Day: July 11, 2024

Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni has assured the public of government’s commitment to prevent cybercrime.

This follows the recent media statement issued by Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson, in which he said about R300 million was allegedly siphoned off from DPWI through cybercrime in the past 10 years.

The statement continued to say the cyber attackers again stole R24 million in May this year.

According to the statement, the revelation emerged as Minister Dean Macpherson and Deputy Minister Sihle Zikalala were conducting detailed assessments on the work of the department and through the incoming briefings from department branches.

‘I cannot discount the possibility of collusion between officials and criminals in this prolonged period of theft. It is clear that we need better financial controls, which I have said to the department are a matter of urgency,’ Macpherson said in the statement.

Following the discovery, four DPWI officials have been suspended and 30 laptop
s seized by investigators.

The four officials suspended include three senior management officials and one middle management official.

In May, the department announced that it had ordered a full forensic probe into what it called vulnerabilities in the department’s information and technology systems.

The department identified the cyber-security vulnerabilities with the assistance of its banking partners, including ABSA and the South African Reserve Bank.

The investigation, which involves cyber and ICT security experts, covers the following:

Causes of the breach and vulnerabilities.

Vulnerability and susceptibility to cyber-crime of the ICT infrastructure within the department.

Lack of staff capacity and weak ICT systems.

Ntshavheni said the State Security Agency (SSA) has been inundated with media enquiries following the statement from the DPWI.

‘The investigation is ongoing, and investigating teams were urged to work with speed to conclude their work without compromising the required thoroughness
of the investigation,’ Ntshavheni said.

She said the SSA continues to provide support and advice to government departments on cybersecurity.

‘The SSA is finalising a consolidated assessment on government’s cybersecurity strengths and initiatives underway to address any weaknesses found in the system,’ Ntshavheni said.

Ntshavheni said once the report has been completed, it will be submitted to the National Security Council for further processing and direction.

Source: South African Government News Agency

The spotlight will be on climate change as climate experts, including academia and senior government officials, gather at the Climate Resilience Symposium next week.

National Treasury, in partnership with the Presidential Climate Commission, the World Bank, and a range of partner organisations, will host the three-day Climate Resilience Symposium 2024 in Pretoria from 15 – 17 July 2024.

The symposium will be held under the theme, ‘Moving the needle on climate change and just transition: The role of the National Treasury’.

The gathering will bring together Ministers, Deputy Ministers, senior government officials, academia, the private sector and climate experts.

‘The objectives of the symposium are to integrate climate goals into macro-fiscal and finance policy; improve government coordination by mainstreaming climate change considerations into the intergovernmental fiscal system; profile National Treasury’s contribution to climate action, and advance and promote policy, advocacy, green growth, and collabo
ration in addressing climate change challenges across sectors,’ National Treasury said in a statement.

Source: South African Government News Agency

The Gauteng Provincial Government says it fully accepts the judgment in the Life Esidimeni inquest handed down by the Pretoria High Court on Wednesday.

The inquest, which was established in July 2021, sought to investigate the criminal liability for the deaths of 141 mental healthcare users from Life Esidimeni.

Pretoria High Court Judge Mmonoa Teffo has determined that former Gauteng Health MEC Qedani Mahlangu and the then Mental Health Director, Dr Makgabo Manamela, can be held accountable for the deaths of some Life Esidimeni patients.

In 2016, the Gauteng Department of Health moved the deceased from Life Esidimeni – a long-term psychiatric care hospital, which provided highly specialised chronic care to mental healthcare users to NGOs, which Teffo described as ‘ill-equipped’ and ‘inexperienced’ to give proper and adequate care.

This conduct, the judge said, led to ‘regrettable and unfortunate deaths, some of which could have been avoided’.

Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi said: ‘We are pleased this proc
ess that brought so much pain and suffering to those who lost their loved ones, as well as the survivors whose human rights were grossly violated by this tragedy is nearing its end.

‘This judgement closes a painful chapter, not only for the affected families but for us as the Gauteng Provincial Government.’

The judgement follows an arbitration process led by retired Deputy Chief Justice Dikgang Moseneke that was established in 2018 and culminated in an arbitration award for the victims of the tragedy.

Moseneke gave the provincial government a list of 134 people after he concluded that families should each receive payments of R1 million in constitutional damages from government.

According to the provincial government, all claimants were paid R159 460 000 within the time that was stipulated by Justice Moseneke in his report.

‘The only payments that are still outstanding are for the survivors who were not part of the initial arbitration process.’

The provincial government said it was currently administerin
g these claims.

However, the claimants will only receive 50% of the claims upon successful verification. The other half will be held in trust on behalf of the mental healthcare user, which aligns with the Mental Healthcare Act 17 of 2002.

‘As the Gauteng Provincial Government, we are confident that the National Prosecuting Authority will take this judgement forward and we await the conclusion of this matter,’ the Premier said.

Way forward

Lesufi added that following the Life Esidimeni tragedy, the provincial government has made concerted efforts to ensure that the rights of mental healthcare users are promoted and safeguarded.

‘As part of ongoing measures to strengthen mental health care in Gauteng, the provincial government undertook to ensure that the five district Mental Health Review Boards (MHRB) are functional and effective.’

The MHRBs are made up of 27 people with diverse expertise which include legal practitioners, mental healthcare practitioners, and community members with a proven record of co
mmunity development and involvement.

In response to the growing need for mental health services, the provincial government said it has prioritised the refurbishments and repurposing of some of its healthcare facilities to improve mental healthcare infrastructure and services across the province.

According to the provincial government, several facilities have since been refurbished and opened to ensure enough acute mental health beds in hospitals and to increase mental health resources, including specialised professionals and rehabilitation services.

These facilities include Bertha Gxowa, South Rand, Tshwane District, Tembisa, Edenvale, Dr George Mukhari and Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospitals.

The newly opened Kopanong Gateway Specialised Mental Health Day Clinic offers a basket of free services for mental health patients ranging from counselling, social work services, dual diagnosis services as well as psychotherapy for adults, children, and adolescents.

‘The provincial government sympathises with
the bereaved and affected families and understands that the Life Esidimeni inquest was incredibly important for families to find closure and for accountability,’ the Premier said.

Source: South African Government News Agency

KwaZulu-Natal Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) MEC, Thulasizwe Buthelezi, has urged residents in the northern parts of the province to be on high alert following a new veld fire warning.

The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has warned of extremely high fire danger conditions in the northern parts of KwaZulu-Natal on 11 July 2024.

According to the warning, windy conditions with gusts exceeding 65 km/h, coupled with dry and warm to hot weather, are forecasted for the northern parts of the province.

The Fire Danger Index (FDI) is expected to exceed 75 in these regions, creating conditions highly favorable for the development and rapid spread of fires.

The possible impacts of the veld fires include reduced visibility, damage to property, damage to vegetation, and air and water pollution, amongst others.

Buthelezi said the affected areas include Abaqulusi, Alfred Duma (Indaka and Ladysmith), Big Five Hlabisa (Hlabisa), Dannhauser, eDumbe, eMadlangeni, Endumeni, Jozini, Msinga, Mthonj
aneni, Newcastle, Nkandla, Nongoma, Nquthu, Okhahlamba, Ulundi, uMlalazi and uPhongolo.

‘Some communities in these areas have already been affected by veld fires, and further precautions are necessary to prevent additional damage and ensure the safety of residents. We urge the public to take this warning seriously and cooperate fully with fire safety measures,’ Buthelezi said.

The department has urged residents to take the following precautions:

Do not start fires in open areas or leave fires unattended.

Do not discard cigarette butts out of cars or onto the open veld.

Do not throw bottles into the veld, as they can magnify the sun’s rays and start fires.

Prepare and maintain fire breaks in a controlled manner.

In the event of a large fire, report it immediately and move away to allow professionals to manage the situation.

If water is scarce, use sand to control the fire.

‘The KZN CoGTA emphasises the importance of adhering to these guidelines to prevent further devastation and ensure the safet
y of all residents,’ Buthelezi said.

Buthelezi will today conduct a visit to affected areas in uMlalazi and Nkandla Local Municipalities.

Temporary shelter for Gazu family

Meanwhile, KwaZulu-Natal Human Settlements MEC, Siboniso Duma, said the department has stepped in and provided a Temporary Residential Unit (TRU) for the Gazu family, who lost a family member during Sunday’s veld fires in uMlalazi and eShowe.

The family’s five huts were reduced to ashes by raging fires.

Duma said a concrete foundation has been laid for the TRU.

‘Following the death of Baba Nuntukabongwe Gazu, our immediate focus is to assist the family to have a dignified mourning and a funeral. A roving team, led by the Head of Department, Mdu Zungu, has visited the Gazu family and is also profiling other families in distress,’ Duma said.

Duma has also sent his condolences to the Gazu family and wished another family member, Japhet Gazu, who is currently in the hospital, a speedy recovery.

Source: South African Government News Age
ncy

The Western Cape Government (WCG) continues to provide shelter, food, and blankets to the homeless as the province faces heavy downpours, resulting in the closure of many schools.

The province announced that schools in the Cape Town metro districts, Cape Winelands and Overberg districts as well as parts of the West Coast district have closed today.

‘In the interests of learner and teacher safety, and after extensive consultation with the Provincial Disaster Risk Management Centre and the South African Weather Service (SAWS), a decision has been taken to close schools in certain districts in the Western Cape [on Thursday],’ Western Cape MEC for Education, David Maynier, said on Wednesday.

According to the MEC, all other schools in the remaining districts will be open unless approval has been granted for closure.

‘Our default position is always to keep schools open but are mindful of the severity of the warnings in place and the damage already caused in certain areas.

‘So far, 20 schools have been granted
permission for closure across the province, the majority of which are in the Cape Winelands district,’ the MEC explained.

Over the past few days, 137 schools have reported some form of damage to infrastructure, either because of flooding or heavy winds. Most of the cases are minor, while 49 cases require urgent attention.

Level 8 warning

Meanwhile, a Level 8 warning has been issued by the SAWS for disruptive rain.

This warning remains in place for heavy rain, flooding, and mudslides, particularly in the Cape Town metro, Drakenstein and Stellenbosch regions.

The province is also expecting strong winds to persist over the interior regions and along the coastal areas of Saldanha Bay and Cape Agulhas over the next few days.

Western Cape Premier Alan Winde, the PDMC and other stakeholders are monitoring the series of cold fronts very closely.

‘Virtually all WCG departments are working together to mitigate the possible impact of this weather system.

‘All stakeholders will remain vigilant, and I urge members
of the public to also do so. Disaster management teams are working tirelessly to keep members of the public out of harm’s way. For this, we are very thankful.’

The WCG said they have been working closely with all affected municipalities, national departments, as well as non-government organisations (NGOs), who have been working tirelessly to safeguard lives and assist residents in need during the current floods.

Chief Director of Disaster Management, Colin Deiner, explained that over the next several days the centre will continue to monitor the situation closely.

He stressed that a critical aspect of the overall response is to ensure all disaster officials and organisations are adequately resourced to keep up the good work they have been doing.

Humanitarian support

Meanwhile, about 4 000 structures have sustained damage across Cape Town, impacting 15 000 people.

‘With the help of NGOs, 11 000 hot meals are being provided each day across Cape Town metro to people affected by the weather.’

The Western Ca
pe Department of Social Development is coordinating humanitarian relief efforts for affected communities with partner NGOs like Gift of the Givers Foundation, The Warehouse Foundation, Ashraful Aid, Al-Imdaad Foundation, Islamic Relief SA, and the Community Chest of the Western Cape.

In addition, many rivers are reaching full saturation levels and run-off could increase exponentially. This is being closely monitored by the Department of Water and Sanitation.

Dams

Many of the province’s dams are also rising rapidly, with Clanwilliam Dam currently sitting at 90.89%, Berg River Dam increased to 104.06%, the Theewaterskloof Dam at 76%, while Misverstand Dam has risen to 161%.

‘A controlled release of water from Wemmershoek Dam into the Berg River was carried out as a precautionary measure. This controlled release is necessary to reduce the risk of flooding downstream.’

Electricity

According to the provincial government, electricity faults are being reduced. However, 11 000 people are still without Eskom pow
er in numerous areas, including Citrusdal, De Doorns and Touwsrivier.

In Delft, around 1 500 Eskom customers are without electricity.

‘The power utility is working hard to restore power.’

Source: South African Government News Agency

Thirteen more National Assembly committees have elected their respective chairpersons on Wednesday.

This followed Tuesday’s committee meetings where 16 committees elected their chairpersons.

The members elected to serve as committee chairpersons include:

Portfolio Committee on Tourism – Lungi Mnganga-Gcabashe.

Portfolio Committee on Human Settlements – Albert Mammoga Seabi.

Standing Committee on the Auditor-General – Wouter Wessels.

Portfolio Committee on Public Works and Infrastructure – Carol Phiri.

Portfolio Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs – Dr Zweli Mkhize.

Portfolio Committee on Police – Ian Cameron.

Portfolio Committee on Sport, Arts and Culture – Joseph McGluwa.

Portfolio Committee on Higher Education – Walter Tebogo Letsie.

Standing Committee on Appropriations – Mmusi Maimane.

Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA) – Songezo Zibi.

Portfolio Committee on Small Business Development – Masefako Clarah Dikgale.

Portfolio Committee on Trade, Indus
try and Competition – Mzwandile Masina.

Portfolio Committee on Agriculture – Dina Pule.

Portfolio Committee on Land and Rural Development – Tsakani Goodness Shiviti.

Portfolio Committee on Social Development – Bridget Masango.

Portfolio Committee on Electricity and Energy – Nomkhosi Mvana.

Portfolio Committee on Women – Mary-Ann Lindelwa Dunjwa.

The Portfolio Committee on Science, Technology and Innovation postponed its meeting to a later date when it will elect a chairperson.

‘The election of the chairpersons of committees paves the way for Members of Parliament to start deliberating on budget votes and other important business of Parliament, which requires the attention of committees,’ Parliament said.

The National Council of Provinces will elect their respective chairpersons on Thursday and Friday.

National Council of Provinces elects Deputy Chairperson

Meanwhile, during its plenary session on Tuesday, the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) elected Poobalan Govender to serve as Deputy Chai
rperson of the Council.

A permanent delegate to the NCOP from KwaZulu-Natal, Poobalan, who is representing the Inkatha Freedom Party, joined the NCOP in the seventh Parliament.

Poobalan has been a Member of the KZN Provincial Legislature since 2014 and served on various committees, including Social Development, Economic Development and Tourism.

As NCOP Deputy Chairperson, he will assist the Chairperson in undertaking her duties, providing strategic leadership and will fill in if the Chairperson is unavailable.

This includes representing Parliament in international multilateral forums and the NCOP in international bilateral forums. The Deputy Chairperson also presides over the meetings of the Council when delegated by the Chairperson when she is not available.

During the same sitting, the Council also elected Denis Ryder as the House Chairperson for Committees and Oversight and Bhekizizwe Radebe as the House Chairperson for International Relations and Members’ Support.

Kolobe Regina Molokomme who is a Pe
rmanent Delegate to the NCOP representing Limpopo, was appointed as the Programming Whip.

The NCOP Programming Whip oversees the programme of the House and works jointly with the Presiding Officers to allocate plenary sessions for debates, consideration of legislation and Select Committee reports.

The Council also designated the NCOP Chairperson, Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane, the Chief Whip, Kenneth Mmoiemang, and delegates, Advocate Inkosi Mwelo Nonkonyana, and Nicholas Gotsell to serve on the Judicial Services Commission (JSC).

In terms of the Magistrates Act of 1993, the Council designated the following members to serve on the Magistrates Commission:

Solomon Patrick Mabilo: (Ms Desery Fienies, alternate);

Makhi Feni (Ms Mary Ndlangisa-Nodada, alternate); and

Sylvia Nxumalo (Mr Mtikeni Patrick Sibande, alternate).

Mtshweni-Tsipane was elected as a permanent trustee to serve on the Board of Trustees of the Political Office-Bearers Pension Fund, with Advocate Nonkonyana as an alternate.

The rules of th
e Political Office-Bearers Pension Fund require that, following general elections, Permanent Delegates to the NCOP must elect one Permanent Delegate as trustee and one that will serve as an alternate on the Board.

Source: South African Government News Agency