Day: March 2, 2023

Makholokoe Cultural Heritage Day

The Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs together with Kholokoe Traditional Council will host annual Makholokoe Cultural Heritage Day. As part of the Department’s commitment to supporting culture, values and traditions of various Traditional Councils, communities and traditional leadership in the Free State Province, the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, led by Acting MEC Thembeni Nxangisa, will participate in the event.

The objective of this annual festivity is aimed at recognizing and embracing, thus preserving the cultural practices of these communities and passing on the wisdom to the younger generations. The event also seeks to uphold the culture of Makholokoe therefore giving them standing distinctiveness and existence into posterity. The programme includes a variety of speakers such Morena Neo Mopeli the Chairperson of the Free State House of Traditional Leaders and government officials.

Source: Government of South Africa

Minister Mchunu to launch National Water Month by conducting inspections of Bulk Water Supply Projects in Mpumalanga and Limpopo

The Minister of Water and Sanitation Senzo Mchunu and his Deputy Ministers, David Mahlobo and Dikeledi Magadzi, will on Friday, 03 March 2023, officially launch the National Water Month in Loskop, Mpumalanga by conducting inspection at the Loskop Bulk Water Supply Project and engage members of the community in the area.

Annually, the Department of Water and Sanitation celebrates the National Water Month from 1 to 31 March, which is an expansion from the United Nations (UN)’s annual World Water Day on March 22nd.

This year’s National Water Month will be observed under the theme, “Accelerating change”, as declared by the UN, and calls on governments of the world, the water sector and society at large to work together to accelerate change to solve water challenges.

The Loskop Bulk Water Supply Project is a cross-boundary project that will benefit communities in both Thembisile Hani Local Municipality in Mpumalanga and Elias Motswaledi Local Municipality in Limpopo.

The water scheme project entails three work packages of laying pipelines from Loskop Dam to a Water Treatment Works in Verena. These project packages are implemented simultaneously to accelerate the project.

The Minister together with the provincial leaders from both Mpumalanga and Limpopo provinces will inspect progress made at the water scheme Verena.

Following the site inspection visits, the Minister will engage with different stakeholders and community members in the area and provide feedback on the progress made on the water supply project thus far.

Minister will later proceed to assess the Moutse Drought Relief Project in Sekhukhune District Municipality in Limpopo.

Source: Government of South Africa

Minister Mondli Gungubele to brief media on outcomes of the Cabinet Meeting held on 1 March 2023

The Minister in The Presidency, Mondli Gungubele will, on Thursday, 02 March 2023 brief media on the outcomes of the Cabinet meeting held on Wednesday, 01 March 2023.

The details of the briefing are as follows:

Date: Thursday, 02 March 2023

Time: 10h00

Venue: Ronnie Mamoepa Press Room, Ground Floor, Tshedimosetso house, Cnr Francis Baard and Festival Streets, Hatfiled, Pretoria

Live Streaming:

Facebook: http://facebook.com/GovernmentZA(link is external)

Twitter: http://twitter.com/GovernmentZA(link is external)

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/GovernmentZA

Source: Government of South Africa

It gives me great pleasure to announce that I have approved the released of 2.8 hectares of land in the Msunduzi Municipality in KwaZulu Natal to the Housing Development Agency (HDA) for human settlements development and the formalisation of an existing settlement.

The HDA requested the land from the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) and following the completion of the necessary processes, I have signed off the release of the land in terms of the State Land Disposal Act.

The HDA is a national public sector development agency that acquires, prepares land, develops and manages the development of human settlements developments on behalf of government.

The parcels of land approved by DPWI for release to the HDA are vested in the DPWI as the custodian of State-owned land.

Certain portions of the land are vacant while another portion is occupied by an informal settlement. The properties are earmarked for housing development and formalisation of the informal settlement.

The properties are approximately 10km from the Pietermaritzburg Central Business District.

The approval of the release of the land also enables the Acting Director General of DPWI to provide Special Powers of Attorney to the HDA to enable to agency, in conjunction with the Msunduzi Municipality to initiate the process for human settlements development on the land.

As part of the process, I have written to the Minister of Human Settlements Development, Mmamoloko Kubayi to inform her that I have approved the gratis release of this land to enable human settlements development in the Msunduzi Municipality.

This latest release of land in KZN comes after the release of 18 Land parcels measuring 533 hectares by DPWI last year for the purposes of accommodating communities, including those displaced by floods in 2022 in the KwaZulu-Natal Province.

In January this year, I also announced that I approved the release of 1 199 hectares of land, valued at approximately R7.4million to assist in settling a land restitution claim by the Kaapsche Hoop Community in Mpumalanga.

In addition, four properties measuring 2050 hectares has been identified by the DPWI. These are two properties measuring 511 hectares valued at approximately R10 million in Mpumalanga for the Bhembe community and two properties in North West measuring 1539,3 hectares valued at approximately R8 million for the Mekgareng / Broederstroom community which were also released in January 2023 for restitution claims.

Under the land reform programme, the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI), as the custodian of national state-owned land, is often requested to release land to settle land claims for restitution, for human settlements development and land redistribution as part of government’s land reform programme.

Land reform is one of the key pillars of redressing the legacy of the apartheid regime which saw people of colour dispossessed and forcibly removed from land.

Land redress is also one of the key drivers to achieving spatial and socio-economic justice and ensuring that public land is used for public good.

DPWI progress on Land Reform

Since June 2019 to date, DPWI had made the following progress in this regard:

Land for Human Settlements Development: DPWI has released 2 560 hectares of land (44 parcels) to the Housing Development Agency (HDA).

In addition, DPWI has released 18 Land parcels measuring 533 hectares for the purposes of accommodating communities, including those displaced by floods in the KwaZulu-Natal Province.

Land for socio economic purposes:

In support of infrastructure development, 15 hectares (11 land parcels) were approved for registration of servitude for roads, water, electricity and gas pipeline servitudes in this past financial year.

In addition, DPWI has released 28.0055 hectares (7 land parcels) which was approved for registration of Eskom servitudes in December 2022.

Land for Restitution:

Since May 2019 to date, DPWI has released 218 land parcels measuring 31 439 hectares for restitution. Last year’s target for restitution was 10 000 hectares and this was exceeded.

In November 2022, 23 families in the Chris Hani District who had been forcibly removed by the apartheid regime, received title deeds to the land they were removed from in the area known as Thornhill in the Eastern Cape. Five properties were returned to the families who were all issued with title deeds for the properties with an estimated municipal value of R10million.

Land for Redistribution (Land Tenure):

Since May 2019, DPWI has released 25 549 hectares of agricultural land (125 parcels) for the Redistribution Programme.

One of the major wins for land reform was the title deeds handover in 2021 to more than 30 black farmers of the Tafelkop Farmers’ Association in Limpopo who had occupied the farms in Tafelkop for decades and successfully farmed a range of produce for various markets.

As DPWI, we remain committed to expediting the work of land reform and releasing available State-owned land once all due processes have been completed.

Source: Government of South Africa

Home of Moitheri Pheto gained from NLC Funding to be auctioned

The house of Moitheri Pheto that was built with funds linked to siphoning of the National Lottery Commission (NLC) grant funding will be auctioned on Thursday, 2 March 2023 at 11h00.

The auction follows a preservation order granted by the High Court of South Africa, Gauteng Division, Pretoria, to the Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) and the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) on 4 November 2022 to freeze Pheto’s Bryanston home.

The SIU investigations have found that the money used for the purchase of the land and construction of the home came from non-profit organisations that received NLC funding meant for the roll-out of a public campaign and culturally sensitive medical intervention projects aimed at achieving traditional circumcision practice.

After the preservation order was granted, Pheto’s legal representatives contacted the SIU and the AFU indicating that they will not contest the preservation order granted by the High Court.

The SIU was, in terms of Proclamation R32 of 2020, authorised by President Cyril Ramaphosa to investigate allegations of corruption and maladministration in the affairs of NLC and the conduct of NLC officials, and to recover any financial losses suffered by the State or NLC.

The auctioning of Pheto’s home is a continuation of the implementation of the SIU investigation outcomes and consequence management to recover assets and financial losses suffered by State institutions and/or to prevent further losses.

Follow the link below for details of the auction: http://assetauctions.co.za/listing/auction-3-bedroom-home-in-upmarket-bryanston/(link is external)

Fraud and corruption allegations may be reported via the following platforms:

Source: Government of South Africa

Premier Mathabatha upbeat after debate on State of Province Address

The Premier of Limpopo Mr. Chupu Stanley Mathabatha has come out of the Provincial Legislature buoyed after a debate on his State of the Province Address (SOPA) held in Lebowakgomo on 02 March 2023.

“I am pleased about this week’s debate in the Limpopo Legislature. We have found ways of accounting to the legislature, their counsel, through debates, shapes how we prune our administration for effectiveness. This year was also as good one, considering the feedback that we have received from the legislature.

I am particularly pleased that we are on the same wavelength with what most members have said in response to our speech. Today I was just confirming much of what the debate entailed and thanking the legislature for their oversight role that shapes how we implement our programmes,” said Premier Mathabatha after delivering his response.

On Tuesday, 28 February 2023, the legislature debated the SOPA 2023 speech made by Premier Mathabatha. By and large the reception from most of the speakers were positive, edging on Premier Mathabatha to continue with work he has done with the provincial administration, especially that there is evidence of improved audit outcomes in the provincial departments, SOEs as well as in local government.

Premier Mathabatha said majority of the matters debated on Tuesday will be answered by various Members of the Executive Council when they present their budget votes. However, he used the opportunity to clarify further the R4,5 billion Limpopo Academic Hospital to be built in Polokwane from April 2023. He said the hospital will be a game-changer in the health outlook of Limpopo.

Further said Premier Mathabatha: “The academic hospital will alleviate the burden of having to travel regularly to other provinces for medical treatment. Training on specialised skills will be done here at home. It will also allow opportunities for our children to do practical work here as well. It is expected that the project will generate 1,220 part-time jobs during the construction phase and create 2,461 full-time equivalent jobs in Polokwane once the hospital is fully operational.”

There was also a response that Premier Mathabatha went on to assure the house about the administration’s approach to energy matters, especially how they will ensure that all matters of emergency dealing with a response to energy are done above board. “This is the reason why the provincial energy strategy, anchored on the just energy transition, is of utmost importance. We shall place due care in the process that will lead to infrastructure placement within hospitals, clinics, and schools. We shall ensure that their implementation is all above board, that funds are directed to the required areas to bring services to the people.”

Premier Mathabatha concluded by saying that as they look forward to the last year of their term, they are comforted by the start of the special economic zones that will be a legacy of their administration. He said that the investment they have raised over a short and long term will come in handy in improving employment statistics as the signs are showing a remarked recovery.

Source: Government of South Africa

Premier hosts first in series of Energy Digicons to outline WCG’s resilience drive

Today Premier Alan Winde hosted the first in what will be a series of Energy Digicons. The aim behind the digicons is to keep the public informed of what the Western Cape Government (WGC) is doing in the short, medium, and long term to address chronic rolling blackouts.

The Premier explained, “It is important for us as a government to keep citizens, both in the Western Cape and beyond, informed on what we are doing to safeguard services and livelihoods from the damage caused by mass power cuts.”

In his State of the Province Address last month, Premier Winde pledged to hold regular public engagements to demonstrate the WCG’s commitment to being transparent about its efforts to end blackouts. “Transparency and regular communication in a crisis of this magnitude is essential to help people make decisions for themselves and their loved ones, but also to keep us as government accountable,” said Premier Winde.

Power generation is not a provincial government mandate. “This, however, does not mean we must simply do nothing and wait for national government, which has displayed no urgency to act. The Premier continued, “By holding digicons, similar to what we did during the Covid-19 pandemic, we can to a degree allay peoples’ anxiety, offering them critical information which helps them plan better during this crisis”.

“Going forward, the digicons are an opportunity for the media and general public to constructively engage with me and my team on issues related to the energy crisis and efforts by the Provincial Government to ameliorate the impact of the blackouts and how the WCG is embracing and enabling the likes of renewable energy role players to form part of our energy resilience push,” Premier Winde added. The Premier has urged the public to join the broadcast across its various platforms every week.

Each digicon will feature a guest and a “Useful Fact of the Week”:

What is the difference between loadshedding, unplanned outages, and load curtailment?

Load Reduction is a measure taken by the National System Operator and distribution control rooms in order to prevent national, regional, or local blackouts. Load reduction can take the form of :

Loadshedding – a time-based interruption of supply to customers on a rotational basis, scheduled and communicated with the public.

Load curtailment – forced reduction for customers in response to an instruction given by the system operator or local distribution control, usually negotiated between Eskom and their direct customers.

Unplanned outage or fault is supply interruption as a result of an unplanned activity caused by damage or vandalised equipment, equipment failure or storms etc.

Critically, as a citizen we experience it all as a loss of energy!

Source: Government of South Africa