South Africa Vision

The funeral service for former Minister Pravin Gordhan is expected to be held at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre in Durban on Thursday.

Gordhan, 75, passed away on Friday following illness.

‘President Cyril Ramaphosa has declared a Special Official Funeral Category 2 in honour of the late struggle and Cabinet veteran. The Special Official Funeral Category 2 will entail ceremonial elements performed by the South African Police Service.

‘The funeral service will be followed by a private cremation,’ the Presidency said in a statement.

Gordhan’s family has requested that ‘in lieu of floral tributes, mourners offer donations to charities of their choice, or the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation’.

The late struggle stalwart served in Cabinet for many years before his retirement earlier this year.

‘Mr Gordhan served as Minister of Finance from 2009 until 2014 and again from 2015 until 2017.

‘He also served as Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs from 2014 until 2015, a
nd as Minister of Public Enterprises from February 2018 until his March 2024 announcement of planned retirement.

‘Mr Gordhan was appointed as Commissioner of the South African Revenue Service in 1999, after a period as Deputy Commissioner,’ the Presidency said.

The funeral service is expected to start at 10am.

Source: South African Government News Agency

In a bid to address the skills mismatch, the Department of Higher Education and Training will send a number of local students to China to study scarce and critical skills of the future.

The department will send around 100 students to China next year.

Higher Education and Training Minister, Dr Nobuhle Nkabane made the announcement during a media briefing held in Pretoria on Monday.

This announcement followed the Minister’s return from China, as part of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s delegation to the recent Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Summit, held in Beijing, China.

READ | China looks to elevate relations with African countries

Nkabane noted that South Africa has a long-standing cooperation with the People’s Republic of China in various areas of higher education and training, which continues to grow and support South Africa’s knowledge and skills development.

‘Our engagement during this visit aligns with South Africa’s strategic goals regarding technological advancement and international coll
aboration in education,’ Nkabane said.

WATCH | Higher Education Minister Dr Nobuhle Nkabane briefs the media

The Minister, joined by the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) Administrator, Freeman Nomvalo, held a joint media briefing to provide feedback on a four-day Ministerial Stakeholder engagement programme, which started on Thursday and concluded on Sunday.

Nkabane had an extensive consultation with stakeholders in the Post-School Education and Training (PSET) sector on Thursday to solicit inputs and proposals to policy positions on matters that affect the PSET system.

NSFAS participated in the stakeholder engagement meetings where student formations, universities, and Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges posed robust engagements and shared with the department, insights on how best they can turn around the institution.

The Minister also consulted extensively with PSET institutional governance structures, including the South African Union of Students (SAUS), South Afri
can Further Education and Training Student Association (SAFETSA), South African Public Colleges Organisation (SACPO), and Universities South Africa (USAF).

2025 NSFAS online applications

‘It was due to these critical consultations that we have had to postpone the launch of the 2025 NSFAS online application launch, which is a significant concern for students nationwide. Another reason for postponing the launch of the 2025 NSFAS online application process was to allow NSFAS to do a dry run of the online application system to stakeholders,’ the Minister explained.

Nkabane said the feedback received has already informed critical system changes to simplify the online application process making it accessible to all.

The stakeholder engagements also helped enrich the department’s understanding of matters, including addressing NSFAS inefficiencies, challenges confronting NSFAS, the student funding model and its interface with the Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs), safety and security of Vice Chanc
ellors and students which remains a concern among others.

Having received a presentation during the stakeholder consultations, and having noted the comments received from stakeholders, Nkabane said she is now confident that NSFAS is ready to kickstart the 2025 online application process- effectively on Friday, 20 September 2024.

‘I am therefore inviting all students who are siting for their matriculation this year to take this opportunity and apply for either the NSFAS bursary or loan. This invitation is also extended to learners from grade 9, 10, and 11, who would like to enter the Technical and Vocational Education and Training sector,’ Nkabane said.

NSFAS is expected to brief the media on the opening of the 2025 online application process on Friday, where detailed information on the process will be shared.

Meanwhile, the Minister said the department intends increasing the intake of the college system by one million enrolments in community colleges and 2.5 million in public and private TVET colleges by
2030.

‘In relation to our universities, we will continue to diversify them based on their strengths and the needs of the communities in which they are located by targeting 1.6 million enrolments by 2030.

Source: South African Government News Agency

South Africa is increasing its recycling capacity for the management of plastic waste and eliminating plastic pollution, says Deputy Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Bernice Swarts.

‘There are various activities aligned to the fight against plastics pollution and marine litter,’ Swarts said on Monday in Cape Town during the International Solid Waste Association World Congress.

South Africa has a combination of voluntary approaches aimed at tackling plastic pollution to the plastics industry, coupled with improved household and community waste disposal and the creation of the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes.

In 2020, government introduced the Extended Producer Responsibility Regulations which called for EPR schemes for plastic packaging and electrical and electronic equipment amongst other prioritised products.

This circular economy and EPR initiatives have resulted in the formation of five registered extended producer schemes that support plastic waste collection and rec
ycling.

The EPR Regulations aim to influence product design to take environmental considerations into account and are currently being implemented for paper, packaging and some single use products, lighting, electrical and electronic products.

‘South Africa is also implementing product design regulations on prioritised plastic products. Recyclate content is a regulated requirement for prioritised plastic products as part of improving circularity,’ Swarts explained.

In 2023, government put a restriction of a minimum of 50% recycled content as part of the product design measures for plastic carrier bags. The intention is that by 2027, plastic carrier bags and black refuse bags should be made from 100% recycled material.

‘The Extended Producer Responsibility Regulations are a critical element of the considerations that are part of the international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, currently being negotiated.

‘The International Solid Waste Association should remain resolute, in thought leaders
hip by conducting specialists’ studies that will assist and inform negotiating positions at the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) on Plastic Pollution and including the environment.

In 2022, South Africa supported the development of an internationally legally binding instrument to combat plastic pollution at the Fifth Session of the United Nations Environment Assembly.

‘The fiscus is under a lot of pressure here in South Africa and across many other countries and thus the role of the private sector in reducing the burden and shouldering some of the responsibility is key.

‘Political will and commitment has seen the translation of the polluter pay principle into operational policies that create a conducive environment for private sector investment in waste management,’ the Deputy Minister said.

Source: South African Government News Agency

South Africa has extended warm congratulations to President Abdelmadjid Tebboune on his re-election as President of the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria.

The presidential election, held on 07 September 2024, was a significant milestone for Algeria.

The South African government has also commended the efforts of the Algerian National Independent Electoral Authority and other national stakeholders for their role in ensuring the elections were conducted in a conducive and peaceful environment.

The successful execution of the electoral process is seen as a testament to Algeria’s dedication to upholding democratic principles, not only within its borders but across the African continent.

South Africa and Algeria share a common history forged during the struggle against colonialism and apartheid.

Following the advent of South Africa’s democracy in 1994, the two countries intensified the bilateral cooperation which has been elevated to the Bi-National Commission co-chaired by the two Presidents.

‘The Sou
th African Government reiterates its commitment to continue working in solidarity with the Government and people of Algeria to strengthen bilateral relations for the mutual benefit of the two countries, to build strong people-to-people ties, and collaborate in the consolidation of the African Agenda,’ the Presidency said in a statement.

Source: South African Government News Agency

On Monday, 16 September, Deputy Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Bernice Swarts officially opens the International Solid Waste Association World Congress at the Cape Town International Convention Centre.

On Tuesday, 17 September, the Commission for Gender Equality in the Eastern Cape province will hold a stakeholder engagement to discuss findings and recommendations contained in its investigative report on ‘State of maternity and neonatal healthcare in the Eastern Cape’.

The Africa Aerospace and Defence (AAD) Expo and Air Show takes place from 18 – 22 September.

On Wednesday, 18 September, The Meta for Government Summit, a collaborative endeavour by Meta in partnership with the Ministry in the Presidency and the GCIS, takes place from 9am to 4pm at the Killarney Country Club in Johannesburg.

Also on Wednesday, Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities Sindisiwe Chikunga will deliver the opening remarks at the Eurasian Women’s Forum under the theme: ‘Wome
n for Strengthening Trust and Global Cooperation’.

On Thursday, 19 September, Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities Sindisiwe Chikunga leads a BRICS Ministerial Meeting for Women’s Affairs in Russia.

Source: South African Government News Agency

Justice and Constitutional Development Minister Thembi Simelane is expected to attend the meeting of the BRICS Ministers of Justice in Moscow, Russia, this week.

This ahead of the BRICS 2024 Summit expected to be held in that country from 22 to 24 October.

‘The meeting seeks to strengthen relations between Ministries of Justice from BRICS countries and will see the Ministries of Justice from BRICS countries working together to ensure the protection of civil rights and freedoms, introduction of technological solutions in the area of digitalisation of justice services and benchmarking on experience in providing legal services and legal aid to the members of the public.

‘It is envisaged that the BRICS Ministries of Justice meeting will culminate in improved relations between the BRICS Ministries of Justice, resolution to current issues related to the areas of cooperation and organization of advanced training programs in the legal fraternity,’ the department said in a statement.

The meeting of the BRICS Mini
ster of Justice is set for 18 to 20 September.

The department said the Minister will also have the opportunity to hold bilateral discussions with Ministers from the BRICS countries.

‘The interaction of different countries in [the meeting] is based on respect for the universally recognised principles, norms of international laws and the desire for equal international cooperation in order to solve mutual problems and promote common interests,’ the department said.

Source: South African Government News Agency