Category: News

The Tshwane Automotive Special Economic Zone (TASEZ) has officially entered into full operation, with all 10 auto component manufacturing companies located in the zone starting full production.

This follows Ford Motor Company of South Africa (FMSA) commencing with the production of the next generation Ford Ranger on 14 November 2022.

TASEZ was established as a special purpose vehicle production zone. Its first phase of development was specifically aimed at creating additional infrastructure and capacity within the FMCSA supply chain to support South Africa to be one of only three hubs in the world to produce the next generation Ford Ranger.

TASEZ is a company that was established in May 2020 through a first-of-its-kind intergovernmental agreement between the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic), Gauteng Department of Economic Development, and the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality.

The Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Fikile Majola, said TASEZ’s mandate is aligned and effectively born out of the national strategies of the South African government, particularly the new Special Economic Zones (SEZs) approach that was approved by Cabinet in 2019.

“The approach places an emphasis on the involvement of all three spheres of government (national, provincial and local) and the private sector in the planning, development and management of Special Economic Zones. The new approach presents a multipronged approach to industrial development, with prominence on building partnerships with the private sector to unleash job-creating investment,” said Majola.

FMCSA made a capital investment of US$1.05 billion (R15.8 billion) for the production of the new generation Ford Ranger.

“In January 2021, notwithstanding the economic and investment adversity caused by COVID-19, TASEZ commenced with the construction of the suppliers’ facilities. As early as November 2021, three of these suppliers were already in operation in the zone, producing parts for the previous Ranger.

“During the past 10 months, all investors have taken occupancy and have been preparing themselves for the new start of the production of the new Ford Ranger,” said Majola.

The investment made by the 10 suppliers within the zone is currently sitting at R3.62 billion against an overall projected investment of R4.2 billion.

The total number of permanent jobs created by these suppliers is currently sitting at 1 259 jobs (76% youth and 32% women) against a projected target of 2 080, to be realised during the production ramp-up.

A total of 4 848 construction jobs (12% women and 53% youth) have been achieved to date. TASEZ also partakes in driving inclusive economic growth and meaningful economic opportunities through empowering Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) in townships.

During the construction of Phase 1, the total procurement spent on SMMEs, through construction packages, is currently sitting at 38% against a target of 45%, with 244 SMME packages awarded to the value of R1.1 billion.

Within the FMCSA’s own facilities, 1 200 additional jobs have been created, bringing its total workforce to 5 500. An estimated 10 000 new jobs have been created across Ford’s local supplier network.

“The speed at which the Tshwane Automotive SEZ was developed is a testimony to what South Africa can achieve with strong partnership between the private and public sector, with a big role played by the communities of Mamelodi, Nellmapius and Eersterust. They ensured that the project continues unhindered in view of the timeframes,” Majola said.

The TASEZ programme will remain guided by its vision to become a leading catalyst for inclusive industrial development and economic growth, as it is already set to commence with the second phase of the development. This will focus on mixed use of facilities, consisting of an industrial node, retail and an Automotive Centre of Excellence node.

“The acquired expertise from the successful implementation of TASEZ will be instrumental in unlocking and enhancing the potential of the other SEZs throughout the country,” Majola said.

The South African National Parks (SANParks) has welcomed the heavy sentencing of a rhino poacher by the Skukuza Regional Court, to a total of 52 years in prison for rhino poaching and related offences.

Sipho Titus Khoza was sentenced on Friday and he will effectively serve 34 years as some of the sentences will run concurrently.

Khoza was arrested in the Kruger National Park (KNP) in September and again in December 2016 in the Stolznek Section.

In September 2016, rangers followed a spoor which led them to two people who were found in possession of a heavy calibre hunting rifle, ammunition and poaching equipment.

They were identified as Sipho Titus Khoza and Simon Khoza. The two were charged and appeared in court to apply for bail which was granted. When they were supposed to go to trial, Simon Khoza absconded and is still at large.

In December 2016, rangers in Stolznek heard shots while on patrol and made a follow up. They then spotted three individuals whom they apprehended after giving chase.

It was later established that the three had killed two rhinos for their horns. The suspects were identified as Sipho Titus Khoza, Francisco Mlambo and Sam Lejane.

During their bail application, Mlambo and Lejane were granted bail and absconded, leaving Khoza to face the music.

The Acting Managing Executive of KNP, Dr Danny Govender, commended the court, for imposing such a lengthy jail term.

“This is a huge triumph for the work of our dedicated rangers, who work tirelessly to ensure criminals responsible for poaching our wildlife are brought to book.  They are the first ring in the chain of justice being served.

“It is satisfying when the court hears the compelling evidence presented by the prosecution and meters out sentences commensurate with the heinous nature of the crime committed.

“We are grateful to all who presented credible evidence before the court and are happy that our courts are sending such a strong message to would-be criminals. We are hopeful that all his accomplices will be also be arrested and face the full might of the law,” Govender said.

The court was informed that the third accused, Sam Lejane was recently arrested in Barberton on an unrelated matter and will soon be on trial.

South Africa has called on all Parties to work constructively and in a spirit of compromise to achieve the draft outcomes of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)’s Sharm el-Sheikh Conference of Parties (COP27), which frames the climate crisis.

“It reflects the urgency of the climate crisis and the need to keep the 1.5-degree temperature target alive during what the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) calls the “Critical Decade”, including by providing a clear programme to advance the mitigation agenda from now to 2030,” said the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment on Saturday.

The department said the draft correctly frames the climate crisis and its solutions in terms of the sustainable development goals and Just Transitions, leaving no one left behind, and the need for broader financial sector reform to achieve these.

“The proposal to seek multilateral consensus on making financial flows consistent with pathways towards low emissions and climate resilient development will open new investment opportunities in Africa for clean energy investments that will equally address the continent’s energy poverty crisis.

“COP27 is providing critical momentum to reform the Multilateral Development Banks and International Financial Institutions and we expect the shareholders of these institutions to take decisive action to scale-up climate finance in 2023 and make their institutional arrangements fit for purpose,” the department said.

The draft text further recognizes the urgency of finding a solution for developing countries for loss and damage caused by climate change and agrees to establish new financing arrangements and a mechanism to address this.

“On Africa’s priority issue of adaptation, there is agreement amongst Parties to accelerate work on identifying indicators and targets to facilitate support to achieving the goal and assessing collective progress.

“This is an essential step towards implementation of the Adaptation Goal and we have agreed to focus on specific sectors, including: Health, poverty and livelihoods; Terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems; Oceans and coasts; Water resource management; Food; Cities and settlements; Cultural heritage and Mountain regions and biodiversity,” the department said.

While South Africa welcome’s the incremental progress reflected in the COP27 Presidency’s package on finance towards the establishment of the new collective goal in 2025, further urgent action is required to meet developed countries’ obligations.

“On balance, the draft text suggests there can be good progress on implementation, and we are confident that we are well placed to call this African COP27 a success,” the department said.

South Africa has congratulated the Egyptian COP27 Presidency on the release of the draft outcomes text to the UNFCCC’s Sharm el-Sheikh COP27.

The management of the South African Police Service (SAPS) has expressed sadness at the death of one of its members who was killed in a motor vehicle accident in Middleburg, Mpumalanga, on Sunday.

The policeman, attached to the Presidential Protection Unit, was in a vehicle that was part of a motorcade ferrying Deputy President David Mabuza when the accident happened, said SAPS spokesperson, Colonel Athlenda Mathe.

She said: “The SAPS confirms that at about 10:30 on Sunday, 20 November 2022, the Deputy President’s motorcade was travelling between Mpumalanga and Gauteng when one of the back-up vehicles’ tyre burst, causing the vehicle to roll over.”

She said three members who were in the vehicle sustained serious injuries.

“One of these members was declared dead at the scene while the other two were transported to a nearby hospital for urgent medical attention.

“The SAPS Employee Health and Wellness (EHW) Unit has been dispatched to notify the families of the deceased member and the injured members,” said Mathe.

National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola, on behalf of the SAPS, sent his condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of the deceased member and also wished the injured members a speedy recovery.

“A case of culpable homicide has been registered at the Middleburg Police Station,” said Mathe.

The Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD) has confirmed the outbreak of Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease (RHD) in the Western Cape and Norther Cape provinces.

The department said it has received reports of die-offs of wild rabbits and hares from the Karoo areas in the Western and Northern Cape.

“State veterinary services, private veterinarians and the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment were involved in field investigations. Post-mortems were performed and samples collected to confirm the cause of the deaths.

“Diagnostic tests were performed at the Onderstepoort Veterinary Research Laboratory and the cause was confirmed as Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease,” the department said in a statement.

RHD is a disease caused by a virus, Calicivirus, resulting in a high number of deaths in rabbits and hares, and the sudden death of animals due to bleeding in the organs including the liver, kidney and spleen.

The department said this is the first detection of the disease in South Africa and at this stage, it is still unclear how the disease could have entered the country, since the importation of rabbits and hares is not allowed.

The department said investigations are underway to determine whether illegal importation could be the source.

“Control of RHD in rabbitries relies mainly on vaccination, but the vaccine is not available in South Africa. This increases the importance of biosecurity measures in rabbitries and anywhere where rabbits or hares are kept.

“Biosecurity measures are difficult to implement in wild populations. The occurrence of RHD in the Karoo is therefore of great concern, as our indigenous Red Rock rabbit, endangered Riverine rabbit and hare species are highly susceptible to this disease,” the department said.

The department warned that carcasses of RHD-infected rabbits might be a major source for viral spreading, since the virus seems to be highly resistant and stable, even when exposed to harsh environmental conditions.

Rabbit owners have been advised to ensure that their rabbits are secured and must prevent any contact with other rabbits or hares, either directly or indirectly through people or equipment.

Members of the public have also been encouraged to report any dead or dying rabbits or hares to the nearest State veterinarian for investigation.

The South African Revenue Service (SARS) has welcomed the seven-year prison sentence handed down to one of its employees by the Palm Ridge Magistrates Court – after being found guilty of corruption.

This stems from an incident in which the accused Malatse Kolokoto assisted a traveller to leave the country with goods without proper declaration.

Unbeknown to the officer, the CCTV Footage caught him accepting a bribe to assist the traveller to circumvent the declaration process, which is contrary to the provisions of Section 15 and Rule 15 of the Customs Act.

The traveller was apprehended by a customs official as he was about to leave on an international flight.

He was requested to declare all goods at his disposal whereupon he produced six Rolex wrist watches from his backpack without any declaration form.

He was arrested, which later led to the arrest of the accused.

SARS Commissioner, Edward Kieswetter, commended the honest and courageous customs officer for not only his vigilance but for also facilitating the arrest of Kolokoto.

“True to SARS values of honesty, integrity and acting without fear, favour or prejudice, the SARS Customs Officer resisted to collaborate with criminality or look the other way when one of his fellow officers acted contrary to these values.

“SARS is placed in a position of trust to ensure that the laws we administer are laws scrupulously and diligently implemented, and anyone who abuses this position of trust, deserves the heaviest sentence,” he said.

Cabinet has commended the recent arrests and freezing of assets of individuals allegedly linked to state capture.

“These developments are a testament that the work of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of State Capture, Corruption and Fraud in the Public Sector, including Organs of State, is now bearing fruit,” Minister in The Presidency, Mondli Gungubele, said on Thursday.

Briefing the media on the outcomes of the Cabinet meeting held on Wednesday, Gungubele reiterated government’s commitment to dealing harshly with all acts of corruption, without fear, favour or prejudice.

“Corrupt people and those who steal the future of our children have no place in our society,” Gungubele said.

Cabinet urged citizens to report all acts of corruption to law-enforcement agencies or call the National Anti-Corruption Hotline on 0800 701 701. “Callers may choose to remain anonymous,” the Minister said.

Launch of 4IR micro-laboratory welcomed

Cabinet has also welcomed the official launch of a 4IR micro-laboratory at the Goldfields Technical and Vocational Education and Training College in Welkom, Free State.

Gungubele said the launch of the micro-laboratory on 10 November 2022, contributes towards skills development, innovation and entrepreneurship, as the country can “provide new, better and faster solutions to our challenges of poverty, inequality and unemployment”.

Minister in the Presidency Mondli Gungubele says Cabinet has considered and approved a comprehensive package of measures to address damage to public infrastructure and the economy by restricting the trade of waste scrap and semi processed metals.

The Minister hosted a briefing in Pretoria on Friday following this week’s Cabinet meeting.

He said the meeting considered the policy measures to restrict trade in scrap metal to limit damage to public infrastructure and the economy.

This follows the gazetting on 5 August 2022 for public comment of the “Draft Policy Proposals on Measures to Restrict and Regulate Trade in Ferrous and Non-Ferrous Metals Waste, Scrap and Semi-Finished Ferrous and Non-Ferrous Metal Products to Limit Damage to Infrastructure and the Economy” by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Competition; and consideration of the extensive public comments received.

“Details of the measures to be implemented will now be processed for publication in the Government Gazette by the relevant Ministries and a detailed media release containing details of the measures will be released by GCIS as soon as the necessary legal work has been finalised,” said the Minister.

South Africa will also engage with the SADC, African Union and the Southern African Customs Union to ensure a coordinated approach to fight this crime collectively as a region.

Meanwhile, the Minister said Infrastructure South Africa, in partnership with GIZ, a German development agency, will host its third Sustainable Infrastructure Development Symposium South Africa (SIDSSA) in Cape Town, from 28 to 30 November 2022.

“This year’s symposium will focus on green hydrogen as an important growth sector in the country’s investment strategy.

“The symposium will bring together decision-makers, financial institutions, academics and international authorities. The event will afford the country the opportunity to showcase some of the large and low-cost world-class green hydrogen production hubs,” said Gungubele.

The demand for green hydrogen-based products such as ammonia and synthetic jet fuels is rising.

The Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) in South Africa has been researching green hydrogen with a focus on green mobility and the use of platinum group metals.

“Cabinet approved the Hydrogen Society Roadmap earlier this year. The roadmap is one of government’s strategies and policy direction aimed at bringing together a variety of public and private stakeholders and institutions around a common vision on how to use and deploy hydrogen and hydrogen-related technologies, as part of the country’s economic development and greening objectives,”  he said.

In South Africa, hydrogen is extensively used in the chemical and fuel-refining sectors, but it is currently produced mainly from non-renewable sources such as coal and natural gas.

A 21-year-old grade 11 learner has been arrested on charges of murder, following the death of a fellow learner.

According to police spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Mavela Masondo, the deceased learner was fatally stabbed during a fight in Vlakfontein, Johannesburg.

“Preliminary information suggests that a group of boys were fighting outside the school premises on Thursday, 17 November 2022, when a 20-year-old learner was stabbed with a sharp object on the upper body. The learner was taken to the nearest medical care centre, where he was certified dead.

“Police went searching for the suspects and arrested a fellow learner, who has since been charged with murder. The motive for the fight cannot be confirmed at this stage. An investigation is underway,” Masondo said.

The 21-year-old is expected to appear in the Lenasia Magistrate’s Court on a date yet to be announced.

Deputy President David Mabuza will on Thursday appear before a sitting of the National Assembly to respond to questions on wide-ranging issues related to a capable and developmental state, responding to HIV/AIDS and service delivery.

“In response, the Deputy President will update the house on government’s plans to build a capable and developmental state through the implementation of the National Framework for the Professionalisation of the Public Sector,” the statement read.

As the world prepares to commemorate World AIDS Day on 1 December, the Deputy President as Chairperson of the South African National AIDS Council, will appraise members on how the implementation of the National Strategic Plan for HIV, TB and Sexually Transmitted Infections has positively affected the fight against the disease in the past five years.

“The Deputy President will also update Parliament on progress made by government regarding the delivery of socio-economic benefits for Military Veterans as well as the on the support by national and provincial government to municipalities, to assist them to fulfil their constitutional mandate.”

Mabuza is also expected to outline the support provided by South Africa in the negotiations to resolve conflicts on the continent in efforts towards building a better Africa and a better world.