Category: General

Between April and June this year, at least 135 000 earning opportunities were secured by young people through the Presidential Youth Employment Initiative’s (PYEI) National Pathway Management Network.

Some 108 061 of these were accessed through the SA Youth platform with 27 088 opportunities scored through the Department of Employment and Labour’s Employment Services of South Africa (ESSA) website.

This was revealed during a media briefing on Monday to update the nation on the progress made by the PYEI.

The PYEI was announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa during 2020 as an intervention to rising youth unemployment in South Africa.

Speaking to SAnews, Deputy Minister in the Presidency, Kenny Morolong said it is critical for the PYEI to receive more funding in order to reach more young people.

“That is why we are engaging [National] Treasury and are awaiting a pronouncement during the MTBPS period because the recapitalisation of the PYI programme will go a long way in reaching out to many other young people who have yet to transition from learning to earning.

“Over 4.1 million young people are participating in the platform at no cost. There is evidence that they are being linked to opportunities and those opportunities are critical for their livelihoods. It is a programme that we intend to sustain and that is why discussions are ensuing with National Treasury to recapitalise it,” Morolong said.

Reflecting on the current employment challenges, the Deputy Minister spoke on the need to create pathways into the economy for youth not only as employees but as entrepreneurs.

“It is important to get young people participating in the mainstream economy. This programme is also critical because it exposes young people to self-employment opportunities; that is why we encourage young people to take full advantage of it,” he said.

According to the PYEI dashboard, since its April 2020 inception, some 4.1 million people have registered and are accessing the SA Youth platform and more than 1 million earning opportunities have been secured by young people.

Young women taking opportunities

Director of the Presidential Youth Employment Initiative, Lerato Shai, told the media briefing that of the work opportunities accessed by young people, at least 70% of these were accessed by young women.

“What we are learning through SA Youth, is that young women continue to face specific barriers even as progress is being made. In particular…more young women are actually getting educated than young men. We are seeing more women that are educated, that are tenacious but they’re still facing substantial barriers once they enter into the labour market with many of them being far less employed and, where they are, earning far less than what men earn in the same jobs.

“What we do see is that if there is intentional design in the programmes to really tackle the barriers that are affecting young women, especially in male dominated sectors, women…take up these opportunities and they run with them and they create new pathways for themselves.

“What we really are seeing is that to tip the scale towards more equity, we need a systemic shift. So it’s not about jobs for girls, but employment systems that actually work for women,” Shai said.

Turning to the Youth Employment Service (YES), Shai said this initiative is also dominated by young women.

“They are supporting just over 58% of young women and since its inception, they’ve managed to really start to generate the kind of demand and access to opportunities we are wanting to see in the private sector with 42% of their alumni employed in permanent or contract roles.

“So YES really is starting to shift the trajectory and…create pathways to earning for young women,” she said.

Source: South African Government News Agency

Nelson Mandela Bay District SAPS Commissioner, Major General Vuyisile Ncata, has commended the men and women in blue following significant arrests and confiscations that were recently made.

In a statement, the South African Police Service (SAPS) in the Eastern Cape said the relentless crackdown on criminals sends a strong message that illegal activities will not be tolerated.

This as SAPS Humewood arrested a 20-year-old suspect allegedly involved in a business robbery at 12:06 in Govan Mbeki Street. It is alleged that the complainant was in the shop when the suspect entered and threatened him and demanded money. The complainant scuffled with the suspect and managed to apprehend him and confiscated a replica firearm. The suspect was arrested on charges of business robbery.

In another unrelated matter on Wednesday, near Truckers Inn, Public Order Policing were performing crime prevention duties when they noticed a suspect standing nearby. Upon being searched, the suspect was found in possession of a silver revolver (serial number filed off) with six rounds of ammunition. The 25-year-old was detained on charges of possession of a prohibited firearm and illegal possession of ammunition.

On Thursday night, police arrested two suspects involved in a house robbery in Perridgevale. It is alleged that the suspects entered a residence occupied by students in Haven Road and stole four cell phones and fled the scene in a blue Volkswagen Golf.

SAPS Mount Road members received information that the blue VW Golf was driving in Sydenham. Suspects were found in Milner Street. The two suspects aged 21 and 22 years were arrested.

On Friday, the SAPS Anti-Gang Unit executed a search warrant at a house in Bowles Street in Bloemenda. A revolver with its serial number filed off and eight rounds of ammunition were found. A 32-year-old suspect was arrested on charges of possession of a prohibited firearm and illegal possession of ammunition.

A firearm of which the serial number was filed off, was found when police responded to a complaint in Chase Street, Walmer Location. In addition, 82 rounds of ammunition were found at the scene and confiscated.

The suspect was arrested on charges of possession of a prohibited firearm and Illegal possession of ammunition.

Some of the suspects that were arrested over the course of last week have already appeared in court while others are expected to appear in various courts today, 28 August 2023.

“We are committed to upholding the law and ensuring the safety of our citizens. Your actions would not go unchecked,” Ncata said.

Source: South African Government News Agency

Water and Sanitation Deputy Minister David Mahlobo has called for a culture of work, service and professionalism within the public sector and key stakeholders.

Mahlobo made the remarks during the Emfuleni Section 63 Support Stakeholder Meeting held at Vereeniging, Gauteng, on Friday.

The meeting, which was attended by Emfuleni Local Municipality Mayor Sipho Radebe and stakeholders from various structures representing business and civil society within the Sedibeng District Municipality, aimed to provide an update on the progress made on the Emfuleni Section 63 Interventions, and the planned work leading up to the commissioning of pump station 5, which has a capacity of 150 mega litres a day.

In 2021, Minister Senzo Mchunu invoked and placed Emfuleni Local Municipality under Section 63 of the Water Services Act and took over water and sanitation services following the municipality’s failure to manage its water and sanitation services, which resulted in sewer spillages in communities and into the Vaal River, polluting the raw water source.

The objective of the Section 63 interventions is to address sewerage spillage in the Sedibeng District’s Emfuleni and Midvaal, as a result of lack of maintenance and aging infrastructure, and demand that is higher than waste water treatment capacity.

Rand Water was appointed as an implementing agent to deliver an effective solution that will eradicate pollution in the river and its tributaries, and address water and sanitation service delivery challenges, inhibiting both social and economic development in the region.

Mahlobo was appointed by Mchunu to chair the Political Stakeholder Committee of the project in the region to keep all stakeholders abreast of the progress in the implementation of the intervention.

Mahlobo noted the overwhelming progress on the work that has been done to address spillages, and urged the department and other water sector stakeholders to improve their work ethic, service delivery, and professionalism, stressing the significance of regular information sharing to demonstrate the progress being made, and to foster patience among the public.

He said this approach will ensure that stakeholders are well-informed about the ongoing developments, and can collaboratively address any challenges that arise.

The Deputy Minister also emphasised the importance of transparency in water management.

“The sharing of information plays a crucial role in informing the public about the measures implemented to enhance the provision of adequate water services. It also allows for clarification on the progress made in various water projects.

“This, in turn, helps to build trust and confidence within the public. Additionally, transparency holds all stakeholders accountable for their actions, thus enhancing good governance within the water sector,” Mahlobo said.

The Deputy Minister also highlighted a need for collaborative efforts with the private sector to succeed.

He said, it is through the collective efforts of the department, including stakeholders, and the public, that meaningful change can occur.

“By cultivating a culture of work, service, and professionalism, the water and sanitation sector can address existing challenges and pave the way for a future marked by sustainable and equitable access to water resources,” the Deputy Minister said.

A number of stakeholders also expressed their gratitude towards progress made by the intervention, adding that it has been evident that the Emfuleni Section 63 worked extremely well and that more opportunities must be availed for women.

Significant progress in water-related projects

The Rand Water, which is responsible for supplying potable water to the Gauteng Province, highlighted significant progress in various water-related projects.

In its reports, the utility noted that the refurbishment of pump station 2 is currently at 80% completion with pump station 9, which has reached 50% completion.

The utility also highlighted that the gravity main to pump station 2 is halfway through its renovation, while pump station 10 is nearing completion at 95%.

Another progress noted was the successful completion of the collapsed sewer pipeline at Union Street in Vereeniging, which is 100% completed.

Mahlobo concluded the meeting by directing the Department of Water and Sanitation Provincial Head for Gauteng, Justice Maluleke and his team to ensure that real issues are captured and site visits take place at the specific areas and feedback given.

Source: South African Government News Agency

A 30-year-old man allegedly committed suicide by hanging himself at Ombuma village in the Onayena area in the early hours of Monday.

According to a crime report issued by the Namibian Police Force’s spokesperson for the Oshikoto Region, Inspector Ellen Nehale, the incident occurred around 02h00.

Nehale said Jonas Shikongo’s sister found his body hanging from a tree with a rope around his neck near their homestead.

“The body was transported to the Onandjokwe hospital mortuary for a post-mortem. No suicide note was found and no foul play is suspected,” he said.

Shikongo’s next of kin have been informed.

The police also reported that two people died in an accident between Ondangwa and Omuthiya in Friday.

A white GWM double cab with 10 occupants was reportedly headed to Omutsegonime village when its right rear tyre burst and the driver lost control of the vehicle, causing it to overturn.

“One person died on the scene while the other person died on the way to Onandjokwe hospital. One passenger who was seriously injured was transported to the Oshakati hospital and the rest were admitted to the Omuthiya hospital in a stable condition,” Nehale reported.

The next of kin of the deceased are informed.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

Fatherlessness is predominantly the result of absence rather than death in numerous countries, including Namibia.

In such cases, men often fail to take responsibility for their children, either immediately after conception or after a collapse in marital relations, British High Commissioner to Namibia, Charles Moore, said during the high-level panel discussion on the theme ‘Fatherlessness in Namibia’ and how it affects both individuals and society.

The panel discussion, organised by the Hanns Seidel Foundation with the assistance of the British High Commission, took place in Windhoek last week.

Moore stated that fatherlessness is not just a problem for Namibia, but for the United Kingdom as well, where it is more likely that parental responsibility has been rejected, rather than fathers being absent because they choose to live and work away from home.

“Fatherlessness cannot be blamed on governments: it’s entirely our own fault. It’s about our own individual beliefs and experiences, often brought about by a change in society and tradition,” he said.

Meanwhile, James Itana, the Executive Director of the Regain Trust, said the emotional gap between fathers and their children could be attributed to the gap that arises at childbirth. Itana noted that men, particularly in traditional settings, are advised to remain on the sidelines while the mother spends the majority of the time with the newborns.

Itana said many Namibian men are unable to emotionally connect with their children because they have been denied the ability to do so since birth.

“It is essential to engage with the boy-child to try and shift the narrative that has been established that guys can’t be emotional with their children when they’re born, or that it’s the role of women to care for the child when they’re born,” he said.

He advocated open discussions about paternity leave and said men should not be driven out of maternal spaces because becoming a father is about more than just money.

“Men have been raised to assume fairly traditional views of what it means to be a father, so we must consider if parenthood is nature or nurture. This is a very important conversation that Namibians should have,” he said.

Sister Namibia Programme Coordinator Ndapwa Alweendo stated that while Namibia is not alone when it comes to the issue of fatherlessness and its challenges, access to data may be the most pressing worry.

“Often times, the data that does exist is quite difficult to acquire, making it extremely tough to deconstruct this very significant issue,” she said.

She shared Itana’s comments, noting that debates regarding fatherlessness should be placed in the appropriate context by having conversations about what it means to be a parent, as it entails much more than just having children.

The discussion was aimed at raising awareness of the severity of fatherlessness in Namibia and its effects on people and society, sharing information about institutions responsible for enforcing the law and protecting the rights of women and children, as well as to encourage discussion about aspects of Namibian culture that affect the family structure.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel has said Cuba is ready to continue cooperating with Namibia, despite the current complexities caused by the United States of America (USA) sanctions.

Speaking during his official State visit to President Hage Geingob here on Sunday, Diaz-Canel said the current Cuban generation is ready to continue the Cuban revolution, which he said calls for maintaining and further enhancing solidarity with the Namibia government and its citizens.

He explained that despite challenges, the Cuban people are still creating resistance to remove themselves from the situation, noting that the two countries have a strong relationship founded during Namibia’s liberation struggle and it is therefore imperative that the bonds be transferred to the new generations.

The USA imposed an embargo on Cuba in 1960, following the Cuban revolution led by Fidel Castro and the nationalisation of properties belonging to US citizens and corporations.

Two years later the measure, which prohibits trade between the two countries among other restrictions, was strengthened causing drastic economic hardships for Cuba.

“Given the importance of our relationship with your country, I want to propose that we elevate the standing of these cooperation for the mutual benefit of our people,” Diaz-Canel said.

At the same event, President Geingob described the blockade by the US as a crime on human rights.

“The problem is that if you are blocking essential services including medical suppliers that could benefit people and innocent children… What is the crime you [Cuba] have committed? What is the crime really that for so many years people cannot as human beings talk? One makes peace with the enemies… Why is there no movement on the crimes of the United States,” Geingob asked.

He further said Namibia condemns the unfair listing of Cuba as a State Sponsor of International Terrorism by the American government, saying Cuba will always be considered by Namibia as a country which promotes international peace and solidarity.

The two countries also signed two Memorandums of Understanding, one involving the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board and Centre of the Promotion of Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment of Cuba, and the other an agreement on the transfer of convicted persons, which will allow the social rehabilitation of convicted persons by allowing them to serve their sentences in their country of nationality or citizenship.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency