Serjio Zakharoff

The Giyani Water Project was initiated with the aim of providing a reliable water supply to the people of Giyani, Limpopo Province, South Africa. Unfortunately, the initiative faced several obstacles, including poor management, corruption, and financial irregularities that resulted in the loss of billions of rands and years of delay.

South African National Taxi Council in the Western Cape (SANTACOWC) has been on a provincewide strike, which has resulted in violence, endangering the lives of commuters and damaging public property. To address the issues raised by the industry leaders, Western Cape Premier Alan Winde calls for peaceful negotiations and collaboration with the Western Cape Government (WCG) and the City of Cape Town (CoCT).

On August 2, 2023, the City of Cape Town learned of the South African National Taxi Council’s (SANTACO) decision to halt minibustaxi services from August 3 to August 10 in the Western Cape. This stayaway will affect commuters, forcing them to seek alternative transportation.

The Western Cape Consumer Affairs Tribunal is seeking nominations for experienced individuals to serve as its members. The Tribunal aims to ensure fairness in transactions between consumers and businesses and to protect consumer rights. The Provincial Minister of Economic Opportunities, Mireille Wenger, emphasizes the importance of consumer protection for both businesses and consumers.

Deputy Ministers in the Presidency, Kenneth Morolong and Nomasonto Motaung, recently led a media tour in KwaZuluNatal to showcase the progress of the South Africa Investment Projects (SA Invest) in the region. The tour aimed to highlight the commitments made during the fifth South Africa Investment Conference (SAIC) held in Johannesburg on April 13, 2023, which aimed to attract R1.2 trillion in investments over five years.

The South African Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Innovation, Dr. Blade Nzimande, will host the Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) ministers from Brazil, Russia, India, and China in the Eastern Cape on August 3rd and 4th, 2023. This significant gathering is part of South Africa’s BRICS rotating presidency, whose theme this year is “BRICS and Africa: Partnership for Mutually Accelerated Growth, Sustainable Development, and Inclusive Multilateralism.”

The City of Cape Town has taken a remarkable step to empower young, ambitious women through its Apprenticeship Programmes. These programmes have recently led to the permanent employment of a group of skilled handywomen in the City. This is a significant milestone for these women, who have worked hard to complete their apprenticeships and secure longterm careers.

The City of Cape Town’s Energy Directorate demonstrates its commitment to providing a reliable energy supply and ending loadshedding through its significant capital budget spend of R1 billion in the last financial year (2022/23). This investment showcases the city’s capacity to invest in dependable services for a growing population.

The National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) has become a beacon of hope for young South Africans, empowering thousands through various initiatives. The NYDA’s dedication to good governance and achieving desired outcomes is evident from its ninth consecutive clean audit report from the Auditor General of South Africa for the 2022/2023 financial year.

The Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) has declined to sign a Service Level Agreement (SLA) with Cape Town’s local government, which has sparked discontent among city leaders and commuters alike. PRASA’s unwillingness to commit to improving the level and quality of passenger rail services in Cape Town has further highlighted the need for rail service devolution.

South Africa’s taxcollecting agency, the South African Revenue Service (SARS), has recently been accused of political interference. The leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), Julius Malema, claims that President Cyril Ramaphosa instructed SARS Commissioner Edward Kieswetter to investigate the tax affairs of those who attended and sponsored the EFF Gala Dinner in July 2023. Malema’s accusations have raised concerns about SARS’s impartiality and integrity, but the institution is standing firm, defending its values and commitment to the country.

In July 2023, the South African province of KwaZuluNatal saw a remarkable decrease in crime due to the success of its ongoing highdensity police operations, including Operation Shanela. The operations resulted in the apprehension of almost 9,000 suspects, and the recovery of 332 firearms through various police activities, including daytoday patrols and vehicle checkpoints.

Health Ministers from Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa convened in Durban, South Africa for the 13th BRICS Health Ministers Meeting. The ultimate goal was to address the increasing cases of oncology diseases and tuberculosis (TB). The ministers focused on strategies to reduce the risks of deaths from oncology diseases and improve the quality of life for palliative care patients. They also aimed to tackle the burden of TB, which is prevalent in the BRICS member states, accounting for about 40% of the world’s TB cases.

The City has initiated a plan to enhance the safety of communities by expanding First Aid training for Neighborhood Watches (NWs). This move is part of the ongoing Neighbourhood Watch Support Programme, which was launched in 2008 to assist communities in setting up NWs, provide training, and secure accreditation through the Western Cape Department of Community Safety.