The prime ministers visited South Africa from 19 to 20 June 2023 at the invitation of President Ramaphosa.

The visit sought to solidify South Africa’s relationship with Denmark and the Netherlands in the areas of green hydrogen, renewable energy and the just energy transition.

South Africa and the Netherlands signed the Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation on Green Hydrogen.

The visit also brought a substantial group of investors to South Africa to reinforce the high levels of cooperation and good relations between South Africa and two important European partners.

The visit entailed a programme of joint bilateral talks and a joint business seminar.

In addition to a meeting with the President, the two prime ministers also participated in a Denmark-Netherlands-South Africa Business Forum hosted by the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition.

A delegation that includes the CEOs of the Port of Rotterdam, Invest International, which provides financing for projects, as well as the Gasunie, which owns and manages the gas transmission network in the Netherlands, accompanied Prime Minister Rutte.

In addition, about 15 private companies also formed part of the delegation.

Prime Minister Frederiksen was accompanied by a high-level business delegation.

The Business Forum, held under the theme: “Green Energy Transition and Green Hydrogen Partnerships for Impact”, focussed on key areas in green energy and green hydrogen.

Ahead of the leaders addressing the business forum, delegates participated in plenary sessions on finance and skills development for local impact; roundtables to encourage discussions in a number of areas, including the greening of industry, port development, industrial development support, green mobility, fuel cells and electrolysers and green energy generation.

The President was addressing the country through his weekly newsletter following his return from the European countries.

African heads of state from Senegal, the Comoros, Zambia and South Africa, together with the Prime Minister of Egypt and envoys from the Republic of Congo and Uganda, travelled to the two Eastern European countries to hold talks with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian leader President Vladimir Putin over the weekend.

“This initiative has been historic in that it is the first time African leaders have embarked on a peace mission beyond the shores of the continent. Although the delegation comprised countries that have taken diverse positions on the various UN resolutions on the conflict, the countries represented have all taken a non-aligned stance on this issue. This has lent credibility to the mission and engendered trust from both sides.

“As South Africa, we continue to maintain our position that this conflict should be settled through negotiation and by diplomatic means, in line with the founding principles of the Non-Aligned Movement, and that it is in the collective interest of everyone that it comes to an end soon,” he said.

President Ramaphosa said the African leaders set out a 10-point plan that could “contribute to various efforts that have been made” to bring an end to the conflict.

“Included in the proposal being put forward as part of the African Peace Initiative are calls for a de-escalation of fighting and for negotiations to commence with urgency; for the release of prisoners of war and return of children; for greater humanitarian support; and for reconstruction efforts to be prioritised.

“We affirmed that the sovereignty of countries should be respected in line with the principles of the United Nations Charter. We highlighted the urgent need that the security of both nations should be guaranteed,” he said.

President Ramaphosa said the primary concern remained for people who have been directly affected by the conflict.

“We believe that everything should be done to end the fighting to prevent further loss of life, injury, displacement and destruction. As the international community, we need to work together to prevent any further suffering.

“The toll on human life, the extensive destruction and the ripple effect it has had on the global economy mean that no country has been shielded. The conflict has caused instability, precipitated a humanitarian crisis and sent shockwaves through vulnerable economies,” he said.

Africa’s interest

President Ramaphosa said the continued conflict also had a “very real effect on African countries and economies”.

He explained that Africa’s material interest in the conflict pertained to the fact that the two countries were major grain suppliers to the African continent and the conflict had triggered shortages of grain on the continent of up to 30 million tonnes.

“There is a misconception that this conflict is far-removed from the realities of our own country. We made the point to the Ukrainian and Russian presidents that while we undertook this mission as members of the international community committed to peacebuilding, we as the African continent also have a material interest in seeing a resolution to the conflict,” he said.

“As a result of this conflict, African countries are negatively affected by the rising costs of food and energy. Supply chain disruptions have caused a shortage of farming inputs such as fertilisers threatening the food security of a number of African countries,” President Ramaphosa said.

He said African leaders also put forward a proposal for the “opening up of the movement of grains across the Black Sea for grains” from either one of the countries with further engagements expected to take place.

“As engagements with both parties and African leaders continue, it is our hope that as the process moves forward, a foundation can be set for a de-escalation of the conflict and negotiation, the two crucial preconditions for lasting peace,” President Ramaphosa concluded.

– Source: SAnews.gov.za

The Working Visit provided an opportunity for both ministers to deepen engagement and discussion on various topics of mutual interest, including regional and international issues.

During the visit, the Protocol on Cooperation regarding Cyber-Forensic Investigations and the Fight Against Corruption between South Africa and France was signed by the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services, Ronald Lamola, and Minister Colonna.

Relations between South Africa and France are underpinned by strong cooperation at national, regional and multilateral levels across a multitude of sectors. The two countries cooperate in the following, among other, areas: energy; science and technology; defence; trade and investment; arts and culture; tourism; higher education and training; and health.

France is a key investor in South Africa and has shown strong support in the first three South African investment conferences. A commitment of R20 billion in 2019 was fully invested by 2021, and a new commitment of R50 billion was made in 2022.

French companies present in South Africa have contributed close to 100 000 jobs for South Africans and also offer vocational and other training opportunities to strengthen capacity in numerous fields.

French companies play a key role in the maintenance and life extension of the Koeberg Nuclear Power Station, which is critical to ensuring energy security in South Africa.

Globally, France is South Africa’s 12th-largest source of imports with 2022 figures at R34,2 billion and 27th-largest export destination with 2022 exports of R13,4 billion. The main products traded were minerals, vehicles, vegetables, iron/steel products, chemicals, machinery and prepared foods.

The two ministers briefed the media at the conclusion of their meeting.

To date, over 70 agreements and memoranda of understanding have been signed between the two countries, demonstrating the range of bilateral cooperation.

In recent times, there has been growing interaction between the presidents of both countries, as South Africa and Mozambique aim to increase the levels of trade and investment cooperation and ensure peace and stability in the region.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has visited Mozambique several times since his inauguration in 2018. This includes a courtesy visit upon his election to The Presidency in March 2018, followed by the President’s attendance at the signing ceremony of the Maputo Peace Accords in August 2019 and President Filipe Nyusi’s Presidential Inauguration Ceremony in January 2020.

Since then, President Ramaphosa has undertaken more working visits to Mozambique during 2021 to participate in the various Southern African Development Community summits of heads of state and government convened in Maputo.

The relationship between the two countries also involves mutual support in times of need as illustrated by the African Renaissance Fund rendering support to Mozambique during the period when the neighbouring country was responding to the devastation caused by cyclone Idai in 2019. On the other hand, Mozambique provided support to the province of KwaZulu-Natal when it was ravaged by floods in 2022.

Considering the close historic relations between the two countries, the main objectives for the Working Visit was to review progress on the implementation of commitments made during the Third Session of the BNC, held in South Africa in March 2022.

The Deputy Minister’s visit also served as an opportunity to assess and evaluate progress relating to all outstanding decisions and commitments.

The agreement is expected to also yield the establishment of an anti-corruption academy in Tshwane, which will serve the SIU and other law-enforcement agencies and anti-corruption agencies within the Southern African Development Community (SADC), the Commonwealth and Non-Commonwealth countries.

It was signed by the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services, Ronald Lamola, and French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Catherine Colonna, on Monday, 19 June 2023.

Minister Lamola said the cooperation agreement would add much-needed skills to strengthen the SIU’s capacity in cyber-forensic investigations, financial crimes and analytical skills.

“We are going to benefit a lot through this process of training that will enable our forensic cyber capabilities and investigations to be on par with the standards of the world and the globe because these types of crime are no longer just national, they are transnational in nature.

“So, this kind of cooperation will definitely be of great value and help to us as a country to enhance our skills and be able to deal with the cybercrimes in the country. This will further boost confidence in the investment climate in our country that our cyberspace is safe and if anything happens, we will have the capabilities to investigate,” he said.

The French Minister remarked that the agreement represented “a window of what we are promoting in terms of bilateral cooperation”.

“This agreement will yield results beneficial to the South African citizens and possibly to all the SADC region. As a result of the close cooperation from the French experts, the SIU currently has 22 trained trainers who possess the capability to train other investigators.

“Since the very early stages of our cooperation, members of the SIU have been to France and have had opportunities … to see and experience the French expertise in the field of mostly cyber investigations. I call for those exchanges to grow,” she said.

– Source: SAnews.gov.za

Eastern Cape province was the host of the third leg of the BRICS Roadshow, which took place at the International Convention Centre following the first leg that was held in Mbombela and the second in Durban.

South Africa has been entrusted with the honour of hosting the BRICS Summit in August 2023, presenting this country with a remarkable opportunity to demonstrate leadership in reforming global economic governance and promoting sustainable and inclusive development in Africa and the global South. As part of the build-up programmes taking place across the country, various departments are hosting roadshows in different provinces.

The Department of Small Business Development, in collaboration with the Department of International Relations and Cooperation, hosted this significant event with the overarching theme of "Building a Better Africa and a Better World". The roadshow was coordinated with the Eastern Cape’s economic development and investment promotion agency, the Eastern Cape Development Corporation, with an aim to create awareness about the importance of South Africa's and the Eastern Cape’s participation in BRICS and to foster citizen involvement in BRICS activities.

This platform provided an opportunity for the Minister, Premier, BRICS Sherpas and members of the business community to engage in fruitful discussions on economic prospects for the province, through the various economic sectors.

FlySafair, the renowned South African airline, has once again soared to new heights by clinching the prestigious title of Best Low-Cost Airline in Africa at this year’s SKYTRAX World Airline Awards.

This remarkable achievement marks the airline’s third consecutive win, cementing their position as a leader in the industry.

Meanwhile, SAA has also earned recognition by securing an impressive 72nd spot in the World’s Top 100 Airlines, surpassing well-known carriers like American Airlines, Kenya Airways and Hawaiian Airlines. It’s an outstanding accomplishment for SAA.

FlySafair triumphed over its competitors to claim the coveted number one position, surpassing esteemed airlines such as Fastjet, Nouvelair, fly540 and Jambojet. The accolade was accepted by Kirby Gordon, the Chief Marketing Officer at FlySafair, during the prestigious event, held in Paris recently.

Gordon expressed immense pride in the FlySafair team and their unwavering dedication to enhancing the travel experience.

“We are thrilled that our continuous efforts to improve our services have been acknowledged at such a prestigious event,” Gordon stated.

He further emphasised that receiving this recognition at the highest level underscored the commitment and excellence exhibited by their staff on a daily basis.

The World Airline Awards originated in 1999 when Skytrax introduced its first-ever global annual airline customer satisfaction survey. These esteemed awards are determined through an extensive customer satisfaction survey conducted by Skytrax each year. Among the 80 significant awards presented at the event, the distinction of Best Low-Cost Airline holds great significance.

FlySafair and SAA’s triumphs at the World Airline Awards serve as testament to the exceptional standards they have set in the aviation industry. These achievements not only showcase the remarkable progress and dedication of these airlines but also contribute to the overall growth and reputation of the South African aviation sector.

– Source: www.goodthingsguy.com

On Thursday, 15 June 2023, T4 Education, in partnership with Templeton World Charity Foundation, Accenture and American Express, revealed their 2023 top contenders in five categories:

• Community Collaboration
• Environmental Action
• Innovation
• Overcoming Adversity
• Supporting Healthy Lives.

Rustenburg Girls, a government-funded institution, has been shortlisted in the “Supporting Healthy Lives” Category, while Spark Soweto, an independent, partially government-funded facility, has been shortlisted in the “Community Collaboration” Category.

The winners are expected to be announced in September, and each learning institution from the five categories will get an equal share of the US$250 000 (about R4.6 million) grand prize.

Rustenburg Girls’ High was recognised for embracing “the vital role that physical and mental fitness play in a well-rounded education and has taken proactive steps to ensure its students’ holistic growth and success”.

“I am extremely proud of Rustenburg Girls’ High’s achievement. It is no secret they are one of our province’s top-performing high schools academically, and perhaps one of the secrets to their success is their successful holistic approach to education, balancing academics with sport and other activities,” gushed Western Cape Education MEC David Maynier.

Rustenburg Girls will go up against:

• Pakistan’s Beaconhouse Gulshan Campus
• UK Great Britain and Northern Ireland’s Cardiff Sixth Form College
• USA’s Chester Arthur School
• Brazil’s EEMTI Joaquim Bastos Gonçalves
• Uruguay’s Escuela N°67 de Pueblo Olivera
• USA’s IMG Academy
• India’s Shindewadi Mumbai Public School (Akanksha Foundation)
• Malaysia’s Sekolah Kebangsaan Kanchong Darat.

Spark Soweto, according to T4, “has become a catalyst for change for its disadvantaged community that was once symbolic of the struggle against apartheid“.

The other contenders in the community collaboration category are:

• UK Great Britain and Northern Ireland’s ACS International School Cobham
• UK Great Britain and Northern Ireland’s Barham Primary School
• Liberia’s Booker Washington Institute
• Brazil’s Escola Municipal Professor Edson Pisani
• Philippines Kongkong Elementary School
• India’s Nagar Nigam Pratibha Baalika Vidhyalaya F- Block, Dilshad Colony-1st
• Republic of Korea’s NLCS Jeju
• India’s Oberoi International School.

Competition winners get US$50 000

Those shortlisted will now go through a rigorous judging process to stand a chance of winning US$50 000 (approximately R918 000 each) in their respective categories.

“I must congratulate Spark Soweto and Rustenburg Girls’ High on being named in the Top 10 shortlists for the World’s Best School Prizes 2023. Schools across the globe will learn from the story of these trailblazing South African institutions and the culture they have cultivated,” said T4 Education and World’s Best School Prizes founder Vikas Pota.

– Source: www.citizen.co.za

Earlier in the week, Rachel Kolisi revealed via her Instagram that the documentary depicting her husband’s life was well received by the American audience.

“Spent the day with our Roc Nation fam today in NY. Also went to a SOLD OUT Tribecca screening of Rise the Siya Kolisi story,” Rachel revealed on an Instagram post.

And her sentiments have now been confirmed, with the Tribeca Festival announcing that Rise: The Siya Kolisi Story was given first place in the documentary category of the Audience Awards.

“The story of the first black South African rugby captain who against all odds led the South African national team to win the 2019 World Cup Rugby and in turn unites the country,” reads the synopsis of the documentary according to IMDB.

The Tribeca Film Festival took place in New York City from 7 June until 18 June 2023.

Rachel Kolisi is the CEO of the Kolisi Foundation.

 – Source: www.sapeople.com

The BBC Cardiff Singer of the World Competition takes place every two years with this being its 40th anniversary. The show is credited with launching the careers of some of the most acclaimed opera singers in the world. A total of 16 performers are invited from all around the world to take part in the competition. There are three prizes up for grabs: the Main Prize, Song Prize and Audience Prize.

The 16 performers are chosen for this competition after undergoing three virtual rounds. Hundreds of opera performers apply but only the 16 best make it.

While neither was crowned the winner, both made it all the way through to the finals, showcasing their incredible talent.

Nombulelo Yende

Nombulelo Yende (31), sister to famed opera singer Pretty Yende, has been building a career in her own right.

Born and raised in Mkhondo, Mpumalanga, she started singing at the age of four. She travelled to Cape Town after high school where she attended the University of Cape Town, studying Opera with Professor Virginia Davids. When she completed her studies, she set off to make her way in the world of opera.

“Upon completing my studies, I joined Oper Frankfurt’s Opera Studio in the 2021/22 season, during which time I made my European debut singing Der Huter der Schwelle des Tempels and Falke Die Frau ohne Schatten, Lover Il tabarro and Suor Dolcina Suor Angelica. My second season roles included Polya in Tchaikovsky’s Charodeyka, Die Aufseherin Elektra, Sandmännchen Hänsel und Gretel and my role debut as Tatyana in Eugene Onegin.”

Yende has several accolades already, having earned the First Female Prize, Audience Prize and several special prizes at the Stanisław Moniuszko Vocal Competition in Warsaw, Poland, in 2022. She has also earned the Audience Prize at Neue Stimmen 2019 and the Grand Prize and Audience Prize at the Vincenzo Bellini International Belcanto Competition in 2018.

Nombulelo Yende shared her joy in being able to perform via her Instagram, saying she was grateful.

“Being part of the 16 singers that sang in the live rounds and sharing the stage with my amazingly talented colleagues was a true honour on its own and I will forever be grateful. I have no doubt that we will be seeing more of each other on the world stages.”

Siphokazi Molteno

Siphokazi Molteno (31), from East London, is an award-winning opera singer. She graduated with degrees in Music from Nelson Mandela University and the University of Cape Town.

As a young artist with Cape Town Opera, she sang Dorabella in Così fan tutte. She went on to win the Fleur Du Cap’s Best Performance in an Opera (Female) Award in both 2020 and 2022 for the role.

Siphokazi also received the 2020 Rising Star Encouragement Award in the Glyndebourne Opera Cup and both the Ana María Martínez Encouragement Award and the Audience Choice Award at Houston Grand Opera’s Eleanor McCollum Competition in 2017.

In October 2022, she debuted at the Metropolitan Opera in New York, playing the role of Flora in Verdi’s La Traviata. Her performance has received high praise from critics and she says her dreams have come true!

 – Source: www.goodthingsguy.com

Initially released in 1990 by Tusk Music, Mango Groove's Hometalk paid homage to the values of a liberated South Africa. Its uplifting sound and memorable lyrics spoke to what it was to come home free from oppression, poverty and inequality.

Now reimagined by TAU (Hamzah Tajbhai), a world-renowned producer, composer and sound engineer at 608, the latest and more soulful-sounding Hometalk moves the song from Afropop to Afro House – a genre that is leading the global house music scene.

"Reimagining legendary local music is a huge privilege and responsibility," said TAU in a press statement.

"The modern remix of Mango Groove's Hometalk is not only about the recreation of an iconic track, but it must also serve the same role that the original did during the 1980s. It must serve as a reminder for our youth to unite in the just cause of picking up South Africa from her knees."

Working with the original recordings of Hometalk, accessed from the Gallo Records archive that houses iconic South African music and recordings, TAU converted tape into digital for the new song.

Evolving it into the new Afro House version and adding his signature sounds that fuse ancient harmonies with cutting-edge sound design and syntheses, the new Hometalk reflects the evolution of local music and aims to revive the spirit in today's youth.

"We love the fact that Hometalk has found new expression in TAU's glorious Afro House remix of the song," said Claire Johnston, lead singer of Mango Groove.

"It's such an interesting and lateral take on the original, and we're delighted that the song is finding new traction in South Africa's urban music culture today and is continuing to resonate and find meaning with successive generations of young South Africans."

As a company that curates meaningful experiences in culture and entertainment, 608's release of the Hometalk remix speaks to its ambition to collaborate with iconic bands for modern rendition tributes in addition to producing original music.

The Hometalk remix is now available on digital platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music and Deezer.

– Source: www.news24.com

Pongrácz winemaker, MP Botes, says these two gold awards yet again, confirm the quality of locally produced Cap Classiques made in the French tradition, expressing their South African terroir.

“The numerous awards of our Cap Classiques echo our continuous commitment to producing world-class quality products. We nurture these wines over a long period whilst the secondary fermentation in the bottle creates exquisite, delicate bubbles and integrated aromas. I feel so privileged to be part in the making of these remarkable Cap Classiques.”

Bottle-fermented and matured for at least 15 months, the wine is crafted from the classic Champagne varietals Chardonnay and Pinot Noir and hand-picked from vineyards cooled by maritime breezes.

Spending a minimum of 69 months in the bottle for slow secondary fermentation, the ultra-premium Desiderius Pongrácz 2015 is gracious, elegant and timeless. It is made in the time-honoured French tradition and a blend of Chardonnay (80%) and Pinot Noir (20%) grapes hand-picked from two selected vineyard blocks.

Pongrácz is named after the nobleman and Hungarian refugee, Desiderius Pongrácz, who had a profound impact on viticulture in the Western Cape.

– Source: www.goodthingsguy.com

Dressed in South African flora, pin-cushion proteas merged with soft-brushed Mexican wild grass and bright red anthuriums, the Zulu Queen’s dress paid homage to the vibrant colours and patterns

The Zulu Queen was created by Vancouver’s Folk and Faerie, who chose to represent South Africa for their display.

“She embodies the essence of her nation, intricately captured in the delicate strokes of a floral medium. Like the vibrant sunrise, she exudes a commanding presence that marks the beginning of a new era. Her regalia, adorned with intricate floral patterns, reflects the rich diversity of her land and the traditions passed down through generations.” ‒ Fleurs de Villes.

– Source: www.goodtingsguy.com

Ramphadi made history after becoming the first South African (able-bodied or adaptive athlete) to win the Grand Slam title in decades. His achievement is huge! After the Roland Garros French Open, Ramphadi competed at the French Riviera Open, an ITF Super Series wheelchair event in Biot, France. From there he turned his sights homeward.

Born and raised in Limpopo, he went on to make his Wimbledon debut in 2022. He’s a highly ranked quad tennis player and reached his global ranking of no 4 recently.

“Our wheelchair tennis Grand Slam champion Donald Ramphadi has arrived home! He was given a warm welcome by the honourable Minister of Sport, Arts & Culture, Zizi Kodwa. SASCOC’s Khotso Mokoena, TSA Board Member Robin Baloyi, Gauteng SACR Acting Chief Director, his team, fans, and media were also there to celebrate his triumphant return.” – Tennis South Africa

– Source: www.goodtingsguy.com

South Africa's football cathedral was Barker's playground, with his big moments in the 2-0 African Cup of Nations final win against Tunisia in 1996 and the 1-0 win against the Republic of Congo a year later that secured South Africa's place at the 1998 World Cup coming at the ground.

Percy Tau's deflected shot in the fifth minute and a 48th-minute goal from Zakhele Lepasa secured the win, even though Hakim Ziyech responded for the visitors on the hour mark.

Lepasa celebrated his goal by mimicking Barker's touchline aeroplane run after the late Phil Masinga's lone goal.

Lepasa's and Masinga's goals shared one thing in common: They secured a win for Bafana as the FNB Stadium, fully covered  and having seen the best and the worst of Bafana in recent years, felt like home for the national team once again.

As academic as the game may have been, as both sides are qualified for next year's Afcon, there was nothing academic about how the sides went about the game.

They were ferocious, combative and tactically astute, but Bafana wanted it more and deserved it.

As per the South African Football Association's communiqué on WhatsApp, 57 548 tickets were issued or sold.

– Source: www.news24.com

The action-packed tour kicks off with a thrilling T20I series, as both teams eagerly look ahead to the upcoming T20 World Cup in Bangladesh in 2024.

The significance of the 50-over matches goes beyond mere competition, as the two nations also resume their journey in the ICC Women's Championship (IWC) 2022-25 campaign.

These matches hold immense value as they contribute to the qualification pathway for the prestigious ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025.

In the current ICC Women's Championship standings, the Proteas Women hold the seventh position with six points. Their campaign began on a high note, securing a resounding three-nil ODI series victory over Ireland in July last year.

Meanwhile, Pakistan has accumulated 10 points in their first nine matches, placing them in second position behind India, who has notched up 12 points in six games.

Historically, South Africa has had the upper hand in head-to-head encounters against Pakistan, boasting an impressive 76%-win rate. Out of the 24 matches played between the two teams, South Africa has emerged victorious in 19 ODIs, with one match ending in a no-result. The T20I format has seen a closer competition, with South Africa recording 11 wins and seven defeats against the hosts.

Expressing his delight, Pholetsi Moseki, the CEO of Cricket SA, emphasised the significance of this tour:

"We are thrilled to announce the Proteas Women's first-ever tour to Pakistan. This tour not only strengthens the bilateral relations between our nations but also underscores the ICC's commitment to promoting globally competitive women’s cricket through the Women's Future Tours Programme.

"We are confident that this tour will pave the way for further collaborations and opportunities in the future."

Moseki added, "These six matches will provide the Proteas Women's team with an opportunity to further establish themselves among the elite in international cricket. Success during this tour will contribute to a seamless journey towards the upcoming tours and the ICC Women's T20 and 50-over World Cups, scheduled to take place within the next two years."

Fixtures - South Africa Tour to Pakistan 2023/24:

T20I Series: Friday, 1 September 2023 - 1st T20I - Pakistan vs South Africa (National Stadium, Karachi) Sunday, 3 September 2023 - 2nd T20I - Pakistan vs South Africa (National Stadium, Karachi) Tuesday, 5 September 2023 - 3rd T20I - Pakistan vs South Africa (National Stadium, Karachi)

ODI Series: Friday, 8 September 2023 - 1st ODI - Pakistan vs South Africa (National Stadium, Karachi)Monday, 11 September 2023 - 2nd ODI - Pakistan vs South Africa (National Stadium, Karachi) Thursday, 14 September 2023 - 3rd ODI - Pakistan vs South Africa (National Stadium, Karachi).

– Source: www.news24.com

Maartens, who was an integral member of the national squad who competed in a World Cup qualifying tournament in Berlin last month, said one could never be complacent about selection.

“Every time it happens it feels like the first time,” she said. “To be able to sing the national anthem on the international stage always brings me to tears.”

It is a privilege to compete against the best in the world but even more so to represent everyone back home, she said.

“I’m excited by the challenge. It’s awesome to be part of this.”

Maartens, who is obliged to share her sporting ambitions with the demands of a postgraduate certificate in education, has been focussing on strength and conditioning work in honing her game ahead of the global event.

Although the South Africans failed to qualify for the World Cup in Los Angeles after only managing to beat Uzbekistan and Ukraine, the trip to Germany proved worthwhile as they improved hand over fist throughout.

“We ended up in the top four, which is really good considering we only had two days of training before the tournament began.”

Madibaz Sport water polo manager Melinda Goosen said it had been a delight to witness the development of Maartens from rookie to world-class athlete.

“Meghan is such a talent and has grown so much over the years to become the player she is today. To have been able to watch her has been such a privilege.”

Her selection showed what could be achieved if you applied yourself, said Goosen, who believed her accomplishments would inspire a new generation of Madibaz players.

“She is someone that the younger players can definitely look up to.”

– Source: www.goodthingsguy.com