SAnews.gov.za

SA to promote Special Economic Zones in China 

Pretoria - South Africa will embark on a roadshow in China to attract investment in Special Economic Zones (SEZs).

Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies oversaw the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Department of Trade and Industry (dti) and the Bank of China on Monday.

Speaking following the signing ceremony in Johannesburg, Minister Davies said the move would bear immediate results when the roadshow to promote SEZs kicks off in May.
Through the MoU on strategic cooperation, the dti and the Bank of China have agreed to cooperate on issues of investment promotion and facilitation, trade promotion and projects support.

The bank will also mobilise international and domestic resources to promote investments for South Africa in its capacity as a commercial bank.

“I am pleased that there are already plans to move speedily in implementing the MoU, as there are arrangements in place for the Special Economic Zones investment roadshow that will take place in China in early May. 

“The main purpose of the roadshow is to promote our SEZs in China and showcase the opportunities that are available there, with the view of attracting more investment in the SEZs,” said Minister Davies.

Minister Davies said China was not only South Africa’s largest trading partner but it has also emerged in recent years as a significant investor in both infrastructure and industrial projects in South Africa.

“China’s investments in South Africa are important particular to the dti as they boost the department’s efforts to industrialise the country. Financial institutions like the Bank of China play a very critical role in the facilitation investment projects in the country.

“We are optimistic that the MoU will strengthen cooperation between SA and China in a number of areas, including trade missions, joint marketing activities, investment and industrial finance,” said the Minister.

The MoU was signed by the Director-General of the dti, Lionel October, and the General Manager of the Financial Solutions Department at the Bank of China, Ren Li.

SEZs are geographically designated areas of a country set aside for specifically targeted economic activities, supported through special arrangements (that may include laws) and systems that are often different from those that apply in the rest of the country.

The dti’s 2014/15 - 2016/17 Industrial Policy Action Plan identifies SEZs as key contributors to economic development. They are growth engines towards government's strategic objectives of industrialisation, regional development and employment creation. – 

SAnews.gov.za

The Presidency

President Zuma appoints members to the Judicial Service Commission

3 April 2017

 

President Jacob Zuma has in terms of section 178 (1)(J) read with section 178(3) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996, and after consulting with the leaders of parties represented in the National Assembly, appointed three persons as members of the Judicial Service Commission.

The following members have been appointed:

Advocate Thandi Norman SC

Advocate Thabani Masuku

Mr Sifiso Msomi.

The Judicial Service Commission was established in terms of section 178 of the Constitution and consists of 23 members. In terms of section 178 (5) of the Constitution, the JSC is entitled to advise the national government on any matters relating to the Judiciary or the administration of justice.

President Zuma has congratulated the new members of the JSC and wishes them all of the best in the execution of their responsibilities. 

The Presidency

The Presidency

Employment of SANDF members in fulfilment of the international obligations

3 April 2017

President Jacob Zuma has, in terms of section 201(2)(c) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996, extended the employment of members of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) for service in fulfilment of the international obligations of the Republic of South Africa towards the Southern African Development Community (SADC) maritime security, in the Mozambique channel.

Two Hundred (200) members of the SANDF were employed to monitor and deter piracy activities along the Southern African Coast of the Indian Ocean. They will continue monitoring and deterring piracy activities along the Southern African Coast of the Indian Ocean.

The employment has been extended for the period 01 April 2017 to 31 March 2018.


The Presidency
 

News24

Zuma does not need to consult before reshuffling his cabinet - Mbete

2017-04-02 22:14

 

Amanda Khoza and Sisa Canca News24

Baleka Mbete

Johannesburg – National assembly speaker, Baleka Mbete, on Sunday said President Jacob Zuma does not need to consult anyone if he wants to reshuffle his cabinet.

“There is no ANC process that requires the president to come and have a conference with us about reshuffles…it’s not like there is a rule that obliges him to come and have a discussion about his thinking.

“The president called me on Thursday and told me what was going to be announced, but not the detail,” Mbete said earlier on Sunday.

She was briefing the media after cutting short her work visit to Bangladesh to address requests she received to urgently convene a sitting to process yet another proposal for a motion of no confidence in President Jacob Zuma.

"The Court was, among others, asked to compel Parliament to urgently schedule a motion of no confidence in the president. No finding was made against the speaker in respect of the relief sought by the official opposition." She was referring to President Jacob Zuma's much anticipated cabinet reshuffle which saw the axing of Finance Minister, Pravin Gordhan and his deputy, Mcebisi Jonas.

Mbete said she would begin a process of consultation contemplated in the rules, in consideration of the request submitted.

On the process, Mbete said the constitution clearly stipulated what should happen.

“The constitution in section 102:2 says that the president and the rest of the cabinet will have to resign.  And in section 86, the constitution provides that when there is a vacancy in the office of the president, the Chief Justice must set the date and time for the election of a new president and that must happen within 30 days.

“A secret ballot is not part of what we do. It’s not provided in the rules. So we simply just don’t do secret ballots, until one day maybe there is enough pressure from the MPs themselves and the rules are changed, then we will do that. When the rule allows that, but right now, we have no basis for secret ballot,” when asked about the voting process. 

Present

On the reshuffle she said she was present on Monday where a bilateral meeting took place with the SACP.

“The president actually did brief that meeting about concerns relating to the treasury and the actual issues relating to the trip abroad. I was there when that briefing was first given by the president.

“He shared with us not just the specific report from intelligence relating to that actual visit, but some historic background. That I appreciated. We were all happy that he took (us) into (his) confidence.”

On members of the top six who had openly criticised Zuma, she said, “The fact that there have been differences expressed is not something for us to be surprised about because we allow people in the ANC to differ and express their differences, although we normally have it done such that it’s not everybody having a free for all, it’s not every leader for themselves.

“We have always prevailed on our cadres that what is expected is that the one with the specific responsibility to speak on behalf of the organisation, should do that. The one thing we’ve learnt in the past is that our people always express disquiet and unhappiness about us differing in public.”

She said now that people had aired their unhappiness in public, “we will now come back together and bring together our voice so we can address the public in a manner that will reassure them.”

“The fact that we can’t satisfy everybody all the time is a different matter.”

She said she appreciated the fact that the Zuma “took us into (his) confidence on a range of matters in the experience of his work with these particular ministers… I will talk when I have been favoured myself, having participated together with the leaders of the ANC that would be in the constitutional structures that would meet tomorrow. Then I can have a basis on which I can have a better understanding of details, and what is going on because I can’t comment on things that happened in my absence.

No question of agreeing

“Yes, members of the top six have shared views about what was going on including what happened that we’re all speaking like that.  When I have a full appreciation of that, maybe I will comment.

“We have a way and we have agreed to do things. We have a culture, we have meetings. We are brutally frank when we are in those meetings, but there are things... just don’t do but I will express myself in the ANC meeting,” she said. 

On the intelligence report, she said “The president talked about it.  We did not see it, we did not discuss it. So there was no question of agreeing or not agreeing on it.  Or approving or not approving of it.  It was part of a package of issues that the president touched on as a background.

“I’m saying we appreciated the fact that he took us into (his) confidence as a head of state who deals with a range of issues that are very complex.  Many of which no head of state ever discusses with anybody.

“There is no ANC process that requires the president to come and have a conference with us about reshuffles.  We don’t do that by the always comes to the officials [sic] but it’s not like there is a rule that obliges him to come and have a discussion about his thinking,” said Mbete.

 

Soccer Laduma

Legend Reveals Barker’s Secret To Bafana Success

Edward Motale Explains Why Clive Barker Succeeded With Bafana

By Soccer Laduma - Sep 12, 2016 08:38 AM

2

39

  

Former Bafana Bafana defender, Edward Motale, has revealed how Clive Barker managed to achieve success when in charge of the national team.

Barker was in charge of the national team between 1994 and 1997, cementing his place in history when Bafana claimed their first and only Africa Cup of Nations title in 1996 and Motale has revealed the secret to his former mentor’s success.

“What Clive Barker got right as Bafana coach was that he selected players that were on form; those who were consistent that were playing every day, week in and week out, those who were putting in the effort. It was either that you were doing so locally or internationally,” he explained to Soccer Laduma.

The 50-year-old pointed to examples such as Cape Town City coach, Eric Tinkler and the late Shoes Moshoeu to prove his point.

“You can look at (Eric) Tinkler, he was playing every game overseas, Shoes (Moshoeu) was playing every game in Turkey. And, on this side, we were consistently playing every game,” he added. “But there were players that were just on form like Brendan Augustine who was playing for Bush Bucks and was scoring every game. He was on form then and then we used the likes of the late Sizwe (Motaung) who was also on form. So those were the elements that he used, that’s where we had a nice combination.”

New programme to make learning fun

> Thandisizwe Mgudlwa

Evidence shows that a play-based approach to learning allows children to better understand mathematical and language concepts.

This further allows them to be creative, solution-oriented learners who are prepared for the opportunities and challenges of the 21st century.

Implemented by the Department of Basic Education in partnership with UNICEF, the LEGO Foundation and Cotlands Learning Around You is an innovative online training, accredited with the South African Council of Educators (SACE).

The programme will equip 150,000 professionals to effectively implement play-based learning based on the National Curriculum Framework.

The initial testing phase has been completed and the programme went live some days ago.

The Council for Education Ministers (CEM) launched this free P.L.A.Y. online in-service training programme, with the aim to provide in-service training to 42,000 early childhood development practitioners, 23,000 Grade R educators and 85,000 Grade 1 to 3 educators over the next two years.

Highlighting the involvement of government, Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga said the foundations laid in the early learning and the foundation phase through play, will have an impact on the schooling careers of children up to matric and beyond.

Play is learning in the early years, and the starting point for future engineers, doctors, teachers, amongst others.

“This model of in-service training that we are launching today has all the potential to be a game changer in the manner in which the we can shape a large part of in-service training programme to reach all educators – even in the most remote areas,” said Dr Mamiki Maboya, Deputy Director-General for Curriculum Policy, Support and Monitoring at the Department of Basic Education.

The programme requires an online registration that can be done through any mobile device or computer, which is then followed by a five hour face-to-face orientation session.

These will be conducted throughout the country, utilising, amongst others, the Department of Basic Education’s Teacher Development Centres as resources.

This will be followed by online training that will include theory, practice and assessment.

Upon completion, the trainees will receive a certificate that will earn them Continuing Professional Teacher Development (CPTD) points from SACE thus linking it to formal recognition and professional development.

Still few African cities meet world quality standards

> Thandisizwe Mgudlwa

African government's and their stakeholders must be very concerned and bothered by the fact that only a hand full of African countries have made it to the top 100 city's with a high standard of living global  survey.

At least five African cities which are also economic hives in their countries have made it to the list of the 100 Mercer's top 100 world’s highest quality of living destinations.

This is Mercer's 19th Quality of Living ranking. Mercer produces worldwide quality-of-living rankings annually from its Worldwide Quality of Living Surveys and individual reports are produced for each city surveyed.

The three South African cities that have made the top 100 are Durban (87) ranked the highest for quality of living within South Africa, which followed by Cape Town (94) and Johannesburg (96).

While the other two African countries in the top 100 include Port Louis, in Mauritius, which tops Africa chart at 84th spot and Port Louis is also the only Africa city which made it to top 100 rankings within the category of highest for infrastructure in 94th place.

The study further notes that despite increased political and financial volatility in South Africa. "Its cities fell within the top 100 of the world’s highest quality of living and remain attractive destinations for expanding business operations and sending expatriates on assignment, according to Mercer’s19th annual."

Ilya Bonic, senior partner and president of Mercer’s Career business, commented “Economic instability, social unrest, and growing political upheaval all add to the complex challenge multinational companies face when analysing quality of living for their expatriate workforce,” said Bonic,“For multinationals and governments it is vital to have quality of living information that is accurate, detailed, and reliable. It not only enables these employers to compensate employees appropriately, but it also provides a planning benchmark and insights into the often-sensitive operational environment that surrounds their workforce.

“In uncertain times, organisations that plan to establish themselves and send staff to a new location should ensure they get a complete picture of the city, including its viability as a business location and its attractiveness to key talent,” Mr Bonic added.

Meanwhile, Vienna occupies first place for overall quality of living for the 8th year running, with the rest of the top-ten list mostly filled by European cities: Zurich is in second place, with Munich (4), Dusseldorf (6), Frankfurt (7), Geneva (8), Copenhagen (9), and Basel, a newcomer to the list, in 10th place. The only non-European cities in the top ten are Auckland (3) and Vancouver (5). The highest ranking cities in Asia and Latin America are Singapore (25) and Montevideo (79), respectively.

Mercer’s survey also includes a city infrastructure ranking that assesses each city’s supply of electricity, drinking water, telephone and mail services, and public transportation as well as traffic congestion and the range of international flights available from local airports. Singapore tops the city infrastructure ranking, followed by Frankfurt and Munich both in 2nd place. Baghdad (230) and Port au Prince (231) rank last for city infrastructure.

Mercer’s authoritative survey is one of the world’s most comprehensive and is conducted annually to enable multinational companies and other organisations to compensate employees fairly when placing them on international assignments. In addition to valuable data, Mercer’s Quality of Living surveys provide hardship premium recommendations for over 450 cities throughout the world; this year’s ranking includes 231 of these cities, revealed the survey.

Slagin Parakatil, Principal at Mercer and responsible for its quality of living research said, “The success of foreign assignments is influenced by issues such as ease of travel and communication, sanitation standards, personal safety, and access to public services,” notes Parakatil,  “Multinational companies need accurate and timely information to help calculate fair and consistent expatriate compensation – a real challenge in locations with a compromised quality of living.”

Parakatil added, “A city’s infrastructure, or rather the lack thereof, can considerably affect the quality of living that expatriates and their families experience on a daily basis. Access to a variety of transport options, being connected locally and internationally, and access to electricity and drinkable water are among the essential needs of expatriates arriving in a new location on assignment. A well-developed infrastructure can also be a key competitive advantage for cities and municipalities trying to attract multinational companies, talent, and foreign investments.”

Dubai (74) continues to rank highest for quality of living across the Middle East, rising one position in this year’s ranking, followed closely by Abu Dhabi (79), which climbed three spots. Damascus (225) in Syria, Sana’a (229) in Yemen and Baghdad (231) in Iraq are the region’s three lowest-ranked cities for quality of living.

“Cities that rank high in the city infrastructure list provide a combination of top-notch local and international airport facilities, varied and extended coverage through their local transportation networks, and innovative solutions such as smart technology and alternative energy,” added Parakatil. “Most cities now align variety, reliability, technology, and sustainability when designing infrastructure for the future.”

In North America, Canadian cities took the top positions in the ranking. Vancouver (5) is again the region’s highest ranking city for quality of living. Toronto and Ottawa follow in 16th and 18th place respectively, whereas San Francisco (29) is the highest ranking US city, followed by Boston (35), Honolulu (36), New York (44), and Seattle (45). High crime rates in Los Angeles (58) and Chicago (47) resulted in these cities dropping nine and four places respectively. Monterrey (110) is the highest ranking city in Mexico, while the country’s capital, Mexico City, stands in 128th position. In South America, Montevideo (79) ranks highest for quality of living, followed by Buenos Aires (93) and Santiago (95). La Paz (157) and Caracas (189) are the lowest ranking cities in the region, according to the report.

Moreover, the study reports, "comparative quality-of-living indexes between a base city and host city are available, as are multiple-city comparisons.
The data was largely analysed between September and November 2016, and it will be updated regularly to account for changing circumstances. In particular, the assessments will be revised to reflect significant political, economic, and environmental developments.The list of rankings is provided to media for reference, and should not be published in full. The top 10 and bottom 10 cities in either list may be reproduced in a table.

The information and data obtained through the Quality of Living reports are for information purposes only and are intended for use by multinational organisations, government agencies, and municipalities. They are not designed or intended for use as the basis for foreign investment or tourism. In no event will Mercer be liable for any decision made or action taken in reliance of the results obtained through the use of, or the information or data contained in, the reports. While the reports have been prepared based upon sources, information, and systems believed to be reliable and accurate, they are provided on an “as-is” basis, and Mercer accepts no responsibility/liability for the validity/accuracy (or otherwise) of the resources/data used to compile the reports. Mercer and its affiliates make no representations or warranties with respect to the reports, and disclaim all express, implied and statutory warranties of any kind, including, representations and implied warranties of quality, accuracy, timeliness, completeness, merchantability, and fitness for a particular purpose.

Companies need to determine expatriate compensation packages rationally, consistently, and systematically using reliable data. Providing incentives to reward and recognise the effort that employees and their families make when taking on international assignments remains a typical practice, particularly for difficult locations.

Two common incentives include a quality-of-living allowance and a mobility premium, a quality-of-living or “hardship” allowance compensates for a decrease in the quality of living between home and host locations; a mobility premium simply compensates for the inconvenience of being uprooted and having to work in another country.

A quality-of-living allowance is typically location-related, while a mobility premium is usually independent of the host location. Some multinational companies combine these premiums, but the vast majority provides them separately."

More broadly, "Mercer also helps municipalities to assess factors that can improve their quality of living rankings. In a global environment, employers have many choices about where to deploy their mobile employees and set up new business. A city’s quality of living can be an important variable for employers to consider.

Leaders in many cities want to understand the specific factors that affect their residents’ quality of living and address those issues that lower a city’s overall quality-of-living ranking. Mercer advises municipalities by using a holistic approach that addresses the goals of progressing towards excellence and attracting both multinational companies and globally mobile talent by improving the elements that are measured in its Quality of Living survey, " Mercer further reveals.