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| PRESIDENT ZUMA ATTENDS SADC DOUBLE TROIKA SUMMIT IN BOTSWANA |
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| The Extra-Ordinary Summit considered the political and security situation in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region, paying particular attention to the situation in the Kingdom of Lesotho. |
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President Jacob Zuma attended the Extra-Ordinary Summit of the SADC Double Troika, held on 28 June 2016 in Gaborone, Botswana.
Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa also attended the summit in his capacity as the SADC-appointed Facilitator on Lesotho.
South Africa participated the meeting in its capacity as the outgoing Chairperson of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation.
The Double Troika is made up of Botswana, Zimbabwe, Swaziland, Mozambique, South Africa and Tanzania.
President Zuma was accompanied by the ministers of international relations and cooperation, Maite Nkoana-Mashabane; defence and military veterans, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula; and state security, David Mahlobo. |
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| PRESIDENT ZUMA NOTES BREXIT OUTCOME |
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| Britain held a referendum on the United Kingdom’s (UK) membership of the European Union (EU) on 23 June. A total of 52% of the 30 million people who took part voted to leave. |
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The Presidency says government has noted the outcome of the referendum in Britain, also called Brexit.
Prime Minister David Cameron has since announced his decision to step down by October.
The Presidency said it would take two years for the institutional changes that the vote implied to be negotiated and that South Africa remained committed to retaining strong trade and financial relations with both Britain and the EU.
“The uncertainty that arises from this vote means that the volatility that has characterised capital markets in the lead-up to the vote may persist.
“National Treasury and the South African Reserve Bank have been in discussions with financial institutions on the possible implications for the South African economy.
“Our banks and financial institutions are well positioned to withstand financial shocks to the system as demonstrated in previous episodes, including the 2008/09 global financial crisis,” it said.
The Presidency said it was confident that the country’s financial system, including the banks and the regulatory framework, was extremely resilient and reliable.
“The Reserve Bank and National Treasury are closely monitoring the unfolding developments and will advise the South African public where necessary.”
In this context, The Presidency said, ongoing efforts as South Africans, government, business, labour and civil society to reignite growth became that much more urgent and critical. – Source: www.SAnews.gov.za |
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| TERRITORIAL DISPUTE REGARDING THE SOUTH CHINA SEA |
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| South Africa believes that the international community should support all efforts aimed at safeguarding peace and stability in the region. |
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South Africa has noted with concern the recent trend in the global arena to politicise the situation pertaining to the South China Sea.
South Africa supports the position that the sovereign states that are directly concerned should resolve their relevant disputes through direct consultations and negotiations, on the basis of respecting historical facts and in accordance with international law, as well as to maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea. |
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| SADC MINISTERS THRASH OUT WATER, ENERGY SOLUTIONS |
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| Ministers in the water and energy sectors recently gathered in Botswana to discuss water and energy solutions in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region at the SADC Energy and Water Joint Ministerial Workshop, held in Gaborone. |
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During the meeting, practical and sustainable solutions with a view to map out a strategic direction were forged, said the Department of Water and Sanitation.
Ideas were exchanged and best practices were shared with the objective of addressing water and energy challenges in the region.
The workshop noted the maintenance of infrastructure, poor harnessing of alternative sources of energy and water and slow implementation of priority energy and water projects were part of the challenges that hindered solutions to the energy and water challenges in the region.
Limited regional connectivity for power trading and poor access to the climate change funds for adaptation and investment are also challenging.
The department said member states and the secretariat were encouraged to work jointly to maximise benefits and accelerate delivery.
The workshop also recommended that innovative funding methodologies be found to speed up implementation.
Furthermore, the workshop agreed that member states should invest more in alternative sources of energy and water such as rainwater harvesting, recycling and desalination, depending on the circumstances, while also promoting use of ground water and surface water. – Source: www.SAnews.gov.za |
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| SA, POLAND DISCUSS COOPERATION IN AGRICULTURE |
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| South Africa has started negotiations in the field of agriculture with Poland. |
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The Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Senzeni Zokwana, recently met with the Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Jacek Bogucki, of Poland.
The bilateral meeting was aimed at initiating discussions towards agreements on cooperation in the field of agriculture between the two countries.
There are no agreements in place in this field at the moment.
“Poland is one of Europe’s major players in agriculture and strengthening cooperation between the countries will benefit both,” said the department in a statement.
The discussions focussed on how bilateral agricultural trade could be strengthened as well as on potential cooperation with regard to agro-processing, research and vocational technical training in agriculture, forestry and fisheries and aquaculture.
“The National Development Plan and New Growth Path highlight the importance of skills development. In order for the agricultural sector to grow, extensive research and skills development together with increased trade, need to be prioritised and that can be achieved through cooperation with other countries,” said the department. – Source: www.SAnews.gov.za |
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SOUTH AFRICA TO STRENGTHEN CORDIAL TRADE RELATIONS
WITH TANZANIA |
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| The mission will take place on the sidelines of the Dar es Salaam Trade Fair taking place from 27 June – 8 July 2016. |
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The Department of Trade and Industry (the dti) is leading a 25-member strong business delegation on an Outward Selling and Investment Mission (OSIM) to strengthen the already existing cordial relations between South Africa and Tanzania, and to also increase bilateral trade and investment with the business community.
The Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Mzwandile Masina, says this mission is of significant importance, more especially in relation to the rapid economic growth that Tanzania has demonstrated, particularly driven by infrastructure, information and communications technology and the construction sector in the past 10 years.
Masina adds that the mission specifically aims to build on the Bi-National Commission Agreement signed by the two countries in 2011, to prioritise economic cooperation through trade and investment and create job opportunities in the respective countries.
“It is worth mentioning that Tanzania ranks as South Africa’s 12th-largest trading partner in Africa, with trade currently exceeding R6 billion.
"However, the trade balance is skewed in South Africa’s favour with a trade surplus of R6,5 billion. It is our objective that this exercise will solidify our strategic partnership and pave the way for our business community to partner with Tanzania in establishing infrastructure such as roads, ports, renewable energy and mines,” he adds. |
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| MEC MAHLANGU WELCOMES CUBAN MEDICAL SPECIALISTS |
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| This initiative is aimed at boosting the primary healthcare in the province, which is the first point of call for the majority of poor people who cannot afford private healthcare. |
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On 24 June, Gauteng MEC for Health, Qedani Mahlangu, welcomed Cuban medical specialists at an induction ceremony at OR Tambo International Airport.
These medical specialists, who have been appointed by the department to assist with healthcare challenges, will be strategically placed at clinics across the province to help reduce the pressure on tertiary institutions and strengthen primary healthcare and ensure that quality healthcare is provided. |
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| PROF. CHRISTOF HEYNS ELECTED TO THE UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE (UNHRC) |
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| Prof. Heyns was nominated in March 2016 by the South African Department of International Relations and Cooperation as the country’s candidate. |
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Prof. Christof Heyns, former Director of the Centre for Human Rights and Professor of Human rights Law at the University of Pretoria, was elected to the prestigious 18-member UNHRC in New York on 23 June 2016.
Prof. Heyns served as the UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions over the last six years, and has in that capacity been directly engaged with some of the major challenges of the international community of our time, such as the aftermath of the war in Sri Lanka and the war in Ukraine. In addition to that, he is one of the three international experts who are conducting the UN Independent Investigation on Burundi (and he serves as the chair of that body).
Very few human rights experts in the world have held such a range of top human rights positions in the international system.
Prof. Heyns teaches Human Rights Law at the University of Pretoria; Oxford University; American University in Washington DC; and the University of Geneva. He is the author of numerous international publications on topics such as armed drones, the management of demonstrations, the use of force by law-enforcement officials, and human rights law in Africa. |
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| GENERAL ELECTRIC (GE) INVESTS R500 MILLION FOR INNOVATION CENTRE IN JOBURG |
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| This demonstrates GE’s long-term commitment to both the continent and to finding innovative solutions to Africa’s infrastructure and healthcare problems. |
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The investment of a R500-million innovation centre in Johannesburg by the United States multinational, GE, was welcomed by Cabinet during its biweekly meeting on 23 June.
Cabinet noted that it was a demonstration that South Africa and the continent were viable investment destinations.
This is the group’s 10th such centre globally and its first in Africa. The building is also the new headquarters for GE Healthcare, which showcases various healthcare technologies. This demonstrates GE’s long-term commitment to both the continent and to finding innovative solutions to Africa’s infrastructure and healthcare problems.
The centre aims to enhance the career aspirations of over 100 engineers from previously disadvantaged backgrounds. Space has also been allocated for collaborative projects and solution prototyping with Transnet partnering with GE on various rail localisation projects. The centre also aspires to support the development of small businesses capable of supplying the local market and potentially GE’s global supply chains. |
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| SOUTH AFRICA TO HOST AFRICAN INTERNET GOVERNANCE FORUM (IGF) |
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| Internet governance covers a wide range of social and political issues. These include participation in the online economy, intellectual property, cyber-security and privacy and access to key technical resources, such as domain names and Internet Protocol addresses that make Internet services possible. |
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South Africa will host the IGF in October 2016. This follows a request from the African Union Commission, which was approved by Cabinet on 23 June.
Hosting the African IGF provides a platform for Africa to develop strategies for participation in the global Internet economy which is critical for the development of economies in Africa. Currently, the Internet economy is worth around R59 billion in South Africa.
The forum also provides a platform for African governments to set the agenda to adopt a common position on Internet Governance. This follows the outcomes from the United Nations General Assembly World Summit on the Information Society High-Level Review in December 2015.
This reaffirms the Tunis Declaration, that Internet Governance is a global resource that should be managed in a multilateral, transparent and democratic process, with the full involvement of all stakeholders. African governments will also have an opportunity to engage on critical components of the Internet value chain with a view to promote the equitable distribution and use of Internet resources. |
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| CAPE TOWN HOUSE FETCHES HIGHEST SALES PRICE IN AFRICA |
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| The seller, the Dogon Group, said last month the price was the highest ever fetched for a house on the continent. |
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A magnificent house designed by South African group SAOTA and lying on the mountainside above Clifton Beach and Bantry Bay has reportedly sold for a record price for a residence in Africa – R290 million (almost US$20 million).
The spectacular house measures almost 1 000 square metres and lies on the back side of Lion’s Head overlooking Bantry Bay and Camps Bay. The challenges to the architects were the steep property and the fact that it bordered a national park that couldn’t be compromised.
SAOTA is a firm of architectural designers and technologists led by Stefan Antoni, Philip Olmesdahl, Greg Truen, Phillippe Fouché and Mark Bullivant. They have worked on residential projects and hotels, among other projects, around the world. – Source: www.sapeople.com |
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SIR RICHARD BRANSON OPENS LUXURY FRANSCHHOEK
MANOR HOUSE |
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| The Manor House features four deluxe suites and a bunk room for children. According to the Virgin Limited Edition statement, Manor House captures that “home away from home” feel while allowing guests to indulge in all the luxury of a hotel stay. |
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The English business magnate, investor and philanthropist, Sir Richard Branson, has opened an exclusive Manor House at Mont Rochelle Hotel and Mountain Vineyard in Franschhoek, as part of Virgin Limited Edition, Branson's privately owned collection of luxury hotels and retreats.
Located just a short walk from the main Mont Rochelle Hotel and a stone’s throw from the property's Country Kitchen restaurant, it’s the perfect option for a family group or guests looking for a more private retreat.
There is also a fully-equipped kitchen, lounge, two swimming pools and gym.
Guests are able to book the property in its entirety, for exclusive hire all-year-round. For a minimum two-night-stay, rates start from R48 600 per night on the base of eight adults sharing. That works out to R 6 075 per person per night, all-inclusive.
A dedicated team and private chef take care of guests, arranging private dining, spa treatments, horseback riding and wine tasting.
Guests can choose either a three-course lunch or dinner daily in one of the main hotel’s two restaurants at no additional cost. All drinks (including alcohol) are also included in the cost. – Source: www.news24.com |
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SA STUDENTS WIN
MAJOR INTERNATIONAL SUPERCOMPUTING COMPETITION |
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| The students participated in the international competition through the Centre for High Performance Computing’s (CHPC) Student Cluster Competition Programme. |
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Six South African students – four from Wits University and two from Stellenbosch University – were crowned as champions at the International Supercomputing Conference in Germany recently.
The South African team of Craig Bester‚ Sabeehah Ismail‚ Andries Bingani and Avi Bank from the Wits School of Computer Science and Applied Mathematics and Stellenbosch teammates, Ashley Naúde and Leanne Johnson‚ beat 11 other teams from Germany‚ China‚ Singapore‚ Estonia‚ Spain and the United States of America to clinch the title.
“We are extremely proud of our talented students who are at the cutting edge of technology. This global win demonstrates that the quality of our education is up there with the best in the world‚” said Wits Vice-Chancellor and Principal‚ Professor Adam Habib.
“We should also thank our partners – the Department of Science and Technology and the CSIR‚ as well as industry partners such as Dell and Intel for their contribution to the project. These kinds of innovative public-private partnerships will help us to move South Africa forward‚” Habib added.
The annual International Supercomputing Conference attracts close to 3 000 attendees from nearly 60 countries‚ and hosts an exhibition with some 150 companies and research organisations to showcase the latest technologies and services.
The conference’s annual Student Cluster Competition is an opportunity to showcase student expertise and features small teams that compete to demonstrate the incredible capabilities of state-of-the-art high-performance cluster hardware and software. – Source: www.timeslive.co.za |
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| CRUISE OPERATOR OPENS NEW FLAGSHIP IN CAPE TOWN |
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| As plans continue for Cape Town's new cruise terminal and direct connectivity to the city improves, Imagine Holidays opened its first holiday store in Willowbridge Centre, Cape Town, on Friday, 24 June. |
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The cruise operator says its staff "have experienced many of the holidays themselves to be able offer insider advice on destinations and types of holidays, whether customers are looking for a luxury Mediterranean cruise or an intrepid visit to Thailand".
Elle Hudson, General Manager of Imagine Holidays South Africa says, “We are opening our flagship holiday store in Cape Town just as we are seeing a growing appetite among local residents”.
The new store will open with a number of launch promos on offer, says Hudson. – Source: Traveller24 |
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| SA ANIMATION WINS BIG AT INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL |
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| This is the biggest accolade yet for the acclaimed short film, which recently won Best Animation at both the BANFF World Media Festival and the Shanghai International Film and TV Festival, as well as two British Animation Awards. |
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“Stick Man”, Triggerfish’s collaboration with Magic Light Pictures, has won Le Cristal at Annecy, the top prize for a TV production at the world’s premier animation festival.
Based on Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s much-loved children’s picture book, Stick Man is the story of a happy-go-lucky father’s epic journey to make it home in time for Christmas.
Stick Man was produced by Magic Light Pictures, an Oscar-nominated and BAFTA and International Emmy-winning production company in the United Kingdom, and animated in Cape Town by Triggerfish. The 26-minute film was directed by London-based Jeroen Jaspaert and co-directed by South African Daniel Snaddon.
Voiced by the likes of Martin Freeman (The Hobbit), Hugh Bonneville (Downtown Abbey) and Jennifer Saunders (Absolutely Fabulous), the short film screened to nearly 10 million people on BBC1 at Christmas 2015.
"This was Africa’s strongest showing at Annecy yet,” says Triggerfish CEO Stuart Forrest. “In addition to Stick Man winning the TV category, our collaborator Clea Mallinson won the Animation du Monde pitching forum for her short Fairy Wheels; South African Naomi van Niekerk’s powder animation, ‘n Gewone Blou Maandagoggend, won the Jean-Luc Xiberras Award for a First Film in the Short Film Category; and Adama, a film set in West Africa, won the André-Martin Award for a French feature film. We also had a great response to the four TV series we’re developing from last year’s Pan-African Triggerfish Story Lab, so it’s exciting times for African animation.”
Nathi Mthethwa, South Africa’s Minister of Arts and Culture, congratulated Triggerfish on Twitter: “This is an achievement we can all be proud of as South Africans, because Annecy’s Cristal Awards are considered the Oscars of animation”. – Source: www.channel24.co.za |
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| SOUTH AFRICA SCOOPS THE RADIO GRAND PRIX AT #CANNESLIONS IN FRANCE |
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| Winners of the Radio, Direct, Glass, Print & Publishing, and Promo & Activation Lions were announced recently at the 63rd International Festival of Creativity on the French Riviera. |
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The Radio Grand Prix at the prestigious #CannesLions event in France was recently presented to “The Everyman Meal – Coloured Weights” for KFC, by Ogilvy & Mather Johannesburg, South Africa.
Radio received a total of 1 410 entries – of which 33 of the 91 winning entries were South African, including the Grand Prix.
South Africa also had winners in Print & Publishing and Promo & Activation.
The Grand Prix is Ogilvy Joburg’s second Cannes Lions Radio Grand Prix — it previously won one in 2014 for its Lucozade campaign Teleconference, Kids Party and Enrique Concert — and the second time that Joburg has brought home O&M Worldwide’s Grand Prix in Radio. This is also South Africa’s fourth Radio Grand Prix since 2009. – Source: www.sapeople.com |
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| MAFIKIZOLO'S MUSICAL WORKS DISPLAYED AT GRAMMY MUSEUM |
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| The "Sounds of Africa" exhibition was recently unveiled in Los Angeles. |
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The work of South African music duo Mafikizolo is being displayed as part of the African Sounds exhibit at the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles this year.
The museum and Black Entertainment Television (BET) unveiled the new exhibition on 24 June, highlighting winners and nominees of both the Grammy Awards and BET Awards.
The display consists of handwritten lyrics, costumes and rare instruments from Grammy winner Angélique Kidjo, singer/songwriter Salif Keita, Victor Uwaifo, visual artist Laolu Sebanjo, Tabu Ley Rochereau, 2Face Idibia and Ice Prince.
BET Africa’s Monde Twala said, “It’s fantastic to see the influence of African artists and music amplified in this unique exhibition in this iconic setting. We are excited about working with the Grammy Museum to create this fascinating tribute to legendary, traditional and contemporary African musicians”.
Paying tribute to music’s rich cultural history, the Grammy Museum explores and celebrates the enduring legacies of all forms of music by capturing the creative process, as well as the art and technology of the recording process. The building features 30 000 square feet of interactive and multimedia exhibits. |
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BLACK COFFEE WINS INTERNATIONAL AWARD |
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Black Coffee immediately tweeted: “Thank you Africa#thisoneisformypeople #southafrica #bestinternationalartist #BETAwards16.” |
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South African DJ Black Coffee has been named the Best International Act from Africa by the international BET (Black Entertainment Television) Awards, making history as the first South African artist to win an award in this category. It was his first nomination.
Other nominees in the category were Wizkid and Yemi Alade (both Nigeria), AKA (South Africa), Serge Beynaud (Côte d’Ivoire), Mzvee (Ghana) and Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania).
Black Coffee’s win was announced Saturday morning in Los Angeles. The main award ceremony was held in LA on Sunday night, where Hollywood actor Samuel L Jackson was hoonoured with a lifetime achievement award, and tributes were held for musician Prince and boxer Muhammad Ali who both passed away recently.
US hip hop star Akon has been awarded BET’s Global Good Award for his work, particularly in Africa. – Source: www.sapeople.com |
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| NANDI MNGOMA WINS OVER US FASHION CRITICS |
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| Dressed in a monochrome mermaid dress, Nandi made the best dressed lists on both Elle US and E! News – the only female African to do so. |
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Designers around the world aspire to have their designs showcased on the red carpet at major award ceremonies. South Africa’s Nandi Mngoma did just that, and stole the show, with her debut creation.
The actress and musician wowed US fashion critics when she took to the BET red carpet 26 June, dressed in a creation from her upcoming fashion line.
Praising her designs, E! News wrote: "Work that dress!"
The singer announced that the dress was the first piece from her fashion line, called Colour, which will be launched during AFI Fashion Week in August.
Talking to Sunday Times, Nandi confirmed that she collaborated with designer Inga Madyibi on the range and revealed her inspirations.
"The label is called Colour. It's such a cool and fluid name, and doesn't restrict us to anything. We'll play with texture and fabrics, but our focus will be on African designs. We don't want to do typical African print styles but people will have to wait to see the outcome of it because Inga also design with wood and so many different elements," Nandi said. – Source: www.timeslive.co.za |
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| BAFANA CLAIM COSAFA CUP |
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| Bafana Bafana lifted the regional tournament title for the fourth time, while the Zebras were hoping to clinch their first-ever title. |
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South Africa overcame Botswana 3-2 to clinch the 2016 COSAFA Castle Cup at the Sam Nujoma Stadium in Windhoek on 25 June.
Judas Moseamedi thought he had put South Africa into the lead three minutes into the game, but he was ruled offside.
The striker, who was looking lively for Bafana in the opening stages, had his attempt blocked by Botswana captain, Boitumelo Mafoko, in the 15th minute.
Botswana then took the lead against the run of play a minute later and it was Onkabetse Makgantai who made it 1-0 to his side.
South Africa kept pushing for the equalising goal and in the 29th minute, Moseamedi was denied by Zebras keeper Mwampule Masule.
Bafana's pressure paid off in the 33rd minute when Gift Motupa equalised from a spot-kick after Moseamedi had been fouled in the Zebras box.
Motupa then set-up his Bafana teammate Aubrey Modida on the edge of the box a minute before half time, but the latter miscued his effort.
Shakes Mashaba's side took the lead for the first time on the night in the 66th minute when Thabiso Kutumela scored with a tap in.
But the lead only lasted for only a minute as Bafana goalkeeper, Reyaad Pieterse, dropped Kabelo Seakanyeng's free-kick into his own net to make it
2-2.
South Africa was given a chance to snatch a late winner in the 88th minute from another spot-kick and Motupa stepped up to seal Bafana's 3-2 win on the night. – Source: www.sport24.co.za |
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| BOKS TO HOST PUMAS AT MBOMBELA STADIUM |
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The competition will be played across six rounds and it will be the first time that a Rugby Championship match will be staged at
Mbombela Stadium. |
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The Springboks will open their 2016 Rugby Championship campaign with a home match against Argentina at Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit on 20 August.
The tournament will for the first time also include a match played at Twickenham Stadium on 8 October between Argentina and 2015 Championship winners Australia.
South Africa’s second match is against Argentina at the Estadio Martearena in Salta on 27 August .
The Boks will then face Australia at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane on 10 September, before facing New Zealand at AMI Stadium in Christchurch the following weekend (17 September ).
Allister Coetzee’s men’s final two outings are at home – against Australia at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria (1 October) and New Zealand at Kings Park in Durban (8 October).
“SANZAAR is delighted to be playing in two new cities this year with Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit and Twickenham in London hosting Championship matches,” commented SANZAAR CEO, Andy Marinos. – Source: www.sport24.co.za |
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| BOKS DOWN IRELAND TO WIN SERIES |
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| The Springboks, who led 13-10 at half-time, had to withstand several late Irish surges to triumph and clinch a series in which only six points separated the sides in each international. |
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South Africa survived a late Ireland onslaught to win the third Test 19-13 in Port Elizabeth Saturday, 25 June, and clinch a 2-1 series success.
Ireland won the first Test 26-20 in Cape Town and South Africa the second 32-26 in Johannesburg.
The Irish had a 21-phase attack repulsed with four minutes left and another onslaught featuring equally good ball retention ended with the visitors being penalised and the final whistle blowing.
"I'm very happy," said South Africa skipper and hooker, Adriaan Strauss. "It was a very tough game and a tough series. – Source: www.sport24.co.za |
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| SOUTH AFRICAN GRANT “TWIGGY” BAKER WINS BWT PUERTO ESCONDIDO CHALLENGE |
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| Baker locked in multiple excellent-range scores, but it was the perfect 10.00 awarded for escaping a massive tube that cemented his victory. Baker’s final combined score was an impressive 27.50 out of a possible 30. |
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Grant “Twiggy” Baker recently claimed victory at the Puerto Escondido Challenge, besting a field of 24 of the world’s best big wave surfers in towering 20-to-35 foot surf off the coast of Mainland Mexico’s Puerto Escondido.
The first event of the 2016/17 World Surf League (WSL) Big Wave Tour (BWT), the Puerto Escondido Challenge tested the top big wave chargers with enormous and difficult beachbreak conditions.
A solid swell from the South Pacific delivered massive surf over two days for the inaugural BWT event at the exceptionally powerful beachbreak known as “The Mexican Pipeline”.
Baker, 2013/14 BWT Champion, put on a stunning performance in Mexico, storming to victory in the semifinals before his impressive showing in the final.
The South African showcased technical and precise surfing throughout the Final. Baker captured early control over the field and continued to solidify his lead with incredible rides.
“I’ve been coming here for 20 years and I love it,” continued Baker. “The waves are amazing and I want to thank all the locals for being so hospitable and making us feel so welcome. To my wife and baby at home, this one’s for you.”
Baker came into the event as an injury wildcard and his winning performance will kick off his 2016/17 BWT Title campaign with 12 500 points and first place on the BWT rankings. – Source: www.sapeople.com |
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| SEMENYA TOPS AFRICAN CHAMPIONSHIPS MEDAL TALLY |
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| South Africa finished at the top of the table with 33 medals: 16 gold, nine silver and eight bronze. |
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Local star Caster Semenya added two more gold medals to her tally, carrying South Africa to the top of the standings on the fifth and final day of the African Senior Championships in Durban on Sunday, 26 June.
Semenya, who had already earned gold in the 1 500m final earlier in the week, coasted to victory in the women’s 800m final in 1:58.20, with the rest of the field finishing well off the pace as Malika Akkaoui took second in 2:00.24.
Semenya returned to the track less than an hour later and anchored the South African 4x400m relay squad to an impressive victory in 3:28.49, joining Wenda Nel, Justine Palframan and Jeanelle Griesel in setting a new national record.
Versatile sprinter Wayde van Niekerk charged to victory in the men’s 200m final in 20.02 seconds, crossing the line well clear of Gambia’s Adama Jammeh, who finished second in 20.45sec.
South Africa finished atop of the table for the second straight edition of the biennial continental championships with 33 medals: 16 gold, nine silver and eight bronze. Kenya ended the championships in second place with 24 medals: eight gold, eight silver and eight bronze. – Source: http://citizen.co.za |
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