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The Special Investigating Unit (SIU), has successfully instituted civil proceedings in the Special Tribunal to review and set aside a R4 899 000 contract irregularly awarded to Rosette Investments by the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Social Development.

The contract was for the supply of 12 000 blankets.

The SIU approached the Special Tribunal in October 2020 to review and set aside four contracts awarded by the Social Development Department to supply 48 000 blankets to the tune of more than R18 million as part of the COVID-19 pandemic relief and to recover financial losses suffered by the Department.

The Rosette Investments contract is the second of the four contracts that were successfully reviewed and set aside, said the SIU in a statement on Sunday.

The SIU investigation had found that Rosette Investments had indeed delivered the blankets as per the terms of the irregular contract.

As a result, the SIU calculated the profit earned from the procurement contract by the investment company and demanded that it be paid back.

Rosette Investments agreed to pay back R864 005 and the agreement was made an order of the Special Tribunal.

The Special Tribunal ordered Rosette Investments on Friday to pay back the money to the SIU within seven days.

The company was also ordered to pay legal costs of the SIU, including the costs of counsel, consultations with counsel, opinions and advises sought and drafting of the application documents.

Head of the SIU, Advocate Andy Mothibi welcomed the Special Tribunal order.

“This is a continuation of implementation of the SIU investigations outcomes and consequence management to recover financial losses suffered by government departments, municipalities and State Owned Entities due to the irregular award of personal protective equipment (PPE) contracts.

“There are other cases enrolled in the Special Tribunal awaiting adjudication and will result in further recoveries for the State institutions,” Mothibi said.

The SIU received allegations of the irregular award of blanket contracts through its whistle-blower hotline and investigated the allegations as part of the Proclamation R23 of 2020 authorising the corruption busting unit to investigate allegations of corruption and maladministration in PPE procurement by State institutions in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The SIU is an independent statutory body with a primary mandate to investigate allegations of corruption, malpractice and maladministration in the affairs of government departments, municipalities and state owned entities and to recover financial losses suffered by State institutions.

Fraud and corruption allegations may be reported via the following platforms: siu@whistleblowing.co.za / Hotline: 0800 037 774.

Deputy Minister of Police, Cassel Mathale, has urged swift SAPS intervention in the crime situation and an impasse between the police and the Jouberton community near Klerksdorp, in the North West.

Mathale made the call on Sunday during a community crime prevention imbizo at Matlosana Stadium in Jouberton.

The imbizo was prompted by the torching of 12 houses since February and damage to vehicles in the area. The attacks are alleged to be gang-related.

In a statement, the SAPS said the imbizo created a platform for robust deliberations between provincial and local government, the police and community.

“The community gave a first-hand account of how crimes such as gangsterism, gender-based violence and femicide, domestic violence, proliferation of liquor, taxi violence as well as other prevalent contact crimes are affecting their daily lives and well-being,” reads the statement.

The Deputy National Commissioner of Policing, Lieutenant General Fannie Masemola, as well as SAPS provincial management led by Lieutenant General Sello Kwena accompanied the Deputy Minister.

SAPS spokesperson Colonel Brenda Muridili said during the engagement, community members aired their frustrations regarding the prevalence of criminality as well as lack of job opportunities in the area.

“Community Policing Forum local representatives on the other hand appealed to the dignitaries to support their vision of hosting a seminar to address gangsterism and crime in general in the near future which they envisage will provide sustainable solutions to crime.

“To this end, the management has pledged its support to ensure that the seminar becomes a reality,” she said.

Lieutenant General Kwena told the community he had recently established two task teams that specialize in gangsterism and the proliferation of drugs to stabilise the precinct. The intention was to establish a fully-fledged Anti-Gang Unit in the North West, supported by the office of the Deputy National Commissioner: Policing.

A community member – who is also a rape survivor – spoke openly about her and other vulnerable GBVF victims’ ordeals, and requested the Deputy Ministry of Police to promise them that action will be taken against this scourge.

Mathale in the meeting acknowledged a clarion call from the community about the safety of police officers in Jouberton, saying if the police members did not have to constantly worry about their own safety, they would be able to fully commit to ensuring community safety.

The Deputy Minister urged the community to work together with the police to fight crime in the community.

“The solutions for the problems you have, are within you. We have heard your concerns and we are here to work together with you to fight crime in Jouberton.”

To the police officers, he warned that those who wear the blue uniform and “think that they can do as they please”, will soon change into an orange uniform.

Mathale has directed Masemola to work with the Provincial Commissioner to resolve pending cases that were raised by the community as well as schedule a feedback meeting with the community.

The Table Mountain runaway fire continues to spread as firefighters work tirelessly to tackle the blaze, which has also destroyed a library at the University of Cape Town.

According to the City of Cape Town, precautionary evacuations have gotten underway on Peppertree Road, Vredehoek, after the fire spread towards the area overnight.

“Evacuate immediately and remember to take chronic medication, identity documents, passports, cash, cell phones, bottled water, non-perishable food, a set of clothing, blanket and toiletries,” the City said in an urgent message.

Meanwhile, the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) will assist animals that are displaced.

The City of Cape Town said there are no injuries to civilians that have been reported to the Disaster Operations Centre to date.

The fire started on Sunday around 8:45am close to Hospital Bend. It moved up towards Rhodes Memorial and then towards the University of Cape Town upper campus.

The students living on campus have been evacuated and the City is working with the university in coordinating accommodation for affected students.

Western Cape Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning MEC, Anton Bredell, said the provincial disaster management continues to monitor the ongoing fire and support the City of Cape Town and its partners.

“Four helicopters continue to water bomb the fire lines and teams from the City of Cape Town, Working on Fire and SANParks continue to work non-stop to bring the fire under control,” he said on Sunday evening.

According to Bredell, about 200 firefighters are on the fire line. Unfortunately, two firefighters have been injured and taken to hospital.

The blaze also caused some damage to infrastructure, including destroying the historic Mostert’s Mill next to the M3.

UCT Executive Director, Ujala Satgoor, confirmed that the disaster struck at the heart of the university’s library.

“I write this message with a deep sense of sorrow and loss at the havoc and devastation it wrought upon the Reading Room of the Jagger Library.

“As some of us watched, from on-site, with horror and helplessness this elegant and historical library burn, I can only imagine the shock and horror you must have felt as you watched the news reports and pictures of this destruction,” she wrote.

Satgoor said the Reading Room is completely gutted, while the fire detection system managed to trigger the fire shutters, thereby preventing the spread to other parts of the library.

“Some of our valuable collections have been lost. However, a full assessment can only be done once the building has been declared safe and we can enter the building. An official statement is forthcoming and until such time.

“I request that individuals refrain from speculation and conjecture.”

Residents near the fire are advised to take some precautionary steps, including:

• Remaining Hydrated.
• Keeping windows and doors closed until further notice, as protection against smoke and heat.
• Keeping pets indoors, where possible.
• Moving garden furniture that is flammable under cover, where possible.

If the situation gets worse, residents will be alerted timeously.

In the event of an emergency, please contact:

• City of Cape Town Emergency Services: 021 480 7700 or 107 if you are using a cell phone.
• Provincial Emergency Number: 112.
• Table Mountain National Park: 021 957 4700.

Sport, Arts and Culture Minister, Nathi Mthethwa, has expressed disappointment at Cricket South Africa’s (CSA) failure to adopt the revised Memorandum of Incorporation (MOI).

This comes after the CSA members’ council at the weekend reportedly voted against the adoption of the MOI during a special general meeting.

In a statement, the Ministry said the revised MOI that the affiliates decided against adopting, constituted an agreement between CSA members’ council and the interim board.

“Accordingly, any failure to ratify such an agreement entered into by a duly authorised members’ council representatives, can only be interpreted as acting in bad faith,” said the Ministry.

The turn of events, taking place following several missed opportunities by the members’ council, has left the Minister with no further option but to exercise his rights in terms of s13(5) of the Sports Act.

“To this end, the Minister will next week be taking the necessary steps required to exercise his rights in terms of the law prescripts,” said the Ministry.

Amendments to South Africa’s Plastic Carrier Bags and Plastic Flat Bags Regulations have been published in the Government Gazette for implementation.

“The amendments emanate from the review of all policies affecting plastic bags in the country. This included inputs from stakeholders directly and indirectly affected by policies relating to plastic bags and their management at post-consumer stage,” said the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment in a statement on Sunday.

The amendments focus on promoting a circular economy and ensuring circularity by prescribing the design through setting minimum recycled content in a phased manner starting 2023 until 2027.

“The recycled content or ‘post-consumer recyclate’ material is used in the manufacturing process informed by input material arising from waste generated by households or by commercial, industrial and institutional facilities.  These amendments are enhancing the demand-side of waste management and would secure the necessary demand to drive the diversion of plastic waste from landfill,” it said.

The amended regulations were gazetted by Minister Barbara Creecy on 7 April 2021 in terms of the National Environmental Management Act and the National Environmental Management: Waste Act.

The definition of “post-consumer recyclate” refers to material generated by households or commercial, industrial or institutional facilities, in their role as end-users of the product, which can no longer be used for its intended purpose.

It also includes returns of material from the distribution chain, as well as in-house scrap that already contains post-consumer recyclate content.

In terms of the prohibition of certain plastic bags, the amendment prohibits the manufacture, trade or commercial distribution of domestically produced or imported plastic carrier bags and plastic flat bags, for use in South Africa, other than those which comply with the Compulsory Specification for Plastic Carrier Bags and Flat Bags.

“This means that, as of the date of publication of the gazette, plastic carrier bags and plastic flat bags must be made from a minimum of 50% post-consumer recyclate from 1 January 2023, 75% of recycled materials from the start of 2025 and must comprise 100% post-consumer recyclate from 1 January 2027,” said the department.

In terms of the amendment, any person who contravenes the regulations could face a fine not exceeding R5 million or five year’s imprisonment. In the case of a second or subsequent conviction the person could be imprisoned for up to 10 years or face a R10 million fine.

The gazette can be accessed on https://www.environment.gov.za/sites/default/files/gazetted_notices/nema_amendements_44421gon317.pdf

Government has officially launched the COVID-19 vaccine online registration for the public as the Department of Health gears up for phase two of the country’s vaccine rollout.

According to Health Minister, Dr Zweli Mkhize, the Electronic Vaccination Data System (EVDS) is now available to the general public and all citizens aged 60 years and above are invited to register for vaccination.

“This launch marks a significant milestone not only for our vaccination campaign but for South Africa’s advancement towards Universal Health Coverage,” he said on Friday.

The Minister said this was the first time in democratic history that a major public health campaign will be supported by one digital system for all South Africans.

“The President, myself, hundreds of thousands of healthcare workers and now you, the citizens of South Africa, have or will all access the vaccines through the same process, by using this system.”

Mkhize explained that there will be no distinction between private and state healthcare users, except that private healthcare users will need to share their medical aid details.

“The quality of services will be the same for all of us and the system will assign a vaccination site closest to our homes or where we work and not based on whether a particular site is a public or private facility.”

He said citizens must have their ID, medical aid card and ensure they put in the correct cellphone number and residential address where they live.

However, the registration does not guarantee that you will be vaccinated immediately.

“We will use the information you provide when you register to communicate with you about the vaccination programme when necessary.”

How to register

1. Make sure you have internet access.

2. You will need a smartphone, a tablet or a computer.

3. Connect to the internet and go to vaccine.enroll.health.gov.za. The welcome screen will guide you through the steps and this is what the demonstration team will show us shortly.

4. Follow the instructions and put in all the details the system asks for.

5. When you are finished, the system will send an SMS to the phone number you provided. This means that the system now has your details in a queue to be scheduled for your vaccine.

6. You will then receive an SMS with a date and the place where you will be vaccinated. You will be sent to the vaccination centre that is closest to your home. Some of you may be directed to your place of work.

7. If you have problems you may contact the COVID-19 Hotline at 0800 029 999.

8. Citizen will be provided with a proof of vaccination card and receive a confirmation SMS on their phone.

Internet connection

Mkhize said the department will use the smartphones and petrol that has been donated by various companies and organisations to send teams out to help vulnerable citizens who do not have access to digital technology.

This includes the elderly, the homeless and those who live in the deep rural areas that are difficult to reach.

“We will ensure that these team members are easy to identify and that you can verify that they are indeed accredited outreach team members.”

They will also be trained to educate and raise awareness on vaccination in the community.

Government will soon announce a WhatsApp service to assist in this process.

“If you are unable to register by these methods, you may simply go to the nearest vaccination centre and we will register you on the spot. If you are 60 years or above we will also vaccinate you at the same time.”

According to Mkhize, this is only because government wants to prioritise those who are most at risk of getting sick or dying of COVID-19.

He has urged those who are technological savvy to assist senior citizens to register.

“Please help your mother, your father, your grandmother, your grandfather or your friend who is 60 years or older to register so they can get vaccinated.”

The revamping of the Botshabelo Industrial Park in the Free State has attracted investments of over R500 million and created more than 5 000 direct job opportunities.

The upgrading of the park is part of the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition’s Revitalisation of Industrial Parks Programme, which is being rolled out throughout the country to renovate State-owned industrial parks located in historically disadvantaged areas.

The objectives of the revitalisation programme include promoting industrialisation, attracting investments, increasing the occupancy rate of the parks, driving retention and expansion, and addressing inequality.

National Council of Provinces (NCOP) Chief Whip Seiso Mohai, who visited the park recently, said he was delighted to see that the Botshabelo Industrial Park will attract more investors through its revitalisation programme.

Mohai, accompanied by National Assembly Deputy Speaker Lechesa Tsenoli and Free State Provincial Whip Itumeleng Ntsube, has for the past two days been on an oversight visit to the industrial park to monitor and evaluate progress and its impact in the revitalisation of the township economy in the Free State.

During the visit, the delegation was briefed by various stakeholders, including Trade, Industry and Competition (dtic) Deputy Minister Nomalungelo Gina and Manguang Metropolitan Municipality Chief Whip Zolile Mangcotywa on the progress made and the crucial role the park has in advancing the country’s economy.

Mohai heard that 108 of 144 factories in the park are currently occupied and fully operational, increasing the park occupancy rate to more than 76.5%.

“The revitalisation of the township economy and projects in place have changed the image of Botshabelo Industrial Park and the perception many business people had about it. According to the presentations made to us, clearly more investors are in the pipeline,” said Mohai.

The delegation expressed their excitement that the park’s state-of-the-art digital hub is fully operational.

The hub has received R5 million in funding from the Small Enterprise Development Agency (Seda), an agency of the Department of Small Business Development.

The delegation also heard that Seda is currently hosting activations and boot camps in Thaba Nchu, Botshabelo and other areas surrounding Bloemfontein, to create awareness about the digital hub, and to identify young people who will receive training at the hub, as part of developing entrepreneurs in innovation to equip them for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR).

R760 million invested in industrial parks

The department has invested R760 million in industrial parks across the country through the revitalisation programme since its inception in 2015.

The revitalisation is implemented in phases, with the first phase focusing on upgrading the security features. Phase one of the Botshabelo Industrial Park was approved for funding of R24 million, and was the first industrial park to reach completion. The second phase was approved for almost R50 million.

The South African Council for Educators (SACE) has officially launched its Handbook on Teachers’ Safety and Security in South African Schools.

Unveiled on Friday, the handbook will serve as a toolkit for teachers on matters affecting them daily in the classroom/school environment, and focuses on their safety and security.

In a statement, SACE said the handbook is aimed at providing educators with access to their rights and responsibilities and deals with issues relating to violence in schools.

It also provides further guidance on how educators may protect themselves in violent situations they may confront in a school environment.

“It will assist teachers [in] what action to take to minimise or mitigate the risk of violence against every member of the school community. It further provides teachers with an opportunity to create a safe school environment,” SACE said.

The handbook was birthed from consultation with different stakeholders in education, both at provincial and national level, including teachers themselves being the key stakeholders, while SACE was at the fore in conceptualising and developing the handbook.

“Teachers are our national assets, whose professional work builds classroom communities and contributes immensely towards nation building. Thus, SACE, as a professional body, has a responsibility to campaign for the protection of our teachers, and ensure that the image and integrity of the teaching profession remain intact.

“Furthermore, SACE has the responsibility to respond to the erosion of fundamental values that unite school communities, and act as a moral compass to provide direction and guidance in schools and communities,” the council said.

Notwithstanding the importance of the entire school community, the council said the erosion of the values and violation of the human rights culture in schools has resulted in teachers being at the receiving end of various forms of violence in schools.

“Teachers’ rights are human rights, and our teachers are entitled to dignity, respect and protection within the schooling environment.”

The handbook is now available on all SACE social media platforms and website www.sace.org.za for download.

The South African government says it has noted with concern the incident at the Natanz nuclear facility in Iran on Sunday and the external factors that may have caused it.

The BBC quoted one of Iran’s top nuclear officials as saying a nuclear facility in Iran was hit by “sabotage” a day after it unveiled new uranium enrichment equipment, which caused a power failure at the Natanz complex, south of Tehran, on 11 April 2021.

The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) said South Africa notes that this incident occurred as the Joint Commission of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), commonly known as the Iran nuclear deal, is meeting in Vienna.

JCPOA is responsible for overseeing the implementation of the agreement.

“As negotiations on the JCPOA continue this week in Vienna, South Africa hopes that the discussions will focus on the full and effective implementation of the agreement and not be overshadowed by any implications and consequences of the recent incident at the Natanz nuclear facility.

“It is crucial for all parties to continue the momentum created during the JCPOA discussions last week in Vienna, in pursuit of positive steps towards a multilateral diplomatic outcome,” said DIRCO.

According to the Council on Foreign Relations, the Iran nuclear agreement is a landmark accord reached between Iran and several world powers, including the United States, in July 2015.

Under its terms, Iran agreed to dismantle much of its nuclear programme and open its facilities to more extensive international inspections in exchange for billions of dollars worth of sanctions relief.

Decreasing plastic waste and enhancing plastic recycling remains as a focus area for South Africa, says Forestry, Fisheries and Environment Minister, Barbara Creecy.

“A central focus of all our efforts has been to decrease plastic waste and enhance the recycling of plastics. This is in line with our commitment to reducing plastic waste in the environment and preventing this dangerous pollutant from entering our rivers and oceans,” said the Minister on Thursday.

Creecy was addressing a virtual session of the 2021 African Circular Economy Alliance (ACEA).

She said the economies of the African continent have been severely affected by the global COVID-19 pandemic.

“As we recover, we will have to use all the innovative tools at our disposal in order to build back better. One of the important ways in which we can do this is by fully integrating circular economy initiatives into our nation’s recovery plans,” she said, adding that the circular economy is consistent with South Africa’s Constitution.

“Our country’s post-COVID-19 Reconstruction and Recovery Plan includes a green economy component, which promotes waste recycling, renewable energy generation, revitalising our ecotourism and forestry sectors; and retrofitting government buildings to improve climate resilience and save on water and energy consumption.”

Creecy said efforts to reduce plastic waste have spanned across the retail and fast food sector, where significant initiatives by the Consumer Goods Council to eliminate single use plastics have been seen.

This includes the promotion of changes in product design to facilitate recycling, and investment in research and development to promote new products made from plastic recyclate.

Government is also in the process of amending plastic bag regulations. As a result, from 1 January 2021, all plastic bags must be made of a minimum of 50% post-recyclate material; 75% recycled materials from the start of 2025, and must comprise 100% post-consumer recyclate by 2027.

“These targets will be met by ensuring that post-consumer recyclate is made up of household, industrial and commercial waste diverted from landfills, thus further entrenching circularity in waste management and product development,” said Creecy.

Informal waste recyclers

Creecy said waste reclaimers and the informal sector must be accommodated in the value chain by addressing their role in the circular economy.

“In many towns and cities in South Africa, waste reclaimers are important actors in diverting recyclable material from landfills. Investment here will be focused on the economies associated with transporting of recyclables to waste processing facilities, separation at source, and addressing the skills gaps within the sector.

“Central to our efforts is a commitment to ensuring we transition reclaimers from a precarious hand-to-mouth existence, to sustainable and dignified livelihoods,” she said.

Reflecting on circular economy initiatives on the continent, Creecy said the implementation of the Africa Green Stimulus Programme (AGSP) is at the forefront of Africa’s response to the economic downturn caused by the pandemic.

The Minister said the African continent is the first region to establish a regional forum for circular economy implementation. This, she said, is a significant development for a continent with a growing population and a large informal business sector.

“At a continental level, we want to see recycling growing not only for effective waste management and resource use, but also to help us in addressing our challenges relating to unemployment and economic recovery.

“Incorporating informal economy actors, such as waste reclaimers and recyclers, is crucial, particularly in areas where there is limited government waste management capacity,” she said.