Day: July 5, 2024

KwaZulu-Natal Transport and Human Settlements MEC, Siboniso Duma, has highlighted the significant role of new houses and related settlements construction, including roads, as a catalyst for other sectors of the economy.

‘The mining sector is stimulated through the production of copper, iron ore and other raw materials used in construction. As we build houses, we are stimulating the manufacturing sector for the production of steel, bricks, tiles, doors, window frames and so on,’ Duma said.

Duma made the remarks during an inspection of the construction of houses and bridge projects at Inkosi Langalibalele and Alfred Duma Local Municipalities, under the UThukela District Municipality.

The MEC inspected the construction of the R49.6 million Qabango River Bridge in Wards 18 and 19 under the Inkosi Langalibalele Local Municipality, as well as a R21 million Acaciaville Housing Project in the Alfred Duma Local Municipalities.

Speaking at the construction site of the bridge, Duma said he was happy with the progres
s of the construction, noting that access to schools, clinics and socio-economic centres for local communities is now guaranteed.

The construction of the Qabango River Bridge has seen over 17 women and 32 young people being employed.

Duma said the department is prioritising the employment of local communities, including women and young people.

“Through the construction of Qabango River Bridge, we are fast-tracking the entry of small players into the construction industry. The breakdown of value of contracts awarded to companies owned by various categories include women and youth.’

He added that about R10, 3 million has been set aside to pay salaries of local communities involved in the construction of the bridge, which is expected to be completed in the next few months.

Duma also expressed his satisfaction on the progress made at the housing project, noting more work is still being done to ensure other groups, such as the military veterans benefit from the project.

‘We have resolved to speed up the prov
ision of bulk infrastructure [including] water and sanitation services in Acaciaville Housing Project. More than R80 million has been invested to create jobs in rural areas of UThukela District Municipality,’ Duma said.

Source: South African Government News Agency

The National Advisory Council on Innovation, through the National Research Foundation (NRF), is offering two scholarships to full-time PhD candidates in science, technology and innovation policy for the 2025 academic year.

The scholarships will cover the full cost of study, including annual tuition fees, accommodation, transport and food allowances.

Applicants must meet the following requirements:

They must be full-time students who are registered or intend to register, for a PhD at any South African public university in 2025.

They must be South African citizens or have permanent resident status.

They must hold a relevant master’s qualification from a university in South Africa or abroad. For the latter, the master’s must be recognised by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA).

They must have achieved a minimum of 65% at master’s level.

They must be 32 years old or younger in the year of application.

They must be able to work independently and as part of a team.

They may not be in full-tim
e employment while they are studying.

To apply, individuals must send a CV of no more than five pages to Professor Anastassios Pouris at [email protected] by 19 July 2024.

The CV should include a proposed PhD topic or area of interest.

Shortlisted candidates will be linked to the NRF Connect system (https://nrfconnect.nrf.ac.za) to apply for funding.

They will receive an NRF application reference number and their application will be sent to their chosen university for screening and review.

If the university recommends an application for funding, the NRF will continue with the process.

Source: South African Government News Agency

The National School of Government (NSG) and the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) on Thursday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to introduce a new three-year postgraduate Diploma in Public Affairs and African Governance for public servants in Africa.

In partnership with the African Management Development Institute Network (AMDIN), and supported by the European Union, the NSG developed the curriculum and content of the postgraduate programme in African Governance.

According to the National School of Government, the intent of the programme is to strengthen governance on the African continent and to professionalise public servants of partner countries.

Speaking at the signing ceremony held at the Tshwane University of Technology in Pretoria, Principal of the National School of Government, Professor Busani Nqcaweni, said he is delighted at the partnership between the NSG and the Tshwane University of Technology.

‘We felt we needed to partner with an institution that can share our ideas,’ Prof Nq
caweni said.

Prof Nqcaweni explained that the postgraduate Diploma is for African public servants.

‘This qualification is the first on the continent and we trust that TUT will be able to deliver the programme,’ he said, adding that the signing of the MoU did not come easy for TUT – having been nominated from 26 universities.

He explained that the initiative is aimed at enhancing interaction among African public servants beyond formal high-level meetings which will bring together cohorts of students from across the continent encouraging a trans disciplinary approach to governance challenges.

Prof Mashupye Herbet Maserumule, Executive Dean of the Faculty of Humanities at the Tshwane University of Technology, said the relationship between the two institutions was long overdue.

‘We are the most affordable and accessible university in South Africa and we attract more than 1000 foreign students,’ he said, adding that the institution wants to be ready for the changing world of work.

‘We are looking forward to
this interesting relationship and partnership, and we as the institution have an obligation to share knowledge and education,’ he said.

Professionalising the public service

The target audience for the course is public servants across the African continent but it will also be offered to the general public.

Participants will be expected to spend at least a week at a public service institution in another country in an exchange programme.

The partnership between NSG and TUT is expected to significantly contribute to the professionalisation of the public service across Africa, enhancing governance and aligning with the continent’s developmental goals.

The new programme seeks to bridge the gap between undergraduate and postgraduate education opportunities in member countries and to offer a regionally recognised qualification.

The conceptualisation and design of this programme is aligned to the African Union (AU) Agenda 2063 to implement developmental programmes and to realise the aspiration for good governanc
e in Africa.

Mandate

The NSG came into existence through a proclamation by the President which was gazetted on 21 October 2013, replacing the then Public Administration Leadership and Management Academy (PALAMA).

The NSG is mandated with the responsibility of ensuring that public servants comply with the provisions of established legislation, regulations and systems, and can exercise proper discretion and innovation in solving routine and complex delivery problems.

The NSG is furthermore expected to ensure service delivery impact by supporting institutional performance.

The work of the NSG has also been enhanced by the decision of government to make building a capable, ethical and developmental state the number one priority among the seven priorities outlined in the 2019-2024 Medium Term Strategic Framework (MTSF).

The NSG offers training in the three spheres of government to all levels – from the cadet and foundation phase to middle and senior management as well as executive management.

Source: South
African Government News Agency

As the new Cabinet of the seventh administration gets to grips with the workings of their various portfolios – it has been advised to place ordinary South Africans at the heart of the administration.

‘Show the ordinary South Africans that their well-being is the ultimate goal and at the heart of those running government and the administration,’ Extraordinary Professor at the Department of Political Sciences at the University of Pretoria, Henning Melber, told SAnews.

Melber’s comments follow on the announcement on Sunday, 30 June 2024, of the new National Executive of the seventh administration by President Cyril Ramaphosa.

The much-anticipated announcement is the result of the National and Provincial Elections that were held on 29 May. For the first time in democratic South Africa’s history, that election did not result in an outright majority for a single party to lead the country for the next five years.

The will of the people

In those initial days following from the point where voting took place, up t
o the announcement of the results, ordinary citizens were wondering what would happen next. After all, we were accustomed to living in a country that since the advent of democracy, was led by a single majority party.

However, from the hotly contested elections themselves to the announcement of the election results, peace was the order of the day. This also extended to the period of the swearing in of Members of Parliament (MPs) and other MPs at a later stage, as well as the election of National Assembly (NA) Speaker Thoko Didiza and National Council of Provinces (NCOP) Chairperson Refilwe Mtsweni-Tsipane. The election and inauguration of Cyril Ramaphosa as President and head of government of the seventh administration was also peaceful.

An acceptance of the will of the people at the ballot box also played an important part in where the country finds itself today with the seventh administration’s Government of National Unity (GNU) starting to take shape.

This GNU, however, differs from the one that South Af
rica had, following the seminal elections of 1994 that saw the African National Congress (ANC) go into a GNU with two other political parties, despite having won an outright majority. The current GNU comprises 11parties across the political spectrum.

These parties are: the African National Congress (ANC), Democratic Alliance (DA), Patriotic Alliance, Inkatha Freedom Party, Good Party, Pan Africanist Congress of Azania, Freedom Front Plus, United Democratic Movement, Al Jama-ah, Rise Mzansi and the United Africans Transformation.

Collaboration

In an interview with SAnews, Melber further advised parties involved in the GNU to ‘collaborate with members of other parties based on trust; seeking to improve efficiency in service delivery.’

With this rather eventful week drawing to a close, South Africans not only witnessed the announcement of the new Cabinet, but also the swearing in of the new executive, including Deputy President Paul Mashatile as well as the induction programme of new MPS in the Western Cape.

And yes, it did take some time to get to where we are now as a country, but we must remember that Rome was not built in a day.

In his address to the nation on Sunday, President Ramaphosa acknowledged the length of time it took to put together the administration.

Confidence vs Time

However, Melber points out that given the different elements at play, the process in truth did not take too much time.

He said that given the rather unusual, if not complicated blend of parties who needed to secure common ground, and agreeing on an acceptable power sharing arrangement in terms of portfolios -, this process had actually not taken that long.

‘And it was a necessary investment in building a minimum degree of confidence and trust as a point of departure. There are democracies who for months (among others The Netherlands, Sweden) if not years (Belgium) had not a proper government and were neither less politically stable. Many observers at least in the Western democracies were hoping for such a power-sharing arrangem
ent and did not expect this to happen much faster. Building a reliable collaboration between political parties so different in their programmes needs time,’ Melber explained.

A new era

In his inauguration address on 19 June 2024, President Ramaphosa described the GNU as ‘the beginning of a new era’ adding that it requires a common mission, which is anchored in safeguarding national unity, peace, stability, inclusive economic growth, non-racialism and non-sexism.

Asked about his thoughts on the GNU, Melber said: ‘Under the given circumstances of the election result, the decision to form a GNU seemed to be a wise and considerate move, aiming to accommodate a broad middle for political stability in a government, in which the ANC remains the major party.’

The announcement of the new Cabinet also came with changes in government departments that involve the merger of the Ministries of Electricity and Energy as well as the announcement of a separate Ministry of Mineral and Petroleum Resources. The President also
announced the separation of the Ministry of Agriculture from the Ministry of Land Reform and Rural Development, among others.

‘This is a necessary adjustment to accommodate divergent interests seeking influence in governance. If in the end – despite some further bloating of the structures – it provides a reliable operational structure to make improvements in delivery – it is a well justified investment,’ said the Professor.

South Africa’s future under a GNU is now underway with Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni having held the first media briefing of the seventh administration on Thursday, 4 July 2024.

At that briefing, the Minister outlined the process that would be followed to set government’s priorities and programme of action for the seventh administration. These said the Minister, will be articulated in the Medium-Term Strategic Framework (MTSF), which is normally guided by the election manifesto of the governing party. However, in this case of the GNU, a unique case for government, this
will be guided by the election manifestoes of the 11 parties to the GNU.

To give effect to the signed Statement of Intent as signed by parties to the GNU, the Forum of South African Directors-General (FOSAD), chaired by the Director-General in The Presidency, has undertaken the work of analysing the manifestoes of parties to the GNU.

After thorough scrutiny, the Directors-General will then submit a proposal for consideration and adoption at the Cabinet Lekgotla scheduled for 11-12 July.

The two-day Lekgotla will deliberate on the proposals of the Directors-General, after which the programmes and priorities of government will be announced.

‘The adopted programme of action (MTSF) will be announced by the President at the Opening of Parliament on Thursday, 18 July 2024. After the adoption of the MTSF, the individual departments will then develop their Strategic Plans linked to the MTSF and Annual Performance Plans for implementation of the MTSF targets,’ explained Minister Ntshavheni.

Happiness trajectory

Following the elections and Sunday’s cabinet announcement, South Africa’s happiness trends have been on an upright trajectory.

This is according to the Gross National Happiness (GNH) index. The index is the brainchild of Professor Talita Greyling of the University of Johannesburg (UJ) and Prof Stephanie Rossouw of the Auckland University of Technology, with the technical support of AFSTEREO (Pty) Ltd.

According to UJ, the GNH is the first index of its kind and measures the real-time sentiment of the country.

‘The much-anticipated announcement by President Cyril Ramaphosa of the new GNU Cabinet on 30 June 2024 is being experienced positively by the South African people, as shown by the near real-time Happiness Index of the GNH.today project.

‘The happiness levels in South Africa have been trending upward since the election results were announced in June 2024, from 5.36 to 5.42,’ the university said in a statement.

The GNH.today project measures happiness in near real-time based on specific emotion words u
sed in Google searches.

‘The GNU ensures a broad representation and a solid mandate to govern the country, contributing to higher levels of transparency, accountability, and trust in the government. It also explains the higher happiness levels, reflecting hope for a better future,’ said the university.

In analysing the positive trend in the happiness index, the team found that positive emotion words used in South Africa increased, such as ‘hope’, ‘happiness’, and ‘joy’.

However, there was an increase in negative emotion words such as ‘bad’ and ‘afraid’, but with a positive net effect.

‘The increase in both positive and negative words is expected as it indicates the debate around the newly appointed cabinet. Different parties criticise the portfolio allocations and the ministers appointed. The increased size of the government is also critiqued. On the other hand, there is relief that the Cabinet was announced after almost a month of negotiations.

‘This announcement implies an agreement about power-sharing
,’ said the university.

Asked about whether he thinks the GNU will stick, Professor Melber is hopeful.

‘I’m afraid I have misplaced my crystal ball,’ he chirps.

‘More seriously [though,] one hopes for the sake of South African citizens that this GNU manages to operate and serve the best interest of the people. If this construction holds, it is a win-win situation for all the parties who were able to compromise for the sake of the people and the country’s stability,’ he said.

Source: South African Government News Agency

Emerging wool producers in Umzimkhulu have received a shot in the arm following the KwaZulu-Natal provincial government’s assistance aimed at enhancing wool quality and increasing production.

This as Premier Thami Ntuli handed over resources’ worth over R6 million to Umzimkhulu wool growers associations in the Harry Gwala District.

The support, which includes rams, grazing fence and dip, is aimed at stimulating the growth and sustainability of rural economies and providing resources and infrastructure to rural communal businesses.

Ntuli and Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) MEC, Thembeni KaMadlopha-Mthethwa, handed over Dohne Merino breeding rams to 14 wool growers associations within the Harry Gwala district.

Speaking at the event, Ntuli said that by providing high-quality rams to the associations, government aims to improve the genetics of local sheep, to enhance wool quality and to increase production efficiency.

The Premier highlighted that the occasion marked a significant step in the governm
ent’s efforts to assist associations and cooperatives.

‘The KwaZulu-Natal government’s deliberate investment in the livestock, infrastructure and training, will certainly yield positive results in enhancing the profitability of wool producers [and] ensuring access to markets, sustainable growth, and development in rural areas.

‘This initiative aligns with [the] broader economic goals of increasing agricultural output and fostering economic inclusivity in the region. The handover of the rams demonstrates government’s commitment to supporting rural agricultural development in the Harry Gwala District,’ Ntuli said.

KaMadlopha-Mthethwa said the programme will be expanded across the province, emphasising its potential to drive rural economic development by creating jobs, while improving the livelihoods of local farmers.

‘This move underscores the provincial government’s commitment to agricultural growth and economic inclusivity. We are going to assist all our farmers, in particular women and the youth, to star
t their agricultural businesses.

‘Our goal is to ensure that no family goes hungry, and we are committed to creating sustainable rural agricultural firms. We will strive to open markets for the farmers, both in the district and the province, but also abroad,’ KaMadlopha-Mthethwa said.

The local traditional leadership expressed excitement at the move.

Speaking on behalf of Inkosi Sethuse, Induna Mbotho acknowledged the consistent support sheep farmers have been receiving from the department over the years.

Mbotho noted that through government support, families have benefitted immensely from all the programmes designed to fight poverty.

‘Our shearing sheds are our source of income, [and] the department has built a number of them for various wool growers’ associations. We hope to have more in the area to increase our profits,’ said Mbotho.

Mbotho also urged local farmers to be responsible for the livestock and the infrastructure that the community received

Source: South African Government News Agency