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.

Water and Sanitation Minister, Senzo Mchunu, is enthusiastic about the progress made so far in the Sedibeng Sewer Scheme Project and Vaal River System Interventions. This progress is due to the Emfuleni Section 63 intervention projects. On August 29, 2023, Mchunu conducted an oversight visit in the Vaal region to assess the upgrades and refurbishments of critical bulk pipelines and pump stations in the regional networks.

The South African Employment and Labour Ministry, led by Thulas Nxesi and Boitumelo Moloi, is gearing up to address the Chatsworth community and surrounding areas during a roadshow session on Thursday, 31 August 2023. The primary focus of this session will be on the updated Employment Equity Act (EEA), workplace equity, affirmative action, and related topics.

On August 29, 2023, South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa held a critical meeting with the chairpersons and chief executives of strategic stateowned enterprises (SOEs) at the Union Buildings. The meeting aimed to discuss measures to stabilize the financial and operational performance of SOEs and unlock their full economic potential.

On August 31, 2023, the BroadBased Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) Commission and the Commission for Gender Equality (CGE) collaborated to host a hybrid roundtable discussion titled “Mainstreaming Women’s Economic Empowerment through BBBEE.” The event was part of the Women’s Month Campaign, which aimed to bring together women leaders from various sectors to discuss policies and practices for promoting women’s economic empowerment in South Africa.

On August 29, 2023, a joint operation conducted by the South African Police Service (SAPS), Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD), and private security officers resulted in the arrest of four suspects and the recovery of stolen goods in Gauteng. The operation was a remarkable display of diligence and collaboration among the law enforcement agencies.