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| MINISTER ADDRESSES NON-ALIGNMENT MOVEMENT (NAM) SUMMIT |
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| The Minister reaffirmed South Africa’s commitment to the principles and objectives of the NAM and its relevance in addressing global challenges of the 21st century. |
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Just three days after being sworn in for a second term as International Relations and Cooperation Minister, Maite Nkoana-Mashabane attended the NAM Ministerial Conference in Algiers, Algeria, on 29 May 2014, under the theme “Strengthened Solidarity for Peace and Prosperity”.
Addressing the delegates, the Minister said NAM had accomplished a lot in the past 50 years, especially with regard to the challenges of decolonisation and the ending of apartheid, adding that it was vital for the movement in the changing international environment to respond adequately to the challenges of poverty and underdevelopment, peace and security, democracy and good governance and the respect of human rights.
This, she said, could only be achieved by strengthening solidarity and South-South cooperation.
The Minister expressed South Africa’s concern about concerted efforts to undermine democratic governance and practice in most of the members of the movement. She also said the NAM should continue its unwavering commitment to the strengthening of systems of global governance and deepening of multilateralism.
“The United Nations is our organisation and therefore should be realigned to serve our interests and needs. The 70th anniversary presents an opportunity for the strengthening of the organisation. It is an important milestone that cannot be allowed to pass without a significant commitment to reform, particularly of the Security Council.”
On the millennium development goals (MDGs) and the approaching Post-2015 Agenda, the Minister said the movement had to agree on a programme to carry forward the unfinished business of the MDGs.
“We should continue to send a clear message to both our people and partners that the post-2015 dispensation is not an escape valve from the commitments made, including by the developed countries.
“Our South-South cooperation should be geared towards uplifting and assisting those of our friends classified as least developed and small island developing states. So, as we craft a Post-2015 development architecture, we should take into account their concerns and rally behind them.” |
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PRESIDENT ZUMA CONGRATULATES MALAWI'S PRESIDENT-ELECT |
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| "We would like to assure Mr Mutharika of South Africa's commitment to strengthening bilateral relations between our two countries.” |
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The President of the Republic of South Africa, Jacob Zuma, has, on behalf of the Government and people of South Africa, congratulated Peter Mutharika, President-elect of the Republic of Malawi, on his successful election.
President Zuma said: “I would also like to take this opportunity to congratulate the people of Malawi for successfully conducting their elections, thus entrenching a democratic culture in the country." |
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| DEPUTY PRESIDENT RAMAPHOSA TO LEAD GOVERNMENT BUSINESS IN PARLIAMENT |
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| “The appointment is made in terms of section 91(4) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996,” The Presidency said. |
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President Jacob Zuma has appointed Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa as the leader of Government Business in the National Assembly.
President Zuma has wished the newly elected Deputy President well in carrying out this critical function. "We wish the Deputy President all the best in this important task of leading the Executive in Parliament,” said President Zuma.
Ramaphosa, along with the 35 new ministers and 37 deputy ministers, was sworn into office on Monday, 26 May. – Source: SAnews.gov.za |
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| PRESIDENT APPOINTS FORMER DEPUTY MINISTER EBRAHIM AS PARLIAMENTARY COUNSELLOR |
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| The Parliamentary Counsellor is the President's personal representative in Parliament, keeping him abreast of developments and providing advice. |
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President Jacob Zuma has appointed former International Relations and Cooperation Deputy Minister, Ebrahim Ebrahim, as the Parliamentary Counsellor.
Mr Ebrahim, who also served in The Presidency before as political adviser to the then Deputy President Zuma, takes over from former Communications Minister, Siphiwe Nyanda, who was appointed to the position in 2010.
– Source: SAnews.gov.za |
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| MINISTER GIGABA OUTLINES NEW IMMIGRATION REGULATIONS |
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| Effectively, this marked the commencement of the Immigration Amendment Acts of 2007 and 2011 and the new Immigration Regulations, 2014. |
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The newly appointed Home Affairs Minister, Malusi Gigaba, has outlined the Immigration Regulations of 2014, which came into effect on 26 May.
The Minister said the amendments would help the country to continue to ensure the effective and efficient management of migration in the interest of the security of South Africa, while ensuring that it contributes to the economic development and prosperity of the country.
For more information, please visit http://www.sanews.gov.za/south-africa/minister-gigaba-outlines-new-immigration-regulations. – Source: SAnews.gov.za |
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| SOUTH AFRICAN BUSINESS DELEGATION EXPOSED TO THE PERUVIAN AND CHILEAN MARKETS |
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| The 27-member delegation consisted of businesses in the agroprocessing, engineering and construction, defence systems and mining, as well as mineral resources sectors |
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A delegation of South African businesspeople got an opportunity to be exposed to the markets in Peru and Chile when they participated in the Outward Selling and Investment Mission (OSIM) to the two countries which took place from 2 to 6 June 2014.
The Minister of Trade and Industry, Rob Davies, said an OSIM was one of the flagship projects of the Department of Trade and Industry to ensure that emerging and potential exprters were exposed to international markets as a way of creating market access for their products and services, and also increasing trade between South Africa and international countries.
"Chile is an important trade partner to South Africa, as South Africa is Chile's largest trading partner in Africa," said Minister Davies.
He highlighted that South Africa was ranked seventh as an export partner and sixth as an import partner to Chile in 2013 and that Chile ranked 73rd as South Africa's export partner and 64th as an import partner. |
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| COMPANIES INVITED TO PARTICIPATE IN DTI MISSION TO WEST AFRICA |
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| Companies interested in participating in the mission, which is aimed at increasing trade and investment among South Africa, Ghana and Benin, have until 18 June to complete application forms for the mission. |
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Companies have been invited to apply to participate in the Department of Trade and Industry’s (the dti) Trade and Investment Mission to Ghana and Benin later this year.
Sectors targeted for the mission include: agroprocessing; infrastructure (rail, road and telecoms); built-environment professionals (consulting engineers, civil engineering contractors, quantity surveying and architects); energy (oil, gas and renewable energy); mining and capital equipment; and electro technical (electronics, electrical engineers, ICT and power).
“This mission is an ideal platform for South African companies which would like to export value-added products and services and for companies who are looking for investment opportunities and joint venture partnerships in the West Africa region,” Trade and Industry Minister, Rob Davies, said recently.
He said companies would be selected in line with the dti’s Export Marketing and Investment Assistance Scheme requirements. The mission to Ghana and Benin will be from 18 to 29 August 2014. – Source: SAnews.gov.za |
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| NEW-AGE X-RAY SCANNERS FOR SOUTH AFRICA'S HOSPITALS |
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| The Xmplar-dr X-ray scanner is manufactured by South African company Lodox, in which the state-owned Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) holds a 95% shareholding. |
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Nine hospitals and three pathology facilities in Gauteng will soon be armed with the Xmplar-dr full body X-ray scanner, a unique South African low-radiation X-ray machine capable of taking a full-body scan in just 13 seconds, as the Government begins rolling the device out in hospitals nationally.
Speaking to journalists at the Africa Health Conference at Gallagher Estate, north of Johannesburg on 29 May 2014, Economic Development Minister, Ebrahim Patel, said the Xmplar-dr X-ray scanner allowed medical practitioners to scan trauma patients immediately on arrival at a hospital.
"This technology is quite unique. It is a medical technology that allows for the taking of x-rays digitally. Its characteristics are informed by the fact that it is a very flexible unit. It can be installed inside a trauma unit of a hospital. You don't need to put it in a specialised radiology section."
Minister Patel said the IDC had so far invested R200 million in the development of the scanner, which had already been exported to 30 medical facilities in other countries.
"What's important about it is that the IDC is prepared to back innovative ideas and technologies, and allow them to be taken to markets and be commercialised, and in that process create sustainable jobs in South Africa." – Source: SAnews.gov.za |
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| COUP FOR DEPARTMENT OF LABOUR AS A DELEGATE TO THE INTERNATIONAL LABOUR CONFERENCE GETS NOMINATED TO A TOP POST |
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| Like delegations from the more than 150 countries attending the conference, representatives of South Africa come from government, organised labour as well as organised business. The conference, which started on 28 May, ends on 12 June. |
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The South African delegation to the International Labour Organisation’s 103rd Session of the International Labour Conference currently underway in Geneva, Switzerland, has scored a major victory with the election of one of its own as the chairperson of the committee facilitating transition from the informal to the formal economy.
Virgil Seafield is Chief Director for advocacy and statutory services at the Department of Labour. In his new role, he will coordinate discussions and direct interventions by member states that would inform the outcome of processes to be followed in the transition.
Seafield said the informal economy was significantly impacting the world of work, with as much as 40% to 80% of the labour force in developing countries working within it. He said increasingly, transition to formality had emerged as a priority policy agenda in developed and developing countries and new policy initiatives and approaches were taken in different regions that facilitated this transition through multiple pathways. |
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| DURBAN WINS PRESTIGIOUS STOCKHOLM WATER AWARD |
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| Announcing the award, the Stockholm International Water Institute described eThekwini Water and Sanitation as the most progressive water utility in Africa and "a forerunner in the world of utility-run services". |
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Durban Municipality's eThekwini Water and Sanitation has been named the 2014 winner of the prestigious Stockholm Industry Water Award for its transformative and inclusive approach to providing water and sanitation services.
"In the past 14 years, 1,3 million additional people in greater Durban have been connected to piped water and 700 000 people have been provided with access to toilets," the institute said in a statement.
Besides providing basic services to a large and diverse population, the institute noted, eThekwini Water and Sanitation was at the forefront of exploring technical and social solutions.
These include pioneering solutions for harvesting rainwater and converting urban waste water for agricultural uses, as well as a mini hydro-power project which replaces pressure-reducing valves in pipes running down steep hillsides with mini-turbines that use the excess pressure to generate electricity. – Source: www.southafrica.info |
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| LONELY PLANET: SA IS WORLD'S BEST DESTINATION FOR WILDLIFE |
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| South African Tourism shared the good news on its Facebook page, with Lonely Planet describing South Africa's "lush greenery as the perfect backdrop for an impressive game of hide and seek with your favourite animals in the wild". |
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South Africa has been voted the best destination for wildlife in the 2014 Lonely Planet reader survey for the third year in a row. The runners up were Kenya and Tanzania.
Some of the attributes that helped South Africa clinch this remarkable title include a list of essential experiences such as crossing off the Big Five off your spotted list, as well as having an overnight stay in one of the national parks for a "completely immersive experience".
St Lucia also got a special hat-tip, with the world-famous travel guide describing it as a great place to take in South Africa's underwater fauna and flora. – Source: news24.com |
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| SOUTH AFRICAN WINS COMRADES MARATHON |
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| Mthembu had previously won three gold medals. This time, however, he was a convincing victor. |
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South African Bongmusa Mthembu claimed his first Comrades Marathon victory on Sunday, winning the 89,28-kilometre "down run" from Pietermaritzburg to Durban in five hours, 28 minutes and 34 seconds.
At a post-race press conference, he said: "It's a great feeling to win Comrades. I've worked hard to get here all these years and I always knew my time will come.
"It's been a process of five to six years. I was patient in that time and I'm really happy to have finally done it."
British-born Canadian runner, Eleanor Greenwood, won the woman’s race by a remarkable five minutes and four seconds over Elena Nurgalieva, breaking the finishing tape in six hours, 18 minutes and 14 seconds. – Source: www.southafrica.info |
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