MIL Africa Engine

Public Works & Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson this morning conducted an oversight visit to the construction of the new Johannesburg Deeds Office at 85 Anderson Street in Marshalltown.

Macpherson said the new office will play a key role in driving the renewal of the Johannesburg Central Business District. The building is the first new high rise in the Johannesburg City Centre in more than 20 years.

The new Deeds Office, which is being constructed at a cost of approximately R769 million, will provide modern facilities for property registration services while contributing to broader efforts to restore economic activity and investment in the inner city. 

The project is currently 78% complete, with significant progress already made on the main tower block and façade installations underway on several floors.

Macpherson said the project stands as a testament to the capability and expertise within the Department of Public Works & Infrastructure and demonstrates how well-managed infrastructure projects can play a key role in restoring confidence in South Africa’s urban centres. 

In this way, the Minister said catalytic construction projects of this nature can help drive economic growth, which will in turn support further job creation.

“As we work to turn South Africa into a construction site, the Johannesburg Deeds Office project shows how infrastructure investment can help breathe new life into our urban centres while ensuring that government facilities are modern, efficient and capable of serving the public. 

“As the country’s economic centre, Johannesburg’s inner city has enormous potential, but for too many years it has suffered from neglect, declining infrastructure and a loss of investment – something this project will help to reverse,” Macpherson said.

“When I entered office, my aim has always been to turn the Department into the economic delivery unit of South Africa, and projects such as this one help us achieve that goal through investment that generates economic activity in the inner city and contributes to job growth

“This is exactly the kind of project the department should be known for, and we look forward to replicating the work done here in communities across the country,” he said.

The Minister said the project also demonstrates the role that infrastructure investment can play in supporting economic participation and job creation for neglected communities. 

During construction, the project created employment opportunities for local workers while also supporting the participation of small businesses through subcontracting opportunities.

The development has furthermore incorporated skills development and training opportunities for young people, including apprenticeships and technical training linked to the construction sector, helping to prepare the next generation of artisans and built environment professionals.

“Public infrastructure must do more than simply provide buildings for government departments. It must help unlock economic activity, support jobs and contribute to the renewal of our cities. 

“These kinds of catalytic projects will be essential in the months ahead as we continue working to demonstrate the progress being made while contributing to building a better South Africa,” the Minister said. – SAnews.gov.za

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Small Business Development Minister Stella Ndabeni says government is committed to creating an environment that enables small businesses to thrive.

“Over the course of this seventh administration, we will, as the Department of Small Business Development (DSBD) and the Small Enterprise Development Finance Agency (SEDFA), provide financial and non-financial support to one million Micro, Small, and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs),” Ndabeni said on Tuesday.

Speaking at the 14^th Annual Proudly SA Buy Local Summit and Expo held at the Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg, Ndabeni said the government will implement the Red Tape Reduction Framework and continue to support municipalities in adopting the E-Registration System.

The Red Tape Reduction Framework provides municipalities and businesses with practical tools and resources to address municipal red tape issues to improve the business environment for small businesses. 

The E-Registration System Program intends to reduce significant red tape and to create a more straightforward, efficient, and easily accessible business registration system across districts and local governments. 

“We will improve access to enabling business infrastructure and equipment and will scale-up access to finance for MSMEs across all segments, working closely with other Development finance institutions (DFIs), banks and non-bank financial institutions,” Ndabeni said. 

Ndabeni said government will be looking to better integrate financial offerings with improved market and investment readiness support, as well as with post-investment support for business sustainability.

“MSMEs play a crucial role in addressing some of our country’s biggest challenges, including unemployment and inequality. Every rand spent at a local business helps circulate money within our economy, enabling businesses to grow, employ more people, and build communities. 

“MSMEs employ millions of people, with most reports suggesting this could be as high as 60% of employed persons in the country. They create pathways for young people entering the workforce, they empower women entrepreneurs, and they prop up local economies across the length and breadth of South Africa.

“They give innovative ideas the chance to grow into commercially thriving enterprises. But these MSMEs can only succeed when communities support them,” she said.

The Minister emphasised that when locally produced products are purchased, it helps a small business owner to pay wages, expand their operations and reinvest in the community. 

“That purchase might help someone hire a new employee, train an apprentice or open another store. We will ensure that the new Business Licensing Bill makes it easier, not more difficult, to start and operate a small business in South Africa. 

“We have the talent and the quality but still seem enamoured with global brands. This is where Proudly SA plays such an important role, and I encourage you to pick up your promotional and advocacy work to profile our local brands,” the Minister said.

Ndabeni urged the government to support e-commerce platforms that promote locally produced goods.

“The global online platforms that offer our consumers cheap mass- produced goods at a fraction of our production costs are a real threat, and we have engaged with relevant countries through our bilateral trade negotiations. 

“We have also intensified our war on the illicit goods which leak through our ports of entry and are produced in backyard factories here at home,” the minister said. –SAnews.gov.za

 

 

 

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Convicted murderer and rapist Thulani Gcaleka has been rearrested following his escape from custody just over a month ago.

According to the Department of Correctional Services (DCS), Gcaleka was rearrested in Gauteng during the early hours of Tuesday after escaping from the Sevontein Correctional Centre, under the Pietermaritzburg Management Area in KwaZulu-Natal.

“The National Commissioner, Makgothi Samuel Thobakgale, established a dedicated Track and Tracing Team within his office to focus on high-profile and high-risk escapees.

“This specialised team works to augment and support existing regional capabilities, ensuring a coordinated and intensified response to such incidents. The rearrest of offender Gcaleka is a direct result of these strengthened efforts,” the department said.

The offender escaped while he was part of a cleaning work team assigned to duties at the prison farm.

He is serving a life sentence for attempted murder, attempted rape, rape, common robbery and housebreaking with the intent to commit an offence.

“The department reiterates that escaping from lawful custody is a serious offence and will not be tolerated. Escapees pose a significant risk to public safety, and the department remains resolute in ensuring that all those who evade custody are swiftly traced and returned.

“Offender Gcaleka will face additional criminal charges arising from his escape from lawful custody. Internally, he will be reclassified to a higher security category and transferred to a maximum-security correctional facility,” the DCS added.

Following the escape, DCS announced that an internal investigation was underway to determine the circumstances leading to the incident.

“[Now], the Department confirms that disciplinary processes related to the circumstances surrounding the escape are ongoing, to ensure that appropriate action is taken against those found to have been negligent or complicit,” the DCS stated. – SAnews.gov.za

 

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President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to deliver the keynote address at the News24 On the Record Summit kicking off on Thursday.

The summit will be held at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) under the theme: “5 million jobs in 10 years”.

“The aim of the summit is to find practical solutions that will reach this employment target in 10 years.

“In support of the National Dialogue announced by President Ramaphosa, this News24 gathering involves small groups of expert practitioners in areas that have an impact on growth and jobs,” a Presidency statement on Tuesday said.

A wide range of participants including South African businesspeople, civil society representatives, civil servants, trade union leaders, key international stakeholders and political leaders are expected to attend.

“The On the Record summit follows a nine-month research project undertaken by News24 and the Africa Centre to consult around 60 influential South Africans across academia, business and civil society on tangible solutions that could be implemented to create five million jobs in the next decade,” the statement concluded. – SAnews.gov.za

 

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The South African Revenue Service (SARS) has executed search and seizure and preservation orders to secure evidence and assets against six people alleged to have under-declared taxable income exceeding R45 million, resulting in income-tax prejudice of about R18 million.

SARS has been investigating allegations that customs-inspection teams colluded with clearing agents and importers to manipulate physical inspections in exchange for cash bribes.

The latest actions taken by SARS relate to six current and former SARS employees and related taxpayers and traders.

According to SARS, the persons in question allegedly failed to comply with their statutory obligations as taxpayers by participating in a corrupt scheme that has directly prejudiced all honest taxpayers and traders and the fiscus.

“We cannot tolerate any acts of corruption. This is a red line that no one must cross, and no position inside or outside SARS places anyone above the law.

“Where evidence points to criminality, SARS will detect and pursue it, disrupt the scheme, and recover what is owed to the fiscus,” SARS Commissioner Edward Kieswetter said on Tuesday in a statement.

The law enforcement operation demonstrates that SARS is fully behind the National Illicit Economy Disruption Programme announced by President Ramaphosa in his  State of the Nation Address (SONA). 

“SARS is committed to eradicating all forms of corruption, collusion, and criminal subversion of customs and tax processes, internally and externally. SARS’s Illicit Economy Strategy prioritises corruption and fraud in government departments.”

The revenue service said it is disrupting and dismantling the illicit economy, organised corruption, and fraud linked to customs and tax processes. 

“These crimes damage and displace legitimate economic activities. Economic growth, job creation, and prosperity for all South Africans are at stake. 

“SARS’s enforcement actions align with the organisation’s strategic objective to make compliance easier and noncompliance hard and costly. 

“To give full effect to the National Illicit Economy Disruption Programme, SARS will work with  South African Police Service and the National Prosecuting Authority to yield successful criminal investigations and prosecutions.”

Kieswetter praised teams involved in the investigation and reiterated that SARS exists to serve South Africans. 

“Far too many of our employees work diligently, with utmost dedication and integrity, in pursuit of that higher purpose, for their efforts to be undermined by a few who choose to collude with criminals,” he said.

The Commissioner stressed that corrupt officials betray public trust and undermine the state. –SAnews.gov.za

 

 

 

 

 

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President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to preside over the presentation of title deeds to claimant groups who were previously dispossessed of their land rights in KwaZulu-Natal.

The ceremony will be held on Friday at uMzimkhulu in the province’s Harry Gwala District Municipality.

“The handover ceremony, which represents the reinstatement of the affected communities’ rights in terms of the Restitution of Land Rights Act. 

“The Department of Land Reform and Rural Development, led by Minister Mzwanele Nyhontso, will restore over 17 000 hectares of land to four claimant communities: the St Paul Community, the Ngunjini Community, the Ndzimankulu/Vierkant Community, and the Lawrence Family,” the Presidency said in a statement.

The statement noted that the handover marks a “significant milestone in government’s ongoing efforts to redress historical land dispossession and restore land rights to rightful beneficiaries”.

Furthermore, the ceremony will also demonstrate government’s commitment to “advancing human dignity, freedom, and an inclusive economy grounded in equitable spatial justice”.

“The event will also acknowledge progress made in resolving land claims and transferring land ownership to beneficiary communities.

“Land restitution remains a critical mechanism for addressing the injustices of the past by restoring access to land rights, including ownership and opportunities for sustainable development.

“This contributes to improved household welfare, economic growth, poverty alleviation, and a better quality of life for affected communities,” the statement read. – SAnews.gov.za

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