Month: April 2024

President Cyril Ramaphosa has called on citizens, political parties and civil society to work together to ensure that this year’s election is a ‘success in our ongoing journey of democratic consolidation’.

The President was addressing the nation through his weekly newsletter.

The 2024 National and Provincial Elections are expected to be held on 29 May this year.

‘It is up to us all, whether as government, political parties, candidates, voters, the media or civil society organisations, to play our part by ensuring that our actions and words inspire faith in our democracy. We must continue to work together to ensure that nothing undermines the integrity of our elections.

‘Above all, it is up to us all to ensure that this hard-won right to vote, for which so many sacrificed so much, is exercised by every eligible citizen in a climate free of intimidation and all forms of violence,’ President Ramaphosa said.

This year’s elections will be the seventh held since the dawn of democracy 30 years ago.

As highligh
ted by the President, the country’s electoral processes together with the rights enjoyed by citizens and political parties to organise, campaign and contest, ‘are among the greatest strengths of our constitutional order’.

Valuable rights

President Ramaphosa reminded South Africans that in this country, politicians are free to contest and media freedom to report is guaranteed with the courts administering justice ‘without fear or favour, including an Electoral Court that oversees the work of the Independent Electoral Commission [IEC] and the conduct of elections’.

‘As the country counts down to the election, the vibrant and robust campaigning that is taking place reflects how South Africa’s politics continues to evolve and mature. It is also a reflection of the many different views in our society and the variety of choices that voters have.

‘In a democracy such as ours, we should not be worried about differences, even when sharply expressed. That is because the vast majority of South Africans value and res
pect the democratic process. They have faith in the rule of law and know that any disputes can be resolved through the courts and other legal avenues.

‘Over the past 30 years we have held elections that are not only free and fair, but also peaceful and free of intimidation. Dire predictions of South Africa ‘regressing into violence’ or ‘democratic backsliding’ that regrettably remain a common feature of some reportage and analysis have been proven wrong time and again,’ he said.

The South African voter

President Ramaphosa said that according to research, most South Africans ‘recognise the importance of their vote and believe they have a duty to vote’ with the IEC commissioned research finding that some 57% of South Africans having expressed belief that voting is their duty.

‘While youth apathy is often cited as a problem in our country, some 55% of 18-24 year olds saw it as their duty to vote. It is significant that young people accounted for over 78% of new voter registrations last year. The IEC research
also found that the majority of respondents agreed that democracy is preferable to other kinds of government.

‘Despite its many challenges, our democracy is in good health. Even as political and other forms of contestation continue in the run-up to this year’s polls, they are taking place under the broad umbrella of a constitutional order characterised by fundamental freedoms and human rights,’ President Ramaphosa said.

Source: South African Government News Agency

With the 2024 National and Provincial Elections getting closer, the Electoral Commission (IEC) will brief the media on key aspects of the Elections Timetable in the run-up to Election Day.

‘The briefing will cover, among other things, special vote applications, a list of voting stations, notification to vote out-of-country, and a breakdown of the candidates contesting in the 2024 national and provincial elections,’ the IEC said.

The briefing is set to be held on Tuesday.

These elections coincide with South Africa’s celebration of 30 years of freedom and democracy.

This year marks 30 years since millions of South Africans cast their ballot in the first democratic election of 1994.

The 30-year celebrations is premised on celebrating the gains, achievements, and the milestone of 30 years of democratic rule as well as living in a free and democratic society.

South Africans will once again get an opportunity to exercise their democratic right to vote on 29 May 2024.

Annually, the month of April is designate
d as Freedom Month in South Africa.

Source: South African Government News Agency

The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) has recalled two batches of Benylin pediatric cough syrup.

On 10 April 2024, the Nigerian National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) reported to the concerned party that a batch of Benylin paediatric cough syrup had high levels of diethylene glycol detected in it.

According to the SAHPRA, diethylene glycol is toxic to humans when consumed and can prove fatal.

Toxic effects can include abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, inability to pass urine, headache, altered mental state, and acute kidney injury that may lead to death.

‘SAHPRA immediately contacted the South African manufacturer, Kenvue, formerly Johnson and Johnson, for a response. Following engagements with the manufacturer and in the best interest of the public, it was resolved that affected batches would immediately be recalled while an investigation is ongoing,’ the local drug watchdog explained.

SAHPRA, in collaboration with Kenvue, has identified the af
fected batch numbers as 329304 and 329303.

These affected batches have been distributed to several countries including South Africa, Eswatini, Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania and Nigeria.

SAHPRA CEO, Dr Boitumelo Semete-Makokotlela, said as a national regulatory authority, the recalling of medical products is a crucial measure to address safety concerns or quality issues so that they protect the health of the public.

‘SAHPRA is recalling these two batches from the market due to reported high levels of diethylene glycol, with the potential to cause serious adverse events,’ Semete-Makokotlela explained.

Benylin paediatric is a bright red syrup with a raspberry smell and taste, packaged in a 100ml amber glass bottle with a plastic measuring cup.

It is used to relieve cough and congestive symptoms and treat hay fever and other allergies affecting the upper respiratory tract.

‘SAHPRA wishes to inform the public not to panic, as the matter is being handled with priority. Batch recalls are batch-specific and do not ne
cessarily apply to other batches or similar products. The manufacturer is a SAHPRA-licenced manufacturer and complies with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP),’ said Semete-Makokotlela.

The drug watchdog stressed that the recall is limited to two batches and that the public should not panic regarding the range of products bearing the same name.

‘SAHPRA is alerting healthcare professionals and the public to discontinue the use of the two batches mentioned, remove them from their inventory and return them to their normal distribution channels immediately,’ said Semete-Makokotlela.

The recall is classified as a Class 1, Type A recall, which is associated with a serious product quality concern that may have severe consequences.

According to SAHPRA, this is a countrywide recall.

The product is being recalled from hospitals, retail outlets, healthcare professionals, authorised prescribers and individual customers or patients.

Those who have consumed these two batches and experienced any adverse reaction or wit
nessed it in children should consult their healthcare professional and report this using the Med Safety App or send an email to [email protected].

Source: South African Government News Agency

Disaster teams have been activated in all KwaZulu-Natal municipalities following a level 5 warning of disruptive rains expected in eThekwini Metro and the south coast on Monday, which could result in localised flooding.

According to the warning from the South African Weather Service (SAWS), the heavy downpours may result in some areas receiving rainfall accumulation of more than 200 millimetres over a 24-hour period, which may lead to flooding of settlements and roads, damage to houses, and the displacement of communities over the extreme south-eastern part of the province.

In a statement issued on Monday, the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs said areas that are likely to be affected include eThekwini Metro, Umdoni, Umzumbe and Ray Nkonyeni Local Municipalities on Monday.

The department said disaster teams reported that flood damage occurred in Margate town on Sunday night, which was caused by severe thunderstorms.

The department said businesses and public infrast
ructure, including roads and houses, have been severely damaged.

‘No injuries or fatalities have been confirmed at this stage. Our teams are currently conducting an assessment. Updates will be communicated in due course.

‘The public is advised to take precautionary measures by moving to safer places and avoid travelling to mitigate risk. These thunderstorms may cause localised damage to settlements, vehicles, livelihood, livestock and power surges due to excessive lightning,’ the department said.

The department has also warned the public of the dangers of lightning and advised communities to seek shelter in safe places.

‘Public facilities, such as community halls, are open as safe havens for those in need of shelter. Our teams may have to evacuate people should they foresee high risk of danger due to the inclement weather.

‘Motorists are strongly advised to avoid travelling during this period, as bridges may become flooded, posing a risk to life,’ the department said.

Source: South African Government N
ews Agency

The Ondonga Traditional Authority spokesperson, Enkali Frans is urging the public to dig traditional wells and earth dams to alleviate water scarcity during the dry season.

Frans said in an interview with Nampa on Thursday they do not receive funds from the government to construct boreholes so they can only urge the community to dig traditional wells.

‘We do not receive any budget from the government so that we can construct boreholes for our people, we only receive a little from people when they register their houses,’ said Frans.

He said last year, people from the Nehale LyaMpingana, Eengodi and Okankolo constituencies suffered terrible water challenges, so they should be proactive to avoid a repeat of the situation in future.

‘Our people should come together and use traditional forms of survival by digging wells and earth dams that can take them through the hard times,’ Frans said.

Oshikoto regional councillor for the Eengodi Constituency, Protasius Neshuku, said they are facing challenges with water
scarcity in all villages in the constituency again this year.

‘We did not receive good rain this year, so all 69 villages in the area are in need of water,’ Neshuku said.

He added that they however cannot dig wells and earth dams because there is no water in the ground.

Neshuku also said the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform is taking too long to drill boreholes, which exacerbates water shortages.

Contacted for comment, the ministry’s head of rural water supply, Stevenson Tuukondjele said people should be patient as the government is trying its best to install their boreholes.

‘We have learned that this year will be tough, but our people should really appreciate the efforts of the government in drilling boreholes in their areas,’ said Tuukondjele.

He added that 40 boreholes have already been drilled in the Oshikoto Region and contractors are busy with their installation.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

On Monday, 15 April, the Mpumalanga Premier, Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane, unveils an in-patient treatment centre in Delmas, Victor Khanye Local Municipality.

On Tuesday, 16 April, the Deputy Minister of Health together with the Deputy Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation will interact with young people in KwaZulu-Natal as part of ongoing youth engagements and dialogues to tackle health-related challenges facing young people with potential to affect their academic journey.

On Thursday, 18 April, the Department of Tourism hosts a community engagement in the Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality to share information on government’s programmes and opportunities that serve to empower SMMEs and create robust and sustainable local economies in the Free State.

Source: South African Government News Agency