Day: March 6, 2024

The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic, Jirí Kozák, recently visited the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) to explore potential areas of collaboration with South Africa.

The Deputy Minister was in South Africa for bilateral political consultations with the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO).

Organised by the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI), Kozák toured the CSIR’s National Centre for Nanostructured Materials and the Cybersecurity Operations Centre this week.

The visit, according to the DSI, laid the foundation for future discussions in science, technology and innovation (STI) between the countries.

‘The potential areas of collaboration included food security, academies of science, hydrogen, nanotechnology, cybersecurity, technology transfer, aerospace technologies, and partnering under the Square Kilometre Array mega-science project,’ the statement read.

Both the CSIR CEO, Dr Thulani Dlamini, and Kozák expressed their commitm
ent to continue the discussions on these topics.

‘A follow-up meeting is planned to concretise the discussions,’ the department said.

The department said the relationship between South Africa and the Czech Republic exemplifies the growing significance of science diplomacy.

In a dialogue on science diplomacy, Kozák said the Czech Republic government had established a department on science diplomacy, as international collaboration in research and innovation was a very important task in furthering the country’s unique qualities.

Through joint initiatives, exchange programmes and diplomatic engagements, both nations could leverage scientific cooperation as a vehicle for fostering diplomatic ties and addressing global challenges.

DSI’s Deputy Director-General for International Cooperation and Resources, Daan du Toit, said science diplomacy enhances mutual understanding and facilitates the exchange of knowledge, expertise and resources, ultimately paving the way for sustainable development and prosperity.

‘In
this context, the partnership between South Africa and the Czech Republic transcends traditional diplomatic channels, embracing a forward-looking approach that harnesses the transformative power of science and technology for the betterment of society,’ said Du Toit.

South Africa and the Czech Republic are expected to sign a bilateral agreement that will enable the establishment of long-term relations in STI and serve as a cornerstone for progress in both countries.

Meanwhile, South Africa will host a delegation of Czech Republic start-ups in November 2024.

Source: South African Government News Agency

The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) and Parliament’s Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen the relationship between the two entities.

In a joint statement, the two said the MoU will create greater cohesion in relation to ‘investigating and reporting on matters pertaining to irregular, fruitless, and wasteful expenditure of public funds’.

‘More importantly, however, the signing of the MoU assists in the formal referral of certain pressing matters from SCOPA to the SIU, as the SIU does not identify specific matters to investigate.

‘Matters referred by SCOPA to the SIU for investigation or for the motivation for a proclamation include the Eskom intelligence report and the National Skills Fund. SCOPA believes that the SIU will continue to prioritise these matters, even after the dissolution of the sixth Parliament. In fact, the SIU will ensure that in its handover report to SCOPA in the seventh Parliament, these matters are flagged for considerat
ion,’ the statement said.

The statement reflected on the work carried out by the two institutions during the sixth administration.

‘SCOPA has been receiving updates from the SIU on maladministration, malpractice and corruption uncovered during its investigations at state institutions. It has noted the specific concerns raised with respect to the high levels of corruption, maladministration, malpractice lack of consequence management, and delays in prosecutions, all resulting in the failure of the state to recover monies owed to it.

‘During the sixth Parliament, the SIU has consistently briefed SCOPA on its investigations, including state capture matters and the lack of consequence management in state institutions in implementing the SIU’s referrals.

‘SCOPA intervened by requesting the Presidency to devise a mechanism to ensure that all SIU referrals are implemented. This led to the Presidency establishing a monitoring and tracking tool that ensures every referral from the SIU is implemented for disciplina
ry action intervention. This has resulted in Eskom and Transnet restricting suppliers implicated in SIU investigations on their own suppliers databases,’ the statement said.

The two parties resolved to continue working closely together in areas of mutual interest.

‘Both parties acknowledge the importance of consultation, mutual support and cooperation on aspects such as disclosure of information, reporting and mutual cooperation and assistance to ensure effective financial oversight and accountability of state institutions, thereby combatting maladministration, malpractice and corruption of state resources, money and assets,’ the statement concluded.

Source: South African Government News Agency

Detectives in the Western Cape are currently questioning four individuals as part of an extensive investigation into the disappearance of six-year-old Joslin Smith from Diazville in Saldanha Bay.

The investigation saw a team of detectives visiting several places within the West Coast town and interviewing several other persons.

The search for Joslin brought individuals, NGOs, community activists, police officials, neighbourhood watches and representatives from different spheres of government together in the quest to find the missing girl. For days they searched identified vast areas in Saldanha Bay.

It is expected that as the investigation unfolds, light will be shed on her whereabouts or what happened to her.

‘The four persons being interviewed by the team of investigators are two men and two women aged between 26 and 34. With the investigation gaining momentum arrests are on the cards,’ said the police in a statement.

Early this week, the South African Police Service (SAPS) assured the community where
Joslin went missing that they remain committed to finding the little girl and reuniting her with her family.

Police Minister General Bheki Cele on Saturday met with the family, as well as the residents of the broader Saldanha community.

READ | Police committed to finding Joslin Smith

Joslin has been missing since 19 February 2024 and the search to locate her is ongoing.

Source: South African Government News Agency

With the General Elections coming up on Wednesday, 29 May 2024, the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) has detailed how the electorate can apply for special votes.

A special vote allows a registered voter, who can’t vote at their voting station on Election Day, to apply to vote on a predetermined day before Election Day.

To qualify for a special vote, you must be unable to visit your local voting station on voting day because you are pregnant, infirm or have another disability that prevents you from visiting a voting station on Election Day.

You may also be eligible for a special vote if for other reasons, such as work.

Special votes can either be cast at home (where IEC officials visit you at your residence) or at a voting station.

Special votes and home visits for this year’s general elections will take place on 27 and 28 May. The IEC says the closing date to apply for special votes is 3 May.

How to apply

To begin the online application for a special vote, visit the IEC website on https://www
.elections.org.za/. Then navigate to the ‘Voters’ tab and under the tab, click on ‘Apply for a special vote’ in the middle column.

You can apply if you:

Are a registered voter.

Have a valid South African identity document (green, barcoded ID book; smartcard ID or a valid Temporary Identity Certificate).

To check that you’re registered and to find out where you’re registered, you can:

Check your voter registration status.SMS your ID number to 32810, or

Call the IEC’s contact centre on 012 622 5700.

By law, you can apply for a special vote if you:

Can’t travel to your voting station because you are physically infirm, disabled or pregnant, or

Can’t vote at your voting station on Election Day.

How to apply for a special vote at your voting station

If you can’t vote at your voting station on Election Day, you can apply to cast a special vote at your voting station on the predetermined date only, as per the election timetable, in one of the following ways:

Using the IEC’s secured online application form
.

By SMSing your identity number to 32249 (R1.00 per SMS). (For special vote at a voting station only.)

By visiting your local IEC office (not the national or provincial offices) and submitting a MEC 35 form. Forms can only be hand-delivered (no emails or faxes accepted), but someone else can deliver your completed form on your behalf.

Make an appointment at your local IEC office

If you can’t apply for a special vote online, you can do it in person at your local IEC office. If you want to apply for a special vote at your home, you can send a relative or spouse to apply on your behalf.

You first need to make an appointment. You can do that by calling your local IEC office.

After you have made an appointment, you can visit your local IEC office during the operating hours of Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm.

A the local IEC office, you will need to present the MEC 35 form. You can download the form online or you can request this form at the IEC office.

How to check special vote application status

Af
ter you’ve submitted your special vote application, you can review the status of your application online via SMS or by calling the IEC call centre.

Check special vote application status online

Visit the IECs website. On the home page, click the ‘I want to’ Tab and then click ‘Check the status of special vote application’.

From there, you will be directed to the special vote status check. You will need to select the election you’re applying for and enter your ID number.

You will then be redirected to a page that will display the status of your special vote application.

Check special vote application status via IEC

You can also call the IEC call centre on 0800 11 8000 and follow the prompts to get information about your special vote application status.

Source: South African Government News Agency

The partnership between government and business is yielding positive outcomes, such as decreased load shedding, enhanced efficiency in rail and ports, and a decline in security incidents affecting energy and logistics infrastructure.

This is according to President Cyril Ramaphosa, who convened a meeting with members of Cabinet and senior business leaders on Tuesday on the partnership between government and business to address key challenges in energy, transport and logistics, and crime and corruption.

The objective of the partnership is to achieve more rapid economic growth and generate a significant increase in sustainable employment by urgently delivering on priority interventions in each of the three focal areas.

‘We are beginning to see the tangible results of this collaboration in reduced load shedding, improved performance of our rail network and ports, and a reduction in security incidents targeting energy and logistics infrastructure.

‘We are confident that we are turning the corner on our most ur
gent challenges, and are absolutely committed to building on this partnership as we work to grow the economy,’ President Ramaphosa said in a joint statement between Government and Business.

Adrian Gore, co-convenor of the business delegation, said they have achieved real progress over the last nine months, and the partnership is gaining excellent traction.

‘The private sector has contributed more than R170 million of support directly into this partnership, and has mobilised over 350 technical experts. We need to capitalise on the momentum and urgently implement the necessary reforms. This will help to improve societal and investor confidence in South Africa’s potential, and mobilize much needed investment to grow the economy inclusively,’ Gore said.

As part of the support provided by business, the Resource Mobilisation Fund (RMF) was established to procure and donate resources to support the implementation of the Energy Action Plan. To date, the fund has raised approximately R100m, with R25m already having
been drawn down to fund expertise to support the National Energy Crisis Committee (NECOM).

The joint statement said business is looking to scale this model to support the National Logistics Crisis Committee (NLCC) and the Joint Initiative on Crime and Corruption (JICC).

The meeting discussed the progress made over the last three months, as well as key priorities to accelerate progress in the next period.

Key updates since November 2023:

Energy: Load shedding is roughly 61% less than the same period last year (80% less for stages 4 and above), and is starting to decouple from Eskom’s Energy Availability Factor (EAF), demonstrating the positive impact of alternative energy sources including rooftop solar.

Transport and logistics: A 45% reduction in vessels anchored outside the Port of Durban and a 36% reduction in the waiting time to anchor for container vessels has been achieved. Capable executive leadership has been appointed in Transnet to ensure stability and focused delivery.

Crime and corruption:
Collaboration between Transnet and business, including the provision of security on the rail network, has resulted in a 65% reduction in criminal incidents on the Northern Corridor which is key to reducing the cancellation of trains.

Energy

The work underway within the National Energy Crisis Committee (NECOM) and the implementation of the Energy Action Plan is starting to bear fruit.

‘Load shedding is down by 61% compared to the same period last year, with the return of units at Kusile power station as well as new generation capacity from rooftop solar and private sector investment having a positive impact.

‘Reform of the energy sector is progressing, with an independent board appointed for the National Transmission Company of South Africa (NTCSA) and preparations underway for the new entity to commence trading,’ the statement read.

On the downside, however, Eskom plant performance remains unreliable with an unacceptably high level of unplanned outages. Under the leadership of its new Group Chief Executi
ve, Dan Marokane, Eskom is working to ensure full delivery on its recovery plan.

The joint statement highlighted that Eskom and business are finalising a Mutual Cooperation Agreement to establish a sustainable framework through which to deploy additional independent skilled experts to support Eskom in this regard.

‘The aim for 2024 is to increase generation capacity from multiple sources by up to 11.5 GW, which will enable a significant reduction in the severity of load shedding by the end of the year.

‘This includes improved plant performance as a result of Eskom’s Generation Recovery Plan, additional private investment in rooftop solar and utility-scale projects as a result of policy and regulatory reforms, and projects from previous bid windows connecting to the grid,’ the statement said.

Initiatives are also underway to unlock increased grid capacity, successfully conclude Bid Window 7 and open further bid windows for gas-to-power and battery storage will contribute to additional generation capacity i
n the medium term.

Finally, government is working to accelerate reforms in the energy sector, including the promulgation of the ERA Bill, the establishment of the NTCSA, the finalisation of a national wheeling framework, and the development of financing mechanisms for transmission infrastructure.

Transport and logistics

Government and business emphasised that challenges in the logistics system are receiving urgent attention, with the National Logistics Crisis Committee (NLCC) focused on stabilising and improving rail, port and road operations.

Business is supporting a number of the NLCC workstreams with technical, security and operational expertise.

‘Green shoots include a 45% reduction in vessels anchored outside the Port of Durban and a 36% reduction in the waiting time to anchor for container vessels. A major success has been the provision of security by business on the rail network on an interim basis, which has resulted in a 65% reduction in criminal incidents on the Northern Corridor, reducing the
number of trains cancelled. Work is currently underway to ramp up the deployment of SAPS resources to secure network infrastructure in the longer term,’ the statement said.

It further highlighted that progress was achieved with the approval of the Freight Logistics Roadmap (FLRM) and the Private Sector Participation Framework, which together outline clear actions and timeframes to ensure a more efficient logistics network that encourages private investment and competition in operations.

Implementation of the roadmap is now underway, with key milestones included in conditions attached to the R47 billion guarantee recently extended to Transnet.

‘Despite this progress, continued poor operational performance and inefficiency costs the economy R1 billion per day, with recent announcements of retrenchments in the mining industry illustrating the urgency of reform in the logistics sector.

‘Transnet is focused on improving performance through clearly defined and agreed measures such as rebuilding internal capacit
y, implementing operational excellence centres for strategic corridors, and drawing on private sector technical resources.

“The recent appointment of permanent executive leadership at Transnet will assist with the necessary focus and delivery mindset, and the urgent implementation of the Transnet Recovery Plan,’ the statement said.

Crime and corruption

Steady progress has also been made in the crime and corruption focal area, including the establishment of the Joint Initiative on Crime and Corruption.

The private sector is continuing its support to strengthen law enforcement through providing business information and resources to assist with the fight against infrastructure crime.

The statement said support has also been provided to modernise the 10111 helpline, with a pilot project initiated at the main call centre in Midrand.

‘Passing the NPA Amendment Bill within the current Parliament will strengthen the independence and investigating capacity of the NPA and will enable the establishment of addition
al infrastructure to support the Investigating Directorate as a permanent entity, including a dedicated Forensics Laboratory.

‘A key focus is to secure South Africa’s removal from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list, with the aim of achieving this by June 2025,’ the statement said.

Next steps

The next meeting will be held in May to assess progress on the three focal areas.

Government and business reaffirmed their commitment to communicating regularly on progress, and identifying areas where further work is required.

‘We are finalising our targets for the end of 2024, and aligning on the critical paths to achieve these. These plans will be communicated publicly, and reported on regularly. This will build confidence in the process and will enforce accountability. As partners, we are absolutely focused on delivery,’ Chair of the B4SA Steering Committee, Martin Kingston said.

Source: South African Government News Agency

TSUMEB: The Namibian Police Force (NamPol) in the Oshikoto Region is calling on NGOs, companies, and other stakeholders to come together to prevent crime in the region.

Regional Commander, Commissioner Theopoline Kalompo-Nashikaku in particular urged non-governmental organisations and private companies to come on board and create awareness in preventing crimes.

Kalompo-Nashikaku during a crime prevention stakeholder meeting held in Tsumeb on Wednesday said the police cannot solve crime alone; it needs stakeholders to help curb crime because having them on board will have a positive impact in society.

‘We cannot solve the crime alone, we need stakeholders to assist us in fighting crimes and safeguarding our society,’ she said.

Kalompo-Nashikaku said this after Dundee Precious Metal suffered from several copper wire theft incidents in the past 14 months. A total of seven cases were opened where suspects were arrested and several incidents were reported internally where no suspects were arrested.

She said t
hat copper wire theft is a serious problem in the town as Cenored regularly replaces copper wire.

Kalompo-Nashikaku also called on the public to not buy copper wire from any person.

‘People should not buy any copper wire from unlicensed business owners because they might also become culprits,’ she warned.

Dundee’s Protection Services and Emergency Response manager Jaco Haasbroek said the impact on the plant and community is that it caused an emergency shutdown due to water loss from the dam and powerplant.

He further said they lost production totalling an estimated loss of production revenue of N.dollars 22 million, electricity outages in town, and impact on other business revenue.

‘Our biggest challenge is the market owner of this copper wire theft and we want to kill the market for this culprit,’ said Haasbroek.

Law enforcement is planning to create awareness with stakeholders such as Telecom Namibia, Tsumeb Municipality, Dundee, Rubicon Security, Cenored, Ongopolo Mining, Office of the Prosecutor Gen
eral, and the local Neighbourhood Watch.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

Deputy President Paul Mashatile is expected to attend and chair the Human Resource Development Council (HRDC) retreat in Johannesburg on Friday.

Chaired by the Deputy President, the HRDC is an apex national, multi-sectoral advisory body established to create a collective response to the national challenge of human resource development in the country.

The council’s term, which was established in 2010, ends on 31 March 2024.

‘Over the years, the council has created a platform for social partners to deliberate on the country’s skills and human capital development to address bottlenecks in the human resource development value chain,’ the Presidency said in a statement on Wednesday.

Guided by the Human Resource Development Strategy for South Africa (HRD-SA) 2010-2030, the council’s retreat is aimed at reflecting on and evaluating its work in terms of the progress made so far.

It will also zoom in on underlying challenges faced by the country, which serve as an impediment to achieving the council’s mandate, le
ssons learned and interrogating the need to change or restructure the council.

The retreat will also look into key future focus areas to be attained in the remainder of the current term and beyond.

‘The Deputy President’s attendance is in line with his delegated responsibilities as the Chairperson of the HRDC, and he will therefore deliver welcoming remarks and chair the council retreat,’ the Presidency explained.

During his welcoming remarks, the Deputy President will highlight the significance of the HRDC as it seeks to contribute towards addressing some of the socio-economic problems faced by South Africa, such as poverty, inequality, and unemployment through the development and nurturing of skills that are relevant to the country’s needs.

Source: South African Government News Agency