Day: June 25, 2024

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New KZN Finance MEC shuts down Treasury’s secondary office


Newly appointed KwaZulu-Natal Finance MEC, Francois Rodgers, has started to demonstrate his commitment to ensure effective spending of the budget by closing down the office on the 9th floor of The Marine Building in Durban.

Rodgers said the closure of the leased offices will save the KZN Treasury an estimated R1 million a year, which will be directed to other strategic service delivery needs of the department in supporting the province.

Rodgers said his main priority was to stabilise the finances of KwaZulu-Natal and work with the Treasury team, as well as Members of the Executive Council (EXCO), to ensure that strategic decisions are being taken in order to safeguard the provincial fiscus.

‘During my consultation with my executive team in the department, I directed that business cannot continue as usual and we need to streamline operations. In this regard, I have decided to close the Durban office, which served as a secondary office with an annual lease amount of R1 115 786.40, translating to a total valu
e of just over R5 578 000 over five years that we will save,’ Rodgers said.

He said his team will operate from the Pietermaritzburg office and the team will be as prescribed by the Ministerial handbook.

‘My wish is to enhance the transparency of our decision-making in resource allocation and utilisation, and I am prepared to make tough decisions if we are to demonstrate that we mean business when we say we will stabilise the finances in the province with prudent fiscal management. As KZN Treasury, we must lead by example,’ Rodgers said.

The MEC said he was committed to stabilising spending, eliminating irregular expenditure in departments, attracting foreign investment, as well as ensuring accountability and transparency.

Rodgers, who is a member of the Democratic Alliance (DA), is among the provincial Cabinet which includes Members of the Provincial Legislature from the Inkatha Freedom Party, African National Congress (ANC), DA and National Freedom Party (NFP), as announced last week by newly-inaugurated
KwaZulu-Natal Premier, Thami Ntuli.

Rodgers took over the reins from the ANC’s Peggy Nkonyeni.

The new provincial Cabinet is as follows:

– Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs MEC: Musa Zondi (IFP).

– Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs MEC: Thulasizwe Buthelezi (IFP).

– Health MEC: Nomagugu Simelane (ANC).

– Social Development MEC: Mbali Shinga (NFP).

– Public Works MEC: Marthinus Meyer (DA).

– Finance MEC: Francois Rodgers (DA).

– Agriculture and Rural Development MEC: Thembeni Madlopha-Mthethwa (IFP).

– Transport and Human Settlement MEC: Siboniso Duma (ANC)

– Education MEC: Sipho Hlomuka (ANC).

– Sports Arts and Culture MEC: Mntomuhle Khawula (IFP).

Source: South African Government News Agency

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Rand Water starts maintenance at Eikenhof and Zwartkopjes


Rand Water has started conducting extensive maintenance on their infrastructure that will affect Johannesburg Water’s systems supplied by the Eikenhof and Zwartkopjes pump stations, including the Daleside Booster Station.

The bulk water supplier started maintenance work on Monday, which will affect Johannesburg water customers with low pressure to no water supply.

The maintenance will continue until 29 July 2024.

Johannesburg Water said it is estimated that full recovery of the systems may take approximately five days or longer after the supply has been fully restored.

‘Johannesburg Water has made arrangements for alternative water supply at strategic areas like hospitals, clinics, schools, municipal offices, police stations and shopping centres.

‘Throughout the maintenance period, residents will receive regular updates on official Johannesburg Water social media platforms, website and ward councillors for affected areas,’ Johannesburg Water said.

The date/period of Maintenance: 24-27 June 2024, start a
t 7pm (Pumping will be reduced to 50% for 8 hours and to 67% for the remaining 64 hours).

Eikenhof: 27 June – 12 July 2024 at 7pm (18 days, pumping reduced to 83% from 27 June to 12 July 2024). Expected impact: The system will be supplying normally for the first 24 hours and thereafter, there will be a combination of low pressure to no water. Areas impacted: Randburg, Roodepoort, Soweto, Johannesburg central and Commando (Brixton, Hursthill and Crosby).

Zwartkopjes: 24 – 25 June 2024 at 7pm (27 hours, pumping will be reduced to 50%.) Expected impact: The system will be supplying normally for the first 24 hours and thereafter, there will be a combination of low pressure to no water. Areas impacted: Berea, Parktown, Hector Norris, Forrest Hill, Eagles Nest, Alan Manor, Naturena, Crown Gardens, Aeroton and Orlando East.

Daleside: 24 – 25 Jun 2024 at 7pm (No pumping at Daleside for 4 hours, then 50% for 27 hours.) Expected impact: The system will be supplying normally for the first 24 hours and thereafter,
there will be a combination of low pressure to no water. Areas impacted: range Farm, Lawley and Ennerdale.

Source: South African Government News Agency

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NEFF, CDV deregistered as political parties


WINDHOEK: The Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) has deregistered the Namibian Economic Freedom Fighters (NEFF) and Christian Democratic Voice (CDV) as political parties.

ECN spokesperson De Wet Siluka confirmed this on Monday.

‘The commission confirms the deregistration of the NEFF and CDV. Details on the deregistration will be provided in due course,’ he said.

The NEFF has had two seats in the National Assembly since March 2020, while CDV has had one seat.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

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Labour ministry hosts consultation session to draft occupational safety and health bill


WINDHOEK: In response to growing concerns about worker safety and the prevention of occupational hazards, the Ministry of Labour, Industrial Relations, and Employment Creation held a consultation session to help create the Occupational Safety and Health Bill.

The stakeholder session was held here Tuesday to enable and create a safe and healthy working environment for workers, employers, and customers/clients, as well as to improve safety measures across industries where workers face a variety of hazards.

Speaking at the meeting, Aune Mudjanima, the ministry’s acting deputy executive director, said the consultations are a vital step in creating Namibia’s workplace safety and health landscape and providing a balanced framework that protects workers while allowing for practical application across industries.

The ministry’s programme demonstrates a commitment to building safer workplaces through collaborative efforts and inclusive policymaking, she stated.

She outlined the government’s proactive approach, hig
hlighting prior studies and policy developments that led to the current draft of the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Bill.

”This bill is a significant milestone since it establishes a tripartite commission to conduct regional consultations. The draft OSH Bill is available on the ministry’s website, and the public is invited to provide feedback to guarantee inclusion and pragmatism in the legislative framework,” she said.

Mudjanima emphasised the necessity of a safe working environment in the context of International Labour Organisation norms. This includes adhering to conventions such as the Occupational Safety and Health Convention of 1981 (No. 155) and the Promotional Framework for Occupational Safety and Health Convention of 2006 (No. 187), which require alignment with national legal documents.

Job Muniaro, secretary general of the National Union of Namibian Workers, underlined the call for a holistic strategy while emphasising the significance of not only establishing protective regulations, but
also implementing comprehensive risk analysis and management systems in the workplace.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

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Russia expresses willingness to assist Namibia with basic income grant


WINDHOEK: Russia has expressed willingness to share its best practices and experiences of the universal basic income grant with Namibia, Chairperson of the Russian Federal Council Committee on Social Policy, Yelena Perminova, has said.

Speaking during a courtesy visit to the Standing Committee on Health, Social Welfare and Labour Affairs here on Tuesday, Perminova said Russia has been implementing its universal basic income grant for two years and is ready to assist Namibia in deliberations on the universal basic income grant.

Standing Committee Chairperson, Hans Nambondi, indicated that a motion was adopted in November 2023 for investigations on the importance of adopting a universal basic income grant as means of social protection for the poor and vulnerable persons in Namibia.

‘This is a very important task for the committee as the findings and recommendations will be forwarded to the relevant stakeholders for consideration for the betterment of poor and vulnerable Namibians,’ he said.

The Basic Income
Grant (BIG) Coalition of Namibia on 15 June 2024 took to the street and handed over a petition to the Minister of Gender Equality, Poverty Eradication and Social Welfare, Doreen Sioka, demanding a universal and unconditional basic income grant of N.dollars 500 per person aimed at addressing poverty.

Meanwhile, Nambondi highlighted some of the committee’s findings on the health sector challenges, which include poor public health infrastructure due to inadequate funding for renovations and maintenance; a shortage of staff accommodation and ambulances; and inadequate numbers of health professionals such as medical doctors, nurses, pharmacists and medical specialists.

On her part, Perminova said Russia faces similar challenges in public hospitals.

‘It is worse to say we have a lot of students studying medical degrees at the universities but the problem is that not many of them go into state medical organisations,’ she noted.

‘We wholeheartedly welcome the invite to come to Russia to learn some of your best pr
actices. As leaders, we can all agree that one of our main objectives is to try and see how we can assist our country for the benefit of our people,’ said Parliamentary Standing Committee member, Emma Muteka at the same occasion.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

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Home Affairs exceeds target in mass registration campaign


WINDHOEK: The Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety, and Security has issued birth certificates and identity documents (IDs) to 50 833 Namibians through its ongoing mass registration campaign, exceeding its target of 50 000 people.

Executive Director (ED) Etienne Maritz in a media statement on Monday said this marks a significant milestone in the ministry’s efforts to ensure comprehensive birth registration and identification.

The mass registration campaign commenced on 05 February 2024 in all 14 regions of the country.

Maritz said the initiative is focused on the registration and issuance of birth certificates and IDs to those who meet the requirements in line with the provisions of the Constitution of the Republic of Namibia and the Births, Marriages, and Deaths Act of 1963.

The mass registration campaign also included the issuance of duplicate birth certificates and duplicate identity documents.

The ED said 7 332 applicants were registered as stateless and undocumented persons. This is the cat
egory of persons who, at the time of registration, could not provide any documentary proof indicating that they are citizens of any country.

‘Reaching this milestone underscores the ministry’s commitment to ensuring comprehensive birth registration coverage in our country, thereby enabling deserving Namibians to access services such as education, healthcare, social grants and participate in other social and economic activities,’ Maritz remarked.

He further commended the efforts of various staff members who have worked tirelessly to ensure the ministry records this milestone.

The mass registration campaign will continue until 30 July 2024 and Maritz advised citizens who do not have national documents or who have lost their documents, to visit their nearest Home Affairs office or mobile registration centre.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency