Day: July 13, 2022

The measles outbreak in the Tshwane District has been declared over since more than 42 days, or two incubation periods, have passed without new cases being detected since the outbreak.

According to the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD), as of 11 July 2022, no new laboratory-confirmed measles cases were reported to be linked to the measles outbreak in Tshwane District.

“The number of measles cases detected and epidemiologically linked to the measles outbreak in the Tshwane District remains at four. The last laboratory-confirmed measles case was reported on 25 June 2022,” the NICD explained.

Also, no additional laboratory-confirmed measles cases in the district had an epidemiological link to the home-based school facility outbreak.

In addition, the NICD said the City of Tshwane and provincial health officials conducted public health investigations and responses that resulted in the measles vaccination campaign in crèches and schools where the measles outbreak occurred, and areas where another case was detected.

The institute said Gauteng is planning a measles vaccination campaign targeting children aged six months to 14 to increase immunity and prevent new measles cases.

“Clinicians and caregivers should continue to check the children’s vaccination booklets to ensure they are up to date with their measles vaccination,” the institute advised.

The measles vaccine is given routinely at the age of six and 12 months, while catch-up doses should be administered to children who missed their vaccinations.

Measles, according to the NICD, is a highly contagious disease and it spreads through infectious airborne respiratory droplets from an infected person when coughing or sneezing.

It commonly presents with respiratory tract symptoms and any of the three Cs -- conjunctivitis, cough, and coryza.

“Other symptoms can include fever, fatigue, and muscle pain, which typically appear before the onset of the disease’s characteristic maculopapular rash.”

However, children under the age of one may develop complicated measles including bronchopneumonia, keratoconjunctivitis (inflammation of the cornea and conjunctiva), and rarely, encephalitis (inflammation of the brain).

“These complications may lead to irreversible damage and/or death, especially in immunocompromised or malnourished children. Even healthy children who develop measles develop transient immunosuppression and are more susceptible to common childhood illnesses for at least one year after infection.”

Source: South African Government News Agency

KWAZULU-NATAL - Police Minister, General Bheki Cele will on Thursday 14 July 2022, lead a taxi industry stakeholder meeting with taxi owners and concerned role players of this sector within the Ugu and Harry Gwala Districts in the South of KwaZulu-Natal.

The planned consultative meeting comes off the back of a spate of taxi related violence, during which taxi owners, drivers and members of the taxi industry leadership and the public have been injured and killed.

It is hoped the engagement which will also be attended by transport officials from the province led by Acting MEC for Transport, Community Safety and Liaison Jomo Sibiya will put in place short and long term measures undertaken by the South African Police Service (SAPS) to address taxi industry safety concerns in the district.

Members of the media are invited to attend the engagement:

Date: 14 July 2022

Time: 09:00

Venue: Ugu Sport and Leisure Centre, Gamalakhe

Source: South African Police Service

South Africa's National Assembly Speaker, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, is currently participating in a six-day parliamentary diplomatic engagement, in her capacity as a member of the Inter-Parliamentary Union Task Force (IPU-TF) on the Ukrainian-Russian conflict.

The nine-member IPU-TF, appointed in April 2022, will undertake direct engagements with the parliaments of Ukraine and Russia to help achieve a complete ceasefire and to contribute to confidence-building measures that may achieve a long-term cessation of hostilities and the organisation of humanitarian assistance.

Parliamentary spokesperson, Moloto Mothapo, said the trip, which follows an invitation by the Ukrainian and Russian parliaments, includes a courtesy call on the Speaker of the Polish Senate in Warsaw, before proceeding to Kyiv and Moscow during the week of 11 July 2022.

Mothapo said the Russia-Ukraine conflict formed part of the emergency items debated during the IPU's 144th Assembly held in Indonesia between 19 and 24 March 2022.

The debate resulted in the adoption of a resolution to form an IPU task team to engage the Parliaments of both countries, thereby joining forces with other mediating parties to end the conflict.

The initiative, at the global parliamentary level, aims to complement ongoing diplomatic efforts at the governmental and UN level.

“According to the IPU, the engagements are also in line with the worldwide association of parliaments' ongoing efforts to help build inclusive and accountable parliaments, where all segments of society have a voice; legislative frameworks are put in place whereby the rights of all citizens are guaranteed, and effective oversight is exercised over governmental action – including in terms of the strict observance of international law and global commitments,” Mothapo said.

Since its establishment, the task force has held four planning and preparatory meetings ahead of the scheduled engagement with the parliaments of Ukraine and Russia.

Mapisa-Nqakula has expressed optimism that the current IPU efforts will help secure a ceasefire, reduce the gap between the two nations and create an enabling environment for a negotiated settlement that will deliver peace between Ukraine and Russia.

“Speaker Mapisa-Nqakula expressed concern at the great suffering the ongoing conflict is causing to both nations and many other world nations that continue to be negatively affected by the dwindling supplies of many basic household necessities and sky-rocketing food prices.

"The Speaker described the IPU mission as another global demonstration of growing parliamentary diplomacy,” Mothapo said.

The IPU delegation is led by the President of the task force, Dr Ali Rashid Al Nuaimi, IPU Vice-President and Member of the Federal National Council of the United Arab Emirates.

Participating task force members include Speakers of Parliament from Namibia, South Africa and Uruguay, as well as prominent MPs from Indonesia, Israel and Kazakhstan.

Mapisa-Nqakula is expected back in South Africa on 16 July 2022.

Source: South African Government News Agency

The National Assembly initiated a section 194 inquiry to investigate grounds of misconduct and incompetence against Advocate Busisiwe Mkhwebane who occupied the office of the Public Protector. President Cyril Ramaphosa did not make any allegations against Advocate Mkhwebane.

Therefore, the President cannot be compelled to provide evidence proving or disproving these accusations.

President Ramaphosa had in accordance with the section 194(3)(a) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, decided to suspend Advocate Mkhwebane from the Office of the Public Protector effective 9 June 2022.

Section 194(3) (a) of the Constitution provides that the President may suspend the Public Protector (or any member of a Chapter 9 institution) “at any time after the start of proceedings by a committee of the National Assembly for [their] removal”.

Accordingly, President Ramaphosa rejects the suggestion by the Hon. General Bantu Holomisa that he should give evidence on his 2017 party political campaign during the section 194 inquiry.

Gen. Holomisa’s speculation that the CR17 campaign “may have” used public funds is baseless, misdirected and vindictive. It is an abuse of parliamentary processes and privilege. It has never been alleged that public funds were used by the CR17 campaign.

The Constitutional Court judgement last year ruled that the Public Protector had no authority to investigate the CR17 campaign, given that this was not an organ of state and therefore not within the Public Protectors remit.

Gen. Holomisa is well advised that the Constitutional Court remains the final arbiter of justice and its judgments must be accepted and respected. Parliament does not have the mandate to review Constitutional Court judgments in the separation of powers of the Executive, Legislative and the Judiciary. The section 194 inquiry into Advocate Mkhwebane’s fitness to hold office is not a platform to make unsubstantiated allegations that fall outside of the scope of inquiry.

Source: Government of South Africa

The Department of Employment and Labour has told commercial divers that economic costs of poor occupational health and safety practices in the form of medical and rehabilitation costs, as well as loss of income, affects both the employer and the employee.

Speaking during a commercial diving workshop in Gqeberha on Tuesday, Senior Specialist: Occupational Health and Hygiene, Bulelwa Huna said the International Labour Organization (ILO) estimates that 4% of the world's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is lost due to accidents and work-related diseases.

“It has been established that the economic costs of poor occupational health and safety practices affects both the employer and the employee. This is as a result of employers' medical and rehabilitation costs plus the employee's loss of income," Huna said.

Huna told the workshop that the department has never accepted the proposition that injury and disease 'go with the job'.

She stressed the importance of occupational health and safety. “All social partners have to work together to promote and ensure this fundamental right," she said.

The workshops follow the promulgation of the new commercial diving regulations on May 20, this year.

The workshop dealt with the application of the Occupational Health and Safety legislation in the commercial diving industry, the training standards for commercial divers as well as logistical processes.

Huna reiterated the core values of occupational health and safety as adopted by the ILO.

“The core values as reflected in ILO standards on occupational safety and health are expressed in three main principles being that the diving activities should take place in a safe and healthy working environment.

Conditions

“Conditions of commercial diving activities should be consistent with divers and workers' wellbeing and human dignity; and work and commercial diving activities should offer real possibilities for personal achievement, self-fulfillment and service to society,” she said.

According to the new regulations, for someone to be trained as a commercial diver, the training provider must consider the individual's abilities and course requirements.

Specialist: Occupation Health and Hygiene, Jabulile Mhlophe, told the gathering that for one to be trained as a commercial diver, an individual must have attributes of a diver.

“That is, physically capable, capable of rational thoughts during execution of underwater tasks, competent to dive through experience and familiarity of equipment and technique, and capable to safely plan and execute a commercial dive for the certification class trained for,” Mhlophe said.

She told the gathering that in addition to the personal attributes, an individual must pass theoretical as well as practical assessments.

Mhlophe also took the workshop through the process of license registration for commercial diving contractors, organisations, commercial diving schools as well as individual divers.

The workshop was also taken through several new regulations which deal with the responsibilities as well as logistical requirements in diving operations.

The next commercial diving workshop will be held today at the University of Cape Town (John Day LT2 in the John Day Building, University Ave North, UCT, Upper Campus, Rondebosch) in the Western Cape.

Additionally, a workshop will be held on 18 July at uShaka Marine in Durban, at the South African Association for Marine Biological Research (SAAMBR).

Source: South African Government News Agency

The Presidency has noted and strongly refutes the false claims made by Advocate Malesela Teffo that The Presidency is behind his alleged intimidation and subsequent decision to withdraw from the Senzo Meyiwa murder trial.

The Presidency finds these unsubstantiated and baseless claims mischievous and harmful to the standing of the Office of the President.

The Presidency does not participate in criminal investigations or trials and is not involved in any perceived or actual harassment of Adv. Teffo.

As an Officer of the Court and a professional in the legal fraternity, Adv. Teffo must appreciate the level of veracity that is necessary to support such claims about any institution or individual.

The Presidency espouses the values of our Constitution and cherishes the protection, safety and justice for all.

Source: Government of South Africa

The Western Cape Government welcomes the extension of operations at Tiger Brands’ Langeberg & Ashton Foods (L&AF) plant.

Tiger Brands said it had engaged with affected employees, organised labour, and other stakeholders, and they have agreed to a compact that will allow the company to extend operations at the factory for another season. Tiger Brands added the extension of operations allows for a possible transaction that may result in a long-term, sustainable solution for its deciduous fruit processing business.

“The flexibility, open-mindedness, and good faith shown by all parties in reaching this compact will allow for the rigorous exploration of any new proposals in respect of the company’s deciduous fruit processing operations while securing the jobs of 250 permanent employees and 4 300 seasonal workers directly employed by L&AF for a further season,” said Noel Doyle, Tiger Brands Chief Executive Officer.

Earlier today Provincial Agriculture Minister Ivan Meyer met with Agri-Western Cape representatives, producers, and the Canning Fruit Producers Association.

Minister Meyer said: ‘We agreed that our priority was to protect the rural economy and jobs in the Langeberg and Ashton areas. Therefore, the announcement that the factory will be kept open for another season is good news as it allows for more time to secure a suitable investor.”

He added: “However, now that Tiger Brands and its key partners have reached an agreement that allows for the extension of operations to the forthcoming season, parties should focus their energies on ensuring the long-term sustainability of the factory and jobs.”

The Minister gave the assurance the Western Cape Department of Agriculture will continue to support the industry in its endeavour to identify an investor who shares the vision of building a vibrant agro-processing sector in the province.

On this positive development, Provincial Finance and Economic Opportunities Minister Mireille Wenger said: “I am ecstatic that Tiger Brands will extend operations at Langeberg & Ashton Foods for another season. This is reason to celebrate, especially for the thousands of Western Cape residents who are employed through their operations.”

The Minister emphasised: “This announcement demonstrates clearly the power of partnership and collaboration, and I thank all stakeholders for their efforts to find a solution in the best interests of all involved.”

Source: Government of South Africa