Month: February 2024

International Relations and Cooperation Minister, Dr Naledi Pandor, said she was of the view that Israel was flouting Friday’s International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling to stop the killings in Gaza.

‘I do believe the rulings of the court have been ignored by Israel. Hundreds of people have been killed in the past three or four days. And clearly, Israel believes it has the licence to do as it wishes. So, the world has to reflect because we have to come to a point to say what do we do to stop such acts occurring, not just with Israel but any party in the world,’ Pandor said on Wednesday.

The Minister was briefing the media on a range of issues including the ongoing Israeli ‘offensive’ on Gaza in the wake of the recent ICJ ruling.

The ICJ ordered Israel to, among others, take all measures within its power ‘to prevent and punish the direct and public incitement to commit genocide’ and to immediately ensure that Palestinians have access to basic services and humanitarian assistance.

Pandor said she believes
that the findings made it clear that it was ‘plausible’ that genocide was taking place against the Palestinian people in Gaza.

While South Africa had called for the suspension of Israeli military operations in Gaza, the court did not grant this provisional measure.

However, Pandor said the ICJ’s decision marks a decisive victory for international law and a significant milestone in the search for justice for the Palestinian people.

‘It also affirms the importance of global governance institutions, including organs of the United Nations. It remains vital for all Member States to respect and implement the decisions of the court.’

South Africa had approached the ICJ to garner not only a ceasefire of Israel’s military barrage of Palestine but also to ask the court to find the Israeli government guilty of committing acts of genocide.

‘And I suppose what confronts us now is what do we do if there is no implementation? And that is the question all nations must answer today because it is a body of the United Nati
ons that has set out these provisional measures. It’s not the South African government… And if its orders are not respected, what does this mean for every other government that commits atrocities against a people.’

She is of the view that this is the big question that faces the global community.

Citing Oxfam’s report, the Minister said figures indicate that the average daily killing of Palestinians by the Israeli military since 7 October 2023 surpasses the daily death toll of any major conflict in recent years.

‘The deaths of children are almost incomparable both in terms of actual numbers killed and the rate at which children have been killed. More journalists have been killed in Gaza in the last 100 days than were killed during World War II and the Vietnam War.’

Pandor said South Africa will continue to do everything within its power to preserve the existence of the Palestinian people as a group, and to end all acts of apartheid and genocide against the Palestinian people.

‘We will walk with them towar
ds the realisation of their collective right to self-determination, for, as Nelson Mandela momentously declared, ‘Our freedom is incomplete without the freedom of the Palestinians’.’

‘The UN peace and security architecture is clearly not able to give effect to the right to self-determination of the Palestinian people or to protect them from grave war crimes and the threat of genocide, necessitating concerned States to turn to the judicial institutions of the UN.’

Pandor also took the time to welcome the support expressed by several countries.

‘We encourage States that are so inclined to approach the Court to intervene in the proceedings to send a strong message to the international community that the situation in the Gaza Strip is indefensible.’

Source: South African Government News Agency

The Department of Justice and Correctional Services has condemned protestors’ attempts to forcefully enter the Groblersdal Magistrate’s Court premises and their brandishing of the colonial era Vierkleur flag.

The court was hearing a case against two men – Piet Groenewald and his son Stephen Greef – who allegedly assaulted one of their workers whom they accused of being drunk on duty.

Justice and Correctional Services Minister Ronald Lamola said: ‘We applaud the [SA Police Service] for swiftly arresting all the protesters that attempted to block or enter the Court forcefully. This has restored the dignity of the Court and sends a message that our courts cannot be a playground for lawlessness.’

The department described the display of the Vierkleur flag by the protestors as deeply troubling as ‘it evokes memories of a time when discrimination and inequality prevailed’.

The flag features three horizontal red, white and blue stripes with a vertical green stripe at the hoist.

‘We have noted, with concern, ima
ges in the media of a group of protestors brandishing the Vierkleur flag. The Vierkleur is a flag that was used by the old Boer Republic of the Transvaal which existed in the 2nd half of the 19th century until the Boers defeat in the Anglo-Boer War.

‘The Vierkleur flag, is a symbol that represents a bygone era of colonisation and aparthied. This flag holds historical significance, but it also carries connotations of a time when black people were denied their basic rights.

‘In August 2019 the Equality Court…ruled that the display of the old apartheid flag constitutes hate speech in South Africa. The Court held that the Constitutional Court has time and again emphasised the importance of historical context when considering human dignity, especially the history of racialized inequality in South Africa,’ the department said.

The matter is expected to be referred to the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC).

‘By brandishing the Vierkleur flag, individuals are openly rejecting the core values of democra
cy, equality, and the Constitution. This act is reminiscent of the old apartheid flag and cannot be tolerated.

‘The Ministry firmly denounces the waving of this flag and will take decisive measures to ensure that the [SAHRC] thoroughly examines this matter,’ the department concluded.

Source: South African Government News Agency

President Cyril Ramaphosa has signed Proclamation R147 of 2024 authorising the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) to investigate allegations of serious maladministration in the affairs of the Eastern Cape Rural Development Agency (ECRDA).

The SIU is also authorised to recover any financial losses suffered by the State and ECDRA.

‘Proclamation R147 of 2024 authorises the SIU to probe the procurement and/or contracting for goods, works or services concerning a tender for the planning and design of the Marine Tilapia Industry Incubator Project within the Mbhashe Local Municipality, by or on behalf of the ECRDA,’ said the SIU in a statement.

It will also investigate any unauthorised, irregular, or fruitless and wasteful expenditure incurred by ECRDA or the State.

The scope of the investigation also covers any unlawful or improper conduct by officials or employees of ECRDA, the applicable suppliers or service providers or any other person or entity.

The Proclamation covers allegations of unlawful and improper
conduct that took place between 1 February 2020 and 26 January 2024, the date of the publication of the Proclamation or before 1 February 2020 and after the date of the Proclamation that are relevant to, connected with, incidental to the matters or involves the same persons, entities or contracts investigated.

In addition to investigating maladministration, malpractice, corruption and fraud, the SIU said it would identify system failures and make systematic recommendations to improve measures to prevent future losses.

‘In line with the Special Investigating Units and Special Tribunals Act 74 of 1996 (SIU Act), the SIU will refer any evidence pointing to criminal conduct it uncovers during its investigations to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) for further action,’ it said.

The SIU is empowered by the SIU Act to institute civil action in the High Court or a Special Tribunal in its name to correct any wrongdoing uncovered during its investigation caused by acts of corruption, fraud or maladministratio
n.

Source: South African Government News Agency

The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) is expected to investigate allegations of serious maladministration at the Eastern Cape Rural Development Agency (ECRDA).

This after President Cyril Ramaphosa signed a proclamation authorising the unit to delve into the affairs of the agency.

SIU spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago said the unit will also look to recover any financial losses that the state may have incurred.

‘Proclamation R147 of 2024 authorises the SIU to probe the procurement and/or contracting for goods, works or services concerning a tender for the planning and design of the Marine Tilapia Industry Incubator Project within the Mbhashe Local Municipality, by or on behalf of the ECRDA.

‘The SIU will also investigate any unauthorised, irregular, or fruitless and wasteful expenditure incurred by ECRDA or the State. The scope of the investigation also covers any unlawful or improper conduct by officials or employees of ECRDA, the applicable suppliers or service providers or any other person or entity,’ he exp
lained.

The proclamation allows the unit to probe allegations over the period between February 2020 and 26 January 2024.

‘In addition to investigating maladministration, malpractice, corruption and fraud, the SIU will identify system failures and make systematic recommendations to improve measures to prevent future losses.

‘In line with the Special Investigating Units and Special Tribunals Act 74 of 1996 (SIU Act), the SIU will refer any evidence pointing to criminal conduct it uncovers during its investigations to the National Prosecuting Authority [NPA] for further action.

‘The SIU is empowered by the SIU Act to institute civil action in the High Court or a Special Tribunal in its name to correct any wrongdoing uncovered during its investigation caused by acts of corruption, fraud, or maladministration,’ Kganyago said.

Source: South African Government News Agency

South Africa places great importance on the African Union (AU) Summits, as the country forges ahead with its foreign policy of the advancement of the African agenda.

This is according to International Relations and Cooperation Minister, Dr Naledi Pandor, who was briefing the media on Wednesday on developments in her department.

The summit, which will take place on 17 and 18 February in Addis Ababa in Ethiopia, will focus on education.

Last year, the AU finalised a 10-year review of Agenda 2063.

A key recommendation, Pandor explained, is that the AU Member States must accelerate the implementation of the Agenda 2063 flagship projects that are aimed specifically at fast-tracking continental integration.

The project particularly focuses on trade and market integration, free movement of people and infrastructure development.

However, top of the agenda is the operationalisation of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), in which South Africa is playing a leading role.

‘We are especially plea
sed that President [Cyril] Ramaphosa will officially witness the launch of South Africa’s first shipment and preferential trading under the AfCFTA on 31 January 2024, at the Port of Durban,’ she said.

President Ramaphosa is expected to attend and participate in several high-level committee meetings of the Assembly.

These include the meeting of the Committee of African Heads of State and Government on Climate Change (CAHOSCC), which will be held to reaffirm Africa’s position on climate change as advocated during the Conference of the Parties (COP28) held in the United Arab Emirates last year.

In his capacity as the Chairperson of the Presidential Infrastructure Championing Initiative, the country’s First Citizen annually hosts a meeting on the margins of the AU Summit to provide a progress report on infrastructure projects.

The initiative aims to enhance infrastructure development in sectors such as transport, information communication and technology, water and sanitation, and energy in South Africa and th
roughout the region and continent.

These areas, she said, are critical to the implementation of the AfCFTA.

The President is also expected to chair a high-level meeting of the Committee of Five (C5) on South Sudan to review and provide political guidance on the progress made in the implementation of the revitalised agreement on the resolution of conflict in South Sudan.

BRICS

She also announced that Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have confirmed they are joining the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) bloc after being invited to last year.

‘However, you’d be aware that Argentina has written to indicate that they will not act on this successful application by the previous administration to become full members of BRICS. And we accept their decision, particularly given that 30 countries have now written to Russia, expressing interest in becoming members.’

NAM Summit

The Minister also touched on the recent summits of the Heads of State and Government of th
e Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) and the Group of 77 and China, convened in Uganda, last month.

She told journalists that the NAM Summit identified five priority areas.

These include regional and international peace and security; the fight against terrorism; migration and humanitarian crises; human trafficking; and the Sustainable Developmental Goals.

‘In his statement to the NAM, President Ramaphosa confirmed that South Africa will remain steadfast in advancing its non-aligned approach to the maintenance of international peace and security by advocating for the peaceful political settlement of disputes and inclusive dialogue.’

Following the NAM meeting, Pandor led the South African delegation to the G77 and China Summit.

The G77 and China Summit is the largest negotiating bloc in the United Nations (UN) representing most developing countries and over 80% of the world’s population.

‘The focus of the summit was on South-South cooperation in the areas of trade, investment, sustainable development, climate cha
nge, poverty eradication, and the digital economy,’ she explained.

Source: South African Government News Agency

Higher Education, Science and Innovation Minister, Dr Blade Nzimande, has hailed the late Professor Mochichi Samuel Mokgokong, as one of our country’s most decorated academics and scholars.

Nzimande joined the nation and the academic fraternity in mourning the passing of Mokgokong, who passed away last week following a battle with cancer.

Mokgokong was well known for heading the team responsible for separations of craniopagus conjoined twins and has trained and mentored more than 20 neurosurgeons.

Nzimande highlighted that Mokgokong has a long and distinguished academic career in the medical field, which has seen him form part of some of the most pioneering surgical teams.

Some of the positions Mokgokong held in his illustrious career include Professor Emeritus of the University of Pretoria, Head of Tembisa Hospital’s Adult Intensive Care and High Care Units; Professor, Chief Specialist, and Head of the Neurosurgery Department at the University of Pretoria’s Steve Biko Academic Hospital.

Paying tribute
to the life of South Africa’s first black neurosurgeon, Nzimande said, owing to his commitment to research excellence and outstanding academic leadership, Mokgokong was honoured with a number of national and international awards.

‘As part of his commitment to transformation in the medical field, he also proudly assumed the role of an activist academic and never missed an opportunity to encourage young black people to enter the medical field.

‘The passing of Professor Mokgokong constitutes an incalculable loss to our post school education and training sector, and I believe we have an obligation to uphold his legacy of research excellence and visionary leadership,’ Nzimande said.

The Minister has, on behalf of the department conveyed his heartfelt condolences to Mokgokong’s family, friends, and colleagues.

Source: South African Government News Agency