South Africa – South African Revenue Service (SARS) customs officials have foiled an attempt to smuggle ivory worth R4 million.

In a statement on Friday, SARS said custom officials discovered 267 kilograms of ivory while conducting inspections in the cargo area at OR Tambo International airport on Thursday.

“The ivory, which was destined for Vietnam from Zimbabwe, is estimated to have a street value of R4 million, which is one of the biggest interceptions by SARS of smuggled ivory,” said SARS.

During the profiling of shipments, vigilant customs officials noticed a pallet containing numerous plastic shrink-wrapped boxes. Further scrutiny of the supporting documents for the consignment revealed that the goods contained inside were declared as “handicrafts” originating from Zimbabwe destined for Vietnam.

A full inspection of the boxes led to customs officials discovering ivory tusks amongst shredded paper.

“This shipment was incorrectly cleared as handicrafts and no Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) permits were issued for the consignment, a clear attempt to smuggle the goods,” said SARS.

A case has been opened with the South African Police Service for further investigation.

“This is a significant seizure by SARS Customs who implement daily inspections in an effort to foil smuggling of goods.

“SARS will continue to work with other law enforcement agencies to protect the country and its citizens by disrupting organised crime and reducing illicit trade activities,” explained the revenue service. - SAnews.gov.za

Thohoyandou - The implementation of Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) will provide great potential to restructure South Africa’s Information Communication and Technology (ICT) infrastructure as set out by the National Development Plan (NDP), says Communications Minister Faith Muthambi.

Speaking at the Vhembe Communicators Conference at the University of Venda in Thohoyandou, Limpopo, on Monday, the Minister said the NDP infrastructure development agenda calls for efficient information infrastructure that promotes economic growth and greater inclusion that require a stronger broadband and telecommunications network that is affordable to all.

“South Africa does not have a choice but to create sustainable economies with broadcasting services as key contributors.

“During and after the implementation process of digital migration, South Africa should have good stories to tell about the commitment made in capacity building and skills development in the field of broadcasting content and other related economic agendas,” Minister Muthambi said.

She said when people view broadcast digital migration as a programme that impacts on television services, they see a lot of economic opportunities behind its implementation.

She said these include issues such as Electronic Manufacturing Industry Development and Broadcasting Content Development.

“Spectrum allocation has been the biggest bottleneck in the deployment of wireless technologies aimed at meeting the diverse needs of society and the economy.

“Frequency Spectrum is a scarce resource that needs to be optimally allocated to meet both economic and social objectives.

“For the country to grow faster and for more people to be employed, legislation requires business to consider employment equity, black economic empowerment, the environment, skills development, local content, small-business development, community social responsibility and several location-specific imperatives, such as Broadcasting Local Content strategies,” she said.

DTT to create jobs

Minister Muthambi further said constructing and maintaining communication networks will generate both unskilled job opportunities in the short to medium term (such as digging trenches or spanning cables for expanding networks) and skilled work over the longer term (as networks need to be maintained, upgraded and refurbished).

She said the education system, supported by government investment into ICT skills development, will need to prepare for this.

The Minister said the use of digital communications has started changing society in ways that are not yet fully understood.

Minister Muthambi reiterated that the implementation of DTT will be achieved in South Africa within a reasonable period to reap the benefits of both Broadcasting, Electronic Manufacturing Industry Development and affordable broadband services.

The implementation of the digital programme will provide a significant high-capacity spectrum that will become available with the shift from analogue terrestrial television broadcasting to digital terrestrial broadcasting.

She said ICT will continue to reduce spatial exclusion, enabling seamless participation by the majority in the global ICT system, not simply as users but as content developers and application innovators.

“It is high time that telling South African stories through media as a result of the channels to be made available by the implementation of DTT becomes a reality.

“Successful implementation of the programme will create a number of free-to-air television channels that require local content.

“The fact calls for the emergence and growth of broadcasting local content in the country by South Africans. Telling stories about the cultures of South Africans is not only exciting, but provide education about the history of the country and its uniqueness in the continent and globally,” she said.

Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT)

DTT is a reliable and much cost efficient means to distribute linear television content and has many advantages over the old, analogue broadcasting that is still in use today.

Digital migration refers to the switch from an analogue broadcasting system to a digital broadcasting system and this has been a world-wide move which is being driven by the ITU.

In order to view digital television signals on an ordinary analogue television set, consumers will need a so-called Set-Top-Box. The purpose of the Set-Top-Box is to convert the DTT signal for reception on an ordinary analogue television set.

If consumers haven’t acquired a set top box by analogue switch-off, they will no longer be able to view the existing terrestrial television broadcasting services

The South African Communications Department anticipates the rollout of Set-Top-Boxes to be completed in the coming 18-24 months so that South Africans can switch off analogue signal and begin to realise the benefits of digital dividend to allow for the rollout of Wireless Broadband Services

Conference to strengthen good relations

Meanwhile, Vhembe Executive Mayor Cllr Tsheitereke Matibe said government communicators at the conference will help them to strengthen their good relations with the local print media, the community and commercial radio stations, as well as all the SABC radio stations in the province.

He said all four municipalities in Vhembe (Makhado, Musina, Mutale and Thulamela) have their own newsletters through which they disseminate information about their programme to residents.

However, Minister Muthambi said she’s more concerned about the municipal newsletters since they are more focused on profiling the Mayors rather than giving residents more content on government’s programme of action.

She encouraged residents to influence the content of the newsletters, adding that it should be written in the languages that are spoken in the area.

Minister Muthambi said one way of ending the so-called service delivery protests is constant communication and regular feedback on service delivery, adding that now is the time for municipalities in Vhembe to communicate with residents using social media such as Twitter and Facebook.

Univen FM ‎Director, Communications and Marketing Manager Takalani Dzaga said for the past 17 years, they have been entertaining, informing and educating the Univen community and neighbouring villages with information about their area, province, country and the world.

The station, which was established in September 1997, will celebrate its 18th year anniversary on air.

Dzaga said they broadcast in different languages (Tshivenda, Xitsonga, Sepedi and English) that are understood by their listeners.

He said the only challenge they have is the issue of salary which has resulted with the majority of presenters leaving the station to join the SABC and other commercial radio stations in the province. - SAnews.gov.za

The United States and Cuba have agreed to formally re-establish diplomatic relations and reopen embassies, President Barack Obama announced on Wednesday.

"This is a historic step in our efforts to normalise relations with the Cuban government and people, and begin a new chapter with our neighbours in the Americas," President Obama said at the White House.

"With this change, we will be able to substantially increase our contacts with the Cuban people," President Obama said, adding that US diplomats will have the ability to engage more broadly across the island country.

He added that Secretary of State John Kerry will travel to Havana later this summer to raise the American flag over the US embassy.

In a letter to Cuban leader Raul Castro that dated June 30, President Obama said the two countries have decided to re-establish diplomatic relations and permanent diplomatic missions in respective countries on 20 July.

President Raul Castro confirmed the decision in a letter to President Obama.

The two Presidents announced in December a thaw in relations following more than five decades of enmity.

Washington and Havana have held four rounds of talks in the past few months in a bid to restore diplomatic relations.

President Obama met with President Castro in Panama on the sidelines of a regional summit in April, the most significant interaction between US and Cuban leaders in more than five decades.

In late May, the US officially removed Cuba from its list of state sponsors of terrorism, clearing a major obstacle to reestablishing diplomatic ties between the former Cold War rivals.

On Wednesday, President Obama acknowledged that the US and Cuba will "continue to have very serious differences" on issues including freedom of speech and assembly and the ability to access information, vowing that "we will not hesitate to speak out when we see actions that contradict those values”.

"Nobody expects Cuba to be transformed overnight," he said. "But I believe American engagement through the embassy, our businesses and, most of all, through our people, is the best way to advance our interests and support for democracy and human rights."

The President also called on congress to take steps to lift the embargo that prevents Americans from traveling or doing business in Cuba.

"Americans and Cubans alike are ready to move forward. I believe it's time for Congress to do the same," he said, while noting that "there are those who want to turn back the clock and double down on a policy of isolation." - SAnews.gov.za-Xinhua

Pretoria - South African youth ought to be more entrepreneurial in their employment outlook, as opposed to merely being job seekers. On Wednesday,...

more Business Information ...

A triumphant Serbia brought the curtain down on the FIFA Under-20 World Cup 2015 with a 2-1 final victory over Brazil in Auckland, New Zealand on Saturday (20.06.15). The jubilant team beat the tournament favourites to hold aloft the trophy for the first time as an independent nation. * FIFA Under-20 World Cup 2015 Final [...]Serbia claims FIFA U-20 World Cup is a post from: Time-4-Sport



more Sports News ...

Pretoria – The Gauteng Department of Health has asked the Kalafong Hospital to investigate the state of cleanliness at its facilities.The...

more South Africa health ...

The Gauteng Department of Education has suspended its plans to withdraw the licence of Curro Roodeplaat School, in Pretoria, pending the implementation of interventions by Curro Holdings.Briefing media on Friday, Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi said that while he took a decision last week to close...

read more Education news ...

Acting Minister of Public Service and Administration, Nathi Mthethwa, has welcomed the revised public sector wage agreement, as well as the...

read more South Africa Employment ... :ok:

Playa Blanca, Lanzarote – The Art Exhibition of I […]Artist Ida Oelke Exhibition Lanzarote is a post from: ArtnSpire

for full details visit ArtnSpire.com

More Art News and Information ...

On a tranquil Thursday evening at the beginning of June […]Elements Exhibition Lanzarote 2015 is a post from: ArtnSpire

for full details visit ArtnSpire.com

More Art News and Information ...