South Africa and Lesotho are expected to strengthen bilateral relations when President Jacob Zuma kicks off his working visit to Lesotho, on Tuesday....

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A South African business delegation has arrived in Thailand for the Outward Selling and Investment Mission (OSIM), where they will profile the...

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Correctional Services Acting National Commissioner, Zach Modise, says progress is being made in finalising its R10-million video conferencing system.

The video system will be used to connect victims of crime to South Africa’s 53 Correctional Supervision and Parole Board (CSPB) offices, to allow them to have a say in parole hearings for offenders.

Modise said in terms of Section 299A of the Criminal Procedure Act, victims or their relatives have a right to make representations in certain matters regarding the parole of offenders serving terms of incarceration for murder, rape, robbery, sexual assault and kidnapping, among others.

“It is imperative that victims be prepared and be involved when the perpetrators are being considered for placement on parole, in line with the provision of the Correctional Services Act and the Criminal Procedure Act.

“We call on victims to participate in the processes so that they are not surprised when they see the perpetrators on the streets. We can’t talk about perpetrators without talking about the victims.

“Victims meeting with the perpetrators is very critical and an integral part of restorative justice, and of making corrections a real societal responsibility,” Modise said.

Earlier this month, Justice and Correctional Services Minister Advocate Michael Masutha announced the rollout of the video-conferencing system for CSPBs.

“In November 2014, we expect to launch a video-conferencing system in all 53 Correctional Supervision and Parole Board (CSPB) offices,” Modise said in his Budget Vote presented in Parliament earlier this month.

“This innovation is intended to help reduce the barriers of participation in parole hearings, including physical distance and language barriers to our efforts of prioritising victims in offender parole hearings.”

Parole boards collectively consider about 43 000 submissions and motivations for parole placements each year, which means each one of the 53 parole boards has to consider and process an average of four submissions each working day of the year.

Minister Masutha said there are many instances where the victims are difficult to find, refuse to participate or reject the notion of parole placement of perpetrators.

Modise promised to work closely with the South African Police Service as well as the Justice and Constitutional Development Department to ensure improved victim participation across the criminal justice value chain. – SAnews.gov.za

Ephraim “Shakes” Mashaba been appointed as the new Bafana Bafana coach.

The South African Football Association (SAFA) made the announcement on Saturday following weeks of speculation as to who would take over the post. The 63-year-old takes over from Gordon Igesund, whose contract had expired.

Announcing the appointment of Mashaba at a media conference, SAFA President Dr Danny Jordaan said he was confident of a new era under Mashaba’s reign.

Mashaba first coached the national team from 2002-2004.

“He has a proven record, is a hard worker and he fulfilled all requirements we were looking for to drive our senior national team back to where we all believe they belong – at the top,” said Dr Jordaan.

Mashaba thanked SAFA for the confidence it has shown in him.

“This is a massive but exciting test. I am elated and ready for the challenge,” said Mashaba, who is in Mali where he is with the U/20 team.

“I will do my best to bring back the winning mentality within Bafana Bafana. With the support of all South Africans, the goal of taking Bafana Bafana back to the top is very achievable,” he said.

His first assignment will be the Africa Cup of Nations qualifier for Morocco 2015 against Sudan on the weekend of 5 - 7 September 2014 in Khartoum.

Meanwhile, Gauteng MEC for Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation, Molebatsi Bopape, congratulated Mashaba on his appointment.

“We’d like to commend not only SAFA but the new coach in efforts to rebuild the senior team. Shakes has proved himself worthy of the appointment by being consistently successful in leading national teams, including Bafana in his first stint as the head coach in 2002.

“He also has been successful with the under 23s and recently the under 20,” she said on Sunday. – SAnews.gov.za

South African businesses have been called on to take advantage of opportunities in Angola.

A South African business delegation is in Angola at the Feira Internacional de Angola (FILDA) trade exhibition in Luanda.

“Energy, water, construction materials, telecommunications, chemicals, mining and distribution are all projects where foreign investment is needed,” said Joao Rocha of Termat Comecio Geral, a company that is on a mission to attract and promote South African goods and services in Angola.

Rocha was addressing the South African business delegation at FILDA on Sunday. The delegation of 27 representatives is participating in FILDA with the assistance of the Department of Trade and Industry (dti).

The dti has organised a national pavilion at the exhibition, while it has also financially assisted the companies to participate in the multi-sectoral fair with exhibitors from different sectors including oil, banking, services, trade, communications, automobile, machines and equipment, agriculture and farming products.

The Angolan government has committed US$113 billion for transport and infrastructure over the next 20 years and US$3.97 billion in agricultural development amongst the key drivers of economic growth.

Rocha said Angola has a special programme of incentives for investment projects that include agro-industrial processing, packaging and logistics, which will increase the value chain of local food production.

The South African companies arrived in Angola on Tuesday to participate in FILDA, which concludes today.

He cautioned that there are tough hurdles to overcome when doing business in Angola, including the long period of time that it takes to register a business in that country.

Rocha said the top three leading countries that have established themselves in the Angolan market are the US, Brazil and China. – SAnews.gov.za

South Africa’s oceans have the potential to create between 800 000 and one million direct jobs, which will be realised through Operation Phakisa.

Briefing the media on Thursday following Cabinet’s regular meeting, Communication Minister Faith Muthambi said the executive had welcomed the launch of Operation Phakisa, which is set to contribute up to R177 billion to the country’s GDP by the year 2033.

Operation Phakisa is aimed at fast-tracking the delivery of the priorities outlined in the National Development Plan (NDP), which is the country’s blueprint for eliminating poverty and reducing inequality.

Minister Muthambi said the Department of Environmental Affairs will lead collaboration with the industry, labour, civil society and academia to unlock the economic potential of the country’s oceans.

“The ocean also has the potential to create between 800 000 and one million direct jobs. These growth levers reflect at least 4% annual growth in both Gross Domestic Product (GDP) contribution and job creation.

“In 2010, the ocean economy contributed about R54 billion to South Africa’s GDP, and accounted for approximately 316 000 jobs,” said Minister Muthambi.

She added that marine aquaculture, marine transport, offshore oil and gas exploration and marine protection have been identified as focus areas of the ocean economy. - SAnews.gov.za

The Department of Trade and Industry (dti) is set to increase support for the automotive and clothing sectors, says Minister Rob Davies.

“Firstly, we see acceleration in the automotive sector, where the Automotive Production Development Programme (APDP) has already supported significant new investment in the sector. Projected capital expenditure for 2014 is anticipated to reach a record level of R7.9 billion,” said the minister.

Minister Davies was delivering the dti Budget Vote on Tuesday evening in Cape Town.

The work of the APDP has been acknowledged by big industry role players such as the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa (Naamsa), who have largely attributed the relatively high levels of capital expenditure to this programme.

The APDP’s objective is to raise the volume of cars manufactured in South Africa to 1.2 million annually by 2020, as well as to diversify the component chain.

Minister Davies said that in the coming year, the APDP will undergo an early review.

“[This] will make us take stock of efforts and determine what more can be achieved in growing the industry in South Africa,” said the minister.

In other efforts to grow the sector, the Automotive Supply Chain Competitiveness Initiative (ASCCI) was launched last year to enhance localisation, production and supplier capabilities. Minister Davies said this was proving to be a success, and his department will continue to expand the programme.

Minister Davies said since the introduction of the Automotive Investment Scheme (AIS) in 2010/11, public sector-approved incentives amounted to R6.3 billion and supported investments worth R23 billion by original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in the automotive sector.

The intention of the AIS is to grow and develop the automotive sector through investment in new and replacement models, as well as the manufacturing of automotive components. The objective here is to increase plant production volumes, sustain employment and strengthen the automotive value chain.

“Given that automotives comprises 30% of our industrial sector, with strong linkages to other manufacturing sub-sectors, the impact of such investment on our domestic economy is significant,” said Minister Davies.

The country’s automotive sector employs in excess of 100 000 people.

“It is an important sector and we will continue to support it,” he said.

Clothing, textile sector

Another important labour absorbing sector for South Africa is that of clothing, textiles, leather and footwear.

The dti has managed to stabilise this sector through improved monitoring of imports to ensure compliance with customs and excise regulations and to reduce unfair and illegal imports.

It has also been stabilised through the designation of the sector under the Preferential Procurement Policy Framework Act (PPPFA) and collaboration with key retailers to encourage local procurement.

The introduction of the Clothing & Textile Competitiveness Programme (CTCP) in 2010 has also helped.

“In the coming year, the department will continue to roll out the CTCP to reach more companies within the sector and I will announce in the near future details of a significant programme to increase value addition in the exotic leather and animal hide industries through the National Exotic Leather Cluster,” Minister Davies said.

Localisation

The dti will continue to play its role in ensuring that government procures 75% of its goods and services from local companies. The dti has already designated goods and services such as power pylons and pharmaceuticals.

The next designation of products for government procurement includes steel and building and construction materials, among others.

Minister Davies encouraged the private sector to buy more from local companies. - SAnews.gov.za

Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies says his department will this year work on the Minerals Beneficiation Action Plan, which will be a component of the Industrial Policy Action Plan (IPAP).

Delivering the Department of Trade and Industry’s Budget Vote on Tuesday, Minister Davies said over the years, government has spoken about the beneficiation of the country’s mineral resources but that this has remained elusive for many years.

“As the platinum strike so clearly demonstrated, our current account deficit and the exchange rate are directly impacted by volatile global commodity prices,” said the minister of the five-month platinum strike.

However, he stressed that he was not suggesting that beneficiation would be simple to achieve.

“However, if we fail to decisively pursue beneficiation, we will relegate the SA economy to a place at the bottom end of the globalisation of labour, with serious consequences for our ability to generate income and employment.

“We do not have the luxury of debating whether to beneficiate our mineral wealth. We must harness the collective industrial capabilities of SA firms to map how to beneficiate and what enabling policies or support measures are required to ensure this happens successfully and for the benefit of all South Africans.

“We will therefore this year develop the Minerals Beneficiation Action Plan, as a component of the IPAP,” said Minister Davies.

Special Economic Zones (SEZ)

Earlier this year, President Jacob Zuma approved the Special Economic Zones Bill.

The bill, which supports a broader-based industrialisation growth path, also aims to support a balanced regional industrial growth and the development of more competitive and productive regional economies.

“Simultaneously with processing the legislation, we embarked on a process together with the provinces of conducting feasibility studies on potential SEZs, some IDZs [Industrial Development Zones] and the other forms provided in the Act,” said Minister Davies.

Public consultations are underway for the Harrismith Trade Port in the Free State to become an IDZ.

Meanwhile, President Zuma will in future hand over the operator permit allowing the Dube Trade Port to become an IDZ.

To date, five IDZs have been designated which are Coega, East London, Richards Bay, OR Tambo and the newly designated Saldanha Bay, in October 2013.

“Work is also well advanced on industrial sector SEZs, including two potential platinum value chain based SEZs, one in the North West and another in Limpopo.

“We have no doubt that the combination of support available through the SEZ programme will lead to an increase in productive investment by the private sector,” Minister Davies said.

Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)

The minister said he was aware of the importance of FDI.

“We are and will remain open to FDI. Openness is reflected in the stock of FDI in South Africa, whicht now accounts for around 42% of our GDP.”

Over the last five years, South Africa accounted for the bulk of new investment projects in Africa, with investment arriving from the USA, some member states of the EU and, increasingly, from China, India and other Asian countries.

“The reasons are not hard to find: South Africa offers many opportunities not only for access to a growing domestic market but also as a platform to the dynamically growing markets of the African continent. Investors enjoy robust protection in South Africa, comparable to the highest international standards.”

Some facts on investment in the country include the Global Financial Times Magazine of UK voting South Africa overall winner for best investment destination in Africa for 2013 and 2014, in August 2013.

The 2014 AT Kearney Foreign Direct Confidence Index ranks South Africa in position 13 amongst 25 leading economies, moving up two places from 2013. South Africa ranks better than countries such as Switzerland, Sweden and Netherlands.

B-BBEE Amendment Act

The dti will begin implementing the B-BBEE Amendment Act, which was signed into law in January.

The act and its accompanying Codes of Good Practice seek to increase alignment between B-BBEE activities and government’s objectives of localisation, skills development and job creation and industrialisation. - SAnews.gov.za

The Department of Trade and Industry (dti) will later this month publish regulations to standardise affordability assessment tests in order to curb...

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Police Minister Nkosinathi Nhleko says the Police Secretariat is in the process of reviewing the SA Police Service Act to align the legislation with the Constitution.

The Minister was speaking to journalists after delivering his Budget Vote in Parliament, on Monday.

He said the review on legislation would also be accompanied by an assessment of the policies that govern how police carry out their duties during service delivery protests.

“In addressing institutional reform, the Civilian Secretariat for Police Act was passed and put into operation by December 2011,” the minister said.

The Act established the Secretariat as a separate department with its own budget and lines of reporting.

The Act also requires provincial oversight roles to be aligned with those of the Secretariat as part of strengthening both inter-governmental cooperation and provincial monitoring of SAPS.

The minister said all provinces have begun the process of aligning their structures and process with those of the Secretariat.

In addition, organisational reform processes have started which has seen the structure grow from 38 people to over 114 people between 2011 and 2014. – SAnews.gov.za