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As the country gears up for 16 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children campaign, Social Development Minister Lindiwe Zulu has called for action demonstrating that gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) has no space in society.

Zulu made the call during the final leg of Mzansi ACT Now Walk against GBVF in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal.

The Minister participated in the walk with the aim to draw attention to the unacceptably high levels of GBVF and to highlight government’s programmes to prevent, reduce and empower survivors.

The 10-day walk, which started on 1 November in Heidelberg, Gauteng, ended on 10 November 2020 at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban.

Speaking after the final walk, Zulu called on individuals to address attitudes and beliefs that support GBV like violence and patriarchal norms; the impact of adverse childhood experiences on both perpetrators and victims; substance addiction and individual’s relationship with peers.

Zulu called on individuals to intervene to address impulsive and antisocial behaviours, and ensure the family environment is emotionally supportive to individuals.

“As a society, we must address inequalities based on gender, race and sexual orientation; address harmful religious and cultural beliefs and practices, and introduce empowering economic and social policies,” Zulu said.

She said the Department of Social Development will continue to support all people that stands up to fight against GBVF.

“Government as a whole, in particular the department, has a mandate of ensuring the protection of all vulnerability groups by creating an enabling environment for the provision of a comprehensive, integrated and sustainable social development service.”

National Strategy Plan

Through President Cyril Ramaphosa, the South African government has approved the National Strategy Plan to intensifying efforts in the fight against GBV.

The department was instrumental in the development of the strategy, and is leading in pillar four of the strategy, which includes response, care, support and healing.

Pillar four seeks to ensure that every survivor of GBV has access to appropriate and sensitive response, care and support that facilitates immediate containment, and medium to long-term healing.

It also recognises that effective response, care and support is integral to healing and comprehensively working towards eradicating GBV in South Africa.

“We are reforming legislation through amendments of various pieces of legislations that will ensure that our laws are tighten to curb GBV and femicide. We have presented to Cabinet a Victim Support Services Bill that has gone for public comments and it is meant to ensure a victim-centred approach in the criminal justice system,” Zulu said.

She said the department recognises the importance of speedy response in cases of GBV, “hence all survivors and victims should be able to access care and support services to reduce the impact of GBV, 24 hours a day and seven days a week”.

GBV command centre

Meanwhile, Zulu reiterated the call for South Africans to use the GBV Command Centre (GBVCC), which offers immediate response and psychosocial support services to victims.

The GBVCC call centre operates 24 hours/7 days, and the services are manned by qualified social workers, who are responsible for call taking and call referrals.

The centre has an emergency line – 0800 428 428 – and is supported by a “Please call me” facility: *120*7867#, a Skype Line to assist the deaf community (add ‘Helpme GBV’ to your Skype Contacts) and an SMS Based Line (SMS ‘Help’ to 31531).

The by-elections taking place in 95 wards across 55 municipalities in all nine provinces have kicked off on a good note, the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) said.

Voting in almost all the voting stations started at 7am and is expected to close at 9pm at 455 voting stations, 233 (51%) of which are in schools, 65 (14%) are in places of worship and 157 (35%) are in other structures.

The results of the by-elections are expected to be announced by midday on Thursday.

The by-elections are being contested by 40 political parties, with a total of 444 candidates certified as contestants. This includes 19 independent candidates.

Of the candidates, 305 (69%) are male and 139 (31%) are female.

On Monday, the Chief Electoral Officer of the IEC, Sy Mamabolo, said everything was ready and in place for the by-elections.

The by-elections are the first to be held since election activities were suspended in March this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic and are a “catch-up” of all by-elections postponed between March and September.

Mamabolo said a total of 609 133 voters are on the certified voters’ rolls for the various by-elections.

A total of 23 008 individuals (3.7%) applied and were approved to cast special votes. Of these, 12 218 are via home visits and 10 790 will cast special votes at voting stations.

“The Electoral Commission is confident that the by-elections will be free, fair and safe – as long as all stakeholders conform to the strict safety measures and protocols put in place at voting stations.

“Protective equipment, including masks, gloves and face shields, have been procured for election staff at voting stations and for conducting home visits for those voters who are physically disabled, infirm or pregnant,” Mamabolo said on Monday.

The Electoral Commission said it is confident that all logistical, human resource and safety preparations are in place to ensure free, fair and safe elections.

Of the 95 wards (by-elections):

• 20 are in the Northern Cape across eight municipalities;

• 19 are in the Eastern Cape across 13 municipalities;

• 14 are in Gauteng across six municipalities;

• 12 are in KwaZulu-Natal across nine municipalities;

• 11 are in the Western Cape across 5 municipalities;

• Six are in the North West across four municipalities;

• Five are in Mpumalanga across three municipalities;

• Four are in Limpopo across four municipalities and

• Four are in the Free State across three municipalities.

The by-elections includes two dissolved councils in the Northern Cape, where PR candidates must also be elected (nine PR seats in Phokwane and three PR seats in Renosterberg).

Voters are reminded to only vote at the voting station where they are registered.

They must also:

• Bring their green barcoded ID document or smartcard ID.
• Wear a mask and observe social distancing at all times.
• Bring their own pen if they wish to avoid using the ones provided.

COVID-19 protocols

• Strict social distancing practices both outside and inside voting stations.

• The mandatory wearing of masks over nose and mouth of all persons within the boundaries of the voting station.

• The application of hand sanitisers to all persons entering and exiting the voting station.

• The replacement of the traditional indelible ink marker pens with an indelible ink liquid, which will be applied from a bottle to the thumb of voters using cotton buds, which will be disposed after each use.

Higher Education, Science and Innovation Minister, Dr Blade Nzimande, has commended the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) for receiving a third consecutive clean audit for the 2019/20 financial year.

For the third year running, the Auditor-General delivered an unqualified audit opinion without any findings on the DSI’s financial statements, and an Audit Committee report expressed satisfaction with the manner in which the department had conducted its affairs.

“The DSI achieved 87% (or 40 out of 46) of its targets, with just six targets (13%) not achieved,” Nzimande said.

The Minister also noted the Auditor-General’s statement that the department should be recognised for adhering to best practice in its corporate and financial governance.

“During the period under review, Cabinet adopted the White Paper on Science and Innovation in March 2019. This White Paper was developed in response to rapid global technological advancement and megatrends, as well as the need to harness Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) for greater and more inclusive social and economic impact.

“The department made significant progress in the development of the first Decadal Plan for STI, through which the new White Paper on STI will be implemented. The framework for the Decadal Plan, as well as institutional and strategic reviews and a foresight exercise to identify STI priority areas, had been completed, and the Decadal Plan will be finalised by the end of 2020/21 financial year,” the Minister said.

To ensure that the Decadal Plan was aligned with other government master plans, Nzimande said DSI will also be consulting the Departments of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development; Mineral Resources and Energy; Health; and Trade, Industry and Competition, among others.

Batho Pele Excellence Awards

Nzimande further congratulated DSI Director-General, Dr Phil Mjwara, for scooping the annual Batho Pele Excellence Awards for Best Director-General of the Year, while the department was recognised as the Best Functioning National Department of the Year.

“I also congratulate the entire DSI staff, led by the Director-General, for its commitment, dedication and resolve to ensure that the department maintains and improves its annual performance by achieving most of their set targets and financial prudence,” Nzimande said.

Issues of mutual interest within the South Africa – DRC Strategic Partnership formed part of discussions between International Relations and Cooperation Minister, Dr Naledi Pandor and her Democratic Republic of Congo counterpart, Minister Marie Tumba Nzeza.

Pandor and Nzeza, who is Minister of State and Minister of Foreign Affairs in the DRC, held political consultations in Cape Town on Tuesday.

“The two delegations discussed matters of mutual bilateral and multilateral interest within the context of the South Africa – DRC Strategic Partnership… Bilateral relations between the two countries are conducted under the General Cooperation Agreement of 14 January 2004, which provides for the Bi-National Commission (BNC),” said the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO).

The Ministers agreed to firm up the dates for the convening of the BNC in early 2021.

This will provide an opportunity to appraise progress made in the implementation of programmes within the broader areas of political, economic and social cooperation.

“Furthermore, the BNC meeting will review the existing agreements and explore opportunities in areas such as agriculture, tourism and infrastructure, among others. The Ministers discussed future closer cooperation and support when the DRC assumes the chairship of the African Union in 2021,” said DIRCO.

The Ministers acknowledged progress in the Grand Inga Hydropower project as a potential game-changer to address electricity demand in Africa, and the development of the continent in general.

“There was consensus that to realise Africa’s development aspirations, more work needs to be done to create a peaceful and stable environment that will enable African countries to realise their full potential,” said DIRCO.

South Africa has conveyed condolences to the government and people of the State of Palestine following the passing of Dr Saeb Erekat.

Erekat was the Secretary-General of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO), member of the Fatah Central Committee and prominent academic, the lead Palestinian peace negotiator, as well as a close friend of South Africa.

“It is indeed a great loss for Palestine, one of the recognisable persons among the Palestinian leadership and of great stature, who has displayed an extraordinary patience and resilience,” said the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO).

The department said Erekat was deeply committed to protecting the rights and freedoms of all Palestinians, especially in light of the obstacles and immeasurable challenges faced by the Palestinian cause in the past decades.

“The people of Palestine have lost a committed leader and fighter, and a close and enduring friend of South Africa. Dr Erekat will be highly regarded and remembered for the exceptional roles he undertook.

“Over the course of decades, Dr Erekat served in a number of roles in the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO), including Minister of Local Government, chairman of the negotiation delegation and later secretary general.”

Erekat also dedicated his unwavering support for South Africa’s freedom struggle, and will be remembered by all in South Africa for his selfless contribution to the struggle while carrying the heavy mantle of Palestinian statehood.

DIRCO said the government and people of South Africa will continue to act in solidarity with the peoples and leadership of the region, as well as the international community in the development of a comprehensive, just and lasting solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

“This includes ensuring that the final status issues, including the status of Jerusalem, is not undermined by unilateral acts of countries in contravention of international law.”

The global cases of COVID-19 have increased by 8% compared to the previous week, totalling more than 3.6 million new cases, while new deaths increased by 21% to over 54 000, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said.

“This brings the cumulative numbers to over 49.7 million reported cases and over 1.2 million deaths globally since the start of the pandemic,” the organisation said.

The European region still accounts for the greatest proportion of new cases and deaths in the past seven days after reporting over half (54%) of all new cases and nearly half (47%) of additional deaths.

“Although it still accounts for only 2% of the global total number of cases and deaths, this week the Western Pacific region showed the largest relative proportional increase in new cases (19%) compared to the previous week, followed by the Eastern Mediterranean region (18%) and the European region (11%).”

Meanwhile, the three regions reporting the highest proportional upsurges in newly reported deaths in the past seven days compared to the previous week are Europe (44%), Africa (30%) and the Eastern Mediterranean (23%).

“The Western Pacific region was the only region to report a decrease in deaths (5%) this week compared to the previous week,” said WHO.

The five countries reporting the highest number of cases in the past week were the United States of America, France, India, Italy and the United Kingdom.

Africa

Africa reported nearly 34 000 new cases and 831 new deaths in the past week.

Meanwhile, the number of new deaths reported in the last week was 30% higher than it was in the previous week, driven largely by increases seen in South Africa, Kenya, and Uganda.

“South Africa continues to report the highest number of new cases and deaths in the region, accounting for nearly a third of new cases and over half of the new deaths,” WHO said, adding that the number of new cases reported by South Africa peaked mid-July, the height of winter, when there were more than 86 000 cases reported weekly.

“By September, South Africa was reporting fewer than 15 000 cases per week, and in the past week, there were nearly 10 500 cases reported (176 new cases per million population).”

Meanwhile, deaths have also fallen from over 1 500 deaths per week at the end of July and beginning of August, to 513 deaths reported in the past week, although it is 55% higher than it was in the previous week.

According to WHO, as of 31 October, five provinces reported over 80% of cases namely, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Western Cape, Eastern Cape and Free State.

The median age of COVID-19 cases in South Africa is 39 years, and 58% of cases are female.

“The reason for this higher prevalence among females could be due to females being more represented in certain occupations in education and health sectors, where they may be at greater risk of infection, as well as differences in health-seeking behaviour,” said WHO.

Kenya is reporting the second-highest number of weekly new cases in the African region.

South Africa has now performed 5 010 350 COVID-19 tests since the outbreak, 17 269 of which were conducted in the last 24 hours.

Meanwhile, 106 people succumbed to the respiratory disease, pushing the death toll to 19 951.

Of the recent deaths, 33 are from the North West, 24 from the Eastern Cape, 15 each from the Free State and the Western Cape, 12 from KwaZulu-Natal, and seven from Gauteng.

“Of the 106 deaths reported today, 15 were reported to have occurred in the past 24 to 48 hours.

“We extend 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, on Tuesday.

The number of detected cases is now 740 254 after 1 729 new patients contracted the virus.

According to Mkhize, the Free State now has 10 376 active cases, followed by the Eastern Cape with 7 144, KwaZulu-Natal 5 385 and Western Cape 4 460.

In addition, the Northern Cape has 3 588 active cases, North West 3 192, Gauteng 1 984, Mpumalanga 562 and Limpopo 418.

“Our recoveries now stand at 683 194, which translates to a recovery rate of 92%,” Mkhize said.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has described the confrontation outside Brackenfell High School in Cape Town as deeply regrettable and has called on all parties involved to act responsibly.

On Monday, a violent confrontation broke out between a group of parents from the school and members of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF). The EFF members were protesting against alleged racism at the school.

“At this most important and difficult time for matriculants, not only at Brackenfell High School but around the country, the spectacle of parents and protestors coming to blows at the school gate is deeply unfortunate.

“It is the right of every South African to engage in peaceful protest, and any actions to suppress the right to freedom of expression, particularly through violence and intimidation, must be roundly condemned,” said President Ramaphosa.

The President said yesterday’s brawl at the school brings back hurtful memories of a past the country should never seek to return and added that allegations of racism levelled against the school needed to be urgently investigated.

“We should be ever mindful of the extent to which our actions, both publicly and in private, undermine the cherished principle of non-racialism upon which our democracy was founded,” he said.

The President called on all parties concerned to exercise restraint and to resolve their differences peacefully and through dialogue.

“We should not allow what has transpired at Brackenfell High School to be used by any groupings who want to cause racial polarisation,” said President Ramaphosa.

Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula has expressed his condolence to the families of the 14 people who lost their lives in a fatal crash along the N3, near Escourt.

In a statement on Tuesday, the Minister who conveyed his condolences, also welcomed the swift response of the KwaZulu-Natal government following the crash which wherein a minibus taxi ferrying passengers collided with two trucks on the national road.

Preliminary investigations indicate that the minibus was travelling in-between two trucks when it became wedged between the two vehicles after a truck in front of the taxi jack-knifed.

The 14 fatalities, which include the taxi driver, were all from the minibus taxi with one survivor having been taken to hospital in a critical condition. Both truck drivers survived the accident.

KZN Transport, Community Safety and Liaison MEC Bheki Ntuli has since called an urgent meeting with the freight industry to discuss the collision.

Mbalula welcomed Ntuli’s swift intervention as well as the prompt commencement of investigations by the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) and the police.

“It is important that we get to the bottom of the factors which contributed to this tragic loss of life. Not only for the sake of bringing closure to those who have lost their loved ones but also as a way of preventing similar carnage in future,” said the Minister.

He also called for extreme caution on roads as the country approaches the festive season.

“We urge all road users to remain vigilant, rest often during long distance travel, keep a safe following distance in adverse weather conditions, refrain from driving under the influence of alcohol and adhere to the speed limit,” he said.

Four suspects arrested in July 2020 for multiple murders in Phillipi East are expected to appear in the Athlone Magistrate’s court today.

Ongoing investigations into multiple murders plaguing a number of townships in the Cape Town metropole, have led to the arrest of four suspects in Cofimvaba, in the Eastern Cape on Sunday.

The extensive investigations undertaken by Western Cape detectives with the support of crime intelligence and Eastern Cape police pursued specific information which led to the four arrests.

“The suspects, aged between 23 and 26 were apprehended on the R61 route between Cofimvaba and Queenstown. They are currently in custody in the Eastern Cape.

“At this point of the investigations into the multiple murders, the suspects can be linked to the following cases; the Phillipi East in June where 2 people were murdered, the Phillipi East in July where 2 people were shot and killed, Gugulethu NY 108 in June where 3 people were killed and the Phillipi East, in Block 4, Lower Crossroads where 4 people were killed and 1 injured in June.

“Plans are underway to ensure the suspects are brought back to Cape Town where they are expected to appear in court soon,” the SAPS said.

As the investigations unfold, the possibility that the arrested suspects will be linked to other multiple murder cases cannot be ruled out.

Western Cape Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Yolisa Matakata, has praised the commitment of all the police officials involved as they ensured that the suspects were apprehended.

“While the arrests signal a significant milestone in the investigation, I am confident that the team’s unrelenting efforts are yet to deliver more in our quest to eradicate serious and violent crimes,” said Lieutenant General Matakata.