Day: January 5, 2024

The Department of Home Affairs says its system is back online and services are once again available to citizens and other clients.

The department experienced a technical problem on the State Information Technology Agency (SITA) mainframe which affected access to the National Population Register (NPR).

In a statement on Thursday afternoon, the department said the system was back online from midday and services were available.

‘Technicians from the State Information Technology Agency (SITA) are monitoring the system to ensure that the solution is sustainable. Further updates will be provided where necessary,’ it said.

The department thanked citizens and clients for their patience.

Source: South African Government News Agency

The Department of Tourism has thanked South Africans who have supported local establishments and boosted the tourism sector during the recent holiday period.

With the decrease in the fuel price that came into effect on 3 January 2024, the department has encouraged citizens to take a last-minute January break to mentally prepare for the year, while reducing stress and supporting physical, mental and emotional wellbeing.

‘Our country has a wealth of diverse tourism and cultural offerings nestled in our small dorpies, townships and villages. This part of the domestic market is the backbone of the tourism sector, playing a crucial role in addressing the holiday and leisure needs of our visitors, while creating much needed employment for our citizenry,’ department spokesperson Tasneem Carrim said on Thursday.

On Wednesday, motorists welcomed a decrease in the price of petrol, with 93 (ULP and LRP) decreasing by 62 cents a litre, while the price of 95 (ULP and LRP) decreased by 76 cents a litre. The Departm
ent of Mineral Resources and Energy attributed the adjustment of fuel prices to current local and international factors.

The price of diesel (0.005% sulphur) came down by 126.32 cents a litre and the price of illuminating paraffin (wholesale) decreased by 93 cents per litre, and the Single Maximum National Retail Price (SMNRP) for illuminating paraffin came down by R1.24 per litre.

‘We encourage everyone to take some time now to explore the fun and diverse tourism offerings across the country. Whether it is a Sho’t Left to a quaint picnic park, nature reserve or heritage attraction, the decrease in the fuel price will facilitate ease of access to our attractions and contribute to growing tourism communities,’ Carrim said.

Source: South African Government News Agency

President Cyril Ramaphosa has received the leader of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), General Mohamed Dagalo of the Republic of Sudan, at his Mahlamba Ndlopfu official residence in Pretoria.

‘The President welcomed the briefing from General Dagalo and commended the central role of the African Union and IGAD [Intergovernmental Authority on Development], under the chairship of Djibouti, in mediating between the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), and participation of the people of Sudan and civil society in finding a lasting solution to the security and political challenges,’ the Presidency said on Thursday.

The President expressed South Africa’s support for the imminent face-to-face dialogue between General Dagalo and General Burhan.

He also reiterated the need for an immediate ceasefire, and the dialogue towards permanent cessation of hostilities.

Source: South African Government News Agency

Two men have been arrested in connection with the disappearance of Sibongile Portia Ngwana who was reported missing by her family at the Mangaung Police Station on Tuesday, 28 November 2023.

‘Information led to the arrest of two African males aged 27 and 33 on Thursday, 04 January 2024. They were confirmed to be foreign nationals. Further investigation led to the discovery of remains on an open veld near M10 Road,’ said the police in a statement.

‘The remains were confirmed by an expert who also visited the scene to be the remains of a human being; nevertheless forensic tests still need to be done to ascertain the identity if its indeed the remains of the reported missing Sibongile Ngwana,’ said the police.

Free State Provincial Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Baile Motswenyane said: ‘We are pleased with the progress made by the multi-disciplinary team charged with these investigations. We appeal to our communities and next of kin to be patient and allow formal tests to be conducted before we pres
ume the identity of these human remains.’

The police said further investigations are continuing and more arrests are expected.

The two suspects are meanwhile detained and will appear in the Bloemfontein Magistrate Court soon.

Source: South African Government News Agency

Efforts to combat crime in the City of Tshwane continue to pay off, as 371 suspects have been arrested as part of Operation Shanela, which focused on high-visibility patrols in crime hotspots, compliance inspections and raids at liquor outlets in different areas of the city.

The operation was executed on Thursday, in collaboration with various stakeholders, including the Departments of Home Affairs and Labour; the Gauteng Traffic Department, Tshwane Metro Police Department, crime prevention wardens, Community Policing Forums and local councillors.

‘Throughout the operation, Tshwane Detective teams successfully apprehended a total of 371 suspects. Among them were 79 individuals involved in gender-based violence, four charged with murder, three with attempted murder, eight involved in armed robbery and five arrested for rape.

‘Three uniformed groups, comprising two tactical teams and a roadblock group, were tasked to police the areas of Garsfontein and Boschkop. The tactical groups inspected 29 liquor premi
ses, with four of them being not compliant with the Liquor Act and liquor totalling 90.6 litres were confiscated and will be destroyed upon finalisation of the criminal cases,’ the South African Police Service (SAPS) said on Thursday.

A motorcycle was impounded for further investigation after it was found abandoned.

Eighty-nine undocumented foreign nationals were detained and will undergo deportation once the legal processes have been finalised.

One suspect was arrested for possession of drugs.

“Throughout the operation’s duration, a total of five premises, 1 412 persons and 747 vehicles were searched, with 12 vehicles being tested to ensure they were not stolen, which resulted in the issuing of 191 Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences (AARTO) infringement notices, totalling R104 250. The Department of Labour inspected 11 businesses and subsequently issued 10 businesses with contravention notices,’ the SAPS said.

Through intensified high-density operations under the Operation Shanela umbr
ella, regular roadblocks, stop and searches and the tracking and tracing of wanted suspects was carried out regularly during the Safer Festive Season operations.

The heightened police visibility during the holiday period and beyond is aimed at preventing, combating, and at the same time, countering serious and violent crime.

Source: South African Government News Agency

OTJIWARONGO: A nine-year-old boy allegedly drowned in a sewage bond at Otavi in the Otjozondjupa Region on Thursday afternoon.

Namibian Police Force (NamPol) community affairs commander in the region, Inspector Maureen Mbeha in an interview with Nampa on Thursday said the deceased’s body was retrieved by members of the public who were joined by police officers at approximately 15h40 the same day.

The deceased was then identified by his close relatives as Jimmy Renaltus Gubeb, said Mbeha.

‘It is alleged Gubeb fell into the pond at the town and he drowned,’ said Mbeha.

Mbeha added that Gubeb was a resident of the Harambe informal area at the town, and his body was transported to the Otavi State Clinic mortuary.

Police investigations in the matter continue.

Source: Namibia Press Agency

President Cyril Ramaphosa has approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) entered into by Minister of Public Enterprises Pravin Gordhan and Minister of Electricity Kgosientsho Ramokgopa to better clarify their respective responsibilities with respect to Eskom and the resolution of the electricity crisis.

The MoU establishes a firm basis for a collaborative approach between the Ministers in exercising their assigned powers and functions.

‘While significant progress has been made in reducing the severity of load shedding, much work still needs to be done to guarantee a secure supply of electricity. The collaborative approach outlined in the Memorandum of Understanding will further strengthen Eskom’s efforts to resolve the electricity crisis,’ President Ramaphosa said in a statement on Friday.

The MoU outlines the roles and responsibilities of the Minister of Electricity as follows:

Focus full time on all aspects of the electricity crisis and the work of the National Energy Crisis Committee.

Exercise auth
ority over the Eskom Board and management on ending load shedding and ensure that the Energy Action Plan is implemented without delay.

Improve generation capacity and the purchase of additional capacity.

Oversee implementation of the Eskom Generation Recovery Plan.

Ensure that the generation fleet performs optimally and results in security of supply and a low level of loadshedding.

Ensure that matters dealing with transmission are dealt with, including the issuing of the Requests for Proposals and/or Requests for Information for financing of new transmission lines.

Developing and agreeing on financing models and options for transmission together with National Treasury and the Presidency.

The Presidency said the MoU takes into account the Eskom Memorandum of Incorporation, which makes it obligatory to inform the Minister of Public Enterprises of critical decisions in this respect.

The MoU stipulates that the Minister of Public Enterprises will:

Remain the shareholder representative of Eskom.

Support a
nd assist the Minister of Electricity in his interactions with the Board by incorporating the responsibilities of the Minister of Electricity listed in the MoU in the execution of his role as shareholder, in line with the Eskom Shareholder Compact, and inserting the obligations of the Board in this regard into the Board Performance Evaluation Framework.

Steer the restructuring of Eskom in line with the Eskom Roadmap.

Ensure the establishment and operationalisation of the transmission company.

Lay the basis for the restructuring of Eskom arising from the Electricity Regulation Act Amendment Bill.

Oversee the implementation of the Just Energy Transition strategy as provided for in the Shareholder Compact.

The MoU makes provision for regular review meetings between the Ministers to address any impediments to its implementation. The Ministers will also have regular review meetings with the President.

‘The Ministers will work together more closely and with their respective responsibilities clearly outlined t
o ensure the effective implementation of the Energy Action Plan,’ the President said.

The President announced the Energy Action Plan in July 2022 as South Africa’s plan to end load shedding and achieve energy security. It outlines a bold set of actions aimed at fixing Eskom and adding as much new generation capacity as possible, as quickly as possible, to close the gap in electricity supply.

The arrangement outlined in the MoU will be operational until the end of the current administration.

Source: South African Government News Agency