Day: July 12, 2024

At least 500 households, whose homes were destroyed by heavy rains in Cape Town, are being temporarily relocated to safer accommodations, as gale-force winds and heavy rains persist.

This comes after Human Settlements Minister, Mmamoloko Kubayi, visited the affected areas on Thursday.

Kubayi and Deputy Minister Tandi Mahambehlala led a Human Settlements delegation to assess progress of interventions for families in desperate need of shelter in the unrelenting cold and wet weather.

The Ministerial delegation visited various disaster-stricken areas in Khayelitsha, including Nkandla, Zami Mpilo, Kuyasa and Victoria Mxenge in the Western Cape.

Scores of people have been left temporarily homeless due to water-logged homes across the province as wet weather and flooding continues.

Kubayi said the department’s immediate intervention is to relocate families to be accommodated at the Western Cape School of Governance, where the department will enter into a lease agreement of 30 days.

Kubayi said the department m
ust identify land in two weeks, adding that she has spoken to all the affected families, and they have agreed to move.

‘Our concern is mainly that with a level 8 warning, it means the rain will continue and we do not want these communities to continue in this dire state where their shelters are submerged under water.

‘We are moving them to a safe place at least for 30 days while we look at alternative land parcels where they can be permanently relocated to build a new life away from flood plains,’ Kubayi said.

The Minister noted that the relocation for the community is not only in one ward but will expand to more areas currently in danger or Category C informal settlements [immediate relocation].

The Minister said the City of Town alone has over 800 informal settlements in danger zones, emphasising a need for a more proactive approach when dealing with disasters.

‘We need to put preventative measures in place, and this work is ongoing. Moreover, I have instructed MECs in all nine provinces to also identi
fy more of these Category-C informal settlements so that work can continue to mitigate imminent disasters,’ Kubayi said.

As part of disaster intervention and mitigation measures, the department also provides the Informal Settlement Upgrading grant to provinces and municipalities. This entails the upgrading of informal settlements in-situ (developing the area where an informal settlement is located) by providing bulk infrastructure like storm water drainage to avert flooding.

Kubayi also underscored the need to put in place bulk infrastructure to mitigate against a situation where people are locked in water, noting that some areas they visited have no proper stormwater drainage system to absorb water during heavy rains.

The Minister also emphasised that the response to disasters requires all the affected government departments play their part in ensuring that the victims are attended to.

‘This is because beyond the provision of shelter for the victims, there are other needs such as transport, protection of
property (which in some cases gets stolen), food and other necessities,’ she said.

Kubayi further acknowledged efforts by NGOs, including the Gift of the Givers, who continuously work with government during emergencies.

She assured that the teams will continue with work onsite throughout the weekend, assessing the structural integrity of damaged formal structures.

‘The team from Human Settlements Emergency Housing, which includes the National Home Builders Registration Council (NHBRC), has been on the ground since the disaster to provide the necessary support to those who have lost their informal structures in Monwabisi, New Monwabisi Park, and Kuyasa informal settlements, as well as to assess the damage caused to permanent structures,’ Kubayi said. – SAnews.gov.za

Source: South African Government News Agency

The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Sports, Arts and Culture, Joe McGluwa, has extended the committee’s heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of South African football legend, Stanley ‘Screamer’ Tshabalala.

In a statement issued by the Tshabalala family and Orlando Pirates, Tshabalala (75) died in hospital on Thursday afternoon after succumbing to the injury sustained when he was shot in his home in March this year.

Tshabalala represented South Africa on the field and was head coach when South Africa returned to international football at the fall of apartheid. Until his passing, he remained loved and respected in footballing circles.

McGluwa said ‘a footballing legend, who taught and coached so many football stars, has fallen’.

He described Tshabalala as one of a special kind and a man who knew the sport inside out.

‘His coaching stint at Bafana Bafana is evidence to this fact. The South African football world has lost a star.

‘This is one hero whose departure we all should mourn lon
g into the future. It would be difficult to imagine South African football history without ever thinking about a person of Screamer’s influence….South Africa is poorer without him,’ McGluwa said.

Details about Tshabalala’s memorial and funeral services are expected to be announced in the coming days. – SAnews.gov.za

Source: South African Government News Agency

Mineral and Petroleum Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe says he is concerned about the recent retrenchments in the platinum sector.

‘Whilst the mining sector employs 489 000 mineworkers, we have noted with concern the recent retrenchments specifically in the platinum sector. In response to these job losses, we have pulled our social partners together and are in discussions to craft an approach to minimise them,’ Mantashe said, delivering the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy’s Budget Vote in Cape Town.

He said significant progress has been made by the National Energy Crisis Committee (NECOM) and National Logistics Crisis Committee (NLCC) who have formed partnerships with industry players to improve the state of infrastructure to support mining.

‘The department is currently drafting amendments to the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Amendment Act (MPRDA) aimed at ensuring that areas that have been identified as weak and those that have been challenged legally are strengthened against in
ternational best practice.

‘The amendments will also review the licensing regime to reduce red tape and improve the business environment for investors while keeping in sync with South Africa’s social and economic fabric,’ Mantashe said.

He said the amendments are a continuation of the regulatory and policy adjustments initiated during the sixth administration.

‘Given South Africa’s endowment with considerable mineral reserves of strategic significance to the global economies, we are convinced that increased exploration will enable the country to meaningfully benefit from its global advantage.

‘To enable this the department, guided by the country’s exploration strategy, has in partnership with the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) established an exploration fund to support emerging and junior miners,’ Mantashe said.

Government intends to intensify engagements with several fund managers and the investor community to secure additional financing to sustain the fund into the future.

The department has
allocated R72 million to fund artisanal and small-scale miners, including women and youth-owned companies.

Mantashe said the health and safety of mine workers remains at the centre of government’s work.’Owing to our strategic partnership with our social partners we have improved our performance towards the zero harm goal,’ he said.

The Minister said this is demonstrable in the decline in mine fatalities, injuries and occupational diseases as evidenced by the 49 fatalities being the lowest on record in 2022.

‘Although we had set our sights on beating this record in 2023, the regrettable disaster at the Impala Rustenburg that killed 13 mineworkers and many other fatal incidences contributed to the regression resulting in 53 fatalities reported in 2023.

‘We have also noted with great concern the emerging trend of fatalities related to motor accidents and disasters involving illegal miners.

‘To this end, the department has entered into an agreement with the industry on the development of minimum standards an
d guidelines to mitigate against road fatalities, while intensifying the fight against illegal mining,’ the Minister said.

In the 2024/25 financial year, the department has been allocated at least R8.84 billion, of which R6.4 billion is earmarked for transfers to public entities, municipalities, and other institutions or implementing agents. – SAnews.gov.za

Source: South African Government News Agency

The Department of Water and Sanitation has been allocated an amount of R134.909 billion over the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF).

Presenting the department’s Budget Vote in Parliament on Friday, Water and Sanitation Minister, Pemmy Mojodima, said the budget includes allocations of R42.604 billion, R46.362 billion and R45.941 billion in the 2024/25, 2025/26 and 2026/27 financial years respectively.

The department’s budget consists of two components, including the main account and water trading entity.

‘On the main account, the department has been allocated R72.989 billion over the MTEF. This consists of allocations of R24.074 billion, R25.159 billion and R23.754 billion in 2024/25, 2025/26 and 2026/27 respectively.

‘Included in the main account budget are conditional infrastructure grants for municipal water services totalling R36.305 billion over the MTEF. This includes R20.130 billion for the Regional Bulk Infrastructure Grant and R16.175 billion for the Water Services Infrastructure Grant,’ Maj
odima explained.

She noted that the water trading entity is mostly funded through revenue collection from the sale of water, but also receives some transfers from the fiscus for infrastructure projects.

The water trading entity has been allocated R61.920 billion over the MTEF, including R18.530 billion, R21.202 billion and R22.187 billion in 2024/25, 2025/26 and 2026/27 respectively.

The department, said the Minister, will make every effort to ensure that the resources are deployed as efficiently as possible ‘to ensure that service delivery reaches our communities’.

The department will also continue to clear all the department’s historic incidents of unauthorised, irregular, fruitless and wasteful expenditure in collaboration with National Treasury and the law enforcement agencies.

The Minister committed the department to a zero tolerance to corruption and ensuring the promotion of good governance.

‘In recent years, the department has successfully reduced its under-expenditure against its budget – in 20
21/22 there was R2.5 billion under-expenditure (which equals to 14.3% of the budget), in 2022/23 there was R860 million under-expenditure (5% of the budget), and in 2023/24 there was R44 million under-expenditure (0.2% of the budget).

‘It is our intention to eradicate under-expenditure altogether and achieve 100% expenditure of our budget in the current financial year. This will be done by making our infrastructure procurement processes more efficient and effective and by improving our management of allocations to projects during the financial year,’ Majodima said. – SAnews.gov.za

Source: South African Government News Agency

Minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, says the mandate given to political parties by South Africans following the general elections is a mandate that all South Africans must act on to create a better South Africa.

The Minister said this when she was delivering the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) Budget Vote in Parliament on Friday morning.

This year’s general election results produced no outright majority winner – tasking various political leaders to work together to form a Government of National Unity (GNU), much like what was required at the dawn of democracy in 1994.

Some 11 political parties are part of the GNU with leaders from some of those political formations appointed as Ministers and Deputy Ministers.

‘The historic mandate which we are granted to be the seventh administration and the seventh parliament is not confined to political parties. But this is a national effort in which all South Africans must participate as each of us acts to create the South Africa in
which we wish to live, raise our children and exercise our economic skills following the general elections.

‘This mandate must build on the great strides we have made since 1994 as reflected in the Census 2022 results which paints a picture of a society on the move and which reflects improvements across most indicators despite the challenges confronting us,’ she said.

The Minister explained that the GCIS will ‘dedicate its expertise and resources to supporting the work of the Government of National Unity so that we can provide South Africans and our partners with information that can help us to move forward as a country’.

‘Our first task, as the country navigates these unchartered waters is to educate citizens about the establishment of the seventh administration which, in its current form, is unprecedented in the history of our democracy.

‘As part of the new administration and with an equally inclusive cohort of communication professionals, GCIS will spearhead a well functioning communication system that
prioritises informed and empowered citizens,’ she said.

Ntshavheni acknowledged that the task before the department is a ‘mammoth one’.

The budget allocation for the GCIS over the three years of the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) amounts to some R2.3 billion.

‘In the coming period, the GCIS will have to be at the forefront of engaging citizens on the work of government with emphasis on mobilising all of society to be part of the unity and change and progress in our country.

‘This moment in our history is one for all South Africans to make their voices heard and their actions seen and felt across society,’ she said.

Ntshavheni laid out some of the plans the department will embark on to ensure that every citizen has access to information.

‘GCIS has put forward bold and decisive plans to use the strong communications system it has developed over the years to ensure that South Africans remain abreast of key developments that take place within the country.

‘The department will…use communication to
help citizens across the length and breadth of our nation to participate in and enjoy the benefits of our hard won democracy and freedom. It will share critical information on government services and programmes as well as create opportunities to open the economy to more South Africans,’ she said.

The Minister revealed that one of the tasks that the government-wide communication system has is to rebuild ‘trust between citizens and the government the nation has put in place’.

She added that the department will also be tasked with motivating South Africans to ‘replace cynicism, suspicion and despondency with active citizenship, social investment and confidence in our future’.

Turning to the gains of the past 30 years of democracy, Ntshavheni emphasised that the developments seen across South Africa since 1994 are ‘not by chance’ but are as a result of concerted government programmes and effort.

‘Today millions of households have access to housing, water, sanitation and electricity when compared to 1994.

“Ou
r policies have facilitated the greater economic transformation and the empowerment of previously disadvantaged individuals.

‘We have introduced laws and policies on worker rights, employment equity and broad based black empowerment. There has been strong investment in infrastructure, public employment programmes and achieving higher levels of economic growth; but the challenges remain.

‘This is a journey that has had and will have many facets into the future,’ she said. – SAnews.gov.za

Source: South African Government News Agency

The Government Communication and Information System (GCIS), in partnership with the South African National Roads Agency, has launched the Democracy Bus, which will travel the country to drum up citizens’ participation in celebration of the 30 years of democracy.

‘[The] bus will travel to different parts of our amazing country from the nation’s towering cities to deep rural communities. Government calls on all South Africans to get on the bus so that they can see and experience the changes we have gone through as we relive the many pivotal moments in our democratic journey,” Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni announced during the delivery of the Budget Vote of the GCIS to the Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies on Friday.

‘The bus is also expected to stop at the GCIS Thusong Service Centres which are earmarked as key activation sites. It will also stop at venues for community meetings, izimbizo and national events as well as dams, police stations, schools, clinics and
hospitals built over the years as we celebrate our 30 years of democracy,’ she said.

Spot the Bus

The Minister said citizens will be able to participate in a ‘spot the bus’ campaign.

‘As the bus travels on our roads, across all our provinces to 30 locations in various parts of our country, citizens will have the opportunity to be part of the spot the bus campaign. Citizens can keep a look out for information on the bus journey through a digital map that will be published on various social media platforms.

‘This is the way GCIS is bringing South Africans to acknowledge the work that has been done over the last 30 years but also acknowledging the challenges that still lie ahead which government, through its new programmes of the seventh administration…will address the challenges that remain,’ Ntshavheni said.

Crime

The Minister also said the GCIS was implementing a campaign that will seek to encourage communities and stakeholders to participate in the fight against crime.

She said the department has set
the fight against crime as one of its communication priorities for this financial year.

‘GCIS is implementing a crime management campaign which will target the areas of organised and violent crime, illegal mining, cable theft and vandalism of essential infrastructure along with the scourge of violence against women, children and vulnerable members of society.

‘To strengthen stakeholder participation, the GCIS has established a directorate of stakeholder management and special projects to marshal all stakeholders in a common front against social ills. We have learnt during COVID-19 that the coordination of the work is more impactful in our communication space,’ she said. – SAnews.gov.za

Source: South African Government News Agency