Day: March 17, 2023

All roads lead to the Sandton Convention Centre for the 11th edition of the Proudly South African Buy Local Summit and Expo.

Speaking at a media launch on Thursday, Proudly SA Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Eustace Mashimbye, said the intention of the summit is to ensure locally produced products are exposed.

“In this way, we can save jobs in those companies and get them to create much needed new job opportunities because you will be buying from them.

Now in its 11th year, the 2023 edition of the two-day summit will for the first time be held in a physical venue post the COVID-19 pandemic. It will also be livestreamed.

The theme this year is ‘Growing the Economy and Creating Jobs through Localisation’.

One of the key highlights of the summit this year will be the honoring of the legendary writer and actor, Dr. John Kani, who will be given a lifetime achievement award by President Cyril Ramaphosa.

The President will also give a keynote address at the localisation dinner.

Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi will do the welcoming on the first day, and the Minister of Trade and Industry (dtic), Ebrahim Patel, and the Minister of Small Business Development, Stella Ndabeni Abrahams, will also address the gathering.

Proudly South African expressed words of gratitude to its supportive partners, sponsors in business and government.

Proudly SA Chief Marketing Officer, Happy Ngidi, gave a sneak preview of what people can expect at the summit.

“There will be robust discussions that will take place, and this includes the energy crisis. The focus will be on looking for localised solutions on the existing renewable energy products.

“We will showcase the value chain behind the local fashion and clothing textile industry, local brewery and its beneficiaries, automotive industry, family businesses and the food industry. The question for everyone is, ‘Are you buying local?’,” said Ngidi.

There will be a presentation by Mashimbye of local procurement pledges from 20 companies.

Consumer registration for the 11th annual Buy Local Summit & Expo is free and visitors can join in any of the sessions. For more, visit www.proudlysa.co.za.

Source: South African Government News Agency

Due to some recovery in generation capacity, Eskom says it will suspend load shedding where possible over the weekend.

In a statement on Friday, the power utility said that due to some recovery in generation capacity over the past 48 hours and lower expected demand, load shedding will be reduced to Stage 1 from 5 am on Saturday until 4pm.

Thereafter, load shedding will be increased to Stage 2 until 5 am on Sunday.

“Load shedding will be suspended on Sunday between 5 am and 4 pm Thereafter, Stage 1 load shedding will be implemented from 4 pm on Sunday until 4 pm on Monday. Stage 2 load shedding will be in force from 4 pm on Monday until 5 am on Tuesday.

“Load shedding will then again be suspended from 5 am on Tuesday until 4 pm, thereafter Stage 2 will be implemented until further notice,” said the power utility.

Source: South African Government News Agency

The National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (NATJOINTS) has mobilised maximum resources to heighten police visibility ahead of the Economic Freedom Fighters planned National Shutdown.

“NATJOINTS, working closely with our partners and stakeholders in the respective industries and sectors, have mobilised maximum resources to heighten police visibility with the aim of preventing and combatting any form of opportunistic crimes pre-, during and post the planned protest action,” Deputy National Commissioner of the SAPS responsible for Policing, Lieutenant General Tebello Mosikili said on Friday.

Addressing a media briefing in Pretoria Mosikili who is also the NaTJOINTS Co-Chair, said the respective PROVJOINTS have activated provincial multi-disciplinary deployments and operations as of today.

“This is to ensure that there is no ill-intended disruption on the plans of those who have to work, travel, or study, or perform any other business at any point during this semi-long weekend.”

The Deputy National Commissioner’s comments comes ahead of Monday’s planned shutdown.

“This is our update to the country at large, that there will be no National Shutdown. We know of a planned protest. To say there will be a national shutdown is misleading. Everything from business to services will be fully functional and operational and accessible.”

Measures put in place

She said measures that have been put in place by the Security Cluster will enable businesses and services to operate and government and all modes of transport services will be accessible to members of the public.

“Security will also be heightened at all our ports of entry, land, sea, and air. We assure travellers into and out of the country that there is no need to panic,” said Mosikili who also cautioned travellers to make provision for extra time factoring in security measures that will be in place to ensure the safety and security of everyone including tourists.

“As the NATJOINTS, we have a joint responsibility to protect everyone in our country and their property, including members of the international community.

“While every citizen has a right to protest, we want to reiterate that this right must be exercised in a manner that does not infringe on the rights of non-protesters. Prohibiting people’s freedom of movement is a criminal offence. We will therefore enforce the law decisively in this regard.”

She added that it is the organiser’s responsibility to ensure that their participants or supporters at the demonstration or gathering, abide by the law and that the laws of the country are observed and respected with no related incidents of lawlessness taking place.

“To this end, the NATJOINTS will not tolerate any lawlessness and any form of criminality, whichever way it manifests itself. It is therefore important to note that anyone who is found to be contravening the law will be dealt with accordingly.

“The NATJOINTS will not allow any barricading of national, provincial and municipal roads. Public violence, the burning of tyres and placing of rocks and debris to blockade roads, as well as looting will not be allowed.

“The destruction of property whether it be private or public property, as well as business and economic sites, is against the law,” she said.

In addition the NATJOINTS is also monitoring social media.

“The NATJOINTS is also closely monitoring the situation and the social media mobilisation that is currently unfolding. Incitement of violence through any platforms including social media, as well as the sharing of inflammatory messages, are criminal offences according to the Cyber Crimes Act, where social media users can actually be charged for intimidation and incitement to commit violence.

“Members of the public are cautioned against spreading messages that seek to mobilise communities to shutdown roads, intimidate and incite violence, as well as messages encouraging damage to economic sites.

“We have also noted instances where supposed mobilisation for the protest action has now extended into stores where our shoppers are going about their daily lives.

She said such acts are not only as being provocative, but also as a “deliberate attempt to instil fear and to bully businesses and shoppers into participating in the protest against their will.”

NATJOINTS has called on all people in South Africa to uphold the law and to say NO to any action aimed at breaking the country’s laws.

Members of the public are encouraged to report any wrongdoing and any suspicious activities to their nearest police stations or by calling the Crime Stop number 08600 10111.

Source: South African Government News Agency

The KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport, Community Safety and Liaison, Sipho Hlomuka, has assured the public, especially those who will be going to work on Monday, 20 March, that their rights to work and commute will be protected during the planned national shutdown.

This follows the announcement by the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) that they will be taking to the streets in a planned national shutdown on Monday and have called on all South Africans to participate.

Schools will not be affected by the shutdown, as learners will not be going to school on Monday and Tuesday due to the Human Rights Day holiday, which falls on Tuesday.

“We therefore appeal to all parents to make sure that their children do not participate in the planned protests. As part of our operational plan, we have additional deployment that will be dedicated to this protest action.

“This will augment the existing 18 000 South African Police Service (SAPS) members in the province. Deployments will be made in areas that are perceived to be more fragile and seen as hot spots, including national key points,” Hlomuka said during a media briefing in Durban.

As of Friday, all teams and deployments from all districts will be activated and have been placed on high alert.

“We have also activated the Provincial Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (ProvJoints). This structure comprises all government departments, including the SAPS and the South African Defence Force. Equally, our intelligence operatives have been activated in all districts for early warning systems and for proactive interventions.

“Through the ProvJoints, we will be monitoring developments every minute and hour of the day until the protesters disengage. We will use the lessons from previous experiences to make sure that our citizens are safe,” the MEC said.

He said normal policing will continue at police stations, as members of the public will be serviced as usual.

As part of the deployment, members of the Road Traffic Inspectorate (RTI), Public Transport Enforcement Services (PTES), eThekwini Metro and other municipal traffic officials will be managing all strategic points.

“Police management have also convened a meeting with Business Against Crime to engage them on increasing vigilance and security around their premises. This means the private security will be part of the machinery that will be monitoring the situation on the ground.

“The Department of Community Safety and Liaison will also be adding 1 400 volunteers in all districts to assist in monitoring the situation and feed the information to the police. Community Policing Forums and other community safety structures will be actively involved on the ground,” the MEC said.

Government will also be deploying resources such as helicopters, vehicles, inyalas, water cannons, and technology as part of monitoring the planned protests and securing the people.

Public order police will also be deployed in all districts, as they are trained in crowd management and control.

Public sector wage strike

Meanwhile, the provincial Justice, Crime Prevention and Security (JCPS) cluster has welcomed the decision by labour unions to suspend the public sector strike.

“This is important because as the province, we did experience some disruptions. This mostly affected hospitals and other critical sectors, including government buildings.

“This planned protest [on 20 March] will have no effect on the public service operations. Members of the public must be assured that they will receive maximum service, this includes licensing offices and social services offices.

“On the same note, we wish to commend the leadership of the unions for suspending their strike. This is progressive,” Hlomuka said.

The MEC appealed to members of the public to refrain from circulating unverified information on social media, as it causes unwarranted panic.

“We urge people to use social media responsibly during times like this. Stop circulating old videos. We also want to caution against the spreading of messages of fear, intimidation or inflammatory statements that could incite violence. This is a criminal offence.

“Law enforcement will not tolerate any lawlessness and any form of criminality. Therefore, it is important to note that anyone found contravening the law will be dealt with accordingly within the prescripts of the law,” he said.

Crime fighting efforts

The MEC said the planned protest on Monday will not disrupt the province’s crime fighting efforts.

“Strides are being made every day to stabilise the province and fight key categories of crime. As the JCPS cluster, we have a clear programme focusing on murder, illegal firearms, drugs and gender-based violence.

“Yesterday [Thursday] police made a breakthrough in Cato Manner when they arrested heavily armed criminals, who are believed to have been on their way to kill a businessman. Police proactively intercepted and recovered two AK 47s and stolen vehicles,” Hlomuka said.

During the month of February, more than 8 857 suspects were arrested for various crimes.

Of these, 152 were for murder and 150 for attempted murder. Police also recovered 309 firearms and 4 747 live ammunition.

“Ninety-two people were arrested for driving under the influence alcohol. One-hundred-and-fifty-seven kilograms of various drugs were seized. As we intensify the fight against GBV, more than 157 arrests were made in crimes committed against women and children.

“This work will continue and we must applaud the efforts led by the police and all other law enforcement agencies,” the MEC said. –

Source: South African Government News Agency

The South Africn Cabinet has welcomed the judgment by the Labour Court, which ruled that members and employees who are employed in essential services are prohibited from striking.

“The right to strike is protected by the Constitution but this must be done in a manner that ensures continuous delivery of essential services, which includes ensuring the life, health and personal safety of the population.

“Cabinet condemns in the strongest possible terms the lawlessness and intimidation that characterised the public sector strike and negatively affected the lives of citizens through lack of service delivery,” Minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, said on Thursday.

Ntshavheni told a media briefing that Cabinet was apprised that on Tuesday, parties at the Public Service Coordinating Bargaining Council (PSCBC) concluded a Settlement Agreement to end the public sector strike.

The National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) suspended the public healthcare worker strike, saying an in-principle settlement was reached with government over salary increases for 2023/2024.

“Cabinet welcomed this progressive outcome that will result in the orderly return to work by all workers. The settlement agreement paves the way for the parties to return to the 2023/24 wage negotiations. Cabinet further expressed its appreciation to those trade unions that remained in the PSCBC to continue with negotiations,” Ntshavheni said.

Cabinet, the Minister said, reiterated the need for disciplinary action to be taken against those who behaved in a manner that disrupted public services and threatened the lives of citizens.

“Cabinet has also instructed that no work, no pay must be applied immediately.”

Cabinet reiterated government’s commitment to the bargaining process, and to working with all relevant partners to ensure that the primacy of collective bargaining is protected and respected.

Source: Nam News Network (NNN)