Employees Magazine

JUNE/1

LOCAL GOVERNMENT RESPONDS TO COVID-19 - pg 6

COGTA DELIVERS BOREWHOLES FOR COVID-19 - pg 7

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT SEASONAL FLU

- pg 10

A LESSON IN ETHICS

- pg 12

A FACE MASK

is an important protective layer of defence against the spreading of contaminated human droplets.

Wear your face mask at all times.

cooperative governance Department: Cooperative Governance REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA

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CONTENTS CONTENTS 4

Employees comments

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Birthdays & announcements

NEWS 6

Municipalities rise to the occasion in the fight against the COVID-19

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MISA digs community boreholes to support access to water during the COVID-19

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Governemnt adjusts lockdown regulations to allow more businesses to open

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Government warns of rising gender-based violence incidents

HEALTH & WELNESS 10

What you need to know about influenza

ICT 11

What is Microsoft Onedrive?

ETHICS CORNER 12

VISION Service excellence for improving lives through cooperative governance.

A lesson in ethics

MISSION

To lead the Cooperative Governance system through the District Development Model in support of integrated service delivery for a better life for all in South Africa.

• • • • • • •

VALUES

Commitment to public service.

Integrity and dedication to fighting corruption.

A hands-on approach to dealing with local challenges.

Public participation and people centred approach.

Professionalism and goal orientation.

Passion to serve.

Excellence and accountability.

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Employees Comments

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Let’s hear your comments and views about the content of your magazine and anything else relevant to your life in the department. .

Please e-mail us a maximum of 100 words: NkanyisoN@cogta.gov.za

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FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE BY EMPLOYEES BELOW SMS LEVEL All employees who are below the SMS level are requested to disclose their financial interests as required by the Public Service Regulations.

A circular was e-mailed to all employees to start and guide the process. The following employees need to submit their disclosures by the indicated dates: •

Employees earning the equivalent of Salary Level 13 and above through the Occupational Specific Dispensation (1-20 June 2020)

•

Employees appointed at Salary Level 12, including employees earning the equivalent of Salary Level 12 through the Occupational Specific Dispensation (1-20 June 2020)

•

Any employee who is authorised by the Minister or DirectorGeneral for purposes of record keeping and the effective implementation of Part 2 of Chapter 2 of the PSR, 2016, irrespective of her or his salary level. This category includes Ethics Officers, officials with delegated authority pertaining to the eDisclosure system and officials who perform verification functions. (1-20 June 2020)

•

Employees appointed at Salary Level 11, including employees earning the equivalent of Salary Level 11 through the OSD (1-24 July 2020)

•

Employees employed in Supply Chain Management and Finance Units irrespective of their salary levels (1-24 July 2020)

•

New employees appointed in the above categories (up to 30 days after assumption of duty.)

For further assistance, you may contact Mr Umzuvele Hlophe: 078 434 6899 or Ms Nqobile Bembe: 072 886 2129 .

SUBMISSION OF EMPLOYEES ANNUAL PERFORMANCE AGREEMENTS The date for the submission of employees 2020/21 annual performance agreements was revised, 31 July 2020 is the new deadline. The heads of units are requested to coordinate the submission of signed employees’ performance agreements to the branch heads (DDGs offices) by this deadline.

From: Chief Directorate of Human Capital Management

FACE MASKS AVAILABLE FOR EMPLOYEES Please be advised that employees cloth face masks are now available. Each employeee will be issued two face masks From: Directorate of Facilities and Security Management

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Mr Isaac Kambule

15 June Ms Mokgonari Matsetela 15 June Ms Tsholofelo Nokeri 16 June Ms Debora Mkhonza 16 June Mr Thomas Kolokoto 16 June Mr Gezani Shirindi 17 June Ms Iris Chokwe

18 June Mr Vhutali Tshilongo 18 June Ms Edelweiss Fourie 18 June Ms Pandelani Mugwedi 19 June Ms Boitumelo Diale 22 June Mr Kabelo Shikwane 22 June Ms Lydia Tshabalala 22 June Ms Mmakgotso Mogakane 24 June Ms Khathutshelo Mavhungu 24 June Mr Selby Mogakane 26 June Ms Yolande Geddes 27 June Ms Boitumelo Mahumapelo 28 June Ms Megan Louw

28 June Dr Anton Snyman

29 June Mr Malesela Lediga 20 June Mr Mathibela Mahlaela 30 June Ms Kerileng Dikobe 01 July Mr Sibongile Douglas 01 July Mr William Nyoffu

05 July Ms Ane Bruwer

05 July Mr Makgatle Jackals 06 July Mr Godfrey Matjila

07 July Mr Shadrack Chauke 07 July Mr Thabang Molapo 07 July Ms Lerato Thwane 09 July Mr Justice Mohlala 10 July Ms Shanti Coetzer 12 July Mr Thato Khaha

12 July Ms Rhoda Maponya 13 July Ms Dineo Legadima 14 July Ms Linda Leseane

14 July Ms Vespa Mabitsi 15 July Mr David Madurai 15 July

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News

MUNICIPALITIES RISE TO THE OCCASION IN THE FIGHT AGAINST COVID-19 - By Nkanyiso Ndadane

The South African Local Government Association (SALGA) recently briefed Parliament’s CoGTA portfolio committee about local government’s response and contribution to the country’s management of the COVID-19 outbreak.

Following the recording of the first Coronavirus case in South Africa and the subsequent declaration of the state of national disaster, the responsibility fell on local government sector to rise to the occasion and supporting the country’s effort to manage the pandemic.

By the end of April 2020, municipalities had already contributed 2381 water tankers out of 20 326 allocated by government in communities across the country to promote access to water for frequent washing of hands to reduce the spread of the Coronavirus.

The CoGTA directives required municipalities to also support government’s plan to identify quarantine facilities. A total of 57 facilities had been identified by the end of April, with an additional 166 shelters which accommodated 13 695 homeless people who were taken off the streets in line with the national lockdown Minister Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma issued the regulations. directives placing municipalities at the centre of government’s strategy to contain and minimise Municipalities further partnered with other the spread of the Coronavirus through social sectors in educating communities about the distancing, hygiene etiquette and the wearing of Coronavirus through various radio and social face masks in public. media campaigns. This was coupled with other on-going efforts such collaboration with other The local government association told sectors to decontaminate and disinfect public Parliament that despite the national lockdown, amenities including taxi ranks and high traffic municipalities ensured continued and public spaces. uninterrupted provission of essential services such as primary health services; disaster and SALGA told Parliament that these efforts have emergency services; water distribution; waste ,however, put extra strain on municipal finances management; and electricity supply. which threaten their sustainability.

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News

MISA DIGS COMMUNITY BOREHOLES TO SUPPORT ACCESS TO WATER DURING COVID-19 - By Nkanyiso Ndadane

The Municipal Infrastructure Support Agency (MISA) committed R95- million to bolster municipalities’ efforts to accelerate the provision of water to communities during the COVID-19 pandemic.

• 7 in Eastern Cape (Ngquza Hill and Ubuhle local municipalities); and

MISA identified areas through out the country where it is building and refurbishing additional community boreholes to support the municipalities to meet the increased demand for access to water for good community hygiene practices. Frequent washing of hands is central to government‘s message to curb a rapid spread of the Coronavirus.

MISA has further secured partnership with other institutions to speed up construction of more water boreholes. Through the partnership with Tirisano Construction Fund, the agency is in the process of appointing contractors to deliver 26 more water boreholes in KZN and four in Gauteng.

Through this initiative, 24 boreholes have already been completed and handed over to the community of New Castle while construction projects of a several more are near completion in other parts of the country. These are:

Several parts of the country are experiencing water shortages due to less than optimal state of water infrastructure and the on-going drought which resulted in the declaration of the national state of disaster by the National Disaster Management Centre recently.

• 2 in Northern municipality).

Cape

(David

Kruiper

The partnership between MISA and the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) The boreholes projects are an additional support intended to lessen the burden on will deliver more water boreholes and support municipalities who find themselves under the fixing of water infrastructure in North West, pressure to supply water while the country is Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Free State and the Eastern Cape. reeling from the crippling drought.

• 21 in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN);

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News

GOVERNEMNT ADJUSTS LOCKDOWN REGULATIONS TO ALLOW MORE BUSINESSES - By Nkanyiso Ndadane

After two weeks into the adjusted national lockdown Alert level 3 which allowed more businesses to start operating, the government has recently announced that restaurants will now expand their services to allow sit-ins and the personal care sector will also start operating.

Under the current regulations, restuarants had been allowed to do food deliveries and takeaways.

on the challenge to restrict personal care sector businesses, Minister Dlamini Zuma announced via her twitter account that government was working closely with this industry.

“ We explained to court that Cabinet is finalising directions which were developed in consultation with the sector, these directions will allow the In the past week, Minister Dlamini Zuma said sector to resume operating under strict health government was working with the relevant sectors protocols,” said Minister Dlamini Zuma. to determine strict protocols that would be put in place to allow these sectors to operate without In the latest Cabinet meeting of 10 June 2020, undermining government’s efforts to stop the the Cabinet received the new recommendations spread of the Coronavirus. from the National Coronavirus Command Council The Department of Cooperative Governance to allow more sectors to open for business. issued the Disaster Management Act Regulations The Cabinet clarified that a decision on the to put into effect the directives aimed at managing the COVID-19 pandemic which was declared a recommendations would be made after a full national disaster through the act. health assessment report from the Ministerial Several parties have since challenged the Health Advisory Committee on COVID-19. regulations and some of its directives in court.

Meanwhile, government is preparing to appeal The latest court challenge regards the restriction the Gauteng Division of the High Court judgment on personal care businesses under the current which declared the national lockdown Alert Level 3 national lockdown Alert level 3. and 4 regulations invalid and directed the minister After the government’s appearance in court to amend them.

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TRENDING STORY

GOVERNMENT WARNS OF RISING GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE INCIDENTS - By Nkanyiso Ndadane

The high-profiled discovery of two bodies of murdered women in Soweto and Pretoria this month highlighted the unrelenting scourge of gender-based violence and femicide which the Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities said was on an increase since the national lockdown started.

Mutilated dead body of a woman in Eersterus, Pretoria was found with stab wounds in the past weekend, allegedly stabbed by her boyfriend.

Another dead body of an eight-months pregnant Soweto woman, Tshegofatso Pule, was found hanging from a tree in an open field with stab wounds.

In the wake of the increasing violence against women, the government has re-iterated its committment to eradicate the scourge of genderbased violence and femicide in the country. A special call has been made to all men to have a deep introspection about their attitude and behaviour towards women.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has committed ministers and deputy ministers to engage community leaders on gender-based violence during their COVID-19 community outreach deployment.

which resulted to an Emergency Response Action Plan with a budget of R1,6 billion to guide the work of government and civil society in this area.

The interim steering committee driving this work has developed the National Strategic Plan on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide which was submitted to the president in April 2020.

The plan seeks to expand gender-based violence survivors’ access to justice; change the social norms and behavior; strengthen economic opportunities for women; and advocate for accountability.

Sector Emergency Response Action Plan •

The clearing of backlogs at forensic laboratories related to GBVF and especially sexual assault;

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The hiring of additional staff for sexual offences courts, Thuthuzela Care Centres and Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Investigations Units;

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The procurement of evidence-collection kits (paediatric rape kits, adult rape kits and buccal sample kits); and Behaviour-change interventions to influence changed behaviour for men and boys, while involving all sectors of society;

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The establishment of at least one shelter per province to accommodate people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual, intersex or queer;

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The immediate roll-out of training on victim-centric, survivor-focused services, with a specific drive to train police, prosecutors, magistrates and policymakers;

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The establishment of a GBVF Fund for rapid response to assist survivors at the community level, including access to justice through Legal Aid.

Government recently hosted the Presidential Gender-based Violence and Femicide Summit 9

HEALTH AND WELLNESS

What to know about seasonal influenza Influenza or “the flu�, is an illness caused by seasonal influenza viruses.

These viruses are spread from one person to another.

How to recognize the flu?

Sudden high fever

Headache

Cough or sore throat

Muscle pain

What to do when you have the flu?

Cover your cough or sneeze with your arm/elbow or tissue

Wash your hands Get plenty of rest frequently

Drink plenty of water and eat nutritious food

Seek medical advice if you are not getting better or if you are in a high risk group

Do you have a health and welness topic of special interest to you ? Send an e-mail and tell us all about it, we will feature it in this page: NkanyisoN@cogta.gov.za 10

POLICYICT /GUIDELINE

What is Microsoft

?

- By Chief Directorate of ICT

OneDrive is a cloud storage service from Microsoft that allows you to store all your important files securely in one place and then access them virtually anywhere.

It allows you to : • Create a document on your computer and edit it on your laptop. You do not need to email it to yourself or save a copy to a flash drive.

• Share files with others.

• Collaborate with other users on your Office documents at the same time.

• You can get to files and photos from anywhere.

How to set up OneDrive on Windows 10?

Setting up OneDrive on your PC is easy. Here’s how: • Open Start.

• Search OneDrive and, click the top result.

• Using the setup experience, enter your email address (e.g DudleyP@cogta.gov.za) • Click the Sign in button.

• Enter your Microsoft account password (This is the password that you use to login to your computer at the office).

• Click the Sign in button.

• Click through the welcome tips.

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Ethics Corner

A LESSON IN ETHICS

- By Directorate of Risk Management

Ethics is about distinguishing between what is morally right and wrong with the purpose of doing what is right. If one has the ability to distinguish between right and wrong, but chooses NOT to do what is right, this conduct can be described as unethical. Let’s look at the two scenarios below:

Scenario 1: Bohlale one of the officials in the department has been approached by Company XYZ LTD to perform research work on a part time basis.

This will provide an opportunity to earn an extra income. Before making a final decision, Bohlale recalls that section 30 of the Public Service Act requires him to obtain approval before he performs other remunerative work for somebody else other than the department .

He quickly consults the Human Capital Management Unit to obtain the necessary forms, duly completes the application and wait for approval before making a decision and commencing with the work.

Scenario 2: Palesa another official within the department is selling ladies handbags and perfumes to employees during tea and lunch breaks to earn extra income.

The bags are beautiful and sell fast, the demand increases monthly and as a result, she has now developed a brochure for her customers using the department’s computer and a printer.

Some of her customers even call during office hours, to place orders or make arrangements to pay for the products.

In your view, which scenario is ethical or unethical and why? Share your thoughts and we will publish them in the next issue of this magazine, e-mail NkanyisoN@cogta.gov.za.

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