Gauteng Women embark on a journey to develop young women

30 Aug 2011

As part of the Women’s Month programme, the Gauteng Provincial Government will on Wednesday, 31 August 2011, launch the Young Women’s Development Programme in Boksburg, Ekurheleni. The Young Women’s Development Programme is a follow up to the Young Women’s Dialogue held on 30 June 2011. The provincial government has adopted a three-year Programme of Action for the empowerment of young women in Gauteng. This will serve as a platform to engage the youth constituency, with the aim of consolidating issues of their interest into the broader GPG Programme of Action.

The Programme will take a form of an intergenerational dialogue where the young and old women will share their experiences. The involvement in the facilitation process of Premier Nomvula Mokonyane and her women MECs and other influential women such as Angie Makwetla, Rosie Motene, Penny Lebyane and Sindi Lingelwa, will ensure that the discussions are relaxing and educational.

The Young Women’s Development Programme, to be held under the theme: “Ukuthuthukisa Amantombazane”  is an assertion by the Gauteng Provincial Government that effective gender transformation and women empowerment cannot be sufficiently attained without the development and empowerment of young women.

Details of the launch are as follows:
Date: 31 August 2011
Time: 08h30 to 22h00
Venue: Birchwood Hotel, OR Tambo Conference Centre, Boksburg

Enquiries:
Sipho Mokoena
Cell: 082 566 0515

Source: Gauteng Provincial Government

Issued by: Gauteng Provincial Government
30 Aug 2011

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All system go for the 7th annual Pale Ya Rona Carnival in Soweto

30 Aug 2011

As part of Heritage Month activities, the Gauteng Department of Sport, Arts Culture, and Recreation will host the 7th Annual Pale Ya Rona Carnival in Mofolo, Soweto from 2 to 4 September 2011.

Activities at the carnival include the opening ceremony to unveil the costumes, street parades for schoolchildren and the main parade by about 17 000 participants from the five regions of Gauteng. Other provinces including North West, KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape and Free State as well as other Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries including Botswana, Swaziland and Lesotho will also participate.

Also on the programme is battle of the DJs to get the top Gauteng (developing) DJ and a concert featuring different Hip Hop and Kwaito artists.

Members of the media are welcome to arrange to go behind the scenes to view the production process and meet the artists of some of the largest and enthralling costumes.

There are three production base camps with the main one in Cleveland outside the Johannesburg CBD and the other two in Eldorado Park outside Soweto and Sedibeng in the Vaal.

Media is invited as follows:
Opening ceremony:
Date: 2 September 2011
Venue: Mofolo Park, Soweto
Time: 14h00

Children’s carnival (Parade)
Date: 3 September 2011
Venue: Starting from Mofolo Park
Time 12h00

Main carnival (Parade)
Date: 4 September 2011
Venue: Starting from Mofolo Park
Time: 12h00

To RSVP for the Carnival please contact Mpolokeng Moloi:
Tel: (011) 355-2623
Cell: 082 707 9319
Email: mpolokeng.moli@gauteng.gov.za

Source: Gauteng Provincial Government

Issued by: Gauteng Provincial Government
30 Aug 2011

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Gauteng to host a first biotechnology conference in Africa

30 Aug 2011

The world’s who’s who in biotechnology will descend on Gauteng, Johannesburg, to attend the 2011 Agricultural Biotechnology International Conference.

Gauteng will have another “first” added to its cap when the world’s biotechnology experts will be converged in Johannesburg for the 2011 Agricultural Biotechnology International Conference.

This prestigious conference will hold in Africa for the first time, and is destined to put the continent on the map as far as biotechnology is concerned.

The Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, is proud to be one of the sponsors and the host of this year’s event. Other sponsors include AfricaBio and Novozymes. Media partners are Agricultural Review Online and Farmer’s Weekly.

Scheduled for 6 to 9 September at the Sandton Convention Centre, the conference will attract scientists and agriculturists in the field of biotechnology from all over the world. The theme for this year’s conference is: “Agricultural Biotechnology for Economic Development,” which dovetails with the Gauteng Province’s focus on economic development and job creation.

At the conference, industry leaders, investors, policy makers, scientists, researchers, and other professionals working in the field of agricultural biotechnology will interact with each other and look at the latest advances, barriers to biotechnology and future scenarios.

Prof. Jennifer Thomson, programme committee chairperson for the conference, is a member of the board of Agricultural Biotechnology International Conference Foundation. She is currently Emeritus Professor in the Department of Molecular and Cell Biology at University of Cape Town (UCT). Her fellow board members are highly qualified and esteemed scientists from Canada, the USA, Germany, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and South Africa.

Keynote speakers for this year’s event include Prof. Marc Van Montagu, Dr Clive James, Prof. Lawrence Kent, Prof. Quinton Johnson, Dr Florence Wambugu, Dr Jacob Mignouna, Prof. Emile Van Zyl and, Prof. Diane Hildebrand.

The conference will include Tracks in Bio economy, Genomics for Improved Agriculture, Bio-based Industrial Products, Bio pharming, and Environmental and Food Safety Evaluation – the New Frontier.

The first Agricultural Biotechnology International Conference (ABIC) was held in Saskatoon, Canada in 1996. The second conference was held in 1998, which resulted in the formation of the ABIC Foundation. The Foundation is a not for profit entity and its directors work on a voluntary basis. Its goal is to ensure on-going opportunities for continuous learning and networking within the agro biotech community.

On the other hand, the threat of Climate Change is a critical environment risk facing humanity. In response to the threat, the United Nations Framework on Climate Change (UNFCC) was formed. This international environmental treaty aims to stabilise greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interferences with the climate system. The parties to the convention have met annually from 1995 in Conference of the Parties (COP) to assess progress in dealing with climate change. In 1997, the Kyoto Protocol was concluded and established legally binding obligations for second economy countries to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. COP 16 was held in Cancun, Mexico.

COP 17 will be held this year in Durban, South Africa and will include a South African expo of a project designed to mitigate against climate change and help us to adapt it.

In preparation for COP 17, Gauteng host Pre COP17 summits linked with Gauteng Water Sector Forum.

The aims of these summits are to:

• Present South Africa’s position on climate change;
• Preparations for COP 17;
• Showcase provincial and local authority initiatives to address climate change;
• Showcase by local suppliers of climate change related products and services (e.g. renewable energy companies, LED companies);
• Ensure that provincial and local authorities understand the issues of civil society; and
• Present Gauteng Climate Change Response Strategy and Action Plan.

For more information on ABIC contact their office at abicfoundation@abic.ca

Enquiries:
Andile Gumede
Tel: (011) 355 1957
Cell: 071 118 3119

Source: Gauteng Agriculture and Rural Development

Issued by: Gauteng Provincial Government
30 Aug 2011

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Loss of patient records to be a thing of the past

30 Aug 2011

The Department of Health is to embark on installing an upgraded version of the Meditech Software that will, for the first time, allow for a full Electronic Medical record keeping.

“This is indeed early stages in getting a single Electronic Medical Record system for the whole province of KwaZulu-Natal,” says the MEC for Health in KwaZulu-Natal Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo.

The Client Server 6.0 Meditech Software is brand new in South Africa and Addington Hospital will be the first institution to implement it and will come into operation on 1 September 2011 from midnight. On this day queues may be slightly longer as the admitting clerks get into the swing of things. We plead for the public’s patience and cooperation.There will be people assisting and providing all the necessary information on the day.

The version being installed is of the Client Server architecture and has a distinct Windows look and feel.All patients can be assured that there are strict access policies in place and confidentiality is further assured by user restrictions as to what information they are generally allowed to see as part of their job-function.The software offers a Roles-Based Desktop and brings information into one place, making for a much smoother user-experience.

MEC Dhlomo says, “For patients, there is an assurance that their files will no longer get ‘lost’ or misplaced and laboratory results will be kept for life.”

It is expected that once the system is up and running, patients will be asked to bring along their ID books to facilitate the registration process and entering of patient details onto the system. This will certainly make the queues move along speedily.The department will need to update and confirm existing patient details and we urge patients to have all necessary papers– for example, grant details/medical aid umbers, etc.

Enquiries:
Chris Maxon
Cell: 083 447 2869

Issued by: KwaZulu-Natal Health
30 Aug 2011

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Gauteng Advisory Council holds its inaugural meeting

26 Aug 2011

Gauteng Premier, Nomvula Mokonyane, will today, Friday, 26 August 2011 chair the inaugural meeting of the Gauteng Advisory Council. The 25-member council was established to advise the Premier and the Executive Council on policy matters and short- to long-term planning to build a Gauteng City Region, which is inclusive, equitable, and prosperous. The establishment of the Council follows a public nomination process.

The members of the Council are experts in various fields, including people drawn from civil society sectors such as labour, women, youth, faith-based organizations and people with disabilities.

Members of the media are invited to a briefing after the meeting. A photo opportunity and one-on-one interviews with members of the advisory council will be afforded to members of the media.

Details of the event are as follows:

Date: 26 August 2011
Time: 13h00 to 14h30
Venue: 15th floor boardroom, Office of the Premier, 30 Simmonds street

Enquiries:
Xoli Mngambi
Cell: 082 373 1146

Source: Gauteng Provincial Goverment

Issued by: Gauteng Office of the Premier
26 Aug 2011

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Gauteng Advisory Council holds its inaugural meeting

26 Aug 2011

Gauteng Premier, Nomvula Mokonyane, will today, Friday, 26 August 2011 chair the inaugural meeting of the Gauteng Advisory Council. The 25-member council was established to advise the Premier and the Executive Council on policy matters and short- to long-term planning to build a Gauteng City Region, which is inclusive, equitable, and prosperous. The establishment of the Council follows a public nomination process.

The members of the Council are experts in various fields, including people drawn from civil society sectors such as labour, women, youth, faith-based organizations and people with disabilities.

Members of the media are invited to a briefing after the meeting. A photo opportunity and one-on-one interviews with members of the advisory council will be afforded to members of the media.

Details of the event are as follows:

Date: 26 August 2011
Time: 13h00 to 14h30
Venue: 15th floor boardroom, Office of the Premier, 30 Simmonds street

Enquiries:
Xoli Mngambi
Cell: 082 373 1146

Source: Gauteng Provincial Goverment

Issued by: Gauteng Office of the Premier
26 Aug 2011

UIF paid out R1.4bn in last quarter - Oliphant

Cape Town - The Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) paid out over R1.4 billion to unemployed and retrenched workers between April and June, the Minister of Labour Mildred Oliphant said today.

In response to a parliamentary question on the UIF raised in the National Assembly, from a ruling party member, Oliphant said the R1.4 billion included over R1.1 billion in unemployment benefits, R60.1 million in illness benefits, over R172.6 million in maternity benefits, R192 000 in adoption benefits and R86.5 million for dependents.

In the 2010/11 financial year, the fund paid out R5.3 billion to support unemployed workers, she said.

In reply to a question on how her department would ensure that the UIF's R9 billion surplus in the financial year ending March 2011 would be used to benefit retrenched workers and the unemployed, Oliphant said all funds of the UIF had to be used to benefit the workers and employers that had contributed to the fund.

Oliphant said the UIF would continue to support the training lay-off scheme launched in 2009.

The fund had committed R1.2 billion, and 19 companies and 6 351 workers had been assisted through the scheme.

The UIF had also invested R2 billion in the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) to stimulate work creation activities, she added.

The department is also using the surplus from the UIF to reintegrate unemployed workers into the labour market by upskilling them.

Oliphant said to ensure that the surplus is also used for the benefit of workers, she is considering making changes to the UIF legislation in consultation with the UIF Board.

"This relates mainly to improving the duration for which benefits are paid, from the current eight months to possibly 12 months," she said.

In a second unrelated parliamentary question from a ruling party member - on whether she intended to transform the workplace following the recently-published Employment Equity Report - Oliphant said the responsibility of transforming the labour market was not hers alone, but rather fell on all South Africans, in particular employers.

The report revealed that white males still dominated senior management positions in the workplace.

She said the publishing of the 11th Annual Report of the Commission for Employment Equity should be seen as a national monitoring and evaluation tool of the progress achieved thus far in the transformation of the South African labour market, but that employers had fallen short.

"It is so unfortunate to note that the transformation cause seems to be met with resistance and lack of commitment," said Oliphant. - BuaNews

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Less than 50 days to finals as learners gear up for preliminary exams

28 Aug 2011

The Gauteng Department of Education wishes grade 12 learners all the best as they write preliminary examinations from Monday, 29 August 2011. With less than 50 days days to go before the start of the final grade 12 exams, we urge all learners to apply themselves with energy and dedication to the preliminary examinations.

Each year, the preliminary exams give learners an opportunity to experience first hand questions they are likely to face in the forthcoming matric exams. Prelims also contribute to the school based assessment mark which makes up 25% of the matric mark.

At this time of year we want to urge learners to do two things: set up small study groups to support each other with revision and take advantage of the differnt study groups and camps that offer matric support.

Since February the Gauteng Department of Education has run matric support camps on Saturday mornings and during school holidays. Targeting all learners in underperforming schools, these camps will from September focus intensively on exam technique and final revision.

During the exams, we encourage learners to have sufficient rest the night before, have all the necessary material (calculator, pens and pencils, erasers, etc), read the entire paper, read instructions, and plan their time carefully. We also encourage learners to verify their exam registration details. Learners with incorrect registration details will not be allowed to write. The timetable for preliminary exams can be accessed on www.education.gpg.gov.za.

To families we say please be supportive during this time: make sure your son or daughter has a quiet corner for study, relief from household chores and your constant love and care. Remind them that while you expect them to do their best you will still support them even if they do not do as well as they hoped they would do. They still have time to improve their results in the final matric exam.

For more information contact:
Charles Phahlane
Tel: 011 355 1530
Cell: 071 860 4496

Issued by: Gauteng Education
28 Aug 2011

MEC Mohono condems killing of Itsoseng policeman

28 Aug 2011

North West MEC for Human Settlements, Public Safety & Liaison, Ms Desbo Mohono has condemned in the strongest terms possible the callous murder of a policeman who was reportedly stabbed by three unknown assailants outside his yard. The 50-year-old male police Sergeant Keneilwe Seleke was allegedly attacked during an attempted robbery in Itsoseng Township outside Lichtenburg in the North West Province on Friday night.

MEC Mohono in conveying her condolences to the Seleke family urged police not to leave any stone unturned to ensure that those responsible for the sadistic attack that reportedly occurred at around 20h40 pm are arrested. The MEC appeals to members of the community to assist police in their investigations.

According to police, the alleged attack happened while the off-duty Sergeant Seleke was returning home from visiting his brother who stays about four blocks from his home. The brutal murder was partly witnessed by Seleke’ son who rushed outside the home after he heard his father’s scream. The deceased’s son found his father lying in a pool of blood and allegedly saw three of his attackers fleeing from the scene of the crime.

Though the son rushed his late father to Itsoseng Health Centre, he was deceased was certified dead on arrival.

MEC Mohono said the Itsoseng community owed it to the Seleke family to assist police track his killers after he had dedicated 19 years of his life fighting crime, lawlessness and in defense of the weak and the vulnerable in their community.

Mohono called upon community structures to support the “Hands-Off Our Police Officers Campaign” and emphasized that the war against crime is not a war between police and criminals but a war waged by heartless criminals against communities.

“In this war, police as protectors of the weak and vulnerable are seen as obstacles that should be eliminated for fear and lawless to reign. Police need the support of our communities to uproot crime from our streets and neighbourhoods,” she said.  

Enquiries:
Lesiba Moses Kgwele
TelL: (018) 391 0420
Cell: 083 629 1987
Email: LKgwele@nwpg.gov.za

Issued by: North West Public Safety
28 Aug 2011

SALGA National Conference 2011

The South African Local Government Association (Salga) will be hosting its elective National Conference from 29 August to 1 September 2011. The conference is held under the theme: “Building Municipal and Social Cohesion for Quality and Sustainable Services: 2011 and Beyond”.

The Salga National Conference is a platform to strengthen municipalities and consolidate the association’s voice as a representative organ of municipalities.

• This conference is held every five years (after every local government election) to review progress made by municipalities in the delivery of services to communities.
• The conference is expected to have the majority of elected representatives being new to the process and to local government. Local government stalwarts and Salga leadership have served the communities well and have passed on the torch to new leaders.
• The conference will be attended by approximately 3 000 delegates, of whom more than 1 000 are representatives of 278 municipalities. It follows the successful local government elections held in May this year.
• The conference will also consider current issues facing South Africa such as  climate change and preparations for the 17^th Conference of the Parties (COP 17) to be held in South Africa during November and December this year.

10 years of local government

• Salga has visibly grown in its representation of local government and has asserted itself as the sole representative voice of local government as mandated by the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa.
• Salga has built the reputation and profile of South African municipalities internationally and regionally, establishing partnerships that have seen shared municipal best practices and support systems.
• Access to basic services has improved over the past 10 years, seeing areas with no infrastructure beginning to receive access. Challenges are acknowledged and improvement is needed as we look forward to the new cadres in local government.

Addressing the challenges relating to the delivery of services and to restoring the confidence of communities in their municipalities,

• The Local Government Turnaround Strategy (LGTAS), with clear targets for 2014, is intended to stabilise local government and ensure that municipalities respond to the needs of their communities by delivering quality services in an efficient manner.
• Local government is everyone’s business. Municipalities can be made to work better for everyone by everyone. The structure of the local government system remains. Notwithstanding certain changes that may have to be effected, the overall architecture of the system of local government is still sound.
• The local government system is evolving. The new system of local government was always intended to be phased in over time and the current problems must be seen as part of an effort to learn and correct as we continue with implementation.
• An ideal municipality in our system will strive to contribute to building a developmental state in South Africa and draw from the constitutional and legal framework established. The role of councillors to ensure that the LGTAS is implemented in the manner that it was intended therefore becomes an uncompromising priority.

Municipalities intend to make good on government’s strong will and commitment to improve and steer local government towards a clean administration to better the lives of all South Africans.

• Salga headed the Councillor Induction Programme and Handbook as a programme aimed at appropriately equipping councillors with the required knowledge and expertise.
• It is important for the leadership of respective municipalities’ to champion constant monitoring and evaluation as well as to impose relevant sanctions where there are deviations from internal control.
• Government’s priority since 1994 has been to meet the basic needs of the millions of South Africans living in poverty. In line with the millennium development goals, government’s target is to ensure that by 2014, all households have access to the minimum standard for each basic service.
• A related 2014 goal is to decrease unemployment and poverty by half. By obtaining labour-intensive services and the use of labour-intensive methods to maintain and build infrastructure, municipalities can broaden participation in the local economy and create work opportunities for the poor.

Clean administration at all municipalities by 2014 is still an achievable target that requires the leadership to set the right tone and lead the movement towards ultimate clean administration in their municipalities.

• The Auditor-General presented the inaugural Clean Audit Awards to seven municipalities that had achieved the ultimate clean administration, as measured by audit reports for the 2009/10 financial year.
• These seven municipalities have made it a way of life to perform daily, monthly and quarterly reconciliations of their financial records.
• Mpumalanga’s Ehlanzeni district municipality, Steve Tshwete and Victor Khanye municipalities, the City of Cape Town, the district municipalities of Metsweding (Gauteng) and Frances Baard (Northern Cape), and the local municipality of Fetakgomo (Limpopo).
  

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Zambia added into a list of countries requiring Yellow Fever vaccination

26 Aug 2011

South Africans travelling to Zambia will now be required to have a Yellow Fever vaccination certificate following a global Yellow Fever risk assessment conducted by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Zambia's status has been classified as a low risk. However, as Yellow Fever is vaccine preventable, and travellers to and from countries with a low risk of transmission still risk contracting or importing Yellow Fever into South Africa, the Department of Health in South Africa has updated the Yellow Fever vaccination policy to include Zambia. The new policy will be effective from 1 October 2011. From this date, a valid Yellow Fever certificate will be required for travellers over 1 year old:

• travelling from Zambia
• having been in transit through a Yellow Fever risk country including Zambia. 

Yellow Fever is an infectitous vector-borne disease that is caused by a virus. It is transmitted by the bite of an infected mosquito vector. 

For more information and the revised list of countries where Yellow Fever vaccination certificate is required for entry into South Africa, visit: http://www.doh.gov.za.

Enquiries:
Fidel Hadebe
Tel: 012 395 8493
Cell: 079 517 3333

Issued by: Department of Health
26 Aug 2011

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Domestic tourism has to be our focu

Minister launches Tourism Month - 'Domestic tourism has to be our focus'

25 Aug 2011

Domestic tourism

As South Africa prepares to celebrate Tourism Month in September, Minister of Tourism, Mr Marthinus van Schalkwyk has stressed that domestic tourism is central to the growth and sustainability of the sector.

Speaking this morning at the official launch of Tourism Month 2011 at Freedom Park, Pretoria, Minister van Schalkwyk urged the tourism industry to join hands in its support to find innovative ways of stimulating domestic tourism. The Minister further called for greater cohesion from everyone involved at all levels of South Africa’s tourism sector and stressed the importance of a new approach to the domestic tourism market.

Against the backdrop of an industry still feeling the effects of the global recession, Minister van Schalkwyk said that “in difficult times we need to be even more united as the tourism industry to focus on markets that not only provide quick relief in the short term, but whose growth will be sustainable for many years ahead. With domestic tourism contributing over 70% of our country’s tourism volume and contributing to sustaining and creating much-needed jobs, the domestic market has to be one of our key focus areas”.

Minister van Schalkwyk added that in these tough economic times, the industry also need to look at innovative ways of marketing their tourism product to the domestic traveller which includes competitive pricing and showcasing our distinctive provinces, cultures, events and attractions in dynamic new ways and urged that tourism businesses, hotels and other establishments should robustly market themselves to the domestic market, especially in the current global economic climate.

International focus

Briefly shifting his focus on a global level, Minister van Schalkwyk reiterated that the national Department of Tourism and South African Tourism (SAT) remain committed to attracting tourists from every corner of the world, with its core markets still absolutely critical and exciting potential being seen for South Africa in new tourism markets.

While market conditions in the globe remained challenging, Minister van Schalkwyk highlighted that the first quarter of 2011 results showed South Africa was on the right track with its tourism marketing efforts. From January to April 2011 South Africa had 2,750,175 foreign tourist arrivals to South Africa, up 7.5% on the 2,558,715 recorded over the same period in 2010, with core markets holding their own and good growth being recorded from new markets such as China, Brazil, India and from our continent.

“Lower hotel occupancy does not mean arrivals are declining, in fact we continue to record impressive growth. It does, however, point to shifts in consumer choice and where people choose to spend their money whilst on holiday in South Africa. We need to therefore work even harder to understand the tourism market and respond to the needs of global travellers.

Our major tourism revenues still come from our core markets in Europe and North America and we are working aggressively to defend and grow our position in these markets, while also actively exploring the potential for tourism growth from emerging markets in Asia, the Americas and Africa,” Minister van Schalkwyk said.

“However, domestic tourism remains our industry’s backbone and we are committed to working with the travel trade to market the destination and their offerings,” Minister van Schalkwyk added.

In 2010, 29.7 million domestic trips were taken, marginally less than the 30.3 million in 2009. However there were increases in the number of trips taken (2.2) as well as an increased length of stay and people travelling for the purpose of holiday (13.4% up from 12.0% in 2009).

Minister van Schalkwyk emphasised again that as part of the National Tourism Sector Strategy (NTSS) launched in March 2011, to grow tourist arrivals to South Africa, increase tourism’s contribution to the national economy and create jobs, the target has been set to grow domestic tourism from 30.9 million in 2009 to 54 million annual trips by 2020 and significantly increase its contribution to the country’s Gross Domestic Products (GDP) “...but getting the revenue and the tourism numbers we need – and to sustain and grow our industry - will take a collective effort.

It will require synergy from tourism bodies at national, provincial and local level and the critical support of the entire tourism industry and our thousands of world-class tourism products in making our world-class destination viable, competitive and even more attractive to local and international travellers. We must not lose sight that ours remains a world-class destination and we must continue to be positive in harvesting its tourism potential,” Minister van Schalkwyk added.

As a supplementary tool to enhance the NTSS and to ensure that the sector reaches its targets as set out in the NTSS, a Domestic Tourism Strategy has been drafted to further ensure the development of a diversity of products with an appeal to all market segments. The final draft Domestic Tourism Strategy is due for approval early next year.

SAT’s new Sho’t Left campaign, with its mantra of ‘there’s no such thing as a wrong turn’, is an example of a novel approach to putting the tourism spotlight on all nine of our provinces and South African Tourism (SAT) and its partners are doing their utmost to market the attributes of the length and breadth of our destination.

In its most recent phase of its Sho’t Left domestic tourism campaign, SAT is using a number of local influencers to take the message of tourism deep into the heart of the emerging target market. The latest phase of the campaign profiles each of the destination’s nine provinces and puts special emphasis on the hidden gems that many people might have heard about, but have not visited and explored. The campaign is supported by a number of private-sector and media partners.

South Africa will celebrate World Tourism Day in Clarens in the Free State province on 27 September.

Further details of the event will be released shortly.

For further information contact:

National Department of Tourism
Trevor Bloem
Tel: 012 444 6000
Cell: 082 771 6729
E-mail: TBloem@tourism.gov.za

South African Tourism

Jermaine Craig
E-mail: Jermaine@southafrica.net
Tel: 083 2010 121

Ministry of Tourism

Melene Rossouw
E-mail: mrossouw@tourism.gov.za
Tel: 021 465 7240
Cell: 082 753 7107

Natasha Rockman
Tel: 021 465 7240
E-mail: nrockman@tourism.gov.za

Issued by: Department of Tourism
25 Aug 2011

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Minister Shabangu to convene an interactive roundtable with young girl learners

Minister Shabangu to convene an interactive roundtable with young girl learners and women-in-mining professionals at the Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand, Johannesburg

25 Aug 2011

Mineral Resources Minister, Susan Shabangu (MP) will convene an interactive roundtable with Young Girl Learners and women-in-mining professionals at the Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand, Johannesburg on 26 August 2011.

The purpose of the event is to encourage young girl learners to pursue careers in the mining and minerals sector by creating a networking platform with other women professionals from the industry. The activities will unfold under the theme: “Mentorship: professional women in the Minerals Sector shaping young Girls for economic empowerment”.

Minister Shabangu’s call for assistance to address gender equity imbalances in the industry will be honoured by various mining companies who have agreed to enter into memoranda of understanding with the (DMR) on the day by accordingly pledging nineteen (19) fully funded bursaries to young girl learners from across the country.

The event will also be attended by Minister for Women, Children and People with Disabilities, Ms Lulama Xingwana (MP) who is expected to discuss the topic: “Access and Participation of Women and Girls in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM).

Other invited guest include women industry professionals and CEO’s from among other, Exxaro, Goldfields, Great Basin Gold, Ibutho Coal, Impala Platinum, Kangara Coal, Lafarge-za, Pumla Mining, Rio Tinto, Royal Bafokeng Platinum and African Rainbow Minerals.

Members of the media are invited as follows:

Date: 26 August 2011
Venue: Gallagher Convention Centre
Time: 08h30 for 09h00

Kindly RSVP with Solomon Phetla on cell: 076 765 3863 or

Trevor Hattingh on 072 616 00 76

Issued by: Department of Mineral Resources
25 Aug 2011

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Minister Sisulu celebrates Women’s Month in honour of Mama Sisulu

25 Aug 2011

Ms Lindiwe Sisulu, the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, will on Saturday, 27 August 2011 honour the invitation of the Ibbamo Foundation to the Celebration of Women's Month in honour of the late Mama Albertina Sisulu.

Ibbamo Foundation prides itself for helping young Africans to advance their education while preparing them for future leadership roles.

Minister Sisulu will honour the invitation as follows:

Date: 27 August 2011 (Saturday)
Venue: The Saxon Hotel, 36 Saxon Road, Sandhurst
Time: 18:30 for 19:00

Enquiries:

Ndivhuwo Mabaya
Head of Media Services
Cell: 083 645 7838

Memory Moyo
Ibbamo Foundation
Cell: 082 759 4314

Issued by: Department of Defence
25 Aug 2011

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Department takes services to families in Ekurhuleni

25 Aug 2011

In celebrating International Day for Families, the Gauteng Department of Health and Social Development will host more than 500 people in Etwatwa, Ekurhuleni.

The aim of the event is to empower men and women through dialogue and awareness programmes on family matters.

The theme for this year is ‘confronting family poverty and social exclusion through working together for the empowerment of women.’

Venue: Etwatwa Sports Ground
Date: Friday, 26 August 2011
Time: 09h00

Enquiries: 
Simon Zwane
Cell: 082 551 9892

Issued by: Gauteng Health and Social Development
25 Aug 2011

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Minister of Social Development Bathebile Dlamini to hold dialogue with women

25 Aug 2011

To celebrate the Women’s Month, Minister of Social Development Ms Bathabile Dlamini will tomorrow, 26 August 2011 spend the day in dialogue with a group of women and young girls at the historical Freedom Square in Kliptown, Soweto.

As part of the programme, the Minister will introduce women driving the social development agenda in the country. This includes the Deputy Minister of Social Development, Mrs Maria Ntuli, CEO of South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) Ms Virginia Petersen and CEO of the National Development Agency (NDA), Ms Vuyelwa Nhlapo.

The purpose of this dialogue is to provide opportunities for young women from disadvantaged communities to interact with women leaders and to inform them of various government opportunities.

The event is coordinated by the National Development Agency which to date has a list of 350 active funded projects with about 80% of them run by women. These projects are pivotal in creating job opportunities and enabling women to participate in the economic mainstream, thus promoting sustainable livelihoods initiatives.

Minister Dlamini will also make announcement on measures regarding inter-country adoptions as well as interact with members of the media on the recent Human Rights Watch report, which highlights human rights violations in the farming communities in the Western Cape province. Minister Dlamini will also hand out blankets to child-headed households.

Members of the media are invited to attend and cover the event.

The full details of the event are as follows:

Date: Friday, 26 August 2011
Time: 10h00
Venue: The Soweto Hotel, Freedom Square-Kliptown

For media enquiries:
Lumka Oliphant
Cell: 083 484 8067

Lunga Mangcu
Cell: 083 292 4162

Issued by: Department of Social Development
25 Aug 2011

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Company Registration Commission dealing with backlog - Minister Davies

24 Aug 2011

The Minister of Trade and Industry Dr Rob Davies today told Parliament that the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) has seen a massive increase in company registrations since its establishment. Minister Davies was responding to a question asked by Ms SP Lebenya-Ntanzi of the Inkatha Freedom Party, in the National Assembly. She wanted to know whether the Minister and his department had a strategic plan in place to rectify the current backlog of company registrations at the CIPC.

In response to Ms Lebenya-Ntanzi’s question the Minister stated, “I recently engaged with the leadership and went on a walkabout with staff to understand the extent of the challenges. I was advised that several steps are being taken to address backlogs and was advised further that progress has been made in a number of areas, notably in processing name reservations and amendments to companies,” stated Minister Davies.

Speaking on the current size of the backlog and expected time required to deal with and reduce the backlog, Minister Davies read from the table below which provides an indication of progress made during the period under review:

Transaction	Transaction volume at beginning of August	Number of transactions received in August	Number of transactions processed in August	Number of transactions on 18 August
Name reservations	31,108	10,004	37,220	3,892
New companies	6,861	3,029	2,936	6,413
Amendments to companies	19,581	3,811	21,820	450
Amendments to close corporations	6,363	3,247	1,184	8,426
Cooperatives	420	969	802	587
General email queries	6,235	2,800	5,237	3,798
Annual returns email queries	8,725	1,680	2,670	7,735

Minister Davies added that the commission had been mandated to prepare a full update on progress. The report will be presented to Parliament by Minister Davies and CIPC Commissioner Ms Astrid Ludin on 13 September 2011.

Enquiries:
Sidwell Medupe 
Tel: 012 394 1650 
Cell: 079 492 1774
E-mail: MSMedupe@thedti.gov.za

Source: Department of Trade and Industry

Issued by: Department of Trade and Industry
24 Aug 2011

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47 learner transport vehicles taken off the road

25 Aug 2011

The Gauteng Traffic Police of the Department of Community Safety today discontinued a total of 47 learner transport vehicles in Krugersdorp, West Rand. The comes after a total of  56 learner transport vehicles were tested, 47 failed and only nine passed. The vehicles have several vehicle defects mainly brakes, steering mechanism, oil leaks and worn out shock absorbers. The discontinued vehicles will no longer be allowed to operate on Gauteng roads as they have been marked on the e-Natis system. They will only be allowed to resume operation when submitted for fitness test and all defects corrected.   

The project falls within the MEC Faith Nonhlanhla Mazibuko's special projects started since March 2011. Shocked at the findings, Busaphi Nxumalo, Gauteng Traffic Police Spokesperson recommitted the department and commented "these are vehicles responsible for fatal accidents due to non-functional brakes and steering mechanisms.  These defects are major and any vehicle found with such should not be allowed on Gauteng roads" said Busaphi Nxumalo.

More learner transport vehicles should expect stoppage any time as the project will continue across Gauteng.   

Enquiries:
A.B. Nxumalo
Tel: 011 689 3600
Cell: 083 413 0320 / 084 805 2549 

Issued by: Gauteng Community Safety
25 Aug 2011

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Executive Council meeting

24 Aug 2011

The Executive Council (EXCO) held its fortnightly meeting at Nelspruit at Mbombela local municipality on Wednesday 24 August 2011.

The EXCO approved the following appointments:

• Ms Ntombeziningi Lydia Mlangeni as Head of the Department of the Social Development.
• Mr Thulane Mdakane as Deputy Director-General macro-policy in the Office of the Premier.

South Africa/Cuba medical training programme

EXCO approved twelve (12) students from the province to join the South Africa and Cuba medical training programme in Cuba. Since 1997 the Mpumalanga Department of Health has been sending students to study medicine in Cuba.

The programme has proved effective in ensuring that rural and under-served communities acquire the service of doctors to service their areas as well as to strengthen the district health system.

There are currently 48 students still studying in Cuba and thus far 21 doctors have completed their training however six of these are currently specializing in Cuba. The rest of the graduates are placed in different health institutions in the province and some are on internship in other provinces.

Trial Matriculation Exams

The EXCO noted the report from the Department of Education on the preparations towards the writing of the trial matriculation exams from 12 to 30 September 2011.

Publication of the Mpumalanga Gazankulu Laws Repeal Bill

The EXCO approved the publication of the Mpumalanga Gazankulu Laws Repeal Bill, 2011 in the Provincial Gazette for public comments. This is the part of the rationalization of “old order” legislation, duly mandated by the Constitution.

The enactment of the Constitution Twelfth Amendment Act 2005 has resulted in the laws of the former Gazankulu in so far as such laws have been assigned to Limpopo province and they form part of their Provincial Statute Book.

Enquiries:
Lebona Mosia
Tel: 013 766 2244
Cell: 082 561 6465
E-mail: lmosia@mpg.gov.za

Issued by: Mpumalanga Provincial Government
24 Aug 2011

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Intra-African trade should be encouraged

24 Aug 2011

The recently launched agreement for the establishment of the Tripartite Free Trade Area has made it more urgent to promote intra-Africa trade and that should be at the top of the continent’s economic agenda. This was said by the Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Ms Elizabeth Thabethe during South Africa-Ghana Business Forum that was held today at the Pavilion Conference Centre in Cape Town.

The Tripartite Free Trade Area centres on creating the continent's biggest free trade bloc to create a single continent-wide amongst the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

Thabethe said that this will at the end encourage economic growth as Africa is reach with minerals.

“Strengthening trade and investment links with the continent is a key policy priority of the government, both to benefit our economy and more importantly those of our partners on the continent. Most African countries are endowed with tremendous natural resources and thus have the potential to develop into modern industrialised states that can compete on the world stage,” said Thabethe.

She also said large investment in infrastructure, telecoms, and in finance can help lay the ground for the establishment of key underlying markets and services to enable take off in Africa.

Business people from both South Africa and Ghana were encouraged to take advantage of launched agreement for the establishment of the Tripartite Free Trade Area and to make intra-Africa trade a priority. The Department of Trade and Industry (the dti) through Trade and Investment South Africa signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Investment and Trade with the Ghanaian Investment Authority.

Today’s business forum was part of a two-day State visit by the President of Ghana, H.E. President John Atta Mills.

Bilateral trade between the two countries has been growing steadily since 2003 with the latest available annual trade statistics for 2010 indicating South African exports to Ghana of R 2, 523 billion and imports from Ghana of R84, 275 million.

For more information contact:
Mamosa Dikeledi
Tel: 012 394 1680
Cell: 083 584 6856
E-mail: MDikeledi@thedti.gov.za

Enquiries:
Sidwell Medupe
Tel: 012 394 1650
Cell: 079 492 1774
E-mail: MSMedupe@thedti.gov.za

Source: Department of Trade and Industry

Issued by: Department of Trade and Industry
24 Aug 2011

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SA cautions on releasing Libyan assets

Pretoria - The South African government has clarified its position on
the proposed resolution at the UN Security Council to unfreeze $1.5
billion in Libyan assets for urgent humanitarian needs.

Led by the United States, a draft resolution has been circulated at the
UNSC, which will require a vote to unfreeze the assets, and in so doing,
circumvent the sanctions committee on Libya that would have required the
consent of all 15 council members.

South Africa has indicated its reluctance is based purely on the
question of who the legitimate authority in Libya is at this time.

Pretoria says it does not object to the humanitarian aid but to the
intention to give some of the funds to the National Transitional Council
(NTC), as the body has not been universally recognised as the legitimate
authority in Libya.

International Relations and Cooperation spokesperson, Clayson Monyela,
told a post Cabinet briefing on Thursday that the NTC has not yet been
recognised as the sole, legal representative of the Libyan people.

"The issue we have raised caution on is the releasing or the unfreezing
of the assets to the rebels or the TNC for two reasons.
"[Firstly], the UN itself has not recognised the NTC as the new
government of Libya and therefore, you cannot ask a UN committee to
release funds to a structure that is not recognised. Secondly, the
African Union has not yet pronounced on this ... so there is no
recognition from the UN and there is no recognition from the AU,"
explained Monyela.

He said there are a lot of questions to be asked, such as where the
money is going to and whether the recipients of the money are
accountable, especially to the Libyan people, and whether they have been
mandated by the Libyan people to be able to act on their behalf.

Monyela said South Africa will await for the pronouncement of the AU,
which will be holding an emergency summit on Libya in Ethiopia on Friday
that will decide who is the current legitimate government of Libya.
"The South African government will always approach this matter in
concert with the AU and in the spirit of multilateralism," he said.

Asked who South Africa supports, between the embattled Muammar Gaddafi
and the NTC, Monyela reiterated that the Libyan people must determine
their own future through an inclusive process that will ensure a full
democratisation of all political institutions.

"Everything that happens there must be in line with the will of the
people. They should decide who governs them and how," he said, adding
that South Africa will not be opposing their choice.

A vote on the resolution by the UNSC is expected before the end of the
week.

Given the latest developments, Pretoria still sees the roadmap, crafted
by the AU, as the only logical solution to the woes facing the Libyan
people.

As spelt out in the AU roadmap, the way forward should include the
drafting of a new constitution under the supervision of the transitional
government, and a referendum on the new constitution leading to
democratic elections.
"Then you start the process of stabilising the country, then the
nation's reconciliation, reconstructing the infrastructure and reviving
the economy ...Our hope, as the South African government, is that this
will be an inclusive process, which will have the elements of the NTC
and that of the Gaddafi regime," said Monyela, adding that they can then
begin the process of nation building.
AU leaders, including President Jacob Zuma - who is the leader of the
Ad-Hoc Committee on Libya - will be locked in the summit with several
challenges such as, how they will ensure ownership of a transitional
process to decide on the contentious question of whether they should
recognise the NTC as the government of Libya or not. - BuaNews

Fund raising for Horn of Africa famine

Pretoria - South Africa will join other African countries, who will meet on Thursday, to pledge funds to tackle famine in the Horn of Africa.

The pledging conference, to be held in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, will collect funds that will help over 12 million people in the region.

Some 12.4 million people in the Horn of Africa, including Somalia, parts of Ethiopia, Djibouti, Kenya and Uganda, are affected by the worst drought in decades in the region and are in need of humanitarian assistance, according to the UN.

The UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) says the demands are huge, with a $1.1 billion shortfall from a total $2.4 billion that is needed.

South Africa, which has been providing support to the vulnerable communities in Somalia, will be represented in the conference by Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation (Dirco), Marius Fransman, the ministry said on Wednesday.

The South African government has responded to the humanitarian crisis confronting the Horn of Africa by raising R8 million towards the famine relief programme, of which R4 million was donated to the South African NGO, Gift of the Givers, towards transportation and logistical costs of delivering aid to Somalia.

"In line with South Africa's foreign policy objective of consolidating the African Agenda, the Government, led by DIRCO, in partnership with Brand South Africa, teamed up with Gift of the Givers and launched the Somalia Relief Campaign aimed at raising public awareness of the dire situation in Somalia and to galvanise South Africans to make donations for relief efforts in that East African country," Dirco said.

The South African government also provided free transport in the form of a South African National Defence Force (SANDF) C130 Hercules supply plane to the Gift of the Givers to deliver 18 tons of essential food and anti-malaria medication to the Somali capital, Mogadishu, last week.

This latest consignment brings to 112 tons the total aid delivered to Somalia by the Gift of the Givers in a two-week period.

This is in addition to government and other South African-based organizations' efforts to bring relief for Somalis in Somalia and refugee camps in neighbouring ountries.

These organisations include Islamic Relief South Africa, Africa Muslim Agency, Netcare South Africa, the Al Imdaad Foundation and the Somali Community Board of South Africa. - BuaNews

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School bus crash: authorities express shock

Pretoria - Transport Minister Sibusiso Ndebele has conveyed his condolences to the families of the Western Cape school bus accident that reportedly killed 16 people, 15 of them children near Knysna.

The children are said to have been between the ages of seven and 14.

It's believed the driver lost control of the bus and plunged into a river. The Road Traffic Management Corporation has sent an accident investigation team and reconstruction specialists to assist the investigation into the crash.

"We cannot go on like this," Ndebele said in a statement.

"This horrific road crash in Knysna which claimed the lives of innocent school children is yet again an unnecessary loss of lives. We want to convey condolences to the families and colleagues of those killed, and wish the injured a speedy recovery," he said.

The statement said the accident happened barely hours after Ndebele and provincial Transport MECs committed to intensifying road safety programmes in their provinces.

Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga also expressed shock at the deaths.

"The Department of Basic Education would like to send sincere condolences to the families of the learners, and indeed the entire schooling community," she said in a statement.

Officials say at least 60 people have been killed in six separate crashes, all involving public transport vehicles in four provinces this month alone.

"South Africa can no longer afford a business-as-usual approach to road safety... the month of August has been horrific in terms of road crashes and deaths, particularly in KwaZulu-Natal," Ndebele said, adding that provinces and municipalities should already be putting in place road safety plans for September to ensure there is no recurrence of what happened on the roads during August.

"Each province and municipality must know where, when, why, who, what and how in terms of road deaths in their respective areas."

MECs and mayors had to ensure that all traffic chiefs provide a detailed weekly evaluation and analysis of road deaths for their policing areas, as well as corrective measures being implemented.

There must also be active participation from national, provincial and local government in to promote what is called a 'Decade of Action for Road Safety.' - BuaNews

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Motsoaledi promotes breastfeeding

Compiled by the Government Communication and Information System
Date: 22 Aug 2011
Title: Motsoaledi promotes breastfeeding

Pretoria - South Africa's Health Minister is on a mission to encourage mothers to breastfeed as a way of promoting optimum infant health.

"The benefits of breastfeeding are well recognised for both infant and mother. Breastfeeding has a profound impact on child's survival, health, nutrition and development - and we have known this for decades," said Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi at the Breast Consultative Meeting held in Pretoria.

He bemoaned the fact that South Africa was one of 12 countries in the world in which child mortality was increasing, saying that measures, including breastfeeding, needed to be taken to reverse the trend.

Breastfeeding initiation rates are reportedly high in South Africa, but exclusive and extended breastfeeding is far from ideal.

"South Africa is one of the countries with low prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding at 8%, according to the 2003 Demographic and Health Survey. A dramatic drop in exclusive breastfeeding rates was reported in the age group 4-6 months, where only 1.5% of infants were exclusively breastfed. This is one of the lowest rates of exclusive breastfeeding in the world," said Motsoaledi.

The minister said data from the Human Sciences Research Council national survey suggests that among infants in the 0-6 month group, 25.7% were reported to be exclusively breastfed, while 51.3% were mixed fed, with solids and formula being "introduced far too early in life."

Motsoaledi unpacked GOBIFFF [growth monitoring; oral rehydration; breastfeeding; immunization; female education; family planning; food supplementation and security], which was a 1980s UNICEF strategy to improve child health.

"I want us to return to GOBIFFF as we strengthen maternal and child health services in South Africa," he said, adding that the number of women who could not breastfeed due to medical reasons was marginal.

He attributed the decline in breastfeeding to the aggressive promotion of formula and mothers not being able to continue once they return to work.

The meeting was also set to discuss breastfeeding in the context of HIV.

"I asked the department to invite academics and researchers as well as a wide range of stakeholders and partners to both present the evidence on breastfeeding so that we can generate consensus on policy and practice on breastfeeding, especially in the context of HIV.

"There is new scientific evidence on the safety of exclusive breastfeeding in the context of HIV. This evidence will be shared at the meeting so that we can collectively take decisions based on evidence," said Motsoaledi.

The meeting continues tomorrow. - BuaNews

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