Day: July 6, 2022

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Eskom, unions reach wage agreement

Eskom says the wage agreement reached with unions on Tuesday will not immediately alleviate the burden of load shedding on the power system.

The power utility reached an agreement with unions of a 7% pay hike, following more than a week of intense strike action, which plunged the country into stage six load shedding.

“[The agreement] brings the Central Bargaining Forum (CBF) talks and the damaging, disruptive and costly wage dispute to an end, paving the way for a full return to work of all employees.

“Following this agreement, the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) and Solidarity have urged their members to return to work immediately.

“It is important to note that while the workforce is returning to work, the system will still take some time to recover. As a result of the strike, maintenance work has had to be postponed, and this backlog will take time to clear,” Eskom said.

The power utility called on workers to return to power stations and begin work to stabilise the system.

“Eskom also wishes to urge all employees to return to their workstations immediately to relieve the pressure on the system and to deliver the service the people of South Africa expect from Eskom, and to assist in restoring generation performance negatively impacted by the unlawful strike.

“Eskom would like to pay tribute to and thank those many employees who keep going beyond the call of duty and continue to make personal sacrifices to help keep the lights on during this very challenging time,” the power producer said.

Meanwhile, the power utility has announced that load shedding will be reduced to stage five from 4pm to 10pm on Wednesday and Thursday.

The revised schedule is as follows on Wednesday:

• Stage 4 from 5am to 4pm

• Stage 5 from 4pm to 10pm

• Stage 4 from 10pm to midnight

and on Thursday:

• Stage 2 from midnight to 5am

• Stage 4 from 5am to 4pm

• Stage 5 from 4pm to 10pm

• Stage 4 from 10pm to midnight

Source: South African Government News Agency

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President Ramaphosa receives Just Energy Transition framework

President Cyril Ramaphosa says the Just Energy Transition (JET) Framework will serve as a key evidence-based guide for policy making for South Africa’s transition from a carbon intensive economy towards a greener and cleaner economy.

The framework was presented to him by the Presidential Climate Committee (PCC) on Tuesday.

“As this Just Transition framework underscores, combating climate change is not only an environmental imperative, but an economic one as well. This framework is an evidence-based document and a victory for evidence-based policymaking.

“The publication of this framework must now serve as a call to action to each of us to embrace the opportunities presented by a low-carbon, inclusive, climate resilient economy and society,” he said.

The PCC has held stakeholder engagements, community dialogues and colloquiums in a bid to conduct robust research and analysis and hear views on South Africa’s transition in a bid to leave no-one behind.

President Ramaphosa hailed the thorough work done by the PCC and highlighted that the framework has the potential to revolutionise the country.

“It sets out the skills development, economic diversification, social support, governance and finance mechanisms required to make low carbon economy a reality. It advocates for a massive expansion of renewable energy, battery storage, new energy vehicles, green minerals and the hydrogen economy.

“It calls for the creation of long term decent work that mitigates losses from the decline in fossil fuel usage. Green, as the common expression goes, is the new gold,” he said.

The President emphasised that the JET framework will have implications for the education and social security sectors and will also require work to be done to ensure that the framework finds expression within government plans and budgets.

“In education, one of the immediate implications is re-skilling and upskilling the workforce, so that they are able to adapt to new technologies. The challenge we face is to overhaul the education system from basic education level, so that learners are thoroughly prepared for green jobs as part of the new economy.

“Also important is the need to provide comprehensive social security safety for displaced workers and communities. We envisage that this support will include mechanisms that promote entrepreneurship and self-employment where possible, complemented by social protection funds,” President Ramaphosa said.

The President acknowledged that the framework will require significant resources to be pulled from both government and the private sector.

“There will be need for significant capital mobilisation from both public and private sources. Now that we have this framework we will be able to proceed apace with harnessing the benefits of the Just Energy Transition Partnership we concluded with the governments of the US, United Kingdom, Germany, France and the EU last year,” he said.

The partnership – which is worth up to $8.5 billion – is expected to assist South Africa on its decarbonisation journey.

Commission Deputy Chairperson Vali Moosa said the JET framework is platform upon which South Africa can springboard the economy towards a low carbon emissions and addressing climate change.

“While the framework is not an implementation plan, it presents an organising frame for us to coordinate our efforts around the just transition.

“It is a foundation for more work to follow, underpinned by significant mobilisation towards social inclusion and help reach our climate goals, with a high degree of trust between all parties and a requisite policy intervention led by government, driven by industry and entrenched in our communities,” Moosa said.

Source: South African Government News Agency

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Local Government Indaba turns the corner in KZN municipalities

KwaZulu-Natal Premier, Sihle Zikalala, says there is ample evidence that where local government sufficiently and efficiently meets the needs of communities, there is greater social cohesion, stable societies and more opportunities for development.

Speaking at the Local Government Indaba in Durban, Zikalala said citizens who have given power to their various political representatives look up to them to create a capable local governmental State, which is human-centred, embodies the principles of ‘Batho-Pele’, and is ultimately able to contribute to the vision of a South Africa that is truly united, non-racial, non-sexist, equal and prosperous.

The Indaba took place shortly after Auditor-General, Tsakani Maluleke, released a report into the state of South African municipalities, which revealed that local government is characterised by poor governance, weak institutional capacity, and instability.

Maluleke also raised concern about financial management discipline and the need to safeguard and maintain municipal infrastructure to prevent mismanagement and financial loss.

While three municipalities in KZN obtained clean audits, the Auditor General’s report also shows that political instability, inexperienced officials and system-related challenges led to the poor opinions at the three disclaimed municipalities, all of which were under administration.

Municipalities with disclaimers include Inkosi Langalibalele, uMkhanyakude, Nquthu Amajuba, and uMzinyathi.

Zikalala said the Indaba, held under the theme ‘Turning the Corner in KZN Municipalities: Fostering peaceful and sustainable communities through the delivery of basic services’, should not be another talk shop, but it should go far in helping government regain and restore trust with the electorate.

“It should help us craft programmes to enthuse the public to get involved again in the democratic process not only during voting time, but throughout to hold councillors and government officials accountable.

“The theme is a crucial reminder of our resolve to build a capable developmental state which can tackle the root causes of the multiple challenges emanating from underdevelopment, inequality, poverty, unemployment, and the tragic scourge of gender-based violence,” Zikalala said.

He added that in the month of July, which is a poignant reminder of the destructive violence that befell KwaZulu-Natal and parts of Gauteng last year, the stakeholders must ensure that the discussions help them to make local government to better manage conflicts and to respond adequately to them while preventing loss of life, economic destruction, and loss of jobs.

“The White Paper on Local Government, the National Development Plan, the KZN Growth and Development Strategy, and the District Development Model (DDM) all contain a vision of local government becoming centres of economic development and engines of job creation.

“We are honoured as the Provincial Government of KwaZulu-Natal that gathered here are all the stakeholders tasked with the crucial task of transforming local government and making it efficient so that it can indeed deliver a better life to all,” the Premier said.

Source: South African Government News Agency

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Pandor attends G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Bali

International Relations and Cooperation Minister, Dr Naledi Pandor, has arrived in Bali, Indonesia, to attend a two-day G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (G20 FMM).

According to the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO), the meeting is scheduled to take place from 7 - 8 July 2022.

Held under the theme ‘Recover Together, Recover Stronger’, the G20 FMM will discuss current geopolitical tensions across the world, their humanitarian, as well as socio-economic impacts, and the role and contribution of the G20 in strengthening multilateralism.

“On the margins of the G20 meeting, Minister Pandor will have bilateral discussions with some of her counterparts to discuss issues of multilateral cooperation and mutual interests,” the department said on Wednesday.

Pandor’s visit to Bali follows her successful engagement in Singapore with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Vivian Balakrishnan.

While in Singapore, Pandor also visited various government and business entities, such as the National Research Foundation (NRF) and the Singapore Institute of Technical Education (ITE), to strengthen cooperation and explore further development exchanges between South Africa and the island country.

Source: South African Government News Agency

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State capture crimes to be investigated, prosecuted

Both the heads of National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) and Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (the Hawks) have vowed to work together to ensure that the architects and foot soldiers of State Capture are brought to book and face the full might of the law.

This is according to a joint statement by the two bodies in the wake of the release of the final tranche of the State Capture Commission report by Chief Justice Raymond Zondo.

“The final Zondo report provides additional impetus for increased cooperation and urgency in execution of respective NPA/DPCI mandates. Important progress has already been made: 86 investigations have been declared by the ID, 21 matters enrolled in court, and 65 accused persons are appearing in court on alleged state capture crimes.

“The NPA and DPCI recognise the damaging impact of corruption on the rule of law and South Africa’s development prospects. They recommit to enhancing collaboration and sharing of resources and expertise, to ensure the most effective prosecution-guided approach to these complex matters,” the statement read.

The NPA and the Hawks have formed a joint task team to tackle the 150 recommendations and reports pertaining to the two units.

Some of these are already receiving attention with 86 investigations declared by the NPA’s Investigative Directorate (ID), 21 matters enrolled in court.

Some 65 accused persons have appeared in court on alleged state capture crimes.

“Additional seminal matters will be enrolled before the end of September 2022. Seminal matters refer to cases involving the alleged architects of state capture, including influential persons and private sector actors, and/or large sums of money. These cases will be handled by a dedicated teams of investigators and prosecutors who have the necessary expertise in prosecution-guided processes involving complex matters.

“The teams will be sufficiently resourced and co-located either in the NPA or the DPCI offices. The NPA and DPCI are harnessing all their resources and expertise, reprioritising matters to ensure that state capture cases proceed as a matter of urgency in our commitment to ensure accountability and uphold the rule of law,” the statement read.

Source: South African Government News Agency

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North West Health gives update on achievements of the Section 100 (1) (b) intervention

North West Department of Health MEC Madoda Sambatha recently provided an update on the achievements of the Section 100 (1) (b) intervention which was evoked on the department on 25 April 2018.

The placing of the department under administration in terms of this section of the constitution of the Republic of South Africa was as a result of a series of challenges experienced which affected the provision of efficient and adequate health services to communities in the North West province.

Reflecting on achievements of the intervention, MEC Sambatha indicated that key management vacancies had been filled and over five thousand (5000) permanent frontline staff had been appointed to improve the delivery of quality health services to the citizens of the North West.

“Many departmental officials were promoted to higher level positions, thus contributing to staff satisfaction, stability and loyalty toward the Department,” MEC Sambatha said.

“The labour environment has also been stabilized and discipline is slowly returning to the NWDoH in both the areas of financial misconduct and dereliction of duty,” MEC Sambatha added.

MEC Sambatha pointed out that the dismissal of the previous Head of Department was a strategic action that sent a strong message that public service laws and regulations must be respected and adhered to.

This is how the intervention has directly benefitted the people of the province:

• The ratio of Health professionals per 100 000 population have increased, thus rendering health facilities more responsive than they were in 2018.

• Operating theatres were repaired, equipment procured and specialists appointed. This move resulted in a reduction of surgical backlogs in hospitals.

• More MRI scans were conducted, thus improving access to sophisticated diagnostic procedures.

• The renal unit at Klerksdorp-Tshepong was upgraded assisting the province to have more people on renal dialyses.

• Orthopaedic surgeons were appointed leading to reduced backlog of operations and reduced waiting periods for orthopaedic operations

• An Ophthalmologist was appointed at Mahikeng Hospital. This specialist performed more than 200 cataract operations in less than two months after her appointment in 2019, giving eyesight back to our older generation.

• Additional Internal Medicine specialists were appointed, resulting in improved clinical management processes and the elimination of persons, in some of the large hospitals, sleeping on the floor while waiting for treatment. These specialists led COVID-19 management in the seven large hospitals.

• Other key appointments that were made to achieve a positive impact on service delivery include obstetricians, dermatologists, pediatricians, general surgeons, psychologists, speech and audiology therapists as well as family physicians.

• Managers were appointed for Quality Assurance in the seven large hospitals and this added further impetus to the hospitals’ quality improvement drive.

• To support key clinical processes and to ensure that our facilities live up to infection prevention and control principles, additional administrative staff, groundsmen and cleaning staff were also appointed

• Space at primary health care facilities has been improved through infrastructure projects.

The department has further made strides in addressing the shortages of medicine stock in public health facilities.

“The overall provincial medicine availability has reached 81% as per national essential list in the 3rd quarter of 2021/2022. The availability of Antiretrovirals (ARVs) and vaccines for the Extended Programme on Immunization has been maintained above 92%, while Tuberculosis (TB) medicines are above 82%,” MEC Sambatha highlighted.

The Province will experience shortages of specific items from time to time when there is a national problem with that specific medicine. However, information regarding a departmental process of lodging general complaints is available at various health facilities. Through this process, persons who experience medicine shortages can escalate their challenges should they believe they do not get cooperation from the health facilities they are visiting.

Source: Government of South Africa

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SA reports 384 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday

South Africa detected 384 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, bringing the total number of laboratory-confirmed infections to 3 995 784 since the outbreak.

The majority of new cases were identified in Gauteng after 152 people tested positive for Coronavirus in the past 24 hours. The province is followed by 65 cases in the Western Cape, 64 in KwaZulu-Natal, 34 in the Eastern Cape and 20 in Free State, while the rest of the provinces logged less than 20 infections.

According to the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD), this increase represents a 3.7% positivity rate.

In addition, the number of death now stands at 101 847 after 32 additional fatalities, of which two occurred in the past 24 to 48 hours.

The information is based on the 25 776 312 tests conducted in both public and private sectors.

“There has been an increase of 23 hospital admissions in the past 24 hours,” the NICD reported, adding that the seven-day moving average daily number of cases has increased.

Meanwhile, globally, there have been 547 901 157 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 6 339 899 deaths, reported to the World Health Organisation.

Source: South African Government News Agency