Category: Africa

KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli has called for an urgent and innovative programme of action to intensify the province’s response to Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF).

Ntuli made the call when he was addressing the Council Against Crime at the Archie Gumede Conference Centre in Mayville, Durban, on Friday.

The Council brought together government and key stakeholders to consider a coordinated response to crime, community safety and the broader impact of criminality on KwaZulu-Natal’s social and economic development.

GBVF featured prominently during the engagement, with the Premier calling for greater urgency, stronger collaboration and innovative interventions capable of producing tangible results.

“Our province is currently gripped by a sharp surge in cases of GBVF. To this end, I call for improved collaboration from civil society, organs of state and various stakeholders. Addressing GBVF requires a whole-of-society approach involving government, law enforcement, traditional leadership, civil society, communities and other social partners.”

The Premier also reiterated his call for Amakhosi and other traditional leaders to champion behavioural change among men, and to promote positive male role models who respect and protect the dignity of women.

This built on the Provincial Government’s ongoing efforts to involve Amakhosi and Izinduna in community-level interventions, aimed at engaging men and boys and challenging attitudes and behaviour that contribute to violence against women and children.

Ntuli also highlighted the province’s Silwa Nechilo (we fight the shame) programme as an important component of KwaZulu-Natal’s year-round response to GBVF.

The campaign forms part of a broader 365-day approach aimed at ensuring that action against violence directed at women and children continues throughout the year, rather than being confined to commemorative periods.

“Gender-Based Violence occurs every day. It does not go on holiday when the festive season arrives. It follows women wherever they go, 365 days a year.”

The Premier also moved to clarify the purpose of the Silwa Nechilo campaign, stressing that it is directed at combating Gender-Based Violence and Femicide, irrespective of the background or nationality of perpetrators.

“Many people think that #SilwaNechilo is a campaign targeted at foreign nationals. That is not true,” he said.

Ntuli referred to recent arrests involving suspects accused of multiple sexual offences to illustrate that GBVF could not be reduced to questions of nationality or origin.

Last week, the Premier attended the Durban Magistrates’ Court appearance of a 46-year-old suspect linked by police to 16 alleged rape cases in KwaZulu-Natal, including 14 cases recorded in Cato Manor. The allegations remained before the courts.

The Premier stressed that the province’s response must focus on preventing offending behaviour, strengthening law enforcement, supporting survivors and mobilising society against violence wherever it occurred.

He also reminded stakeholders that behind every crime statistic is a person, a family and a community affected by violence.

“Victims of GBVF are our sisters, mothers, daughters, nieces and wives. They are one of us,” Ntuli said.

Coordination

The broader Council Against Crime engagement further considered the relationship between crime and KwaZulu-Natal’s development ambitions, including the importance of safer communities and business environments for economic activity, investment and tourism.

Ntuli emphasised that reducing crime requires stronger coordination between government institutions and communities, supported by interventions that address both criminal activities and the underlying social conditions contributing to violence.

The Council provides a platform for stakeholders to examine existing interventions, identify gaps and consider practical measures capable of strengthening crime prevention and community safety across the province.

The Provincial Government reaffirmed its commitment to a coordinated and sustained response to Gender-Based Violence and Femicide, with prevention, behavioural change, effective law enforcement and community mobilisation remaining central to the province’s approach. – SAnews.gov.za

The eThekwini Municipality has commissioned a section of Work Package 2 (WP2) of the R1.2 billion Southern Aqueduct project, marking progress in efforts to strengthen bulk water supply and improve water security for communities in the city’s southern and central areas.

The commissioned section forms part of a 3.8-kilometre pipeline between Shallcross and Northdene, comprising approximately 2.5 kilometres of 1 200mm-diameter steel pipeline and 1.3 kilometres of 1 400mm-diameter pipeline.

Project Executive Siduduzo Mtshali said the infrastructure forms part of the broader Southern Aqueduct system and includes five cross-connection chambers, 12 scour valve chambers, 18 air valve chambers and an isolation valve chamber.

“A key component of WP2 has been the pipe-jacking works, which involved installing the new pipeline at a significantly lower level than the existing line. This infrastructure will facilitate the supply of water and improve operational flexibility within the network,” Mtshali said.

He said construction encountered significant challenges after contractors discovered considerably more rock than initially anticipated. Excavation has since been completed, with the contractor proceeding with the installation of the pipeline.

Once fully completed, WP2 will restore redundancy across approximately 3.8 kilometres of the system, reducing reliance on a single ageing pipeline and allowing for greater flexibility during maintenance and repairs.

“This will provide greater security of supply to the primary and secondary reservoirs in the central and southern parts of Chatsworth, serving approximately 300 000 residents. It will also strengthen supply security to downstream reservoirs in uMlazi and Folweni, which serve approximately 500 000 residents,” Mtshali said.

The additional pipeline capacity will enable the municipality to undertake maintenance and repairs to existing infrastructure while minimising disruptions to water supply.

With an anticipated lifespan of 50 years, the new pipeline will reduce the network’s dependence on a single ageing water main and allow sections of the system to be isolated more efficiently during maintenance and other operational interventions.

The additional infrastructure is also expected to reduce the risk of unplanned pipeline failures, water losses and prolonged supply interruptions associated with emergency repairs.

Mtshali said Work Packages 1 and 3 of the Southern Aqueduct project had been completed and commissioned, while Work Packages 4, 5 and 6 were still under construction.

“The Southern Aqueduct project is a major investment in the city’s bulk water infrastructure and, once completed, will strengthen the bulk water network serving approximately 1.2 million residents.

“The upgraded 24-kilometre bulk pipeline will continue to supply 33 reservoirs while improving the reliability and resilience of water provision to communities in the southern and central areas,” he said.

The R1.2 billion project is aimed at strengthening the city’s bulk water network and improving water security for current and future generations.

Planned water supply interruption

Meanwhile, the municipality has announced a planned water supply interruption along the Southern Aqueduct pipeline from 6am on Tuesday, 29 September, until 6am on Thursday, 1 October.

The shutdown is required to facilitate construction and the tie-in of two major connection chambers under Work Package 6 in Westville.

The interruption is expected to affect parts of the municipality’s Inner West, Central and South regions.

“This is a critical milestone in the project and will affect water supply to parts of the Inner West, Central, and South regions. The interruption will enable contractors to undertake work for the new Southern Aqueduct Pipeline Upgrade Project,” the municipality said. – SAnews.gov.za

The National School of Government (NSG) has introduced two new qualifications for public servants in the form of the Occupational Certificate: Public Service Administrator NQF Level 5 and the Occupational Certificate: General Manager Public Service NQF Level 6.

The NSG explained that the two new occupational qualifications are aimed at providing “structured pathways for public servants to develop the knowledge, practical skills and workplace competencies required to perform effectively in the Public Service”.

Both are accredited by the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO), with the Public Sector Education and Training Authority (PSETA) serving as the Quality Partner.

Acting Principal of the NSG, Phindile Mkwanazi said: “We are excited about this development and the offerings as the NSG. The qualifications contribute to professionalising the public service by strengthening the capabilities required at both administrative and management levels. They also provide a clear developmental pathway for public servants”.

According to the NSG, the Occupational Certificate: Public Service Administrator is designed to “develop public servants who can provide effective administrative support aligned with government policies and service-delivery objectives.

“The 120-credit qualification is designed for completion over twelve months and requires an NQF Level 4 entry qualification. Delivered through a blended model with block-release sessions, the programme focuses on government systems, human resource administration, programme and project management, public service communication and administration, ethics and integrity, financial and supply chain administration, and effective use of technology.

“The qualification combines knowledge with practical and workplace experience. It provides an important foundation for strengthening administrative capacity, improving coordination and communication, and supporting more effective service delivery,” the NSG stated.

Meanwhile, the Occupational Certificate: General Manager Public Service, at NQF Level 6, is aimed at developing South Africa’s next generation of public service managers.

“The [qualification] is designed to prepare learners for junior and middle-management responsibilities within the Public Service. The qualification carries 150 credits, is designed for completion over twelve months, and requires an NQF Level 5 entry qualification. It is delivered through a blended model with block-release sessions.

“The programme develops managerial, leadership, strategic and analytical competencies required to promote administrative efficiency and support the implementation of government policies within departments.

“It focuses on strengthening operational management, coordination, and service delivery capabilities, while preparing officials to manage functions such as finance, human resources, information, communication, and technology at the unit level. The qualification is particularly relevant to supervisors and administrative officials transitioning into junior and middle-management roles,” the institution said.

Enrolment for the two qualifications and enquiries can be sent to Contactcentre@thensg.gov.za or call 0861008326. – SAnews.gov.za

The National Planning Commission (NPC) and the Water Research Commission (WRC) have jointly convened the National Irrigation Development Roundtable under the theme: “Irrigation as Development: Securing Livelihoods, Transforming Lives”.

The roundtable brought together stakeholders and government representatives to discuss irrigation development in the context of South Africa’s uneven rainfall and water scarcity.

“Most cultivated land remains rainfed and vulnerable to climate variability and change, while agriculture accounts for the largest share of national freshwater use. The agriculture sector utilises more than 60% of national freshwater.

“Irrigation development and broader agricultural water management play a critical role in stabilising production and enabling the cultivation of higher-value crops in South Africa, yet the performance and distribution of resources are highly uneven,” the NPC WRC said in a joint statement.

Several speakers addressed the roundtable on issues including framing irrigation as a development issue connected to livelihoods and South Africa’s irrigation potential.

“The programme featured a facilitated stakeholder dialogue that brought together various perspectives from farmers, the agricultural sector, science and innovation, water-related businesses, irrigation communities, and the NPC.

“The objective was to discuss the key constraints impacting irrigation development, identify solutions that are currently effective or have potential, examine the necessary institutional changes, and highlight the actions that should be prioritised in the next 12 to 24 months,” the statement continued.

Discussions were also held on the importance of enhanced coordination among various sectors, and called for a transition from isolated pilot projects to integrated “demonstration initiatives that encompass land and water access, infrastructure, finance, technology, skills development and markets”.

“The roundtable concluded on an optimistic note, highlighting the importance of bridging the gap between research, policy and practice. It emphasised the need to move from planning to implementation, transition from isolated pilot projects to scalable interventions, and shift from merely agreeing on necessary actions to achieving clarity on how those actions should be executed.

“It is hoped that the two research studies that inspired the roundtable will contribute to a roadmap for current and future coordination on water irrigation,” the statement concluded. – SAnews.gov.za

The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has secured a preservation order against approximately R42.4 million in cash, properties, pensions and investments linked to the Tembisa Hospital scandal.

The order is related to the R100 million in bribes allegedly paid to officials at Tembisa Hospital to secure procurement deals worth approximately R600 million.

“The Special Tribunal granted the SIU a preservation order…preventing the disposal of assets belonging to Mr Zacharia Tshisele, his civil wife Phumudzo Tshisele, his customary wife Fulufhelo Lineth Tshililo, and entities and associates connected with them.

“The order also restrains payments and dealings by companies and individuals implicated in the corruption network, including Joseph Fhumulani Muthaphuli and Ernest Monnakgotla, former Area Manager at Tembisa Hospital and a member of the hospital’s Quotation Adjudication Committee. Tshisele and Monnakgotla allegedly worked together to siphon funds from Tembisa Hospital’s coffers into two major syndicates,” the SIU said in a statement.

The scandal refers to widespread corruption, overpricing, and mismanagement in the procurement of protective gear during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The order also prevents the Government Employees Pension Fund and Government Pensions Administration Agency from paying out Tshisele’s pension, valued at more than R1 million.

Furthermore, two luxury, high-value properties were also frozen.

“The SIU investigation revealed that two of the three major syndicates operating at Tembisa Hospital are linked to Tshisele. The first being the Govindraju syndicate, [allegedly] run by Mr Stefan Joel Govindraju, which used 75 companies to trade with the hospital and received approximately R600 million.

“The second being the Mazibuko syndicate, [allegedly] operated by Mr Rudolf Mduduzi Mazibuko, which used 17 companies to trade with the hospital and received approximately R283 million. Both syndicates relied on corrupt cooperation from hospital officials, including Tshisele and Monnakgotla, to facilitate unlawful procurement,” the statement explained. 

The corruption busting unit alleges that in his position as Operational Manager of the hospital’s theatre in 2017, Tshisele “abused his position to initiate supply chain processes and confirm receipt of goods, enabling payments to syndicate-linked companies”.

“He was directly involved in transactions worth approximately R15.9 million, each kept below the R500,000 threshold to avoid competitive bidding.

“These transactions were often unnecessary, undelivered, or only partially delivered, violating the Constitution, the Public Finance Management Act, the Public Service Act, Treasury Regulations, and the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act,” the statement read. – SAnews.gov.za