Free State Targets Surgical Backlogs
The three-day Cataract Marathon, held over the weekend at Boitumelo Regional Hospital in Kroonstad, was a great success, with over 100 patients receiving treatment.
Screening was conducted last week Friday with cataract operations scheduled for Saturday and Su...
The decision to partially lift this ban could not have come at a more critical time. South Africa has been losing over 100 million meals per week due to the ban, putting pressure on food affordability and security, especially as Stats SA reports that up to 30% of households in some provinces face regular hunger.
Merlog Foods has welcomed the Department of Agriculture's decision to partially lift the suspension on poultry product imports from Brazil.
The group, South Africa’s largest importers of chicken and chilled meats and suppliers of local and foreign protein to major retailers and meat processors, said the move is a timely intervention aimed at alleviating pressing food security issues in South Africa.
Effective from June 19, this partial lifting will permit imports from all regions of Brazil, with the exception of Rio Grande do Sul, where an outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), commonly known as bird flu, was reported in mid-May.
This critical shift in policy comes as South Africa grapples with significant food shortages, resulting in the loss of more than 100 million meals each week due to the import ban.
The looming threat of hunger is palpable; recent statistics from Stats SA reveal that up to 30% of households in certain provinces routinely face food insecurity, creating urgent demands for a reliable food supply.
Brazil, a crucial supplier of mechanically deboned meat (MDM), accounts for an impressive 95% of South Africa’s needs for this essential ingredient, found in staples such as polony, viennas, and sausages.
The availability of these affordable protein sources is not just vital for everyday consumption; they play a pivotal role in school feeding schemes aimed at supporting low-income families across the nation.
With no other country in a position to meet this demand, the lifting of the ban could not have come at a more essential moment.
Industry leaders, including representatives from Merlog Foods, have expressed their appreciation for the Department of Agriculture's swift response to stakeholders' concerns.
The collaboration with Brazilian authorities to establish a regionalisation protocol exhibits a proactive approach to balancing biosecurity interests with the pressing needs of the South African community.
However, there are clear lessons to be learned from the time it took to lift the ban - lessons we must apply to expedite future decisions in similar crises. Speed matters when it comes to food security.
"Speed is of the essence when it comes to ensuring food security, and stakeholders are hopeful that the expedited agreement between the agricultural departments of both countries will lead to a swift resumption of trade, contingent on updated health certification protocols," Merlog Foods said in a statement.
The continuation of this trade is crucial not only for food supply but also for preserving the jobs of nearly 30,000 workers dependent on the poultry sector.
A former Prasa security officer who was fired for working unauthorised hours lost an appeal at the Labour Court in Cape Town.
The Labour Court in Cape Town has upheld the dismissal of Zwelethu Ntame, a former security supervisor at the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa), who was found guilty of gross dishonesty and misconduct.
Ntame’s termination stems from multiple charges alleging he worked during unauthorised hours and claimed remuneration for shifts he did not work.
According to court documents, Ntame faced charges related to incidents spanning 2017 and 2018. The first three charges involved allegations that he worked night shifts instead of the day shifts he was scheduled for, without obtaining proper authorisation from either his supervisor or manager.
The fourth charge, which added to his troubles, involved claims for work on 24 and 25 March 2018 when he was not rostered to work at all.
Following an internal disciplinary enquiry, Ntame was dismissed from Prasa. His case then proceeded to the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA), where he was found guilty on three counts while being acquitted of only one.
In the aftermath, Ntame sought to overturn the decision through an appeal at the Labour Court, alleging that the internal disciplinary process was rife with procedural unfairness.
Ntame asserted that the extended timeline for the internal investigation occurred without his input, and he claimed the addition of the fourth charge after the extension contradicted Prasa’s policies.
He raised concerns regarding the possible bias of the chairperson of his disciplinary hearing, based on their former role as employee relations manager, arguing that this individual would have had prior knowledge of the allegations against him.
Additionally, he contested the policy violation by having the same person serve as both investigator and initiator in his case.
In response to the first charge, Ntame claimed he had received permission to swap shifts to accommodate an examination schedule. However, evidence provided by three Prasa witnesses refuted his claims, revealing that the person he purportedly contacted for approval was not in a position to authorise shift swaps.
Furthermore, discrepancies in his examination timetable undermined his credibility, as he did not sit for exams on the suggested dates.
Regarding the second charge, which accused him of working day shifts without proper authorisation, the arbitrator dismissed his assertion of a misunderstanding surrounding the shift swap and remuneration change as implausible, noting that he only attempted to adjust his time- card when he feared detection.
In respect of the last charge, the arbitrator noted Ntame claimed he made an error in claiming pay for March 24, 2018, and provided a medical certificate which proved that he was absent, but he asserted he was at work the next day. However, witnesses testified he was not at work as he had claimed.
Ultimately, the arbitrator concluded that by submitting claims for hours not worked, Ntame exhibited dishonesty, possibly having someone else work in his stead.
An aggravating factor was that, more than once, Ntame had put in a claim for wages which was not a true reflection of the time he worked. If it had not been detected, he would have gained from his dishonesty.
Judge Robert Lagrange, evaluating the evidence, expressed satisfaction with the arbitrator’s findings.
He affirmed that Ntame's grounds for review lacked sufficient merit to question the assessment of misconduct and the breakdown of the trust relationship, which was essential for maintaining his employment
"In the circumstances, I am satisfied her findings and the relief she awarded are not outcomes which no reasonable arbitrator could have arrived at," said judge Lagrange.
*This article was first published by Eye Witness News
The site handover for the Welkom Cargo Airport project has officially taken place, marking a major step forward in the R5 billion development.
The delighted Mayor of Matjhabeng Local Municipality, Thanduxolo Khalipa, on Wednesday handed over the project to convert the Welkom Airport into a Cargo Airport to Sébastien Investissements and Logistique company set to invest billions into the project, emphasising the economic and entrepreneurial opportunities the airport will bring to the region.
He reiterated the government’s commitment to infrastructure development and urged the contractors who will be appointed to ensure the project’s success.
“I am happy that plans surrounding the airport are now taking shape and a whopping R5 billion will be invested in the development of this airport,” said Khalipha.
Sébastien Investissements and Logistique CEO Mark Brummer said the formal site inspections leading to the official site establishment are scheduled for next week, on Tuesday.
“After months of intense planning, engineering, refinements, and intergovernmental engagements, the airport is officially entering into the next implementation phase of formal site inspections leading to the official site establishment scheduled to commence on 24 June,” said Brummer.
Brummer further added that the airport is set to establish an international cargo facility with a 5 km runway.
“The airport will receive large cargo aircraft, such as gold, and will be used for passenger and private aircraft. We will also be setting up training facilities to educate and train local people to replace contract staff members,” he concluded.
The Department of Sports, Arts, and Culture invited all members of the media to the 2025 Choral Clap and Tap Festival launch on June 13th. This event is aimed at presenting new opportunities for the youth to showcase their talent and uplift them economically.
This program will run for three years. Its main purpose is to actively pursue talents and assist in developing individuals to perform for high-end audiences. It will cover all Free State municipalities and, not only that, but also create jobs in the arts and culture sector.
Spotlight on leading Clap and Tap choirs as they are selected to be part of the launch - the Bloemfontein Mighty Creators cut with an astounding background history in the Clap and Tap industry, and continues to thrive in the industry with an international trip to Italy upcoming. " This festival is going to be big and we're excited for it", Mr Boiki states.
The festival will be in October final date will be confirmed.
CEO of PACOFS Mr T.C Dlamini proudly indicated that he is ecstatic that he'll be honesting an event of this nature because it assists in promoting PACOFS and has a major effect on its plan of action and further stated with joint effort from the organising team, they have a sustainable strategic plan that includes all genres and that with the arrival of this one it will bring a new gist or feel and he is supporting it fully.
Scores of government officials survived death following an “unfortunate” fire incident that occurred on Tuesday.
It is alleged that officials scrambled to the exit after a fire broke out on the second floor of the Economic, Small Business Development, Tourism, and Environmental Affairs (DESTEA) headquarters in Bloemfontein.
According to the departmental spokesperson, Mojalefa Mphapang, an immediate response by Mangaung Metro fire and rescue services was able to successfully contain the fire.
“The rest of the building has not been affected, and no person was injured. The cause of the fire is not known at this stage, and an investigation has been started to establish the cause of the fire and the extent of the damage caused to the parts of the said floor,” said Mphapang.
He added that, based on the smoke damage, employees have been informed to work from home until further notice and are expected to remain accessible and responsive as required.
“While minor disruptions may occur, contingency plans will be implemented to ensure that service delivery continues with minimal interruption,” he said.
Following a devastating fire that brought the Jansen family to their knees over the weekend, the unemployed mother is urgently seeking help from the community.
A 46-year-old Suretha Jansen from Heidedal location in Bloemfontein told Journal News that they have lost all their belongings in the fire.
The devastating fire broke out around 8pm on Saturday and quickly burnt down the shack where the family kept all their belongings.
According to Jansen, she and her two kids - aged 10 and 14 - were not at home when the fire started.
“My husband was alone in the house and decided to quickly go to the nearby shop, leaving the candle burning. On his return, he found the shack covered by a huge inferno, which burnt all our belongings, including my children’s schoolbooks and uniform.
“All I am left with is the Identity Document (ID), which was not in the house at the time, but my husband and kids have lost everything,” said Jansen.
“My heart is broken, and I don’t know what to do… Everything was burnt to ashes. We have lost everything. We have no place to call home anymore, and for the past few days, we have been squatting at my aunt’s place,” said Jansen.
She said they are pleading for assistance from the community to help them rebuild their lives.
“We are in need of food, clothes, blankets, and toiletries. I am not working and my husband is recovering from his injuries sustained during a car accident late last year. We are only surviving with our children’s support grant and assistance from community members after helping them with their laundry,” she pleaded.
Contact our offices if you are willing to assist: 051 430 0129.
