Day: July 27, 2022

KROONSTAD – SAPS members were applauded for their swift response after a case of stolen horses from a farm was reported today.

The complainant reported that she has locked her two Arabian-mare horses safely in their stable at her farm on Tuesday, 26 July 2022 at about 17h00. On Wednesday, 27 July 2022 at 08h00, she went to check on her horses and found them missing. Kroonstad police were called and a case was opened.

Maokeng Social Crime Prevention members working together with Kroonstad SAPS swiftly rushed to a nearby abandoned farm not far from the complainant’s farm where two males, aged 20 and 22 were found.

Further questioning led members to the bushes at an industrial area where the two horses were hidden.

Both Arabian-mare horses, valued over R80, 000 were recovered.

Both suspects were arrested and will face charges of stock theft and possession of suspected stolen property. They will appear before the Kroonstad Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, 28 July 2022.

The Free State Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General BB Motswenyane lauded the members for their swift response.

“Swift police response is crucial when serving our communities. Members of the community are relying on us and the members’ vigilance has indeed produced great results,” concluded Lieutenant General Motswenyane.

Source: South African Police Service

Request for Proposal (RFP) to open for the Integrated Renewable Energy and Resource Efficiency Programme (iREREP) to generate revenue and savings across the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) property portfolio.

Following the announcement by President Cyril Ramaphosa on Monday evening on actions to address the electricity crisis, I am pleased to announce that The Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI), supported by National Treasury’s Government Technical Advisory Centre’s (GTAC) transactional advisor is today announcing its intention to publish the Request for Proposals (RFP) for the commencement of the Integrated Renewable Energy and Resource Efficiency Programme (iREREP).

I am delighted to announce the release of the RFP in the next week for the procurement of the Programme, which will be the largest programme for the procurement of renewable energy and resource efficiency for public facilities.

The DPWI as the largest landlord and facilities manager in the country, has a responsibility to not only deliver and manage quality infrastructure but to combat climate change and enhance sustainable development through its mandate – such as providing buildings for government service delivery.

We have a duty to implement programmes to reduce electricity demand and encourage energy efficient use by consumers as articulated by President Ramaphosa on Monday.

This programme is a Strategic Integrated Project (SIP), Number 28, known as the Photovoltaic (PV) and Water Savings on Government Buildings Programme. The project was gazetted as a SIP on the 24th of July 2020 as part of a credible pipeline of projects in the Infrastructure Investment Plan which was approved by Cabinet in May 2020.

The Programme will thrust South Africa along an environmentally sustainable path, while contributing significantly to social and economic development; energy and water security of supply; budget sustainability; and improved governance of utilities.

Considering the challenges to our economy, the persistent energy crisis, water shortages and effects of climate change, our aim must be to ensure that our investment achieves economic growth and transformation to improve the lives of citizens and fast-track development.

Prior to the RFP, the Department undertook and issued a Request for Information (RFI) on the 20th of September 2021 with the submission date for responses on the 20th of October 2021 which subsequently informed the drafting of the RFP. The RFI allowed the Department to gain additional market insights that will drive the implementation of the Programme, as well as provided an understanding of the appetite and readiness of the market to participate in this Programme.

Fifty-eight (58) submissions were received through the RFI process of which 19% were international respondents and 81% were local respondents. Accordingly, this has enhanced our understanding as well as assisted us to embed a better regulatory and eligibility criterion.

In recognising that this is the first of its kind, we have taken time to collate and prepare the necessary information to address the critical areas and questions raised through the RFI.  In addition, we have taken the necessary steps to ensure that we adhere to the relevant approval processes. These steps include:

• Hosting workshops with participating stakeholders to enable the successful roll-out across provincial and national government, including the DPWI and its regions.
• Undertaking Resource Audits which serve as inputs for the current RFP process. The current procurement round will see the Department release a bundle of projects into the market.

Additional resource audits have commenced in preparation for the next round of projects that will see the Department releasing additional projects within the next 6 to 24 months to market in various batches. This programmatic approach to procurement will ensure that we create the necessary momentum and certainty that will allow for the development of a vibrant resource services company market, development of skills, job creation and the achievement of a number of other programme objectives.

• Engaging with various stakeholders to obtain the approvals required to create an enabling environment and ensure proper governance structures and ensuring that the procurement processes are in place and adhered to. In this regard, consensus exists within Government and we are entering into the necessary agreements with our User Departments for their participation.

The Programme has conceptualised a dedicated funding mechanism to support local participation and SMME involvement, including women and youth. Furthermore, key institutions have expressed their interest in becoming finance partners to the project, both locally and internationally in the development financing market, as well as the commercial market.

RFP information requested 

The RFP will be open to the public with information requested from the respondents focussing on four key areas, namely: Legal, Technical, Finance and Economic Development. The information requested in respect of each of these key areas is detailed in the RFP.

To facilitate the preparation and submission of the Responses, the Department through GTAC will be releasing the RFP, in the coming week, on the following websites: www.etenders.gov.za and the  www.irerep.co.za(link is external) website. Interested parties may download the RFP (and related documents) and obtain information pertaining to the Programme.

We encourage all private sector participants across renewable energy, energy and water efficiency, alternative waste management sectors and through their various roles including prospective Bidders, prospective sponsors, lenders, local manufacturers, prospective suppliers, prospective advisors and other interested parties to participate in the RFP as we further cement partnerships between Government and the Private Sector.

We want to champion innovation and be an anchor for new smart technologies, expanding our mix and solutions beyond the proven technologies. We have therefore developed a section on the website where bidders will be able to upload their project videos and images to showcase their technologies. This Programme bears testimony to our commitment of putting the Infrastructure Investment Plan in action and contributes to our goals of achieving the Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan.

On Thursday, I will also be hosting a conference with all the private landlords which DPWI rents office space from to engage them on the need to reduce energy demands. Our appeal will be for all landlords to make their buildings more energy and water efficient in line with the President’s call and to assist in cost and energy efficiencies that will help our economy for many years to come.

We are excited to accelerate this journey of bringing greater innovation and resource efficiency into our government buildings that not only seeks to mitigate against climate change but achieve significant financial savings that can be diverted to other government priorities. We firmly believe that this will go a long way in contributing towards the strategies of demand management in the energy consumption.

Source: Government of South Africa

The Limpopo Executive Council (EXCO) met in its regular monthly meeting in July 2022 to consider various items and take decisions on the following:

1. Provincial Infrastructure Planning and Delivery Report

EXCO noted that an amount of R6,2 billion has been allocated towards infrastructure development in the province in the 2022/23 financial year. It also noted that the projects are at various stages of implementation, with some at feasibility and design stages and others at pre-construction stage with expenditure recorded at 9% in the first two months of the financial year.

In order to expedite delivery on infrastructure, the Executive Council has directed that departments and entities in the Infrastructure Cluster Management Committee (ITMC) meetings, namely; Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA), Independent Development Trust (IDT) and MVULA Trust, as well as the Infrastructure Cluster Champions from the departments of Social Development, Sport, Arts and Culture and Transport and Community Safety should convene regularly to ensure that the allocated budget is spent.

2. Provision of Sanitation Facilities in Schools Update

After receiving an update on the provision of sanitation facilities in schools, especially the abolition of pit latrines, EXCO noted that there is still need to tighten management of contracts to ensure that all projects are completed by end of the 2022/23 financial year. 

So far 139 schools have been completed and handed over to end-users; 23 schools are still under construction; more schools are anticipated to reach practical completion in the 2nd quarter of 2022/23 financial year; 43 of the 47 re-advertised projects were awarded and sites handed over to contractors in January 2022. The remaining 4 projects are yet to be re-advertised as there were no successful bidders; and the case of 7 school projects where the contractor refused to proceed with the works after award is being handled by Legal Services.

The Executive Council directed that non-performing contractors should be managed in line with the signed service Level Agreement (SLA); and that those disrupting the implementation of projects demanding a percentage stake, local employment or any other form of demand should be reported to the police and appropriate measures may be taken by the law enforcement agencies.

3. Limpopo Integrated Cooperative Development and Promotion Strategy 2022-2027

EXCO noted with concern the fragmented implementation of the cooperative development and support programme amongst government spheres. It also noted an array of challenges impeding the growth and development of co-operatives in the province, and subsequently directed the Department of Economic Development, Environment and Tourism (LEDET) to develop a comprehensive Cooperative Development and Support Strategy incorporating a 5-year Plan.

The Strategy and Implementation Plan seek to enhance performance, sustainable growth, and development of the cooperative movement in Limpopo Province; and a brief outline of the Limpopo Integrated Cooperative Development and Promotion Strategy 2022-2027 was presented.

EXCO approved the Limpopo Integrated Cooperative Development and Promotion Strategy 2022-2027 including the implementation plan thereof.

4. Resumption of Convening Face-to-Face Meetings, Other Gatherings and Activities

Since the inception of COVID-19 Regulations in 2020 the convening of meetings and other activities used the virtual platforms (Zoom and MS Teams). The virtual platforms have made it possible to realise that meetings can be held without necessarily being in one locality. Since then, the regulations have been scrapped and a new environment settling back to normality has prevailed.

The Executive Council approved the resumption of convening of face-to-face meetings, gatherings and other activities with the understanding that virtual and hybrid meetings will be convened as and when it is deemed appropriate for such forums.

Considering these developments, an opportunity exists for the Executive Council meetings, Cluster Committee meetings, Provincial HoDs Forum, EXCO Imbizo, the Premier’s Councils (PEGAC, LHRDC, LPAC and P-IGF), EXCO Lekgotla, Government events and other activities to be convened face-to-face.

5. Payment of Invoices within 30 Days

Whilst Limpopo rates among the top provinces that pay invoices to service providers within 30 days, EXCO wanted to see a 100% compliance with this requirement. 

The Executive Council directed that the Provincial Treasury report on the monitoring of compliance to 30-days invoice payments should in future highlight the interventions that are being made to assist departments that are not able to meet the 30-days’ deadline to pay their invoices, as well as those departments that continue to struggle to settle invoices that are older than 60 days.

6. Appointment of the Deputy Director General: Shared Internal Audit Services: Provincial Treasury

The Executive Council concurred with the appointment of Mr. Moses Tshiṱangano as Deputy Director-General: Shared Internal Audit Services in the Provincial Treasury with effect from 01 August 2022.

7. Other reports noted

The Executive Council noted various other reports related to revenue and expenditure, disaster grant funding, foot and mouth control, revitalisation of Agriculture and agro-processing value chain plan, Musina-Makhado Special Economic Zone, Great North Transport Turnaround, and Provincial State Theatre.

Source: Government of South Africa

The Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) is responsible for the provision of office accommodation for government departments through using state-owned properties or leasing in from the private sector.

In order to achieve greater operational efficiencies in the provision of office accommodation for government departments, Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, Patricia de Lille has convened the first Landlords Conference with all landlords which DPWI currently leases properties from.

The aims of the conference are to:

• To engage landlords regarding various issues that face the department, the landlords, and the industry as a whole.
• To give a clear policy direction going forward and clarify any inconsistencies that currently persist.
• To outline the various tools that the DPWI has adopted to mitigate the rising costs of leasing and achieve a greater level of water and energy efficiency
• To outline the various strategies that the DPWI is implementing to reduce overreliance on private leases
• To outline the DPWI’s strategy to optimize the utilization of the State Owned Property Portfolio
• To engage the landlords on specific issues they may have with the Department

During the conference Minister Patricia de Lille and senior managers from the department will engage landlords on various issues that the department, landlords and the industry at large grapple with.

Some of DPWI’s leasing portfolio challenges entails letting-out agreements that run on a month-to-month basis and large number of rentals not being market-related.

The conference ultimately aims to strengthen working relationships and partnerships between DPWI and private landlords and map the way forward for more efficient and effective operations that will assist both the department and landlords in their day to day operations.

Source: Government of South Africa

42 Western Cape schools vandalised over winter holiday

417 schools received holiday security from the Western Cape Education Department over the June/July school holidays. We thank our school communities for keeping a close eye on our schools and reporting suspicious activity in their areas.

Despite this, 42 schools have reported incidents of vandalism and burglary during this period. This is a small increase compared to the same holidays last year, when 38 schools reported incidents.

Fortunately, almost all of the incidents were minor in nature. Items stolen or damaged included bathroom fixtures, fencing, solar panels, consumables such as stationery and cleaning materials, tablets and ICT equipment, security and electrical equipment, and bicycles. Criminals event looted packs of sanitary pads and first aid kits!

However, one major incident involved damages estimated at over R121 000. The total cost of all the incidents is currently estimated at R808 600, with the estimates for some of the incidents still outstanding. That means that nearly a million rand that could have been spend on educating our learners now must be spent on fixing wanton damage.

Of particular concern is that some of the schools which fell victim to crime over the holidays had security guards, cameras, and other security features in place. We need to better understand what our schools need to ensure that they are safe from criminal attacks.

Community participation plays a pivotal role in keeping our schools safe. One of our World’s Best Schools finalists, West End Primary School, has not been vandalised in 10 years – despite its location in a community battling with various socio-economic issues. I intend to visit the school and others like it that have mobilised the surrounding community to take ownership of and protect the schools of the Western Cape.

Our schools have reported the cases to SAPS, and I will seek a meeting with the provincial police commissioner, Lieutenant-General Thembisile Patekile, to discuss progress on these and the cases reported by our schools and the Department previously.

Source: Government of South Africa