Day: September 12, 2024

President Bola Tinubu has been described as a veteran captain that would safely land Nigeria from its current turbulent situations.

Sen. George Akume, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), said this when the management of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) visited him on Wednesday in Abuja.

The NAN delegation, led by Malam Ali M. Ali, Managing Director of the Agency, included the Director of Administration, Abdulhadi Khaliel, and the Editor in Chief, Ephraims Sheyin.

The aim of the visit was to brief Akume on the forthcoming inaugural Annual International Lecture by NAN slated to hold on Oct. 3.

The theme of the lecture is ‘Insecurity in the Sahel (2008-2024): Dissecting Nigeria’s Challenges-Genesis, Impacts and Options’.

The SGF described the state of Nigeria that Tinubu met as a situation being witnessed by a pilot who took off in a turbulent weather.

He added that such pilot must be an experienced type for safer landing.

‘It’s true that there are a lot of turbulent situations in the co
untry.

‘Tinubu’s government is like a plane that takes off in turbulent weather; when a plane takes off in turbulent weather, it’s not easy to control.

‘But when you have a pilot who is very skillful, he knows where he is going, he knows there’s a problem but is focused on safe landing. Tinubu will land us safely that’s why he is a veteran captain,’ he said.

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While describing NAN’s forthcoming lecture as a ‘wonderful initiative’, Akume said media sectors had critical roles to play to disseminate information on government’s policies and programmes to educate the public.

‘This is a very wonderful initiative. There is no way you can do any meaningful and purposeful summit and conference in this country now without having a very rich content of security.

‘And for those of you in the Media, you have a critical role to play and that’s why your forthcoming lecture is one of these roles you are playing to disseminate this information through such initi
ative about government’s policy. ‘

The SGF explained that security architecture had been redesigned by the present administration, adding that things had started picking up gradually in the country.

Speaking earlier, Ali lauded Akume for the tremendous achievements recorded by his office since the inception of the present administration.

Ali said that the lecture was imperative looking at Nigeria’s state of insecurity and NAN’s position of disseminating news wider across the international level.

‘We are here to intimate you of our impending first international lecture organised by the News Agency of Nigeria.

‘We are here to let you know first hand and also to invite you formally,’ he said.

While speaking on the choice of the topic, Ali said NAN management was looking at the state of insecurity, as not only a disturbing issue in Nigeria but within the Sahel region.

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‘Actually we are looking at insecurity at the Sahel region and that’s why it is a
n international lecture.

‘The insecurity is becoming a serious issue and we restricted it between 2008 to 2024 as part of the national effort to enliven public discourse on the debilitating challenges of terrorism, banditry, kidnapping for ransom, militancy among others,’ he said.

He used the visit to laud the efforts of Tinubu’s government on its commitment to fight the insecurity by equipping the Nigeria Armed Forces to curb the ugly situation across the country.

‘So, we are looking at all of these, beyond the shores of Nigeria.

‘We are convinced at the editorial board of the News Agency of Nigeria to look at this beyond Nigeria at the Sahel region, which has remained a hot bed of crisis,’ Ali said.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to receive the human remains of liberation stalwarts who perished in exile while fighting for the liberation and freedom of South Africa.

‘The repatriation headed by the Inter-Departmental Team is for the returning of the struggle stalwarts who died in Zambia and Zimbabwe and is scheduled to commence in Tshwane at the end of Heritage Month on 28 September 2024,’ Presidential Spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya said.

The welcoming ceremony is scheduled to take place at the Waterkloof Airforce base followed by the home coming ceremony in the form of a formal launch of the Repatriation and Restitution Program.

The programme will take place at the Freedom Park Heritage Site and Museum.

‘The repatriation is in line with the pronouncement by President Ramaphosa in the statement of the January 8, 2020, and subsequently SONA [State of the Nation Address].

‘In that pronouncement, he made a commitment that the repatriation and reburial of liberation stalwarts, namely Dumalisile No
kwe and Florence Maphosho, in both Zambia and Basil February in Zimbabwe, would mark the Road to Freedom and Democracy. The two countries were strategically prioritized for the implementation of the project,’ Mangwenya told a media briefing on Wednesday.

Heritage Month recognises aspects of South African culture which are both tangible and intangible: creative expression such as music and performances, historical inheritance and language, among others.

This year’s Heritage Month is convened under the theme: ‘Celebrating the lives of our heroes and heroines who laid down their lives for our freedom’.

The theme pays tribute to the many struggle stalwarts who gave up their lives for the freedom enjoyed today.

Source: South African Government News Agency

Two suspects arrested in possession of abalone worth more than R2 million are expected to appear in the Worcester Magistrates’ Court today.

In a statement on Wednesday, Western Cape police arrested two suspects who were caught with the abalone on the N1 near Worcester.

The two were arrested in separate incidents before the highly valued shellfish could reach its intended destination.

‘In the first incident, members attached to K9 Breederiver, Provincial Crime Intelligence, Kuilsrivier STESU [Stock Theft and Endangered Species Unit] in conjunction with Provincial Traffic and Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environmental Affairs members, arrested a 39-year-old male for possession of abalone without [a] permit during an integrated operation on Tuesday, 10 September 2024,’ said the South African Police Service (SAPS).

The members followed up on intelligence received of a truck transporting abalone from Cape Town on the N1 national road. They quickly set up a vehicle check point (VCP) on the N1 Road nea
r Meirings Park, Worcester.

The identified truck was spotted and pulled over, followed by a search of the truck and its cargo.

‘Abalone was found inside the cabin of the truck by K9 Layla, a protected species detection dog. Further searches conducted by Layla resulted in more bags being discovered in a compartment attached to the outside of the truck. A total amount of 4582 dried abalone with an estimated street value of R2 million was confiscated by the members,’ said the police.

On the same day, information was received of another truck, also transporting abalone from Cape Town. The Worcester Anti-Gang Unit (AGU) responded to the information and pulled over the truck on the N1.

‘The members conducted a search and discovered 960 dried abalone to the estimated value of R468 105,00 inside the cabin of the truck. They subsequently arrested a 41-year-old man for possession of abalone.’

Western Cape Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Thembisile Patekile, applauded the members involved in the operati
ons for their vigilance, outstanding commitment, and dedication that led to the arrests and confiscation of the abalone.

Source: South African Government News Agency

At a juncture when public trust in government institutions is tattered and pessimism is perverse, Public Service and Administration Minister Inkosi Mzamo Buthelezi, has the unenviable task of reversing the tide.

It is one that he does not consider insurmountable, mammoth as it is.

This much was apparent during an interview with Public Sector Manager (PSM) magazine at his Batho Pele House office in Pretoria.

September, celebrated as Public Service Month in South Africa, was a focal point of the discussion.

During the interview the Minister outlined his vision for the revitalisation of the Public Service, emphasising the need for the restoration of professionalism and ethical standards that have deteriorated in recent years.

With that said, he is adamant that the 30 days of September should not be used to admonish public servants, but rather to celebrate their efforts.

‘We are not going to use Public Service Month to highlight the wrongs that are happening within departments, it is not about that… We m
ust not create a perception ourselves that suggests that everything is rotten in the Public Service,’ said the Minister.

He stated that the annual event will instead be dedicated to honour those who have taken a conscious decision to serve in the public sector even when more lucrative opportunities were in the offering in the private sector.

‘They chose not to go that route… they chose a route that is serving their people. That is what we are going to do,’ he said, adding that the period will also be used to ignite enthusiasm among public servants and revive commitment to service.

‘Most of us when we take office, [whether] as a police [officer] or a nurse, there is an oath that you take which commits you to whatever work you are going to do. So, as we go, all those seem to fade into the background because of a number of challenges,’ he reiterated.

He said that Public Service Month should serve as a reminder of the valuable contributions public servants make to the country and encourage them to persist i
n their efforts, even when faced with challenging circumstances.

Not shying away from endemic challenges that continue to plague the sector, the Minister said it was important to address these issues if meaningful progress was to be made.

Professionalising the Public Service

In February 2024, the Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA) released Volume 1 of the Directive on Human Resources Management and Development for Public Service Professionalisation. The initiative is designed to enhance the efficacy, integrity and accountability of the Public Service.

This is in line with the government’s efforts to combat corruption in the country, including within the Public Service.

For Minister Buthelezi, the conversation starts with a question that has weighed heavily on many South Africans: ‘How did the country’s public service, once lauded for its professionalism and integrity, lose its way?’

For him, the answer is rooted in a gradual yet troubling shift in the relationship between politicians
and public servants.

‘The Public Service was professional,’ the Minister recalls, with a mixture of pride and concern. ‘But somewhere along the way, we, as politicians, started to politicise public servants. Now, there is this call for professionalisation, as if the Public Service was never professional. I dispute that notion.’

For him, the decline in standards is not a reflection of a systemic failure, but rather the result of external pressures that have distracted public servants.

‘Public servants were professional, they were ethical and had a keen interest to serve. That is why most of us when we were growing up, we aspired to be public servants,’ he asserted.

His responsibility and that of the DPSA, he added, is to try and depoliticise the Public Service.

‘That means we are not introducing something new but we are removing something that I consider alien, we are asking public servants to go back to their core values,’ he said.

Rebuilding public trust

The Minister believes that the effective utilis
ation of the Public Service Commission (PSC) and the National School of Government (NSG) will go a long way in restoring the diminished trust in the Public Service.

While the PSC coordinates government’s efforts to eradicate corruption and maladministration in the State and develops and improves policy on ethics for the Public Service, the latter is tasked with ensuring that all public servants participate and complete education, training and development initiatives.

‘The NSG comes to play a particular role when it comes to training public servants in a number of things, which includes ethics, among others. That is one initiative that the department has undertaken to make make sure that we professionalise the Public Service and bring back the public trust. If people are led by leaders who are unethical, who are not committed to the cause and leaders who neglect their duty and do not take serving people as a calling, that is a problem,’ he said.

Lifestyle audits

Turning his attention to accomplishing an et
hical public service, he is adamant that lifestyle audits are not the holy grail.

‘All that I want to see happening is that, as we try to deal with corruption through lifestyle audits, people should be encouraged to do the right thing without there being someone following them. We must also try to develop a culture within the public service that repels such elements and only attract people who are interested in serving.’

Innovation

The Minister said in his first two months in the role, he has been impressed by the innovation demonstrated by public servants.

‘Public servants are coming up with new ways of how government can do things better and become efficient.’

However, he stressed that innovation should not leave behind the majority of the population.

Wage bill

In recent years, the general public has raised concerns on the country’s perceived ‘ballooning’ public service wage bill. The Minister is , however, not convinced that this perception is accurate.

‘I do not believe that the wage bill is ‘ball
ooning’. We must be very honest in analysing the status quo. You have almost 1.3 million public servants serving a population of over 60 million. You go to the police, and they will tell you [that] they should have one police officer serving a certain number of people, but that is not happening,’ explained the Minister.

The genesis of the problem, for him, is the country’s stunted economic growth of recent years. However, he acknowledged that there are challenges within the system that need to be addressed.

‘That (slow economic growth) should not be equated to the problem of the wage bill, because it is not. If the economy was growing as much as it should have, and if our population increase was not increasing in a manner that is not aligned with our economic growth, we would not be where we are,’ he explained.

He noted that the public sector is not bursting at the seams with excess staff, instead the limited human resources are mostly being overstretched.

Suspensions

Another challenge within the Public
Service is the issue of long-standing unresolved suspensions. This problem is widespread, yet there are no specific statistics available on the exact number of cases.

These include the number of staff members spending excessive time on suspension as well as deadwood in some departments.

‘We are told that some of them are not even in the country; some have been on suspension for over a thousand days; some have gone on to study and obtain degrees; some are owning businesses elsewhere. There is a serious problem in relation to that.’

He mentioned that the DPSA is working on a report to determine the exact number of suspended staff members in an effort to finalise the investigations.

The Minister stated that he aimed to leave a legacy of public servants returning to basics, where the principles of Batho Pele are not merely displayed on the walls of government departments but are actively practiced.

‘You will know that there is Batho Pele because of your personal experience with every public servant. I would
like to leave behind public servants that keep keeping on, no matter what.’

This article first appeared in Public Sector Manager (PSM) Magazine

Source: South African Government News Agency

The South African Revenue Service (SARS) has received tax directives worth R4.1 billion in applications for the savings withdrawals in the two pot system.

SARS said it has received a total 161,607 tax directive applications. This includes the directives which have been cancelled.

A total of 159 853 relates to Savings Withdrawal Benefits, which is 98.9% of the total number of applications received from 1 -10 September 2024, which means SARS received an average of 17,964 tax directive applications a day.

SARS Commissioner Edward Kieswetter said contributions made to a pension or retirement fund were not taxed at the time of payment to the fund but deferred to the time the person retires and then taxed at a reduced rate.

However, when an individual withdraws now, they will be taxed at their marginal tax rate.

‘Applications for tax directives are submitted to SARS by the fund administrator via eFiling. The directive indicates to the fund how much tax should be withheld by the fund on behalf of SARS before p
ayout.

‘Taxpayers who owe SARS money must realise that this tax debt will be added to the tax on withdrawal from the savings benefit. But if there are payment arrangements in place to settle the debt with SARS, this debt will be deducted as per agreement between SARS and the Taxpayer. A tax debt that has been deferred will also not be deducted,’ the Commissioner said on Wednesday.

He indicated that the turn-around time for SARS to complete directive applications, without any human intervention, is no more than 24 hours.

The channels used by taxpayers to get more information from SARS about the new system include the SARS Online Query System on the SARS website and the SARS WhatsApp channel – 0800 11 7277 where taxpayers can do simulated tax calculations on their two pot withdrawals.

‘Applicants give three reasons why they want to make a withdrawal from the new system: a transfer due to divorce, a transfer to a retirement fund and a withdrawal by the taxpayer. As the situation is changing daily, SARS will
provide periodic updates on the numbers of withdrawals,’ SARS said.

READ | Pension fund members required to be registered for tax to withdraw savings

Source: South African Government News Agency

KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli has called on the police to leave no stone unturned in their investigation into the mass killings at Highflats on Wednesday night.

According to reports, seven people, including three children, were allegedly killed execution-style while sitting in the lounge.

Ntuli expressed deep concern over these brutal acts of violence and called for an end to such acts in the province.

The Premier has since instructed KwaZulu-Natal South African Police Service (SAPS) Commissioner, Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, to deploy every available resource to apprehend the perpetrators and ensure the atrocities are dealt with promptly and effectively.

‘We remain dedicated to ensuring the safety and security of all citizens in KwaZulu-Natal. We wish to pass our message of condolences to the people affected by this tragic incident,’ the Premier said.

Ntuli is set to visit Highflats today (Thursday), to assess the area and to extend his condolences to impacted residents.

Source: Sou
th African Government News Agency