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
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.
In February 2023, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced in his State of the Nation Address that South Africa would complete the transition to digital television signal by the end of the year. This marked a critical milestone in the switchoff of analogue transmission that had been announced in December 2022.
The Thaba Chweu Local Municipality recently celebrated the graduation of 20 learners from the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP). These learners successfully completed their landscaping training and received certificates of competence. The Executive Mayor of Thaba Chweu Local Municipality, Honourable Councillor M.F. Nkadimeng, urged the graduates to use their newly acquired skills to establish businesses and create employment opportunities for others in their communities.
The Department of Communications and Digital Technologies has been working relentlessly with its portfolio entities to ensure Western Cape’s readiness for the switchoff of analogue television transmission and the end of dual illumination. To assess the progress made on the Broadcast Digital Migration (BDM) programme in the region, the Honorable Minister Mondli Gungubele, the Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, will visit Grabouw on 18 May 2023, located in Theewaterkloof Local Municipality, Western Cape Province.
In a recent session led by Nono Maloyi, the MEC for Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements, and Traditional Affairs, South African municipalities gathered to address crucial progress reports on service delivery and infrastructure grants spending. This special session witnessed the attendance of Mayors, Municipal Managers, Chief Financial Officers, and other stakeholders, reflecting the urgency to improve service delivery in local communities.
