South Africa Vision

President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Tuesday, 16 August 2022, undertake a Working Visit to Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to participate in the 42nd Ordinary Summit of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Heads of State and Government.

Regional leaders will deliberate on the region’s development under the theme “Promoting industrialisation through, agro-processing, mineral beneficiation, and regional value chains for inclusive and resilient economic growth”.

The theme underscores efforts to strengthen implementation of the SADC Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP) 2020–2030.

South Africa leverages SADC as its primary foreign policy vehicle for achieving regional development and integration within Southern Africa.

At the same time, SADC is guided by the SADC Vision 2050 and the Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP) (2020 – 2030), the Industrialisation Strategy and Roadmap, and the Regional Infrastructure Development Master Plan.

The SADC Summit will take place on 17 and 18 August 2022 at Palais du Peuple (Parliament Building) and SADC Member States will receive an update on progress made in the implementation of these strategic policies and previous Summit decisions, since the last meeting in August of 2021 held in Lilongwe Malawi.

Given the frequency of natural disasters in the region, the Summit is expected to adopt a Memorandum of Agreement on the establishment and operationalisation of the SADC Humanitarian and Emergency Operations Centre (SHOC) to be hosted in Mozambique.

In recognising the role played by non-state actors in this sector, the Summit will consider a proposed SADC Mechanism for Engagement with Non-State Actors.

This year’s Summit will also consider the status of ratification, accession and implementation of SADC Agreements and Protocols by member states.

The Summit will also deliberate on a proposed amendment to a protocol on the development of tourism in the region, as well as an amendment to the Treaty of the Southern African Development Community that entails recognition of the SADC Parliament as a SADC Institution.

President Ramaphosa, in his capacity as the outgoing Chair of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation and Facilitator of the Lesotho Peace Process, will lead discussions of the SADC Organ Troika Summit, which is responsible for promoting peace and security in the region.

The Summit will be preceded by meetings of the Standing Committee of Senior Officials and the Finance Committee; the Council of Ministers, as well as a SADC Public Lecture and Organ Troika Summit.

During the Summit, President Félix Tshisekedi Tshilombo of the DRC will take over the chairpersonship of SADC from President Lazarus Chakwera of the Republic of Malawi.

Malawi assumed the Chair on 17th August 2021 during the 41st SADC Summit held in Lilongwe, Malawi.

President Ramaphosa will be accompanied by Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Dr Naledi Pandor; Minister in the Presidency Mondli Gungubele and Deputy Minister of Defence and Military Veterans Thabang Makwetla.

Media enquiries: Vincent Magwenya, Spokesperson to the President – 082 835 6315 or [email protected]

Source: Government of South Africa

Deputy Minister Sotyu hosts a stakeholder engagement session in Schweizer-Reneke, North West

The Deputy Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Ms Makhotso Sotyu, will host a District Development Model stakeholder engagement session for the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Municipality on Tuesday, 16 August 2022, in Schweizer-Reneke, North West.

Deputy Minister Sotyu will use the stakeholder engagement platform to give feedback on the progress made since she was deployed as the Presidential District Development Model (DDM) champion in the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Municipality. DDM is a new integrated district-based approach to addressing our service delivery challenges and localise procurement and job creation, that promotes and supports local businesses, and that involves communities.

In 2019, President Cyril Ramaphosa introduced the DDM initiative aimed at improving service delivery at the district level and to enhance the capacity of the state. The President called for the implementation of a new integrated strategy to tackle service delivery difficulties, localize procurement, and job creation that promotes and supports local businesses while also involving communities. The Model entails a process in which all levels of government work together to plan at the local, district, and metropolitan levels, resulting in a single strategically focused One Plan for each of the country’s 44 districts and eight metropolitan geographic spaces, with each district serving as a landing strip for local access and benefit.

Source: Government of South Africa

Minister and Deputy Minister of the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure to conduct oversight visit to inspect DPWI flood intervention work in KwaZulu Natal

As part of government’s response to the devastating floods in the KwaZulu Natal province, Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI), Patricia de Lille and Deputy Minister, Noxolo Kiviet will be visiting various sites to inspect the repairs work undertaken by the DPWI to state-owned properties.

The oversight progress visit follows the Minister and Deputy Minister’s visit in April this year following the devastating flooding in the province.

One of the main State-owned properties that was severely damaged during the flooding was the Durban Airforce Base. The department has completed all the repairs work at the base and Minister de Lille and Deputy Minister Kiviet will inspect the work done at the site.

Following the visit to the Air Force Base, the Minister and the Deputy Minister will then visit two sites in Inanda and Ndwedwe where new bridges will be installed in communities as part of the existing Welisizwe Rural Bridges programme in the province.

Source: Government of South Africa

“There is no one above the law, exclaimed by the Provincial Head of the Hawks, Major General Zodwa Mokoena. The exclamation came after the arrest of a 45-year-old potential witness who defied the instructions of the court by refusing to receive or sign for the J32 “Subpoena in a criminal proceeding which summoned her to attend and give evidence in court on Friday, 12 August 2022.

It is alleged that in June 2016 the main accused on this matter fraudulently utilized the Government Department of Transport letter head to source suppliers. After the supplier bought and delivered the procured assets the, suspect vanished without paying her. The victim waited for payment but nothing was received. She then went to the Department of Transport to enquire about the payment for the assets she procured. The department responded that they never ordered anything from her.

The matter was reported to the Middelburg based Hawks Serious Commercial Crime Investigation for further probe. During the investigation the accused was arrested and later released on bail and she is still attending court. Witnesses were summoned and testified in court and only one potential witness from the Department was subpoenaed to come and testify.

On the 30 June 2022 the investigating officer went to the department to serve the witness with J32 subpoena to go and testify at the Middelburg Commercial Crime court.

On arrival at the address, the investigating officer explained to her the reason for his visit and that she had to receive and sign the subpoena. She then refused and told the investigating officer to take the subpoena back to court and throw it to the prosecutor as she was not coming. She further said that she is no longer interested in the case and the prosecutor should stop calling or email her anything concerning the case.

The case was postponed to 25 July 2022 for her to appear in court but she failed to attend. The Magistrate issued a warrant for her arrest on that day. On the 12 August 2022, she was arrested pending her first court appearance on Monday, 15 August 2022 at the Middelburg Commercial Crime court and she remain in custody.

Major General Mokoena caution that “The arrest should serve as a reminder to others that witnesses have an obligation to appear before court to testify and not their discretion. Any witness who undermine the court will become an accused. She concluded by strengthening and encouraging the investigators to continue with the good work without fear, favour or prejudice.

Source: South African Police Service

A 38-year-old Bloemendal man is in police custody following his arrest last night for allegedly being in possession of an illegal firearm and ammunition.

According to police information, on Saturday evening, 13/08 at about 23:10, SAPS Bethelsdorp Crime Prevention Unit members were patrolling the gang hotspot area in Bloemendal when they spotted a nervous looking male walk into a yard in Scholtz Street after spotting the police vehicle. The suspect proceeded to knock on the door. The members stopped in front of the house and approached the male. On searching him, a 9mm pistol and 12 rounds of ammunition was found in his possession.

He is detained on charges of illegal possession of a firearm and illegal possession of ammunition. Ownership is yet to be established.

He is expected to appear in the Gqeberha magistrate court on Monday, 15 August 2022.

Source: South African Police Service

Provincial Commissioner, Lt Gen Nomthetheleli Mene flanked by her senior management hosted a successful community engagement in Kwanobuhle yesterday, 12 August 2022.

The imbizo, which was held at Babs Madlakane Hall, Kwanobuhle yesterday (Friday, 12 August), was preceded by midweek build-up activities, namely awareness campaigns in shopping malls and visits to three schools, Nkululeko, Phaphani and Sikhothina, where senior managers spent time engaging with learners on liquor abuse, drugs and gender based violence.

The purpose of the imbizo was to interact with the community on issues relating to service delivery, client satisfaction and community involvement.

Pertinent issues of concern were raised by the community and the Provincial Commissioner had taken note of their concerns while at the same time urged them not to protect criminal activities. She further committed that their concerns would be dealt with the utmost importance and promised that ‘police officers will account for their actions of non-service to the community.’

The imbizo concluded on a positive note and the community has vowed to continue working with the SAPS in fighting crime within their community.

Source: South African Police Service