Category: South Africa News Agency

Source: South Africa News Agency

President Ramaphosa to address National Teaching Awards

NeoB
Fri, 10/04/2024 – 12:37

Source: South Africa News Agency

Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) Minister, Velenkosini Hlabisa is expected to lead various engagements with the KwaZulu-Natal provincial and eThekwini leadership as well as the Provincial House of Traditional and Khoisan Leaders (PHTKL). 

The engagements are expected to take place on Saturday.

The first engagement will include the Minister, Deputy Minister Prince Burns Ncamashe, KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli, CoGTA MEC Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi, eThekwini Mayor Cyril Xaba and the metro’s executive committee. 

This will be followed by a meeting with the PHTKL on issues affecting the sector. 

Both meetings will be held in Durban. 

Eastern Seaboard Regional Development

On Monday, the Minister will lead the Eastern Seaboard Development Political Engagement with the Premier of the Eastern Cape and Premier of KwaZulu-Natal, Oscar Mabuyane and Ntuli, respectively.

They will be joined by traditional leaders, MECs, Mayors and Councillors from the Ugu, Harry Gwala, OR Tambo and Alfred Nzo districts at the Wild Coast Sun, Port Edward. 

“The Eastern Seaboard Regional Development was declared as a region on 20 June 2022 in terms of Section 19 of Spatial Planning and Land Use Management (Act 16 of 2013) and has also been identified as a strategic area ready for investment. 

“The region covers an area spanning the southern coastline of KwaZulu-Natal and the northern part of the Eastern Cape provinces and spans across four districts and 17 local municipalities,” the department explained.

The Regional Spatial Development Framework, according to the department, has since been developed and catalytic projects across the four districts identified. 

“This planned Ministerial engagement will review progress to date and agree on plans going forward in the implementation of the Eastern Seaboard programme. 

“The meeting will also fortify traditional leadership participation in the next steps of the implementation phase of the programme, which include buy-in, stakeholder engagement and the awareness-raising of the project to all role players.”

The department described the development as a flagship project facilitated through the District Development Model (DDM) and provides an opportunity to drive spatially referenced transformation through the integration of urban and rural development as well as targeted rural revitalisation.

“Launched by President Cyril Ramaphosa in 2021, the development has reached a critical stage, and significant progress has also been made concerning its design, establishment and coordination of key stakeholders to respond to the region’s rich cultural and environmental assets but remains deprived of substantial economic development and targeted investment in the region,” the statement read. – SAnews.gov.za
 

Source: South Africa News Agency

The Department of Human Settlements intends to partner with traditional leaders to identify disaster-resilient areas suitable for human settlements development, using geo-mapping.

Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi made the announcement at meeting held with Members of Executive Councils (MINMEC) responsible for Human Settlements across the country on Thursday.

Kubayi said the collaborative initiative with traditional leaders aims to enable traditional leaders to identify safe land parcels for settlement purposes and avoid disaster-prone areas in vulnerable provinces.

She said the department intends to pilot this approach in rural KwaZulu-Natal and Limpopo Provinces, paving the way for proactive disaster mitigation and sustainable human settlements.

“By leveraging geo-mapping technology, the department aims to inform decision makers to make better land allocation decisions, ensuring the safety and well-being of communities. We cannot be chasing after or reacting to disasters.

“We must be proactive and put measures in place to mitigate future disasters. Climate change is upon us, and we should be better prepared and be able to respond accordingly,” Kubayi said.

The Minister convened the meeting with the MECs, focusing on the 2024/2025 human settlements priorities.

This was the second meeting in the seventh administration included the Mayors and Members of Mayoral Committees (MMCs) for Human Settlements in metropolitan municipalities and representatives from the South African Local Government Association (SALGA) to tackle key critical areas.

These include prioritising vulnerable groups in housing allocation, the Title Deeds Restoration Programme, housing for military veterans, emergency housing, and an update on the Human Settlements White Paper.

The meeting discussed the finalisation of the White Paper and MINMEC was informed that extensive consultations have been undertaken to ensure that all sectors of the community took part in shaping the new policy.

Approved by Cabinet in 2023 for public consultation, the draft White Paper seeks to address the prevailing gaps and inconsistencies in the housing and human settlements sector by responding comprehensively to contemporary sector reforms.

The meeting heard that sectors including NGOs, civil society, labour, academics, developers and contractors, and identified government departments were consulted.

The draft White Paper will be presented to Cabinet for approval, and once approved, a nationwide awareness campaign will be launched to educate the public on the policy’s key points through various media channels.

The Minister also underscored the importance of building integrated communities including rural areas, saying human settlements should be where people are, feel safe and have access to economic opportunities and social amenities.

“Accordingly, the government has availed resources to build social amenities in rural areas including community halls and other facilities to encourage development within the communities,” the Minister explained.

Assisting those affected by disasters

On emergency response to people affected by disasters, MINMEC welcomed a briefing on the Emergency Housing Framework developed to ensure immediate response to people affected by disasters.

MINMEC stressed the need to clarify roles and responsibilities since the national department has assumed responsibility.

The meeting adopted a proposal outlining disaster response protocols, dividing responsibilities between the National Department of Human Settlements, provinces, and metros based on disaster severity.

“Significant and severe disasters, affecting 51 to 100 or more households, will be jointly responded to by the National Department and provinces/metropolitan areas, while minimal and minor disasters, impacting 1 to 50 households, will be addressed by provinces working with metros,” Kubayi said.

In response to disasters, the Emergency Housing Guidelines provide four key interventions, and these include restoration, rebuilding, relocation, and repairs.

MINMEC emphasised the need to address historic disasters that occurred from 2019 to April 2024, which have affected numerous households, with estimated damages totalling R1 billion. – SAnews.gov.za

Source: South Africa News Agency

The National Disaster Management Centre (NDMC) has called on all South Africans to participate in this year’s International Fire Safety and Prevention Week, which will be observed from 6 to 12 October 2024.

This global event aims to raise awareness of fire prevention and safety practices, encouraging individuals, communities and businesses to take proactive steps to reduce the risk of fires and protect lives.

According to the organisation, South Africans can pledge their support by learning more about fire safety, practising safe fire prevention measures at home and in the workplace, and backing local fire services. 

During the International Fire Safety and Prevention Week, fire services across the country will host a variety of awareness campaigns and community outreach activities to educate the public about fire safety. 

“These efforts will include school visits, fire drills, safety demonstrations, and information sessions designed to help communities better understand how they can prevent fires and respond effectively in an emergency,” the NDMC said.

Meanwhile, the NDMC has also taken the time to recognise the heroic work done by the brave men and women of fire services across the country, both public and designated services, who are at the forefront of fire prevention and emergency response. 

“Their dedication to protecting lives and property, often in dangerous and challenging conditions, deserves the highest praise.” 

The organisation has been working closely with all provinces and local municipalities to strengthen fire safety and prevention measures across the country.

Since 2016, according to NDMC statistics, more than 118 municipalities have been assessed, with more than 500 fire safety practitioners trained in fire risk assessment and safety strategies through partnership with the Fire Protection Association of South Africa (FPASA).

“In line with the Fire Services White Paper, fire services are encouraged to pursue the implementation of an integrated fire risk management strategy, as it is critical that collectively we, as a nation, focus on fire prevention and preparedness together,” the statement read. 

Fire is preventable, and the NDMC urges everyone to take simple steps, such as:

• Educating communities to build their informal dwellings with a minimum gap of three meters between them to reduce the risk of fire spreading quickly.
• Ensuring that the spaces between these buildings are kept clear of debris and always maintain open and accessible roads leading to the homes, so that emergency vehicles can reach them without delay.
• Ensuring that homes are equipped with smoke detectors and fire extinguishers.
• Creating and practising fire escape plans.
• Being mindful of potential fire hazards, such as unattended cooking or faulty electrical wiring.
• Educating children, family members, and the frail and elderly about fire safety measures. – SAnews.gov.za

Source: South Africa News Agency

While government is fully cognisant that access to finance remains the most significant barrier to entry for new venture creation, small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) and entrepreneurship, steps are being taken to address this.

This is according to the Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Zuko Godlimpi, who was during the Financial Inclusion Week session in Johannesburg.

“The consequences of government inability to increase the pace of transformation after 30 years are evidenced by the lack of economic growth, unsustainably high levels of unemployment, widening inequality and market concentration,” Godlimpi said.

“Though government policies have worked to dismantle many structures of the apartheid state and increase living standards, these efforts have not translated into the creation of job opportunities for many South Africans,” he said.

Godlimpi pointed out that the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic) and its agencies, which include the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) and the National Empowerment Fund (NEF), have managed to attract new business projects in which they will be investing R78 billion.

“We have also agreed to push the dtic and its entities to go beyond the Treasury standards to pay SMMEs. This ensures that we, as an institution of nine branches and 18 entities, do not contribute to the barriers that constrain our SMMEs.”

Glodlimpi explained that on the policy front, government is aware that SMMEs find it difficult to access different forms of finance, including debt.

He said when SMMEs approach debt markets, they are often faced with onerous credit checks and, at times, fall victim to negative reinforcement tools such as credit bureaus due to a lack of access to patient capital.

“When a small business owner misses debt repayment due to delayed payments from clients and, in many instances, the government, they are blacklisted. According to [the] Small Enterprise Development Agency’s SMME Quarterly and Stats SA, SMMEs contribute about 59% of total employment in the country,” he said.

Godlimpi said this picture demonstrates the unsustainable structure of credit market in South Africa, which is embedded in a consumption logic rather than a developmental and investment orientation.

“As part of the Minister Parks Tau’s new wall-to-wall approach, we have begun to look at sharing important economic data within the dtic to enhance our understanding of the economy and achieve complementarity in deploying the various tools to achieve our industrial policy objectives,” said Godlimpi. – SAnews.gov.za

Source: South Africa News Agency

Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources, Gwede Mantashe, has told an indaba that there is evidence to suggest that mining is “the bedrock of our economy” and that the country is an attractive investment destination for mining.

According to the Minerals Council of South Africa, the industry contributed some 6.3% to South Africa’s nominal Gross Domestic Product (GDP) last year.

“There is a strong case emerging out of the study on ‘The State of Mining’ that the South African mining industry not only remains the bedrock of our economy, but an attractive investment destination for mining. 

“Coupled with the draft South Africa’s ‘Critical Minerals Strategy’, the study points to the reality that the South African mining industry is diversifying from the gold mining era to an industry with wide-ranging mineral resources, including the world’s largest known deposits of platinum group metals (PGMs), manganese, chrome, coal, gold, copper, vanadium, and other natural resources that are considered critical for the just transition,” the Minister said at the Annual Joburg Indaba in Sandton on Thursday.

He added that with the diversification of the industry, its potential to continue growing remains high.

“Notwithstanding the challenges faced by the gold mining sector, including deep level mines and heightened safety concerns, the 2023 gold production statistics positioned South Africa as the world’s thirteenth and Africa’s fourth largest gold producer. 

“Despite the fluctuating prices of palladium and rhodium, of which South Africa supplies 38% and 81%, respectively, to the global commodities market, the PGMs sector is poised to play a catalytic role in sustaining the South African mining industry, and in the growth of our economy.

“Considering South Africa’s reserves of known manganese and chrome deposits, as well as being the largest producer and exporter of manganese and chrome ore, the South African manganese and chrome sectors are poised to continue playing a significant role globally driven by their use in the automotive and construction industries,” Mantashe said.

Addressing challenges 

He acknowledged that during last year’s Joburg Indaba, industry players raised issues that “we needed to resolve for the sector to thrive, including the need to ensure the necessary policy and regulatory certainty for investment”.

“Although the South African mining industry’s regulatory framework is stable and predictable, the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources is drafting amendments to the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act (MPRDA). 

“This is so as to address its shortcomings and ensure that areas that have been challenged legally are strengthened against international best practice. The amendments will further improve the business environment while keeping in sync with our socioeconomic fabric.

“The completion of the migration process to the new efficient and transparent mining licensing system, in June next year, is poised to modernise our licensing system, ensure regulatory certainty, and the sustainability of the South African mining industry. 

“Having completed the first phase of the project, which included the assessment of the current environment to establish the baseline and its readiness, and the requirements with respect to system hosting, software integration, and the enhancement of cybersecurity, the development of the new system is therefore progressing very well,” the Minister explained.

READ | Presidency transfers Department of Mineral Resources and Energy legislation

Furthermore, the Minister told the industry leaders that between April 2023 and March this year, the department has processed and finalised 127 mining rights, 1 527 prospecting rights, and 2 313 mining permits and ancillaries.

There are no backlogs in the Western Cape and the Free State while backlogs in the Northern Cape, Limpopo, North West, Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal have been significantly reduced. Mpumalanga is the only province with a significant backlog.

“As we come to the end of this year’s Indaba, we wish to encourage the South African mining industry to continue sharing insights about the realities of this industry, advance beneficiation at source, and support our exploration initiatives.

“We further encourage junior miners to take up the opportunities presented to them in order to transform the industry and ensure that the people of South Africa derive value from their country’s mineral endowment,” Mantashe concluded. – SAnews.gov.za

 

Source: South Africa News Agency

Friday, October 4, 2024

Source: South Africa News Agency

Friday, October 4, 2024

Source: South Africa News Agency

Friday, October 4, 2024

Source: South Africa News Agency

The G20 needs to show leadership in addressing the climate crisis, says Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Dr Dion George.

“The existential crisis of climate change is posing significant threats not only to human health and wellbeing, but is also exacerbating biodiversity loss, land degradation and other environmental complexities,” George said on Thursday at the G20 Environment and Climate Sustainability Ministers’ Meeting in Brazil. 

The G20 is a group of 19 countries, as well as the African Union and the European Union, which defines itself as the premier forum for global economic cooperation. It brings together leaders and policymakers from the world’s major economies to discuss key economic, development and social issues. G20 members represent around 80% of global GDP, 75% of global exports and 60% of the global population.

The Environment and Climate Sustainability Working Group (ECSWG) deals with current issues on the environmental and climate sustainability agenda, with a view to encouraging cooperation between G20 members on concrete and innovative solutions.

The group’s main aim is to discuss preventive and emergency adaptation to extreme events, payments for ecosystem services, oceans, as well as waste and the circular economy.

“As such, key areas of collaboration are proposed related to mitigation, adaptation, loss and damage and importantly, climate finance – building on the discussions and outcomes of previous presidencies.

“As a primary outcome, South Africa would like to explore ways that the G20 can leverage opportunities to increase the scale and flows of climate finance critical for both mitigation and adaptation efforts, whilst ensuring that the required investments reach the most vulnerable of society.

“In this regard, it would be important to continue the fruitful discussions with the finance colleagues to enable the development of an effective, outcomes based financial model,” George said.

South Africa is expected to take over the presidency of the G20 from Brazil from 1 December this year to November 2025.

READ | SA’s G20 Presidency to prioritise Africa and Global South

Under the South African Presidency, the G20 ECSWG will broadly focus on several pillars, namely, biodiversity and conservation; desertification; oceans and coasts; climate change and air quality, as well as chemicals and waste management, each with specific priorities.

“South Africa recognises that oceans play an important role in socio-economic development. In this regard, the G20 provides a platform to exchange best practice in advancing marine spatial planning that could further support the sustainable utilisation of the ocean and coastal environment and combat illegal fishing. 

“Plastic pollution is a major threat to the coastal and marine environment. Discussions on plastic pollution have been long ongoing in the G20, and South Africa will continue to foster collaboration among G20 members to address this pressing issue collectively,” the George said.

He said waste management and the circular economy are recognised as areas of focus critical for transition to a low carbon, climate resilient economy. 

“During South Africa’s G20 Presidency, we aim to foster enhanced collaboration on waste management policies and legislative instruments, including on waste to energy initiatives,” the Minister said.

Waste to energy initiatives include various technologies that convert non-recyclable waste into usable forms of energy including heat, fuels and electricity. – SAnews.gov.za