by SABC NEWS | Nov 17, 2024 | News
The Activists and Citizens Forum wants Communications Minister Solly Malatsi to reconsider his decision to withdraw the SABC Bill.
The Forum’s spokesperson Dennis Bloem says the decision is about what he calls the “show of power” and an indication that the Government of National Unity (GNU) won’t last.
Bloem elaborates: “The withdrawal of the SABC Bill by Minister Solly Malatsi is nothing else but a show of power. This is another indication that this so-called Government of National Unity will not last very long. In this saga of the SABC Bill, the Minister and Deputy Minister differ in public.”
He added: “This is totally disgusting. This is a recipe for disaster at the SABC. We want to warn the Minster of Communications that nobody will use the SABC as a political football. SABC belongs to the public. It is a public broadcaster. And we will never allow anybody to play football with the SABC.”
The Forum insisted that Malatsi reconsider his position and amend what is missing in the Bill.
by SABC NEWS | Nov 17, 2024 | News
Political analyst Dr Levy Ndou says the EFF should provide reasons to its supporters for allegedly barring senior party member Mbuyiseni Ndlozi from attending the party’s elective conference in December.
There is speculation that the exodus of senior leaders from the red berets could lead to its further electoral decline.
The EFF dipped to 9.52 percent in the May general elections, becoming the fourth largest party after the arrival of the MK Party.
Reports suggest that Dr Ndlozi was not provided with an explanation for his ban from the party’s activities.
Ndou says the EFF must account to its supporters, further warning that the decision to sideline Ndlozi from the elective conference may result in further divisions within the party.
“If you prevent a person like Dr Ndlozi from attending the National People’s Assembly, you should have very, very good and convincing reasons why you have done so. Because people in and outside the EFF could interpret that differently, and if such has the potential to create unnecessary dissatisfaction and indeed divisions within the party, you should therefore be able to have a very good strategy to be able to explain that to the constituency of the party,” says Dr Ndou.
Ndou also suggests that Ndlozi may be nominated as a potential candidate for the position of Deputy President of the EFF, after Shivambu’s departure – which has led to concerns from the leadership of the red berets.
“Another factor in my view that is quite important is that Dr Ndlozi appears to be having a lot of support among some sections of the EFF and in the main, the young members of the EFF and that is why his name has been proposed to become the deputy of the CIC, Mr Malema. These are the kind of issues that if not properly handled by the leadership of the party, can create conflict which could have serious and negative implications.”
by SABC NEWS | Nov 16, 2024 | News
President Cyril Ramaphosa’s address on Friday evening has been met with mixed reactions from some political parties. President Ramaphosa addressed the nation on various measures to tackle the rise of food poisoning seen in the country.
Over the last few months, various cases have emerged of young children, in particular falling victim to unhygienic food practices, often resulting in casualties.
Political parties such as the African Transformation Movement (ATM), Democratic Alliance (DA), and Freedom Front Plus (FF Plus) have criticised the Government’s slow call to action thus far.
On Friday evening, President Ramaphosa addressed the nation on the various measures set out by the presidency to tackle the growing food poisoning crisis. One such measure is an order that all implicated spaza shops are to be closed with immediate effect.
“To get hazardous pesticides off the street, we now have directed that the spaza shops which have been implicated in the deaths of children must be closed with immediate effect. All spaza shops and other food handling facilities must be registered within the municipalities in which they operate within 21 days from today. Any shop that is not registered within 21 days and does not meet all health standards and requirements will be closed. South African police service and other law enforcement agencies will be required to investigate, arrest, and prosecute offenders,” said the President in his address.
Ramaphosa attributed the use of hazardous chemicals and substances to rat infestations in municipalities, because of poor waste management by local governments, “Another challenge is that responsibility for environmental health that should happen in our communities is the responsibility of the Local Government. Many municipalities do not have the capacity and resources to conduct inspections of these businesses and enforce regulations. “
However, the DA said that President Ramaphosa should prioritise sustainable checking methods on the ground. “We also call on President Ramaphosa, for him to work with provincial governments to ensure that we have permanently employed environmental health practitioners. Because statistics show that currently, we have just over 2 thousand of these practitioners when in fact we need over 6 thousand of them to adequately address this problem,” says Karabo Khakhau.
Meanwhile, the ATM felt that the government had been too slow to act in curbing the ongoing food poisoning crisis. ATM National Spokesperson Zama Ntshona says, “We do not reject the points of emphasis that are made, but truly, it would have been prudent for this government to actually from the first thousand times, we had outbreaks to learn something and strengthen systems. Only now that communities are up and raising these issues sharply and leading and leading the cause without their government that the government is coming to the party.”
The FF Plus has criticised officials on all levels for their lack of accountability. FF Plus Leader Pieter Groenewald says, “The crisis in terms of food poisoning for our children and the death of many of the children is typical of crisis management. We first wait till there’s a huge crisis before we act. It is the responsibility of municipalities to ensure that when there are food stalls or any other type of structure where food is sold, that it must comply with health regulations.”
President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced a joint R500-million fund by the Departments of Trade, Industry and Competition and Small Business Development to address this crisis.
by SABC NEWS | Nov 16, 2024 | News
The African Transformation Movement (ATM) has raised concerns over the interventions highlighted by President Cyril Ramaphosa to tackle the rise in foodborne illnesses that have resulted in the deaths of at least 22 children in the country.
Ramaphosa addressed the nation after several communities went on the rampage, calling for action following the hospitalisation of numerous children across the country after they were suspected to have ingested contaminated food bought from spaza shops.
The ATM says local governments ought to be maintaining clean and safe environments as well as ensuring compliance by retailers already.
The party adds that there should be no need for the President to announce interventions that should already be standard practice.
Food Poisoning | President Cyril Ramaphosa lists interventions to combat crisis:
ATM Spokesperson, Zama Ntshona expalains, “We simply regard the speech of President Ramaphosa as an admission of guilt by the ANC that they have fully and truly dropped the ball over the past 30 years and rendered the state to a point of paralysis. The solutions that are brought forth are common practices that are found within the key performance areas of the various directories.
The President said yesterday that port of entries must check for hazardous material. If not doing that on a daily basis, what are our port of entries doing? Registration of businesses. Institutions responsible for that. If they are not doing that on a daily basis, what are they doing?
The check for compliance of manufacturers, distributors and outlets. Functionality of municipalities who are supposed to keep municipalities clean. If they are not doing that on a daily basis and now these must come as a recommendation, what are they doing on a daily basis?”
by SABC NEWS | Nov 16, 2024 | News
The African National Congress Women’s League (ANCWL) in the Frances Baard District in Northern Cape says it is relieved that an ANC Councilor who allegedly assaulted a woman during ANC youth league’s Branch General Meeting has seen his day in court.
Councilor Derrick Korkie and his co accused Kagisho Ntshinga appeared in the Kimberley Magistrates Court, on Friday, facing charges of assault.
Korkie was denied bail, while Ntshinga was released on R500 bail.
Korkie is also believed to have used vulgar words against a female LGBTQI+ member during the incident.
The Frances Baard ANC Women’s League secretary Elaine Modise says Gender-Based Violence (GBV) has no space in the ANC.
“The outcome sends a very strong message that GBV has very bad consequences. The ANC women’s league condemns any form of violence against women irrespective of any situation. South Africa has a highest rates of gender-based violence.”
