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| CONTINENT CELEBRATES 57TH AFRICA DAY, 25 MAY |
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| On 25 May 2020, the African continent marked the 57th anniversary of the establishment of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU). The day is marked annually as Africa Day. |
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This year’s celebrations included a special virtual broadcast featuring speeches by the President of the Republic of South Africa and Chair of the African Union (AU), President Cyril Ramaphosa; the AU Commission Chair, His Excellency Moussa Faki Mahamat; the President of the Pan-African Women Association, Ms Eunice Ipinge; and the AU Youth Envoy, Ms Aya Chebbi.
The OAU was established on 25 May 1963 with the aim of promoting political, economic and social integration among the family of African states, and to eradicate colonialism, apartheid and neo-colonialism on the African continent.
The organisation was transformed into the AU on 9 July 2002 in Durban, to achieve greater unity, cohesion and solidarity between African countries and nations.
This year’s celebration coincided with South Africa’s one-year tenure as Chair of the AU.
It also took place amid the continent’s advancing efforts to combat the spread of the Coronavirus disease, COVID-19.
South Africa is celebrating Africa Month under the theme: “Silencing the Guns, Creating Conducive Conditions for Africa’s Development and Intensifying the Fight against the COVID-19 Pandemic”.
The celebration of Africa Month and Africa Day provides an opportunity to promote African unity and deeper regional integration and recommit Africa to a common destiny.
It is also an opportunity to educate the people of the continent on the AU’s initiatives to fight the pandemic. The AU has developed a comprehensive COVID-19 Strategy, established an AU COVID-19 Response Fund and strengthened the Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention.
Celebrations of Africa Day were held throughout the day on a number of platforms anchored by various entities from the continent and across the world. President Ramaphosa delivered a message of support on the Africa Day Solidarity Concert for the COVID-19 Response Fund. The President also featured on the MTV base Africa Day benefit concert, which worked with the United Nations (UN) Population Fund and UN Children’s Fund Africa to ensure that proceedings of the concert go towards food security for vulnerable children and families, who are hardest hit by COVID-19.
Delivering the keynote address on the Africa Day special virtual broadcast on Monday, President Ramaphosa said the pandemic would have a lasting impact on the continent’s ability to meet the aspiration of the AU’s Agenda 2063 of a peaceful, united and prosperous continent.
“The virus has exposed the deep inequalities that continue to exist on our continent and across the world.
“It has shown how far we are from realising our developmental goals and our responsibilities to the citizens of our continent. But at the same time, this global crisis should enable a new Africa to come to the fore,” said President Ramaphosa.
While noting the impact of the pandemic, the AU Chair called on Africa to ensure the pandemic did not reverse the continent’s developmental gains.
“We must forge ahead with meeting the aspirations of Agenda 2063. We must move ahead with the most ambitious step towards Pan-African integration to date, the creation of the African Continental Free Trade Area, and ensure that it is operational soon.
“We must not let up on our efforts to drive the African Agenda of security, peace and stability, of democracy and human rights, of women’s emancipation and the protection of the environment,” said President Ramaphosa.
President Ramaphosa urged the continent not to let up on its efforts to drive the African Agenda of security, peace and stability, democracy and human rights, women’s emancipation and the protection of the environment.
“We must not under any circumstances allow this global health emergency to derail our efforts to silence the guns on the continent.
“The tragic conflicts that are breeding instability in a number of countries on our continent are exacting a heavy toll on human life and must end. We must continue to affirm the supremacy of dialogue over military intervention,” he said.
Calls for financial support to Africa
With countries tasked with fighting the scourge of COVID-19, President Ramaphosa made a clarion call to developed countries, multilateral institutions and the donor community to provide vulnerable countries across the world, especially in Africa, with the necessary support in the form diagnostic and therapeutic medical supplies as well as the necessary financial support to sustain the livelihoods of vulnerable people.
President Ramaphosa repeated the call for an economic stimulus package for Africa that includes debt relief and other support measures for the continent’s immediate humanitarian needs and necessary economic recovery.
He also reiterated the call for the unconditional lifting of sanctions that have been imposed on Zimbabwe and Sudan during the pandemic. |
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| AFRICA PRIORITISES FLATTENING COVID-19 CURVE |
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| As South Africa commemorated Africa Day, President Cyril Ramaphosa commended governments on the continent for their swift and proactive response in implementing measures to flatten the Coronavirus curve. |
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“By early May, 43 African countries had full border closures, 53 had closed institutions of learning, 54 had limited public gatherings, 26 had instituted the compulsory use of face masks, 32 had instituted night-time curfews and 18 had imposed nationwide lockdowns,” President Ramaphosa said.
In his letter to South Africans, the President on Monday, 25 May 2020, said the African Union (AU) developed a comprehensive Joint Continental Strategy to guide cooperation between member states and set up a COVID-19 Response Fund.
A number of countries, including South Africa, have rolled out massive food relief and social assistance measures to support the vulnerable during this time.
“Although there have been severe shortcomings and constraints, such as the shortage of personal protective equipment, testing kits and ventilators, there have also been stories of excellence and intercontinental collaboration.
“One such example is the work of the African Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (ACDC), a world-class institution with capabilities for disease surveillance and intelligence and health emergency preparedness and response,” the President said.
African countries have scaled up their respective capacities for screening, testing and isolating.
In April, the AU and the ACDC launched the Partnership to Accelerate COVID-19 Testing to strengthen testing capacity in vulnerable countries, with the aim of testing 10 million people over the next six months.
“Through this partnership, warehousing and distribution hubs are being set up across the continent to distribute medical supplies. The aim is to pool the procurement of diagnostics and other medical commodities.
“The deployment of community health workers to do screening, testing, contact tracing and case management is happening in many African countries, and draws heavily on our experience with HIV and TB,” the President said.
President Ramaphosa said African nations had also joined the race to produce test kits, with Senegal in an advanced stage of developing a low-cost testing kit.
At least 25 African countries have registered clinical trials for possible COVID-19 treatments, including for the BCG vaccine, hydroxychloroquine, antiretrovirals and Remdesivir, as part of the Global Solidarity Clinical Trials.
“Whether it is in repurposing health protocols used with other infectious disease outbreaks, rapidly deploying healthcare workers to communities, or in launching mobile COVID-19 testing labs to improve national testing capacities, Africa is working proactively to overcome this global threat.
“Though it is clear we will continue to rely on the support of the international community and international financial institutions to bolster the existing continental effort and build economic resilience, African countries are holding their own.
“This Africa Day, we are reminded once again that the solutions to Africa’s problems, be they overcoming disease or eradicating poverty and underdevelopment, reside within Africa itself,” the President said.
57 years of solidarity
Monday, 25 May, marked 57 years since the leaders of 32 independent African nations met in Addis Ababa to establish the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), the precursor to the AU.
“The preamble of the OAU charter is a rousing call to unity, cross-cultural understanding and solidarity. Like the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the United Nations Charter and the South African Constitution, it affirms the inalienable right of all people to control their own destiny.
“We mark Africa Day this year, just over three months since the first case of Coronavirus on the continent was confirmed. This pandemic has been a stark reminder that regardless of whether we are born into wealth or indigence, we are all mortal, and can succumb to disease,” the President said.
He said although the Coronavirus pandemic was not an African problem alone, Africa had shown its capabilities of agility and ingenuity.
“The work being done to defeat the Coronavirus is evidence of a continent determined to leverage its strengths and capabilities to resolve its own challenges. This is the premise on which the OAU was founded and it continues to guide and inspire us as we strive to build a better life for all of Africa’s people,” the President said.
– Source: SAnews.gov.za |
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| SOUTH AFRICA MOVES TO ALERT LEVEL 3 |
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| President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced that South Africa will move to alert level 3 with effect from 1 June – with more sectors of the economy opening and the removal of a number of restrictions on the movement of people. |
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Addressing the nation on Sunday evening, 24 May 2020, on the developments in South Africa’s risk-adjusted strategy to manage the spread of COVID-19, the President said the country would have a differentiated approach to deal with areas that have far higher levels of infection and transmission.
COVID-19 hotspots
These areas have been declared as Coronavirus hotspots. They include the following metros: Tshwane, Johannesburg, Ekurhuleni, eThekwini, Nelson Mandela Bay, Buffalo City and Cape Town.
Other areas that have been identified as hotspots are the West Coast, Overberg and Cape Winelands district municipalities in the Western Cape, Chris Hani district in the Eastern Cape, and iLembe district in KwaZulu-Natal.
A hotspot is defined as an area that has more than five infected people per every 100 000 people or where new infections are increasing at a fast pace.
To deal with the virus in these areas, government will implement intensive interventions aimed at decreasing the number of new infections.
“We are putting in place enhanced measures of surveillance, infection control and management. We will assign a full-time team of experienced personnel to each hotspot,” the President said.
This team will include epidemiologists, family practitioners, nurses, community health workers, public health experts and emergency medical services, to be supported by Cuban experts.
“We will link each hotspot to testing services, isolation facilities, quarantine facilities, treatment, hospital beds and contact tracing.
“Should it be necessary, any part of the country could be returned to alert levels 4 or 5 if the spread of infection is not contained despite our interventions and there is a risk of our health facilities being overwhelmed,” he said.
The list of hotspot areas will be reviewed every two weeks depending on the progression of the virus.
Opening the economy
The implementation of alert level 3 from the beginning of June will involve the return to operation of most sectors of the economy, subject to observance of strict health protocols and social distancing rules. The opening of the economy and other activities means that more public servants will be called back to work,” President Ramaphosa said.
This will be done in accordance with provisions of the Occupational Health and Safety Act and as guided by the Department of Public Service and Administration, working together with all other departments in government.
The President's address follows recent meetings of Cabinet, the National Coronavirus Command Council and the President’s Coordinating Council, which considered the prospects for the country’s progression from alert level 4 to alert level 3 of the national lockdown.
The President also held consultative meetings with the business, labour and community constituencies of the National Economic Development and Labour Council; leaders of political parties represented in Parliament; traditional leaders; leadership of interfaith communities; the South African Council of Churches; and the tourism industry, which is the single largest source of employment in the private sector.
These consultations formed part of government’s efforts to explore possible prospects and assess the continuing health, social and economic impacts of the pandemic.
Protocols and workplace plans
As more sectors of the economy open, government will rely on social compacts with all key role players to address the key risk factors at the workplace and in the interface between employees and the public.
“We will therefore be finalising a number of sector protocols and will require every company to develop a workplace plan before they re-open,” he said.
According to these plans, companies will need to put in place sanitary and social distancing measures and facilities; they will need to screen workers on arrival each day, quarantine those who may be infected and make arrangements for them to be tested.
“They also need to assist with contact tracing if employees test positive. Because of their vulnerability, all staff who are older than 60 years of age and those who suffer from underlying conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease and cancer should ideally stay at home,” the President said.
Employees who can work from home should be allowed to do so.
Subject to these measures, all manufacturing, mining, construction, financial services, professional and business services, information technology, communications, government services and media services, will commence full reopening from 1 June 2020.
The appropriate restart and phasing in arrangements will need to be put in place for every workplace.
“Wholesale and retail trade will be fully opened, including stores, spaza shops and informal traders. E-commerce will continue to remain open. Other sectors that opened previously, such as agriculture and forestry, utilities, medical services, food production and manufacture of hygiene products, will remain fully opened,” he said.
High-risk economic activities prohibited
High-risk economic activities will remain prohibited. These include:
- restaurants, bars and taverns, except for delivery or collection of food
- accommodation and domestic air travel, except for business travel, which will be phased in on dates to be announced
- conferences, events, entertainment and sporting activities
- personal care services, including hairdressing and beauty services
- movement of people and sale of tobacco products.
People will be able to exercise at any time during the day, provided this is not done in groups. The curfew on the movement of people will be lifted.
“Alcohol may be sold for home consumption only under strict conditions, on specified days and for limited hours. Announcements in this regard will be made once we have concluded discussions with the sector on the various conditions,” the President said.
The sale of tobacco products will remain prohibited on alert level 3, due to the health risks associated with smoking.
“All gatherings will remain prohibited, except for funerals with no more than 50 people or meetings in the workplace for work purposes,” he said.
COVID-19 stats
By 25 May 2020, South Africa had recorded a total of 22 583 COVID-19 cases, with 11 000 active cases and 429 deaths.
“Of these [11 000 active cases], 842 patients are in hospital and 128 of these are in intensive care. The number of infected people could have been much higher had we not acted when we did to impose drastic containment measures,” the President said.
He expressed concern for the City of Cape Town in the Western Cape, which by then had more than half the total infections in the country.
“We are attending to this as a matter of urgency,” he said.
More than 580 000 Coronavirus tests had been conducted and more than 12 million screenings had been done by 24 May.
“There are nearly 60 000 community health workers who have been going door-to-door across the country to identify possible cases of the Coronavirus.
“In preparation for the expected increase in infections, around 20 000 hospital beds have been, and are being, repurposed for COVID-19 cases, and 27 field hospitals are being built around the country. A number of these hospitals are ready to receive Coronavirus patients,” said the President.
Safety first
He said government appreciated the work continued to be done by public servants, especially those in the frontline in the fight against COVID-19.
“The safety of all workers, including public servants, is a matter of concern to us. We will continue to make all efforts for the adequate provision of personal protection equipment to ensure safety for everyone while at work.
“Our priority is to reduce the opportunities for the transmission of the virus and create a safe environment for everyone,” he said.
– Source: SAnews.gov.za |
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| PRESIDENT CONGRATULATES NEW LESOTHO PRIME MINISTER |
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| President Cyril Ramaphosa, Chairperson of the African Union, has congratulated Dr Moeketsi Majoro on his appointment as the new Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Lesotho. |
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The appointment of Dr Majoro follows the retirement of former Prime Minister Dr Thomas Thabane who vacated office before the end of his term in 2022.
Dr Thabane tendered his resignation in a public announcement made on 18 May 2020.
His Majesty King Letsie III took the advice from the Council of State’s decision to appoint Dr Majoro as the Prime Minister-Designate.
To this effect, Dr Majoro was sworn-in as the new prime Minister of Lesotho at the Royal Palace on Wednesday 20 May 2020.
President Ramaphosa, in his capacity as the Southern African Development Community Facilitator to the Kingdom of Lesotho, reiterated his commitment to continue working with the Government and people of Lesotho to ensure successful implementation of the comprehensive reforms as enumerated in the Reforms Authority Bill.
President Ramaphosa also wished former Prime Minister Thabane well during his retirement and commended him for the collaborative work during the facilitation process that has placed Lesotho at the cusp of realising the said reforms.
Furthermore, the President assured the new Prime Minister of his personal dedication to further strengthen and consolidate bilateral relations between South Africa and Lesotho as well as enhanced cooperation on regional, continental and global issues of mutual interest. |
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| MINISTER PANDOR LEADS WEBINAR ON THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON THE AFRICAN CONTINENT |
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| The Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Dr Naledi Pandor, led a webinar on the impact of COVID-19 on the African continent on Thursday, 28 May 2020, from 09:00-10:00. |
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| Speakers included Prof. Eddie Maloka, CEO of the African Peer Review Mechanism Secretariat; Dr Ahmed Ouma, Deputy Director of the African Centre for Diseases Control and Prevention; Dr Philani Mthembu of the Institute of Global Dialogue; Mr Abdoulaye Jannah, former Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the United Nations Commission of Africa; and Ms Elizabeth Sidropoulos, CEO of the South African Institute of International Affairs. |
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| MINISTER MOTSOALEDI APPROVES ESSENTIAL TRAVEL FOR SOUTH AFRICANS WHO WANT TO RETURN TO COUNTRIES WHERE THEY ARE BASED DURING THE COVID-19 LOCKDOWN |
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| The Minister of Home Affairs, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, has, following consultations with the Department of International Relations and Cooperation and the National Coronavirus Command Council, approved essential travel for South Africans who want to return to countries where they are based. |
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South Africans who wish to leave the South Africa are permitted to depart only for the following reasons:
- work
- study
- family reunion
- take up permanent residency
- receive medical attention.
South Africa, like many countries in the world, has implemented travel restrictions as part of the measures put in place to fight the spread of COVID-19. Travel between countries is allowed in special circumstances.
South Africans wishing to return to the countries where they reside should have the following:
(a) A copy of their valid South African passport.
(b) A letter confirming their admissibility under the current circumstances from the embassy or other diplomatic/consular representative of the country they want to travel to. If returning by road or connecting via flights, the proof submitted needs to include permission from each transiting country.
(c) Proof of means of travel such as air or bus tickets and the intended date of departure.
South Africans who fall in these categories and satisfy the criteria can send an email to Covid19travel@dha.gov.za.
An email will be sent to travellers who meet the criteria to enable them to proceed with their travel arrangements.
People applying as a group can send one email with the supporting documents for each member of the group.
PUBLIC ENQUIRIES: 0800 60 11 90 |
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| WHO CALLS FOR UNIVERSAL ACCESS TO COVID-19 VACCINE |
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| World Health Organisation (WHO) member states have signed a resolution that calls for COVID-19 vaccines to be classified as a global public good for health in order to bring the pandemic to an end. |
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This follows China’s commitment made by President Xi Jinping during the two-day World Health Assembly to make the vaccine a global public good, once one is available.
“The landmark resolution underlines the WHO’s key role in promoting access to safe, effective health technologies to fight the pandemic,” said WHO Director-General, Tedros Ghebreyesus.
In addition to a vaccine, the resolution highlights three other critical points. It calls for countries to ensure the fair distribution of all quality essential health technologies required to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic.
Second, that relevant international treaties should be harnessed where needed, including the provisions of the Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights Agreement.
The third point encourages collaboration to promote both private-sector and government-funded research and development. This includes open innovation across all relevant domains and the sharing of all relevant information with the WHO.
The historic consensus resolution on COVID-19 and the way ahead came 106 000 cases were reported.
“In the last 24 hours, there have been 106 000 cases reported to the WHO – the most in a single day since the outbreak began. Almost two-thirds of these cases were reported in just four countries,” said Ghebreyesus on Wednesday, 20 May 2020.
But, in good news, it has been particularly impressive to see how countries like the Republic of Korea have built on their experience of the Middle East Respiratory outbreak to quickly implement a comprehensive strategy to find, isolate, test and care for every case, and trace every contact.
This was critical to the Republic of Korea curtailing the first wave and now quickly identifying and containing new outbreaks.
At the assembly, the WHO expressed concern about the rising numbers of cases in low- and middle-income countries.
Governments in the assembly outlined their primary goal of suppressing transmission, saving lives and restoring livelihoods.
As the world continues to battle COVID-19, Ghebreyesus called on governments to ensure that health systems continue to function to avoid the risk brought on by the suspension of essential services, like child immunisation.
– Source: SAnews.gov.za |
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| SILICON VALLEY-BASED VC FIRM TO OPEN SUB-SAHARAN OFFICE IN JOHANNESBURG |
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| Plug and Play's global reach will help expose the South African start-up community to innovative international ideas and investment opportunities. |
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Plug and Play, a Silicon Valley-based venture capital firm, is preparing to open a sub-Saharan Africa office situated in Johannesburg. The company formally revealed that the office would be opened later this year during its recent COVID-19 webinar series.
The webinar series, “Digital Solutions for Africa”, was hosted for African start-ups and corporates. Plug and Play is an “innovation platform, start-up business development accelerator and venture capital company” looking to enable African start-ups.
During the “Digital Solutions for Africa” session, Plug and Play invited seven African start-ups to pitch their ideas, including LifeVoxel.AI, MedSAF, Vizru, Wasla, Vula Mobile and the South African-based Lifti.
Former Goldman Sachs investment banker, Grace Legodi, who will be heading up Plug and Play’s South Africa office, explains that the firm is an “innovation platform bringing together an ecosystem of change-makers”.
Legodi says when Plug and Play launch its services in Johannesburg later this year, the “initial focus will be centred around helping corporate South Africa with start-ups in the execution of their innovation strategies”.
“We want to help talented African start-ups to grow and become global companies that will help drive the economy, and create the jobs that we so desperately need.”
Plug and Play oversees an ecosystem of over 20 000 start-ups, 400 corporate partners and more than 180 venture capital firms from 35 locations worldwide.
Plug and Play is a core innovation platform centred around venture capital, accelerator programmes and corporate innovation. The firm has more than 900 active investments and carries a portfolio valuation of US$1 billion.
The venture capital firm will assist the South African market through customised offerings, deal flows, round-table events and innovation sessions, business development and expos.
The firm will be aiming to connect entrepreneurs with corporate and public enterprise partners to build a high-quality innovation platform for South Africa and Africa as a whole.
Legodi adds that Plug and Play has been “playing in the early-stage investment space” for more than two decades, and currently invests in more than 300 tech companies worldwide, in conjunction with venture capital partners.
– Source: www.thesouthafrican.com |
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| SOUTH AFRICAN UNIVERSITY SIGN AGREEMENT WITH NEW YORK UNIVERSITY TO STRENGTHEN TIES |
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| The University of Pretoria has strengthened its institutional ties with New York University. |
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Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University of Pretoria (UP), Professor Tawana Kupe and Dr Lisa Coleman, Senior Vice President for Global Inclusion, Diversity and Strategic Innovation at New York University (NYU), have signed an institutional agreement to cooperate in the areas of transformational leadership, faculty exchange, renewal and transformation of curricula, and student leadership capacity development.
Through this agreement, the institutions will also offer each other opportunities for activities and programmes such as teaching, research, staff development and the exchange of information, materials and resources.
The desire to develop a multidisciplinary globally focussed leadership programme is driven by the shortage of global leaders and responsive institutions equipped to address complex transformation and diversity challenges associated with race, gender, social class, disability, sexual orientation, ethnicity and religion. As part of the UP-NYU institutional partnership, an executive education programme will be developed.
It will focus on inclusive innovation for individuals and institutions across sectors, including higher education, government, the private sector and civil society.
NYU is an ideal institutional partner for UP as it is the largest private research university in the United States with a diverse student demographic (24% international, 20% white, 19% Asian, and 9% African-American) enrolled at campuses in New York, Abu Dhabi and Shanghai. NYU also has 11 global academic centres and research programmes in more than 25 countries. Both UP and NYU are equally committed to strengthening a university-wide culture of diversity, inclusion and equity to promote a transformative and globally inclusive community.
The Global Inclusion, Diversity, and Strategic Innovation Department at NYU will lead the university’s efforts to foster diversity, equity and inclusion across its global network. Through its key institutional platforms such as the Future Africa Campus and Javett Art Centre, UP will share multidisciplinary approaches to inclusive innovation and diversity.
“Our institutional collaboration on inclusion, diversity and strategic innovation comes at an opportune moment when we need to strengthen efforts to support the transformation of universities and society at large,” Prof. Kupe said.
“The global COVID-19 pandemic has brought about significant changes to how we work and relate to each other, both within our institutions and as individuals. Both our institutions have valuable experience and resources that enable us to strategically innovate and respond to challenges related to equity, diversity and inclusion.”
Furthermore, the higher education system in South Africa is tasked with addressing histories of exclusion and marginalisation that were embedded in the system during the apartheid era. This includes, but is not limited to, widening higher education access to students from previously disadvantaged groups.
– Source: www.goodthingsguy.com |
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| MI CASA SIGNS INTERNATIONAL RECORD DEAL AND DROPS HOT NEW MUSIC VIDEO |
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| Afroforce1 Records, a division of Universal Music Group Africa, recently announced the exclusive global recording agreement with award-winning South African Afro-House trio, Mi Casa. |
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Afroforce1 has been established to develop and work with local talent with the view to break them into Central Europe and the rest of the world. Primarily based in Berlin, Germany, Afroforce1 will also now operate out of the Universal Music Group offices in Africa, unlocking huge potential for African and European artists alike.
Joe Chialo, Managing Director of Afroforce1 Records, spoke of the merge positively.
“Africa is a young and vibrant continent – a creative superpower. With our great team from Afroforce1 and UMG Africa, we will find, develop and equally establish artists whom we can offer the possibility of entering a new market in Europe and the rest of the world. This newly built bridge will also enable artists from Europe to dive deep into the unlimited font of creativity that Africa has to offer. The whole team is really excited to be a part of this adventure.”
Mi Casa is a band that needs no introduction in South Africa. It has dominated the South African music charts for the past 10 years with a total of eight number one singles and a wall of awards and accolades (recipients of five South African Music Awards, including “Best Duo Group”, “Best Dance Group” and the coveted “Record of the Year”).
As major players in the South African pop and dance arena, the trio has kept dancefloors alive with hits like Jika, Turn You On and Don’t Wanna Be Your Friend, among others, while being on high rotation across all pop and urban stations for the past decade.
The trio consists of Joao Da Fonseca, aka J’Something as the lead singer/songwriter: Sipho Mphahlaza, aka Dr Duda as DJ/producer; and Moshe Kgasoane, aka Mo-T as trumpeter and the band is deeply rooted in making music that carries positive vibes and uplifting energy. They have already amassed an international following with sold-out concerts in Europe, Canada and 23 African countries and their unflappable worth ethic has seen them maintain their status as one of South Africa’s most relentless, determined and ambitious touring and recording acts.
This year, Mi Casa turns 10 years old and celebrate this milestone with the brand-new album, We Made It. J’Something promises “music you may not have expected from Mi Casa”, and audiences have already had a taste of a fresh sonic maturing with the stunning first single, Church Bells, which was dropped with an Afro-punk-inspired, heavily stylised, hot new music video at the end of March.
J’Something is over the moon about the Afroforce1 deal.
“Finally, the moment we been working so hard for. To sign a global deal with the biggest label in the world is something we dared to dream and now here it is – the fruits of 10 years of hard work and great memories around some pretty damn cool songs. We believe this is the most crucial moment of our career and we can’t wait to now elevate things onto a whole new level”, he states.
– Source: www.goodthingsguy.com |
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| PROUDLY SOUTH AFRICAN HORROR MOVIE TO BE PREMIERED ON NETFLIX THIS WINTER! |
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| What better way to spend lockdown than watching a proudly South African horror featuring local folklore and mythology. Netflix is premiering the movie next month. |
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Those who appreciate a great horror movie are in for a treat as Netflix has acquired Africa rights for the local original film, 8.
The supernatural thriller, set to launch across Africa on 19 June 2020, is grounded in South African folklore and mythology in a dark story of atonement, rooted in traditional beliefs about ancestors and the spirit world. Reality and superstition collide in the intersection where the world of the living meets the dead.
“We’re really excited about the quality of productions like 8, which was made in South Africa and will now be available for our members to enjoy,” says Ben Amadasun who leads Netflix Licencing and Co-productions in Africa.
“Through Netflix, creators now have the opportunity to reach more audiences. Our aim is to be a good partner for Africa’s creative industry. We’ll continue to create new partnerships that will enhance our library with a wide variety of powerful, engaging stories from across Africa.”
The script of 8 came out of writer and director Harold Holscher’s personal connection to the story of loss and guilt, combined with his love for the genre of the supernatural and the complexities of South African culture.
“I love that one can take personal strife and place it within a film that can be watched and is relatable. The horror genre is a great genre to do this in, and I hope people enjoy and appreciate this for what it is,” says Holscher.
On the collaboration with Netflix, producer Jac Williams of Cape Town-based independent producers, Man Makes a Picture Productions says, “local stories are being told in ways that find credence abroad, and Netflix is geared at facilitating this new movement globally for filmmakers”.
In America, the movie will be known as The Soul Collector”. The rights have also been sold to Russia, Germany, Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia and France.
– Sources: Netflix / www.goodthingsguy.com |
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| STATEMENT BY AMBASSADOR JERRY MATJILA, PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF SOUTH AFRICA TO THE UNITED NATIONS, DURING THE SECURITY COUNCIL VIDEO TELECONFERENCE MEETING ON THE PROTECTION OF CIVILIANS IN ARMED CONFLICT, 27 MAY 2020 |
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“Mr President,
“It has been an honour to have H.E. Ms Kaljulaid, the President of the Republic of Estonia, address the Council today.
“I wish to thank the Secretary-General, Mr Guterres, for his annual report on the protection of civilians, which underpins our discussions today. I wish to further thank Mr Peter Maurer and Ms Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, the former President of Liberia for the opportunity for us to benefit from their knowledge and experience in the field of protection of civilians.”
Read more: http://www.dirco.gov.za/docs/speeches/2020/matj0527.htm |
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| A3+1 STATEMENT ON SOMALIA DELIVERED BY AMBASSADOR JERRY MATJILA, PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF SOUTH AFRICA TO THE UNITED NATIONS, 21 MAY 2020 |
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“Mr President,
“I would like to thank you for convening this important and timely meeting on Somalia. I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the A3+1, namely Niger, South Africa, Tunisia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
“At the outset, we would like to thank the Secretary-General for his comprehensive report on the situation in Somalia. We also would like to thank the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM), Mr James Swan; Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission for Somalia and Head of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), Ambassador Francisco Madeira; and Director of the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS), Ms Agnes Marcaillou, for their briefing.”
Read more: http://www.dirco.gov.za/docs/speeches/2020/matj0521.htm |
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| STATEMENT BY AMBASSADOR JERRY MATJILA, PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF SOUTH AFRICA TO THE UNITED NATIONS, DURING THE UN SECURITY COUNCIL VIDEO TELECONFERENCE MEETING ON VENEZUELA, 20 MAY 2020 |
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“Mr President,
“We thank you for convening this meeting and thank Under-Secretary-General, Rosemary DiCarlo, for her informative briefing.
“I will focus my intervention today on three issues, namely, the political situation, humanitarian situation and the exacerbating impact of COVID-19 pandemic and regional peace and stability."
Read more: http://www.dirco.gov.za/docs/speeches/2020/matj0520.htm |
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