Category: Government Opinion Pieces

The South African delegation to the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting has returned back to SA, having driven home the message that the country remains a “top destination for growth and investment”.

This is according to a media statement released by National Treasury on Monday.

Team South Africa’s delegation was led by Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana and comprised the Ministers of Trade, Industry and Competition, Ebrahim Patel; Higher Education, Science and Innovation, Dr Blade Nzimande; Communications and Digital Technologies Mondli Gungubele, and Health, Dr Joe Phaahla.

Godongwana said the message to investors, civil society, businesses and governments is that despite the many challenges it faces, South Africa is making progress.

“We took the opportunity of the WEF Davos gathering to remind our partners around the world that South Africa has made tremendous progress in the past 30 years since we achieved democracy.

“Yes, we face a number of obstacles to achieving policy that balances fiscal sustainability, growth-accelerating reforms, and targeted spending on social services and infrastructure. However, we are forging ahead and making good progress,” he said.

According to National Treasury, the annual meeting – held last week in Davos, Switzerland – offered an opportunity for South Africa to engage world leaders on a number of issues.

“[It] offered South Africa’s policymakers a genuine and rare opportunity to speak directly with a cross spectrum of stakeholders in global affairs, exchanging views on how to weather the rise in geopolitical and economic tensions that are shaping today’s world.

“Climate, technology, trade and multilateral cooperation were high on the agenda, as was South Africa’s upcoming presidency of the G20 in 2025.

“In addition to its participation in the G20, the country is playing a key part in the expansion of the BRICS group, as well as the deepening of intercontinental economic integration through the African Continental Free Trade Area,” the department said.

Social Development Minister Lindiwe Zulu has praised the Grade 12 students, who benefit from Social Development services and have successfully completed the 2023 National Senior Certificate (NSC) exams.

Of the 897 775 Grade 12 learners who wrote their NSC, 543 786 full-time learners were social grant beneficiaries, with 62 out of 110 social grant beneficiaries amongst the top performing learners in different categories, as awarded by the Department of Basic Education (DBE).

According to the department, social grant beneficiaries formed the largest number of learners who wrote their 2023 National Senior Certificate and 441 871 learners passed the NSC examinations which is an overall pass rate of 82.9%.

About 202 156 received a Bachelor’s pass, which gains them access to institutions of higher learning, with 160 326 distinctions.

The Minister said that the child support grant formed the biggest grant type received by these learners, with the majority of them from KwaZulu-Natal, the second-best performing province after Free State.

The South African Constitution, through the Child Justice Act, also obligates the state to provide care and support services to children in conflict with the law, including educational opportunities.

According to the data from the Departments of Basic Education and Social Development, 1 630 children in conflict with the law  registered for the 2023 NSC.

“Providing educational opportunities for children in conflict with the law is a key element of rehabilitating and re-integrating them back into society. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (the CRC), which South Africa ratified in 1995, recognises the importance of education for children in conflict with the law,” Zulu said.

The Minister detailed that the Social Development sector has been integrating the social protection administrative data system to ensure better coordination of services and tracking of health and educational outcomes for beneficiaries of various government services aimed at tackling child and adult poverty.

She asserted that the linking and sharing of administrative data systems within the social cluster departments – Social Development, SASSA, Department of Basic Education, and NSFAS – ensure information is shared on the academic performance of social grant beneficiaries.

“One such success story of the benefits of linking and sharing of data systems was the agreement between Social Development and NSFAS on the exemption of social grants beneficiaries from the means test, a decision that has significantly bridged the higher education gap as it opened the doors of learning for many, regardless of their socioeconomic background,” the Minister said.

Zulu emphasised that education has the power to break the cycle of poverty and transform lives. By accessing education opportunities at institutions of higher learning, she said, many social grants beneficiaries have succeeded in creating a better future for themselves and their families, thus breaking the intergenerational cycle of poverty and inequality.

“The benefits of social grants extend beyond individual beneficiaries to broader society. Our government’s pro-poor policies such as our social assistance programme, no-fee schools, school nutrition, school uniforms, free health care including sanitary dignity packs have made significant impact over the past 30 years in reducing poverty by bridging the education gap for learners from impoverished backgrounds. We will continue to build on the success of these impactful interventions that have lifted many of our people out of poverty,” Zulu said.

State power utility Eskom is expected to embark on a province-wide prepaid meter installation drive in Limpopo, as part of its meter maintenance programme.

“Eskom Limpopo is excited to announce a significant advancement in our ongoing commitment to providing reliable electricity services to the residents of the Limpopo province. As part of electricity meter maintenance, Eskom Limpopo will be introducing prepaid smart meters as an ongoing initiative in phases across the province,” the power utility said.

Eskom warned that customers in the area may experience some power supply interruptions during this time.

“Eskom Limpopo acknowledges the inconvenience this may cause and wants to assure the community that every effort will be made to minimize the duration of the interruption. Eskom believes that by working together, we can create a more sustainable and efficient energy future.

“We appreciate the understanding and cooperation of the community during this transitional period. The safety and well-being of our community and customers are paramount, and we urge all customers to treat all electrical connections as live during this period,” Eskom said.

Meanwhile, the power utility has announced on social media X that Stage 2 load shedding will be implemented from today (Monday) until further notice.

President Cyril Ramaphosa says the unprecedented success recorded by the matric Class of 2023 is evidence of the determination and ambition of learners and of a nation that values its youth.

The President offered his warm congratulations and that of government to the matriculants and the extended support system of educators, parents, school governing bodies and health care providers who carried this cohort of learners through the COVID 19 pandemic when they were in earlier grades.

The 2023 National Senior Certificate (NSC) overall pass rate reached 82.9%, compared with 80.1% in 2022, and 76.4% in 2021.

This is an improvement of 2.8%, and 6.5% from the pass rates achieved by the Classes of 2022 and 2021 respectively.

In real numbers, 572 983 candidates passed the 2023 NSC exams.

As a percentage, the 2023 pass is the highest in the history of the NSC.

Similarly, Bachelor passes as well as passes with distinction produced by the Class of 2023 stand out as the highest in the history of NSC exams.

“The Class of 2023 has given itself and the nation great cause for pride and belief that our investment in education is the key to moving our country forward.

“The 2023 matric results show that we’re a nation that takes care of its young people and that our young people are taking care of their future through their resilience and their dedication to learning.

“The matric results are an irrefutable indicator of our comprehensive national development during 30 years of freedom and democracy. Our success in education must motivate us to achieve even greater things in all areas of our development,” President Ramaphosa said.

An extension has been granted to allow the public to submit their comments on the review of Coastal Waters Discharge Permits issued to fish processing facilities operating within St Helena Bay in the Western Cape.

The notice calling for public participation was published in various newspapers on 23 November 2023, as well as on the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment’s (DFFE) website.

The date for submissions has been extended to 29 February 2024.

“The review process of the Coastal Waters Discharge Permits (CWDPs) aims to amend inconsistencies in the conditions of the CWDPs to establish uniformity and ensure gradual and consistent improvement of water quality in St Helena Bay over a five-year period.

“Persons or entities who discharge, or intend to discharge, effluent from land-based sources are required to obtain a CWDP or a General Discharge Authorisation from DFFE,” the department said on Friday.

This is according to Section 69 of the National Environmental Management: Integrated Coastal Management Act 24 of 2009 (ICM Act) which regulates pollution that originates from land-based sources.

Four fish processing establishments (FPEs) in St Helena Bay, namely Lucky Star, West Point Processor, Pioneer Fishing and Amawandle, have historically been discharging effluent into coastal waters using CWDPs obtained prior to the enforcement of the ICM Act.

“The review process intends to set effluent discharge limits based on the 90th percentile of the FPEs’ effluent monitoring results from January 2022 to December 2022. Subsequently, the effluent improvement limits will mandate a 20% annual enhancement of interim limits for all FPEs.

“To achieve these improvements and meet the stricter limits, the FPEs will be required to upgrade their infrastructure. Members of the public, including interested and affected stakeholders, are encouraged to take advantage of this extension to make valuable contributions and submissions,” the department said.

Inputs can be delivered by hand to:

The Director: Coastal Pollution Management

Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment

1 East Pier Building, East Pier Road

V&A Waterfront, Cape Town

Attention: Dr Yazeed Peterson

They can also be emailed to fpp@dffe.gov.za.

Copies of the current CWDPs, together with proposed amendments, can be downloaded from the department’s website at https://www.dffe.gov.za/permits/coastalwatersdischarge or obtained via email from rmolale@dffe.gov.za.

Hard copies of these documents can be obtained from any of the four FPF companies mentioned above. Any enquires may be directed to Rueben Molale on 021 819 2493.

The South African Revenue Service (SARS) has reminded individual taxpayers and trusts that are provisional taxpayers, to file their income tax returns for the 2023 tax year as the deadline is around the corner.

The 2023 year of assessment refers to the period between 01 March 2022 to 28 February 2023. The deadline for submissions is Wednesday, 24 January 2024.

“SARS has made it easy for taxpayers to comply through online filing solutions. The personal income tax return (ITR12) and trust income tax return (ITR12T) may be obtained on eFiling while an appointment with a SARS branch may be made on the SARS website. Taxpayers are encouraged to refer to the SARS website for further information on their tax obligations, trusts, tax filing season 2023 and provisional tax.

“SARS is taking a zero-tolerance approach to taxpayers not registering for the applicable tax, not filing tax returns, not making accurate declarations in their tax returns and failing to make payments due to SARS where applicable. Non-compliance with these obligations is a criminal offence and will attract penalties and interest,” SARS said on Thursday.

A provisional taxpayer is any person who receives income or to whom income accrues, other than remuneration.

A Trust is included under the definition of a “person” in terms of the Income Tax Act, no.58 of 1962 and is therefore regarded as a taxpayer.

“All trusts are required to file a tax return annually, including those that are not economically active. A trustee is the representative taxpayer of a trust and is liable to file on behalf of the trust or appoint a registered tax practitioner to do so,” SARS said.

As of the 2023 year of assessment, trustees are required to submit mandatory supporting documents during the filing process.

These documents include amongst others, the trust instrument, annual financial statements, letters of authority, resolutions/minutes of trustee meetings and an organogram depicting the beneficial ownership of the trust.

Additionally, beneficiaries of trusts are required to declare their income, including income derived from a trust, in their personal income tax returns.

The Gauteng Department of e-Government has urged learners who wrote their matric exams last year to use the Matric Results Online System to access their results.

The matric results for the National Senior Certificate exams are expected to be released on Friday, 19 January, while the ministerial announcement on the results will be made on Thursday, 18 January.

The Gauteng MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, e-Government, Research and Development, Mzi Khumalo, said the system empowers learners.

“The Matric Results Online System is a testament to our commitment to harnessing the power of technology to enhance our education system. We believe in this case that technology not only facilitates access to information but also empowers learners to make informed decisions about the success of their education.

“This initiative aligns with our broader vision of creating a transparent and accessible education system. By providing instant access to matriculation results, we are fostering a culture of openness and accountability within our education sector,” Khumalo said.

The department explained that the digital platform provides “easy access to matriculation examination results for learners, parents, and educators alike”.

The platform can be accessed at https://results.gauteng.gov.za/.

“The Matric Results Online System is a user-friendly platform that allows learners to conveniently access their matric results on their smartphones or other digital devices as soon as the results are out.

“It is a safe platform to use and also offers insightful data analytics, allowing learners to track their performance trends over multiple examinations.

“Parents and guardians can also utilise the app to access their children’s results, fostering a more collaborative and supportive approach to education. Additionally, educators can use the platform to gain valuable insights into the performance of their learners, enabling them to tailor teaching strategies to address specific needs,” the department said.

It is all eyes on South Africa today as the country presents its genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague, Netherlands.

South Africa is currently on the stand this morning in a legal battle against Israel, which is accused of genocide in Gaza.

South Africa approached the ICJ, under the Genocide Convention, for acts committed by Israel in the context of its attacks on Gaza and the case will be represented by six local legal minds.

Both South Africa and Israel are expected to lay bare their arguments during the two-day public hearing at the ICJ.

The Israel-Palestine war that started in October last year has since claimed thousands of lives and wounded many and will force hundreds of thousands of Palestinians into poverty, according to a United Nations (UN) report.

South Africa’s Justice Minister, Ronald Lamona, is expected to deliver the opening remarks.

Lamola told Al Jazeera that the country has brought the case to the ICJ because “there is a compelling argument that genocide is being committed in Gaza”.

“There is a compelling argument that genocide is being committed in Gaza on the basis that there is an annihilation or cleansing of a civilian population, innocent civilians, children and women that have been displaced [and] the targeting of public infrastructure in Gaza,” Lamola said.

In a statement released on Tuesday, the Minister said the South African government was determined to see the end of the genocide that is currently taking place in Gaza.

“We are most encouraged by leaders of the world who have not blunted their consciousness and have stood on the right side of history by supporting a case that seeks to protect the rights of human beings, regardless of their nationality or ethnicity,” he added.

Lamola is leading the South African delegation, comprising of local diplomats and officials.

These include the Director-General in the Presidency Phindile Baleni, Director-General of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation Zane Dangor, and Director-General of the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development and former Deputy Ambassador for South Africa to the United Nations, Advocate Doctor Mashabane.

Meanwhile, President Cyril Ramaphosa, said the country approached the court due to its opposition to the ongoing slaughter of the people of Gaza.

The President said this as he was delivering of the eulogy speech at Dr Peter Magubane’s Provincial Official Funeral in Johannesburg.

“As a people who once tasted the bitter fruits of dispossession, discrimination, racism and state-sponsored violence, we are clear that we will stand on the right side of history. It is our fervent hope that just as we were able to reconcile and make peace, that the peoples of Israel and Palestine will find a lasting, just peace,” the President added.

The ICJ is the is the principal judicial organ of the UN, which was established in 1945 by the Charter of the UN and began work the following year.

The court’s role is to settle and give advisory opinions on legal questions referred to it by authorised UN organs and specialised agencies.

The Court is composed of 15 judges, who are elected for terms of office of nine years by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) and the Security Council.

The City of Ekurhuleni is urging the youth, and unemployed residents to take advantage of a series of free online courses tailored to expand one’s knowledge on entrepreneurship and business ventures.

In a statement on Thursday, the city said the courses are presented by computer information systems company CISCO, an international technology company, in partnership with the City of Ekurhuleni, the National Library of South Africa and the Gauteng Department of Sport, Recreation, Arts, and Culture.

Interested candidates can apply online at https://tinyurl.com/ApplyForCiscoCourses. Applications to free online course closes on Friday, 26 January 2024.

The course will be offered as a two-part series, and the first segment is ‘Discovering Entrepreneurship and Creating Compelling Reports’, which sets the foundation for the second part, namely, ‘Launching a Business Venture and Engaging Stakeholders for Success’.

The duration of the series of courses is about three months in total.

“To ensure that we leave no one behind, candidates who have successfully registered can complete these free online courses at any of the city’s 47 libraries which offer free access to computers and Wi-Fi connection.

“However, those who have access to their own devices can access the relevant cites from anywhere,” said the City’s spokesperson Zweli Dlamini.

Applicants are advised to ensure that all fields of the application form are completed and that copies of their ID, proof of residence and highest qualification (National Senior Certificate or any degree) are uploaded.

To qualify, applicants need to meet the following criteria:

•          Applicants must be a resident of the City of Ekurhuleni

•          Applicants must have completed Grade 12;

•          Applicants must not have a formal business or related qualification;

•          Applicants must be committed to completing the courses and should they have passed the current course, they will be given the opportunity to progress to the next group of courses.

The city said that while all Ekurhuleni residents are encouraged to apply, preference will be given to unemployed youth should there be a course with limited capacity.

Candidates can e-mail their queries or any clarity seeking questions to info.libraries@ekurhuleni.gov.za.