PODCAST: Zooming into Your Community Part 1: Hammanskraal, Gauteng

Hammanskraal – a small town in the north of Gauteng – falls under the City of Tshwane Municipality. It has a population of over 21 000 people according to the latest Census.

Hammanskraal consists of urban and rural settlements with multiple residential, industrial and commercial areas in a decentralised settlement pattern.

There are some 6 271 households and 21.1% of them live in informal dwellings.

Almost 32% of the residents have completed Matric or higher education while 29% are unemployed.

Water supply has been an issue in the area. The demand for water has surpassed the number of taps – resulting in the use of tankers to service people’s needs in the area.

In 2019, water tests conducted by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research found that the water in the area was unsafe for human consumption because of traces of E. coli and nitrates caused by sewerage outflows from the Rooiwal Wastewater Treatment Works into the Apies River, then to Leeuwkraal Dam – the main water supply to Hammanskraal.

In this weekly feature, SABC News captures the voices of communities about their experience with service delivered by their municipality. This week, Digital News producer Lebo Tshangela speaks to the community leader and residents in Hammanskraal.

Podcast below:

The post PODCAST: Zooming into Your Community Part 1: Hammanskraal, Gauteng appeared first on SABC News - Breaking news, special reports, world, business, sport coverage of all South African current events. Africa's news leader..

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The PAC launches its election manifesto in Ekurhuleni

The Pan Africanist Congress (PAC) is launching its election manifesto in Duduza, Ekurhuleni.

The party was formed in 1959 by the late Robert Sobukwe.

Despite its early political gains and the marks it has made in South African history, which includes organising the 1960 march against pass laws imposed by the apartheid government, the PAC has been gripped by infighting and leadership squabbles.

The party’s spokesperson Apa Pooe explains the focus of their manifesto.

VIDEO:  Pan Africanist Congress of Azania manifesto launch

 

Meanwhile, the United Democratic Movement (UDM) is launching its manifesto in Mthatha, Eastern Cape. The party says its primary goal and election premise is to “put the people first” as part of the long-term strategy to transform South Africa into a Winning Nation – starting at local government.

The African Transformation Movement (ATM) is expected to launch their mainfesto in Mthatha at 2pm.

The African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP) is also launching its election manifesto in Johannesburg later today.

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Vaccine passports in SA: Everything we know so far

Whether you like the idea or not, vaccine passports are coming soon to South Africa. Think of it this way…

If you’ve been vaccinated, you would have received a little vaccine certificate with your vaccine number on it.

Government is now rolling out those same vaccine certificates, just in a digital manner.

Vaccine passports: Why is SA set to join other countries?

“The sports fans among us cannot wait to return to FNB, to Moses Mabhida, to Royal Bafokeng, to Newlands, and to Loftus to cheer on our teams.

We want to socialise freely again at restaurants, taverns and theatres, and we want to travel freely whenever and wherever we choose. These freedoms, which we all long for, are within our reach. But we will only be able to get there if we are all vaccinated…”

President Cyril Ramaphosa

Speaking during his last family meeting on Thursday, President Cyril Ramaphosa once again put focus on government’s target to vaccinate 70% of all adults by the end of December. Right now, it simply doesn’t look like that’s going to happen. We’re now in October and only around 22% of adults are now fully vaccinated. That’s just under 9 million South Africans.

At that same family meeting, Ramaphosa, referring to them as “vaccine certificates”, explained that the digital documents will be key in having SA lifted from many international travel restrictions. This will of course be a huge boost for our tourism sector.

READ – UK red list: ‘Positive outcome’ expected soon, says Ramaphosa

Vaccine certificates: Will they be key for moving around SA?

But while the vaccine passports are being drawn up to comply with the World Health Organization’s international guidelines, they could be key for entertainment purposes here at home.

“The Department of Health should be rolling out a vaccination certificate which will provide a secure and a verifiable proof of vaccination.Which can be used to facilitate travel to access establishments and gatherings and other forms of activity that require proof of vaccination,” Ramaphosa said.

Last month, the Health Department promised that some people will receive their vaccine certificates before the end of next week.

So how could vaccine passports have a say on our daily life in SA?

Things like live sport events in stadiums for the vaccinated only, are set to be tested soon. The vaccine certificates are set to have a QR code, which will allow them to be scanned from your phone before you enter a venue.

Theoretically, this means that certain venues will be able to choose to only accept those with these certificates/passports.

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Level 1: Alcohol traders ask Ramaphosa to drop all booze restrictions

The National Liquor Traders Council has welcomed Mzansi’s move to Alert level 1 but has nonetheless called for all COVID-19 restrictions to be dropped altogether, the statement was made on Friday 01 October.

LEVEL 1: ALCOHOL CAN BE SOLD DAILY, BUT…

President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the country’s move to Alert level 1 on Thursday night, where he confirmed that alcohol can now be sold, on and off-site, every day of the week. However, bars and restaurants can only sell liquor until 23:00.

The liquor council has said that it can’t continue to afford to face the remaining restrictions in level 1.

“The allowance to gives us some breathing space so that we can continue to support our businesses but also maintain the livelihoods that are dependent on the sector,” the National Liquor Traders Council’s Lucky Ntimane said.

The council feels that the existing trading restriction still leaves the alcohol industry jobs under threat.

“Whilst we welcome the announcement by President Ramaphosa to return the country to Alert level 1, we feel that human interventions need to be considered in future to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic without affecting the livelihoods on those dependent on the alcohol industry to abject poverty,” Ntimane said.

“As we know there are almost one million jobs that are heavily reliant on the alcohol industry. This is a relief. But though we did say on 12 September that the environment was ripe for the country to move to level 1, there was a delay but we are nevertheless happy to return back to normal.

CONCERNS ABOUT THE FOURTH WAVE

The council said it believes that the decision to enter Alert level 1 is more political and less of an economical measure. The country remains at risk of catching the fourth wave, and the alcohol industry would suffer the ramifications.

“Our worry is that this decision is more political than it is economical. It does not seek to bolster our economy and alcohol sector,” Ntimane added.

“Our worry is what does the government put in place to ensure there is no fourth wave? Now that we are back to normal, the fourth wave is around the corner, the alcohol industry will suffer the consequences. We need to be careful as we move towards the big season of December.

“We are happy about the decision that will safeguard jobs but we feel the government needs to do more to prevent another setback.”

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Digital Vibes: ANC MPs accused of shielding Mkhize from accountability

Opposition MPs have lashed out at their African National Congress (ANC) counterparts for the lack of action in the Digital Vibes scandal and failing to ensure that former health minister Dr Zweli Mkhize faces the music for his role.

Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Health held a special sitting on Friday, 1 October 2021, to outline the way forward after the Special Investigating Unit’s (SIU) report into the R150 million Digital Vibes contract was released by the Presidency.

Some of the shocking revelations from the report include that the now-disgraced ex-minister pushed for the lucrative tender to be awarded to the company, which was run by two of his associates (Tahera Mather and Naadhira Mitha). The release of the SIU report into Digital Vibes also comes nearly a week after the Department of Health’s Director-General Dr Sandile Buthelezi was placed on suspension, for his alleged role in the saga.

MPs blamed for Digital Vibes saga

The DA’s Siviwe Gwarube did not hold back in her remarks and slammed ANC MPs for not seeing to it that Zweli Mkhize appeared before the same committee to give his side of the story. He had been scheduled to appear several months ago, but pulled out at the last minute, saying he was following advice given by his legal team.

“The reality chair is that we have to take responsibility where we have erred. Members of this committee, a number of them, particularly members of the ANC shielded the former Minister from accountability and blocked that meeting from happening, talking about sub judice rules, talking about how the matter could not be properly ventilated,” said Gwarube.

ANC MPs had argued that the Digital Vibes probe was sub judice, which meant it cannot be discussed. However this turned out to be untrue as it was still under the SIU.

“With the publication of this SIU report it is absolutely clear to us that because of the majority held by the governing party in this committee, we failed in our duties because we had an opportunity to pose direct questions to the former Minister, but we didn’t do that because we were blocked from doing that.”

DA MP Siviwe Gwarube

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Springboks v All Blacks: SIX nail-biting finishes – WATCH

Strap yourself in!

READ | DEFIANT SPRINGBOKS VOW TO STICK TO THEIR DNA AND KICK, KICK, KICK

As we build towards the 101st All Blacks v Springboks Test on Saturday, 2 October in Gold Coast, we look back at SIX nerve-wracking New Zealand v South Africa finishes.

EXPLAINER | WHAT THE SPRINGBOKS NEED TO DO TO REGAIN THEIR NO 1 RANKING

Watch – and enjoy!

The matches took place in:

Pretoria – 1996

Johannesburg – 1997

Christchurch – 2004

Dunedin – 2005

Durban – 2007

Johannesburg – 2010

WATCH | BULLS BID EMOTIONAL GOODBYE TO DUANE VERMEULEN

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Salt on toast? Victoria Beckham gets roasted over her favourite food

Celebrities are strange people sometimes. If they’re not in the news for admitting that they don’t wash their kids, they’re in the news for admitting that their favourite food is salt on toast. This time, it’s Victoria Beckham that has got people talking.

Victoria Beckham loves salt on toast

Ok, we know being a model must require the most disciplined eating habits that few of us can even imagine following for just one day. But imagine telling the world your comfort food of choice is some plain toast with salt on it? And not just any toast either, she is talking about the healthy kind.

Also Read – Romeo Beckham signs first pro football contract with Fort Lauderdale

Here’s what Victoria Beckham had to say when asked about her favourite food.

“This is where I sound even more boring in the food department. I like whole grain toast with salt on it. It’s that carbohydrate that makes you feel comforted and I love salt. To most restaurants I’m probably their worst nightmare.

I love some steamed vegetables, some balsamic vinegar and then to season myself. I like things to be cooked in a very simple way. I don’t like oils or butters or sauces.”

Victoria Beckham told the Table 4 podcast

The Beckhams are also known for being close buddies with Gordon Ramsay and his family. And according to Victoria, everyone’s favourite foud mouthed chef, hasn’t ever seen anyone more disciplined with their eating.

Could you handle the salt on toast lifestyle? We certainly know we couldn’t…

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