Friday will see Government launching the National Strategic Plan (NSP) for the next five years, on HIV, Tuberculosis (TB) and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs).

Cabinet approved the five-year plan, which will guide South Africa’s response to the HIV epidemic, STIs and TB, at its fortnightly meeting on Wednesday.

The plan, to be launched in Mangaung, in the Free State, draws on the vision of the United Nations programme of zero new HIV infections, zero preventable deaths associated with HIV and zero discrimination associated with HIV.

It is also in line with the World Health Organisation’s goals for reducing TB incidents and mortality.

Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa, supported by the Minister of Health, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibe, and Members of the Executive Council, will launch the plan.

The Deputy President is the Chairperson of the South African National AIDS Council (SANAC), a voluntary association that includes government, civil society and all other stakeholders committed to drive an enhanced country response to HIV, TB and STIs.

The launch of the NSP is one of the highlights of TB month which is commemorated annually across the globe, to raise awareness about TB.

In a statement on Thursday, Cabinet said that South Africa’s response to HIV and TB epidemics means that the average South African now lives nearly a decade longer than they did in 2004.

“This fourth NSP seeks to scale up successes while introducing new strategies to prevent new infections, identify infected people sooner and successfully treat and care for them. It outlines the strategic framework for a multi-sectoral partnership to accelerate progress in reducing the morbidity and mortality associated with HIV, TB and STIs.

“This is aligned to the National Development Plan, which acknowledges the profound effect that HIV and TB have in slowing national development,” said Cabinet.

The document will be aligned with all national and provincial strategic plans on HIV prevention and its entire implementation will be monitored by Cabinet.

The NSP is the strategic guide for the national response to HIV, TB and STIs in South Africa. One of the objectives of the Plan is to intensify focus on geographic areas and populations most severely affected by the epidemics.

This Plan is usually developed for a period of five years, and the current one is coming to an end on 31 March 2017.

The slogan of this new NSP is: “Let Our Actions Count” which is a call to action for all South Africans to play a part in achieving the goals of the Plan.

This year, government is targeting mainly leaders of society such as Parliamentarians, Members of Provincial Legislatures, Councillors, Traditional leaders, Business leaders, Religious leaders and civil society to commit themselves in the fight against these epidemics and to engage their communities and constituencies. – SAnews.gov.za

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Bafana Bafana and Angola played to a goalless draw in an international friendly match held at a packed Buffalo City Stadium on Tuesday, 28 March 2017.

 
With the result, South Africa extended their unbeaten run to 17 games.
 
A moment of silence was observed before the start of the fixture in remembrance of the late liberation struggle icon Ahmed Kathrada who passed away on Sunday morning (28 March 2017) as well former Bloemfontein Celtic owner Dr. Petrus “Whitehead” Molemela who lost his life this past Sunday (26 March 2017).
 
In the first half Bafana Bafana looked disjointed, but that was to be expected after stand-in coach Owen da Gama made nine changes to the team that started in the 3-1 win over Guinea Bissau on Saturday, 25 March 2017 in Durban.
 
Da Gama handed out three new caps to Phakamani Mahlambi, Diamond Thopola and Luther Singh.
 
Angola controlled the proceedings in the first half as the hosts tried to find their feet.
 
South Africa were however able to create a number of chances but nothing came of them, with Percy Tau coming close in the opening 20 minutes but chose the wrong option of passing the ball when he could have taken the shot himself.
 
The visitors nearly found the back of the net with a Herenilson’s shot, but Darren Keet was alert in the Bafana Bafana goals and was able to deal with it.
 
With the score 0-0 at halftime, Da Gama made four changes as he brought on Ramahlwe Mphahlele, Themba Zwane, Thulani Serero and Keagan Dolly for Thopola, Mahlambi, Lebohang Manyama and Singh respectively.
 
The home team managed to wrestle back the control of the game, but still could not find the back of the net – even the late inclusion of Kermit Erasmus for Tau was to no avail as the match ended in a stalemate.
 
South Africa has now met Angola 13 times, winning eight matches, drawing four and losing only once.
 
This is how they lined up:
 
South Africa:
Darren Keet (GK), Diamond Thopola (Mphahlele 46′), Erick Mathoho, Rivaldo Coetzee, Teboho Langerman, Andile Jali (C), Tiyani Mabunda, Phakamani Mahlambi (Zwane 46′), Lebohang Manyama (Serero 46′), Luther Singh (Dolly 46′), Percy Tau (Erasmus 74′)
 
Subs:
Shu-Aib Walters (GK), Itumeleng Khune (GK), Lorenzo Gordinho, Ramahlwe Mphahlele, Hlompho Kekana, Kamohelo Mokotjo, Dean Furman, Themba Zwane, Thulani Serero, Keagan Dolly, Kermit Erasmus, Lars Veldwijk
 
Angola:
Neblu, Lunguinha, Nary, Bastos, Natael, Manquxi, Leite, Herenilson, Nandinho, Yano, Papel.
 
Bafana Bafana’s 17 game unbeaten run

24 Oct 2015 (a)              v Angola 2-1                         (CHAN qualifier)

13 Noc 2015 (a)             v Angola 3-1                          (World Cup qualifier)

17 Nov 2015 (h)             v Angola 1-0                          (World Cup qualifier)

26 Mar 2016 (a)              v Cameroon 2-2                     (Nations Cup qualifier)

29 Mar 2016 (h)              v Cameroon 0-0                     (Nations Cup qualifier)

05 June 2016 (a)              v Gambia 4-0                        (Nations Cup qualifier)

18 June 2016 (a)              v Lesotho 1-1                        (COSAFA Castle Cup)

22 June 2016 (a)              v Swaziland 5-1                    (COSAFA Castle Cup)

25 June 2016 (a)               v Botswana 3-2                    (COSAFA Castle Cup)  

02 Sep 2016 (h)                 v Mauritania 1-1                  (Nations Cup qualifier)

06 Sep 2016 (h)                 v Egypt 1-0                           (Friendly)

08 Oct 2016 (a)                  v Burkina Faso 1-1               (World Cup qualifier)

11 Oct 2016 (h)                  v Ghana 1-1                          (Friendly)

12 Nov 2016 (h)                 v Senegal 2-1                        (World Cup qualifier)

16 Nov 2016 (a)                  v Mozambique 1-1               (Friendly)

25 Mar 2017 (h)                  v Guinea-Bissau 3-1             (Friendly)

28 Mar 2017 (h)                  v Angola 0-0                         (Friendly)
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Drought conditions associated with an El Nino weather pattern are likely to reoccur in a few months time, the government said on Thursday.

“Recurrence of El Niño drought conditions likely … The next summer season has increased the likelihood for the development of El Nino conditions which are often associated with drought and water scarcity as seen recently in South Africa,” the government said in a statement.

The previous El Nino, which faded in May of last year, brought widespread drought to southern Africa, hitting crop production and fuelling inflation across the region while leaving millions in need of food aid. South Africa’s weather service and global forecasters have predicted that El Nino will form again in the southern hemisphere winter or spring, which falls between July and September.

“The likelihood has increased from previous assessments and as we near the winter period, these forecasts improve in reliability,” the government said.

It said the issue had been raised at a meeting on Wednesday of the National Disaster Management Advisory Forum (NDMAF), which coordinates the government’s response to such events. The forum will meet again on May 11.

If El Nino does return between July or September, it would be the first time it reformed so quickly since the mid-1960s.

El Nino is a warming of ocean surface temperatures in the eastern and central Pacific that occurs every few years, with global consequences. In Africa it often brings excessive rains to the east while the southern cone gets parched.

Source: http://www.timelive.co.za

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EFF leader Julius Malema will honour the late struggle stalwart Ahmed Kathrada’s wish for him to visit Robben Island.

It was revealed at Kathrada’s funeral on Wednesday that the struggle stalwart wanted to personally take Malema to the island where he and many other anti-apartheid activists were held captive.

“One of the last things Ahmed Kathrada wanted me to organise last year, comrade Malema, he wanted to take you to Robben Island. He pressed us to organise this thing, unfortunately the communication didn’t work out,” Neeshan Balton, the Executive Director of the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation told Malema at the funeral service.

Speaking to Imaan Rapeti on Power FM, Malema said he will be going to Robben Island on Kathrada’s birthday.

He revealed that he spoke to the Kathrada’s wife Barbara Hogan and came to a conclusion to visit the island on the stalwart’s birthday in August.

The visit to Robben Island in August will be Malema’s first after he told the radio station that he has never gone because the place did not make him “feel comfortable”.

Malema received a special mention at the funeral by the Kathrada Foundation before the stalwart was laid to rest.

Source: http://www.sowetanlive.co.za 

Image left: Prof Dan Kgwadi (Vice-Chancellor or the NWU) receives the statute from Prof Marlene Verhoef (Institutional Registrar)

North West University vice-chancellor, Prof Dan kgwadi sais the new statute of the universiry was published in the Government Gazette on Friday 24 March 2017. Kgwadi said the statute will therefore be promulgated and brought into effect.

‘This was the culmination of three years’ work which first saw a new strategy and then a new structure adopted by the NWU Council. 

“This formed the basis of the new statute, which has been approved by the Minister of Higher Education and Training, Dr Blade Nzimande,” he said. 

Kgwasi further said the statute prescribes, inter alia, how the NWU is to be governed, who the office bearers are, how employees are to be appointed, remunerated and disciplined, the role of trade unions, student affairs and the conferring of honorary degrees and awards.

He added that the promulgation of the statute enables the newly approved structure to be fully implemented.

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