Latest news with #blackAfrican
IOL News
26-05-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Whites still dominate top jobs in South Africa
The statistics contained in the 2025 Commission for Employment Equity (CEE) annual report forms part of the Department of Employment and Labour's basis to forge ahead with legislative amendments despite pushback from opposition parties, in particular the DA. Image: Leon Lestrade/ Independent Newspapers WHITES are eight times their Economically Active Population (EAP) at top management, while the black African population representation at just 18.0% is four times below their EAP. The white population in top management represents 61.1%, Indians 11.9% (four times their EAP) and Coloureds 6.2% while foreign nationals make for 2.8% at this occupational level. The statistics contained in the 2025 Commission for Employment Equity (CEE) annual report forms part of the Department of Employment and Labour's basis to forge ahead with legislative amendments despite pushback from opposition parties, in particular the DA. The party has confirmed it will legally challenge the government's attempt to narrow this inequality, which the department maintains does not bode well for the future sustainable economic growth of the country. 'Despite 31 years of democracy and progressive transformative legislation, there remains a need for further transformation and equality in the workplace. Diversity and inclusivity for all those persons previously disadvantaged in the workplace must now be heard, seen and felt. 'Moving forward, radical measures must be taken to capitalise on the opportunities in the workplace by developing, recruiting and promoting persons from the designated groups,' read the report. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Part of this includes amending the Employment Equity EE (Act), with a view of introducing a provision that allows for the setting of five-year sector targets. Speaking at a recent workshop in East London, the department's employment equity director, Ntsoaki Mamashela said: 'We have had more than enough engagement and consultation on the setting of sector numerical EE targets with various sector stakeholders, including through the publication of two sets of Draft EE Regulations on proposed sector EE targets for public comment in May 2023 and February 2024, respectively.' 'Let us give sector targets a chance to be implemented, and after five years we will review progress,' Mamashela said. The CEE report also shows that male representation remained dominant at the top management level, which is more than two-and-a-half times the female representation. Males are over represented in terms of their EAP (53.9%) and females are under-represented in terms of their EAP (46.1%). Only Africans and Coloureds are below their EAP in the private sector at this occupational level. The representation of the African population group (74.6%) is slightly below their EAP in government, while in the private sector the African representation continues to lag behind (14.7%) at top management level.
Daily Mirror
23-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mirror
Nose bleed sufferers told it can be sign of deadly condition
The organisation has released a warning, urging people to get checked to avoid potentially serious health problems The British Heart Foundation (BHF) is warning people who get nose bleeds that it could be a sign of fatal condition. Urging people to get their blood pressure checked, they explain that high blood pressure (hypertension) is very common. But even though it is common, it can put you at risk of "life-threatening complications like heart attack and stroke" - and knowing the signs can help prevent this. What is high blood pressure? Blood pressure is all about the pressure of blood in your arteries. Your arteries are the vessels (tubes) that carry blood from your heart to your brain and the rest of your body. Whilst we need some pressure to get our blood flowing, too much is an issue. The heart experts explain: "Your blood pressure naturally goes up and down throughout the day and night, and it's normal for it to go up while you're moving about. It's when your overall blood pressure is always high, even when you are resting, that you need to do something about it." What are the symptoms of high blood pressure? The BHF warns that hypertension has no "obvious symptoms" and "people don't know they have high blood pressure" because of this and "that's why it's so important to get your blood pressure checked regularly", they warn. Talking about some signs to look out for, they note: "Rarely, it can cause symptoms like blurred vision, headaches and nose bleeds." What are the risks of high blood pressure? "High blood pressure is a serious condition", the experts warn. Your arteries are naturally flexible, allowing them to adjust as your blood pressure rises and falls. However, when you have high blood pressure, they can lose this flexibility, becoming stiff or narrowed. They add: "This narrowing makes it easier for fatty material (atheroma) to build up. This narrowing and damage to the arteries lining your heart or brain could trigger a life-threatening heart attack or stroke." Changes in your diet and increasing activity levels will help improve your blood pressure. But if left untreated, high blood pressure can also lead to complications such as: kidney failure heart failure problems with your sight vascular dementia You might be more at risk if you: are over the age of 65 have someone in your family with high blood pressure are someone who smokes drink too much alcohol eat too much salt and not enough fruit and vegetables don't get enough exercise are overweight, especially around your mid-section. living in deprived areas people who are of black African or black Caribbean descent For some people, a cause of high blood pressure is found. This is known as 'secondary hypertension'. Examples of secondary hypertension include: kidney disease diabetes a condition called obstructive sleep apnoea, which can lead to disturbed sleep some medicines, such as oral contraceptives some over-the-counter and herbal medicines Free blood pressure check - are you eligible? If you're a healthy adult aged 40 to 74, and live in England or Wales, you'll be invited to a free NHS Health Check every 5 years, which will include a blood pressure check. You can also check your blood pressure at home. In England, a scheme called Blood Pressure @home is in place to support people with this, which you can ask your GP about. There is also a similar scheme in Scotland called the Scale-Up BP initiative. What are healthy or normal blood pressure readings? There are two categories of normal blood pressure: Normal blood pressure: Usually considered to be between 90/60 mmHg and 120/80 mmHg. For over-80s, because it's normal for arteries to get stiffer as we get older, the ideal blood pressure is under 150/90 mmHg (or 145/85 mmHg at home) High-normal blood pressure: Sometimes called 'pre-hypertension', this is when you don't have an ideal blood pressure but you also don't have high blood pressure. It's usually considered to be between 120/80 mmHg and 140/90 mmHg. Being at this level might prompt you to live a healthier lifestyle so you don't develop high blood pressure
IOL News
22-05-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Dr Iqbal Survé Calls for Digital-Driven Youth Employment at Future of Jobs Summit
Sekunjalo Group chairman Dr Iqbal Survé delivered a passionate and personal address at the 2025 Future of Jobs Summit held at the DP World Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg on 22 May. Image: Itumeleng English Independent Newspapers Sekunjalo Group chairman Dr Iqbal Survé delivered a passionate and personal address at the 2025 Future of Jobs Summit held at the DP World Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg on Thursday. Speaking alongside civic and business leaders, including Johannesburg Mayor Dada Morero, FNB South Africa's Head of Marketing Katlego Mahloane, and Gauteng Legislature's Dulton Keith Adams, Dr Survé used the platform to spotlight the role of technology and media in combating South Africa's youth unemployment crisis. Receiving a warm welcome from delegates, Dr Survé veered off-script at moments to share anecdotes from his journey — from a young medical doctor to leading a multi-billion-rand conglomerate with over 8 000 employees. Half of them, he proudly noted, are black African youth under 35. 'Sekunjalo doesn't just talk about youth empowerment — we live it, breathe it, and invest in it daily,' he told the audience. 'This is why today's conversation isn't theoretical for us. It's practical. It's urgent.'Dr Survé highlighted Sekunjalo's investments across energy, media, ICT, e-commerce, and telecommunications, and drew attention to the group's philanthropic work supporting youth entrepreneurship and education through Survé Philanthropies. Focusing on the summit's core theme — jobs for the future — Survé zeroed in on digital transformation. He shared the inspiring story of Thato Joseph Mashifane, a young man from Dennilton in Limpopo who, after losing his job, turned to TikTok with a comedic character named "Sis Maria." With just a smartphone, broomstick, and a laptop, Mashifane has built a social media empire with over 1.3 million TikTok followers, turning content creation into a sustainable career.'This is the power of media and technology,' said Survé. 'If one young South African can rewrite his future with a smartphone and passion, imagine what millions could achieve.' Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ The summit comes amid sobering statistics. Youth unemployment among South Africans aged 15-24 has surged to 62.4%, according to Statistics South Africa's latest social profile report. Survé called the figure not just alarming, but morally unacceptable. 'That number represents more than 4.8 million young people waking up without economic dignity or hope.'Still, he urged delegates to view the demographic youth bulge not as a crisis, but as South Africa's greatest opportunity. 'With 37% of our population under 20, we must act now. We must harness the global digital economy as a launchpad for youth transformation.' Referencing Deloitte and Business Research Company reports, Dr Survé outlined booming sectors — including AI, media tech, gaming, and cybersecurity — that are generating millions of jobs globally.' Are we preparing students for jobs that don't yet exist, using technologies we haven't invented, to solve problems we don't even know about yet?' he asked, quoting U.S. Secretary Richard Riley. 'I choose to believe we are.' Closing his speech to applause, Survé reiterated his call for stronger collaboration between the private and public sectors to scale tech-driven opportunities. 'Our youth are not liabilities. They are our single greatest asset. Let's give them the tools, the platforms, and the belief to rise. 'The summit, led by Dr Nik Eberl of The Future Leader Forum, continues this week with a series of innovation labs and youth-led panels exploring solutions for job creation in South Africa's digital era.
Daily Maverick
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Maverick
From apartheid silence to today's hatred – shame on the politicians
Kaax supports the families seeking justice for apartheid-era crimes. Justice and truth are necessary for building a better and fairer South Africa. Today, we are witnessing a toxic resurgence of hatred in our society. On social media platforms, in public discourse and in township struggles, the violence of apartheid appears to be resurrected in the manner in which we demonise the poor, predominantly black migrants through institutionalised xenophobia and open hatred. This must be located in the global context of the re-election of Donald Trump as president of the US. What appears to be a mobilisation of fascist right-wing racist politics provides fodder for the toxic hatred that is shared on social media platforms. At the same time, in the South African context, the Foundation for Human Rights, an active founding member organisation of Kopanang Africa Against Xenophobia (Kaax), is standing firmly in support of four families, demanding that the state account for its failures, specifically of the anti-apartheid activists known as the Cradock Four, who were abducted, tortured and murdered by the apartheid state. On 27 June 1985, Matthew Goniwe, Sicelo Mhlauli, Fort Calata and Sparrow Mkonto, on their way back to Cradock from Port Elizabeth, were arrested at a roadblock set up by the security forces. Their deaths shocked the nation and became a symbol of institutionalised racism, the violence of apartheid and its legal implementation, as well as how easily governments can turn ordinary people into enemies of the state. Chilling echoes Today, we see chilling echoes of that logic in how South African leaders speak about migrants, and the criminalisation of migrants, predominantly black African migrants. Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi's recent comment on undocumented foreign nationals, in an address to an ANC gathering, raises grave concerns. He made the completely unverified and unsubstantiated claim that, 'over 65% of the residents (of informal settlements in Gauteng) are foreign nationals'. This is not leadership, it is scapegoating. The premier's words follow a well-worn path: define a group, isolate it and incite public disdain. The responses on social media, amplified by news coverage, show just how effectively this tactic works. But we have been here before. Under apartheid, the state targeted individuals and communities in the name of order. Bureaucratic phrases like 'removal from society' masked brutal, often fatal, intentions. The Cradock Four were not criminals. They were community leaders. But the apartheid state deemed them threats because they dared to challenge injustice. Today, migrants are cast in a similar role: blamed for poverty, poor services and unemployment – not because the evidence supports it, but because it is politically convenient and politically expedient in that this will win votes for the ANC and many other political parties of the same ilk. But it is full of propaganda and lies. Just like the apartheid state's existence depended on the demonisation of black people, across the globe today, states demonise migrants to detract from their failure to address inequalities and systemic unemployment, as is the case in South Africa. Honour the legacy The solution is not to criminalise the poor or to echo the apartheid tactic of dehumanising others to deflect from government failures. Instead of repeating history's mistakes, we should honour the legacy of those like the Cradock Four—people who believed in dignity, equality and justice across borders. They fought for a South Africa that welcomed all who sought peace and opportunity, not one that turned on the vulnerable. We cannot afford the luxury of forgetting. When leaders use language that divides and targets, they do more than fail the vulnerable, they betray the very spirit of our hard-won democracy. The Cradock Four were murdered because a government feared the power of organised, principled resistance. But history teaches us: no amount of scapegoating can solve structural injustice. It only deepens the wound. South Africa must choose: do we repeat the sins of our past, or do we finally build the inclusive future so many died fighting for? Let us be clear: apartheid was not just a crime against humanity – it was a system built on the dehumanisation of black people. It was a project of racial capitalism, structural violence and state-sanctioned hatred and brutal forms of repression. For years, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) offered this country a fragile promise: that truth would lead to justice. But more than 300 cases recommended for prosecution were shelved — not by accident, but by political choice. That choice now has a name. Political expediency Former president Thabo Mbeki and former minister of justice Bridgette Mabandla were at the helm of government during a critical period when this country had the opportunity to honour the dead and repair the living. Instead, the pursuit of justice was smothered in the name of political expediency. That they now oppose a court case seeking to right that wrong is not only selfish — it is shameful. Xenophobia — much like racism — is the convenient narrative of those in power who refuse to confront structural inequality. Xenophobic violence and hatred are a result of deliberate lies and misinformation spewed by opportunistic politicians blaming migrants in response to the cries of the neglected, the dispossessed, the betrayed working class and the poor in South Africa, the majority of whom are black. This is the reality of a country which continues to be the most unequal in the world and which refuses to address the root causes of inequality, which lie in the unfair privilege that the tiny white minority enjoyed for more than 300 years of colonisation and then apartheid rule. These are the ills of apartheid that the Truth and Reconciliation process must expose. Instead, the current government uses its power to lie about the reality of poverty, state failure, exploitation, and then to blame migrants. Where is the pan African dream? The betrayal of the TRC families is not separate from the abandonment of today's struggling communities. It is part of the same story: a nation unwilling to reckon with its history. There is a blatant lack of political will by the government to use the power that the constitution gives it – the power to transform South Africa. This should be the redress that will speak to the injustice and unfair privilege enjoyed by both individuals and companies who made excessive profits through legalised forms of discrimination based on the colour of a human being's skin. This redress must take the form of a wealth tax that will enable this government to enforce a universal income grant. Kaax supports the families seeking justice for apartheid-era crimes. This case is an important step in dealing with the past and making sure those responsible are held accountable. We encourage all civil society groups and the public to support this effort. Justice and truth are necessary for building a better and fairer South Africa. DM
Leader Live
20-05-2025
- Health
- Leader Live
Mental health reforms ‘mark vital step' in improving care quality
The Health Secretary said attitudes to mental health have 'come on leaps and bounds' since the Mental Health Act 1983 before warning that the law has been 'frozen in time'. Patients would be given a greater say over their care and treatment under the terms of the Mental Health Bill tabled in Parliament. Other changes include ensuring that detention and compulsory treatment are only undertaken when necessary, with provision for more frequent reviews and appeals, and limiting the time people with autism or a learning disability can be detained. The Bill has already been scrutinised in the House of Lords and it cleared its first hurdle in the Commons on Monday evening, when MPs approved it at second reading. Mr Streeting told MPs: 'The measure of a society is how it treats its most vulnerable citizens. When it comes to the treatment of people with serious mental illness, we are falling well short of the humane, compassionate society we aspire to be. 'Patients live 15 to 20 years shorter lives than the average. They are often accommodated far away from their family and loved ones. 'The facilities they are housed in can be completely unsuitable. Lord Darzi found during his investigation last year nearly 20 patients in a mental health facility forced to share two showers and live amongst an infestation of rats and cockroaches. 'Patients are denied the basic choice and agency that is awarded to NHS patients with physical illnesses. People from ethnic minority communities, and especially black African and Caribbean men, are more than three times as likely to be sectioned. 'Although they are very different conditions, people with a learning disability or autistic people are often lumped in with those who have mental illness – reflecting an outdated lack of medical understanding.' Mr Streeting added: 'While attitudes to mental health have come on leaps and bounds in the past four decades, the law has been frozen in time. 'As a result, the current legislation fails to give patients adequate dignity, voice and agency in their care. 'This is despite the fact that patients themselves have consistently told us that being treated humanely and making decisions about their own care plays a vital role in their recovery. 'When patients are detained and treated without any say over what is happening to them, it can have serious consequences for their ongoing health.' Mr Streeting went on: 'This Bill does not solve every problem in our mental health services, but it marks a vital step in our plans to improve the quality of care, combat long-standing inequalities and bring about a stronger focus on prevention and early intervention in mental health.' Mr Streeting said mental health professionals will 'have to consider the risk of serious harm when making decisions to detain' which will ensure 'any risks to the public and patients are considered as part of the assessment process'. He said: 'The vast majority of people with mental illness, including severe mental illness, present no risk to themselves or others and for the majority of people, treatment can be provided without compulsion. 'However, there are some people whose illness, when acutely unwell, can make them a risk to themselves and sometimes to others. 'No one knows this better than the families of Ian Coates, Barnaby Webber or Grace O'Malley Kumar, the victims of Valdo Calocane's violent rampage in Nottingham, whose campaign for justice and accountability has been truly awe inspiring, or indeed the family of Valdo Calocane, who I have also spent time with listening to their experience of feeling badly let down by health services. 'As the independent investigation into the murders found, both he and his victims were failed by the health service, and the families are left to live through the consequences in a level of pain the rest of us could scarcely imagine.' Shadow health secretary Ed Argar welcomed the Bill, saying it's 'not only important but right that our laws are updated to reflect the modern world and the knowledge we have today'. He said: 'I believe it is right that we took the time to get this right. That work updating the Mental Health Act started under the previous government, and we had a commitment in our election manifesto to update the laws in this area, and that is something that has been carried on by the new government, and we continue to believe this is the right thing to do. 'So I want to put on record our in principle, support for the Government in this legislation.' He told MPs the Conservative 'welcome efforts to improve the patient's voice involvement in their own care' through 'greater use of advanced choice documents'. The Bill will undergo further scrutiny at a later date.
