“The WCC and the world need strong peace-builders and creative bridge-builders now more than ever,” said Dr Agnes Abuom, moderator of the WCC central committee.
“The global fellowship is growing and thriving, and the next generation of leaders will be involved in historic steps forward for our fellowship of churches.”
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Unemployment in South Africa grew by 0.4 of a percentage point to reach 35.3% in the final quarter (Q4) of 2021, Statistics South Africa has revealed.
Releasing the Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) statistics on Tuesday, Statistician-General Risenga Maluleke said Q4 of 2021 showed that the number of employed persons increased by 262 000 to 14.5 million.
However, the number of unemployed persons also increased by 278 000 to 7.9 million, compared to the 3rd quarter of 2021.
“While the number of not economically active population decreased by 397 000 to 17.4 million during this quarter. The number of discouraged work-seekers decreased by 56 000 (1.4%) and the number of people who were not economically active for reasons other than discouragement decreased by 341 000 (2.4%) between the two quarters,” said the statistics agency during a press briefing at the Isibalo House in Pretoria.
Stats SA said the changes in the labour market resulted in the official unemployment rate increasing by 0.4 of a percentage point from 34.9% in Q3.
“The unemployment rate according to the expanded definition of unemployment decreased by 0.4 of a percentage point to 46.2 % in quarter 4 2021 compared to quarter 3 2021,” Maluleke said.
The agency said while the number of not economically active population decreased by 397 000 to 17.4 million during this quarter.
The 2021 Q4 report also reveals that the number of people who were not economically active for reasons other than discouragement decreased by 341 000 (2.4%) between the two quarters.
“These changes in the labour market resulted in the official unemployment rate increasing by 0.4 of a percentage point from 34.9% in the third quarter of 2021 to 35.3% in the fourth quarter of 2021 – the highest since the start of the QLFS in 2008.
“The unemployment rate according to the expanded definition of unemployment decreased by 0.4 of a percentage point to 46.2% in quarter 4 2021 compared to quarter 3 2021.”
Stats SA said formal sector employment increased by 143 000 jobs between Q3:2021 and Q4:2021, while the informal sector shed jobs by 48 000 in the same period.
Between the Q3 2021 and Q4 2021, a net increase in employment of 262 000, was mainly due to an increase recorded in Private households (129 000), Trade (118 000) and Community and social services (73 000). Decreases were observed mainly in Manufacturing (85 000), followed by Construction (25 000). – SAnews.gov.za
Photo: GCIS
National Assembly Speaker, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula has declined the Democratic Alliance (DA) request that Cabinet Members be refused from participating and voting on the motion of no confidence in the Cabinet, excluding President Cyril Ramaphosa, scheduled for 30 March 2022.
In his request, DA leader John Steenhuisen, indicated that there would be a conflict of interest, if Cabinet Members were allowed to participate in the motion of no confidence that seeks to remove them from office.
The motion of no confidence is scheduled to take place on 30 March 2022.
The Constitution regulates membership of the Assembly and participation of members in the House. Only the President and Cabinet members appointed in terms of Sections 91(3)(c) and 93(1)(b) of the Constitution are not eligible to vote on any decisions by the Assembly.
Mapisa-Nqakula noted that those Members of Parliament do not form part of the 400 public representatives constituting the Assembly in terms of the Constitution.
“The Constitution requires Ministers to account, participate, and vote in matters of the Assembly that may impact their political offices directly. Section 102(1) further provides that the motion is passed by the Assembly, if supported by the majority of its 400 members.
“I am of the view that if the drafters of the Constitution had intended to exclude the participation and voting by Cabinet Members, with the exception of those mentioned above, on a motion moved under either Section 102 (1) or (2), they would have been explicit in that intention,” the Speaker said.
The Speaker added that without any specific provision in the Constitution excluding Members of Cabinet from voting in a section 102 (1) motion, the members may not be denied their right to full participation in the proceedings of the Assembly.
The Speaker also referred to the Rules of the Assembly and the code of Ethical Conduct and Disclosure of Members interest for Assembly and Council Members, read with the Constitution, which differentiates between a member’s personal and political interest in a matter.
“As Ministers receive salaries and allowance in their official capacity as public office bearers, this did not amount to a personal interest,” she said.
The DA has also requested that a manual Roll-Call voting procedure be employed in the motion, where the Secretary must call each Member present to voice “Yes” or “No”.
The Speaker said she is considering the request and will respond in due course. – SAnews.gov.za
Photo: GCIS
A webinar on science and religion showed that shifting away from the mainly curative health architecture could help church and church health institutions keep the crucial lessons learned from coronavirus pandemic mitigation.
Dr Mwai Makoka, World Council of Churches programme executive for Health and Healing, warned that “the crisis could not be wasted,” while noting that the current health structures were skewed toward delivery of curative services. He cautioned that investing all energies in curative services was not prudent.
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SACLI announced on Twitter that they just added their name to the global call against war and nuclear weapons by the Dalai Lama, IPPNW and other Peace Prize Laureates. Sign now & RT, and they’ll deliver our voices to key leaders from the Russian Federation and NATO.
* The South African Christian Leadership Initiative was started in 2013 to be a voice of hope & prophecy in and for South Africa & to be a bridge in the church.
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According to Newzroom405 Twitter account, religious leaders have rejected the Covid-19 Risk Adjusted Strategy allowing the use of 50% of the capacity of churches.
ACDP leader Kenneth Meshoe and church leader Chris Mathebula elaborate.
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According to the Conversation, in early February 2022, the World Food Programme announced that 13 million people in the Horn of Africa were facing severe hunger as drought gripped the region.
Similar concerns have been raised for several countries in the West African Sahel this year.
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On Day 32 of the war in Ukraine, Pope Francis made another passionate appeal to political leaders “to understand that every day of war makes the situation worse for everyone.” He pleaded with them, “Enough! Stop the war! Silence the guns! Negotiate seriously for peace.”
He made the statement in front of thousands of people, some carrying Ukrainian and Polish flags, in St. Peter’s Square on Sunday, March 27, after reciting the Angelus with them.
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With the Adjusted Alert Level 1 restrictions eased, Cabinet has reminded all people in South Africa to remain vigilant as COVID-19 has not yet been defeated, and it has called on those aged 12 years and older to vaccinate.
Cabinet has reiterated that vaccination remains the best defence against the virus, and reduces the risk of serious illness, hospitalisation and death.
“Although infections and deaths currently remain low, we face a possible fifth wave in the coming weeks. The only defence we have is the scientific evidence showing the power of vaccines to save lives. Our country has already administered over 33 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccines,” Cabinet said.
Cabinet further welcomed the Code of Practice on the management of COVID-19 exposure in the workplace issued by the Department of Employment and Labour.
The Code of Practice was developed following public consultation with the National Economic Development and Labour Council and will take effect when the National State of Disaster is lifted.
The Code of Practice will guide employers and employees in conducting or updating a risk assessment plan to limit COVID-19 infections in the workplace. It lists measures such as vaccination, social distancing and personal hygiene to safeguard workspaces.
National State of Disaster
In line with the recent extension of the National State of Disaster to 15 April 2022, Cabinet has called for the consideration of health regulations to regulate non-pharmaceutical safety measures such as the wearing of masks, social distancing, limits for gatherings and vaccinations.
Cabinet said this will also allow it to set up emergency, rapid and effective response systems to mitigate the severity of COVID-19.
“The recent extension takes into consideration the need to continue augmenting the existing legislation and contingency arrangements undertaken by organs of State to address the impact of the disaster,” Cabinet said.
The South African government responded to the COVID-19 global pandemic by declaring the National State of Disaster in March 2020, in terms of the Disaster Management Act, 2002 (Act 57 of 2002).
This facilitated an integrated and coordinated response to save lives and livelihoods.
The country has been under the regulations of the National State of Disaster on COVID-19 since March 2020, when South Africa recorded its first cases of the virus.
The President has announced further interventions that are meant to get the country to embark on a new phase in the management of the COVID-19 pandemic.
He said government intends to lift the National State of Disaster as soon as public comment on the health regulations published by the Minister of health has been completed.
All South Africans are invited to make comments on the draft regulations before the 16th of April. – SAnews.gov.za
Photo: GCIS
According to Good Things Guy, Wednesday saw the first public meeting of the Devil’s Peak Vredehoek Outreach (DPV Outreach), a voluntary community association formed to help homeless people in the area.
About 30 people, including members of the organisation and homeless residents, met at the Service Dining Room in town. Devil’s Peak and Vredehoek are adjacent City Bowl suburbs between Philip Kgosana Drive and Upper Buitenkant Street.
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