Day: July 14, 2022

Global women’s rights are fundamental human rights, which include the right to live free from violence, slavery, and discrimination; to be educated; to own property; to vote, and to earn a fair and equal wage. At the heart of women’s rights is the attainment of gender equality and freedom of identity, which continues to be a global struggle with persistent sex-based violence and discrimination in many countries, at all levels of society.

Below are some of our most popular news, articles, and podcasts related to global women’s rights, gender equality, gender identity, and rights violations.

Female NGO Leader Returns To Afghanistan

Listen to experts discussing, in February 2022, a women’s right to work under Taliban rule and the role non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are playing in negotiations to restore women’s rights.

How The Fight For Women’s Rights Became Polarized At The United Nations

Listen to experts discussing, in August 2021, the backlash and non-governmental organization (NGO) polarization that occurred in the United Nations over women’s rights and how this could affect progress toward gender equality, reproductive health, and LGBT rights.

United Nations Generation Equality Forum On Gender Equality

Listen to experts discussing, in June 2021, the United Nations’ gender equality forum. Learn how gender equality is at the heart of achieving global equality, sustainable economies, and peaceful and prosperous societies.

Turkey Withdraws From Gender-Based Violence Treaty

Listen to experts discussing, in March 2021, Turkey’s withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention, a global treaty to criminalize gender-based violence against women.

Criminal Conviction Of Saudi Women’s Rights Activist Loujan al-Hathloul

Listen to experts discussing, in January 2021, the circumstances around the jailing of women’s rights activist Loujan al-Hathoul, her six-year sentence for protesting, and the prospects for gender equality in Saudi Arabia under Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salam.

New Plan To Create Global Value Chain For Women

Listen to experts discussing, in May 2021, the global value chain and the resilience of women workers and women-led organizations. The discussion includes opportunities for a stronger global value chain, through joint investment by the United Nations and non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

Women Fighting Back Against Gender-Based Violence In South Africa

Listen to experts discussing, in September 2019, the prevalence of gender-based violence in South Africa, the lack of governmental action, and the organized women’s movement committed to fighting back.

Map Of Where Women Serve In Parliament

Read the report, from March 2019, from a study that mapped where women serve in parliament. Learn which countries’ Parliaments best match their population demographics in terms of female representation.

6 Countries That Have Full Gender Equality In The Work Place

Read the report, from a March 2019 study, that analyzed the elements of worker equality and ranked countries on that basis. Learn which countries have full gender equality.

Global Gag Rule Significantly Increases Abortion Rates

Listen to experts discussing, in June 2019, the Global Gag Rule (a ban on discussing abortion), the history of the rule, its effect on women’s health, and the fact that it has led to an increase in unsafe abortions.

Source: United Nations

South Africans have been encouraged to save for retirement as government has provided some incentives to assist the public in saving through its tax policy.

According to the National Treasury, South African households don’t save due to the cost structure in the market being too high for smaller investors; a risk of investing; poor investment advice; products that are not customized to their needs; a declining income and easy access to credit.

“It is very important to build a financial plan so that you can structure your affairs to take advantage of the various incentives that government provides in terms of tax,” Financial Planning Institute of Southern Africa Head of Policy and Engagement David Kop said on Thursday.

Addressing a Saving Month webinar, Kop said retirement is no longer a fixed destination but it is about defining the lifestyle that an individual seeks to have during retirement.

While the public has various financial products to look at for retirement savings, Kop highlighted some of the tax benefits to consider when putting together a retirement plan.

The financial products on the market include a retirement annuity, pension/provident fund as well as unit trusts, tax-free saving accounts and retail saving bonds.

“Through the retirement funds, which include the retirement annuity and pension provident fund, a person can claim a deduction of 27.5% of the greater taxable income or remuneration limited to R350 000 per year. Any growth in a retirement fund is tax-free. An individual will not pay any tax while the money is growing in the retirement fund,” he said.

With regards to a the tax free saving account, an individual does not get a deduction like the retirement fund but can contribute up to R36 000 per year with a lifetime limit of R500 000.

“The benefit of a tax free savings account is that when a person gets to a retirement age or when you start withdrawing out of the fund, the benefits that are drawn will not be taxed. It is a great way to accumulate money. The growth is also not taxed.

“On the voluntary investments, there is no deduction given for contributions but there is an incentive to saving through the voluntary investments like the retail saving bonds and unit trusts, in that the first R23 8000 of interest earned under those funds will not be subject to tax.”

He emphasised that the public does not get away with paying tax on the retirement saving.

“From a tax view point, it’s not that you can get away with not paying tax. You will eventually pay tax on the income so when you choose to exit the fund, tax will be paid on the retirement fund lump sum benefits.

“In South Africa, we have a progressive tax rate, which means the less that you earn, the less tax you pay and this is due to the income tax threshold,” Kop said.

RSA Retail Bonds

In 2004, National Treasury introduced the South African Retail Bonds to create awareness of the importance of saving, diversify the financial instrument on offer to market and target a new source of funding for government.

“RSA Retail Bonds were introduced to try and encourage South Africans to save so the features of the RSA Retail Bonds are based on making sure that we create a product that will be attractive for people who are scared on risk,” National Treasury Senior Analyst RSA Retail Bonds Thobeka Mandita said.

With the RSA Retail Bonds, individuals do not pay any fees and there is no commission.

“RSA Retail Bonds is a National Treasury product that allows the public to participate in buying government bonds without a middle man,” Mandita said.

The product is only available to South Africans and permanent residents. They must have a valid SA ID number and valid RSA bank account.

“Children and adults may purchase the RSA Retail Bonds. This is a greater feature for parents who want to start teaching their children how to save and introducing them into investments to teach them how they can make their money work for them. You can open up the RSA Retail Bonds in the name of a child.

“The product has 100% guarantee on returns. This is because it is backed by the full faith of government. When you are investing in the RSA Retail Bonds you are borrowing government money and government will pay you a percentage of the money you are borrowing,” she said.

The product has a feature of an early withdrawal but it comes with a penalty on the interest that has been earned should an individual require a withdrawal prior to the term ending.

More information is available on:

• Helpline: 012 315 5888

• Website: www.rsaretailbonds.gov.za

• Address: National Treasury (240 Vermeulen Street, c\o Andries and Vermeulen Streets, 14th floor, Pretoria)

Source: South African Government News Agency

Lifestyle audits of Senior Staff in the Department of Public Works & Infrastructure underway

As part of risk management efforts within the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI), with the assistance of the Special Investigating Unit (SIU), I can confirm that lifestyle audits have been conducted on senior management officials within DPWI.

Earlier this week, a report was submitted to me on the progress of lifestyle audits for senior management within the department. The progress of this important task is welcomed.

I requested the SIU’s assistance to conduct lifestyle audits at the DPWI. The SIU commenced with the lifestyle audits in January this year in line with a secondment agreement.

The regulatory framework which guided the audit included the Constitution of South Africa, the Public Service Act, the Public Administration Act, the Public Service Regulations and the Protection of Personal Information Act.

Documentation such as integrity forms and supporting documents were received from 47 staff members, of this number, 47 officials submitted complete information while 13 officials are still required to submit outstanding documentation.

Information checked during the process of lifestyle audits included whether senior management members in the department held any positions/directorships at companies, properties registered in officials’ names, financial disclosures and whether officials were registered on government’s Central Supplier Database.

The lifestyle audit also included verification of criminal records for senior staff members. During the SIU’s work on the lifestyle audits, the SAPS Criminal Record Centre was consulted and of 60 DPWI staff members, 58 were found to have no criminal record. Preliminary checks indicate that the remaining two officials were possibly linked to a criminal record. Fingerprints have been collected from the two officials and have been submitted to the SAPS Criminal Record Centre for verification.

A review has been conducted of the 47 completed staff submissions and draft reports for each individual have been compiled. This process is in the finalisation stage.

The outcomes of the lifestyle audits is expected to be finalised in the coming months.

In terms of the staff members who have not yet supplied full information for their lifestyle audits, the SIU has recommended that the department investigate further to ascertain why these staff members have not yet submitted all their information.

In terms of the lifestyle audits for myself and the deputy Minister, this process is being led by the Presidency and we await further details on this process and stand ready to fully comply and submit the required information for this process.

Financial disclosure

Earlier this week, I also signed off a report and wrote a letter to the Acting Chairperson of the Public Service Commission, Professor Somadoda Fikeni confirming that for the 2021/22 financial year, all designated employees have submitted their financial disclosures.

Each year, in terms of the Public Service Regulations of 2016, designated employees are required to submit their financial interests.

A total of 183 Senior Members in service of the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) have accordingly submitted their financial disclosures for the period 1 April 2021 to 31 March 2022.

This means that 100% of Senior Managers in service of the Department as at 31 March 2022 submitted as per the framework through the e-Disclosure portal.

I can therefore confirm that the Department has fully complied and submitted all financial disclosures to the Public Service Commission within the stipulated time frame.

As part of building a capable and ethical state, I am pleased with the progress of the lifestyle audits and the fact that all staff required to submit their financial disclosures have done so.

In those cases where staff have not yet submitted full information for their lifestyle audits, I intend to work with the Acting Director General to ensure that all the necessary and complete information is submitted to the SIU to complete this process as soon as possible.

It is also my hope that the finalisation of the lifestyle audits will reveal that staff members have conducted themselves in an ethical manner and with integrity as they are entrusted in the public service to ensure that they conduct their work with the highest level of integrity. Where there is cause to act against staff members, I will be keeping track of this work to ensure that action is taken where needed.

Source: Government of South Africa

This year's Nelson Mandela International Day will focus on sustainable interventions such as fruit and indigenous tree planting and promoting community and backyard gardens.

The Nelson Mandela Foundation is pleading with everyone who supports the campaign on 18 July 2022 to “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are”.

“The climate crisis is affecting the availability, accessibility, utilisation and affordability of food, which is overwhelmingly experienced by the most vulnerable amongst us,” the foundation said on Thursday.

With increasing global consciousness of the interdependence of climate change, food security, poverty and inequity, the Nelson Mandela Foundation is calling on the public to use 18 July to pursue sustainable solutions to the climate crisis and food security.

The foundation will be doing work on the day in Madiba's home province of the Eastern Cape with Nelson Mandela University, the Green Development Foundation and Shoprite.

Transect Walk Dialogues

The organisation and its partners will participate in a Transect Walk Dialogue.

This is a walk through a community, led by the community to gain first-hand experience of their challenges and identify resources and opportunities at the community's disposal.

The walk aims to foster critical conversations and find collective solutions to systemic challenges faced by the community.

The first walk will take place on Saturday, 16 July, in Mvezo, the birthplace of Nelson Mandela, and will be hosted by Chief Mandela and the Mandela family. Activities will include planting fruit trees, conducting a cleanup of the community and backyard gardens as well as sharing and promoting indigenous knowledge.

The second instalment will take place on Nelson Mandela Day, 18 July, in Gqeberha in the community of Zwide. Since 2015, Gqeberha has been in the grip of a historic drought that experts say has been exacerbated by climate change.

The organisation said it will donate two boreholes with its partners and participate in cleaning and watering backyard gardens, then planting seedlings and trees in the recently established community garden.

Other activities

While the core activities will be in the Eastern Cape this year, numerous other activities are planned in over 166 cities globally.

In Johannesburg, the foundation has collaborated with Discovery Vitality and the business community around Houghton Estate to host the inaugural 'Mandela Day Houghton Run' on 17 July 2022, following the same path Nelson Mandela used to walk daily.

The route for the 8km race will incorporate some iconic sites, such as Madiba's 12th street House, the Sanctuary Mandela on 13th Street and the Nelson Mandela Foundation facilities on Central Street.

Discovery Vitality is encouraging its members to donate their Vitality rewards from the day towards buying a family a backyard garden starter pack provided by Shoprite by using, Vitality MoveToGive.

The Mandela Day Houghton Run will be followed by a special tribute concert by five-time Grammy Award winner Ladysmith Black Mambazo live at the Johannesburg Theatre. Tickets for the run are available via Ticketpro.

Source: South African Government News Agency