Business - Page 68

Deputy President Paul Mashatile emphasized the importance of smarter mobility solutions to address rapid urbanization and population growth in Africa during his keynote speech at the Smarter Mobility Africa Summit Gala Dinner. With the world’s population set to reach 8.5 billion by 2030 and half of the 2 billion people to be added coming from Africa, it is essential to invest in infrastructure and network industries that ensure a sustainable ecosystem and enhance the quality of life for all. Leveraging technology, such as battery electric vehicles and clean energy sources, and addressing challenges, such as accelerating investment in critical infrastructure and digital solutions, can create new economic opportunities and promote women’s emancipation in traditionally maledominated sectors.

South Africa has introduced a fullyfunded Hairdressing Occupational Certificate program in Technical and Vocational And Training (TVET) colleges to provide formal training in hairdressing and cosmetology services. The program aims to empower young South Africans to embark on entrepreneurial endeavors in the hair and beauty industry and generate employment and business prospects. Upon completing the program, graduates will receive equipment to establish their own businesses, while TVET colleges will provide entrepreneurship programs. The initiative embodies a commitment to empowering the youth and cultivating entrepreneurial spirit, ultimately contributing to the country’s socioeconomic development.

South Africa’s National Roads Agency (SANRAL) celebrates its 25th anniversary, highlighting its achievements in engineering excellence, socioeconomic development, and transformative growth. The agency is dedicated to building and maintaining toptier infrastructure while fostering a more inclusive society for all South Africans. SANRAL invests in local economies, constructing durable roads that connect provinces and neighboring countries, while promoting community development programs and supporting small, medium, and microenterprises. As SANRAL moves forward, its vision and unwavering commitment will continue to positively impact the country’s development and the lives of its citizens.

South Africa’s Transport Minister, Sindisiwe Chikunga, led a delegation to the 27th World Road Congress in Prague to showcase the country’s progress in developing and maintaining transportation infrastructure. The conference allowed South African officials to present their achievements and ideas to an international audience and engage with their counterparts from other countries. Minister Chikunga highlighted the crucial role of infrastructure investment and implementation in stimulating economic growth and described the Safe Systems approach to road safety promoted by the South African National Roads Agency.

South African Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana and the Public Service Commission (PSC) recently held a productive meeting to discuss challenges and opportunities in the public sector. The PSC identified areas for improvement, including enacting the PSC Bill, professionalizing the public service, and reducing inefficiencies and bureaucracy. Minister Godongwana agreed to support these initiatives and underscored the importance of collaborative endeavors among various government agencies to fortify state capacity and streamline the public sector. The meeting highlights the significance of open dialogue and cooperation in developing innovative solutions to promote economic growth and improve citizens’ lives.

As the festive season approaches, job seekers in South Africa become easy targets for con artists promoting fake employment offers. These scams appear as authentic job ads on websites and social media, enticing victims with employment promises and requesting a “verification fee” for sensitive personal information. To stay safe, job seekers should authenticate job openings, avoid payments or personal data requests, and recognize common scam characteristics. Employers must advertise job vacancies through official channels, and stakeholders must collaborate to combat job scams and create a safer job market.

The Western Cape Department of Agriculture has launched a digital platform called the Export Certificate Office System (ECOS) to revolutionize South Africa’s agriculture. ECOS is designed to ensure compliance in South African food and animal products, providing permit templates that align with import permits of different countries, making the export process more efficient while adhering to global standards. Additionally, ECOS allows for the tracking of products back to their originating farms, ensuring transparency throughout the supply chain. The platform has received positive feedback and is expected to expand throughout the country, enhancing the smooth movement of products and alleviating the administrative strain on rural producers.

MEC Siboniso Duma is empowering rural youth and boosting tourism in KwaZuluNatal with the Somopho Hills Adventure Park quadbike initiative. The park, founded by young entrepreneur Lungani Mthembu, immerses visitors in Zulu heritage and creates employment opportunities for locals. The government is committed to supporting the tourism industry, and KZN has secured the rights to host the XIX World Water Conference in 2025. With special deals and attractions available, tourists are encouraged to plan their vacations in KZN and contribute to the growth and development of the province.

Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi and MEC for Transport and Logistics, Kedibone DialeTlabela, have partnered with Smarter Mobility Africa to launch the 2023 October Transport Month (OTM) Campaign in South Africa. The initiative aims to promote the use of integrated public transportation systems across the province, with a focus on sustainable and efficient mobility solutions. The campaign will include the unveiling of several significant advancements in the transportation industry, such as the Provincial Transport Management Centre and Smart Licensing Centres in townships. The OTM Campaign launch event is scheduled for October 2, 2023, at the Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand, Johannesburg.

The GIA funding initiative in Cape Town demonstrates the crucial role arts play in community upliftment, promoting diversity, respect, and appreciation for the arts, and ultimately contributing to the city’s flourishing artistic ecosystem.

The Atlantis Business Hives has been revitalized, thanks to the city’s efforts to support local traders and provide them with a safe and clean working environment. The upgraded facility offers a wide range of services catering to traders in various sectors, and the city has allocated R184 million for upgrading trading spaces throughout the metro over the next three years. The city is not only focusing on physical infrastructure but also promoting the growth of business skills among traders and emerging entrepreneurs. With the support of the city, the traders of the Atlantis Business Hives are poised to seize fresh opportunities and chart a course towards prosperity and success.

South Africa is embracing digital transformation and striving to bridge the digital divide, with a penetration rate of 72.3% among its 60.14 million people. The SA Connect Project is a key initiative designed to increase broadband penetration and connectivity across the country, with the government aiming to offer internet access to 80% of the population within the next three years. Despite these advancements, South Africa still ranks 136th out of 233 countries in terms of expensive mobile data plans, and the government is examining policy instruments aimed at reducing the cost of communication.

Introducing Postbank, a stateowned commercial bank in South Africa, marks a new era for the country’s banking sector. The creation of this new institution aims to close the gap between social classes and ensure that accessible banking services reach even the most financially disadvantaged. Postbank plans to provide affordable and developmental commercial banking services, focusing on responsible lending for rural and lowerincome markets, ultimately contributing to a brighter future for the country’s citizens and reaffirming the government’s dedication to social and economic development.

The National Planning Summit is a crucial event for South Africa’s longterm future. It aims to prioritize institutionalizing and strengthening the country’s planning systems to deliver developmental imperatives. The summit provides an opportunity to learn from the international experiences of countries successfully implementing longterm plans. Collaboration across sectors is necessary to achieve the National Development Plan’s Vision 2030 and build a South Africa where inequality, unemployment, and poverty no longer overshadow people’s dreams.

Cape Town is experiencing a rooftop solar explosion with a recordbreaking 1,500 smallscale embedded generation (SSEG) applications in August 2023, a 50% increase from the previous month. The driving force behind this growth is a desire to avoid loadshedding and take advantage of the City’s upcoming incentives, including cash compensation for generated power. Cape Town envisions a future grid that enables all customers to both consume and generate electricity as part of an integrated network, with new regulations in place to ensure safety, integrity, and efficient solar power generation.