SA Business delegation arrives in UAE for Gulfood Exhibition

The South African business delegation that will be taking part in the Gulfood Exhibition has arrived in Dubai, United Arab Emirate to showcase and promote their products in the long-week exhibition scheduled to take from tomorrow to 21 February 2019.  Gulfood has been hailed as the leading food and beverage exhibition in the Gulf region bringing together exporters, importers, distributors, retailers, wholesalers, food producers and restaurateurs from more than a hundred countries. The exhibition draws about 5 000 exhibitors and more than 100 000 visitors from 120 countries annually Speaking…

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Department set to improve War on Leaks programme

The Portfolio on Water and Sanitation has welcomed the Department of Water and Sanitation’s commitment to reconsider the model of the War on Leaks programme, following challenges experienced in the last year. This, the committee said in a statement, would ensure that optimum benefit is derived from the programme. The committee has repeatedly raised concern about the effectiveness of the R2.6 billion programme, saying it has failed to make a tangible impact on non-revenue water that is being lost. “Despite the programme running for the past three years, there is…

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Parly steps up efforts to buoy sugar industry

The struggling sugar industry has come under scrutiny in Parliament, with the Portfolio Committee on Trade and Industry now engaging the industry to alleviate the plight of local sugarcane farmers. In a statement issued on Thursday by committee chairperson Joanmariae Fubbs, the committee said challenges range from a lack of transformation and drought, to concerns around pricing, imports and the implications of the recent tax on sugary beverages. “Many of these matters came to the fore when they were highlighted to the committee by the South African Development Farmers Association…

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Farming implements to improve lives

The lives of 200 indigent families in the North West are set to improve with R5.5 million worth of food security projects due to be handed over to them. The multi-million rand projects are part of the provincial Rural, Environment and Agricultural Development Department’s food security programme aimed at reducing poverty, enhancing agricultural productivity and job creation, among others. MEC Desbo Mohono is expected to hand over agricultural inputs, chickens, fruit trees and as well as feed to unemployed youth, women and the poor at a ceremony at the Robega…

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Over R1bn ploughed into Saldanha Bay IDZ

The Western Cape Government has unlocked R1.8 billion in provincial and private sector infrastructure funding for the Saldanha Bay Industrial Development Zone (IDZ) since 2014/15. Presenting her final State of the Province (SOPA) address in Cape Town on Friday, Western Cape Premier Hellen Zille said there are currently eight confirmed major investors in the IDZ, with a total investment value of R3 billion. “We were also instrumental in establishing the Atlantis Special Economic Zone for Greentech. It is projected to attract R3.7 billion in investment, create nearly 3 000 direct…

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Calls for transformation in water sector

Water and Sanitation Minister Gugile Nkwinti has reiterated government’s commitment for collaborative efforts to lead transformation of the water sector, as the department prepares to launch the Phakisa Process for Water and Sanitation Master Plan. Phakisa Process seeks to address sector challenges and ensure that as per the ideals of the National Development Plan (NDP), the Master Plan will assist the department to achieve the desired outcomes. Minister Nkwinti was speaking at a recent Ministerial Interactive Session on the Transformation of the Water Sector, held at Boksburg in Johannesburg. The…

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Agriculture continues to create jobs despite tough three years

Western Cape Premier Helen Zille says drought recovery has started with provincial agriculture and agri-processing sectors adding a combined 35 000 jobs between the 3rd and 4th quarter of 2018. Despite the three years of drought, the two sectors still managed to create 10 000 jobs since 2015. “Back in 2009 we passed the sector’s first climate change response plan, compiled with the industry. Since then some truly innovative responses to climate change have evolved. I have addressed this house before on some of the technological innovations such as the…

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Cleaning up, literally and figuratively

  Buy or rent – a small company’s on-site system converts organic matter into useful by-product, saving costs and enhancing air quality. Sasha Planting  Mountains of waste piling up on landfill sites comes at a steep cost, hence the attractiveness of converting organic matter and reducing methane emissions on-site. Picture: Ty Wright/Bloomberg Yesterday’s food leftovers are generally not pretty. And dumped on a landfill they are even less appealing – rotting, smelling and covered in maggots. So it’s no surprise that people don’t like thinking about landfills; they are unsightly…

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