South Africa Insights

President Cyril Ramaphosa has wished the South African Jewish community Chag Sameach as they prepare to observe the Pesach holiday.

The holiday – also known as Passover – celebrates the story of the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt.

President Ramaphosa said: ‘The Jewish community is an important and deeply valued part of our diverse society. As we reflect on the story of Exodus, let us take this moment to appreciate the freedoms we enjoy and commit ourselves to the value of Tikkun Olam, healing the world.’

The week long observation of the holiday commenced on Monday and will end on April 30.

Source: South African Government News Agency

WINDHOEK: The Namibia Diamond Trading Company (NDTC), has sorted, valued and marketed in excess of 2.3 million carats during the 2023 financial year despite the significant increase in carat intake from the Namibia De Beers (Namdeb) holdings.

This was announced by NDTC Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Brent Eiseb during a media briefing on the successes and business performance of the company for the 2023 financial year, here on Tuesday.

Eiseb said despite the significant increase in carat intake from Namdeb holdings, driven largely by the commissioning of the Benguela Gem diamond recovery vessels in 2022, NDTC has increased its staff complement by 13 per cent particularly, in the diamond sorting and valuation mandate.

‘This concept has expanded its technological footprint with the successful adoption of a world-class sorting technology that enables efficient and effective methods of facilitating its sorting and valuation mandate,’ said Eiseb.

NDTC sold approximately 77 per cent of its total offering to NDTC
sightholders despite the challenging market conditions in 2023 and employs 91 Namibians to undertake the sorting, valuation and sale of Namibia’s rough diamond production.

‘I am pleased to inform you that 88 per cent of the total sales to NDTC sightholders during 2023 was fully processed in Namibia, while the industry was averaging 38 per cent a few years ago,’ Eiseb said.

Other notable achievements according to Eiseb include the N.dollars 100 million dividends paid to NDTC shareholders, N.dollars 84 million corporate taxes paid, N.dollars 197 million export levy paid, and N.dollars 1.05 million contribution to the Namibia Training Authority (NTA) Training Levy.

Despite these successes, NDTC still has to deal with the impact of the introduction of the G7 restrictive measures against Russian diamonds.

‘NDTC remains committed to facilitating beneficiation within the sector as beneficiation remains a fundamental component in our supply strategy and is a key objective of our business strategy,’ said Eiseb.

T
he event also presented NDTC’s first Diamantaire Enterprise development programme graduates.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

WINDHOEK: The agreement between the Ministry of Sport, Youth and National Service (MSYNS) and the Real Madrid Foundation (RMF) will this year benefit thousands of young Namibians from seven different regions through football clinics.

In 2023, the MSYNS, through the assistance of Cadilu Fishing, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the RMF to offer football coaching clinics in Namibia.

In the first edition of the agreement, four regions (Khomas, Erongo, Otjozondjupa and Kavango East) benefited from these coaching clinics that were aimed at empowering Namibian schoolchildren with critical values such as motivation, equality, respect, discipline, and teamwork, among others.

In a recent interview with Nampa, Erastus Haitengela, Executive Director in the MSYNS, said the coaching clinics will this year benefit more Namibians.

‘We are currently in Madrid on a site visit to the RMF, where we are looking at signing a permanent or long-term contract with the foundation. The new agreement would promote sport (football) and provide technical support and skill transfer on the setting up of sports clinics,’ he said.

He added that the Real Madrid team has already conducted these types of clinics in Rundu, Otjiwarongo, Walvis Bay and Windhoek but their goal is to expand it to other towns such as Mariental, Gobabis, Opuwo, and Keetmanshoop.

‘Our purpose of this important working visit is to firstly come and meet the senior management of the RMF and also to conduct physical site visits to permanent schools and high-performance centres in Madrid and Istanbul, Turkey and also to engage local coaches and management as to how we are going to work together to continue operating the clinic projects and also on how to set up the high-performance centres,’ Haitengela said.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

WINDHOEK: Chief Inspector Katrina Naukushu of the Windhoek City Police on Tuesday raised concern over the dangerous weapons found in the possessions of members of the public, during last week’s police patrol.

Naukushu in an interview with Nampa on Tuesday said the weapons confiscated include knives, pocket knives, pangas, and scissors .

‘Despite our efforts to disarm the community, people continue to buy these weapons. People should refrain from going to clubs and parties with weapons as they cause more harm than good. If you carry weapons for protection rather leave them at home and turn to the police in incidents where you are faced with danger.’

According to Ordinance 12 of 1956, Section 4 (3a-n) as amended, knives, including pocket knives, or any blade (part of a knife not constituting a shaft or handle) which exceeds three and a half inches (about 8,9 cm) and jumpers, crowbars or hammers exceeding three pounds (about 1,4kg) in weight are not allowed on a person.

Naukushu warned the public that should
they be found in possession of any dangerous weapons, they would be arrested and charged.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

The Gauteng Department of Social Development, Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment has unveiled mobile shower services for homeless people in the province.

MEC Mbali Hlophe said the services are aimed at restoring dignity for people who find themselves homeless in the province.

‘It’s about giving them warm food and a shower. It’s also about ensuring that our social workers have access to them and they are able to direct them to the broader services that we have. That’s about family reunification, which is really an ideal one because we want to make sure that we are able to unify families.

‘But where we can’t, we are able to place them within our shelters where they are provided with skills to make sure that they are able to take care of themselves and to be sustainably out of the streets,’ Hlophe said.

According to the department, the mobile shower service is in line with ‘Pillar 1 of the Gauteng City Region Strategy on Street Adult Homelessness, which is advocacy, awareness, and prevention of c
risis and early intervention’.

‘The service, which will go out to locations daily, will provide access to bathrooms, ablution facilities, laundry services and linking the homeless with other services such as access to shelters and social work interventions,’ the department said in a statement.

The mobile wash services will go to areas where homeless people can be found.

‘The wash trailer and office will be towed by a vehicle to the identified homeless hot spots. The proposed locations for the service are parks, open areas, under bridges, and on streets where the homeless community sometimes reside.

‘The mobile services have separated showers and ablution facilities and an office. The wash trailer, which is 6m long, with an estimated weight of 2 800 kilograms, has three showers and three toilets, and the estimated office weight is 1 800kg,’ the department said.

According to the department, the launch is ‘an expansion to an already existing package of assistance to the homeless’ in the province.

This incl
udes homeless shelters in regions; provision of daily meals for the homeless; social work services; link to skills development; substance abuse rehabilitation, and family reunification.

New lease on life

At shelters, homeless people are afforded an opportunity to learn skills, including basic computer skills, construction skills, including brick laying and agricultural skills.

A resident at a homeless shelter, Michael Rasebokoa, said the opportunities he gained at the shelter have given him the restart he needed.

Rasebokoa holds a Business Administration qualification but found himself homeless when he lost the job he had.

However, through a non-profit organisation at the shelter, he was linked to a new job opportunity.

‘I am grateful for the opportunities that the Gauteng Department of Social Development has afforded me.

‘The NPOs that are funded by the department has made it possible for me to secure a job. I am currently working as a Financial Advisor in Sandton,’ Rasebokoa said.

Source: South Afr
ican Government News Agency

International Relations and Cooperation Minister, Dr Naledi Pandor, says South Africa cannot have “normal relations” with Israel, as long as it is committing war crimes and genocide against Palestinians, removing them from their land, and is unwilling to negotiate a viable peace plan without preconditions.

‘South Africa cannot be a party to Israel’s actions that would see the promise of Palestinian Statehood reduced to balkanised entities, devoid of true sovereignty, without territorial contiguity and with no economic viability,’ Pandor said on Monday while delivering a lecture at the Rio Branco Institute in Brasilia, Brazil.

The South African government, according to Pandor, has consistently expressed its concern at the plight of Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip, especially in light of the acts meeting the threshold of genocide.

READ | SA welcomes resolution on human rights situation in occupied Palestinian territory

Pandor said the ‘question of Palestine’, as it is known in the United Nations (UN
), is the longest unresolved human rights challenge on the UN’s agenda.

‘It is primarily a question about the right to self-determination of the Palestinian people. This is a right that, according to international law, gives Palestinians the right to resist the illegal occupation of their land.’

She said South Africa concurs with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’s remarks that opposition to a two-State solution was ‘unacceptable”.

The Minister believes that the Palestinian people are part of an existing sovereign State and have a claim to their independent sovereignty based on their right to self-determination.

‘The fact of colonisation creates this right – they have been conquered and subjected to the jurisdiction of a foreign State without their consent and are living under occupation by a foreign and oppressive occupier.

“This is the form of self-determination that is most widely accepted and which most clearly provides the right to one’s independent State,’ she explained.

Pandor said it was now
more than 74 years since the UN General Assembly approved Resolution 181 (II) recognising the partitioning of Palestine and proposed establishing two independent States, which were supposed to coexist in peace and harmony.

‘Despite the length of time and efforts brought to bear, the establishment of a sovereign Palestinian State is yet to become a reality.

‘The most serious violation of human rights has involved the denial of the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination. This is a right enshrined in the UN Charter,’ she stressed.

Pandor raised concerns about the political solution, which is “not yet in sight”.

‘The relentless military operations by Israel and its genocidal acts have aggravated the humanitarian situation in Gaza.

‘The extreme nature of the crisis in Gaza must not eclipse the fact that the West Bank and East Jerusalem are in turmoil. Since the 1993 Oslo Accords, the number of illegal Israeli settlers occupying Palestinian land has increased from 269 200 at that time to 700 000 toda
y.’

Meanwhile, the number of Palestinians held in Israeli jails has almost doubled to over 7 000, including 200 women and children as young as 12 years old.

According to the Minister, the conflict has seen the killing of over 33 000 Palestinians since October 2023.

The ongoing bombardment of Gaza by Israel has resulted in more civilian casualties, almost half of which are children, the Minister told her audience.

She also raised an alarm about the threat of famine, which is imminent with disastrous consequences.

‘Those engaged in active warfare must be reminded that the targeting of civilians, humanitarian workers, journalists and UN personnel, destruction of houses and other civilian infrastructure is illegal under international law.’

Pandor is of the view that South Africa made a compelling case before the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

In January this year, the ICJ ruled that Israel’s actions in Gaza are plausibly genocidal and indicated provisional measures on that basis.

READ | SA stands b
y decision to file lawsuit against Israel

She also took a swipe at the veto power wielded by individual States, which she said she believes cannot be permitted to thwart international justice in light of the ever-worsening situation in Gaza.

South Africa, Pandor said, is gravely concerned about the unprecedented imminent military offensive against Rafah, which she said would result in further large-scale killing, harm and destruction.

‘South Africa reiterates its call for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire and remains committed to seeing an end to the occupation of Palestine and calls for concrete action concerning ending the Apartheid system in Israel and Palestine.’

Source: South African Government News Agency

Deputy President Paul Mashatile is undertaking a working visit to Dubai and Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The Deputy President arrived in the UAE yesterday and will wrap up his visit on Friday, 25 April 2024.

According to the Presidency, the UAE visit is aimed at building and strengthening bilateral relations, particularly increasing economic and knowledge exchange between the two States.

The country’s second-in-command and his delegation will engage with experts in the telecommunications and digital economy, in line with South Africa’s goals related to expanding technological and digital infrastructure towards Meaningful Universal Connectivity.

‘Countries are moving towards digital sovereignty and South Africa, as one of the leading nations in the sector within the continent has the opportunity to spearhead initiatives in this regard towards strengthening public service delivery and enhancing participation in the digital economy. This working visit is as such, integral to building capacity
towards digital sovereignty,’ the Presidency explained.

During the visit, the Deputy President will interact with the Ministry of Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Applications as well as other relevant national and regional entities within the UAE.

The UAE, according to the Presidency, is a competitive market for the information and communication technology (ICT) sector in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.

The UAE public sector investment helps drive demand for Information and Communications technology (ICT) products and services in sectors such as healthcare, aviation, defence, transportation, financial services and others linked to the UAE’s economic diversification plans.

The visit by the Deputy President provides an opportunity for the South African government to increase knowledge and expertise in the ICT sector towards the improvement and expansion of public services and governance systems through digital economy channels.

International Relations and Cooperation Dep
uty Minister Candith Mashego-Dlamini, Communications and Digital Technologies Minister Mondli Gungubele and Justice Minister Ronald Lamola, will accompany the Deputy President to the UAE.

Source: South African Government News Agency

President Cyril Ramaphosa says giving workers a seat at the table where strategic corporate decisions are made fosters good morale and innovation and also builds a resilient economy.

The President said this when he delivered the keynote address at the inaugural Worker Share Ownership Conference held in Johannesburg on Tuesday.

The conference serves as a platform for advocacy for Employee Share Ownership Plans in private companies.

‘This conference is an opportunity for meaningful dialogue among a diverse array of participants, including trustees, CEOs, labour and business representatives, and company chairs. It is an opportunity to develop a model of worker ownership that can serve the needs of our economy.

‘When workers participate as owners, the workers also develop a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities that face their own companies, enabling more fruitful partnerships to unlock opportunities for growth, investment and job creation.

‘This is a paradigm shift, which aims to empower
workers not only as wage earners but also as partners, as stakeholders with ownership in capital,’ he said.

President Ramaphosa added that beyond social justice ‘worker ownership initiatives make sound business and economic sense’.

‘They are key to building a more resilient economy whose benefits flow equitably through society. Worker share ownership initiatives boost morale and productivity.

‘Workers who feel valued and respected by their employers are more likely to contribute ideas for improving processes, products and services. It is human nature that one is more inclined to contribute one’s best efforts when one has a vested interest in the success of that particular venture,’ he said.

Economic transformation

The President emphasised that government has done much to improve transformation of the economy following devastating apartheid legislation which deliberately excluded black South Africans from ‘participating meaningfully in the economy of their own country’.

The democratic government has done
this through enacting laws in competition to bolster small and medium-sized enterprises, introducing labour legislation to ensure decent working conditions and the promulgation of the Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) Act.

‘Yet, despite the measures of successive democratic administrations that we have introduced to transform patterns of ownership in the economy, we still have much more to do.

‘This is therefore a good time to collectively assess the impact of the enabling legislative environment to examine the learnings over the past two decades. A vital measure of economic empowerment is the extent to which ownership and control of the economy is broadened, particularly among black and women South Africans.

‘Worker [share] ownership schemes are valuable instruments to broaden ownership and, with time, to enable greater control of the economy. Also known as Employee Share Ownership Programmes, these schemes are underpinned…by the [BBBEE] Act, together with the Competition Act, the Companies A
ct and the various number of others,’ he said.

Shared commitment

The President highlighted that government plays an important role in providing guidance on the design and implementation of these programmes through the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition and also provides catalytic funding through the Industrial Development Corporation, the National Empowerment Fund and others.

He added, however, that a shared ‘commitment to economic transformation’ is imperative.

‘It is vital that we harness the spirit of partnership as we chart the course for the future of these programmes and for an even better, more sustainable worker shareholder regime.

‘By championing worker ownership, we are building a future where every employee has a stake in the success of their company. Together, we are paving the way for a more equitable and prosperous society in which no-one is left behind,’ President Ramaphosa said.

Source: South African Government News Agency

Rand Water has assured residents that the contamination which affected the quality of drinking water in the Greater Evaton area has been resolved and tap water is now safe for consumption.

The water contamination affected the quality of drinking water in Palm Springs, Zone 7 Sebokeng, Beverly Hills, Sonder Water, Graceland, Lakeside Zone 3, Zone 6, Small Farms, and Evaton North and West in Emfuleni Local Municipality.

In a joint statement, Rand Water and the Emfuleni Local Municipality said an investigation into the water contamination was launched following complaints from the communities on 28 and 30 March 2024, respectively.

The team was led by experts from the municipality and Rand Water and included engineers, scientists and operational specialists who focused their investigation on identifying the root cause of the contamination.

The investigation revealed that the contamination was due to leaking sewerage pipes which seeped into the drinking water pipes.

‘Both the sewerage and drinking water pipes
were replaced, and the drinking water pipes were disinfected to remove all traces of the contamination. Once the water pipes were flushed, drinking water in the affected areas was taken for testing and analysis at Rand Water ISO 17025 accredited laboratory.

‘On 17 April 2024, the scientists at Rand Water laboratory achieved the third consecutive microbiological results confirming the preliminary results which revealed that the water quality has been restored to the acceptable South African National Standard (SANS) 241 standards for drinking water,’ Rand Water said.

SANS 241 is a drinking water specification that states the minimum requirements for potable water to be considered safe for human consumption.

Rand Water noted that during the process of fixing pipes and water testing, roaming water tankers were distributed to ensure that affected communities have access to clean water.

These water tanker services will be withdrawn from areas in Greater Evaton.

‘Rand Water as the bulk water services provider a
nd the ELM as the Water Services Authority wish to assure communities that both institutions continue to be committed to providing quality drinking water that complies with all the requirements of SANS 241 standards,’ the entity said.

Arrest suspects commended

Meanwhile, Rand Water has commended the arrest of suspects in connection with the murder of Rand Water Executive, Teboho Joala and his personal protector, Sifiso Shange during a back-to-school event held at Zakariyya Park on 29 January 2024.

The three suspects were arrested last week and appeared at the Lenasia Magistrate’s Court in Johannesburg on Monday.

The accused are facing two counts of premeditated murder and three counts of attempted murder charges.

The case was postponed to 29 April 2024 for bail application.

‘Rand Water commends the swift action taken by the South African Police Service in investigating the matter and welcomes the arrest of individuals suspected of this brutal act which resulted with the loss of lives of our executive an
d his personal protector.

‘Rand Water is still mourning the loss of Teboho Joala and Sifiso Shange and will continue to observe the proceedings and developments in this case, hoping that the perpetrators will be prosecuted successfully,’ the entity said.

Source: South African Government News Agency

The Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) has achieved a significant train production milestone with the 200 modern high-tech Electric Multiple Units (EMUs) manufactured in Gauteng.

‘The first train set hit our railway tracks in February 2017. Today, we celebrate this progress made towards the overarching goal of 600 trains. With these new trains, we are contributing towards the reduction of carbon emissions and the promotion of sustainable transportation alternatives,’ Minister of Transport Sindisiwe Chikunga said on Tuesday in Cape Town.

These efforts are part of PRASA’s Rolling Stock Fleet Renewal Programme which will, among other things, see the manufacturing of new trains. The programme is expected to create approximately 1 500 direct and 8000 indirect jobs over the 10-year period.

‘As part of the first phase of the programme, 1 631 direct jobs have been created during the construction phase of the R1 billion factory, and Gibela has now employed over 1 198 full time employees.

‘As this govern
ment we understand the need to create jobs that will benefit local communities. The workforce comes from local communities such as Duduza, Vosloorus, Katlehong, Kwa-Thema, Tsakane and Alfra-Park have benefitted from this project,’ the Minister said.

In addition to the construction jobs, Gibela has employed a total of 1 205 people for both manufacturing and maintenance activities, 37% of those 1 205 come from immediate communities.

‘Skills development and knowledge transfer is key for this government. About 20 000 training programmes have been established to enable the transfer of skills and development of employees from top management to unskilled employees.

‘In 2019 Gibela Rail in partnership with Small Enterprise Development Agency and City of Ekurhuleni established a multi-sector business incubator, the doors opened in 2020 in the Kwa-Thema Township,’ she said.

To date there are 140 Small Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) that were trained, mentored and coached. A total of 193 SMMEs also accessed Bu
siness Development Support.

‘Gibela provides bursaries for universities and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges, internships, learnerships, apprenticeships, a railway introduction course and other relevant programmes.

‘Through these interventions, we are helping to nurture the next generation of skilled and capable individuals who will not only improve their own futures, but also the futures of their families, communities, and our larger society.

‘Since the inception of the programme, we have contracted 1 665 bursars and spent over R127 million towards their studies,’ Chikunga said.

Not only is government revitalising the railway and manufacturing industry through skills development that will reignite the industry at large, PRASA is also changing the lives of the previously disadvantaged people and the livelihoods of communities.

‘Our young people are now trained as artisans, engineering technicians, technologists and designers, just to name a few. The investment made includes
R135 million invested in Enterprise and Supplier Development initiatives, developing SMMEs.

‘A total of R743 million has been invested in skills development to support inclusion in the rail sector. Over this 10-year period, Gibela has committed to train and develop 19 500 individuals in various skills such as engineers, artisans, technicians, and technologists.

‘These were the contractual obligations that Gibela had to undertake as part of this 10-year project,’ the Minister said.

Source: South African Government News Agency