The Free State province is going all out to increase economic relations with the international community.

“We shall step up our existing cooperation with partners in Asia, Europe and other parts of both the developed and the developing world,” said Free State Premier Ace Magashule.

Delivering the budget vote speech for the Office of the Premier on Tuesday, Premier Magashule said they will maximise cooperation with countries such as Cuba, the People’s Republic of China, India, Turkey and Belgium.

“We shall establish new cooperation relations with countries such as Russia, South Korea, Malaysia, France and others.

“In line with the African Agenda, we must strengthen our cooperation with our neighbouring country, the Kingdom of Lesotho, and other African countries for mutual development, and the promotion of trade and tourism into the province…

“[This will] bring about much needed investment that will help create jobs for the unemployed, especially women, youth and people with disabilities, to ensure that Vision 2030 is [achieved],” Premier Magashule said.

He said his province is embracing President Jacob Zuma’s call to move South Africa forward.

Premier Magashule said in the current Medium Term Strategic Framework period, 2014-2019, more government resources will focus on economic growth.

“The achievement of the priorities we have identified will depend largely on efficient mechanisms and available resources for accelerated service delivery,” he said, adding that education, health, fighting crime and corruption will still be high priorities. – SAnews.gov.za

President Jacob Zuma is expected to launch the First Automotive Works (FAW) South Africa assembly plant in the Eastern Cape on Thursday. The R600-million truck assembly plant is based in the Coega Industrial Development Zone at the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro in Port Elizabeth. It is part of government’s interventions in manufacturing as an important [...]Automotive sector moves up a gear is a post from: South Africa Business


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Government’s commitment to root out corruption continues to yield results, with 70 police officers having been dismissed in the last six months.

The police officers were dismissed for corruption, attempted murder, armed robbery, defeating the ends of justice and assault, among others, after the newly established national investigating unit intervened.

The unit has also uncovered two syndicates -- which involved officials from the South African Revenue Service, South African Police Service and Gauteng traffic police -- who were robbing foreign businesses.

In another incident, officials from the South African Social Security Agency were arrested for defrauding the agency of a significant amount of money.

Communications Minister Faith Muthambi said the arrests will go a long way in the fight against crime and corruption in government.

“An effective and efficient public service is easily undermined by poor ethics and corruption, and government will not allow such acts to thrive. To this end, government has put in place interventions to address crime and corruption,” Minister Muthambi said.

She said departments have heeded the instruction by President Jacob Zuma to address weaknesses in procurement, management and operations systems that undermine the efficiency of government.

During his State of the Nation Address, President Zuma introduced the Inter-Ministerial Committee on the Prevention and Combating of Corruption, whose purpose is to oversee the work of state organs and help fight the scourge of corruption in the public and private sectors.

This will be supported by the Public Administration Management (PAM) Bill, which has been introduced to address issues of corruption, the lack of professionalism in the public service, and the lack of common standards.

The PAM Bill, when signed into law, will prohibit public servants from doing business with the State.

It will also introduce the Office of Standards and Compliance to monitor the implementation of national public service standards, and the National Disciplinary Unit, which will support national, provincial and local government to deal with disciplinary cases effectively.

“The PAM Bill clearly highlights to public servants that corruption, maladministration and unethical conduct will not be tolerated,” said Minister Muthambi.

Other interventions include the anti-corruption strategy, which entails stringent rules and procedures to stop nepotism and favouritism. Training for all public servants on the code of conduct, ethics and corruption will be conducted.

Key pieces of legislation that are also aimed at addressing corruption include the Public Finance Management Act and the Municipal Finance Management Act.

Minister Muthambi said government is hard at work to end the cycle of corruption, and called on society and business to report any form of corruption.

“By reporting corruption, it equips government to deal with criminal activities. By working together, we move South Africa forward,” she said.

Mineral Resources Minister Ngoako Ramatlhodi says his department will review the country’s mining strategy to ensure that all minerals that come out...

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On Sunday, 20 July 2014 Jenna Challenor will attempt to secure her second Totalsports Ladies Race Durban victory.Â* This Durban North resident claimed gold in the 10km race in 2013 in a lightning fast time of 34 minutes 59 seconds.Â* Returning to the Berea Rovers Sports Club, the Totalsports Ladies Race supports PinkDrive.Â* Entrants can [...]Challenor to defend Durban title is a post from: Time-to-Run South Africa


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Water and Sanitation Minister Nomvula Mokonyane has assured workers of Botshelo Water that there will be no job losses, when the water board de-establishes.

The de-establishment of Botshelo Water was a Cabinet decision to reduce Water Boards from 14 to nine as recommended by National Water Review Strategy to enhance their efficiency.

The minister also assured the affected communities that there will be no disruption of services to Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality, in Mahikeng and outlying areas.

She said the municipality was a cause for concern, according to the Blue and Green Drop reports.

“The Department of Water and Sanitation will work hard towards the improvement of the delivery of better water quality and sanitation services,” said Minister Mokonyane.

The entity has been receiving support from the Rand Water Board and will continue until September ends.

According to the department, Sedibeng Water and Magalies Water will take over the functions of Botshelo when the de-establishment process has been finalised.

“National Government previously injected R54.5 million to assist with the operations until the end of June 2014. However, the Department of Water and Sanitation has made an additional commitment of R33 million.”

It is said that the government, through the newly formed Department of Water and Sanitation, deployed requisite resources in the form of personnel and other relevant skills from today. - SAnews.gov.za

While the system is stable, the demand for electricity is expected to increase due to cold weather predicted for Gauteng, says Eskom.

“The system is stable, but still tight over the evening peak. The demand is expected to increase into the week, due to cold weather forecasted for Gauteng,” said the power utility in its system status bulletin on Monday.

Last week, the weather service warned of cold weather due to a cold front.

Eskom called on consumers to pull together to help beat the peak over the next month by using electricity sparingly, particularly from 5pm to 9pm.

“We request all electricity customers to save at least 10% of their electricity usage and sustain these savings. Residential and commercial customers can make the biggest difference by switching off geysers and pool pumps during peak hours (5pm – 9pm),” it said. – SAnews.gov.za

Governments have the responsibility to ensure that policies affirm the complicated link between health and development, says Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa.

“The right to the conditions necessary to achieve the highest attainable standard of health is a universal right and it is thus the duty of governments to respect, protect and fulfil this right,” the Deputy President said on Monday.

He was speaking at the opening of the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Forum, which is attended by industry expects and former first lady Graca Machel.

He said the focused approach must therefore not merely focus on income, but must also include everything that impacts on the human condition.

Achieving health equity will mean that human potential is not determined by the social gradient-where the poorest of the poor have the highest levels of illness and premature mortality.

The two-day forum provides a platform to focus on the importance of strengthening maternal, infant and child health in South Africa and to mobilise all sectors of society to contribute to this effort.

“This meeting comes at a critical time … we have less than 500 days before the deadline for the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals,” Deputy President Ramaphosa said.

He said the meeting would provide a unique opportunity to reflect on the country’s achievements and focus on what needs to be done to accelerate progress towards achievement of the MDGs.

The achievement of quality health care needed to remain a priority after the 2015 deadline for the millennium development goals, Deputy President Ramaphosa said.

Universal health coverage and measures to address non-communicable diseases should also be included in the post-2015 agenda, he said.

In South Africa, he said, the National Development Plan would help achieve health equity.

“The implementation of the National Development Plan will support our commitment to achieve health equity amongst other things; through the implementation of an urban and rural development strategy, which includes good environmental designs that encourage activities which promote and support healthy lifestyles for example and by investing in infrastructure policies that support rural-to-urban migration.”

Deputy President Ramaphosa went on to say that the health of mothers and their children is key to achieving development and equity.

“We must strive to ensure that women receive the best care for themselves and their new-borns. We must also ensure that children receive appropriate support, stimulation and nutrition.

“We must empower young people to attain their full human potential, while we secure workplaces that contribute to economic development, and where adults are able to contribute to the wellbeing of their families and society. The elderly need our love, support and respect.” – SAnews.gov.za

Following on from a successful appearance at the Hay Festival, best-selling author Julia Gregson and photographer Alex Pownall, will be signing copies of their new book, Crossing Borders, at Chepstow Library, July 10, 7pm. Published by Graffeg, price £20, Crossing Borders features profiles and beautiful images of 21 fascinating women who live in, or close […]Crossing Borders book signing is a post from: BooknSpire


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The winter Falke Trail Run will be hosted at the historic Muratie wine estate tucked into the exquisite Knorhoek Valley north of Stellenbosch on Saturday, 5 July. More than 300 participants took to the track for the first event of the four-part Falke Trail Run Series at Delvera in May with the spring and summer [...]Winter Trail at Muratie estate is a post from: Trail Running South Africa


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