Month: April 2024

Deputy President Paul Mashatile is visiting the eThekwini Municipality in KwaZulu-Natal today, to address challenges and discuss solutions with local leadership.

Ahead of Friday’s visit, the Presidency said the Deputy President is undertaking the outreach programme as part of his delegated responsibility to intervene in service delivery hotspots across municipalities.

The Deputy President will also visit water and sanitation sites in Durban and surrounds to provide feedback to communities on government’s interventions to resolve the water and sanitation challenges experienced in the municipality.

This follows President Cyril Ramaphosa’s mandate to the Deputy President to head the Water Task Team at the Cabinet level, which is aimed at addressing water challenges in the country.

The country’s second-in-command is also expected to make a stop at the Northern Wastewater Treatment Works, Adams K5 and K6 Water Reservoir, and Mpumalanga Stadium in Hammarsdale.

Source: South African Government News Agency

As government continues to consult the plastic industry on an internationally legally binding instrument to combat plastic pollution, Minister of Forestry Fisheries and the Environment Barbara Creecy affirmed that South Africa remains resolute in supporting global efforts to end plastic pollution.

In 2022, South Africa supported the development of an internationally legally binding instrument to combat plastic pollution at the Fifth Session of the United Nations Environment Assembly.

‘Consequently, on the domestic front, the South African negotiations rest on a firm base provided by our Constitution protecting the right to an environment that is not harmful to health, and to have our environment protected from plastic pollution.

‘The reality is that plastics has been targeted for growth as part of our industrial policy and it is incumbent on us that we ensure that this plastic growth is socially, environmentally, and economically sustainable,’ Creecy said during a virtual engagement on Friday.

The Minist
er made these remarks during a consultative stakeholder engagement meeting on South Africa’s negotiating position ahead of the 4th Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC4) on the development of the international legally binding instrument on curbing plastic pollution.

The consultation was intended to consolidate the country’s negotiating position at the INC4, which is scheduled to take place in Ottawa, Canada from 23 – 29 April 2024.

The Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) is mandated to develop an international legally binding instrument to end plastic pollution and marine litter, address the full plastic lifecycle and set out a series of provisions to be developed.

‘The full life cycle of plastic manufacture, use, and disposal in the context of the Waste Act and National Waste Management Strategy, 2020 is key. The negotiations’ priority obligatory measures include supporting and strengthening waste management services to prevent plastic leaking into the environment.

‘Emphasis is on waste
collection and improving recycling systems through the development amongst others; extended producer responsibility schemes to collect, reuse and recycle plastic waste with the aim of promoting a circular economy in the plastic industry. Promoting public awareness and clean up campaigns to remove plastic waste from rivers, wetlands, and beaches,’ the Minister said.

She said the plastic pollution affects the terrestrial and aquatic, including marine, environments.

‘South Africa boasts a coastline that covers over 3 000 kilometres, and it is in the interest of environmental sustainability that South Africa is actively engaged in the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee process.

‘The recognition of the threat plastic pollution poses to human health, ecosystem functioning, and the marine environment keeps the South African members of the INC hard at work.

‘Given the versatility of the plastic product, the lifecycle approach requires a multi-stakeholder focus, and thus government is considering views of int
erested and affected parties in the negotiations of this internationally legally binding instrument on curbing plastics pollution,’ the Minister said.

She said more action is warranted to tackle plastic pollution.

Source: South African Government News Agency

EThekwini Municipality says the upgrade of the Old North Coast Road in Durban North is progressing well, with construction expected to be completed in September 2025.

The R181.9 million project, which started in May last year, aims to improve road networks and ease traffic congestion in the area.

According to the municipality, the project, which has created various job opportunities, has been commended by residents in Ward 110, including local businesses, and other existing industrial developments within the ward, who will benefit from the project.

Project Engineer Sihle Myeza said despite minor challenges, the project is progressing well.

‘The project consists of constructing reinforced concrete retaining walls with parapets on the left-hand side and specialist lateral support retaining wall on the right-hand side.

‘Other work includes bulk earthworks, stormwater, culverts, layer works, service relocations, kerbing, building sidewalks, median islands, sub-soils, gabions, guardrails, asphalting and rei
nstatement,’ Myeza said.

Myeza said some of the challenges experienced in the project including water, electricity, and telecommunications services being temporarily relocated for the retaining walls and earthworks to continue.

He said these services will be permanently relocated.

‘Another issue was the unstable embankments that collapsed while cutting for the retaining wall and posed a risk. To deal with this issue, a geotechnical assessment was done on the embankments.

‘A geotechnical report from a geotechnical engineer was produced proposing that a specialist lateral support retaining wall be constructed to ensure the embankments are stable,’ Myeza said.

Source: South African Government News Agency

Minister in the Presidency responsible for Electricity, Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, continued his visits to power stations with a stop at the Camden Power Station in Mpumalanga, on Thursday.

The visit was part of the second round of ministerial visits to power stations.

Ramokgopa said the power station is facing challenges regarding boiler tube leaks but that these challenges are receiving attention.

‘We are more than confident that the station will continue to return to its best performance, restore its previous glory and contribute immensely to the resolution of load shedding in the country.

‘Camden is one of those older power stations, continues to perform, continues to give us the megawatts that are necessary. So, it’s key and indispensable to the energy equation; the energy mix in the country,’ he said.

On Eskom’s recent performance which has borne at least two consecutive weeks of no load shedding, the Minister said this is as a result of the hard work put in by Eskom workers.

‘The kind of results
that we are seeing today is in large part as a result of the contribution by the totality of the workforce of Eskom and in this regard. We are exceptionally grateful to the work of the [Camden General Manger Justice Bore] and his management team so we are looking forward to finally resolving the load shedding question.

‘As it is we will continue to ensure that we attenuate both the intensity and frequency of load shedding,’ Ramokgopa said.

Source: South African Government News Agency

The affairs of the Moqhaka Local Municipality will come under intense scrutiny after President Cyril Ramaphosa signed a proclamation authorising the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) to investigate allegations of serious maladministration at the Free State based municipality.

According to the SIU, the proclamation ‘authorises the SIU to investigate procuring and contracting armed physical security services in the municipality’.

‘The SIU will also investigate any unauthorised, irregular, fruitless, or wasteful expenditure incurred by the department or the State. The scope of the investigation also covers any unlawful or improper conduct by department officials or employees, the applicable suppliers or service providers, or any other person or entity which has caused or may cause serious harm to the interests of the public.

‘Furthermore, the investigation will also establish whether there was any unlawful appropriation or expenditure of public money. The Proclamation covers allegations of unlawful and improp
er conduct that took place between 1 January 2019 and 12 April 2024…and after the date of the Proclamation that are relevant to, connected with, and incidental to the matters or involve the same persons, entities or contracts investigated,’ the corruption busting unit said.

The SIU added that it would, as an additional measure, ‘identify system failures and make systematic recommendations to improve measures to prevent future losses’.

‘In line with the Special Investigating Units and Special Tribunals Act 74 of 1996 (SIU Act), the SIU will refer any evidence pointing to criminal conduct it uncovers during its investigations to the National Prosecuting Authority for further action.

‘The SIU is empowered by the SIU Act to institute a civil action in the High Court or a Special Tribunal in its name to correct any wrongdoing uncovered during its investigation caused by acts of corruption, fraud or maladministration,’ the unit concluded.

Source: South African Government News Agency

As an orphan, Pretoria-based Lebogang Tlhabane spent a lot of time moving around because she did not have a place to call home.

Being a transgender woman, she felt isolated, with her safety being compromised while seeking shelter in unusual places.

Today, Tlhabane’s prospects have changed for the better, thanks to government’s Townlands Social Housing Project in Marabastad in the City of Tshwane. Tlhabane has now found a safety net, which represents hope for the future.

Tlhabane is among the beneficiaries of the Townlands Social Housing Project unveiled this week by Human Settlements Minister, Mmamoloko Kubayi.

‘I am an orphan, and I don’t have a home, so I had to move around a lot. Survival on the streets was a challenge because my safety as a transgender woman was compromised and I am happy Townlands is my new home. I will be able to spend Christmas this year with my baby brother and friends around me,’ said an elated Thlabane.

The Townlands Social Housing Project is a 1 200-unit social housing develo
pment that offers low-cost rental accommodation to qualifying residents of Tshwane, who fall in the income band of R1 850 to R22 000 per month.

The affordable housing development will enable residents of Tshwane to live near the city centre to have access to economic opportunities, thus redressing the housing backlog in the city.

The Townlands Social Housing development includes a community development centre, with 176 one-bedroom units, 1 012 two-bedroom units and 12 three-bedroom units. The development also includes an outdoor gym, among other amenities.

Speaking at the project launch, Kubayi said social housing is a valuable intervention to deal with informal settlements, backyard dwelling and people staying in unsafe inner-city buildings.

She said government is creating opportunities for people to stay in safe government-subsidised rental housing closer to work, school, transport nodes, and other social amenities, whilst addressing the unjust legacy of apartheid spatial planning.

‘Our interactions wi
th approved tenants at Townlands and similar developments across the country are indicative of a trend whereby we find beneficiaries or tenants who would have formerly stayed in an informal settlement and transitioned to a formal area.

“Others lived in the inner-city and were subjected to paying a lot of money in unsafe environments. Others were paying money for accommodation to people who don’t even own these buildings,’ Kubayi said.

Kubayi said a biometrics system will be integrated into the property, in addition to the current security measures to also address the issue of sub-tenanting by approved beneficiaries, where people bring people who are not registered onto the property.

‘People want to feel safe and the biometrics upgrading will ensure safer communities, in line with our freedom charter prescripts that there shall be houses, security and comfort,’ Kubayi said.

The Minister has urged beneficiaries to pay their rental timeously and help maintain the long-term sustainability of the projects to a
void their collapse.

Apart from Townlands, which has now been completed, Kubayi said three other projects are in the pipeline to deliver over 2 000 units in the city and ‘their success depends partly on beneficiaries also meeting their rental obligations”.

The Social Housing Regulatory Agency (SHRA), an entity of the Department of Human Settlements, partnered with Housing Company Tshwane (HCT) in the development of the social housing project.

Kubayi said there are currently about 6 000 applications received from potential tenants.

The Minister commended the three spheres of government for collaborating with beneficiaries, contractors, and community leaders to be able to deliver the project.

‘Our focus will also be on an exit strategy for the tenant, as we don’t want them to remain tenants forever,’ she said.

Human Settlements Deputy Minister, Pamela Tshwete, who accompanied the Minister, said she was encouraged by the fact that the project was championed by women contractors.

‘In the last financial yea
r, the Department of Human Settlements spent R3.1billion as part of 40% set aside for women-owned companies contracted to build and help government to resolve the housing backlog,’ Tshwete said.

Over one million houses built in Gauteng since 1994

Meanwhile, Gauteng Human Settlements and Infrastructure Development MEC, Lebogang Maile, highlighted that the democratic government had done significant work since 1994 in providing shelter for vulnerable people.

He said that the Townlands development is a true testament to that.

‘We are sitting with no less than 1.3 million houses built in Gauteng since 1994. Today, we have about two million people in the national housing register and 1.2 million of those are in the economic hub of Gauteng, where the population has doubled, [due to those] in search of economic opportunities,’ Maile said.

Tshwane Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Human Settlements, Ofentse Madzabatela, said he was looking forward to the roll out of more projects by Human Settlements to d
eal with apartheid spatial planning, which kept people away from economic opportunities.

To apply for Townlands Social Housing Project, visit Housing Company Tshwane, 310 Pretorius Street Pretoria or call 012 358 4469 for more information.

Source: South African Government News Agency