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President Cyril Ramaphosa will today address the opening of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Public Forum.

At the invitation of the Director-General of the World Trade Organisation, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the President will address the virtual ceremony under the theme, ‘Trade Beyond COVID-19 : Building Resilience’.

The WTO Public Forum is an annual flagship event that brings together government, business, academia and civil society.

The forum will consider the effects of the pandemic on trade and how the multilateral trading system can help build resilience to COVID-19 and future crises.

Participants will have the opportunity to deliberate on how the WTO can be strengthened to respond to 21st century issues, and also how reform can enable multilateral institutions, the private sector and civil society to work together to ensure that the global trading system promotes sustainable trade and supports the protection of the environment.

President Ramaphosa’s address will be carried on Presidency digital platforms at 13h00.

The Department of Justice and Correctional Services has appointed Makgothi Thobakgale as the Correctional Services acting National Commissioner.

This after the contract of former commissioner Arthur Fraser expired this month.

The department described Thobakgale as a “hard working and passionate” official who brings a wealth of experience into the public sector.

“He brings to the role 17 years of senior management experience in the sector, with more than seven years as accounting officer from diverse provincial departments including economic development and transport.

“Thobakgale headed the marine and infrastructure programmes and furthermore worked as Deputy Director-General in the national Department of Public Works, and among his responsibilities were infrastructure and programme management,” the department said.

Twenty-one percent of the country’s adult population is now fully vaccinated after 6 187 people either received a Johnson & Johnson shot or the second jab of the Pfizer vaccine on Sunday.

According to Health Department, South Africa administered 9 419 jabs in the past 24 hours, pushing the total to 16 827 790, while the country is now home to 8 391 620 vaccinated individuals.

Meanwhile, according to the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD), the country has exited the third wave according to the current definition.

“The national seven-day moving average of daily case numbers, positivity rate and testing rate continue to decrease, with sustained decreases seen in all provinces,” the NICD explained.

Meanwhile, the latest data shows that the institute reported 967 new COVID-19 cases, which brings the total number of laboratory-confirmed cases to 2 896 943.

“This increase represents a 5% positivity rate,” the NICD said, adding that there has been an increase of 56 hospital admissions in the past 24 hours.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends that test positivity remains at 5% or lower for 14 days before countries or regions can reopen.

In addition, 34 more people succumbed to the disease, bringing the death toll to 87 001.

The information is based on the 17 553 515 tests, of which 19 160 were conducted on Sunday.

Globally, as of 24 September 2021, there have been 230 418 451 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 4 724 876 deaths, reported to the WHO.

The South African Police Service (SAPS) has launched the “Country in Blue” campaign aimed at increasing police visibility across the country.

Under the campaign, drone policing will also be introduced in some crime hotspots.

The launch took place on Saturday at the Inanda policing precinct in Durban, an area which over the years has recorded the highest rates of contact crimes, including sexual offences and murder.

Police Minister General Bheki Cele; the Deputy Minister of Police, Cassel Mathale; the National Commissioner of SAPS, General Khehla Sitole; Provincial Commissioners; members of the Community Policing Forum (CPF) and traditional leaders attended the launch.

The Country in Blue concept will see all security forces, civil society and government agencies working together.

Through this concept, all operational SAPS vehicles on the road will have their emergency warning blue lights switched on from sunset to sunrise (18:00 to 06:00).

Additional operational vehicles will also be marked in a bid to ensure that police presence is enhanced.

The concept further aims to deter all forms of criminality and is embedded in the Community Policing Strategy, which mobilises more community patrollers to work closely with SAPS members as force-multipliers.

Under the theme, ‘Extending our reach through blue light visibility’, its overall goal is to prevent and combat crimes including gender-based violence and femicide, carjacking, business and residential robberies, and the proliferation of firearms.

Sitole said the Country in Blue concept is one of several crime combatting strategies to maximise police visibility.

“Because we want to be everywhere at all times, we are going to introduce drone policing in certain areas to ensure that we are visible. This in a bid to normalise and stabilise problematic areas, such [Inanda].

“Our slogan is squeezing the space for criminals through a declaration of a psychological war, for being everywhere all the time. They won’t have anywhere to go,” Sitole said.

Cele called for better collaboration between communities and the police.

“Policing has changed and this means police stations are no longer the centre of policing – streets should be centre of policing.

“More boots and blue lights on the ground not only means  police officers are visible at all times to deter criminality but officers should also be quick to respond to the needs of communities,” Cele said.

SAPS continues to call on citizens to take an active part in preventing and combatting crime by naming and shaming criminals within communities.

This information may be brought to the attention of the SAPS through the MySAPS App, which can be downloaded on any smart phone or by calling the Crime Stop number on 0860010111.

Government, through its Basic Education Employment Initiative (BEEI), has called on unemployed youth to apply for the second phase of education assistants posts, which open today and close on 3 October 2021.

As part of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Presidential Employment Stimulus Programme (PES), the Department of Basic Education seeks to provide 287 000 unemployed young people with employment and training opportunities in the education sector.

The initiative seeks to mitigate the devastating economic challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a statement, the department said qualifying applicants must currently be between the ages of 18 and 35.

“Youth between the ages of 18 and 35, who are currently neither in education/training, nor receiving any form of government grant, as well as young people with disability and women, are eligible and encouraged to apply for this enriching experience,” the department said.

Candidates who are selected for placement will have an opportunity to receive training on various skills that will equip them for future employment opportunities.

All successful candidates will be placed in schools for five months, from 1 November 2021 to 31 March 2022, for the available opportunities in Education Assistant – Curriculum, Education Assistant – ICT/e-Cadres; Education Assistant – Reading Champions; General School Assistant – Child & Youth Care Worker; General School Assistant – Handyman (no matric required) and General School Assistant – Sports and Enrichment Agent (no matric required).

The department said for one to qualify as an Education Assistant, they must have passed matric English, while an NQF Level 4, 6 and 7 qualification certificate, will be an added advantage.

However, for placement as a General School Assistant, a matric certificate is not required for Infrastructure Support and Sports and Enrichment Agents, although Trade Certificates will be an added advantage.

“To work in the education environment, you must have a good ability to work with people, and within groups, have good communication skills and be a good listener and have interest in academics,” the department said.

Those who are interested in applying for placement are urged to visit sayouth.mobi to create a profile and submit their application.

The department said that no walk-ins will be allowed in schools due to COVID-19 restrictions, therefore applicants must submit their applications online.

Those who are selected for shortlisting will be required to prepare the following documents:

• Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• Testimonials (former school, local chief, church leader, etc)
• Police clearance certificates
• Affidavit/Declaration by applicant stating he/she has no criminal record while awaiting the Police clearance
• Certified qualifications such as Matric, (where applicable: NQF Level 4 qualification certificate, for Education Assistant applicants with NQF level 6 and 7 an added advantage)
• Certified copy of identity document/ passport

The department said as in Phase I, there will be a strong emphasis on training participants, with a view to adding to their skills set, as well as setting them up for improved employment prospects.

Young people recruited for Phase II of the Basic Education Employment Initiative can expect to receive training in the following areas: e-Cadres/ ICT Support, Child and Youth Care Workers (CYCW), Reading Champions, Infrastructure Maintenance, and Sports and Enrichment Agents, which is a new category for recruitment.

The department said that approximately 300 000 young people participated in Phase I of the Basic Education Employment Initiative (BEEI), which was successfully implemented from 1 December 2020 until 31 April 2021 in the basic education sector.

“Phase II will focus on addressing the reduction of youth unemployment, as the data collected throughout the initiative has shown that most of the young people are unemployed graduates, who lack the relevant experience to propel them to employment,” the department said.

The department said the BEEI initiative will go a long way in assisting the department to mitigate the unfortunate fallout from the COVID-19 academic disruptions the sector experienced since the first 2020 national lockdown.

“Phase II will also provide experiential learning, whilst ensuring that those who studied Education or are interested in Education as a field of study, will be directed to paths that will lead them back to the sector,” the department said.

For updates on the BEEI Phase II, applicants can follow these platforms:  SA Youth – sayouth.mobi – for applications, Twitter: @DBE_BEEI https://twitter.com/DBE_BEEI and Facebook: Basic Education Employment Initiative https://www.facebook.com/phase2beei.

The Commission for Gender Equality (CGE) is expected to launch a campaign for public comments on the state of equality in the human rights of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex Plus (LGBTQI+) community in South Africa on Tuesday.

The Chapter Nine institution says the campaign – dubbed the #LGBTI+equality project – will help it identify areas where it may intervene when necessary in order to ensure “the achievement of LGBTQI+ equality” in the country.

“The objective of the project is to assess the state of LGBTI+ equality in South Africa 27 years after the achievement of democracy in South Africa. Whilst acknowledging the progress over the last decades of our democracy… [the project] also means a re-look at the areas where there has been little to no progress and even regression in important areas of transgender inclusion, forced divorces and intersex genital mutilation,” the commission said.

The commission said it would like public comments on the following related to the human rights of LGBTQI+ individuals:

• Criminal justice.
• Right to education.
• Labour and employment.
• Access to healthcare for transgender, intersex, and gender non-conforming persons
• Any other human rights issues deemed crucial for the achievement for LGBTI+ equality in South Africa.

According to the CGE, although legislation has in theory made discrimination against LGBTQI+ individuals against the law, in practise, these individuals still face hate.

“The eradication of explicitly discriminatory legislative provisions from South Africa’s law books has not eradicated societal prejudices that entrench and encourage discriminatory practices and actions in employment, access to health, criminal justice and safety and security.

“Whilst the Constitutional Court has recognised and declared unconstitutional various exclusionary provisions, this has had little effect on improving the life chances of the LGBTI+ community as a whole,” the commission said.

Public comments on the state of equality for LGBTQI+ communities can be sent to LGBTI@cge.org.za or Javu@cge.org.za.

As Public Service Month draws to a close, President Cyril Ramaphosa has called on public servants to recommit themselves to the values of selflessness and service.

In his weekly newsletter, the President said public servants’ conduct must at all times be both legal and ethical.

The President expressed his disappointment after revelations in Parliament that thousands of public servants have been illegally receiving social grants every month.

“The revelation in Parliament that thousands of public servants have been illegally receiving social grants every month shows we still have a long way to go towards instilling a culture of ethics in the public service.”

Earlier this year, it was reported that around 16 000 employees on the government payroll were irregularly paid the COVID-19 Social Relief of Distress grant.

“It is common knowledge that applicants with other sources of income do not qualify for this grant. It is also self-evident that those who receive an income from the state are not eligible to apply,” the President said.

He said some 17 000 people employed at national and provincial government submitted applications in a bid to top up their salaries with money meant for the poor.

“Given the extent of need in the country, one that our public servants know too well, this wilful intent to steal from the public purse is unforgivable.”

In continued efforts to end corruption in the public service, the President said that government is now stepping up its efforts to prevent this kind of abuse and act against anyone in the public service involved in wrongdoing.

This month, government launched a new Public Administration Ethics, Integrity and Disciplinary Technical Assistance Unit. The unit is aimed at building capacity within public bodies to institute disciplinary proceedings in cases of misconduct and cooperate with other organs of State in holding those responsible to account.

Speaking on the newly established Technical Assistance Unit, President Ramaphosa said the establishment of this unit is one of the ways to fight and end corruption in government and in all spheres of South African life.

“The unit will refer corruption cases to government’s Anti-Corruption Task Team and follow up with departments to ensure criminal cases involving public servants translate into disciplinary cases. Working with the multi-agency Fusion Centre, the unit will help identify employees in priority cases investigated by law enforcement authorities,” the President said.

He said the unit will monitor the lifestyle audits of public service employees and where departments identify corruption and unexplained wealth, the cases will be referred to the South African Police Service.

The new unit has already begun its work in earnest, helping to identify public servants involved in cases related to COVID-19 procurement, the special COVID-19 grant and Unemployment Insurance Fund fraud.

The cases of government officials referred by the Special Investigating Unit for disciplinary action will be monitored by the unit to assess their progress.

Civil proceedings against architect Minenhle Makhanya – the architect behind upgrades to former President Jacob Zuma’s Nkandla homestead – are expected to get underway today in the Special Tribunal.

According to the Special Tribunal, the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) is attempting to recoup at least R155 million from Makhanya in what the unit called “irregularities” in the contract to build the homestead.

“It is contended… [that the contract] was awarded and amended several times in alleged violation and disregard to the legislative prescripts governing procurement in public institutions,” the tribunal said.

The SIU wants to hold Makhanya personally liable for the alleged inflation of prices and irregularities in the procurement of goods for the building of the homestead.

The tribunal said the proceedings were first instituted against Makhanya at least seven years ago but have seen substantial delays, even up to earlier this year.

“The matter was first enrolled in the Pietermaritzburg High Court in September 2014 and transferred to the Special Tribunal by agreement of the parties. The hearing was initially scheduled for July but was postponed to end of September after Mr Makhanya told the Special Tribunal… that he did not have funds to cover the trial costs. He had applied to the Legal Aid Board for legal assistance, which was declined,” the tribunal said.

The trial will be heard by the Special Tribunal sitting in the KwaZulu Natal High Court in Pietermaritzburg from today until Friday, October 1.

As a world class and state-of-the art interpretive centre, the Godumodumo Dinosaur Centre will serve as an iconic tourist attraction modelled on the narrative interpretation of the paleontological, archaeological and geological evidence found at the Golden Gate Highlands National Park, in the Free State.

Tourism Deputy Minister Fish Mahlalela on Sunday visited the Golden Gate Highlands National Park as part of the National Department of Tourism’s activities to commemorate Tourism Month across the country.

This visit comes as the construction of the Godumodumo Dinosaur Centre is at its tail end.

The dinosaur centre is a legacy project that was funded by the department through its Tourism Infrastructure Development Fund in 2018.

“The MOU between the department and SANParks has been a strategic partnership that has birthed the incredible Dinosaur Centre and many other significant tourism infrastructure projects at the South African National Parks (SANParks),” Mahlalela said.

“This partnership has been in existence for decades and it has been successful, especially because our mandates coincide with one another to promote the conservation and preservation of our national heritage but also the elevation of active tourism amongst our local citizens and international compatriots.”

Chief Financial Officer at (SANParks), Dumisani Dlamini, said the dinosaur centre is one of many major initiatives that have been funded by the department on SANParks, all of which amount to an estimated total of R435 million.

Some of the key partnership projects include:

• The Southern Most Tip Centre in the Western Cape;

• The Big Tree Development at our Tsitsikama National Park;

• The Dinosaur Centre;

• The extension of the Addo Elephant Rest Camp in the Eastern Cape;

• The Agulhas Lighthouse Precinct Development, also in the Western Cape;

• An innovative Youth Centre soon to launch at the Mapungubwe National Park; and

• The EPWP program that serves to conduct maintenance across national parks.

Dlamini said the discovery of dinosaur eggs is a marvel in South Africa, and it means even more that these eggs were found at Golden Gate Highlands.

“SANParks is confident that the centre will provide the most ideal platform to educate visitors especially young learners about dinosaurs and many other interesting attributes of the Golden Gate Highlands.

“This massive research facility is at its tail-end phase where visitors and students from all over the world will be able to learn more about the study of archaeology and palaeontology.

“The construction is on track and we hope to launch the centre as soon as soon as the end of this financial year. SANParks looks forward to partner with the Department of Tourism on more exciting projects in the future and trusts that this centre will enhance the visitor experience in Golden Gate,” Dlamini said.

Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Nathi Mthetwa has congratulated senior national women’s football side, Banyana Banyana, on their victory in the first ever Aisha Buhari football cup.

Six of Africa’s top ranked teams, including women’s football powerhouses Ghana, Cameroon and Nigeria, competed in the tournament held in Nigeria.

Following a week of football action comprising at least four matches, Banyana eventually ran out as cup winners after beating Africa’s top ranked team, Nigeria, 4 – 2 in the final.

“Banyana Banyana’s dominance is indeed something that deserves all our praise. The ladies’ national team, under the guidance of Coach Desiree Ellis, has done us proud. This demonstrates that it doesn’t matter where the game is played. If you are well prepared, nothing will deter you from achieving your objective,” Mthethwa said.

Speaking to the SA Football Association’s media team, Ellis called the victory over Nigeria a win for South African women’s football.

“The victory is not just for us here in Nigeria but it is for everyone back home who is involved and has contributed to women’s football – from Sasol to Hollywood Super League.”

Ellis said the players showed composure and control in what is considered one of the biggest match ups in African women’s football.

“Looking back at the game, we were in control most of the time. We played at the tempo that we wanted. We controlled a lot of aspects of the game, though we gave a lot of free kicks away which was dangerous but we handled it very well.

“I think the players showed a lot of confidence and character to take control back. We took control and we managed the game very well.”

The Sport Minister said the upcoming women’s COSAFA Cup – a Southern African regional tournament – would present a good opportunity for the country to show its support for the women’s senior national football team.

“We are looking forward to their upcoming COSAFA challenge and our wish is for the nation to do the right thing, and go and vaccinate in large numbers so that, at least, we can have a significant portion of fans behind Banyana Banyana. Our national team deserves all the support they can get,” he said.

The COSAFA Cup is expected to kick off on September 28 in Gqeberha in the Eastern Cape.