Month: September 2022

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Innovation is key to ensuring water security

The Department of Water and Sanitation has called on young water professionals to come up with innovations that will help efforts to ensure water security.

The department’s Director-General (DG), Dr Sean Phillips, made the call at the Wetskills Water Challenge Award ceremony, held this week at the home of the Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Han Peters, in Pretoria.

During the ceremony, Phillips shared his passion for the sector with young professionals from different universities, including those already employed in the department.

The DG urged them to come up with realistic and practically implementable innovations.

“The sector is very technical and requires young, energetic and innovative minds. I am pleased that you are all here today and I see a clear and balanced representation of everyone. Young people are the future and if we cannot allow them to lead us, then we are shooting ourselves in the foot,” Phillips said.

The Wetskills Water Challenge is a two-week pressure-cooker programme for students and young professionals with a passion for water. The programme aims to find innovative and out-of-the-box solutions for water challenges in a changing world.

The challenge is hosted by the department, in conjunction with the Wetskills Foundation, the Embassy of the Netherlands, Dutch Water Authorities Africa and the Blue Deal programme.

The pressure cooker programme entails case studies formulated by case owners with a dedicated challenge in a local situation.

These cases are presented in an ice breaking and energizing session, where the cooperation between the Dutch water sector and the partner-country is showed and positioned, in this case being South Africa.

It provides a base to integrate different generations, water challenges, disciplines and cultures.

Winners of the sixth annual challenge focused on indigenous knowledge systems to respond to water vector diseases.

The case was led by the Water Research Commission (WRC) with team members coming from various institutions in the sector.

Use of indigenous plants for medicinal and other purposes

Pitching the case study to Dr Phillips and several other attendees at the awarding ceremony, 23-year-old Kagiso Mogajane highlighted the impact of climate change on the occurrence and distribution of water-vectored disease in South Africa. 

“In as much as there is this occurrence across the globe, the situation is unique in our country. South Africa is a country rich in biodiversity and culture.

“We have indigenous knowledge systems surrounding our healthcare, including the use of indigenous plants for symptomatic treatment of infectious diseases,” Mogajane said.

Mogajane warned that harvesting of these indigenous plants in the wilderness places them at risk of extinction and threatens the countries’ precious biodiversity.

“It is for this reason that we aim to empower South African communities to use their indigenous knowledge through the implementation of community gardens. These gardens will cultivate indigenous plants that can serve not only sources of medicine but food and fuel,” said Mogajane.

WRC CEO, Dr Jennifer Molwantwa, has since committed that the commission will ensure that the case study is further explored and effectively implemented across the country.

Source: South African Government News Agency

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Public Service Month closes with one-stop exhibition of services in Diepsloot

Government will today close the Integrated Public Service Month by hosting a one-stop exhibition of services, rendered by various government departments and entities, at Chuma Mall in Diepsloot.

In addition to the exhibitions, departments and agencies such as Health, the Road Accident Fund, South African Social Security Agency and Home Affairs will render public services onsite.

This year, Public Service Month is celebrated under the theme, ‘Batho Pele Revitalisation – Walking The Talk’.

Public Service Month serves as a reminder of what it means to serve communities and to also look at the impact government has, especially around issues of service delivery.

This year, government celebrates the 25th anniversary of the Batho Pele White Paper as a framework for the transformation of public service delivery in South Africa.

Government is also celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Constitution that was signed into law by former President Nelson Mandela.

Speaking at the launch of Public Service Month at Freedom Park earlier this month, Minister Thulas Nxesi said the public service has skilled, competent and resourceful officials on the job, working daily at the coalface of service delivery amid serious constraints.

He said as far back as 2013, the Diagnostic Review of the National Planning Commission identified uneven capacity within and between government departments as a challenge and potential threat to the ability of the public service to deliver quality services throughout the country.

“As a responsive government, we have been addressing this specific challenge through a variety of targeted capacity-building interventions by the DPSA, in partnership with the National School of Government, including initiatives such as the District Development Model.

“Notwithstanding these interventions, I believe that our public service has the inherent capacity to walk the talk and deliver on its constitutional obligations to citizens,” Nxesi said.

Source: South African Government News Agency

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SAA not scaling down operations

State-owned airline, South African Airways (SAA), has moved to assure customers that it will continue to service the routes it currently offers.

This after reports suggested that the International Air Services Licencing Council revoked 20 of the airline’s domestic and international route rights.

“SAA continues to operate its current network and schedule, with six regional and three domestic destinations. Currently, the airline has deployed additional capacity on the Cape Town route to meet demand, and we have increased the aircraft size on the Harare route.

“SAA made a representation to the International Air Services Licensing Council (The Council) on its current route allocation and the decision by the Council to review some of the frequencies on the routes that the airline is currently not serving,” SAA said in a statement.

The aviation company added that it will be ramping up operations with additional equipment being purchased for its current fleet.

“The first addition arrived on [Tuesday]. SAA has taken delivery of an Airbus 320 which allows the airline to continue to gain momentum with the intention to resume full regional and international services.

“There is no doubt that SAA still retains a high brand equity and customer loyalty, demonstrated by successfully operating six in-demand routes on our Continent, high occupancy rates on domestic routes, and robust increase of Voyager members,” SAA said.

Earlier this month, the airline celebrated a year of operations after it faced an uncertain future after it was grounded for at least 16 months and underwent business rescue.

Source: South African Government News Agency

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Pension of former Eskom executive frozen

The Special Tribunal has granted an order allowing the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) to freeze the pension fund of former Eskom middle manager for Program Complex Projects, Duduzile Moyo following allegations of contract fraud.

This after an investigation by the corruption busting unit found that Moyo allegedly indirectly received kickbacks amounting to some R24 million from an Eskom supplier.

SIU spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago said the order interdicts the Eskom Pension and Provident Fund from paying out the pension following Moyo’s resignation from the power utility this month.

“The SIU investigation into Moyo’s conduct found that Ms Moyo in her role as Eskom’s Supply Manager/Contracts Manager/Employer’s Representative contracted a business named Tamukelo…to transport raw and potable water from Kendal Power Station to Kusile Power Station. Moyo signed 23 interim payment certificates in respect of Tamukelo’s services for the period December 2011 to July 2014, totalling approximately R138 million.

“Furthermore, the SIU probe revealed that Tamukelo and its representatives paid entities linked or associated with Moyo, whilst she negotiated and managed Eskom’s contract with Tamukelo. The modus operandi employed by Moyo was to create structures of entities owned by members of her family and friends to receive these funds,” he said.

Kganyago added that there was “a clear conflict of interest” which Moyo did not declare to Eskom.

“[She] received these funds in circumstances where part of her duties and functions as middle management. Moyo was also part of a team that presented the negotiation strategy of the Tamukelo tender worth R300 million to the tender and procurement committee.

“Moyo also deceived Eskom and repeatedly made fraudulency misrepresentation, declaring that there was no conflict of interest when dealing with Tamukelo and other role players for five years when signing Eskom’s annual declaration of Conflict Interest Policy,” he said.

The SIU is expected to institute civil proceedings against Moyo following the granting of the order.

Source: South African Government News Agency

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Special Tribunal orders SAP to pay Water and Sanitation R81.5m

The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) has welcomed a ruling by the Special Tribunal, which ordered the System Applications Products (SAP) (Pty) Ltd to pay the department an amount of R81.5 million within five court days from Thursday.

The settlement arises out of the applicants (Special Investigating Unit and Water and Sanitation Minister) having reached a full and final settlement of the remainder of the disputes and matters between them, relating to the license agreements entered into between 2015 and 2016.

In 2015 and 2016, the Department of Water and Sanitation paid SAP an amount of R413 121 283.40, but the Tribunal has ruled that the two agreements did not comply with the provisions of the Constitution, the Public Finance Management Act, Treasury Regulations or the Department’s Supply Chain Management policies.

In March this year, The Tribunal ordered SAP to repay DWS more than R400 million after it set aside and declared the two software license and support agreement contracts worth more than R1billion between the department and SAP invalid.

In a statement on Thursday, the department said the parties have since agreed before the Tribunal that SAP will pay R263 million and the remainder of the amount that was in dispute would be determined by The Tribunal.

“SAP has since agreed to pay the full outstanding amount (R81.5 million) within five court days. Consequently, the agreement will extinguish the dispute between the parties and the matter will be finalised,” the department said.

Source: South African Government News Agency

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37 hospitals excluded from load shedding in SA

Thirty-seven hospitals across the country will be exempted from the load shedding schedule, Health Minister, Dr Joe Phaahla, announced on Friday.

This follows several engagements with various stakeholders, including Eskom and municipalities, as the Department of Health works on a plan to introduce an energy mix to shield public health facilities from the devastating power outages.

“The impact of load shedding on the provision of healthcare services cannot be underestimated or overemphasised,” said Phaahla, during a media briefing on the impact of load shedding on health services.

While most public health facilities have backup power supply systems, including generators and uninterrupted power supply (UPS), he said they were not designed to reserve electricity for an extended period.

According to the Minister, most provinces have reported that their budgets for diesel are running out quicker, and generators are old and cannot power the entire facility. 

“Generators have been proven not to adequately meet the increasing demands during load shedding in health facilities, hence some hospitals are left without a choice, but forced to switch off some critical areas, which now compromise patient care.”

In some provinces, like Limpopo, hospitals have resorted to putting elective surgeries on hold until further notice.

The outages are reducing the lifespan of some of the critical medical machinery and equipment and the efficacy of some medications and vaccines, which need to be stored at specific temperatures.

“Equipment is at risk in our ICUs and those are some of the very sensitive equipment, which has to be protected. Because if there can be any power interruption with a ventilator, you’re almost certain that the patient is going to die.”

Exclusion criteria

According to Phaahla, there are two sets of areas of differentiation in power supply, the urban which is mainly connected by municipalities and the rural that mainly receives its electricity from Eskom.

“In cases of Eskom direct connection, they will directly exempt the facilities and in case of municipality connection, they will install a dedicated feeder line that kicks in to keep power in the facility once the municipality load shedding schedule takes place,” he explained.

The criteria for hospital exclusion include patients’ volume, the nature of specialised services they provide and technological and medical equipment they have, of which most are academic, regional and district hospitals.

However, he said exclusions do not mean the facilities should waste electricity.

Energy mix

In addition, he said the department was considering a phased approach to investment in renewable energy through solar power installation at health facilities as part of the energy mix.

Meanwhile, solar energy will be prioritised for areas such as theatres, intensive care units (ICU), and high-tech and advanced equipment.

The installation of UPS technology is on the cards to improve the reliability and efficiency of an electrical system across an entire hospital facility and sustain critical services and data protection for patients and staff.

The exempted health facilities include:

In Gauteng: Charlotte Maxeke Hospital, Hellen Joseph Hospital, Steve Biko Academic Hospital, George Mukhari Hospital, Pretoria West Hospital, Tshwane District Hospital, Mamelodi Hospital, Bronkhorstpruit Hospital, and Katlehong Hospital.

In KwaZulu-Natal: Harry Gwala Hospital (former Edendale), Greys Hospital, Ladysmith Hospital, Prince Mshiyeni Hospital, RK Khan Hospital, Inkosi Albert Luthuli Hospital, McCords Hospital, King Dinizulu Hospital, Mandela Children’s Hospital, Mahatma Gandhi Hospital, Osindindisweni Hospital, St Aidans Hospital, Addington Hospital, Clairwood Hospital.

In Limpopo: Mankweng Hospital, Lebowakgomo Hospital, Dilokong Hospital, Maklenburg Hospital.

In the Eastern Cape: Frere Hospital, Elliot Hospital, Livingstone Hospital, Port Elizabeth Provincial Hospital, Uitenhage Hospital.

In the Free State: Pelenomi Academic Hospital.

In the Western Cape: Tygerberg Hospital, Groote Schuur Hospital, Red Cross Hospital.

Three names have been submitted in the Northern Cape and the department is waiting for a response from Eskom.

In Mpumalanga, the department is waiting for a response on Witbank and Rob Ferreira hospitals which are on the priority list.

Source: South African Government News Agency

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Minister Patel to host SA-Saudi Arabia Joint Economic Commission (JEC)

Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Ebrahim Patel will host the 9th session of the South Africa-Saudi Arabia Joint Economic Commission (JEC) and the South Africa-Saudi Arabia Trade and Investment Forum next week.

The forum is set to take place on Monday in Pretoria alongside the 9th Session of the South Africa-Saudi Arabia Joint Economic Commission (JEC).

Minister Patel and Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, Bandar bin Ibrahim Al-Khorayef, are expected to address both the forum on Monday and the Plenary Session of the JEC on Tuesday.

In a statement on Friday, the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition said the South Africa-Saudi Arabia Joint Business Council will be launched on the first day.

“The objective of the forum is to provide South African and Saudi Arabian companies with a strategic platform to engage on bilateral trade and investment opportunities in both markets, while simultaneously affording them access to senior decision-makers and stakeholders,” the department said.

According to the Acting Deputy Director-General of Invest SA, Yunus Hoosen, the JEC between South Africa and Saudi Arabia is envisaged to explore areas of cooperation, which will provide and promote opportunities on trade and investment, and industrial development.

“The JEC is an ideal platform to unlock investments through establishing networks with key Saudi Arabian officials and private sector leaders, and importantly to attract investment. Significantly, the launch of the South Africa-Saudi Arabia Joint Business Council will bring together captains of industry from both countries to develop a roadmap to deepen economic ties,” Hoosen said.

According to Hoosen, Saudi Arabia continues to be South Africa’s strategic partner in the Middle East. It is South Africa’s second largest trading partner in the Middle East and largest source of imports from the region.

He added that the exchange of political and business visits, as well as trade and investment exhibitions and seminars by both countries in the past years have had a positive effect on trade and investment trends.

Total bilateral trade between South Africa and Saudi Arabia stood at R66.15 billion in 2021 with South African exports at R5.54 billion and imports from Saudi Arabia amounting to R60.61 billion.

South Africa’s main exports to Saudi are concentrated in agriculture,and agro-processing; mineral resources, chemicals, automotive parts and components, and metals.

On the other hand, Saudi Arabia ranked as a largest source of imports, mainly for oil supply. Saudi Arabia plays an important role as a source of oil, as well as a destination for South Africa’s exports.

Source: South African Government News Agency