Category: Government Opinion Pieces

The new members of the National Executive, who were sworn in on Tuesday evening, say they are ready to take on the mammoth task that lies ahead as South Africa works to stabilise the economy and advance its development agenda.

The new members were sworn in at a ceremony officiated by President Cyril Ramaphosa.

Chief Justice Raymond Zondo presided over the swearing-in of Deputy President Paul Mashatile and other new members of the National Executive at Tuynhuys in Cape Town.

Mashatile led seven Ministers and nine Deputy Ministers in taking their oath of office. The swearing-in comes after the much anticipated Cabinet reshuffle that took place on Monday.

Ministers who were sworn include the newly established Minister in the Presidency Responsible for Electricity, Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa.

Speaking to media following his swearing-in, Ramokgopa said he is going to be a “hands on” Minister, who will focus on reducing the frequency and intensity of rolling blackouts.

“This is one of the few occasions you will find me wearing a suit. We are on the ground, project managers are on the ground. I don’t [only want the problem] explained [to me], I need to experience the problem.

“What will help is that I am an engineer and engineers are trained to resolve problems, so this is my forte… I am more than confident that we will resolve load shedding,” he said.

Ramokgopa said he will be working with the existing Energy Action Plan and deliver within the set timeframes.

New Cabinet 

The President on Monday made the following changes to his Cabinet:

– Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, Mondli Gungubele, replaces Khumbudzo Ntshavheni.
– Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Thembi Nkadimeng, replaces Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma.
– Minister of Public Service and Administration, Noxolo Kiviet, replaces acting Minister Thulas Nxesi.
– Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, Sihle Zikalala, replacing Patricia de Lille.
– Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, Zizi Kodwa, replaces Nathi Mthethwa.
– Minister of Tourism, Patricia de Lille, replaces Lindiwe Sisulu.
– Minister of Transport, Sindisiwe Chikunga, replaces Fikile Mbalula.

With respect to Deputy Ministers, the President made the following appointments:

– Deputy Ministers in the Presidency, Nomasonto Motaung and Kenneth Morolong.
– Deputy Minister in the Presidency responsible for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Sisisi Tolashe.
– Deputy Minister in the Presidency responsible for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, Pinky Kekana.
– There will be two Deputy Ministers for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Parks Tau and Zolile Burns-Ncamashe.
– There will be two Deputy Ministers for Water and Sanitation, David Mahlobo and Judith Tshabalala.
– Deputy Minister of Public Works, Bernice Swarts.
– Deputy Minister of Small Business Development, Dipuo Peters.
– Deputy Minister of Public Enterprises, Obed Bapela.
– Deputy Minister of Transport, Lisa Mangcu.

Minister in the Presidency, Mondli Gungubele, has assured South Africans that the gazetted regulations for the National State of Disaster pertaining to the impact of Severe Electricity Supply Constraints will provide government with “the extraordinary measures required to deal with our energy constraints”.

Gungubele was addressing media on Friday morning.

“The National State of Disaster emphasises our determination to support and work with all South Africans and sectors of society negatively affected by the severe electricity supply. The regulations aim to assist, protect and provide relief to the public; protect property; prevent and combat disruption; and to deal with the destructive nature and other effects of the disaster.

“We are confident that regulations will provide the extra-ordinary measures required to deal with our energy constraints. These regulations came into operation on the date of publication in the Government Gazette,” he said.

The Minister acknowledged the social and economic impact that the current electricity challenges are having on the country.

“We work hard and understand the plight all those who have been affected by the devastation of the power outages. We appreciate the cooperation from all sectors and society at large as we respond this disaster. In this way, we can all ensure efforts that yield to the end of load shedding,” he said.

Gungubele said the experience gained during the COVID-19 pandemic – which also required a declaration of a National State of Disaster – will stand government in good stead heading into addressing the current electricity crisis.

“The lessons learnt during our successful fight against the global pandemic where extraordinary measures under the auspices of the State of the Disaster legislation assisted in saving lives and livelihoods, have been at the heart of current efforts to strengthen our response as government to the deteriorating energy situation in our country.

“These regulations are to ensure that the country does not get into a state of emergency and not to undermine any social liberty or the rights of individuals or groups in any way,” he said.

The Minister emphasised and reiterated government’s stance that no State funds will be lost to corruption during the National State of Disaster and that measures are in place to protect government coffers.

“As we set out to mobilise resources to support and address the disaster, we are putting measures in place to safeguard these financial resources. Government, working with all stakeholders will ensure that all the resources we mobilise are used for their intended purposes and reach the intended recipients.

“Various oversight structures like the Auditor-General and Parliament as set out in the regulations will monitor the use of funds. Specifically, the Auditor General will undertake real time audits whilst reports to Parliament have to be submitted by respective institutions in the month where expenditure took place and also reports have to be published.

“Our focus is to ensure that there is value for money, transparency and accountability as the projects are costed and implemented,” he said.

Health Minister, Dr Joe Phaahla, says he hopes the alternative energy supply and exemption of essential hospitals from load shedding will be sped up after President Cyril Ramaphosa declared a National State of Disaster regarding the ongoing load shedding.

The Minister was speaking on Friday during a briefing chaired by the Minister in the Presidency, Mondli Gungubele, to communicate the gazetted regulations, which give effect to the National State of Disaster on the impact of severe electricity supply constraints.

The National State of Disaster aims to enable government to quickly deal with the ongoing crippling power cuts.

In addition, Phaahla said his Director-General has communicated with Eskom’s leadership and has formed a joint working team which has identified 213 key health facilities – mainly hospitals – to be relieved from load shedding.

He said these health facilities provide key emergencies including operations and house intensive care units (ICUs).

“So, the 213 of such facilities are a priority, not that the rest of the more than 5 000 clinics, community health centres and hospitals are not important but these were essential.”

Of these, Phaahla said, 76 are currently shielded from load shedding.

This means the country has an outstanding 137 of the top priority hospitals that are still not exempted.

“Our team has been working together to look at expanding the number of facilities which can be exempted,” he announced, adding that the remaining facilities’ cables are intertwined with community supply lines and businesses.

“They have to have a separate line installed so that they can then be exempted.”

The preliminary cost for the 45 hospitals under Eskom, according to Phaahla, came up to R300 million.

Meanwhile, he said government is still working with the provinces, districts, and municipalities on the cost plan for the remaining ones.

“We are looking forward with the declaration of disaster that this process can be speeded up because, at the current moment, our institutions are really struggling,” he admitted.

“The generators that are there in all our facilities, especially hospitals, are not meant to drive the supply of electricity for prolonged hours. They are just meant for when there is a trip in the grid and then they can keep essential services like theatres, ICU and other key services in the hospital running.”

The Health Minister told the media the department is working with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) on an alternative energy supply to back up the generators at health facilities across the country.

“So, at this stage, our teams will be working under this process with Eskom and all the municipalities, which are electricity suppliers to speed up the process of acquiring all these alternative lines which can exempt many of our health facilities.”

The Police Ministry has called for a “whole of government and society” approach in fighting crime and preventing the proliferation of gang violence in the Sophiatown precinct in Johannesburg, Gauteng.

On Thursday, the Minister of Police, General Bheki Cele, led a delegation of the South African Police Service (SAPS), as well as the  Gauteng MEC for Community Safety, Faith Mazibuko. They visited the policing area following an escalation of gang and drug related shootings in the Westbury and Newclare townships.

In the last week, six separate shooting incidents have claimed the lives of two people and 11 others were injured.

In a statement, the Police Ministry said Gauteng SAPS have since responded to the shootings through the additional deployment of specialised units of the service. They have also increased the police footprint on the ground.

Police are “tracking and tracing” those responsible for the rampant violence that continues to threaten overall safety of residents, SAPS said.

Following his visit to the area and speaking with community leaders, Cele has ordered for more sustainable interventions to deal with crime and the causes of crime in the area.

“It is quite clear that this community is in desperate need of complimentary interventions to address the drivers of crime such as poverty, inequality, unemployment, social welfare, housing and education.

“While police have to combat and investigate crime, a ‘whole government and whole society’ solution is the only way to permanently silence the guns,” Cele said.

The Ministry said that a return visit has been planned for 7 March 2023 to further assess the policing interventions in the Sophiatown policing area.

During the visit, the Minister and his delegation will also engage the community on the multi-pronged crime prevention intervention that will be ushered in, with the support of the provincial government, in line with the Integrated Crime and Violence Prevention Strategy.

The Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) has paid out R22.6 million to 4 942 former teaching and general assistants, who were employed under Harry Gwala and iLembe District Municipalities in KwaZulu-Natal.

The payments were processed between 20 and 23 February 2023, when the UIF took services to clients via its mobile buses.

The campaign started in November 2022 under Amajuba District Municipality, where the Fund disbursed R7.7 million to 1 746 former educator assistants and general assistants.

It proceeded to eThekwini and Pinetown in December 2022, where R28.8 million was paid out to 6 204 beneficiaries.

It subsequently moved to Zululand, uMgungundlovu, uThukela, Ugu, iLembe and Harry Gwala Districts.

“To date, a cumulative R98.4 million has been paid out to 22 037 beneficiaries, who were employed in the aforementioned districts. From 6 March 2023, the Fund will continue with processing and paying out claims in areas around the uMkhanyakude and uMzinyathi District Municipalities,” the Department of Employment and Labour said on Monday.

The pay-out claims at uMkhanyakude District, will be processed on 6 March 2023 at Manguzi Education Centre;  7 March 2023 at Sisizakele Special School in Ngwavuma; 8 March 2023 at Sinethezekile Secondary School in Jozini, and from 9-10 March 2023 at Inkosi Mzondeni Hall in Mtubatuba near kwaMsane Clinic.

At uMzinyathi District, the pay-outs will be processed from 6-7 March 2023 at Spring Lake High School (Endumeni/ Nquthu); 8-9 March 2023 at Ukukhanya komsinga Special School in Msinga; and 10 March 2023 at Greytown High School.

The department has urged clients who wish to lodge their benefit claims to bring along a valid Identity or Passport Document, a fully charged smartphone with data, a black pen, and proof of valid banking details.

“To increase the employment prospects of former teaching and general assistants, the Department of Employment and Labour’s Public Employment Services (PES) branch will be present on-site to register the CVs of the unemployed clients on the Employment Services of South Africa (ESSA) system. This service has been a standard feature of the campaign since it started,” the department said.

ESSA is a system where work seekers can register their CVs for possible jobs and also search and apply for new job opportunities.

The system can be accessed on https://essa.labour.gov.za/EssaOnline/WebBeans/.

The former teaching and general assistants were employed as part of the Presidential Youth Employment Initiative (PYEI), which was implemented as part of the Basic Education Employment Initiative (BEEI) – across all nine provinces – to reduce youth unemployment in the country.

When their contracts ended, the former employees qualified to claim unemployment insurance benefits from the UIF.

The dates and venues for the final District, King Cetshwayo will be announced in due course on the Fund’s social media platforms and through the media.

Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) Minister, Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, says by investing in education and training, the country will be able to develop the skills and expertise necessary to capitalise on new technologies, adjust to new industries, and successfully compete in a global economy.

Dlamini Zuma made the remarks while addressing the Eastern Seaboard Development Skills Revolution Summit on Monday.

The Summit, themed ‘From Skills Revolution to Productivity’, was held as part of the Eastern Seaboard Skills Revolution Programme that is aimed at developing a unique integration of natural, human, and capital resources within the District Municipalities of Alfred Nzo (Eastern Cape), OR Tambo (Eastern Cape), Ugu (KwaZulu-Natal) and Harry Gwala (KwaZulu-Natal).

The Summit was attended by key partners and stakeholders from multiple professional bodies; academic institutions; royal houses; faith-based organisations as well as students and learners. Also in attendance was Deputy Minister of Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, Nokuzola Capa; Deputy Minister of Basic Education, Dr Reginah Mhaule; Deputy Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Obed Bapela, the MEC of CoGTA in the Eastern Cape, Zolile Williams and the Acting Mayor of OR Tambo, Thokozile Sokhanyile.

In a statement, the department said the summit provided delegates an opportunity to exchange ideas on how best to bring to life the vision of the Eastern Seaboard Development for ordinary communities.

“The only meaningful participation of communities in the e Eastern Seaboard will be to see that the youth are trained and acquire skills that are necessary for the development of the region. The summit confirmed that the region’s educational and skills profile is a critical success factor in the development of this smart city,” it said.

Monday’s strategic engagement, reads the statement, was “a pivotal step change and an important milestone towards ensuring that the region embrace opportunities that will accrue from the 600km Eastern Seaboard Development”.

“With the Eastern Seaboard Development being rolled out, the region will see growth. The focus brought by the Eastern Seaboard Development will enable the District to identify priority projects that will yield economic spinoffs geared towards a rapidly growing economy and building a better life for communities,” said the department.

It was in this context that there was an explicit acknowledgement that South Africa needs to join hands and minds to generate the solutions to our challenges relating the availability of skills for development. From the summit, it was therefore clear that low or no skills perpetuate poverty and inequality.
The Department said its implementing agency, Municipal Infrastructure Support Agency (MISA) continues, to open doors of learning through the provision of education and bursary schemes, some which were handed over by Minister Dlamini Zuma on Monday.

“The summit agreed that development of skills can contribute to structural transformation and economic growth by enhancing employability and labor productivity and helping both people and the economy to get the relevant skill,” it said.

Minister emphasised that government should work with other stakeholders as one and not in silos guided by the DDM. The benefit of working together is the impact on the lives of communities.

Minister Dlamini Zuma further sounded a clarion call, indicating that youth must play crucial vanguard role in the struggle for economic emancipation and power by amassing relevant knowledge and skills through training that will support the growth economy and the development of our country.

“The Minister urged that both public and private sector should actively skill the youth and also provide them an opportunity to ply their skills across various sectors taking advantage of the natural endowments of the whole region,” reads the statement.

The Portfolio Committee on Water and Sanitation says it is hopeful that the reconfiguration of water boards will ensure efficiency and the achievement of targets, which will translate into the delivery of water to people.

“We are hopeful that the reconfiguration will assist in better economies of scale for water boards, enable better cross subsidisation and increased financial sustainability as well as enhance market capitalisation for infrastructure projects,” Committee Chairperson Robert Mashego said.

While commending the progress reported on the reconfiguration of water boards, the committee said it remains concerned that there are still challenges that deny people access to water, and called for solutions to challenges across water value chain.

“We must caution against cosmetic changes that don’t bring about tangible results and access to water for the people,” Mashego said.

The committee called for impoved relationships with municipalities to promote the payment of services essentially because the financial sustainability of the water boards remains critical for their existence.

The committee was concerned that the water boards are owed R16.1 billion as of 31 December 2022 due to non-payment by municipalities’ clients and that negatively impacts the board’s ability to raise funds for capital projects.

“The committee remains concerned that five water boards, including Amatola, Bloem, Lepelle, Mhlathuze and Rand Water, are performing below the 80% of planned targets which also directly impacts on their ability to deliver services.

“The committee has urged the water boards to find solutions to the challenges they face to ensure that they have the required capacity to meet their mandate of the delivery of water to the people,” Mashego said.

The realignment, which is at various stages, is expected to be completed by March 2023.

The committee has also called for close collaboration between the water boards and municipalities to improve the operations of the municipalities’ Waste Water Treatment plants to ensure improved quality of discharged water.

 The South African Police Service (SAPS) has congratulated the Special Task Force (STF) Unit for ranking ninth at the recent UAE SWAT Challenge.

This was after the SAPS STF took part in the annual five-day UAE SWAT Challenge that featured 55 law enforcement agency teams from around the world.

SAPS spokesperson, Brigadier Athlenda Mathe, said: “The challenge assesses the tactical acumen, mental focus and physical endurance of law enforcement agencies from across the world and has been designed to promote the exchange of knowledge, expertise and to strengthen partnerships to make communities safe.”

After five days of intense and rigorous challenges, the STF obtained ninth place with 183 points.

She said this was a vast improvement from 13th place last year in which the team collected 82 points.

The teams overall commander, the Component Head responsible for Specialised Operations, Major General Nonhlanhla Zulu who formed part of the team in Dubai said the SAPS is proud of the team.

“The members’ performance is commendable, in the world we are number nine but on the African continent we are number one, so this is a big achievement. We beat Kenya and Libya. So yes, we are satisfied with the results, we hope to do better next time. We are happy to be back to continue to deal decisively with serious and violent crime in our country” said Zulu.

The Special Task Force is a highly specialised unit in the SAPS whose members are responsible for only responding to high-risk incidents, which include hostage-taking cases, search and rescue missions, as well as providing specialised operational support to other units within the SAPS.

Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) Minister, Patricia de Lille, says she welcomes the increase in investment for much needed infrastructure projects especially the Strategic Integrated Projects (SIPs) which were gazetted in July 2020 in line with the Infrastructure Development Act of 2014.

Minister Godongwana in his Budget Speech on Wednesday said infrastructure investments lay the foundation for inclusive and sustainable growth and that they address supply-side constraints and expand access to basic services.

The Minister said the public sector is projected to spend R903 billion on infrastructure over the medium-term.

In a statement, De Lille said a number of the projects have been completed such as various road projects in KwaZulu-Natal, the Free State and Limpopo. Housing projects in Gauteng and many other projects are in construction and procurement phases.

“I gazetted the 62 projects as Strategic Integrated Projects (SIPs) in July 2020 as these projects hold significant value in terms of growing our economy and our country’s development needs,” De Lille said.

De Lille said in June 2020, Cabinet approved the Infrastructure Investment Plan, a credible pipeline of 62 projects from all three spheres of government, state-owned entities and the private sector.

“We welcome the support and investment into these important projects as the Infrastructure Investment Plan is an integral part of the Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan (ERRP) announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa in October 2020 in which infrastructure development was identified as the flywheel to economic growth,” De Lille said.

De Lille said she will continue visiting more strategic projects in the coming weeks and months, starting with handing over the latest Welisizwe Rural Bridge which has been completed in Esigodini in KwaZulu Natal.

According to De Lille, a number of bridges have been installed for communities in need since last year.

“I remain more committed than ever in this important portfolio to continue driving infrastructure delivery and investment as infrastructure investment ensures that our communities have the basic services they need and plays an important role in our economic growth and job creation,” De Lille said.

Minister Godongwana highlighted some of the SIPs such as:

• Phase 2 of the Welisizwe Rural Bridges programme breaks ground in April this year. It plans to install 96 bridges annually to enable rural communities in the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu Natal, Mpumalanga, Limpopo, Free State, and North West to safely access schools and workplaces. R3.8 billion is allocated for the programme over the medium term.

• The construction of enabling bulk infrastructure, such as roads and water components for the Lufhereng Mixed-Use Development in Gauteng, begins in June 2023. It will support the development of 31 000 mixed housing units.

• Access roads for the Mzimvubu Water Project are nearing completion. The construction of the Ntabelanga Dam will begin later this year. Additional funding during the next financial year may be required to ramp up implementation.

• Site establishment for the Clanwilliam Dam project is completed. All surface works and 15% of all concrete works will be completed by the end of this year.

Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana will this afternoon present the 2023 Budget Speech.

“President Cyril Ramaphosa, in his State of the Nation Address on 9 February, announced government’s plans to address South Africa’s energy crisis and prevailing socio-economic challenges.

“In this regard, Minister Godongwana will provide details of spending and revenue collection proposals to implement these plans. He will also outline the funds to be allocated to different spheres of government, departments and entities,” said Parliament in a statement.

Minister Godongwana will, as part of the 2023 Budget Speech, also introduce the Appropriation Bill and table the Division of Revenue Bill to Parliament.

Godongwana is scheduled to deliver the 2023 Budget Speech at a sitting of the National Assembly (NA) to be held at the Cape Town City Hall at 2pm.

The speech is expected to be broadcast live on various news and radio channels, as well as the parliamentary channel.

You can also watch the live stream of the 2023 Budget Speech on the SAnews Twitter @SAgovnews feed.