Month: June 2024

Posted on

Allocation of internships for 2024 health professionals concludes


The Department of Health has concluded a process of allocating eligible medical interns and community service applicants for the 2024 mid-year cycle of Internship and Community Service Programme scheduled to commence in July.

‘This is a short cycle meant to manage the placement of applicants who could not be allocated during the January 2024 Annual Cycle due to a number of reasons including eligibility as a result of pending academic results/incomplete modules to confirm that they met full requirements to complete the academic qualifications,’ the department said on Saturday.

A total of 885 eligible health professionals including medical doctors, nurses, pharmacists have been placed as required by law to undergo medical internship and community services.

The department has concluded the allocation process and has been informing all successful applicants of their allocated provinces and health facilities where they are scheduled to commence their duties from 17 July 2024.

‘Provinces have commenced the proc
ess of contracting as part of human resource and it is anticipated that this will be concluded by end of June 2024.

‘The department has tried to place the applicants according to their choice; unfortunately it is impossible for everyone to be placed according to their choice areas and provinces of preference due to limited posts in some areas,’ the department explained.

The allocation process was conducted in line of the relevant employment laws and guidelines, which prescribe that priority, should be given to qualifying South African citizens, followed by permanent residents and lastly foreign nationals who wished to pursue their career in South Africa.

‘The system also recorded a moving target of community service medical doctors, physiotherapists and speech therapists still to be allocated. The department is in consultation with provinces to convert or repurpose some of the posts that are in excess from other fields of studies to accommodate these applicants.

‘This is meant to accommodate amongst other
s late applicants and those who applied to wrong professions. The Department will keep them abreast of the developments,’ the department said.

Source: South African Government News Agency

Posted on

SA remains proud of Proteas


The Department of Sport, Arts and Culture has congratulated the Proteas on their performance at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup tournament.

‘Keep your heads held high Proteas Men! You have had a great ICC Men’s T20 World Cup campaign and have made the nation proud. See you when you return to Mzansi!’ the department said in a social media post on X, previously known as Twitter.

This as India won by seven runs in Saturday’s final.

‘Not meant to be for the Proteas in Barbados but a campaign to be proud of,’ Cricket South Africa said in post on X.

In a statement on Friday, Cricket South Africa said the team under the leadership of Proteas Men’s Captain Aiden Markram, maintained an undefeated record throughout the tournament, while facing challenging matches and securing narrow victories against Nepal, Netherlands, Bangladesh, and England. Their win over West Indies in the Super Eight stage came with just five balls to spare.

‘However, the Proteas knew when to show up and deliver match winning results. They displ
ayed artistic prowess and made history by defeating Afghanistan by nine wickets, securing their place in their first-ever ICC Men’s T20 World Cup final,’ said Cricket South Africa at the time.

Source: South African Government News Agency

Posted on

Bafana draw with Botswana in Cosafa Cup clash


Bafana Bafana were held to a goalless draw in the group stages of the Council of Southern Africa Football Associations (COSAFA) Cup on Saturday.

This as national football side took on Botswana at the at Isaac Wolfson Stadium in Gqeberha in the Eastern Cape.

The Group A match ended in a 0-0 stalemate just days after the 1-1 draw against Mozambique in the opening match of the regional tournament.

‘Coach Helman Mkhalele’s team had multiple chances to win the match, but just as they did against Mozambique, the home side was unable to make full use of the opportunities and find the breakthrough they needed against a solid Botswana,’ said the South African Football Association (SAFA) in a statement.

Mkhalele said his charges should have done better than the final score suggests as they were in control for long periods of Saturday’s encounter.

‘We were not in command of the ball, especially in the final third. We looked like we didn’t have the confidence. But again, we were not giving the early support or were
unable to read the game to support Thabang Sibanyoni, who was dominating the aerial balls.

‘We lacked that confidence. Yes, we did get those half chances, but we were not taking them or we were not approaching them with aggression. We were just more comfortable in dominating the possession in our own half. But we lacked the speed and the penetration to the middle,’ said the coach.

Botswana coach Didier da Rosa was very proud of his players, even though they could not find the back of the net.

‘It was a second draw (of the tournament after the 0-0 outcome against Eswatini), but at least we didn’t concede any goal. I’m proud of my players today because they followed the plan we worked on. It was very interesting for me as a coach to see these young players so disciplined’.

Mkhalele has a few days to regroup before his charges face Eswatini in the last match of Group A at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium at 3pm on Tuesday.

Source: South African Government News Agency

Posted on

Government recognises commendable performance by Proteas


Government has acknowledged the efforts and sportsmanship displayed by the country’s national cricket team, the Proteas, in the World T20 finals against India.

While the outcome did not favour South Africa, government said the team’s performance has been commendable, and they have exemplified the unifying power of sports in bringing the nation together.

India beat South Africa by seven runs in Saturday’s final that took place in Barbados.

‘Today’s results may not have been in our favour, but the performance of our cricket team in the finals has made us proud. The team showed immense skill and determination throughout the tournament. We commend them for their efforts and thank them for representing our country with honour.

‘Their journey to the finals itself is a testament to their skill, dedication, and commitment to representing our nation with pride on the global stage. Sport has always been a unifying force in our country, transcending boundaries and fostering camaraderie among our citizens,’ Governmen
t Communication and Information System (GCIS) acting Director-General, Nomonde Mnukwa said.

Government has extended a heartfelt thank you to the players, coaching staff, and support personnel for their efforts, and their service to the country through sport.

‘Their hard work and sportsmanship have certainly earned them respect and admiration, not just from our citizens but also from cricket enthusiasts worldwide. Government also thanks and appreciates all the fans and supporters; whether cheering from the stands, tuning in from home, or sharing the excitement on social media, your enthusiasm and encouragement undoubtedly inspire the players to strive for excellence,’ GCIS said.

Source: South African Government News Agency

Posted on

Chiefs want 1904-1908 genocide negotiations concluded


WINDHOEK: Chief Dawid Gertze of the ||Haboben Traditional Authority in the ||Kharas Region said the chiefs of the 1904-1908 genocide-affected communities have sternly directed the negotiating committee to conclude the agreement with Germany, citing that their people are dying.

Speaking at a press conference here on Friday on the outcome of the Chiefs’ Forum, chaired by Vice President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah held on Thursday, Gertze said they in unison directed for the long overdue negotiations process to its logical conclusion in the best interest of the affected community in particular, and the people of Namibia in general.

‘Go back and work and finish the process and come to us. We have been waiting too long… our people are dying, our people are in need, so we cannot continue with this process indefinitely, we must conclude it, and that is a serious request, it’s a command that we are giving the negotiators,’ said the chief.

The forum attended by over 100 chiefs and their senior councillors deliberated on
the Namibia and Germany Joint Declaration of 2021 which encompassed an acknowledgement of the genocide; apology; and payments of reparations where Germany had agreed to pay a total of 1.1 billion euros (N.dollars 18 billion).

The amount was submitted to the National Assembly for debate and was referred back to the government for further negotiations with Germany.

Nandi-Ndaitwah told the chiefs a consensus was reached for the German government to deliver an unconditional apology and pay atonement to the affected communities, including those in the diaspora.

Speaking at the press conference, committee member of the Damara King’s Council, Seth !Nowaseb said the addendum of the joint declaration indicates that Germany has agreed that additional funds are going to be provided, however it was not discussed how much those funds will be at the moment after the 1.1 billion euro is used up.

‘We were thinking of how much and Germany also asked how much. So we have realised the best way is to conduct assessment and i
dentify further needs of the community to at least come up with a better figure that would determine on the additional funding,’ explained Freddy Nguvauva from the Ovambanderu Traditional Authority.

The forum ended on six recommendations – to maintain a regular status report on the ongoing negotiations between the two governments; continue to obtain inputs from traditional leaders of affected communities and reach out to those who are not part of the negotiations to join.

Further, Government through the technical committee and other stakeholders to bring the long overdue negotiation process to its logical conclusion; the forum’s inputs to be considered in the reconstruction and reparations programmes to accommodate all the affected communities – the Nama, Ovaherero, OvaMbanderu, San and Damara.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

Posted on

Boy allegedly burned by uncle’s girlfriend


The Namibian Police Force in the Oshikoto Region arrested a 44-year-old woman for allegedly burning an eight-year-old boy’s hands.

According to the crime investigations coordinator of the police in the region, Deputy Commissioner Titus Ekandjo on Friday, the incident happened on Friday, 21 June 2024, around 20h00 at Okapuku village in the Omuthiya Constituency.

‘The victim is staying with his uncle, who is the boyfriend of the co-habitant suspect and the victim’s uncle was not present in the house at the time of the incident and the matter was only reported to the police on 27 June by an informer,’ Ekandjo said.

The police attended to the matter and took the victim to Omuthiya District Hospital where he was admitted and is now in the care of his mother.

‘It is alleged that the victim, together with other kids aged one, two and three years were home sitting at the fireplace and the suspect started accusing the victim of liking to play with fire,’ reported Ekandjo.

He added that the suspect suddenly grabbe
d the victim’s hands and put them in the fire while holding the boy’s arms.

‘The victim sustained serious fire burn injuries and the victim was not taken by the family to the hospital for treatment,’ Ekandjo reported.

The suspect is arrested while an investigation continues.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency