Day: February 28, 2024

The Ministry of Water and Sanitation says it is accelerating the completion of the Mandlakazi Regional Bulk Water Scheme to ensure sustainable water provision in Zululand.

The water supply scheme aims to bring relief to the community of Mandlakazi, which is between Kwa-Nongoma and Mkhuze towns in Zululand District Municipality, as well as Hlabisa under uMkhanyakude District Municipality in KwaZulu-Natal.

Giving an update on the progress made to move the project toward completion, the department said on 14 December 2023, Water and Sanitation Minister, Senzo Mchunu convened a meeting between the department, uMngeni-uThukela Water, Zululand, and uMkhanyakude District Municipalities.

The meeting was held to check on the status quo of the project progress.

At the meeting, presentations were made by both district municipalities, with visibly identifiable gaps and overall slow project progress.

This was followed by the Minister’s announcement that the scheme would be taken over by the department and transferred
into a Ministerial Scheme.

‘The decision to take over the project was as a result of the delayed nature of the project and its huge socio-economic impact, as it is cuts across two districts,’ departmental spokesperson, Wisane Mavasa explained.

During a meeting held on 3 January 2024, Mchunu also announced the appointment of uMngeni-uThukela Water as the implementing agent, responsible for certain aspects of the project.

In addition, the Zululand District Municipality has been appointed to implement Phases 5 and 6 of the project, which will benefit 279 297 people.

‘Phase 5 includes the construction of the main pipeline that will abstract water from Jozini Dam to Mandlakazi Water Treatment Works, and several other pipeline projects within the entire Mandlakazi project footprint. Phase 6 concerns the construction of a network water reticulation pipelines to provide water to the households of the entire Esiphambanweni community.’

While waiting for the Mandlakazi Scheme to be completed, Mavasa said the depar
tment has provided funding for emergency storage reservoirs and connection to supply water to the Hlabisa area.

Mavasa said, as of 20 February 2024, the project have been tested and commissioned, and reservoir 12 Mthwadlana and reservoir 22 Miyaneni, will now be able to receive water.

Reservoir 12 Mthwadlana feeds all reservoirs to the east of Hlabisa in the villages including Matshamhlophe, Majukujukwini, Ophaphasi, Nhlwathi, Nqamu, Ngodini, Mcwabakazi, Makhowe, and others.

Reservoir 22 Miyaneni is a command reservoir that feeds all reservoirs to the west of Hlabisa, including Mpembeni, Hlabisa Town, Mhlambanyathi, Mgangatho, Mansiya, among others.

‘The technical teams are currently doing pressure testing and checking the functionality of some of the pipelines, since the reservoirs are now at full capacity,’ Mavasa said.

Mavasa reiterated the Ministry, and the department continue to provide support and oversight to the project, to ensure that it meets its deadlines as outlined, and that communities iden
tified receive sustainable potable water upon its completion.

Source: South African Government News Agency

WINDHOEK: Twenty young filmmakers have begun a year of film and television training at the MultiChoice Talent Factory (MTF) Southern Africa Academy in Lusaka, including Namibia’s Sandra Muramba and Elisabeth Hamukwaya.

The MTF Southern Africa Academy is one of three on the continent, where students spend 12 months gaining skills in screenwriting, editing, producing and directing through study, and practical experience on TV and film productions.

MultiChoice Namibia Managing Director Roger Gertze told Nampa on Wednesday the fully funded curriculum includes workshops, lectures, masterclasses and assignments.

He said MTF students learn alongside industry greats and seasoned professionals from across the globe and added that the final stage of the course will see students developing feature films for broadcast on MultiChoice local channels and Showmax.

‘As Africa’s most loved storyteller, the MTF is a multi-faceted project. Our goal is to develop the film industry so that it plays a meaningful role on the con
tent. After a rigorous selection process, we are delighted to welcome our new students who, through their film knowledge and experience, will take Namibia to the world,’ he said.

Hamukwaya, an aspiring director, said she’s looking forward to the opportunity and will not take it for granted.

‘I want to represent Namibia well,’ she said.

Muramba meanwhile shared her desire to expand the Namibian film industry. ‘I cannot wait to learn more and I’m very open to learning.’

At the MTF Southern Africa Academy, 55 per cent of students in this year’s intake are male and 45 per cent are female, with students coming from Zambia, Namibia, Mozambique, Malawi, Botswana, Angola and Zimbabwe.

Since its establishment in 2018, the Africa-wide MTF Academy programme has produced more than 300 graduates, qualified young filmmakers who are now taking African stories to the world.

The training provided by the MTF Academy is geared to broadening the skillsets of aspirant filmmakers, and to empowering them to work in various cr
eative disciplines – not only the film industry. An MTF survey has found that around 92 per cent of MTF Academy graduates go on to work in the creative sector.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

The Deputy Minister of Health, Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo, has praised the North West provincial government for its dedication to tracing and tracking ex-mineworkers who left employment without claiming their benefits.

The North West has so far traced 20 798 ex-mineworkers, with 2 669 claims processed and paid to the tune of R76.9 million between 2022 and 2023.

This comes after Dhlomo launched the compensation project with the North West Premier and MEC for Health in August 2022.

‘The intervention aims to provide ex-mineworkers and their beneficiaries with access to compensation benefits for occupational lung diseases and other social protection funds which were left unclaimed,’ the department explained.

Speaking at Westvaal Hospital in Orkney on Monday, Dhlomo congratulated the North West provincial government, the provincial health department and all stakeholders including the Mining Council and the interim ex-mineworkers leadership structure for the job well done.

‘The province and the department have done
extremely well if you consider that between 2017 and 2021, the total value of the payouts ranged from between 10% and 11% but in one year of 2023 the province was able to pay R76.9 million.

‘It’s a massive success though there are still many ex-mineworkers to be traced and compensated,’ said the Deputy Minister.

According to the North West Health MEC Madoda Sambatha, the province is working around the clock to find the 168 000 former mineworkers and their beneficiaries.

‘We already have community health workers who are doing good work of ‘loss to follow-up’ because they track and trace people who miss their TB treatment. When we integrate this programme, we will be able to utilise this resource to track and trace ex-mine workers,’ Sambatha explained.

In addition, the National Department of Health has committed to ensuring that all centres in the four districts located in Westvaal, Old Vryburg, Mahikeng Provincial and Job Shimankana Tabane hospitals remain operational and accessible.

Sambatha concluded th
e deliberations by assuring stakeholders that the department is committed to concluding outreach in the remaining districts between March and May 2024, as this will raise awareness especially those in deep rural areas who might not be aware of the project.

The department said all key stakeholders in the projects were essential and would be consulted throughout the implementation phases to ensure its success.

Source: South African Government News Agency

The six suspects arrested in the murder case of musician Kiernan Jarryd Forbes, known as AKA, and his friend Tebello ‘Tibz’ Motsoane are due to appear in court on Thursday.

The suspects were arrested on Tuesday evening. They face charges of murder, conspiracy to commit murder, attempted murder, unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition, among others.

The announcement was made by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner, Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, at the SA Police Service provincial headquarters in Durban.

The briefing was also attended by the police top brass, including Police Minister Bheki Cele and National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola.

Mkhwanazi said Forbes was the main target of the shooting, and not Motsoane, who was “at the wrong place at the wrong time”.

‘The six suspects have played different roles during the operation. We have the coordinator, who is the master of everything. We have two shooters that we all saw on social media. We have two spotters. One of the spotters
was inside the restaurant observing Mr Forbes and his friends, as well as the organiser of firearms and vehicles used as getaways,’ Mkhwanazi said.

Mkhwanazi said the spotter initially followed Forbes from the airport to the hotel and to the restaurant where he was fatally shot.

Forbes was gunned down in Durban’s Florida Road on 10 February 2023 as he was leaving the Wish restaurant. Motsoane was also murdered.

According to Mkhwanazi, some of the cars used at the time of the murder were rented.

On 22 April 2023, the first suspect was arrested in Belhar, Cape Town. He was the alleged organiser who hired vehicles and guns. He was also in police custody for several unrelated murders.

On 24 October 2023, the second suspect, who was an alleged spotter, was arrested. He was linked to another unrelated murder in the Berea area.

Mkhwanazi said the suspects were linked to the AKA murder through four vehicles that were used in the planning, spotting and getaway, including a Mercedes Benz, BMW, Hyundai i10 and VW
Polo.

Two of the vehicles had been rented and have since been returned to their owner, who has furnished the police with a statement.

Source: South African Government News Agency

WINDHOEK: Cancer Association of Namibia (CAN) Chief Executive Officer Rolf Hansen has called for increased investment in palliative care, highlighting Namibia’s critical need for comprehensive end-of-life support.

Hansen in an interview with Nampa on Wednesday said prioritising palliative care could enhance the quality of life for cancer patients and their families across Namibia.

‘Palliative care is not merely an option; it is an essential component of holistic cancer care. As we navigate the challenges of cancer treatment and management, it is imperative that we do not overlook the importance of providing comfort, dignity, and support to patients facing advanced stages of the disease,’ Hansen said.

He underscored the misconception that palliative care is synonymous with end-of-life care, saying that it encompasses a spectrum of services aimed at addressing physical, emotional, and spiritual needs throughout the cancer journey.

”Investing in palliative care is not just a matter of compassion but a strat
egic imperative. Integrating palliative care into the country’s healthcare system can mitigate unnecessary suffering, reduce hospitalisation, and alleviate the burden on patients and their families,’ he said.

The CAN CEO highlighted that access to palliative care services remains limited in Namibia, particularly in rural areas, stressing an urgent need for expanding palliative care infrastructure, training healthcare professionals, and raising awareness to ensure equitable access to these vital services across the country.

‘Palliative care is a fundamental human right, yet thousands of Namibians are currently underserved,’ Hansen lamented while calling on government officials, healthcare providers, and civil society organisations to prioritise palliative care investment as a cornerstone of Namibia’s cancer control strategy.

‘Together, we have the power to transform the landscape of cancer care in Namibia and uphold the dignity of every individual affected by this devastating disease,’ he said.

Source: Th
e Namibia Press Agency

WINDHOEK: Twenty young filmmakers have begun a year of film and television training at the MultiChoice Talent Factory (MTF) Southern Africa Academy in Lusaka, including Namibia’s Sandra Muramba and Elisabeth Hamukwaya.

The MTF Southern Africa Academy is one of three on the continent, where students spend 12 months gaining skills in screenwriting, editing, producing and directing through study, and practical experience on TV and film productions.

MultiChoice Namibia Managing Director Roger Gertze told Nampa on Wednesday the fully funded curriculum includes workshops, lectures, masterclasses and assignments.

He said MTF students learn alongside industry greats and seasoned professionals from across the globe and added that the final stage of the course will see students developing feature films for broadcast on MultiChoice local channels and Showmax.

‘As Africa’s most loved storyteller, the MTF is a multi-faceted project. Our goal is to develop the film industry so that it plays a meaningful role on the con
tent. After a rigorous selection process, we are delighted to welcome our new students who, through their film knowledge and experience, will take Namibia to the world,’ he said.

Hamukwaya, an aspiring director, said she’s looking forward to the opportunity and will not take it for granted.

‘I want to represent Namibia well,’ she said.

Muramba meanwhile shared her desire to expand the Namibian film industry. ‘I cannot wait to learn more and I’m very open to learning.’

At the MTF Southern Africa Academy, 55 per cent of students in this year’s intake are male and 45 per cent are female, with students coming from Zambia, Namibia, Mozambique, Malawi, Botswana, Angola and Zimbabwe.

Since its establishment in 2018, the Africa-wide MTF Academy programme has produced more than 300 graduates, qualified young filmmakers who are now taking African stories to the world.

The training provided by the MTF Academy is geared to broadening the skillsets of aspirant filmmakers, and to empowering them to work in various cr
eative disciplines – not only the film industry. An MTF survey has found that around 92 per cent of MTF Academy graduates go on to work in the creative sector.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

OSHAKATI: Minister of Finance and Public Enterprises, Iipumbu Shiimi, has announced an increased in old age and disability grants social grants from N.dollars 1 400 to N.dollars 1 600 per month, effective 01 April 2024.

Shiimi was speaking during the tabling of the 2024/25 National Budget in Parliament on Wednesday.

According to Shiimi, government fully recognises the dream of their departed President Hage Geingob for a significant increase in the old age pension grant, however, they cannot afford to deliver on his dream in a single financial year.

‘Nonetheless, we will continue to work towards it with gradual increases over time, as resources permit,’ he said.

Moreover, Shiimi indicated that the budget for the Ministry of Gender, Poverty Eradication and Social Welfare has increased by 23.2 per cent to N.dollars 8 billion during the current financial year.

He added that the budget includes N.dollars 824.7 million to maintain the real value of the social safety nets in the face of high inflation and given
the high dependency ratio.

Additionally, Shiimi said that government has made provision to increase the frequency of food distribution to marginalised communities at a cost of N.dollars 170 million, and N.dollars 284.5 million to ensure full coverage of the Orphan and Vulnerable Children Grant.

He noted that the vote will absorb N.dollars 24.5 billion.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency