Day: May 1, 2024

The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) says it is confident that all systems are in place for the shipment of voting materials to enable South African citizens living abroad to cast their ballots.

The department and the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) have met and agreed on the logistics for the dispatching of election materials.

Voting materials will be sent to all 115 South African diplomatic missions using diplomatic airfreight bags.

‘A short-term contract for this purpose is in place. The diplomatic bag is protected by diplomatic immunity. DIRCO makes use of diplomatic bags to dispatch official documents and articles to and from South Africa per the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961 and the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations of 1963,’ the department explained.

According to the IEC, by law, citizens can only vote abroad on the date specified in the election timetable, which is typically 10 days before voting day in the country.

Source: South
African Government News Agency

As South Africa joins the rest of the world in celebrating International Workers’ Day, government has paid tribute to all workers, especially frontline workers who continue to provide essential services on this public holiday.

Celebrated annually on 1 May, International Workers’ Day or May Day, pays tribute to the historical struggle of workers and their trade unions for solidarity and fair employment standards.

This year’s International Workers’ Day is commemorated under the theme: ’30 Years of Freedom’.

This year also marks the 133-year anniversary of May Day, a testament to the enduring legacy of the labour movement.

In South Africa, the journey began with the formation of the Congress of South African Trade Union (COSATU) in December 1985. The union’s demand for May Day to be recognised as a public holiday and renamed Workers’ Day was heeded by approximately 1.5 million workers.

The workers were joined by thousands of learners, students, taxi drivers, hawkers, shopkeepers, domestic workers, and self
-employed and unemployed people.

Despite being banned in advance by the apartheid government, rallies were held across the country with the majority held in the Pretoria-Witwatersrand-Vereeniging area, now known as Gauteng.

Workers’ Day has been officially acknowledged and commemorated in South Africa since the inaugural democratic government in 1994.

The Department of Employment and Labour said the day serves dual purposes – a celebration of workers’ rights and a poignant reminder of the pivotal role that trade unions, the Communist Party and other labour organisations played in the struggle against apartheid.

‘Workers’ Day in South Africa carries its unique cultural significance. The public holiday has come to symbolise not only the sacrifices made in an arduous journey towards fair employment standards but also the fierce battle against apartheid, where trade and labour played a crucial role,’ the department said in a statement on Wednesday.

Given that South Africa’s working classes were the most oppr
essed under apartheid, the department said the fight for improved working conditions and the battle to dismantle systematic segregation became inextricably linked.

‘Prior to the 1994 elections, labour and trade groups frequently used Workers’ Day as a rallying symbol against segregation and oppression of the apartheid regime, organising demonstrations and fostering widespread resistance. This day serves as a testament to their resilience and determination,’ the department said.

Source: South African Government News Agency

In a groundbreaking initiative aimed at addressing food insecurity and uplifting township communities, KwaZulu-Natal Premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube has launched a programme aimed at equipping residents with the knowledge and resources necessary to cultivate healthy and nutritious crops in their neighbourhoods.

The Township Agriculture Programme aims to maximise food production in small spaces, promote a healthy ecosystem and increase biodiversity in urban areas.

Speaking at the event held at KwaMashu in the north of Durban on Tuesday, Dube-Ncube highlighted the programme’s dual purpose of combating hunger and fostering economic growth within township settings.

‘With an innovative approach, the Township Agriculture Programme seeks to harness the untapped potential of urban spaces, promoting sustainable agricultural practices to maximise food production.

‘Beyond merely providing sustenance, the initiative aims to cultivate a sense of community pride and self-sufficiency, empowering residents to take control of
their food sources and contribute to the local economy,’ Dube-Ncube said.

The Premier said township agriculture is a catalyst for social and economic empowerment, with a particular emphasis on supporting marginalised groups.

The program also aims to provide opportunities for women, youth, individuals with disabilities, and child-headed households to actively participate in agricultural activities, thereby promoting inclusivity and resilience within township communities.

To facilitate the implementation of township agricultural projects, government has allocated R6 million in funding, signalling its dedication to supporting grassroots initiatives.

‘Plans are already underway to expand the Township Agriculture Programme to encompass major townships across KwaZulu-Natal, ensuring widespread access to resources and opportunities for all residents,’ Dube-Ncube said.

Rabies Awareness Campaign

During the launch, Dube-Ncube also led a Rabies Awareness Campaign, which saw the vaccination of pets against rabies.

T
he campaign emphasises responsible pet ownership to prevent unnecessary human deaths.

Since January 2023, the province has recorded 233 cases of rabies and seven human deaths.

‘In total 17 people have died of rabies with the majority of the deaths occurring in eThekwini,’ Dube-Ncube said.

The Premier urged community members to bring their pets for vaccination and inspection, emphasising the critical role of responsible pet ownership in safeguarding public health.

Source: South African Government News Agency

Small Business Development Minister, Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams, has described the late Dr Sam Motsuenyane as a doyen of black business and a torchbearer of black economic empowerment.

‘He represents a generation of black entrepreneurs who, despite formidable odds, managed to take their destinies into their own hands and built business empires whose successes defied the apartheid logic,’ Ndabeni-Abrahams said.

The Minister said Dr Motsuenyane contributed enormously to the downfall of apartheid and was one of the architects of South Africa’s new democracy.

Dr Motsuenyane died at the age of 97 on Monday.

As a co-founder of the National African Federated Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NAFCOC), he will be remembered as a tireless advocate and defender of the interests of black business in the country, especially during the dark days of apartheid.

‘As we proudly celebrate his legacy and the mark he made in pursuit of black economic emancipation, we are also reminded of his pioneering roles, including the est
ablishment of the African Bank. It shall be recalled that the apartheid regime denied the black majority the right to trade and conduct businesses of their choice.

‘With the laws of the land and economic policies heavily stacked against them and with policies intended to squeeze them out of economic activity, Dr Motsuenyane and his peers rose and emerged to become business icons of our nation. We salute them for carving their own path despite heavy odds stacked against them,’ the Minister said.

Ndabeni-Abrahams noted that Dr Motsuenyane’s exemplary life is that of an ordinary son of the soil who, during his lifetime, demonstrated extraordinary courage and gave his nation hope.

‘His towering, yet gentle presence in our midst, always gave us the assurance that we stand on the shoulders of giants [and] as the Ministry of Small Business Development, we are inspired by Dr Motsuenyane’s legacy.

‘The best tribute we can pay in honour of his memory and legacy is to devote our collective efforts towards building a
nd sustaining the township and village economy, and to intensify broad-based black economic empowerment.

‘In his name and memory, we will intensify our efforts to empower small businesses and promote entrepreneurship,’ Ndabeni-Abrahams said.

Source: South African Government News Agency

Water and Sanitation Minister Senzo Mchunu has invoked Section 63 of the Water Services Act in the uThukela District Municipality, in KwaZulu-Natal, in an effort to stabilise the state of water and sanitation in the area.

Mchunu took the decision during a meeting with the KwaZulu-Natal Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs MEC, Bongi Sithole-Moloi, and uThukela District Municipality Executive Mayor, Inkosi Ntandoyenkosi Shabalala.

The meeting was also attended by the KwaZulu-Natal Chairperson of Traditional Leaders, Inkosi Shinga, and the uMngeni-uThukela Water team, led by board Chairperson Advocate Vusi Khuzwayo.

Mchunu said the state of services at any water services authority (WSA) across the country is of interest to the department because their performance has an impact on the integrity of national government and the President of the country.

‘As a bulk water supplier and a regulator of the sector, we can never look away when there are challenges…

‘The water value chain includes us, and
we are constitutionally bound to detect problems and where we see them, act decisively. When another sphere of government is facing challenges, there is a need for another sphere to intervene so that stability is brought about,’ Mchunu said.

The Water Services Act of 1997 empowers the Minister to intervene by taking over water and sanitation services if an authority has demonstrated a consistent decline, even after numerous intervention actions have been taken to support them.

Making a presentation on the state of water and sanitation in the area, Deputy Director-General for Water and Sanitation Services at the department, Dr Risimati Mathye, painted a picture of a steady decline of water and sanitation services in the district, saying it calls for an action by the Minister.

Mathye assured the municipality that this is done in the best interest of government and the communities affected by the decline in services, and that the Minister will not be taking over the running of the municipality.

Mathye highli
ghted several challenges including challenges with water and sanitation infrastructure that requires refurbishment to ensure reliability to meet demand; a high percentage of non-revenue water due to pipe bursts, leaks that are not attended to on time leading to high water losses; as well as lack of maintenance of waste water infrastructure which leads to the discharge of raw sewage into sensitive natural environments.

Mathye recommended that the Section 63 intervention be implemented in the municipality for three to five years to undertake the management, operations and maintenance of water and sanitation infrastructure and for uMngeni-uThukela Water to be an implementing agent of the intervention in terms of Section 41 of the Water Services Act.

The uThukela District Municipality commended the intervention, saying they need all the assistance they can get to ensure enhanced capacity.

Sithole-Moloi commended Mchunu for the swift response to stabilising water and sanitation services in the uThukela District
.

Source: South African Government News Agency

The Director of Lagos State Library Board, Mr Oyadipe Amoo, has called on students to make use of public libraries in their localities to explore, learn and have fun with books.

Amoo gave the advice at the Year 2024 World Book Day with the theme ‘Read your way’, held on Tuesday at the Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Maryland, Lagos.

The event, organised by the Ministry of Tertiary Education through the Lagos State Library Board, had 150 students from 12 schools across six education districts in the state.

He said that across the state, 13 public libraries had been established under the board, adding that the 2024 theme was centered on ways to help, promote, influence and impact reading culture on youths.

The Director said that the libraries included Henry Carr Public Library, Agege; Epe Divisional Library, Epe; Ikorodu Divisional Library; Borno House Library, Amuwo-Odofin; Igbogbo Bayeku Public Library, Ajegunle; Ipaja, Ilupeju, Isolo, Meiran and Isolo,

According to him, reading for pleasure ha
s many great benefits for students.

‘It helps improve their literacy skills, expand their vocabulary and enhance their creativity.

‘The Lagos State Government is playing a very crucial role in nurturing love for literature by providing access to vast array of books, resources and activities that spark their imagination and curiosity.

‘This year’s World Book Day is more than a celebration of books, writers and authors.

‘It’s a celebration of joy of reading and the State Government is dedicated to create a conducive environment where students can be reading and have individual study’.

Earlier, Mrs Anike Adekanye, Tutor-General/Permanent Secretary (TG/PS) Education District 2, in her address, described reading as an integral part of journey and a powerful weapon that helps to navigate ways through life.

According to Adekanye, the objective of today’s theme is to make reading an enjoyable experience and to promote its widespread adoption as a healthy habit among students and individuals striving for self im
provement.

‘ `Read your way’ is not just a phrase, but an essential ingredient in shaping and molding our lives; it’s a lifelong journey we embark on to explore and acquire knowledge for us to function productively in our world.

‘Reading helps to rejuvenate our thinking capacity and provide a sound mind for sustainability and improves our communication skills, we must therefore cultivate reading habit,’ she added.

The TG/PS was represented by Mrs Bosede Macaulay, Director of Education, District 11.

In her remark, Oghenekevbe Ogufere, author, Africa Writers Tribe, who urged the students to be ‘Gen Z goody’, a tribe that reads, said that readers are leaders that change the world.

‘Know it today that Lagos State depends on you because you are our future leaders and the future starts now,’she added.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the organisers distributed books and school bags to the students.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria