Day: March 1, 2023

Government returns to KZN for ex-miners compensation fund Imbizo

Pongola: Government departments will, this week (on Thursday, 02 March) hold an imbizo in Pongola, KwaZulu-Natal to provide feedback to stakeholders on the progress made with regards to the ex-mineworkers compensation fund programme, and urge eligible claimants to continue with the lodgement process.

This follows an outreach programme conducted in the province in partnership with various stakeholders including the Southern African Miners Association (SAMA), Minerals Council South Africa, the gold mining company – Harmony and the Tshiamiso Trust in consultation the traditional leaders, targeting former mineworkers or their beneficiaries for unclaimed social protection benefits due to them.

The government has announced its partnership with various compensation fund schemes and other social protection benefits last month for those who contracted TB, Silicosis and other occupational lung diseases while working in the mines, together with those who were not paid their pension or provident funds.

This outreach programme has enabled the provision of claims lodgement, medical assessment, and banking services at various sites in the northern parts of KwaZulu-Natal (Vryheid, eDumbe, Ulundi, Nongoma and Pongola) as part of government’s mission to bring services closer to our people.

The national government will be represented by the Deputy Ministers of Health, Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo) and Mineral Resources and Energy, Dr Nobuhle Nkabane.

They will be joined by the various provincial and local government leaders, and senior executives from mining companies, Tshiamiso Trust, SAMA and representatives from organised labour formations operating in the sector.

Members of the media are invited to join the imbizo scheduled as follows:

Source: Government of South Africa

PRETORIA, March 1 (NNN-SANEWS) — President Cyril Ramaphosa has described the State Visit by his Ugandan counterpart, President Yoweri Museveni, as a building block to strong political and economic relations between the two countries.

“This State Visit has reinforced the firm political and economic relations between our two countries. By deepening these relations, we aim to better the lives of our people and continue the struggle to overcome poverty, unemployment and inequality,” the President said.

Ramaphosa acknowledged the challenges relating to trade and investment. However, he said steady progress has been made to resolving some of those challenges.

Ramaphosa hosted Museveni on a State Visit to the Union Buildings in Pretoria on Tuesday.

Museveni’s visit is directed at consolidating bilateral relations between the two countries. The two Heads of State held discussions encompassing political, economic, regional, continental and international issues.

The Heads of State also witnessed the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Cooperation between the Industrial Development Cooperation (IDC), Uganda Development Corporation (UDC) and Uganda Development Bank Limited (UDBL).

Other MoUs that were signed are on Cooperation in Tourism; MoU on Cooperation in Transport Related Matters; MoU on Cooperation in the Field of Information and Communication Technologies; MoU on Cooperation in the field of Correctional Services and Prisons, and the MoU on Cooperation in the fields of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities.

“We have noted significant progress in the implementation of agreements that the two countries have had in the past. As testament to our growing relations, we have just witnessed the signing of Memoranda of Understanding in diverse areas of cooperation,” Ramaphosa said.

On business relations between the two countries, he conveyed to Museveni that South Africa remains keen on investing in Uganda, particularly in banking, retail and telecommunications.

“We hope that Ugandan business invests in South Africa for the mutual benefit of the people of both countries.

“As we speak now, the business leaders from both South Africa and Uganda are involved in a business forum, which both of us will visit later and address as well,” the President said.

The two Presidents further expressed their strong views that they should always find ways to resolve the issues that impede economic growth and development between the two countries.

“We have agreed that our two trade ministers will need to be engaged to put in place a mechanism that will ensure matters such as the protection of investments in our respective countries.

“Our discussions have been expansive; they’ve covered quite a number of areas, particularly the Africa continental Free Trade Area agreement that needs to be implemented,” Ramaphosa said.

On peacemaking on the continent, Ramaphosa said that they spoke extensively to ensure that they do indeed get as many countries that are currently afflicted to strive to return to peaceful coexistence.

“The eastern DRC was covered, as was Ethiopia and the efforts that we all have made to bring about the cessation of hostilities.

“We have also looked at the peace process in other parts of our continent and continue to pledge our solidarity with other parts of our continent like Western Sahara, that are still struggling to get to a peaceful situation,” the President said.

The President once again bemoaned the lack of a permanent representation of Africa in the UN Security Council, and continued to urge for the reform of that body.

Ramaphosa expressed his appreciation to the people of Uganda for their contribution to South Africa’s freedom during the struggle against colonialism and apartheid.

“Through your visit here, we see ourselves deepening relations between us and we aim to better the lives of our people. We want to express our great delight to have you here in our country, together with your delegation,” Ramaphosa said. — NNN-SANEWS

Source: Nam News Network

Tomorrow Premier Alan Winde will host the first in a series of Energy Digicons to keep the public abreast of developments around the Western Cape Government’s efforts to ease the impact on residents of rolling blackouts. He will be joined by Special Advisor Alwie Lester. The Digicon will also provide an opportunity for the Premier to update residents on the R1,1 billion the province is allocating to respond to the energy crisis.

Source: Government of South Africa