Month: April 2024

Minister in the Presidency for Electricity, Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, says the Northern Cape – with its high sun exposure and wind energy potential – has the potential to be a central part of South Africa’s renewable energy complex.

Ramokgopa was speaking during an event to mark the reaching of commercial operation of the Scatec ASA-owned 540MW solar and battery energy storage facility based at Kenhardt in that province.

The project, totalling 540 MW solar and 225 MW/1 140 MWh battery storage, is one of the world’s largest hybrid solar and battery storage facilities. The project was awarded by the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy under the technology agnostic Risk Mitigation IPP procurement programme (RMIPPP).

The project has a total capex of approximately US $1 billion and marks the largest commitment in Scatec’s history. The power will be sold under a 20-year PPA with Eskom. Scatec holds 51% of the equity and H1 Holdings, the local Black Economic Empowerment partner, holds 49%.

Ramokgopa said
construction of renewable energy facilities in the province should translate into ‘meaningful impact’ on long term job creation.

‘[The] jobs and the opportunities that we are creating are transitional. At the height of construction [Scatec ASA] created 2000 plus jobs and it’s the nature of this development that once it gets to be operational, the jobs numbers taper down.

‘But the people still remain here and they are still searching for opportunities so it’s important that we are able to have a new conversation and this is not about Scatec, this is about how we see the Northern Cape as a major player in the renewable energy complex,’ he said.

He further emphasised that provincial and national government is discussing how investments into the province can also have a meaningful, long term impact through localisation and the creation of industry.

‘It’s important that opportunities get to be domesticated here and part of that conversation…is to see how best we can translate the Northern Cape as the renewable
energy complex of the country and on the back of that, create new industries.

‘When you have 60% of close to R260 billion of investment sunk in this province, you have to see the difference even before you are told that it accounts for that.

‘So part of the conversation…is to ensure that you domesticate these investments [and] that the opportunities that comes about… the centre of these investments must be centred in the Northern Cape,’ he said.

Source: South African Government News Agency

Employment and Labour Minister, Thulas Nxesi, says government spheres must do away with a ‘silos mentality’ as it prevents service delivery programmes from reaching ordinary citizens.

In an effort to eradicate unemployment in South Africa, particularly among the youth, Nxesi engaged several potential employers and work-seekers at the Saldanha and Vredenburg areas in the Western Cape on Thursday.

The Department of Employment and Labour is hosting a two-day jobs fair and service delivery initiative, where Nxesi has paid a visit to work-seekers at the local Vredenburg Sports Ground.

The two-day event commenced with an Employer Breakfast Session where the Minister led discussions on labour market issues and addressing unemployment in the province.

Nxesi said unemployment and employment have nothing to do with politics.

‘I want to repeat this, employment or no employment knows no politics. It is a crisis facing our young people. Therefore, when we deal with the issue of unemployment, we must know that we are
dealing with a crisis, which is facing our young people.

‘And we are saying, we are interacting with all the Premiers, but our intention is very simple because the Premiers have the authority to talk with their departments and their municipalities. At the end of the day, if we want these programmes to be relevant they must come to the district and local municipalities and that is our logic,’ he said.

He is of the view that the problem with the state is not allowing each sphere of government to conduct programmes in provincial, district and local government.

‘The District Development Model (DDM) says we must come down to the people to talk with them. The President said he wants integration and coordination of all the programmes between national and all spheres of government.

‘We should do away with the silos. The problem with government is silo mentality and territorial,’ he added.

The department and the Minister have since embarked on the initiative to provide a platform for employers to share informatio
n, engage with stakeholders and develop partnerships.

The jobs fair initiative is championed by the department’s Public Employment Services (PES) branch and seeks to create opportunities for work seekers and provide a platform to interact with prospective employers.

‘These efforts should be understood against President [Cyril] Ramaphosa’s 2019 Budget Speech in which he committed government to the roll-out of a new integrated district-based approach – popularly known as the DDM tailored to promote and support local businesses and local communities.’

Nxesi raised concerns about the unemployment rate on the West Coast, which he said was ‘alarmingly high’.

‘In an attempt to mitigate this, the department has considered the Jobs and Careers Fair as a useful platform where the unemployed, especially the youth, can meet with prospective employers from different sectors to access both jobs and learning opportunities,’ said the Minister.

The inter-departmental jobs fair involves the Departments of Small Business D
evelopment and Higher Education, Science and Innovation.

The session also provides a platform where people can get access to career information and employment counselling; registration of work-seekers and exhibitions by various departments; registration of vacancies and or recruit work-seekers on the Employment System of South Africa.

Source: South African Government News Agency

The days of contractors abandoning government housing projects are over and people invading private properties must come to an end.

This was the warning from Human Settlements Minister, Mmamoloko Kubayi, during a recent community engagement and hand over of title deeds at the Dan Tloome Mega Human Settlements Project in Johannesburg.

Kubayi’s tough stance on lawlessness followed as the qualifying beneficiaries complained about not being allocated houses, while their houses are being invaded.

‘We are acting against invaders of private properties. Please do us a favour and move out of a house or property that does not belong to you,’ Kubayi told illegal occupants.

Regarding the projects that have not been completed on time, Kubayi warned contractors that the days of not completing work on time and within budget are over, saying it has cost the government millions with already limited resources ‘thus denying people of their constitutional rights of access to adequate housing’.

‘My appeal to all contractors
is please help us to hand over finished houses to beneficiaries [and] if you are subcontracting, please do the work. My mandate is to deliver a finished house,’ Kubayi said.

While this development is a step in the right direction, Kubayi was adamant that there should not even be a single project that is delayed or blocked due to contractors not honouring their contractual obligations.

Gauteng Human Settlements and Infrastructure Development MEC, Lebogang Maile, issued a stern warning to poor-performing contractors, saying their actions work against government’s commitment to provide housing for the poor.

‘We cannot have a contractor that fails to deliver and still be kept onsite. The resources we use belong to the people and must be used for their benefits, nothing else,’ Maile said.

Before the community engagement where title deeds were issued to several beneficiaries, Kubayi, Maile and the City of Johannesburg Mayor, Kabelo Gwamanda, launched two social housing projects, named the Ekhaya Gardens and Foc
hville Social Housing.

Ekhaya Gardens has a total of 333 units and is close to Roodepoort Central Business District, while the Fochville Social Housing, with a capacity of 258 units, is strategically placed within the mining and industrial sectors of the greater West Rand Municipality.

The two social housing projects will provide much-needed decent and affordable rental accommodation to people earning between R1 850 and R22 000 per month.

The launch comes a few days after the successful launch of Townlands in Tshwane, the current largest social housing project in the country with 1 200 units.

Between 2019 and 2024, the Department of Human Settlements through its agency, the Social Housing Regulatory Authority (SHRA), has managed to deliver over 13 000 units resulting in close to 50 000 rental and affordable units delivered over the years.

Source: South African Government News Agency

While commuter rail services have deteriorated due to criminal syndicates over the years, government is making significant strides in restoring passenger rail services that are reliable, safe, modern and affordable.

‘To date, the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) has restored 31 of the 40 lines nationally, with over 263 of the 463 stations that were vandalised refurbished to basic functionality,’ Transport Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga said on Friday.

The Minister made these remarks after taking a trip on a train from the Nancefield to Johannesburg line, which was reopened recently.

In Gauteng, PRASA has recovered six more lines that were targeted for the 2023/24 financial year.

Trains are now running from Hercules to Belle Ombre, Pretoria to Kaalfontein, Leralla to Germiston, Germiston to Johannesburg, Germiston to Elsburg, Johannesburg to Naledi, Johannesburg to Nancefield, Johannesburg to Florida, connecting the three great municipalities of Gauteng: Pretoria, Ekurhuleni, and the City of Joh
annesburg – all the way to the West Rand.

‘I am also pleased to tell you that since the recovery of the passenger rail services in the 2020/2021 financial year, over 70 million passenger trips have been made to date, from a low base of 7.4 million passenger trips made in the 2020/21 financial year. That is more than a tenfold increase and that makes us proud.

‘Since the recovery of the Nancefield line, this service alone is making over 1 000 passenger trips per day. Though we are not where we should be, this marks a significant improvement, and illustrates the demand for the service. It also tells the story that people are gradually choosing rail as their preferred mode of transport,’ the Minister said.

PRASA anticipates that the numbers will steadily increase as more lines and stations are reopened.

‘With the reopening of the Nancefield to Johannesburg railway line, we are seeing the transformative power of commuter rail services.

‘Residents from Klipspruit, Mlamlakunzi, Sebokeng, Orange Farm, can now
travel to industrial parks in Braamfontein, Germiston and various destinations by train. We are connecting people to places of work and economic opportunities – affordably.

‘For soccer fans who enjoy watching games at the stadium, they can now travel to their favourite stadium via the Orlando station,’ she said.

Chikunga said commuters have expressed that they are relieved now that the trains are back and can get to their various destinations on time, without the stress and uncertainty that came with the old PRASA train services.

‘The people I have interacted with through this recovery journey appreciate the new high-tech trains, Isitimela Sabantu that we are rolling out on our corridors, proudly manufactured right at our backyard in Dunnottar, Gauteng.

‘The people love the security features that come with the trains, they love the automated doors, the voice command that tells them of the next stopping stations and the air-conditioning system. More importantly, they appreciate the savings they make on tra
velling costs. They can now put more money back into their pockets,’ the Minister said.

Chikunga said by providing affordable and efficient transportation options, government has empowered marginalised groups, improved access to opportunities, and fostered greater social and economic inclusion.

‘Our people now have access to comfortable, modern trains that get them to their various destinations on time with the comfort of knowing that there is security onboard the train and on the station platforms.

‘Work continues on these lines and the stations. Soon, residents from Katlehong, Springs, Midway, Roodepoort to Residentia, will be able to access these services.

‘Our work now is to increase the frequency of the trains and reduce the waiting times for the next train to arrive. It is what they are asking for. The National signalling project has started in earnest,’ the Minister said.

The new modern signalling system will ensure that trains run frequently and safely and this is while work continues to rehabili
tate the stations.

‘As national government, we made a commitment to not only empower our people but transform their lives. The investment made through our capital projects ensure that the economy continues to be the beacon of hope for many South Africans.

‘Through the passenger rail capital projects, around R30 billion has been invested over the last two years to stimulate the economy, and over 5000 jobs have been created nationally just this last financial year,’ the Minister said.

Another 312 jobs were created just on the rebuilding of the Nancefield line and16 local Small Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) appointed, boosting the local economy in these areas.

‘The skills and on-job experience acquired go a long way in improving the lives of our people. The reopening of train services has also breathed in new life to the secondary/informal economy that was almost decimated when train services were suspended.

‘Traders can now earn a living at our stations selling their products to commuters and visito
rs of various stations. We are making a positive impact on their well-being,’ the Minister said.

Source: South African Government News Agency

Southern Africa is in the grip of an urgent crisis, according to the Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources Policy Analysis Network (FANRPAN).

According to the FANRPAN, a record-breaking dry spell lasting over 30 days is scorching countries – Angola, Botswana, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

‘El Niño and climate change are fuelling this disaster, inflicting severe damage on crops and livestock over the past five years,’ the institution said.

The FANRPAN is a pan-African network that provides independent evidence to inform policy processes at national and regional levels.

Its mandate is to co-ordinate policy research and dialogue and recommend strategies for promoting food, agriculture and natural resources sectors in Africa.

‘The situation is dire and demands immediate attention. Widespread crop failure looms in Malawi, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Livestock are dying at alarming rates due to a lack of water and vegetation.

‘The movement of desperate people and animals is sprea
ding diseases, including those transmissible to humans.’

Meanwhile, over 9 000 cattle deaths have been reported since October 2023.

‘This is a humanitarian crisis demanding immediate action. Without urgent intervention, the suffering of affected communities will only worsen.’

The FANRPAN and its partners will have a media briefing on Tuesday, 22 April 2024, at the Agricultural Research Council in Hatfield, Pretoria, to address the matter.

The media briefing will shed light on the scale of the drought in Southern Africa and the steps governments, donors, and international actors must immediately take to save lives and avoid further catastrophes.

Source: South African Government News Agency

International Relations and Cooperation Minister, Dr Naledi Pandor, has welcomed Egypt into the family of BRICS nations.

‘This development further enhances the role the South plays in global matters,’ she said on Friday.

The BRICS grouping of major emerging economies – Brazil, India, China, South Africa and Russia – has admitted four new members. These include Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates.

Pandor was speaking in Pretoria where she was co-chairing the 10th Session of the Joint Commission for Cooperation (JCC) with her counterpart, Egypt Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sameh Shoukry.

Meanwhile, Pandor said South Africa and Egypt need to exponentially increase trade and investment.

‘In this regard, partnerships between our private sectors and Sstate-owned entities are crucial. This also entails the need to formally establish and launch a Business Council,’ she said.

The Minister announced on Friday that a decision on the Business Council has been taken and once operational, this struct
ure will go a long way in coordinating and galvanising trade and investment opportunities.

She also asked her counterpart to take advantage of the opportunities provided by the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), which will facilitate easier trade.

‘As an important blueprint and contributor to integration, the AfCFTA lessens the barriers towards trade, promotes preferential trade and provides an enabling framework, which will be mutually beneficial to both our two countries and the continent in general.’

She stated that long bonds of friendship, solidarity and collaboration underpin their relationship.

Pandor also paid tribute to Egypt for supporting the country’s anti-apartheid movement, which eventually led to the demise of the old order and the creation of a democratic and free South Africa.

Pandor believes that the depth and impact of the bilateral relationship is very important. ‘The Cape to Cairo nexus should not only be one of our guiding lights but should highlight the importance o
f regional integration.’

JCC

Meanwhile, Pandor said the framework provided by the JCC entails that the constituent committees cover a wide range of areas of bilateral cooperation.

These include trade and investment, agriculture and agro-processing, infrastructure development, water resources management, health, financial services, tourism, transport, information technology, communications, women and people with disabilities, judicial matters, sport, arts and culture, people-to-people links and consular issues.

She also announced that several Agreements and Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) are expected to be concluded during the session.

Conflict

She highlighted several conflicts and wars that have erupted and called on the international community to be vigilant and redouble its efforts to promote peace, stability and development.

‘The United Nations, our premier guarantor of global order as enshrined in its charter, and the regional organisations should remain seized and be decisive in addressing th
ese matters.’

However, Pandor said the world was witnessing an attack on the global system of multilateralism and its institutions of governance.

‘The world is seeing the rise of unilateralism and impunity that threatens to erode the very foundations of multilateralism, international law and the creation of a just and equitable world.’

South Africa, she said, is deeply concerned about the unfolding tragedy that has befallen the people of Palestine.

‘The catastrophe that is happening before our eyes in the Gaza Strip, with the destruction carried out by the occupying state of Israel, and the humanitarian disaster therein, is a collective blemish on the moral conscience of the world.’

She also spoke about the unresolved plight of the Saharawi people.

‘Silencing the Guns on our continent is a pressing challenge that the African Union and the Regional Economic Communities should continue to address.’

She reiterated South Africa’s position, which views dialogue, mediation and negotiations as vital for the p
eaceful resolution of conflicts.

‘In this regard, it is important not to further delay the reforms needed to transform the United Nations, particularly the United Nations Security Council, and for it to reflect the realities of today. In this endeavour, although North-South collaboration remains important, the Global South should remain united in ensuring that its voice is resoundingly clear.’

Source: South African Government News Agency