Day: April 20, 2022

Key Figures

17.4 million* people of concern in the Middle East and North Africa *(2021 planning figures)

29,000 cases of COVID-19 reported among people of concern to UNHCR since March 2020, including fatalities

19 out of 19 countries in the MENA region have started COVID-19 vaccinations for refugees

Regional Developments

In 2021, UNHCR and partners continued to provide support and deliver protection and assistance to refugees, asylum-seekers, and internally displaced people (IDPs) across the MENA region. This included supporting access to health and education services, and providing shelter and cash assistance, which remained essential to people of concern; some 826,000 unique individuals were reached with emergency cash assistance for the COVID-19 response to the value of $43 million. Notably, UNHCR advocacy contributed to the inclusion of refugees in national COVID-19 responses across the region, including for testing and treatment, and in all countries for COVID-19 vaccination.

Throughout the year, UNHCR continued to support local COVID-19 health responses and sensitization activities through Risk Communication and Community Engagement, while vaccination campaigns were further reinforced by national health authorities, as booster shots were introduced by some to mitigate the spread of the virus.

In 2022, UNHCR’s COVID-19 response will continue to focus on advocating for the inclusion of people of concern to UNHCR in national public health systems and other national responses. Given that significant numbers of people of concern remain vulnerable and in hardship, exacerbated by the pandemic, UNHCR will continue to mitigate the negative socioeconomic and protection impacts of COVID-19, particularly through cash programming and community outreach. COVID-19 programming, including in the areas of protection, health, basic needs, WASH, shelter, and camp coordination and camp management (CCCM), are mainstreamed into annual planning and presented in the Global Appeal and an overview is available here.

Source: UN High Commissioner for Refugees

Human Settlements Deputy Minister, Pam Tshwete, has condemned opportunistic individuals who have included their names on the list of those affected by the fire in Joe Slovo informal settlements in Langa, Cape Town.

Tshwete warned the residents that this was delaying the process of finalising the list of affected households, and thus hampering government’s efforts to assist households to rebuild their destroyed structures.

Western Cape Premier Alan Winde, together with Human Settlements MEC Tertiuis Simmers, joined Tshwete in the inspection and assessment of the extent of damage caused by fire that burned down 360 shacks in Joe Slovo and took away one life on Saturday evening.

“We appeal to local community leaders to move with speed in working with government to compile a list of the affected households. This will enable us to release emergency funding aimed at assisting to rebuild their structures,” Tshwete said.

Tshwete also informed residents that she was going to engage the Department of Home Affairs to assist those who lost their identity documents.

The Deputy Minister made a commitment to return to Langa with Human Settlements Minister, Mmamoloko Kubayi to assess progress of rebuilding and resettling the affected households.

KwaZulu-Natal recovery plans

Meanwhile, Kubayi, together with KwaZulu-Natal Human Settlements MEC Jomo Sibiya, has earlier convened a meeting with eThekwini Municipality to discuss KwaZulu-Natal flood recovery plans.

The Minister is currently in a second session, which is underway and attended by Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Patricia de Lille, Sibiya, eThekwini Municipality Deputy Mayor Philani Mavundla, and Council Speaker Thabani Nyawose.

The session is focusing on the identification of land suitable for human settlements so that the movement of people can commence.

The South African government has committed to speed up the repair and construction of homes destroyed during the heavy downpours in the province.

To support those in need and help them rebuild, the public can donate using the Solidarity Fund Floods Response account: Standard Bank, Account Number: 070064474 (Business Current Account).

Source: South African Government News Agency

PORT ALFRED – Adze, a four-year-old Belgian Shepherd police patrol dog sniffed out ‘poachers’ diving equipment from the bushes near Fishriver, Port Alfred today.

On Wednesday morning, 20 April 2022 at about 06:00, the energetic Adze, and his handler, W/O Tertius Neethling followed up information about suspected abalone poachers, who were believed to be operating near Fish River, as well as the area covering the nearby nature reserve. A four-legged K9 officer, Adze was taken out of the vehicle to join the search, and focused in the area with dense shrubs. Moments later, Adze successfully sniffed out diving equipment from the dense shrubs.

The seized equipment is worth over R50 000-00, which include items such as wetsuits, pairs of diving fins, diving booties, pairs of diving gloves and shucking tools.

Source: South African Police Service

Voter registration will be held this weekend for two municipal ward by-elections, scheduled to take place on Wednesday, 15 June 2022.

The by-elections will be held in the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal.

The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) on Wednesday said voting stations will be open on Saturday and Sunday from 08h00 to 17h00 to allow all eligible voters to register, and for current voters to check their registration details and to provide/update address details where necessary.

Voters are advised to take their identity documents (ID) with them – either a green barcoded ID book, a smartcard ID or a valid Temporary ID Certificate.

They will also need to complete their physical home address on registration or provide sufficient particularities of their place of residence. Documented proof of address (e.g. a municipal account) is not required.

Voters may also check and update their details at their local IEC office weekdays during office hours.

Voters are also reminded that it is a criminal offence to register and vote in a ward in which they are not ordinarily resident.

By-elections will be held in the following wards:

Eastern Cape: Ward 03 Mnquma – EC122, with 3 716 registered voters, which became vacant as a result of the resignation of a councillor.

Registration and voting will take place at the following stations:

Voting District/Station Number

10570036 – MSOBOMVU COMMUNITY HALL

10570092 – SW MBANGA SCHOOL

KwaZulu-Natal: Ward 12 Okhahlamba – KZN235, with registered voters, which became vacant as a result of the termination of councillor membership from party.

Registration and voting will take place at the following stations:

Voting District/Station Number

43691216 – WOODFORD METHODIST CHURCH

43691227 – VICKLANDS PRIMARY SCHOOL

43691339 – APOSTOLIC DIVINE FELLOWSHIP CHURCH

43691351 – WOODFORD COMBINED PRIMARY SCHOOL

43691621 – ZWELETHU LOWER PRIMARY SCHOOL

43691687 – NOKOPELA COMBINED PRIMARY SCHOOL

43693375 – PRESBYTERIAN APOSTOLIC CHURCH

Special voting will take place at voting stations, as well as through home visits on 14 June 2022 between 08h00 and 17h00.

Voters who want to apply to cast a special vote can apply at their local IEC office during office hours between 30 May 2022 and 3 June 2022.

Special votes

Applications for special votes can also be made online via the IEC’s website, www.elections.org.za.

Once voters have applied online, they will receive an SMS notifying them of the outcome when their application has been processed. They can also check the status of their special vote application online at www.elections.org.za.

Voters can also apply for special votes via cell phone by SMSing their identity number to 32245 (Charged at R1). The SMS application facility is only available for those applying to cast a special vote at their voting station and NOT for home visits.

“The by-elections will be held under strict new COVID-19 protocols aimed at ensuring the safety of voters, election staff, party agents, observers and other stakeholders,” the IEC said in a statement.

“These include implementing strict social distancing practices outside and inside voting stations, along with the use of hand sanitisers as voters enter and exit the voting station.

“Voters, election staff and all those entering the voting station will be required to wear a mask at all times. Voters are also encouraged to bring their own pens to mark their ballot papers, although pens will be provided and sanitised after each use,” the IEC said.

For more information on these by-elections, contact your local IEC office weekdays during office hours. Contact details for all IEC offices are available on the IEC website at www.elections.org.za under “Contact”.

Source: South African Government News Agency

FREE STATE – Police has launched a manhunt for two suspects following the hijacking and kidnapping of a 48-year-old man on 18 April 2022.

Preliminary investigation reveals that the complainant reported off duty from one of the mines in Matjhabeng at 22:00 and was driving his sedan, a charcoal Toyota Corolla with registration number FFH 762 FS, when he was hijacked at gunpoint and forced into the boot of his car at Stateway and Arrarat Road in Welkom. The suspects drove to different ATM’s to try to withdraw cash but there was no funds in his bank account. Thereafter, the suspects drove to a river where the man was thrown into. He managed to swim to safety and was assisted by Virginia Police members who arranged for him to be taken to a hospital.

A case of hi-jacking and kidnapping was registered for further investigation. Anyone with information leading to the arrests of these armed robbers can contact Detective Sergeant Seleke Khosana of the Vehicle Investigation Crime Unit on 073 460 2760 or Crime Stop on 08600 10111.

Source: South African Police Service

North West Human Settlements MEC, Lina Miga, has urged officials in the department to speed up incomplete housing projects.

Miga made the call during a recent visit to housing projects in Kanana township in the Dr Kenneth Kaunda District Municipality.

Miga said the department has in the past three years experienced a number of challenges, including developers abandoning sites due to the COVID-19 pandemic and other internal administrative challenges.

She said these challenges have led to many projects being left incomplete and as a result, the beneficiaries, especially elderly people, are left vulnerable.

“In most projects, structures were left incomplete, while with others, only foundations were constructed,” Miga said.

The MEC said urgent attention is needed to address this challenge, emphasising that it is the responsibility of her department to build houses for eligible beneficiaries.

She urged officials within the department to work around the clock to ensure that such projects are completed as soon as possible.

She also called on contractors to work speedily to make sure that the beneficiaries receive houses that are of good quality.

“It is my department’s responsibility to ensure that eligible beneficiaries receive houses with basic amenities. The department and contractors must work closely with municipalities and local councillors to make sure that we deliver on our mandate. Such challenges are easily avoided.

“We must also prioritise the elderly, women and other vulnerable groups as we continue to correct the mistakes of the past,” Miga said.

One of the beneficiaries visited by the MEC, Mme Maria Tats, said she was pleased to receive news that her house will be completed soon.

Tats, who stays alone, was left stranded in her shack many years ago. Community caregivers visis her from time to time to assist with house duties, and ensure that she takes her medication properly.

“It has been almost three years since this structure has been standing incomplete. The MEC’s visit gives me hope and I believe and trust that soon, I will be moving into my house. I thank her [Miga] for her generous gesture and making sure that my hopes and dreams come true,” said Tats.

Miga said the department has already conducted an audit of blocked projects across the province, and an undertaking has already been made to start unblocking most of them over the next few years.

Source: South African Government News Agency

Bonteheuwel residents can look forward to the City of Cape Town’s mobile office visiting their area on 21 April 2022. This initiative seeks to provide customer services to communities living far from municipal facilities such as cash, housing and subcouncil offices or FreeCall lines.

The mobile service will be at the Bonteheuwel Civic Centre at the Corner of Bluegum and Kiaat Streets, from 09:30 until 13:30.

‘I urge Bonteheuwel residents to take advantage of this opportunity where they can engage the City’s customer service team, who will assist them with logging queries and service requests electronically. The team is effective in resolving long outstanding queries for residents. This way the City is bringing its services to the residents, and affording them the opportunity to enquire and to solve issues without having to spend time and money on transport,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Corporate Services, Alderman Theresa Uys.

Residents are reminded to please bring their account statements and ID books to help ease the process.

Source: City Of Cape Town