Day: March 2, 2023

Water and Sanitation Minister, Senzo Mchunu, and his Deputy Ministers, David Mahlobo and Dikeledi Magadzi, will on Friday officially launch National Water Month by conducting inspections of bulk water supply projects in Mpumalanga and Limpopo.

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

This year’s National Water Month will be observed under the theme, 'Accelerating change', and it is a call on governments of the world, the water sector and society at large to work together to accelerate change to solve water challenges.

The department said the inspections will include a visit to Loskop Bulk Water Supply Project, 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, will inspect progress made at the water scheme in 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. The Minister will later proceed to assess the Moutse Drought Relief Project in Sekhukhune District Municipality in Limpopo,” the department explained.

Mchunu assess Vaal Dam infrastructure

Mchunu, together with Mahlobo, will today visit Vaal Dam and the Vaal Barrage operated by Rand Water and surrounding areas to assess infrastructure and the aftermath of the recent floods in the area.

Department spokesperson, Wisane Mavasa, said due to torrential rains in the last few weeks, the department had to implement dam safety precautions to safeguard the infrastructure and ensure that there was full storage capacity after the rainfall season.

“Twelve sluice gates were opened between 11 and 18 February 2023 as part of dam safety standards and procedures to manage water inflows upstream the Vaal River. Seven flood gates have now been closed, leaving 5 gates remaining open as the dam continues to decline towards 100% mark,” Mavasa said.

The Minister will also conduct an inspection of the Sebokeng Wastewater Treatment Works, as well as Leeukuil Dam in Vereeniging. – SAnews.gov.za

Source: South African Government News Agency

Cabinet has approved the publication of the National Strategic Plan (NSP) for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Tuberculosis (TB) and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) 2023-2028.

Addressing a post-Cabinet media briefing held in Pretoria on Thursday, Minister in the Presidency, Mondli Gungubele, said the NSP proposes to deal with HIV, STIs and TB through a holistic approach that includes preventative and therapeutic measures.

“This is the fifth NSP for HIV, TB and STIs and it outlines the progress South Africa has made to deal with the three diseases thus far. The five-year plan provides a strategic framework for a multi-sectoral approach that is people-centred to eliminate HIV, TB and STIs as public health threats by 2030,” Gungubele said.

The drafting of the NSP was coordinated by the South African National AIDS Council (SANAC), which brings together government, civil society, and other social partners to build consensus and drive a well –coordinated, unified response to the three epidemics over a five-year period.

“The process to develop this fifth iteration of our national plan was extensively consulted across society to secure the widest range of views and ideas, and building on the lessons learnt from our previous plans. The NSP emphasises the need to break down barriers and maximise equitable and equal access to services through resilient and integrated health systems.”

He noted the inclusion of mental health services and social support is based on the strong association between HIV, TB, and STIs with Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF), human rights violations and inequalities.

“The new plan features an expanded scope for the management of STIs, including viral hepatitis and Human Papilloma Virus, which are common coinfections in HIV, infected individuals,” the Minister said.

He announced that the full version of the NSP 2023-2028 will be released to the public on World TB Day event to be held on 24 March 2023 at Rustenburg in the North West. – SAnews.gov.za

Source: South African Government News Agency

Cabinet has called on all eligible voters to register online for the 2024 National and Provincial Elections.

“The Electoral Commission (IEC) launched an online voter registration campaign on 20 February 2023 and appealed to the youth who are eligible to vote to register so that they can exercise their democratic right to vote,” Minister in the Presidency, Mondli Gungubele, said on Thursday.

Addressing a media briefing in Pretoria on the outcomes of Wednesday's Cabinet meeting, Gungubele said voters must register where they reside and vote where they are registered.

“Citizens already registered to vote are also encouraged to check their voters’ roll address, and update their address if they have moved since the last general elections."

According a recent statement by the IEC, nearly 220 000 eligible South Africans have heeded the call to visit the Electoral Commission’s Voter Portal to register online to vote since the launch of a national campaign on 20 February 2023, in preparation for the 2024 National and Provincial Elections.

South Africans aged 16 years and older, who have a South African identity document (ID), smart ID card or valid temporary ID are encouraged to use the Electoral Commission’s Voter Portal to register to vote for all future elections.

To register, visit: https://registertovote.elections.org.za.

The intensive two-week online voter registration campaign, themed 'Your Vote Is Your Voice', continues to feature on digital and traditional media until 3 March 2023.

The campaign forms part of a multi-faceted year-long campaign by the Commission to encourage and facilitate eligible South Africans to register to vote.

The campaign is aimed particularly at unregistered youth, so that they can vote in the 2024 National and Provincial Elections and all future elections. –SAnews.gov.za

Source: South African Government News Agency

Cabinet has noted the alert issued by the United States (US) Embassy as part of the US government’s standard communication to its citizens travelling and living in the country.

It indicated a Level 2 travel advisory was in effect, advising them to exercise increased caution due to crime and civil unrest as well as to stockpile three days’ worth of supplies, medicines and first aid supplies.

“Government continuously monitors all areas that impact on our nation, any concern is acted upon swiftly to ensure the safety of everyone in the country. Should there be any risks detected, the government will be the first to inform the public,” Minister in the Presidency Mondli Gungubele said on Thursday.

He was addressing a media briefing on Wednesday’s Cabinet meeting. – SAnews.gov.za

Source: South African Government News Agency

Cabinet has reiterated its call for all parties to remain committed to the process of the Public Service Co-Ordinating Bargaining Council Collective Agreement, and to arrive at a solution that serves the best interests of the country.

“It is vitally important that we all work together for the good of our nation and her people. While the right to strike is protected, it must be done in a responsible manner that upholds our democracy and rule of law,” Minister in the Presidency, Mondli Gungubele, said during a post-Cabinet media briefing on Thursday.

Gungubele reminded those who are planning to strike to do so in a peaceful manner, and refrain from any form of intimidation and destruction of infrastructure and properties.

2023 National Budget commended

Cabinet has also commended the 2023 National Budget, giving effect to critical interventions outlined by President Cyril Ramaphosa’s State of the Nation Address (SONA).

Gungubele said the speech detailed plans to tackle the energy challenge, reduce unemployment, poverty and the rising cost of living, including combating crime and corruption.

“While balancing our commitments to fiscal discipline, economic growth and investment and the social wage continue to receive the bulk of public resources, with R66 billion allocated to Social Development and R36 billion to fund the extension of the COVID-19 social relief of distress grant until 31 March 2024,” Gungubele said.

He said the increased allocations for all three spheres of government will also help alleviate some of the financial pressures, particularly in health, education, and free basic services where the costs of providing services are rising. – SAnews.gov.za

Source: South African Government News Agency