Category: News

Gauteng police started Operation Safer Festive Season on a high note when they recorded arrests of more than 140 suspects and recovered rifles, including an AK-47, from a man suspected to be a kingpin of illegal mining in the West Rand.

“Police received information about a suspect who is in possession of unlicensed firearms in Bekkersdal, West Rand District. The information was operationalised on the day of Operation Safer Festive Season, 21 October 2023. Upon searching the premises, police from Crime intelligence and Bekkersdal Visible Policing found two unlicensed firearms (R5 rifle and AK47 rifle) and dagga,” said the Gauteng South African Police Service (SAPS) in a statement on Sunday.

The incident saw a 36-year-old suspect being arrested for unlawful possession of firearms and dealing in dagga.

Furthermore, detectives went on to trace wanted suspects and arrested 56 of them for crimes ranging from rape to fraud.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Police General Bheki Cele, the National Commissioner of the South African Police Service General Fannie Masemola and Gauteng Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Elias Mawela joined the police at a roadblock and illegal mining disruptive operation in Roodepoort.

The operation resulted in more than 85 suspects being arrested for offences that include possession of suspected stolen goods and contravening the Immigration Act.

Generators and drilling machines used by the illegal miners were seized as the police dismantled and disrupted their operation.

A R135 million investment in the energy sector which was unveiled at the South African Investment Conference in April, is making an impact and promising to transform the energy industry while also empowering communities.

These were the words of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the energy company, Ener-G-Africa, Andre Moolman.

“We have harnessed the power of this investment to launch an energy-efficient cook stove manufacturing line in Paarl, and expand our existing solar panel production line in Cape Town from 15MW to a remarkable 500MW capacity.

“The 500MW facility will be the largest solar panel assembly plant in Africa, creating South African job opportunities and value addition through advanced manufacturing. In addition to helping reduce the impact of load shedding through domestic sales, Ener-G-Africa will also export to the rest of the continent,” said Moolman.

The company pledged R135 million in the production of small solar PV panels and solar cooking appliances at their women-led production facility in Cape Town at the fifth South Africa Investment Conference (SAIC) held at the Sandton Convention Centre in April.

In a statement issued by the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic) on Thursday, Moolman said the company’s innovative manufacturing processes encompasses three types of advanced biomass stoves.

These are the Mafecs, the Baldwin, and the Fab Stove which are all meticulously crafted from stainless steel. The stoves are designed in-house to reduce fuel consumption, produce minimal harmful emissions, and enhance cooking efficiency.

He said the manufacturing line for the energy-efficient cook stoves has already commenced, and the expansion of the solar plant is expected to be completed in the third or fourth quarter of 2024.

“Our cook stoves have undergone successful trials among local communities, with incentives available for households wishing to purchase the stoves, thanks to a carbon financed cook stove programme.

“One of our most significant manufacturing impact is the generation of employment opportunities for both skilled and unskilled individuals within the local communities. The use of these stoves and solar panels significantly reduces household living costs by cutting fuel expenses, thus improving lives by providing access to affordable energy solutions.”

He explained that the adoption of Ener-G-Africa’s stoves in rural areas is contributing to a substantial reduction in deforestation, as they use 65% less wood or biomass pellets.

The sales of these products are set to stimulate the economy through local shops, agents, and employees who benefit from commission-based sales incentives.

“The commitment to sustainability and local empowerment is further evident in Ener-G-Africa’s approach to reducing reliance on imported goods. Our company’s most noteworthy milestone is having supplied rocket stoves to over four million households across 12 countries in sub-Saharan Africa.

“Additionally, we are home to a female only workforce in small solar panel production facility in sub-Saharan Africa, setting an inspiring example for the industry,” Moolman said.

The eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality has closed all Durban beaches until further notice after the recent heavy rains in some parts of KwaZulu-Natal.

The municipality said the decision to close the beaches follows advice from the Natal Sharks Board.

Murky water which is full of logs and other unsafe objects, as a result of the heavy rains, has resulted in the shark nets at most beaches breaking – making beaches unsafe for the public to use.

“All water activities are prohibited. However, residents can still enjoy other activities along the beach that do not require them to come into contact with sea water,” the municipality said in a statement.

The municipality said teams are hard at work fixing the nets and infrastructure that was damaged by the heavy rains and urged the beachgoers to heed the warning.

All city’s beaches are therefore closed until further notice.

Camps Bay tidal pool

Meanwhile, the City of Cape Town has announced that the city’s Coastal Management branch will commence with work at the Camps Bay tidal pool on Monday, 23 October 2023.

The city will be levelling the beach that was badly washed out due to the recent storms.

The City’s Deputy Mayor Eddie Andrews said during the recent storms the adjacent river flooded and washed away a significant portion of the northern section of the Camps Bay tidal pool beach, depositing a significant amount of sand in the near shore.

“This has resulted in a large sand bank that is impacting the functional space of the pool. On Monday the city will commence mechanical activities to remove as much of the sand bank as practically possible and to reinstate the beach.

“These works will require lowering the water level in the pool. As such, the pool will experience lower water levels during the execution of the works and will take a day or two to fill up to capacity depending on the tides and swell size post the work,” Andrews said.

The Deputy Mayor urged all visitors and regular users of the tidal pool to visit another facility, while the work is underway.

“While the pool will not be closed in its entirety, it is recommended that the public consider visiting one of the city’s other facilities during this period, such as Maidens Cove, Saunders Rocks or Milton Pool. We thank the public for their patience while we do our best to restore this facility as efficiently as possible,” Andrews said.

The North West Provincial Legislature is appealing to communities to remain calm after receiving messages from the public “panicking about the death of children after allegedly consuming poisonous food items bought from spaza shops”.

The North West Portfolio Committee on Economic Development, Environment, Tourism, Agriculture and Rural Development, chaired by Bitsa Lenkopane, has also called on communities to remain vigilant.

The committee urged the provincial Department of Economic Development, Environment, Conservation and Tourism and other relevant stakeholders to investigate these disturbing allegations. It urged the department to join hands with municipalities and activists to create awareness to ensure that communities understand the State’s mandate in such matters.

“We are calling on the department to do inspections and furnish the portfolio committee with a detailed report, which should indicate trader categories and their respective consumable products, which are further extended to school learners.

“These must include trader status, whether licensed or not, compliant with the business regulation act or not — which must indicate compliance with the Immigration Act 13 of 2002 about foreign-owned business,” Lenkopane said.

The committee said it has been inundated with calls from members of the community following media reports on children’s deaths after reportedly consuming poisonous food items bought from spaza shops.

Earlier this month, the Gauteng Health Department confirmed the deaths of at least five children due to suspected food poisoning. This after the children allegedly consumed poisonous food from local shops and vendors.

“While no formal and or authenticated information and evidence has been received, the portfolio committee has been receiving calls from panicking parents and community members seeking remedies to protect communities from alleged traders who sell them products containing deadly poison,” said Lenkopane.

The committee further urged officials to regularly communicate with communities through different platforms to ensure that they are accountable and responsible for all the operating businesses across the province to reduce the amount of panic.

“The portfolio committee will rely on the report from the department that should be submitted within seven days and further engage communities on the work done and/or systems in place, including communication of the database of all businesses, regulated or not.”

In addition, the committee appealed to communities to refrain from causing unnecessary unrest, and rather report incidents and provide proof to the nearest police service.

“They should also provide accurate information to any government officials who might be dealing with the situation,” said Lenkopane.

Cabinet has welcomed the acknowledgement of the US National Security Advisor, Jake Sullivan, of the seriousness with which President Cyril Ramaphosa has addressed the Lady R matter.

This is according to the Minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, who was addressing media on the outcomes of Wednesday’s Cabinet meeting.

This is after Sullivan’s call with President Cyril Ramaphosa’s National Security Advisor, Sydney Mufamadi, early this month.

The two officials, according to Ntshavheni, also reaffirmed the strong relations between the two countries.

According to the statement released by the White House, the two advisors reaffirmed the strong partnership between South Africa and the United States.

The parties also recommitted to advancing shared priorities, including trade and investment, infrastructure, health and climate.

This is after the United States Ambassador, Reuben Brigety, accused South Africa of having weapons, intended for Russia, loaded onto the Lady R when the container ship docked near Cape Town in December.

However, the independent panel appointed by President Ramaphosa found no evidence that weapons had been loaded.

Sullivan, according to the White House, also thanked the South Africans for hosting the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Forum in early November.

He also underscored the importance of this landmark legislation for United States relations with the region.

“In addition, he expressed his condolences on the passing of South African politician, diplomat, and anti-apartheid activist, Aziz Pahad, who inspired both South Africans and Americans for his unwavering commitment to peace, justice, and racial equality,” the White House statement read.

Just Energy Transition 

Meanwhile, Cabinet said it noted progress on developing the Just Energy Transition Investment Plan (JET IP) implementation plan.

“Cabinet further welcomed the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the Kingdom of Denmark as members of the JET IP International Partners Group (IPG) and welcomes the new JET IP pledges made by these countries, as well as by Canada, Spain and Switzerland in 2023.”

Meanwhile, the Executive Authority, said it remains concerned about the non-commitment of developed countries to meaningful funding through grants to the JET and reiterated South Africa’s commitment to a just transition in line with its energy needs.

Cabinet has noted that the majority of independent poultry and egg producers have not been affected by avian flu as several South African farmers work around the clock to curb the outbreak.

This is according to the Minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, who said they were updated on containment measures to limit the spread and impact of avian influenza.

“Cabinet has noted that majority of independent poultry and egg producers have not been affected by avian flu,” said the Minister who was briefing the media on Thursday about the outcomes of the Cabinet meeting held yesterday.

The outbreak, according to the Minster, has “severely” affected the economy and the poultry sector.

“The Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development Thoko Didiza, has met with retailers and the South African Poultry Association to discuss possible solutions in the short and the medium term to increase egg and chicken supply,” said Ntshavheni.

According to the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD), avian influenza is a highly contagious viral infection that affects poultry and wild birds.

The NICD said there are currently two different strains that are causing avian influenza outbreaks in South Africa, these are influenza A(H5N1) and influenza A (H7N6).

The public health institute noted that the current influenza A(H5N1) has been ongoing since April 2023.

Meanwhile, the NICD said the influenza A(H7N6) has been reported since June 2023, with 50 outbreaks to date recorded in poultry farms in the Free State, Gauteng, Mpumalanga, Limpopo, North West and KwaZulu-Natal and non-poultry birds in Gauteng.

“Internationally, sporadic cases of influenza A(H5N1) infection have been reported in humans, related to outbreaks in birds but infection in humans remains very rare,” it said in a statement.

Globally, the NICD said only eight cases of influenza A(H5N1) in humans have been reported to the World Health Organisation (WHO) in 2023, despite large outbreaks in poultry and wild birds across the globe.

“These cases have been linked to close contact with infected birds such as handling, culling, slaughtering or processing.

“Current circulating strains of avian influenza have not been shown to transmit from person to person.”

However, the institute said the risk of transmission of influenza A(H5N1) and influenza A(H7N6) from infected birds to humans is extremely low.

“In the uncommon instance where avian influenza is transmitted to humans, the most common route of transmission of avian influenza is airborne, through aerosolisation of virus particles from live birds or during the culling process.”

Any persons with known or suspected close contact with dead or sick birds, especially birds with confirmed A(H5N1) or A(H7N6) infection and present with upper or lower respiratory tract symptoms such as cough, runny nose, scratchy throat, or pneumonia and/or conjunctivitis should be investigated, the NICD advised.

Cabinet announced on Thursday that it has given the Green Hydrogen Commercialisation Strategy (GHCS) the green light for implementation.

The move, according to the Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, will ensure South Africa becomes a major producer and exporter of green hydrogen.

“Government has identified possible funding for green hydrogen projects and the draft Green Paper received extensive feedback from stakeholders,” she said on Thursday.

The Minister was briefing the media on the outcomes of Wednesday’s Cabinet meeting.

Ntshavheni explained that the GHCS gives effect to the Hydrogen South Africa Strategy that was approved by Cabinet in 2007 to prepare the country for a hydrogen economy.

The strategy is framed within the Hydrogen Society Roadmap developed by the Department of Science and Innovation and approved by Cabinet in 2021.

Meanwhile, the Executive Authority welcomed the hosting of the second South Africa Green Hydrogen Summit in Cape Town last week.

“Green hydrogen has the potential to add additional renewable energy generation capacity and to support the local development of renewable energy,” the Minister said.

On the sidelines of the summit, South Africa concluded Heads of Agreements with the intention of launching an SA-H2 Fund that will facilitate the development of the country’s green hydrogen sector.

The aim, the Minister said, is to attract $1 billion in funding.

She estimated that the hydrogen economy has the potential to add 3.6% to the country’s gross domestic product by 2050 and approximately 370 000 jobs.

Electricity 

In addition, Cabinet was on Wednesday updated about Eskom’s Generation Systems Performance for the period ending 16 October 2023.

Data shows that Eskom’s power generation capacity is currently averaging 28 615 MW in comparison to 27 410 MW in May 2023.

Cabinet was also informed of the decline in unplanned outages due to plant breakdown to average 13 743 MW compared to 17 369 MW in May 2023.

“This is largely as a result of effective plant maintenance,” Ntshavheni explained.

“Cabinet welcomed the addition of another 800 MW to the grid with the return of Kusile Unit 1 ahead of schedule. The additional capacity will help reduce higher levels of load shedding.”

The City of Ekurhuleni is working to address the challenges experienced with waste removal services in Tsakani, KwaThema, Duduza and Langaville.

The city said the disruption to waste removal services, which has slightly affected the collections schedule in the areas since Tuesday, is receiving attention.

“We are attending to the challenges, and we hope to resolve the issue as soon as possible so that the services can resume. A recovery plan has been developed to address the backlog that has been created as a result of the latest developments,” said the city’s spokesperson, Zweli Dlamini.

Dlamini encouraged residents not to take out their bins as per the round collection schedule until the situation has been resolved.

“The city undertakes to inform the residents when to take out the bins when the situation has normalised. We apologise for the inconvenience caused and remain committed to our agenda to keep Ekurhuleni clean at all times,” Dlamini said.

Cabinet has condemned the bombing by the Israeli government of Gaza’s Ahli-Arab Baptist Hospital on Tuesday, which killed over 500 people and injured over 1 000 civilians.

Cabinet described the act as a blatant violation of International Humanitarian Law and called on the International Criminal Court (ICC) to immediately act against such a breach.

“The failure to act meaningfully by both the ICC and the United Nations will be a demonstration of the total collapse of a rules-based multilateral system,” Minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, said on Thursday.

Ntshavheni described the bombing of the hospital as a “war crime” as hospitals are considered a haven under International Humanitarian Law.

The Minister was briefing the media on the outcomes of Wednesday’s Cabinet meeting.

“Cabinet calls on the ICC to investigate the bombing and the crime of genocide in this conflict and on the international community not to allow the perpetration of another holocaust under its watch.

“The Jewish holocaust is enough stain in the history of mankind for the international community to fold its arms while the Israeli government perpetrates a Palestinian holocaust,” she said.

Since the Israel-Hamas war, thousands of Israelis and Palestinians have been killed, and far more injured.

Many violations of international law, according to the Executive Authority, have been committed by all sides. They called for accountability and justice in response to all those crimes.

“Cabinet condemned the cowardly attack by Hamas that killed and injured innocent people. Similarly, Cabinet condemned the heinous opportunism of the Israeli government to use Hamas’ cowardice to continue its genocide against the people of Palestine.”

Cabinet believes the international community must be seized with finding a permanent security solution for the people of Israel and Palestine through the settlement of the two-state solution founded on the 1947 borders.

“Cabinet calls on the Israeli government to stop the bombardment of civilian establishments such as hospitals, schools and homes and for the opening of humanitarian corridors to allow the passage of aid including food and medical supplies to the Gaza Strip.”

Cabinet has welcomed investments in the energy and transport sector, as they are expected to create jobs and assist small business owners in the transport sector.

“Cabinet welcomed the R100 million investment by electrical components supplier ACTOM in the expansion of its plant in Pretoria. This builds local capacity in manufacturing of electro-mechanical equipment, as the renewable energy market grows,” Minister in The Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, said on Thursday in Pretoria.

Addressing media on the outcomes of the Cabinet meeting held on Wednesday, the Minister said the investment will create jobs and solutions for renewable energy.

“Furthermore, Cabinet welcomed the roll out of a R284 million investment by Moove, which will assist small business owners in the transport sector. Moove has purchased over 2 000 vehicles, which will be for use by transport entrepreneurs,” Ntshavheni said.

Meanwhile, Cabinet commended interagency search and seizure operations led by the South African Revenue Service (SARS) on 12 October 2023, with close cooperation between intelligence and law enforcement agencies.

These targeted operations helped to prevent revenue losses to the fiscus, which amounted to more than R500 million and 14 individuals targeted during the operation.

Addressing greylisting deficiencies

Cabinet noted progress in addressing greylisting deficiencies identified by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Operating Framework, progress with the re-rating of at least 14 technical compliance deficiencies and positive progress in 17 of 22 action items against the original Action Plan.

“Cabinet approved the Updated Operational Framework for Targeted Financial Sanctions to bind the conduct of all agencies involved in the process of designating individuals and entities in terms of amended section 23 of the Protection of Constitutional Democracy Against Terrorism and Related Activities Amendment (POCDARATA) Act,” the Minister said.