South Africa Vision

Deputy President David Mabuza says government remains committed to rebuild the economy through infrastructure investment and support to small businesses that were left destroyed in the wake of the recent civil unrest in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal.

The Deputy President said this when he responded to oral questions during a sitting of the National Council of Provinces on Thursday.

“We remain committed to our efforts of economic reconstruction and recovery of the economy, which should empower our people and forge a sustainable development, especially on women and young people,” he said.

Addressing the sitting of provincial delegates, Mabuza condemned public violence and accompanying acts of criminality such as looting of businesses and destruction of property that took place last month.

He said no amount of grievances should leave us on a path of destruction and lawlessness.

Mabuza said as a measure to stimulate economic recovery, government has availed R2.3 billion to support businesses that were affected by ongoing restrictions as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and was made worse by the looting and destruction of logistical infrastructure.

“The amount is made up of the reprioritisation of R700 million by the Department of Trade and Industry and Competition and R300 million by the Department of Small Business Development.

This support is directed at:

Critical infrastructure refurbishment to support bulk infrastructure development in the affected economic areas such as industrial parks, shopping centres and factories;

An industrial loan facility to support manufacturing companies affected by the looting and COVID-19 with a specific focus at rebuilding of infrastructure for premises, restocking and working capital;

A Retail Recovery Support Fund, which will provide interest free loans to companies that have been affected by the unrest towards funding for the rebuilding of infrastructure;

A business survival support programme to assist affected small enterprises with working capital including stock, machinery, equipment, revolving credit facility with a payment moratorium of up to 12 months and a repayment period of up to 84 months.

Mabuza said an additional R1.3 billion has been allocated to the Department of Trade and Industry and Competition for the funding of uninsured businesses that were affected by the riots.

“Our immediate priority is to accelerate the implementation of our economic recovery and reconstruction plan to revive all destroyed business and create and protect existing employment and drive inclusive growth.

“Further to this, government is also working with social partners to implement social and economic relief packages that will support households and provide assistance to affected businesses and employees.”

Mabuza said the Unemployment Insurance Fund has set aside R5.3 billion for the extension of the covid-19 TERS coverage. This, he said, will mainly cover those who have lost their jobs due to the lockdown and recent looting and destruction of businesses.

He said with regards to KZN, the office of the Premier has advised the Presidency that over 3 000 businesses, including facilities, were looted, vandalised and burnt, resulting in more than R15 billion of damage to property and equipment.

Mabuza says the province has developed a plan to renovate and support vandalised township shopping malls and shopping centres that are based in rural areas.

Source: South African Government News Agency

Minister of Human Settlements, Mmamoloko Kubayi, has called on the provinces to ensure that sustainable integrated spatial planning becomes an integral part of all human settlements business plans.

During her first public engagement as the Minister of Human Settlements at uMshwati, KwaZulu-Natal on Thursday, Kubayi emphasised that for any human settlements business plan to be approved it must demonstrate sustainability and integrated planning.

“Our mandate is to change the lives of South Africans and end apartheid spatial planning. Human settlements should have all the necessary infrastructure including roads, bulk, education facilities, clinics and recreational facilities. We cannot build where there are no economic activities,” Kubayi said.

The Minister implored officials to put themselves in the shoes of the people they serve.

“If these temporary shelters are not good for you why give them to someone else. Services we provide to our people must be of standard we can expect for ourselves,” she said.

In an effort to ensure that there is a good relationship between the department and its stakeholders, the Minister made an undertaking to ensure that there is transparency in everything the department does.

“There is a huge trust deficit between government and the public and it is because our work has lacked transparency and accountability,” the Minister said.

While acknowledging the great work that has been done over the years, the Minister made a call to all relevant stakeholders, including the private sector to accelerate housing delivery.

The department, working with provinces, has delivered close to 15 000 housing units at a value of over R3 billion in the first quarter of the financial year 2021/2022.

The Minister will be in KwaZulu-Natal over the next few days to receive briefings on their plans for the coming years.

She will also engage community members, do project visits and handover houses.

KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Human Settlements and Public Works Jomo Sibiya joined the Minister during her engagement.

Source: South African Government News Agency

While the country has established a good foundation in research and development, the continued poor performance in the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) remains South Africa’s number one hindrance to innovation.

This is according to the latest South African Science, Technology and Innovation Indicators Report that was launched during a webinar on Thursday.

The report, commissioned by the National Advisory Council on Innovation (NACI), outlines South Africa’s performance in various areas linked to science, technology and innovation, which have a significant impact on the economy.

Other indicators covered by the report include business sector investment in research and development in South Africa, venture capital investment, and the output of high and medium technology manufacturing as compared to previous years.

The NACI’s Chairperson, Dr Shadrack Moephuli, acknowledged that the national system of innovation has various challenges that persist despite several interventions both from government and the private sector and even from some individuals.

“For example, according to the 2019 TIMSS, the country’s average scores are below the minimum benchmark level of 400 for both mathematics and science in Grade 5, that is 374 and 324, respectively, and Grade 9, 389 and 370, respectively.”

“That’s not something to celebrate,” he added.

Meanwhile, he said the pass rate declined for all the science technology, engineering, and mathematics-related subjects except for mathematical literacy.

This is because there was a slight increase in the percentage of learners passing with 30% and more from 80.6% in 2019 to 88% in 2020.

“The National Advisory Council on Innovation is looking into it. We have now started the study. We hope that what we’ve concluded this particular study about these particular challenges will be able to provide some views or expressed some observations and findings and recommendations about these particular persistent problems in our system.”

Manufacturing

Meanwhile, the report has also put the spotlight on manufacturing, which saw a small increase of about 4.6% in the output of high and medium technology manufacturing in 2019, when compared to the previous year.

“However, the share of high medium technology manufacturing in total manufacturing was marginally lower in 2019, which was 29.36% than in 2009 at 26.95%.”

Meanwhile, when compared to the previous year, the value of South Africa’s high technology exports declined by 10%.

In addition, service exports similarly weakened, which was almost 8% lower than in 2018.

“The share of overall manufacturing employment for medium and high technology sectors rose from 28.5% to 32.5%.”

While it is looking positive, Moephuli said it was worrisome especially in light of the pandemic.

“We hope that this particular report will serve as a resource to policymakers, researchers, civil society, investors, the private sector, students, and everyone in and outside the national system of innovation.”

He also believes there is a need for complementary studies to deepen the understanding of certain trends and factors in the country’s economy.

Inequality

Higher Education, Science and Innovation Deputy Minister, Buti Manamela, said the 2021 report coincides with the global COVID-19 pandemic, which has caused many deaths and exposed the inadequacies of many countries’ national systems of innovation.

He said science, technology, and innovation are critical in supporting short, medium, and long-term plans for inclusive and sustainable socio-economic development and improved quality of life and well-being.

“In the South African context, this means that the challenges of inequality, unemployment, poverty, and ecological degradation require even more urgent attention. There is global consensus that progress towards the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals has been affected.”

Manamela said developing countries and emerging economies will be most affected by water shortages, food insecurity, premature de-industrialisation, and failures in health and social welfare systems.

This is the reason he believes these challenges make the need for robust and resilient scientific and technological capacities and capabilities even more critical.

“In an interlinked but inequitable world, domestic systems of innovation are crucial for transforming science and technology into socially useful products and practices.”

Source: South African Government News Agency

Water and Sanitation Minister Senzo Mchunu has implored the Free State and Northern Cape provincial governments, and water entities, to step up and enhance the delivery of water and decent sanitation.

“We cannot fail in carrying out our mandate to the people. We need to constantly remember that we are in service of the people,” Mchunu said.

Mchunu made the call during his visit to the two provinces to understand the service delivery needs relating to water and sanitation needs.

The three-day visit, which started on Tuesday, is aimed at assessing the state of water projects undertaken by the department in the provinces of Free State and Northern Cape.

Mchunu said one of the reasons for the visits, is to understand the challenges faced by the department in carrying out its mandate.

“We need to clean our house and get rid of all the clutter so that we fully appreciate what we are dealing with and get to work. In order to fully comprehend the challenges that we face as a department, we will be embarking on a number of provincial visits, engaging with our provincial offices and other relevant stakeholders,” Mchunu said.

Engaging with senior officials of the Free State and Northern Cape provinces on Tuesday at a meeting held in Free State, the Minister emphasised that the work they do, which is ensuring the provision of water and sanitation to the residents of the province, is key in carrying out the realisation of these fundamental rights.

Deputy Ministers Dikeledi Magadzi and David Mahlobo are accompanying the Minister on the visits.

“We are here to execute some of the Constitutional mandate, honour the Constitution and its prescripts on issues of water and sanitation. It is for this reason that we have to deliver on our mandate for the integrity of all of us. Lip service will not happen on my watch,” Mchunu said.

Meeting with the Sedibeng Water Board and Bloem Water Board, as well as municipality representatives on Wednesday, Mchunu asked officials to inform him of challenges, in order for him to get an honest understanding of water and sanitation challenges in the provinces.

“You know what the challenges are, now let’s talk solutions,” the Minister said.

Mchunu met with the water boards, where he received the presentations on the status of water security in the provinces, with more focus on finance, governance and service delivery.

The Ministry will also meet with the Premiers from Free State Sisi Ntombela and Northern Cape Dr Zamani Saul.

Source: South African Government News Agency