Month: November 2022

270 000 visitors flock to tourist attractions across the Western Cape in October 2022

The Western Cape’s tourism recovery is gaining momentum, with strong signs that a bumper summer season can be expected.

In October 2022 alone, foot fall at the 17 participating attractions in the Western Cape recorded a total of 269,016 visitors.

This is a 128% year-on-year growth in the number of visitors and a recovery rate of 65% when compared to October 2019.

The findings are included in Wesgro’s monthly tourism report for October 2022, which provides valuable insights into tourism trends in the Western Cape.

Other key findings include:

• Two-way passengers through Cape Town International Airport’s (CTIA) international terminal reached a recovery rate of 83% in October 2022 compared to October 2019. International two-way passengers through CTIA reached 1.41 million between January and October 2022.
• The CTIA domestic terminal recovery was at 73% in October 2022, improving from previous months. 4.88 million domestic two-way passengers passed through CTIA between January and October 2022.
• Passengers through George Airport almost fully recovered to pre-pandemic levels reaching 90%.George Airport recorded 618,073 two-way passengers between January and October 2022.
• Hotel occupancy for the Western Cape stood at 65.6% in October 2022, representing a recovery rate of 95% when compared to October 2019.
• The Average Daily Rate (ADR) for the Western Cape grew to R1 833.44 and RevPAR (Revenue Per Available Room) reached R1 202.42. Both ADR and REVPAR exceeded October 2019 levels, recovering to 115% and 109% respectively.
• The top 5 highest year-on-year growth rates in October 2022 were recorded for Robben Island (181%), Table Mountain National Park: Boulders (159%), Table Mountain National Park: Cape of Good Hope (144%), Cango Caves (133%) and Table Mountain Aerial Cableway (132%).
• 8 out of the 17 participating attractions in the province fully recovered and exceeded their October 2019 visitor numbers.

This is more good news for the Western Cape, following the announcement yesterday that 85 000 jobs were created in the province in the third quarter, bringing the total number of jobs created year-on-year to 203 000.

This means that the Western Cape’s expanded unemployment rate decreased by 1.8 percentage points quarter-on-quarter and by 0.8 percentage points year-on-year.

It is now up to us to make sure that our destination is ready to welcome our visitors and that they have a memorable stay in the province, so that they keep on coming back. This will be a key focus for the Western Cape Government, as we head into our summer tourism season.

 

 

 

Source: Government of South Africa

The City’s indigent benefits and rates relief campaign drive will be in Avondale, Atlantis this week on 1 December 2022. The City encourages residents who may benefit from its indigent assistance to visit and speak to an official about the available assistance.

 

Upcoming events are as follows:

 

1 December 2022             09:30 – 15:30       Avondale Community Hall, Atlantis

8 December 2022             09:30 – 15:30       Lobelia Community Hall, Lentegeur (Postponed due to full council meeting)

 

‘The cost of the City’s social package for the 2022/23 financial year amounts to R4,7 billion, and includes R2,3 billion for indigent relief and R1,45 billion for rates relief. Those who have qualified for indigent benefits in the past must remember that they need to apply yearly for the benefit, except pensioners who may apply to renew their benefit every three years.

 

‘It is unfortunate that the event in Lentegeur has been postponed, but we will visit the area in the new year. We encourage residents who may be struggling to approach us about the assistance which is available. Our officials will be at the upcoming event in Atlantis and we are ready to help. Depending on a resident’s unique circumstances, rebates of up to 100% on municipal rates and refuse removal can be granted. Our teams are assisting beneficiaries with the registration process, forms and required documentation, and capturing information accurately,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Finance, Councillor Siseko Mbandezi.

 

Whether residents qualify for indigent support or indigent rates relief depends on monthly household income. If the total household income is R7 500 or less per month, residents could qualify for a discount on water, sewerage, electricity, waste collection and property rates.

 

The City’s Customer Relations Department will also assist residents with logging service requests.

 

Residents may qualify for indigent support if they:

 

• are a homeowner

 

• earn R7 500 or less per month

 

• own only one property

 

• are the full-time occupant of the home

 

• use the home mainly for residential purposes

 

• are a child who lives in the home of a parent who has passed away

 

• received the house in a divorce settlement

 

• depend on a pension or a social grant for their livelihood

 

Applicants will need:

 

• proof of identification (ID book/card or passport)

 

• a bank statement for the last three months or a sworn affidavit stating that they do not have a bank account

 

• a bond statement for the last three months or a sworn affidavit stating that they do not have a bond account

 

• a copy of the estate documents if the applicant has inherited his or her house

 

If residents are employed, they must also include:

 

• latest salary/wage pay slip or a letter from an employer stating their income

 

• a sworn affidavit if they are self-employed stating how much is earned per month

 

• proof if a disability grant, maintenance grant or pension is received

 

If residents are unemployed, they must include the following in the application:

 

• a sworn affidavit stating that they are unemployed

 

• a sworn affidavit stating that they have no other source of income

 

Useful contacts and information:

 

 

 

For rates or services relief

 

Visit: https://www.capetown.gov.za/City-Connect/Apply/Financial-relief-and-rebates/Individuals/Apply-for-indigent-rates-relief or a City customer office.

Email: indigent.relief@capetown.gov.za

Pensioner rates relief

 

Pensioners 60 years or older and people who receive social grants amounting to no more than R17 500 may qualify for a rates rebate of between 10% and 100%. They are invited to go to the nearest City customer care office or send an email to rates.rebate@capetown.gov.za

For more information on how to apply for pensioner support: https://www.capetown.gov.za/City-Connect/Apply/Financial-relief-and-rebates/Individuals/Apply-for-senior-citizen-support

For payment arrangements

 

• Visit: https://www.capetown.gov.za/City-Connect/Pay/Municipal-accounts/Electricity/arrange-a-payment-plan-for-debt-collection

 

• Email: Payment.arrangements@capetown.gov.za

 

 

 

For a list of the City’s Cash Offices and Walk-in Centres, please visit: https://www.capetown.gov.za/Explore%20and%20enjoy/See-all-City-facilities/Our-service-facilities/Walk-in%20centres

 

 

Source: City Of Cape Town

Media briefing by Presidential Spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya – Thursday, 01 December 2022

Presidential Spokesperson Vincent Magwenya will tomorrow, Thursday, 1 December 2022, update the public, through a media briefing, on the President’s public programme for the week.

 

The spokesperson also utilises the media briefing to address topical issue of public and media interest.

 

Members of the media are invited as follows:

Date: Thursday, 1 December 2022

Time: 9h30 for 10h00

Venue: Imbizo Media Centre, 120 Plain Street, Cape Town

 

RSVP: Media wishing to attend are requested to submit their details to Kearabetswe Mabatle on 066 219 2162 / Kearabetswe@presidency.gov.za(link sends e-mail) and Terrence Manase – 082 338 6707 / terrence@presidency.gov.za(link sends e-mail) by 16h00 today, Wednesday, 30 November 2022.

 

 

Source: Government of South Africa

Western Cape provincial laboratory undergoes R23 million renovation

“Once the renovations are completed, the Western Cape Provincial Veterinary Laboratory will provide an enhanced service to our clients,” said Western Cape Minister of Agriculture Ivan Meyer during the recent handover of the building site to the contractor.

Meyer said: “The Western Cape Provincial Veterinary Laboratory provides a veterinary diagnostic and veterinary public health testing service.  Our clients are located in all provinces. Nearly 60% of the samples received for testing originate from outside the Western Cape Province.  Testing activities focus on disease diagnosis, surveillance and monitoring.”

Meyer continues: “Our main scope is testing for controlled and notifiable animal diseases as listed in the Animal Diseases Act.  The national requirement for all laboratories testing for controlled and notifiable animal diseases is that the laboratory is ISO 17025 accredited.”

According to Francois Dreyer, Technical Manager for Veterinary Diagnostic Services, Bovine brucellosis testing makes up 85% of the testing performed by the Laboratory.

Dreyer said: “During the renovation period, an accredited veterinary laboratory will perform free testing of samples for clients within the Western Cape.   The Western Cape  Provincial Veterinary Laboratory will cover the costs. The value of the testing performed during the renovation is estimated at R2.2 million.

Renovations are costed at R23 million, with completion due by November 2023.

The project will be done in three phases:

• Phase 1 focuses primarily on the on-site establishment and many outer buildings.
• Phase 2 will focus mainly on the laboratory areas, and
• Phase 3 will include the administrative- and other office areas.

“It is envisioned that the PVL will be fully functional again as an ISO 17025 accredited laboratory by the end of November 2023”, concluded Meyer.

 

 

 

Source: Government of South Africa

Assault increases on women and children alarming

The increase in assault/grievous bodily harm (GBH) cases against women and children as reflected in the second quarter (July – September 2022) crime statistics for the Western Cape, is alarming and cause for great concern.

The crime statistics show that for women, GBH cases increased by 399 or 23,1% when compared to the same period in the previous year. In addition to this, 5 more women, or 4,4% were also murdered. For children, during the same comparative period, GBH increased by 31 cases or 9.6%. Murder and attempted murder for children decreased by 5,2% and 28,9% respectively, while attempted murder for women decreased by 21,1%.

Western Cape Minister of Police Oversight and Community Safety, Reagen Allen says, “it is an absolute disgrace that our women and children are being harmed in this manner and that the numbers continue to increase. I am deeply angered by this. The 16 days of activism provides an important opportunity to raise much more awareness and action against the abuse of women and children. As a society, we should be ashamed that we are allowing it to continue. Most of these crimes occur within the premises of the victim or the perpetrator, and in most cases, the offender and victim are known to each other. The onus is on us to immediately reverse this traumatic reality.”

Minister Reagen Allen added: “We will continue using our Court Watching Briefs programme, to ensure that where GBH cases against women and children that might have been struck off the role due to police inefficiencies, are placed back in court, so that perpetrators can be held accountable and ultimately go to jail. All of us, also have a responsibility to report any SAPS officer that might have turned someone away who experienced sexual violence, when they wanted to report the matter.”

Western Cape Minister of Social Development, Sharna Fernandez said: “In the Western Cape Government we believe in a 365-day campaign against sexual and gender-based violence. The increase in assault cases is indicative of a national government failing in its duties to protecting its most vulnerable citizens. During the Western Cape’s first Provincial Summit on GBV in October, we heard the plight of victims who shared their frustrations with the justice and police systems. We heard about victims waiting in long queues at police stations before receiving assistance. We also heard of how victims who report cases to the police are often dismissed when they smell of alcohol. We are deeply concerned that domestic violence is not being taken as a serious offense, and most importantly, detectives are overloaded with cases. There were also testimonies of courts not being client friendly. Victims need time to be prepared for the court process but say sometimes the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) only engages the client on the morning of the case. The low conviction rate is also a major challenge, and sentencing does not deter abusers from committing these types of crimes again. The time it takes to conclude court cases is more often than not too long.”

“This leads to a distrust by victims in our policing and justice systems. That is why the Western Cape Department of Social Development has stepped in and is helping and supporting victims of abuse and violence in whatever manner it can, through its Victim Empowerment Programme. In the 2021/2022 financial year, more than 21 000 GBV victims accessed psychosocial support through this programme, much more than we’d originally targeted – this is indicative of the significant need. The programme currently funds 26 shelters in the Western Cape. The funding model for the shelters has improved significantly over the past 5 years, as the unit cost (cost per bed per month) has increased by 42%,” added Minister Fernandez.

“I urge all loved ones, friends, neighbours, community members and society at large to not be silent on this matter. We should under no circumstances be enablers of GBH or any other crime against our women and children, and instead ensure our women and children are safe. Let us start eradicating the abuse and assault of our women and children from our society,” concluded Minister Reagen Allen.

 

 

 

Source: Government of South Africa

Remarks of National Assembly Speaker, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula at the handover ceremony of the report of the Independent Panel established in terms of Section 89 – at the Imbizo Centre – Cape Town 30 November 2022

Chairperson of the Independent Panel, Former Chief Justice Ngcobo
Chairperson of the NCOP, Hon Masondo
Leaders and whips of political parties and
Members of Parliament present
Programme Director
Ladies and Gentlemen

The ceremonial handover of the Report of the Section 89 Independent Panel marks one of the indicative milestones in South Africa’s maturing constitutional democracy. It is necessary to restate the mandate of this Panel, namely, to consider a preliminary enquiry relating to a motion proposing a section 89 enquiry, and make a recommendation to the Speaker whether sufficient evidence exists to show that the President committed a serious violation of the Constitution or law or committed a serious misconduct.

As we know, on Tuesday, 14 June 2022, the African Transformation Movement submitted to the Speaker of the National Assembly, a motion requesting the House to initiate an enquiry into the removal of the President of the Republic, on specific charges.

Initially, I declined the motion as it was not compliant with the applicable Rules of the National Assembly. Accordingly, the rules – Rule 129 B in particular – also provide for an engagement between the Speaker and the motion sponsor on such matters when the motion is non-compliant. After further engagements, the ATM submitted an amended version of the motion on 18 July 2022, which was found to be in order.

In line with the applicable Rules, I referred the submission, with supporting documents, to the Independent Panel, which I appointed after nominations by political parties. Indeed, the involvement of political parties in the constitution of the Panel forms an essential element of checks and balances to jealously guard its independence, to remove any perception of bias, so that the integrity of its outcome is not brought into question.

About 13 days ago, the Panel conducted an assessment whether it would complete its work within the 30-day period imposed by the Rules, and felt that if granted few more days it would do justice to its mandate. Using the relevant provisions in the Rules, I accordingly granted the extension – once again – to safeguard the quality, credibility and integrity of the process.

With the handing over of this report, the life of the Panel has accordingly come to an end. Allow me the opportunity, to extend our gratitude and appreciation to the Panel, consisting of Retired Chief Justice Sandile Ngcobo, who led the team as Chairperson, retired Judge Thokozile Masipa and Adv Mahlape Sello, for their professionalism in executing the mandate given to them. The report will be communicated to members of Parliament through the next publication of the Announcements, Tablings and Committee Reports (ATC), tonight.

We have set aside 6 December 2022 for consideration of the Report by the National Assembly. The role of the National Assembly pertaining to this report is articulated in the Rules. The House will consider the report, its findings and recommendations and adopt a resolution, through a simple majority vote, whether a further action by the House is necessary or not.

Thank you!

 

 

 

Source: Government of South Africa