Day: February 8, 2024

President Cyril Ramaphosa has outlined the gains that government has made in dealing with state capture and rooting out corruption.

‘One of the overriding challenges this administration had to deal with when it took office was state capture and corruption. Our first priority was to put a decisive stop to state capture, to dismantle the criminal networks within the state and to ensure that perpetrators faced justice,’ President Ramaphosa said on Thursday.

Delivering the State of the Nation Address (SONA) at the Cape Town City Hall, President Ramaphosa said government had appointed capable people with integrity to head law enforcement agencies, government departments, security services and state companies.

These appointments were often done through independent and transparent processes.

‘The credibility and efficiency of a number of institutions like the South African Revenue Service (SARS) have been restored and their performance improved. We set up the Investigating Directorate as a specialised and multid
isciplinary unit within the National Prosecuting Authority to investigate corruption and other serious crimes.

‘Great progress has been made in bringing those responsible for state capture to justice. More than 200 accused persons are being prosecuted. More are under investigation. Stolen funds are being recovered.

‘Freezing orders of R14 billion have been granted to the NPA’s Asset Forfeiture Unit for state capture-related cases, and around R8.6 billion in corrupt proceeds have been returned to the state,’ the President said.

SARS has collected R4.8 billion in unpaid taxes as a result of evidence presented at the State Capture Commission, while the Special Investigating Unit has instituted civil litigation to the value of R64 billion.

‘We have taken steps, including through new legislation, to strengthen our ability to prevent money laundering and fraud and secure our removal from the ‘grey list’ of the Financial Action Task Force.

‘With the assistance of business, we have set up a digital forensic capa
bility to support the NPA Investigating Directorate, which in due course will be expanded to support law enforcement more broadly.

‘Legislation is currently before Parliament to establish the Investigating Directorate as a permanent entity with full investigating powers. But there is much more work to be done to eradicate corruption completely,’ he said.

Based on the recommendations of the National Anti-Corruption Advisory Council, government is determined to introduce further measures to strengthen anti-corruption agencies, protect whistle-blowers, regulate lobbying and prevent the undue influence of public representatives in procurement.

‘We will not stop until every person responsible for corruption is held to account. We will not stop until all stolen money has been recovered. We will not stop until corruption is history.

‘The real tragedy of state capture was that it diverted attention and resources away from what government should have been doing, which is to grow our economy and create jobs,’ the P
resident said.

Source: South African Government News Agency

‘The Bill has arrived at my desk. I’m going through the Bill. I’m looking for a pen!” – said President Cyril Ramaphosa on Thursday night, eliciting much laughter from a packed Joint Sitting of Parliament.

Delivering his State of the Nation Address (SONA) President Ramaphosa announced that government will gradually implement the long-awaited National Health Insurance (NHI).

President Ramaphosa was speaking during a televised speech at the Cape Town City Hall.

The NHI Bill, which was passed by both the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) last year, will provide free healthcare at the point of care for all South Africans, whether in public or private health facilities.

‘We plan to incrementally implement the NHI, dealing with issues like health system financing, the health workforce, medical products, vaccines and technologies, and health information systems.’

The Bill now only requires President Ramaphosa’s signature for enactment.

President Ramaphosa said the State is working t
irelessly to improve both healthcare quality and access equality, despite the country’s health system having a significant impact on people’s lives.

In addition, he said South Africans are living longer than ever before. Life expectancy has increased from 54 in 2003 to 65 years in 2023.

‘The World Health Organisation [Director-General] says it is a phenomenal development,’ he said.

Meanwhile, the country’s maternal and infant deaths have declined dramatically.

‘We have built more hospitals and clinics, especially in poor areas, providing better quality care to more South Africans.’

He touched on the Limpopo Academic Hospital in Polokwane, which is currently under construction.

The hospital promises to be a state-of-the-art establishment and will be one of the five flagship academic health institutions around the country.

Equipped with advanced medical technology, the hospital will offer cutting-edge diagnostic procedures and innovative treatments.

‘I had anecdotally a good representation of how our he
althcare system has been improving. When the ANC held its birthday anniversary there was an accident where five people passed away and scores were injured and were taken to hospitals in Mpumalanga and Limpopo. I went to see some of them and when they were asked: ‘Don’t you want to be moved to private hospitals?’… Many of them said: ‘No, we’re well looked after here’.’

He also cited the sixth South African HIV Prevalence, Incidence, Behaviour and Communication Survey results, which found that 95% of people diagnosed with HIV know their status, 79% of those receive antiretroviral treatment, and 93% of those are virally suppressed.

‘New HIV infections among young people have declined significantly.’

The President’s speech touched on the state of South Africa and reflected on a wide range of political, economic and social matters.

The address will be followed by a two-day debate by Members of Parliament and the President will thereafter reply to issues raised in the debates.

Source: South African Government
News Agency

OTJIWARONGO: Nearly 30 members of the Namibian Police Force (NamPol) in the Otjozondjupa Region were promoted to the ranks of senior inspector, inspector and warrant officer on Wednesday.

NamPol commander in the region, Commissioner Heinrich Tjiveze announced this on Wednesday morning at his weekly parade platform, saying most police officers who were promoted are stationed at the regional headquarters in Otjiwarongo and at police stations around the region.

‘This session is the phase two promotion of the 2023/2024 financial year, and therefore, it will not be the end of it,’ he said.

He said a total of 29 police officers were promoted during this phase, out of which 12 police officers were elevated to the ranks of senior inspector, including nine males and three female officers.

Fourteen police inspectors, comprising 10 women and four men were also promoted, he said.

The last category was that of three warrant officers, comprising two men and one woman.

Tjiveze congratulated all the newly promoted offi
cers and also encouraged those who were not promoted to remain positive for the next promotion platforms, while encouraging the members to continue working hard to ensuring the safety of all inhabitants and their property in Otjozondjupa.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

President Cyril Ramaphosa has once again used his public platform to reiterate his call for a two-State solution between Israel and Palestine and condemn the killing of civilians.

‘Guided by the fundamental principle of human rights and freedom, we have taken up the

Palestinian cause to prevent further deaths and destruction in Gaza,’ President Ramaphosa said during the State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Thursday night.

The country’s first citizen also took the time to welcome the ruling of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) that Israel must take all measures within its power to prevent acts of genocide against Palestinians.

South Africa approached the top UN court last year to request to order Israel to halt its military operations in Gaza, and also to ask the court to find the Israeli government guilty of committing acts of genocide.

The ICJ ruling delivered last month found that it was ‘plausible’ that Israel committed acts which violated the Genocide Convention.

The ruling issued by the ICJ
ordered six provisional measures, including for Israel to refrain from acts under the Genocide Convention, prevent and punish the direct and public incitement to genocide, and take immediate and effective measures to ensure the provision of humanitarian assistance to civilians in Gaza.

‘We condemn the killing of civilians on all sides and call on all parties involved in the conflict to commit to a peace process that will deliver a two-state solution.

‘Today, every South African can hold their heads high, confident that we have assumed our rightful place on the world stage,’ President Ramaphosa said.

The Head of State said South Africa remains committed to playing a constructive role on the continent and around the globe for the realisation of a better Africa and world.

‘We will continue to play an important role in silencing the guns throughout our continent.’

During his televised address, he said government’s involvement in resolving the Russia-Ukraine conflict through the Africa Peace Initiative is pro
gressing with various parties.

‘We engage in these peace efforts because we believe that even the most intractable conflicts can be brought to an end through negotiations.’

In addition, he said the country will continue to use its foreign policy to pursue developmental goals.

‘During our leadership of BRICS last year, we witnessed a new chapter for the BRICS family of countries.’

President Ramaphosa labelled the expansion of the group from five to 10 members as an opportunity for trade and a strengthening of political and diplomatic ties between countries in the global South.

‘We will build on the progress we have made in establishing the African Continental Free Trade Area, which will transform South Africa’s economy and that of the continent by creating new jobs and increasing economic participation.’

The President also vowed that the country will place Africa’s development at the top of the agenda when South Africa hosts the G20 in 2025.

‘The achievements over the last three decades are a testament
to the power of collaboration and partnership to address our most pressing challenges.’

Source: South African Government News Agency

Despite an uphill battle over the last three decades, South Africa has successfully stayed the course of building a democratic society since the end of apartheid, says President Cyril Ramaphosa.

The President made these remarks while delivering the sixth State of the Nation Address of the current administration in Cape Town, on Thursday.

“We have cast off the tyranny of apartheid and built a democratic State based on the will of the people,’ President Ramaphosa said, acknowledging that the country has established strong institutions to protect the fundamental freedoms and human rights of all people.

‘We have transformed the lives of millions of South Africans, providing the necessities of life and creating opportunities that never existed before.”

Government, he said, has enabled the creation of a diverse economy whose minerals, agricultural products and manufactured goods reach every corner of the world, while creating jobs in South Africa.

‘As a country, we have returned to the community of nations, ex
tending a hand of peace and friendship to all countries and all peoples.

‘We have endured times of great difficulty, when the strength of our constitutional democracy has been severely tested. There have been times when events beyond our borders have held back our progress.

‘The global financial crisis of 2007 and 2008 brought to an end a decade of strong growth and faster job creation,’ President Ramaphosa said.

The President said South Africa’s policies and programmes have, over the course of 30 years, lifted millions of people out of dire poverty.

“Today, fewer South Africans go hungry and fewer live in poverty. In 1993, South Africa faced a significant poverty challenge, with 71.1% of its population living in poverty. However, under the democratic government, there has been a consistent decline in these numbers.

“By 2010, the poverty rate had dropped to 60.9%, and it continued to decrease, reaching 55.5% in 2020, as reported by the World Bank. This progress has been made possible by extensive support
to those in society who need it most,” the President said.

Five years ago, government introduced a further measure to tackle poverty by introducing the National Minimum Wage.

“The decision by key role players, being business and labour and communities, to introduce the minimum wage immediately raised the wages of over six million workers.”

Social support

In the midst of the COVID pandemic, government introduced the special social relief of distress (SRD) Grant, which currently reaches some nine million unemployed people every month.

“We have seen the benefits of this grant and will extend it and improve it as the next step towards income support for the unemployed. These grants and subsidies do much more than give people what they need to live. They are an investment in the future.

“Social assistance has been shown to increase school enrolment and attendance, lower drop-out rates, and improve the pass rate. South Africans are living longer than ever before. Life expectancy has increased from 54 years in
2003 to 65 years in 2023.

“Maternal and infant deaths have declined dramatically. We have built more hospitals and clinics, especially in poor areas, providing better quality care to more South Africans.

“Today, 95% of persons diagnosed with HIV know their status; 79% of those receive antiretroviral treatment, and 93% of those are virally suppressed. New HIV infections among young people have declined significantly,” the President said.

He acknowledged efforts to improve access to quality health care through the National Health Insurance (NHI).

“The NHI will provide free health care at the point of care for all South Africans, whether in public or private health facilities. We plan to incrementally implement the NHI, dealing with issues like health system financing, the health workforce, medical products, vaccines and technologies, and health information systems.”

One of the most impactful achievements in the first three decades of freedom has been in providing homes to the people.

“Today, nearly nine o
ut of every 10 households live in a formal dwelling. Where there were once shacks and mud houses, there are now homes of brick and mortar. These are homes with water to drink and to wash with, homes with electricity for lighting and cooking.

“At the end of apartheid, only six out of 10 people had access to clean drinking water. Today, that figure has increased to nearly nine out of 10 South Africans. We are working to ensure that subsidised housing is located close to work, education and services,” said the President.

Source: South African Government News Agency