Archives

President Cyril Ramaphosa has launched a private sector-led, multi-sectoral Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF) Response Fund aimed at supporting the implementation of the National Strategic Plan (NSP), and the wider response in the country.

The response fund is a fulfilment of a resolution of the Gender-Based Violence and Femicide Declaration which followed the GBVF Summit held in 2018.

The summit brought together government, civil society and other role players in an effort to find lasting interventions to end GBVF.

The declaration endorsed President Ramaphosa’s call to all South Africans, including the private sector to respond to gender-based violence (GBV), and to allocate the resources required for a national strategy.

Progress made

Speaking at Thursday’s virtual launch, the President noted that whilst it has been a challenging year in which many of the priorities set by government for its term of office have had to take a back seat as the country responded to the COVID-19 pandemic, government has nevertheless made progress.

Progress has been made in a number of areas relating to gender-based violence and the financial inclusion of women.

“We convened a successful webinar on the ratification of [the] International Labour Organisation (ILO) Convention 190 on ending violence and harassment in the workplace, we joined the United Nations (UN’s) Generation Equality Forum and participated in advocacy around GBV and women’s financial inclusion.

“We also lobbied for gender-responsive trade policies to be developed as part of the African Continental Free Trade Area. As a country, South Africa has adopted a policy of 40% preferential public procurement for women-owned enterprises, and we are promoting a minimum target of 30% for the region.”

He said the launch of GBVF Response Fund is testament to the strength and power of social partnership.

“It has been a long and challenging road, but we have laid the cornerstone. This is just the beginning, and we are confident that the pledging process will continue into this year, as more of our partners in the private sector and international philanthropies come on board,” said President Ramaphosa.

He added that the business and donor communities have been the country’s dependable developmental partners since the advent of democracy.

“I am keenly aware that you have many competing demands on your money, especially during the pandemic. This is about so much more than philanthropy or corporate social responsibility… it is about making a solid investment in a South Africa that is truly egalitarian, non-racial, non-sexist, democratic, prosperous and free,” President Ramaphosa said.

Objectives and pledges

The fund has the following objectives:

• It is a vehicle for private sector contributions;
• Resources for the implementation of the NSP;
• Provide the necessary programming and financial infrastructure;
• Robust accountability and governance for private sector funds;
• Facilitate operational and strategic cohesion between donors and government; and
• Technical support for efficient and effective delivery of programme.

During the launch, business and donor communities commended President Ramaphosa for supporting effort to end GBVF. They also pledged some millions to the fund.

These included a R30 million contribution by Anglo-American, R20 million by ABSA Bank, and a R20 million contribution by the Ford Foundation.

The novel Coronavirus has claimed more than 45 000 lives since the first case was reported in March last year.

This is after 398 more COVID-19 related deaths were reported on Wednesday, pushing the death toll to 45 344.

Of the latest fatalities, 138 are from KwaZulu-Natal, 97 in Gauteng, 67 in the Western Cape, 46 in the Eastern Cape, 21 in Mpumalanga and 12 in Free State.

Two provinces recorded single-digit deaths — nine in the Northern Cape and eight in Limpopo.

Health Minister, Dr Zweli Mkhize, expressed his sympathies to those who have lost their loved ones and thanked the healthcare workers who treated the deceased.

Meanwhile, 4 060 people were confirmed to have contracted the deadly virus, with a positivity rate of 10%.

This brings the cumulative number of COVID-19 cases to 1 463 016 since the outbreak, of which 1 323 680 patients recovered, representing a recovery rate of 90.5%

Active cases continue to decline – from 95 508 to 93 992 since the last report.

The Minister said KwaZulu-Natal has 42 048 people who are currently infected, 13 445 in the Western Cape, 8 884 in the Free State, 8 727 in Gauteng and 7 722 in the North West.

Meanwhile, there are 3 890 active cases in the Northern Cape, 3 571 in Mpumalanga, 3 151 in Limpopo and 2 554 in the Eastern Cape.

Mkhize said 39 596 tests were conducted in the last 24 hours, bringing the cumulative total 8 369 287.

Globally, there have been 103 362 039 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 2 244 713 deaths, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said.

According to WHO, 3.7 million new cases were reported last week, a 13% decline as compared to the previous week and a decrease in the third consecutive week.

Meanwhile, there were 96 000 new deaths, a 1% decline as compared to the previous week.

“This brings the total number of cases to over 102 million and the total number of deaths to 2.2 million from 222 countries and territories,” the agency said.

All WHO regions, except South-East Asia, reported a drop in new cases.

Although new deaths declined globally by 1%, they rose in the Western Pacific (21%), Eastern Mediterranean (9%), and the Americas (4%).

30 January 2021 marked one year since WHO declared COVID-19 a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.

“At that time, there were 9 826 cases in 20 countries, and 213 deaths in one country, of which all were in were in China,” the agency said.

In the past week, five countries continue to report the highest number of new cases. These are the United States (1 072 287 cases, a 15% decrease), Brazil (364 593 cases, a 1% increase), the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland (178 629 cases, a 31% decrease), France (141 092 cases, a 2% increase) and Russia (131 039 cases, a 13% decrease).

The COVID-19 pandemic, which has engulfed South Africa and the rest of the world for the past 10 months has highlighted the importance of investments by governments in science, technology and innovation.

Evidence-based information has been at the heart of saving lives and developing a response to the deadly virus.

In the production of reagents, diagnostics, personal protective equipment (PPE) and a vaccine, scientific research has been critical.

The Department of Science and Innovation (DSI), led by the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, Dr Blade Nzimande, has been an active participant in the government’s Health Ministerial Advisory Committee, which was tasked with advising on the implementation of programmes to contain the pandemic and ensure the safety of all South Africans.

Nzimande recently briefed the media on the DSI’s efforts to prepare South Africa to manufacture a COVID-19 vaccine as soon as one becomes available.

The Minister highlighted the fact that the infrastructure necessary for doing this already existed in the country thanks to work previously done by the department.

The threat of future pandemics has thrust the country’s ability to develop and manufacture vaccines locally into the spotlight.

Government, through the DSI, owns a 47.5% stake in bio-pharmaceutical company Biovac as part of a joint venture with the private sector. Biovac has over the years developed the capability to manufacture vaccines.

Investing in research

Over the past two decades, the DSI has made huge investments in research and innovation that have enabled the country to respond effectively to COVID-19.

These investments were made not only in the health care and related sectors, but also in other sectors as part of the DSI’s efforts to become an innovative and inclusive department focused on improving the lives of all South Africans.

It is now widely accepted that science, technology and innovation are key to unlocking people’s potential and creating improved social conditions, a competitive economy and a workforce positioned to take the country into the future.

In 2019, the DSI produced a new White Paper that laid out a core policy for driving science, technology, and innovation that delivers positive socio-economic outcomes through initiatives in fields including energy, health care, education, climate change, food security and manufacturing.

The DSI will adopt a leadership role in this drive, acting as an enabler of innovations and scientific discoveries that will provide solutions needed to address a broad spectrum of societal needs today and in the future.

In leading this endeavour, the DSI will draw on the work it has been doing over the past two decades.

Innovations and interventions

Not only has this work been crucial for empowering the best minds in the country today, it has also yielded numerous innovations and interventions that are now helping to modernise and improve society.

These include the following:

• The Hydrogen SA programme, which is providing an alternative source of energy that is noiseless, effective and pollution-free.
• A number of mining innovations to modernise this sector.
• An additive manufacturing and titanium metal powder programme.
• The development of the world’s largest and fastest 3D printer.
• The development of a technology, known as Aquatrip, that identifies water leaks and prevents wastage by means of an inbuilt control valve.
• The development of a compound that has been found to have potent activity against all stages of malaria.
• A range of new biotechnology solutions, including animal feed products and an injectable bone regeneration product.
• A wheat breeding programme that is producing drought-resistant crops for sustainable food production and nutrition, one of many innovations to modernise the agricultural sector to ensure food security and sustainable nutrition.
• The project to the build the Square Kilometre Array (SKA), which will be the world’s largest radio telescope and the largest scientific infrastructure on the African continent.
• Technological innovations in Earth observation that have enabled the provision of mapping data for use in spatial planning, disaster management, and the protection of our marine resources.

The Department leads this and other work together with its entities, the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), National Research Foundation (NRF), Technology Innovation Agency (TIA), South African National Space Agency (SANSA), Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC), National Advisory Council on Innovation (NACI), Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) and the South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions (SACNASP).

Renaming the department

In 2019, the Department of Science and Technology (DST) was renamed the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) in order to broadly embrace the drive to build a future that draws on and applies science and innovation for the betterment of society.

Backed by science

In October, Dr Nzimande announced that the DSI would be rolling out a brand campaign showcasing the department’s work in various fields, including its contribution to the national response to COVID-19, in an effort to ensure that society is aware of the value of science in solving societal challenges.

“This will include work to address other diseases, as well as the contribution of science, technology and innovation in helping the economy recover from the pandemic, under the banner ‘Making Sure It’s Possible’ and the hashtags #itspossible and #backedbyscience,” the Minister said.

“I hope that, through this campaign, there will be a better appreciation of the impact of science, technology and innovation on our society, and a greater understanding that science saves lives.”

The National Consumer Commission (NCC) has launched an investigation into allegations of price gouging relating to garlic and ginger.

“The law defines price gouging as an unfair or unreasonable price increase that does not correspond to or is not equivalent to the increase in the cost of providing that good or service,” the NCC said on Wednesday.

The investigation follows an outcry by consumers carried in the media including social media platforms regarding alleged excessive prices of both products by various suppliers.

Consumer and Customer Protection and National Disaster Management Regulations and Directions, issued in terms of Regulation 350 of Government Notice 43116 contains a list of 22 essential products, which a supplier must not charge unfair or at an unreasonable price.

“This was done to protect consumers against unconscionable, unfair, unreasonable, unjust or improper commercial practises during the national disaster,” the NCC said.

Acting Consumer Commissioner Thezi Mabuza said the commission initiated this investigation, as empowered by Section 71 of the Consumer Protection Act (CPA), following a public outcry.

“The purpose of the CPA is, amongst others, to reduce and ameliorate any disadvantages experienced in accessing any supply of goods or services by consumers,” Mabuza said.

The investigations into the following companies have commenced:

• Food Lovers Market;
• Spar Group;
• Pick n Pay;
• Shoprite Group;
• Boxer Superstores;
• Cambridge Foods and
• Woolworths

“Our investigation is not limited to these suppliers. We urge consumers throughout the country to monitor the market and where they suspect excessive price increase, they must file complaints with the commission.

“These allegations, if proven true, would constitute a violation of Regulation 350 and an imposition fine of up to R1000 000 or up to 10% of a supplier’s annual turnover or even imprisonment for a period not exceeding 12 months,” Mabuza said.

Consumers are urged to lodge complaints by contacting the NCC at 0800 014 880 or 012 428 7000 during office hours.

Clinicians can now self-register to get their COVID-19 inoculation, as government prepares for its historic vaccination rollout in the next coming weeks.

Launching the Electronic Vaccine Data System (EVDS) on Wednesday, Health Minister, Dr Zweli Mkhize, said more than 34 000 frontline workers have already registered.

Healthcare workers can register on http://vaccine.enroll.health.gov.za.

In line with the phased approach of the vaccine rollout plan, the Minister is calling on all health workers to self-register on the portal.

According to Mkhize, those who have so far registered include clinical and non-clinical healthcare workers from both the public and private sectors.

Mkhize said medical students and traditional workers have been added to the list as well.

“If you’re working in a professional healthcare setting, you need to be registered. Anyone who touches patients, whether you are a porter, security guard or cleaner and everyone who’s at risk, must register.”

The EVDS will verify a person’s medical care worker status by checking against the employment data or other organisations that hire or regulate healthcare workers.

“Therefore, while it’s possible to register on the site if one is not a healthcare worker, the system will automatically prioritise verified healthcare workers for the period of phase one,” Mkhize explained.

Mkhize said it is very easy to register, takes less than one megabyte and about two minutes to complete the registration process.

Any frontline worker who cannot register online must seek assistance from the Occupational Health and Safety representatives in their municipalities.

However, Mkhize said if a health frontline worker has not registered, they will not be denied vaccination.

“You’ll be registered at the vaccination site. It will just take a few minutes longer. However, we encourage healthcare workers to register because it will help us to know how to refine our current allocations and get enough vaccines to the right centres at the right time,” the Minister said.

Registration guidelines

The Health Department’s Acting Chief Operating Officer (COO), Milani Wolmarans, said workers can register with either their ID or passport number.

The portal will collect general personal details, including name and surname, and the system will automatically calculate the date of birth.

The system also requires an email address and cell phone number.

“A cell phone number is important because it will be used to communicate with the healthcare worker. This is the only personal information communicated through the portal.”

Thereafter, the healthcare workers will be asked to fill in their information about employment and medical aid scheme.

The COO assured workers their data will be protected when they register for the vaccine, and that system has undergone penetration testing.

Wolmarans said the portal is managed through the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, and is owned by the National Department of Health.

“The system will not crash after a million people have been registered and the EVDS is built on the health patient registration system, which is already managing 59 million records.”

While there may be delays, Wolmarans said the system will not stop working.

Digital health information systems

Mkhize said this is the beginning of the complete vaccination health information system – from registration to certification.

“The system has been developed with the purpose of ensuring we lay a solid foundation for digital health information systems that inform the right national policies and interventions.”

Mkhize said government is making strides by capitalising on the department’s existing health patient registration platform, which will feed into the EVDS.

“The system can capture the relevant metrics of all South Africans that will be vaccinated and ensure they are contactable, and complete the certification process, such that they’re easy to obtain.”

Mkhize said government is proud to offer a service that ensures healthcare workers are inoculated efficiently.

“We’ve reached a significant milestone in our fight against COVID-19,” he said.

Critical dams in the Integrated Vaal River System (IVRS) recorded a further increase from 78.1% to 82% this week.

“The critical dams in the IVRS persist to hold firm and are rising up, owing to the ongoing rainfalls while the IVRS itself increases its levels to a healthier position week-on-week,” the Department of Water and Sanitation said on Wednesday.

The present levels of the system are higher compared to the same week last year when it stood at 64.9%.

The largest system in the country, the IVRS is critical to the economic hub of the Gauteng province, supplying water to key industries such as Sasol and electricity utility Eskom.

Other than Gauteng, the Free State, North West, and Mpumalanga, are reliant on the system for their water supply.

“One of the major dams in the system, the Vaal Dam, recorded a rise this week. Presently hovering at 79.8%, the dam went up from 75% last week.  Judged against last year’s levels at the same time when the dam was sitting at 57%, this week’s levels are substantially higher,” the department said.

Climbing higher to 108.4%, the Grootdraai Dam has improved from 100.8% last week.

“When juxtaposed with last year’s levels at the same period when it was at 101.9%, this week’s levels are a good improvement,” the department said.

The Bloemhof Dam is the only dam within the IVRS that has seen a decline this week.

The dam fell from 109.6% last week to 102% this week.  This week’s levels show a significant rise from last year’s levels when the dam floated at 77.5%.

Meanwhile, the Sterkfontein Dam has recorded an increase this week from 96.4% last week to 96.6% this week. The dam, which is a reserve located in the Free State, recorded 91.9% last year at the same period.

“Despite still being far below the 50% neutral mark, the Lesotho’s Mohale Dam has seen an increase this week. It jumped from 27.4% last week to 38.2% this week. During the same time week last year, the dam had dwindled to a distressing 13.3%,” the department said.

Continuing to see an upsurge week-on-week, the Katse Dam in Lesotho has turned the corner after floating in a shrunken state for a number of months.

“Presently, the dam hovers at an increased 64.8% from 56% last week.  During the same time last year, the dam stood at low 28.3%,” the department said.

The department has thanked the water consumers for responding to calls to use water wisely and sparingly.

“The department urges water users where possible to install a rainwater tanks to collect water rain from the gutters of roofs and to store in rain tanks or similar storage devices for garden irrigation. This water could also be directed to garden areas so that this is not wasted and washed into the storm-water system.”

KwaZulu-Natal Premier Sihle Zikalala says the province is ready for the opening of schools on 15 February 2021.

“The main aim is to have the first lesson during the first hour of the first day of school. This calls for readiness in terms of learner admission, availability of physical resources such as classrooms, stationary, textbooks, school furniture, water, sanitation, COVID-19 essentials, learner transport, as well as nutritious food for learners who are beneficiaries of the National School Nutrition Programme,” Zikalala said.

Addressing the media during a virtual briefing on Tuesday, Zikalala reported that out of 2 771 015 learners expected to be admitted, the province had admitted 2 769 212.

In order to assist parents whose children have not yet been admitted, districts have formed admission committees.

Timetables

While timetable options will not change drastically from last year, the Premier said some schools will need to alternate days in order to accommodate all learners while observing social distancing.

“The timetabling options will include alternating weeks, platooning, alternating days, hybridisation and normal timetabling. The choice of the timetabling option will be determined by the demand for classroom space and the consumption.

“With permission from the Minister of Basic Education, the province will communicate the dates for a staggered return of learners to schools before 15 February 2021,” Zikalala explained.

He said good progress has been made to ensure that all COVID-19 essentials are delivered to schools before the arrival of learners. This includes the provision of water and sanitation facilities.

“There is confirmation that all schools will have required COVID-19 essentials when learners arrive and this will include cloth masks for teachers and learners.”

Filling vacant posts

There has been good progress in the filling of vacant posts created in 2020 due to attrition, retirements, promotions, and even COVID-19 fatalities.

The vacant posts are for teachers, departmental heads, deputy principals, principals, screeners and cleaners.

To strengthen support for school functionality and productivity, Zikalala said office-based posts of circuit managers, curriculum specialists, including teacher development specialists, have been filled.

Delivery of textbooks, schools furniture       

The Premier noted good progress in the delivery of schools’ Learning and Teaching Support Material (LTSM), with 100% of all stationery and textbooks already delivered.

As of Tuesday, the province has delivered 96.4% of textbooks, and the remaining 3.6% will be delivered by the end of this week.

“The procurement of braille textbooks has been concluded and deliveries are ready to take place. Orders for “top up school furniture” were completed and 100% of school furniture is in the warehouse ready to be delivered by 15 February 2021,” Zikalala said.

Repair of damaged infrastructure

The repair of some of the schools which were damaged due to vandalism and storms during holidays will take place while schools are in operation, except for schools with severe damage where teaching and learning cannot take place.

“Schools will not run short of water because water tanks were installed in schools where there is no running water. There are 18 455 water tanks across the province,” Zikalala said.

Learner transportation

With regards to learner transportation, 85 contracts comprising 495 buses, 19 midi-buses and 212 taxis will be ready to transport 42 000 learners on the first day of school.

“For the purpose of COVID-19 compliant trips, there will be notices displayed in the vehicles about the wearing of masks.

“The Department of Education has made plans to ensure that all contracted dedicated learner transportation vehicles have sanitisers and disinfectants when schools open,” Zikalala said.

The Department of Basic Education has reiterated its commitment to finding a lasting solution to the challenge of non-payment of some general and education assistants employed amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The group are part of the Basic Education Employment Initiative (BEEI), aimed at addressing deficiencies in the basic education programme as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The initiative formed part of the President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Employment Stimulus Programme. The basic education sector was set to create 100 000 general school assistant jobs and 200 000 education assistant opportunities.

In a statement, the department said it had embarked on urgent steps to assist provinces in arresting the delays experienced in the payment process.

“The DBE convened an urgent meeting of Chief Financial Officers (CFOs) of the nine Education Departments across the country on Tuesday,” reads the statement.

The department urged all education and general assistants who are yet to receive their pay to contact coordinators in their respective province.

President Cyril Ramaphosa is set to launch a private sector-led multi-sectoral Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF) Response Fund aimed at supporting implementation of the National Strategic Plan (NSP) and the wider GBVF response in the country.

The President will preside over Thursday’s launch virtually.

With the International Women’s Forum South Africa (IWFSA) playing a leading collaborative role in this initiative, the launch exemplifies collective and strategic leadership and partnership in the fight against this scourge.

The Presidency said the creation of the Private Sector GBVF Response Fund 1 is a fulfilment of a resolution of the Gender-Based Violence and Femicide Declaration which followed the 2018 GBVF Summit.

The Summit brought together government, civil society and other role players in an effort to find lasting interventions to end GBVF.

The declaration endorsed President Cyril Ramaphosa’s call to all South Africans, including the private sector, to respond to GBV and to allocate the resources required for a national strategy.

The proceedings of the launch will be livestreamed on the Presidency and Government’s digital platforms.

Government has welcomed car maker Ford’s investment into the South African economy.

The new Ford investment at the manufacturer’s Silverton plant, when completed, will pump R1.3 billion in wages and salaries annually into the Tshwane economy.

Tuesday’s announcement follows the designation of the area as a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in late 2019 by the Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Ebrahim Patel.

The R16 billion in investment would cover expansion of the Ford assembly plant in phases to reach a capacity to assemble 200 000 vehicles locally, principally centred on the new Ford Ranger bakkie.

An anticipated 1 200 jobs would be created in the Ford plant with thousands of additional jobs at suppliers to the company.

The announcement was preceded by a site visit by President Cyril Ramaphosa and other dignitaries to the construction site where a supplier park is being built.

President Ramapahosa gave the keynote address at the event.

The Ford Motor Company had been in negotiation with the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC) on the expansion of the plant, making it one of the largest Ford Ranger plants outside of the United States.

Patel said five key government policies championed by the President, informed the decision of Ford, and enabled rapid decision-making.

“First, the Special Economic Zones framework. In October 2019 we revamped our Special Economic Zone policy, leading to the designation of Tshwane as an Automobile SEZ. Based on this, Ford took the opportunity to announce that they will help build a massive supplier hub in Tshwane and this in turn made the massive investment in the Ford plant itself worthwhile.

Tshwane is on the road to becoming an Auto City, producing cars for local use and export to more than 150 countries,” said the Minister.

Patel said the mobilisation of investment also played a role.

“President Ramaphosa set a target of R1.2 trillion of fresh investment needed to be raised over a five-year period, in order to grow the economy. Today’s announcement of R16 billion by one firm alone is 1.3% of the total.

It will create jobs for women and young people and opportunities for small businesses and local suppliers,” he said.

South Africa’s master plans which drive policy

“The reimagined industrial strategy focusses on sector partnerships which we call master plans. The Ford announcement is made possible by the auto-master plan, which seeks to double jobs and auto production in South Africa by 2035.”

The Minister said transformation and opportunities for small and medium businesses are key goals of the master plan.

 African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)

“Fourth, the opening of new markets for locally-produced products, including the new African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which has now entered the implementation phase. It will create a massive market and demand, for locally-produced machinery, clothes and food, and of course Ford Ranger vehicles.

“Fifth, the District Development Model which brings together the different spheres of government within an area to drive better coordination and implementation. It shows that the state can be agile and implementation-focused,” he said.

The announcement of the first major investment was made in less than 15 months following the designation of the SEZ.

The Minister said further announcements will be made in the next 18 months as suppliers finalise plans and take occupation of state-of-the art production facilities.

Minister Patel paid tribute to the partnership with the Premier of Gauteng and the work of the Director General of the DTIC and the senior management of Ford Motor Company for their problem-solving approach to the project.

“This is a boost for our efforts to recover growth and jobs in the economy following the impact of Covid-19 on livelihoods and to prepare South Africa for the opportunities of the AfCFTA,” Minister Patel said.