Day: June 30, 2022

Eskom says Stage 6 load shedding will be implemented from 2pm until midnight this evening, due to a slow return to work of personnel at its power stations, following violent strike action this week.

The power utility has also updated the load shedding programme for the rest of the week as follows:

• Stage six load shedding from 2pm to midnight today.

• Stage four load shedding will then be implemented from midnight until 5am on Friday (tomorrow) morning

• This will be followed by a full day of stage six load shedding on Friday (tomorrow) until midnight

Following that, stage four load shedding will continue throughout the weekend.

“The high levels of absenteeism and intimidation of working employees and in some of the power stations is still rife. This has made it difficult to conduct routine maintenance and other operational requirements, which will further impact the reliability of generation units.

“Due to the unlawful and unprotected strike, which has caused widespread disruption to Eskom’s power plants, Eskom is unable to return some generation to service. Eskom is compelled to take this unprecedented step to conserve emergency generation capacity to safeguard the power system,” the power utility said.

The state owned power producer highlighted that the continued unavailability of staff has a widespread effect beyond the Megawatt Park.

“The unlawful strike has a serious detrimental impact not only on Eskom but also on the broader South African public and economy. Union members who work in a designated essential service, have a legal and moral obligation to return to work in order to safeguard South Africa from further load shedding.

“Eskom would like to remind the public that load shedding is implemented only as a last resort to protect the national grid. We therefore urge all South Africans to continue using electricity sparingly especially during these uncertain times on the power system,” Eskom said.

Source: South African Government News Agency

The City is committed to ensuring public safety and mitigating the potential impact of load-shedding. In this mini-podcast, Fire and Rescue Service Spokesperson, Jermaine Carelse talks about fire safety during load-shedding.

Questions:

1. What are the biggest fire threats related to load-shedding?

2. Has the Fire and Rescue Service noticed an increase in residential fires during periods of load-shedding?

3. What are some tips for people to better protect their homes and their families from the threat of fire during load-shedding?

In the event of a fire or any other life-threatening emergency, call the City’s Public Emergency Communication Centre on 021 480 7700 from a cellphone or 107 from a landline.

Eskom’s blackouts typically cause power faults due to nuisance tripping and increased service requests.

Please wait at least 30 minutes before logging a service request alerting the City that the power in your area has not come back after load-shedding. Sometimes, the issue is already being resolved. City teams will do their best to attend to any outages as soon as possible.

Source: City Of Cape Town

Public Works and Infrastructure Minister, Patricia de Lille, and Head of the Special Investigative Unit, Advocate Andy Mothibi, on Thursday signed an Anti-Corruption pledge with members of the Infrastructure Built Anti-Corruption Forum.

The Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI), together with the SIU, brought various private and public sector representatives on board who agreed to serve on the forum, which has met several times since the forum’s launch in May 2021.

Speaking at the signing ceremony held in Pretoria earlier today, Minister De Lille said corruption is another pandemic and every effort must be made to fight corruption with all stakeholders, government, the private sector, civil society and communities working together to stem this scourge.

“Corruption steals from the poor and stifles service delivery and progress. Government must ensure that all in society play their part in defeating the scourge of corruption. Prevention and combatting of corruption requires education, behavioural change and a multi-pronged approach from all levels of society."

De Lille said corruption is a societal problem and fighting corruption is everyone’s business.

“Corruption hinders social and economic development and increases poverty by diverting domestic and foreign investment away from where it is most needed.

“We must also do a lot more to put systems in place to prevent and detect corruption before it occurs.”

Investigations

De Lille said the SIU has been conducting and is continuing to conduct investigations in the department in terms of four Presidential Proclamations.

She explained that the focus areas of the Proclamations include the Capital Projects delivered by the department, supply chain management irregularities with regard to property leased from the private sector and renovations to Prestige facilities.

“Emanating from the investigations, the SIU recommends to the department to institute disciplinary action against departmental officials where there is prima facie evidence justifying such action,” De Lille said.

According to the Minister, out of 6 978 cases investigated by the SIU under Presidential Proclamations, 6 623 have been finalised and 355 are still pending.

Out of 91 disciplinary referrals to the department, 86 cases have been finalised and five are still pending.

“The sanctions for finalised cases ranged from dismissals, found not guilty, resigned before the hearings, death or retired before finalisation of cases, final warnings and suspension without pay,” De Lille said.

De Lille said out of 292 criminal referrals to the law enforcement agencies, 18 cases have been finalized, 240 matters are before the NPA for decision, 23 cases were referred to the South African Revenue Service for further investigation, six matters are still with the South African Police Service for investigation and five matters are before the courts of law.

She said the SIU is further recovering R1.3 billion through civil courts and its tribunal.

De Lille encouraged members of the public to report any alleged corruption or fraud on projects within the Infrastructure Investment Plan to the SIU.

Also speaking at the ceremony was Head of the SIU Advocate Andy Mothibi who welcomed the multi sector approach towards the fight against corruption.

“The Infrastructure Built Anti-Corruption Forum will galvanise all stakeholders into action and ensure that infrastructure built projects are monitored more effectively and put measures and systems in place to fight against fraud and corruption, identify areas of co-operation to enhance prevention, detection, civil litigation and prosecution of fraud and corruption in the Infrastructure Build Sector,” he said.

Source: South African Government News Agency

The City of Cape Town’s Fire & Rescue Service handed over a R50 000 donation to the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital. The money will go towards The Children’s Hospital Trust’s therapeutic playground project.

Firefighters raised the money at their last annual ball in 2019 and only now had the opportunity to hand over the gift.

‘Our firefighters are at the coalface, saving lives every day, and see first-hand how young lives are impacted by fire. They are the ones who run in to take the children out of burning homes and despite this heartbreaking task, they continue to follow up with the little ones when they’re in hospital,’ said Alderman JP Smith, the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security.

The City’s firefighters have been fundraising for the hospital’s burns unit since 2009, but in 2012 they decided to grow their initiative with most of the funds being raised at an annual firefighters’ ball.

The R50 000 they raised in 2019 was due to be handed over the following year, but Covid-19 regulations halted it.

At the head of the project is Platoon Commander Anthony Hughes, who retires at the end of July with 40 years’ service.

‘We used to visit the children in the wards, not only to follow their progress, but to brighten their day and ours. They crept into our hearts as they are the ones who suffer most when there’s a fire. Many of them are scarred or maimed for life and have to stay in hospital for years. I’ve had help from my fellow firefighters who came on board, and although shift work made it difficult, those who could, lent a helping hand,’ said Commander Hughes.

The donation is earmarked for the therapeutic playground project, which is an inclusive play area where children of all abilities can grow and learn through physical, sensory and social experiences.

‘Our firefighters have shown that not only do they put their lives on the line to provide an indispensable service crucial to the safety and security of all our residents, but their dedication goes beyond the job. They put their hearts into it and their passion is to be commended,’ said Alderman Smith.

Pauline Solomons, Donor Relations Manager, Legacies & Community Fundraising for the Trust, thanked the firefighters.

‘The Children’s Hospital Trust is incredibly grateful for the loyal and generous donation from our City firefighters. Thank you for keeping the little ones close to your hearts as 100% of this generous donation will go towards building the inclusive play areas. Most importantly, these play areas will bring so much value to burns patients who, through play therapy, will increase their skin mobility as well as aid in the sensory stimulation of their skin,’ she said.

Source: City Of Cape Town

President Cyril Ramaphosa has arrived in the Republic of Botswana on a working visit to attend the 7th Southern African Customs Union (SACU) Summit of Heads of State and Government.

The President is accompanied by the Minister of Trade and Industry, Ebrahim Patel; the Deputy Minister of Finance, David Masondo and the South African Revenue Service Commissioner, Edward Kieswetter.

The summit will be held at the Gaborone International Convention Centre and will be attended by Heads of State and Government and representatives of SACU Member States.

Member States include the Republic of Botswana as the summit host and the current chair of the Union; the Kingdom of Eswatini; the Kingdom of Lesotho; the Republic of Namibia, and the Republic of South Africa.

SACU is the oldest Customs Union in the world and its summit is held annually to discuss progress on the implementation of its agreed upon Work Programme.

This year’s summit will consider progress made on the implementation of the refocused Work Programme.

The priorities of the programme include:

• Industrialisation through the development of regional value chains, investment attraction and export promotion;

• Regional financing mechanism;

• Trade facilitation and logistics, and

• Implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

“The summit will further consider the five-year SACU Strategic Plan, as approved by the Council of Ministers on 2 June 2022,” the Presidency said in a statement.

The summit is preceded by the meetings of its institutions, namely:

• 64th Meeting of the Finance and Audit Committee: 22 June 2022;

• 68th Meeting of the SACU Commission: 23-24 June 2022; and

• 47th Meeting of the SACU Council of Ministers: 28-29 June 2022.

Source: South African Government News Agency

The City of Cape Town’s Women for Change programme has empowered 784 women to make a positive impact in their communities.

In 2016, the City’s Social Development and Early Childhood Development department launched the Women for Change Programme, previously known as the Women in Rental Stock Project.

‘The empowerment programme was created to capacitate women to play a more active and meaningful role in their communities, while acquiring new skills and developing on a personal level.

‘The majority of the women who participate in the programme are tenants in the City’s rental stock and they are trained and deployed throughout the city to help uplift areas where City-owned rental stock is situated. Other participants are from informal settlements and as well as backyard dwellers. This is being done through addressing the environmental and socio-economic challenges in these areas. We are excited to have given these 784 women an opportunity to make a difference in their communities,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health, Councillor Patricia van der Ross.

The women were drawn from across the city and were placed in schools, clinics, libraries, early childhood development centres as well as NGOs and were provided with a number of training opportunities, including substance abuse, gender based violence, entrepreneurship, conflict resolution, and First Aid.

‘Many of the participants continue to make positive contributions to their communities after they’ve completed the programme. Some of our success stories this year include one participant who was employed permanently at the Bloekombos Clinic, one has received sponsorship to further her studies and four fieldworkers have been permanently employed.

‘A further 17 women are currently part of an OASIS gardening project, which provides fresh vegetable crops to the organisation and neighbouring communities. Through this project, the women have built social ties that contribute to a greater sense of community. The positive ripples of the Women for Change Programme are felt by families and communities long after the women have completed their stint,’ said Councillor van der Ross.

Source: City Of Cape Town

Public Works and Infrastructure Minister, Patricia de Lille, on Wednesday launched the first-ever government precinct in Salvakop, Pretoria.

The Minister said the development of the precinct will see four government head offices constructed. These are the Department of Social Development and its agencies - the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) and the National Development Agency; the Department of Higher Education and Training; the Department of Home Affairs, and the Department of Correctional Services and Constitutional Development.

De Lille said when it comes to job opportunities arising from the precinct construction, priority will be given to the local community of Salvakop.

“We have been in consultation with the local community and we have reached an agreement that they will be prioritised.

“The development will be a first of its kind for South Africa, aimed at achieving spatial integration by bringing government departments to a central location in proximity to mixed typology residential developments and various amenities supporting economic development for households and various income streams.

“This is one of the projects demonstrating government’s commitment to investing in infrastructure development, which enables sustained economic growth and job creation, bringing the construction sector back to life,” De Lille said.

The precinct will be developed in three phases. The construction of Phase 1A: Bulk Civil and Internal Engineering works is currently in progress with a number of local residents and SMMEs from the nearby community already employed on the project.

The civil and engineering works currently taking place on site includes preparations for new roads to be constructed, the construction of electrical substations, storm water trenches and other bulk infrastructure works, including the construction of a 30 mega litre reservoir at Freedom Park.

De Lille said the Salvokop Precinct Development was gazetted as a Strategic Integrated Project (SIP), as part of the Infrastructure Investment Plan approved by Cabinet in May 2020.

She said the project is expected to create an estimated 3 215 jobs during construction of Phase 1 and more than 80 0000 jobs over the life cycle of the project from 2021 – 2030.

“The project will be an example of how developments need to be constructed in our democracy by ensuring people live in well-located spaces, close to transport and economic activities,” the Minister said.

De Lille appealed to the community to work with government to ensure the success of the project, which has great benefits for the community through sustained job creation, sub-contracting for local businesses and ultimately a new integrated development that will bring economic development, safety for the community and more jobs for years to come.

Warning to “construction mafia”

De Lille warned that the so-called “construction mafia” will be dealt with in a serious manner by the South African Police Service, as they cannot allow community projects to be delayed and held hostage through intimidation tactics by criminals who demand payment from officials at construction sites.

“We must work together within the respective structures and co-operate with one another, keeping the best interests of the community at heart,” the Minister said.

At the launch, De Lille was accompanied by the Minister of Social Development, Lindiwe Zulu, Minister of Home Affairs, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi and various stakeholders.

Sarah Motswaneng, one of the local residents who is employed in the project through the Expanded Public Works Programme, told SAnews that she is now able to put food on the table for her family.

“We appreciate that priority has been given to us as the local community, and that once construction has been completed, we won’t have to spend money on transport to seek government services,” Motswaneng said.

Source: South African Government News Agency