Day: June 12, 2024

President Cyril Ramaphosa has, on behalf of the government and people of South Africa, offered his condolences to the government and people of the Republic of Malawi on the passing of Vice President Dr Saulos Chilima.

Chilima and nine others died when the aircraft they were travelling in crashed on Monday.

‘This is a moment of tragedy in which we are united with the people of Malawi as you mourn the passing of a youthful leader who advanced the aspirations of his country and of our youthful continent from his position in Malawi’s Presidency.

‘This is a loss felt across our country and region and we pray that the people of Malawi will be blessed with the fortitude and peace required in this moment of deep sadness and national mourning,’ President Ramaphosa said in a statement on Tuesday.

The Presidency added that President Ramaphosa also offered ‘his deep condolences to Vice-President Chilima’s family’.

‘President Ramaphosa’s thoughts are also with His Excellency President Lazarus Chakwera and the Cabinet
of the Republic of Malawi,’ the Presidency said.

Source: South African Government News Agency

The Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Thembi Nkadimeng, will visit KwaZulu-Natal today to assess the impact of the heavy storms that ravaged parts of the province, leaving behind a trail of destruction.

According to the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, the heavy rains and strong winds have affected districts including eThekwini, Ilembe, King Cetshwayo, and uMkhanyakude District Municipalities.

‘Minister Nkadimeng is visiting the affected areas as she is responsible for National Disaster Management in the country.

‘The visit will provide the Minister with the opportunity to see the extent of the damage, and engage various stakeholders and role players who are already on the ground assisting the affected communities,’ the department said in a statement.

The Minister has reiterated government’s commitment to assist those affected by the recent storms.

Nkadimeng has lauded government agencies that have been on the ground providing humanitarian support an
d assisting the affected communities that have been displaced.

At least 11 people lost their lives, including seven people from uThongathi in the north of Durban, and four in Nquthu, Eshowe and KwaHlabisa.

Meanwhile, over 55 people were also reported to have suffered minor to moderate injuries and are receiving medical treatment in hospital.

‘Minister Nkadimeng conveys her sincere, heartfelt condolences to those who lost loved ones as a result of this disaster. She also wishes those who suffered injuries a speedy recovery,’ the department said.

Last week, Nkadimeng and Minister of Human Settlements, Mmamoloko Kubayi, visited areas devastated by floods in the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality in the Eastern Cape.

READ | Government hastens flood relief efforts in the Eastern Cape

This is after parts of the Eastern Cape were flooded, with the most affected areas being the Buffalo City and Nelson Mandela Bay metros.

Source: South African Government News Agency

Bhekithemba Fanozi Nxumalo has been sentenced to 12 terms of life imprisonment and an additional 75 years in jail in the Mtubatuba High Court for a string of rapes.

The sentence was handed down on 10 June 2024.

‘Nxumalo’s reign of terror started in July 2012 when he broke into a house in Mdungandlovu Reserve around midnight and found an elderly woman asleep with her two granddaughters.

‘Nxumalo demanded money from the granny at knife point and when he could not find any, he raped her 24-year-old granddaughter.

‘The granny and the younger granddaughter were saved by the 24-year-old granddaughter, who managed to send a call back to her brother, who came to their rescue. Nxumalo managed to escape into darkness,’ said the police in a statement.

According to the police, Nxumalo continued his raping spree, targeting young women who were walking alone.

He would drag them into the bushes and sugarcane fields, and threaten them with a knife before raping them.

In most of the cases, he would rape his victims mor
e than once.

‘His 10-year raping spree was brought to an abrupt end when police cornered and arrested him in April 2021. Nxumalo’s application for an appeal was refused and he was also declared unfit to possess a firearm,’ said police.

The police said the investigative work by the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit ensured an end to the 42-year-old’s rape spree.

In other convictions, the Empangeni FCS Unit secured a lifetime imprisonment sentence for a 59-year-old man who was found guilty of raping his eight-year-old stepdaughter.

The Esikhaleni Regional Court heard that the stepfather raped the little girl several times when her mother was not around.

The court also sentenced a 58-year-old man to a term of life imprisonment following a guilty verdict on a case of rape in which he raped his 12-year-old granddaughter in Madlankala in February 2024.

The Empangeni Regional Court has also handed a 25-year prison sentence to a 25-year-old man who was found gui
lty of assaulting and raping his 22-year-old girlfriend.

According to the police, the victim had to be hospitalised after she attempted suicide after the rape ordeal.

Source: South African Government News Agency

South Africa recently concluded its seventh democratic general elections, ushering in a new chapter in our democracy, as there was no outright majority winner. While this may in some regards feel like unchartered waters for many South Africans and will require political parties to work together in a new way through a government of national unity, this is not entirely new territory for our nation. Above all, this period will be guided by our world acclaimed Constitution, which lays the foundation for a democratic and open society in which government is based on the will of the people.

The Constitution was designed to create an environment for all South Africans to work together in the interest of advancing our nation and the rights of her citizens. It enshrines the rights of every South African and explains our obligations as citizens to each other and the country within those rights.

Importantly, in this period following the elections, the Constitution sets out specific timelines within which members of ele
cted political parties must be sworn in as new lawmakers and within which the National Assembly must sit and elect the Speaker and President. The first sitting of the National Assembly must occur no more than 14 days after election results are declared.

As the legislative authority of the Republic, the National Assembly must ensure a government by the people by choosing a President, who must within five days, then assume office by swearing or affirming faithfulness to the Republic and obedience to the Constitution at an inauguration ceremony. The Constitution empowers the President to appoint the Deputy President and Ministers and assign them functions.

These precepts of the Constitution have long been a foundation upon which we have built our nation and continues to guide our actions in the administrative processes of our democracy. We once again lean on our nation’s founding document for direction, stability and certainty.

Moreover, our Constitution empowers government and society at large to take steps
to promote equality by advancing people who have been disadvantaged by unfair discrimination.

It is regarded as one of the most progressive in the world and many of its provisions are based on the Freedom Charter. The charter was adopted in 1955 in Kliptown following wide consultation with thousands of people about the South Africa they would like to live in. Its preamble is incorporated in the Constitution.

While South Africa is a diverse country it is strengthened by a common heritage and common values as outlined in the Constitution. Our social cohesion as a nation is informed and rooted within our Constitution. It shows how South Africans can unite and work towards a common goal.

The Constitution anchors our vision of a ‘South Africa that belongs to all who live in it, united in our diversity’. Without a high degree of social cohesion and without unity of purpose it is difficult to envisage South Africa overcoming the obstacles that stand in the way of prosperity and equity.

It is important to stress
that our Constitution does not solve problems in themselves; however, it gives us a platform to solve problems. It contains checks and balances to ensure accountability and the protection of the rights of citizens are adhered to and respected.

As the country continues on its democratic journey towards a new administration, the work of the State, will not be impacted. Our service delivery programmes continue in line with commitments in the Strategic Plans and Annual Performance Plans of government departments. The Constitution compels officials in all institutions of public administration to be accountable to the people they serve.

South Africans can therefore rest soundly, knowing that our democracy remains robust and strong in line with our Constitutional commitments. As we prepare to enter our seventh administration, let us make the tenets of the Constitution part of our daily lives to build a better nation.

*Michael Currin is the Deputy Director-General: Intergovernmental Coordination and Stakeholder Ma
nagement at GCIS

Source: South African Government News Agency

The Eastern Cape Department of Rural Development and Agrarian Reform will this week award top performing women in the agricultural sector, as part of the department’s programme to recognise the contribution of women in agriculture.

The department said the objective of the awards is to empower and honour women in agriculture and agro processing.

‘The awards are an instrument through which the contribution of women in the fight against poverty, hunger and joblessness is recognised. This will increase participation and visibility of women in the sector,’ the department said.

The thrust of the programme is to underscore the fact that women play a significant role in food security, job creation, economic growth, and poverty alleviation.

The programme has a long-term ambition of leveraging women entrepreneurs from being subsistence and smallholder producers to commercial and/or processing entrepreneurs who also venture into export markets.

‘The programme is also in line with the objectives of the Women Empower
ment Strategy (WES) of promoting inclusive development for women in the agricultural, land reform and rural development sector so that they can contribute their full potential towards building a better life for all.

‘The strategy advocates that, women should be prioritised in various agricultural and land reform programmes, through which it will provide direction for sound and coherent empowerment intervention,’ the department said.

The first award ceremony to honour women in the Alfred Nzo District Municipality took place on 11 June 2024 at Maluti Civic Centre in Matatiele.

In the OR Tambo District Municipality, the ceremony will be held on Thursday, 13 June at the Town Hall in Libode.

‘The district winners will compete with other women from the rest of the province. The provincial winners will compete for top honours at national level,’ the department said.

Source: South African Government News Agency