Day: June 7, 2022

South Africa today joined the rest of the global community to commemorate World Food Safety Day.

The day is aimed at transforming food systems to deliver better health sustainably and prevent foodborne diseases such as Listeriosis.

This year’s World Food Safety Day is commemorated under the theme: “Safer food, better health” which serves as a clarion call for everyone to join the campaign to ensure safe food for all.

In a statement on Tuesday, the National Department of Health said that this day also provides an opportunity to strengthen efforts to ensure that the food people consume is safe.

The department said that food safety is closely linked to many other Sustainable Development Goals, including economic growth, innovation, responsible consumption and production and climate change.

“In South Africa, food safety remains a shared responsibility and everyone’s business to prevent avoidable health risks; hence it is regulated by various governmental bodies.”

Government has called upon everyone to join forces and practice food safety awareness.

The Department of Health is responsible for ensuring that foodstuffs are safe for human consumption in terms of the Foodstuffs, Cosmetics and Disinfectant Act, which addresses the manufacture, labelling, sale and importation of foodstuffs.

“On the other hand, the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD) is responsible for ensuring food safety in agricultural inputs such as animal feed and fertilizers, on farms and at abattoirs and meat imports. The National Regulator for Compulsory Specification (NRCS) is responsible for regulating fish and other seafood and canned meat as assigned, by the Minister of Health,” the statement read.

Global burden of foodborne disease

The World Health Organisation published the first estimates on the global burden of foodborne disease in 2015, indicating that annually, unsafe food causes 600 million cases and 42 000 deaths, but concedes that there is massive under-reporting.

Foodborne diseases arise due to contamination by chemicals, viruses, bacteria and parasites, but food safety and hygiene protocols remain the best preventative methods to improve food safety systems and ensure that food is safe to eat.

However, the department said this requires sustained investment in several areas, from stronger regulation associated with good compliance and enforcement, to better laboratories, surveillance that is more stringent and better training and education.

“Although, there was no evidence that COVID-19 is transmitted through food, food containers or packaging, but the pandemic has sharpened the focus on food safety-related issues, such as hygiene, antimicrobial resistance, zoonotic diseases, climate change, food fraud and the potential benefits of digitalizing food control systems,” the department said.

South Africa participates in the Joint FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius Commission, which is an international food safety organisation established to develop global standards and guidance to protect the health of consumers and facilitate fair trade in food.

The Department of Health, through the Food Control Directorate develops food safety, labelling and enhanced health and nutrition legislation. It is also coordinating and responding to food safety emergencies or crises such as international notifications requiring action or industry notifications of food recalls due to potential food safety hazards in line with the World Health Organization International Health Regulations.

“As part of ongoing efforts by government to protect consumers and provide communities with healthier environments, the environmental health practitioners conduct routine inspections at food business operators such as manufacturers, restaurants and supermarkets for health compliance, food storage practices and food handling practices.

“They also conduct training and awareness activities to food handlers, especially in the informal sector as well as community level,” the department said.

The department has urged consumers that have concerns with the safety or food labelling to report these to their nearest municipalities.

The National Environmental Health section has developed Norms and Standards, and audits municipalities against these and is responsible to respond to any outbreak of foodborne illness.

“As we review our policies and legislation, there is a need for robust monitoring, improved surveillance and detection and rapid response capabilities for food safety emergencies and foodborne disease outbreaks.

“All these are imperative to protect the health and well-being of South Africa’s population from foodborne diseases, communicable and non-communicable diseases,” the department said.

Source: South African Government News Agency

Ministry of Justice confirms arrest of the Guptas

The Ministry of Justice and Correctional Services confirms that it has received information from law enforcement authorities in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) that fugitives of justice, namely, Rajesh and Atul Gupta have been arrested.

Discussions between various law enforcement agencies in the UAE and South Africa on the way forward are ongoing. The South African government will continue to co-operate with the EAU.

Source: Government of South Africa

eThekwini Municipality Deputy Mayor, Philani Mavundla, says the city is in discussions with Human Settlements MEC, Jomo Sibiya, to find a lasting solution to the challenges faced by displaced flood victims.

Mavundla was addressing about 40 people who claim to be displaced flood victims from various temporary shelters in eThekwini.

The victims staged a sit-in at the Durban City Hall on Monday, to raise their concerns.

Mavundla explained to the victims the support provided by the municipality to the shelters, and outlined the challenges and processes to be followed to resettle displaced flood victims in safer homes.

He said since the floods in April, the municipality has been providing a range of support services to those living in temporary shelters. These include hot meals, blankets, mattresses, medical services and hygiene packs.

“Together with the Department of Home Affairs, identity documents have been provided to enable families to access other government support interventions, such as grants and pensions. Importantly, the municipality is in the process of identifying suitable land for building homes. In some areas, this process is at an advanced stage.

“We understand the plight of those living in shelters. We also understand the urgency of resettling them in safe homes. We are already in discussions with the MEC for Human Settlements, Jomo Sibiya, to find a lasting solution to this challenge,” Mavundla said.

He said city officials are currently profiling the protesters to establish if they are indeed flood victims and to determine the type of assistance they require.

Source: South African Government News Agency

DESTEA beefs up its communications machinery as it gears towards sustainable economic development

The Free State Department of Economic, Small Business Development, Tourism & Environmental Affairs (DESTEA) wishes to inform members of the Fourth Estate that, including all internal and external stakeholders that as of June 10, 2022, approval has been granted for Mr. Mojalefa Mphapang to be transferred from the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD). Mr Mphapang joins the team of hardworking communicators as of June 01, 2022. He will serve the Department as Deputy Director: Strategic Communication.

As the Free State Provincial Government intensifies its efforts to communicate the good work delivered daily through various efforts, the Department of Economic, Small Business, Tourism and Environmental Affairs (DESTEA) also has a mandate to upscale Communications on key priorities and programmes to accelerate the pedal of service delivery. It is for this reason that Communications is an important tool of service delivery as it forges partnerships in highlights of the 2019—2024 electoral mandate.

Mr. Mphapang has extensive experience as a communicator in the Public Service. He served as a Communications Officer in the Free State Department of Health from 2004 until 2008. He was then appointed as an Assistant Director for Communications Services at the Free State Provincial Treasury, and worked in that position from 2008 until 2013. He later moved to the Northern Cape Provincial Treasury where he served as the Head of Communications for the period of three years, 2013 until 2015. In 2015, he made his return to the Free State as Communications Manager in the Department Agriculture and Rural Development and Rural Development.

Through its Communications unit, the DESTEA can reinforce the concept of a caring Government that listens to the people by addressing what needs to be communicated to whom, when, how and for what reasons.

MEC Makalo Mohale indicated said: “I wish to welcome Mr. Mphapang to this Department. His qualifications, experience, insight and capabilities in driving the Communications functions within different compartments of Government Communications and how the system operates will bring a vibe to enhance communication activities in the Department.

We expect him together with Communication team to effectively continue communicating the work of the Department as we undertake the journey of economic reconstruction, recovery as well as rebuilding the Free State we want.”

Issued by the Communications Unit. Free State Department of Economic, Small Business Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs.

Source: Government of South Africa

Members of SAPS Lenasia arrested a 33-year-old man on Tuesday, 07 June 2022 for possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition following a community tip-off.

The SAPS members reportedly obtained information on a suspicious looking person near a taxi rank in Lenasia Ext 01 and proceeded to the address. A search was conducted which resulted in the recovery of two unlicensed firearms and ammunition. Further investigation revealed that one of the firearms was reported stolen at Brixton police station in 2019.

The firearms will be subjected to ballistic tests to determine whether it may be linked to other serious crime committed.

The suspect is expected to appear before the Lenasia Magistrates’ court soon.

Source: South African Police Service

Repairs to internal roads will ensure the safe conveyance of stock within the harbour.

This project is a prime example of the importance of infrastructure development to spur on economic activity and much needed job creation for our citizens.

The removal of sunken vessels programme was been completed with a total of 29 vessels removed at various harbours, 15 of those vessels were removed at the Hout Bay Harbour.

DPWI grasped at the opportunity at the Hout Bay harbour removal of sunken vessels project which allowed 9 informal divers (many which were former poachers) including 1 woman being trained as Class 3 Commercial Divers to assist with the work for the Hout Bay Harbour removal of sunken vessels project. The removal of sunken vessels project in Hout Bay alone created a total of 110 jobs and empowered 11 SMMEs to the value of approximately R4,5 million.

The development of harbours will allow coastal communities access to the sea as well as an opportunity to grow the oceans economy in turn creating jobs and growing these coastal towns that were deprived of proper marine infrastructure for many years. This project has brought immense benefit in terms of job creation and now that the project has been completed, we hope it will increase investment and enable greater economic activity, for surrounding communities and the fishing industry value chain.

We are making a plea to all surrounding communities to see these upgraded harbours as their harbours and to work with the department to ensure the harbours are protected from vandalism and that this critical infrastructure benefits the broader community and to grow the oceans economy.

Source: Government of South Africa

Six accused aged between 21 and 85 were remanded in custody until Monday, 13 June 2022, consequent to appearance in the Rustenburg Magistrates’ Court yesterday for contravention of Section 22 of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act, 2007 (Act No. 32 of 2007) and crimen injuria.

The accused; three males and three females, who are alleged to be members of an unidentified church, were arrested in Sondela Phase 1, Boitekong outside Rustenburg on Friday, 3 June 2022. That after being found naked together with 11 children, on Wednesday, 1 June 2022, in a house used as a church. The only individual who was found wearing clothes, was a 34-year-old female church leader. Subsequent to preliminary investigations, all children between the ages of four to 12, of which six are boys and five are girls, were removed from the house and handed to social workers for intervention, and ultimately placed under the care of other family members.

According to information received, the house that was used as a church, partially burnt on Friday due to items including a couch which were set alight by the church leader who is also one of the accused persons. She was arrested and charged on Sunday, 5 June 2022, after being discharged from the hospital where she was admitted two days earlier.

Investigation into the matter continues.

Source: South African Police Service