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Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula says a recently unveiled multifaceted security plan, anchored on insourcing capacity, will make an invaluable contribution to the fight against theft and vandalism of rail infrastructure.

Mbalula on Tuesday participated in a debate in the National Assembly, which focused on the impact that the ongoing damage to public rail infrastructure has on the economic lives of the most vulnerable and poor commuters.

Security-related incidents in the rail environment increased by 20% between 2017/18 and 2018/19 from 7 737 to 9 268.

Since 2012/13, security related incidents per million train kilometres increased by 175% per million train kilometres.

Theft and vandalism accounted for 88% of all security-related incidents in 2018/19.

“In addressing the pressing challenges that impact on the livelihoods of the poor, who rely on the rail system for their mobility needs, we have sought to secure the passenger rail environment by bolstering passenger security.

“The previous security arrangement was based on a 100% outsourcing model and placed reliance on private security firms. Notwithstanding the huge cost, that intervention was clearly not realising the desired outcomes,” Mbalula said.

A new security plan was recently unveiled and this plan is premised on developing the requisite internal capability and capacity to mitigate and combat theft and vandalism of the rail infrastructure.

The plan prioritises:

–       Internal security capability for armed response, control room operations and increasing the number of physical security officials.

–       An e-guarding solution has been introduced for the protection of mission critical assets, which include substations, relay rooms and sites for global systems for mobile communications for the railway environment (GSM-R), with early warning security technology and defensive security systems.

–       Specialised investigation services, with legal support and an access to a criminal laboratory. This capability will assist to improve investigations and charging of offenders under the Criminal Matters Amendment Act of 2015. The successful prosecution and conviction of offenders could lead to sentencing of imprisonment not exceeding 30 years or in case of a corporate body, a fine not exceeding R100 million.

–       Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems, also referred to as drones, have been deployed to conduct virtual patrols of high-risk infrastructure. This capability will work in tandem with specialised investigations and armed response.

“These interventions are not only security force multipliers, but also enablers that will make an invaluable contribution to the enhancement of security responses to the theft and vandalism, and will also result in a significant reduction in crime statistics in the rail environment.

“These will be complemented by the walling of corridors, with the Mabopane corridor in Gauteng and the Central Line in Cape Town already at procurement phase,” said Mbalula.

The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Police, Tina Joemat-Pettersson, has condemned the barbaric mass shooting that took place in Gugulethu, Cape Town.

The death toll has since risen from seven to eight after one of two survivors died in hospital.

Joemat-Pettersson has since called for the South African Police Service (SAPS) to leave no stone unturned in investigating the heinous crimes that took place on Monday.

The deceased, aged between 30 and 40 years, were shot and killed by unknown gunmen at a house in NY 78 in Gugulethu.

“The killings are concerning in the context of the worrying upward trend in murders in general in the country. Also, the shooting follows similar killings of six people in Khayelitsha in September, five people in Joe Slovo in October and the killing of seven people in Phillipi in July,” she added.

The Chairperson has emphasised the importance of collaboration between the police and the community to fight the scourge of crime in communities.

She said the situation in the Cape Flats also requires all stakeholders to rally together and fight these crimes head-on.

Joemat-Pettersson has called on the SAPS and the Anti-Gang Unit to come up with strategies to prevent such attacks from happening, especially as the festive season draws near.

“The proliferation of illegal firearms in our streets is also an issue of concern and the SAPS must come up with concrete strategies in completely dealing with this matter,” the committee said, adding that an intelligence-led investigation is necessary.

The committee said it would engage senior management of SAPS at provincial and national levels to get a briefing on how they envisage fighting this scourge.

Western Cape Premier Alan Winde has called for speedy action from the SAPS.

“I share our people’s anger at the horrific massacre that took place in Gugulethu last night [Monday], where eight people have been murdered.”

Winde has extended his deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of those who have been killed.

“There must now be swift action from the SAPS to ensure the arrest and prosecution of all those involved. No stone must be left unturned,” he added.

The Western Cape Minister of Community Safety, Albert Fritz, also called for the transversal steering committee on organised crime to urgently convene and address this latest incident.

The committee was to be established following an engagement with the Minister of Police Bheki Cele on 16 September 2020.

Winde said the province would continue to do whatever they can to play their part in building a safer Western Cape.

“That is why during my special address to the legislature last month I said that we will continue with our boots-on-the-ground commitments, including the deployment of an additional 500 officers to those 500 already deployed.”

The province has called on anyone with information on this matter to immediately come forward and report such to their local SAPS station, call Crime Stop on 08600 1011 or use the tip-off function on the MySAPS cellphone application.

The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) has received over 493 000 applications from students seeking funding for 2021.

With only four weeks left before the closing of the NSFAS 2021 application cycle, Higher Education, Science and Innovation Minister, Dr Blade Nzimande, said an analysis has revealed that the number of applications received to date is almost doubled the number of applications received in previous cycles.

“By this time last year (during the 2020 application cycle), NSFAS had only received over 287 769 applications.

“Female applicants account for 68% (338 324) of the total, while male applicants only account for 32% (155 543). This trend has been continuing in this trajectory for the past three years,” Nzimande said in a statement.

The Minister said there have been major improvements from provinces that had extremely low applications in the past two years, with the Eastern Cape, Mpumalanga, Free State and North West having doubled their previous year’s statistics.

“These latest statistics are encouraging and give an indication that NSFAS’s efforts in providing easy access through partnerships is yielding positive results,” Nzimande said.

KwaZulu-Natal remains the leading province, with its applications accounting for 26% of the overall applications statistics, followed by Gauteng with 21% and Limpopo with 17%.

Nzimande further expressed his gratitude to the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) and the Department of Basic Education for their continuous support and partnership.

“NYDA centres, teachers’ centres and NSFAS application centres across the country will remain operational throughout the application cycle. We would like to encourage applicants to use these centres,” said Nzimande.

The applications cycle opened on 3 August 2020 and will close on 30 November 2020.

Virtual Outreach Exhibition

NSFAS has launched a Virtual Outreach Exhibition (VOE), which is an interactive live streaming session.

The VOE is a 3D online portal, where a user can embark on a virtual tour of NSFAS products and services, virtual exhibition simulation, real time engagement, and watch an application demonstration.

VOE is available 24 hours a day without restrictions on location or time.

This platform is based on two principles: accessibility and innovation, connecting people, object and spaces through enhanced visualisation and enabling them to interact.

The VOE is accessible via the NSFAS website www.nsfas.org.za/content/outreachapp. Applicants can access in-demand content such as how to apply video, pre-recorded video and download NSFAS content and digital poster.

The platform is compatible and available using a mobile device, tablet or personal computer.

Mpumalanga Community Safety, Security and Liaison MEC Gabisile Shabalala has once again called on motorists, especially truck drivers, to use the road with great caution to avoid fatalities.

She said road crashes could be avoided if motorists exercise caution and obey rules.

This, after an accident involving a Sedan and a truck on the R23 between Balfour and Greylingstad near Sprucewell, claimed three people on Tuesday.

According to an eyewitness, the Sedan crashed on the backside of the truck, which then overturned and rolled over the passenger vehicle.

The three who died at the scene include the Sedan driver and two passengers, while the truck driver walked away unharmed.

Meanwhile, the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) together with Santam has since collaborated with its stakeholders to raise road safety awareness and driver wellness focusing on long-distance truck drivers.

Santam, South Africa’s largest general insurer and the RTMC are determined to promote heavy vehicle road safety to reduce the number of preventable truck accidents.

According to the RTMC’s spokesperson Simon Zwane, heavy load vehicles with a mass of 3.5 tons or more were involved in 4% of crashes resulting in 1 250 deaths in 2019.

“Now in its third year, the partnership aims to raise awareness around fatigue and health issues that have a direct impact on truck accidents,” Zwane said.

The Head of Heavy Haulage at Santam, Anton Cornelissen, said he believes that road safety is the domain of everyone, not just government.

“Further advancement of the country’s road safety initiatives, such as driver and pedestrian behaviour, as well as awareness of the sector’s economic benefits are extremely important,” Cornelissen added.

Cornelissen said that truck drivers work under unique physically demanding conditions, which puts them at increased risk of a range of chronic health conditions, including diabetes and hypertension.

These conditions coupled with fatigue can negatively affect the reaction time and significantly increase the risk of collisions, he explained.

The partners are calling on truck drivers to get enough rest and a minimum of six hours of sleep before a long trip.

“They should also not drive continuously for more than five hours and follow this up with a break of at least 15 minutes.”

Zwane is encouraging fleet operators to prioritise the health and wellness of truck drivers as the festive season approaches, which is characterised by a high fatal crash rate.

Higher Education, Science and Innovation Minister Blade Nzimande has welcomed the arrest of five suspects for the killing of Coastal Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) College student, Smanga Zulu.

Zulu, together with two other students from Coastal KZN TVET College in uMbumbulu Campus, were shot by unknown assailants on 21 October 2020.

The three students were rushed to KwaMakhutha Clinic. Zulu, who died at the clinic, was laid to rest on 31 October 2020 in eMondlo, Northern KwaZulu-Natal.

The other two students are currently recuperating well in hospital.

Two suspects made a brief appearance in uMbumbulu Magistrate Court on 2 November 2020 while the other three appeared in the same court on 3 November 2020.

It is expected the suspects will be facing charges ranging from murder to suspected murder. The case was postponed to 11 November 2020.

“I congratulate SAPS for swiftly arresting these suspects. I am grateful to the members of the community who cooperated with the police during their investigation,” Nzimande said.

Nzimande also wished the two students who are still in hospital a speedy recovery.

Call for swift arrest in murder of college Head of Infrastructure

Meanwhile, Nzimande has also urged law enforcement agencies to act decisively and swiftly in arresting an assailant who shot and killed the Head of Infrastructure at the same TVET College, Lindinkosi Mazibuko.

Mazibuko was shot in the campus staff parking lot by an unknown assailant on 30 October 2020. The perpetrator disappeared after the incident.

The Minister visited Mazibuko’s family home in Donnybrook outside Bulwer on Sunday, where he expressed his heartfelt condolences to the family, friends and the entire Coastal TVET College community.

Nzimande also called on members of the community who might have information that leads to the arrest of the criminals to contact the police.

Police spokesperson Colonel Thembeka Mbele said a case of murder has been opened at KwaMakhutha Police Station for investigation.

South Africa recorded 1 241 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, while 74 more people lost their lives to the respiratory disease.

Of the latest fatalities, 35 are from the Eastern Cape, 11 from the Western Cape, eight each from Gauteng and the Northern Cape, six each from the Free State and KwaZulu-Natal.

According to Health Minister, Dr Zweli Mkhize, 10 deaths were reported in the past 24 to 48 hours, bringing the death toll to 19 539.

“We extend our condolences to the loved ones of the departed and thank the healthcare workers who treated the deceased patients,” the Minister said.

Meanwhile, the total number of COVID-19 cases now sits at 728 836, with 50 048 cases still active.

The recovery rate is still standing at 90%, after 659 249 patients recuperated to date.

The information is based on the 4 868 610 tests conducted to date, with 15 692 performed since the last report.

Global view

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), over 3.3 million new cases have been reported globally in the past week.

The European region recorded the most noticeable increase, half of the global new cases of over 1.7 million cases – a 22% upsurge from the previous week.

The region also reported a substantial 46% increase compared with the previous week’s rise in the number of new deaths, with Europe and the Americas now each reporting over 17 000 new deaths in the last seven days.

Meanwhile, the Americas and the Eastern Mediterranean regions have also seen relatively smaller rises in the number of reported cases.

“The South East Asia region has continued to report a decline in new cases and deaths, while case incidence continues to fluctuate around similar rates compared to recent weeks in the African and Western Pacific regions,” said WHO.

Since the outbreak, nine countries have reported more than one million confirmed cases, namely, the United States, India, Brazil, Russian Federation, France, Spain, Argentina, Colombia, and the United Kingdom.

African region

Africa has experienced a four-week trend with a gradual rise in the number of new cases reported in the past seven days, with almost 33 000 new cases – 1% of new global cases.

However, the number of newly reported deaths has continued to decline since a spike was observed three weeks ago following South Africa’s “retrospective capturing” of a large number of deaths, the organisation said.

According to WHO, South Africa, Kenya, and Ethiopia continue to report the highest numbers of new cases, while the highest number of new deaths per million population in the region was reported in South Africa (six new cases per million population).

In Nigeria, weekly new cases have decreased gradually since September, while deaths have remained relatively low.

The WHO has recorded 46 840 783 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 1 204 028 deaths, to date.

National Treasury has invited the public to submit technical tax proposals to be considered for possible inclusion in the 2021 Budget Review.

Every February, the Finance Minister announces new tax proposals that provide additional information on the tax proposals made in the Budget, as well as proposed changes to tax legislation.

More substantive tax policy proposals and rate changes are contained in Chapter 4 of the Budget Review, while the more technical tax proposals are generally contained in Annexure C of the Budget Review.

“The technical tax proposals requested in this invitation must be limited to unintended anomalies, revenue leakages, loopholes and technical matters applicable to the current tax legislation that require correction. More substantive tax policy proposals and rate changes are dealt with through a different process, and hence this request does not apply to major tax policy proposals,” Treasury said in a statement.

To ensure proper assessment, technical tax proposals should be submitted under the following headings:

Income tax – individuals, employment and savings;

Income tax – domestic business;

Income tax – international;

Other taxes – for example, value added tax, and

Tax administration legislation.

Each technical tax proposal must be explained in detail with the explanation covering the following areas:

The legal nature of the problem;

A detailed factual description; and

The nature of the business / persons impacted.

The public has until 23 November to submit the requested technical proposals.

The Treasury hold virtual workshops with stakeholders on 3 and 4 December to clarify issues raised in the submitted technical proposals, to further assist in the prioritisation of the issues raised and to obtain further information.

“The dates for the workshops will be confirmed by way of an electronic invitation to taxpayers, tax practitioners and members of the public who submitted proposals. Please ensure that correct e-mail addresses and contact information are included in the written submissions,” said Treasury.

Following the above process, National Treasury and SARS will submit recommendations to the Minister of Finance for possible inclusion in Annexure C of the 2021 Budget Review.

Treasury clarified that engagement or request for more information on any proposal before the 2021 Budget is no indicator that the proposal will be included in the 2021 Budget Review.

“The final decision to include any proposal is the sole prerogative of the Minister of Finance and no further correspondence will be entered into regarding the Minister’s decision on the proposals received.”

Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi has welcomed the arrest of three Home Affairs employees in Sekhukhune in Limpopo.

All three officials, who are immigration officers, appeared in the Motetema Magistrate’s Court on 02 November 2020.

The three officials are Onitta Mokoena who is a control immigration officer based in Nebo and Puledi Selomo and Emmanuel Ntjana who are immigration officers based in Jane Furse.

The trio are alleged to have demanded a R10 000 bribe when they found an undocumented foreign national instead of arresting him.

It is alleged that the amount was reduced to R4 000 and was paid to the trio.

The matter was reported to the Hawks, who collaborated with the Counter Corruption Unit of the Department of Home Affairs to effect the arrest.

“It is pleasing that law enforcement officers are working together to ensure that rogue officials in the department are brought to book. I fully support the efforts of law enforcement officers in ensuring that there is no maladministration in the department,” said Minister Motsoaledi.

The trio have been released on R2 500 bail each and are scheduled to reappear in court on 08 December 2020.

“I am hugely disappointed that the three employees are entrusted with enforcing the law. They broke the law they were supposed to enforce,” the Minister said.

The department has started disciplinary proceedings against all three employees.

Minister Motsoaledi encourages anyone who may have information about corrupt or any other criminal activities to contact the SA Police Service or the Anti-Corruption Unit of the department.

People with information can contact the following:

– National Anti-Corruption Hotline on 0800 701 701.

– Home Affairs Counter Corruption Unit on 012 406 4318.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has highlighted preparation – through the Infrastructure South Africa (ISA) project preparation roundtable – as the key to unlock South Africa’s post COVID-19 economic recovery.

“This roundtable is the beginning of a more dedicated and structured approach to project preparation. It paves the way for greater private sector participation in this crucial stage of the project life-cycle. The South African government is committed to financing project preparation,” he said.

The President delivered the opening address at the ISA project preparation roundtable at the Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand on Tuesday.

The ISA project preparation roundtable aligns with the first priority President Ramaphosa presented last month at the joint sitting of Parliament on the South African Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan.

The Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan outlines an aggressive infrastructure programme, far reaching reforms to increase competitiveness and inclusiveness, measures to catalyse industrialisation, relief for vulnerable households and individuals, and a public investment in employment programmes.

This plan, which is underpinned by the agreements between social partners, outlines key interventions to kick-start the country’s economy.

Among other things, we are prioritising economic reforms to unlock investment and growth, fighting crime and corruption, driving industrialisation with a focus on growing small businesses, improving the capability of the state, and creating jobs through mass public employment programmes.

Another key priority intervention for government is to promote aggressive infrastructure investment and unlock R1 trillion over the next four years in infrastructure investment through the recently operationalised Infrastructure Fund.

In a bid to secure funding for the Reconstruction and Recovery Plan, the President emphasised project preparation as a necessary tool to unlock private sector funding and high impact capital funding.

According to the Global Infrastructure Hub, infrastructure project preparation costs in developing countries can range from 5 to 10% of the total project investment, with African governments covering most of these costs.

This is compared to the 3 to 5% of project costs in developed countries, where project funds and facilities are willing to take the risks to fund projects.

“Clearly, there needs to be more coordinated engagement between governments and the private sector and other players in the infrastructure financing space.

“In addition to bolstering project preparation, we are working on introducing innovative project financing instruments such as green infrastructure bonds, project bonds and performance bonds,” said the President.

The recent establishment of ISA is also set to go a long way towards streamlining the preparation and implementation process.

“It is a step towards creating an enabling environment for financiers and a one-stop shop where projects can be unlocked,” said the President.

Through ISA, government will invest in building state capacity in the areas of project technical and financial engineering skills.

“Despite the daunting challenges we face, the post COVID-19 reconstruction and recovery phase is alive with possibility.

“For South Africa, it is an opportunity to establish ourselves as an investment destination of choice, with a ready and able workforce,” said the President.

People with disabilities have not been spared, but have been severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The pandemic has also deepened pre-existing inequalities, exposing their vulnerabilities, the Deputy Minister in the Presidency, Professor Hlengiwe Mkhize, said.

Speaking during the launch of Disability Rights Awareness Month on Tuesday, she said government has been working tirelessly in ensuring inclusion in all emergency interventions.

“We also participated in developing directions for specific sectors,” she said.

“We robustly engaged national departments to advocate for the rights of persons with disabilities, in addition to making sign language interpreters for the media briefing of the National Coronavirus Command Council.”

The department has also been working with development partners and sponsors to bring relief to people with disabilities during the lockdown.

“The lockdown has cut off supplies to care centres, support facilities, old age homes and similar organisations relying on the kindness of strangers for donations to support persons with disabilities.”

Many of these organisations, which rely on donations, have been forced to let go of support staff or close their doors due to risk of infection.

“To mitigate against this, the department has secured and donated food hampers and sanitary packs to care centres and DPOs across the country.”

Also, the department has been visiting various centres to distribute care packages, including food items, treats for children, hand sanitisers, soaps and facemasks.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Minister said the disabled are often at a greater risk of discrimination in accessing healthcare and lifesaving procedures during the outbreak.

“In some countries, healthcare rationing decisions, including triage protocols, for example, intensive care beds, ventilators are not being based on an individual prognosis, but rather on age or assumptions about quality or value of life-based on disability.”

GBV

Mkhize also spoke against gender-based violence (GBV) that people with disabilities suffer.

“Women with disabilities are often seen by their societies as weak, worthless and, in some cases, sub-human,” she said, adding that such perceptions heighten their risk of GBV.

According to Mkhize, they are twice more likely to be victims of sexual abuse, rape and intimate partner violence than their non-disabled.

Equal rights for all

The Deputy Minister has since called on everyone to advocate for the rights of those who live with disabilities.

She has since called on government, public and private stakeholders, and communities to support people who live with disabilities.

“Failure to create a society for all will ultimately be undermining our own legislation and policies which have been developed since the dawn of democracy in 1994 under the motto, ‘nothing about us without us’,” the Deputy Minister said.

Since the launch of the awareness month last year, Mkhize said the department has engaged with the sector and taken responsibility when the transformation was stagnant.

The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) has noted that 5.1% of the population aged five years and older in South Africa are living with disabilities.

According to the Deputy Minister, the disabled continue to experience lack of access to adequate health and basic education and often have little prospect of securing employment.

“The sector is also particularly vulnerable to the compounded effects of discrimination and abuse.”

However, society’s role goes beyond advocating for change but requires a change of regulation and ensuring that people with disabilities are at the centre of government’s programme of economic recovery and reconstruction as contributors and beneficiaries.

“On a practical level, it means that, amongst other tasks, persons with disabilities must be involved in conceptualising, developing, implementing and monitoring economic development policies and programmes,” she added.

“President [Cyril] Ramaphosa made it clear when he established this Ministry in 2019, that he expects the ministry to also influence government’s delivery machinery to ensure that we change the lives of women, youth and persons with disabilities in a meaningful way.”

The Deputy Minister said government, in line with the White Paper on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, has been assisting under-represented groups such as people with albinism, young people with dyslexia, deaf and blind people, those with psychosocial disabilities and lately people of short stature, to strengthen their collective voice.