Day: January 29, 2024

BOUAKE: Deputy Minister of Sports, Youth and National Service, Emma Kantema-Gaomas, has commended the senior national men’s football team, the Brave Warriors, for their heroic achievements at the Africa Cup of Nations, stating that the players should be proud of themselves.

Speaking to the players in Bouake on Sunday after their elimination from the 2023 TotalEnergies AFCON finals in Ivory Coast, Kantema-Gaomas emphasised that football is a priority sport for the government.

‘It’s very difficult to qualify for this level of competition and your qualification here carried the hopes and aspirations of the Namibian people,’ she said.

She added that the continental competition gives players exposure to scouts who are looking for talent and as a government, they ensured that all the necessary resources were available so that Namibians could also showcase their talents on such a platform.

‘You have made us proud as a nation by winning our first game and getting out of the group stages, it’s a historic moment. T
hese achievements can’t be taken away from you and it’s an experience that is going to last a lifetime,’ said Kantema-Gaomas.

The deputy minister stated as the saying goes, ‘It’s either you win, or you learn’, and Namibia learned a lot from the competition.

‘We as the government will now look at ways of designing tailored programmes as we need to work on development and talent nurturing, so we tailor programmes on how to improve our athletes,’ she said.

Kantema-Gaomas also said sport plays a role in uniting people and creating social cohesion, therefore as a sports ministry they want to exploit this to create unity.

‘The sacrifices you made as players and technical team demonstrate your patriotism and ambassadorship. Now, we must continue to build this team and work towards the future. The 2025 and 2027 AFCON tournaments are just around the corner. I urge all players to conduct themselves as sports heroes when they return home and avoid unnecessary publicity,’ Kantema-Gaomas said.

Source: The Namibia Pr
ess Agency

The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) has released its report into the July 2021 unrest that unfolded in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), during which some 350 people lost their lives.

The violence and destruction also caused damage to infrastructure and businesses costing South Africa’s economy some R50 billion, with a further two million jobs being lost or affected.

Speaking at the release of the report, SAHRC Commissioner Philile Ntuli said the commission found that myriad factors contributed to the outbreak of destruction and violence during the riots.

‘The violence and destruction were symptomatic of unresolved systemic conditions, including post-COVID-19 economic recovery, high unemployment, lawlessness, discrimination, socio-economic divides, and issues within the security sector.

‘The Commission concluded that organised groups and individuals opportunistically exploited these conditions to attempt to usurp the rule of law,’ Ntuli said.

The Commission’s work focused on four issues nam
ely:

The social, economic, spatial, and political factors prevalent in the various affected areas, and the extent to which these played a role in the unrest.

The causes of the alleged racially motivated attacks and killings in the country.

The causes of the apparent lapses in law enforcement by State Security agencies, particularly in the South African Police Service, and the role of private security companies in the unrest.

The causes of the July unrest, with particular focus on Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal.

The SAHRC made a series of findings on and recommendations for each issue – including on the South African Police Service and the country’s intelligence services.

The full report can be obtained at https://www.sahrc.org.za/home/21/files/JULY%20UNREST%20REPORT%20FINAL_29%20JAN%202024.pdf.

Ntuli described the unrest as a well-orchestrated and a ‘violent culmination of deep-rooted political and social challenges’ that South Africa had been facing.

‘The unrest was largely attributed to typologies of org
anisation and orchestration of public discord, crime and protest.

‘Evidence indicated that the acts during the unrest were well-orchestrated, including the blocking of the N3, destruction of factories and warehouses, attack on government communication facilities, and bombing and theft of ATMs. These events were interconnected and required significant resources.

‘Two types of actors were identified during the unrest: primary actors, who led and executed widespread destruction, and secondary actors, who participated in theft. The timing of the events coincided with the incarceration of former President Jacob Zuma, leading to a perception that the two were related,’ Ntuli said.

Ntuli said while evidence suggests that the unrest was well orchestrated, the Commission ‘did not receive clear evidence identifying specific groups or individuals as primary actors, while… the common purpose or intention behind the unrest remained unclear’.

In her concluding remarks, Ntuli said the July 2021 unrest must be a ‘marker
and a lesson’ as South Africa continues its journey ‘from our colonial past’.

‘Building a united, inclusive, safe and prosperous South Africa requires confronting the past, acknowledging present challenges, and working together for positive change. The unrest was a wake-up call, nudging us all to the reality of the fragility of the peace and security that some enjoy.

‘It was a reminder that the process of democracy and constitutionalism has to benefit all, if it is to be sustained. It was a confrontation with the reality that the Bill of Rights must be realised for all, and particularly for those of whom the same rights were deprived by the colonial and apartheid governments,’ she said.

Source: South African Government News Agency

WINDHOEK: The Namibian Police Force (NamPol) has confirmed an incident in which a Namibian man, 28-year-old Mateus Johannes, allegedly killed his Namibian girlfriend in Hull in the United Kingdom, on Friday.

NamPol spokesperson, Deputy Commissioner Kauna Shikwambi, told Nampa on Monday that they received the confirmation through Interpol.

The suspect is accused of stabbing 22-year-old Claudia Kambanza in the chest with a sharp object. Shikwambi said the incident occurred at the Hull Royal Infirmary.

‘The suspect is in custody in the UK and is charged with the offence of murder. Both the suspect and victim are believed to be from Namibia,’ Shikwambi added.

International media outlets reported on Monday that Johannes appeared before the Hull Magistrate’s Court and has been remanded in custody until Tuesday, when he has to appear before the Hull Crown Court. Johannes reportedly has no fixed residential address.

The Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation’s spokesperson, Rosalia Nelumbu, said the
y are yet to receive information regarding the matter from the Namibian High Commission in England.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

The Electoral Commission (IEC) will on Wednesday host a media briefing to unveil plans for the second national voter registration weekend scheduled for 3 and 4 February 2024.

The second national voter registration weekend is part of the Electoral Commission’s effort to ensure that South Africans, who were unable to register to vote during the first registration drive in November 2023, have another opportunity to do so.

Existing voters will also use the opportunity to update and/or change their details before the voters’ roll is closed for the 2024 General Elections.

During the briefing, the Electoral Commission will shed light on its countrywide rollout plan ahead of the voter registration weekend.

Last week, the IEC announced that South Africans living abroad were given the opportunity to register at South Africa’s 120 high commissions, embassies and consulates on January 26, 27 and 28.

Registration for inmates at correctional centres is scheduled to take place between January 30 and February 1.

‘The
Commission has been informed that due to the transfer factor for inmates, correctional centres will also be accepting IDs for inmates serving sentences in distant towns or provinces. These identity documents will be transferred to the relevant facilities where inmates are incarcerated,’ the IEC said in a statement.

The Department of Correctional Services has indicated that it will put all necessary measures in place to ensure that IDs are kept safe.

The IEC emphasizes that the online voter registration portal will remain accessible until the date of the proclamation of the elections, providing an additional avenue for voter registration.

According to the IEC, 23 296 voting stations will open from 08h00 to 17h00 on Saturday, 3 February and Sunday, 4 February to allow new voters to register and existing voters to check and if necessary, update their registration details ahead of the 2024 National and Provincial Elections.

Following the first registration weekend held in November 2023, the voters’ roll conta
ins 26.8 million voters.

The Commission said it is hopeful that the second registration weekend will build on and surpass the satisfactory turnout recorded in November.

Citizens aged 16 years and older can register to vote. All they need is a South African identity document (the green barcoded ID book, smartcard ID or a valid temporary ID certificate). However, only those aged 18 and older can vote.

When registering, voters will need to provide their address or a description of where they live to allow the Electoral Commission to place them on the correct segment of the voters’ roll. However, proof of address is not a requirement to register as a voter.

The Electoral Commission helpline — 0800 11 8000 — is available to assist citizens with queries and information about the registration process and information related to locations of voting stations.

Source: South African Government News Agency

OTJIWARONGO: The 38-year-old State patient who was allegedly found in possession of skunk cannabis while being transported in an ambulance from Windhoek to Outjo last week, secured bail at Otjiwarongo on Monday.

Richard Garoeb appeared before Otjiwarongo Magistrate Immanuel Udjombala, who explained to him the legal right to engage a private lawyer of his choice; apply for a State-funded lawyer through the Ministry of Justice’s Legal Aid Directorate, or defend himself in court.

Garoeb informed the court that he was comfortable to defend himself throughout the court sessions.

The State, which was represented by prosecutor Eve Hamutue in the matter, then informed the court that it has no grounds to object to the granting of bail in the amount of N.dollars 2 000.

Udjombala however in his ruling informed Garoeb that N.dollars 15 000 was the appropriate bail amounts for his case, since the 505 grams of cannabis allegedly found in his possession is worth N.dollars 25 250.

His case was then postponed to 05 March
2024 for further police investigations.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

A total of R35 million has been allocated towards the upgrading of an entire pump station, which was destroyed by a fire in Ntuzuma, north of Durban.

The Ntuzuma Reservoir 2 pump station was destroyed by a fire in April last year and resulted in additional strain on the already challenged infrastructure.

This was revealed in a joint statement issued following a multi-stakeholder technical team meeting to resolve eThekwini Metro water challenges.

The stakeholders acknowledged that the Ntuzuma water supply system has been experiencing challenges as a result of the damage to the pump station, with the station currently operating at 50% capacity.

‘The project [upgrade] will commence in March this year and is planned to be completed by the 2025/26 financial year. This project will start improving water supply to Inanda, Lindelani and KwaMashu by July 2024,’ the statement said.

The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) Director-General, Dr Sean Philips, attended a multi-stakeholder technical meeting, held
between the department, eThekwini Metro and uMngeni-uThukela Water to resolve the current water challenges in eThekwini.

This follows a directive by Water and Sanitation Minister, Senzo Mchunu, that the eThekwini Metro, working with uMngeni-uThukela Water, should urgently come up with long lasting interventions in response to ongoing water and sanitation services in the municipality.

The team noted that water demand in eThekwini has grown rapidly, mostly due to population growth and partly due to increasing leaks in the municipality’s water distribution systems.

‘The planners in DWS anticipated this growth in demand and put in place plans to transfer water from the uMkhomazi River to augment uMngeni Water Supply System (uMWS), through the Umkhomazi Water Project, as well as a project to raise the wall of the Hazelmere Dam,’ the statement read.

The team also noted the raising of the Hazelmere Dam wall, which was completed in 2023 and has doubled the amount of water that can be stored in the Dam at a cost o
f R820 million.

To enable additional stored water to be treated, the team said, Umgeni-uThukela has completed a project to increase the capacity of the Hazelmere Water Treatment Works from 55 to 75 ML (megalitres) per day, at a cost of R135 million.

‘Umgeni-uThukela will further increase the capacity of the treatment works to 90 ML per day within the next three years, at a cost of R25 million,’ the statement read.

The meeting also emphasised that eThekwini water challenges must be addressed by the municipality by decreasing non-revenue water collection in its water distribution system, and water users using water more sparingly to reduce the average consumption of water per capita per day.

The No Drop audit report, which was released by DWS in December 2023, found that the water user in eThekwini was 298 litres per capita per day (l/c/d), compared to the international average of 173 l/c/d. Non-revenue water also increased from 37% in 2013 to 58% in 2023.

Some of the municipality measures currently being
implemented to increase the supply of water, include groundwater, water re-use and desalination, amongst others.

The municipality is also implementing a range of interventions to drastically reduce its non-revenue water, including the implementation of a pipeline replacement programme, with a number of projects under the programme being in the final phases of procurement.

According to the statement, the programme is scheduled to commence by the end of March 2024, and will continue for the foreseeable future.

‘The municipality is implementing projects to replace parts of its old infrastructure on which high levels of water losses are being experienced, including replacing pumping mains on major water distribution systems such as Tongaat, Waterloo, Grange and Hazelmere water distribution systems.

‘The municipality has budgeted approximately R1 billion per annum for these projects, which will continue every year for the foreseeable future. Some of these projects started in the 2022/23 municipal financial yea
r and are being funded from the infrastructure levy which was recently introduced by the municipality,’ the statement said.

The municipality has also constructed 12 new reservoirs in the past two years to the value of R500 million to enhance water supply and implemented an active leak detection and repair programme.

‘Procurement processes for a performance-based contract to detect and repair leaks are currently being concluded and it is envisaged that the contract will commence at the beginning of April 2024. This contract will be funded from the savings resulting from reducing leaks.

‘The municipality is implementing a pressure management programme through installing 108 pressure management valves, in addition to the 3000 that already exist. The purpose of this programme is to reduce water pressures in water distribution systems which reduces the frequency of pipe bursts and extends the useful life of the infrastructure,’ the statement highlighted.

In addition, the procurement process for pressure manage
ment valves has been finalised and installation of the valves is expected to commence in March 2024.

Source: South African Government News Agency