Pandor calls on global political leaders to support Palestine

International Relations and Cooperation Minister, Dr Naledi Pandor, has once again used her public platform on Tuesday to urge the global political leaders to work together to resolve the Israel-Palestine conflict.

“South Africa calls upon the international community to work tirelessly for the attainment of peace and to provide strong humanitarian, economic and political support. Advocating for the rights of the Palestinian people must be accompanied by material and practical support,” she said.

In addition, she said South Africa will continue to put pressure on Israel, as the occupying power.

The Minister was speaking during the Palestinian African Heads of Mission Conference, invited by the Palestinian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, Dr Riad Malki, who is currently in South Africa.

She also raised concerns about the continued human rights violations in the occupied territories and that such violations only contribute to the fostering of hatred.

“Israel’s security and that of its future generations do not lie in the annexation of all Palestinian territories, the imprisonment of Palestinians, the erecting of high concrete walls and checkpoints, or the continued blockade of Gaza,” she said.

“Rather it lies in a peaceful and stable neighbour, a sovereign and independent Palestinian State, whose children, like Israeli children, can go to school, play, attend places of worship and compete in sporting activities in peace and security.”

The clash over the holy land, including disputes over borders, Jerusalem, security, and Palestinian refugees has been at the heart of a decades-long conflict between Israelis and Palestinians.

However, the Minister believes that the Israel-Palestine conflict resolution could be attained through sustained dialogue, negotiations, mediation, compromise and understanding from both parties.

Meanwhile, she said recent developments in Ukraine and the response of the most powerful should now make it plausible for the West to support the legitimate struggle of Palestinians.

Israel Observer Status

Pandor has once again lambasted the African Union Commission’s (AUC) unilateral decision to grant Israel an observer status last year.

“The decision is even more shocking in a year in which the oppressed people of Palestine were subjected to bombardments and continued illegal settlements on their land. The AU strenuously objected to the deaths of Palestinians and the destruction of civilian infrastructure. The decision by the AU Commission in this context is inexplicable.”

She said the “unjust” actions committed by Israel offended the spirit of the AU Charter, which embodies the aspirations of all Africans, especially on issues relating to self-determination and decolonisation.

She reminded a group of Ambassadors that Israel continues to illegally occupy Palestine, in defiance of its international obligations and relevant UN resolutions.

“It is therefore incomprehensible that the AU Commission chooses to reward Israel at a time when its oppression of Palestinians has been demonstrably more brutal.”

She said the South African government would continue to support all efforts aimed at the establishment of a viable Palestinian State, existing side-by-side in peace with Israel within the internationally recognised 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, in line with all relevant UN resolutions, and international law.

“South Africa affirms that the only way to achieve peace and stability in the Middle East is through reaching a lasting peace between Palestine and Israel, and restoring the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, in accordance with the two-state solution and the relevant UN resolutions.”

Source: South African Government News Agency

Maya’s appointment a “milestone in fight for gender equality”

The Portfolio Committee on Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities has described the appointment of Justice Mandisa Maya as the Deputy Chief Justice as a giant and notable step in the fight for gender equality in South Africa.

“Judge Maya is a capable judge, who without a doubt will advance the interests of justice and of women in the judiciary,” committee chairperson, Nonhlanhla Ncube-Ndaba, said.

President Cyril Ramaphosa appointed the current Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) President, Justice Maya, as the Deputy Chief Justice with effect from 1 September 2022.

The committee congratulated Maya on her appointment, and commended President Ramaphosa for recognising Maya’s talent, not only as a judge, but also as a court administrator.

Justice Maya is the first Judge who is a woman to be appointed as Deputy Chief Justice of the country.

Ncube-Ndaba said Maya will add new value to the transformation of the judiciary and will be a symbol of hope to South African women.

“We are hoping that President Ramaphosa will appoint a woman to fill the vacancy left by Justice Maya at SCA,” Ncube-Ndaba said.

Maya was one of four candidates who were interviewed for the position of Chief Justice when the position was left vacant following the retirement of Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng.

Source: South African Government News Agency

President Ramaphosa congratulates Prof Marwala

President Cyril Ramaphosa has proudly congratulated Professor Tshilidzi Marwala on his new appointment as the Rector of the United Nations University.

In an announcement made by the United Nations on Monday, Professor Marwala’s appointment is with effect from March 2023 in Tokyo.

Prof Marwala is currently the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Johannesburg and the Deputy Chair of the Presidential Commission on the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR).

“The President describes this appointment as well deserved, referring to Prof Marwala as an accomplished intellectual, having obtained numerous academic qualifications from various universities nationally and internationally and having held various key roles in the global academic landscape for development,” the Presidency said in a statement.

The President further expressed appreciation to Prof Marwala for his noble contribution to the country’s knowledge base.

“The President wishes him great success in his new role, where he is confident that Prof Marwala will fly the South African flag higher and further,” the Presidency said.

Source: South African Government News Agency

Have your say on African Penguin Biodiversity Management Plan

The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment has invited the public to comment on the draft Biodiversity Management Plan (BMP) for the African Penguin.

The draft bill proposes a single regulatory framework for procurement applicable to national, provincial and local government, as well as State-owned entities.

Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Minister, Barbara Creecy, published a notification in the Government Gazette on Friday, 22 July 2022, inviting the public to comment on the draft review of the African Penguin BMP for the continuation of modified and ongoing actions and consideration of new actions that aim to address emerging threats.

“The actions and threats include improving, where possible, access to available food for African penguins, population models to assess multiple threats to African penguins, reviewing the implementation and monitoring of predation management, at-sea threats, human-induced stresses, and the mitigation intervention on management processes implemented for ship-to-ship bunkering, among others,” the department said.

The Biodiversity Management Plan for the African Penguin was first gazetted in 2013 due to the rapid decline of the species in the 20th century.

The African penguin is Africa’s only extant penguin and is endemic to both Namibia and South Africa. This once most abundant South African seabird suffered a massive reduction from over one million pairs in the 1920s to present population numbers of just over 10 400 pairs in 2021.

It is currently classified as Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and under Threatened or Protected Marine Species Regulations (TOPMS) published under the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act (NEM:BA).

The aim of the 2013 African Penguin BMP was to halt the decline of the African penguin population in South Africa within two years of the implementation of the management plan, and thereafter achieve a population growth, which will result in a down listing of the species in terms of its status in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

“The implementation of the African Penguin BMP actions was a cooperative effort with management authorities that manage African penguin breeding colonies, the fisheries sector, the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) as well as various Non-Government Organisations, academic and research institutions,” the department said.

Despite the successful implementation of many of the actions listed in the plan, the department said this was not attained, and African penguin populations have continued to decline, “albeit at a slower rate”.

Members of the public are invited to submit written comments or inputs within 30 calendar days from 22 July 2022 to the following address:

By post to: The Deputy Director-General: Oceans and Coasts

Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment

Attention: Ms Millicent M Makoala

Private Bag X4390

Cape Town

8001

By hand at: The Deputy Director-General: Oceans and Coasts

Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment

Attention: Ms Millicent M Makoala

1 East Pier Building, East Pier Road

V&A Waterfront

Cape Town

By e-mail: [email protected] (link sends e-mail)

Copies of the Gazettes can be accessed by visiting the link: https://dffe.gov.za.

Source: South African Government News Agency

Government announces R5.8 million contribution to Banyana Banyana

Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Nathi Mthethwa has announced a R5.8 million contribution for Banyana Banyana after they won the 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) tournament.

According to media reports, the players had already been promised R400 000 each for winning the competition.

Addressing the welcoming ceremony for the team, Mthethwa said the contribution for winning was in addition to the R15 million investment government has made over the past 3 years in women’s football and the R9.2 million investment set aside moving forward.

“Three years ago, the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture initiated the formation of the Women’s Football League for R15 million, the fruits of which we are currently seeing. Moving forward, we have committed to invest a further R9.2 million through the South African Football Association (SAFA) for Banyana Banyana,” the Minister said.

Scores of jubilant supporters welcomed Banyana Banyana back home from Morocco after the players beat Morocco 2-1 at WAFCON on Saturday. They arrived on Tuesday at OR Tambo International Airport to a sea of green and gold fans, South African flags and placards.

“We have finished engaging provinces on the pay parity…this process will ensure that women are paid equally. It is going to be a law in this country that Banyana Banyana and Bafana Bafana will be paid equally because we are making that happen as the government. As the government we are supporting all of the women’s teams,” Mthethwa said.

SAFA President, Dr Danny Jordaan, called for the gender disparity in relation to income in sports to be addressed.

“In South Africa, men get broadcast revenue while women get nothing. Banyana Banyana matches have no value. These are the issues that we need to address.

“We will meet with government because this is not a Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) creation, or a SAFA creation or a Confederation of African Football (CAF) creation. It is a societal creation and we must work together to address the disparity between women and men in sports,” Jordaan said.

He promised to engage with the national executive at SAFA to address gender disparity when it comes to remuneration and bonuses.

Congratulating the team, Jordaan noted how the players worked hard as they did not want to let the nation down.

“The celebration today is an honour for us as a country. This celebration is about the team that delivered on our vision, a team that stuck to the plan and carried the aspirations of our country as well as their own aspirations to win the WAFCON. The team was not deterred by the fact that they have tried five times already and this was their sixth attempt,” Jordaan said.

The team is expected to present the trophy to President Cyril Ramaphosa at the Union Buildings in Pretoria tomorrow.

Source: South African Government News Agency

Man arrested for murder of ex-girlfriend’s child

Eastern Cape South African Police Service (SAPS) Commissioner, Lieutenant General Nomthetheleli Mene has expressed shock and deep sadness at the tragic death of a six-year-old boy in Gqeberha.

It is alleged that on Monday, 25 July 2022 at 1pm, a 33-year-old male handed himself over at SAPS Swartkops for the alleged murder of his ex-girlfriend’s son, Thabang Klaas.

“According to police information, on Friday, 22 July 2022, the suspect took the child from his grandmother’s house in New Brighton and went into the bushes between Mathys Grounds and Wells Estate in Swartkops where he allegedly strangled him,“ said provincial SAPS spokesperson Colonel Priscilla Naidu.

The body of the child was found on 25 July 2022 in a footpath in the bushes.

The suspect has been detained on a charge of murder and the motive for the murder is suspected to be revenge against the ex-girlfriend. The investigation is continuing and he is expected to appear in the Gqeberha Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday.

Mene expressed her condolences to the family of the deceased child and added that children need to be protected from abuse and violence at the hands of those to whom they look up to and emulate as role models.

“The protection of our children is everyone’s business and responsibility and the police urge the community to report any suspected child abuse or neglect. Children are trusting those who they know thereby making them vulnerable to child abusers and murderers. I urge the communities to be the voice to the voiceless and let us stop the abuse and brutal attacks of our children,” said the Lieutenant General.

Source: South African Government News Agency