The Government Employees Medical Scheme (GEMS) concluded its 2024 Annual Symposium under the theme, “Innovate, Integrate, Accelerate: A Universal Health Coverage Commitment.” The Symposium brought together thought leaders from healthcare, policy, and technology sectors, all united in their mission to address the barriers to healthcare access and accelerate South Africa’s progress toward Universal Health Coverage (UHC). The post Government Employees Medical Scheme (GEMS) Advocates for Universal Health Coverage and Healthcare Transformation appeared first on Public Sector Leaders ..read more

Legal Matters – A Guide To Trusts (Trust Funds) By Jessie Taylor Trusts are a popular way for South Africans to protect their assets for their loved ones. Many people opt for a trust as a form of estate planning to ensure their beneficiaries get the most value from their estate. A trust (sometimes referred to as a trust fund) is a formal transfer of assets via a legal document to a trustee. The trustee is instructed to hold the assets for the benefit of the beneficiaries. One or more trustees can be appointed to administer the trust. The main reason for setting up a trust is to protect your e ..read more

The National Youth Service Programme The National Youth Service Programme (NYSP) is a government initiative aimed at engaging South African youth in community service activities to strengthen service delivery, promote nation-building, foster social cohesion and to assist the youth to acquire occupational skills necessary to access sustainable livelihood opportunities. The National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) provides a secretarial function to the National Youth Service, which is the single largest service programme for young people in the country. The NYDA was established to address chall ..read more

NYP Aims to Tackle SA’s Unemployment Challenge By Fiona Wakelin & Leonie Hall The National Youth Policy 2020-2030 (NYP 2030) is cross-sectoral and aimed at effecting positive youth development outcomes for young people at local, provincial, and national levels in South Africa. It has been developed by the Department of Women, Youth and People with Disabilities in collaboration with multiple stakeholders; the Policy’s intention is to redress the injustices of the past and deal decisively with the new challenges the youth are facing. The NYP 2030 builds on South Africa’s first and second NY ..read more

Regional Focus – Western Cape Government Aiming To Become The First Province Without Load Shedding By Jessie Taylor Several projects have been rolled out to support the Western Cape Government’s efforts to become the first province without load shedding. In support of that goal, the provincial government has implemented numerous initiatives to increase the energy resilience of government facilities and small businesses. Hundreds of healthcare facilities, schools, and businesses have been supported by interventions such as solar power, with around a third of the country’s Small-Scale Embedded ..read more

How To Spend Youth Day 2024 – Celebrating A Turn in History By Naledi Mokoena Youth Day is an opportunity to remember and celebrate the sacrifices of a brave collective of over 20 000 students, who stood up for freedom during the 1976 Soweto uprising. There are various ways to commemorate this historic event – from street festivals, to visiting a local museum, music events and art exhibitions. Here are some suggestions: Visit Historical Sites and Musems: Hector Pieterson Musuem Named after one of the first casualties of the protest on 16 June 1976, the Hector Pieterson museum is an essential ..read more

The Latest on Maternity and Paternity Leave By Naledi Mokoena In a progressive workplace, parental leave is a crucial factor which supports the welfare of families and employees. Shared parental leave is gradually gaining recognition across Africa, however many countries still lack paid paternity leave. The global average according to the World Economic Forum stands at 21 days compared to 191 days for maternity leave. According to the Top Employers Institute, parental leave refers to time allocated to parents to take care of their new infant or newly adopted child, for the purpose of parents ..read more

Latest Developments on The AfCFTA By Jessie Taylor South Africa launched its trade under the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) with the first shipment dispatched at the start of the year. This follows the publication in the Government Gazette of the terms under which South Africa will participate in the new free trade agreement. South Africa is among 12 countries to have finalised their legal modalities that will enable the trade of thousands of product lines, ranging from food and beverages to steel products and equipment, taxis, pharmaceutical and personal care products, che ..read more

IEC Prepares for Fair and Free Elections By Jessie Taylor As South Africans head to the polls later this month, the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has said that it is prepared for the country’s seventh democratic election. The elections will take place on Wednesday 29 May and more than 27.79 million voters – the highest since the dawn of democracy in South Africa, are eligible to cast their votes in the 2024 National and Provincial Elections. In preparation for the elections, the IEC has begun printing the ballot papers and has unveiled details such as security plans and the process f ..read more

Hon. Nkadimeng – Developing a Good Story By Koketso Mamabolo Our immediate task at hand is to up the ante and herald a new sense of urgency in how we have been working,” said Honourable Thembi Nkadimeng, who was announced as the new Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) in March 2023 as part of President Ramaphosa’s cabinet reshuffle. She was speaking at the CoGTA’s first staff meeting, in early May, following her appointment along with Deputy Ministers Hon. Parks Tau (Department of Cooperative Governance) and Hon. Prince Burns-Ncamashe (Department of Traditional ..read more