Month: June 2024

The Rules Committee of the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) has appointed members to constitute the Select Committees, Subcommittee on the Review of the Council Rules and the Programming Committee of the seventh Parliament.

During its first meeting held on Wednesday, the Committee also agreed to reduce the number of its Select Committees to 10 instead of the previous 11 of the sixth Parliament.

‘These Select Committees are the engine room of the NCOP, as they are responsible for overseeing the performance of various government departments. Select committees are also crucial in ensuring consistent focus on provincial issues,’ the Committee said in a statement.

The Rules Committee said the decision to reduce the number of Select Committees to 10 will now mean that the Social Cluster will have two committees.

‘The Select Committee on Education and Technology, Sports, Arts and Culture will oversee the Departments of Basic Education, Higher Education, Science and Technology, Communications and Digital Tech
nologies, and Sports, Arts and Culture.

‘The Select Committee on Social Services will oversee the Departments of Health, Social Development, Women, Youth Development and Persons with Disabilities, and Statistics South Africa,’ the Committee explained.

The Committee also announced that Governance Cluster will comprise two committees, including the Select Committee on Public Infrastructure, overseeing the work of the Departments of Public Works and Infrastructure, Transport, Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation and the Select Committee on Cooperative Governance and Public Administration.

The committees will also overseeing the Departments of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Public Service and Administration, Human Settlements, and Water and Sanitation.

‘The Security Cluster has two committees, namely, the Select Committee on Security and Justice, overseeing the Departments of Police, Justice and Correctional Services, Defence and Military Veterans, Home Affairs, State Security, and Internatio
nal Relations and Co-operation, and the Select Committee on Public Petitions and Executive Undertakings,’ the Committee said.

The Economic Cluster will include the Select Committee on Economic Development and Trade, overseeing the Departments of Economic Development, Trade, Industry and Competition, Small Business Development and Tourism, Employment and Labour, and Public Enterprises and the Select Committee on Land and Mineral Resources, overseeing the Departments of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, Environment, Forestry and Fisheries, Mineral Resources and Energy, and Electricity.

The Finance Cluster has the Select Committee on Finance and the Select Committee on Appropriations to oversee the Treasury.

Elections on four NCOP vacancies scheduled for next week

Meanwhile, the elections to fill the four vacancies in the NCOP for Permanent Deputy Chairperson, House Chairperson for Committees, House Chairperson for Members Support and International Relations, and the Programming Whip of the NCO
P have been scheduled to take place on Tuesday, 2 July 2024.

The Rules Committee comprises 20 Council members, including the Permanent Deputy Chairperson, NCOP Chief Whip Kenneth Mmoiemang, the House Chairpersons, the Programming Whip, and the Provincial Whips. Refilwe Mtsweni-Tsipane, who is the Chairperson of the NCOP, chairs the Committee.

The Committee noted that NCOP Rule 133 provides that parties represented in the NCOP that do not have a Provincial Whip, are entitled to be represented in the Rules Committee.

‘The parties without provincial whips are the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), Freedom Front Plus (FF+); uMkhonto Wesizwe Party (MKP), Patriotic Alliance (PA), and the United Democratic Alliance (UDM). The EFF will be represented by Mandisa Makesini, FF+ by Tamarin Breedt, MKP by Seeng Mokoena, PA by Bino Farmer, and the UDM by Mandla Peter.

‘The NCOP Provincial Whips are Advocate Mwelo Nonkonyana (Eastern Cape), Mapule Dhlamini (Free State), Mpho Modise (Gauteng), Poobalan Govender (KwaZulu-Na
tal), Regina Molokomme (Limpopo), Sylvia Nxumalo (Mpumalanga), Solomon Mabilo (Northern Cape), Sylvia Sithole (North West), and Frederik Badenhorst (Western Cape),’ the Committee said.

The Committee also noted Rule 137 of the NCOP Rules, which states that the Rules Committee may establish a Subcommittee that can make recommendations on the Council Rules, Orders, proceedings, procedures, and practices.

For the current purposes, the Committee said the five-member Subcommittee includes the NCOP Chairperson, NCOP Chief Whip, and Bhekizizwe Radebe from the African National Congress; Badenhorst from the Democratic Alliance and Makesini from the EFF.

‘The NCOP Programming Committee, in terms of Rule 143, has the same members as the NCOP Rules Committee.’

Source: South African Government News Agency

As the number of Mpox cases continues to rise, the Department of Health has urged everyone with symptoms to immediately visit their nearest healthcare facilities for help.

This week, this department announced that the country recorded three more infections and one death.

The latest figure pushes the total infections to 16 and three deaths since the first case was reported last month.

Of the 16 infections, eight are from KwaZulu-Natal, seven are from Gauteng, and one is from the Western Cape.

All individuals involved in the cases are male and aged between 23 and 43 years old.

What is Mpox?

Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, is an infectious disease caused by the monkeypox virus.

It can be transmitted to a person through contact with the virus from an animal, human, or materials contaminated with the virus.

Person-to-person transmission of the virus could be through close contact, which can be via prolonged face-to-face contact, kissing, sharing clothes or bedding with someone who is infected.

Entry of
the virus is through broken skin, the respiratory tract, or mucous membranes (eyes, nose, or mouth).

According to the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD), a person is contagious from the onset of the rash or lesions through the scab stage. However, once all scabs have fallen off, a person is no longer contagious.

Mpox is preventable and manageable, and treatment for both mild and severe cases is available. People at high risk include those living with chronic conditions such as HIV, tuberculosis (TB) and diabetes.

Anyone can contract the disease regardless of age, gender, sexual orientation and race.

Most people with Mpox will recover within two to four weeks.

Symptoms

Symptoms of the disease include fever and headache.

Other symptoms are:

muscle aches

backache

chills

exhaustion

swelling of lymph nodes as well as

skin lesions or rash that usually develops between one to three days and spread all over the body.

Diagnosis

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), identifyi
ng Mpox can be difficult as other infections and conditions can look similar.

However, the WHO said it was crucial to differentiate Mpox from chickenpox, measles, bacterial skin infections, scabies, herpes, syphilis, other sexually transmissible infections, and medication-associated allergies.

Mpox’s rash begins as a flat sore, which develops into a blister, filled with liquid and may be itchy or painful.

In addition, the agency said that people with the disease may also have another sexually transmissible infection such as herpes, while a child with a suspected infection may also have chickenpox. It is for this reason that the WHO believes testing is key for people to get treatment as early as possible and prevent the further spread.

Self-care and prevention

The WHO is recommending steps to take to help the symptoms and prevent infecting others. These are:

Stay at home and in your room if possible.

Wash hands often with soap and water or hand sanitiser, especially before or after touching sores.

Wear
a mask and cover lesions when around other people until your rash heals.

Keep skin dry and uncovered unless in a room with someone else.

Avoid touching items in shared spaces and disinfect shared spaces frequently.

Use saltwater rinses for sores in the mouth.

Take sitz baths or warm baths with baking soda or Epsom salts for body sores.

Take over-the-counter medications for pain like paracetamol or ibuprofen.

Department of Health’s response

The department, working with provinces and other stakeholders in the sector, has embarked on health education with funeral parlours on how to handle the human remains of suspected and confirmed cases.

It has also urged travellers from Mpox endemic countries to seek healthcare if they are ill and to alert health officials about their travel for clinical guidance.

Citizens are also encouraged to support all those who are showing symptoms to present at their nearest healthcare facilities immediately for screening and diagnosis, instead of self-diagnosis and using over
-the-counter medication.

Last week, the department said it has received a batch of Mpox-specific treatment, Tecovirimat – also known as TPOXX or ST-246, for the treatment of patients who experience severe health complications because of Mpox disease.

The department said it is in the process of securing more treatment, including vaccines.

However, according to the department, all mild cases will continue to be managed with supportive treatment used to manage complications like fever, pneumonia and skin infections.

Source: South African Government News Agency

President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed deep sadness at the deaths of two South African National Defence Force soldiers, following a mortar attack at their base in Sake in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Twenty other soldiers sustained injuries.

As Commander-in-Chief of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), President Ramaphosa has offered his deep condolences to the families of the fallen troops as well as their commanders and colleagues.

The President’s thoughts are also with the SANDF members who are recovering from their injuries.

‘As we mourn the deaths and casualties inflicted on our soldiers, we value and are humbled by the sacrifices they have made for the cause of peace and stability in our region, and they shall not be forgotten,’ the President said in a statement on Thursday.

The President also assured the bereaved families and the injured troops that the SANDF will take the utmost care to provide the necessary logistical and psychosocial support to all those affecte
d.

South African forces are part of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (SAMIDRC) which was deployed on 15 December 2023 to support the Government of the DRC to restore peace and security in the eastern DRC.

This was in response to an increase in conflicts and instability caused by the resurgence of armed groups.

Source: South African Government News Agency

Transformation of the Biodiversity Sector remains sacrosanct and is a major lever to ensure that the sector makes a significant contribution to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the country whilst conserving valuable natural resources.

The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) is entrusted with the constitutional mandate to manage, protect, and conserve South Africa’s environment and natural resources, has made significant strides in conserving our natural resources and ensuring sectoral transformation.

This progress is highlighted by the recent revision of the National Biodiversity Economy Strategy (NBES) which seeks to advance an inclusive biodiversity sector that locally beneficiate the reach indigenous biological and genetic resources for a thriving people and nature. This renewed focus on transformation was central to discussions during the 2024 Biodiversity Economy and Investment Indaba (BEII) held earlier this year in March in Ekurhuleni east of Johannesburg, Gauteng.

Many o
f the over 1000 participants at the BEII reiterated that the Biodiversity Sector as a whole urgently requires transformation. This transformation must ensure the meaningful and equitable inclusion of rural communities and previously disadvantaged individuals into the biodiversity economy, and biodiversity conservation and sustainable use in general.

The aim of the BEII was to enhance the conversation on the NBES and its contribution to addressing poverty, unemployment, and inequality. It also aimed to promote multi-stakeholder commitment to strengthening the biodiversity economy sector and enriching the dialogue among industry players around the goals of the White Paper on Conservation and Sustainable Use of South Africa’s Biodiversity (the White Paper 2023). The Indaba promoted cooperative governance and whole of society approach for effective policy implementation and business-to-business trading, networking, and sustainable partnerships and showcasing market-ready biodiversity products and services from a
cross the biodiversity economy value chains through exhibitions.

Consistent with the policy context of the White Paper, the revised NBES is founded on the key pillars of conservation, sustainable use, beneficiation of biodiversity business value chains, and transformation. These pillars promote sustainable and inclusive socio-economic growth and development. This requires growing and sustaining conservation land and seascapes while promoting and facilitating inclusive biodiversity-based businesses that drive the transformation of the biodiversity sector.

South Africa’s approach to biodiversity is holistic, recognizing the benefits that intact ecosystems, healthy species populations, and genetic diversity bring to the economy and society for people and nature to thrive. The country promotes a diverse biodiversity-based economy, balancing ecological, social, and economic elements. This is not about exploiting natural resources for short-term gains but ensuring healthy ecosystems and long-term survival of spec
ies, inclusive growth where benefits are shared equitably and people live in harmony with nature.

The NBES, informed by the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and the White Paper, expands on previous strategies to include marine, coastal, estuarine, and freshwater opportunities. Another vital part of the strategy is ecosystem restoration and the recognition of the importance of ecological infrastructure ensuring that both nature and people can thrive sustainably.

Transformation is a crucial theme in the NBES, aiming to include rural communities and previously disadvantaged individuals in the biodiversity economy for rural socio-economic development. Successful examples of biodiversity transformation like the Tshivhula Communal Property Association (CPA), the Makuleke in the Limpopo section of the Kruger National Park, and Babanango in KwaZulu Natal Province showcase how land restitution can lead to socio-economic benefits. These projects demonstrate the potential for community-owned land to be u
sed for conservation businesses while promoting sustainable rural development.

The story of Tshivhula Game Farm-Ndou Safaris in Limpopo is a testament to the positive impact of such initiatives. With 20,000 hectares of land restored to the Tshivhula community, the farm has become a model of biodiversity stewardship, focusing on hunting and ecotourism. Basic infrastructure and capacity support from, national and provincial governments, and public entities like South African National Parks (SANParks) and further investment from private partners has been crucial to this success.

The DFFE’s efforts to invite various media houses to witness the success of the Tshivhula Game Farm-Ndou Safaris illustrate the department’s success in transforming the sector. The media group that attended the BEII Post-Indaba Media Excursion at the facility was able to engage with the CPA, the private partner, employees at Tshivhula Game Farm-Ndou Safaris, SANParks officials, Limpopo Land Claims Commissioner officials, and DFFE offic
ials. The excursion concluded with a visit to Mapungubwe National Park which is also a World Heritage Site and part of the Transfrontier Conservation Area shared with Zimbabwe and Botswana, where the media group had another opportunity to engage with officials during the game drive and a tour of the museum.

As South Africa continues its journey under the 7th administration, the revised NBES provides a framework for growth and transformation in the biodiversity sector. By balancing conservation with sustainable use and ensuring inclusive socio-economic development, South Africa is demonstrating how natural resources can be used responsibly and in a manner that benefits all citizens and grow the economy.

*Mohlago Flora Mokgohloa is the Deputy Director-General: Biodiversity and Conservation at the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment.

Source: South African Government News Agency

The Department of Sport, Arts and Culture has congratulated the South African men’s national cricket team, the Proteas Men, for their win in the first semi-final clash of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup tournament.

‘Well done to the Proteas Men on reaching the ICC T20 World Cup final. You have made the nation proud. Bring it home Proteas,’ the department said on Thursday on the platform X, previously known as Twitter.

South Africa beat Afghanistan by nine wickets on Thursday at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy stadium in Trinidad and Tobago.

On Wednesday, the department had wished the team well ahead of its game.

‘Against [a] boisterous crowd at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium all backing the West Indies, the Proteas demonstrated resilience and gallant fighting spirit in overcoming the co-host. Now in the semi-finals, I wish our national heroes well in tomorrow’s semi-final encounter against Afghanistan.

‘This is indeed a proud moment for the country, and I would therefore further urge all of us to rally behin
d the Proteas as they carry our hopes and aspirations. We are always stronger together,’ the department’s Acting Director-General, Dr Cynthia Khumalo, said at the time.

Source: South African Government News Agency

The National Heritage Council of South Africa (NHC) has called for entries for the Golden Shield Heritage Awards (GOSHA).

The awards recognise excellence in the heritage sector and honours ordinary South Africans at grass-roots community level, who have been actively involved in the conservation management of the country’s heritage.

‘If you are one of the many passionate people and dedicated organisations that are doing exceptional work in heritage and culture, the National Heritage Council encourages you to participate,’ the Council said.

The awards are inclusive and welcomes all communities, professional organisations, groups, civil society, entities and individuals who are playing a role in the promotion and preservation of South Africa’s cultural heritage for the benefit of current and future generations.

The year 2024 marks the 11th year of the GOSHA in the 30 years of South Africa’s democracy.

‘The awards were motivated by the rationale that heritage plays a significant role in promoting social coh
esion and community development. Awards such as these, therefore, give acknowledgement and expose the depth of the South African Heritage, which is unique and diverse.

‘In this manner, the NHC shows gratitude and takes pride in people who continuously contribute selflessly to the preservation, interpretation and promotion of South Africa’s rich cultural heritage. Do you think your work qualifies you as a Heritage Champion? Don’t delay, send your entry now,’ the NHC said.

Entries Closes 25 August 2024. The awards ceremony is expected to take place in September at the Artscape Theatre in Cape Town.

More information can be found on https://www.nhc.org.za/golden-shield-heritage-awards/

Source: South African Government News Agency