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| PRESIDENT ZUMA CONGRATULATES HIS EXCELLENCY EVARISTO CARVALHO ON HIS ELECTION AS PRESIDENT OF THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF SÃO TOMÉ AND PRÍNCIPE |
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| President Zuma also congratulated the people of the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe for conducting a peaceful election. |
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President Jacob Zuma has, on behalf of the Government and the people of South Africa, congratulated President-elect Evaristo Carvalho for winning the presidential elections that were held in the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe on 17 July and 07 August 2016.
President Zuma conveyed his best wishes to the President-elect and also expressed his hope that President-elect Carvalho would continue working for the security, well-being and prosperity of all the people of the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe, and the strengthening of relations with the Republic of South Africa. |
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| MINISTER NKOANA-MASHABANE ADDRESSES TOP WOMEN AWARDS |
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| The Awards formed part of the first Annual Top Women Conference which took place from 17 – 18 August 2016. The conference brought together some of the most powerful and well-known women from various industries. |
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The role of women before and during South Africa’s transitional period ensured that issues of gender and women empowerment were correctly infused in South Africa’s democratic legal and policy frameworks.
This was according to International Relations and Cooperation Minister, Maite Nkoana-Mahabane, who gave the keynote address at the Topco Media and Standard Bank Top Women Awards held on 18 August at Emperor’s Palace, Ekurhuleni, east of Johannesburg.
The Minister said the reality was that the country could only realise its development aspirations faster if we created conditions for women to contribute fully.
The Minister quoted from the first Government Report on the Status of Women in the South African Economy which stated that: “We acknowledge that when more women are involved in economic activities the economy grows faster. The National Development Plan identifies the financial inclusion of women as a critical tool that will result in quicker poverty elimination and reduction of inequality, and contribute towards the achievement of the set targets of 2030”.
“It is clear that government shall work with business and all other sectors of society to achieve the set targets of 2030.”
The Top Women Awards is a collaborative platform dedicated to recognising outstanding leadership, inspiration, vision, and innovation in organisations that have stepped up and shaped women’s roles within the private and public sectors.
Source: SouthAfrica.info, www.topwomenawards.co.za |
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| SOUTH AFRICAN GOVERNMENT CONDEMNS WAVE OF EXPLOSIONS ACROSS MULTIPLE CITIES IN SOUTHERN THAILAND |
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| South Africa stands firmly with the international community in condemning all forms of terrorism and stands in solidarity with the Kingdom of Thailand as they mourn the death of their citizens |
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The South African Government joined the international community in strongly condemning the wave of coordinated explosions across multiple cities in southern Thailand on 11 and 12 August 2016, which resulted in the deaths of at least four people and wounding dozens more. The areas targeted included the tourism hotspots of Trang, Surat Thani, Hua Hin and Phuket.
On behalf of the Government and the people of South Africa, President Jacob Zuma extended his heartfelt condolences to His Majesty Bhumibol Adulyadej, King of Thailand, the Government and people of Thailand, and in particular the families of the deceased and injured. |
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| SOUTH AFRICA TO CO-HOST 2016 UNITED NATIONS (UN) INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SEMINAR ON PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST |
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| The purpose of the seminar is to sensitise public opinion, prevailing media coverage on the peace processes and to enhance dialogue between the Israelis and Palestinians. |
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The South African Government in partnership with the UN Department of Public Information will host the UN International Media Seminar on Peace in the Middle East from 31 August to 2 September at the Department of International Relations and Cooperation’s OR Tambo Building in Pretoria.
The discussions will focus on a variety of issues, including the prospects for a political solution of the Israel-Palestine conflict; the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the occupied Palestinian territory; the Israel-Palestine story expressed through documentaries and films; political satire as a peacemaker; virtual reality as the next frontier in storytelling; and the power of animation to communicate complex issues about the situation. |
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| TRADE AND INDUSTRY HOSTS 8TH AFRICAN CONSUMER PROTECTION DIALOGUE |
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| The dialogue was held under the theme Advancing Consumer Protection in Africa: Building Capacity and Stakeholder Cooperation. |
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The Department of Trade and Industry, together with the National Consumer Tribunal, National Consumer Commission, National Credit Regulator and the National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications, hosted the eighth African Consumer Protection Dialogue from 10 to 12 August 2016 in Boksburg.
The African Consumer Protection Dialogue is a measure on behalf of African governments, non-governmental organisations, as well as the United States Federal Trade Commission to create informal opportunities to connect with one another and deliberate on pertinent subject matters. |
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| WWF SOUTH AFRICA HONOURS RIVER EXPERT |
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| King received the accolade during the fourth Living Planet Conference held in Sandton, Johannesburg, at the end of July. The theme this year was "Why South Africa's Future is Brighter than you think: A Case for Optimism". |
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Dr Jackie King has passionately worked for 40 years on aquatic ecology, and for her outstanding effort, the World Wildlife Fund South Africa (WWF-SA) recently awarded her the Living Planet Award.
"In a world filled with seemingly overwhelming challenges, for this year's Living Planet Conference we decided to turn the question of sustainability on its head," said WWF-SA chief executive Dr Morné du Plessis.
"It is a challenge to us all to think more positively about the changes we can make for the better ... particularly in the quest for a more sustainable and equitable future."
"We have to look after rivers for them to look after us," King said. She described rivers as the "life blood of the Earth". A change of water flow, she said, influenced everything.
"It costs more to fix something in the natural environment than it is to take care of it in the first place."
– Source: www.southafrica.info |
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| SA SCIENTISTS DISCOVER ROOIBOS' UNIQUE ANTI-AGEING POTENTIAL |
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| Rooibos is part of the fynbos family and endemic to the Cederberg region of the Western Cape. |
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South African wonder herb, Rooibos, is sure to turn the anti-ageing revolution on its head following a new round of research into its anti-ageing potential beyond that of its well-known antioxidant properties.
Rooibos – already a proven agent in thwarting the effects of ageing and promoting general health – has further been put through its paces by two leading scientists from the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University in a bid to beat the rate at which age-related diseases develop, which makes this research study so significant.
Lead scientist, Prof. Maryna van de Venter said it was the first time a study such as this had been attempted.
"Our research focussed primarily on the preservation of healthy fat tissue as the redistribution of fat – a natural process which occurs with age – particularly to the abdominal region, has been linked to the onset of many age-related diseases such as cardiovascular disease, type II diabetes and cancer. Our aim was to slow down the rate at which these diseases develop as a way to improve the quality of an individual’s life."
Co-researcher, Dr Trevor Koekemoer, emphasised that the mere fact that their work suggested that the anti-ageing effects of Rooibos could be ascribed to more than its well-known antioxidant effects, was an important finding.
"The discovery opens doors to ways in which Rooibos could prevent or at least delay the detrimental effects of ageing and holds profound implications for the industry. Our findings could spur novel therapeutic approaches for improving general health in the aged and potentially lead to a breakthrough in the field of regenerative medicines," he said. – Source: www.sagoodnews.co.za |
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| PETRA ROCKS DIAMOND WORLD |
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| Petra's Cullinan mine is renowned for the discovery of the Cullinan Diamond in 1905 – at 3106 carats the largest gem ever discovered. |
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Petra Diamonds has recovered a 138.57 carat white diamond at the historic Cullinan mine near Pretoria.
The diamond is classified as type IIa, D colour, meaning it has high clarity, and will be offered for sale in Johannesburg this month.
The company had earlier this year sold a 121.26 carat white diamond recovered from the same mine for US$6 million to a joint venture between Nemesis International and Golden Yellow Diamonds.
– Source: www.timeslive.co.za |
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| WAYDE VAN NIEKERK WINS GOLD, SETS WORLD RECORD |
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| Van Niekerk, running in the unfavoured lane eight, blasted off the final corner to time 43.03, 0.15 quicker than Johnson's previous world best set in Seville in 1999, a record that had taken on mythical-like standing. |
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On 15 August, South African Wayde van Niekerk smashed Michael Johnson's long-standing 400-m record when he stormed to Olympic gold.
Defending champion Kirani James of Grenada took silver in 43.76, with American LaShawn Merritt bronze (43.85).
The trio had produced one of the races of the year in the 400m final at the 2015 world championships in Beijing, all going under 44 seconds as the South African emerged victorious.
And it was the same again in Rio, Van Niekerk exploding off the last bend and holding his form through the line in an extraordinary run as all eight runners finished under 44.61.
"I have never seen anything like that," Johnson told BBC, for whom he works as an analyst.
"It is amazing. That was a massacre by Van Niekerk. This young man has done something truly special. He could go under 43 seconds - I tried and failed.”
Earlier, 25-year-old Luvo Manyonga was absolutely buzzing after winning silver in the long jump at the Olympic Stadium in Rio.
Manyonga took the lead with his fourth attempt when he jumped 8.28m, and then when he bettered that to 8.37m with his fifth attempt it looked like Team South Africa was on course for its first gold medal of the 2016 Olympics.
Manyonga failed on his final effort, but he still had the lead. American Jeff Henderson took gold with his final effort of the night – an 8.38m effort.
“It was here,” Manyonga joked while pointing at his left hand with his right, referring to the gold medal. “It was in my hand and then that guy (Henderson) just took it.”
On 18 August, Sunette Viljoen took the silver medal in the javelin. Her very first throw of 64.92m was her best, and for a while it looked it would be enough to bag gold. But Croatia's Sara threw 66.18m to win.
Viljoen was thrilled with the result nonetheless as she celebrated at the Olympic Stadium with the South African flag wrapped around her neck.
"I feel so overwhelmed. I was so close to the gold medal ... it was right there until the end," she said afterwards.
Viljoen added that her long-term aim now was to compete at the Commonwealth Games in Australia in 2018.
This means Team South Africa needs just one more medal to reach 10 in Rio 2016, and that responsibility is likely to fall on the shoulders of Caster Semenya in the women's 800m final tomorrow, 20 August. Semenya is the overwhelming favourite to win gold.
Source: News24/Sport24 and Franck Fife/AFP/Getty Images |
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| SA GOLFER MAKES OLYMPIC HISTORY |
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| Van Zyl recorded the history-making moment on the eighth hole during the third round in Rio. Justin Rose from England – who incidentally was born in Johannesburg – shot the first hole-in-one earlier in the week, during the first round. |
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South African golfer Jaco van Zyl made Olympic history when he hit the second ace of the week and just the second hole-in-one in the Games' history.
Van Zyl is sure to be pleased with his decision to have missed out on The Open Championship and PGA Championship to prepare for the Olympics … as he will walk away with a memory for life! His decision to focus on the Olympics came after discovering that other SA golfers – like Louis Oosthuizen and Charl Schwartzel – were not going to play.
Golf returned to the Olympics this year for the first time in over 100 years. The last time it was part of the Olympics programme was in St Louis in 1904.
- Source: www.sapeople.com |
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| NEW SKATE SCHOOL OPENS IN JHB |
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| Skateistan has been active in Johannesburg from 2014, providing programmes from locations and with partner organisations. Their Skate School will attempt to reach more youth in the Johannesburg Central Business District, according to its website. |
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Skateistan, a non-governmental organisation, which uses skateboarding as a tool to empower low-income and at risk young people, announced the completion of its Skate School in New Doornfontein, Johannesburg.
Some 130 young people, half being girls, are registered with the school which offers opportunities to play in a safe space and access academic assistance and career advice as part of the Back-to-School Programme.
"Thanks to the support of the Royal Danish Embassy, Comic Relief and Tony Hawk Foundation, we will offer weekly programmes to over 300 registered students in 2016, and more than 400 by the end of 2017," read a statement on the organisation's web page.
The opening was attended by skateboarding legend Tony Hawk; Birdhouse skaters, David Loy and Shawn Hale as well as Durban skateboarder, Thalente Biyela. |
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