GAUTENG MARKETS ROTTEN FOOD @KASIBCNEWS

GAUTENG MARKETS ROTTEN FOOD @KASIBCNEWS

Farmers are losing hundreds of rands of fresh produce at Gauteng's markets in Tshwane, Johannesburg, and Vereeniging. This is due to lack of proper and regular maintenance of equipment like cooling and cold rooms. Residents are at risk of food shortages as a result.

These fresh produce markets are controlled by municipalities and sadly impractical for residents who face the obstacle of long distances to access these markets. Residents also have an added fear of being mugged for their cash and valuables, while the bathrooms are not in an appropriate state. Additionally, due to the lack of effective cooling and cold room structures, farmers face an even bigger hurdle of a lack of efficient delivery facilities, with the shortage of ethylene ripening rooms further negatively affecting food distribution.

The Institute of Market Agency of South Africa (IMASA) has been fighting for years to have these facilities upgraded. Small-scale farmers struggle with bureaucratic red tape and monopolistic middlemen, forcing them to accept low prices while consumers pay more. High entry costs and logistical inefficiencies push nutritious food further out of reach for the average consumer.

The Democratic Alliance (DA) believes that food security in Gauteng requires stimulating deregulation and fostering community-driven partnerships, rather than relying on heavy-handed state interventions. By supporting farmer's markets and private community partnerships, a cost-effective and efficient food distribution system can be created. This will benefit both consumers and producers. Private community partnerships can upgrade fresh produce markets, reducing inefficiencies, food wastage, and costs.

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Deregulation and partnerships will lower food costs by providing direct access to affordable produce which has already been shown at the weekly food markets like the Silverton farmers market and the Hazelwood food market, both in Tshwane. These community initiatives empower small-scale farmers, removing red tape and allowing them to enter the market with ease and compete fairly. Simultaneously Urban Agriculture is promoted through these community-driven initiatives which can transform vacant urban spaces into productive food hubs, improving access to fresh, affordable produce.

Through the Agriculture Portfolio Committee in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature (GPL) the DA will be putting pressure on the MEC for Agriculture, Vuyiswa Ramokgopa to work with municipalities to ensure that our fresh produce markets are easily accessible to small-scale farmers, have fair and transparent pricing, are upgraded, and not impeded by red tape.

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A DA-led provincial government will ensure markets have proper infrastructure and operate efficiently so that farmers can access the fresh produce market without any hassles. This will improve food security in the province and provide a sustainable food value chain.

SADTU KWA-ZULU NATAL @KASIBCNEWS

The DA notes with concern the disruption of both days of the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Legislature School Functionality oversight programme, by picketing members of the South African Democratic Teachers’ Union (SADTU).

The inspections, attended by Members from all political parties represented in the Legislature (view here), saw SADTU supporters surround vehicles at Dabeka Secondary School in Inanda yesterday - forcing them to come to a stop. The unpleasant experience led to the entire day’s oversight programme being delayed.

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Meanwhile, yesterday on arrival at Umlazi Comprehensive Tech, the DA observed approximately 100 SADTU members gathered on the school premises. While picketing is legal, the Gatherings Act does not allow more than 15 people to assemble. This, unless they have followed due process to secure all permissions to be able to picket if there are more people.

The DA has since established via the DoE District Commander that there was no request from SADTU for yesterday's picket in Umlazi.

The pickets are the result of SADTU’s claims that its members have not received a 1.5% pay progression and issues around the non-payment of schools’ norms and standards funding. Further complaints include school infrastructure issues and depleted staff capacity.

While the DA acknowledges SADTU's concerns regarding the payment of Norms and Standards funding, it is important to highlight that we are partly in this dire financial position due to unfunded salary increases negotiated with national government. These wage agreements have had to entirely be funded by provincial departments, costing billions of Rands that were unplanned.

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These agreements have strained provincial budgets and directly impacted critical allocations such as Norms and Standards and the Learner and Teacher Support Materials (LTSM) budgets.

The DA has been in contact with KZN’s Department of Education (DoE), which has confirmed that payment of Norms and Standards funding is underway and is scheduled for completion by May, as planned. This timeline, while imperfect, reflects the current financial constraints under which the department is operating.

While SADTU’s concerns may be valid, the fact is that Legislature Members – and teachers and learners – cannot be held to ransom over their demands. Legislature Members have an oversight duty to perform while teachers are at school to teach and learners to learn.

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The DA will continue to engage with KZN’s DoE to ensure that schools receive their rightful funding and that learners are given every opportunity to succeed. Education must remain a top priority, and we urge all stakeholders to work towards solutions that put the interests of our children first.

United States of America’s withdrawal from Paris Agreement @KASIBCNEWS

United States of America’s withdrawal from Paris Agreement @KASIBCNEWS 

The Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Dr Dion George, has expressed profound regret over the decision of the United States of America to withdraw from the Paris Agreement again.

The adoption of the Paris Agreement in 2015, 15 years after the withdrawal of the United States from the Kyoto Protocol, was a victory for the multilateral effort to curb climate change, and reflects the scientific consensus on severity of the climate crisis and the urgency of action.

The Paris Agreement is premised on a common and very strong understanding that we all have a common responsibility to act, whilst noting that nations over time have contributed to the problem differently, and have varied capabilities to respond. “The Paris Agreement represents the most flexible and dynamic approach to addressing climate change. The US played an important role in the negotiation of the Paris Agreement, and the withdrawal of the USA is not only an abdication of the global responsibility that we all have to humankind, but damaging to multilateralism, international law and carefully built trust between nations,” said Minister George. 

Historically, the US has contributed very significantly to global emissions, still having the highest cumulative historical emissions, and therefore to global warming and the climate crisis we all face. Therefore, Americans have a pressing moral obligation not only to lead in reducing emissions, but to support developing economies in contributing to the global effort, and to provide support to poor countries experiencing the impacts of climate change. The United States has committed to do so, most recently at COP 29, and its recently communicated mitigation target for 2035. It appears now that these commitments will not be upheld. We hope that this is not the case.

The United States has been a leader in both the science of climate change and in technological innovation underpinning the global response to climate change. We recognise the outstanding contribution made to the fight against climate change in the US by past Administrations, states, cities, scientific organisations, civil society, business and ordinary Americans. We applaud the continuing efforts of US citizens and non-state actors to address the climate crisis with the diligence, creativity and imagination we have come to expect. “We recall the substantial contribution that previous Administrations have made to South Africa’s efforts to address climate change, including most recently support provided by the US to South Africa’s Just Energy Transition Partnership. We therefore urge the current Administration to take its commitments under international law seriously, and carefully consider the ramifications of its intended withdrawal from the Paris Agreement,” said Minister George.

South Africa has full confidence in and reiterates its unwavering commitment to the realization of the goals set out in the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and its Paris Agreement. We must and will seize this moment to innovate and drive forward sustainable solutions. The global effort to curb climate change and address its impacts cannot be put on hold. There is an urgent need for action. We remain hopeful that the momentum of the collective effort to address climate change will only accelerate.  

The international community regards climate change as the single biggest threat to wellbeing, health and socio-economic development currently facing humanity. Its impact is widespread, unprecedented and place a disproportionate and unjust burden on the poorest and most vulnerable in our country, our continent and globally. In 2024 the world breached for the first time the critical threshold of 1.5 °C of global warming, signaling the urgency of immediate and strong climate action to avoid increasingly dangerous climate change impacts. 

MINE HEALTH AND SAFETY STATS 2024 @KASIBCNEWS

MINE HEALTH AND SAFETY STATS 2024 @KASIBCNEWS

Deputy Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources, Ms Phumzile Mgcina

Director General, Mr Jacob Mbele 
Chief Inspector of Mines, Mr David Msiza 
Leadership of Organised Business – Minerals Council SA 
Leadership of Organised Labour – AMCU, NUM, NUMSA, Solidarity and UASA
Professional Associations – AMMSA, SACMA, and SAIMM
Representatives of the MHSC 
Members of the Media  

Let us start by expressing our gratitude to you for joining us today as we officially release the 2024 Occupational Health and Safety Statistics of the South African mining industry.

Just two days ago, on the 21st of January, we were commemorating the sixty fifth (65th) anniversary of the Coalbrook disaster which killed four hundred and thirty five (435) mineworkers. Twenty six years later, in 1986, one hundred seventy-seven (177) mineworkers lost their lives during the Kinross mine disaster, while a further one hundred and four (104) mineworkers perished during the Vaal Reefs mining disaster in 1995.

We have just concluded a meeting with our social partners that are represented here, during which we assessed the progress made on occupational health and safety in the South African mining industry during the 2024 calendar year. The statistics that we will be releasing will show the significant strides that we are making in improving the state of health and safety at our mines, albeit not without challenges.

As we deliver these statistics, we are conscious of the fact that we are not talking about numbers, but we are talking about the lives of people. In actual fact, we are talking about the people who convert investments into wealth. Hence, our emphasis on the fact that our gathering today is not just another event on our calendar, but a demonstration of our untiring commitment to safeguarding the health and safety of every mineworker.

The health and safety of mineworkers remains at the centre of the work we do as government, just as it remains central to the long-term sustainability of the South African mining industry. Hence, we continue to strengthen the enforcement provisions, reinforce offences, and penalties, and remove ambiguity by amending certain definitions and expressions in the Mine Health and Safety Act, and thereby empower the South African mining to attain the goal of Zero Harm.

We are, therefore, encouraged that our efforts continue to show a sustainable downward trend in occupational diseases, injuries, and fatalities.

Whereas the Chief Inspector of Mines will give you a detailed presentation of our performance during the period under review, allow me to take this opportunity to briefly reflect on some significant milestones we have recorded during the period under review.

Occupational fatalities

The South African mining industry recorded forty-two (42) fatalities in 2024 marking the lowest ever number of fatalities in the history of mining in South Africa. This represents a 24% improvement, year-on-year, compared to 2023 when we had fifty-five (55) fatalities.

There were no disaster type accidents reported in 2024 compared to one (1) disaster type accident in 2023, where thirteen (13) mine employees lost their lives in a conveyance accident in the platinum sector. A disaster type accident is an accident where five (5) or more mine workers lose their lives in a single accident. However, all accidents are undesirable and regrettable.
This record is as a result of concerted effort by all parties that are involved in providing and maintaining a working environment that is safe and without risk to the health and safety of employees and all those that may be directly affected by the activities of mining.

The continued collaboration and implementation of the necessary measures on health and safety throughout the year have demonstrated that significant improvements in results can be achieved. We, therefore, commend the collective efforts which have gotten us here, and urge all stakeholders to redouble our efforts to reach the goal of Zero Harm.

The fatalities per commodity in 2024 were as follows:

• 11 in the gold sector, compared to 20 in 2023, a year-on-year improvement of 45 %.
• 19 in platinum, compared to 22 in 2023, a year-on-year improvement of 14 %.
• 6 fatalities in the coal sector, compared to 7 in 2023, a year-on-year improvement of 14 %.
• 6 fatalities for the category of other mines, compared to 6 in 2023, showing no improvement year-on-year.  This category of other mines includes diamonds, chrome, copper, zinc, sand, lime, granite, manganese, nickel, bricks, etc. 

The most significant progress thus far is in the reduction of fatalities from fall of ground (FOG), machinery and shaft conveyance types of accidents.  FOG categories of accidents reduced by 13% from fifteen (15) in 2023 to thirteen (13) in 2024. The machinery category of accidents reduced by 67% from six (6) in 2023 to two (2) in 2024. There was no shaft conveyance related fatal accident during 2024 compared to one during 2023 where thirteen (13) mine employees lost their lives in the platinum sector.

As part of addressing transportation related accidents at mines, we urge all stakeholders to support and implement collision avoidance systems brought about by the introduction of new regulations on trackless mobile machinery (TMM).  

The current overall improvement in the safety performance of all the commodities in the mining sector is encouraging. However, we must caution the industry that complacency can be dangerous and must, therefore, be avoided at all costs.

Occupational injuries

A total of one thousand eight hundred and forty-one (1 841) occupational injuries were reported in 2024, compared to the two thousand one hundred and eighty-one (2 181) reported during the 2023 calendar year. This translated to a 16% improvement year-on-year. Of great concern to us is that most of these injuries are mainly because of repeat accidents categorised as fall of ground, transportation and mining and general types of accidents. We, therefore, urge the employers and labour to be explicit about their respective roles and programs for the provision and maintenance of a safe working environment that is free of risks.

Occupational diseases

Significant progress has been made in reported occupational diseases, with a drop of 17% from two thousand two hundred and thirty-three (2 233) in 2022 to one thousand eight hundred and sixty-four (1864) cases in 2023. Much of the progress is attributable to the manganese, iron, chrome, coal, diamond, copper, and platinum sectors.

There was also a decrease in silicosis, Pulmonary TB (PTB), Coal Workers Pneumoconiosis (CWP) and other diseases.

It is, however, regrettable that during the reporting year 2023, the gold sector reported the highest number of occupational diseases for both silicosis and pulmonary tuberculosis cases, whereas the platinum sector reported the highest number of noise induced hearing loss cases.

It is worth noting that non-communicable diseases, including cardiovascular diseases, cancers, chronic respiratory diseases, and diabetes exacerbate the burden of disease in the industry. The sector should, therefore, make concerted effort in the prevention and management of health matters because they impact the average work life expectancy of the workforce. As a result, crucial resources are lost due to medical incapacitation and mine fatalities.

Women in Mining

Whereas the mining industry is making notable transformation improvements by including women in mining activities, we would like to emphasise that their health and safety is paramount. Women, including female mineworkers, must feel and be safe in society and in the workplace.

We are pleased to report that during the period under review, there were no fatal accidents involving female mineworkers, as compared to the single fatality that was reported during the 2023 calendar year. It is, however, regrettable that the injury accidents affecting women remain high with one hundred and eighty-five (185) injuries reported in 2024, compared to the two hundred and thirty-four (234) injuries reported in 2023.

Illegal Mining

As we release these statistics, we are conscious of the severity of illegal mining that has engulfed the South African mining industry. Our view on illegal mining remains unchanged. Illegal mining is a criminal activity and a war on the economy. There can be no two ways about it.

The truth of the matter is that those that are involved in illegal mining, both the syndicates and the active illegal miners, have no regard for the health and safety of others, nor are they concerned about the laws that regulate the industry. They are in it for their own selfish gains and have no regard for the country. In 2024 alone, the country lost an estimated R60 billion to illicit precious metal trade.

As government, we will continue our fight against illegal mining through initiatives such as the Operation Vala Umgodi which continues to help us deal decisively with illegal mining in Limpopo, Gauteng, Mpumalanga, Free State, Northern Cape and the North West. We wish to assure the nation that the state will not take responsibility for the reckless actions of illegal miners.

Jet Fuel Supply  

We have noted the concerns regarding the state of jet fuel supply to the International OR Tambo Airport following the fire that occurred at the Natref refinery early this year. Whereas the concerns are justified, we can assure the nation that contingency plans have been put in place to ensure uninterrupted supply of jet fuel in the country.

Working together with various stakeholders - Fuels Industry Association of South Africa (FIASA), Airports Company South Africa (ACSA), and Transnet – we have ensured that jet fuel continues to be transported from the coast to inland with a particular focus on the International OR Tambo Airport.

Health and Safety Improvement Measures

Our collective efforts as social partners in the South African mining industry are proving that stakeholder collaboration is critical for us to attain the goal of zero harm.

These efforts resulted in Cabinet’s approval for the submission of the draft Mine Health and Safety Amendment Bill (MHSA Bill) to Parliament for its consideration and adoption. Further, we successfully hosted the Tripartite Summit during which we robustly engaged one another on the implementation of the milestones to improve occupational health and safety performance in the industry.

Furthermore, our efforts resulted in several directives being issued by the Department to ensure significant improvements in the health and safety of the mineworkers. We continue to also address all risks associated with exploitation of mine pillars and residue deposits/tailings dams.

We reiterate that, collaboration and the spirit of genuine tripartism should be our anchor going forward. Let us continue working together and share good practices to attain the goal of zero harm.  

All employers and employees are encouraged to work safely and apply zero tolerance on sub-standard work and conditions. All mineworkers and supervisors are reminded that unsafe work practices always lead to undesirable circumstances.

We, therefore, urge all mineworkers not to risk their lives and, thereby urge them to exercise their right to refuse dangerous workplaces. By so doing, every mineworker will return home unharmed, and our ultimate goal of zero harm will be attained. 

KWAZULU-NATAL REGIONS TOP MATRIC EXAMINATION @KASIBCNEWS

KWAZULU-NATAL REGIONS TOP MATRIC EXAMINATION @KASIBCNEWS

MEMBERS of the KwaZulu-Natal legislature (MPLs) have heaped praises on the Umkhanyakude District for moving from being the worst performing education district to become one of South Africa’s top performing regions during final matric examinations.

Speaking during the first visit to Umkhanyakude since the district was announced as the top-performing district, MPLs described the region’s meteoric rise as a remarkable achievement that should be emulated. UMkhanyakude achieved an overall matric pass rate of 92.8%.

“Not so long ago, this district was number 75 out of 75 districts in the country. Today it is number three in the entire country, and it is also number one in the province. This shows that the district has a well-oiled strategy which is producing handsome dividends,” said MPL Celiwe Madlopha.

She said the legislature had contributed immensely to KwaZulu-Natal’s education stellar performance by providing effective oversight and identifying barriers to effective learning and teaching.

“Members of the legislature are visiting four schools in Umkhanyakude District today and tomorrow as part of the legislature’s School Functionality Monitoring Programme (SFMP). We are, among other things, monitoring infrastructure challenges that our schools face, the delivery of learner support material, the start of lessons, safety and security. 

The SFMP is our flagship programme that has helped to resolve many challenges in our schools. We appreciate the support we continue to receive from the provincial Executive and the schools governing bodies as we play our oversight role."

A comprehensive report will be compiled after today and tomorrow’s school visits and it will be presented in the House for adoption and implementation.

LIMPOPO SCHOOLS BLACK CHILD ON THE STREETS @KASIBCNEWS

LIMPOPO SCHOOLS BLACK CHILD ON THE STREETS @KASIBCNEWS

The Limpopo Education Department is working around the clock to ease the backlog of learners who are yet to be placed. The Province has just over 1 600 learners that are yet to be placed in the four hotspot circuits; Pietersburg, Mokopane, Tzaneen and Lephalale. Majority of the applicants were not admitted last year because their applications did not meet the set criteria, but they were afforded a chance to appeal.

The Department is currently processing appeals and late applications received early this year when schools re-opened. All qualifying unplaced learners will be allocated space on or before 29th January 2025 when the headcount exercise and other logistics are finalised. Pietersburg Circuit in Polokwane has the highest number of unplaced learners for grade R,1 and 8. 33 661 learners were placed across all grades in the circuit and the remaining 816 will be processed and placed accordingly.

Parents and guardians are urged to exercise patience and allow the department to finalise the admission process. The department wishes to assure parents that all qualifying learners will be admitted within the circuits where they reside and Transport will be provided for those who will be allocated spaces outside the 5 kilometres radius.

The Department has also noted that some parents are still submitting falsified documents and fraudulent addresses to secure space for their children who are not from the feeder zones. The Department has warned parents and caregivers to desist from falsifying documents as this is a criminal act, fraudulent and can result in cases being opened with the police. Parents are cautioned not to embark on a forceful admissions of their children.

PHALABORWA CORRUPTION @KASIBCNEWS

The DA in Limpopo is deeply concerned about the ongoing corruption and malfeasant governance, committed with impunity, that has brought Phalaborwa—once a thriving town with proud residents—to its knees.

The town’s infrastructure is in a state of severe decay. Most roads are riddled with potholes that worsen and multiply with every rainfall. Residents are forced to endure raw sewage running through their properties and down the streets. Raw sewage flows into and pollutes the Kruger National Park. Many residents have not had a reliable water supply in years and suffer. Frequent electricity outages worsen when summer rains seep into overly-patched cables that need replacement and no ring mains remain for alternative supply. The town’s economy suffers.

Corruption and malfeasant governance have hollowed out the municipality, rendering it impotent and incapable of taking corrective action. Mayor Malatji has openly admitted in public meetings that the Ba-Phalaborwa municipality lacks the resources to fix the damage that the ANC-led administration has allowed to fester and collapse.

Yet, no one has been held accountable by the ANC-dominated municipality or faced any consequences. In fact, it appears that ANC cadres are being protected, with their misdemeanours swept under the carpet of impunity.

A prime example is the reported imminent prosecution of the municipality’s former Municipal Manager, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, who now serves as Minister in the Presidency. The corrupt actions for which she now faces prosecution were committed over a decade ago, yet during this time, the municipality took no action against her.

It was only after the Polokwane High Court  referred an incident of a ‘clear contravention of the provisions of the MFMA by officials of the municipality’ to the NPA, in a case where the municipality sought to revoke a tender, that Ntshavheni was finally brought under scrutiny and is now facing her day of reckoning.

Ntshavheni‘s reign as Municipal Manager was and she should be held accountable for the damage and malfeasance wrought upon the municipality and the community – apart from the matter at hand.

It is clear to the DA in Limpopo, and to the court, that the ANC-led municipality had no intention of holding their cadre accountable. In fact, they were intent on protecting her malfeasance and corrupt actions. As Judge Gerrit Muller remarked in the application to set aside the tender, he had the distinct impression that "officials were being protected to the detriment of the public" and that "the impact of corrupt activities is so devastating and repugnant that the courts should do all in their power to ensure that nobody should benefit from those activities, much less those in powerful positions."

Sadly, Ntshavheni’s impending prosecution is a rare victory for the public and the town of Phalaborwa. As the DA in Limpopo, we agree with the Judge’s assertion that "little, if anything, has been done in Limpopo, in particular, to prosecute corrupt officials and others who benefit from corrupt activities."

As the DA in Limpopo we reiterate the call from our national colleague, Dianne Kohler Barnard, MP, that  no Minister who is accused of corruption should retain their seat in Cabinet.

When Ntshavheni stands in the dock and faces judgment, so too will the ANC.