The President made the remarks in the latest edition of his weekly newsletter on Monday, 20 June 2022. He and other BRICS heads of state will virtually converge for this year’s Leaders’ Summit. Chinese President Xi Jinping will host the event.

He said as government worked to rebuild the country in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, “there is much to be gained from our participation in BRICS and the relationships we have established with other member countries”.

From the onset, he said, BRICS countries identified the strengthening of economic and financial ties as one of the key pillars of its cooperation.
“The countries have adopted the Strategy for BRICS Economic Partnership to increase access to each other’s markets, promote mutual trade and investment and create a business-friendly environment for investors in all BRICS countries. An important part of this strategy, particularly for South Africa, is to diversify trade so that more manufactured goods, rather than raw commodities, are traded.”

Last year, over 17% of South Africa’s exports were destined for other BRICS countries, while over 29% of our total imports came from these countries.

He said these countries were therefore significant trading partners, and the value of this trade was continuing to grow. Total South African trade with other BRICS countries reached R702 billion in 2021, up from R487 billion in 2017.

“At a time when we are focussed on improving the capacity and competitiveness of our economy, these trade linkages will prove vital to the growth of local industry. There is therefore a direct relationship between, on the one hand, our reforms in energy, telecommunications and transport, our investment in infrastructure and our efforts to reduce red tape, and, on the other hand, the work underway to increase exports to our BRICS partners.

“These reforms are also important for encouraging greater investment from BRICS countries into our economy,” he said.

The President said tourism, which was badly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, was one area with great potential.

“Tourists from other BRICS countries accounted for 65% of all arrivals in South Africa in 2018, and these markets will therefore be expected to make an important contribution to the recovery of this sector. It is therefore significant that visitors from India and China can now make use of our new eVisa programme to make it easier and less costly to visit our country,” he said.

As government mobilises financing from different sources to fund the country’s ambitious infrastructure build programme, he said he expected the New Development Bank to play an important role in providing financial and project preparation support for infrastructure and sustainable development projects.

South Africa has received R86 billion from the bank to improve service delivery in critical areas.

The bank also demonstrated its flexibility in rapidly approving US$2 billion for each BRICS member under the COVID-19 Emergency Loan Programme.

Alongside the engagements between governments, the BRICS Business Council and the BRICS Women’s Business Alliance are building ties between our respective business communities.

“They have been looking at the development of sectors such as agribusiness, aviation, financial services, energy, manufacturing and infrastructure, while also improving regulatory environments and developing skills.

“The collaboration among BRICS members in the area of health and in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, in particular, has placed South Africa in a better position to respond effectively to the current and future health emergencies. After several years of planning, the virtual BRICS Vaccine Research and Development Centre was launched in March,” he said.

The centre was expected to enable BRICS countries to engage in joint vaccine research, development and co-production. It will also contribute to the equitable distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, strengthen health systems and help our countries to respond to future pandemics.

President Ramaphosa said South Africa saw the BRICS Vaccine Research and Development Centre as a valuable development in the country’s efforts to strengthen its vaccine manufacturing capacity. 

“We will be calling on our BRICS partners to support the principle that vaccines destined for Africa should be produced on the continent.”

Earlier this month, the BRICS ministers of agriculture, adopted a BRICS Strategy on Food Security Cooperation. This is especially important as concerns grow around food security in the wake of COVID-19, the conflict in Ukraine and the increasing effects of climate change. The strategy aims to maintain sustainable agriculture production; unhindered supply of seeds, fertilizers and other agricultural inputs; access to markets; and stable functioning of food value chains.

More broadly, said the President, this week’s summit aimed to usher in a new era for global development that is more inclusive, sustainable and fair.

“Through the reform of the multilateral system, including the United Nations, and by refocusing the attention and resources of the global community on the sustainable development agenda, the BRICS group can support a sustained and equitable global recovery,” he said.

– Source: SAnews.gov.za

The meeting will be held under the theme: “Delivering a Common Future: Connecting, Innovating, Transforming”.

It will be preceded by a pre-CHOGM Foreign Affairs Ministers Meeting on Thursday, 23 June 2022, and a Senior Officials Meeting on Wednesday, 22 June 2022.

The Commonwealth Heads of Government usually meet every two years to discuss issues affecting both the Commonwealth members and countries internationally. The decisions taken at CHOGM shape and determine Commonwealth policy and priorities.

The format of CHOGM 2022 will include a Ministerial and Head of Government segment, including a one-day Retreat, where heads of government will nominate a new Chair-in-Office of the Commonwealth in 2024 and elect a new Commonwealth Secretary-General.

A communiqué will be adopted as an outcome of CHOGM 2022, which will reflect on the Commonwealth’s five priorities, which are: (i) governance and the rule of law; (ii) technology and innovation; (iii) youth; (iv) environment; and (v) the multilateral trading system and deepening Commonwealth trade and investment.

It is also expected that in addition to the main Communiqué, CHOGM 2022 will also adopt three standalone declarations, namely: (i) the Kigali Declaration on Childcare and Protective Reform; (ii) a Commonwealth Living Lands Charter; and (iii) a Declaration on Sustainable Urbanisation. Heads may also decide to release a Leaders’ Statement, which is a summary of the Retreat sessions.

The Commonwealth consists of 54 members. Membership includes countries among the world’s largest, smallest, richest and poorest. Nineteen are from Africa and 31 members are classified as small states. All members are expected to subscribe to the Commonwealth’s values and principles outlined in the Commonwealth Charter, which, among others, are: consensus and common action, mutual respect, inclusiveness, transparency, accountability, legitimacy and responsiveness.

Prior to CHOGM 2022, four fora, namely the Commonwealth Business Forum, the Commonwealth People’s Forum, the Commonwealth Youth Forum and the Commonwealth Women’s Forum, will take place. The fora will offer a platform for a wider debate on some of the key issues and challenges, in advance of discussions by leaders at CHOGM. Reports on their deliberations will be presented during the Pre-CHOGM and CHOGM meetings.

Minister Pandor arrived in Kigali on Wednesday, 22 June 2022.

On 17 June, Minister Pandor spent the day in Oslo, Norway, where she engaged in meetings with her Norwegian counterpart, Minister Anniken Huitfeldt, and the Minister of International Development, Anne Beathe Tvinnereim.

Oslo was the third and last stop in the Minister's three-nation visit to the Nordic region. Prior to her arrival in Norway, Minister Pandor also visited Finland and Sweden from 13 June 2022.

Relations between Norway and South Africa are mature and mutually beneficial. South Africa has also partnered with Norway on several peace-building initiatives, including the training of peace mediators, the Women, Peace and Security (WSP) Agenda and exchanges on conflict resolution and mediation efforts.

Norway currently serves on the United Nations Security Council as an elected member. In this regard, Minister Pandor and Minister Huitfeldt shared perspectives on a range of issues pertaining to the maintenance of international peace and security.

At multilateral level, South Africa and Norway share similar orientations on issues such as democracy, good governance, human rights, global health, environment and climate change, peaceful resolution of conflicts and poverty alleviation.

Regarding trade and investment, South Africa and Norway cooperate in various sectors, among them science and technology, oceans economy, maritime security, energy, environment, education and skills development.

There are currently 21 Norwegian companies invested in South Africa, representing the renewable energy, oil and gas, financial services, oceans economy, chemicals and technology sectors. Norway has more than R90 billion invested in South African bonds.

At the Fourth South African Investment Conference, held in March 2022, Norfund (the Norwegian investment agency), pledged an annual investment of R3.25 billion. The Norwegian renewable power producer, Scatec, pledged R16 billion towards green hydrogen manufacturing.

Minister Pandor visited Norfund and held talks with leaders of Norwegian businesses that have a presence in South Africa. The Minister said South Africa remained an attractive destination for foreign direct investment.

Minister Pandor said at the conclusion of her visit that South Africa maintained strong ties with the three Nordic countries of Finland, Sweden and Norway and that the relationship is based on mutual respect.

The TPNW was adopted on 7 July 2017 and entered into force on 22 January 2021, after its ratification by 50 states. By 17 June 2022, it had been ratified by 62 states and signed by 86 states.

South Africa ratified the treaty on 25 February 2019. South Africa, together with a core group of countries (Nigeria, Austria, Ireland, Brazil and Mexico) played a leading role in driving the TPNW negotiations until its adoption in 2017. South Africa continues to play a leading role in organising the implementation of the treaty.

The TPNW is a landmark agreement in the history of nuclear disarmament and represents the wish of member states of the United Nations (UN) to rid the world of nuclear weapons. The TPNW’s intention is to further stigmatise and delegitimise nuclear weapons based on the adverse and indefensible humanitarian consequences of their use. The treaty emphasises the humanitarian consequences of the use of such weapons.

Among the TPNW’s core principles and norms are the complete and unequivocal prohibition of nuclear weapons without conditions. Thus, one of the greatest achievements of the TPNW is its filling of the legal gap on the prohibition of nuclear weapons.

South Africa’s own experience has shown that neither the possession nor the pursuit of nuclear weapons can enhance international peace and security. The continued retention of nuclear weapons based on the perceived security interests of some states comes at the expense of the rest of humanity. South Africa’s commitment to disarmament is based on the belief that international peace and security cannot be divorced from development.

South Africa and India first proposed the measures to the WTO, with the support of other developing countries during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We welcome the agreement as a solid and helpful basis to strengthen our joint efforts to develop a strong African vaccine manufacturing capacity. To scale up the production on the continent, further partnerships will be needed, including access to know-how and technologies.

“The unanimous support for the waiver agreement by all WTO countries should lay the basis for such partnerships and give countries greater flexibilities,” said Trade, Industry and Competition Minister, Ebrahim Patel.

The Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development ,Thoko Didiza, noted that the agreement was a step forward in government’s efforts to stimulate African industrialisation and it had the potential to unlock production beyond fill and finish.

“The waiver is one element of a wider set of actions to build both innovation and production capability in South Africa and elsewhere on the continent. South Africa has four vaccine initiatives under way. Our focus now is to ensure we address demand by persuading global procurers for vaccines to source from African producers.

“This waiver and the other commitments secured at the WTO is also about pandemic preparedness, to enable developing countries to have the legal tools in place to address variants to COVID-19 in future and indeed, to prepare for future pandemics,” Minister Didiza said.

Minister Didiza said the agreement was a step forward for African producers.

– Source: SAnews.gov.za

“Africa Agenda 2063 is a strategic framework with seven aspirations, each with its own set of goals which, if achieved, will move Africa closer to attaining its vision of a prosperous Africa by the year 2063,” Deputy Minister Pilane-Majake said.

The Deputy Minister said the seven aspirations reflected the desire for shared prosperity and well-being, for unity and integration, for a continent of free citizens and expanded horizons, where the full potential of women and youth are realised and with freedom from fear, disease and want.

“It is a well-established fact that poorly nourished societies struggle to build human capital, whereas human capital development thrives in well-nourished societies.

“Food security is therefore essential to Africa’s human capital development and securing the resultant benefits of social and economic growth and development. Food security in Africa must be prioritised,” the Deputy Minister said.

Deputy Minister Pilane-Majake urged all South Africans, including the country’s 1.2 million public servants, to stand in solidarity with the rest of the continent as agriculture and agro-food systems are strengthened.

“We must stand in solidarity with the rest of the continent of Africa in building social protection mechanisms, accelerating human social and economic development, being mindful of our own operational challenges in South Africa,” Deputy Minister Pilane-Majake said.

– Source: SAnews.gov.za

“The feedback suggested that there were areas of best practice which South Africa can share with other countries, areas other countries can learn from.”

These areas of best practice include the rule of law, the independence of the judiciary, areas of cooperative governance, the strength of the oversight bodies and institutions supporting democracy – like the Public Protector, the Human Rights Commission and the Independent Electoral Commission.

“They have also highlighted media freedom as one of those elements, including open budget processes that are interactive with society …” Tshefuta said.

However, he said, there were a few areas of concern requiring timeous intervention.

Leading the pack is the challenge of excessively high levels of unemployment, especially among the youth, and corruption. 

"Inequality is very glaring. It is an area of concern that we must do something about as a nation. Corruption is one of those areas of concern that has been raised, even when our leadership of a country response to COVID-19 was commended, but still the stain of corruption was diluting [gains].

“Poor service delivery and incidents of xenophobia are included in those areas of concern that will still need to be attended to.”

On the theme of democracy and political governance, the APRM highlighted that South Africa needed to move with speed in amending the Electoral Act. The APRM said this should be in line with previous decisions of the Constitutional Court.

Tshefuta said the area of social economic development highlighted basic service delivery and poverty as issues that needed to be attended to.

"There's a new emerging thematic area of the APRM that focusses on the resilience of the State, which we are the first country to be assessed on. It highlights areas of the agility of the State as a whole, responsiveness and sustainability," he said.

In its 23 months of being in office, he said the NGC of the APRM had made meaningful headway.

"We can [count] among our achievements the fact that the President has been able to be peer reviewed when he was still the Chair of the APRM of Heads of State.

“It would have sent a very bad message for South Africa, the Chair of the AU, for South Africa to be Chair of the Forum of Heads of State of the APRM but South Africa is not counted among those who are being peer reviewed. And so, at least we've been be able to make sure that our President achieves that when he is at the helm of those structures,” Tshefuta said.

He said currently, the APRM national structures were seized with the development of the National Programme of Action and would submit periodic progress reports on its implementation.

– Source: SAnews.gov.za

The WHO REACT has been visiting African countries that are conducting clinical trials on African herbal medicines for COVID-19, and these included Madagascar, Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal and Uganda.

Apart from Tanzania, South Africa is one of the two countries in the African region conducting multicentre clinical trials.

Minister Nzimande said the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) had made significant investment in using traditional African medicine against COVID-19, and the investment had seen significant research being conducted.

““Two multi-herbal formulations and three mono-herbs reached essential pre-clinical stages and Phela was approved by the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority for clinical trials,” Minister Nzimande said.

The WHO visited, among others, these clinical trial sites and the African Medicines Health Research Unit of the University of the Free State, funded by the DSI.

At the end of the mission, a report will be produced, and presented to the WHO and relevant stakeholders.

– Source: SAnews.gov.za

The Justice Desk’s Mbokodo Club Project focusses on offering empowerment workshops, mental healthcare and self-defence programmes to girl survivors of GBV and rape.

The young girls they work with are between nine and 19 and come from vulnerable communities such as Nyanga, Khayelitsha, Gugulethu, Langa and Bonteheuwel.

The project focusses on equipping young girls to lead their change, become community leaders and join a network of women supporting women within underserved communities and townships.

“We were inspired to start The Mbokodo Club project after hearing BTS’ “love myself, love yourself” speech, which laid the foundation on which our project grew. We are now able to offer vulnerable girls from communities facing rape and GBV, leadership and empowerment workshops, mental healthcare, trauma counselling and self-defence and fitness classes.

The third BTS Global Interdisciplinary Conference 2022 will be held from the 14 to 16 July at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies in Seoul, Korea. The theme of the conference is: “The Post-Pandemic Era, Welcome to the New Humanity”.

– Source: www.goodthingsguy.com

Netflix released the eight-part series about South Africa’s penguins in June of 2021. It is called Penguin Town. It follows the lives of several African penguins that make their homes in the gardens of Simon’s Town homes.

The show was produced by Red Rock Films and South African filmmaker Cayley Christos. Cayley has over 10 years of experience in filming wildlife content.

Other nominations included “Outstanding Music Direction and Composition”, “Outstanding Single-Camera Editing” and “Outstanding Sound Mixing and Sound Editing”.

The Daytime Emmys Award ceremony focusses on daytime television and streaming content. The Daytime Emmy Award is bestowed by the New York-based National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. This year was the 49th event.

The ceremony took place over the weekend, and Cayley was there to accept the awards for “Outstanding Travel, Adventure and Nature Series”, “Outstanding Cinematography” and “Outstanding Sound Mixing and Sound Editing”.

– Source: www.goodthingsguy.com

Many artists want to work with him, and the latest one is Drake. Black Coffee has earned his name on Drake’s latest album, Honestly, Nevermind, as an executive producer and co-writer. There are three songs on the album credited to him and even his son.

On Texts Go Green, Black Coffee’s son Esona Tyolo is listed as co-producer, he is credited on Currents as a co-writer and co-producer and on Overdrive, he is credited as a co-writer and co-producer.

Earlier this year, Black Coffee won his first-ever Grammy Award. He dedicated the Grammy to all African kids, saying, “who come from where he comes from and may think they don’t stand a chance to get on a global stage like this. It is possible!”

– Source: www.goodthingsguy.com

It was a battle of inches as both sides threw everything at one another, trying to use their powerful forward packs and exciting backs to gain authority on a cold and wet night in the Mother City, and with both teams delivering tenacious efforts, it proved to be an epic encounter.

The only points scored in the first half were an early try by Bulls centre Harold Vorster, converted by flyhalf Chris Smith, while the hosts only managed a late penalty goal by flyhalf Manie Libbok, which saw the visitors enter the break 7-3 ahead.

The second half was an equally tight scramble, but two tries by the Stormers No 8 Evan Roos and replacement hooker Andre-Hugo Venter, with a conversion by Libbok, was enough to give them an edge over the Bulls who were limited to two penalty goals by Smith, earning the Capetonians the tournament crown.

With both teams showing their desperation to clinch the prestigious title, the match was riddled by penalties and errors at crucial times, however, this did not dampen their spirits as they fought until the final minute. The breakdowns, in particular, proved to be a tight scramble and a key source of penalties.

The Bulls put the first points on the board in the third minute as Johan Grobbelaar (hooker) made a great break and then a well-timed pass to Vorster, who forced his way through the defence to crash over the tryline.

Both teams tried to make their presence felt as the half progressed, and the Stormers finally had a strong opportunity to earn their first points in the 33rd minute, but Libbok’s attempt at the goal posts went wayward.

The Capetonians continued to fight until the half-time whistle, and they were within striking range of the try line in the dying minutes of the half, but their attempt was unsuccessful, and they were forced to settle for a penalty goal by Libbok, which saw them trail by 7-3 at the break.

Smith pushed the Bulls score into double figures in the 42nd minute with a penalty goal, but this was short-lived as Roos forced his way through to the tryline to touch down two minutes later, and Libbok’s conversion levelled the scores at 10-10.

The visitors were dealt a massive blow in the 52nd minute as Cornal Hendriks received a yellow card for dangerous tackle on the Stormers’ Ruhan Nel (centre), and this saw them being reduced to 14 men.

The home side took full advantage of this with Venter diving over from a rolling maul because of the penalty, to push the Stormers 15-10 up.

Smith kicked a penalty goal in the 64th minute to reduce their deficit, but Libbok slotted a clever drop goal with six minutes to play, which saw the home side take an 18-13 lead, and they managed to hold out the visitors to snatch the tournament victory.

– Source: https://www.thesouthafrican.com/

Adams lined up next to Olympic 200m champion, Andre de Grasse of Canada, but had no challengers as he crossed the line well ahead of the competition. The Dominican Republic’s Alexander Ogando clocked a national record of 20.03s for silver, with Frenchman Mouhamadou Fall bagging bronze in 20.26s. De Grasse had to be content with fourth place with a time of 20.38.

The 25-year-old Adams joined Clarence Munyai (19.69), Wayde van Niekerk (19.84), Anaso Jobodwana (19.87) and Akani Simbine (19.95) as the only South Africans to break 20 seconds for the half-lap event. And with less than a month to go to the World Athletics Championships in Eugene, the Paris Diamond League served as an important litmus test ahead of the showpiece from 15 to 24 July.

His winning time is also the fourth-fastest in the world for the 200m this year.

In the men’s 400m, South Africa’s Zakiti Nene dipped under the 45sec barrier when finishing third in 44.99. Olympic and world champion Steven Gardiner of the Bahamas posted a season’s best 44.21s in his second 400m race of the season. He finished ahead of second-placed Lidio Andres Feliz (44.92s) of the Dominican Republic and Nene.

– Source: www.sapeople.com

The announcement was made at the Stellenbosch Academy of Sport, with sporting legends Jean De Villiers, Ernst van Dyk, Elana Meyer, Cecil Afrika, Ryk Neethling and Ryan Sandes in attendance to help welcome Buitendag to the Laureus family.

The 28-year-old, who retired from professional surfing shortly after her stellar run at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, is thrilled to utilise her skills and passion in the Sport for Development space and motivate underprivileged youth to become changemakers in their own communities.

“It is an absolute honour to be included in the group of Laureus ambassadors,” said Buitendag at the announcement. “I am excited to use my platform and momentary victories to encourage and enable others along their own walks of life because these efforts last so much longer than podiums and pride.”

Morné du Plessis, Chairperson of the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation South Africa, recognised Buitendag’s passion and fearless drive: “I admire Bianca for walking the talk and remaining true to her life’s mission. She reached the pinnacle of success in surfing despite facing many personal and professional challenges, yet never lost focus of her calling to give back to the community and make a difference in the lives of orphaned and vulnerable children. She really is an example to us all, and I am humbled to welcome a woman of her calibre to the Laureus family.”

Laureus SA has been based at the Stellenbosch Academy of Sport since January this year and works closely with the academy to empower and uplift the community through sporting programmes.

Together, these organisations fund Lynedoch Boys to Men, a community intervention programme that aims to address local socio-economic challenges through educational and soccer programmes. Boys to Men operates under the Sustainability Institute umbrella – a non-profit trust committed to having a transformative impact on the lives of the children and youth in Lynedoch.

– Source: www.goodthingsguy.com

Pierre started paragliding in 1988 and loved it. He started formulating a plan to paraglide off some of the highest mountains in the world but really set the plan in motion in 1998, and by 2000, he was on his way to summiting both Elbrus and Aconcagua. Pierre realised there was something to his idea and decided to give the expedition a real try.

He put together a team and started working towards completing a summit and flight on each of his seven chosen mountains. He even went back to Elbrus and Aconcagua so they could properly document his summit and flights. His list includes nine mountains so far, two of which he has been unsuccessful in climbing or flying and one he plans to climb in 2023.

So far, he has summited or attempted to and flown the following:

• Aconagua in Argentia – Completed in 2005, 2007 and 2011
• Denali in Alaska – Completed in 2016 (Prohibited from flying off)
• Kilimanjaro in Tanzania – Completed in 2011, 2017, 2018 and 2019
• Elbrus in Russia – Completed in 2005 and 2010
• Carstens Pyramid in Iranian Jaya – Completed in 2018
• Mount Kosciusko in Australia – Completed in 2018
• Mount Cook in New Zealand – Attempted in 2018
• Mount Everest in Nepal – Completed in 2022
• Mount Vinson in Antarctica – To be done in 2023.

Pierre has been successful in his attempt to summit and paraglide off Mount Everest. This makes him the first man to ever do so (legally), and the fourth man to have done it overall.

Pierre was successfully issued a permit by the Nepali Government to glide from the top. This meant he could take the leap towards achieving his “7 Summits 7 Flights” goal. He set off on this massive adventure in early May. Beating weather and a viral infection, he made his way back to the base camp on 15 May 2022.

Now he can start making his plans for Mount Vinson in 2023.

– Source: www.goodthingsguy.com

Van der Watt, who grew up in Knysna and was educated at Glenwood House in George, has some special memories of his performances this year, which have seen him rise from 20 to 15 in the South Africa amateur rankings.

In March, he took the Humewood title against Madibaz teammate Altin van der Merwe, birdieing the 16th and 17th holes to come from two down with three to play to win one up. He also won the title in 2020.

– Sources: www.goodthingsguy.com