Day: September 25, 2024

The Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth, and Persons with Disabilities Sindisiwe Chikunga has extended her heartfelt condolences to the family of the woman who lost her life in adverse weather conditions that hit parts of the Free State and KwaZulu-Natal provinces.

“We are deeply saddened to learn that a woman lost her life to hypothermia due to these unprecedented weather conditions. She was a passenger in a taxi travelling from Johannesburg to KwaZulu-Natal,” the Minister said in a statement on Wednesday.

The 39-year-old woman died on Saturday while trapped in the blizzard that engulfed the N3 between Van Reenen’s Pass, connecting KwaZulu-Natal and the Free State.

This was confirmed by paramedic services, Midlands EMS [emergency medical services] Rescue Medics, in a statement.

According to the medical service, the Midlands EMS Howick crews, along with Midlands EMS Rescue Medics, were dispatched to a shopping centre in Merrivale for a person who had collapsed after being exposed to severe cold o
vernight, while in a taxi stuck in traffic in the snow.

READ | Heavy snowfall on N3 claims life of a 39-year-old woman

Chikunga commended the exemplary selflessness and solidarity shown by South Africans who came to each other’s aid in what were life-threatening circumstances.

She also added that South Africa is experiencing unusual climate change related incidents, marked by an increase in the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, as well as rising mortality rates.

The severity of these events continues to disproportionately affect marginalised communities-those who often lack the resources to cope-most of whom are women and persons with disabilities.

‘While this is a global phenomenon, the impact of climate change related disasters is not uniform. Recent research published by the World Bank shows that “across the globe, women and persons with disabilities experience mortality rates up to four times higher in natural disasters than those without.

‘We express our condolences to those who ha
ve lost their loved ones, and we urge all South Africans to closely monitor weather reports to avoid areas projected to experience extreme weather conditions,’ the Minister said.

In his address at the National Heritage Day celebrations on Tuesday, Acting President Paul Mashatile emphasised the need to recognise the growing impact of climate change on the nation’s well-being and cultural heritage.

Mashatile urged citizens to be mindful of how climate change threatens both livelihoods and cultural traditions.

The Acting President expressed his honour in addressing the nation on Heritage Day but noted that celebrations were overshadowed by severe weather affecting parts of KwaZulu-Natal, the Eastern Cape, and the Free State.

‘It is a great honour and privilege to address you at this significant occasion as we celebrate our country’s Heritage Day. Unfortunately, as we were looking forward to this day, some parts of our country, which include Kwa-Zulu Natal, Eastern Cape and Free State, were impacted by severe
weather conditions, exacerbated by climate change,’ he said at the celebrations held in Ficksburg, Free State.

READ | Let’s be alive to the impact of climate change – Acting President Mashatile

Meanwhile, the South African Weather Service (SAWS) said the country is set to experience a mix of warm and cool temperatures in the coming days, with a significant drop in temperatures and even light snowfall expected later this month.

This after the weekend’s freezing temperatures and snowfall in some parts of the country caused havoc on the roads, resulting in one fatality.

Source: South African Government News Agency

KwaZulu-Natal has recorded the second-highest HIV prevalence rate at 16% in 2022, down from 18% in 2017.

According to the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC), this translates to 1 980 000 people living with HIV (PLHIV) in KwaZulu-Natal, which was a decline from 1 990 000 in 2017.

The information is based on the findings of the Sixth South African HIV Prevalence, Incidence and Behaviour Survey (SABSSM VI).

SAnews reported last week that Mpumalanga now has the highest HIV prevalence at 17.4% in 2022, which translates to an estimated 890 000 (PLHIV) in the province.

READ | Mpumalanga records highest HIV prevalence rate

According to the overall principal investigator of the study, the HSRC’s Professor Khangelani Zuma, the survey showed that in 2022, HIV prevalence in the province was higher among those aged 25 to 49 (31.1%), for both females (38.4%) and males (21.5%).

HIV prevalence was also higher among those residing in rural formal or farm areas (20%).

‘HIV prevalence peaked at 44.5% among those age
d 45 to 49 in 2022 from 39.7% in 2017 among those aged 35 to 39, indicating a possibility of continuing infections among older people. HIV prevalence had decreased by 2022 among all age groups younger than 40 years compared to 2017,’ Zuma said.

By district, in 2022, HIV prevalence was highest in uMgungundlovu (19.5%).

The data presented are for eight priority districts within KwaZulu-Natal namely, eThekwini, Harry Gwala, King Cetshwayo, Ugu, uMgungundlovu, uThukela, Zululand and uMkhanyakude districts, as per the study protocol.

Antiretroviral treatment

Antiretroviral treatment (ART) coverage in KwaZulu-Natal increased to 87.3% in 2022, from 71.2% in 2017.

The ART coverage estimate translates to an estimated 1 609 000 PLHIV in the province receiving treatment in 2022.

In 2022, ART use among all PLHIV in the province was lowest among adolescents and youth aged 15 to 24 (62.8%) compared to other age groups.

ART use was also lower among both males (58.8%) and females (64%) in this age group compared to ot
her age groups.

Among children aged zero to 14, ART use among males was 83.5% compared to females (65.9%). Among rural formal areas, ART use among males (93.3%) was comparable to females (93.6%).

The SABSSM VI survey, conducted between 2022 and 2023, aimed to maintain surveillance of HIV infection and behaviours in South Africa, evaluate the progress of the South African national HIV and AIDS, STI and TB Strategic Plan, and monitor HIV indicators for national and international reporting.

Viral load suppression

On the viral load suppression, the survey further revealed that, in 2022, among all provinces, KwaZulu-Natal had the highest proportion of all PLHIV with VLS (86.8%), having increased from 2017 (67.8%).

Knowledge of HIV status

The professor expressed concern that those aged between 25 and 49 accounted for the majority of PLHIV in the province (68.3%) who were unaware of their HIV status (54.5%), aware but not on ART (63.5%), and on ART but not virally suppressed (66.4%).

‘However, adolescents and
youth aged 15 to 24 contribute disproportionally to gaps in treatment, accounting for just 8.5% of all PLHIV, but 28.4% of those unaware of their HIV status, 19.1% of those aware but not on ART and 15.7% of those on ART but not virally suppressed.’

Sex debut

Regarding the key drivers of the HIV pandemic, Zuma noted that, in KwaZulu-Natal, there was no change in the proportion of adolescents and youth aged 15 to 24 who reported having sex before the age of 15 in 2017 (8.2%) compared to 2022 (8.6%).

However, sexual debut before the age of 15 among adolescents and youth between 15 and 24 years in 2022 was higher among males (12.3%) than females (4.8%).

The survey revealed that 11% of people aged 15 and older reported having multiple sexual partners in 2022 compared to 9.4% in 2017.

The proportion of people aged 15 and older who reported having multiple sexual partners was five-fold higher among males (18.6%), compared to females (3.5%), and 1.5-fold higher among those aged 15 to 24 (16.3%) compared to those
aged 25 to 49 (10.9%).

The proportion of people who reported having multiple sexual partners was highest in Harry Gwala (14.1%) and lowest in uThukela (7.6%).

Condom use

Regarding condom use, the survey revealed that 32.8% reported using a condom with the most recent sexual partner in 2022 compared to 44.9% in 2017, representing a 12.1% decline.

In KwaZulu-Natal, a higher proportion also reported that they never (45.2%) used a condom with their most recent sexual partner.

‘Only 9.3% reported that they used condoms almost every time.’

Meanwhile, consistency of condom uses with the most recent sexual partner among people aged 15 and older in the province was higher among adolescents and youth aged 15 to 24 (26.7%) compared to those aged 25 to 49 (16.5%).

‘However, nearly 60% of youth reported only using a condom sometimes or never.’

Zuma recommended a long-term strategy to care for people in an ageing HIV epidemic as well as tailored interventions to address gaps in the ‘clinical cascade’.

‘We also rec
ommend a continued focus on increasing coverage and demand for medical male circumcision among males aged 15 and older. We must also enhance public awareness and uptake of effective HIV prevention measures, such as regular HIV testing, condoms and PrEP [pre-exposure prophylaxis],’ Zuma added.

Source: South African Government News Agency

Deputy Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Mmapaseka Steve Letsike has called on nations to unite all efforts and resources for the empowerment of women and girls.

The Deputy Minister was addressing a side event of the 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA79) held in New York on Wednesday.

She acknowledged that the challenge of women empowerment ‘is great’ with women and girls facing many obstacles.

‘We reiterate the severity of this challenge before us as the state of women’s empowerment leaves little to be desired, and the overall picture is consistent globally, with pockets of excellence in certain areas of development.

‘Women still own a smaller share of global wealth compared to men, with the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) reporting that women owned $72 trillion of global wealth in 2020 which translates to about 17% of the total value of the global wealth held by individuals in that year.

‘This disparity is linked to factors such as gender pay gaps, unequa
l access to financial services, and fewer opportunities for leadership roles,’ Letsike said.

She added that although the challenges facing women empowerment are ‘evolving at an unprecedented pace’, a brighter future for all can be forged by ‘uniting our efforts and resources’.

‘The Education Plus Initiative stands as a beacon of hope, illuminating the pathway toward empowerment for girls and young women in the fight against the spread of HIV and an increase of AIDS related deaths.

‘It emphasises the vital importance of equipping women with education and skills, access to finance, security of land tenure, entrepreneurial opportunities and appointment of women to positions of leadership in both the private and public sectors.

‘By doing so, we not only enhance women’s participation in the labour market but also unlock women’s immense potential to drive sustainable economic growth as meaningful participants in the various sectors of the economy.’

The Deputy Minister added that nations need to adopt an ‘inter
sectional lens as we advance policy for the empowerment of women and adolescent girls’.

‘This will ensure that the unique and overlapping experiences of individuals or groups are recognised, thereby allowing us to craft our agenda to be more equitable and inclusive.

‘As leaders and stakeholders in this transformative journey, we bear a profound responsibility to ensure our institutions and policies are adept at addressing the challenges of both today and tomorrow, particularly for marginalised persons,’ Letsike said.

She called on world leaders to build a better future for women and girls today.

‘As we move forward, let us be inspired by the potential within our youth, especially our girls. They are not just the leaders of tomorrow; they are the catalysts of change today.

‘Together, we can build a world where their dreams are not limited by their circumstances, but rather fuelled by the opportunities we create for them,’ Letsike said.

President Cyril Ramaphosa is leading South Africa’s delegation to the
High-Level General Debate of the 79th Session of the General Assembly (UNGA79) in the United States of America. The debate of the UNGA79 is taking place at the United Nations headquarters in New York, from 24 to 30 September 2024.

Source: South African Government News Agency

The Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA), in collaboration with Infrastructure South Africa (ISA) and the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), has approached the market for an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).

This is to encourage interested parties to submit proposals for the envisaged Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) terminal at the Port of Ngqura.

READ | Port investments to contribute towards SA economy

The Request For Proposals (RFP) process will see the appointment of a service provider contracted to assess the environmental compliance and sustainability of the proposed LNG terminal.

This involves conducting a detailed analysis of ecological and local regulations to determine critical environmental authorisations. These include a seismic survey, marine ecology, climate change impact assessment and socio-economic assessment to support the project.

The EIA process is carried out in tandem with negotiations of the Terminal Operator Agreement (TOA) between TNPA and the Strategic Fuel Fund (SFF
) to build and operate an onshore LNG regasification facility at the Port of Ngqura for 30 years.

The appointment of SFF is the outcome of a Section 79 process and directive issued by the former Minister of Transport, in accordance with the National Ports Act of 2005.

‘This milestone is a critical step towards the development of the LNG terminal at the Port of Ngqura. Through its commercial seaports, TNPA is at the forefront of enabling the gas-to-power project pipeline whilst ensuring the security of supply and unlocking global opportunities for sustainable impact,’ said Acting TNPA Chief Executive, Phyllis Difeto.

The Port of Ngqura LNG Terminal is one of 12 priority infrastructure projects announced in March 2024 that hold a Strategic Integrated Project (SIP) status.

The triad strategic partnership is fast-tracking the conclusion of the EAI, with the RFP closing on 30 October 2024. This partnership will also see the issuing of the RFP for Prefeasibility Studies by end September 2024.

‘ISA is establish
ed to provide strategic, technical and financial advisory support to project sponsors for the planning, preparation, development and implementation of national pipeline projects and strategic integrated projects,’ said Mameetse Masemola, the Acting Head of Infrastructure South Africa.

‘This project is one of the flagship projects which we are proud to support and excited that progress is moving at a good pace,’ he said.

Tender documents can be accessed on: https://www.idc.co.za/tenders/ and https://www.etenders.gov.za/ –

Source: South African Government News Agency

The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) on Monday published Eskom’s multi-year price determination (MYPD) revenue application up until 2028.

According to Eskom, the application covers the power utility’s financial period beginning on 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2028.

Eskom explained that it follows the MYPD methodology as prescribed by the regulatory authority.

‘This methodology is now in its sixth application; hence the process is referred to as MYPD 6,’ the statement read.

Nersa will decide on the revenue Eskom can receive following its analysis and the regulator conducting a series of public consultations.

Eskom believes that this application allows for an improvement in the financial sustainability of Eskom through the migration to cost-reflective prices and the successful operation of Generation, Transmission and Distribution in Eskom.

‘Further migration towards cost reflectivity to cover the full cost of capital would be considered in subsequent applications. This would minimise the im
pact on the taxpayers.’

In accordance with its revenue decision, Eskom said Nersa will then make tariff decisions for implementation from 1 April 2025.

As per Eskom, it can only implement tariff decisions made by Nersa.

‘We are entering the next phase of the regulatory process where Nersa will conduct an extensive public consultation about Eskom’s revenue application and we urge as many stakeholders as possible to become involved so Nersa can determine a key component in the funding of a constant electricity supply that drives economic growth and our quality of life for years to come,’ said Chief Financial Officer of Eskom, Calib Cassim.

Cassim stated that as Nersa makes its decision, it will consider affordability for identified vulnerable sectors including indigent customers and certain industrial sectors.

‘Eskom has made its revenue application based on the costs it will incur to efficiently provide electricity to the customer and it is a critical component in ensuring Eskom continues to provide relia
ble electricity services while improving its financial sustainability, through a migration to cost-reflective prices,’ he added.

The utility said it was applying for total revenues of R446 billion for the 2026 financial year, R495 billion for 2027 and R537 billion for 2028.

This translates to the proposed average price increases for Eskom direct customers are 36.15% (1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026), 11.81% (1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027) and 9.10% (1 April 2027 to 31 March 2028).

In addition to the MYPD 6 application, Eskom submitted a retail tariff plan (RTP) to Nersa outlining proposed structural changes, which are expected to be implemented from 1 April 2025 once all Nersa approval and governance processes are concluded.

‘The RTP aims to introduce cost-representative pricing that supports the long-term sustainability of all participants in the electricity supply industry.’

Nersa will consult with stakeholders on Eskom’s revenue application, as part of its decision-making process.

Eskom is required to
submit to the regulator the revenue it requires for Nersa to make its determination.

Source: South African Government News Agency

Minister of Basic Education Siviwe Gwarube and her deputy, Dr Reginah Mhaule, have committed to take all necessary steps to stabilise the education system given the budgetary constraints affecting provinces.

The Minister said this while addressing the media on developments regarding budget cuts in the education sector, in Pretoria, on Wednesday.

‘The Deputy Minister and I have been in constant engagement with provinces to support them during this challenging fiscal environment. We have committed ourselves to doing everything we can to stabilise the system and have appealed to provinces to retain the basket of posts, in order to not compromise education outcomes,’ the Minister said.

She also moved to appreciate the work that the provinces have been doing around the clock to help the sector get to grips with these challenges.

‘I have witnessed MECs work tirelessly with their provincial departments to protect teaching and learning in our schools.’

Challenges

The briefing comes weeks after several provinci
al Departments of Education have been vocal about the budgetary pressures they face.

These, said the Minister, have been years in the making due to the aggressive budget cuts, economic stagnation and fiscal mismanagement which is now set to impact schools.

‘These budget pressures are not just numbers on a spreadsheet – they translate into fewer teachers, reduced textbooks, and fewer admin support staff, which means teachers spend more time on admin work, thereby reducing learning and teaching time. In essence, the very fabric of our children’s future is under threat.’

She explained that provinces like the Western Cape have seen the painful decision to reduce the basket of teaching posts for 2025, a move that may result in fewer educators in classrooms.

‘This may mean larger class sizes, reduced individual attention for learners, and ultimately, a risk to the achievement of quality education outcomes.’

She added that unfortunately, other provinces throughout the country are in a similar position with many
desperately working to find ways of avoiding having to top slice budgets for key services like textbooks, admin support and scholar transport programmes.

‘We are faced with a pending national crisis, one that affects not just our learners but our teachers, principals, and broader communities.

‘It is crucial to understand that this crisis is not confined to one province or one aspect of the education sector. Every province is grappling with these painful choices.’

Provincial education departments will in the next two to three years, find it increasingly difficult to fund their existing basket of posts and existing programmes within the available budget, unless measures are taken proactively to mitigate this risk.

For instance, she said in the 2025/26 financial year, four provincial departments will battle to cover their budgets; in the 2026/27 financial year, five provinces will battle to cover their budgets. In the 2027/28 financial year, seven provinces will not be able to afford their budgets.

‘Several
provinces have preserved the same post basket for the past three academic years, despite learner numbers increasing, while other provinces have decreased their posts in the past three years. It is important to note that these have been cuts in posts but not warm bodies.

‘Meaning that no person gets retrenched but rather vacancies are not filled,’ she said.

Increase in learner numbers

Nationally, the Minister highlighted that the number of learners within the education system has increased by approximately 292,820 over the last five years.

Learner/Educator Ratios have also steadily increased across most provinces.

She explained that an increase in learners’ numbers without increasing the post basket, may affect the quality of teaching which may soon be reflected in the performance of the system.

Largely, she added that the financial constraints have had the largest impact on educator provisioning, leading to a steady increase in Learner/Educator Ratios in most provincial education departments.

‘Most pro
vincial Education Departments require between R350 million and R3.8 billion [over the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework to fully fund their respective basket of posts].

‘The numbers are staggering. If we continue down this path, projections indicate that most provincial education departments will not be able to maintain their respective basket of posts,’ she said.

Interventions

In response to this potential crisis, Minister Gwarube said she convened two special meetings of the Council of Education Ministers (CEM). These meetings brought together education MECs from across the country and they conducted a thorough analysis of the budget challenges in each province.

MECs from each province have compiled provisional provincial reports with sobering results.

‘For the first time in a decade, we now have a clearer picture of where the most significant budget pressures lie and how we need to engage treasury in a bid to address the challenges we see.

‘As a result, I have requested an urgent meeting with the Min
ister of Finance to discuss the matter further. I am grateful to Minister [Enoch] Godongwana for his cooperation and support on this important matter.

‘We are also appreciative of Treasury’s willingness to engage with the Education sector. Ultimately a solution must be found in order for us to protect front line services,’ the Minister said.

Gwarube has also requested a convening of a political 10X10 meeting between the Minister of Finance and the provincial MECs for Finance, as well as herself and the nine MECs of Education.

‘We must work together with all 10 treasuries to unlock additional funds to alleviate the pressures facing the education sector, even if it is for the short term, and to prevent further cuts to teaching posts and critical support services like school nutrition and transport.

‘We also need to look at cross-departmental reprioritisation of budgets from departments that have under-performing programmes – ensuring that funding across government is directed to appropriate national priorit
ies,’ she said.

The Minister concluded that while the sector faces significant challenges, ‘these are not insurmountable. But they require decisive action and an unwavering commitment to putting education first.’

Earlier this month, the Department of Basic Education said that the Minister had held meetings with various international partners to reinforce South Africa’s commitment to enhancing the education sector through global collaboration.

Source: South African Government News Agency