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.
The Garden Route area in South Africa has been constantly striving to improve its safety measures. In line with this, Western Cape Premier Alan Winde and Provincial Minister of Police Oversight and Community Safety Reagen Allen recently celebrated the graduation of 40 Peace Officers (PO’s) in the province. This initiative forms a crucial part of the Western Cape Safety Plan (WCSP).
The Northern Cape Province is preparing for a significant event in collaboration with the Department of Employment and Labour, SETAs, and the John Taolo Gaetsewe District Municipality to host Careers Fairs during the National Careers Week from 24 to 26 May 2023. The main objective of the program is to provide job seekers with a platform to interact with potential employers and receive guidance on various employment and learning pathways.
The North West Provincial Legislature’s Standing Committee on Provincial Public Accounts (SCOPA) is scheduled to hold a series of virtual Public Finance Management Act (PFMA) public hearings. These hearings aim to scrutinize the 2021/22 audit reports of various key organizations. The primary objective is to provide a platform for indepth discussions and gather essential insights into the responses to questions arising from the Auditor General’s reports.
The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) in Gauteng has achieved a significant win by successfully prosecuting a corrupt police officer for drug dealing. On May 16, 2023, Sergeant Vinesh Naidoo, a member of the OR Tambo International Airport Vispol Division, was sentenced in the Boksburg Magistrate’s Court.
Cape Town’s Water and Sanitation Directorate has achieved a significant global milestone by being recognized as Africa’s first Leading Utility of the World (LUOW) member. LUOW is an exclusive international network comprising the most successful and innovative water and wastewater utilities, and Cape Town’s inclusion has put Africa on the LUOW map. LUOW membership is considered the gold standard in utility performance.
South Africa’s Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD) recently presented its Budget Vote for the 2023/24 financial year. In response to the challenges faced by rural communities due to extreme weather events, the COVID19 pandemic, and an ongoing electricity crisis, the department emphasized several key initiatives aimed at empowering and uplifting these communities. The following sections highlight some of the initiatives described in the budget vote.
On 19th May, President Cyril Ramaphosa led the District Development Model Presidential Imbizo in the Cape Winelands District Municipality, Western Cape. The Imbizo aimed to promote collaboration and open communication between citizens, community organizations, businesses, and the government for inclusive economic growth.
The Department of Employment and Labour in the Western Cape is extending its services to local communities through various initiatives ahead of the upcoming Presidential Imbizo in Paarl on 19th May 2023. These initiatives include Inspection and Enforcement Services (IES), the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF), Public Employment Services (PES), and Compensation of Injury on Duty (COID). Employment and Labour Minister Thulas Nxesi will visit the area to support the Presidential Imbizo.
South Africa’s Minister of Social Development, Ms. Lindiwe Zulu, accepted the International Social Security Association (ISSA) Good Practice Award for Social Security in Africa on May 17, 2023, on behalf of the department. The award recognizes the country’s commitment to providing social security protection for vulnerable children, specifically the Child Support Grant (CSG) initiative.
The Western Cape Government has launched an ambitious R1.2 billion #BackOnTrack programme to address the learning losses caused by the Covid19 pandemic. The initiative aims to improve learning outcomes and secure a brighter future for the province’s children. ## Teacher and Tutor Training
The Electoral Commission of South Africa and the University of Venda will be hosting a twoday international symposium on May 25th and 26th, 2023 at the University of Venda Auditorium in Thohoyandou, Limpopo Province. The symposium aims to gather national and international experts from various academic and electoral democracy fields to discuss and exchange ideas on the crucial theme: The role of the Judiciary in Mediating Electoral Processes and Outcomes in Africa.
On May 17, 2023, the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) hosted the Positive Behaviour Day at the Positive Behaviour Intervention and Resource Centre (PBIRC) in Wynberg. The event aimed to address the challenge of learner discipline, which has been an ongoing issue since the COVID19 pandemic.
Cape Town’s Mayor, Geordin HillLewis, is urging President Cyril Ramaphosa to clarify the National Government’s stance on the devolution of passenger rail services to capable metros. The call comes amid contradictory statements from Transport Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga, who suggests that current plans don’t involve devolving rail operations to the City of Cape Town. This contradicts the Cabinet policy decision to devolve rail, which raises questions about the National Government’s commitment to the issue.
The South African Department of Transport has revealed the details of its 2023/2024 financial year plans, with a budget of R79,565 billion aimed at improving transport infrastructure and services throughout the country. The investment will be focused on several key projects, including the construction, enhancement, and maintenance of roads, rail networks, public transport, rural bridges, and the aviation industry.
On May 18, 2023, Minister Maropene Ramokgopa and Deputy Minister Pinky Kekana will deliver the budget vote speech for the Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluations (DPME) in Parliament, Cape Town. This speech will provide an outline of the department’s plans for the current fiscal year and evaluate the government’s performance in achieving developmental goals under the National Development Plan (NDP) Vision 2030 and the MediumTerm Strategic Framework (MTSF) 2019 – 2024.
