Northern Cape - Government Communications

08/02/2016

The William Humphrey's Art Gallery invites all Northern Cape artists to submit thier work for the April 2016 Northern Cape Art Exhibition. Submission dates for those artist in the Kimberley area are 30-31 March 2016. Artist in the Upington area dates are 5-6 April 2016. For entry forms and more info please contact [email protected] or 0538311724. Visit www.whag.co.za

01/02/2016

South Africa is a step closer to realising its goal of migrating to digital television. Today marks the start of the dual illumination period which Communications Minister, Faith Muthambi described as ‘truly exciting’

29/04/2015

PEACE RESTORED IN SOUTH AFRICA

Minister in the Presidency Jeff Radebe has reassured the country and the world that peace and calm have returned to communities that were affected by attacks on foreign nationals.

“We are now working hard to ensure that nobody within the borders of our country is victimised based on their country of origin,” said Minister Radebe.


Minister Radebe was speaking at the first Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) briefing on migration held in Pretoria on Tuesday (28 April). The IMC was appointed by President Jacob Zuma to deal with the underlying causes of tension between communities and foreign nationals.

Minister Radebe said government continues to actively support displaced foreign nationals in the country through provision of food, shelter and other necessities.

“We encourage those who require counselling services to call 0800 428 428. The trauma counselling call centre is operational 24 hours a day.

“As the situation continues to stabilise, we call on foreign nationals who are still in shelters to work with the department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) and Community Safety to ensure a smooth reintegration process,” the Minister said.

For the full article kindly visit: http://sanews.gov.za/south-africa/peace-restored-sa

Pretoria - Minister in the Presidency Jeff Radebe has reassured the country and the world that peace and calm have returned to communities that were affected by attacks on foreign nationals.

28/04/2015

GOVERNMENT COMMITS TO A UNITED, DEMOCRATIC SOUTH AFRICA

As South Africa enters the third decade of freedom, President Jacob Zuma has recommitted government to the vision of building a united, non-racial, non-sexist, democratic and prosperous South Africa.

“We recommit ourselves as government to ensure that all policies and plans that we develop and implement, build a better future for our children and the youth,” said president Zuma on Monday (27 April).

Government, he said, will use the National Development Plan to achieve the type of society South Africa wants in 2030.

There were other programmes that government has put in place such as Operation Phakisa, the massive industrialisation and infrastructure programmes, which will include the previously disadvantaged people, women, the youth and persons with disability to enable them to participate in the economy.

South Africa marks 21 years since the first democratic elections on April 27 1994. This year also marks the 60th Anniversary of the Freedom Charter, the historic road-map to the country's struggle for freedom and ultimately the achievement of democracy.

This year's Freedom Day was celebrated under the theme: “Celebrating the Third Decade of our Freedom through Accelerating Radical Economic Transformation.”

For the full article kindly visit: http://www.sanews.gov.za/…/government-commits-united-democr…

21/04/2015

DEFENCE MINISTER CALLS FOR RESTRAINT

Defence and Military Veterans Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula has urged South Africans to desist from attacking foreign nationals living in the country.

She said the attacks on foreign nationals do not represent South Africa’s democratic order and diversity.
“Violence meted out to anyone on the basis of their nationality is not a true reflection of who we are as a nation and it is punishable by law. Perpetrators will face the full might of the law,” the Minister said on Monday (20 April).

Furthermore, the Minister has conveyed her sincerest condolences to those who have lost their loved ones and those who have been negatively affected by the attacks.

Minister Mapisa-Nqakula will join the team of Ministers identified and tasked by President Jacob Zuma to deal with the situation decisively and comprehensively.
Minister Mapisa-Nqakula will visit volatile areas and affected communities.

For the full article kindly visit: http://sanews.gov.za/south…/defence-minister-calls-restraint

21/04/2015

SOUTH AFRICA LAUNCHES "WE ARE ONE HUMANITY CAMPAIGN"

In the wake of the attacks on foreign nationals in the past two weeks, Police Minister Nathi Nhleko has launched a national campaign focused on behavioural change.
The “We are One Humanity Campaign” is a long term sustainable response to the attacks against foreign nationals.

Its objectives are to combat these attacks through celebrating diversity and embracing difference as well as developing empathy through public education
The campaign will be rolled out between now and October so that its impact lasts beyond this period.
It will take various forms such as outreach programmes that will create platforms for constructive discussions and seek practical solutions.
The campaign will also see mass education to further interrogate and deal with the root causes and future prevention of these attacks as well as an African dialogue where representatives from the African continent will engage with each other.
The campaign is being championed by the Police Ministry through the Civilian Secretariat for Police and includes other civic organisations.
For the full article kindly visit: http://sanews.gov.za/…/sa-launches-we-are-one-humanity-camp…

16/04/2015

We have noted the defacing of Paul Kruger statue on Church Square in Pretoria, Tshwane.

This happens soon after student protests have been raging around the matter of the Cecil John Rhodes statue at the University of Cape Town. These developments threaten to or have spread to other campuses and communities around the country.

As the Department of Arts & Culture we reiterate that we have not yet received any formal application for the removal of any statue in any part of the country.

As government we encourage citizen participation in efforts to find an amicable resolution to this matter through dialogue and negotiation.

Thus we encourage citizens to engage in consultative community conversations find solutions to problems that face us as a country.

It must be emphasized that the National Heritage Resources Act of 1999 stipulates particular technical as well as consultative processes that should be followed in the case of a removal and or relocation of a statue.

As a result, it is advisable that a consultative process be initiated at the earliest opportunity in the process where the applicant must notify all relevant bodies, including applying to the South African Heritage Resource Agency or relevant provincial or local structures.

But the entity or community that wants to move or remove the statue or monument will need to undertake a 30 day public consultation process. This will include public notifications that entail presentation to the authorities and inviting comments from affected and interested parties.

Most importantly, heritage sites and national monuments have cultural significance and value because of their importance to a community in revealing a pattern of South Africa’s history. They demonstrate a particular aspect or time of South Africa’s natural or cultural places or objects.

Also, they may hold strong or special association with a particular community or cultural group for social, cultural or spiritual reasons. This may entail a strong or special association with the life or work of a person, group or organization of importance in the history of South Africa.

Thus as a Government that promotes a transformative national agenda, we also accept that the past cannot and should not be completely wiped off. This is to avoid repeating the same mistakes out of ignorance of what has happened before.

It is for this reason that as part of transformation, the diverse voices of all citizens of this country must be allowed to express themselves but guided by the law in our efforts to alter the national heritage landscape.

The government’s attitude and policy to all heritage sites including statues of former colonial heroes like Cecil John Rhodes and Paul Kruger, among others, is based on a national policy of reconciliation, nation building and social cohesion.

Thus we neither support nor encourage the defamation or violent removal of any statue because we do not encourage people to take the law into their own hands.

In fact, we cannot allow anarchy and demagogues to play on the feelings of the people by whooping up emotions on this issue.

The process emphasises consultation and reconciliation as government policy and this should not be mistaken for capitulation. The debate around this is a most welcome development as it results in deepening knowledge and understanding about the history of this country.

There is absolutely nothing new in the Rhodes or Kruger development as over the last 20 years we have pursued a heritage landscape transformation agenda including making a place for the newly built Nelson Mandela statue at the Union Buildings.


Issued by the Department of Arts & Culture

02/04/2015

POLICE READY TO SERVE AND PROTECT OVER EASTER

The South African Police Service (SAPS) will be heightening their crime fighting efforts with the launch of Operation Paseka, a high visibility operation to safeguard road users and communities.

This safety campaign has a duel focus of clamping down on opportunistic crime and road safety during the Easter holiday.

“We will be pulling out all the stops to ensure that criminals have nowhere to hide. We have identified an increase in certain categories of crime and our men and women in blue will be out in full force to ensure that this Easter holiday is as safe and crime free as it can be,” said National Police Commissioner Riah Phiyega

The Easter weekend is a peak season when people go on road trips to annual religious pilgrimages across the country or to visit friends and relatives.

Operation Paseka is aimed at reducing serious and violent crimes such as house robberies, vehicle hijackings, business robberies, theft of or out of motor vehicles and stock theft.

As part of the operation, SAPS will mount road blocks on all major routes, conducting stop-and-search exercises, patrolling the roads and conducting surprise visits at second hand goods dealers in search of stolen property.

Motorists are urged to observe the rules of the road and to exercise patience and courtesy to fellow road users.

For the full article kindly visit: http://sanews.gov.za/…/police-ready-serve-and-protect-over-…

19/03/2015

SOUTH AFRICA TO HOST GLOBAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP CONGRESS

South Africa will be the first African country to host the Global Entrepreneurship Congress (GEC) in 2017, the Global Entrepreneurship Network announced on Tuesday (17 March).

The bid was awarded to Johannesburg as part of the opening ceremony at GEC 2015 in Milan, Italy.

“This is a great opportunity for South Africa and Africa as a continent to showcase its entrepreneurial prowess to the world,” Minister of Small Business Development Lindiwe Zulu said.

The GEC is an inter-disciplinary gathering of start-up champions from more than 150 countries and attracts over 4 000 delegates.

These delegates represent distinct components of their entrepreneurial ecosystems and are focused on how best to help entrepreneurs start and scale new companies.

“The GEC is a platform that would open doors for our youth, ignite entrepreneurship and put our youth in the global arena,” Minister Zulu said.

For the full article kindly visit: http://sanews.gov.za/…/sa-host-global-entrepreneurship-cong…

17/03/2015

PRESIDENT ZUMA DECLARES OFFICIAL FUNERAL FOR LATE MINISTER CHABANE

The late Minister for Public Service and Administration, Mr Collins Chabane, who tragically passed on in a road collision on the N1 highway near Polokwane, in Limpopo on Sunday, 15 March 2015, will be laid to rest on Saturday, 21 March 2015, at Xikundu village in Malamulele, Limpopo Province.

The late Minister will be accorded an official funeral.

The President has ordered that the National Flag be flown at half-mast at all flag posts in the Republic on Saturday, 21 March 2015 the day of the funeral.

The memorial service for Minister Chabane will be held on Thursday, 19 March 2015 at 12h00, at the Pretoria City Hall, Tshwane.

Source: Minister Jeff Radebe: Statement on passing of Minister of Public Service and Administration Collins Ohm Chabane: http://sanews.gov.za/special-features-archive/memoriam-minister-ohm-collins-chabane

Minister Ohm Collins Chabane passed away in a car accident on 15 March 2015 together with his close protectors Sergeant Lawrence Lentsoane and Sergeant Lesiba Sekele, while on their way to Pretoria from Polokwane Limpopo.

17/03/2015

Tribute to the late Minister for the Public Service and Administration, Mr Collins Chabane
(1960 – 2015)

In the early hours of Sunday, 15 March we were awakened with great sadness to the news of the tragic passing of Minister Collins Chabane, one of the most humble, dedicated and disciplined cadres of the African National Congress (ANC). As a leader, Minister Chabane was one of the most devoted and grounded person who worked with a sense of quiet determination by always striving for a better future for all the people of South Africa in line with the provisions of the Freedom Charter.

He possessed a skill that very few can muster, that of listening attentively and knowing when to intervene in a discussion or debate. His word was what we all looked forward to hearing especially in difficult and complex discussions and almost always, his sober and well-thought out views prevailed. His ability to hear out others as they spoke gave him the opportunity to further analyse and pronounce his views in a very solid and well channelled manner. At no point would he let emotions cloud his thinking and always applied his mind fully on matters.

Minister Chabane dedicated his life to the service of his country and people from when he was only seventeen years old, joining the Military Wing of the ANC, Umkhonto Sizwe. In fighting for the ideals of equality, justice and freedom; Minister Chabane displayed dedication and has served in numerous leadership roles within MK, the ANC and Provincial and National Governments.

His death is untimely as it comes at a crucial moment for the public service. With the recent passing into law of the Public Administration Management Act which will radically transform the country’s public administration in line with Constitutional imperatives, as well as with the advanced talks in the current round of salary negotiations, it is the unassuming demeanour and leadership traits of Minister Chabane that will be greatly missed.

We bid farewell to a great man, an ally, my comrade in arms and an overall decent and humble being.

Message by Deputy Minister Ayanda Dlodlo on behalf of the Ministry for Public Service and Administration

17/03/2015

GOVERNMENT CONTINUES TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO NATIONAL STUDENT FINANCIAL AID SCHEME

Government says it has continued to make strides in improving access to higher education and training for students from poor families through the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS).

According to the Department of Higher Education and Training, the NSFAS allocation has been steadily increasing each year and thereby increasing the number of students entering the Post-Education and Training (PSET) system.

Additionally, the Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs) and National Skills Fund (NSF) have made substantial contributions to NSFAS each year.

During this period, the department increased allocations from R7 439 417 in 2012/13 to R8 375 767 in 2014/15. This has enabled more students to access the fund, from 382 943 to 409 475 students.

“NSFAS will complete the information compilation in due course on the current 2015/16 numbers of students supported from this year’s R9.5 billion budget,” the department said.

For the full article kindly visit: http://sanews.gov.za/…/government-continues-improve-access-…