South African Minister of Health Dr. Joe Phaahla and Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy Mr. Gwede Mantashe will officially hand over the Phola Clinic, a primary healthcare facility in Emalahleni, Mpumalanga, on August 31, 2023. The clinic is the result of the Social and Labour Plan (SLP) project undertaken by Seriti Coal and Khutala Colliery, which aims to empower the communities within their operational areas and laborsending locations by elevating living standards through socioeconomic development.

South Africa’s Treasury is set to host a twoday Public Economics Conference in September 2023, with a focus on “Employment and the economics of job creation: Evaluating government employment programmes.” The event aims to examine the country’s public finance challenges, such as difficult spending choices, the transformation of the electricity and renewable energy sector, and the need to support growth and employment creation.

Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation, Mr. David Mahlobo, recently spoke at a community engagement event held at Albert Falls Hall in Pietermaritzburg. The event focused on addressing water and sanitation issues as well as other socioeconomic challenges faced by the local community. During the event, Mahlobo encouraged the Thokozani community to pursue water sports such as canoeing as a means of promoting economic growth and job creation.

The City of Cape Town has taken a remarkable initiative to strengthen security and enhance public safety through the implementation of advanced technologies. This R860 million investment over the next three years will equip law enforcement officers with body worn cameras and invehicle cameras with Automated Number Plate (ANPR) technology.

As the world faces the aftermath of the COVID19 pandemic, the BRICS countries are joining forces to discuss measures for recovery and resilience. The 4th meeting of BRICS Ministers in charge of disaster management portfolios will take place on September 8, 2023, under the guidance of Minister Thembi Nkadimeng. Preceding the meeting, the 5th Joint Task Force technical engagement will take place on September 7, 2023.

CapeNature, the conservation agency of the Western Cape Government, and the Grootbos Foundation have established a formal partnership with the aim of promoting economic development and conservation. This collaboration will help address alien vegetation clearing in the Walker Bay Complex, while providing skills training through the Foundation’s Green Futures College.

On August 31st, Minister of Social Development Ms. Lindiwe Zulu participated in the National House of Traditional and KhoiSan Leaders’ Women and Youth Empowerment Outreach Programme in Moroke Village, Sekhukhune District, Limpopo Province. ## Collaboration for Community Development

The City of Cape Town’s Water and Sanitation Directorate is undertaking an emergency repair project to replace a 30m sewer main pipeline in Forest Road, Eerste River, as part of its efforts to maintain efficient service delivery and invest in city infrastructure. This proactive approach aims to prevent further deterioration of the existing pipeline infrastructure, which has reached its lifespan, and improve the efficiency of the sewage system.

On August 31, Dr. Reginah Mhaule, the Deputy Minister of Basic Education, spearheaded the KwaZuluNatal (KZN) leg of the InterDepartmental Campaign on the Prevention of Violence, Bullying, GenderBased Violence, Learner Pregnancy, as well as Drug and Substance Abuse in schools. The event took place at the KwaMashu Christian Centre in KwaMashu, just outside Durban, KwaZuluNatal.

On August 31, 2023, the Community Safety and Education portfolio committees of the Gauteng Legislature will jointly host a session to discuss interventions aimed at restoring safety for learners in schools. This collaborative effort is a response to the growing concern regarding the high levels of crime and violence experienced by learners in schools across the province.

Communities worldwide need accessible healthcare facilities more than ever due to the numerous health challenges. The Phola Clinic in Emalahleni Local Municipality, Mpumalanga, was inaugurated on August 31, 2023, officially handed over by Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe. Seriti Coal and Khutala Colliery collaborated to establish this health facility as part of their Social and Labour Plan project.

As the 2023 Employment Equity reporting season begins, employers are advised to adhere to the existing legislation despite the recent amendments to the Employment Equity Act (EEA) signed by President Cyril Ramaphosa on 6 April 2023. The amended act has yet to come into effect, and employers are expected to report based on their 2023 obligations using the current legislation.

Cooperatives are powerful tools for economic and social empowerment, yet their potential in South Africa has yet to be fully realized. To address this, the Deputy Minister of Small Business Development, Dipuo Peters, held a CoOperatives Policy Dialogue to examine the progress made in implementing the last 10year Integrated Strategy for the Development and Promotion of Cooperatives and to strategize for the future.

South Africa is currently facing a critical problem with genderbased violence (GBV). Unfortunately, a woman is raped every three hours, and the country has been labeled the rape capital of the world. The first quarter of 2022 saw 10,818 rape cases reported in the country. The lifetime risk of experiencing GBV in South African women is 45.6%, which is higher than the global average of 35% (WHO, 2013). The prevalence of sexual GBV and intimate partner violence is high, particularly among young women aged 1625 years (UNICEF). The rate of women killed by intimate partners in South Africa is five times higher than the global average.

President Cyril Ramaphosa recently attended the Presidential Young Men and Boys Indaba, which aimed to address the pressing issues faced by young males in South Africa, including their role in tackling violence against women and girls. The event was held at the bustling Maponya Mall in Soweto and was attended by aspiring leaders, professionals, entrepreneurs, and tech gurus from different regions of South Africa.