Day: June 20, 2022

The South African government, local vaccine manufacturers and organised labour, have welcomed the agreement at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) that supports the production of COVID-19 vaccines in developing countries.

The agreement allows governments to authorise local manufacturers to produce vaccines or their ingredients, substances or elements and utilise processes which are covered by patents, without the permission of the patent holders during the pandemic.

South Africa and India first proposed the measures to the WTO, with the support of other developing countries during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We welcome the agreement as a solid and helpful basis to strengthen our joint efforts to develop a strong African vaccine manufacturing capacity. To scale up the production on the continent, further partnerships will be needed, including access to know-how and technologies.

“The unanimous support for the waiver agreement by all WTO countries should lay the basis for such partnerships and give countries greater flexibilities,” said Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Ebrahim Patel.

Minister Patel and Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development Minister Thoko Didiza noted that the agreement was a step forward in government’s efforts to stimulate African industrialisation and it has the potential to unlock production beyond fill and finish.

“The waiver is one element of a wider set of actions to build both innovation and production capability in South Africa and elsewhere on the continent. South Africa has four vaccine initiatives under way. Our focus now is to ensure we address demand by persuading global procurers for vaccines to source from African producers.

“This waiver and the other commitments secured at the WTO is also about pandemic preparedness, to enable developing countries to have the legal tools in place to address variants to COVID-19 in future and indeed, to prepare for future pandemics,” Minister Didiza said.

Minister Didiza said the agreement was a step forward for African producers.

Organised labour and business representatives at Nedlac met virtually with government during the 12th WTO Ministerial Conference and pledged their full support to the efforts by South Africa to secure an agreement.

Local vaccine manufacturers Biovac, Afrigen and Aspen PharmaCare welcomed the terms and Trade, Industry and Competition supported the approach to reach agreement at the WTO. SA’s largest trade union federation, COSATU today also welcomed the agreement.

“We would like to congratulate the South African government and all related stakeholders in reaching finality and agreement on this important topic.

“This will be an enabler to all institutions involved in COVID-19 vaccine development and manufacture in developing countries to focus on the task at hand unhindered,” Morena Makhoana, CEO of South African vaccine producer, Biovac said.

Professor Petro Terblanche MD of Afrigen, SA company which has designed and developed the first South African mRNA vaccine currently being tested,said: “The WTO has reached a significant milestone by waiving intellectual property rights applicable in the manufacturing of vaccines. South Africa’s leading role in this breakthrough agreement is applauded. This will unlock manufacturing capacity on the continent.”

Dr Stavros Nicolaou, Group Senior Executive for Strategic Trade at Africa’s largest pharmaceutical manufacturer Aspen Pharmacare, said: “We note the landmark agreement aimed at supporting the local production of COVID-19 vaccines and in particular as it relates to the African continent. This is a positive step for the diversification of global pharmaceutical supply chains and for manufacturing on the African continent.

“It achieves a balance between providing access to COVID-19 vaccines in developing countries within a framework that still rewards much needed innovation by the original patent holders. That this has come through agreement between multilateral parties augurs well for partnership in the pharmaceutical value chain.”

He said Aspen looks forward to continuing to work with its existing and future R&D multinational partners and global institutions to improve access to COVID-19 vaccines within the agreements reached on intellectual property rights with the various multinational partners.

COSATU and labour more broadly in South Africa welcomed the agreement that has emerged at the WTO.

“The discussions on the TRIPS agreement were tough but we are happy that what emerged is a basis to go forward with local production,” the Congress of SA Trade Unions (COSATU) said.

Source: South African Government News Agency

LIMPOPO – Lebowakgomo police are investigating a case of a missing person. It is alleged that Frans Molapi Mphahlele (52) of Mamaolo Village was last seen on Tuesday, 14 June 2022, by his uncle at home.

A search was conducted from relatives and places he frequently visits without a success. The type of clothing he was wearing at the time of his disappearance are unknown.

Anyone with information of his whereabouts should contact the investigating officer Lieutenant Colonel Nyamanyawo Thomas Baloyi on 082 565 8234 or the Crime Stop at 08600 10111 or the nearest police station or MySAPSApp.

The police investigations continues.

Source: South African Police Service

The South African Local Government Association (SALGA) National Executive Committee (NEC) will on Wednesday, 22 June 2022, engage with municipalities in the Northern Cape province on a range of issues facing local government which require immediate attention.

The planned engagements are as a result of the NEC’s resolve to intensify regular interaction between SALGA and its member municipalities. SALGA uses a rotating system of convening scheduled NEC meetings throughout the nine provinces.

Details of Engagement are as follows:

Date: Wed, 22 June 2022

Time: 8h30

Venue: Mittah Seperepere Conference Centre, Kimberley

Each District Municipality is expected to present on the State of the Municipalities in the following areas of interest:

Leadership: Role of Political and Administrative Leadership in the District.

State of Service Delivery in the District.

Audit Outcomes of municipalities for last financial year and the related financial accountability and sustainability challenges

Legal and Regulatory Compliance, including State of Litigation against each municipality in the district

List of Advocacy or Support requests from SALGA.

State of municipalities under Section 139 Intervention or Section 106 Investigation

Source: Government of South Africa

The Gauteng Traffic Police has called upon drivers to adhere to the rules of the road following the arrest of seven drivers aged between 32 and 60 for allegedly speeding.

“Excessive speeding significantly contributes to the high number of road fatalities in the province. We call upon drivers to adhere to the general speed limit on Gauteng major routes in order to save lives,” Gauteng Traffic Police spokesperson, Sello Maremane, said on Monday.

The average speed of the drivers ranged from 166 km/h to 215 km/h.

“The highest speedster arrested was a 41-year-old who was caught driving a Silver Mercedes Benz G63 at a 215km per hour speed on a prescribed maximum speed limit of 120km per hour on the N1 South. The speedster was detained at Sinoville police station. The driver claimed he was running away from hijackers upon his arrest,” the Gauteng Traffic Police said.

The rest of the drivers were detained at various police stations such as Olievenhoutbosch, Olifantsfontein and Werdabrug amongst others. The arrests were made during a high-speed unit operation that was conducted along the major routes and freeways in Gauteng over the weekend.

The speedsters face charges relating to reckless and negligent driving with an alternative charge of exceeding the prescribed maximum limit of 120km/h on a freeway.

The Gauteng Traffic Police High Speed Unit successfully clamped down on speedsters due to the use of the latest technological devices during their operations such as the Moving Violation Recorders (MVR).

The MVR records the average speed measured over a minimum of 500 meters. The event is recorded and downloaded for investigation and prosecution purposes.

“The Gauteng Traffic Police High Speed Unit will continue to conduct high speed operations and apprehend drivers who continuously endanger the lives of road users,” Maremane said.

Source: South African Government News Agency

NELSPRUIT – The Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela sends a strong message to perpetrators that police will not treat issues of Gender-Based-Violence with velvet hands but rather as serious. The sentiment by the General comes after the arrest of a murder suspect, Charlie Shabangu, aged 29 who was sought by the police in connection with the murder of his girlfriend which occurred in the beginning of June 2022.

The police at Amersfoort made a breakthrough when they arrested the suspect on Saturday, 18 June 2022 through the information provided by the community. Shabangu’s girlfriend, Nomalanga Zwane (34) was sadly murdered by the suspect in the early hours of 06 June 2022. It is further alleged that he assaulted the brother of the deceased as he tried to rescue his sister from a scene of domestic violence. Thereafter it is said that he fled the scene allegedly with Zwane’s cell phone as well as that of the brother he allegedly assaulted. Investigators have been working tirelessly to find the suspect who has been on the run ever since.

Police were notified by good citizens about a suspect whom they have been looking for, who was seen hitchhiking from Piet Retief towards the direction of Wakkerstroom. Police acted swiftly where they summoned assistance from their counterparts in Wakkerstroom and Volksrust, with clear description of the car he was reportedly in. They intercepted the car matching the description as provided. Upon noticing the police, the suspect is said to have then alighted from the vehicle and tried to run but the energetic men and women in blue caught up with him before he could get far.

Subsequent to the suspect being arrested and charged for murder as well as for assault with intent to cause grievous harm, he was taken to court and made his first appearance at the Amersfoort Magistrate’s Court. Shabangu’s case was postponed to 20 July 2022 for legal representation. Meanwhile he remained in custody until then.

The Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney has regarded the arrest of the suspect as a clear mark and indication that police will never fold their arms whenever there is an incident of Domestic Violence but they will continue to make sure that they tackle this scourge headon without any hesitation. “We have mobilized all our resources in the investigation of this case and we are so confident that there will be justice served for the family of Zwane and all other victims of Gender-Based-Violence, particularly the women and children. We also thank the public for always assisting us with valuable information on the whereabouts of suspects” said the General.

Source: South African Police Service

UPINGTON – The SAPS in the Northern Cape is urging community members to come forwards with information on the whereabouts of missing 5-years-old Le-Virno Van Wyk in Upington.

The boy has been missing since 31 May 2022, after he was last seen playing at a railway near Skierlik squatter camp with his friends. The area was searched by the police and the community members with no trace of him.

Anyone with information must please call the FCS Commander, Captain Koos Van Den Heever on 082 302 0442 or Sergeant Lebogang Mokwene on 082 330 4478. Alternatively, tip-offs can be provided by calling Crime Stop on 08600 10111 or via the My SAPS App.

All information will be treated with the strictest of confidence. The investigation continues.

Source: South African Police Service

The Department of Home Affairs wishes to clarify misconception created about the patrolling of the border, in particular along the Limpopo River.

This comes after the Department became aware of the video which has been circulating on social media and other news platforms alleging that AfriForum has taken over the responsibility of patrolling the border line.

“This is blatantly untrue. Members of AfriForum in Musina are patrolling their own farms which are neighbouring the border line. They are certainly not patrolling the general border line outside their farms. If they were doing so, it would have been illegal,” the Department of Home Affairs said in a statement.

The responsibility of patrolling the border line is that of statutory law enforcement agencies and they have not handed it over to any citizen or group of citizens.

“The Department wishes to also state that in line with the commitments made by Minister Aaron Motsoaledi in his Budget Vote Speech for 2022/23, the Border Management Authority is proceeding with speed and has finalised the appointment of the first cohort of Border Guards who will be deployed along the vulnerable segments of the border line,” the department said.

The appointment of the Border Guards is another significant milestone in the implementation of the Border Management Authority.

“In executing its duties, the Border Management Authority will rely on lawful partnerships with other stakeholders that include the SA National Defence Force, SA Police Service and border communities,” the department said.

The department said it will communicate the progress it is making in securing the border line.

Source: South African Government News Agency