Motlanthe takes SA's HIV combatting plan to world conference

Pretoria - Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe will on Sunday lead the South African delegation to the 19th International Aids Conference, where he is expected to highlight the vision of South Africa's Strategic Plan 2012 - 2016.

The conference, to be held in Washington DC from 22 - 27 July, will present new scientific knowledge and offer many opportunities for structured dialogue on the major issues facing the global response to HIV.

It will be held under the theme 'Turning the Tide Together', which has been chosen to emphasise how a global and decisive commitment is crucial to change the course of the epidemic now that science is presenting promising results in HIV treatment and biomedical prevention. 

This biennial event is the world's largest meeting on Aids, where leading scientists report on the latest Aids research, and together with implementers, community leaders and policymakers, help to identify next steps in the global response to Aids.

About 25 000 scientists, people living with HIV and other stakeholders from nearly 200 countries are expected to attend the conference.

South Africa's Strategic Plan 2012 - 2016 focuses on eliminating HIV as advocated by the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and Aids (UNAIDS). The vision for the country is zero new HIV and TB infections to vertical transmission, zero preventable deaths associated with HIV and TB and zero discrimination associated with HIV and TB.

Motlanthe is the chairperson of the South African National AIDS Council (SANAC), a multi-sectoral body that advises government on appropriate strategies in response to HIV, Aids, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and TB.

While in Washington, Motlanthe will also hold bi-lateral meetings with donor agencies and other stakeholders. He will also meet with senior members of the US Congress, including the Congressional Black Caucus.

Other speakers at the conference include US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, World Bank President Jim Yong Kim as well as UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidib,. - SAnews.gov.za

: SA will continue to use nuclear energy

Pretoria - South Africa will continue to use nuclear energy for the improvement of lives, Energy Minister Dipuo Peters said on Thursday.

"President Jacob Zuma has said that we need to use and will continue using nuclear energy for feeding, healing, energy and water provision," said Peters, who was speaking at the official launch of the South African National Energy Development Institute (Sanedi). 

Sanedi has been established through the merger of two entities, namely the South African National Energy Research Institute (Saneri) and National Energy Efficiency Agency (NEEA). Research done by Sanedi will inform government policy and its strategic energy plan to help address the country's rising energy demands by accelerating green energy products in the country.

Peters said South Africa was going "to have serious challenges" of water in the next 10 years.
She expressed excitement at the use of nuclear for saving lives.

"Two days ago, I signed a letter at Steve Biko Hospital [whereby] with nuclear medicine, they could intervene in healing liver tumours and treating prostate cancer with nuclear technology. This shows the capability of South Africa," she said.

South Africa has converted its nuclear reactors from high enriched uranium to low enriched uranium, which is the one used for health applications.

South Africa is a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency and had signed up for stress tests to ascertain whether its reactors were vulnerable to natural causes like tsunamis. As a member of the agency, the country had several milestones it must meet.

"South Africa will soon build 9.6 gigawatts of nuclear [power] and we have 19 milestones from the agency we must meet to make sure that by the time we get to procurement, we've gone through all the requirements because we are a responsible government," explained Peters.

Last month, the National Nuclear Regulator (NNR) announced that the country's nuclear installations can withstand natural events. This followed an assessment of reports from Eskom and the South African Nuclear Energy Corporation (Necsa) - which aimed to identify vulnerabilities in the design of facilities as well as identify necessary modifications to be implemented where needed.

The NNR, following the Fukushima nuclear power plant incident, instructed both Eskom and Necsa to conduct safety reassessment reports of their nuclear plants, namely Koeberg and the Necsa-owned Safari 1 tank-in-pool type materials testing reactor in Pelindaba. - SAnews.gov.za

Solution needed in GFIP debate

Johannesburg - A speedy solution was needed to end the impasse over the implementation of the e-tolling system in Gauteng's main freeways, Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe said on Friday. 

"There is a recognition that many of our people are poor and at the current economic situation, they should not be overburdened by extra costs but at the same time SANRAL (SA National Roads Agency Limited) needs capital to continue doing its work," he said ahead of a meeting with trade union federation COSATU. 

The meeting is part of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project (GFIP), of on-going consultations with civil society and business. The committee has previously met with other bodies, including Opposition to Urban Tolling Alliance (OUTA), which asked the courts to halt the implementation of the e-tolls. COSATU had earlier this year organised a march against the implementation of e-tolls in Gauteng. 

Motlanthe, who was accompanied by Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan, said Cabinet had decided to embark on the consultation process because it became clear that there was opposition to the system and that "we come in the spirit of finding a workable solution to the challenge". The Treasury is opposing a court order setting aside the implementation of the project. 

"We have open minds to listen... the idea is for us to explore the best possible solution to this challenge," Motlanthe said. 

He said government could not afford to risk SANRAL's creditworthiness. SANRAL wants to use the money collected from e-tolling to repay a R20 billion loan it received for the GFIP. 

Motlanthe said: "Being creditworthy means that you are able to service your debt and you are able to pay your capital loans and if SANRAL cannot pay its debt, it will mean that they can't be creditworthy. It is for this reason that we have said let us give SANRAL the support it deserves.

COSATU General Secretary Zwelinzima Vavi accepted that SANRAL "cannot walk away from the debt". 

"We accept that the debt is there but we have said there could be other alternatives we can explore and we will have discussions on these today." - SAnews.gov.za

Public Works gets down to work for Mandela Day

Cullinan - Public Works Deputy Minister Jeremy Cronin and his staff rolled up their sleeves and got busy at the Refilwe Orphanage and Disability Centre in Cullinan, as they celebrated Mandela Day on Wednesday.

The deputy minister made his contribution in recognition of former president Nelson Mandela's 94th birthday, by helping out at the centre.

Vulnerable children, senior citizens and people with disabilities are dropped off at the centre where they are cared for during the day. The centre provides meals, educational and recreational activities.

Speaking to the centre's staff and those in their care, Cronin reiterated the call to make every day a Mandela Day.

"It's not just about one day. We are committing ourselves saying let us together make everyday a Mandela Day. Every day we must work together to build a better South Africa," he said.

Cronin said government ministers and deputy ministers had been asked by Mandela to go to visit places such as Refilwe to wish the communities well on behalf of the former president.

"We know that Tata Madiba belongs to the whole world. We are not jealous, we want to share Madiba and his spirit with the whole world...But he especially belongs to South Africa and communities like this," he added.

Cronin said apart from celebrating Mandela's birthday and his inspirational achievements, Mandela Day celebrations were also about celebrating the ordinary South Africans, who had also played a part in the liberation struggle.

The deputy minister promised that his department would do its bit to help the centre with its electricity problems, after he was told that the building did not have electricity for the past three years.

In addition, there were also plans to use an empty building on the premises as a clinic.

One of those to benefit from the services offered by the centre is Thomas Mlangeni. At 92, he is only a few years younger than Mandela.

"I'm very happy that the elders are being remembered on this important day," he said. 

The department donated furniture to the centre and employees also cleaned up, carried out renovations and provided food. - SAnews.gov.za

Govt wishes Madiba a Happy Birthday

Pretoria - Government has joined all South Africans and the international community in wishing former President Nelson Mandela a happy 94th birthday, and in celebrating his life and legacy.

"Madiba is special to South Africa in many ways, having dedicated his entire adult life to the relentless fight for freedom, democracy, peace and stability in our country.

"As the first President of a democratic South Africa, Nelson Mandela immediately led the nation on a path of unity, transformation, forgiveness and reconciliation," said the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) in a statement.

At 94, Madiba is almost as old as the African National Congress itself - the movement to which he dedicated his entire adult life, and a movement that is celebrating its centenary throughout 2012.

Government has committed itself to continuing President Mandela's legacy and will continue the long walk to confront poverty, unemployment and inequality.

The recent Social Cohesion Summit in Kliptown, Soweto, marked the beginning of a structured process of social cohesion and nation-building based on the values of unity, non-racialism, reconciliation and human compassion that are dear to Madiba.

Government calls on all South Africans to become part of this process. 

In honouring Nelson Mandela, government has also urged South Africans to make personal contributions and do good deeds, as called for by Madiba, in order to make South Africa and the world a better place for all. - SAnews.gov.za

Warm surprise for Pretoria homeless people

By Gabi Khumalo

Pretoria - On Monday evening, while the city was in the grip of a cold spell, Jonathan Thopola fought with his friends over a blanket and ended up having to spend the night with nothing covering his freezing body.

But, last night he was able to sleep warmly and peacefully, after receiving a blanket from Deputy Minister of Women, Children and People with Disabilities, Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu and her team.

Aged 23, Thopola from Mpulamanga left his home in January this year to find work in Pretoria. However, after two months, he lost his job and couldn't afford to pay rent for the room he was sharing with some people and for the past five months, he has been sleeping on the street while trying to get another job.

On Tuesday, Thopola had a reason to smile. He and some of the other people living on the streets in and around Tshwane got a surprise visit from Bogopane-Zulu, who cheered them up and made sure they had a warm and decent meal.

As part of celebrating International Nelson Mandela Day, Bogopane-Zulu decided to dedicate 67 minutes of her time to hand over thermal mugs with soup, pizza, bread, cake, juice and blankets to people living on the streets.

This was made possible due to a partnership between the department, Mmabatho Foundation, ABSA, Bidair and Romans Pizza.

Bogopane-Zulu said she had decided to dedicate her 67 minutes to homeless people because she wanted to bring hope to them and let them know that even though they were on the streets, they still had human rights and also deserved to enjoy freedom like all South Africans.

"Half of the time, we turn a blind eye on some of the realities we live under. It's hard for them to be heard and be recognised. However, they are here and are not going anywhere due to various reasons, which brought them here. The best we can do is to keep them warm and give them things they can use," said Bogopane-Zulu.

Thopola, who couldn't hold back his excitement after being handed a blanket, said the initiative showed that even though they have nothing, their existence was being acknowledged and appreciated by Bogopane-Zulu.

"They've brought us expensive food and new blankets, which shows that they are thinking about us in this freezing weather and it means a lot to all of us knowing that they care," said Thopola, who sleeps at Church Square.

Bogopane-Zulu also visited homeless people on the streets of Pretoria East and handed over more food and blankets. - SAnews.gov.za

UK's Minister for Africa to visit SA

Pretoria - The United Kingdom's Minister for Africa, Henry Bellingham, is in the country to discuss a range of current foreign policy, trade and investment issues.

Bellingham's visit coincides with former President Mandela's 94th birthday tomorrow. 

As such Bellingham will mark the day by attending a reception held in aid of 'Little Eden' - a non-profit organisation that provides 24-hour residential and nursing care for 300 children and adults with profound intellectual disability.

According to the British High Commission, Bellingham hopes to have an opportunity to meet and congratulate the newly elected Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma.

The minister's programme will include a visit to a new regional power generation facility on the Mozambique / South African border. 

Bellingham will also attend a school sports event, linked to the Olympic legacy 'International Inspiration' project, in Soweto and a send-off for Team SA as they head for the London 2012 Games

He will conclude his visit on Thursday. - SAnews.gov.za