A Russian-Spanish journalist and Cape Town native, channels his lifelong passion for South Africa into captivating stories for his local blog. With a diverse background and 50 years of rich experiences, Serjio's unique voice resonates with readers seeking to explore Cape Town's vibrant culture. His love for the city shines through in every piece, making Serjio the go-to source for the latest in South African adventures.
South Africa’s Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment’s Working on Fire program has dispatched a second team of firefighters to aid in combating the wildfires in Alberta, Canada. The Mzanzi Hotshots 2, made up of 200 firefighters and 13 managers, will work alongside the previous team of 200 firefighters and 15 managers who arrived on June 3, 2023.
South Africa is on the brink of achieving Universal Health Coverage with the National Health Insurance (NHI) Bill. The Ministry of Health, led by Dr. Joe Phaahla and Dr. Sibongiseni Dhlomo, will participate in a critical debate scheduled for the 13th of June. The aim is for the NHI Bill to be adopted and passed, and for all South Africans to have access to quality healthcare irrespective of their socioeconomic status or geographic location.
The National Treasury has recently released its comprehensive local government revenue and expenditure report for the third quarter of the 2022/23 financial year. This analysis provides an overview of the performance of local governments against adjusted budgets, including conditional grant allocations, up to 31 March 2023.
On June 15, 2023, the Minister of Tourism, Patricia de Lille, will lead the graduation ceremony in Hermanus in honor of 50 young graduates of the Food Quality Assurers Program. This achievement is a significant milestone for each graduate and contributes to the development of the tourism and hospitality sector in the Western Cape.
The South African government has taken a strong stance on the issue of child labor, with Minister of Employment and Labor, Thulas Nxesi, leading the charge. He recently spoke at a highlevel side event titled “Social Justice for All: How to End Child Labor” at the #ILC2023 in Geneva, highlighting the government’s commitment to upholding the rights and wellbeing of children.
Amidst the many challenges faced by communities today, it is important to acknowledge and appreciate the unwavering dedication of community leaders and members who strive to improve the lives of their residents. The R12.7 million public housing staircase upgrade project in the City is a prime example of such an initiative, making significant progress and having surpassed the halfway mark.
Three individuals, believed to be members of a taxi association patrol team, were apprehended on the 12th of June, 2023 for possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition in Centurion, South Africa. The Taxi Violence Task Team acted on a tipoff and informed law enforcement authorities, who swiftly responded and made the arrests.
The City of Cape Town’s Fleet Management, Environmental Management, and Safety and Security Departments have collaborated to launch an advanced Smart Driver skidpan training program. The program aims to improve the safety of response vehicle drivers and other road users. The training will take place at the Killarney Skidpan track on the 11th, 19th, 20th, and 22nd of June 2023, from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm.
The Nelson Mandela University and twentysix libraries in the city have collaborated to launch an innovative coding tournament on Mandela Day. The initiative aims to introduce young minds to the world of coding, foster community spirit, and offer an accessible educational platform.
The Western Cape police force has suffered a devastating loss with the deaths of two offduty sergeants in separate shooting incidents that took place in Khayelitsha on Sunday evening. The tragic events have left the community and law enforcement officials in shock and mourning.
Minister Thembi Nkadimeng, the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), is set to attend the Brussels Urban Summit 2023. The summit is a prestigious event that will bring together political leaders and representatives of cities and metropolitan areas from 61 countries.
Youth Month Brings Hope to Mmametlhake’s Schools Mmametlhake, a small town in South Africa’s Mpumalanga province, is looking forward to a brighter future for their youth and schools. Deputy Minister of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment, Ms. Makhotso Sotyu, is providing hope in the form of essential school supplies. As part of the department’s Youth Month activities, Sotyu will donate stationery, school desks, school shoes, solar lights, and water tanks to various schools in Mmametlhake on June 13, 2023.
From June 13 to 16, 2023, the Water and Sanitation Directorate will carry out crucial maintenance work on the city’s water infrastructure to improve services for customers. However, there will be temporary water supply disruptions in some areas of the city.
DESTEA’s Commitment to Environmental Sustainability: Career Expo and Flagship Programs The Department of Economic Small Business Development, Tourism, and Environmental Affairs (DESTEA) organized an Environment Career Expo on June 2, 2023, at the Willem Pretorius Nature Reserve to celebrate Environment Month. The expo aimed to educate learners about the opportunities available in the environmental sector and to encourage the pursuit of careers in this field. The theme for World Environment Day was #BeatPlasticPollution, which stressed the importance of reducing plastic pollution.
The Public Service Commission (PSC) is inviting the public to comment on its recent draft of the PSC Bill of 2023. This move demonstrates the government’s commitment to transparency, inclusivity, and active public participation in the legislative process. ### The Drafting Process
The Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness, in partnership with the City of Cape Town’s Health Department, is working towards improving healthcare services in Atlantis, a town located in the Western Cape province of South Africa. The integration of health services offered by the City at Saxon Sea and Protea Park clinics into the health services provided by the Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness is a significant step towards streamlining healthcare services for the Atlantis community.