KNP GATE QUOTAS IN FORCE DURING SCHOOL HOLIDAYS

KNP GATE QUOTAS IN FORCE DURING SCHOOL HOLIDAYS

Day Visitors to the Kruger National Park (KNP) are requested to take note of gate quotas when planning their visit, as these will strictly be enforced during the school holidays starting on Monday, 29 June until Friday, 17 July 2015.

Visitors are advised to either arrive at the gate very early in the morning because the service is on a “first come first serve” basis or pre-book their entrance with central reservations office on 012 428 9111; to gain access.

“Daily quotas are always in force throughout the year though we turn to emphasize during long weekends and holidays. We urge individuals planning to come to the park as day visitors to please make the necessary arrangement ahead of time to avoid unnecessary disappointment”, said the General Manager: Communications and Marketing in the KNP, William Mabasa.

Pre-booking for entrance comes with a non-refundable deposit of R36 per adult and R18 per child; which must be paid in advance. Day visitors with advanced bookings are expected to arrive at the booked gate and date before 13:00; after which the booking lapses. A pre-booking does not exempt the day visitor from paying the normal conservation fees upon arrival at the gate but secures him/her entry. All visitors are also reminded to bring along their identity documents (IDs) or alternative form of identity to avoid problems at the gates.

Mabasa also reminded Day Visitors not to bring liquor with them as the alcohol ban on public areas in the Park is a permanent rule which is enforced at all times; other Park rules must also be adhered to at all times whilst in the Park. Visitors can report any rules and regulations infringement which they witness, to the Emergency Call Centre numbers 013 735 4325/013 735 0197 or 076 801 9679.

Day Visitors, who may not be able to gain entry because the quota shall have been reached, can if they wish, make use of the park and ride a facility which is available at some gates. The park and ride will cost visitors extra money but should be better than having to return home.

“We request visitors to plan their trip by observing gate opening and closing times so that they do not find themselves either speeding or arriving late at the camps/gates on their way in/out of the park. People must please read their permits which they receive at the gates because all the rules and regulations of the park are clearly stipulated in those documents”, concluded Mabasa.

KNP has 10 entrance gates i.e. Pafuri, Punda Maria, Phalaborwa, Giriyondo, Orpen, Paul Kruger, Phabeni, Numbi, Malelane and Crocodile Bridge.

LOTTERY IS CHANGING LIVES – DEPUTY MINISTER MASINA

LOTTERY IS CHANGING LIVES – DEPUTY MINISTER MASINA

The Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr Mzwandile Masina says the lottery is changing the lives of thousands of the South African people for the better. Deputy Minister Masina was speaking at the launch of the National Lotteries Commission corporate identity in Benoni today. The event was hosted at the Music Academy of Gauteng, one of hundreds of beneficiaries of funds generated through the lottery.

“The lottery is a very important instrument to change lives. It is not an instrument to enrich few individuals or companies. It is for the government to change the lives of ordinary citizens through contributions to charities, sports, arts and culture, and other important areas of nation-building. We want to use this instrument to support the development of our communities and changing their lives for the better,” said Masina.

He added that the lottery was meant to improve the conditions of the people who continue to suffer from the triple challenges of poverty, unemployment and inequality which persistently inflict many of the country’s citizens.

Masina also implored the board of the National Lotteries Commission to ensure institutional stability at the organisation.

“As a department we depend on the board to advise us, but it is vital that you maintain the commission’s institutional stability. It is important that you retain the confidence of the staff to deliver on your mandate to ordinary citizens in order to make a meaningful and positive impact on their lives. The unity of the board is of paramount importance. It is important that you move in unison when making decisions as your mandate is to ensure that the betterment of our people’s lives is achieved through this instrument called the lottery,” emphasised Masina.

Illustrating the importance and benefits of the lottery to the country, Masina announced that early childhood centres would be built throughout the country using funds generated through the lottery.

He said the dti leadership was committed to ensure that applications from potential beneficiaries receive the necessary attention from the commission. He also urged beneficiaries to use the funds they received from the lottery prudently as government would like to see the funds making a difference in the people that the beneficiaries promise to assist.

ADVANCED MANUFACTURING CAN DRIVE INDUSTRILIASATION – MINISTER DAVIES

ADVANCED MANUFACTURING CAN DRIVE INDUSTRILIASATION – MINISTER DAVIES

The Minister of Trade and Industry, Dr Rob Davies says advanced manufacturing can drive industrialisation and create sustainable jobs. Minister Rob Davies was speaking at the two-day Annual Manufacturing Indaba that started in Kempton Park.

The aim of the conference is to boost the growth potential of key manufacturing industry sectors, and to provide a platform for informative and interactive sessions with the prime movers of the nation’s manufacturing sectors.

“Manufacturing is critical to the South African economy and it can be used to create new sustainable growth through the diversification of our economy. This can lead to productive, active and inclusive higher levels of advanced manufacturing and industrialisation,” said Minister Davies.

He added that one could not separate job creation and industrialisation as they go hand in hand and that South Africans and the rest of the continent need to move up the value chain and diversify their economies.

“Real opportunities for the market lie in the African market and we need to industrialise as a continent. We have to find ourselves a different niche in a changing African market through strategic cross-border infrastructure upgrading, complementary natural resource development, integrated industrialisation, reductions in inter-state red tape and rapidly expanding intra- and inter-regional trade,” said Davies.

Davies further explained that extraction and exporting played a small part in the industry turn-over and that if government and the private sector worked closely with and support local manufacturers export and competitiveness can be raised.

The Chairperson of the Manufacturing Circle, Mr Bruce Strong said the manufacturing industry enables South Africa to create more jobs.

“The industry is important in that it employs 1.6 million people and contributes 12% to the Gross Domestic Products. This has led to many skilled people employed and sustained in the long-term,” he said.

While he agreed that there was a market access in Africa, Strong said the manufacturing industry still needed to gear up in order to be competitive

INTER AND INTRA-DEPARTMENTAL COORDINATION IS KEY TO GOVERNMENT ACHIEVING MINERAL BENEFICIATION – PROFESSOR TUROK

INTER AND INTRA-DEPARTMENTAL COORDINATION IS KEY TO GOVERNMENT ACHIEVING MINERAL BENEFICIATION – PROFESSOR TUROK

Former Member of Parliament and Director of the Institute for African Alternatives (IFAA), Professor Ben Turok says that inter and intra-governmental coordination is woefully lacking and that if it is not urgently addressed, South Africa will never achieve its mineral beneficiation objectives. Turok was speaking at an Economic Policy Dialogue on Mineral Beneficiation in South Africa that was hosted by the Department of Trade and Industry (the dti) in Pretoria today.

“The key point is that South Africa plays host to a mixed economy and if we can fix the intra and inter-departmental coordination plus the mineral value chain, we would then go a long way in achieving beneficiation,” said Turok.

He added that another factor that hampers mineral beneficiation is that the private sector puts up short term plans instead of long term ones.

“Where are the fifty-year long term plans?” asked Turok.

“Both the private and the public sectors exist in a mutually-dependent relationship and a time has come for the two to find one another. Our economic growth rate is at 0%, and if we do not repair the system of our economy, then we are in trouble,” he stressed.

Speaking on the Chamber of Mines’ position on mineral beneficiation, its president Mr Mike Teke said that the Chamber supported mineral beneficiation in South Africa.

“We are excited at government Mining Phakisa and are looking at collaborating. We do take transformation seriously and believe that sitting and collaborating with government will help develop South African mining into a global competitive force,” said Teke

While in agreement with Professor Turok and Mr Teke, Dr Paul Jourdan stressed the need for trade-offs in optimising the resources regime for sustainable development.

“We must accept foreign direct investment but phase-in indigenisation and include linkages targets in resource licenses. They won’t happen through market forces alone,” he said.

The Economic Policy Dialogue sessions serve as a key platform to trigger discussions in economic policy spaces. The sessions are designed to stimulate public intellectual discourse on contemporary economic and policy matters, including participation by Members of Parliament (MPs), academia, organised labour and business, think-tanks, government officials and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs).

DEPUTY MINISTER MASINA TO LAUNCH IBMSA EQUITY EQUIVALENT INVESTMENT IMPLEMENTATION PROGRAMME

DEPUTY MINISTER MASINA TO LAUNCH IBMSA EQUITY EQUIVALENT INVESTMENT IMPLEMENTATION PROGRAMME

Members of the media are invited to the launch of the implementation of IBMSA Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) Equity Equivalent Investment Programme by the Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry (the dti), Mr Mzwandile Masina.

This follows a launch of the R 700 Million programme by the Minister of Trade and industry on 19 February 2015.During the launch a brief overview of IBM implementation status and information about an online application portal will be provided. In addition the launch shall provide a platform to share with other multinationals the requirements to participate in the programme based on the Amended Codes that came into effect on 1 May 2015:

DATE   : Wednesday, 1 July 2015     

TIME    : 09:00

VENUE : 661 Pendulum Road

  Midrand Conference Centre,

  Midrand

         

The launch is in line with the Amended B-BBEE Codes of Good Practice that require all entities operating in the South African economy to make a contribution towards the objectives of B-BBEE.

R100 BILLION SET TO SUPPORT BLACK INDUSTRIALISTS

R100 BILLION SET TO SUPPORT BLACK INDUSTRIALISTS

Government has set a target of R100 billion to support the Black Industrialists Programme. This was announced by the Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr Mzwandile Masina when addressing delegates at the two-day annual Manufacturing Indaba in Kempton Park today.

The Black Industrialists Programme was launched by the Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr Mzwandile Masina in Johannesburg in August last year. The programme aims to create hundred Black Industrialists in the next three years, who will participate in the productive sectors of the economy as part of government’s radical economic transformation programme.

“We are determined to deliver the Black Industrialists Programme with all those who understand the importance of addressing inequality within the South African economy.  Through this programme, we want to address the issue of inequality within the economy and inclusion of black entrepreneurs in the economy, particularly productive side of the economy. We are already establishing relationships with suppliers and banks are starting to approach us,” says Masina.

Masina says the future looks bright for the programme. Amongst those who are committed to realising the objective of the Blacks Industrialist Programme, South African Air Ways has committed R10 billions of their budget to procure goods and services from black industrialists.

In implementing the programme, Masina says fronting and misrepresentation is not going to be tolerated. He adds that to address such issues, government will look into activating compliance courts to address such irregularities.

Masina emphasised the fact that the programme is a national one and not for Gauteng and adds that in terms of ethics, they will ensure broader stakeholder consultancy and it will be a public process.

According to Masina, Black Industrialist Programme is one of the interventions by government to transform the economy and needs to be supported.

“If we really want an economy that is inclusive and sustainable and that will address the triple challenge that the country is facing, we need to broaden the industrial base through the inclusion of black industrialists. We don’t want to wipe out white entrepreneurs, instead, we want to add black industrialists into the economic base,” adds Masina.

The aim of the Manufacturing Indaba is to bring together business owners, industry leaders, government officials, capital providers and professional experts to discuss challenges and to brainstorm solutions.

TWO HIJACKED TRUCKS RECOVERED IN BELFAST

TWO HIJACKED TRUCKS RECOVERED IN BELFAST

Belfast -on 23 June 2015, a truck was recovered by police at Belfast Central Business District (CBD) area while executing routine patrols.

 The discovery of the truck came after police noticed it next to a supermarket where it had been standing for some time and raised suspicions. The suspicions then prompted the police to enquire further about the truck and as a result it was revealed that the truck was hijacked at Witbank.

In another similar incident, a coal truck was also recovered near Glisa (Exxaro) Mine in Belfast after it was abandoned by the suspects.

Information at police disposal reveals that the suspects were disturbed by security guards who were patrolling around the mine from completing their mission. They then jumped out of the truck and fled the scene on foot. The security guards then summoned the police who then immediately instituted a preliminary investigation. During the investigation, they uncovered that the driver was held at gunpoint by three men who forced him to drive all the way from Matla Power Station near Kriel to Glisa (Exxaro) Mine.

In both the incidents, no one has been arrested and the trucks estimated to the value of R3 million were towed to the police station. Police urge any person with information to contact Crime Stop at 08600 1011 or send a sms to crime line number 32211.

THREE SCOUNDRELS NABBED FOR SERIES OF CRIMES, ANOTHER DIED

THREE SCOUNDRELS NABBED FOR SERIES OF CRIMES, ANOTHER DIED

KwaMhlanga – Three members of Ngoma family were robbed of money and cellphones at gunpoint by four suspects in their yard at Sun city AA in KwaMhlanga on 24 June 2015, at approximately 14:00.

One of the victims, a 46-year-old man (complainant), alleges that they were from a bank in Bronkhornspruit to withdraw money with his sister and brother in-law. Immediately after they had parked their car in the yard, the suspects who were driving in a white Volkswagen (VW) Polo Vivo stopped in the victim’s yard, held them at gunpoint and ordered them to get back into their vehicle. 

One suspect searched the complainant and took an undisclosed amount of cash from his jacket, whilst the other two suspects searched his sister and brother in-law.  They then took a bag from his sister, put the money inside and drove away in their (suspects) getaway vehicle.

The victims followed them in their private car and called for back-up from the police who joined in the chase. They drove to the R568 road towards Enkangala where the suspects’ car lost control and overturned. One suspect ran away from the scene but was chased and caught by police and one died on the spot as a result of the injuries sustained during the accident.  The two remaining suspects were seriously injured and taken to hospital in a critical condition where they are under police guard.

Police further recovered the money and cell phones that were stolen from the victims, as well as two firearms with serial numbers filed off. Cases of armed robbery, possession of stolen property, culpable homicide, possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition were opened for investigation.

The one suspect who tried to run away from the scene will appear at the KwaMhlanga Magistrate’s Court tomorrow and the other two will appear as soon as they have recovered from their injuries

GOVERNMENT WANTS TO DEEPEN THE VALUE CHAIN IN AGRO-PROCESSING

GOVERNMENT WANTS TO DEEPEN THE VALUE CHAIN IN AGRO-PROCESSING

The South African government is trying to deepen the value chain in the agro-processing sector as it is one of the important sectors of trade. This was said by the Acting Head of Investment Promotions and Interdepartmental Clearing House at the Department of Trade and Industry (the dti), Mr Yunus Hoosen. He was speaking at the investment seminar held in Sandton as part of the Inward Investment mission undertaken by Italian companies which are in the agro-processing sector.

“The South African government is providing a platform for agro-processing projects by unlocking one million hectares of land to the sector where small companies need to fit in and form joint ventures. A number of big companies like Unilever are looking for smaller companies to supply them with raw material and small businesses needed to take advantage of this,” said Hoosen.

He added that the South African government was also trying to deepen supply chains for a lot of multinational companies expanding in South Africa. He told the Italian investors that there were a number of institutions in South Africa that could provide them with support and funding to set up in the country.

Professor Allesandro Arioli who is one of the business delegates from Italy said he came to South Africa because he wanted to get an understanding in terms of the dynamics of sustainable development within the country. He said he was glad to discover that South Africa was giving a lot of attention to the agro-processing sector and that there was a huge potential for transfer of technologies especially to black farmers in the country.

“We are interested in the transfer of the know-how through providing training and establishing joint ventures with companies in this country. We realise that there are perfect compatibilities and synergies between Italian and black businesses,” he added.

 Arioli, who specialises in the transfer of skills, drones technologies for sustainable farming and supply of machinery for farming, said he was based in Namibia and had been able to establish that some of the technology he wants to transfer, would be suitable for climate conditions in South Africa.

The Director of Kukanang Investments, a small sized agro-processing company based in Pretoria, Mr Makabinyane Mohapeloa said he was glad to have been part of the business seminar. According to him the seminar had been insightful and he was looking forward to trade leads that will come out of the interactions.

The mission continues until Wednesday with delegates participating in business-to-business meetings and visiting sites in the Free State and Mpumalanga provinces.

THE MIDDLE EAST REGION PRESENTS OPPORTUNITIES FOR AGRO-PROCESSING - MINISTER DAVIES

THE MIDDLE EAST REGION PRESENTS OPPORTUNITIES FOR AGRO-PROCESSING - MINISTER DAVIES The Department of Trade and Industry (the dti) has contributed R1, 2 billion in incentives to the Agri-food sector between 2009 – 2013 to support the industry.  This was said by the Minister of Trade and Industry, Dr Rob Davies. He was speaking at the 111th AVI Africa 2015 Annual Conference on poultry at Emperor’s Palace. The conference focuses on various poultry issues including trade matters, empowerment of black players and overall challenges faced by the industry. Over 130 companies had an opportunity to exhibit their wares, including poultry machinery, etc. According to Minister Davies, the food-processing sector is an important contributor to the manufacturing sector in a number of areas.  “In value added, the sector contributes 11% of total manufacturing while in employment terms, the sector contributes 15% of total manufacturing employment. Agro-processing has great significance for the South African government and the unity of the industry is important,” said Minister Davies. He highlighted agro-processing played a vital role in the industry and encouraged those interested to actively participate in this sector and advised them to contact the dti for help and advice. Minister Davies indicated that government had identified the Middle East as a potential market for exports of poultry and red meat. “The Middle East region, in particular Saudi and United Arab Emirates imports about 75% of their food requirements from elsewhere around the world. The two have the largest economies of scale in the region, and have a huge market compared to other countries in the region. Also, South Africa could supply 2250 tons worth $8.4 million of different poultry products to Saudi Arabia from next year,” said Minister Davies.  He encouraged local companies to be active participants in the Saudi Arabia poultry exhibition taking place late this year. Davies said the continued inflow of imports have to be balanced by steady and material high volume exports of value added products, in order to curb the displacing of local industries and exporting  jobs. “To curb this, government has strengthened investment and export promotion as a key strategy, by opening new markets such as in the Gulf countries which will triple the export influx and strengthen the farming industry. Furthermore, the designation of poultry for government procurement will enable the industry to increase the demand for local production,” he highlighted. According to Minister Davies, the expansion opportunities in the African market both within the region and further north, can allow farmers to further process their chicken into value added products and grow their own maize for feed manufacturing.  This strategy is in line with the Industrial Policy Action Plan (IPAP) and Agricultural Policy Action Plan (APAP) for Agri-parks including Halal parks.

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN GOVERNMENT AND PRIVATE SECTOR SHOULD BE NURTURED TO GROW ECONOMY

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN GOVERNMENT AND PRIVATE SECTOR SHOULD BE NURTURED TO GROW ECONOMY

The relationship between government and private companies should be nurtured as this will assist to re-industrialise the economy. This was said by the Deputy Director-General of Industrial Policy Development at the Department of Trade and Industry (the dti), Mr Garth Strachan. He was speaking at the opening of Grindrod’s Gauteng Intermodal Terminal held in Johannesburg last night.

According to Strachan, government’s Industrial Policy Action Plan (IPAP) aims, amongst others, to set out a roadmap for the re-industrialisation of South Africa. He said at the heart of this plan was the principle of a close working, collaborative and mutually beneficial relationship between government and business.

“This is a critical principle if as a country we are to overcome both the constraints that inhibit industrial development and open the significant opportunities that exist. One of the constraints is the inefficiency of the country’s road, rail, port freight and logistics,” said Strachan.

He added that growing the economy across agriculture, mining and manufacturing sectors depended on a reliable, efficient and competitive rail, road freight and logistics system which is what is provided by Grindrod. He said Grindrod’s vision was common with that of government to grow exports, increase trade and work towards industrial integration. 

The CEO of Grindrod Gauteng Intermodal Terminal, Mr Kees Van Welie said the intermodal terminal was intended to be a one-stop shop for their clients. Its goals were to simplify supply chains, cut costs and grow their business. According to him, the 130 000 m² terminal is a hub that connects markets from as far as Zambia, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Botswana, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and closer to home Maputo, Richards Bay and Durban.

“This facility provides employment for over 100 people. It will handle one million tons of containerised cargo and in excess of 100000 containers per annum,” said Van Welie.

The Gauteng Provincial Government also welcomed the investment with the strategic economic advisor to the MEC for Economic Development, Ms Pelisa Nkomo saying the terminal was a response to their vision of transforming the economy and facilitating the flow of foreign direct investment into the country and Gauteng in particular.

UNSCRUPULOUS SUPPLIERS OF NON-COMPLIANT APPLIANCES SHOULD BE PROSECUTED – DAVIES

UNSCRUPULOUS SUPPLIERS OF NON-COMPLIANT APPLIANCES SHOULD BE PROSECUTED – DAVIES

The Minister of Trade and Industry, Dr Rob Davies says suppliers of non-compliant paraffin stoves and heaters should be prosecuted. Davies was speaking at the launch of the winter awareness campaign to educate the community of Kya Sands about the dangers of using non-compliant paraffin stoves. The campaign was organised by the National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications (NRCS) and the National Consumer Commission (NCC).

In 2014, the informal settlement of Kya Sands was ravaged by fires which left many people homeless, others badly burnt and one life lost. After a thorough investigation, it was discovered that unsafe paraffin stoves also contributed to the cause of the fire hence the awareness campaign.

“We are tired of just confiscating and destroying sub-standard goods from unscrupulous suppliers of these appliances, we want them to be prosecuted. Communities should report these illegal suppliers and work together with government so that the law can take its course,” he said.

Davies added that government did not want to come in and clean up the mess of dishonest people who take communities for granted by selling these goods to them. He encouraged communities not to buy from the dealers.

Davies also sent a strong message to importers and foreign exporters of such goods that sub-standard goods were not welcome in the country, and that government will have no mercy when dealing with them.

“We care about our community and want them to live in safe and decent conditions. We want them to know their rights which are protected by the Consumer Protection Act,” he added.

A survivor of a shack fires that wiped homes of more than 2800 people last year, Ms Puleng Masemola said she had lost everything in the fire including birth certificates and identity documents.

“We would like government to help us to live lives that will be happy, without having to experience fires because we struggle to rebuild our lives thereafter,” she added.

Masemola added that she was happy that they were going to receive compliant stoves which will not spill paraffin or cause fire if they trip.

“These stoves will bring about a positive change in our lives because they are safer than the ones we have been using,” she said.

Minister Davies together with the CEO of the NCRS Mr Asogan Moodley and the Commissioner of the NCC Mr Ebrahim Mohamed handed out 500 approved paraffin stoves to members of the community.

The winter awareness campaign started on 8 June 2015 and is characterised by various activities such as door to door visits to check compliance of appliances, inspection at business areas.