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| SA HOSTS IORA COUNCIL OF MINISTERS |
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| The Council of Ministers took place under the theme: "IORA – Uniting the Peoples of Africa, Asia, Australasia and the Middle East through Enhanced Cooperation for Peace, Stability and Sustainable Development". |
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South Africa hosted the 17th Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) Council of Ministers' Meetings from 14 to 18 October 2017 in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal. The current membership of IORA consists 21 states: Australia, Bangladesh, Comoros, India, Indonesia, Iran, Kenya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mozambique, Oman, Seychelles, Singapore, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Thailand, United Arab Emirates and Yemen.
During the council meeting, South Africa assumed the Chair of IORA and the meeting was used successfully to advance South Africa’s priorities for its time as IORA Chair from 2017 to 2019, including the African Union’s 2050 African Integrated Maritime Strategy and Agenda 2063.
The council meeting was preceded by meetings of the Indian Ocean Rim Academic Group, the Indian Ocean Rim Business Forum and the Working Group on Trade and Investment, as well as the Committee of Senior Officials.
IORA supported by seven dialogue partners: the United States, Japan, France, the United Kingdom, Egypt, China and Germany. IORA has observer status at the United Nations General Assembly, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development and the African Union.
In her opening remarks, the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, said that South Africa was a responsible member of the international community as it sought to advance peace and security globally, including in the Indian Ocean Region. “For this reason, we have adopted the following, as the theme of our Chairship: ‘IORA – Uniting the Peoples of Africa, Asia, Australasia and the Middle East through Enhanced Cooperation for Peace, Stability and Sustainable Development’.
“This theme encompasses our view that the Indian Ocean Region should be characterised as a region of peace, stability and development within which to pursue the goal of promoting socio-economic cooperation for the well-being and development of the countries and peoples of the Indian Ocean Rim.
“In contributing towards promoting the Indian Ocean as a zone of peace, stability and development, South Africa will work with member states, dialogue partners and the international community to further advance this vision.”
Minister Nkoana-Mashabane said that three priorities would be pursued, namely:
- maritime safety and security in the region, including prioritising the establishment of the Working Group on Maritime Safety and Security
- improving resilience and responses for disaster risk management, including prioritising the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding on Search and Rescue
- sustainable and responsible fisheries management and development, including dealing with the important issue of Illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.
“As part of our commitment to continuity of leadership, we will strive to build on the successive leadership of the association under the most recent chairs, namely Indonesia, Australia and India. To this end, we will prioritise the further consolidation of cooperation along the six priority areas and two cross-cutting issues.
“In strengthening the work programme of the association, South Africa will work towards enhancing the implementation of the Jakarta Concord and IORA Plan of Action (2017 – 2021), which was adopted at the Leaders’ Summit in Indonesia in March 2017.” |
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| IBSA FOREIGN MINISTERS MEET |
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| The principles, norms and values underpinning the India-Brazil-South Africa (IBSA) Dialogue Forum are participatory democracy, respect for human rights and the Rule of Law. The strength of IBSA is the shared vision of the three countries that democracy and development are mutually reinforcing and key to sustainable peace and stability. |
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The Eighth IBSA Trilateral Ministerial Commission (ITMC) Meeting took place on 17 October 2017 in Durban. The meeting was chaired by the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, and attended by her counterparts from Brazil, Minister Aloysio Nunes Ferreira, and India, Minister VK Singh.
The ministers emphasised the growing importance of South-South cooperation. In this context, they recognised that the IBSA Fund for Alleviation of Poverty and Hunger played an important role through the sharing of developmental experience by IBSA countries. This contributes to inclusive and sustainable development for the empowerment of the peoples from developing countries.
The ministers agreed to the proposal of streamlining and clustering IBSA working groups in alignment with the United Nations 2030 Development Goals along its social, economic and environmental pillars.
The ministers also agreed that the Joint Working Group on Defence would continue with its work, including the convening of IBSA MAR in 2018. They also agreed to explore the possibility of IBSA Coast Guard cooperation.
The ministers agreed to the creation of a Working Group on the Blue Economy and they agreed to the convening of its first meeting in 2018.
The ministers of India and South Africa accepted with appreciation the Brazilian proposal to host the Ninth ITMC Meeting at a mutually convenient time and expressed their full support to India with its preparations to host the Sixth IBSA Summit in New Delhi in 2018. |
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| PRESIDENT ZUMA UNDERTAKES WORKING VISIT TO THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO (DRC) |
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| The Southern African Development Community (SADC) is committed to assist the Government and the people of the DRC to achieve sustainable peace, security and stability. |
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President Jacob Zuma visited Kinshasa in the DRC on 15 October 2017 in his capacity as Chairperson of SADC.
The President held discussions with President Joseph Kabila Kabange on the issues of peace and security in the Great Lakes region, particularly the situation in the DRC.
President Zuma was accompanied by the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Maite Nkoana-Mashabane. |
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| PRESIDENT ZUMA SENDS CONDOLENCES TO PORTUGAL FOLLOWING TRAGIC FIRES |
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| This is especially sad coming so soon on the heels of the summer blaze four months ago that claimed 64 lives in one night. |
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On behalf of the Government and the people of South Africa, President Jacob Zuma has extended the country’s condolences to the Republic of Portugal following tragic fires ravaging parts of the country that have claimed the lives of many and destroyed property and land.
South Africans from all walks of life, especially the thousands of South Africans of Portuguese descent, are shocked to hear of the tragedy, and join the President in offering condolences to the Portuguese citizens who lost their loved ones in this catastrophic event. |
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| PRESIDENT ZUMA ON STATE VISIT TO THE REPUBLIC OF ZAMBIA |
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| President Jacob Zuma has characterised the State Visit to the Republic of Zambia as a remarkable success as he had positive and fruitful official talks with his Zambian counterpart, President Edgar Lungu in Lusaka. |
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The State Visit provided a platform to both President Zuma and President Lungu to deliberate on various issues of mutual concern as well as to deepen and strengthen bilateral, political, economic and cultural relations between the two countries, underpinned by strong historical ties that date back from the years of the liberation struggle against apartheid and colonialism.
The most important highlight of the visit was the elevation of the structured bilateral mechanism between South Africa and Zambia from the Joint Commission for Cooperation to a complete Bi-National Commission (BNC) that will now be chaired by the two heads of state.
"It was an important visit for South Africa as our aim was to review and strengthen the existing strong bilateral and economic relations between the two nations and we are all pleased with the outcomes of our talks," said the President.
He added: "We have ensured that our structured bilateral mechanisms are operational and effective to lead us to the joint future we want."
"We have also over the years seen progressive expansion and deepening of our bilateral cooperation. To date, we have concluded over 20 agreements and memoranda of understanding covering a wide range of areas," said President Zuma.
President Zuma added that the visit also provided an opportunity to discuss and agreed on various issues, most particularly economic cooperation, including priority sectors such as agriculture and agro-processing, mining and mineral beneficiation, energy, ICT connectivity, tourism, arts and culture as well as the establishment of related industries and supportive infrastructure development.
The two heads of state also discussed peace and security issues on the continent, particularly in the Southern African Development Community region and agreed on working together to advance the regional integration agenda, in particular peace and security of the region.
"With regard to our continent, we remain totally committed not only to the unity of the continent but also to the implementation of African Union Agenda 2063, especially continental integration and Silencing of the Guns by 2020," President Zuma said.
President Zuma and President Lungu also addressed the Zambia-South Africa Business Forum, held on the sidelines of the State Visit to bolster economic relations between the two countries both in the public and private sector.
During the State Visit, President Zuma also officially launched the Oliver Tambo National Heritage Site to honour and celebrate the legacy and centenary year of one of South Africa's most respected humanists, the liberation struggle stalwart and former president of the governing party, Oliver Reginald Tambo.
While exiled from South Africa during the apartheid era, Tambo lived in Zambia from 1965 to 1991, where he was accommodated in various locations, including Chelstone Green in Lusaka in a double storey house which was allocated to him by Zambia's first democratic President, Kenneth Kaunda. The house has been declared a National Heritage Site by the Zambian Government. |
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| PRESIDENT ZUMA VISITS IMO STATE IN NIGERIA |
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| During the visit, the President visited the Rochas Foundation and Hall of Fame as well as addressed a number of stakeholders in the Imo State, including business and traditional leaders. |
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President Jacob Zuma, on successful completion of his State Visit to Zambia, travelled to Owerri City in the Imo State of Nigeria to strengthen socio-economic relations and further deepen existing cooperation in the field of education.
The Governor of the Imo State, Owelle Okorocha, also conferred on President Zuma the Imo Merit Award, the highest award in the State conferred on distinguished personalities who have made a difference in the development of their communities. |
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| SOUTH AFRICA CONDEMNS DEADLY MOGADISHU ATTACK |
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| The South African Government will continue to work with other member states of the African Union and the United Nations to explore long-term solutions to the scourge of terrorism and extremism. |
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The South African Government condemns in the strongest possible terms the attack that took place in Mogadishu, Somalia, on Saturday, 14 October 2017, which has resulted in the killing of many people and left others injured.
South Africa reiterates its condemnation of all forms of terrorism and violent extremism. It is particularly concerning that the attack was aimed indiscriminately at innocent civilians.
On behalf of the Government and the people of South Africa, President Jacob Zuma has sent a message of condolences to the Somali Government as well as the families of the deceased and wished all the injured speedy recoveries.
The South African Government stands with the people of Somalia during this difficult time.
Speaking at the opening of the Indian Ocean Rim Association Council of Ministers' Meeting, Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane began her address with a message of condolences to Somalia following the recent bomb attack that claimed many lives. |
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| DEPUTY MINISTER LANDERS IN CUBA FOR THE SA-CUBA JOINT CONSULTATIVE MECHANISM (JCM) |
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| The JCM was established in 2001 to strengthen relations and further increase cooperation between the two countries. |
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The Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Llewellyn Landers, travelled to Cuba to Co-Chair the 14th South Africa-Cuba JCM on 17 and 18 October 2017. Deputy Minister Landers also met the Cuban Deputy Minister of Foreign Trade and Cooperation.
The JCM convenes annually, alternately in South Africa and Cuba. This meeting serves to affirm the importance of bilateral relations between South Africa and Cuba and emphasise a desire to build on existing cooperation at various levels.
Relations between South Africa and Cuba are characterised by high-level political dialogues such as between Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa and Cuban Vice President Salvador Valdés Mesa who visited South Africa on two occasions during the past year. The most recent visit by Vice President Valdés Mesa was in February 2017 when he was hosted by Deputy President Ramaphosa for bilateral talks on 1 February 2017. In October 2015, Deputy President Ramaphosa paid an Official Visit to Cuba, which signalled significant progress in trade and investment with Cuba.
There are over 30 signed bilateral agreements in place between the two countries covering vast areas of cooperation. The most active of these agreements are in the areas of health cooperation, human settlements, technical exchange, public works technical assistance, cooperation on water resource management and water supply and most recently, the agreement on professional services in the field of basic education. |
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| SA WORKS WITH CHILE TO IMPROVE TRADE |
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| South Africa and Chile have agreed to further enhance bilateral trade and investment through their Joint Trade and Investment Commission (JTIC). |
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At a JTIC meeting of senior officials last week, South Africa and the South American country focused on efforts to strengthen bilateral economic relations, said the Department of Trade and Industry (dti).
Chief Director of Bilateral Relations at the dti, Victor Mashabela, said the purpose of the JTIC was to keep dialogue going on trade and regular commercial exchange.
"The other purpose is the strengthening of bilateral economic relations, promotion of investment and growth, facilitating the diversification of trade between the two countries and identifying special areas of economic cooperation," said Mashabela at the meeting held in Tshwane.
The meeting, said Mashabela, agreed to support the formation of a business council between South Africa and Chile.
"Furthermore, it was emphasised that South Africa will invite Chilean experts to consolidate work in a collaboration on research and development regarding oyster breeding, exchange of information on oyster breeding; and capacity-building and training opportunities with short courses (three months or less in oyster breeding).
"This will build on the scoping mission undertaken by South Africa through the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries in May 2017," said Mashabela.
JTIC members have expressed commitment to the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding on Geology and Mining.
The Fifth JTIC Meeting will be convened in Chile in 2018. – Source: SAnews.gov.za |
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| SA COMPANIES TO WOO RUSSIAN INVESTORS |
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| South African companies will embark on a mission to woo Russian investors with their products and services. |
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The Department of Trade and Industry (dti) will lead a business delegation on the 10th Investment and Trade Initiative (ITI) to Russia to be held in Novosibirsk from 24 to 26 October 2017.
The Minister of Trade and Industry, Rob Davies, said the objective of the ITI was to develop and build on relationships that were established with previous visits by both countries and to expose and showcase South African value-added products and services to the Russian market.
"Additionally, the initiative also seeks to follow up and capitalise on the potential collaboration on the proposed BRICS projects. This opportunity will also be a step further in creating market penetration for South African value-added products and services in Russia, and to promote South Africa as a trade and investment destination. The immediate opportunities for South African supplies will be in the increase of exports of fresh produce to Russia," said Minister Davies.
He added that with an already established export base of over R3,4 billion a year for fresh fruit, especially citrus, there was a vast opportunity to expand to fresh vegetables through the existing export network.
"This ITI will also provide an opportunity for South African companies to identify new areas of collaboration in various sectors, particularly in the area of investment," said Minister Davies.
The Minister said there was an increased demand of South African wines in Russia. During last year's ITI to Moscow, export sales of R1,5 million were generated six months after the event, a large percentage attributed to wine exports.
The dti said more South African wines were expected to find their way to Russia after a visit to Cape Town recently by Russian wine importer Andre Kuzmin, who is the Chief Executive Officer of a leading Russian wine buying company, Marine Express.
Kuzmin, who came to South Africa at the invitation of Deputy Minister Bulelani Magwanishe, met with a group of black wine producers with the aim of eventually importing their products.
The ITI will include targeted business-to-business meetings, site visits, as well as investment and export-related round-table discussions with a particular focus on sectors where South Africa has comparative and competitive advantages. – Source: SAnews.gov.za |
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| MINISTER MOLEWA MEETS EUROPEAN UNION (EU) AMBASSADORS ON ENVIRONMENT-RELATED MATTERS |
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| The Minister of Environmental Affairs, Edna Molewa, recently met the ambassadors of the EU member states in Pretoria on environment-related matters. |
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The first meeting of the dialogue took place in May this year and a number of key issues, including climate change, marine litter, the Circular Economy and the outcomes of 17th Conference of Parties (CoP) to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and the illegal wildlife trade, were discussed.
A Circular Economy mission took place on the margins of the World Economic Forum for Africa (WEF Africa) in Durban in May 2017, providing an opportunity for both South African and European business and other stakeholders, to engage on opportunities presented by the Circular Economy.
Minister Molewa acknowledged the invitation from the EU to participate in a side event during the Third United Nations Environmental Assembly (UNEA-3) on the Circular Economy in Kenya in December.
The participation in UNEA-3 follows the development during the Chemicals and Waste Economy Phakisa in September 2017 of more than 20 business plans for the sector in order to grow the contribution to the economy, job creation and the waste diversion targets set by government.
"South Africa has been involved in beneficiation of waste for many years; the scaling up of these initiatives has always been a challenge," said Minister Molewa.
Referring to preparations for the upcoming 23rd Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Bonn, Germany, in November, Minister Molewa emphasised that climate change action had to be integrated into development initiatives. The Partnership for Action on the Green Economy is aimed at facilitating scaled-up, economy-wide implementation of green, low-carbon and climate-resilient sustainable development interventions.
"We will continue to work with the EU in the coming COP23 to ensure that we make progress on the Paris Agreement Work Programme. It is our view that we should leave COP23 with some clear elements that can be converted into negotiation text early in 2018. At COP22 in Marrakech, we had set ourselves a target of completing the Paris Work Programme during COP24. We have also committed to clarifying the modalities for the 2018 Facilitative Dialogue aimed at increasing ambition in the pre-2020 and post-2020 years through the revisions on nationally determined contributions where possible," said the Minister.
With regard to the 17th COP to the CITES, held in Johannesburg in 2016, the Minister said it was imperative that South Africa and the EU continued to collaborate in a number of areas, including trophy hunting and the protection of species, the development of livelihood opportunities for rural communities from hunting, and the development of incentives for habitat conservation. |
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| "SA AGULHAS II" LEADS AFRICA-LED SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH CRUISE |
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| Environmental Affairs Minister, Edna Molewa, said the second international Indian Ocean Expedition, which saw the "SA Agulhas II" depart from Durban on Wednesday, 18 October, would help access data that could be used to prepare for ocean-related challenges in developing countries. |
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The Minister said this when addressing research scientists during a send-off ceremony at the Cape Town Waterfront on Friday, 13 October.
"The Indian Ocean remains one of the least studied ocean regions and billions of people are relying on the Indian Ocean, often living under vulnerable community situations in their countries.
"Our improved understanding of the Indian Ocean, how it impacts on countries and their people, will allow much better local planning and implementation of our programmes for the betterment of the lives of our people.
"And this improved knowledge has equally important functions – it will allow countries to better plan for threats associated with climate change, including storm surges, sea levels rising and coastal erosion.
The expedition is a multinational programme of the United Nations Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, which emphasises the need to research the Indian Ocean and its influence on the climate and its marine ecosystem.
South Africa's contribution to the expedition is an African research cruise along the East Coast of Africa by the SA Agulhas II.
The Minister said the first multidisciplinary African-led scientific research cruise would see scientists and students from South Africa, Mozambique, Kenya, Nigeria and Egypt all collaborate on the expedition.
The first International Indian Ocean Expedition took place in the 1960s.
The Minister said soon, the outcomes of the expedition would help South Africa and other African governments to become less dependent on developed countries and multinational corporations for data.
"It is our hope that South Africa's contribution to this research platform will stimulate regional interest by older and especially younger scientific minds. I am specifically proud of our researchers that will be working on this cruise with our regional friends," she said.
Ashley Johnson, the Director of Ocean Research at the Department of Environmental Affairs, said the voyage, which would see the SA Agulhas II explore the oceans between Durban and Tanzania, would be a month-long cruise with a number of stops.
"What we are trying to do firstly is to get the region to have a coordinated approach to ocean science. We also cannot assume that everyone has the same level of understanding. So, the cruise is ultimately aimed at trying to build capacity across the region but while you are undertaking science, what we are trying to achieve is to get a baseline of information because without the baseline, you can't do anything else." – Source: SAnews.gov.za |
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| EAST LONDON HOSTS SADC LABOUR SUMMIT |
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| Labour-sector representatives recently converged in East London for a Southern African Development Community (SADC) meeting. |
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The Department of Labour's Director-General, Thobile Lamati, hosted the SADC Employment and Labour Sector's Joint Tripartite Technical Meeting (JTTM) in East London in the Eastern Cape from 16 to 18 October.
The JTTM's main purpose was to prepare for the SADC Employment and Labour Sector Meeting, which will be hosted by Labour Minister Mildred Oliphant in 2018.
Minister Oliphant will host ministers responsible for employment and labour and social partners from the SADC region as the Chairperson following South Africa taking over the bloc's Chairship from August 2017 to August 2018.
The JTTM, in partnership with the International Labour Organisation office in Pretoria, deliberated on issues such as digitalisation; global supply chain; small, medium and micro enterprises; apprenticeships; and youth employment.
The meeting concluded with the drafting of the Ministerial Declaration for the SADC Employment and Labour Sector Meeting and will be signed by the President at the end of South Africa's Chairship
The JTTM will convene again in February 2018 to finalise preparations for the Ministerial Meeting that will follow in March 2018. – Source: SAnews.gov.za |
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| DEPUTY MINISTER MANAMELA CONCLUDES OFFICIAL VISIT TO MOSCOW |
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| The purpose of the meeting was to exchange best practices of national youth policies of countries for achieving sustainable development, defining the youth's role in achieving sustainable development and to discuss the implementation of bilateral youth exchange programmes. |
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The former Deputy Minister in The Presidency for Planning Monitoring and Evaluation, Buti Manamela, participated in the International Ministerial Meeting of Ministers responsible for National Youth Policy. The meeting took place from 11 to 14 October 2017 in Moscow, Russia.
Deputy Minister Manamela's address to the Ministerial Meeting focused on education and science in South Africa.
"Education must remain a public good if we are serious about sustainable development. This requires targeted public investment in education for widening access and pursuing quality education outcomes" said Deputy Minister Manamela.
On the sidelines of the Minister's Meeting, Deputy Minister Manamela held a bilateral meeting with the United Nations Youth Envoy, J Wickramayanake. The meeting was to renew relations established with the office of the Special Envoy during the Baku Conference on youth policies.
The Deputy Minister was accompanied by the Executive Chair and Deputy Chair of the National Youth Development Agency Board, who will lead a delegation of youth to the students festival in Sochi, Russia. |
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| ARTS AND CULTURE HOSTS PUBLIC LECTURE ON THE PLIGHT OF THE PEOPLE OF PALESTINE |
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| The lecture, among others, sought to engage the youth as future policy-makers, the public, international organisations, politicians and scholars on the unfolding issues in the international arena. |
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The Department of Arts and Culture (DAC) in collaboration with the Embassy of Palestine in South Africa on Thursday, 12 October 2017, hosted a public lecture on the plight of the Palestinian people at the University of Venda (UNIVEN), Thohoyandou, in Limpopo. The lecture was led by Hashem Dajani, the Palestine Ambassador to South Africa.
The discussion revolved around some of the following themes: Palestine-Israeli relations and a comparison discussion between the then nature of apartheid in South Africa and today's nature of apartheid in Palestine.
Other speakers included: Advocate Sipho Mantula (Researcher at the Institute for Dispute Resolution in Africa, UNISA); Siya Binza (Director: Political Economy Southern Africa); and Prof. Muxe Nkondo (social policy, national strategist and discourse analysis scholar and practitioner – Former Vice Chancellor of UNIVEN).
The lecture formed part of a commitment made in the Cultural Agreement signed between the two countries. In previous years, the department has hosted Palestine Cultural Weeks and the United Nations International Day of Solidarity by showcasing Palestinian cultural heritage. |
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| FREEDOM PARK HONOURS SOVIET RUSSIAN HEROES |
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| As South Africa celebrates the centenary of Oliver Tambo, this event could not be more opportune. The event rekindled the close relationship these heroes and the entire Soviet Russia community had with the late struggle stalwart, Comrade Oliver Reginald Tambo. |
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On Wednesday, 11 October, Freedom Park held a ceremony to honour and pay tribute to the Soviet Russia people who contributed to the South African liberation struggle. The Russian Ambassador, Mikhael Ivanovich Petrakov, handed over the names of the fallen heroes and heroines to Freedom Park CEO, Jane Mufamadi.
The event was attended by ambassadors and high commissioners from other countries resident in Pretoria, government officials, officials from related institutions and researchers.
Freedom Park is mandated to honour those who died in the struggle for freedom and humanity and to foster reconciliation, social cohesion and nation-building in the country. This is reflected in its memorialisation of over 85 000 heroes and heroines who perished in the eight conflicts that shaped the South Africa we have today. These conflicts include pre-colonial wars, wars of resistance, genocides, slavery, First World War, Second World War, South African War and the liberation struggle. |
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| NEWLY FOUND MINERAL NAMED AFTER FREE STATE UNIVERSITY PROF. IN RARE HONOUR |
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| A mineral, which was recently found in Barberton, South Africa, has been named after University of Free State (UFS) professor, Prof Marian Tredoux, by the International Mineralogical Association. |
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The naming is a rare honour, shared by less than 700 people in the world … making Prof. Tredoux one in 10 million.
The mineral – which contains nickel, antimony and oxygen – has been named Tredouxite.
So far, only a dozen of the 5 292 named minerals have been named after South Africans, and only two others were named after women.
"With the exception of a few historical (pre-1800) names, a mineral is typically named either after the area where it was first found, or after its chemical composition or physical properties, or after a person. If named after a person, it has to be someone who had nothing to do with finding the mineral," says the Geological Society of South Africa.
The naming of Prof. Tredoux, an associate professor at UFS in the Geology Department, is to acknowledge her close to 30 years' commitment to figuring out the geological history of the rock in which this mineral occurs.
The group who found – and named – the new mineral included professors from Austria, Italy and the UFS.
They found the mineral in the rock in the Barberton region in Mpumalanga, in May 2017.
Only 81 women in the world have had a mineral named after them, of which Marie Curie was one.
Prof. Tredoux said: "Marie Curie is named twice: sklodowskite (herself) and curite (plus husband). Most of the named women are Russian geoscientists."
Prof. Tredoux said she hoped the announcement of this mineral would increase interest in her department and university, by highlighting the world-class research that was being conducted by the Department of Geology at UFS. – Source: www.sapeople.com |
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| SA WINS BIG AT WORLD TRAVEL AWARDS |
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| Flying the flag high for South Africa and Africa, many South African tourism products have been named the best on the continent at the World Travel Awards 2017. |
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From airports, hotels and conference destinations, numerous South African offerings have received the prestigious title as leaders in the tourism industry in Africa for 2017.
In addition to this, Johannesburg recently came out on top as the most popular destination in Africa in 2016, according to the annual Mastercard Global Destination Cities Index.
At the World Travel Awards 2017, cities across South Africa won big, reflecting the broad, quality tourism offering in Mzansi. Cape Town International Airport clinched the award for Africa's leading airport, while The Palazzo Montecasino in Johannesburg claimed the title for Africa's Leading Casino Resort 2017 and Durban won Africa's Leading Meetings & Conference Destination 2017.
In December 2016, Cape Town International Airport exceeded the 10-million passenger mark for the first time, and through partnerships such as Air Access, the airport has seen 10 new routes and 11 route expansions since 2015.
This year marks the 24th World Travel Awards, which sees travel and tourism professionals, as well as business and travel consumers worldwide vote in the awards.
The annual Africa awards evening is among the continent's most prestigious travel and tourism events of the year, and brings together leading travel sector figures and VIPs from across Africa.
Other South African companies that were titled leaders in Africa include Saxon Hotel, Villas and Spa for Boutique Hotel 2017, South African Airways' Sawubona was named leading Inflight Magazine 2017, Fairmont Zimbali Resort got the title for leading Luxury Resort and Cape Town was also named Africa's Leading City Destination 2017.
There were many other leading awards received by local tourism companies, particularly in the accommodation sector. – Source: Traveller24 |
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| STUNNING JOBURG HOT SPOT WINS MAJOR GLOBAL RESTAURANT DESIGN AWARD |
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| Fox Street's Urbanologi is putting South African restaurant design on the map. |
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Jozi's finest avant-garde eatery, Urbanologi, has won the title of "Best Restaurant Design" in the Middle East and Africa Category for 2017.
The Restaurant and Bar Design Awards are a globally recognised competition dedicated to the design of food and beverage spaces.
Urbanologi received the winning prize at the prestigious awards ceremony, held at London's King's Cross on 5 October. The tapas-styled eatery was awarded for its edgy, industrial chic design, which was conceptualised and completed by Haldane Martin, a pre-eminent South African designer. – Source: Food24.com |
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| CAPE TOWN RESTAURANT SEVENTH-BEST IN THE WORLD IN TRIPADVISOR'S TRAVELLERS' CHOICE |
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| La Colombe, Cape Town's highly lauded fine-dining establishment, has been named the seventh-best fine-dining restaurant in the world by the Tripadvisor's Travellers' Choice Awards. The restaurant was also the only African restaurant to be selected. |
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TripAdvisor is the world's largest travel site with over 535 million reviews and opinions featured on their site, all given by the general public.
Chef Proprietor Scot Kirton said in a statement: "La Colombe has consistently received worldwide acclaim and our passionate team is extremely proud to be recognised among the top restaurants in the world".
Kirton is no stranger to accolades, himself taking the title of Eat Out San Pellegrino Chef of the Year in 2015.
La Colombe comes seventh in a list of 400 restaurants across the globe. The awards were determined using an algorithm that factored in both the quality and quantity of reviews on the site for restaurants around the world, gathered over a 12-month period.
The Constantia restaurant serves contemporary haute cuisine with locally sourced seasonal ingredients, with a distinctive French and Asian flair. They feature a variety of signature dishes, most notably their Champagne poached oysters and their famous tuna can, an Asian-inspired cured tuna dish. Also on the menu is locally produced wagyu beef from the Eastern Cape, which gets some seriously special treatment in the kitchen. – Source: Food24.com |
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| SA'S WHEELCHAIR BEAUTY NAMED RUNNER-UP IN INTERNATIONAL PAGEANT |
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| South Africa's very first wheelchair runway model, Lebohang Monyatsi, has made the country proud. |
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Monyatsi was crowned runner-up in the inaugural Miss Wheelchair World beauty pageant in Warsaw, Poland.
The pageant was created specifically to change negative attitudes around people with disabilities. – Source: www.news24.com |
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| SOUTH AFRICAN SERIES FINDS AN INTERNATIONAL HOME ON AMAZON |
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| South African produced drama-thriller, "Obsessions", is set to make history when it becomes the first local series to air worldwide on Amazon's video streaming service, Amazon Video. |
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The series, which tells the story of a young group of friends who are harassed by a stalker determined to destroy their lives, will premiere on Amazon's international video service in May 2018 and run for 22 weeks. The show will debut in America and the United Kingdom, with producers in negotiations with local broadcasters to carry it 24 hours later.
The series' creator, Nicho Bernard, told TshisaLIVE that they were honoured by the opportunity to have the series screened worldwide and believed it marked a "revolution" for the local entertainment industry.
"We want to create a trend. We want to create a culture of sending our content overseas. We want to show international markets that we compete with them and we can also make high-quality productions that they will enjoy. We are doing that by not sticking to the rules of being big first in South Africa and then internationally. We are not afraid to be bold and brave and that's what we need in South Africa," he said.
All of the music and fashion featured in Obsessions will be provided by local artists and designers.
The series also features an all-South African cast, including Jack Devnarain, Brandon Auret, Elma Postma and Liesl Ahlers and was shot at locations in Johannesburg and Hartbeespoort Dam. – Source: Timeslive.co.za |
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| DE KOCK, AMLA LEAD PROTEAS TO THUMPING WIN |
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| The Proteas kept their collective foot on Bangladesh's throat when they crushed their visitors by 10 wickets in the opening one day international at the Diamond Oval on Sunday, 15 October. |
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Bangladesh, who won the toss and opted to bat first, posted what might have seemed a respectable total of 278/7, but in reality it was well short of where they needed to be.
The Proteas only needed 17 runs for victory going into the final 10 overs and with all their wickets still in tact they would probably have gone on to make somewhere close to 400 if they had needed to do so.
It was a day of records for Hashim Amla (110 off 112 balls, 8 fours) and Quinton de Kock (168 off 145 balls, 21 fours and 2 sixes) whose final partnership of 282 was the joint sixth-highest of all time and only four runs short of the first wicket record.
It goes without saying that it was a South African record for any wicket, beating the 256 by JP Duminy and David Miller against Zimbabwe at the 2015 World Cup.
The previous best South African first wicket record was the 247 of Amla and Rilee Rossouw against the West Indies and it was the fourth instance of the Proteas having an opening partnership of 200 or more.
De Kock joined Amla and Herschelle Gibbs with two innings in excess of 150. Amla is the leader in this category, having done it for the Proteas on four occasions.
It was a 26th century for Amla and a 13th for De Kock.
It was the Proteas seventh 10-wicket victory in this format and the fourth against Bangladesh. – Source: www.sport24.co.za |
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| AB STARS AS PROTEAS CLINCH ODI SERIES |
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| AB de Villiers announced his return to international cricket with his 25th career ODI century and remarkably his first-ever against Bangladesh in the second ODI at Boland Park on Wednesday, 18 October. |
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The Proteas won by 104 runs and clinched the series with a 2-0 series.
When De Villiers came to the crease, the Proteas had scored 90/2 in 18 overs for a scoring rate of exactly five runs to the over.
By the time he had finished, he had made a career best 176 off 104 balls and made possible a total of 353/6 that was to prove way beyond the capabilities of Bangladesh and thus played the major role in clinching the series. It was the fourth best for South Africa behind the 188 of Gary Kirsten, the 185 of Faf du Plessis and the 178 of Quinton de Kock.
The real statistic of his innings was the fact that he hit 15 fours and seven sixes. At one stage at the crescendo of his innings, he hit six sixes and two fours in the space of 14 deliveries. – Source: www.sport.24.co.za |
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