South Africa

By Gabisile Ngcobo 

Rio de Janeiro - To make South Africa’s Group of 20 (G20) Presidency more inclusive, a vibrant and dynamic African leadership style that emphasises participation, consultation and the common good must be embraced. 

“The colourful tapestry of our diverse nation will be woven into our every thread to represent the voices and contributions of our diverse population,” said International Relations and Cooperation Minister, Ronald Lamola. 

As part of measures to address the incidents of food-borne illnesses, government is to launch a public education campaign aimed at children, parents, caregivers and the broader community on food safety and the identification, handling and storage of dangerous chemicals.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced decisive measures to address the recurring food-borne illnesses that have claimed the lives of at least 22 children across the country. These include the immediate closure of spaza shops implicated in the deaths and stricter regulations to protect communities.

With the maintenance of the Lesotho Highland Water Project (LHWP) underway, the Department of Water and Sanitation has warned the municipalities mayors to be aware of the water tanker mafias, who deliberately sabotage water system in order to gain business with the municipalities.

Police Minister Senzo Mchunu has told local communities in Stilfontein in the North West where illegal miners are remain underground that the authorities are doing everything in their power to get them to resurface.

Water and Sanitation Deputy Minister, David Mahlobo, has commended the progress made in the Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP) tunnel maintenance operations, which started last month.

Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Dr Dion George has called for public comments on the draft notice prohibiting certain activities involving the African lion.

The Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Dr Dion George, has called on individuals in the captive lion industry to voluntarily consider giving up their stockpiles of lion bones and derivatives.

National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP), Advocate Shamila Batohi, has called on communities to work with law enforcement agencies to fight gender based violence (GBV)

Concerns around the so-called construction mafia, security and other criminal activity at construction sites, as well as the promotion of practical solutions for building crime-free environments within the construction industry, will come under the spotlight at the Construction Summit on Crime-Free Construction Sites next week.