New Zealand’s Maori people traditionally retain their links to their tupuna (ancestors) through storytelling – an art form expressed through carving and weaving, as well as spoken word. Stories passed down through generations explain cultural traditions and tribal history. Te Puia – the Māori Arts & Crafts Institute in Rotorua – was created in 1963... Read MoreTe Puia – Maori arts and crafts is a post from: ArtnSpire


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The City of Johannesburg is taking tough measures to protect motorists from aggressive window washers and smash and grabs which have steadily increased at some intersections in recent months.

Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Public Safety, Councillor Sello Lemao, on Wednesday unveiled Operation Ke Molao – an initiative by the Johannesburg Metro Police to protect motorists at identified hotspots.

The operation is aimed at dealing with lawlessness in various problematic intersections and bridges, reports the City of Joburg.

“Over the past few months, we have witnessed a disturbing trend marked by a sharp increase in illegal activities around certain main traffic intersections in our City. These include smash and grabs, window washing, selling of illegal goods, vending and begging. The activities are not only illegal according to both the national traffic and criminal legislation but also illegal according to bylaws.”

Lemao said the high prevalence of these activities had turned motorists into targets for theft, assault, robbery and harassment.

“We cannot have a situation where motorists are attacked for their valuables whilst waiting for traffic signals, getting onto onramps and even on the freeways during traffic jams.”

To intensify the operation, the City will be working with the SAPS, Gauteng Traffic Department and private security agencies, while officers are deployed to the identified hotspots in marked and unmarked vehicles.

Alluding to homeless people living under bridges, Lemao said the city’s Social Development Department would assist in cases of vagrants and those in desperate need of social welfare. He further advised motorists to remain alert and desist from using cellphones and other devices which may distract them while driving.

For now, the operation will be limited to intersections that have been identified as hotspots.

Chief of the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD), Zwelibanzi Nyanda, said: “There will never be enough manpower to address the problems in our City… we have many problematic intersections in the City, that’s why in our operational plan we have identified a few that we are going to initially deal with. After we have dealt with the identified sections, we will continue to identify others”.

According to Chief Nyanda, the programme will be led by a specialised unit.

He said the regional JMPD units will only maintain the intersections and arterial routes, once they have been stabilised by the specialised unit. – SAnews.gov.za

The Department of Trade and Industry (dti) is inviting South African businesses to submit their entries for the 3rd Annual South African Premier Business Awards. Enter South African Premier Business Awards The awards, which will be hosted by the dti in partnership with Proudly South African and Brand South Africa in April, recognise business excellence [...]Enter South African Premier Business Awards is a post from: South Africa Business
The post Enter South African Premier Business Awards appeared first on South Africa Business.


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Acting Government Pensions Administration Agency (GPAA) Chief Operations Officer, Jay Morar, has set the record straight on pension fund rumours that… GlobalBuzz-SA – Your Employment and Recruitment Retirement benefits still intact for government employees is a post from: JobnSpireRetirement benefits still intact for government employees is a post from: JobnSpire


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The Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries will award bursaries to deserving high school learners in the De Doorns region in the Western Cape this academic year.The announcement was made by Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Senzeni Zokwana during a pre-Sate of the Nation...

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Acting Government Pensions Administration Agency (GPAA) Chief Operations Officer, Jay Morar, has set the record straight on pension fund rumours that have led to scores of resignations in the public sector.

“There is a rumour circulating that come the 1st of March 2015, GEPF [Government Employees Pension Fund] members will no longer be entitled to a lump sum.

“Sadly, this state of affairs is still continuing unabated. I would like to categorically dismiss this assertion or rumour as a total lie,” said Morar on Tuesday.

In a media briefing in Pretoria, Morar said there has been a significant increase in the number of government employees, especially teachers, who resigned in the last financial year.

Morar said the resignation trend among teachers increased following rumours that GEPF members will not get a lump sum when they retire due to pension reforms.

This is not the first time authorities have moved to put to bed pension fund rumours. Last year, Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene urged South Africans to stop cashing in their provident fund savings when they resign or change jobs.

He said rumours that retirement savings were under threat, due to plans to nationalise employee pension funds, were false.

Minister Nene said nationalisation rumours were false and that government’s plan to reform retirement savings was designed to ensure that members get to withdraw their retirement savings without fund managers, particularly trustees, subjecting them to exorbitant charges.

Teachers leading in resignations

Morar said the rumours that continue to circulate are misleading.

The GPAA received the most resignations from teachers, followed by South African Police Service officials.

Morar discouraged GEPF members from resigning, saying it deprives them of the well-deserved benefits earned over many years of public service.

“The GPAA has received an average of 2 239 resignation cases per month, on average receiving a total of 26 824 resignation cases per financial year,” said Morar.

The highest number of resignation cases, approximately 4 600, from GEPF members was recorded in November 2014, which is slightly double the monthly average that GPAA received per month.

Morar appealed to GEPF members to not opt for resigning, but to retire with GEPF to enjoy long-term benefits.

He said most resignation cases showed that members were very close to retirement, and that it would have been better if they waited for retirement.

“An average of 2 079 retirement cases are received by the GPAA each month, and a total of 24 948 retirement cases are received each financial year,” he said.

What happens at retirement?

Morar said all members of the GEPF will still be entitled to a lump sum when they retire, no matter when.

He said the proposed pension reforms are aimed at harmonising pension fund and provident funds in South Africa.

However, Morar confirmed that National Treasury has decided to suspend the introduction of these pension reforms pending further discussions at the National Economic Development and Labour Council (Nedlac).

“It is hoped that they might be reintroduced by the 1st of March 2016, provided an agreement is reached. Alternatively, the pension reforms will be introduced on the 1st of March 2017,” he said.

He urged GEPF members who are currently working to stop resigning because they are afraid they will lose their hard-earned money, especially their lump sum benefits.

“I would like to appeal to GEPF members, most importantly teachers who seem to be the largest category affected by this misinformation, to approach the GPAA and seek clarity whenever they are in doubt before taking a life changing decision and resigning with less than two years to go before they reach their retirement age.”

Benefits

Morar said it is important that members retire with GEPF because pensioners are entitled to a lump sum when they retire, subject to the fund’s rules.

He said all GEPF pensioners receive a monthly pension that is guaranteed for their entire life, also subject to the fund’s rules.

“GEPF pensioners are entitled to annual pension increases that are effective from the first of April every year, as determined by GEPF’s Board of Trustees,” he said.

He also said that members who retire with GEPF are entitled to medical subsidy, subject to the pensioner having 15 years of service, being 50 years of age and older and being the principal member of medical aid for 12 months prior to their retirement.

Morar said another benefit for GEPF pensioners is that when a member retires, the first R500 000 is tax free; whereas when a member opts to resign, only the first R25 000 is tax free. - SAnews.gov.za

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