Latest news with #Buthelezi
The Citizen
6 hours ago
- Climate
- The Citizen
KZN ready to tackle weather threats during Comrades Marathon
KZN Cogta is ready to respond to weather emergencies as thousands gather for the Comrades Marathon this weekend. The KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta), Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi, has assured the public that the department is prepared to respond to any weather-related challenges this week. As KZN welcomes thousands of Comrades Marathon runners, the MEC said that public safety remains the department's top priority. Comrades Marathon weather warnings The South African Weather Service (Saws) has warned runners to expect predominantly mild to warm and windy conditions, with partly cloudy to cloudy skies. 'However, runners should be aware of a cool change in the weather later in the day when a coastal low and cold front are expected to move northwards up the KwaZulu-Natal coast, introducing colder, more moist conditions to the coast and adjacent interior,' Saws warned. There will also be a risk of showers or thunderstorms developing over the Drakensberg, spreading to the coast in the evening. ALSO READ: Comrades Marathon: Top five men's and women's contenders Amid weather warnings, KZN Cogta announced that it has mobilised disaster management teams to ensure a coordinated response. 'Our teams will be closely monitoring routes starting from today, especially as runners on Sunday and spectators begin their journeys from Sunday evening after the conclusion of the race,' Buthelezi said in a briefing on Friday. KZN's preparations The MEC outlined the province's preparations for the Comrades Marathon, including stockpiling relief supplies such as blankets, mattresses, and non-perishable foods. Buthelezi emphasised that provincial centres and public facilities stand ready to provide temporary shelter. He also urged road users to exercise caution due to the forecasted weather conditions. Municipalities will monitor road conditions and announce closures and traffic redirects if necessary. ALSO READ: Here's when snow could fall in your province 'Our social partners are also ready to deploy relief to strategically identified high-risk areas, especially along major travel routes,' the MEC said. Buthelezi explained that the focus extends beyond the immediate cold front to the broader winter season, with a well-developed and regularly updated winter contingency plan. Winter plan The province's plan includes conducting proactive risk assessments to identify areas most vulnerable to winter disasters such as floods, heavy snowfall, and extreme cold. The MEC affirmed the provincial government's commitment to ensuring the safety and resilience of communities throughout the winter season. 'We have immense confidence in our dedicated disaster management teams and our valued partners who work tirelessly to mitigate the impact of severe weather,' he said. NOW READ: Five tips for novices from Comrades Marathon legend Louis Massyn
IOL News
13 hours ago
- Climate
- IOL News
Comrades Marathon 2025: MEC Buthelezi's action plan for extreme weather conditions
Runners taking part in the 2019 Comrades Marathon. Image: Leon Lestrade / Independent Media As thousands of runners and spectators make their way home after the 98th edition of the Comrades Marathon, KwaZulu-Natal Cogta MEC Thulasizwe Buthelezi has announced a comprehensive action plan in preparation for a cold front expected to sweep across the province. Beginning Sunday evening and lasting through Tuesday, the cold front threatens to bring extreme weather conditions, impacting not just the participants of the 89.98km down run from Pietermaritzburg to Durban, but also residents and motorists across the region. Scheduled to begin with two start times at 5.45am and 6am at Pietermaritzburg City Hall, the Comrades Marathon down run will conclude 12 hours later near Durban's People's Park. In a special briefing held on Friday, MEC Buthelezi relayed critical information from the South African Weather Service (Saws), highlighting that KZN is among eight provinces predicted to experience disruptive snowfall, particularly affecting traffic flow over mountain passes like the N3 highway at Van Reenen's Pass. The MEC said strong, damaging surface winds are expected over large parts that may cause a high risk of wildfires, especially in grazing land and densely populated areas. 'These extreme conditions will persist across various parts of our province, with strong winds expected along the coast until Tuesday.' Buthelezi said as the department responsible for disaster management in the province, it is important to provide an update on the state of preparedness for the extreme weather conditions expected over the weekend as the hosts of thousands of runners and spectators for the Comrades Marathon. He said soon after receiving alerts from Saws, all disaster management centres were activated to ensure a coordinated response and issued the early warning notifications. 'As a department, we would like to reassure all runners, spectators, visitors, businesses, motorists, and residents that our disaster management teams are fully prepared to respond to any incidents that may result from the extreme weather.' Buthelezi said the Joint Operations Cluster (JOC), comprising law enforcement agencies, emergency services, municipalities, and social partners, has also been activated. 'Our teams will be closely monitoring all routes, especially as runners and spectators begin their return journeys from Sunday evening after the conclusion of the race.' The MEC said the department is relieved that Saws has forecast predominantly mild to warm and windy conditions with partly cloudy to cloudy skies for the duration of the Comrades Marathon itself. He added that through the department's partnerships with non-governmental organisations, the private sector, and sister departments, relief supplies including blankets, mattresses, and non-perishable food items have been stockpiled. All centres and public facilities stand prepared to offer temporary shelter should the need arise, he stated. Buthelezi appealed to all road users to exercise extreme caution this weekend, especially when driving in windy, rainy, or snowy conditions. 'Municipalities will continue to monitor road conditions, and where necessary, closures will be announced, with traffic redirected to safer routes. Our social partners are also ready to deploy relief to strategically identified high-risk areas, especially along major travel routes.' Saws stated on Thursday that while these predominantly mild to warm and windy conditions are expected during the race, runners should be aware of a cool change in the weather later in the day, when a coastal low and cold front are expected to move northwards up the KwaZulu-Natal coast, introducing colder, more moist conditions to the coast and adjacent interior. 'Moreover, there will be a risk of showers or thunderstorms developing over the Drakensberg, spreading to the coast in the evening,' warned Saws. The MEC said the department is not only responding to an immediate cold front but also extending the focus to the broader winter season, encompassing all potential eventualities.
TimesLIVE
14 hours ago
- Climate
- TimesLIVE
KZN disaster management teams on alert for disruptive snow on N3 after Comrades Marathon
Disaster management teams have been activated in KwaZulu-Natal to respond to rain and extreme cold conditions expected at the weekend, and snowfall predicted on Monday. KwaZulu-Natal Cogta MEC Thulasizwe Buthelezi urged residents to be vigilant for inclement weather predicted from Sunday, adding department teams had been prepped for disaster management protocols. Buthelezi said: 'This is particularly important for our province as we are hosting thousands of runners and spectators for the Comrades Marathon between Pietermaritzburg and Durban on Sunday. 'According to information from the SA Weather Service, KwaZulu-Natal will begin experiencing extreme cold weather from Sunday night through to Tuesday. The province has also been cited as one of eight where disruptive snowfall is expected, which may affect traffic flow over mountain passes, particularly the N3 highway at Van Reenen's Pass, from Monday to Tuesday,' he said. 'Strong, damaging surface winds are expected over large parts of the province that may cause a high risk of wildfires, specially in grazing land and densely populated areas. The extreme conditions will persist across parts of our province, with strong winds expected along the coast until Tuesday. 'As a department, we would like to reassure all runners, spectators, visitors, businesses, motorists and residents that our disaster management teams are fully prepared to respond to any incidents that may result from the extreme weather.
IOL News
14 hours ago
- Climate
- IOL News
KZN Cogta MEC prepares for extreme weather challenges during Comrades Marathon
SIGCINIWE Cold front forecasted for Comrades Marathon weekend: What you need to know. The KwaZulu-Natal Cooperative Governance & Traditional Affairs (Cogta) MEC Thulasizwe Buthelezi has confirmed that the province is ready to deal with the cold front this weekend which will affect the 98th Comrades Marathon. On Friday, Buthelezi said that after receiving alerts from the South African Weather Service (Saws) on Thursday, disaster management centres were activated to ensure a coordinated response and issue the early warning notifications. Saws predicted very cold weather in KZN starting Sunday evening and lasting until Tuesday. The province was also mentioned as one of eight provinces where disruptive snowfall is likely. "As a department, we would like to reassure all runners, spectators, visitors, businesses, motorists and residents that our disaster management teams are fully prepared to respond to any incidents that may result from the extreme weather," said the MEC.
The Citizen
2 days ago
- Business
- The Citizen
More than R140 million in salaries paid to suspended government employees
National departments paid nearly R51 million to suspended government employees, while provincial departments spent more than R90 million in the 2024/25 financial year. Government has paid more than R140 million in salaries to employees who have been placed on precautionary suspension during the 2024/25 financial year. This is according to public Service and Administration Minister Mzamo Buthelezi, who was accounting to the National Assembly during the Governance Cluster question and answer session on Wednesday. Buthelezi said as of the end of the fourth quarter of the 2024/25 financial year, national departments paid R50 945 064 to the suspended employees while provincial departments spent R90 469 562. The minister was responding to Al Jama-ah member of parliament (MP) Shameemah Salie, who had asked what the current estimated total cost of ghost employees and suspended employees on the payroll of government was. Ghost employee audit still incomplete Salie also asked what work had been done prior to the Budget Speech to recover funds lost from paying fraudulent salaries. Buthelezi said the total cost associated with ghost workers had not yet been determined. 'This cost will only become known once a comprehensive employee verification process across public service has been completed and the financial implications accurately calculated,' he said. 'However, the Department of Public Service and Administration and National Treasury are jointly leading this exercise, and once the report is finalised it will be shared with the relevant parliamentary committee and this house.' Salie further said the issue of ghost workers had been an ongoing battle for decades and had resulted in millions being lost per yearly. ALSO READ: Gauteng health freezes 66 salaries in ghost employee crackdown 'We urge the minister and all relevant departments to ensure an audit across government and to provide frequent feedback on findings surrounding ghost workers, prosecution of and recovery of funds from these entities,' Salie sad. Buthelezi defends 'bloated' public service wage bill ANC MP Pumelele Ndamase asked what the overall impact of ghost workers was, in which departments they were mostly found and whether Buthelezi's department is actually aware of how ghost employees end up being in the employ of the state. The public service is often accused of being bloated, Ndamase said, while simultaneously struggling to meet the demand of South Africans. In response, the minister said while it is widely believed that the public service wage bill is too high, the department has a different view. 'We do have many vacant posts in the department and many departments who are struggling to even employ because they have a shortage of staff members, because the government cannot afford to pay their salaries,' Buthelezi said. 'So, the issue of a bloated public service wage bill is not necessarily the case, but we do appreciate the fact that we view that as such because our economy is not growing at the rate that it should.' He said the challenges of the country's stagnant economic growth had a bearing on the expenditure where public employees are concerned. Thorough investigation With regard to the departments affected by ghost employees, Buthelezi repeated that there were currently no statistics, but the department is engaged in a thorough investigation. Before posing his question, Rise Mzansi's Stanford Makashule Gana Minister said the 'ghost employees' should be referred to appropriately – public servants who 'give themselves more than one salary'. ALSO READ: R6 million in salaries paid to ghost workers in Mpumalanga 'Trigger-happy managers' Gana finally asked if the Buthelezi's department is considering attaching cost orders to managers who are trigger happy and quick to suspend public servants who don't deserve to be suspended. 'As a department, when it comes to managers who simply suspend employees willy-nilly, we have come up with a directive that says whenever there is an employee that is alleged to have committed a particular offence, instead of suspending that person and continuously get a salary, that person must be transferred to another department or unit,' Buthelezi responded. He said he was not aware of public servants earning more than one salary and that the department is putting systems in place to curb wastage. Redundancy audit Heloise Denner, FF Plus MP, asked if the department had considered or assessed the feasibility of implementing an audit to identify redundant posts within the public service in order to reduce costs. In response, the minister said the department is already putting systems in place to deal with redundancy. He said that the departments need to first consult the Department of Public Services and Administration whenever there's a post to fill. '[This is so that] we look into whether or not there is a need for that particular post or if it means they redefine their organogram,' Buthelezi said. '[They must] also consult with National Treasury to see that there are funds available so that we prevent departments from employing people for posts which do not add any value into the system,' he added. NOW READ: 'It's a scam': Mbalula says Prasa's ghost workers saga to be referred for criminal investigations
