Day: May 19, 2022

Having taken note of reports that SANRAL has cancelled adjudicated projects to the value of R17.4 billion, the Minister of Transport, Mr Fikile Mbalula will join a media briefing convened by SANRAL to clarify the matter.

“I have asked the board of SANRAL through its Chairperson, Mr Mhambi, to take the country into confidence on this matter and outline quick turn-around to avoid unnecessary delays to catalytic projects.

We are mindful that these are key infrastructure projects that are instrumental to enabling economic recovery in the construction sector,” said Minister Mbalula.

Minister Mbalula will join the Board of SANRAL at a planned media briefing on Monday, 23 May 2022 where detailed information on this matter will be provided. 

At this briefing, the Minister will also outline plans in respect of other catalytic projects the department is implementing to improve transport infrastructure and contribute to economic reconstruction and recovery.

Source: Government of South Africa

Over the past few days the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture has followed and taken note of public discourse that has unfolded in respect of the envisaged Monumental Flag.

The diversity of voices around this important heritage project are a welcome celebration of our country’s vibrant constitutional democracy and the freedoms that must be upheld beyond posterity. It also bodes well for one of the pillars of social cohesion which is an active citizenry.

In upholding these ethos and the inalienable rights of citizens to be heard, the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture has directed his department to review the process related to the Monumental Flag in its totality.

The Department of Sport, Arts and Culture is entrusted with the mandate to transform South Africa’s heritage landscape by building monuments, memorials, museums, changing colonial and apartheid names as well as the overarching injunction heal the divisions of the past.

It does so informed by national aspirations and international best practice which appreciates that heritage is among the bedrock of value systems that must drive national pride, social cohesiveness and unity.

The World Heritage Convention makes the point that “cultural and natural heritage is not only an irreplaceable source of identity and inspiration, but also a key driving force for sustainable development”.

In striving to transform the cultural and heritage landscape of our democratic society, the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture will continue to be driven by the pursuit of the socio-economic dividend for the country, as well as the historical, symbolic, spiritual and aesthetic values and identity of a democratic South Africa and its people.

As we pursue this path, it is hoped that discourse will reflect deeper around these factors.

Source: Government of South Africa

Acting together to eliminate child labour in agriculture

A total of 70 percent of all children engaged in child labour were in agriculture and this is the only sector in recent years that has seen an increase in child labour – delegates were told during the 5th Global Conference on the Elimination of Child Labour.

Bernd Seiffert, Focal Point for Child Labour in Agriculture, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations said the effects of Covid-19 pandemic has pushed more children further into child labour. 

Seiffert said eliminating child labour in the agricultural sector was a collective effort among all stakeholders. He said agriculture needs cross sectoral solutions where stakeholders work together to eliminate child labour. 

He identified: quality education, vocational training, social protection, women’s empowerment, climate smart practices, proper natural resources management and collaboration between the ministries of agriculture, labour and employment as some of policy instruments that can be used to eliminate child labour in the agriculture sector. 

Seiffert was speaking at Inkosi Alert Luthuli International Convention Centre in Durban during a panel discussion on the subject of: Making a breakthrough in agriculture to end child labour. The panel was to give voice to global, regional, national and local actors who are contributing to address child labour in agriculture in different subsectors.

International Labour Organization (ILO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) report titled: “Child Labour: Global estimates 2020, trends and the road forward” – estimates that 160 million children – 63 million girls and 97 million boys – were in child labour globally at the beginning of 2020, accounting for almost 1 in 10 of all children worldwide. Seventy-nine million children – nearly half of all those in child labour – were in hazardous work that directly endangers their health, safety and moral development.

Thoko Didiza, South Africa’s Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development said at the heart of the problem was addressing the root causes of child labour. Didiza said agriculture remains an important sector of the economy and development – and addressing child labour will require a multi-functional approach.   

Didiza said another challenge helping to perpetuate child labour in the sector was inadequate compliance and lack of information. 

“In small holder farms – children more often become part of labour force. We need to also deal with stimulus factors to help release children to get education. Child labour is not only restricted to emerging farmers, but is also found in commercial farming and this is more evident during the harvesting season,” she said.

She called for more collaboration with other ministries and the inspectorate to ensure enforcement and compliance. Didiza also said advocacy was another critical component of dealing with child labour – so as to educate society at large. 

Mopholosi Morokong, Regional Occupational Health and Safety Officer: International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers’ Associations, South Africa said one of the drivers of child labour was poor wages. Morokong said the implementation of the ‘piece rate’ pay structure – where employees are paid to complete a particular task by every unit created or harvested – undermines efforts to challenge and eliminate child labour. 

He said the second problem is the denial of the right to freedom of association to workers. 

“Workers voices are suffocated, and if voices of the workers are suffocated they are unable to engage in collective bargaining, so that they improve wage and this is a problem. As a result of that, there are also health and safety consequences such a ‘social hazards’ which means – workers become ill, do not get wages, and there is no social protection,” he said. 

Morokong called for a strict monitoring system to ensure compliance and anonymous reporting system. 

 The week-long conference ends tomorrow (20 May) with a session on the lessons learnt and a path forward including the adoption of Durban Call to Action programme. 

Source: Government of South Africa

With the assistance of a private engineering consultancy, a study commenced in the Hout Bay Catchment in February 2022. To date, the study has discovered several factors contributing to water pollution and also identified possible solutions for the elimination of pollutants entering the Hout Bay Catchment water courses. One of the objectives of the study is to create a single integrated report by bringing together all investigations, studies and public participation events, and to create a transversal action plan to address these significant pollutant issues. 

The study is meant to specifically determine and quantify the responsibilities of the City’s line departments with respect to eliminating pollutants entering the Hout Bay River courses, including more robust engineering solutions, together with awareness campaigns and the promotion of organisations and small businesses dedicated to improving their immediate environments.

A number of initial field investigations have been done, primarily in the area of Imizamo Yethu (IY). 

• Investigating teams documented that the problems are numerous, widespread and in certain instances, complicated, where foul water from multiple sources is flowing onto the streets as surface discharge and also into the underground stormwater networks via stormwater catch pits, and open stormwater manhole covers, where these covers are stolen.
• Solid waste dumped into the sewer network is blocking sewer systems and overflowing into the stormwater network, and into the stormwater detention ponds, causing severe contamination and health risks.
• The discharge of grey water onto the streets through washing machines, bucket discharging, overtopping sewer manholes and other effluents are discharging directly onto the streets of IY and ultimately onto the main road and river systems. The proposed interventions on these challenges will be the reinstatement of strategic stormwater inlets along the streets, as well as a number of stormwater to sewer low-flow diversion works. To date, five sewer to stormwater low-flow diversions are already constructed, and a further five similar low-flow diversions are planned during this calendar year.
• Discarding solid waste directly into the sewer manholes, which blocks the network, resulting in raw sewage overflowing from manholes. Lockable sewer manhole covers are being tested by the City, with three lockable manhole covers already being installed in IY. More lockable manhole covers will be considered for this area.
• Solid waste entering the stormwater network (catch pits and pipes) and river systems (open water courses). The proposed solution is that litter socks should be placed at strategic outfalls. To date, one litter sock was installed at the Victoria Road stormwater outfall and another two litter socks are planned to be installed at the end of May 2022.  
• Direct connections from sewer systems to stormwater systems and standpipes with washdown aprons connected directly to stormwater structures. Investigations to eliminate these cross-connections have commenced as part of this comprehensive study. 
• Invegetated disturbed land and steep topography resulting in scouring and sediments run off. The comprehensive study, which is under way, will recommend pro-active solutions.

‘We hope that the proposed interventions will go a long way in improving water quality in the natural water courses, but the City must not lose focus on the ultimate goal of eliminating contamination not only in the natural water courses, but primarily at the source of the problems,’ said Councillor Zahid Badroodien, Mayoral Committee Member for Water and Sanitation.

In this regard, the City, on 23 April, hosted an education and awareness campaign in Hout Bay to educate the community on drain blockages, illegal dumping and how to manage their waste pest infestation and general unhygienic conditions.

Source: City Of Cape Town

Last night, a joint operation between Durbanville SAPS and the City’s Metal Theft Unit led to several arrests after a large quantity of City metal covers were discovered from a house in Morningstar. This was in response to intelligence information supplied by the Neighbourhood Watch (NHW) members and the two Ward Councillors.

During the months of April/ May 2022, the councillors of Wards 112 and 21 became aware of the drastic increase in the theft of metal drain, sewer, fire hydrant and electrical box covers. This was due to the increased number of service requests by the residents and especially members of the NHW.

The modus operandi appears to be as follows: Individuals steal the covers and then take them to a house in Morningstar and get paid some cash. Then the items are broken up, buried in sand on the property and the road reserve until it can be taken to the next scrap metal dealer for the final sale.  

On 30 April, Ward Councillor  Hendri Terblanche contacted Mayoral Committee Member for Corporate Services, Alderman Theresa Uys when he tried to get assistance to arrest one the suspects who had two drain covers in a trolley. The suspect got away but fortunately, a member of the NHW had a photograph and could identify the suspect. Alderman Uys contacted the NHW member and residents in Morningstar to confirm his name and the address of the suspected buyer.

Alderman Uys then contacted Durbanville SAPS where she exchanged information. 

‘SAPS complained that the City Officials at the Langeberg depot refused to open any cases, so I contacted the Executive Director for Safety and Security, Mr Vincent Botto, and within 24 hours, the City’s Metal Theft unit acted on the information,’ said Alderman Uys.

SAPS have requested that all City Line Department Managers be encouraged to report the theft of City property and to obtain a case number. This will assist them in being able to investigate the case.

The public is reminded that a reward of up to R5 000 is being offered to anyone who reports any incident or provides information related to theft and vandalism of water and sanitation infrastructure that leads to a successful arrest or recovery of stolen infrastructure.

‘The reward of up to R5 000 underscores the City’s efforts to combat the malicious destruction to our infrastructure. Additionally, it will help to encourage residents to be vigilant and to protect public infrastructure. A zero tolerance approach must be adopted if we are serious about tackling this attack head-on. At the end of the day, it is the public’s rates and tariffs that pay for the repair and replacement of infrastructure that is stolen and vandalised. 

‘The City, residents and other stakeholders need to all work together to clamp down on theft and vandalism because these selfish acts by thieves and vandals result in sewer blockages and overflows in the streets of our communities. Anyone who provides information can do so confidentially,’ said Councillor Badroodien.

All witnessed or potential incidents must be reported immediately to the City’s public emergency call centre: 

• 107 from a landline
• 021 480 7700 from a cellphone

Source: City Of Cape Town