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While South Africa is doing well in preventing mother-to-child transmission, President Jacob Zuma has called for greater effort in the general prevention of HIV/Aids.

"While we are doing well with regards to treatment and the prevention of mother-to-child transmission, general prevention efforts must also be accelerated," Zuma said during his State of the Nation address to Parliament in Cape Town on Thursday.

"We also wish to encourage South Africans to live healthier lives to reduce the impact of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and hypertension," he said.

Zuma congratulated the health sector as well as the South African National Aids Council led by Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe on the success of the HIV/Aids programme.

On World Aids Day on 1 December, Zuma launched the new National Strategic Plan (NSP) for HIV/Aids 2012-2016, which promises to do much more to tackle TB and issues of violence against women.

The NSP proposes to deal with HIV, sexually transmitted infections and tuberculosis by adopting a holistic approach which includes preventative and therapeutic measures.

It brings together five succinct goals and four aims, whose combined purpose is to quash new HIV infections.

The five goals are:

• To reduce new HIV infections by at least 50% by using a combination of prevention approaches;
• To initiate at least 80% of eligible patients on antiretroviral treatment with 70% being alive and on treatment five years after initiation;
• To reduce the number of new TB infections as well as deaths from TB by 50%;
• To ensure an enabling and accessible legal framework that protects and promotes human rights in order to support the implementation of the NSP; and
• To reduce self-reported stigma related to HIV and TB by at least 50%.

The country also adopted the "three zeros" agreed to at the United Nations high level meeting in New York this June as a vision for the next 20 years. In addition, a fourth zero has been added, which aims to eliminate HIV transmission from mother- to-child.

The four zeros are "zero new HIV and TB infection; zero new infections due to mother to child transmission; zero preventable deaths associated with HIV and TB, and zero discrimination associated with HIV and TB".

Source: BuaNews

9 February 2012

Delivergin his State of the Nation address to Parliament in Cape Town on Thursday, Zuma said the government would forge ahead with programmes that ensured that South Africans felt safe and were safe.

"The crime statistics for the period 2010/2011 indicate that our country witnessed a decline of 5% in the number of reported serious crimes compared to the previous year. We will, however, not become complacent," he said.

The government would not let up on the fight against corruption either.

"The Multi-Agency Working Group on procurement led by the National Treasury, Sars and the Financial Intelligence Centre is reviewing the entire state procurement system to ensure better value for money from state spending," the President said.

Initiatives aimed at achieving this include the vetting of supply chain personnel in government departments.

Security will also be improved through the memorandum of understanding signed between the Department of Home Affairs and the banking industry that will see an online fingerprint verification system rolled out at participating banks.

The system will assist in fraud prevention and detection.

Zuma also welcomed the Corruption Watch initiative launched by trade union federation Cosatu and the recent agreement between government and business to implement anti-corruption programmes.

"These interventions will complement the work of government in combating corruption," Zuma said.

Source: BuaNews

South Africa will spend billions of rands on new infrastructure in the coming years, focusing on rail and road projects, economic links in five regions in the country, new universities and refurbished hospitals, President Jacob Zuma said in his 2012 State of the Nation address.

Addressing Parliament in Cape Town on Thursday evening, Zuma announced that he would convene a presidential infrastructure summit to discuss the implementation of the government's plan with potential investors and social partners.

The government's massive infrastructure plan would be driven and overseen by the Presidential Infrastructure Coordinating Commission which was set up in September last year.

The plan brings together ministers, premiers and mayors of the country's metropolitan areas under the leadership of Zuma and Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe.

"We will use the project management expertise gained during the 2010 Fifa Soccer World Cup to make this project a success," he said, adding that the commission had identified and developed projects from state-owned enterprises as well as government departments.

"These have been clustered, sequenced and prioritised into a pipeline of strategic integrated projects," he said.

Projects in five regions

The projects in the five regions are:

• The development and integration of rail, road and water infrastructure in the Waterberg and Steelpoort in Limpopo.
• Improving the movement of goods and economic integration through a Durban-Free State-Gauteng logistics and industrial corridor.
• A new south-eastern node that will improve the industrial and agricultural development and export capacity of the Eastern Cape region, and links with the Northern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal.
• The expansion in the North West of the roll-out of water, road, rail and electricity infrastructure.
• The improvement of infrastructure, including rail, on the West Coast.

In Limpopo, Zuma said the improved infrastructure would help unlock the enormous mineral belt of coal, platinum, palladium, chrome and other minerals, in order to facilitate increased mining as well as stepped-up beneficiation of minerals.

"Using the developments in Limpopo as a base, we will expand rail transport in Mpumalanga, connecting coalfields to power stations," Zuma said.

"This will enable us to decisively shift from road to rail in the transportation of coal, which has caused a deterioration of the roads in Mpumalanga."

He said the eastern parts of the North West would also benefit from the greater focus on infrastructure connected to mining and mineral beneficiation.

Durban-Free State-Gauteng corridor

Zuma said the development of the Durban-Free State-Gauteng logistics and industrial corridor would help connect the major economic centres of Gauteng and Durban and Pinetown, and connect these centres with improved export capacity through our sea-ports.

"In this regard, I am pleased to announce the Market Demand Strategy of Transnet, which entails an investment, over the next seven years, of R300-billion rand in capital projects," said Zuma, adding that R200-billion had been allocated to rail projects and the majority of the balance, to projects in the ports.

He said among the list of planned projects, the expansion of the iron ore export channel from 60-million tons per annum to 82-million tons per annum.

"It also includes various improvements to the Durban-Gauteng Rail corridor and the phased development of a new 16-million tons per annum manganese export channel through the Port of Ngqura in Nelson Mandela Bay," he said.

He said the Market Demand Strategy would result in the creation of more jobs in the SA economy, as well as increased localisation and black economic empowerment (BEE).

"It will also position South Africa as a regional trans-shipment hub for Sub-Saharan Africa and deliver on Nepad's regional integration agenda," he said.

He added that the government had also been looking at reducing port charges, as part of reducing the costs of doing business.

"The issue of high port charges was one of those raised sharply by the automotive sector in Port Elizabeth and Uitenhage during my performance monitoring visit to the sector last year," he said.

"In this regard, I am pleased to announce that the Port Regulator and Transnet have agreed to an arrangement which will result in exporters of manufactured goods, receiving a significant decrease in port charges, during the coming year, equal to about R1-billion in total.

Eastern Cape, North West, West Coast

Zuma said the development of the south-eastern node in industrial and agricultural development and export capacity of the Eastern Cape region and expand the province's economic and logistics linkages with the Northern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal.

"In the former Transkei part of the Eastern Cape, we are committed to building a dam using the Umzimvubu River as the source, in order to expand agricultural production," he said.

Added to this, he said the Mthatha revitalisation project, which is a presidential special project, is proceeding very well.

"Work is at an advanced stage to improve water, sanitation, electricity, roads, human settlements, airport development and institutional and governance issues."

Zuma said the expansion infrastructure in the North West would include the upgrading of 10 priority roads.

On the West Coast, the government would focus on expanding the iron-ore rail line between Sishen in Northern Cape and Saldanha Bay in the Western Cape, which he added would create large numbers of jobs in both provinces.

"The iron-ore capacity on the transport-side will increase capacity to 100-million tons per annum," he said, adding that this would help to feed the developing world's demand for iron ore.

Hospitals, universities

The government had also identified infrastructure projects which would help to lay the basis for the National Health Insurance system such as the refurbishment of hospitals and nurses' homes.

Zuma said R300-million had been allocated for the preparatory work towards building new universities in Mpumalanga and Northern Cape.

Another infrastructure project with great potential is South Africa's bid to host the Square Kilometre Array radio telescope in partnership with eight other African countries.

Zuma urged South Africans to support the country's bid, with the winning bid expected to be announced next month.

The country would also champion the North-South Road and Rail Corridor on the continent, which is part of the African Unions's Nepad Presidential Infrastructure Championing initiative.

"The massive investment in infrastructure must leave more than just power stations, rail-lines, dams and roads. It must industrialise the country, generate skills and boost much needed job creation," said Zuma.

Water, renewable energy

Zuma said water infrastructure is also being attended to, with five new water augmentation schemes are on schedule.

Zuma listed these as the Olifants River Water Resource in Steelpoort in Limpopo Province, the Vaal River Eastern Sub-System in Secunda in Mpumalanga, Komati Water Augmentation Scheme in Nkangala in Mpumalanga, the raising of Hazelmere dam in KwaZulu-Natal and the Clan William Dam in Clan William in the Western Cape.

Added to this nine out of the country's 25 dams have been rehabilitated.

He said to boost energy capacity, the government would continue searching for renewable energy sources, especially solar electricity and biofuels as we implement the Green Economy Accord with economic stakeholders.

The government wants to install one million solar geysers by the 2014 financial year, and had so far installed more than 220 000 solar geysers nationwide, said Zuma.

"We have outlined a busy infrastructure implementation programme for now until 2014 and beyond," Zuma said.

"I would like to appeal to all our people to join hands as they always do, as we deal decisively with the triple challenges of unemployment, poverty and inequality. Nobody will do this for us, it is in our hands. And we are all equal to the task."

Source: BuaNews

First-world infrastructure plus a vibrant emerging market equals huge investment potential!

Chris Bathembu

There are signs that South Africa is starting to win the war against unemployment, President Jacob Zuma said in his State of the Nation address in Cape Town on Thursday.

Addressing the National Assembly, Zuma painted a picture of an economy that was slowly recovering from the devastating impact of the 2008-09 recession. Close to a million South Africans lost their jobs during that period, but more jobs were created in 2011 as a result of stringent interventions introduced by government.

Zuma quoted figures released this week, which revealed that the rate of unemployment had fallen from 25% to 23.9%, with a total of 365 000 more people employed in 2011 - the country's best performance since the recession.

"The results are encouraging, although we are not out of the woods yet, given the global economic situation," he said.

What was also important was that all the new jobs were being created in the formal sector of the economy, in sectors such as mining, transport, community services and trade.

'Two things we did right in 2011'

He said there were two main things that the government did right in 2011 which contributed to the success.

"Firstly, we mainstreamed job creation in every government entity, including state-owned enterprises. We declared 2011 the year of job creation, and mobilised our social partners, namely business, labour and the community sector, to work with us in implementing the New Growth Path.

"Secondly, we strengthened social dialogue and cooperation between government, business and the community sector."

Zuma attributed some of the successes in job creation to the accord, signed by government and social partners late last year, which sought to accelerate employment in the private sector.

He underscored the overarching development goal of transforming South Africa into a highly growing economy and dignified society, and that this could be achieved through cooperation and working together.

The work done last year indicates that if the country continued to grow reasonably, the economy could begin to grow at a speed that would create the much-needed jobs.

Call for private sector to come on board

However, the President urged the private sector to work with the government in reaching its ambitious target of five-million jobs by 2020. Such a partnership required a change in the way things had been done.

"Government alone cannot solve the challenges faced by the country, but working together, solutions are possible," he said.

On the issue of the Jobs Fund, which government announced last year, he reported that over 2 500 applications were received in the first round of the fund. Project allocations of over R1-billion had been committed.

The Industrial Development Corporaton (IDC) had set aside R10-billion for job creation, with Zuma saying that, to date, about R1.5-billion had been approved for 60 companies to promote job creation.

The state had also announced tax breaks worth R20-billion designed to support new industrial projects and manufacturing, with an investment value of R8.4-billion having so fare been approved.

Small business, mining

Also, the procurement regulations empowering the Department of Trade and Industry to designate specific industries where local content is prescribed came into effect in December. The authorities anticipate the move will help speed up job creation in key employment sectors such as the textile and manufacturing industries.

Zuma underlined progress in integrating small business institutions, with a new entity expected to be launched this year.

The government further sees the mining industry, one of the job drivers in the country's New Growth Path, as playing a critical role in the socio-economic development of the country.

"As part of addressing the triple challenge of poverty, inequality and unemployment, government has developed a beneficiation strategy, which seeks to provide opportunities in the downstream part of the minerals sector," Zuma said.

"We remain committed to the creation of a favourable and globally competitive mining sector, and to promote the industry to attract investment and achieve both industrial growth and much-needed transformation."

Source: BuaNews

Chris Bathembu

All eyes will be on President Jacob Zuma as he delivers the State of the Nation Address to a joint sitting of Parliament in Cape Town, this evening.

At 7pm this evening, Zuma will address the nation in a joint sitting of the National Council of Provinces and the National Assembly and outline the government's plans for the year.

The occasion is generally used as a platform through which the President takes stock of the government's performance, gives an update on the programme of action while also highlighting measures that should guide government spending for the year ahead.

Last year, the President declared 2011 as the year of job creation, saying that the government would establish a jobs fund of R9-billion over the next three years to finance new job-creation initiatives.

He added that it would set aside R20-billion in tax allowances or tax breaks to promote investments, expansions and upgrades in the manufacturing sector and continue to provide financial and non-financial support to small, medium, and micro enterprises (SMMEs), small scale agriculture as well as cooperatives.

This week, parliament's top officials briefed the media on their readiness for the event, which is expected to be attended by former head of state FW de Klerk. Former President Thabo Mbeki will be unable to attend due to AU commitments.

Focus on five key priorities

Over the years, the government's focus has centred on five key priorities, namely education, rural development, safety and security, health as well as job creation. Government is of the view that the private sector alone has not been able to invest in infrastructure at the speed required to create the much needed jobs in the economy.

The country's new growth path sees the state playing a more leading role in the infrastructure drive, with R802-billion allocated to various projects over the next three years.

Authorities argue that public sector investment in infrastructure - which has increased from 4.3% of the country's gross domestic product (GDP) in 2005 to 7.5% in the first half of 2011 - remained central to government's economic development plans.

Job creation initiatives

Last year, Zuma announced the establishment of a jobs fund worth R9-billion over the next three years, which will be used to finance job creation initiatives. Today, he is expected to outline achievements and other opportunities created by the fund.

The International Development Corporation (IDC) had also set aside R10-billion over the next five years for investment in the sectors identified for employment creation potential. These include manufacturing, mining, textile industries and the green economy.

According to independent political analyst Professor Stephen Friedman, Zuma is likely to pay attention to what government has achieved in the past year, while at the same time looking towards the future.

"I wouldn't be expecting any major policy shifts. I sense the address will be more about what the state has achieved and forward looking. There will be more emphasis on infrastructure, no doubt and [Zuma] will be talking a lot about jobs and how some of the state interventions have helped in addressing unemployment," Friedman said.

Sustainable employment

Managed by state-owned Development Bank of Southern Africa, the primary mandate of the Jobs Fund is to create sustainable employment by assisting in the expansion of existing business enterprises. It hopes to pilot innovative approaches to employment creation.

Dumisa Hlatshwayo, Chief Investment Officer of the Jobs Fund, said a total of R352-million has been approved for employment creation projects. It is estimated that the allocation will realise a projected 115 226 sustainable jobs.

The Fund had received a total of 2 651 applications following its first funding period, which closed on 31 July 2011. The Fund is targeting to disburse and approve a total of R2 billion worth of projects within the 2011/2012 financial year.

Business Unity South Africa (Busa) has meanwhile said that the speech should focus on implementation policies and programmes that have been agreed to.

Source: BuaNews

The Department of Trade and Industry wants to run a regular small business census to help improve its support and funding to the sector as part of a revised policy to boost support to small businesses.

Briefing a National Council of Provinces' select committee in Cape Town this week, the department's Mojalefa Mohoto said the department would approach the South African Revenue Service (Sars) to run the census.

Unlike countries such as India and Malaysia, South Africa does not have a government-run census on small businesses, leaving the government to rely on adhoc reports on small business by the private sector when it wants to access statistics on the challenges facing local small enterprises.

Mohoto said a small business census would be important to create a baseline study and defuse confusion about the number of small businesses operating in South Africa.

The department is seeking to revamp its 2005 Integrated Small Business Policy and amend the 2005 Small Business Amendment Act by strengthening partnerships, capacity at small business support institutions and by broadening small firms' access to markets.

It also wants to strengthen the role of the National Small Business Advisory Council, which advises the Trade and Industry minister on issues affecting small businesses, promotes the interests of the sector, and monitors the effectiveness of government policies, programmes and institutions designed to develop the sector.

Working with business chambers

The department also plans to work more closely with business chambers so that chambers help the government to deliver some of its support programmes, said Mohoto, adding that the department was already looking at improving chambers' capacity - particularly those in rural areas.

Over time, the idea is to delegate certain basic functions to sector associations, Mohoto said.

To improve the quality of business mentors, a problem which has long frustrated small enterprises, the department will meet with Business Unity SA (Busa) and the Institute of Business Advisors (IBA) to formulate a national programme to develop and accredit quality business advisors.

It is already working with the Department of Higher Education to standardise training for business mentors.

Creating more business incubators

The department has also mooted the idea of providing SMME support agencies with core funding and getting them to bid for the remainder of their funding by submitting proposals for project funding.

It department is further looking at expanding the number of business incubators, from the current 30 to 250 in the next few years. It has already received 20 new proposals for incubators and is working with major companies to bring these to fruition.

Source: BuaNews

The Airports Company South Africa (Acsa) is part of a consortium that has won a bid for the expansion, maintenance and operation of Guarulhos, Brazil's busiest airport, located in greater Sao Paulo.

"[This] will enhance Acsa's brand and better position it in the market place as a serious participant in global airport investment and management," Acsa's acting MD Bongani Maseko said in a statement.

"We managed to secure an opportunity in India a few years ago, we now have Brazil and are pursuing similar ventures in Africa."

Acsa won 51% of the concession and Infraero, from Brazil, the remaining 49 percent.

Acsa said it would provide airport management through a technical service agreement.

Some of the tasks included preparing detailed operational plans for the 2013 Fifa Confederations Cup, the Pope's visit for the World Youth Day in 2013, and the 2014 Fifa World Cup.

The concession is for a 20-year period.

"In addition to the investment return on capital contributions, Acsa will be paid airport management fees," said Maseko.

"The next step is for the consortium partners to finalise the signing of the concession and other related agreements by May 2012."

Transport Minister Sibusiso Ndebele's office congratulated Acsa on the win.

"This is, indeed, exciting news for South Africa and our continent," ministerial spokesman Logan Maistry said.

Sapa

Opportunities, incentives, regulations, assistance.

A betting man could well be forgiven for backing the defending champions Andy Birkett and Jason Graham to win this year's The Unlimited Dusi canoe marathon when they paddle into the finish at Blue Lagoon next Saturday.

The 120-kilometre, three-day event is one of the biggest canoe marathons in the world. It is also one of the toughest, putting a much higher premium on portaging than other events of similar length.

If they pull off a defence of the title, it will deepen the fairy tale of the two athletes, with more apparent differences than similarities, brought together by a bond of friendship and a desire to have fun while they are racing, even more.

At 33 years old, Jason Graham will cut a conspicuous figure on the front row of A-batch at the start at Camps Drift, his thinning hair cropped short and befitting of the nickname his 21-year-old partner loves to use for him: "Gramps".

Friendship and common schooling

The two, drawn together by their friendship and common schooling at Maritzburg College, put together an old-school campaign to win the last K2 title in 2010, which they carried out to perfection.

Can they now do it again in 2012? After the 2010 race Graham was quick to try and encourage Birkett to find a younger partner for his title defence, but he refused to budge and the pair has been hard at work preparing for the 2012 showdown.

"Anyone who has the opportunity to paddle with Andy (Birkett) is very fortunate, so I was quite shocked and hell of a flattered when Andy gave me a call and asked if he could paddle with the old 'ballie' again," explained Graham.

"It's not often Dusi partnerships stick together throughout the years, so it's really great to be paddling with him again. I like to think of it as a mature decision on his part because we just combine so well.

'Half the battle won'

"We get along superbly and that is half the battle won when it comes to the Dusi, but neither of us has the greatest paddling techniques either, but our flaws are quite similar, so we always seem to manage to get the boat going quite nicely together," he added.

With Birkett having started his paddling career as a guppy on Camps Drift under the watchful eye of none other than "Coach Graham", the two continued their friendship once Birkett entered high school where Graham once again played the role of mentor.

"We obviously knew each other fairly well back then, but it wasn't until Jason (Graham) asked me to do the 2010 Dusi with him that we actually even got into a boat together," said Birkett.

'I considered all my options'

"We combined really well though and it was great to be able to paddle with him and win Dusi two years ago. When it came to deciding on a partner for this year's race I certainly considered all my options and debated who I should approach to paddle with for quite a while.

"Eventually it was my brother who helped clear things up for me though when he asked me what I wanted to get out of my Dusi. I knew I wanted to have fun and to get to the end of the race with a smile on my face, so with that in mind it became clear that Jason was the right guy to ask."

The pair appreciates just how unique their bond is and the impact it has had on their success as a combination. It is a key characteristic that they have embraced throughout their 2012 preparations.

'A team sport'

"It's so important to have a good relationship when you're paddling a K2. It's a team sport after all, so if there is any adversity between the two of you and you make even a small mistake it can really throw you off," said Birkett.

"It also makes preparing for the race so much easier and that much more enjoyable if you get along, and that is something Jason and I definitely do benefit from."

With two titles already under then belt, there are few who can dispute Birkett's immense paddling ability. The Unlimited Dusi, however, is a signature event for the talented youngster and one which he carefully constructs the rest of his year around.

"I definitely like to think of myself as a Dusi specialist. With my multi-sport background, I thrive on the fact that there are so many different disciplines incorporated into the Dusi," said Birkett.

'The biggest race'

"I enjoy a lot of races but this is definitely the biggest race on my sporting calendar by a long way! I've grown up seeing the Dusi all the time and the race takes place in my own community, so it's just naturally in my blood."

Predictably the pair has gone about their business quietly, well away from the hustle and bustle of many of the pre-race events. They are, however, confident they are ready for the 2012 showcase.

"We've flown under the radar a bit this year, but it hasn't really been our intention to do so. We were hoping to race the Rietvlei Rumble hard, but then Andy got sick just beforehand so we couldn't do that, and then I got sick shortly afterwards, so we had to back off for a little while longer," explained Graham.

"We haven't raced flat out for a while, but hopefully that plays into our hands a little bit and gives us a slight psychological edge because now we're coming into the race feeling we have something to prove," he added.

Despite being able to find many similarities in the pair's approach to the one they employed ahead of their 2010 success, the encounter is of a very different nature this time around.

'Different psychological approach'

"It's a completely different psychological approach this time round for us. Now we're a known entity, so we no longer have that element of surprise on our side as we did last time, so things have definitely changed a bit this year," said Graham. "There is also lot more depth this year, with a lot of guys going really well at the moment."

He continued: "The paddle to the first portage should be an absolute cracker with guys like Wayne Wilson and Lukas (Kusovsky), the Czech sprinter, who will probably be out the blocks extremely quickly. We'll just look to try be as well positioned as possible early on and then our race really starts once we get to Campbell's portage," he added.

"We now know what we're capable of and hopefully we can go well again this year," said Graham.

'Under no illusions'

"We're under no illusions, though, that we've got as much chance as the rest of the guys and there are so many variables and places where things can go wrong, so there definitely aren't any foregone conclusions at all."

Birkett added: "Hank (McGregor) and Len (Jenkins) and Thulani (Mbanjwa) and Sibonelo (Zondi) are probably going to be our biggest competition, but we also haven't seen too much of guys like Jasper (Mocke) and Craig (Turton), so who knows what might happen?"

"I'd love to win it again this year, but things are definitely going to be very tough. We've got our own goals and will race as hard as we possibly can, but even just to finish on the podium in the Dusi is something amazing!" he concluded.

The Unlimited Dusi canoe marathon from Camps Drift, Pietermaritzburg, to Blue Lagoon, Durban, takes place from 16 to 18 February.

SAinfo reporter

This is big sky country, with vast mountain ranges falling into lush river valleys.

President Jacob Zuma's State of the Nation address should focus on the implementation of policies and programmes already agreed to, says Business Unity South Africa (Busa).

"In President Zuma's third year in office, 2012 must be a year of 'game change' for implementation," Busa said in a statement on Wednesday.

"Business expects the address to give a comprehensive platform on which business, government, labour and community can continue to position South Africa on a higher, more inclusive and job-rich growth path - and expediting what has been agreed in programmes such as the New Growth Path and the National Development Plan."

President Zuma will deliver the State of the Nation Address in Parliament, Cape Town at 7pm on Thursday evening. The address will be broadcast live on SABC television and radio and streamed live on www.gov.za.

• More info on the State of the Nation address and how to follow it: www.info.gov.za/events/2012/sona/

Busa said it hoped the overall message of the address would help underpin investor confidence and the role of business in order to strengthen South Africa's economic recovery and promote growth.

It also hoped that the address would throw its weight behind strengthening an entrepreneurial culture in the country.

"The prioritisation of job creation, poverty reduction, education, economic transformation, infrastructural development and growth must be invested with a new sense of urgency," Busa said.

"We believe it is in small business that the greatest potential lies for realising South Africa's employment targets."

Source: BuaNews

Top government officials from South Africa and Mozambique held an urgent meeting this week to find practical solutions to the scourge of rhino poaching, which saw the Kruger National Park losing 252 rhinos in 2011 alone.

The meeting was attended by Mozambican Tourism Minister Fernando Sumbana Jnr and South African Environmental Affairs Minister Edna Molewa.

Mozambican assistance 'urgently needed'

During the meeting, Molewa stressed that poaching in the Kruger had escalated to such unacceptable levels that South Africa urgently required the full support of Mozambique if rhino killings were to be significantly reduced.

Recently, Molewa said she had considered various ways of reduce the attacks through the Mozambique border between the Massingir and the Komatipoort areas, including:

• Adding 150 field rangers to increase law enforcement officers in the Kruger National Park to 650.
• Requesting the South African government to increase its military presence in the park.
• Improving coordinated national efforts to increase intelligence gathering.
• Strengthening the border fence between Massingir and Komatipoort.

Mozambique outlines measures

Sumbana emphasized the commitment of Mozambique to conservation, noting that the Mozambican government had prioritised law enforcement efforts that went beyond the narrow focus of rhino poaching.

"Mozambique is currently pondering legislation that will elevate the offence of wildlife poaching to a criminal offence carrying heavier sentencing rather than the current offence of damage to property," Sumbana said, adding that Mozambique's natural resources were being plundered by organised criminals.

Further to the proposed legislation, a new elite highly trained National Anti-Poaching Unit had been formed and the first recruits would be graduating shortly and deployed in priority poaching areas.

Sumbana added that the Mozambican government hasd passed a decree creating a flexible state-owned agency similar to that of South African National Parks (SANParks).

"This will assist with management effectiveness and allow greater flexibility in sourcing funding than is currently the case."

The meeting also highlighted the success of collaborating with Mozambique on the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park (GLTP) with reduced rhino poaching incidents, and the difficulties of erecting a fence between Massingir and Komatipoort.

New transfrontier conservation area in the pipeline

SANParks CEO David Mabunda recently visited the head of the transfrontier conservation areas unit in Mozambique's Ministry of Tourism, Bartolomeu Soto, to discuss the idea of including the 220 000-hectare Greater Lebombo Conservancy to act as an effective buffer for the southern section of the Kruger National Park linking with Mozambique.

The idea has since morphed into a Transfrontier Conservation Area (TFCA) in line with the signed treaty that created the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park.

Article 3(2) of the signed treaty envisioned the TFCA in Mozambique to include "the Massingir and Corumana areas, as well as the interlinking regions", thus creating an immediate framework for bilateral cooperation between the two countries for the inclusion of the Greater Lebombo Conservancy.

The two ministers agreed to cooperate bilaterally to ensure that the planned TFCA was realised and concluded speedily.

Source: BuaNews

Wildlife

The famous Big Five - elephant, lion, rhino, leopard and buffalo - and more.