#Khumbudzo Ntshavheni

[trendynewsnow]

Police Siege on Illegal Miners in South Africa

Around the yawning entrance of a deserted mine, South African police have maintained a vigilant presence, poised to apprehend anyone attempting to emerge from the depths. This operation has been ongoing for several weeks, targeting hundreds of individuals suspected of engaging in illegal mining activities within an abandoned gold mine located near Stilfontein, in the North West Province of South…

[beardedmrbean]

An estimated 4,000 illegal gold miners are hiding underground in South Africa after the government cut off food and water in an effort to "smoke them out" and arrest them.

The miners have been in a mineshaft in Stilfontein, in the North West province, for about a month.

They have refused to cooperate with authorities as some are undocumented - coming from neighbouring countries like Lesotho and Mozambique - and fear being deported.

Illegal miners are called "zama zama" ("take a chance" in Zulu) and operate in abandoned mines in the mineral-rich country. Illegal mining costs the South African government hundreds of millions of dollars in lost sales each year.

Many South African mines have closed down in recent years and workers have been sacked.

To survive, the miners and undocumented migrants go beneath the surface to escape poverty and dig up gold to sell it on the black market.

Some spend months underground - there is even a small economy of people selling food, cigarettes and cooked meals to the miners.

WATCH: The dangerous world of illegal mining in South Africa

South African miner feared for his life during 'hostage situation'

Local residents have pleaded with the authorities to assist the miners, but they have refused.

"We are going to smoke them out. They will come out. We are not sending help to criminals. Criminals are not to be helped - they are to be persecuted [sic]," said Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni on Wednesday.

Police are hesitant to go into the mine as some of those underground may be armed.

Some are part of criminal syndicates or "recruited" to be in one, Busi Thabane, from Benchmarks Foundation, a charity which monitors corporations in South Africa, told the BBC's NewsDay programme.

Without any access to supplies, conditions underground are said to be dire.

"It is no longer about illegal miners – this is a humanitarian crisis," said Ms Thabane.

On Thursday, community leader Thembile Botman told the BBC that volunteers had used ropes and seat belts to pull a body out of the mine.

"The stench of decomposing bodies has left the volunteers traumatised," he said.

It's not clear how the person died.

Although the authorities have been blocking food and water, they have temporarily allowed local residents to send some supplies down by rope.

Mr Botman said they had been communicating with the miners by notes written on pieces of paper.

Police have blocked off entrances and exits in an effort to compel the miners to come out.

This is part of the Vala Umgodi, or "Close the Hole", operation to curb illegal mining.

Five miners were pulled out on Wednesday by rope, but they were frail and weak. Paramedics attended to them, and then they were taken into police custody.

In the last week, 1,000 miners have emerged and been arrested.

Police and the army are still at the scene waiting to detain those who are not in need of medical care after resurfacing.

"It’s not as easy as the police make it seem – some of them are fearing for their lives," said Ms Thabane.

Many miners spend months underground in unsafe conditions to provide for their families.

"For many of them it's the only way they know how to put food on the table," said Ms Thabane.

Local residents have also attempted to convince the miners to come out of the mineshaft.

"Those people must come out because we have brothers there, we have sons there, the fathers of our kids are there, our children are struggling," local resident Emily Photsoa told AFP.

The South African Human Rights Commission says it will investigate the police for depriving the miners of food and water.

It said there is concern that the government’s operation could have an impact on the right to life.

Minister Ntshavheni's remarks have provoked mixed reaction from South Africans, with some praising the government's unyielding approach.

"I love this. Finally, our government is not tiptoeing on these serious matters. Decisiveness will help this country," one person wrote on X.

While others felt the stance was inhumane.

"In my view, this kind of talk from the Minister in the Presidency is disgraceful and dangerous hate speech," one user said.

Another wrote: "They are criminals but they have rights too."

Illegal mining is a lucrative business across many of South Africa's mining towns.

Since December last year, nearly 400 high-calibre firearms, thousands of bullets, uncut diamonds and money have been confiscated from illegal miners.

This is part of an intensive police and military operation to stop the practice that has severe environmental implications.

[xtruss]

Chinese Senior Diplomat Calls To Resist Cold War Mentality At BRICS Security Meetings

— Global Times Staff Reporters | July 25, 2023

Photo: BRICS. VCG

Cyber security as well as other threats in traditional and non-traditional security fields have taken the spotlight at the ongoing meetings of BRICS countries in Johannesburg, South Africa, as analysts said that amid growing global uncertainties, more developing countries are seeking to improve solidarity to jointly tackle challenges to their development under the auspices of the BRICS mechanism.

While attending the 13th Meeting of BRICS National Security Advisers and High Representatives on National Security in Johannesburg, South Africa on Tuesday, senior Chinese diplomat Wang Yi said that after more than 10 years of development, the BRICS has become an important platform for emerging market countries and developing countries to unite and self-development.

Under the new situation, we must grasp the future development direction of the BRICS countries, further strengthen political mutual trust and strategic coordination, continue to provide international public goods that meet the requirements of the times, and strive to translate the BRICS spirit of openness, inclusiveness, and win-win cooperation into practical actions, and polish the "golden brand" of BRICS cooperation, Wang said.

To deal with the current global security challenges and solve the security dilemma, Wang also called for countries to resist unilateralism, hegemony and oppose "decoupling" and "double standards" and oppose Cold War mentality and zero-sum game.

Analysts said that the ongoing meetings for security advisors and senior diplomats from BRICS countries and "Friends of BRICS" underscored the security concerns of developing countries and new emerging economies over the destructive activities, "color revolutions" and cyber attacks plotted by some countries who have posed great threats to the stable development of developing countries and global peace.

Aside from expressing their concerns over traditional and non-traditional security fields, BRICS countries and developing countries are seeking to improve solidarity to jointly tackle development challenges under the BRICS mechanism, which will also be part of the build-up to the 15th BRICS Summit in South Africa to be held from August 22 to 24, they noted.

On Monday, a meeting, which was held under the theme of "Cyber security is increasingly becoming a challenge for developing countries," is also being attended by Minister in the Presidency of South Africa Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, Chief Adviser of the Presidency of Brazil Celso Luiz Nunes Amorim, Secretary of the Security Council of the Russian Federation Nikolai Patrushev, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval of India and representatives of Belarus, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Burundi, the United Arab Emirates, Kazakhstan, Cuba and other countries.

Security Concerns Under Spotlight

During the Tuesday meeting, Wang, member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and also director of the Office of the CPC Central Commission for Foreign Affairs, said that the "Global South" is a collection of emerging market countries and developing countries, reflecting our collective rise on the international stage. Countries in the "Global South" face the important mission of resisting the external intervention and maintaining political security and regime security.

Wang Yi said that unity is strength, action is direction, and openness is motivation. China is willing to work with BRICS partners to support each other's efforts to maintain national security and stability, and to carry out more practical cooperation in dealing with international security challenges, so that the world can hear more BRICS voices and witness a greater role of the BRICS.

Senior officials on security from BRICS countries also exchanged in-depth views on issues such as current security challenges, anti-terrorism and cyber security, food and water security, and energy security, and reached broad consensus, according to a release from Chinese Foreign Ministry.

The issue of cyber security has been discussed at length at the ongoing BRICS meeting as some Western countries have intensified using the internet to conduct destructive activities in other countries, including inciting domestic riots, fooling the public or organizing cyber attacks on governmental departments, which have posed threats to developing countries' stability and development, Song Zhongping, a Chinese military expert and TV commentator, told the Global Times on Tuesday.

The meeting on security, together with other meetings in various fields, will lay the groundwork for the leaders' summit in August, as the BRICS mechanism is a cooperative mechanism beyond economic and security fields, and whether it is regarding traditional or non-traditional fields, it would safeguard development and cooperation in other areas, Song said.

This year's BRICS summit will focus on improving cooperation between BRICS members and African countries in technology, economy and other fields, and security would also be the basis for cooperation, said Song.

South Africa has invited the heads of state of all African countries to the summit, which is themed as "BRICS and Africa: Partnership for Mutually Accelerated Growth, Sustainable Development, and Inclusive Multilateralism." The summit is anticipated to discuss how BRICS countries can better work with African countries, media reported.

Security is the core concern for the financial cooperation of BRICS countries and other developing countries. This is also why BRICS countries are studying the potential use of alternative currencies to the US dollar, analysts said.

For the past months, many media, especially those from the West and the US, have reported that BRICS countries are seeking to shift from the dollar in mutual trade to avoid becoming "victim" to sanctions. For example, in April, Bloomberg reported that Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva called on BRICS countries to come up with an alternative to the dollar in foreign trade.

South Africa, the BRICS chair, has put the stability of the global financial system as a priority for the BRICS meetings, as BRICS countries and developing countries have been put in an unfavorable position that would be affected by global financial hegemony, Wang Lei, director of the Center for BRICS Cooperation Studies at Beijing Normal University, told the Global Times.

However, de-dollarization is not the core mission of BRICS countries and what they want is to make the global financial system fairer and more inclusive, and to better reflect the major changes that have happened in the global governing system, Wang Lei said.

Against the backdrop of the continuous Russia-Ukraine conflict and drastic global changes unseen in a century, developing countries are seeking to inject more stable and secure impetus to the world and to promote the international governing system to be more inclusive and better reflect their interests. However, the US and some Western media have smeared their efforts, analysts said.

What BRICS countries are working toward is not to compete with the US for its hegemony, but to build a multipolar world in which each country's concerns on security, economy and developments can be respected by others - this may also be the reason for the US and West's increasing worries of the growing influence and attractiveness of BRICS, Song said.

[foodramblings]

The ministers rhetoric re. informal economy was deeply xenophobic during Covid

[afceuganda]

Government shouldn’t meddle with food prices, says Agri SA

22 September 2023 By: Nico van Burick Government intervention in food prices can lead to unintended consequences and even empty store shelves. Agri SA has strongly criticised the decision that the economic grouping within the government should formulate an action plan on food prices, food security and access to food. This decision was announced by Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, Minister in the Presidency,…

[timessouthafrica]

Minister Khumbudzo Ntshavheni visits Johannesburg fire scene, 31 Aug

http://dlvr.it/SvTp2x

[southafricajournal]

Minister Khumbudzo Ntshavheni briefs media on outcomes of Cabinet meeting, 31 Aug

http://dlvr.it/SvQqjR

[chantalkur]

Legislation: Major marriage law changes on the cardsCabinet has approved the publication of the Draft Marriage Bill of 2022 for public comment, reports BusinessTech. The Bill gives effect to the White Paper on Marriages which was approved by Cabinet in March 2022, said Minister in The Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni yesterday. ‘The Bill empowers the Department of Home Affairs to develop a single…

[southafricavoice]

Minister Khumbudzo Ntshavheni: State Security Agency Dept Budget Vote 2023/24

http://dlvr.it/SpVBWy

[inmycity]

Government proposes March analogue switch-off date

Government proposes March analogue switch-off date

Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies Khumbudzo Ntshavheni has given notice to the industry and affected parties of her intention to determine 31 March 2023 as the analogue switch-off date and the end of the dual illumination period. During a media briefing in Pretoria on Friday, the Minister called on stakeholders to make representations on the proposed date.  “The Government…

[shadrack1970]

Con court to make ruling over extension of switch-off date for analogue TV

Con court to make ruling over extension of switch-off date for analogue TV

Department of Communications & Digital Technologies Minister, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni during her Budget Vote speech in May said the release of the high demand spectrum will improve the ability of mobile telecommunications operators to build robust telecommunications with better penetration and reach as we chase our goal of ensuring that all South Africans to have access to the internet by 2024. The…

[iol247]

SUMMARY: Ramaphosa names new ministers in Cabinet reshuffle

"The second change we are making is to do away with the Ministry of State Security and place political responsibility for the State Security Agency in the Presidency," Ramaphosa said.

OH-oh..........

The following new ministerial appointments were announced:  

The Presidency: Mondli Gungubele

Communications and Digital Technologies: Khumbudzo Ntshavheni

Defence and Military Veterans: Thandi Modise

Finance: Enoch Godongwana

Health: Joe Phaahla

Human Settlements: Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane

Public Service and Administration: Ayanda Dlodlo

Small Business Development: Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams

Tourism: Lindiwe Sisulu

Water and Sanitation: Senzo Mchunu

https://www.enca.com/news/summary-ramaphosa-names-new-appointments

DA'S STEENHUISEN WELCOMES MKHIZE EXIT, QUESTIONS WHY CERTAIN MINISTERS REMAIN

https://ewn.co.za/2021/08/06/da-s-steenhuisen-welcomes-mkhize-exit-questions-why-certain-ministers-remain

[inmycity]

Have your say on Spectrum Policy

Have your say on Spectrum Policy

Through the recently gazetted proposed Spectrum Policy, government seeks to lower communication costs and bridge the connectivity divide that results in the exclusion of citizens from rural areas and under-served communities in the country. Addressing members of the media on Thursday, Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, said the policy also promotes small,…

[netcomsn]

Violences en Afrique du Sud: le gouvernement annonce un dernier bilan de 337 morts

Violences en Afrique du Sud: le gouvernement annonce un dernier bilan de 337 morts

Depuis l’arrestation de l’ex-président Jacob Zuma, le 8 juillet, des émeutes ont lieu en Afrique du Sud, qui ont fait 337 morts (79 à Johannesburg, et 258 dans le KwaZulu-Natal), selon un bilan officiel diffusé ce jeudi 22 juillet. Cela fait 61 morts de plus par rapport à la veille. «La police sud-africaine a révisé le nombre total de décès», a souligné la ministre Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, qui…

[lemiroirdelinfo]

Afrique du Sud: le bilan des émeutes monte à 276 morts

Afrique du Sud: le bilan des émeutes monte à 276 morts

Les émeutes et pillages qui ont ensanglanté l’Afrique du Sud ont fait 276 morts, a annoncé mercredi 21 juillet le gouvernement, révisant à la hausse un précédent bilan de 215 morts. « Depuis que les troubles ont éclaté, 234 morts qui y sont liées ont été recensées au Kwazulu-Natal (est) à ce jour », a indiqué dans un communiqué un ministre auprès de la présidence, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, faisant…