhoek. This time we will have a hybrid format because in addition to hosting it virtually, we are also taking it out of the conventional studio set-up,” Ekandjo said.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency