EUROPEAN COURT OF JUSTICE RULING REGARDING ITS TRADE DEALS WITH MOROCCO THAT EXCLUDED WESTERN SAHARA @KASIBCAFRICA

EUROPEAN COURT OF JUSTICE RULING REGARDING ITS TRADE DEALS WITH MOROCCO THAT EXCLUDED WESTERN SAHARA @KASIBCAFRICA 

The African National Congress (ANC) welcomes the ruling of the European Court of Justice on Friday that the European Commission had breached the right of people in Western Sahara to self-determination by concluding trade deals with Morocco. In 2019, the EU signed fishing and agriculture agreements with Morocco that also covered products from the Western Sahara. This ruling affirms the ANC’s long-standing commitment to the independence and the right to selfdetermination of Western Sahara. 

It represents a massive and momentous victory for the Sahrawi people’s struggle for self-discrimination. 

The court underlined the independence of Western Sahara by ruling that goods produced in Western Sahara must now have their origin labelled as such. The court was unequivocal: “Labelling must indicate Western Sahara alone as the country of origin of those goods, to the exclusion of any reference to Morocco, so as to avoid misleading consumers”. 

The ANC believes that this judgment reaffirms the right of the Sahrawi people to self-determination and sovereignty over their land and natural resources. The court has correctly concluded that Western Sahara is a territory that is independent from Morocco, and that Morocco has no sovereignty over the territory. The Kingdom of Morocco, a member of the African Union and therefore bound by its Constitutive Act and decisions, has no right to sovereignty over Western Sahara, a position recognized by countless resolutions of the African Union, the United Nations as well as the 1975 ruling of the International Court of Justice. It is only the people of Western Sahara that can make a decision about their own sovereignty and selfdetermination. 

It is a historic injustice against the Saharawi people that Western Sahara remains the only country still suffering under the yolk of colonialisation and subjugation despite a clear legal precedent as provided for by resolution 1514 of 1960 on the right to self-determination and independence. The 1975 decision of the International Court of Justice and related resolutions have confirmed that Morocco has no legitimate territorial claim over Western Sahara. 

The ANC stands in solidarity with the Saharawi people in their quest for self-determination. It reaffirms its commitment to strengthen and intensify South Africa’s support for the Saharawi people in their quest for self-determination. The 54th National Conference of the ANC noted that Western Sahara was the only remaining colony on the African continent and reaffirmed the inalienable right of the Saharawi people to self-determination and independence. Proceeding from the premise that Africa cannot be considered free for as long as one part of the continent is still under occupation, the ANC reaffirms its commitment to strengthen support for the Saharawi people. 

 The ANC calls on the International Community to expedite the resolution of the conflict of Western Sahara and bring an end to the inhumane and prolonged suffering of the people of Saharawi people. The international community must redouble its efforts in pursuit of the independence and self-determination for the Saharawi people. The international community has a duty to fulfil its promise and responsibility towards the peace-loving people of Western Sahara. 

100-DAYS OF GOVERNANCE BY THE DA-ANC GRAND COALITION @KASIBCNEWS

100-DAYS OF GOVERNANCE BY THE DA-ANC GRAND COALITION @KASIBCNEWS

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) takes note that the governing coalition of the DA-ANC, which has inappropriately been termed as a Government of National Unity (GNU), has completed 100-days of governance in South Africa following the 2024 Provincial and National Elections. The first 100-days are ordinarily the benchmark of any administration, of what the policy platform an d practical direction such a government will undertake during its tenure. 

The DA-ANC coalition has exhibited no practical direction of what it has or will practically do for South Africans, and has been nothing but a nauseating feel-good exercise for the political elites, political analysts and a media fraternity that has been turned into the PR-arm of government.

 Objectively, the first 100-days of the DA-ANC coalition have been defined by failure and an entrenchment austerity, privatisation and unemployment. 

The metrics for good governance ought to be the improvement of service delivery, socio-economic conditions and the quality of life of citizens, not empty praise singing and stories of empty unity amongst political  opportunists that has no material effect on ordinary people. 

The reality is the there is a general decay under the DA-ANC government and as the EFF correctly predicted, it is a neo-liberal government that will only serve the interests of those who bought these political parties before elections. 

In this first 100-days of the “GNU”, the manufacturing industry cut 16 000 jobs, while business services cut 14 000 jobs, mining and transport cut 7 000 jobs each, the trade industry cut 5 000 jobs and the construction industry cut 1 000 jobs. Cumulatively, 50 000 jobs have been lost under the “GNU”. 

It has been defined by lies and false victories, where the “GNU” claims victory for inconsequential decisions and for phenomena that they do not control to mislead South Africans as if they have been working. Under this DA-led government, we have seen DA Ministers parading decisions of the previous administration as its victories, and a celebration of the financialisation of our economy as a progressive step towards economic growth. 

This same “GNU” paraded the recently announced 0.4% economic growth as a positive sign, ignoring that it is only the financial sector that made real growth due to the high interest rates and debt of South Africans. They conveniently ignore that under this same period mining and agriculture declined, and unemployment increased by 158 000 people. 

This very same “GNU” parades investor confidence as part of their achievements, ignoring that these same investors are involved in massive profit shifting tendencies, and are accumulating profits domestically and investing them in foreign markets. Essentially, the investor confidence is a meaningless victory for our economy domestically. 

Due to its austerity measures, thousands of teachers are set to lose their jobs, scholar transport and nutrition programs are set to be cancelled and State-Owned Enterprises are on a fast-track to being privatised, leaving us with no instruments to meaningfully industrialise as a nation. 

Importantly, there is no recognisable international policy posture by this government, and as tensions in the Middle-East and Ukraine and Russia deepen due to the imperial interests of the USA, the ideological concoction that is the “GNU” means our nation has no verifiable and progressive posture on international affairs. What is the “GNU” posture on the ethnic cleansing and genocide being perpetuated by Israel against the people of Palestine, Lebanon and Iran? 

CALL FOR PROPOSALS : GOVERNMENT FUNDING NPO @KASIBCNEWS

CALL FOR PROPOSALS : GOVERNMENT FUNDING NPO @KASIBCNEWS

CLICK ON LINK:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/12Bk24zPv4z0oROlSiiFqpc-TGwi-dN7o/view?usp=drivesdk 

IMPROVE MOTHER AND CHILD HYGIENE @KASIBCNEWS

IMPROVE MOTHER AND CHILD HYGIENE @KASIBCNEWS 

The launch of the In Safe Hands training programme through a partnership between the Gauteng Department of Health (GDoH) and Dettol will go a long way in improving hygiene practices among mothers and children, focusing on reducing preventable infections linked to poor hygiene.

According the Saving Mothers Report of 2020 – 2022, statistics show that for every 100,000 live births, 126 mothers lose their lives, while the National Department of Health Strategic Plan for 2020 – 2025 reports that there are 32 deaths per 1000 live births for children under five years. Someof these deaths are caused by infections, which could have been prevented through simple hygiene practices.

The training which was unveiled among healthcare workers gathered at Melrose Arch today (03 October) will educate healthcare professionalssuch as nurses and midwives to empower pregnant women and new mothers with the knowledge to adopt better hygiene practices at home.

The collaboration with Dettol is part of a broader effort to address maternal and infant mortality caused by preventable infections.

Gauteng MEC for Health and Wellness, Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko,emphasised the importance of hygiene in reducing preventable infections.

“We know that clean hands can save lives, particularly those of vulnerable mothers and newborns. This programme is an investment in the future of maternal and child health. By equipping our healthcare workers with these skills, we can make a significant impact in preventing infections and improving health outcomes.”

The programme is being piloted across 16 health facilities comprising of hospitals and clinics in Gauteng with the aim of eventually rolling it out to other provinces.

Dettol’s Global Marketing Director, Issaih Haruna, highlighted the brand’s global commitment to improving hygiene-related health outcomes. “With initiatives such as this, Dettol is looking at reducing hygiene-related infections or diseases in children, through educating mothers and the community about the importance of good hygiene and influencing behavior change.”

This initiative is not only aligned with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 3, which seeks to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being, but it also supports the South African government’s National Development Plan 2030, which includes reducing maternal and child mortality.

The program will equip healthcare workers with essential training and educational materials to support new mothers in maintaining proper hygiene practices. The pilot aims to foster long-term hygiene behaviour change, improving both maternal and infant health outcomes.

South African Human Settlements Priorities @KASIBCNEWS

South African Human Settlements Priorities @KASIBCNEWS 

Minister of Human Settlements, Mmamoloko Kubayi, convened an important second meeting, yesterday, Thursday 03 October 2024, with Members of Executive Councils (MECs) responsible for Human Settlements across South Africa, focusing on the 2024/2025 human settlements priorities.

This meeting, the second in the seventh administration, included mayors and MMCs for Human Settlements in metropolitan municipalities and representatives from the South African Local Government Association (SALGA) to tackle key critical areas, including prioritizing vulnerable groups in house allocation, the title deeds restoration programme, housing for military veterans, emergency housing, and an update on the Human Settlements White Paper.

Comprehensive presentations were made on each of these critical areas, demonstrating the Minister's commitment to driving meaningful change in human settlements. This collaborative effort with MECs and SALGA representatives aims to accelerate progress towards achieving the 2024/2025 priorities and beyond.

Minister Kubayi launched the meeting by introducing the department's plan to enhance natural disaster response, a critical move amidst South Africa's escalating natural disaster crisis that severely impacts government services, particularly in Human Settlements as they leave families homeless and destitute.

To address this, the Minister announced that the department intends to partner with traditional leaders, utilizing geo-mapping to identify disaster-resilient areas suitable for human settlements development.

This collaborative initiative aims to enable traditional leaders to identify safe land parcels for settlement purposes and avoid disaster-prone areas in vulnerable provinces. 

The department intends to pilot this approach in rural KwaZulu-Natal and Limpopo provinces, paving the way for proactive disaster mitigation and sustainable human settlements.

By leveraging geo-mapping technology, the department aims to inform decision makers to make better land allocation decisions, ensuring the safety and well-being of communities.

“We cannot be chasing after or reacting to disasters. We must be proactive and put measures in place to mitigate future disasters”, said Minister Kubayi.

“Climate change is upon us, and we should be better prepared and be in a position to respond accordingly”, continued Minister Kubayi.

Minister Kubayi also underscored the importance of building integrated communities including rural areas saying, “Our human settlements should be where people are, feel safe and have access to economic opportunities and social amenities”.

Accordingly, the government has availed resources to build social amenities in rural areas including community halls and other facilities to encourage development within the communities.

TOWARDS THE FINAL 2024-2029 MEDIUM-TERM DEVELOPMENT PLAN

A major focus was on the draft 2024-2029 Medium Term Development Plan (MTDP), a 5-year plan, outlining sector targets for housing delivery in the 7th administration.

Yet to be considered by Cabinet, the plan seeks to develop liveable neighbourhoods in rural and urban environments, achieve spatial transformation and increase access to adequate housing through various programmes such as fully subsidized houses (BNG), social housing and affordable housing.

Thus, between 2024 and 2029 the current draft indicates that the department plans to deliver 237 000 units, 314 000 serviced sites, 15 000 social rental units, 150 000 units for the missing middle through First Home Finance and upgrade over 4000 informal settlements.

UPDATE ON DRAFT WHITE PAPER FOR HUMAN SETTLEMENTS

Additionally, the meeting discussed the finalisation of the White Paper for Human Settlements. MINMEC was informed that extensive consultations have been undertaken to ensure that all sectors of the community took part in shaping the new human settlements policy. Sectors that were consulted include NGOs, civil society, labour, academics, developers and contractors, and identified government departments.

Approved by the Cabinet in 2023 for public consultation, the draft White Paper seeks to address the prevailing gaps and inconsistencies in the housing and human settlements sector by responding comprehensively to contemporary sector reforms.

The draft White Paper will be presented to the Cabinet for approval.

Once approved, a nationwide awareness campaign will be launched to educate the public on the policy's key points through various media channels.  

By prioritizing these vulnerable groups, the department aims to ensure their well-being and dignity

TITLE DEEDS RESTORATION PROGRAMME

MINMEC has resolved to boost title deed delivery by seeking an exemption under section 55 of the Spatial Planning and Land Use Management Act (SPLUMA) from Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) for existing townships.

This exemption, however, will exclude townships or houses located in flood-prone areas or those that may disrupt traffic flow.

Following yesterday’s MINMEC meeting, a performance review Ministerial meeting will convene later today with the Free State Provincial Department of Human Settlements and Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality to discuss key performance indicators and progress on housing delivery.

This meeting aims to address concerns such as the slow pace of issuing title deeds, removal of asbestos roofs, and unblocking of stalled projects