Day: March 20, 2024

President Cyril Ramaphosa has told Members of Parliament that the recommendations made in the State Capture report are currently receiving attention from law enforcement agencies and the other bodies.

The President was speaking in the National Assembly during his oral replies to questions on Tuesday.

He said that his administration has acted decisively and with purpose to respond to the findings and recommendations of the State Capture Commission.

‘As has been reported on several occasions to this Parliament and to the public more broadly, these recommendations are currently receiving attention from law enforcement agencies and the other bodies.

‘Therefore, with regards to the recommendations in respect of criminal investigation and possible prosecution and other actions against individuals, the President has fully acted upon the recommendations of the Commission.

‘As I indicated in a written reply to this House on 17 November 2022, any actions that I take with respect to members of the Executive about w
hom the Commission made findings will be informed by the outcomes of the processes undertaken by the relevant entities,’ the President said.

On 22 October 2022, the President submitted to Parliament his intentions with regards to the implementation of the recommendations of the State Capture Commission.

Among other things, the State Capture Commission made over 200 recommendations with respect to criminal investigation and possible prosecution of individuals, entities and named groups of people.

The President highlighted that these recommendations were directed by the Commission to law enforcement agencies. The Commission also made recommendations with respect to further investigation of and possible action by the relevant bodies against individuals and entities for disciplinary offences, tax offences, delinquency of directors and other activities.

‘The Presidency provided each of the bodies to which such recommendations were directed with copies of each part of the State Capture Commission Report as they
were received by the Commission, so that they may act on the recommendations in line with their respective mandates.

‘The extensive actions that this administration has taken on the recommendations of the State Capture Commission, including the introduction of draft legislative changes that are currently before this House – have been detailed in several public reports,’ he said.

President Ramaphosa told the House that the most recent comprehensive report was published in November 2023, and there is a searchable online database that enables members of the public and indeed Members of Parliament to track progress.

The report and the database may be found at: www.stateofthenation.gov.za.

Source: South African Government News Agency

The City of Johannesburg has presented a comprehensive intervention plan to address ongoing water supply challenges in the city.

Water and Sanitation Minister, Senzo Mchunu, together with his Deputy Ministers, David Mahlobo and Judith Tshabalala, met with Johannesburg City officials, led by Executive Mayor Kabelo Gwamanda, to receive an update on the city’s plans to deal with the current water challenges and future water supply sustainability plans for the metro.

The meeting held this week was a follow-up to a meeting held on 5 March 2024, where the department presented a comprehensive assessment report on the state of water provision in the city amid regular water supply interruptions experienced by residents.

At the meeting held on 5 March, the city was requested to come back with an action plan to address all the issues raised in the report, including how it will deal with the infrastructure challenges and non-revenue water, which is contributing to the water supply challenges.

During this week’s meeti
ng, the city presented a wide-ranging plan on immediate, medium- and long-term measures to ensure a sustainable water supply. These include infrastructure projects to refurbish, upgrade and construct new storage reservoirs and pump stations, as well as associated infrastructure to augment storage capacity.

The plan also includes addressing non-revenue water through the implementation of water conservation and demand management technical interventions to reduce demand.

The city also presented technical interventions, which include repairing leaking reservoirs and tower infrastructure; replacing water pipes, domestic and large consumer meters; retrofitting and removal of wasteful devices, and enforcement of by-laws, including removal of illegal connections and customer bypass connections.

Gwamanda said these projects are at various stages of implementation, while others still require funding.

The meeting also heard that the city infrastructure backlog is estimated at around R27 billion but agreed that focus
should be on what can be done with the current and upcoming budget in July.

Gwamanda commended the support from Water and Sanitation Ministry, saying that the city is looking at various options to mitigate water supply interruptions.

‘We have set aside about R100 million for the electricity supply entity, City Power, to put alternative power supply infrastructure to key infrastructure that contributes to the water supply network,’ Gwamanda said.

Mchunu acknowledged the efforts of the city’s water entity, Johannesburg Water, to deal with infrastructure backlogs, and various interventions implemented to deal with the current recurring water outages.

Mchunu urged the city to work on its turnaround time in responding to pipe bursts and leaks in their distribution network, as this contributes to the high physical water losses.

‘It is clear that the city requires serious interventions and funding to deal with its water infrastructure renewal programme, and the department will work with Joburg Water in packagin
g some of their key infrastructure projects that require blended finance, including from the private sector.

‘We have agreed, collectively, that over and above the technical interventions to address non-revenue water, there is a serious need for a compressive public awareness campaign to conscientise residents on the importance of water conservation and water use efficiency as part of the Water Conservation and Water Demand Management Strategy,’ Mchunu said.

The metro’s non-revenue water currently sits at 46.1%, while the consumption rate is at 280 litres per capita per day.

Source: South African Government News Agency

President Cyril Ramaphosa says government is working on reforms to develop sustainable infrastructure, boost business confidence and encourage investment.

The President was addressing the National Assembly during an oral reply session on Tuesday.

‘One of the most important pillars of government’s economic recovery plan is a significant increase in infrastructure investment. This has meant that we have had to give specific attention to effective project preparation and the mobilisation of funding on a far larger scale.

‘We have amended the Division of Revenue Act to provide for the pledging of future infrastructure grants to crowd-in private sector finance and to leverage external technical capacity,’ he said.

The President said this will facilitate integrated planning and implementation. It will also enable the development of a funded maintenance programme, a monitoring and evaluation framework, and a governance structure to manage the programme delivery.

He highlighted that he previously spoke about the
Northern Cape and Eastern Cape as pilot provinces to address the social infrastructure backlog in schools as well as in housing.

He told the National Assembly that Infrastructure South Africa (ISA) is making use of its project preparation facility to support the two pilot provinces to develop quality business cases for submission to the Treasury Loans Coordinating Committee and the Budget Facility for Infrastructure.

‘Through this mechanism we will ensure that social infrastructure, particularly health and education infrastructure, is delivered in a manner that is cost-effective and rapid.

‘It will also help to increases the participation of the private sector, both in terms of financing this build programme and also drawing on its expertise and capabilities,’ he said.

As part of capacity building, he said, the Municipal Infrastructure Support Agent (MISA) is developing guidelines for municipalities to use for project scoping and packaging. Importantly, the Municipal Infrastructure Grant makes provision f
or a portion of the grant to be utilised for refurbishment.

The President said through these efforts, the infrastructure build programme is starting to gain momentum.

Infrastructure projects worth over R230 billion are currently in construction, including in energy, water, roads, rural bridges, human settlements and student accommodation.

‘These projects are contributing to greater economic activity and creating employment while improving the lives of South Africans and expanding the capacity of our economy,’ the President said.

Source: South African Government News Agency

Water and Sanitation Minister Senzo Mchunu has reiterated that water supply at a bulk level is stable, with many projects being implemented to augment the current water supply.

Mchunu said this at a gala dinner hosted by the iMvula Trust on Tuesday to celebrate 30 years of water and sanitation service delivery and beyond.

The celebration took place during National Water Week, and ahead of World Water Day which is celebrated annually on 22 March.

In his opening remarks, Mchunu said great strides have been made towards achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6 on water and sanitation by 2030, and World Water Day is an opportunity to contribute to speeding up progress.

He highlighted some of the projects led by the department, and these include Phase 2 of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project, uMkhomazi Water Project in KwaZulu Natal, Olifants River Water Resource Development in Limpopo, and uMzimvubu Water Project in the Eastern Cape, among others.

Mchunu acknowledged that the department is currently fa
cing the challenge of water and sanitation services management, saying while dams are full, some taps are running dry, while other areas have no taps at all.

‘The main reason for this current problem is that South Africa has exclusively relied on municipalities for the provision of drinking water to households and businesses, while same have been declining in recent years.

‘Government, at all levels, is aware that the capacity of municipalities is found to be wanting in the main, the provision of water could not have been an exception in the decline of basic services rendered by municipalities,’ Mchunu said.

As a response to this challenge, the Minister said the department has been assisting and engaging municipalities to deliver on their mandates.

He said since the Water and Sanitation Summit in 2022, the department has gradually shifted its attention to building, renewing, and in some cases, refurbishing and upgrading water and sanitation infrastructure.

‘We recently convened a two-day Water Summit, wh
ere we engaged with municipalities, in their capacities as Water Services Authorities, on the findings in the Blue, Green and No Drop Reports released by the department last year.

‘During the summit, it was agreed that fundamental changes would be implemented within the existing legal framework, such as changing the allocation of the Water Services Authority function, appointing another municipality to provide the Water Services Provider function,’ Mchunu said.

The Minister also highlighted the importance of private sector involvement in water and sanitation services to achieve the SDG goals.

‘Overall, understand us to be assuring you that we are hard at work in ensuring water security and provision for years to come. We call upon you, those in the private sector, to come on board and work with us in making the water and sanitation sector a success.

‘The establishment of the Mvula Trust in 1993 came as South Africa transitioned into its new democracy and fast-forward to present day, we recognise and appre
ciate your efforts over time and your readiness to engage and work with government to better the lives of South Africans,’ Mchunu said.

Source: South African Government News Agency

The eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality has intensified its collaboration with property owners in a bid to eradicate unsafe buildings within the inner city.

This comes after the establishment of a new unit, the Problem Buildings Division, which is dedicated to tackling unsafe buildings.

‘Problem buildings’ are defined as derelict, abandoned, hijacked, structurally unsound and unlawfully erected, among other things.

Through the Problem Buildings Division, the city’s vision is to create a vibrant inner city, underpinned by well-managed buildings.

The division encourages property owners, whose buildings have been deemed unsafe for occupation, to contact them or face future closure.

Deputy City Manager of Economic Development, Lihle Phewa, said these buildings present social issues, which include homelessness, crime and drugs, which are often found in such buildings.

Phewa said the division has already identified approximately 40 buildings within the city and has started the process to serve relevant notice
s.

This is done in accordance with the National Building Regulations and Standards Act, and the Problem Building by-laws.

‘If there is non-compliance by the property owner after the notice period has expired, the municipality will approach the High Court to carry out remedial work, apply for a demolition order, request for the appointment of a judicial administrator, request for a sale in execution, or expropriate the property and building.

‘All costs incurred will be to the owner’s account. Owners can however, partner with the municipality to put together an action plan with time frames on how to turn the problem building around,’ Phewa said.

Phewa highlighted the recent eviction of illegal occupants from Crieff Place Building, South Beach, as among the division’s successes.

Following a court process, the owner of the property was able to evict the illegal occupants and proceeded to demolish the vacant building. However, the owner left a portion of the superstructure and did not fully secure the propert
y.

The owner had also left rubble from the demolition process on site to ensure that the site was not occupied again, but the sheltered portion of the remaining superstructure was occupied shortly after.

‘The Problem Building Division engaged unsuccessfully with the owner to secure the property. The division took the decision to remedy the works on site by removing the rubble, repairing, and closing all the openings to the site, and installing barbed wire to the tops of the boundary wall to prevent any person from occupying the site,’ Phewa said.

Source: South African Government News Agency

Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister, Thembi Nkadimeng, has urged South Africans to vote in the upcoming elections.

‘Your vote is not merely a mark on a ballot paper; it is a voice – a voice that speaks volumes, resonating with the hopes, dreams and aspirations of our society.

‘It is a symbol of your commitment to the principles of democracy,’ she said.

Nkadimeng was addressing a conference on the impact of the upcoming General Elections on intergovernmental relations at the University of the Western Cape.

The National Research Chair organised the Multilevel Government, Law, and Development event at the Dullah Omar Institute.

The conference addresses critical questions regarding governance, particularly concerning the challenges posed when different parties or coalitions govern at various levels of government.

Nkadimeng used her platform to call on South Africans to unite in their diversity and go to their designated voting stations with purpose and conviction.

‘Regardless of your po
litical affiliations or beliefs, your vote is a precious right – one that countless individuals have fought and sacrificed for throughout our history.

‘It is a privilege denied to many worldwide yet bestowed upon us as South Africans. Let us not take this privilege for granted, but rather cherish it and wield it wisely.’

This as the country is set to go to the polls on 29 May 2024.

Coalitions

Nkadimeng touched on the instability caused by coalitions since the local government elections have underscored that some political parties are struggling to cope with the delicate demands and dilemmas of coalition politics.

She highlighted the complexities involved and emphasised the importance of cooperation and coordination among government spheres, acknowledging the strain caused by conflicting agendas and ideologies.

These include ‘unscrupulous manipulation’ by smaller parties to have governance by a small unrepresentative group of individuals and bribes with little thought on the impact of the same on the mun
icipality and its ability to deliver services.

Another hurdle, she said, is the infighting in councils characterised by walkouts, leading to an inability to adopt budgets, resulting in an administration that cannot spend its budget to address service delivery backlogs.

The Minister spoke of the lack of due diligence when making key appointments, which results in compromised individuals appointed in critical positions.

‘Yet, it is precisely during these moments of divergence that the resilience of our intergovernmental relations system is put to the test.

‘How do we navigate the waters of political pluralism while upholding the principles of cooperative governance? How do we bridge the divide between divergent political entities to ensure the seamless delivery of services and the pursuit of shared objectives? These are questions that demand thoughtful consideration and innovative solutions.’

She also discussed lessons learned from the 2021 Local Government Elections, emphasising the need for coalition reg
ulation to maintain stability.

Nkadimeng stressed the significance of legal frameworks, institutional mechanisms, and fostering dialogue and collaboration.

She reiterated the constitutional principle of cooperative government and intergovernmental relations, regardless of electoral outcomes, emphasising its importance for effective governance.

Central to the notion of intergovernmental relations, according to Nkadimeng, is the recognition of the interdependence among the three spheres (national, provincial and local) of government.

She explained that each sphere possesses distinct powers, functions, and institutions, yet they are inherently interconnected.

‘Therefore, all spheres of government have to respect each other’s autonomy while keeping one another informed of new policies and developments.’

Intergovernmental relations extend beyond mere cooperation. However, according to Nkadimeng, they encompass a complex network of interactions involving government institutions and civil society.

Effective c
oordination of public policies among national, provincial, and local governments is essential for ensuring coherent and impactful governance.

Regardless of the electoral outcomes when the South Africans go to the polls, she said she believes that it is important for all political parties to adhere steadfastly to the principles outlined in the Constitution of the country.

‘Upholding the ideals of cooperative government and intergovernmental relations is not contingent upon political affiliation but is a shared responsibility integral to the fabric of our democracy.’

She concluded by outlining measures to maintain resilience in the face of political changes, including promoting continuity, trust, cooperation, and building institutional capacity within the intergovernmental relations framework.

Source: South African Government News Agency