Month: April 2024

Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) Minister Thembi Nkadimeng will on Tuesday release the details of funds disbursed to municipalities and provinces for disaster interventions.

This follows the classification and declaration of particular occurrences as national disasters, in terms of Section 23(3) of the Disaster Management Act, 2002 (Act 57 of 2002), by the Minister of COGTA.

This disbursement of funds is in accordance with section 25(3)(a) of the Division of Revenue Act, 2023 (Act No. 5 of 2023), as amended by the Division of Revenue Amendment Act, 2023 (Act No. 24 of 2023).

Following the release of the details of the funds, Nkadimeng, joined by the KwaZulu-Natal MEC of COGTA, Bongiwe Sithole-Moloi, will also hand over the rectification of sewer reticulation and construction of the Wastewater Treatment Works in Ward 5 of the Abaqulusi Local Municipality in the Zululand District.

The life-changing project was constructed by the Municipal Infrastructure Support Agent (MISA), which is t
he implementing agent of the Department of Cooperative Governance.

Prior to the implementation of this project, communities in Bhokwe village and hostels, grappled with an outdated and dilapidated waterborne sewer system, initially provide by Anglo-American coal mine over 50 years ago.

Characterised by frequent bursts, blockages and overflowing manholes, the aging infrastructure posed challenges to the residents’ health and well-being.

Added to this, other areas within Bhokwe settlement relied on VIP [ventilated improved pit] toilets, further highlighting the disparity in sanitation infrastructure.

This project is estimated to be benefitting a population of 1 715 individuals across 245 households by ensuring that the community and other stakeholders in Bhokwe have access to, and are using an adequate and reliable functioning sewer system.

Source: South African Government News Agency

WINDHOEK: Namibia’s female long-distance runner Martha Shivolo was crowned winner of the 2024 Namibia Spar Challenge after outclassing her opponents in the event’s second edition here.

The Namibian Spar 10-kilometre (km) Challenge is similar to the famous Spar South Africa Women’s 10km or 5km Challenge Grand Prix Road Race series, held annually in five major South African cities.

This year, the Namibian Challenge started and finished at the Wanderers Sports Field in Pioneers Park, Windhoek attracting over 1 000 female runners who partook in the 5km and 10km races.

The elite race saw Namibian Correctional Service runner Shivolo dominate her field as she finished ahead of defending champion Alina Armas of the Namibian Defence Force. Helalia Johannes who has previously dominated the South African Spar series finished third.

Event organiser Berthold Karumendu told Nampa on Saturday that he was happy with the turnout for the event and competition.

‘The elite athletes put up a great performance on the day and I am also happy to achieve the 1 000-mark attendance that we wanted for the day,’ he said.

Karumendu added that if they are to realise their goal of getting the race accredited by the South African Spar race as part of its series, the attendance of athletes partaking in the event must continue increasing.

‘In our first edition we hosted the race on a Sunday which saw just over 500 athletes taking part, but with the Saturday race the numbers were there, and I believe that such turnouts will give the race recognition as well as attract international athletes,’ Karumendu said.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

The process of identifying a replacement for Leslie Maasdorp, current Vice President of the New Development Bank (NDB) has started.

Cabinet will announce the new Vice President to the NDB after the recruitment process has been completed.

Maasdorp will at the end of his nine years of service at the NDB step down in July 2024.

In July 2015, Cabinet appointed Maasdorp as Vice President to represent South Africa at the New Development Bank in Shanghai.

Maasdorp was then appointed by the Bank to the role of Chief Financial Officer and was a member of the founding management team of the institution, under the leadership of Mr. KV Kamath, the first NDB President.

At the expiry of his contract in 2021, Maasdorp was reappointed by Cabinet for a second term of three years.

‘On behalf of my colleagues, I wish to express our sincere gratitude to Maasdorp for the distinction with which he has served South Africa in this role. As CFO, he led the treasury and capital markets activities of the Bank, having established
the global and domestic bond programs for the institution, raising more than USD 15 billion during his tenure.

‘He also led the process of obtaining the inaugural credit rating of the Bank in 2018, which established the institution as a leading new emerging markets focused multilateral development bank. I want to wish him well in his future endeavours,’ said Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana.

Maasdorp said it has been a distinct pleasure and honour to serve South Africa over the past nine years as Vice President and CFO of the NDB.

“I wish to thank Minister Godongwana, his predecessors during these nine years, as well as the Cabinet colleagues for having afforded me this incredible opportunity to be part of a historic mission to create a new global financial institution from scratch.

‘Over this period, the NDB approved over USD 6 billion of loans to South Africa, contributing significantly to the rollout of sustainable infrastructure, including in rail, ports, power, roads and water projects,’ said Maasdo
rp when commenting on his imminent departure in July.

Source: South African Government News Agency

President Nangolo Mbumba on Saturday inaugurated 10 meteorological masts in the Tsau ?Khaeb National Park, that are part of the pre-feasibility study of the envisaged green hydrogen project.

The 10 meteorological masts which are about 120 metres from ground level, were installed by Hyphen at a cost of N.dollars 40 million.

Speaking at the site Mbumba said: ‘We need clear support from all stakeholders, but we should be careful with the environment, we have never seen these metal things here before and the message should go out that green hydrogen is going to take place.’

The meteorological masts are part of the pre-feasibility study of the green hydrogen project and will run for 12 months before the actual feasibility study starts.

Hyphen’s head of communications and stakeholder relations, Ricardo |Gôagoseb in an interview with the media said the purpose of the meteorological masts is to accurately understand the renewable energy potential of the site, adding that the masts have sensors on them that measure the strength of the wind potential and solar energy potential.

‘The production of green hydrogen will require electricity, wind power and solar power, so the met masts are placed there to measure both the sun and the wind and that will happen over a period of time, and then we will use that information to increase the bankability of the project,’ he said.

‘These are the risks Hyphen is taking because they believe in the potential of the project, these met masts are to increase the bankability, we know the potential that the space has, nobody is going to put in N.dollars 40 million to build an infrastructure where there is a possibility that it is not bankable,’ he said.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

The National Consumer Commission (NCC) is investigating the affairs of Piggy Farm Trading, an entity that promotes and sells ‘virtual pigs”.

This was after the Commission received complaints that Piggy Trading Farm might be a multiplication scheme.

Promoted on its website and various social media platforms, Piggy Farm Trading provides potential buyers with two options, buying from the farm and virtual buying and owning.

The second option is processed through what is called digital Metaverse Farming. The entity claims that this option is ‘risk-free’, as they farm on behalf of the participants. This includes feeding, insurance of the pigs, vaccination, and regular cleaning of pigs.

According to Piggy Farm Trading, participants can purchase between one and 50 pigs per annum at R2 200 per pig. Each pig gives its owner a minimum of R500 per month over a year as profit.

The Consumer Protection Act (CPA) describes a multiplication scheme as a scheme that promises or guarantees participants an effective annual i
nterest rate, as calculated in the prescribed manner that is at least 20% above the repo rate.

The Commission has warned consumers to exercise caution when dealing with this entity.

‘Consumers must be honest with their dealings, as the CPA prohibits any participation, recruitment, joining or promoting a multiplication scheme and other schemes.

‘The NCC has noticed a spike in agricultural schemes like this one, which lure participants into joining the scheme and promise high returns. If a consumer buys livestock, they should be able to take possession of that livestock,’ said the NCC’s Acting Commissioner.

The latest trends of pyramid schemes, multiplication schemes, and chain letters indicate that the owners have designed these schemes to buy into the idea of ‘investing’ while they (consumers) are participating in prohibited conduct. Consumers are reminded of the dangers of joining, promoting and recruiting others into such schemes. These schemes always collapse and leave consumers out of pocket.

Source
: South African Government News Agency

A well-attended gala dinner held on Saturday to raise funds for the Ondangwa Trade and Industrial Exhibition (OTIE) collected over N.dollars 500 000 in cash and pledges.

RedForce pledged the highest amount of N.dollars 100 000, followed by First National Bank with N.dollars 80 000 and Ondangwa Private Hospital donating N.dollars 30 000.

In a speech read on her behalf, Minister of Industrialisation and Trade Lucia Iipumbu said Ondangwa continued to break barriers and remain on a positive growth trajectory as a result of its able and decisive leadership.

According to Iipumbu, as a ministry they are aware of various developmental aspirations and initiatives of the town and are fully in support thereof as they continue to engage at various platforms to forge collaborations.

She said that the 2024 edition of the trade fair presents significant potential to promote and showcase what this town and Oshana Region have to offer to business persons, traders, travellers and the general public.

‘It is our expectation that visitors and traders alike will be treated among others to the region’s cultural heritage and traditions, arts and crafts and various agricultural goods,’ she said.

She added that it will especially benefit local entrepreneurs, giving them a chance to display and sell what they are able to grow, create and produce.

Moreover, Iipumbu indicated that the government through her ministry will continue to encourage and support local entrepreneurship through the ‘Growth at Home’ concept.

She explained that the concept has been developed and implemented specifically for the purpose to boost local production and consumption.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency