Category: General

The Acting Comproller General, Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Mrs Wura-Ola Adepoju, says 112,351 passport booklets are yet to be collected by applicants across the 36 states of the federation and the FCT.

Adepoju, who said this during a press briefing at the Service headquarters on Thursday in Abuja, added that the figure was as at Oct. 5, 2023.

She said the service had cleared all the 204,332 passport application backlogs after the Minister of Interior Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo’s two-week deadline to the Service.

“91,981 passport booklets had been collected so far. There are 112,351 others not yet collected,” she said.

The NIS boss called on applicants to go to their respective application centres to collect the travel document.

“I invite applicants who have applied for passports to come and pick them up without paying anything extra,” Adepoju said.

The Ag. CG observed that there was high demand for the travel document in the last few years as a result of the ‘Japa syndrome’ in Nigeria

She assured that the two-week timeline set by the Minister for the processing of passports would be adhered to.

“The Service and its partners had upgraded their facilities to meet the demand for the document by Nigerians.

“NIS is working with its partners to make the passport application process fully automated and when the process is completed, an applicant would only visit a passport office for biometric capturing, ” she said.

Adepoju warned applicants to shun touts, urging them to contact the Service via 08067761196 if any personnel demand for bribe from them to get a passport.

“Any personnel caught demanding bribe would be severely punished; the minister has directed that we make scapegoat of any corrupt official caught,” she said.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed his heartfelt condolences to the family of Professor Hoosen Mahomed “Jerry” Coovadia, a leading scientist, health policy innovator, and anti-apartheid activist who has passed away at the age of 83 at his home in Durban.

The President described Coovadia as an outstanding scientist and committed anti-apartheid campaigner who dedicated himself to the liberation struggle.

The President has offered his deepest condolences to Coovadia’s wife Dr Zubeida Hamed, his son Prof Imraan Coovadia, and daughter Dr Anuschka Coovadia, on behalf of government and the nation.

The Prof, the President said, dedicated himself to the physical well-being and social inclusion of people all over the world through his enterprising mission as a scientist and architect of public health policies.

“His pioneering, globally acclaimed research into mother-to-child transmission of HIV has rendered an immeasurable legacy to humanity in terms of which persons living with HIV can live long and healthy lives subject to early detection and access to treatment.

“Our nation’s loss will be felt globally but we can take pride at and comfort from the emergence of a giant of science and an icon of compassion and resilience from our country,” the President added.

Although he faced numerous obstacles in apartheid South Africa, Coovadia established himself as a top paediatrician and became an international authority on HIV/AIDS, earning numerous awards and accolades throughout his career.

Those who have been paying their tribute have described his passing as a great loss to the scientific community and remarked that his contribution will always be remembered.

According to reports, he was appointed Associate Professor at the University of Natal now known as the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) in 1982 and ad hominem Professor in 1986.

From 1990 to 2000, he served as Professor and Head of Paediatrics and Child Health at the UKZN.

Director of Biomedical Science at the Centre for HIV/AIDS Networking (HIVAN), and the scientific director of the Doris Duke Medical Research Institute at the Nelson Mandela School of Medicine at the UKZN.

He was awarded the 2013 AAAS Award for Scientific Freedom and Responsibility. He has also received the 1999 Star of South Africa Award from President Nelson Mandela and the 2000 Nelson Mandela Award for Health and Human Rights.

The National Research Foundation (NRF), said during his career, he served as the Chairman of the Board of the UKZN Children’s Hospital Trust, a Commissioner for the National Planning Commission, and Associate Scientific Director at CAPRISA, which is home to the DSI-NRF Centre of Excellence in HIV Prevention.

Source: South African Government News Agency

Water and Sanitation Minister Senzo Mchunu has announced that the R23 billion uMkhomazi Water Project has been resuscitated, after being delayed for several years.

Mchunu made the announcement during a media briefing held in Durban to give an update on water security in eThekwini and other districts, particularly Phase I of the uMkhomazi Water Project.

Mchunu said the uMkhomazi Water Project will increase water security in the uMngeni Water Supply System which supplies eThekwini, uMgungundlovu, iLembe, Ugu, Harry Gwala District Municipalities and Msunduzi Local Municipality, and ensure water security in 2030.

He said, this represents progress after a number of meetings with the Ministers of Finance, Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), and eThekwini Mayor.

Mchunu explained that the Trans-Caledon Tunnel Authority (TCTA), a state-owned entity charged with financing and implementing bulk raw water infrastructure projects, will implement the raw water component of the project, while the potable water component will be implemented by uMngeni-uThukela Water.

“This means that, the ball is now in eThekwini’s court to start consultations and complete them as soon as possible so that the project can really start without any further delays. These consultations will also enable TCTA to start raising 50% of the finance required for the project on the market.

“The remaining 50% will be funded by National Treasury, through a 25% loan to the TCTA and a 25% grant. The contribution to the project from the fiscus enables the water that will be provided to be affordable to the municipalities. We now want TCTA to proceed with planning and design work right away so that construction can start as soon as possible in 2024 / 2025,” Mchunu said.

Mchunu also reported that the department has completed the raising of the Hazelmere Dam wall by 7.02 metres, which will put additional water to eThekwini, following the floods which left Aqueducts 1 and 2 damaged.

The Minister said the repairs to Aqueduct 1 and 2 have been completed and they are back online, and will be commissioned soon.

“The shortages of water in the South and other areas require a number of accelerated activities, including the completion of repairs to eThekwini’s own south-bound Aqueduct. We are aware of several infrastructure projects by eThekwini, and these represent a positive development,” Mchunu said.

The Minister said the next priority activities would be to deal with non-revenue water and physical losses, including operations and maintenance, billing, and revenue collection.

He said the department is working in partnership with National Treasury and CoGTA to support eThekwini to improve its water and sanitation services.

In this regard, he said the city has put in place a Water and Sanitation Turnaround Strategy and the private sector as an additional component in the accelerated efforts, will play a role.

On wastewater infrastructure in the city, Mchunu announced that eThekwini and Umngeni-Uthukela Water have agreed on an immediate target of 10 wastewater plants for refurbishment, operation and maintenance, representing 90% of the effluent that the city treats.

He emphasised that eThekwini needs to sign the Service-Level Agreement soon.

Appointment of uMngeni-uThukela Water Board

The Minister also used an opportunity to introduce the newly appointed 12-member board for uMngeni-uThukela Water, which includes Advocate Vusi Khuzwayo as the Chairperson and Nothando Mkhize as the Deputy Chairperson.

Other board members are Senamile Masango; Khanyisani Shandu; Sylvia Mhlongo; Lavandran Gopaul; Hlengiwe Mvubu; Timothy Cornish; Diana Hoorzuk; Sipho Mtolo; and Sibusiso Mkhize.

“The newly appointed 12-member Board comprises of individuals who collectively possess Science, Engineering, Law, Accounting and Finance competencies,” Mchunu noted.

Source: South African Government News Agency

The Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) has welcomed the appeal decision by the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Barbara Creecy, paving the way for TotalEnergies to proceed with the proposed offshore drilling of exploration wells in the South-West coast of South Africa.

As the appeal authority, Minister Creecy dismissed all the appeals, giving credence to the initial decision by the DMRE that had taken all requirements into consideration.

“South Africa is richly endowed with natural resources including oil and gas that have been proven to be game changers elsewhere in the world. The DMRE believes that these resources must be explored, in accordance with the prevailing environmental framework that ensures that licensing is done with the utmost environmental care founded on Section 24 of our Constitution,” DMRE said on Wednesday.

The Petroleum Agency of South Africa (PASA) estimates that South Africa holds 27 billion barrels and 60 trillion cubic feet (tcf) of prospective oil and gas resources on the south, east, and west coasts.

“These resources present a great opportunity for investment and to bolster the country in its quest to address energy security that will bring about the much needed economic growth and development.

“We are confident that TotalEnergies will proceed with the proposed exploration activities in line with the conditions of the license,” the department said.

Source: South African Government News Agency

Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Barbara Creecy has welcomed the adoption of a framework that calls for the phasing out of highly hazardous pesticides in the agriculture sector where the risks have not been managed.

The framework also advocates for safer alternatives that are available, and further seeks to strengthen links between the new instrument and the climate, biodiversity, human rights and health agendas.

The framework was adopted after intense negotiations at the 5th session of the International Conference on Chemicals Management (ICCM5), which was convened from 25-29 September 2023 in Bonn, Germany.

The main objective of the Conference was to adopt a “Beyond 2020” chemicals and waste global policy framework instrument.

In a statement on Wednesday, the Minister congratulated and welcomed the success of the South African negotiating team for working tirelessly as part of the Africa Group of Negotiators.

The Global Framework on Chemicals Fund is aimed at benefiting stakeholders in developing countries on the implementation of priority targets to manage chemicals and waste.

“It provides a vision for a planet free of harm from chemicals and waste, for a safe, healthy and sustainable future, and is operationalised through concrete targets and guidelines for key sectors across the entire lifecycle of chemicals that aim to improve the sound management of chemicals and waste.

“The poor and other vulnerable groups who are the most adversely affected by the impact of chemicals and waste, would benefit positively from environmentally sound management of chemicals,” the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment said.

The Global Framework on Chemicals Fund will be financed from contributions from all stakeholders including the private sector. Host country, Germany, announced that it would pledge EUR 20 million to the new fund envisaged under the framework. France announced that it would contribute EUR 400,000 in 2024.

The department said governments have committed to creating, by 2030, the regulatory environment to reduce chemical pollution and implement policies to promote safer alternatives.

The industry has also committed to managing chemicals in a way that reduces chemical pollution and adverse impacts.

Source: South African Government News Agency

While the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) has provided job opportunities for close to two decades, work is underway to ensure that its footprint reaches more people.

By March 2023, the programme had steadily created over 14 million work opportunities since its inception in April 2004.

“The EPWP has been a good programme from its inception 19 years ago. The main focus of the programme is to alleviate poverty by providing job opportunities. This is important because it is not just a job opportunity, it is an opportunity that must provide a skill to participants,” said Public Works and Infrastructure Deputy Minister Bernice Swarts.

The EPWP is a medium-to long-term government-funded programme that promotes the use of labour-intensive methods to create work opportunities for poor and unemployed South Africans.

In addition to gaining skills and earning an income, the work opportunities also allow participants to gain valuable work experience that make them employable.

Through its various five-year phases, which have been improved upon over the years, the programme has granted work opportunities to many across the length and breadth of the country.

In an interview with SAnews at her office in central Pretoria, Swarts said various research reports and mid-term review reports of the different phases of the EPWP show that the income participants earn from the programme is having a positive impact in terms of poverty alleviation.

The Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) is the custodian of the programme, which is being implemented by over 300 public bodies across the three spheres of government.

Training for the future

The programme has morphed with each subsequent phase it has undergone and the current five-year Phase IV comes to an end in 2024.

The current phase has created 3.9 million work opportunities against the five million target.

Swarts revealed that in the current phase, the EPWP has been strengthening its partnerships with the private sector in getting placements for youth that have been trained in artisan programmes to gain work experience.

This includes the placement and absorption of young people by contractors on projects implemented by the DPWI. Some young people trained in the mechanical engineering field have been absorbed by mining and car repair companies as part of the partnership.

Participants in the programme obtain various skills such as painting, brick laying and carpentry, home community-based care skills and fire-fighting among others. Training is funded through the National Skills Fund and budgets of projects in different public bodies.

Changing lives

The EPWP also contributes to household incomes, with over R12 billion having been transferred to participants as wages in 2022/23.

“The final figure, according to our records, was R13.2 billion being paid in wages,” she added.

While creating a livelihoods for participants, the EPWP also contributes towards service delivery. Projects include road maintenance, construction of schools and clinics, environmental greening, cleaning and removing alien vegetation.

Participation

In order to increase the participation of vulnerable groups in society, the current phase of the programme has put demographic targets in place.

For women participation this is set at 60% while the targets for the youth has been pegged at 55%.

According to the Deputy Minister the targets relating to women are being met while that of young people are yet to be met.

“For the 2022/23 financial year, the achievement for women was at 69% while that of youth was at 40%. Interventions are being put in place through better targeting during recruitment and having youth-focused programmes to improve the achievement of targets for youth,” explained the Deputy Minister.

She attributed this to the fact that some young people view wearing orange overalls as “not cool” while others believe that they cannot take part in the EPWP because of the qualifications they hold.

“[This] is a wrong mind-set because if you have a degree in administration and have been at home for five years, surely you must be able [to come to a point where you] say ‘let me deviate and participate in a programme that is going to give me a skill’,” she said.

The programme also caters for people living with disability by making provision for them to form their own companies. The Deputy Minister noted that more needs to be done to accommodate people living with disabilities.

“We need to bring in people with disabilities and we can bring them in as project managers on site to oversee the work that is being done.”

Policy

In 2022, the DPWI developed the EPWP Policy, which has been approved by Cabinet for public consultation and is expected to be finalised by March 2024.

On what the future holds for the programme that continues to evolve, Swarts says the DPWI and its stakeholders are developing proposals for the next phase of the programme, which is scheduled to start in April 2024, if approved by Cabinet.

Expanding the reach of the programme, improving training and skills development, and improving on exit strategies for participants are some the different proposals being considered for the next phase.

“[The] EPWP must and will be the backbone of creating employment in the country. After 19 years [and] as we prepare for the 20 years celebrations, which we are doing as DPWI at the end of this November, we are going to start showcasing and celebrating the EPWP.

“It must just not be about celebrating, it must be about us bringing all participants and stakeholders on board.”

The Deputy Minister is confident that those who complete the programme are capable of becoming entrepreneurs who can contribute to the country’s economic development.

Source: South African Government News Agency