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All systems go for election of National Assembly Speaker

It’s all systems go for the crucial special sitting of the National Assembly (NA) to elect the new Speaker on Thursday.

The incumbent will replace former Speaker Thandi Modise, who held the position since 2019, following the sixth democratic elections.

Parliament’s spokesperson, Moloto Mothapo, said the election of the new Speaker will take place at 11am.

“As provided for in the Constitution, the Chief Justice or a designated Judge must preside over the election of the NA Speaker. Acting Chief Justice Raymond Zondo has designated Judge President John Hlophe of the Western Cape Division of the High Court of South Africa to preside over this special sitting. The Acting Chief Justice has also approved rules for the election process,” Mothapo said on Wednesday.

Mothapo said in light of the required COVID-19 health and safety protocols, the sitting will happen in two venues in the NA building, including the NA Chamber and Committee Room E249. There will be a live link between the two venues.

“There will be 166 Members of Parliament (MPs) in the Members’ seats on the floor of the NA Chamber, 127 in the NA Public Gallery, 24 in the Officials’ Bay and 92 in the E249 Committee Room. At the start of the proceedings, Judge President John Hlophe will open the sitting and then call for nominations for the position of Speaker from amongst the Members of the NA.

“If there is more than one nomination, Judge Hlophe will call for the voting process to be conducted by a way of a secret ballot. Although the sitting is divided into four areas, the floor of the NA Chamber will serve as the voting station. Four voting booths have been arranged to enable four Members at a time to cast their votes,” Mothapo explained.

He said the entire voting process is expected to last for about four hours, with at least one hour dedicated to counting the votes.

“As soon as the voting is completed, Judge Hlophe will suspend proceedings to allow for counting of the votes. Officials of Parliament, designated as the Returning Officer and Assistant Returning Officers, will remove the ballot boxes and all papers from the NA Chamber to a room to be counted.

“The votes will be counted in Judge Hlophe’s presence, and only he and the designated returning officer and assistants to the returning officer may be present in the room. Once the votes have been counted, the returning officer must report to Judge Hlophe, informing him of the result of the counting of the votes. On receiving this report, the House will reconvene and Judge Hlophe will announce the result of the election,” Mothapo said.

He said the Returning Officer must retain the nomination papers, the used ballot papers and their counterfoils in a sealed packet for at least one year.

“The sealed packet may not be opened except by order of a court. After Judge Hlophe announces the outcome of the secret ballot in the sitting, the duly elected Speaker will immediately take over the Presiding chair and address the House.”

To read the rules for the election in full, please click: https://tinyurl.com/3mf7a6t3

Mothapo said preparations are also in place to ensure the safety of MPs and officials, in compliance with COVID-19 regulations.

“Screening points have been arranged at various entrances of Parliament to ensure swift access,” he said.

NA Speaker’s responsibilities

In terms of Rules of the House, the NA Speaker has the responsibility of providing political leadership and strategic direction to the NA and to exercise impartiality in carrying out these duties.

The NA, as the Constitution specifies, is elected to represent the people and to ensure government by the people under the Constitution. The NA does this by choosing the President, by providing a national forum for public consideration of issues, by passing legislation and by scrutinising and overseeing executive action.

The Speaker may also become Acting President, in terms of the Constitution. This may happen if the President is out of the country or is otherwise unable to fulfil the duties of President, or during a vacancy in the office of President.

Then, an office bearer in the following order may be designated to act as President: the Deputy President; a Minister designated by the President; a Minister who other members of the Cabinet designate; the Speaker of the NA – until the NA designates one of its other members.

Source: South African Government News Agency

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SADC elects new leadership

The 41st Ordinary Summit of the Heads of State and Government of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) has elected President of the Republic of Malawi, Dr Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera, as Chairperson of SADC, and President of the Democratic Republic of Congo Félix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo as the incoming Chairperson of SADC.

The Summit also elected President Cyril Ramaphosa as Chairperson of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation, and President of the Republic Namibia Dr Hage G. Geingob, as incoming Chairperson of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation.

Held in in Lilongwe, the capital city of the Republic of Malawi, the Summit, which was held on Tuesday and Wednesday, approved the appointment of Elias Mpedi Magosi as the new Executive Secretary of SADC.

“The Summit commended the people and the Government of the Republic of Zambia, for conducting successful elections, and congratulated Hakainde Hichilema for winning the elections. The Summit thanked Edgar Chagwa Lungu for his leadership and contribution to SADC development and integration during his tenure as President of Zambia and for nobly accepting the results of the 2021 Presidential elections in the Republic of Zambia,” SADC said.

The Summit received a report of the Outgoing Chairperson of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation, Dr Mokgweetsi Eric Keabetswe Masisi, President of the Republic of Botswana.

He was commended for his outstanding leadership and continued efforts to address peace and security threats during the year, notwithstanding challenges posed by COVID-19.

The Summit endorsed an Action Plan for the implementation of Security Threats Report, and urged Member States to implement interventions contained in the Plan.

The Summit received a progress report from the SADC Facilitator to the Kingdom of Lesotho, President Ramaphosa on the implementation of SADC decisions in the Kingdom of Lesotho. It also commended the Kingdom of Lesotho for progress made in implementing SADC decisions and ongoing reforms.

The Summit also urged the Kingdom of Lesotho to expedite completion of the ongoing reforms, and to continue with peace, transitional justice and reconciliation process to engender national unity, and bring about national healing and cohesion.

The Summit recommended an extension of the mandate of the National Reform Authority for a period of six months, from 30th October 2021 to 30th April 2022.

The Summit commended the SADC Facilitator to the Kingdom of Lesotho President Ramaphosa, for his dedication and continued facilitation, and extended his mandate as the SADC Facilitator until the 42nd Summit of Heads of State and Government.

“The Summit received updates on the Security Situation in Cabo Delgado Province, in Northern part of the Republic of Mozambique, and commended SADC Member States for pledging personnel and providing financial support towards the deployment of SADC Standby Force to Mozambique. The Summit commended the United Republic of Tanzania for offering to host the Regional Counter Terrorism Centre, which will offer dedicated and strategic advisory services to the Region on terrorism threats.

“The Summit reaffirmed SADC’s position that the creation of the SADC Central Bank and Monetary Union, as a long-term objective to be premised on fulfilling preconditions that include, the harmonisation of the fiscal and monetary policies of SADC countries, and greater convergence of banking systems. In this regard, the African Monetary Institute and the African Central Bank should, be long-term objectives,” SADC said.

Source: South African Government News Agency

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COVID-19 vaccines safe to use: SAHPRA

The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) and the National Immunisation Safety Expert Committee have reassured the public that both the Pfizer and Johnson and Johnson COVID-19 vaccines are safe to use.

Both vaccines were subjected to rigorous requirements, where clinical trials were performed to demonstrate their safety before being cleared for usage in the country.

National Immunisation Safety Expert Committee member, Professor Hannelie Meyer, on Wednesday said data currently suggests that less than 10% of those who get vaccinated will experience adverse events like headaches, fever and chills.

“[These] don’t pose a potential risk to the person and it’s part of the body’s immune response. It’s also important to note that it’s not the same in all people. These events are mild. They happen within the first couple of hours … and they hardly ever need any management,” Meyer said.

She said although certain adverse events are more common, if these symptoms exceed a certain period of time, medical help should be sought.

“You should not assume that all reactions are linked to the vaccine. We are now vaccinating millions of people and there are many other diseases. So you could be incubating another disease at the same time that you are vaccinated.

“[But] if these minor events don’t subside within the first two to three days or if they become more severe, or if there is something out of the ordinary that you are concerned about within the 30 days after vaccination, then you do need to seek medical assistance,” Meyer said.

SAHPRA’s Vigilance Manager Mafora Matlala said even as vaccines are being administered, the authority continues to monitor any reports on the vaccines.

“We continuously review international literature, safety databases and any regulatory decisions made elsewhere. For instance, the FDA [USA Food and Drug Administration agency] in April identified some thrombosis issues and that was communicated in South Africa, and we put the roll-out on hold because of safety concerns. Then we further reviewed the safety of the product and found that the benefit-risk profile was still favourable,” Matlala said.

Matlala said there is more to gain from receiving the jab than there is to lose from not doing so.

“When we look at the adverse events that we have received so far in the system, they are quite few, with just over 2 000, compared to the doses that have been administered so far, which is about 9.5 million as of [Tuesday]… The benefits of these vaccines actually do outweigh the risks that may be out there,” she said.

She has encouraged South Africans to download the SAHPRA Med Safety smartphone application to keep up to date with medical safety news.

The authority is expected to launch a microsite on Friday, where more information on adverse events can be accessed.

Source: South African Government News Agency

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Patrick O’leary scoops second prize at SADC Media Awards

Government has congratulated Patrick O’leary for winning second prize in the photo category of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Media Awards.

Patrick O’leary is a seasoned journalist specialising in motor journalism. He has travelled across the region to cover stories affecting the trucking industry.

Outgoing Chairperson of SADC, Filipe Jacinto Nyusi, President of the Republic of Mozambique, announced the award on Tuesday during the opening ceremony of the 41st SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government taking place in the Republic of Malawi.

The SADC Media Awards are aimed at promoting excellence in the fields of Print, Radio, Television and Photojournalism.

They also serve as a link for coordination and synchronization between formal structures of SADC member states and media.

The awards further seek to bring and enhance partnership between media and government institutions in advancing the achievements and good stories of this region in bettering the lives of its citizens.

The Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) also congratulated all the finalists and winners of the 2021 SADC Media Awards and Secondary School Essay Competition from South Africa and other member states and acknowledged that the two competitions coordinated by SADC have evolved in the past years.

Source: South African Government News Agency

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Alleged tax fraudsters appear in court

Two suspects have appeared in the Nelspruit Magistrate’s Court on charges of fraud, money laundering and theft, alternatively contravening the provisions of the Tax Administration Act.

“This followed their arrest by the members of the Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation team shortly before their court appearance,” said Hawks spokesperson Captain Dineo Lucy Sekgotodi on Tuesday.

The pair appeared in court on Monday.

The accused registered the company called Fundzani Trading CC in March 2018. It is alleged that 41 year-old Rejoice Sindisile Magagula who was the owner of the company subsequently submitted false and unlawful tax returns to the South African Revenue Service (SARS), claiming and prejudicing the revenue service an actual loss of more than R203 681.

After receiving the money, she transferred some of the money to Matilda Velelent Shongwe.

The accused were released on R2000 bail each and the case was postponed to 15 September 2021.

Source: South African Government News Agency

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R340 million funding for SA businesses

Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Ebrahim Patel has announced the new JP Morgan funding facility to the tune of R342 million for South African businesses, under the Equity Equivalent Investment Programme (EEIP) to boost the industrial and green economy sectors.

“The boost to manufacturing in particular is timely as one of the key lessons of the COVID-19 period has been the value of having domestic industrial capabilities,” Minister Patel said on Tuesday.

Making the announcement, Patel said JP Morgan becomes the first international investment bank to undertake an EEIP programme alongside government through the R340 million commitment. This is in grants and loans that has been projected by JP Morgan to unlock and up to R2 billion in capital or financing for short, medium- and long-term funding over an eight-year period.

Patel explained that the funding is intended to support small and medium-sized businesses in sectors of significant public importance, ranging from transactions in the green economy to funding for firms with manufacturing operations.

“South Africa needs more jobs for young people and deeper levels of industrialisation. This transaction will give a boost to the country’s localisation efforts, creating employment and helping to strengthen economic output.

“I welcome the commitment to the creation of 1 000 new jobs and the focus on supporting a segment of the market that is not adequately served by the financial system,” he said.

The Minister said the funding will facilitate an injection into the South African economy aimed at small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) who face critical funding challenges or who might not meet the traditional underwriting criteria of the commercial banks.

“The terms on which this funding will be extended is concessional and includes limited security requirements and loan repayment holidays that respond to the life stage of the enterprises supported and the operational challenges they might face.

“In this regard, it is intended to be ‘responsive’ funding. Responsive to the demand challenges the OECD flags in its scorecard on SME financing in South Africa,” Patel said.

Generating jobs

Patel said the support to more than 500 businesses that the Fund is targeting is intended to generate more than 1000 jobs, the bulk of which will come from the green and industrial sectors of the economy.

“The sum committed by JP Morgan is equivalent to the calculated cost of financing an equity holding of 22% by black South Africans in the local operations of JP Morgan, based on a modeling exercise undertaken by the parties,” the Minister said.

He said recent unrest in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal, is indicative of the challenges that remain.

Many of the affected firms, especially the small and medium sized firms, are the typical candidates who would benefit from the Abadali EEIP.

Grants

J.P. Morgan has already committed and made the funds available to the Abadali EEIP, which will allow for applications to be accepted immediately.

The Abadali Grant will also extend grants of R40 million towards developing black enterprises into sustainable and successful businesses with a focus on supporting entrepreneurship, and advancing jobs and skills for in-demand sectors like the digital and the green economy.

Medium-to long-term finance will be offered at significantly subsidised rates to businesses with revenue starting from R1 million that require funding for two to five years.

The eligible, selected businesses will be majority black owned and managed enterprises with a track record of at least 12 months of trading.

“The Ministry, alongside our counterparts in the Department of Small Business Development and our funding agencies, will have more to say in the period ahead about the funding measures in response to the unrest.

“We remain committed to ensuring that we support the rebuilding and restoration efforts of firms in these affected areas and will ensure that support is readily available to assist in these reconstruction efforts,” Patel said.

Source: South African Government News Agency