Day: September 26, 2024

South Africa’s G20 Presidency will be centred more on the interests of the Global South agenda, especially Africa, says International Relations and Cooperation Minister, Ronald Lamola.

Preparations are underway for South Africa’s G20 Presidency and hosting the G20 Summit in 2025. South Africa is expected to take over Chair of the G20 from December 1 this year, from Brazil.

Lamola announced that South Africa’s theme will focus on solidarity, equality and sustainable development.

‘This theme speaks to the developmental priorities of the Global South, particularly, the African continent, which is now fully represented with the admission of the African Union (AU) in the G20,’ he told delegates during the Troika high-level address at the United Nations (UN).

The G20 (or the Group 20) comprises 19 States, plus the European Union and the AU as of this year – bringing together the world’s major and systemically important economies.

The G20 operates a Troika system of hosting, where the Troika consists of the pa
st, present, and next Presidencies.

Brazil’s Presidency is also in a Global South Troika – India-Brazil-South Africa.

Lamola stressed that South Africa will ensure that the G20 provides strategic direction towards establishing a ‘more equitable, representative and fit-for-purpose international order’.

According to the Minister, the theme will also confirm South Africa’s intention to build on the efforts and successes of the G20 Presidencies of Indonesia, India and Brazil.

He believes this will ensure that the needs, interests and aspirations of the developing economies of the Global South, and Africa especially, drive the overall G20 agenda going forward.

According to the Minister, South Africa’s overarching theme will also zoom in on the country’s priorities. These include accelerating efforts to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the objectives of Agenda 2063 of the AU and addressing the critical issue of debt vulnerability of many countries of the global South.

The country will also foc
us on creating consensus around reform of the International Financial Architecture (IFA) and the Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs).

‘This is critical to ensure that they become fit for purpose to adequately address sustainable development and transboundary challenges,’ Lamola explained.

In addition, the emphasis will also be on combating climate change, which has devastating consequences for food security in developing countries.

South Africa also hopes to address issues of predatory mining by some countries and corporations, in the quest for Africa’s raw materials and critical minerals.

‘South Africa will take forward the outcomes of the report of the UN Secretary’s Panel on Critical Energy Transition Minerals,’ Lamola said, adding that strengthening the Multilateral Trading System was also key.

The other key issues the nation will advance include industrialisation, employment and inequality, food security, the blue economy and artificial intelligence.

Lamola took the time to commend Brazil Preside
nt Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s call, as the G20 President, for the reinvigoration of multilateralism, and the reform of global governance institutions to make it more representative and inclusive.

‘We further thank Brazil for its innovative leadership in calling for this G20 meeting and inviting all UN Members.

‘This meeting today and its call to action further demonstrates the collective global solidarity in addressing current and future global challenges. South Africa will carry forward the momentum laid by Brazil on the reform of the multilateral institutions,’ Lamola said.

Meanwhile, he said that South Africa’s G20 Presidency will mark the end of the first cycle of G20 Presidencies.

‘We intend to undertake a review of the first cycle of G20 Presidencies. This is critical to ensure implementation. Brazil can count on us to maintain the momentum they’ve started I thank you for your attention,’ he added.

President Cyril Ramaphosa expressed his appreciation to Brazil as the current President of the G20 f
or convening this meeting.

The President also commended the excellent way Brazil has been steering the work of the G20 during its Presidency.

Source: South African Government News Agency

President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to officiate the repatriation and restitution homecoming ceremony for the remains of South African freedom fighters, who lost their lives in Zambia and Zimbabwe during the apartheid era.

The ceremony is expected to be held at the Freedom Park Heritage Site and Museum in Tshwane on Friday.

‘Ahead of addressing the homecoming ceremony on Friday… President Ramaphosa will lead a wreath-laying procession at the Wall of Names.

‘The Wall of Names is inscribed with the names of heroes and heroines, who died fighting for humanity and freedom during the major conflicts in South African history, namely: the Pre-Colonial Wars, Slavery, Genocide, Wars of Resistance, the South African War, the First and Second World War and the Struggle for Liberation,’ the Presidency said in a statement on Wednesday.

The repatriation and restitution homecoming ceremony forms part of Heritage Month, observed under the theme: ‘Celebrating the Lives of Our Heroes and Heroines Who Laid Down Their Liv
es for Our Freedom’.

On Wednesday, the South African government received the remains of 49 liberation fighters at Waterkloof Airforce Base in the presence of their families.

The Presidency explained that the repatriation formed part of the Resistance and Liberation Heritage Route Project (RLHR).

‘The RLHR is a national memory project aimed at commemorating, celebrating, educating, promoting, preserving, conserving and providing a durable testament of South Africa’s road to freedom.

‘The repatriation initiative is part of a broader effort to bring the remains of freedom fighters, who died in exile, to their final resting places.

‘This is not only a gesture of honour to the individuals and their families but also an effort to strengthen the bonds of friendship, solidarity, and development with the host countries through memorialisation,’ the statement read.

Source: South African Government News Agency

A suspect in the ongoing Steinhoff investigation will be appearing in the Pretoria Specialised Crimes Court later today following his arrest this morning by the Hawks’ Serious Economic Offences Unit.

The arrest emanates from an ongoing investigation into Steinhoff, where in November 2017, the then Chief Executive Officer, the late Markus Jooste, is said to have shared information on the selling of Steinhoff shares before they fell.

READ | Those who act with impunity will be brought to book

Allegations are that the suspect received a tip-off from Jooste in order to sell his shares before their price dropped due to irregularities in the Steinhoff financial statements.

The suspect in 2017 instructed that over 39 000 of Steinhoff shares be sold. The suspect knew that Jooste was Steinhoff CEO and, by virtue of his employ, had inside information at the time.

The 79-year-old suspect is charged with three counts of the Contravention of the Financial Markets Act (insider trading). His arrest follows the arrest o
f Stephanus Johannes Grobler, who has since been released on bail and is due back in court on the 4 October 2024.

READ | Former Steinhoff director appears in court for fraud, racketeering

Source: South African Government News Agency

The KwaZulu-Natal provincial government has announced that highly efficient and dedicated teams are on standby with an expected drop in temperatures later this week, with a possibility of snow.

While the South African Weather Service (SAWS) has not issued an official weather warning, the weather service predicts the possibility of snow over the high lying areas of the Western Cape from 29 September 2024, which will spread into the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal by 30 September 2024.

Addressing a media briefing on Thursday, KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport and Human Settlements Siboniso Duma said the Road Incident Management Systems (RIMS) led by South African National Roads Agency Limited (SANRAL) comprising of all key role players on the national, provincial, and municipal road networks were putting together a consolidated plan.

‘They are identifying areas where joint operations and coordination will be established – covering all notorious roads and areas identified from past experiences.

‘The department
‘s Road Traffic Inspectorate is establishing a satellite centre on top of Van Reenen’s Pass to ensure quick action and road closure to mitigate against people getting trapped in the snow,’ the MEC said.

This satellite centre will start operating on Saturday afternoon and operate on a 12-hour shift.

Traffic law enforcement officials are already involved in the coordination of possible road closures and observation of major routes in consultation with the N3 Toll Concession.

‘The focus is on the N3 between Harrismith, Tugela Toll, R617 between Kokstad and Underberg, N2 Ingeli and N3 Mooi River, and others. We wish to indicate that the team will also be responsible for escorting trucks and vehicles to ensure that there is no congestion on the road.

‘However, members of the public and motorists are urged to reschedule or postpone their journeys in anticipation of any eventuality. Prevention is better than cure.

‘Motor graders are currently being sharpened to respond with … urgency to remove any snow before a
ccumulating on the road. More than 10 graders will be stationed in identified routes to ensure that our response is faster,’ the MEC said.

The province has 21 graders which will be on standby as part of strengthening prevention measures.

‘On Wednesday, we interacted with SAWS. They informed us that KwaZulu-Natal will be affected by snowfall from Monday into Tuesday. The areas that are expected to be affected include Ladysmith, Underberg, Drakensberg as well as Giant Castle, and other high-ground area.

‘In addition, they emphasised that, in all likelihood, snowfall will stop on Tuesday but will be followed by rainfall in various parts of the province, including Durban and other coastline areas,’ Duma said.

The MEC said the provincial government has started engaging with key stakeholders to ensure that everyone works together to avoid any crisis and ensure the safety of road users.

‘We have continuous engagements with road freight industry stakeholders such as operators – trucking companies – companies tha
t are managing and supplying drivers.

‘The South African National Taxi Council and bus councils, bus and truck associations are key stakeholders as we strengthen our road safety measures. We do not want to leave out port operators and the entire value chain of fast-moving consumer goods,’ Duma said.

The provincial government has assigned engineers in consultation with SANRAL to look at the impact of the recent heavy snowfall on the road infrastructure.

‘The truck congestion on N3 last weekend compels us to intensify our plans aimed at modernisation and development of rail transport – both freight and passenger.

‘Working with the Minister of Transport Barbara Creecy, the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) and other main roleplayers, as KwaZulu-Natal we believe that we must ensure that we deploy wagons to move cargo from road to rail, with a specific focus on certain goods, such as coal.

‘In addition, we want to improve rail services in the province so that it could serve as the backbone of publ
ic transport while at the same time recognising the huge challenges currently facing commuter rail services in KwaZulu-Natal and throughout the country,’ he said.

Source: South African Government News Agency

Deputy Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Narend Singh has unveiled a plan that advocates for a thriving environment for people and nature by 2040.

‘We are today declaring a path towards a time in the future when nature and people both thrive because of how they would have reshaped the terms of their co-dependence,’ Singh said on Thursday in Johannesburg.

Addressing the occasion of the reveal of Vision 2040, the Deputy Minister said the plan was about shifting the needle in terms of shared economic growth and job creation in a manner that promotes a much stronger embrace for nature.

Vision 2040 was launched under the theme ‘For A Life in Harmony with Nature,’ which talks to a deliberate effort to ensure benefit sharing through sustainable development practices which can be articulated around the elements of people, planet and prosperity.

‘Ours is a great, exciting and ambitious mission which speaks to how by 2040 we hope to have reshaped the character of conversations, plans and ambition
s happening in our streets, homes, boardrooms, in public discourse and even possibly education to embrace our cultural and natural heritage,’ the Deputy Minister said.

The main aim of Vision 2040 is to promote social justice and inclusivity by guaranteeing that all communities, particularly the disadvantaged and marginalised ones, have fair access to opportunities and resources and that conservation is a catalyst for growth and prosperity and the betterment of people’s livelihoods.

‘Vision 2040 is part of our deliberate contribution of an element of the Kunming Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) that we need to grow our conservation estate to be constituted so that 30% of the land and 30% of the sea be placed under protection by 2030 (commonly known as 30X30).

‘It also indicates that communities living in and adjacent to conservation must tangibly benefit from the economic opportunities created. The creation of Mega Living Landscapes (MLLs), which as we have heard are vast, integrated areas that
balance human development with natural ecosystems, and will be a major priority,’ the Deputy Minister said.

This work is also linked to the National Biodiversity Economy Strategy.

Vision 2040 promotes sustainable economic development by leveraging biodiversity as a catalyst for social and economic transformation.

This includes promoting eco-tourism, sustainable agriculture, and green businesses that generate income while using and conserving natural resources.

‘By aligning conservation efforts with economic activities, we aim to create job opportunities, support local economies and small, medium, and micro enterprises (SMMEs) and provide sustainable livelihoods,’ Singh said.

Source: South African Government News Agency

Out of the nine provinces in South Africa, the Western Cape had the lowest HIV prevalence (7.4%) in 2022 and second lowest in 2017 (8.6%).

According to the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC), this translates to 540 000 people living with HIV (PLHIV) in the Western Cape, which was a decline from 560 000 PLHIV in 2017.

The information is based on the findings of the Sixth South African HIV Prevalence, Incidence and Behaviour Survey (SABSSM VI) for the Western Cape, which was released by the HSRC on Thursday.

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 (10.8%) for both females (14.6%) and males (5.8%).

Meanwhile, HIV prevalence was higher among females (9%) compared to males (5.6%).

‘HIV prevalence peaked at 12.9% amongst those aged 35 to 39 in 2022 from 23.4% in 2017 within the same age group.

‘There was a decrease in HIV prevalence in 2022 among
all age groups younger than 30 to 34 years compared to 2017, apart from the age groups zero to 14; 15 to 19, and those 50 years and older.

‘The worsening prevalence among those younger than 24 years is deeply concerning, as it shows continued new infections from both horizontal and vertical transmissions,’ Zuma said.

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, followed by KwaZulu-Natal.

READ | Mpumalanga records highest HIV prevalence rate

Antiretroviral treatment

Antiretroviral treatment (ART) coverage in the Western Cape increased to 76.8% in 2022, from 54.4% in 2017.

This translates to an estimated 360 000 PLHIV in the province receiving ART in 2022.

In 2022, ART use among all PLHIV in the province was lower among those aged 15 to 49 (76.5%) compared to other age groups.

ART use was also lower among males (75.3%) compared to females (77.1%).

In addition, ART use was 76.2% amongst re
spondents who reside in urban areas and 81.4% in the City of Cape Town.

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 (VLS)

The survey further revealed that in 2022, among all provinces, the Western Cape had the seventh highest proportion of PLHIV with VLS (78.4%), having increased from 2017 (54.6%).

Overall, VLS was also lower among males (76%) compared to females (79.7%).

VLS was also lower among those aged 50 and older (69.4%) compared to other age groups.

Knowledge of HIV status

The professor expressed concern that PLHIV between 25 and 49 years accounted for the majority of PLHIV in the Western Cape, who were unaware of their HIV status (59.1%); aware but not on ART (64.7%), and on ART but not VLS (66.7%).

Adolescents and youth
aged between 15 and 24 contributed disproportionally to gaps in treatment, accounting for just 9.5% of all PLHIV.

Regarding the key drivers of the HIV epidemic, Zuma noted that in the Western Cape, there was an increase in the proportion of adolescents and youth aged 15 to 24, who reported sex before the age of 15 in 2017 (14%), compared to 2022 (16.3%).

Sexual debut before the age of 15 among adolescents and youth aged 15 to 24 in 2022 was higher among males (21.5%) than females (11.3%).

Multiple sexual partners

The survey revealed that in the Western Cape, 6.7% of people aged 15 and older reported having two or more sexual partners in 2022 compared to 7.6% in 2017.

The proportion of people aged 15 and older who reported having multiple sexual partners was two-fold higher among males (8.9%), compared to females (4.4%), and higher among those aged 15 to 24 (19.1%) compared to other age groups.

Condom use

The survey revealed that 22.1% reported using a condom with their most recent sexual partner in 202
2 compared to 26.6% in 2017, representing a 4.5% decline.

Condom use with their most recent sexual partner among people who are 15 years and older was higher among those 15 to 24 years (39.9%) and in the urban areas (22.5%), while it was similar by sex.

A higher proportion also reported that they had never or sometimes (81.4%) used a condom with their most recent sexual partner. Only 13.4% reported that they had used condoms almost every time.

Consistency of condom use with their most recent sexual partner among people aged 15 in the province was higher among youth aged 15 to 24 (24%).

Source: South African Government News Agency