Day: March 17, 2023

The Free State Provincial Government, will host a Provincial Youth Imbizo in Trompsburg, Xhariep District. The focus is mainly on teenage pregnancy and substance abuse.

Statistics show that Xhariep District has a high number of teenage pregnancies and substance abuse and STIs/ HIV prevalence.

The Imbizo seeks to produce the following outcomes;

Educate girls, young women and men on sexual reproductive health.

Gender dynamics and their critical role in harnessing the benefits of the first and second demographic dividends.

Raise awareness around sexual transmittal diseases and infant mortality.

Raise awareness around gender-based violence and rape, on how to prevent, report and protect the rights of girls and young women.

Empower girls and young women, by exposing them to opportunities for economic empowerment.

Assist youth who are affected by substance abuse with clear immediate interventions.

Source: Government of South Africa

The Minister in the Presidency responsible for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, Ms Maropene Ramokgopa, will address the National Planning Commission (NPC) at the ANEW Hotel in Centurion tomorrow, 17 March 2023, 10h00.

The session is part of the ongoing engagements with key institutions that report to the Minister. Earlier the Minister met with the Executive committee of the Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation (DPME).

Subsequent to the address, the Minister will be available for interviews with the media on efforts to build a capable, ethical and developmental state.

Members of the media are invited for interviews with the Minister and photo opportunity with the commissioners as follows:

Source: Government of South Africa

President Cyril Ramaphosa says although government respects the right to protest and the expression of dissatisfaction, lawlessness will not be tolerated in any protest.

The President was speaking during a media briefing at the Official State Visit of Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan and her delegation on Thursday.

Protest action is expected to be held by the Economic Freedom Fighters and some of its partners on Monday, 20 March.

“South Africa is governed by the rule of law. We are a constitutional democracy. Regime change can only come about through the vote. It cannot come about through anarchy, unleashing disorder in the country.

“I want to say very clearly: disorder and anarchy will not be allowed in South Africa. We will not allow those who want to spread anarchy to do what they like here in South Africa,” he said.

Ramaphosa emphasised that although the right to protest is guaranteed in the Constitution, it does not allow for the rights of others to be infringed.

“The right to protest is enshrined in our Constitution. It’s deeply embedded in our Constitution and it is a right that we as South Africans fought for and won so that South Africans can protest against what may be issues that they don’t agree with.

“But that right is not absolute and nobody can stand up and say I can do whatever I want. That right is not absolute. It is a limited right. It’s not underpinned by violence. It’s not a right that allows anyone to embarking on anarchy or disorder. It is a right that says, ‘you must respect the rights of others’.

“It is not a right for anyone to coerce anybody to do what they want to do and it is not a right that you have to intimidate others and to threaten others with violence and say, ‘If you do not do what we like, we are going to take action against you’. That completely goes against the ethos of our Constitution,” he said.

The President said a meeting of the National Security Council was held on Wednesday, where the planned protest action was discussed.

“Security forces of our country are going to defend our people. They are going to make sure that intimidation, anarchy and disorder does not prevail. Those who want to protest, by all means, protest peacefully but if you are going to restrict the rights of other people, if you are going to coerce them, if you are going to intimidate them and unleash violence, our security forces are going to defend the people of South Africa.

“We will not allow anarchy and disorder to prevail in this country and against the people of South Africa. That will not be allowed. Security forces, stand ready to defend the people of South Africa,” Ramaphosa said.

Source: Nam News Network (NNN)

The National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (NATJOINTS) will update the nation on safety and security measures in place, in light of a protest planned for Monday, 20 March 2023.

This comes as the Natjoints reaffirms and assures the Nation that measures are in place to prevent and combat any acts of criminality and that Monday is a normal working and business day.

Source: Government of South Africa

President Cyril Ramaphosa and his Tanzanian counterpart, President Samia Suluhu Hassan, have hailed the latter’s Official State Visit to South Africa as a fruitful success.

The two Heads of State and Government held a media briefing at the Union Buildings, where the Official State Visit took place.

Ramaphosa said the two and their delegations held discussions on various areas of mutual interest, with at least 17 Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) signed between Ministers of the two countries.

“This State visit has coincided with the 2nd Session of the South Africa – Tanzania Bi-National Commission. We have had the opportunity to take stock of the state of our bilateral cooperation and to identify new areas of cooperation. We are pleased that there are other Memoranda of Understanding that have been finalised, and we expect the respective Ministers to sign the finalised MoUs before the end of 2023.

“This work will be anchored and coordinated by the Foreign Ministries of the two countries, supported by a Mid-Term Review Mechanism that will monitor implementation of the Bi-National Commission’s work,” Ramaphosa said.

The President said beyond relations between the two countries, regional and international matters were also given attention.

“Among other matters, we reaffirmed our shared resolve to ensure that the people of Western Sahara are able to exercise their right to self-determination. We will resist any efforts to frustrate the legitimate aspirations of the Saharawi people or to diminish their standing within the African Union.

“South Africa and Tanzania share common values and aspirations for stability and development of the continent and for strengthened cooperation among the countries of the Global South. There is indeed still much work to be done, but I am confident that we have laid a firm basis on which all of us can build going forward,” Ramaphosa said.

President Samia Suluhu shared her country’s aims for the State visit.

“This has been such a colourful and fruitful State visit. This State visit attests to the solid historical relations that exist between our two countries. I’m confident that this visit will further solidify our long-standing ties and unlock new opportunities for trade and investment.

“Long live the bilateral ties and cooperation between the United Republic of Tanzania and the Republic of South Africa!” she said.

Source: Nam News Network (NNN)

The South Africn Cabinet has welcomed the judgment by the Labour Court, which ruled that members and employees who are employed in essential services are prohibited from striking.

“The right to strike is protected by the Constitution but this must be done in a manner that ensures continuous delivery of essential services, which includes ensuring the life, health and personal safety of the population.

“Cabinet condemns in the strongest possible terms the lawlessness and intimidation that characterised the public sector strike and negatively affected the lives of citizens through lack of service delivery,” Minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, said on Thursday.

Ntshavheni told a media briefing that Cabinet was apprised that on Tuesday, parties at the Public Service Coordinating Bargaining Council (PSCBC) concluded a Settlement Agreement to end the public sector strike.

The National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) suspended the public healthcare worker strike, saying an in-principle settlement was reached with government over salary increases for 2023/2024.

“Cabinet welcomed this progressive outcome that will result in the orderly return to work by all workers. The settlement agreement paves the way for the parties to return to the 2023/24 wage negotiations. Cabinet further expressed its appreciation to those trade unions that remained in the PSCBC to continue with negotiations,” Ntshavheni said.

Cabinet, the Minister said, reiterated the need for disciplinary action to be taken against those who behaved in a manner that disrupted public services and threatened the lives of citizens.

“Cabinet has also instructed that no work, no pay must be applied immediately.”

Cabinet reiterated government’s commitment to the bargaining process, and to working with all relevant partners to ensure that the primacy of collective bargaining is protected and respected.

Source: Nam News Network (NNN)