Day: June 18, 2024

The Presidency has reminded members of the public that Wednesday, 19 June – the day of the Presidential Inauguration – is a normal working day.

This as the Inauguration of President-Elect Cyril Ramaphosa will take place at the Union Buildings in Pretoria, following his re-election by Parliament on Friday, 14 June 2024.

READ | President-elect reiterates commitment to uplifting South Africa

People travelling to the event and to Pretoria on other business are advised to visit www.gov.za and www.tshwane.gov.za for information on road closures in the Rietondale/Arcadia area, and to follow traffic updates on radio and television broadcasts.

For a detailed report on road closures and free park-and-ride services, please read: Road closures for Presidential inauguration | Free park and ride for the Presidential inauguration.

The swearing in of the President-Elect will be conducted by Chief Justice Raymond Zondo in the Union Buildings’ Nelson Mandela Amphitheatre.

The ceremony will be witnessed by South African a
nd international guests, including South African royalty, Members of Parliament, representatives of political parties, leaders of organised labour, business and civil society organisations, religious leaders and South Africans who have excelled in various capacities and endeavours.

Attendees will include representatives of regional, continental and international organisations and bodies such as the Southern African Development Community, the African Union (AU) and the United Nations.

Source: South African Government News Agency

Dignitaries from across the world – including current and former Heads of State and Governments – are expected to attend the inauguration ceremony of President-elect Cyril Ramaphosa on Wednesday.

This according to a statement released by the Presidency on Tuesday.

‘The ceremony will be witnessed by South African and international guests, including South African royalty, Members of Parliament, representatives of political parties, leaders of organised labour, business and civil society organisations, religious leaders and South Africans who have excelled in various capacities and endeavours.

‘Attendees will include representatives of regional, continental and international organisations and bodies such as the Southern African Development Community (SADC), the African Union (AU) and the United Nations (UN),’ the statement read.

The Presidency said at least 18 Heads of State and Government, three former Heads of State and Government and nine Heads of Delegation are expected to attend.

Additional confirmatio
ns are being received.

‘Countries that will be represented at a high level at the inauguration include the Kingdom of eSwatini and Kingdom of Lesotho, the Republics of Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Namibia, Angola and Tanzania; the Republic of Uganda, the People’s Republic of China, the Arab Republic of Egypt, the State of Palestine and the Republic of Cuba,’ the Presidency said.

The President-elect held a walkabout at the venue on Tuesday afternoon to assess the state of readiness.

Members of the public are encouraged to use the park and ride at Tshwane Showgrounds. People can park their cars and take a free bus to the Union Buildings.

The programme for the day will commence with a cultural programme for members of the public on the South Lawns of the Union Buildings at 9am.

Formal proceedings will get underway at 11am.

For more information go to https://inauguration2024.dcdt.gov.za.

Source: South African Government News Agency

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF), says the Air Component of Operation Hadarin Daji, has eliminated more than 80 terrorists in recent air strikes at Gidan Kare Village of Ruwan Godiya Ward in Faskare Local Government Area of Katsina State.

This is contained in a statement by the Director, Public Relations and Information, NAF, AVM Edward Gabkwet, on Monday in Abuja.

Gabkwet said the air strikes carried out on the night of June 15 killed the terrorists and burnt more than 45 motorcycles.

He said the strikes became necessary following intelligence that terrorists numbering over 100 were reportedly burning houses at a settlement about five kilometers away from Gidan Kare Village.

According to him, overhead the village at about 8.30pm, several houses were observed to be on fire with the entire Village in pandemonium.

‘Moments later, 12 motor cycles were seen departing the Village and trailed along a footpath out of the village to a location near Gidan Kare Village and Kuka Shidda Camp, where they joined a large n
umber of their cohorts.

‘Other terrorists were also observed arriving the location from different directions, an indication that the location was a mass up point with the terrorists likely planning to further attack nearby villages.

‘Having been presented such a rare opportunity, authorization was sought, obtained and the location was immediately struck at exactly 9:40pm, with over 80 terrorists confirmed eliminated and about 45 motorcycles burnt down, while few surviving terrorists were observed fleeing or limping off.

See also Military neutralise 28 terrorists, apprehend 113 others, rescue 82 hostages – DHQ

‘Further intelligence received after the strike also revealed that the terrorists were closely linked with notorious terrorists kingpin, Yusuf Yellow and his close associate Rabe Imani.

‘These strikes, along with others before now, have no doubt disrupted terrorists activities in the area,’ he said.

Meanwhile, the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, had commended the efforts o
f the air component as well as other security agencies in diminishing the capabilities of terrorist elements in the North West.

The CAS made the commendation when he fête the air component at 213 Forward Operating Base, Katsina on Monday.

He said the successes by the air component in synergy with other security agencies had continued to contribute to security within the region.

He urged them not to relent in their efforts and dedication to the fight against terrorism and all forms of criminality in Nigeria.

Abubakar had inaugurated some airfield facilities such as the new taxiway link, operations and engineering building, and the new sports complex.

He said the airfield facilities would no doubt ensure air operations, especially within the Northwest, are more effective and efficient.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Government has invested a cumulative total of R69 billion in public transport, which was spent towards infrastructure and operations in an effort to enhance accessibility to public transport and mobility.

Addressing a media briefing on the state of the transport sector, Transport Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga, said a total of R55 billion was spent in 13 cities between 2006 and 2024.

This has translated into 131 stations; 253 kilometres of dedicated and bidirectional trunk routes; 302km of mixed traffic by-directional trunk routes, as well as 260km of two-way cycling, pedestrian, and non-motorised transport facilities.

In addition, 2 628 bus stops were built; 11 depots were constructed; 44 million passengers were carried per annum as of 2023/24. Integrated Public Transport Networks (IPTNs) are operating at 14 – 20 operational hours daily, with approximately 1 020 vehicles.

Eight cities are implementing initial phases and planning expansions to other areas that include Cape Town, Johannesburg, Tshwane, Ekurhu
leni, George, Polokwane, Nelson Mandela Bay, and Rustenburg.

‘It must also be noted that 14 Vehicle Operating Companies have been established and contracted by municipalities to provide public transport services in IPTNs.

‘The most important benefit has been the formalisation of informal taxi operators and their economic empowerment in the IPTN. The majority of these Vehicle Operating Centres are run by taxi operators,” Chikunga said on Monday in Centurion.

Taxi industry

Government has continued to implement taxi industry reforms to improve the industry.

‘To date, from a target of 135 894 old taxi vehicles to be scrapped, a total of 83 713 taxis have been scrapped and about R5.9 billion has been paid out to operators through the Taxi Recapitalisation Programme (TRP),’ Chikunga said.

Moreover, the Department of Transport has committed to the various commercial projects for the taxi industry, which include the Taxi Broad-Based Ownership Structure, where the taxi industry owns 60% of the taxi scrapping ent
ity, with 40% owned by a technical partner.

A Memorandum of Agreement has been signed between the parties.

Chikunga said the signing into law of the Economic Regulation of Transport Bill by the President will see the consolidation of the economic regulation of transport into a unified framework and policy.

‘It aims to primarily promote the development of a competitive, efficient, and viable South African transport industry, contributing to economic growth and development.

‘It will also promote the development of an integrated system of economic regulation for the transportation of passengers and goods through airports or ports and by road or rail; as well as promote efficiency, reliability, safety and performance in the management and operation of transport facilities and services, in accordance with recognised international standards and public demand,’ she said.

The bill also seeks to establish appropriate institutional arrangements and procedures, which will support the consistent economic regulation
of transport facilities and services.

It will also enhance transparency in the management of transport facilities and services.

Last year, the Department of Transport tabled at Cabinet the Draft National Public Transport Subsidy Policy.

‘The basic principles of the public transport subsidy are to have a subsidy that is user-targeted, equitable and sustainable in the medium to long term. We have, irrespective of our challenges and constraints, managed to realise major milestones in the area of public transport, almost as much as we have progressed with improvements in the implementation of other mandates, and these have positively affected the lives of ordinary South Africans,’ the Minister said.

Learner transport

Chikunga said the National Learner Transport Programme remains an important avenue towards easing mobility for learners, the provision of safe transport to educational centres, improved school attendance and academic performance.

‘We have been able to implement that in 4 204 schools nationally.
This programme is fully funded and provides a free service to learners with a budget allocation of R4.7 billion.

‘The 2001 National Bicycle Programme, known as Shova Kalula, adds an important facility for the mobility of learners who do not fit the criteria for scholar transport. To date, 122 307 bicycles were distributed to learners as part of the National Learner Transport Policy,’ Chikunga said.

Under the sixth administration, the Department of Transport distributed 32 307 bicycles nationally in all provinces, targeting underprivileged and rural learners.

Source: South African Government News Agency

President Bola Tinubu has congratulated fathers, including paternal figures, who have contributed to shaping the destiny of the nation with their sacrifices.

Tinubu also congratulated fathers for their forbearance, provision, protection and guidance of the young ones, to the noble and true path.

The President made the remarks in a statement issued by Chief Ajuri Ngelale, his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, on the occasion of Father’s Day marked every June 16.

‘The President states that Father’s Day is significant for its purpose as a day set apart to honour all fathers – living, deceased and paternal figures.

‘President Tinubu affirms that society is in better stead with fathers who rise to the great demand of responsibility, guiding the children through the vagaries of existence and preparing them for the future,’ he said.

He added that society was also better off when fathers bequeathed to children pristine values that money or material comfort could not provide, but only by personal example of
discipline, integrity, service, respect, love and allegiance to the nation.

‘The President salutes all fathers, the sung and the unsung, who brave the toil of the day and the soreness of the night to provide for their families, describing them as true heroes.

‘President Tinubu urges fathers to stay true to their bounden commitment of positively shaping the destinies of those to whom the future belongs.

‘The President wishes Nigerians happy Father’s Day,’ Ngalele said in the statement.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Father’s Day has its origins in the middle ages, and official roots in West Virginia, the United States, where an event was held in 1908 to celebrate 362 men who died in an explosion at a coal mining company.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) has moved to clear any confusion regarding its results dashboard update related to the National and Provincial Elections held last month.

‘The Electoral Commission notes the conversation and some confusion with the update of the Elections Dashboard last week to reflect the total number of votes from the two National Assembly ballots and final seat allocation (out of 400 seats) for the 2024 National and Provincial Elections,’ the electoral body said.

The electoral body explained that the change to the results dashboard is done to ensure that the ‘regional strength’ of political parties is taken into account.

‘In the 2024 elections, registered voters received two ballots for the National Assembly elections: 1 National ballot and 1 Regional ballot. [The] 3rd election ballot was for the provincial elections. Just over 16 million registered voters voted, casting some 31.92 million ballots across the 9 regional and 1 national ballot.

‘The Electoral Act prescribes t
hat for the calculation of compensatory seats, both national compensatory (N) ballots and regional (R) ballots are taken into account. Hence the demotion of N + R on the results dashboard.

‘This is done to ensure that the allocation of compensatory seats take into account the regional strength of all political parties – thus, meeting the proportional representation in general demanded by the constitution,’ the statement read.

Source: South African Government News Agency