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The public has been invited to submit comments on the candidates who have applied to be considered for appointment as the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) board members.

The Sub-Committee of the Portfolio Committee on Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities and the Select Committee on Health and Social Services have placed on the parliamentary website the Curricula Vitae (CVs) of candidates who have applied to be considered for appointment as NYDA board members.

The two committees decided to restart the process of appointment of the NYDA Board members, after considering advice and legal opinion from the Office of the Speaker, and the recommendation from the National Assembly Programme Committee (NAPC) in February.

In a statement on Tuesday, Co-Chairpersons of the committee Nonhlanhla Ncube-Ndaba and Maurencia Gillion said that approximately 1 000 applications were received after an advert on newspapers inviting aspirant board members to submit the applications.

The application process closed on 9 April 2021.

“The sub-committee invites the public and civil society to make comments on the candidates CVs. The closing date for comments from members of the public and civil society is 5 June 2021,” the co-chairpersons said.

The appointed Board Members will hold office for a period of three years.

The function of the Board is to manage the operational policy of the National Youth Development Agency, and to exercise control over its powers and execution of its function.

The CVs of the applicants can be accessed on the link https://tinyurl.com/pd5wzf25

The Presidency has revealed that over 500 000 people have directly benefited from the Presidential Employment Stimulus.

The stimulus, announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa last year, was designed in response to the severe economic impact of the Coronavirus pandemic.

As part of the Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan, the Presidential Employment Stimulus aims to create new employment, provide livelihood support and protect existing jobs in vulnerable sectors.

According to the Presidency’s fourth progress report, 532 180 people profited from the intervention by the end of March 2021.

“This includes 422 786 jobs created or retained and 109 394 livelihoods supported,” the Presidency said in a statement on Tuesday.

For example, the Presidency said livelihood support entails production input vouchers for farmers, awards to the creative sector and income support for the Early Childhood Development service providers.

In addition, a further 161 972 opportunities are still being processed as part of phase one of the stimulus, bringing the number to 694 152.

Meanwhile, an additional allocation of R11 billion has been made in the budget for 2021/2022 to extend the stimulus into a second phase.

“An intensive process is currently underway to allocate these funds to programmes that will have the greatest impact in creating jobs and supporting livelihoods, including through the continuation of several existing programmes.”

The Presidency said an online dashboard has been developed to enable the public to access detailed information on the stimulus and to monitor its implementation.

This dashboard is available on https://www.stateofthenation.gov.za/employment-stimulus-dashboard.

The dashboard, according to the Presidency, will be updated regularly as data is received from implementing departments.

“The launch of this tool reflects government’s commitment to transparency and accountability in the implementation of the stimulus, and to the use of technology to enhance its impact.”

The Presidency said the Presidential Employment Stimulus has provided crucial support to South Africans in all provinces and across all age groups, creating work for the common good and enabling participants to earn an income while the labour market recovers.

The Police in Hoopdal, outside Thabazimbi in Limpopo, have arrested five suspects aged between 27 and 44 for allegedly impersonating police officers at the Skierlik village.

Police received a tip-off about the suspects who were masquerading as police officers at a local tavern, one of them were believed to be armed with a firearm and wearing a police reflector jacket.

They swiftly responded and five suspects were cornered and arrested while trying to flee from the scene in a VW Polo.

Police searched the vehicle and confiscated a bullet proof vest, a SAPS summer pair of trousers, two Constable rank structures, a police belt, a 9mm pistol, a magazine, eight rifles, live ammunition, one reflector jacket and a motor vehicle.

The suspects will still be profiled to determine if they were previously involved in any other crimes. The origin of the recovered items will also be revealed by the ongoing police investigations.

The suspects will appear in Thabazimbi Magistrate’s Court today, facing charges of impersonating police officers, possession of unlawful firearm and ammunition, driving under the influence of liquor and possession of suspected stolen properties.

Police investigations are still underway.

Limpopo Premier Stanley Mathabatha has encouraged all eligible vaccine recipients to register for vaccines through the Electronic Vaccination Data System (EVDS).

This as South Africa started the second phase of its vaccination rollout plan on Monday for the elderly.

“Vaccine recipients will be able to access the service at their nearest accredited vaccination centre with no payment,” Mathabatha said.

The province has selected the following six sites as the main vaccination hubs for the Pfizer vaccination: Pietersburg Hospital; Mankweng Hospital; St Rita’s Hospital; Donald Fraser Hospital; Dr CN Phatudi Hospital and Mokopane Hospital.

“The registration process will require all of us to work together to ensure the success of the COVID-19 vaccination. Only those who have registered will be vaccinated and to avoid overcrowding, long queues and risks of spreading COVID-19, we must wait to be invited by the department of health through SMS to go and receive our vaccine,” Mathabatha said.

On Monday, the Premier launched the second phase of the COVID-19 vaccination for citizens aged 60 years and above.

“To protect myself and others I choose to vaccinate. I will be coming back to get my second vaccine soon,” said Job Ramashala, 69, who was amongst the senior citizens that were inoculated.

The Premier also received the Pfizer vaccine at Mokopane Hospital, Mogalakwena Local Municipality, Waterberg District.

“I feel happy for choosing to vaccinate and I will be completing the second vaccine on the 8 June 2021. I am also quite pleased that our people have heard us when we said they must register to get the vaccination,” Mathabatha said after getting his jab.

South Africa recorded 1 757 new COVID-19 cases on Monday, which pushes the cumulative number of cases to 1 615 485 since the outbreak.

According to the latest official statistics, the nationwide death toll now stands at 55 260 after 50 more people succumbed to the disease.

Of the latest deaths, 30 are from the Free State, eight from the Northern Cape, six from Gauteng, four from the Eastern Cape and two from the Western Cape.

“We convey our condolences to the loved ones of the departed and thank the healthcare workers who treated the deceased patients,” said Health Minister, Dr Zweli Mkhize.

In addition, the country has a recovery rate of 94.5% after 1 526 638 patients beat Coronavirus.

The active cases have dropped to 33 587 from the 34 166 recorded on Sunday.

The data is based on the 11 134 553 tests, 19 505 of which were conducted since the last reporting cycle.

According to the World Health Organisation, there are 162 773 940 confirmed global cases of COVID-19, including 3 375 573 deaths, to date.

In addition, 1 264 164 553 vaccine doses have been administered as of 12 May 2021.

South African National Parks (SANParks) has launched new products for stokvels and travel clubs that offers special payment terms and discounted rates, at selected National Parks on specific dates.

SANParks tourism development and marketing executive, Hapiloe Sello, in a statement said these groups were being targeted as their memberships boasted many different types of personalities and profiles.

“[These] range from the ordinary grandmother to the high earning CEOs of companies and large corporate and public sector institutions. There are over 800 000 registered stokvels and even more formal and informal travel clubs/groups in South Africa.

“Travel clubs that qualify include groups of people who have special interests such as hiking or biking but also just groups of friends and large families that enjoy group travel,” she said.

To qualify for the favourable payment terms, Stokvels and travel clubs have to register through the travel trade team in the SANParks’ reservations department.

Once registered with SANParks, the group will receive a client code that can be used whenever a booking is made. The client code will automatically qualify the group for favourable payment terms and special discounts.

“Unlike the traditional group travel that allows a group of individuals travelling together, our new Stokvel & Travel Club product allows a group of ten or more people to contribute money towards a combined visit to our parks on a future date of their choice,” Sello said.

SANParks is offering a 20% discount at the following destinations:

• Matyholweni Rest Camp in Addo Elephant National Park
• Agulhas Main Camp in Agulhas National Park
• Augrabies Falls National Park
• Bontebok National Park
• Wilderness Ebb-and-Flow in Garden Route National Park
• Glen Reenen and Golden Gate Hotel in Golden Gate Highlands National Park
• Mopani Rest Camp in Kruger National Park
• Skukuza Safari Lodge in Kruger National Park
• Bontle Tented Camp in Marakele National Park
• Leokwe Rest Camp in Mapungubwe National Park
• Mosu Lodge in Mokala National Park

For bookings in the following periods:

• 03/05/2021 to 14/06/2021
• 22/08/2021 to 20/09/2021
• 12/10/2021 to 30/11/2021
• 19/01/2022 to 16/03/2022
• 03/05/2022 to 14/06/2022
• 21/08/2022 to 20/09/2022
• 11/10/2022 to 30/11/2022

Sello urged the targeted groups to embrace and take-up the incentive.

For more information or to register and make bookings please contact 012 426 5025 or email traveltrade@sanparks.org. The terms and conditions for this programme can be found at www.sanparks.org/tourism/stokvels-and-travel-clubs.php.

Eskom has suspended loadshedding from 4am this morning, until 5pm, due to an improvement in the power system.

Over the past 24 hours, Eskom teams have returned seven generation units to service.

“This has helped ease the supply constraints, and enabled Eskom to suspend loadshedding at this point. However, this is currently insufficient to fully supply the evening peak. Stage 2 loadshedding will therefore again be implemented from 5pm until 10pm tonight,” Eskom said on Tuesday.

The outlook for the remainder of the week is expected to improve as Eskom teams are working tirelessly to return more generators to service.

“We are currently experiencing high evening peaks, which is typical of the winter demand period. Should there be any further deterioration in the generation capacity, loadshedding may be necessary, most likely between 5pm and 10pm during the winter period.”

Eskom has requested the public to continue using electricity sparingly as the system remains vulnerable.

“We thank the people of South Africa for their understanding during this time of loadshedding,” Eskom said.

The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI/Hawks) in the Eastern Cape has pounced on four senior officials in the province’s Education Department and a businessperson on fraud, corruption and contravention of the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA) charges.

The five – former chief education specialist Noxolo Valencia Gwarube (50), former education superintendent general Mthunywa Lawrence Ngonzo (58), education deputy director general Monwabisi Raymond Tywakadi (60), education deputy director in information technology (IT) Tyrone Graig Fourie (48) and Hermanus Bouwer Smith(47), director of Siegesmund Trust – were on Monday arrested by the Hawks’ East London Serious Corruption Investigation.

“It is alleged that in 2014, 33 publishers were invited by the Learner Teacher Support Material unit (LTSM) of the Department of Education to showcase their products. It is said that the participants paid exhibition fee to the Border Christian Centre where the exhibition was going to be held,” Hawks spokesperson Captain Yolisa Mgolodela said in a statement.

She said it was further reported that the Department of Education had intentions of assisting schools by procuring Supplementary Resource Material (SRM) which included IT material like photo copiers and other technology material but not in that financial year.

“The LTSM unit under the control of the Accounting Officer had budgeted only for the procurement of text books. The LTSM unit never applied for virement of funds therefore their action was not known by Eastern Cape Department of Education and Provincial Treasury,” said the Hawks.

The Hawks alleged that the former manager of the Eastern Cape Department of Education at the LTSM unit, Gwarube misrepresented facts to the department that only textbooks would be procured by submitting expenditure approval requests to the acting deputy director for Institutional Operations Management.

“It is further reported that a sum of more than R204 million was approved for the procurement of textbooks. The SRM in the application was misrepresented as textbooks.

“Gwarube is said to have submitted misleading documents to the Internal Control Unit and Supply Chain Management section that the textbooks were to be procured knowing well that she had included SRM to the value of more than R59 million thus reducing the money that was meant for textbooks,” she said.

“It is further alleged that the exhibition fee paid by publishers to the Border Christian Centre was in excess with R120 468-00 and the Centre sought direction from the department as to what to do with the money and Gwarube instructed the Centre to deposit the money into her husband’s account. The centre requested a letter from the department authorizing the transaction. The former Superintendent General Ngozo wrote the letter whereas he was already on suspension at the time.”

It is alleged that Gwarube received gratification from Siegesmund Trust, in the form of two laptops and a cell phone to ensure that the R59 million for SRM was paid promptly into the business account of Smith.

During this orchestration by Gwarube, Tywakadi was the acting Superintendent General as Ngonzo was on suspension. Fourie as the IT Deputy Director was also in office.

The Eastern Cape Department of Education was defrauded cash to the value of R59 million.

All the five accused were on Monday released on R5000 bail each. The case is remanded for the 8 July 2021 for the handing over of copies of the dockets to the defence.

Provincial Hawks head, Major General Mboiki Obed Ngwenya, lauded the Serious Corruption Investigation team for a breakthrough in a case that appears to have disadvantaged children of the Eastern Cape, and denied them an opportunity to own a textbook “which is a gateway to a better future due to selfish greed”.

Government has called on citizens to play their part to ensure the safety of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Intersex (LGBTQI+) community.

“We call on all sectors of society to oppose any form of violence committed against LGBTQI+ persons,” Acting Minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, said.

The call comes as South Africa joins the rest of the world in commemorating the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia under the theme, ’Together: Resisting, Supporting and Healing’.

In 1990, on this day, the World Health Organisation (WHO) took a firm stand to remove homosexuality from the International Classification of Diseases, opening a gateway to equal rights and inclusion.

The South African Constitution, which celebrates its 25-year anniversary this year, provides for equal rights to all who live in South Africa.

Ntshavheni said the Bill of Rights reaffirms that the State may not unfairly discriminate directly or indirectly against anyone, irrespective of race, gender, marital status, ethnicity, sexual orientation, age, disability, religion or cultural background.

“Government reaffirms its commitment to protect the rights of all who live in South Africa. Members of the LGBTI+ community are equally protected by the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa,” the Minister said.

She said the commemoration builds on existing measures to educate and raise awareness amongst the public.

“It is also used to reflect on progress that has been made by the National Task Team on Gender and Sexual Orientation Based Violence Perpetrated Against LGBTQI+ Persons, which was established to protect and address concerns of the LGBTQI+ community.”

As the day is commemorated, Ntshavheni said government will stop at nothing until the realisation of an equal society that protects lives and livelihoods of all, especially the most vulnerable members of society.

“The National Strategic Plan On Gender-Based Violence and Femicide remains relevant as a multi-sectoral, coherent strategic policy and programming framework that coordinates a national response to the crisis of gender-based violence and femicide, which also affects the LGBQTI+ community,” Ntshavheni said.

The Minister said government will continue to do all it can to provide a safe environment, particularly for the marginalised members of society, and create a conducive space to ensure their full economic participation in the development of the country.

“As society, we all have a responsibility to exercise tolerance and respect for each other,” Ntshavheni said.

Twelve suspected illegal miners were among the 1 470 suspects arrested across the Gauteng province by police over the weekend.

The twelve were arrested in Krugersdorp in the West Rand on Saturday.

“One suspect was shot and injured and was taken to hospital under police guard. The other suspects surrendered and two unlicensed firearms were recovered,” said the South African Police Sevice (SAPS) in a statement on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Police in the Ekurhuleni district conducted an integrated operation where 447 suspects were arrested.

More than 350 suspects were arrested in West Rand and Sedibeng for crimes ranging from attempted murder, possession of an unlicensed firearm, dealing in drugs, driving under the influence of alcohol and assault.

Over 44 suspects were arrested during Operation O Kae Molao conducted in Alexandra on Saturday.

The suspects were arrested for crimes that include possession of suspected stolen property, possession of drugs, possession of unlicensed firearms and driving while under the influence of alcohol.

In the Johannesburg district, 186 other suspects were arrested while a further 496 suspects were arrested in the Tshwane district.