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| AFRICA ENCOURAGED BY COVID-19 ASSISTANCE |
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| African countries are encouraged by moves by international financial institutions to provide relief to indebted countries at a time when the effects of COVID-19 continue to be felt, says President Cyril Ramaphosa. |
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“We are encouraged by moves by the international financial institutions to provide relief to indebted countries, and reiterate our call for a moratorium on interest and debt repayments by stricken countries,” said the President.
The President made these remarks during the World Bank high-level event on Human Capital in the time of COVID-19 on Thursday, 15 October 2020. |
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The President said such placing of a moratorium on interest and debt repayments would afford African countries the fiscal space sorely needed to rebuild societies and economies.
“For every African man, woman and child to realise their full potential, we have to continue to invest in poverty eradication, in education and in improving health outcomes.”
He said the pandemic had once again brought to the fore the importance and necessity of universal health coverage. “We have to turn this period of crisis into one of opportunity to build resilient economies.” He said the continent continued to call for a comprehensive economic stimulus.
“We are continuing to call for a comprehensive economic stimulus to assist African countries to mitigate the effects of the pandemic.”
President Ramaphosa said the Coronavirus pandemic had a deep and profound impact on the world, having devastated livelihoods and economies, setting back the ability to meet the aspirations of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. |
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However, the African continent’s response to the pandemic has been strategic and collaborative.
The continent’s strategy in dealing with the pandemic has been based on four pillars.
The first has been in developing a continental response to the virus, and the second has been in raising resources through the African Union’s COVID-19 Response Fund.
The third pillar has been in setting up a continental platform for the acquisition and distribution of diagnostic and therapeutic supplies to countries in need, through the Africa Medical Supplies Platform.
The fourth pillar was the appointment of special envoys to engage with the international community to mobilise the financial support that African countries need to ensure an effective public health response to the pandemic, and enable their economies to recover. – Source: www.SAnews.gov.za |
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| PRESIDENT UNVEILS PLAN TO GROW SA ECONOMY |
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| While the COVID-19 pandemic has caused much damage to the South African economy, government's newly unveiled Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan, is set to rebuild the economy and create much-needed jobs. |
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President Cyril Ramaphosa announced details of the long-awaited recovery plan during a joint sitting of the National Council of Provinces and the National Assembly on Thursday, 15 October 2020.
The President highlighted that the pandemic caused additional strain on an already weak economy, to employment, livelihoods, public finances and state-owned companies.
This as Statistics South Africa announced that the economy shrank by 16.4% from the first quarter to the second quarter of 2020, while more than two million people lost their jobs in the second quarter of this year.
In addition, National Treasury expects a significant shortfall in revenue collection. While the economic shock is unprecedented, extraordinary effort is required to recover from it.
“As even the darkest of clouds have a silver lining, we need to see this moment as a rupture with the past and an opportunity to drive fundamental and lasting change.
The President said this presented an opportunity not only to recover the ground lost, but to place the country's economy on a new path to growth.
The plan builds on the common ground established by the social partners – government, labour, business and community organisations – through intensive and detailed consultations over the last few months.
The work to rebuild the economy after the devastation of the Coronavirus is guided by Vision 2030 of the National Development Plan and the programme that was outlined at the beginning of the sixth democratic administration.
The creation of jobs is at the centre of the plan with the President emphasising the importance of getting people back into jobs they lost as a result of the pandemic.
“We are determined to create more employment opportunities for those who were unemployed before the pandemic or who had given up looking for work.”
This will be done though the implementation of necessary reforms, removing regulatory barriers that increase costs and create inefficiencies in the economy, securing energy supply, and freeing up digital infrastructure.
Interventions in the plan will see the country achieve sufficient, secure and reliable energy supply within two years while also creating and supporting over 800 000 work opportunities in the immediate term to respond to job losses.
According to the modelling done by National Treasury, the implementation of the plan will raise growth to around 3% on average over the next 10 years.
Interventions
The plan speaks to four priority interventions with the first being South Africa embarking on a massive rollout of infrastructure.
“Infrastructure has immense potential to stimulate investment and growth, to develop other economic sectors and create sustainable employment both directly and indirectly.
We have developed a robust pipeline of projects that will completely transform the landscape of our cities, towns and rural areas,” he said.
By the end of June 2020, the country had 276 catalytic projects with an investment value of R2.3 trillion.
A list of 50 strategic integrated projects and 12 special projects was gazetted in July 2020.
These catalytic projects have been prioritised for immediate implementation with all regulatory processes fast-tracked – enabling over R340 billion in new investment.
These projects he said, were at various stages of the project life cycle.
Government is also exploring the use of credit-enhancing instruments to unlock bulk water infrastructure and national roads improvement projects.
The infrastructure build programme will focus on social infrastructure such as schools, water, sanitation and housing. It will also focus on critical network infrastructure such as ports, roads and rail that are key to economic competitiveness.
Energy generation
The second priority intervention is to expand energy generation capacity with government accelerating the implementation of the Integrated Resource Plan to provide a substantial increase in the contribution of renewable energy sources, battery storage and gas technology.
This should bring around 11 800 MW of new generation capacity into the system by 2022. More than half of this energy will be generated from renewable sources.
In the immediate term, agreements will be finalised with independent power producers to connect over 2 000 MW of additional capacity from existing projects by June 2021.
The Risk Mitigation Power Procurement Programme will unlock a further 2 000 MW of emergency supply within 12 months.
Employment stimulus
The third key intervention is that of employment stimulus to create jobs and support livelihoods.
President Ramaphosa said large-scale job interventions driven by the State and social partners had proven effective in many countries.
He said R100 billion had been committed over the next three years to create jobs through public and social employment as the labour market recovers.
“This starts now, with over 800 000 employment opportunities created in the months ahead.”
The employment stimulus is focussed on those interventions that can be rolled out most quickly and have the greatest impact on economic recovery.
At the heart of the employment stimulus is a new, innovative approach to public employment which harnesses the energies and capabilities of the wider society.
It uses the considerable creativity, initiative and institutional resources that exist in society to respond to local community priorities.
The President said traditional forms of public employment were being scaled up and new forms of public employment created to meet the immediate need while natural resource management programmes such as Working on Fire and Working for Water would be expanded.
“We are going to create 300 000 opportunities for young people to be engaged as education and school assistants at schools throughout the country, to help teachers with basic and routine work so that more time is spent on teaching and enabling learners to catch up from time lost because of COVID-19.”
More than 60 000 jobs will be created for labour-intensive maintenance and construction of municipal infrastructure and rural roads.
To support our healthcare system, an additional 6 000 community health workers and nursing assistants will be deployed as the country moves to implement the National Health Insurance.
Public employment will be expanded at the provincial and city level, contributing to cleaner, greener and safer public spaces and improved maintenance of facilities.
To assist young people who are unemployed to access opportunities, government will launch the national Pathway Management Network as a platform for recruitment and other forms of support.
Support is being provided to more than 100 000 early childhood development practitioners and to 75 000 small-scale farmers whose production was disrupted by the pandemic.
In addition, more than 40 000 vulnerable teaching posts are being secured in schools which have lost income from fees. “As these and other recovery measures are being rolled out, we need to do everything in our means to provide support to those in society who continue to face hunger and distress.
“We will therefore be extending the Special COVID-19 Grant by a further three months,” said the President.
This will maintain a temporary expansion of social protection and allow the labour market sufficient time to recover.
Industrial growth
With the fourth intervention focussed on industrial growth, government will support growth in local production and make South African exports more competitive.
Through the first two South African Investment Conferences, the country secured pledges of around R664 billion in new investment.
To date, just under R170 billion of capital expenditure was committed during those investment conferences.
“Our agricultural sector has continued to grow, with a bumper maize harvest and the expansion of many high-value crops. We have positioned South Africa as one of the most attractive destinations in the world for global business services.”
The President also emphasised the importance of partnerships while also highlighting that the country currently imports around R1.1 trillion of goods, excluding oil, each year.
“If we were to manufacture just 10% of these goods locally, it is estimated that we could add two percentage points to our annual GDP,” he said.
Get the entire Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan on https://www.gov.za/sites/default/files/gcis_document/202010/south-african-economic-reconstruction-and-recovery-plan.pdf.
– Source: www.SAnews.gov.za |
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| MINISTER PANDOR HANDS OVER PPEs AND OTHER NECESSITIES IN THE WESTERN CAPE |
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The Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Dr Naledi Pandor, visited the Stellenbosch region, Western Cape, on Monday, 19 October 2020, where she handed over a consignment of goods, which included Personal Protective Equipment and other necessities to two schools, Idas Valley Primary School and Klapmuts Primary School. |
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Minister Pandor said the goods would assist the schools in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, which remains a threat to the health of all South Africans.
The consignment was donated by the Al-Imdaad Foundation and included masks and hand sanitisers as well as school shoes and sanitary towels. The schools were asked to ensure that the shoes and sanitary towels reached needy learners.
Speaking to educators and administrators at the two schools, Minister Pandor said the risk of infection from COVID-19 remained high should communities fail to adhere to health protocols such as the wearing of masks, sanitising, washing hands and keeping social distance.
Minister Pandor said the youth should refrain from organising and taking part in social gatherings where social distancing protocols are not adhered to. "Please continue to speak to young people about the importance of behavioural change. Let us keep ourselves safe. Let us keep South Africa safe," said Minister Pandor to educators and administrators. |
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GOVERNMENT REVISES LIST OF HIGH-RISK COUNTRIES |
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| The Department of Home Affairs has revised the list of high-risk countries based on a risk categorisation model. |
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“We continue to be reminded that the COVID-19 pandemic is still with us and we need to continue to take precautions,” the Department of Home Affairs said in a statement on Monday, 19 October 2020.
The latest list of high-risk countries is:
- Argentina
- Germany
- Peru
- Bangladesh
- India
- Philippines
- Belgium
- Indonesia
- Russia
- Brazil
- Iran
- Spain
- Canada
- Iraq
- United Kingdom
- Chile
- Italy
- United States
- Colombia
- Mexico
- France
- Netherlands
The list of these high-risk countries will also be found on the Home Affairs website: www.dha.gov.za.
At its last meeting, Cabinet instructed the ministers of health, home affairs and tourism to lead a process to review the list.
According to the department, the review of the list of high-risk countries was done in such a way that it strikes a balance between saving lives and protecting livelihoods.
“Nothing has changed as far as all travellers from the continent of Africa are concerned. They are still welcome to visit the country subject to COVID-19 protocols,” Home Affairs said.
People from high-risk countries, who may visit South Africa, fall in the following categories: business travellers, holders of critical skills visas, investors and people on international mission in sports, arts, culture and science.
“In addition, we recognise that there are a number of regular visitors from mainly European countries, who have been accustomed to long periods of visitation to our country during our summer season when it is winter in the Northern Hemisphere.
“Most of them own properties in the country. We appreciate the significant economic contribution that they make through their activities in the country. To this end, we will also allow visitors, in whichever category, who are coming to stay for a three-month period or more subject to COVID-19 protocols,” the department said. |
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People who need to apply must direct email requests to: Covid19BusinessTravel@dha.gov.za, supported by:
(a) a copy of passport and/or temporary residence visa
(b) proof of business activities to be undertaken in the Republic
(c) proof of travel itinerary
(d) proof of address or accommodation in the Republic.
In the first two weeks that the COVID-19BusinessTravel@dha.gov.za email address had been in operation, 4 701 applications were received, mostly from investors in agriculture, manufacturing, mining and tourism. Of these applications, 3 113 have been approved.
These numbers show that on average, 335 investors a day applied to visit the Republic, sending a strong message that South Africa remains an attractive investment destination.
“In response to these numbers, the Department of Home Affairs has increased the capacity of people managing the email account to ensure speedier responses and we will try our best to ensure that responses are communicated within 24 hours,” the department said. – Source: www.SAnews.gov.za |
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| South Africa’s Social Development Minister, Lindiwe Zulu, has been elected to serve as Chairperson of the Partners in Population and Development (PPD). |
The Minister was elected unanimously at the 25th Annual Board Meeting of the PPD for a three-year term.
In a statement on Sunday, 18 October 2020, the Ministry of Social Development said the elective PPD Board meeting took place virtually due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
PPD is an inter-governmental organisation launched during the historic International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) that took place in Cairo, Egypt, in 1994.
It currently consists of 27 developing countries that collectively represent 60% of the world population, with the sole purpose to promote South-South cooperation in the fields of reproductive health, population and development.
“Since the emphasis of South-South cooperation is more on collaboration rather than competition, the key tenet is to ensure geographical and regional representation in its structures. This is clearly reflected in the election of the new board, with Asia and the Pacific, Sub-Saharan Africa, North Africa and the Middle East, and Latin America and the Caribbean being represented,” said the Ministry. |
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The full PPD Board is composed as follows:
- PPD Board Chairperson: Republic of South Africa
- Vice Chairperson: The People’s Republic of China
- PPD Board Secretary: Republic of Tunisia
- PPD Board Treasurer: Republic of Indonesia.
The Executive Committee members are made up of the Republic of Benin, Republic of India, Republic of Kenya and Republic of Mexico.
The Republic of Bangladesh has a Permanent Membership in the Executive Committee of the PPD Board.
The PPD has its headquarters in Dhaka, Bangladesh, and enjoys a Permanent Observer Status at the United Nations, New York.
South Africa is one of the leading member countries of PPD.
The PPD hosted its 34th Annual Executive Committee meeting on Wednesday, 14 October, followed by its 25th Board Meeting on Friday, 16 October 2020.
Tackling gender-based violence
Delivering her closing remarks at the PPD meeting, Minister Zulu emphasised the need to continue shining the light at the shadow pandemic of gender-based violence and femicide in South Africa and across the globe.
“Gender-based violence and femicide still affect too many women, girls and LGBTIQA+ [lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer, asexual and other diverse sexual orientations and gender identities] persons in our respective countries, which has been compounded by the outbreak of the global COVID-19 pandemic,” she said.
The Minister said many people still did not enjoy their full sexual and reproductive health and rights, particularly women and girls, as these issues are still regarded as taboo in some countries.
“Many of our people still face exclusion, even active discrimination and victimisation, on the basis of their sexual orientation and gender identity. “Our priority for the years ahead is to focus on the implementation of the commitments of the Nairobi Summit and ensure women and girls remain at the centre of Agenda 2030, and that none of them is left behind,” she said.
The work of the PPD is guided by the ICPD Programme of Action under the broad framework of the Sustainable Development Goals (Agenda 2030).
Collective action
South-South cooperation is premised on the understanding that developing countries stand to benefit when they work collectively to share technical expertise and resources to meet their development goals.
To achieve its overarching mission of promoting solidarity and collective action to address common development challenges, PPD engages in advocacy, policy dialogues, exchange programmes of information, best practices, research, training and technical cooperation among both member and non-member countries, among others.
In addition to her new role as the PPD Chairperson, Minister Zulu also serves as a member of the High-Level Commission comprising advocates, experts and activists that was established to help commitments to women’s health and rights made at the November 2019 Nairobi Summit.
Minister Zulu had previously served as the Secretary of the PPD’s Board. – Source: www.SAnews.gov.za |
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| CDC EXTENDS OPERATIONS BEYOND SA BORDERS |
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| The Eastern Cape-based Coega Development Corporation (CDC) has extended its market offering beyond the South African borders into Zimbabwe, Cameroon, Central African Republic (CAR) and Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), under the Coega Africa Programme (CAP). |
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“Through its African Trade and Investment Solutions Strategy, the CDC is championing the country’s enterprise for business between South Africa and the rest of the continent,” CDC Marketing, Brand and Communication Head, Dr Ayanda Vilakazi, said on Tuesday, 13 October 2020.
The CDC’s market development programme is aligned with the President’s call to promote the development and economic integration of the continent.
In Zimbabwe, the CDC is providing consulting services to develop the Norton (Lentsloane) and Eco-soft special economic zones (SEZs) in Harare, privately owned by TD Holdings.
“TD Holdings has interest in other businesses, which include, among others, Energy, Capital, Lunar Global Foods, Sunlands Eco-Estate and Redwing Agro-City.
“The sod turning for the SEZs is planned for November 2020. The focus is on advisory services for the Water Treatment Plant (WTP) in Harare, with an estimated investment value in excess of US$15 million; SEZ and Dry Port (DP) in Norton - Harare, with an estimated investment value of US$336 million (SEZ & DP),” the CDC said.
The CAP further obtained a 20-year concession of logistics bases in Douala in the CAR for the development of a dry port for the storage of goods.
The project will commence in April 2021, with an estimated investment value of US$30 million.
The CDC is awaiting confirmation of projects in Cameroon and the DRC.
“These developments are positive for South Africa and CDC in particular, given the recent establishment of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA),” the CDC said.
Vilakazi said the CDC was responding to the continental strategy that was set out by the African Union Agenda 2063 and the New Partnership for Africa’s Development.
“The CDC is able to effectively extend its products and services to the rest of the continent due to its 21-year expertise in project managing mega infrastructure projects, especially at the Coega SEZ, as well as on behalf of government clients throughout South Africa.
“The CDC’s well-resourced Project Management division boosts highly skilled and competent professionals, who specialise in the built environment, including cost engineering,” said Vilakazi.
In addition, the CDC has a proven track record in infrastructure development and project management, and it has delivered projects successfully within budget, scope and timeframes.
African Continental Free Trade Area
The CDC has congratulated Trade, Industry and Competition Minister, Ebrahim Patel, for his election as chair of the African Ministers of Trade (AMOT).
AMOT is the ministerial body tasked with finalising negotiations of the terms of preferential trade under the AfCFTA.
The CDC said it supported the Minister’s views on prioritising the finalisation of the outstanding work and negotiations required to enable the start of trading under the AfCFTA from 1 January 2021.
“The trade deal could eventually include over 50 African countries and their 1.3 billion citizens, making it potentially the largest free trade area in the world. The countries potentially involved in the bloc currently have a combined gross domestic product of $3.4 trillion,” the CDC said.
Vilakazi said the CDC was ready to take advantage of these opportunities on the continent. – Source: www.SAnews.gov.za |
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| "LOCKDOWN" DECLARED SA WORD OF 2020 |
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| “Lockdown” is the South African word of the year. |
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“Lockdown”, alongside “COVID-19” and “Jerusalema” were shortlisted by the Pan South African Language Board (PanSALB), in association with media research company, Focal Points, as candidates for SA Word of the Year 2020.
“Lockdown” was declared the winner on Friday, 16 October 2020.
The South African Word of the Year is a word, term or expression preferred to reflect the passing year in language.
PanSALB reviewed candidates for SA Word of the Year and their merits were debated choosing one that captures the philosophy, mood or preoccupations of this particular year.
“We can all attest to the rampage caused by the Coronavirus. It is all that we have talked about as we continue to navigate through its unforgiving rage. Hence, in choosing this year’s SA Word of the Year, we have had to take the process a step further to broaden the criteria and also consider the cultural significance and influence the word has had among South Africans” said PanSALB Acting Chief Executive, Willie Manana, in a statement. |
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“The lockdown has affected various parts of our lives and continues to do so. How we conduct business, our social interactions and cultural practices,” he added.
Through Focal Points, keywords were tracked for the period October 2019 to September 2020.
This media data was analysed to determine the prominence of the keywords within the media and to identify the frequency that they were used in credible print, broadcast and online media.
Furthermore, the usage of the words on platforms such as social media, everyday interactions and their cultural significance were considered for inclusion in the shortlist.
With the declaration of the National State of Disaster on 15 March 2020, PanSALB said the word “lockdown” suddenly became a topical issue and part of everyday vocabulary as the country went on Level 5 lockdown on 27 March 2020. |
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“Scores of people queued outside bottle stores and supermarkets stocking up on groceries in preparation of what was to become one of the strictest lockdowns in the world,” read the statement.
In true Mzansi style, South Africans soon found creative ways to entertain themselves amid the pandemic to adjust to the “new normal”.
“There is no argument that the lockdown has changed the way we live and has opened up a whole new world that has made it possible for us to work in the comfort of our own homes. Reaching just under half a million (486 224) mentions on print, broadcast, online and further mentions on social media and in everyday conversations –– all accumulated in just over six months, we dare say the word/term ‘lockdown’ is a worthy winner,” said PanSALB. – Source: www.SAnews.gov.za |
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| SOUTH AFRICAN RECOGNISED AS ONE OF THE TOP 50 LIBRARIANS IN THE WORLD |
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| Matete Lesele has scooped the honour of being the only South African among top 50 librarians to edit a high number of articles during Wikipedia’s Edit-a-Thon, a virtual editing marathon. |
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A combination of “edit” and “marathon”, the Edit-a-Thon is held biannually. It’s designed to encourage ordinary people, including librarians, writers and editors of online communities to edit, update and improve the quality of content on Wikipedia, the world’s most famous virtual encyclopaedia.
The initiative covers topics such as women’s history, art, feminism, cultural heritage sites, museum collections, narrowing Wikipedia’s gender gap and social justice issues. |
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Five librarians from Joburg city libraries took part in the African Librarians Week during the hard lockdown, where Matete was crowned champion. The event was hosted by the advocacy group, African Library and Information Associations and Institution, in collaboration with the Wikimedia Foundation.
Matete walked home with the honours and a certificate of recognition.
“We live in a technological era. I’m all about e-learning and empowering young people through e-learning,” he says.
Based at the municipal library in Randburg, Matete initiates and implements e-learning programmes to educate library users of all ages. He also helps – at his own volition – pupils visiting the library with their homework, assignments and projects.
“As much as I believe in the traditional use of the library, technology helps us to easily retrieve information remotely.”
Matete joined the City in November 2016 from BL Birds in Hoedspruit, Limpopo, where he worked as a caretaker for our feathered friends. He holds a Bachelor of Information Studies degree, majoring in Information Science from the University of Limpopo. – Source: www.goodthingsguy.com |
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| "POPPIE NONGENA" WINS BEST PICTURE AT INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL |
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| “Poppie Nongena” has just added another award to the extensive list of accolades … this time for the Best Picture at the BRICS Film Festival in Moscow, Russia. |
Poppie Nongena is a 2020 South African biographical drama film written and directed by award-winning director Christiaan Olwagen. The film is based on an autobiographical novel Die Swerfjare van Poppie Nongena (The Long Journey of Poppie Nongena) by Elsa Joubert, which is also considered as one of the finest African novels of the 20th century.
“The film revolves around Poppie Nongena, an Afrikaans/Xhosa South African whose life revolves around her family and finding stability in a period of immense upheaval in apartheid South Africa where women were forced by arrests. When Poppie’s husband Stone becomes too ill to manage and maintain his contract work, Poppie is deemed by the state of law to be an illegal resident of the country.”
The film stars Clementine Mosimane playing the titular role, Anna-Mart van der Merwe and Chris Gxalaba in the lead roles. The film was released on 31 January 2020 and received positive reviews from the critics. It won several awards and nominations in a few film festivals. The film won 12 awards in the 2018 Silwerskerm Film Festival, including the Best Film Accolade. The record haul of 12 awards is regarded as the highest tally ever recorded for a single film at an Afrikaans film festival. – Sources: www.goodthingsguy.com |
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| ANOTHER MILESTONE! MASTER KG GETS 100M STREAMS ON SPOTIFY |
| Someone on the social media streets said 2020 might very well be Master KG's year and they may have been on to something as the musician keeps bagging amazing milestones! |
The original Jerusalema and the remix, which features Nigeria's Burna Boy in addition to the soulful Nomcebo Zikode, has ensured that Master KG surpasses a cumulative 100 million streams on the popular music streaming platform.
Jerusalema is continuing to reach new ears all over the world every day and the song is topping international charts as a result. The song is holding firm at number one on the Official Afrobeats Chart, which is just one of the many charts the song is dominating.
Taking to Twitter to show his gratitude, Master KG said thank you to everybody playing his song worldwide.
“I have been number one on the radio for a countless number of weeks with Jerusalema. Big thanks to all the radio stations supporting ... Across the globe,” Master KG said. – Source: www.timeslive.co.za |
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| BOK UP FOR WORLD RUGBY PLAYER OF DECADE AWARD |
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| Springbok flank Pieter-Steph du Toit will go up against three-time World Cup winners Dan Carter and Richie McCaw for the Player of the Decade Award. |
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Du Toit, Carter and McCaw are among eight nominees for the prestigious World Rugby Men’s Player of the Decade Award.
Due to the ongoing impact of COVID-19 on the global game, it was announced last month that the usual 12 World Rugby Awards would not be presented this year.
Instead, a special edition World Rugby Awards will celebrate members of the rugby family who have provided incredible service to the public during the COVID-19 pandemic and players and teams who have starred over the last decade.
Chris Ashton, Radike Samo, Bryan Habana, Beauden Barrett, Francois Hougaard, Julian Savea, Jamie Heaslip, Joaquín Tuculet, Brodie Retallick and TJ Perenara are in contention for International Rugby Players (IRP) Men’s 15s Try of the Decade.
Two-time World Rugby Men’s Sevens Player of the Year, Perry Baker is one of nine nominees for World Rugby Men’s Sevens Player of the Decade. The USA speedster is up against past World Rugby Men’s Sevens Players of the Year recipients Mikaele Pesamino, Cecil Afrika, Tomasi Cama, Tim Mikkelson, Samisoni Viriviri, Werner Kok, Seabelo Senatla and Jerry Tuwai.
The World Rugby Awards Special Edition will be co-hosted by former England international and World Rugby Hall of Fame inductee Maggie Alphonsi and rugby presenter Alex Payne on Monday, 7 December. The show will be made available for free to rugby fans globally via World Rugby’s digital channels. – Source: https://rugby365.com |
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| STATEMENT BY MINISTER NALEDI PANDOR, MINISTER OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND COOPERATION OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA, DURING THE SECURITY COUNCIL HIGH-LEVEL DEBATE ON A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF THE SITUATION IN THE GULF REGION, 20 OCTOBER 2020 |
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“Mr President,
“South Africa wishes to commend the Russian Federation for your stewardship of the Security Council for the month of October and I thank you, Minister Lavrov, for convening this meeting today to review the situation in the Gulf region.
“As we heard from the interventions already made, security in the Gulf is intrinsically linked to global security, given the significant economic role and strategic position of the region. It is in the interest of us all, for the countries in the region to be able to address the heightened tensions and protracted conflict which has come to characterise the region for so long.
” Read more: http://www.dirco.gov.za/docs/speeches/2020/pand1020.html |
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| STATEMENT BY AMBASSADOR XOLISA MABHONGO, DEPUTY PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF SOUTH AFRICA TO THE UNITED NATIONS, DURING THE SECURITY COUNCIL MEETING ON YEMEN, 15 OCTOBER 2020 |
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“Mr President,
“We thank Special Envoy Martin Griffiths; as well as Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Mark Lowcock, for their briefings.
“South Africa continues to support Special Envoy Griffiths in his search for a peaceful solution to the situation in Yemen, despite the continuing violence and the persistent COVID-19 pandemic.
“My delegation would like to reiterate that the dire humanitarian situation in Yemen, intensified by the COVID19 pandemic, is indistinguishably linked to the political impasse. As such my intervention will focus on these two elements, namely the humanitarian and the political situations.”
Read more: http://www.dirco.gov.za/docs/speeches/2020/mabh1015.html |
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