Publisher

Growing up in rural Transkei, where one of her chores was to tend to the garden daily before going to school, female farmer Fezeka Mkile did not see farming as a future career path until she got insight into the business side of it later in life.

The Department of Health will soon conclude a preliminary report that will document the health status of a nationally representative segment of South Africa’s population.

Director-General Malenona Precious Matsotso said the report will be compiled following a survey that the department conducted to inform policy and government programmes based on a number of health factors, including the management of non-communicable diseases.

South Africa has made significant strides in expanding access and improving the quality of health services, promoting healthy lifestyles and building a strong public health sector over the past year.

Department of Health Director-General Malenona Precious Matsotso says that prevention is the mainstay of efforts to combat HIV and Aids.

Since the introduction of the HIV Counselling and Testing (HCT) campaign in 2010, over 44 million people have been tested.

“A total of 11 898 308 people between the ages of 15 and 49 were tested [over the past year], exceeding the annual target of 10 million.”

International relations

South Africa and Kenya have agreed to create an enabling environment to ease the conditions for doing business between the two countries.

Major construction companies will collectively contribute R1.5 billion over 12 years to a fund that will be established for socio-economic development.

“The objective of the fund will be the development, enhancement and transformation of the industry, as well as the promotion of social infrastructure for all South Africans,” Economic Development Minister Ebrahim Patel said.

Makhosazana Sambo has grown a small business operating from her backyard to a commercial undertaking that supplies produce to big retail stores across the country.

Before Sambo started Ikhwezi Vegetable and Poultry she was unemployed for more than five years.

Minister Ebrahim Patel is the Minister of Economic Development of the Republic of South Africa, a position he has held since 11 May 2009.

About the Minister

Minister Patel has extensive experience in labour law and has been active in labour movements and social dialogue institutions.

Government is delivering on its commitment to ensure that South African learners have access to quality education in modern facilities to help transform education in townships.

Advertorial

Legal Aid South Africa is making significant progress in ensuring that more South Africans have access to justice.