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Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Patricia de Lille says government is working on a more effective system to monitor projects more effectively and put systems in place to detect and prevent corruption.

“This will bring a greater level of transparency and will give credibility to the implementation of the Infrastructure Investment Plan,” de Lille said.

Addressing the Infrastructure South Africa Project Preparation Roundtable and Market Place, de Lille said all projects will be subjected to an independent due diligence process as well.

De Lille said transparency is the best deterrent to root out corruption.

“As government we are showing that we are capable of turning the situation around by holding the corrupt and delinquent visibly accountable.

“We are putting in all possible measures to mitigate against this as we implement the Plan, starting with the 62 Strategic Integrated Projects,” de Lille said.

De Lille said the Infrastructure Plan will be underpinned by an anti-corruption strategy, together with the Special Investigating Unit, and her department was in the process of setting up an anti-corruption forum with representatives from the public and private sector, based on the same principles of the anti-corruption forum set up within the Health Department.

“We spend too much time finding out what went wrong afterwards with commissions and inquiries when we should be investing those scarce resources into project preparation now to prevent mistakes,” de Lille said.

With regard to Infrastructure, de Lille said government has already started with the development of the National Infrastructure Plan 2045, which will be in line with the NDP and National Spatial Development Framework.

“The National Infrastructure Plan 2045 is to be based on a solid foundation of the infrastructure development indices in order to ensure integrated infrastructure investment and implementation,” de Lille said.

De Lille said one of the components of creating an enabling environment for project preparation is the establishment and consolidation of well-governed public institutions.

“Cabinet approved the establishment of Infrastructure South Africa (ISA) as the single-entry point for all infrastructure projects. ISA has been tasked to drive the implementation of the Infrastructure Investment Plan.

“One component of ISA is that it is the administrative arm of the Presidential Infrastructure Coordinating Commission Council which is chaired by our President, to assist with blockages, unlocking funding and create a conducive environment for infrastructure investment,” de Lille said.

De Lille explained that ISA was established to allow the state to develop its own internal capacity to bring the requisite skills into government.

ISA’s structure is made up of branches, namely:

a) The Infrastructure Investment Planning, National Infrastructure Plan and Oversight;

b) The Infrastructure Delivery Management: this includes the comprehensive infrastructure project pipeline, project preparation and packaging;

c) Infrastructure Investment Funding inclusive of financing, oversight of the Infrastructure Fund, green financing and investment strategy; and

d) The property, land and building portfolio management, inclusive of public land maximisation and revenue generation which will for example look at how we can sweat the state’s assets.

“Public land and public buildings must be used for the public good. ISA is also in the process of adapting the infrastructure procurement framework to enable public-private partnerships and unlocking new funding mechanisms for major infrastructure investment.

“ISA is now also building capacity to prepare and package projects and to ensure oversight in the implementation of South Africa’s Infrastructure Investment Plan.

“The project preparation process done well ensures the identification and elimination of key risks at the earliest possible time and maximises development opportunities by ensuring that projects are well conceptualised and ready for implementation,” de Lille said.

Both grades of petrol are set to decrease by 27 cents a litre from Wednesday.

The Department of Mineral Resources and Energy on Tuesday said fuel prices for November 2020 will be adjusted as follows:

• Petrol (both 93 ULP and LRP) will decrease by 27c per litre;
• Petrol (both 95 ULP and LRP) will go down by 27c per  litre;
• Diesel (0.05% sulphur) will decrease by 12c per litre;
• Diesel (0.005% sulphur) will drop by 11c per litre;
• The price of illuminating paraffin (wholesale) will increase by 15c per litre;
• The single maximum national retail price (SMNRP) for illumination paraffin will go up by 20c per litre, and
• The maximum retail price of liquid petroleum gas (LPGas) will increase by 26c per kg.

The department said local and international factors, including the rand/dollar exchange rate, affect the price of fuel.

“International factors include the fact that South Africa imports both crude oil and finished products at a price set at the international level, including importation costs, for example, shipping costs.

“The rand appreciated slightly, on average, against the US dollar during the period under review when compared to the previous one,” the department said, adding that this led to lower contributions to the basic fuel prices of petrol, diesel and illuminating paraffin.

Meanwhile, during the current fuel price review, the average Brent Crude oil price decreased slightly.

“There is an oversupply of crude oil globally and the renewed lockdown measures across Europe exacerbate the situation,” the department said.

World Health Organisation Director-General, Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus, is in self-quarantine after coming into contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19.

“I have been identified as a contact of someone who has tested positive for COVID-19. I am well and without symptoms but will self-quarantine in the coming days, in line with WHO protocols.

“At this time, it is critically important that we all comply with health guidance. This is how we will break chains of transmission, suppress the virus, and protect health systems,” said the WHO DG.

Ghebreyesus made the announcement during the WHO weekly media briefing on Monday.

Providing feedback on the COVID-19 situation, Ghebreyesus said while many countries have brought COVID-19 under control, cases in some countries in Europe and North America continue to spike.

“This is another critical moment for action, another critical moment for leaders to step up and another critical moment for people to come together for a common purpose.

“Seize the opportunity. It’s not too late. We all have a role to play in suppressing transmission and we have seen across the world that it’s possible,” he said.

Ghebreyesus lauded South Africa, among other countries, for its efforts in suppressing the virus.

“There are many lessons from the Republic of Korea, South Africa and Sierra Leone that can help other countries suppress the virus, save lives and protect health workers and hospitals.

“It really reinforces that while some countries are putting in place measures to ease the pressure on the health system, there is also now an opportunity to build stronger systems,” said the WHO DG.

In calling on governments to curb the spread of COVID-19, Ghebreyesus emphasised the need for quality testing, tracing and treatment measures.

“We need countries to again invest in the basics, so that measures can be lifted safely and governments can hopefully avoid having to take these measures again.

“On a macro level, this also reflects why a whole-of-government, whole-of-society approach to sustainable global preparedness is so important,” he said.

Fifty-four people died from conditions associated with COVID-19 on Monday, pushing the death toll to 19 465 since the outbreak in South Africa.

Of the latest fatalities, 24 are from the Eastern Cape, 13 from the Free State, and nine from the Northern Cape.

Four deaths were recorded in the Western Cape, two in Limpopo and one each in KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga.

“Of the 54 deaths reported, four were reported to have occurred in the past 24 to 48 hours,” said Health Minister, Dr Zweli Mkhize.

Meanwhile, the number of cases has increased to 727 595 after 772 people contracted the virus.

Gauteng has the highest numbers of active cases sitting at 15 411, followed by the Free State with 11 754, KwaZulu-Natal with 7 083 and Western Cape 4 499.

The Eastern Cape has 3 784 active cases, the Northern Cape 3 597, the North West 3 399, Mpumalanga 576 and Limpopo 527.

“Our recoveries now stand at 657 500, which translates to a recovery rate of 90%,” Mkhize said in his statement.

The information is based on the 4 852 918 tests conducted, 10 402 of which were performed since the last report.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), globally, there are 46 403 652 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 1 198 569 deaths to date.

COVID-19 cases peak globally

WHO Director-General (DG), Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, is currently self-isolating after coming into contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19.

“I am well and without symptoms but will self-quarantine in the coming days, in line with WHO protocols.

“At this time, it is critically important that we all comply with health guidance,” Ghebreyesus said at a virtual briefing, adding that this is how the chain of transmission can be broken.

While many countries have brought COVID-19 under control, cases in some countries in Europe and North America continue to spike.

“This is another critical moment for action, another critical moment for leaders to step up,” Ghebreyesus stressed.

The DG believes that everyone has a role to play in suppressing transmission.

He said the WHO has released videos featuring multiple countries demonstrating their comprehensive responses to COVID-19, including New Zealand, Rwanda, Thailand, the Republic of Korea, Italy and Spain.

Ghebreyesus cited Mongolia as an exemplary country that has beaten Coronavirus, with zero deaths or local transmission.

According to reports, all 350 confirmed cases in Mongolia were imported, with 313 people having recovered.

“What Mongolia and all these stories show is that there are shared lessons that we can all learn from,” said Ghebreyesus.

In some countries, however, cases are going up exponentially and hospitals are reaching capacity, which poses a risk to patients and health workers alike, Ghebreyesus said. “This is leaving health workers with difficult decisions to make on how to prioritise care for those that are sick.”

Western Cape Organised Crime detectives have launched an investigation into the fatal shooting of seven people in Gugulethu, Cape Town, on Monday afternoon.

In a statement, Western Cape South African Police Service (SAPS) spokesperson, Brigadier Novela Potelwa, said preliminary reports indicate that three women and four men, between the ages of 30 and 40 years, were shot and killed by unknown gunmen at NY 78 in Gugulethu.

Crime scene experts arrived timeously at the scene.

“Two other victims were injured and taken to a medical facility. Details from the scene are still sketchy. An update will be provided in due course,” said Potelwa.

Government has called on sectors in the cultural and creative industries, who were negatively affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, to apply for relief funding.

This relief is a once off payment to successful applicants. There is a maximum threshold of R15 000 to successful individual applicants, and R30 000 to formations such as small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs), organisation or cooperatives.

“As the Department of Small Business Development, we endeavour to promote and empower all SMMEs and cooperatives, regardless of their sector,” Minister of Small Business Development, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, said on Monday.

The Minister’s department has collaborated with the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture to establish a fund that will provide relief to organisations, enterprises as well as individual practitioners in the craft, design, visual arts and audio-visual sectors.

The two departments will contribute an equal amount of money to set up a fund, worth R22 282 000.

“We, as a department, are committed to ensuring that artists are supported as we gradually return to normality, albeit under strict health protocols, and to pick up the pieces as we begin the journey to full economic recovery,” Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Nathi Mthethwa, said.

The relief funding is open to crafters, who are practitioners involved in the production of a broad range of utilitarian and decorative items produced using a range of materials, skills and techniques such as grass-weaving, ceramics, beadwork, wirework, wood, jewellery, paper, fabric painting and printing, quilting, leatherwork, pewter, glasswork, embroidery and mixed media.

“The craft sector usually overlaps with certain design disciplines but today’s announcement is that design, as a specific sector, will also benefit from this relief. Design includes a wide range of different subsectors such as product design, fashion design, textile design, and jewellery design and so on,” the departments said.

Also included in this relief is the audio-visual sector, and it covers support to producers, directors, art directors, camera operators, people involved in lighting, runners, sound, costume, hair and makeup, on-set photographers, post production, and animation.

The relief also extends to visual artists. This sector is also defined as fine arts (including painting, sculpture, printmaking, ceramics and drawing), contemporary art (such as performance art and installations) and photography.

This assistance also includes freelancers (independent contractors).

Interested applicants will find the application forms on www.dsbd.gov.za and www.srsa.gov.za.

Applications are open from 2 November 2020 and should be submitted by 12 November 2020 by midday.

Applicants will be informed about the outcome of their applications by latest 1 December 2020.

Payments to successful applicants are anticipated to be finalised by latest 23 December 2020.

The funding will be distributed per province by nine designated hubs and development agencies, namely;

• The Eastern Cape Development Corporation (ECDC),
• The Free State Development Corporation (FDA),
• The Gauteng Tourism Authority (GTA),
• Trade and Investment KZN,
• The Limpopo Economic Development Agency (LEDA),
• The Mpumalanga Economic Growth Agency (MEGA),
• The Bokone-Bophirima Craft & Design Institute (BBCDI), the North West
• The Northern Cape Economic Development Agency (NCEDA) and the
• The Craft & Design Institute (CDI), the Western Cape

Interested applicants are also advised to visit the above-mentioned hubs and development agencies’ websites to access application forms.

The Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs has reiterated its call for foreign nationals at the Wingfield and Paint City temporary sites to be reintegrated into the communities they were in before the protests in Cape Town.

The call was made during the committee’s visit to the sites on Saturday, 31 October. This follows a resolution taken by the committee on 20 October to visit the sites.

The Wingfield and Paint City sites are used as shelters to accommodate refugees who protested in Cape Town.

Acting chairperson of the committee, Mosa Chabane, said the committee was concerned by general conditions at the sites, where there is no social distancing and no adherence to the regulations of the state of national disaster.

“The conditions place the lives of the refugees in danger, and do not conform to the generally accepted living standard for human beings,” Chabane said.

Chabane said the committee remains concerned by the increasing number of people at the sites, which brings to question the authenticity of some of the members of the group.

He said the committee remains of the view that accommodation of refugees at the sites is unsustainable, especially in the context of the non-existence of encampment policy in South Africa.

“The committee is also concerned by the conditions that women and children are exposed to at the sites, hence the call for reintegration.

“It also said a comprehensive exit plan, which includes reintegration into society, must be urgently implemented through cooperative stakeholder action,” Chabane said.

The committee has also reiterated its call for the deportation of refugees back to their home countries, after all the proper provisions of the law have been followed in cases where reintegration is impossible.

The committee has further urged the Department of Home Affairs to urgently complete individual refugee verification status for all those housed at the temporary sites.

Following the visit, the committee resolved to urgently invite the Refugee Appeal Board to ascertain the impediments that stand in the way of processing appeals lodged, as per the board rules.

Authorities in Gauteng this weekend closed down 15 illegal and non-compliant liquor outlets across the province.

Members of the South African Police Service (SAPS) — joined by Gauteng Traffic Police, Metro Police Departments, Emergency Medical Services, Gauteng Liquor Board, the Department of Community Safety and other government departments — carried out the operation.

“Most of these outlets were in the northern suburbs of Johannesburg and were shut down during the intensified O Kae Molao operations, led by senior management of the SAPS and the various law enforcement agencies,” said the police in a statement.

In addition, 44 motorists were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol and 20 for drinking in public.

Meanwhile, the owner of a popular liquor outlet in Rosebank was fined for failing to display a liquor licence and for allowing patrons to leave with liquor from the on-consumption outlet.

Furthermore, over 1 050 suspects were arrested across the five districts in Gauteng during the weekend crime combatting operations, led by the respective District Commissioners.

Police in Tshwane arrested 396 people for different offences.

These suspects were arrested for the commission of offences, including murder, armed robbery, rape, housebreaking and theft, possession of suspected stolen property, malicious damage to property, assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, reckless and negligent driving, theft of motor vehicle, illegal possession of firearm and ammunition, house robbery, possession of drugs, dealing in drugs, dealing in liquor without a licence and public drinking.

In the West Rand, a total of 158 arrests were secured during the weekend operations for crimes including possession of unlicensed firearm, possession of ammunition, possession of dangerous weapon, assault with intent to cause grievously bodily harm, sexual assault, rape and attempted murder, amongst other crimes.

In Ekurhuleni District, police arrested 383 suspects, while 58 were arrested in Johannesburg, and 56 in Sedibeng for various serious and violent crimes that include robbery, car hijacking and assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, rape and murder.

The suspects will soon appear before various Magistrate’s Court.

Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy, Gwede Mantashe, has approved that the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) may process licence applications for self-generation facilities of above 1MW, even if they do not comply with the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP 2019).

“The approval means that prospective applicants are no longer required to obtain Ministerial approval for deviation from the IRP 2019 before applying to NERSA for a licence,” NERSA said in a statement.

The Minister has granted the approval in accordance with section 10(2)(g) of the Electricity Regulation Act, 2006 (Act No. 4 of 2006).

The approval granted relates to generation facilities that fall into the following categories:

• A generation facility that is connected to the national grid, in circumstances in which the generation facility supplies electricity to a single customer and there is no wheeling of that electricity through the national grid; and/or
• A generation facility that is connected to the national grid, in circumstances in which the generation facility is operated solely to supply a single customer or related customers by transporting electricity through the national grid where wheeling arrangements are in place between all affected parties.

“However, the approval by the Minister in the above generation facility categories excludes those that involve local government (provinces and municipalities) or supply to local government, as these will be addressed separately,” NERSA said.

NERSA said its committed to processing licence applications timeously in order to ensure security of supply.

All other licensing requirements, as prescribed by NERSA, in terms of section 10 of the Electricity Regulation Act remain in place.

South Africa now has 726 823 COVID-19 cases after 1 371 patients were confirmed to have contracted the virus on Sunday.

Meanwhile, 135 people succumbed to the disease which brings the death toll to 19 411.

Of the latest fatalities, 107 are from Gauteng, 22 from the Eastern Cape, four from the Western Cape and two the Free State.

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

Gauteng remains the epicentre with 15 735 active cases, followed by Free State with 12 671 cases, KwaZulu-Natal with 7 112 and the Western Cape with 4 512.

The Northern Cape has 3 654 active cases, North West 3 616, Eastern Cape 3 503, Mpumalanga 701, and Limpopo 578.

The recovery rate stands at 90% after 655 330 patients recuperated nationwide.

The information is based on 4 842 516 tests of which 19 543 were performed in the last report.

“COVID-19 continues to grab headlines. The resounding message this week was for all citizens to act responsibly and follow non-pharmaceutical interventions diligently to prevent a resurgence of the virus,” Mkhize urged citizens.

The World Health Organisation has recorded 45 942 902 confirmed cases, including 1 192 644 deaths, to date.

Meanwhile, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced a new one-month national hard lockdown from Thursday as the second wave of Coronavirus infections hit England.

“And in this country alas as across much of Europe the virus is spreading even faster than the reasonable worst-case scenario of our scientific advisers,” he said on Saturday, adding that if they do not act swiftly, they could see deaths in this country running at several thousand a day.

According to reports, there are more than 1 million confirmed cases of Coronavirus in the United Kingdom, while 46 717 people had died.

“Because of the huge exponential growth in the number of patients – by no means all of them elderly, by the way – would mean that doctors and nurses would be forced to choose which patients to treat,” Prime Minister Johnson said.