Business - Page 42

Deputy Minister David Mahlobo is attending the Cairo Water Week 2023 event to advocate for sustainable water management in light of increasing water scarcity and climaterelated challenges. He will focus on constructive dialogues concerning crucial policies, strategies, and measures related to water adaptation, emphasizing South Africa’s need to increase reuse, reclamation, and desalination projects. His involvement demonstrates South Africa’s dedication to promoting a sustainable future and addressing the impact of climate change on the water sector.

Johannesburg’s Metrobus is improving the public transportation experience by adopting advanced technology, including a fleet management system, free WiFi, and an Automated Fare Collection (AFC) system pilot. The newly introduced fleet management system provides realtime information to optimize decisions, monitor driver behavior, track buses, and manage commuter activity. The AFC system offers safer, simpler, and more customerfocused payment methods. Johannesburg’s commitment to innovation and customer satisfaction showcases its dedication to becoming a worldclass African city.

Edu Invest is a publicprivate partnership initiative launched by the Western Cape Education Department and Wesgro to attract investment in the education sector and create new private schools. The program aims to relieve overcrowding in public schools, enhance overall educational outcomes, and position the Western Cape as Africa’s foremost education and innovation center. Edu Invest underscores the commitment of both public and private sectors to reshape the educational landscape and build a brighter future for the region.

The Durban Occupational Health and Safety Conference 2023 aims to bring together stakeholders to share best practices and explore technical cooperation in the changing work environment. With a focus on collaboration, the conference highlights OHS as the fifth principle in ILO’s fundamental rights and principles at work, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive response from all parties involved. South Africa’s commitment to integrating this right into its workplaces demands a systematic approach and the commitment of all role players, enabling the ongoing enhancement of OHS policies and ensuring decent work conditions for all citizens.

The City of Cape Town has made paying municipal bills easier for its residents by introducing QR codes on invoices. By scanning the QR code with their smartphones, customers can quickly access the payment portal, making the process more accurate, efficient, and secure. The City also encourages residents to sign up for emailed accounts for added convenience, but traditional payment methods are still available for those who prefer them. The integration of QR codes is a significant milestone in the City’s pursuit of excellence, offering a userfriendly payment option for its residents.

Coalition governance in South Africa allows for collaboration among different parties and voices, promoting inclusiveness in the political sphere. However, unprincipled manipulation and difficulties in adapting to coalition dynamics can impact service delivery and weaken municipal administrations’ capacity to provide essential services. The Department of Cooperative Governance is pursuing legislative reforms to manage coalition governments more effectively and create a more stable and equitable environment. Despite its challenges, coalition governance reinforces the principles of a true democracy, with inclusivity and knowledgesharing among diverse parties serving as driving forces for a brighter, more united future.

President Cyril Ramaphosa’s upcoming public engagements will encompass diverse aspects of governance, including enhancing service delivery, attending international sports events, and fostering economic partnerships. These endeavors illustrate the President’s dedication to forging stronger ties within South Africa and beyond its boundaries.

South Africa’s National Labour Migration Policy seeks to harmonize the expectations of the populace, labour market demands, migrant worker protection, and regional integration. The policy has three critical intervention areas, emphasizes collaboration, and aims to address specific issues faced by migrant workers through data collection and analysis. A Labour Migration Policy and Governance dialogue was hosted in Mpumalanga, drawing diverse stakeholders from various sectors, and the Department of Employment and Labour is committed to developing a wellinformed NLMP that addresses concerns and benefits all parties involved.

Barbara Creecy, South Africa’s Minister of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment, gave opening remarks at the National Stakeholder Consultations for COP28, emphasizing the country’s commitment to sustainable development and the need for inclusive negotiations. COP28 is the 28th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), where countries gather to discuss global efforts to combat climate change. Key agenda items include establishing a global fund for loss and damage, increasing climate finance goals, and assessing collective progress through the Global Stocktake. South Africa is actively preparing for the critical COP28 conference in December, aiming to shape the country’s negotiating position while addressing the challenges posed by climate change.

The newly enacted MHI Regulations of 2022 aim to improve workplace safety by refining and broadening protective measures related to handling bulk hazardous substances. A significant change in the updated regulations is the expectation for MHI facilities to selfregulate, which includes the adoption of incorporated standards and creation of a Major Prevention Incident Policy. The event will bring together a diverse array of stakeholders, and media participation is encouraged.

The Digital and Future Skills National Conference in South Africa addressed the urgent need for skills development to support innovation and digital transformation. With a young population, the country has immense potential to leverage the Fourth Industrial Revolution, but also a pressing need to skill, reskill, and upskill the workforce to meet the demands of the digital economy. A comprehensive strategy for digital skills development that includes both technical and soft skills is essential, along with investment in innovation hubs and publicprivate partnerships to drive innovation and bridge skills gaps.

Community Development Practitioners in South Africa were recently celebrated in a graduation ceremony organized by the Department of Social Development and the Health and Welfare Sector Education Training Authority (HWSETA). The event recognized the essential role these practitioners play in society as they provide crucial services to underprivileged rural and township communities. The initiative, known as the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), aims to professionalize Community Development Practice, contribute to a more skilled and employable workforce, and foster overall economic growth in the nation. Through their dedication, Community Development Practitioners facilitate sustainable change and development in impoverished communities and combat poverty and other social challenges.

Deputy President Paul Mashatile participated in a National Council of Provinces (NCOP) plenary sitting, addressing important national and international issues, such as enhancing the distribution of social grants and revitalizing infrastructure in the agricultural sector to improve food security. The NCOP event is one of the ways Parliament holds the Executive accountable for their performance. The National Assembly also held a hybrid plenary session, reviewing committee reports, and the media and public can access these meetings through various channels.

The CSIR Technology Commercialisation Enterprise is a new initiative launched by the Department of Science and Innovation in South Africa to promote the growth of technologies and socioeconomic prosperity. The launch represents a significant milestone in South Africa’s quest for a more prosperous, equitable, and sociallyjust society. The initiative underscores the importance of socioeconomic development in technological progress and promotes inclusive development, intellectual property exploitation, and the commercialization of grassroots innovation. It aims to foster innovation, strengthen institutions, and support homegrown technologies for implementation in government departments and communities.