Day: May 24, 2023

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South Africa: President Ramaphosa to lead Africa Day celebrations

South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to lead the Africa Day celebrations to be held on Thursday at the Cradle of Humankind in Krugersdorp.

Africa Day is celebrated throughout the continent and parts of the world in commemoration of the founding of the Organisation of African Unity – now known as the African Union – in 1963.

The Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC) said this year’s celebrations will be held under the theme “Deepening the AU Vision for Unity for Africa through Prosperity, Peace and Modernity for a Better Africa and a Better World”.

“The Africa Day celebration seeks to promote the African Agenda and strengthen the African Union institutions and policies; implement and bring to life the AU Agenda 2063 and the Charter for African Cultural Renaissance; further promote regional integration by strengthening people to people contact and harmonize policies and share skills and expertise; as well as to promote Cultural Diplomacy for a broader socio-economic agenda.

“Prior to the formal Africa Day programme, the day will commence with a carnival and colourful parade dance troops from across various African countries, showcasing Africa’s creativeness through floats, large 3D costumes, acrobats, and an eclectic mix of melodies at 7am,” the department said.

A day before the main day’s celebrations, DSAC Minister Zizi Kodwa and Deputy Minister Nocawe Mafu, are expected lead a colloquium on this year’s theme and other topics.

“As part of the 2023 Africa Month calendar, Minister Kodwa together with the Deputy Minister Mafu will also host the Africa month colloquium to unpack the theme and also engage on various issues affecting the country and the continent.

“Panellists include Professor Joseph Diescho (Visiting Professor in the Centre for Advanced Security and integration Studies at the University of Bonn, Germany); and Dr Dikeledi Mokoena, (Nelson Mandela University) among others,” the department said.

The colloquium is expected to be held at the National Library of South Africa in Pretoria.

Speaking to the media on Monday, Presidential Spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said Africa Day bears substantial meaning for President Ramaphosa.

“Africa Day is a day that focuses our consciousness on the development of our continent, regional integration, the opportunities offered by the African Continental Free Trade Agreement, and the human, cultural and natural treasures of Africa.

“For the President, the day will have personal significance as it will mark four years since his Inauguration as the fifth democratically elected President of a free and democratic South Africa,” Magwenya said.

Source: Nam News Network (NNN)

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South Africa’s Pres Ramaphosa turns sod in Lesotho water project

South Africa’s Pres Cyril Ramaphosa has described the Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP) as a project that has not only made history, but has brought hope to the citizens of both Lesotho and South Africa.

The President was speaking at the launch of Phase 2 of the LHWP at Polihali Dam in the mountain kingdom.

“I would like to emphasise that the Lesotho Highlands Water Project is more than just a water project.

“It is a beacon of hope, a symbol of progress, a symbol of international cooperation, and a testament to the strength of bilateral relations between the Kingdom of Lesotho and the Republic of South Africa. Together, we have achieved a lot, and I have no doubt that we will continue to work together to ensure that this project is completed successfully,” Ramaphosa said.

He noted that once Phase 2 is complete, “more than 400 million cubic meters of water will flow every year from the upper reaches of the Senqu River in Lesotho through the existing conveyance infrastructure to the Vaal Dam in South Africa”.

He emphasised, however, that the benefits of the project are not only one sided.

“We are determined that this massive trans-border project should equally benefit the peoples of Lesotho and South Africa. In addition to the royalties Lesotho receives from the Lesotho Highlands Water Project, local jobs have been created and new roads have been built in the Kingdom.

“Both Phase I and II include the construction of hydropower facilities to provide electricity for Lesotho. It has been critical for us as both Lesotho and South Africa that all communities affected by the construction of the Polihali Dam were consulted, that there should be fair compensation and relocation to alternative housing nearby,” he said.

The President highlighted that the LHW project is one of biggest infrastructure investment that government has embarked on outside its borders.

“This project is a good example of public-private collaboration to build key public infrastructure. Most of the approximately R40 billion in capital required for Phase Two will be raised in South Africa’s financial markets by the Trans Caledon Tunnel Authority. The private sector is playing a similar role in many of our other major water resource infrastructure projects in South Africa,” he said.

Turning to South Africa’s own plans, the President said South Africa and Namibia’s governments are also working together to add further water infrastructure.

“As African countries all our water resources are interconnected. South Africa shares 60 per cent of its freshwater resources with its neighbours. We are therefore committed to multilateral trans-border collaboration to ensure that shared water resources are used for the benefit of all.

“As South Africa, we are also working with Namibia on the joint planning of additional dam infrastructure on the Lower Orange River. This is to ensure that the Lesotho Highlands Water Project does not negatively impact the Lower Orange River system,” he said.

Source: Nam News Network (NNN)

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Health Ministry congratulates Cuba for 60 years of medical support

The Health Ministry has congratulated Cubans on their 60th anniversary of international medical support and cooperation to save lives through dedicated medical brigades around the world.

South Africa is amongst over 100 nations that benefitted from social solidarity, excellent internationalism and medical cooperation with Cuba through medical doctors and specialists, which immensely contributed to the country’s health system strengthening and pandemic response.

According to the statement released on Wednesday, South Africa benefitted from this impactful support since 1997 through both medical specialists who have been seconded to the country and the Nelson Mandela Fidel Castro Medical Training Programme.

The programme produced over 3 000 medical doctors who graduated from various Cuban universities and were largely employed in underserved communities.

The Deputy Minister of Health, Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo, described South Africa as one of the lucky nations to benefit from this global health cooperation, which complements the country’s medical schools to produce the much-needed medical specialists in a quest for government to address the shortage of doctors, especially in the historically underserved areas.

“South Africa would not have benefitted from this fruitful cooperation if it were not for the efforts by the globally admired revolutionary freedom fighters of the two countries, Nelson Mandela and Fidel Castro, who believed that health is the biggest wealth anybody can have.

“Having an educated and trained workforce is not sufficient, but physical and mental well-being is necessary for productivity,” said Dhlomo. – SAnews.gov.za

Source: South African Government News Agency

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SOEs pivotal to economic growth, says Gordhan

Public Enterprises (DPE) Minister Pravin Gordhan says State-owned entities (SOEs) are pivotal to the growth of South Africa’s economy, as they can be used as a driving force to power government’s agenda to better the lives of all South Africans.

The Minister was delivering the Department of Public Enterprise (DPE) Budget Vote Speech in Parliament on Tuesday.

“As government, our fundamental responsibility is to create an enabling environment where the dreams of our people are not held hostage by selfish interests driven by greed, cynicism and saboteurs, involving treasonous acts on our infrastructure and pillaging of State resources.

“Our socio-economic transformation agenda is predicated on the urgent need to deliver on our commitment to social justice and affirm the ideals enshrined in our Constitution.

“SOEs play a vital role in creating and enhancing the economic and social wellbeing of all South Africans. This reality underpins our work to revitalise our SOEs and reclaim them from criminals and the beneficiaries of State capture, whose treasonous acts mean that Eskom cannot deliver safe and reliable electricity supply.”

Gordhan emphasised that Eskom and Transnet, in particular, are critical for the pace at which the country can grow.

“The network industries — energy (electricity) and the logistics sector — are key to South Africa’s ability for faster and a more inclusive way to generate economic growth. Our people need a reliable supply of electricity to run their small businesses, light up their streets, and for their children to learn.

“Our people need reliable trains to get to work. Our miners and farmers need efficient ports that enable them to export their produce and remain competitive. There is an urgent need to overhaul our rail, ports and logistics infrastructure in order to cut the cost of doing business, create more jobs, and boost business confidence,” he said.

Gordhan said government is already embarking on plans to improve the performance of SOEs through reforms.

“The reform of our SOEs and indeed of our broader society and economy is an absolute imperative. The National Development Plan (NDP 2030) suggests that the significant SOEs need a clear public interest mandate and straightforward governance structures, enabling them to balance and reconcile their economic and social objectives.

“For the large SOEs involved in economic infrastructure provision, their mandate should include the imperative of financial viability and sustaining their asset base and balance sheet to maintain and expand services.

“We now know that SOEs’ finances (balance sheets), operations, governance, culture, and skills base have been compromised [by State Capture], and require reform. Furthermore, SOEs aim to deliver economic and social development, leading to social justice.

“South Africa is a middle-income country. It finds itself in a middle-income trap where it cannot transit to higher levels of economic development, unless we do things differently,” he said. – SAnews.gov.za

Source: South African Government News Agency

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Bursaries for Built Environment students

The Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) will in the 2023/24 financial year award bursaries – valued at R16 million – to youth who will study towards Built Environment qualifications.

Through the department’s Young Professional Programme, 79 candidates will be recruited for the 2023/24 financial year.

Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Sihle Zikalala said more needs to be done to address the skills shortages and to train black women in particular in the Built Environment.

“We support the call by the Council for the Built Environment (CBE) that public sector employees in the department should be supported to obtain professional qualification in an effort to build the capabilities of the developmental State and to better manage contracts,” Zikalala said when tabling his department’s 2023/24 Budget Vote in Cape Town.

Zikalala said currently, 108 young people are employed under the Work Integrated Learning Programme and Graduate Internship Programme.

“A total number of 1 500 youths will be appointed under the Graduates and Work Integrated Learning Programme Internships within the Built Environment fields across all provinces.

“We intend training at least 200 youths under the Ocean Economy Skills Development Programmes. In addition, 500 unemployed youths will be appointed under Water and Energy Efficiencies Skills Development Programmes,” the Minister said.

Zikalala said by the end of July 2023, the CBE will engage stakeholders to develop a position paper on the possibility of establishing a DPWI Skills Academy or College to address the skills needs of the department and the sector.

“In 2023/24, the CBE will partner with the National School of Government (NSG) to conduct a skills audit and support skills development in Design Thinking, Project Management and Contract Management.”

Earlier this year, the department handed over bursaries to matriculants, who have enrolled to study various Built Environment courses at universities across the country for the 2023 academic year.

The awarding of the bursaries forms part of the DPWI’s Skills Pipeline Programme. This is part of government efforts to bring more skilled professionals into the public sector, specifically the Built Environment.

As part of building a capable and ethical State, the department annually awards bursaries to pupils in need of financial assistance, who display excellence and have been accepted for courses in the Built Environment for their tertiary education. – SAnews.gov.za

Source: South African Government News Agency

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Deputy President Paul Mashatile responds to questions in the National Assembly, 25 May

Deputy President Paul Mashatile will on Thursday, 25 May 2023 respond to Oral Questions in the National Assembly. This is in line with a constitutional mandate for members of Cabinet to account to Parliament for the exercise of their powers and performance.

The questions asked to the Deputy President relate to progress on the land reform programme, stabilising coalition governments, and his role as the President’s envoy on South Sudan, among others.

The Deputy President is expected to reassure parliament of government’s commitment to the land reform process to ensure economic growth and inclusion while guaranteeing food security.

On the question of stabilising coalition governments, the Deputy President will remind members of the framework for coalitions that has been drafted by the South African Local Government Association to guide political parties on structuring their coalitions for improved service delivery.

The Deputy President had also committed to the National Council of Provinces that he would convene a dialogue to deliberate on a consensus on how to better manage coalition governments so that they are responsive to the needs of communities.

In his capacity as the Special Envoy on South Sudan, Deputy President Mashatile will outline South Africa’s plans to assist parties to the Transitional Government of National Unity in South Sudan with the implementation of the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of Conflict in South Sudan.

Source: Government of South Africa

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Gauteng Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation hosts Gauteng Geographical Names Committee first Quarterly meeting, 25 and 26 May

The Gauteng Geographical Names Committee (GGNC) will be facilitating its first quarter meeting with stakeholders this week from Thursday to Friday in Riverside Sun Hotel, Vanderbijlpark.

The two-day session will comprise of the committees’ operational plans, naming and renaming process for the quarter and the adjudication applications received.

The GGNC provides support and advises local authorities on matters regarding the names of geographical features in the province such as streets, building, parks and much more. The GGNC is constituted by the South African Geographical Names Council (SAGNC).

Source: Government of South Africa