Source: South Africa News Agency

The 33 alleged illegal gold miners arrested at Ellerton rehabilitated mine at Nhlaniki village, outside Giyani, are expected to appear in court this morning.

The illegal miners were arrested during a multi-disciplinary operation led by the Hawks working with the Department for Mineral Resource (DMR), Provincial Organised Crime Unit, Public Order Police, the Air Wing and Local Criminal Record Centre, on Friday.

Hawks spokesperson Captain Matimba Maluleke said the multi-disciplinary operation ensued following an outcry by the local community about the alleged illegal mining from the Ellerton mine that was closed in 2016.

“The team swooped on the abandoned mine and seized gold-bearing material, five vehicles and several mining types of equipment, including two generators, mining drill machines, camping tents, industrial hammers and a sieve valued at about R500 000,” Maluleke said on Monday.

Maluleke said they are still in a process of asserting the suspect’s correct identity.

Across South Africa, mining towns are under siege from illicit syndicates.

Employing thousands of desperate jobseekers‚ these syndicates known as the Zama-Zama’s ‚ who earn billions of rand annually through the illegal sale of precious metals and diamonds‚ are in fierce competition with global mining giants.

According to the Chamber of Mines, about 70% of all arrested illegal miners are undocumented foreign nationals and predominately from Lesotho.

The annual commercial value of illegal mining and illicit dealings in precious metals and diamonds is estimated to be over R7 billion, according to the organisation.

The Hawks have promised to continue with the operations to prevent the looting of mineral resources from Giyani, and from other districts in the province.

Meanwhile in Durban, two South African Revenue Services’ customs officials are also expected to appear at the Durban Magistrate Court today on charges of corruption.

The suspects were arrested in a sting operation after they allegedly demanded a R200 000 bribe from a businessman in order to evade tax obligations. 

The matter was reported to the Hawks and an undercover operation was conducted.

They were caught red-handed after receiving cash from the complainant. – SAnews.gov.za

Source: South Africa News Agency

The Department of Trade and Industry (dti) has issued a recall of all products from the Enterprise and Rainbow Chicken Limited companies, which have been found to have traces of Listeria.

“Given the findings of Listeria, it is clear that there has been a drop in the quality controls at these facilities. They have, as of this morning, been issued with safety recall notices according to Section 60(2) of the Consumer Protection Act,” said dti Director General Lionel October.

Results which came in at midnight confirmed that polony from the Enterprise facility was the cause of the current Listeriosis outbreak, prompting Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi to call an urgent press briefing.

While RCL Foods tested positive for Listeria, its samples did not test positive for the strain ST6, which is the cause of the outbreak. Nonetheless, it will also be pulled from the shelves as it poses a health risk.

“Such contamination of ready-to-eat processed meat products constitutes a health risk. Also, over 10% of environmental samples collected by the EHPs at this facility have tested positive for L. monocytogenes,” said Minister Motsoaledi.

The safety recall notices require that an investigation be conducted and a recall programme be carried out on any terms required by the National Consumer Commission (NCC).

“The safety recall will affect the manufacturers’ entire distribution networks, both domestic and international,” said the Health Minister.

In addition to the recall, RCL Foods, which exports some of its products, has been slapped with a suspension of its export registration number until further notice.

While the Minister confirmed that polony was the definite culprit, he called on the public to avoid all processed meat products.

“While we know that polony is definitely implicated, there is a risk of cross-contamination of other ready-to-eat processed meat products, either at production, distribution or retail. We advise members of the public to avoid all processed meat products that are sold as ready-to-eat,” said Minister Motsoaledi.

NCC Deputy Commissioner Thezi Mabuza said the Commission will prepare a recall strategy in conjunction with the manufacturers and make further announcements to the public in due course. – SAnews.gov.za

Source: South Africa News Agency

Polony from the Enterprise factory in Polokwane, Limpopo, has been fingered as the culprit behind the Listeriosis outbreak in the country.

“The source of the present outbreak can be confirmed to be the Enterprise food production facility in Polokwane,” said Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi on Sunday.

Environmental Health Practitioners (EHPs), together with the National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD), and officials from the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) had visited the food production site in Polokwane.

Results from this factory became available at midnight, prompting the Health Minister to hold an urgent media briefing in which he informed the public to avoid all processed meat products immediately.

“While we know that polony is definitely implicated, there is a risk of cross-contamination of other ready-to-eat processed meat products, either at production, distribution or retail. We advise members of the public to avoid all processed meat products that are sold as ready-to-eat,” said the Minister.

Processed meat products such as polony, viennas, russians, frankfurters, sausages and cold meat products were listed as no go zones by the Minister.

The cause of the outbreak strain ST6 was confirmed in 16 environmental samples collected from the Enterprise facility.

In addition to the Polokwane facility, another Enterprise facility located in Germiston, Gauteng, tested positive for Listeria but it is yet to be confirmed if it is the same ST6 strain.

While another facility, known as the Rainbow Chicken Limited (RCL), tested positive for Listeria, samples from this facility are not same strain that is causing the outbreak.

“Such contamination of ready-to-eat processed meat products constitutes a health risk. Also, over 10% of environmental samples collected by the EHPs at this facility have tested positive for L. monocytogenes,” said the Minister.

With this in mind, the Health Department issued a recall of these cold meat products for Enterprise and RCL.

“The National Consumer Commission has, in terms of Section 60(2) of the Consumer Protection Act, this morning issued manufacturers concerned with safety recall notices,” said Minister Motsoaledi.  

Compliance notices will also be issued to facilities in terms of the National Health Act.

The Health Minister reiterated his call for high risk people such as pregnant women, very young infants, elderly persons and anyone with a weakened immune system due to HIV and cancer to completely avoid all processed meats. 

Food safety rules 

Members of the public have been reminded that now is not the time to slack on their food safety precautions but rather a time to strengthen those habits.

“The recall of these products does not mean that members of the public must now relax and stop following food safety rules,” said Minister Motsoaledi.

The food safety rules include:

• Wash your hands before handling food or when coming back from the bathroom.
• Cook food thoroughly.
• Separate raw food from cooked food.
• Store food at an appropriate temperature.
• Wash uncooked food with clean running water.
• Only use pasteurized or boiled milk products.
   

World Health Organisation (WHO) country representative, Rufaro Chitaro confirmed that the Australian Listeriosis outbreak was caused by a different strain from the South African one.

“Australia has since last month seen 15 cases of Listeriosis, resulting in three fatalities caused by what is known as a rock melon. There is no evidence that these melons are exported to South Africa. The Australian strain is caused by ST240,” said Chitaro.

Gauteng is still leading the pack with the number of Listeriosis cases at 60%, followed by 13% in the Western Cape and 7% in KwaZulu-Natal and others sporadically spread out across the country.

NICD Head Juno Thomas said the public can use bleach to disinfect and thoroughly clean their fridges to avoid contamination.

Members of the public can visit the National Health Laboratory Services and Health Department websites on how to effectively clean their homes. – SAnews.gov.za

Source: South Africa News Agency

Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba has tasked his Director General with assisting community members, who were part of the Mancoba Seven Angels Ministry in Ngcobo in the Eastern Cape, to get identity documents.

“I have given an instruction to the Provincial Manager for Home Affairs in the Eastern Cape, through the Director General, to visit the area and conduct an audit to determine the extent to which these vulnerable members of society have been affected, with a view, of course, to begin the process of documenting them to ensure that they reflect on the National Population Register,” said Minister Gigaba.

The controversial ministry is at the centre of the police massacre in the Ngcobo area, as some of its members are alleged to have ambushed and killed five police officers and an off duty soldier at a police station.

According to the police, members of the Mancoba ministry were forbidden to have identity documents, while children were not allowed to have birth certificates and prohibited from attending school.

“Section 20 of the Constitution states that no citizen may be deprived of citizenship while Section 28 (1) (a) guarantees the right to a name and a nationality for every child from birth. To this end, without a birth certificate, any individual’s nationality cannot be affirmed, thus rendering them stateless,” said Minister Gigaba.

He expressed his dismay at the disregard of the law by those implicated and has declared that government will not watch on the sidelines while people’s constitutional rights are being trampled on.

“Of particular concern to me is the exploitation of children and women whose rights have been blatantly disregarded by being denied their basic right, their sense of belonging, their birth right to identity. No individual has the authority to deny any citizen of our Republic their constitutional right to identity through the imposition of their irrational beliefs,” said the Minister. – SAnews.gov.za

Source: South Africa News Agency

Motorists will get some reprieve at the fuel pumps from Wednesday following an announcement by the Department of Energy of the drop in fuel prices.

As of 7 March, the petrol price will drop by 36 cents a litre and between 44 and 47 cents less for a litre of diesel.

According to the Energy Department, the drop in the fuel price is a result of the strengthening of the Rand against the US Dollar and a decrease in the prices of crude oil.

“The Rand appreciated, on average, against the US Dollar from 12.20 to 11.82 Rand per USD during the period under review.

“The average Brent Crude oil price decreased from 69.06USD to 65.05USD per barrel during the period under review. This led to lower prices of petroleum products in the international markets,” said the department.

The department said other factors that influence the price of fuel include the fact that South Africa imports both crude oil and finished products at a price set at the international level, including shipping costs.

“The main contributing factor was the abundance of crude in the market, particularly with growing exports from the US Gulf coast, which kept the price low in the market. Furthermore, the forthcoming widespread refinery maintenance in the Middle East and Asia-Pacific is also muting demand for crude and limiting upward price movement,” said the department.

The fuel prices for paraffin and gas for March 2018 will be also adjusted as follows:

• Illuminating Paraffin (wholesale): 22.00 c/l decrease
• SMNRP for IP: 29.00 c/l decrease
• Maximum LPGas Retail Price: 69.00 c/kg decrease
   

The fuel prices schedule for the different zones will be published on Tuesday, 6 March 2018. – SAnews.gov.za

Source: South Africa News Agency

Small, medium and micro-sized enterprises (SMMEs) in Limpopo will now have access to mentorship and training at their doorstep following the launch of the Tourism Business Incubators by the Deputy Minister of Tourism, Elizabeth Thabethe, on Friday. 

Tourism Business Incubators are a virtual vehicle used to assist businesses with support interventions to tourism enterprises clustered along a thriving tourism network. 

“Through the incubators, SMMEs are able to access remote business support services facilitated by experienced business development advisors, who offer mentorship, coaching and cluster training that is tailored to their needs. 

“This will ensure the viability and sustainability of SMMEs in the Ba-Phalaborwa Local Municipality,” said Deputy Minister Thabethe.   

The Phalaborwa incubator is one of a few that will be launched across the country as part of a greater objective of the revised National Tourism Sector Strategy (NTSS) 2016-2026 to ensure the sustainable growth and development of the tourism industry. 

“Tourism in Limpopo is thriving, and it is critical that its socio-economic benefits are enjoyed by all.

“We identified Phalaborwa as a suitable town to establish a Tourism Business Incubator to promote economic inclusion, and ensure that new entrants into the industry are viable,” said the Deputy Minister.  

The Tourism Department has set aside a more than R50 million investment to advance sustainable tourism SMMEs in Phalaborwa. This will be done through the Wild Activity Hub at the Phalaborwa Gate of the Kruger National Park as well as the new Shangoni Gate of the Park close to Giyani. 

“SMMEs have the potential to create sustainable employment opportunities, and to contribute to the economic development of local economies. We need to leverage on this potential to grow the sector and our economy. 

“We have thus far established business incubators in Moruleng, Pilanesberg in the North West Province, and Manyeleti, Bushbuckridge in Mpumalanga province. The two incubators are operating very well, and we are confident that the Phalaborwa incubator will be a success,” said the Deputy Minister. 

The Deputy Minister said she believes this investment and development will stimulate economic growth in the region and thus spur entrepreneurial opportunities. 

Support framework

The department also hosted a workshop in partnership with the Limpopo Department of Economic Development and Environment and Tourism (LEDET) to present the services and initiatives provided to SMMEs under the Tourism Enterprise Development and Support Programme. 

The Tourism Enterprise Development and Support Programme addresses the challenges facing businesses in the sector concerning information about funding and market access opportunities.  

For more information on the Tourism Enterprise Development and Support Programme and the up-coming workshops in the various provinces, interested persons can visit www.tourism.gov.za.
 

The next Enterprise Development Awareness and information sharing event will take place in Mahikeng, North West, 5 March 2018. – SAnews.gov.za

Source: South Africa News Agency

South African Sign Language (SASL) has officially been recognised as a home language in the curriculum as one of the examinable subjects for the National Senior Certificate.

“It is a monumental step forward that SASL has now, for the very first time in South Africa, been officially recognised as a home language in our education system,” said the Council for Quality Assurance in General and Further Education and Training, Umalusi, in a statement.

The announcement by Umalusi follows a report it released of its research study on the inclusion of SASL in the curriculum.

The aim of the study was to provide guidance to Umalusi in its role as the quality assurer for SASL-Home Language, with specific reference to school-based assessment and national examinations.

According to the Council, the scope of the study also encompassed understanding how Deaf learners are assessed, as well as the kind of resources and materials required for assessment, including identifying potential national moderators and evaluators.

“Deaf learners in South Africa no longer need to feel like foreigners in their own land, and at last they can exercise their rights to be taught and assessed in their own language,” said Umalusi.

Recognition of SASL as a home language in the education system was highlighted by Umalusi as ground breaking as it serves to recognise “Deaf culture as a fundamental part of South African culture”.

When reflecting on this momentous occasion, Umalusi chairperson John Volmink said: “Today we can say to Deaf learners that the system has fully embraced them, that their language is valued and respected, and that they now have the opportunity to learn and study and be tested through the medium of their home language.”

The full details of the study are available in the report entitled, ‘Sign of the Times: The Quality of the Teaching and Assessment of South African Sign Language’. 

The report is available on Umalusi website: www.umalusi.org.za. – SAnews.gov.za

Source: South Africa News Agency

The Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) has bulked up security at the country’s points of entry to ensure the protection of big cats and other wildlife. 

To mark World Wildlife Day on 3 March, the department deployed South African Revenue Service (SARS) K9 sniffer dogs to OR Tambo International Airport to detect attempts to smuggle wildlife into the country. 

In addition to this, the department’s Environmental Management Inspectors (EMIs), also known as the Green Scorpions, inspected a consignment of birds for export from South Africa to ensure that the consignment has met all legal requirements. 

“These are just two of the actions taken daily at points of entry and exit to ensure that smuggling of wildlife is halted and that our natural world is protected. 

“About 300 legal wildlife-related consignments are exported and imported on a monthly basis at this airport and our EMIs inspected and endorsed approximately 4 200 CITES [Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora] permits during 2017,” said the department’s Director General Ishaam Abader. 

Guided by this year’s theme, ‘Big cats: predators under threat’, lions, leopards and cheetahs are the focus of protection and conservation efforts. 

To combat the illegal trade of these animals, a range of measures have been introduced in South Africa to ensure that cat populations are conserved and properly managed.  

“This includes the implementation of a Biodiversity Management Plan for the African Lion.  The Scientific Authority of South Africa conducted a Non-Detriment Finding (NDF), as required by the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).  The final NDF was published for implementation on 23 January 2018,” said Abader. 

According to the NDF, for lions, there are at present no major threats to the wild and managed lion populations within South Africa, although the management of reintroduced wild lion needs some improvement. 

Minor, but non-detrimental, threats include over-utilisation, disease, poaching and conflict with communities around protected areas. 

Law enforcement collaboration yields fruit

While the focus may be on big cats this year, Wildlife Day also takes stock of the efforts of law enforcement officials to prevent wildlife crimes. 

The declaration of wildlife crime as a priority crime in South Africa resulted in the joint collaboration of the National Prosecuting Authority, the police and institutions such as the Airports Company of South Africa. 

The Green Scorpions assist SARS and SAPS with cases where illegally traded rhino horn have been detected. 

Since August 2016, this collaboration resulted in the seizure of 11 rhino horn at OR Tambo. 

The first case at ORTIA of 2018 recently involved the arrest of a Chinese woman in early January hiding thee rhino horn pieces of approximately 4kg in a wine box. 

“The increase in detections of rhino horn at ORTIA are a tribute to the hard work and collaborative approach involving airport security, SARS, the Green Scorpions, and the police,” said Abader.  

Partnerships to combat wildlife crimes

The DEA is currently working with WWF-SA on a project to increase its ability to tackle wildlife trafficking in South Africa.
 

“This project, funded by a grant from the US Department of State’s Bureau of International & Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), focuses on the development of further training materials to bolster our national compliance and enforcement programme,” said Abader.
 

The training materials include an e-learning platform for officials, audio visual materials, specific curriculum and manuals, which assist law enforcement agencies to effectively detect the smuggling of wildlife. – SAnews.gov.za