Day: December 1, 2022

The National Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, Minister Nathi Mthethwa in collaboration with the Department of Military Veterans, Director General Ms Irene Mpolweni, will on Friday, 2 December 2022 host a Consultative National Work for Military Veterans on the New Repatriation Model. The workshop will take place at the Birchwood Hotel, in Boksburg.

Hosted in partnership with the South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA) and the National Heritage Council (NHC), the national consultative workshop will present a new country-to-country model and implementation plan for the repatriation of Human Remains of Military Veterans who perished in exile.

Following a need to relook at the repatriation and restitution programme approach, His Excellency Mr Cyril Ramaphosa appointed a Presidential Technical Task Team (PTTT) on Military Veterans to address issues related to Military Veterans chaired by the Deputy President Mr David Mabuza. The result of this Task Team led to Cabinet approving the National Policy for the Repatriation and Restitution of Human Remains in March 2021 under which an Advisory Committee was formed. The Committee was tasked with the development of the most cost effective and yet impactful model and implementation plan to address past repatriation challenges which among others include lack of coordination, individual repatriation, high financial costs etc.

Through workshops, a new inclusive and integrated country-to-country approach has been adopted for presentation during the upcoming National Consultative Workshop.

 

 

 

Source: Government of South Africa

SIU welcomes the court appearance of Eastern Cape Department Education Chief Director for Supply Chain Management and wife for PPE tender

The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) welcomes the court appearance of Mr. Marius Harmse-Chief Director Supply Chain Management-Eastern Cape Department of Education (ECDOE), and his wife Mrs. Elanore Harmse and service provider Mr. Sigqibo Makupula, the director of Kups Trading. The three accused were arrested by the Directorate for Priority Crimes Investigation (HAWKS) and charged with regards to school personal protective equipment (PPE) fraud, corruption, and money laundering.

The accused appeared before the Zwelitsha Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday 30 November 2022, and were each granted R10 000 bail.

The arrests and court appearance follow SIU investigations that revealed that revealed that Mr. Makupula, was paid R4 million by the Department on 31 August 2020, signed off by Harmse. In turn, Makupula purchased a Mercedes-Benz V-class with a payment of R328,000 for Harmse as an alleged kickback for the awarding of the PPE tender.

The SIU probe found that Mr. Makupula transferred a sum of R573 000.00 from his First National Bank account in favour of Star Motors, King William’s Town, towards the purchase price of the vehicle, which was to be purchased by Mr. and Mrs. Harmse to the value of R850 000.00. Mr. Harmse paid the balance of R277 000.00 to Star Motors with the view to settle the balance of the purchase price.

The vehicle was registered in the name of Mrs Harmse on 3 February 2021. Mr Harmse approached the Sales Manager at Star Motors, Mr Hubbard, during April 2021 to place the said motor vehicle on their pre-owned stand as a consignment unit to try and sell it on Mr Harmse’s behalf. Mr Hubbard agreed to the arrangement. The said motor vehicle was sold on 10 May 2021, and on the instruction of Mr and Mrs Harmse to the value of R800 000.00. The purchase price was paid into Mr and Mrs Harmse’s Standard Bank account in the name of Trentrade 23 (Pty). Furthermore, the SIU investigation revealed that this is where the integration took place, the purchase of the said motor vehicle and it being transferred into the name of Mr. Msimango and not that of Mr or Mrs. Harmse show their intent to hide the proceeds and reintroducing as part of the financial system.

In September 2022, the Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) obtained a preservation order preserve the Mercedes-Benz V-class belonging to Harmses.

The SIU investigation comes after President Cyril Ramaphosa signed Proclamation R.23 of 2020, which authorised the SIU to investigate all Covid-19-related contracts in all State institutions in respect of the procurement or contracting for goods, works and services, during, or in respect of the National State of Disaster, by or on behalf of State institutions.

In line with the Special Investigating Units and Special Tribunals Act 74 of 1996, evidence pointing to criminal conduct is referred to the National Prosecuting Authority for further action.

 

 

 

Source: Government of South Africa

The City of Cape Town hosted its second quarterly report-back meeting last night, Wednesday 30 November, with community members who live around the Milnerton Lagoon. Residents were introduced to a team of expert consultants appointed to formulate an action plan of short-term solutions to water quality in the lagoon. Updates were provided on current pollution mitigation measures, including litter trap installations. In the coming years, the City aims to restore the lagoon environment via multi-billion rand sewerage and stormwater infrastructure upgrades coupled with on-the-ground pollution mitigation measures. The aim is to steadily close off pollution sources to the lagoon over time, building up to the ultimate goal of dredging the water body and removing the sediment containing decades-long build-up of pollution.

 

At the Quarterly Stakeholder Engagement Meeting, the City presented feedback on actions to help improve the inland water quality of the Milnerton Lagoon through short-, medium- and long-term solutions.

 

‘The team of external scientists and experts appointed by the City to devise the remediation plan were at the meeting to present an update on their work. This was an opportunity for the community and stakeholders to engage directly with this expert team.

 

‘The Milnerton Lagoon’s ecological condition is poor due to multiple pollution sources and requires the intervention of various stakeholders, from government, to the public and industries within the Diep River Catchment area. The City aims to steadily close off pollution sources to the lagoon, so that we can dredge and remove the sediment at the bottom, along with decades of pollution build-up. We are committed to addressing these challenges in partnership with all who care about restoring the health of the lagoon environment, which is non-negotiable for the City,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Spatial Planning and Environment, Alderman Eddie Andrews.

 

Consultants shared several possible short-term measures to improve the lagoon quality, which will be explored in detail in coming months. These measures include aerating the lagoon to introduce healthier oxygen levels, as well as potential bio-remediation solutions. Other short-term measures include improving the functioning at Potsdam, and exploring extra package plant capacity technologies at this facility.

 

Consultants will also thoroughly explore the process required to dredge the lagoon within three to five years to remove decades long pollution build-up.

What the public had to say on the Milnerton Lagoon challenges

 

To ensure the expert consultants take community feedback into account, the City invited residents to comment on the Milnerton Lagoon on 29 October 2022, and 31 written submissions were received by the closing date of 9 November 2022.

 

The department will supply the environmental consultants with the comments for their consideration when drafting the remedial plan for Milnerton Lagoon. The submissions from the public were summarised as below:

 

Changing the Milky Way Detention Pond into a Retention Pond

Building community ablution blocks in informal areas

Diverting stormwater channels away from the river

Installing renewable energy solutions at pump stations around the Milnerton Lagoon, preventing the impact of load-shedding

Community partnerships and innovative ways of removing solid waste from the Lagoon

Widening the mouth of the Lagoon

Turning waste discharged into energy

Bio-remediation

The public can still submit comments to the following email address: Enviro@capetown.gov.za

 

Short-term solutions at different stages of implementation

 

At the previous community meeting on 6 September 2022, residents supported the medium and long-term interventions and requested more short-term solutions. The Water and Sanitation Directorate implemented various interventions to reduce pollution reaching the fragile ecosystem.

 

SHORT-TERM ACTION    BY WHEN

Quarterly stakeholder engagements      In place (September 2022)

Ensure all pump stations in this catchment have a sewage spill response protocol

Three site specific sewage spill protocols in place since February 2022 at the critical pump stations in this catchment (ie Koeberg, Sanddrift and Table View East).

 

Generic Protocol in place for other pump stations.

 

Establish Milnerton Lagoon Remediation Task Team        In place (November 2022)

Complete feasibility of low-flow diversion at Erica Road, including a new trash track at the top of Milky Way                Completed (November 2022)

Improve operations at Koeberg pump station

 

 

 

(There is a permanent generator on site which operates during load-shedding. The mobile pump temporarily helps manage the flow of sewage into the pump station, supplementing the capacity of two pumps, while the valve replacement project is underway and should be completed end of December.)

 

In place (October 2022)

Litter nets on stormwater outfalls            Installing (November 2022)

Establishing a catchment pollution response team            In process (November 2022)

Trial bio-remediation      In process (December 2022)

Feedback on Temporary Package Plant feasibility at Potsdam Wastewater Treatment Works (WWTW)   Due December 2022

Opening of the estuary mouth  As needed

 

‘Everyone – from all spheres of government, to industries and residents – who live in the vicinity of the Diep River Catchment need to come together to tackle and reduce the chronic pollution entering at various points along this water body, which eventually ends up in the Milnerton Lagoon.

 

‘In addition to the short-term interventions, the Water and Sanitation Directorate has also placed sandbags at the Erica Road Outfall, benefiting the Lagoon and Potsdam by reducing pollution that reaches the waterbody and limiting the amount of lagoon water pumped to Potsdam WWTW for treatment. It also aims to create a coffer dam to pump polluted stormwater into the sewer network for treatment at the Potsdam WWTW.

 

‘The directorate is also concluding the bioremediation Request For Information process that will help the City understand the effectiveness of using bio-enzymes to remediate sewer spills and ambient water. We are committed to cleaning up the Lagoon by stopping pollution at its sources, which includes better equipping Potsdam WWTW so that the treated effluent is of better quality,’ said Councillor Siseko Mbandezi, the City’s Acting Mayoral Committee Member for Water and Sanitation.

 

 

 

Lagoon odour

 

‘The Milnerton Lagoon goes through cycles of releasing hydrogen sulphide, causing a smell that impacts the community negatively. The City is investigating various short-term solutions to determine their potential to address water quality and odour around the lagoon,’ said Councillor Mbandezi.

 

We have determined that the sulphur smell originates from the excessive accumulation of particulate organic matter in sediment that has caused bacteria to proliferate to such a degree that they are using oxygen at a rate faster than it is resupplied. This causes sulphate-reducing bacteria to switch from aerobic to anaerobic respiration, that ultimately generates the hydrogen sulphide.

 

To fix the smell, we need to control the source of the particulate organic matter and introduce oxygen-rich water to the Lagoon. The particulate organic matter that leads to these situations is often from wastewater, treated and untreated.

 

 

 

Potsdam WWTW

 

Potsdam WWTW is an ageing facility, requiring a capacity and technology upgrade valued at R5 billion and ongoing maintenance and remedial work. The City has invested heavily in the operational maintenance of the facility through the refurbishment of the Primary Settlement Tanks, inlet sump and reinforcing reed bed 1. The City is steadily working towards upgrading Potsdam, which is also on the Mayoral Priority Programme.

 

 

Source: City Of Cape Town

Dispute resolution body CCMA saved 171 000 jobs since 2016 as it marks 25 years of existence – Executive Director, Morajane

The Commission for Conciliation Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) has saved 171 000 jobs through its dispute resolution initiatives – this as the organisation celebrates 25 years of its existence said Executive Director Advocate Sello Morajane.

Morajane said in the current challenging economic climate one job lost was one too many. He reiterated CCMA’s posture “to remain a dispute resolution agent, and everything else will be about support services”.

The Executive Director said on the eve of Covid-19 the CCMA was in the throes of embarking of on a number of innovations and these had to be shelved. He said now that Covid risk has subsided it was time the organisation does things differently.

“We must evolve with time. All of us must adjust, adapt and evolve with time without going backwards. Covid-19 changed the course of time. It changed how we do things, our attitude towards work and how we tackle cases,” he said.

He said there were things that “we had for future but, the future came to us”.

Morajane emphasised that the CCMA users will continue to remain a top priority. He implored Commissioners that being a Commissioner was a calling. He appealed to Commissioners to avoid postponing cases unnecessarily and always engage with clients.

“We are an institution of statutory creation – born out of the belly of South Africa’s constitution led by the values of the constitution – and we live those values,” he said.

Morajane was speaking in Birchwood, Boksburg today when he was delivering a State of the organisation report before hundreds of CCMA Commissioners and its stakeholders. Morajane was addressing the organisation’s Indaba. The two-day Indaba provides the organisation with an opportunity to reflect on its health state and map a future path.

He said during Covid-19 many institutions including public institutions closed down, however, the CCMA stepped up.

“It was one of those times when our leadership skills were tested. Some of our officials died and were infected. Some have not healed. Covid is still there. We served the public during Covid and stood the test of time,” he said.

According to Morajane, when the National Minimum Wage (NMW) was introduced it was not Act, but a statement – about economic development, “we must ensure that it must be enforced”.

He highlighted the importance of language and culture – in dispute resolution especially during the conciliation stages.

“Parties understand the dispute better in their own language. Clients should be encouraged to speak in the language of their choice untranslated. The switch to English often goes with ego. We must unlock the use of 11 official languages, then we will see a radical change in dispute dissolution,” he emphasised.

Morajane cautioned the Commissioners against finalising an award and later walking away. He said Commissioners must ensure they enforce the execution in the name of social justice.

“The value of the award is in the execution,” he said, “the idea is to complete and close the deal. Then there will be true value in what we do”. He also emphasised the need to train Commissioners on the rules and guidelines. Another project of concern to CCMA is operation model and funding design.

He also said there was no way he can celebrate victory if the health of the staff was not well.

Meanwhile, Morajane disclosed that since opening its doors more than 25 years ago the CCMA has handled more than 3,7 million cases. In the process he said the CCMA issue more than 547 000 awards and 130 00 of those awards were enforced.

“The enforcement of awards is a worry for us,” he said.

 

 

 

Source: Government of South Africa

The City of Cape Town’s Electricity Generation and Distribution Department has been hard at work over recent months on a number of its priority projects across the metro. One of these priority projects is the repair to high mast streetlighting on Nelson Mandela and FW de Klerk Boulevards in the city. A number of high masts were repaired and more than 2800 metres of stolen cable have been replaced.

 

The City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Energy, Councilor Beverley van Reenen and officials in the Department visited the roads to have a closer look at the work.

 

‘These routes are crucial for Capetonians and visitors to our city, and we are pleased that visibility in the area has been enhanced. The repairs to the remaining high masts are on track and we are excited the see the progress being made.

 

‘Over recent months, electricity infrastructure in this region has been severely impacted by theft and vandalism. The City is monitoring the area and will install additional monitoring equipment to curb the vandalism and theft.

 

 

‘A large number of high masts have been repaired at a cost of R 500 000 and work is ongoing. The high mast repair work is complex and in some cases requires the removal of the high masts for the work to take place. This would require lane closures, as well as the use of specialised vehicles and cranes for the removal and transportation of the masts. This work will only be carried out in 2023 to avoid closures of the freeways during the festive season.

 

‘This complex work takes time but we assure residents that our teams are working hard to see that the remaining infrastructure is repaired as quickly as possible.

 

 

‘We appeal to residents to assist us by reporting any suspicious activities to both the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the City so that we can bring an end to streetlight infrastructure theft and vandalism in areas across the metro. The SAPS remains the lead authority in crime prevention.

 

‘The City thanks the teams and contractors for their work thus far and for enhancing the visibility on this route. We ask residents to be our eyes and ears and to report suspicious acts close to infrastructure to us and the SAPS. Together we can bring an end to vandalism and bring perpetrators to book,’ said Councillor Van Reenen.

 

Report damage to municipal electrical infrastructure:

 

• SMS: 31220

 

• Email: power@capetown.gov.za

 

 

Anonymous tip-offs welcomed:

 

Residents can give anonymous tip offs if they are aware of illegal activity that is taking place; that has happened or is still to happen. Please call 112 from a cell phone (toll free) and 107 from a landline or 021 480 7700 for emergencies.

 

The City is offering a reward to anyone who provides information that leads to an arrest, confiscation of stolen or illegal goods or the handing in of illegal or stolen goods. This reward is also applicable to information leading to the arrest of people vandalising, damaging or stealing electricity infrastructure or installing illegal connections.

 

 

Source: City Of Cape Town