Month: April 2024

The Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa’s ongoing efforts to re-signal its network in phases will go a long way to improving efficiency and making sure that commuter trains are reliable and punctual.

PRASA embarked on a journey to upgrade its near obsolete and outdated signalling system.

‘When PRASA suffered massive theft and vandalism of the rail infrastructure, the newly installed state-of-the-art electronic interlocking and signaling equipment was not left unscathed. In rebuilding the rail infrastructure, PRASA is re-installing the stolen and vandalized signaling equipment. Through a project that would take seven years to complete, PRASA is re-signaling the network in phases. Nationally, PRASA has re-signalled six of the lines recovered,’ Transport Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga said on Tuesday in Cape Town.

The Minister made these remarks during the launch of the train production of 200 modern high-tech Electric Multiple Units (EMUs), which are manufactured locally in Gauteng.

The launch marked signifi
cant progress towards PRASA’s overarching goal of producing 600 X’Trapolis Mega Trains.

‘PRASA is installing a state-of-the-art signaling system, including PRASA train control systems in line with the European Rail Traffic Management System. This will ensure that PRASA runs trains more efficiently, improving service frequency and enhancing the safe passage of trains on the rail network.

‘PRASA has re-signaled 24 of the 39 stations from Cape Town to Simonstown. This means the train speed has been increased from 30km/hr to 75km/hr and commuters getting to their destination much faster. When there was no signaling on the line, trains were running every 90 minutes and the trip to Cape Town station was one hour and ten minutes. PRASA has reduced the journey time to 45 minutes and trains run every 20 minutes,’ Chikunga said.

In real terms, this means that PRASA has now increased the number of trains it runs during peak from three to nine trains.

‘No more will a commuter who missed a train, have to wait for one-
hour and ten minutes to catch the next train, because another train will be available within 20 minutes. We are improving efficiency and making sure that PRASA delivers a reliable and punctual commuter rail service that commuters can depend on, improve on-time performance and minimize disruptions,’ the Minister said.

The six re-signalled in the country include, Mabopane – Pretoria; Saulsville – Pretoria; Pretoria – De Wildt; Cape Town – Simonstown; Mutual – Langa and Umlazi – Reunion.

‘Work is underway to upgrade signaling in KwaZulu Natal. The installed signaling nationally is the latest state of the art compatible with automatic train protection (ATP) systems, GSM-R/FRMCS Digital Radio Network Communication.

‘The organization is also working on installing its own PRASA Train Control System (PTCS) for the KwaZulu-Natal Region. This system will bring the operations of the Region in line with the modern urban railways around the World,’ the Minister said.

This morning Chikunga was accompanied by the PRASA
Board of Control and Management during a train ride on the Southern Line in the Western Cape from Fish Hoek to Cape Town Station.

‘PRASA is making significant strides in restoring passenger rail services. To date, 31 of the 40 lines it operates in have been partially recovered. The region has 14 lines across five municipalities, not just in the City of Cape Town. To date, PRASA has partially recovered 12 of the 14 lines.

‘Of the 39 stations on the corridor, only 13 stations were operational. To date, all the 39 stations are operational, with a full train service. To date, PRASA has transported over 13 million commuters, with more than half (57%) transported on the Southern Line.

‘Progress is being made to recover the Central Line from Phillippi to Nolungile and trains are expected to run by the May this year, adding to the services already running from Cape Town to Nyanga on the Central Line. At that time, trains will be running from Cape Town to Nyanga and all the way to Nolungile,’ the Minister said.

S
ource: South African Government News Agency

WINDHOEK: The Zambezi Horticulture Producers Association (ZAHOPA) looks forward to establishing training facilities for farmers in Zambezi in order to develop programmes to expand the output of primary producing horticulture crops.

This was stated in an online presentation made by ZAHOPA executive chairperson Castrow Muunda at the 1st Spain-Namibia Climate Forum, which tackled climate change issues and solutions for both nations, on Monday.

The forum hosted from Windhoek by the Spanish Embassy provided a platform to various initiatives to take centre stage and present the various innovative ways they actively combat the effects of climate change in their respective environments.

Muunda explained that ZAHOPA was established in response to the decline in production of foods such as spinach, grapes and onions due to a lack of market access.

‘ZAHOPA established Zambezi’s first farmers market in 2021 in support of primary production output and in hopes of diversifying regional food trends,’ stated Muunda, adding that the region’s overreliance of certain crops leaves the soil in poor condition.

According to Muunda they have started training their farmers on soil analysis and how monocrop farming strips the soil of various nutrients.

‘We emphasised to our farmers that before they plant any type of crop they must take it for testing and based on the recommendations given after the testing, then they will know which seeds to plant,’ said Muunda.

Despite their efforts, ZAHOPA faces challenges such as funding constraints and the engagement of youth in agriculture, hindering their mandate for food sufficiency in the Zambezi Region. However, Muunda noted ongoing initiatives to establish mentorship programmes and forge partnerships with stakeholders to overcome these hurdles.

ZAHOPA’s endeavours underscore a concerted effort to promote sustainable agriculture practices and enhance food security in Zambezi, aligning with broader global efforts to combat climate change.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

Government is calling on South Africans to exercise their right to vote in the National and Provincial Elections on Wednesday, 29 May 2024. This year, millions of South Africans will once again have the opportunity to cast their votes in the seventh democratic elections, which mark 30 years after the first democratic elections in 1994.

In a recent interview with SAnews, the Acting Director-General (ADG) of the Government Communication and Information System, Nomonde Mnukwa, encouraged all eligible South Africans to cast their votes in the upcoming general elections.

‘Citizens must vote not only in the upcoming general elections but also in all future elections. It is a right that South Africa achieved under extremely difficult and trying circumstances,’ she said.

Section 19(3) of the Bill of Rights, as enshrined in the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa of 1996, states that ‘every adult citizen has the right to vote in elections for any legislative body established in terms of the Constitution an
d do so in secret’.

This year, South Africa also commemorates the 28th anniversary of the enactment of the Constitution as the supreme law of the country.

Mnukwa pointed out that ‘the rights of South Africans are protected under the constitutional democracy which promotes inclusivity, equality, non-racialism, non-sexism, national unity, social cohesion, justice and diversity.’

‘The majority of South Africans were denied the right to vote during the apartheid era. Many people fought for our freedom and democracy. Some people died while others were imprisoned,’ the ADG stated.

‘As South Africans, we must not take our democracy for granted because it did not come naturally. It came from the shedding of blood and tears.’

Youth and democracy

According to her, the majority of young people who were born after democracy did not experience the hardships of apartheid, and she believes it is important that they understand what democracy is all about.

‘If the youth take their generation’s role as future leaders se
riously, they must vote in large numbers. Youth, as future leaders, must vote to preserve and strengthen our democracy.’

The ADG said when people vote in large numbers, the country’s democracy grows because citizens decide who should be in power. ‘As voters we also have the power to determine who should represent us. Elections are part of the formal democratic processes that allow citizens’ voices to be heard,’ she said.

She expressed concern that if a considerable number of people do not vote in large numbers during the elections, democracy in this country may collapse.

‘Democracy is one thing that keeps South Africa together. We want to strengthen it as much as possible so that we can build a better country and a prosperous future,’ Mnukwa said.

Voters’ roll

Meanwhile, the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) has reported that over 27.79 million voters are eligible to cast their votes in the upcoming general elections, the highest number since the dawn of democracy in South Africa.

‘Since the vo
ters’ roll was compiled for the first time ahead of the 1999 National and Provincial Elections, it has shown steady growth of over 35% and contains the highest number of registered voters, recording an increase of 9.6 million voters since the 1999 general elections,’ the IEC said in a statement.

It stated that the highlight of the certified voters’ roll is the increase in the rate of representation by persons aged 18 to 39, who account for 42% or 11.7 million voters on the voters’ roll.

The long-standing trend of there being more females on the voters’ roll continues. Of the 27.79 million voters, 15 million are females.

‘The introduction of the online self-service voter registration modality has contributed to the increased rate of registration by younger voters in the country as well as by citizens who are resident outside of the Republic,’ the IEC stated.

Source: South African Government News Agency

An 89-year-old man was arrested for allegedly raping his 14-year-old granddaughter on different occasions at Oshikushomunkete village in the Oshikuku Constituency.

Namibian Police Force crime investigations coordinator for the Omusati Region, Deputy Commissioner Moses Simaho said the incidents which allegedly occurred on unknown dates between January and March this year, was only reported to the police on Tuesday.

‘It is alleged that the suspect raped the victim after inviting her to his house on different occasions,’ Simaho said.

He indicated that the matter was reported to police by the girl’s 44-year-old biological mother.

Police investigations into the matter continue.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

RUNDU: The Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform has recommended that government declare a drought emergency at national level.

The ministry made this recommendation in its crop prospects, food security and drought situation report after it carried out the crops and household food security monitoring assessment in the seven major northern communal crop producing regions from 12 February to 11 March 2024.

The main purpose of the assessment was to assess crop conditions and provide early warning reports on the expected crop harvests, geographic locations of agronomic anomalies, the effects of floods and or droughts and other significant events.

The ministry, through its Executive Director, Ndiyakupi Nghituwamata, said they found that the 2023/24 rainfall season started earlier compared to the previous season, with light to moderate showers recorded in October.

‘However, regions such as the Zambezi, Kavango East and West saw delayed rainfall, which affected the commencement of ploughing activities. In addition, severe dry spells with high temperatures also negatively affected crop development that further led to crops wilting,’ she said.

Nghituwamata said the dry spell has also negatively affected vegetation and water availability for livestock, with deteriorating conditions expected to worsen.

She further explained that preliminary crop estimates indicate a drastic reduction in the forecasted harvest, with all crops producing

regions in the communal areas expected below last season’s harvest.

The aggregated national cereal production (maize, millet, sorghum and wheat) is estimated at 72,150 Metric Tons (MT), which is 53 per cent lower than the last season’s harvest of 153,012 MT.

In addition, the commercial area is projected to record a harvest of 35,200 MT, indicating 68 per cent less than last season’s production of 111,000 MT, only contributing 49 per cent to the national cereal production.

The ED said the decline is primarily due to the devastating drought experienced in rain-fed areas, and the substantial reduction in numbers of farmers who have planted maize and wheat in the commercial area this season.

Household food security has generally weakened in many parts of the country, following a reduced agricultural production recorded in the 2022/2023 season.

‘Many households in the major communal crop-producing regions are indicated to have depleted their previous season’s food stock and the majority are currently dependent on the market and drought relief food,’ she stated.

Nghituwamata indicated that many parts of the country are in distress grazing, with fair to poor livestock body conditions, especially in the southern, western and eastern parts of the country.

The situation, she highlighted, is expected to worsen should the country continue to receive poor rainfall for the remainder of the season.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

First Lady of Botswana, Neo Jane Masisi is joining a group of cyclists from Botswana, Namibia and South Africa in a cycle challenge on Tuesday.

A total 30 cyclists from Botswana, Namibia and South Africa are cycling from Rustenburg, South Africa, to Walvis Bay, Namibia and have spent their last night in Botswana on Monday. Masisi on Tuesday welcomed the cyclists in Tshootsha, Botswana, before they departed for Namibia.

The cycle challenge is part of a series of activities organised by the Trans Kalahari Corridor Secretariat, in commemoration of their 20th anniversary.

Masisi is partaking in the cycle event alongside Botswana’s prominent cyclist Albertina Milton until the Namibian border at Buitepos, where they will be received by Namibia’s Transport Minister, John Mutorwa.

The transport ministers of the three member states, Namibia, Botswana and South Africa – John Mutorwa, Eric Molale and Sindisiwe Chikunga are respectively signing a recommitment pledge to continue facilitating the seamless movement of g
oods and persons on the Trans Kalahari Corridor (TKC).

The countries also pledge to simplify and harmonise the requirements and controls that govern the movement of goods and persons to reduce transport costs and transit times.

‘The three member states pledge to continue to promote safety and security on the Trans Kalahari Corridor with the view to ensure the safety of users through regular joint law enforcement operations and border controls,’ the pledge reads.

It further stated that the countries will ensure that the road and infrastructure on the TKC are kept in a condition that responds to the needs of the corridor users.

‘The three member states pledge to promote spatial development initiatives on the TKC in order to enhance the livelihoods of persons living along the corridor,’ it adds.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency