Day: July 15, 2024

Parliament is expected to be abuzz with activity this week as the Opening of Parliament Address (OPA) draws closer and Budget Vote Speeches and Parliamentary Committee meetings continue.

President Cyril Ramaphosa will deliver the OPA on Thursday during a joint sitting of the National Assembly (NA) and the National Council of Provinces (NCOP).

‘According to the new Joint Rules of Parliament, the OPA is now distinct from the State of the Nation Address (SONA). The SONA is held annually in February to outline the government’s plans and priorities for the year and report on the state of the nation.

‘The OPA, on the other hand, occurs once every five years, after elections, to announce the new administration’s plans and to mark the beginning of the new five-year parliamentary term.

‘The OPA coincides with Nelson Mandela International Day – an annual global celebration on 18 July to honour the life and legacy of former President Nelson Mandela by emulating his exemplary and selfless service to humanity,’ Parlia
ment said in a statement.

Following that address, the two Houses are expected to hold a joint sitting on Friday to debate the OPA.

However, preceding both the address and subsequent debate will be a media briefing by Parliament’s Presiding Officers, led by the Speaker of the National Assembly Thoko Didiza and the Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces, Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane.

Parliament’s other business

According to the statement, tomorrow (Tuesday) the NCOP’s programming committee will meet to ‘consider the draft parliamentary programme, reports and bills before the House’.

That meeting will commence at 9.15am.

‘Meanwhile, the NCOP will have plenary sittings on Tuesday and Wednesday for four policy debates on Budget Votes and to consider legislation before the House, motions and various committee reports.

‘The hybrid plenary on Tuesday will hold debates on Budget Vote 3 (Cooperative Governance) and Budget Vote 41 (Water and Sanitation). On Wednesday, the House will have policy debates on B
udget Vote 5 (Home Affairs) and Budget Vote 18 (Health),’ the statement said.

Parliamentary committees are also expected to meet this week.

‘With the parliamentary committee structures now established and chairpersons elected, the committees of the two Houses have scheduled 13 committee meetings for this week. These committees will get briefings from ministers and consider and adopt the draft reports on the Budget Votes.

‘The Standing Committee on Appropriations will have virtual public hearings on the Appropriations Bill on Friday,’ the statement concluded.

The list of committee meetings are available at www.parliament.gov.za.

Source: South African Government News Agency

President Cyril Ramaphosa says South Africa aims to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050.

Speaking at the Climate Resilience Symposium underway at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) International Convention Centre in Pretoria, President Ramaphosa said the revised Nationally Determined Contribution balances the country’s developmental needs and economic realities.

‘It takes into account the feasibility of undertaking a climate response through a set of just transition pathways. Importantly, it notes carbon tax as a vital component of our mitigation strategy to lower greenhouse gas emissions,’ President Ramaphosa said.

By internalising the cost of carbon emissions, the President said the carbon tax incentivises companies to reduce their carbon footprint and invest in cleaner technologies, and also generates revenue for climate initiatives.

The President said these funds can be reinvested in renewable energy projects, energy efficiency programmes and social support mechanisms.

Gove
rnment has launched a number of other initiatives to meet the country’s emissions targets, and these include the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme, which has been successful, attracting over R209 billion in investment and adding much-needed capacity to the electricity grid.

President Ramaphosa said the Integrated Resource Plan, which outlines the country’s energy mix, is in the process of being updated.

The plan sets out a viable energy mix over the medium- and long-term to achieve the decarbonisation objectives.

The President said the Just Energy Transition Investment Plan sets out a quantified investment plan of some $98 billion, noting this will drive huge investments in the electricity grid, green hydrogen, electric vehicles, economic diversification, and skills development, amongst others.

‘We continue to explore opportunities to meet our emissions reduction targets in minerals extraction, in green hydrogen production, in new power infrastructure, in electric vehicle m
anufacturing, and economic infrastructure upgrades.

‘It is crucial that the transition to a low-carbon economy is just and inclusive and that no worker or community is left behind. The growth of clean tech, renewable energy, battery storage, green hydrogen and minerals for the future low-carbon economy must result in opportunities for affected sectors, employees, and communities,’ the President said.

READ | Cabinet approves Just Energy Transition Implementation Plan

The President also noted that government is investing in retraining programmes, creating new job opportunities in renewable energy, and supporting small enterprises in affected areas.

The President further underscored a need for substantial investments to build sustainable infrastructure, develop green technologies and support social programmes.

Moreover, he noted the substantial gap between available disaster funds and the cost of disaster response.

‘Even as we have taken proactive measures like setting up a Climate Change Response Fund, we
need to think seriously about the urgent financial and policy measures needed to address these shocks, and how to strengthen the National Treasury’s disaster financing response,’ the President said.

He said the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment is already working with the Presidential Climate Commission on recommendations for the Climate Change Response Fund, and an Adaptation and Resilience Investment Plan to accompany it.

The President called on international partners to fulfil their commitments to finance both, noting that mitigation and adaptation financing remains a challenge.

While acknowledging the positive steps taken with the establishment of the Green Climate Fund, including the Loss and Damage Fund, and other global mechanisms, President Ramaphosa emphasised a need for more innovative financing solutions that mobilise private capital and incentivise sustainable practices.

READ | Climate Loss and Damage Fund to be established for developing countries

‘The National Treasury’s
Climate Finance Strategy is pivotal in this regard, outlining how we can leverage public and private finance to achieve our climate goals.

‘We must not underestimate the importance of our own domestic capital and financial markets to innovatively mobilise and deploy capital towards our just transition,’ President Ramaphosa said.

The President announced that the Just Energy Transition Funding Platform will be launched in the next few months.

The funding platform will be an important precursor to a broader Just Transition Financing Mechanism, proposals for which are being developed by the Presidential Climate Commission.

‘We call on South African business to invest in the projects needed for a successful just transition in this country. We need to use blended finance to unlock private sector flows,’ President Ramaphosa said.

Source: South African Government News Agency

A Federal High Court in Lagos on Monday sentenced a woman, Omolola Kayode, who trafficked in Marijuana, to one year imprisonment with an option of N100,000 fine.

The convict was also sent to a month community service.

Kayode, 30, arraigned by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) before Justice Mohammed Kala on a count charge of drug trafficking, pleaded guilty.

Following her guilty plea, the court reviewed the facts of the case, with NDLEA counsel, Mr P. O. Ajoku, calling a staff of NDLEA, Mr Aliyu Mohammed Ogah, to present evidence.

When asked by the judge to confirm or deny the evidence as adduced by prosecution, the defendant confirmed the facts.

The judge consequently found her guilty as charged.

Her counsel, Chief Lilian Omotunde, prayed the court to tamper justice with mercy.

She told the court that the defendant was a first-time offender and a single parent with two children.

Omotunde added that the defendant did not waste the time of the court.

Kala, therefore, sentenced her to on
e year imprisonment with an option of N100,000 fine in addition to carrying out a month community service.

In the charge, the NDLEA accused Kayode of committing the offence on May 21 at the Carnal area of Festac Town, Lagos State.

It said that the convict and one other person known as ‘commander’, now at large, illegally dealt in 259g of Marijuana.

The offence contravenes Section 11(c) of the NDLEA Act, 2004.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

President Cyril Ramaphosa has congratulated wheelchair tennis star Kgothatso Montjane on her win at the Women’s Wheelchair Tennis Doubles at Wimbledon.

Montjane and her Japanese partner, Yui Kamiji, beat Dutch duo Diede de Groot and Jiske Griffioen in straight sets to clinch the title.

Last year, Montjane and Kamiji had come second in the world-renowned grass court competition.

‘Proud congratulations to our star from Seshego, Kgothatso Montjane, and her Japanese partner, Yui Kamiji, on their straight-sets win over Diede de Groot and Jiske Griffioen to become the 2024 Women’s Wheelchair Tennis Doubles champions at Wimbledon this weekend,’ he said on social media X.

The pair have enjoyed success together, reaching at least eight finals and clinching the 2023 US Open and the 2023 French Open titles.

‘This victory at the home of the only major tournament played on grass crowns Kgothatso’s outstanding record in tournaments from Belgium and Switzerland, to the United States and Australia.

‘We salute you, Kgot
hatso, on your life as a champion on and off the court, and we look forward to your continued success,’ President Ramaphosa said.

Source: South African Government News Agency

The African Union (AU) and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) have urged Sudanese political and civilian actors to put supreme interests in their country above other considerations.

They also urged Sudanese people to work closely together to end the war and return their country to normalcy.

Dr Mohamed Ibn Chambas, Chair, AU High-Level Panel of the Resolution of the Conflict in Sudan (HLP-Sudan), spoke at the closing of the preparatory five-day meeting of the Inter-Sudanese Political Dialogue in Addis Ababa.

Chambas, also AU High Representative for Silencing the Guns, highlighted the outcome of the meeting held to peacefully resolve the ongoing armed conflict in Sudan.

He said that the participants of the meeting presented 17 recommendations on a number of critical issues to be considered at any inter-Sudanese political dialogue.

‘The 17-recommendations pertain to issues such as ending the war, humanitarian access to relief suffering Sudanese population, inclusivity of the dialogue, age
nda, transitional justice, form of transitional governance.

‘I should emphasis recommendations put forth by participants in this meeting; we expect other Sudanese and civil actors to be convened next; and also, make recommendations on the convening inter-Sudanese dialogue.

‘IGAD and AU urge all Sudanese political and civilian actors to put supreme interests of their country above other considerations in working together to end the war and return to normalcy.

‘IGAD and AU would like to reiterate our commitment, and determination to accompany Sudanese stakeholders in their endeavors, to reaching negotiated and consensual solution to the current crisis.’

See also FG urges independent monitors of NSIP programme to be sincere

Chambas, a former Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for West Africa and Head of the UN Office for West Africa (UNOWA), described the meeting as one in a series of consultations.

According to him, the meeting is one in a series of consultations that will be held with oth
er Sudanese political and civil actors who were not able to participate this time.

‘It will be followed by consultation with Taqqadum, SLM Abdul Wahid, SPLM-North-Al Hilu, the Radical Bloc and other Sudanese political and civil actors unable to attend the meeting.

‘We shall also continue to engage women, youth, professional groups, traditional authorities.

‘We will then envision bringing together representatives of all stakeholders to constitute a planning committee for the comprehensive, inclusive Sudanese-Sudanese dialogue.

‘The agenda, participants and timing of the political dialogue shall be determined by Sudanese themselves in conformity with the principle of a Sudanese-owned and Sudanese-led process,” he said.

He commended the participants for responding to the invitation by IGAD and AU, saying their recommendation was important to ending the war, tackling humanitarian situation in Sudan and returning the country to peace.

Chambas promised to bring together all stakeholders to constitute plannin
g committee for inclusive Sudanese-Sudanese dialogue in the country, said to be one of the founding Member States of the AU and IGAD.

Highpoint of discussion at the meeting by the stakeholders of AU Commission, IGAD and international organisations was Sudanese-ownership and Sudanese-leadership, inclusiveness and reconciliation among others.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has presented N16.5 million financial assistance to 66 officers who were injured in the line of duty.

The General Manager, Mr Olalekan Bakare-Oki, made the presentation at the 24th anniversary celebration of the authority on Monday in Lagos.

Bakare-Oki said that the financial assistance was to assist the injured officers, those not serving and others who are still serving but incapacitated due to the injury.

He noted that 10 outstanding officers were presented award of recognition for their exceptional service.

‘This gesture underscores LASTMA’s commitment to the welfare and support of its personnel, recognising the risks they face daily to maintain order on Lagos roads,’ he said.

Bakare-Oki highlighted the significant milestones and achievements of the agency over the past 24 years and appreciated the officers for their tremendous efforts.

He commended the dedication and hard work of all LASTMA officers in ensuring the safety and smooth flow of traf
fic within Lagos State.

‘These officers were honoured for their exemplary performance, dedication and contributions to traffic management and safety.

‘The awards serve as a testament to their unwavering commitment to excellence and public service,’ he said.

The LASTMA boss said that the authority remained committed to its mission of promoting road safety, reducing traffic congestion and enhancing the overall transportation experience in Lagos State.

‘The agency extends its gratitude to all its officers, stakeholders and the public for their continued support and cooperation.

‘Our new toll-free call centre 080000527862 has been inaugurated to serve as support/complaint/commendation from members of the public particularly motoring public,’ he said.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria