Day: January 10, 2023

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Police arrest suspects on firearm related charges

WESTERN CAPE - Efforts to fight the spread of illegal firearms in the Mitchell’s Plain area have once again resulted in the discovery of firearms, and ammunition and the arrest of two suspects on charges relating to possession of a prohibited firearm, possession of an unlicensed firearm and the unlawful possession of ammunition.

Members attached to the Anti Economical Crime Team followed up information that firearms and ammunition are being stored at a premises Cathedral Street, Tafelsig West, Mitchells Plain.

They immediately operationalised the information and searched the mentioned address. While searching the premises they found a firearm without a serial number and eight rounds of ammunition. A 43-year-old female was arrested for the possession of a prohibited firearm and ammunition.

In an unrelated matter, members attached to Anti-Gang Unit arrested an adult male on 09 January 2023 at about 17:45, after they followed up information about a suspect in possession of a firearm in Bisley Street, Beacon Valley.

The members spotted the suspect who ran into the yard and disposed of an object in the dustbin and ran into the house. They swiftly apprehended the suspect and took him back to the dustbin, where they found a firearm. The suspect was arrested.

Both suspects are due to appear in the Mitchell’s Plain Magistrate’s Court once they have been charged.

Source: South African Police Service

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Chinese Top Diplomat Arrives in Africa to Strengthen Cooperation

China’s new foreign minister, Qin Gang, has begun a five-nation tour of Africa aimed at bolstering Chinese-African ties. Qin, who had been ambassador to the U.S. until December, will visit African Union headquarters in Ethiopia before traveling to four other African countries.

Analysts say trade and investment are the top priorities for both sides as China and the U.S. compete for influence in Africa.

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed welcomed Qin to Addis Ababa as the Chinese foreign minister began his week-long tour.

After visiting African Union headquarters Tuesday, the Chinese foreign minister will go to Angola, Benin, Egypt and Gabon.

David Monyae, head of the Center for Africa-China Studies at the University of Johannesburg, offered some insight into what Qin and his hosts are likely to discuss.

"At AU level there might be some issues in terms of requests by Africans for China to help on the issues of reform of the United Nations.” he said. “The AU itself is going to get a seat within the G-20 and there are a number of issues within multilateral institutions and China is a permanent member of the Security Council.”

China's investment in Africa is focused on infrastructure and telecommunications.

According to the Chinese General Administration of Customs, in the first three months of 2022, trade between China and Africa reached nearly $65 billion, a 23% increase over the same period in 2021.

Cliff Mboya, a researcher at the Afro-Sino Centre of International Relations, said economic revival will be at the top of most African countries' agenda.

"What I expect [Qin] to address is China-Africa relations post-COVID,” he said. “China is gradually opening up to the rest of the world and they are trying to embrace the post-COVID world which some of us have already embraced. So, economic recovery would be key and we must factor in that there is a lot of renewed interest coming from the U.S. and Europe. So, China would want to put its stake in the relationship and just affirm to African countries that it's here to stay and just to build on what it has."

Western nations have accused China of using massive loans for infrastructure projects to put African countries in debt to Beijing, both politically and economically.

Rights groups say China also promotes corruption and ignores human rights concerns, while seeking access to Africa’s natural resources.

Monyae said Africans are to blame for the corruption involving big projects in the continent.

"My blame goes more on ourselves, Africans,” he said. “I don't think we have clear laws and are tough on corruption. The idea of blaming Chinese or Americans on anything is not something I buy into. There are issues. No doubt. Is there corruption in some of the Chinese projects? Yes, is there corruption in some of the American projects in Africa? Yes. What are we doing and there is no one we can say is better than the other."

Last month, the U.S. government hosted African leaders in Washington, where both sides agreed to support infrastructure projects on the continent as well as invest in digital transformation, health, and telecommunications.

Mboya said African nations will see if they can get similar or greater benefits from interaction with Qin and China.

"So, he will be received well and African leaders will be keen to see what he has to offer,” he said. “The African Union, the leaders who are there, would want to establish personal contact with him just to get an idea of his ideas and his strategy and see how to align themselves with what he will have to say or what China intends to do going forward."

In Egypt, the foreign minister is scheduled to meet with the secretary general of the Arab League. The visit is set to conclude Saturday.

Source: Voice of America

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SA-Türkiye strengthen relations

South Africa and Türkiye remain committed to strengthen bilateral relations, says International Relations and Cooperation Minister, Dr Naledi Pandor.

The Minister held Bilateral Political Consultations with Foreign Affairs Minister, Mevlüt Çavusoglu of the Republic of Türkiye on Tuesday.

“Co-chair, it is an honour to preside jointly with you over these Consultations today. Such engagements are indicative of our respective countries’ joint commitment to strengthen bilateral relations through dialogue and through the exchange of knowledge in different areas of expertise,” she said at the session held in Pretoria.

She welcomed her counterpart to South Africa where they would discuss matters of mutual concern, bilaterally and multilaterally “during these very challenging times we find ourselves in”.

South Africa and Türkiye maintain strategic bilateral political, economic and cultural relations that were established in 1991.

Pandor expressed South Africa’s condolences to the Government and people of the Republic of Türkiye on the tragic loss of life as a result of the explosion which occurred in Istanbul on 13 November 2022.

“South Africa remains steadfast in condemning all forms of violence and wishes to extend our sympathy to those directly affected by this tragedy.”

It was reported at the time that at least six people were killed in the blast with several others sustaining injuries during the incident.

“May I also use this opportunity, on behalf of His Excellency President Cyril Ramaphosa, the government and people of the Republic of South Africa to convey our sincerest congratulations and best wishes to His Excellency President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the people of the Republic of Türkiye on celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Republic of Türkiye this year.”

Bilateral trade between the two countries has seen a gradual growth over recent years. During the period April to November 2022, South African exports to Türkiye increased by approximately 18%.

Türkiye remains a key investment partner for South Africa and has already invested in several projects with direct capital investment estimated at about R156.80 million over the past decade.

“Today we have the opportunity to discuss and exchange views on how best we can work together to strengthen the good relations that our two countries enjoy,” said Pandor.

Minister Pandor was also encouraged by our mutual recognition of the importance of the values of peace and stability, democracy, the rule of law and the centrality of multilateralism in sustainable development.

Tuesday’s meeting follows the visit by Deputy Minister Alvin Botes to Türkiye in October 2022 where he had successful discussions with his Türkiysh counterpart Deputy Minister, Sedat Önal.

“We look forward to a fruitful engagement on how we can activate cooperation in other equally important areas such as the arts, culture and sport, and science and technology, respectively.

Our countries are active in regional and multilateral issues, and I look forward to exchanging notes on relevant matters in this regard that are important for both our countries,” she said in her opening remarks.

Source: South African Government News Agency

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No new COVID-19 restrictions as new Omicron sub-variant detected

Health Minister, Dr Joe Phaahla, says for now, government will not impose any internal restrictions as a result of the emergence of a newly found sub-variant of the COVID-19 virus.

The first instance of the XBB.1.5 sub-variant was detected in South Africa in December and reported earlier this month.

Phaahla explained that XBB.1.5 is a sub-variant of the globally dominant Omicron variant which presents less severe illness.

“We have consulted our Ministerial Advisory Committees and also the World Health Organisation … and in both cases the advice that we have received is that there is no need to impose any travel restrictions on any country, including the People’s Republic of China and that we also do not need to re-impose any restrictions internally in our country.

“The XBB.1.5 has been detected more in the [United States of America] where its prevalence is rated at about 6.8% of the circulating sub-variants. While the various sub-variants have shown different levels of transmissibility, there has thus been no marked change in severity of illness,” he said.

The Minister added that vaccinations have put South Africa in a strong position to fight COVID-19 infections and reported no major effects on the healthcare system since the detection of the variant.

“We believe that the fact that the dominant variant of concern in China and in the world remains the Omicron and that the immunity of South Africans from vaccination and natural immunity is still very strong, puts us in a better position and in less risk.

“[That] is why we have not seen up to this stage any major changes in our epidemiology in terms of the rates of infections, also in terms of admissions to hospitals and even the rate of fatalities from the COVID-19 pandemic,” he said.

The Minister said although no major restrictions will be imposed, the Health Ministry will be taking precautionary measures including:

Encouraging increased testing on people who experience the known COVID-19 symptoms

Encouraging those experiencing symptoms to go to health facilities

Advising healthcare practitioners to order antigen or PCR tests to be done on symptomatic persons

Every positive COVID-19 test to be sent to the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) for genomic sequencing

Increasing surveillance and waste water testing by the NICD, including that of aircrafts coming from countries with a high COVID-19 burden

Reinvigorating the national COVID-19 vaccination campaign

The measures were presented to the National Coronavirus Command Council (NCCC), chaired by President Cyril Ramaphosa, and have been approved.

Phaahla emphasised that getting the jab remains the best way to build up immunity against COVID-19.

“Our vaccination ministerial advisory committee will soon make adjustments to qualification for booster [vaccination] per age and also the timelines between the boosters. The remake is looking at including in the boosters not only the people over 50 but also all adults over 18 years of age,” he said.

“Vaccination remains the bedrock to protect against any variant or sub-variant of COVID-19 and not travel restrictions or any new restrictions at this stage,” he said.

Source: South African Government News Agency

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Gauteng Education working to place remaining 1394 learners

Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane says the department is working as quickly as possible to place Grade 1 and 8 learners who have yet to be assigned a school.

He was speaking at a media briefing to provide an update on learner placements and the department’s readiness for the new academic year.

The department has already placed at least 290 751 learners with some 1394 remaining.

Chiloane urged parents – especially those in “pressure areas” – to be patient as the department works through the applications.

“We are working around the clock; we are engaging our schools. We are continuing to place our learners. When we started we had 292 145 complete applications. These are the parents who were able to provide all the necessary documentation and also met the deadline. We also had incomplete applications.

“To those parents [whose children have not been placed]…I am assuring you that your children will be in class. We know that patience is not endless but allow us, work with us and be patient with us. It’s a very delicate process but just know that we are aggressive in ensuring that we get these learners in classrooms,” he said at Tuesday’s briefing.

Unplaced learners

Chiloane explained that the majority of unplaced learners are from the Olifantsfontein and Kempton Park area.

“In Olifant, we have engaged a church where they have given us space to ensure that we close off the remaining 236 Grade 1 applicants and also there’s an additional three mobile units that will be provided to increase school capacities so that we can place all the learners.

“In Grade 8, Kempton Park area…we are still left with 501 unplaced learners. We are continuing to speak to our schools…to work together to ensure that we close off things,” he said.

The Tshwane West district is another pressure area with some 223 Grade 8 learners unplaced with a further 434 Grade 8 learners unplaced in the Johannesburg West District.

According to the department, a satellite high school is being built to accommodate those learners in Tshwane and in Johannesburg, the department is negotiating to occupy some 10 classrooms at the Robinhood College.

The right to education

Chiloane said the department is aware that some schools have reached capacity but emphasised that children’s right to education will not be compromised.

“This is a double edged sword. We are left with a situation where some of our schools will be overcrowded or we are going to have a situation where some of our learners…will be at home, not being in school.

“So we have to make a choice there and we are making a choice that every child must be in a school. We will deal with everything else when a child is wearing a uniform in school. That is a priority…we are determined that we deliver on that,” he said.

Other placement interventions by the department include:

The procurement of 419 mobiles to address pressure of unplaced applications across the province

The procurement of self-build classrooms to increase school capacity

Establishing satellite schools in high pressure areas

Working with sister departments to acquire more land to increase the number of schools in high pressure areas

Source: South African Government News Agency

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Motshekga to visit Diepsloot schools

With the 2023 academic year set to begin for inland schools tomorrow, Basic Education Minister, Angie Motshekga will visit some schools in Gauteng.

“The Minister will monitor schools in Gauteng as inland schools begin the 2023 academic year,” said the Department of Basic Education on Tuesday.

The Minister is expected to visit Cosmo City Primary School in Diepsloot. She will also pay a visit to Cosmo City Secondary School, Diepsloot Primary School as well as Sunrise Secondary School.

Schools in the Free State, Gauteng, Mpumalanga and North West provinces are set to open for the new academic year on Wednesday.

Source: South African Government News Agency

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Infrastructure maintenance is key ahead of school year

Gauteng Education MEC, Matome Chiloane, says the department has placed an emphasis on readying school infrastructure ahead of the new school year which kicks off tomorrow.

The MEC said as part of the back to school campaign, the department together with Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi, will officially open the school year at the newly built Mapenane Secondary School in Garankuwa.

Members of Gauteng’s executive council will also conduct oversight visits to schools to ensure that learners and teachers are in class, on time and with the correct learning and teaching resources.

“What we have done during the last academic year as well as during the holiday, is to maintain or fix a number of schools…the numbers are at 488 schools and that is continuing in terms of maintenance of schools.

“Because there’s an interlink in terms of building schools…we have a self-built programme and in that programme we are looking to build 878 classrooms to assist us to deal with placement so we have given that to 297 schools,” he said on Tuesday.

Vandalism

The MEC said an issue of concern for the department is continued vandalism at schools.

He revealed that some 120 schools have been affected by vandalism since the beginning of the 2022 academic year with 24 schools vandalised during the December holiday period.

“This is becoming a bottomless bucket. When we fix a school, set up infrastructure, set in resources for learners and educators to perform their duties, then you have criminals who come and disrupt.

“In most cases, these criminals stay in our communities. We continue to appeal to communities to work with us to deal with the scourge of vandalism. It’s really reversing the good work that we are doing as a department, community and as a country,” he said.

Water and sanitation

In terms of water and sanitation interventions, Chiloane said the department has noted that there are areas where there are water supply problems and is dealing with that.

“We are providing water tankers to provide water in those areas. And here we are also appealing to communities to help us…to allow those that have been given an opportunity to go and deliver this water to our children to allow them to do so uninterrupted,” he said.

Some 20 emergency sanitation units have also been provided to alleviate shortages in schools.

Learning and teaching

Chiloane appealed to non-governmental organisations and civil society groups who will be embarking on back to school campaigns on Wednesday to not disrupt learning and teaching.

“If you have agreed with the schools to come in the morning to motivate and support our learners and educators, we don’t have a problem as long as you have been authorised to do that.

“Education is big and requires all of us to have our hands on deck and we don’t mind that as long as you don’t disrupt learning and teaching,” he said.

Source: South African Government News Agency