Month: April 2024

The signing of offtake agreements this week has signified the start of phase one of the much-awaited R28 billion Upper uMkhomazi Water Project.

The project is expected to be a catalyst to water security and vibrant economic activity in the eThekwini area and surrounding districts.

Water and Sanitation Minister Senzo Mchunu, joined by Deputy Minister David Mahlobo, lead the signing of joint offtake agreements with the Trans-Caledon Tunnel Authority (TCTA), uMngeni-uThukela Water Board and six KwaZulu-Natal municipalities during a ceremony at Deepsdale in Bulwer on Friday.

The project consists of the construction of an 81 metre high dam at Smithfield on the uMkhomazi River with a gross storage capacity of 251 million m3, as well as a 33 kilometre and 3.5 metre diameter tunnel from Smithfield Dam to the uMlaza River Valley, and a 5.1 kilometre and 2.6 metre diameter gravity bulk pipeline connecting the tunnel to the Baynesfield Water Treatment Works.

Upon its completion, the project is set to increase the am
ount of raw water in the uMgeni Water System yield by 55%, from 394 to 608 million cubic metres (or kilolitres) per annum.

The TCTA will implement the raw water component of project and uMngeni-uThukela will implement the bulk water treatment component for distribution to the identified six water services authorities.

Speaking at the event attended by various Mayors in the area, Mchunu noted the project has seen delays but they are excited at the commencement of the project.

The Minister said the department is hard at work with other projects within the province to address the water challenges.

‘We are here to do a number of things, we visited the site where the Upper uMkhomazi Dam will be built [because] we wanted to see the actual site [and] we are delighted that we managed to view the site.

‘The next thing is to allow TCTA to provide a road map about the actual construction of the dam and the timeframes regarding commencement and completion dates,’ Mchunu said.

Mahlobo highlighted that the projects t
hat are currently being implemented by the department, working together with entities and municipalities, are a response to an instruction from President Cyril Ramaphosa.

He said President Ramaphosa has put the Economic Reconstruction Recovery Plan at the centre of renewing the country.

‘Water is one of the infrastructures that has become an impediment around the issue of economic growth, hence we are pushing major bulk water infrastructure projects to ensure that we do not run out of water,’ Mahlobo said.

Source: South African Government News Agency

President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed his deep sadness at the passing of liberation struggle veteran and former Pan Africanist Congress (PAC) President, Dr Ernest ‘Motsoko’ Pheko.

Dr Pheko, aged 94, passed away on Friday.

He was a lawyer, author of 30 books, theologian, academic and historian.

According to a statement by the Presidency, President Ramaphosa has offered his condolences to the family, comrades and associates, both nationally and internationally, of Dr Pheko who formerly served as the PAC Representative to the United Nations and as a Member of Parliament during his distinguished political career.

‘With the passing of Motsoko Pheko, we are grateful for the extended lifetime during which this son of Lesotho became a champion of our liberation struggle and fought for the rights of dispossessed and landless people who had endured colonialism and apartheid.

‘His diverse qualifications and interests made Motsoko Pheko an invaluable contributor to human development and the intellectual heritage o
f our nation and that of our continent whose causes and accomplishments were uppermost in his consciousness and activism,’ President Ramaphosa said.

As South Africa observes 30 years of freedom, the President said: ‘We honour all individuals and political traditions who brought about the dispensation in which we live today and to whom we remain indebted.’

‘May Motsoko Pheko rest in peace,’ President Ramaphosa said.

Source: South African Government News Agency

Water and Sanitation Deputy Minister, Judith Tshabalala, has reiterated the importance of the effective management of water resources in promoting development in the country.

“It is not the intention of the department to make the lives of our citizens difficult by going through the tedious journey of having to apply for a water use licence [but] we do it because we have been entrusted with powers to ensure that water is managed in the best interest of all citizens,’ Tshabalala said.

Tshabalala was speaking during a community engagement on water use license applications at the Westonaria Banquet Hall in the Rand West District Municipality, Johannesburg on Friday.

The workshop aimed to provide an in-depth understanding of the application process, engage on sustainable water management practices, facilitate networking opportunities and empower disadvantaged communities.

Tshabalala said the workshop allowed users the space to network, including people who applied for water use licenses, those who have been on
the waiting list, and those who have been experiencing challenges regarding water licensing.

The Deputy Minister emphasised the importance of water use licenses to ensure effective water resource management.

‘Activities that require water use authorisation include the development of facilities or infrastructure for animal concentration such as pigs, rabbits, crocodiles, ostriches, poultry aquaculture, the development of facilities or infrastructure for animal slaughter such as poultry, game, red meat, and more.

‘Additionally, water use authorisation is required for the development and operation of hatcheries or agri-industrial facilities; for an area of 300 square meters or more of indigenous vegetation in specified geographical areas; and of 1 hectare or more of indigenous vegetation,’ Tshabalala explained.

During the question-and-answer session, the community members and stakeholders commended the department for the initiative, saying the workshop will make things easier for the disadvantaged when they
undergo the application process.

However, they expressed their concerns about water regulations in the country, requesting the government take immediate action against those who claim to sell purified water in their shops.

The community members asked for government’s intervention in spaces where racism is rife and less-literate individuals are taken for granted and are unwittingly made to sign away their land and water use licenses.

The Deputy Minister noted the concerns and promised that a follow-up meeting would be convened to provide feedback regarding the concerns raised.

“We welcome your input and complaints with an open mind and we are very much resolute in our quest of addressing whatever challenge you have in water use licensing,’ the Deputy Minister said.

Source: South African Government News Agency

Jubilation and ululations, mixed with tears of joy, were the order of the day as the community of Umtubatuba in KwaZulu-Natal witnessed the sod turning ceremony marking the official start of the long-awaited construction of a local community health centre.

KwaZulu-Natal Premier, Nomusa Dube-Ncube, joined by Health MEC Nomagugu Simelane and UMkhanyakude District Municipality Mayor, Siphile Mdaka, presided over the sod turning ceremony at the site for the construction of the Mtubatuba Community Health Centre (CHC), which will provide comprehensive health services.

The establishment of the community health centre represents a vital step towards redefining healthcare access for the residents of Umtubatuba.

By bringing essential medical services closer to home, the CHC aims to alleviate the burden of traveling long distances in search of healthcare, thereby saving community costs and time.

The initiative aligns with the overarching goal of ensuring equitable access to quality healthcare services for all member
s of the community.

The most noteworthy aspect of the CHC project is its commitment to provide a wide range of healthcare services tailored to meet the diverse needs of the community.

Upon completion, the centre will serve as a one-stop destination for disease screenings, medication collection, dental and optometric consultations, TB and cancer screenings, as well as specialised services for male health.

The centre will also offer free circumcision services and facilitate access to mobility aids, including wheelchairs and crutches, further enhancing the quality of life for residents.

Speaking at the event, Dube-Ncube said the construction of the community health centre will result in the creation of more than 300 jobs.

The Premier urged people responsible for employing staff to refrain from employing people based on political affiliation or membership.

‘We also discourage community members who demand that only local professional people must be employed in health facilities. Employment of professionals i
n these facilities need to be done on merit – irrespective of where the health professionals hail from,’ Dube-Ncube said.

The Premier introduced the contractor tasked with the construction of the health centre and handed over ten vehicles to Community Policing Forums (CPFs) in Umkhanyakude District Municipality.

The ten cars are part of a fleet of 85 vehicles that were unveiled during the handing over of tools of trade to community crime fighting structure in Durban on 5 April 2024.

Simelane emphasised that access to quality healthcare is a human right, and people in rural areas are also entitled to it like others in urban areas.

The MEC also assured that the local community will receive priority during recruitment of people who will work during the construction of the facility.

The Department of Health said the construction of the health centre is expected to be completed in the next three years.

Source: South African Government News Agency

The Electoral Commission (IEC) has welcomed the Electoral Court ruling dismissing cases lodged by five political parties against the commission.

The five political parties – Operation Dudula, Arise South Africa, Cape Independence Party, Defenders of the People, and Independent South Africa National Civic Organisation – lodged cases against their exclusion from contesting in the upcoming elections.

South Africa will hold elections on 29 May 2024.

The court applications related to non-compliance with the requirements for candidate nomination.

In a consolidated decision on the five applications, the court on Friday made an identical order, dismissing all of them. The court said reasons for the orders would follow shortly.

The IEC said the decision by the Electoral Court has cleared the path for the commission to begin with printing the ballot papers for the 2024 National and Provincial Elections.

‘The Electoral Commission appreciates the hard work of the Electoral Court for bringing these matters to finali
ty. These applications had an immense implication for the production of the ballot papers for the forthcoming elections,’ the Commission said in a statement.

The Electoral Commission has reminded that applications for special votes opened on 15 April 2024 and will close on 3 May 2024.

The commission reiterated that sound electoral administration demands that voters cast ballots at the voting station of registration.

‘However, our framework allows for voters to vote at other voting stations where they are not registered if such voters notify the Commission. Notification for this purpose will close on 17 May 2024,’ the commission said.

Code of conduct

Meanwhile, the Gauteng Electoral Commission will on Tuesday host the signing of the Electoral Code of Conduct by political parties and independent candidates contesting the 2024 National and Provincial Elections.

A total of 52 political parties and independent candidates contesting the elections in Gauteng will publicly pledge to adhere to the Electoral Code
of Conduct.

The signing ceremony will be held at Emperors Palace in Kempton Park, Johannesburg.

Source: South African Government News Agency

Late liberation struggle veteran, Ida Jimmy-!Ha-Eiros’ elder son Michael Jimmy said his mother was a beacon of strength and courage whose legacy resonates through generations.

Speaking on behalf of the children during a memorial service in honour of the late Jimmy-!Ha-Eiros on Friday, the son said his mother’s unwavering commitment to freedom, justice and equality lit a flame in her children’s hearts, guiding them to stand tall in the face of adversity.

‘We know that she embarked on this struggle journey with the ultimate aim of freedom, but more importantly, to secure better lives for us, her children-something that we have not taken for granted. During her incarceration, we were labelled all sorts of names: children of terrorists, jailbird children, and some asked what we had gained from our mother going to prison. But as children, we were not moved by such names. She always wanted the best for us, and we are grateful for what she instilled in us,’ he said.

He added, ‘We will miss her humility and her ub
untu, where she opened up her house to many other children whom we call our brothers and sisters. She took these children in after their families threw them out because of their involvement in the struggle. Her teachings of respecting elders and everyone irrespective of their position in life or status in society resonate with us. She had a caring heart and cared for us equally.’

Reflecting on their mother’s years in incarceration, the children said, ‘As siblings, we were deprived of our mother during our early years by the notorious AG 26 and the terrorism act. It deprived us of the opportunity during our infancy to receive love, guidance, and attention, and that experience and its effects are still present. Mother, you will be forever in our hearts. We love you forever. I salute you.’

The late Jimmy-!Ha-Eiros was imprisoned several times. Her first imprisonment was in 1979 at Gobabis prison, where she was incarcerated with her one-year-old son, Natangwe Jimmy, for five months. After her release, she was p
laced under house arrest for one year. Again, between 1980 and 1985, Jimmy-!Ha-Eiros was imprisoned for speaking in public, saying, ‘Comrades, give the Swapo freedom fighters food and water; they are our sons, brothers, and husbands.’

Jimmy-!Ha-Eiros died on 03 April this year at the age of 79 after a long illness and was laid to rest on Saturday at Farm Snipriver.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency