Home Affairs ready for busy festive season

The department of Home Affairs is gearing up for the festive season, the department is deploying over 400 additional staff members as well as extending operating hours at the country's busiest port of entries.

Zimbabwans walk across Beitbridge border
Image courtesy of Esa Alexander

Deputy minister Fatima Chohan told journalists that the department was ready to handle increased traffic, in particular at the air and land ports. Chohan said the festive season — officially starting on December 5 until January 9 2019 — heightened movement across the ports of entry and the demand for home affairs services, particularly passport applications.
South Africa's busiest.

Cohan said in the 2017-18 festive season, a total of 8,468,262 movements were captured, comprising arrivals and departures of SA Citizens and foreign nationals. Of these 2,304,449 were citizens movements and 6,163,813 were foreigner's movements.
The country's busiest air and land ports are Lebombo ( SA and Mozambique), Beitbridge ( SA and ZImbabwe), Ficksburg Bridge ( SA and Lesotho) and OR Tambo International Airport.

Opinion piece - Why Ramaphosa did not fire Bathabile Dlamini

By: Leila Matsombe

I believe i should stress that i am not a political analyst, i am an observer of what happens in the political space and how citizens react to certain news and events that have unfolded in the past 48 hours.

In the early hours on the 22nd of November Bathabile Dlamini was already trending on Twitter, this hours before the much anticipated government reshuffle. The general consensus amongst most twitter users was that Bathabile would most definitely be axed, i and a few other tweeps believed otherwise.

There is no way that Ramaphosa will axe Bathabile a few months before the national elections as this move would upset the ANC Women's League, i must say thou i actually hoped that she gets booted out. 
My colleagues and i had a mini debate on reasons why Bathabile should stay in office, well there was absolutely no need to talk about why she should not leave because her reputation precedes her. Amongst all the reasons given none included the actual work that she does, all the reasons were political.

As i have already stressed i am no politician but i believe it would be a career suicide on Ramaphosa's part if he fired Bathabile, the best he can do is keep her in a position that does not have a budget or require decisions that would immensely impact the economy or the African National Congress.

I have come to learn that in politics its about who is in your side and not always about who is right or wrong, as if this was the case people like Bathabile would never have made it this far politically.
As expected the ruling party welcomed the Cabinet reshuffle, saying it showed Ramaphosa's determination to continue on the path of hope and renewal.

Well for most of us the waiting game begins to see what exactly happens at the 2019 elections and what promises will be made, AGAIN, and which allies will be formed.

Getting to know the new Minister of Communications

Hailing from Mthatha in the Eastern Cape, Ndabeni-Abrahams became an ANC MP in 2009 and was a member of the ANC Youth League in the days of Julius Malema, Fikile Mbalula and Ronald Lamola.

Between October 2011 and March 2017, Ndabeni-Abrahams served as the Deputy Minister of Communications. From 1990 to 1994 she served as a member of the ANCYL in East London before becoming a member of its national executive committee from 2008 to 2010.

Ndabeni-Abrahams made headlines in 2016 when she wrote to Zuma asking him to intervene as the then communications minister Faith Muthambi was treating her like a "personal assistant".

On Thursday, she was sworn in as Ministers of Communications and she will also oversee the Department of Telecommunications after Ramaphosa announced changes to his Cabinet.

The two departments will be merged after the elections in 2019.

Minister of communications Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams takes the oath of office in Pretoria ; Picture by Alaister Russel

https://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/meet-the-new-minister-of-communications-stella-ndabeni-abrahams-20181122

President Ramaphosa's full statement on Cabinet Reshuffle

Today, I am announcing a number of changes to the National Executive, the Cabinet.

These changes are occasioned by the untimely passing of Minister Edna Molewa and the resignation of Minister Malusi Gigaba.

In making these changes, I remain determined that Cabinet of our nation should have an appropriate mix of experience and capability as well as gender and generational mix that it should have members who are committed to serve and to serve selflessly.

I am mindful of the need to have a resolute and stable Cabinet that is able to effectively lead the growth, renewal and transformation of our economy and our society.

I have decided to make the following appointments:

• Minister of Home Affairs, Dr. Siyabonga Cwele
• Minister of Environmental Affairs, Ms Nomvula Mokonyane
• Minister of Communications, Ms Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams

I have also decided to merge the ministries of Communications and of Telecommunications and Postal Services into a single Ministry of Communications under new Minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams.

This move is going to ensure that we have better alignment and coordination on matters that are critical to the future of our economy in the context of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

The two departments that will report to the new ministry – namely, the Department of Communications and the Department of Telecommunications and Postal Services – will remain as separate departments until the end of the fifth administration.

The decision to merge the two ministries is in line with the work that we have undertaken in line with the announcement which I made during the State of the Nation Address that we are going to look at realigning government.

In anticipation of the 6th democratic administration we will have completed this work and when we have completed it and after which we will make a more comprehensive announcement on how we would have realigned government.

The merging of Communications and of Telecommunications and Postal Services is the first wave but it is also to help with the realignment process which we need right now in order to put into effect the transformation that we are effecting with regards to economic management.

I also wish to announce the resignation from the National Executive of the Deputy Minister of Energy, Ms Thembi Majola, with effect from 1 January 2019 to attend to family commitments.

I wish the newly-appointed Ministers well in undertaking the great responsibility they have to the people of South Africa, and extend my gratitude to all those who have served as Ministers as well as Deputy Minister Majola for their contribution to the country.

Long anticipated Scandal wedding takes place despite drama

Xolile with Mthunzi

Despite all the drama that unfolded before the big day Mthunzi and Xolile finally said their I Do's, to the irritation of her brother and ex boyfriend Romeo.
Here are some of the pictures from the wedding.

Festive season Fever - Planning ahead

Image: Courtesy of Google

The Festive season is once again upon us, its the season to be " merry", sometimes the anxiety and the stress that comes with this season is everything but merry.
 The mistake that most people make during period spend all their hard earned money that was saved all year long to only start again in January. I have listed some tips to consider to enjoy and " survive the merry season"

1. Don't blow your money unnecessarily:
The same decoration that you used the previous year is still usable. When it comes to deco its how you structure things and not necessarily how new things are.
2. Have a budget
I cannot stress the importance of having and try by all means to stick to a budget, it's an important tool for financial discipline.
3. Plan ahead;
I know how hard it can be to stick to a schedule during the festive season, but don't be tree leaves and allow yourself to be blown to the direction of the wind when the budget does not allow. Don't restrict yourself to have fun, but restrict the budget.
4. Be safe..
Safety over everything this festive season, if your gut feeling says don't go to a certain club, don't go. Lock up at all times. It  is never advisable to walk around with large sums of money.

5. DO NOT DRINK AND DRIVE
You may be tired of life but believe me the other drivers are not, rather have a designated driver, but than again who wants to drive drunk people around. The best part about this is that there is Uber and Taxify.