Volkswagen Group South Africa (VWSA) constructed a field hospital in Nelson Mandela Bay and handed it over to the Eastern Cape Health Department on Tuesday 23 June. The hospital will be operated and staffed by the Provincial Health Department.
The collaboration between VWSA, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, the German development agency GIZ, the Eastern Cape Department of Health, Nelson Mandela Bay and the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber, is a R100-million project. The hospital will provide 1 485 beds during the first phase, including 202 beds for patients needing high care and five isolation beds. The hospital could facilitate up to 3 000 beds at completion.
VWSA will not only hand-over the facility but will help source the necessary equipment to improve the process flow of testing, with the goal of increasing the current laboratory daily average output of 1 500 tests to more than 3 000 tests.
“This pandemic requires us to act decisively and with speed. VWSA has answered this call by completing and delivering phase 1 of the medical facility at a time when it is desperately needed by our Metro which is currently experiencing an alarming increase in infections,” said VWSA chairperson and MD Thomas Schaefer.
The field hospital has been named the Rev. Dr Elizabeth Mamisa Chabula-Nxiweni Field Hospital, after a health community activist that played an important and successful role in reducing the deaths of initiates. Chabula-Nxiweni said she was honoured by the gesture. Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize said that the name was fitting as Chabula-Nxiweni had left a legacy of excellence and compassion.
The new hospital may attend to COVID-19 positive patients, but it remains the responsibility of South Africans to continue to adhere to the regulations put in place by the government. In his address Minister Mkhize called on South Africans to take responsibility and wear masks in public, practice social distancing and good hygiene.
Afrika Umoja announces a partnership with the Black Farmers Association of South Africa (BFASA); BFASA is an Association that has the best interests of the farming community at its core; The partnership will enable BFASA to set up and distribute disinfecting products throughout the country.
Afrika Umoja, an initiative started by Cape Town temporary architecture specialists HOTT3D, the African Energy Chamber – Africa’s leading chamber of successful networks and partnerships – together with pan-African energy event organizer Africa Oil & Power, is proud to announce a partnership with the Black Farmers Association of South Africa (BFASA).
BFASA is an Association that has the best interests of the farming community at its core and has a membership of 50,000 black subsistence farmers including farmers on small pieces of land, farmers with a small turnover and smallholder farmers in all nine provinces.
The partnership will enable BFASA to set up operational deep-cleaning and sanitizing teams and build hand operated stations that spray mist onto surfaces and sites throughout the country, as well as supply the market with their unique product, Santab. Santab is produced in South Africa and is sold as effervescent tabs that can be dissolved in five liters of water. The tablets are compact and easy to transport.
Afrika Umoja and BFASA will use their networks to distribute the Santabs and disinfecting products across South Africa, and also intend to educate people on how to sanitize, especially in rural areas.
BFASA has also partnered with the House of Monarch and King Mthimkhulu III, whereby BFASA will manage agricultural activities on the land owned by the King. The King will authorize the agricultural activities of BFASA, including the cultivation of land for the local market as well as for the export market. Other activities and sources of employment and income such as the alignment with Afrika Umoja will benefit communities greatly.
“BFASA is a vision I have held for some time and the joint activities with Afrika Umoja, supported by our close association with King Mthimkhulu III and House of Monarch, will enable us to achieve many of our objectives. Our Members, small farmers, tenant farmers, will now have an additional, credible, sustainable career path and source of income for themselves and their families,” notes Dr. Lennox Xolile Mtshagi, President of BFASA.
“I admire the work of BFASA and support their joint activity with Afrika Umoja. This arrangement will ensure commercial opportunities for our People,” says King Mthimkhulu III.
“We are very excited to be able to work with BFASA on this initiative, the COVID-19 pandemic has had a dramatic impact globally and we at Afrika Umoja are happy to provide businesses and national and provincial governments with solutions for the challenge of distributing products to help sanitize their work places and homes,” says Katie Brock, Director for Afrika Umoja.
During President Cyril Ramaphosa’s address to the nation on Wednesday, 17 June 2020, he highlighted that there is “another pandemic that is raging in our country,” as 21 women and children have been murdered in recent weeks.
The country has among the highest levels of intimate partner violence in the world.
According to the latest statistics from the South African Police Service, an average of nearly 58 people are murdered every day, of these one woman is murdered every three hours. The death of 27-year-old Altecia Kortjie and her 7-year-old daughter in Cape Town on 12 June; and the horrific incident of 28-year-old Tshegofatso Pule and her unborn baby, who was stabbed and hung from a tree, has gripped South Africa.
Amidst the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic, the youth of Port Elizabeth, and other cities, have taken to the streets to make known their stance on gender-based violence. #FillUpStandford, has made waves on social media, getting the city of Port Elizabeth to stand together against gender-based violence in the city’s main road. Many men and women from around the city turned up for the event. The initiative now takes place every Saturday between 10am and 12pm, and they are urging more men to take to the streets.
Acting Nelson Mandela Bay mayor Thsonono Buyeye. Photo credit: Twitter/NMandelaBaymuni
The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality and the religious leaders of Port Elizabeth came together to host a prayer service for the COVID-19 patients at the Stadium. The service commenced at 9am with Councilor Buyelwa Mafaya as the host. All Port Elizabeth residents were invited to stream the service live on the municipality’s Facebook page. Approximately more than 20000 users were reached through the live broadcast.
Reverend Mbulelo Xalabile of the Methodist church and Minister Mpumelelo Mzizi of the Enlightened Christian Church led the service. Patients greatly enjoyed the service.
The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality council speaker said, “ I decided to organize the program after seeing a video of the patients on social media, where they turned their isolation suite into a worship room.”
The service was attended by the acting Mayor Thsonono Buyeye. He shared with the patients how he was proud of them as many people are refusing to isolate and be quarantined.
During the service, social distancing was maintained, regular washing of hands and the attendees had to adhere to wearing a mask.
The patients were filled with joy as the service provided much needed spiritual upliftment that the patients were longing for.
In commemoration of Africa Day, the Human Innovation Project launched an anthem song and video “Kindness Contagion” across online and broadcast platforms. The song brings together over 25 artists from across the African continent – “This is a call to action from Africa to spread kindness around the world” said Beth Arendse, South African Creative Industries Incubator in her opening address as she commended the work and generosity of the creative team in doing this project.
The project has already drawn a growing list of African collaborators and partners including Vusi Mahlasela, Jonathan Butler, Sipho “Hotstix” Mabuse, Marcus Wyatt, Tu Nokwe, Pops Mohamed, Buhlebendalo, Alvin Hendricks, Randall Skippers, Allou April, Justin Arendse, Vicky Sampson, Madosini, Biko’s Manna (of South Africa), Didier Awadi (Senegal), Seun Kuti (Nigeria), Orezi (Nigeria), Elida Almeida (Cape Verde), Christine Salem (Reunion), Suzziah (Kenya), Gasmilla (Ghana), Gyedu Blay Amoblley (Ghana), Jah Baba (Benin), Maurice Kirya (Uganda), Xixel (Mozambique).
Each artist recorded their music and video content independently from where they are around the continent, offering a truly Pan-African message based on our common humanity. Also featured in the video are artworks from the United Nations call to creatives, which inspired the theme of the song. “Song unifies communities and has the power to change attitudes and behavior. We strongly believe that this will help us shape the dynamics of development behaviors and attitudes around COVID-19” said Dr Ayodele Odusola, Resident Representative of UNDP South Africa during his address at the launch, acknowledging African talent as amongst the best in the world.
The song is free to download and share from the Kindness Contagion website and social media platforms. People will also be able to donate towards a fund to support African artists who have suffered losses due to the COVID-19 pandemic. People are also encouraged to share their acts of kindness via the different media platforms. “This is our way of reaching out to our sisters and brothers in the music industry; to instill hope; promote and strengthen unity in the continent” – a sentiment shared by artists present at the launch.
Hosted by Kgomotso Matsunyane, the online launch brought together artists Pops Mohammed, Tu Nokwe & Biko’s Manna, Marcus Wyatt, Sipho “Hotstix” Mabuse, Suzziah, Vicky Sampson, Jah Baba, Maurice and Xixel as they engaged the audience. Each of them sharing what being involved in this project has meant for them – “one blood, one family, one Africa” as Jah Baba put it. In his concluding remarks, producer Gabi le Roux expressed heartfelt gratitude to all the artists for “blessing me with your beautiful talent. This has indeed been an experience of a lifetime” he said.
The funds raised from this project will be distributed in South Africa by several entities who are already running funds for such purposes. “No one could have anticipated this situation and as such, musicians are probably at their lowest. Music in Africa is committed to this project and will do our best to support it” said Mr Eddie Hatitye, CEO of Music in Africa Foundation who will be managing distribution of the funds in the rest of Africa.
The project, also made possible through partnerships with other entities such as MusicDay2.org and Sheer Music Publishing Africa calls upon all Africans and the rest of the world to share this message of hope, support and solidarity and spread kindness across the globe – no matter where they are.
Stellenbosch – Distell, Africa’s leading producer and marketer of spirits, fine wines, ciders and ready-to-drinks (RTDs), today announced that it will begin producing hand sanitisers and other hygienic products at its production facilities as part of its efforts to help curb the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
“Our priority as Distell – right now and always – is the safety and well-being of our employees, our stakeholders and society at large. We are determined to support our government in its bid to halt the current rapid spread of COVID-19 and in the absence of a vaccine, good hygiene remains one of the most effective options to do so,” says Richard Rushton, Distell Group CEO.
As a result, the company has committed 100 000 litres of alcohol, which will be used to produce sanitisers as well as a variety of other hygienic and sanitising products.
The sanitisers will be distributed free to vulnerable communities across South Africa as a way to encourage good hygiene practices. The company will work closely with Government to identify these communities, and support the roll-out of the sanitisers.
The company said it recognised there was an acute shortage of pure alcohol to produce hand and surface sanitisers, which are desperately needed in hospitals and households.
“We fully understand that our position as a leading player in the alcoholic beverages industry comes with a societal obligation. We want communities to benefit from our presence and we are determined to rise to the challenge,” said Rushton.
The company has taken further measures to ensure it supports the government-sanctioned lock-down by cancelling all events, closing all its experiential and product tasting facilities until further notice and ensuring that all employees who are not involved in the production of alcohol work from home. All company-sponsored travel has been halted.
Additionally, Distell is empowering its employees with relevant information on personal hygiene and has made sanitisers available to all employees at its sites across the world.
“This pandemic is perhaps the greatest challenge our country has faced since democracy and calls on business, the private sector and communities to work together to overcome the virus. We hope everyone will heed the President’s call to remain united and adhere to the lockdown, for all our sakes, but especially to protect the most vulnerable,” said Rushton.
In his State of the Province address in February 2020, the Premier of the Eastern Cape, Oscar Mabuyane, spoke of some big projects in the pipeline to boost the economy in Nelson Mandela Bay. One project is the much anticipated Port Elizabeth Waterfront Development project.
Mabuyane spoke of the many possibilities that a waterfront development could do for the economy based upon the favourable results that the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront development delivered for Cape Town.
“Cape Town became a better city whereby the gravity of the City Central Business District (CBD) Development shifted towards the V&A.”
This also opened doors to the establishment of the Cape Town International Convention Centre, developed at the entrance to the V&A, as well as major hotel developments around the perimeter of the V&A. The V&A Waterfront area became a ‘financial district’ which revived the CBD and connected with the V&A. The development of upper-end residential developments followed around the V&A which created a major increase in the rates bill of the city because of the high value of the development.
Talking on the possibilities of waterfront development for the port of Port Elizabeth, Derick van der Merwe, former CEO of the V&A Waterfront, highlighted the many challenges the Cape Town Harbour was faced with before the development of the V&A Waterfront could commence. He offered several approaches Port Elizabeth could take into consideration to follow the same route of a possible waterfront development that would benefit the people of Port Elizabeth.
Van der Merwe said the construction of the waterfront together with the possibilities of shops, restaurants, and residential premises could lead to more jobs being created. This will have a ripple effect on the economy, creating sustainability as this will lead to an upward spiral with more people having money to spend.
Residents in Nelson Mandela Bay have been demanding that the Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) remove the manganese ore dump and fuel tank farm to make way for this waterfront development.
In his address, Mabuyane said they had concluded a significant land deal with Transnet for the Ngqura Manganese Export Terminal, which will pave the way for this development. According to him, they are moving ahead with speed now. How much the COVID-19 pandemic will put the brakes on this speed remains to be seen.
The removal of the tank farm was non-negotiable, as it posed a major obstacle through the production of high levels of methane gas.
In response Transnet port manager, Rajesh Dana, offered that the ambitious waterfront development in Port Elizabeth will be a long-term development, taking at least 28 years to be fully operational. “Transnet has committed to co-operate with the public and private sectors on this LNG gas project.”
The relocation of the two mentioned Transnet operations to the Port of Ngqura is key to the establishment of Port-Elizabeth waterfront development in the harbour, and is viewed as critical to the growth of the Port-Elizabeth economy and tourism.
The focus of the Port-Elizabeth Waterfront Development marina project, which would be developed and owned by the port authority, would be on making it a people’s port with massive potential for commercial development.
Dana said it was envisaged that the Port-Elizabeth Waterfront Development would include a maritime museum, retail stores, restaurants, offices, a statue or feature honouring former president Nelson Mandela, a passenger terminal, canal waterway, bunkering for small vessels, maritime education and training, as well as an international convention centre. It was also hoped to have public art displays and other events, starting with the revival of the ports festival in February.
The transformation will include the expansion of the cargo handling services and capitalising on the growth in the ship repair industry.
Tapping into the ship repair industry could also see the city become a catalyst for the establishment of a marine engineering hub in Nelson Mandela Bay. “That would introduce a host of new capabilities to this region and a much-needed economic revival of that sector in the Port-Elizabeth Waterfront Development,” Dana said.
Transnet also wanted to make better use of its existing infrastructure, particularly the rail linkages to Gauteng. “Volkswagen and GMSA rail cargo up to Gauteng, but coming back the train returns empty,” he said. “We’re in engagements with Gauteng-based companies to utilise the return leg to export their cargo through the Port-Elizabeth Waterfront Development. “With more ships choosing to use the Port-Elizabeth Waterfront Development for international crew changes, there is huge potential to position the city as a service port.
“Exciting to us is the establishment of a ship repair precinct within the Port of PE – and that is spearheaded by the fact that we will soon be constructing a yacht-building factory.”
Throughout the project, Transnet will seek to complete the integration and linkage with the city’s plans for the CBD rejuvenation.
“We will also link with the Baakens River, King’s Beach and Bayworld developments, the exciting developments for Happy Valley and those of Telkom Park. We would like to fully integrate with Route 67 as well,” Dana said.
The parastatal’s vision for the Port Elizabeth Waterfront Development marina is for a vibrant busy port that attracts domestic and international tourists. The Port Elizabeth Waterfront Development will still operate as a service-driven harbour but with added arts and recreational landmarks and attractions.
Bay economic development, tourism and agriculture committee chairman Andrew Whitfield said the city’s new coalition government had held a meeting with Transnet officials to discuss its vision for the metro. He said the Port Elizabeth waterfront development would position the Bay as a globally competitive city.
“We know that the dates have been moved in the past. We hope that, as Transnet, you will meet your dates and commitments,” Whitfield told Dana.
Although a residential development was envisaged, it was still not certain what form this would take.
Dana urged the municipality to expedite any municipal approvals that would be required.
Requests for proposals will be put out in December 2020.
