South Africa Vision

International Relations and Cooperation Minister, Ronald Lamola, is in Harare, Zimbabwe, where he is participating in the meeting of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Council of Ministers.

The Council of Ministers oversees the functioning and development of SADC and ensures that policies are properly implemented.

The council consists of Ministers from each Member State, usually from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Economic Planning or Finance, and it meets twice a year.

The meeting, which kicks off today, takes place ahead of the 44th Ordinary Summit of SADC Heads of State and Government. It will conclude on Wednesday

The summit will take place under the theme: ‘Promoting Innovation to unlock opportunities for sustained economic growth and development towards an Industrialised SADC’.

The SADC Organ Troika Summit will also be held on 16 August 2024.

The summit will provide an opportunity for SADC leaders to assess and review progress made in terms of the region’s flagship integration a
genda, the Regional Strategic Indicative Plan (RISDP) 2020-2030, as well as address matters relating to peace and security in the region.

During the summit, Zimbabwe will assume the chairpersonship of SADC, taking over from Angola, which chaired SADC since the previous summit held in Luanda in August 2023.

Source: South African Government News Agency

President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Thursday, 15 August 2024, preside over the signing of the second Presidential Health Compact at the Union Buildings in Pretoria.

The second compact follows the 2023 Presidential Health Summit which built on the inaugural summit of 2018 and brought together several stakeholders.

These include government, business, labour, civil society, health professionals, unions, service users, statutory councils, academia, and researchers to develop sustainable and inclusive solutions to challenges in the national health system.

According to the statement, the stakeholders involved in the Presidential Health Compact are integral to supporting the Department of Health in improving the health system.

The Presidential Health Compact initially consisted of nine pillars with the tenth pillar added during last year’s summit.

These include the development of human resources, improving access to medicine, vaccines and health products, upgrading infrastructure, private sector engagement, quali
ty healthcare, public sector financial management improvements, governance and leadership, community engagements, information systems and pandemic preparedness.

Source: South African Government News Agency

Eskom has recorded a reduction of some R9 billion in diesel expenditure from 1 April 2024 to 7 August 2024, compared to the same period last year.

This as the power utility has kept load shedding at bay for more than 135 days and reduced reliance on Open Cycle Gas Turbines (OCGTs), which use diesel to generate energy.

During a media briefing on Monday, the Minister of Electricity and Energy, Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, explained that because of Eskom’s sustained Energy Availability Factor (EAF), spending on the fuel has decreased significantly.

‘If your EAF is up, it means that you are less reliant on the Open Cycle Gas Turbines. So you are burning less and less diesel. Since the beginning of the financial year, we have brought down the use of diesel by 73%. So we have saved about R9.6 billion compared to the same period last year. That’s significant.

‘It’s good for Eskom’s own balance sheet and its liquidity. We can reinvest this money back into the people and into the [generating] units so that we can con
tinue to see the kind of phenomenal improvements that we have been seeing and we can stave off load shedding,’ he said.

The Minister expressed optimism that Eskom is moving towards a reality where OCGTs are only used ‘as and when we need them’.

‘The amount of time that we have been calling on [the OCGTs], since the 1st of April, averages about 4%. If you look at the same period last year, we were using them about 20.6% of the time. ”

He said the performance of Eskom is an indication that the Energy Action Plan announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa in 2022 is producing tangible fruit.

‘We are really optimistic about the situation. The net picture confirms that we are on a good path… It confirms the efficacious nature of our intervention. It’s giving us the kind of results that are desirable and most households can see that,’ Ramokgopa said.

Source: South African Government News Agency

KwaZulu-Natal Premier, Thamsanqa Ntuli, has extended his heartfelt condolences to the family and colleagues of seasoned radio personality and businesswoman, Zanele Mbokazi-Nkambule.

She passed away on Monday after a battle with lung cancer.

Ntuli described Mbokazi-Nkambule as a pioneer of the arts and a respected radio journalist who used her platform to inspire hope.

‘Zanele Mbokazi was a pioneer and touched the lives of many. She was a media personality, but many will recall that she was the founder of the Crown Gospel Awards, which are often referred to as the ‘Grammys of gospel music in South Africa’ since their inception in 2007,’ Ntuli said.

‘Through her show ‘Eshilo’ which was broadcast every Sunday morning from 9am to 12pm, she connected with people on a personal level, making each one feel seen and heard. Her passion for radio and commitment to providing quality content made her an irreplaceable part of our community, and her absence will be deeply felt.’

READ | Government pays tribute to Zanele
Mbokazi-Nkambule

For dedicating her life to uplift others by spreading messages of hope, faith, and resilience, Ntuli said Mbokazi-Nkambule deserves to be applauded.

‘Her contribution, by promoting gospel music talent from KZN and beyond, through the Crown Gospel Awards certainly changed many people’s lives and fortunes. Her legacy continues to be celebrated in KZN and across South Africa,’ Ntuli said.

The Premier added that they had every hope that Mbokazi-Nkambule was going to recover from her illness because she was not ‘merely a presenter, she was a beacon of hope and inspiration in the broadcasting industry.’

EThekwini Municipality Mayor, Cyril Xaba, has also expressed his heartfelt condolences to the family, friends, and relatives of Mbokazi-Nkambule.

‘Amongst her many great accomplishments, we will remember her mostly through her contribution to uplifting the creative industry,’ Xaba said.

Born and raised in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, the 52-year-old Mbokazi-Nkambule spent most of her life in the pro
vince, where she grew in prominence in radio and in the South African gospel music industry.

She was the founder of the Crown Gospel Music Awards, which honoured excelling talent in the gospel music genre.

Source: South African Government News Agency

Finance Deputy Minister David Masondo has encouraged fund members to use their retirement savings sparingly, and only when there is an urgent and dire need.

In less than three weeks, retirement funds across the country will implement the Two-Pot Retirement System.

READ | Fund members urged to get financial advice on pension fund withdrawals

‘With the new reforms, members will now be able to withdraw a portion – up to a third – of their retirement savings before retirement, while still preserving funds. They should seek trustworthy financial advice to consider the implications of withdrawing from their savings component,’ the Deputy Minister said on Tuesday.

Addressing the Old Mutual Thought Leaders Forum, Masondo emphasised the importance of financial literacy, financial education, and financial advice in this context.

‘It is important to note that administration costs and tax at marginal rates will be deducted from such withdrawals. In addition, members will also lose out on all related future growth an
d the retirement benefit originally intended for those funds.”

The Two-Pot Retirement System is the latest in a series of comprehensive reforms implemented by the South African government to simplify and harmonise the pension system, incentivise pension savings, and increase the fairness of the retirement system.

Source: South African Government News Agency

The Western Cape Government (WCG) is urging motorists to reduce their speed on the roads after recording a concerning 201 speeding offences on provincial roads.

‘This statistic highlights the ongoing challenge of curbing speeding and ensuring road safety across the province,’ said the provincial government in a statement.

The speeding offences were recorded between 5 and 11 August.

According to the WCG, speeding remains one of the leading causes of traffic crashes, resulting in preventable injuries and fatalities.

The Mobility Department said it was committed to promoting safer driving habits and urged all road users to adhere to speed limits to protect themselves and others.

In addition to one arrest for speeding, six drivers were also arrested for reckless and negligent driving in the past week.

The provincial department said the highest speed violations recorded between 5 and 11 August include 161km/h in a 120km/h, 144km/h in a 100km/h and 89km/h in a 60km/h zone.

Speeding is not just a violation of
traffic laws but a significant threat to public safety.

The department said driving at excessive speeds significantly reduces a driver’s reaction time, increases the severity of collisions, and diminishes the effectiveness of safety features in vehicles.

‘In the unfortunate event of an accident, the chances of severe injuries or fatalities rise dramatically with speed. Pedestrians, cyclists, and other vulnerable road users are especially at risk when drivers exceed speed limits.’

To address this issue, the department has intensified its traffic law enforcement efforts, including increased patrols on high-risk routes.

Western Cape MEC of Mobility, Isaac Sileku, commented that enforcement alone is not enough.

‘We need a collective effort from all road users to change their mindset and driving behaviour. Road safety is everyone’s responsibility, and adhering to speed limits is a crucial aspect of this responsibility,’ said Sileku.

He said his department remains committed to creating safer roads for all res
idents.

‘We urge drivers to take the dangers of speeding seriously and to contribute to the safety of our communities by driving within the prescribed speed limits. Together, we can prevent unnecessary tragedies and make our roads safer for all Western Cape residents,’ Sileku added.

Tips for drivers to help avoid speeding:

Plan ahead: Ensure you leave with enough time to reach your destination without feeling rushed.

Stay alert: Regularly check your speedometer and adjust your speed according to road conditions and speed limits.

If available, use cruise control: On freeways, cruise control can help maintain a steady and legal speed.

Be mindful of speed zones: Pay attention to road signs indicating speed limits and adjust your speed accordingly, especially in areas with high pedestrian activity.

Avoid aggressive driving: Keep calm and patient, even in traffic or when running late.

Source: South African Government News Agency