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| PRESIDENT RAMAPHOSA CONDEMNS LATEST PUBLIC VIOLENCE |
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| President Cyril Ramaphosa has condemned in the strongest terms a resurgence of public violence that claimed two lives in Johannesburg on Sunday, 8 September 2019. |
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The President has also expressed his condolences to the families of the two persons who were reportedly and respectively stabbed and shot – the latter incident involving a large group of armed attackers.
The President has called on law-enforcement agencies to maintain vigilance and firmness in dealing with individuals or groups who take the law into their own hands and violate the dignity and rights of people without raising grievances with the relevant authorities.
President Ramaphosa applauded law-enforcement agencies for arresting at least 16 people during Sunday’s operations to bring calm and order to Johannesburg.
“Government will not allow sporadic lawlessness and violence to disrupt the safety and livelihoods of millions of South Africans and the majority of foreign nationals in our country who are law-abiding and have the right to conduct their lives and businesses in peace,” said the President. |
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“Lawlessness, injury and death inflict a great psychological and economic cost that lasts long after victims are buried, arrests are made and streets are cleared. This cost holds back our country and undermines all the efforts we are making to grow a South Africa that offers opportunity to all who live in it.
“Lawlessness is a crime against our prosperity and stability as a nation, and those who want to upset our public order must expect to face the gravest impact of the law.” |
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| SOUTH AFRICA AND NIGERIA COMMITTED TO CLOSE TIES |
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Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari will undertake a State Visit to South Africa in October 2019 to reinforce the strong bonds between the two countries and jointly develop responses to challenges affecting people and businesses in South Africa and Nigeria. |
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In the wake of public violence in South Africa and developments in Nigeria around South African businesses based in the West African country, President Cyril Ramaphosa held discussions on Friday, 6 September 2019, with Ambassador Ahmed Rufai Abubakar, Special Envoy of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari.
The visit to Pretoria by the Special Envoy followed a recent meeting between Presidents Ramaphosa and Buhari in Yokohama, Japan, on the sidelines of the Summit of the Tokyo International Conference on African Development.
In Friday’s discussion, the Special Envoy conveyed President Buhari’s concern at recent events in South Africa, in the context of the strong and cordial relations that characterise the interaction between the two countries.
President Buhari conveyed his commitment to the values of prosperity and the advancement of Africa that are shared by South Africa and Nigeria.
Nigeria stands ready to assist South Africa in establishing the root causes of and developing sustainable solutions to the challenges concerned.
President Buhari has undertaken that where challenges emerge in Nigeria, the Nigerian Government will act against lawlessness and the targeting of South African assets in Nigeria.
President Ramaphosa reaffirmed South Africa-Nigeria relations as being firm and strong and said the two partners were resolute in their shared commitment to build an Africa at peace with itself and others. |
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| WHAT AFRICA NEEDS TO DO TO ATTRACT FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT |
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President Cyril Ramaphosa says for African countries to be on the rise and attract investment, they need to address governance issues, root out corruption and improve the ease of doing business.
The President said this when he participated in a panel discussion with several heads of state at the World Economic Forum (WEF) on Africa in Cape Town on Thursday, 5 September 2019.
The panel discussion, themed “Africa: Rising Continent in a Fractured World”, solicited views from several presidents, including Zimbabwean President, Emmerson Mnangagwa; Namibian President, Hage Geingob; Swaziland President, Mandulo Dlamini; and Botswana’s President, Mokgweetsi Masisi, among others.
“We need to strengthen governance. The institutions in our countries need to be strengthened. We need to address the problem that has always beset the continent, which is corruption.
“We need to rid our countries of corruption, maladministration and to reposition our countries as countries that can be attractive to investors,” he said.
The WEF on Africa, which concluded on Friday, 6 September 2019, brought together heads of state and captains of industry across the African continent, with each country aiming to sway investors to their shores.
President Ramaphosa said African countries needed to facilitate the ease of doing business.
“Companies must know they can come to any of our countries on the continent and find that they are not bogged down by bureaucratic processes and they can come and do business easily, there is a rule of law, institutions function.
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“The other important thing is infrastructure. Africa is lacking hugely in infrastructure development, so we have got to improve our infrastructure and this is an area that is going to require enormous resources but at the same time, with smart partnerships that we can strike through various partners, we can address the infrastructure gap that exists,” he said.
While African countries were endowed with mineral resources, it was time they diversified their economies and moved away from complex resource-based type of economies and unleash further areas of growth through industrialisation and manufacturing.
The President said African countries needed partnerships with the rest of the investment world.
“The future is great, it looks very bright for the African continent and if there is ever such a time where Africa can definitely be said to be on the rise, this is the time, so this is Africa’s century and we want to utilise it to good effect.” – Source: www.SAnews.gov.za |
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| PRESIDENT SADDENED BY PASSING OF CHESTER WILLIAMS |
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President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed his sadness at the passing away of former Springbok rugby wing, Chester Williams, who passed away on Friday, 6 September 2019, at the age of 49.
Chester Williams earned national and international acclaim with his contribution, alongside that of recently deceased wing James Small, to South Africa’s triumph in the historic 1995 Rugby World Cup.
Most recently, Williams established himself as a highly successful coach who led the University of the Western Cape to victory in the 2017 Varsity Shield.
President Ramaphosa has offered his sincerest condolences to the family, friends, former teammates and teams with whom Williams shared his life.
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“Chester Williams’s death at this tender age leaves all South Africans bereft of a rugby hero and national role model who still had a great deal to offer his sport and his country,” said President Ramaphosa.
“We will miss the humility and joy of life with which Chester conducted himself during an illustrious career that inspired hundreds of thousands of South African children who had previously been excluded from rugby, to take up the game.
“We salute him for the extraordinary achievements he recorded in a life that has sadly ended prematurely.” |
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| MINISTER PANDOR LEADS DELEGATION TO UNGA74 |
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| President Cyril Ramaphosa has delegated the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Dr Naledi Pandor, to lead South Africa’s delegation to the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) later this month to allow the President to concentrate on critical issues in the country. |
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President Ramaphosa was due to participate in the 74th General Assembly of the UN and related global meetings in New York from 23 to 26 September 2019.
The President has decided to remain in South Africa to attend to the implementation of government’s urgent measures on gender-based violence, the restoration of order and stability in areas affected by public violence,and to oversee initiatives to turn around the economy.
Over the next few days and weeks, President Ramaphosa will be meeting communities, civil society and structures of government on concrete actions to address public concerns and challenges.
Together with Cabinet colleagues, including the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security Cluster, the President and Deputy President will be focussed on the implementation of plans outlined in the State of the Nation Address of June 2019 and The Presidency’s Budget Vote 2019/20.
President Ramaphosa said: “This is a time for leadership from across society to mobilise their respective constituencies in support of economic progress and rebuilding the social and moral fabric of society.
“Government is stepping up its own contribution to this collective effort.” |
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| DIRCO, DHET AND NYDA HOST CAREER SYMPOSIUM |
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| The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO), together with the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) and the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA), hosted a career symposium at Westbury Secondary School on Monday, 9 September 2019. |
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The Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Alvin Botes, visited the school in August 2019. On that occasion, learners raised concerns regarding the lack of career information as well as details in relation to requirements for registration at institutions of higher learning, education and training.
The symposium was therefore aimed at highlighting potential career opportunities to learners and encourage them to act now with regard to application for admission to universities and colleges. Learners were provided with information on qualifications offered by different higher education and training institutions as well as information and direction on how to access the National Student Financial Aid Scheme and sector education and training authorities, and services offered by DIRCO, the DHET and the NYDA. |
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| UN EXPERT TO ASSESS SA'S RIGHTS OF PEOPLE WITH ALBINISM |
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The United Nations (UN) Independent Expert on the enjoyment of human rights by people with albinism, Ikponwosa Ero, is expected to visit South Africa to assess the situation concerning people with albinism in the country. |
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The Independent Expert is mandated by the Human Rights Council (HRC) to engage in dialogue and consult with states and other relevant stakeholders, including UN entities, on the promotion of the rights of people with albinism and their participation in society.
The Independent Expert is also mandated to raise awareness on the rights of people with albinism and to combat stereotypes, prejudices, harmful practices and beliefs that hinder their enjoyment of human rights and participation in society on an equal basis with others.
Ero’s visit, which is scheduled from 16 to 26 September 2019, is in line with South Africa’s international obligations as a signatory to the Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities (CRPD) to implement the provisions set out under the various articles in the convention.
The purpose of her visit is to observe South Africa’s situation related to the different mandates of the Special Procedures; monitor South Africa’s compliance with international human rights law; and learn from the experience of the country, in particular national policies and programmes established by government to ensure the realisation of human rights for all.
The Special Procedures report annually to the HRC and a majority of them to the UN General Assembly.
The visit will also allow the Independent Expert to undertake her mandated functions, study closely the human rights situation of people with albinism, and provide recommendations to the Government and relevant stakeholders. – Source: www.SAnews.gov.za |
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| LOCAL COMPANIES SEEK TRADE OPPORTUNITIES IN ANGOLA |
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| South African companies are participating in an Outward Trade and Investment Mission (OTIM), which got underway in Angola on Monday, 9 September 2019. |
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An initiative of the Department of Trade and Industry (dti), the OTIM is seeing 25 local companies partaking in the trade mission through the department’s Export Marketing and Investment Assistance (EMIA) Scheme.
The mission aims to promote South African value-added products and services, while creating partnerships between the business communities of the two countries.
The objective of the scheme is to develop export markets for South African products and services and to recruit new foreign direct investment into the country.
Optimism among business representatives was the order of the day ahead of the start of the OTIM.
The Business Development Manager responsible for Africa at Johannesburg-based steel manufacturing firm, Burncrete, Saalim Jallal, expressed excitement about the opportunity to travel to Angola.
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Director of Aberdare Cables, Johannes Mpotu, said the weeklong OTIM would provide them with an opportunity to source a new market in Africa for exporting their manufactured electrical and power cables.The mission will also help the company to forge new business relationships with potential buyers.
Basil Phupha, Managing Director of Basils Business Opportunities, said his company was keen to expand its brand footprint across the continent.
“Our strategic objective for participating in the mission is to find the market for our products that we can export to other Southern African Development Community regions and beyond. Presently, we are rolling out a plan to increase the number of African countries that our products are exported to,” said Phupha.
Currently, the company’s biggest clientele is in Botswana, eSwatini, Lesotho, Mozambique and Namibia.
The Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Fikile Majola, said the mission was an opportunity for South Africa to position itself as a preferred trade and investment partner through structured, focussed and sustained commercial engagements in the targeted sectors.
The participating companies represent the following strategic sectors, which have been prioritised in the South African Government’s re-imaged industrial strategy: infrastructure, construction and rail, aerospace and defence, built environment professions, mining, agro-processing, agriculture and agri-business.
Taking place in the Angolan capital of Luanda, the trade mission will conclude on Friday, 13 September 2019. – Source: www.SAnews.gov.za |
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| SA PARTICIPATES IN FRUIT LOGISTICA EXPO |
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| South African companies recently participated in the Fruit Logista Asia expo in Hong Kong. |
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The Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Nomalungelo Gina, said South Africa’s participation in the expo formed part of the Department of Trade and Industry’s (the dti) Export Promotion Strategy that targets high-growth export markets.
Participation in the three-day expo also formed part of efforts to support South Africa’s fresh produce sector.
Fruit Logistica Asia is an annual trade show that focusses on the fresh, unprocessed fruit and vegetables produce sector and the related value chain. |
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The trade show also offers the opportunity to establish new business contacts as it brings together key players from all over the world.
A total 22 South African companies led by the dti, participated in the fair.
“The composition of our business delegation cuts across the categories of small, micro and medium enterprises as well as other sized companies. The South African pavilion will specifically focus on fresh, unprocessed fruits and vegetables, fresh convenience products, dried fruit, nuts, herbs and spices, organic products as well as machinery,” said Deputy Minister Gina.
“We are confident that our participation at this Asia leg of Fruit Logistica will expose our companies to a host of export and investment opportunities that will grow their profits and in turn cement South Africa’s reputation as a credible exporter of fresh produce,” she said.
The trade show concluded on Friday, 6 September 2019. - Source: www.SAnews.gov.za
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| SA-CHINA COMMIT TO STRENGTHEN RELATIONS |
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| South Africa and China are committed to strengthening their economic relations, says Trade and Industry Deputy Minister, Fikile Majola. |
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The Deputy Minister said this as South Africa kicked off its Special Economic Zones (SEZ) Investment Roadshow to Chengdu, China, on Thursday, 5 September 2019.
Deputy Minister Majola said the signing of 93 economic and trade cooperation agreements between South African and Chinese entrepreneurs in June 2019 demonstrated that South Africa and China were committed to strengthening economic relations.
“We expect these agreements to help create jobs, deepen our country’s industrialisation agenda and grow our economies,” said Deputy Minister Majola.
The Deputy Minister, who arrived in Chengdu on Wednesday, 4 September, said South Africa adopted the SEZ programme as a tool to drive the country’s industrial development, focussing on the creation of new industrial hubs.
“Many of our SEZs will focus on the beneficiation of the country’s natural resources, exploiting the downstream opportunities emanating from the vast mineral reserves found in South Africa.
“This strategic approach requires a coordinated long-term planning and integration of government approaches at all levels. We have already created a competitive incentive package that includes provision of world-class infrastructure, grants for qualifying investment assets and various tax incentives,” he said.
Deputy Minister Majola thanked the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), the Bank of China and the Ministry of Commerce of China for successfully organising the two-day SEZ roadshow.
“We appreciate your efforts and we hope to convince you to continue hosting more investment attraction roadshows. We value and appreciate our relationship, and are confident that this gathering will yield positive results for both countries. We are looking forward to a successful implementation of a comprehensive programme between now and the next roadshow in 2020,” he said.
Executive Director and Vice President of the Bank of China, Jinzhen Lin, said 300 Chinese-funded enterprises were carrying out production and operation activities in South Africa.
“The NDRC and the dti have actively created opportunities and built pragmatic exchange platforms for the enterprises of both countries. I expect entrepreneurs here to make full use of this event to explore cooperation with your country and seek win-win commercial partnerships,” said Jinzhen.
The two-day roadshow concluded on Friday, 6 September 2019. – Source: www.SAnews.gov.za |
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| AUSTRALIAN FAIR PRESENTS POSITIVE TRADE LEADS FOR LOCAL COMPANIES |
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| Local companies expressed delight at the prospects of possible trade leads at the Africa Down Under (ADU) International Conference and Exhibition in Australia. |
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“We have managed to generate a few promising leads on the first day of this event. As a fairly small company, this has been a phenomenal opportunity for us to rub shoulders with the big guns of the mining industry that we are targeting for our cutting-edge software products,” said Tom Phillips.
Philips is the strategic marketing analyst of Inspired Interfaces, a Durban based company in the electrical engineering software industry.
Inspired Interfaces is among the 25 businesspeople who travelled to Perth to partake in the week-long Outward Selling Mission (OSM), which coincided with the popular ADU through the Department of Trade and Industry (dti).
ADU is the world’s leading gathering for companies and organisations in mineral exploration and mining services from all continents. It is said to have grown to become the largest African-focussed mining event held outside the continent itself.
“I am really excited about the good contacts that I have made and hope the follow-up meetings and interactions today will also bear more fruit. We are making gradual but significant progress and hope the leads will develop into deals,” said Phillips.
The objective of the mission, which included the companies participating in both the conference and exhibition, was to provide a platform for companies to seek an export market for their products and services in Australia and other countries.
Eliot Mnisi, the Chief Executive Officer of Rhimak Holdings – a North West-based engineering, procurement and construction management company – said the event began on a high note.
“We came here to market our new product in our portfolio called minecrete. It is a proudly South African product, which will improve safety in underground mining as it solves the problem of fall of ground by preventing oxidation underground,” said Mnisi.
Mnisi said he was impressed by the unexpected high interest in the product that had attracted mainly mining companies participating in ADU, including a CEO of a big Australian company.
The Managing Director of Gauteng-based Kama Coils & Transformers, Grant Rousseau, said he was inspired by the speeches and presentations that were delivered on the first day of the conference.
“There is a wealth of valuable information that we received from the CEOs of international companies themselves, and from various senior government officials and politicians. The information was very inspiring as the presenters and speakers provided us with multiple opportunities that are available in the mining sector in Austria and various African countries,” said Rousseau.
The OSM coincided with ADU and concluded on 7 September. – Source: www.SAnews.gov.za |
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| HISENSE IN TALKS TO EXPAND PRODUCTION LINES IN SA |
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Deputy Minister in The Presidency, Thembi Siweya, has welcomed the impact the Hisense factory in Atlantis, Western Cape, has had on jobs, saying further investments will improve the lives of ordinary South Africans. |
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Shortly after visiting the Hisense factory as part of Brand South Africa’s pre-World Economic Forum (WEF) media tour, Deputy Minister Siweya said she was happy that the plant was employing locals and helping government meet the objectives of creating jobs as envisaged in the National Development Plan (NDP).
“We are happy because a plant like this produces jobs for South Africans. And we want to call on the world to come and invest in South Africa and build more fridges because it is going to help us to change the lives of ordinary South Africans,” she said.
The Deputy Minister said this as the Chinese electronics giant revealed that there were talks at the company to expand its operations in South Africa to make cellphones. This would complement their existing fridge and TV manufacturing lines.
Deputy Minister Siweya said Hisense’s presence in South Africa meant that the technology manufacturer was creating jobs. “What this says to me is that [Hisense] is directly going to respond and help us reach our NDP goals of halving unemployment.
“I am also happy that you have an internal programme of transferring skills,” she said, adding that as and when investment comes, skills will be transferred to South Africans.
Hisense entered the South African market in 1996. The company is based in Midrand, Gauteng and in Century City, Cape Town.
In June 2013, Hisense launched a R350-million state-of-the-art consumer electronics and home appliance manufacturing facility in the Atlantis Industrial Park, which is capable of producing 400 000 refrigerators and televisions per annum.
Mark Dammert, a human capital development manager at Hisense, said the factory currently employed between 600 and 700 people, and that 98% of the workforce were Atlantis locals.
“What we are looking at in the future is further expansion as there are also talks around [the fact that] we want to start manufacturing cell phones in South Africa … With that will come additional job creation for the people,” he said.
The Brand SA pre-WEF media tour was attended by local and international media, as well as Minister in The Presidency, Jackson Mthembu, and MEC for Finance and Economic Opportunities, David Maynier. – Source: www.SAnews.gov.za |
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| FROM TEA IN BO-KAAP TO A CHAT WITH PRESIDENT RAMAPHOSA – PRINCE HARRY AND MEGHAN MARKLE’S TRIP TO SA |
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| Kensington Palace just released an official announcement detailing the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s upcoming visit to South Africa, and Prince Harry’s tour of Botswana, Angola and Malawi. |
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Prince Harry, Meghan Markle and baby Archie will visit South Africa together between Monday, 23 September, and Wednesday, 2 October. The duke will then carry out the rest of his tour of the African continent.
Prince Harry will be following in his mother, Princess Diana's, footsteps next month when the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will visit Angola, Malawi, Botswana and South Africa. The royal couple will champion causes associated with Diana, the late Princess.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will kick off their tour in Cape Town, visiting a township where they will view a workshop teaching children about their rights, self-awareness and safety and which provides self-defence classes and female empowerment training to young girls in the community.
They will also visit the District Six Museum, parttake in a community cooking activity with former residents of District Six at the nearby Homecoming Centre, before visiting Monwabisi Beach the following day. Tuesday will see the Duke and Duchess of Sussex learn about the incredible work being done by Waves For Change and The Lunchbox Fund, as well as undertaking a trip to Kalk Bay and the Bo Kaap.
The Duke and Duchess will visit the Bo Kaap area to mark Heritage Day, a celebration of the great diversity of cultures, beliefs and traditions that make up the rainbow nation of South Africa. Their Royal Highnesses will visit Auwal mosque, the oldest mosque in the country, where they will meet representatives from different faith groups to hear about the strength of interfaith dialogue in Cape Town. Afterwards, the Duke and Duchess will visit local residents who will host them for a cup of tea in their home. Bo-Kaap was named a South African Heritage Protection Site earlier this year, ensuring that its unique characteristics are preserved for future generations.
The Duke and Duchess will meet with Archbishop Desmond Tutu before they go their separate ways.
Meghan Markle will meet with female entrepreneurs at the Woodstock Exchange and attend a private “Women in Public Service” breakfast in Cape Town, while Prince Harry carries out work in Botswana, Angola and Malawi.
The Duke and Duchess will meet up again in Johannesburg where they will meet with inspiring local youth, Graça Machel, widow of the late former President Mandela, and President Cyril Ramaphosa.
Using their Sussex Royal Instagram account, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle shared details of the tour and shared with their very many South African followers, “We look forward to seeing you soon!” – www.channel24.co.za |
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| THEBE MAGUGU BECOMES FIRST-EVER AFRICAN DESIGNER TO WIN THE PRESTIGIOUS LVMH PRIZE |
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In an unprecedented triumph for South African fashion design, womenswear designer Thebe Magugu was announced the overall winner of this year’s LVMH Prize for Young Fashion Designers at an event at the Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris. Alicia Vikander, a face of Louis Vuitton, presented Magugu with the honour. |
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Thebe proved victorious over more than 1 700 applicants from 100 countries across all continents, where Nigerian-based gender-neutral designer Kenneth Izedonmwen of Kenneth Ize was the only other African designer to make the list of only eight finalists this year.
Thebe Magugu's fashion catalogue of work successfully winnowed his fellow competitors, managing to garner the favour of this year's heavyweight panel of judges, including the likes of Jonathan Anderson, Kris Van Assche, Maria Grazia Chiuri, Nicolas Ghesquière, Marc Jacobs, Clare Waight Keller, Humberto Leon, Carol Lim, as well as Delphine Arnault, Jean-Paul Claverie, and Sidney Toledano.
As the Prize's Instagram bio reads, it was "established to promote young fashion designers & celebrate the future of fashion," and now directly below this description, sits a name South Africa is proud to call their own.
The award comes with €300 000 (approximately R4.8 million) and a year’s worth of mentoring from the group.
The designer who hails from the place of diamonds, Kimberley, therefore continues to prove that he is indeed a true product of this city. Revealing in a 2018 interview with True Love where it all began, the 2019 LVMH Prize winner shared the following;
"I interned for Woolworths about three years ago. The brand's fashion designer, David West, asked me to move to Cape Town to intern there after seeing my graduation collection. I learnt so much from him. A few years later, Woolworths contacted me in my capacity as a solo designer, asking me to collaborate with them in their Style by SA initiative, aimed at promoting the creations of local designers in their stores and online."
Lucilla Booyzen, director of South African Fashion Week, expressed with much elation how this "is an incredible break-through for Thebe to receive recognition at this level. It is the fashion equivalent of winning a gold medal at the Olympics. We are utterly delighted and proud of his success." – Source: www.w24.co.za |
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| TERRY PHETO WINS BEST ACTRESS AWARD IN LONDON |
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| The South African flag continues to fly high with leading lady Terry Pheto. |
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The star took home the Best Actress Award at the fifth annual British Urban Film Festival (BUFF) Awards which took place at the weekend in London.
“Faces”, the movie for which she took home an award, also won Best Feature Film.
In absentia due to her obligations as a jury member for the 92nd Annual Academy Awards (Oscars) for Best Foreign Film, Pheto said it was a surreal feeling to win the nod.
“I’m elated that my talent not only continues to cross borders but is recognised among the best on international platforms.”
The actress also thanked the Faces team for an amazing experience.
“It’s an honour to be part of such an important and celebrated project.”
Pheto’s latest Best Actress win forms part of her already impressive catalogue of international awards. – Source: www.iol.co.za |
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| SA FILM EXPLORING MANHOOD, WOMEN ABUSE DEBUTS AT TORONTO FILM FESTIVAL |
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| South African director Jahmil XT Qubeka has debuted his latest film at the Toronto Film Festival. |
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It's his third time back at the festival and the film has already been snapped up by a North American sales agent.
In “Knuckle City”, the director explores harmful myths around manhood that he hopes will be questioned by those who watch the movie.
“They’re old, inherited and dinosaur habits that we as men have taken on.”
Actor Faniswa Yisa said that her character showed how women abuse was a societal issue.
“I hope when people watch it, they’ll talk about the cycle of violence. My character deals with that cycle.”
The film will be released in South Africa in December. – Source: www.ewn.co.za |
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| HATHERLY WINS FIRST-EVER E-MTB WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP |
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| South Africa’s Alan Hatherly inked his name into the history books recently by winning the first-ever E-Mountain Bike World Championship held at Mont-Saint-Anne, Canada. |
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| The E-Mountain Bike (E-MTB) event formed part of the annual UCI Mountain Bike World Championships. Hatherly, representing South Africa, lined up for the race alongside some of the biggest names of the sport like Julien Absalon, Miguel Martinez, Christoph Sauser, Jaroslav Kulhavy and Marco Fontana. |
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The E-MTB World Championships was a lap racing format on a 7.3-km course, which lasted a little over an hour. It was a 4 lap race. There were two categories, Elite Men and Elite Women, which were open to athletes aged 19 and over who are registered with and selected by their National Federation.
Bike power was limited to 250 watts and motors stopped assisting racers at 25kph. Battery changes or charges were not permitted.
Alan Hatherly, who refined his bike skills by racing DH as a youth, then turned to XCO and won the U23 World Championship in 2018. This E-Bike Worlds win is therefore Alan’s second rainbow jersey and will be the first time a South African rider has won two different genres of MTB racing at this level. In fact, in the 30-year history of the Mountain Bike World Championships, this feat has only been achieved by a handful of athletes.
The racing ended on 1 September and a total of 13 world titles were awarded over the five days of racing. |
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| “I have been riding an E-Bike for just over a month now. It was by far one of the hardest races I have done in a long time. I think, everyone thinks it’s just an E-Bike but I was putting out the same power I do in a XC race. It was just full gas the whole way and I think I had an average heart rate of like 184bpm which is just completely on the limit. I had the best bike for the job and it was just a matter of keeping it safe all the way to the finish. I am stoked to have done it today. I am very happy to be the first-ever E-MTB World Champion.” – Alan Hatherly. Source: – https://bikenetwork.co.za |
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| MAPIMPI MAGIC HELPS SPRINGBOKS GAIN REVENGE FOR BRIGHTON SHOCK |
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| Springbok wing Makazole Mapimpi scored a hat-trick as the Springboks thrashed Japan in their final Rugby World Cup warm-up match in Kumagaya on Friday, 6 September 2019 |
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Rassie Erasmus' men scored six tries in the match through a brace by wing Cheslin Kolbe, Mapimpi's hat-trick and a late try by replacement scrumhalf Herschel Jantjies.
Handre Pollard added two conversions and a penalty, while replacement Frans Steyn slotted two conversions.
The home side could only muster a lone try thanks to wing Kotaro Matsushima with flyhalf Yu Tamura adding the conversion.
The Springboks kick off their World Cup campaign against the All Blacks in Yokohama on Saturday, 21 September. Source: www.ewn.co.za |
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| STATEMENT BY AMBASSADOR JERRY MATJILA, PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF SOUTH AFRICA TO THE UNITED NATIONS, DURING THE SECURITY COUNCIL DEBATE ON THE UN ASSISTANCE MISSION IN AFGHANISTAN (UNAMA), 10 SEPTEMBER 2019 |
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“Mr President,
“Please allow me to begin by thanking the Special Representative for Afghanistan and head of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), Mr Tadamichi Yamamoto, the Executive Director of the UNODC, Mr Yuri Fedotov, and Ambassador Djani, as Chair of the 1988 Committee for their insightful briefings.
“In this regard, I would also like to commend UNAMA’s personnel and Mr Yamamoto for their vital contribution in supporting Afghanistan’s efforts towards restoring peace and stability in that country, especially given the challenging circumstances in which they operate.
“Mr President,
“We would like to highlight the following three points in our statement this morning: 1) the peace process; 2) the role of women; and 3) the security situation in Afghanistan.
“Regarding the peace process, South Africa believes that the only way for Afghanistan to achieve durable peace and stability is through a comprehensive and inclusive Afghan-led and Afghan-owned political process, leading to a negotiated settlement of the conflict. “My delegation is of the opinion that any engagements towards long-lasting peace and security for the people of Afghanistan should be considered. However, it is also important that all sectors of the Afghan Government and society are included in these discussions, to ensure that a comprehensive and inclusive peace is established and sustained.
“Mr President, as our second point, South Africa strongly believes than an integral aspect of these engagements is the inclusion and participation of women. This would safe-guard the significant progress and gains achieved regarding women’s and girl’s rights and provide the necessary views and voices of all segments of Afghan society. We welcome the Government of Afghanistan’s efforts to advance the promotion and protection of women’s rights, and urge that this commitment continues during future discussions.
“In this regard, we welcome President Ghani’s appointment of you, Ambassador Raz, as the Permanent Representative to the United Nations. We have no doubt that you will continue to fly your country’s flag high and that you are a shining example of what the women of Afghanistan can achieve.
“Peace in Afghanistan can only be achieved by the Afghan people themselves. My delegation urges all stakeholders to work towards this no“Mr President.
“Please allow me to begin by thanking the Special Representative for Afghanistan and head of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), Mr Tadamichi Yamamoto, the Executive Director of the UNODC, Mr Yuri Fedotov, and Ambassador Djani, as Chair of the 1988 Committee for their insightful briefings.
“In this regard, I would also like to commend UNAMA’s personnel and Mr Yamamoto for their vital contribution in supporting Afghanistan’s efforts towards restoring peace and stability in that country, especially given the challenging circumstances in which they operate.
“Mr President,
“We would like to highlight the following three points in our statement this morning: 1) the peace process; 2) the role of women; and 3) the security situation in Afghanistan.
“Regarding the peace process, South Africa believes that the only way for Afghanistan to achieve durable peace and stability is through a comprehensive and inclusive Afghan-led and Afghan-owned political process, leading to a negotiated settlement of the conflict.
“My delegation is of the opinion that any engagements towards long-lasting peace and security for the people of Afghanistan should be considered. However, it is also important that all sectors of the Afghan Government and society are included in these discussions, to ensure that a comprehensive and inclusive peace is established and sustained.
“Mr President, as our second point, South Africa strongly believes than an integral aspect of these engagements is the inclusion and participation of women. This would safe-guard the significant progress and gains achieved regarding women’s and girl’s rights and provide the necessary views and voices of all segments of Afghan society. We welcome the Government of Afghanistan’s efforts to advance the promotion and protection of women’s rights, and urge that this commitment continues during future discussions.
“In this regard, we welcome President Ghani’s appointment of you, Ambassador Raz, as the Permanent Representative to the United Nations. We have no doubt that you will continue to fly your country’s flag high and that you are a shining example of what the women of Afghanistan can achieve.
“Peace in Afghanistan can only be achieved by the Afghan people themselves. My delegation urges all stakeholders to work towards this noble and achievable goal.
“Mr President, on our final point on the security situation, South Africa is deeply concerned at the levels of violence and security incidents in Afghanistan, especially attacks targeting innocent civilians through the use of improvised explosive devices and suicide attacks. The ongoing violence only erodes the positive progress made in recent years. As stated by the Secretary-General, these deplorable acts cannot be justified and must come to an end.
“The effect of this violence is particularly felt by the most vulnerable in society; particularly women, children and those living with disabilities. We call on all parties to ensure the protection of civilians and to adhere to their obligations under international humanitarian and international human rights law. “My delegation continues to condemn the unlawful recruitment and use of children in armed forces and groups, and calls for their immediate release and reintegration into Afghan society.
“Mr President,
“The Afghan people are expected to go to the polls on 28 September 2019 and exercise their hard-won right to choose their own President. In this regard, I call on all participants in the election process to work together, to ensure that the elections go ahead, as planned and mandated by the Afghan Constitution. We hope that with the necessary cooperation and support amongst the parties, the Presidential elections will be credible, free, fair, safe and transparent.
“In conclusion, Mr President, South Africa looks forward to welcoming the duly-elected President of Afghanistan at the next Security Council Debate on Afghanistan.
“I thank you.”
“Mr President, on our final point on the security situation, South Africa is deeply concerned at the levels of violence and security incidents in Afghanistan, especially attacks targeting innocent civilians through the use of improvised explosive devices and suicide attacks. The ongoing violence only erodes the positive progress made in recent years. As stated by the Secretary-General, these deplorable acts cannot be justified and must come to an end.
“The effect of this violence is particularly felt by the most vulnerable in society; particularly women, children and those living with disabilities. We call on all parties to ensure the protection of civilians and to adhere to their obligations under international humanitarian and international human rights law.
“My delegation continues to condemn the unlawful recruitment and use of children in armed forces and groups, and calls for their immediate release and reintegration into Afghan society.
“Mr President,
“The Afghan people are expected to go to the polls on 28 September 2019 and exercise their hard-won right to choose their own President. In this regard, I call on all participants in the election process to work together, to ensure that the elections go ahead, as planned and mandated by the Afghan Constitution. We hope that with the necessary cooperation and support amongst the parties, the Presidential elections will be credible, free, fair, safe and transparent.
“In conclusion, Mr President, South Africa looks forward to welcoming the duly-elected President of Afghanistan at the next Security Council Debate on Afghanistan.
“I thank you.” |
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