Mzansi Golden Economy (MGE) Grant Funding @KASIBCNEWS

Mzansi Golden Economy (MGE)  Grant Funding @KASIBCNEWS 

DSAC announces the opening of Mzansi Golden Economy (MGE) & target groups: arts and social development applications grant funding applications (at 12:00) to the cultural and creative industries/ arts, culture and heritage fraternity

The National Department of Sport, Arts and Culture officially announces the opening of Mzansi Golden Economy (MGE) and Target Group: Arts and Social Development call for grant funding applications to the cultural and creative industries/ Arts, Culture and Heritage Fraternity. A call for application opens from today, 08 November to Friday, 06 December 2024. 

1. Mzansi Golden Economy (MGE)

Launched with a mandate to increase economic growth and to create jobs in the country, the Mzansi Golden Economy strategy considers the arts, culture, and heritage sector as the “new gold” which has the potential to reposition the sector as the key market player in the country’s economic development. With improved investment in key creative economy areas, the department believes the strategy has the potential to enhance job creation, productivity as well as to increase the sector’s global competitiveness.

The Open Call is for the following streams:

• Cultural and Creative Industries Projects (CCIPs) and

• Touring Ventures 

• Support will be provided to projects that will be implemented from May (2025) to January (2026) for Cultural and Creative Industries Projects and April (2025) to March (2026 or Touring Ventures.

2. Target Groups: Arts and Social Development 

The Target Groups: Arts and Social Development funding is earmarked for Non-Profit Organisations that facilitate participation and development of targeted groups: 

• Children

• Persons living with Disabilities

• Older Persons

• Women

• 

Registered NPOs/NPCs from all nine (9) provinces are invited to submit proposals. This 2025/26 Call for Proposals is for projects/programmes that will be implemented between April 2025 and March 2026.

Priority will be given to projects that integrate Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Prevention Programmes and prior funding within the last three years disqualifies applicants.

NB:-  The grant funding programme of DSAC is a competitive processes, the funding 

          is provided based on the following:

• Current needs and emerging challenges of the arts, culture, and heritage sectors.

• Funding is based on the merits of the submitted applications. 

• Applications are reviewed for eligibility and completeness and NO applicant is automatically entitled to funding. 

The Department is inviting interested organizations (NPOs and Pty Ltd) to visit www.eservices.gov.za  to make their applications from today 08 November at 12h00 until 06 of December 2024. Please note that DSAC will not accept hand-delivered or emailed applications.

View Mzansi Golden Economy (MGE) 2025/26 Grant Funding Open Call here: https://www.dsac.gov.za/Mzansi-Golden-Economy-MGE-2025/2026-Guidelines

Warning Parents to be Vigilant of what their Children Consume @KASIBCNEWS

Warning Parents to be Vigilant of what their Children Consume @KASIBCNEWS 

The Gauteng Provincial Government convened a special Executive Council meeting on Wednesday, 6 November 2024 to consider actions to be taken in response of the food borne illness in the country. The provincial government has called on parents and guardians to be vigilant and to closely monitor what their children consume, particularly items purchased in spaza shops and vendors outside school premises. 

 This comes after the death and hospitalisation of numerous children in the province after they consumed snacks purchased in local spaza shops. The Acting Premier, Kedibone Diale-Tlabela, together with MEC for Finance and Economic Development, Lebogang Maile visited families in Katlehong on Tuesday, 5 November 2024 following the deaths of two children from suspected food poisoning. “As parents, let’s encourage our children not to buy these snacks as they have no health benefits, instead they are harmful,” said Diale-Tlabela. She further called on South Africans who have outsourced their facilities such as garages and homes to those who run spaza shops to be aware of what is being sold in those facilities. 

MEC Maile lamented the frequency at which children are being harmed. “We renew our pledge that we will not tire, we are relentless, and we will fight with everything we have. Government is making every resource available to us to bring law and order and ensure that these spaza shops and other retail shops in our communities are run properly. “We are asking the national government to declare this situation a disaster. It’s getting out of hand, and we must do something drastic,” said Maile. Communities are encouraged to take proactive measures to educate children about food safety and empower them to make informed choices. Vendors, food producers, and consumers are urged to adhere to strict hygiene practices, including proper food storage, thorough cooking, and maintaining clean preparation areas. 

Part of government’s advocacy work includes reaching out to vendors and spaza shops in the province to check compliance in terms of the foodstuffs, Disinfectants Act and food labelling regulations. In addition, Gauteng government urges the public to visit their nearest health facilities when they present with symptoms such as vomiting, sudden chest pains, body aches, fever or foam in the mouth. Meanwhile, government urges the public to only use pesticides that are registered for control of rats and cockroaches as illegal use of highly hazardous pesticides is a health risk. 

The law prohibits anyone to be in possession of banned pesticides, such as aldicarb (carbamate) popularly known as “ha le phirime”, and Terbufos (organophosphates). Government has imposed restrictions on access and use of Terbufos except by registered professional trained applicators. Members of the Executive Council (MECs) and government officials will continue crisscrossing the province to engage residents on consumer education, food safety protocols and compliance. The public is urged to report any use, trade, marketing and manufacturing of illegal chemicals to the nearest police station.   

BOLT SOUTH AFRICA GLOBAL SAFETY CAMPAIGN LAUNCH @KASIBCNEWS

BOLT SOUTH AFRICA GLOBAL SAFETY CAMPAIGN LAUNCH  @KASIBCNEWS 

On the 7th of November 2024, the Gauteng MEC for Finance and Economic Development, Lebogang Maile, delivered a keynote address at Bolt South Africa's Global Safety Campaign launch in Johannesburg. The campaign is aimed at improving safety in the e-hailing industry.  Earlier this year, Women for Change released a report on the assessment of the current state of safety in e-hailing services in South Africa. The report revealed concerning insights about the perception of safety in e-hailing services. A staggering 73 percent of users reported that they do not feel safe using e-hailing services. 

The results also showed that 22 percent of respondents reported experiencing harassment or verbal abuse at least once during a trip, while 8 percent reported facing harassment often. Furthermore, the responses revealed that 48 percent of participants knew someone who had been harassed or assaulted by a driver. These statistics highlight a critical issue in the e-hailing industry, emphasising the urgent need for improved safety measures to ensure user confidence and security. It is for this reason that Bolt’s Global Safety Campaign, and other initiatives by the company which aim to raise awareness of safety features, safety initiatives, and scaling preventative measures to prevent incidents of harassment and violence, are especially welcome in a South Africa that is battling the scourge of gender-based violence and femicide. Gauteng, the most populous province in the country, with a population of over 15.1 million people, is necessarily an important place for the launch of this campaign. 

The province's unique economic and demographic profile, which have a direct link to crime levels higher than the national average, make safety interventions crucial. For this reason, the Gauteng Provincial Government commends Bolt South Africa for making safety a key priority as it deems safety in the e-hailing industry both a social and an economic imperative.  

Urban mobility is a serious issue in Gauteng and the African continent broadly. African cities are facing an unprecedented challenge of urbanisation. In just 30 years, the number of cities in Africa has doubled. In 1990, there were 3,300 on the continent. By 2022, this number had increased to 7,600. According to Africa’s Urbanisation Dynamics 2022: The Economic Power of Africa’s Cities report published by the African Development Bank, the cumulative population of African cities has increased by 500 million people since 1990. Africa’s cities are the most rapidly growing cities in the world. According to the United Nations World's Cities in 2018 Data Booklet, the ten fastest-growing cities in the world are all located in Africa and the urban population will increase by around 900 million people by 2050. 

 

This growth, occurring in the context of rising levels of inequalities, has presented significant problems for African cities as they are growing fast and in sprawling ways that have resulted in the unequal provision of services, particularly transport. A lack of financing, investments and infrastructure for sustainable public transportation has resulted in Africa having the highest rates of road fatalities in the world. 

This situation highlights a need for investment in sustainable urban mobility in Africa because cities play a crucial role in the growth and development of our economies. Africa’s cities significantly outperform the countries in which they are located. The gap between the performance of African cities and the national averages is larger than in many other parts of the world. 

This is evidenced in the economic profile of Gauteng, the nerve-centre of the national and regional economy, contributing a third of South Africa’s total gross domestic product. The centrality of cities in the growth and development on national economies has been established. Urban mobility is a significant component of this economic growth and development as the movement of both people and goods impacts the rate of increase in the real and nominal gross domestic product. In the context of South Africa, urban mobility is also a question of spatial inclusion. 

The Gauteng City Region is geographically complex due to urbanisation as well as the persistent legacy of apartheid spatial planning. The construction of the apartheid city, which we have inherited in the province, means that economic activities largely occur within the central business district and suburban areas within close proximity. However, large density areas, mainly townships, hostels and informal settlements, have limited economic activity and economic opportunities. It is for this reason that the Gauteng Provincial Government adopted the Township Economic Development Act, which aims to facilitate and promote inclusive economic growth along a transformative paradigm. 

The Gauteng Department of Economic Development has invested significantly in township development, using both financial and non-financial instruments to support the development of infrastructure and industries in townships. The development of township economies is a sustainable path to spatial inclusion and our transformation efforts.

Thus, the department views safety in mobility as a core priority not only for economic and spatial development, but for inclusion and transformation. The Gauteng Department of Economic Development supports efforts to improve safety in the e-hailing industry and will continue to support initiatives by Bolt South Africa and the private sector broadly, to ensure the safety and security of users of e-hailing services.  

ILLNESS AFFECTING 110 LEARNERS AT TAMAHO PRIMARY @KASIBCNEWS

ILLNESS AFFECTING 110 LEARNERS AT TAMAHO PRIMARY @KASIBCNEWS 

Gauteng MEC for Education, Sport, Arts, Culture & Recreation, Mr. Matome Chiloane, has been alerted to a concerning incident today, Wednesday, 6 November 2024, involving a suspected foodborne illness affecting 110 learners at Tamaho Primary School in Katlehong.

It is reported that a total of 110 learners began experiencing symptoms of stomach cramps and vomiting after consuming samp at school during break time. Emergency services responded swiftly, and all affected learners were transported to various clinics and hospitals for immediate medical attention.

All 110 learners were hospitalised following the incident, with 98 learners subsequently discharged after receiving medical treatment. 12 learners remain in the hospital under medical supervision as healthcare providers continue to monitor their condition.

The Gauteng Department of Education (GDE), in partnership with the Gauteng Department of Health (GDoH), is actively monitoring the incident and will provide additional information as the investigation proceeds. The GDE remains committed to ensuring a safe and healthy environment for all learners and will provide psycho-social support to the affected learners, families, and school community.

MEC Chiloane has expressed grave concern over the recurrence of such incidents at Gauteng schools. “It is alarming to witness such cases of foodborne illness affecting our learners. The safety and wellbeing of our learners is our highest priority, and we are committed to working closely with health authorities to understand and address the root causes of these incidents. We wish all recovering learners a speedy return to good health,” said MEC Chiloane.

Integrated Resource Plan 2023 @KASIBCNEWS

 

Integrated Resource Plan 2023 @KASIBCNEWS

The Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy Mr Gwede Mantashe (MP) has published the draft Integrated Resource Plan (IRP 2023) for public comments in government Gazette no 49974 of 04 January 2024.

The IRP is an electricity generation plan that seeks to ensure security of electricity supply by balancing supply with demand, while taking into account the environment and total cost of supply.

The purpose of this publication is to solicit public comments on the assumptions, input parameters, scenarios, and observations made. Comments submitted will be considered in drafting the final policy adjusted plan which will map out the future energy mix for the country.

The draft IRP 2023 is based on a scientific process that considers several scenarios and latest developments in the country’s electricity industry. It considers two-time horizons, the first being the period up to 2030 focusing on addressing prevailing generation capacity constraints and system requirements to close the supply gap.

Horizon two covers the period from 2031 to 2050 and focuses on long-term electricity generation planning with pathways to achieve a resilient Net Zero electricity sector by 2050.

A copy of the draft reviewed Integrated Resource Plan is accessible on the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy – www.dmre.gov.za

Members of the public have until 23 February 2024 to submit written comments for consideration on:

https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=bDWXlV5Askqncn7nJnE…oIqfOslGi6lIYefKLn5UMjg2TjQ1WElTVURZTDhCN0szU0lUSjg2Wi4u

Comments can also be emailed to: IRP.Queries@dmre.gov.za

MOZAMBICAN GOVERNMENT'S VIOLENT REPRESSION AGAINST CITIZENS @KASIBCNEWS

MOZAMBICAN GOVERNMENT'S VIOLENT REPRESSION AGAINST CITIZENS @KASIBCNEWS 

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) strongly condemns the Mozambican government’s brutal crackdown on its citizens who are exercising their right to protest against their recent election process. The Mozambican people’s frustration and discontent have reached a breaking point, evident in the wave of protests following the announcement of the October 9 election results on October 24. Opposition

supporters have challenged the credibility of these elections, asserting that FRELIMO,

the ruling party, engaged in widespread fraud to secure victory. 

In response to this outcry, Mozambican security forces have unleashed a relentless campaign of violence to intimidate, silence, and control citizens. Protestors— many of them unarmed youths and even children—are being met with rubber bullets, tear gas, and, in some cases, live ammunition. Reports indicate that over 20 people have been killed, more than 390 injured, and around 800 arbitrarily detained. This scale of state violence constitutes a humanitarian crisis and highlights a regime intent on oppressing its people rather than protecting them.

Disturbing reports from regions such as Nampula and Niassa reveal an escalation of police violence to almost unimaginable levels. Security forces, far from merely dispersing crowds, have entered homes and used tear gas on civilians without discretion, with no regard for vulnerable individuals, including the elderly and those in poor health. Helicopters have been used to deploy tear gas from above, creating a climate of terror that leaves citizens with no place of refuge.

Furthermore, the FRELIMO government has taken extreme measures to keep Mozambicans disconnected from each other and isolated from the world by heavily restricting internet access. This digital blackout is clearly intended to stifle voices of dissent, blocking international attention and scrutiny of these atrocities. It is also a calculated attempt to silence the population. This approach represents a growing, systematic violation of democratic principles, denying citizens the freedom of

information and expression.

Furthermore, independent candidate Venâncio Mondlane’s, who won 20% of the vote, lost his lawyer and spokesman, murdered by unknown assailants. Mondlane himself then sought safety outside Mozambique, fearing for his life, with reports indicating that he narrowly escaped an attack in South Africa before ultimately fleeing to Europe. The EFF, therefore, calls on the South African government to investigate this brazen attack on South African soil and to hold accountable any individuals connected to this violation of our nation’s sovereignty. It is an alarming show of disrespect by FRELIMO towards South Africa to authorise such a reckless act within our borders.

The EFF demands that the Mozambican government immediately halt its violent tactics against unarmed protestors, restore internet access, and release those detained without justification. The Mozambican state’s blatant disregard for its people’s rights and for democratic transparency cannot be allowed to persist. We call on the African Union, SADC, and international human rights bodies to intervene urgently and take action against this repression.

The EFF demands that the Mozambican government recognise that violence is never the solution to calls for transparency and justice. The people’s right to freely protest and express their grievances is fundamental in any democracy, and suppressing these voices only deepens the divide between the state and its citizens. The EFF stands in solidarity with the Mozambican people and their legitimate demands for accountability, dignity, and democratic integrity

New Fuel Prices Effective from 6 November 2024 @KASIBCNEWS

New Fuel Prices Effective from 6 November 2024 @KASIBCNEWS 

The Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources announces the adjustment of fuel prices based on current local and international factors with effect from the 6th of November 2024.

South Africa’s fuel prices are adjusted monthly, informed by international and local factors. International factors include the fact that South Africa imports both crude oil and finished products at a price set at the international level, including importation costs, e.g., shipping costs.

The main reasons for the fuel price adjustments are due to:

1. Crude oil prices
The average Brent Crude oil price increased from 72.82 US Dollars (USD) to USD 75.07 per barrel, during the period under review. The main contributing factor is the continued conflict in the Middle East and the stand-off between Iran and Israel.

2. International petroleum product prices

The average international petroleum product prices increased on average, in line with the higher oil prices, during the period under review. This led to higher contributions to the Basic Fuel Prices of petrol by 33.56 c/l and 21.55 c/l, diesel by 30.33 c/l and 28.58 c/l and illuminating paraffin by 29.79 c/l, respectively.

3. Rand/US Dollar exchange rate

The Rand slightly appreciated on average, against the US Dollar (from 17.68 to 17.53 Rand per USD) during the period under review. This led to lower contributions to the Basic Fuel Prices of all products by over 8.00 cents per litre.

4. Implementation of the Slate Levy

The cumulative slate amounted to a positive balance of R5.6 billion for petrol and diesel of at the end of September 2024. In line with the provisions of the Self-Adjusting Slate Levy Mechanism, a slate levy of zero cents per litre remain in the price structures of petrol and diesel with effect from the 6th of November 2024.

Based on current local and international factors, the fuel prices for November 2024 will be adjusted as follows:
❖ Petrol 93 (ULP & LRP): Twenty-five cents per litre (25.00 c/l) increase.
❖ Petrol 95 (ULP & LRP): Twenty-five cents per litre (25.00 c/l) increase.
❖ Diesel (0.05% sulphur): Twenty-one cents per litre (21.00 c/l) increase.
❖ Diesel (0.005% sulphur): Twenty cents per litre (20.00 c/l) increase.
❖ Illuminating Paraffin (wholesale): Twenty-one cents per litre (21.00 c/l) increase.
❖ SMNRP for IP: Twenty-eight cents per litre (28.00 c/l) increase.
❖ Maximum LPGas Retail Price: Thirty-six cents per kilogram (36.00 c/kg) increase; and

The fuel prices schedule for the different zones will be published on Tuesday, the 5th of November 2024