The Springboks claimed their Rugby World Cup victory over New Zealand, making South Africa the first country to win the championship four times.

The President offered his congratulations to the team, the coaching team, the broader squad and the team management and technical and support staff.

“Stronger Together is a belief that came to life for Springbok supporters all around our country and continent and the world. Sport has the power to transform individuals’ lives and lift the spirits of entire nations.

“Tonight [Saturday], Siya Kolisi and the 2023 World Cup champions have gifted us an extraordinary, inspired and inspiring national achievement that lifts our hearts and hoists our flag even higher,” President Ramaphosa said.

President Ramaphosa also commended New Zealand for a hard-fought World Cup campaign that made the All Blacks deserving finalists.

Minister in The Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, said the victory confirmed South Africa’s highest standing in world rugby.

“The Springboks symbolise the resolve, resilience and unbreakable spirit of South Africans as a nation. Never has a team, which was once at the centre of dividing a nation, risen time and again to unite and rally the nation behind one flag, a single identity and the nation brand.

“The Springboks represent something more than themselves; they unite us in our diversity but as one nation. We are proud of the leadership of Captain Siya Kolisi, who led the mighty team to victory. We would also like to appreciate the support of South Africans of all walks of life,” Minister Ntshavheni said.

The Minister emphasised that supporting national teams was not just about the game, but “forging a collective spirit that extends beyond the field”.

“It's about instilling a sense of pride in our national identity, reminding us of the incredible strength we possess when we stand together.”

She added that the Springboks had etched South Africa’s name in the annals of history.

“We are eternally proud of you Bokke! In your team effort, the camaraderie in your camp, and a truly South African vibe you carried, you demonstrated that indeed we are stronger together ‒ you proved that to the more than 62 million of us and millions more from the African continent who stood behind you. We can’t wait to welcome you back home,” Minister Ntshavheni said.

– Source: SAnews.gov.za

“In celebration of the Springboks’ momentous achievement and the achievements of all our other sports men and women, and as a tribute to the resolve of our united nation, I am declaring Friday, the 15th of December 2023, as a public holiday.

“We declare this to be a day of hope, a day of celebration and unity. Our sports men and women have shown us what is possible. We will succeed and we will ensure that we leave no one behind,” President Ramaphosa said.

The Springboks returned home on Tuesday, 31 October 2023, and the country welcomed them with great joy and jubilation. They will conduct a victory tour around the country and President Ramaphosa received them at the Union Buildings on Thursday, 2 November 2023.

The President urged the country to rally behind the Proteas in the same way as they had given their support to the Springboks.

“I want us all to embark on a period of celebration, culminating in a celebratory holiday after our matriculants have finished their exams and the Proteas have done the country proud at the Cricket World Cup,” he said.

“Today marks the start of the 2023 National Senior Certificate exams for close to one million learners.

“Over the next weeks, our learners will prove the value of hard work, dedication and the investment that we have made as a nation in the education of our young people.

“We wish them the very best, confident that they will make the country proud,” President Ramaphosa said.

Stronger Together

President Ramaphosa took the opportunity to urge the nation to draw hope and encouragement from the determination and the performance the Springboks and the Proteas have displayed.

The victory by the Springboks and the performance of the Proteas follows the victory of Banyana Banyana in the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations and their progress to the knockout stages of the FIFA Women’s World Cup.

The country’s spirits were similarly lifted by the achievements of the national squad at the Special Olympics World Games in Berlin in June.

“The determination and resilience of our teams have given credence to Madiba’s words that sports unite the nation. In their achievements, they have revealed much about the unity of the people of the country they represent.

“As a people, we have shown before what is possible when we are united, when we are determined, when we try hard and when we refuse to give up. Together, we overcame apartheid, ended centuries of conflict and gave birth to a thriving democracy. Together, we confronted and overcame the deadliest global pandemic in over a century. We are indeed stronger together,” he said.

President Ramaphosa emphasised that the Springboks’ victory rightfully called for a moment of national recognition and celebration.

“As we all watched their progress towards the championship, we marvelled at their resilience and determination to overcome some of the best teams in the rugby world. At moments when their cause seemed lost, they fought back and they emerged victorious,” he said.

The President further applauded the cricket team who have been performing well in the Cricket World Cup.

– Source: SAnews.gov.za

The President acknowledged that the last three years had been extremely challenging, as the country emerges from more than a decade of stagnant economic growth, compounded by the impact of the pandemic.

“We are working to reverse the legacy of the past era of corruption and mismanagement of our state-owned enterprises, which has left us with a persistent energy crisis and an inefficient ports and rail network.

“And we are contending with a range of global and domestic pressures, which have set back our economic recovery. And yet, there are clear signs that our efforts are showing results. Electricity supply is improving. Jobs are being created.

“Houses, roads, bridges and dams are under construction. Law enforcement agencies are cracking down on criminal syndicates. The proceeds of state capture are being recovered. These are reasons for hope,” President Ramaphosa said.

Since then, in the midst of severe load-shedding and increased global volatility, he highlighted that the economy had continued to grow, albeit too slowly. He added that the economy had shown a significant degree of resilience and was now larger than it was before the pandemic.

Reforms – Energy Action Plan

Turning to one of the main challenges in the country, President Ramaphosa told the nation that progress was being made towards ending load- shedding.

“We are making progress towards ending load-shedding. Our greatest priority has been to reduce the severity and frequency of load-shedding to achieve energy security. Over the last few months, there has been a measurable decline in the severity of load-shedding,” the President said.

He noted that the Energy Action Plan he announced in July last year was showing positive results, “giving us greater confidence that we will bring load-shedding to an end”.

The President said that regulatory reforms that had been initiated had enabled a massive increase in private investment in electricity generation, with over 12 000MW of confirmed projects in development.

Following the introduction of tax incentives and financing mechanisms, he said that the amount of installed rooftop solar had more than doubled to over 4 500MW in the last year.

“The steady progress we are making in resolving the energy crisis is a reason for hope,” he said.

Infrastructure

Another commitment made in the ERRP was to fix South Africa’s infrastructure through renewed investment in maintenance and construction of new projects.

The President highlighted that several significant infrastructure projects were underway.

“These projects are both contributing to greater economic activity and jobs and providing much-needed infrastructure for the growth of our economy and the needs of our people.

“These infrastructure projects range from social housing, road construction, rural bridges and dam constructions,” he said.

President Ramaphosa further highlighted that the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa had to date restored operations on 26 out of 40 commuter rail corridors.

To continue with the restoration of the country’s commuter rail corridors, he said R50 billion would be spent over the next three years to modernise the passenger rail network.

As part of the infrastructure build, the President said that the sixth administration was undertaking significant water infrastructure projects. These include Phase II of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project and the Mzimvubu water project in the Eastern Cape, which will involve an investment of R17 billion.

“Around the country, water treatment works are being upgraded, pumping stations are being repaired and pipes are being laid to get water to under-serviced areas,” he noted.

Logistics system

President Ramaphosa said the country was making progress in restoring its logistics system to world-class standards, so that South Africa could export goods to global markets.

The National Logistics Crisis Committee is overseeing a range of interventions to stabilise and improve the performance of the logistics system in the short term, in addition to ongoing reform to improve its efficiency and competitiveness in the long term.

He said the Transnet board had developed a turnaround plan, which aims to increase volumes transported on South Africa’s network.

“Progress is also being made with the introduction of private-sector participation in container terminals. I want to make it clear that South Africa’s port, rail and electricity infrastructure are strategic national assets, and that they will remain in public ownership.

“However, introducing competition in operations – both in electricity and logistics – will create greater efficiency and reduce prices in the long term, just as the introduction of competition in the telecommunications sector has led to greater choice and enormous benefits for consumers,” he said.

– Source: SAnews.gov.za

The Minister has worked with the community for several years and was instrumental in the establishment of the Klapmuts primary and secondary schools, built in 2022. The Minister’s Parliamentary Constituency Office is situated in the area.

Minister Pandor also visited the community of Kayamandi for an outreach with older persons. The event took place at Kayamandi High School.

– Source: www.dirco.gov.za

“The United States (US) delegation at the forum will be led by the US Trade Secretary Ambassador [Katherine Tai] together with members of the Congress, businesspeople and business delegations from around the continent,” Trade, Industry and Competition Minister, Ebrahim Patel, said.

Addressing the media on the state of South Africa’s readiness to host the AGOA Forum in Sandton, Johannesburg, on Friday, 27 October 2023, Minister Patel said the forum would also be attended by labour representatives from the US and South African businesspeople.

“We have taken steps to reduce barriers on trade. South Africa is the biggest trade market partner in the sub-Saharan,” Minister Patel said, adding that the forum was set to widen the trade corridors between South Africa, Africa and the US.

Minister Patel explained that during the forum there would be a number of break-away sessions as well as displays of products.

Some 360 delegates from the US business sector, including the US Chamber of Commerce, together with delegates from Business Unity South Africa, Black Business Council and Business Leadership South Africa have registered for the forum.  

A further 80 labour representatives have registered to attend the forum. 

Minister Patel said about 520 firms were expected to exhibit their products at Nasrec.

The theme of this year’s forum is: Partnering to Build a Resilient, Sustainable and Inclusive Agenda to Support Economic Development, Industrialisation and Quality Job Creation.

The AGOA is a US trade programme that provides eligible countries in sub-Saharan Africa with preferential access to the US markets. The AGOA aims to promote economic growth, reduce poverty and foster a stronger trade partnership between the US and African nations.

South Africa will be hosting the AGOA Forum for 2023 in Johannesburg from 2 to 4 November 2023.

This will be the third time the AGOA Forum is hosted in southern Africa after Zambia in 2011 and Mauritius in 2003.

The purpose of the forum is to discuss ways to expand trade and investment relations between the US and sub-Saharan Africa and the implementation of AGOA, including encouraging joint ventures between small and large businesses.

The AGOA Forum will consist of the following elements:

• the formal AGOA Forum, with representatives of governments and business/labour delegates
• a forum of African trade ministers
• a private-sector forum
• a labour forum
• a civil-society forum
• fora on competition policy, trade administration, technical standards and development finance
• an industrial exhibition, with industrial products
• African cuisine plus food and beverages
• a display of African history, film and music
• official dinner and VIP lunches (organised by South Africa)
• closing reception (organised by the US)
• possible community visits.

Currently, 35 countries in sub-Saharan Africa have been designated as eligible for AGOA benefits.

To qualify for AGOA, a country must first be eligible for the Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) programme. The GSP applies to 3 400 products from designated beneficiary countries, plus a further 1 450 products from least developed countries. AGOA supplements the GSP with an additional 1 835 products.

Only sub-Saharan African countries are eligible for AGOA. The US determines whether countries have met these requirements of eligibility in Section 104 of the Act.

To qualify, countries must already be GSP beneficiary countries – though GSP eligibility does not imply AGOA eligibility.

– Source: SAnews.gov.za

“Africa has often been portrayed through stereotypes that do not do justice to its complex reality. By reclaiming Africa’s intellectual future, we challenge these stereotypes and present a more accurate and dynamic image of the continent.

“By investing in quality education systems, we empower the next generation of African thinkers to build on the achievements of their predecessors. This includes fostering critical thinking, research and innovation.

“Intellectual progress is often born from open and inclusive dialogue. It is essential to create platforms and spaces for African intellectuals to engage with global conversations.”

She said this exchange of ideas could lead to innovative solutions to local and global challenges.

“Collaboration between African intellectuals and their counterparts worldwide can lead to a development of new ideas and solutions. Encouraging partnerships can help harness the full potential of Africa’s intellectual capital.”

With the lecture taking place under the theme: Reclaiming Africa’s Intellectual Futures, the Minister emphasised the importance of promoting research and innovation.

“Africa has a wealth of untapped potential in the fields of science, technology and innovation,” she said.

– Source: SAnews.gov.za

“I am extremely pleased with this development as South Africa also became the first African country to be added to the list. This will certainly bring immense benefits for leisure and Umrah travellers and for our efforts to grow tourism between South Africa and Saudi Arabia,” Minister de Lille said.

The multi-entry e-Visa is valid for one year and allows travellers to visit the kingdom for up to 90 days at a time. It costs 535 Saudi riyals, which also includes medical insurance.

In terms of the South African visa system, travellers from Saudi Arabia are part of the visa-exempt countries and do not require a visa to travel to South Africa for a period of up to 90 days.

Saudi Arabia is fast becoming an attractive tourist destination and is a key partner in our efforts to grow tourism between South Africa and the rest of the world.

The Department of Tourism also has a Memorandum of Understanding with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Tourism Department, which outlines joint objectives to grow tourism between the two countries.

Minister de Lille recently undertook an official visit to Saudi Arabia to attend the International World Tourism Day conference where various engagements took place to strengthen tourism relations and cooperation with Saudi Arabian stakeholders.

Minister de Lille met with a range of Saudi Arabian stakeholders, including the Air Connectivity Programme team within the Ministry of Tourism as well as the Saudi Tourism Authority.

Discussions covered actions needed to improve air connectivity between Saudi Arabia and South Africa and a joint marketing strategy to promote both destinations to travellers in both countries.

Saudia (Saudi Arabian Airlines) has also announced the recommencement of a direct flight between Jeddah and Johannesburg starting on 1 December 2023.

During the engagements, role-players shared research with the Saudi Air Connectivity Team to motivate for a direct flight between Jeddah and Cape Town.

“The e-Visa development is significant for South Africa as many Muslim citizens travel for religious purposes. Along with the direct flights, this will ease travel for many tourists but especially for religious tourism and pilgrimages,” Minister de Lille said.

Through the fast and easy-to-use online portal, South Africans can apply for an e-Visa and discover the warm hospitality of Saudi people, the rich heritage, vibrant culture and diverse and breath-taking landscapes; from the mountains of Abha to the beaches of the Red Sea to the shifting sands of the Empty Quarter.

The e-Visa will be a one-year, multiple entry visa, allowing tourists to spend up to 90 days in the country. The tourist visa allows you to take part in tourism-related activities such as events, family and relatives visits, leisure and Umrah (excluding Hajj) and excludes other activities such as studying.

“We will continue working with our counterparts in Saudi Arabia, through the Minister of Tourism, Ahmed Al Khateeb, to look at new and innovative ways to grow tourism between our countries as this key sector is an important part of our countries’ economies and a key job creator.”

– Source: www.gov.za

“At the 28th Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP28), there will be a renewed call for a scaled-up and predictable goal for climate finance. The deadline for agreeing upon this goal is 2024, and the success of this COP, and perhaps future climate talks, will depend on the outcome,” Minister Creecy said on Thursday, 26 October 2023.

She was addressing the National Stakeholder Consultations on the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) COP 28.

“While the establishment of a global fund for loss and damage is indeed a milestone, the difficult task of working out the details of the fund – how it will be financed, where finance will come from and the form of such finance – will be one of key agenda items in Dubai.

“As with all COPs, finance will remain a key issue. COP28 therefore takes place in a context where we cannot simply congratulate ourselves for the apparent progress we have made while key issues still need to be addressed,” the Minister said.

COP28 to the UNFCCC will be held at Expo City, Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates from 30 November to 12 December 2023.

“At COP27, South Africa and the Africa Group put forward the proposal to include the special needs and circumstances of the continent on the conference agenda, but this did not enjoy consensus. This proposal will be made again at COP28.

“Acknowledging the special circumstances of the African continent will be an important step in upholding the principle of differentiated responsibility and will recognise the continent’s vulnerability to climate change, but also the need for mitigation and adaptation support,” the Minister said.

She said the first Global Stocktake (GST) would be completed at COP28, where the world would take stock of the collective progress since adopting the Paris Agreement and make recommendations where implementation of the agreement is not on course to achieve its long-term goals.

“We already know we are not on track, based on the detailed evidence presented by parties and other stakeholders during the technical dialogues of the GST over the last year. The outcome of the GST will be the central outcome of COP28 and this outcome must increase collective action on mitigation, adaptation, loss and damage and the provision of support to developing countries to achieve this, commensurate with the challenges we face,” Minister Creecy said.

She noted that the technical phase of the GST (in a series of technical dialogues) had made clear that, while action is proceeding under the Paris Agreement, much more is needed now on all fronts.

“The world is far better off than it would have been without the Paris Agreement and multilateral cooperation, but we are not on track to achieve the global goals we agreed to in Paris in 2015.

“The discussions on the outcome of the GST have started and focus on key political messages, and more importantly, multilateral and national measures that need to be put in place to accelerate our journey towards a more sustainable and equitable world.

“As the co-facilitator of the consultations on the outcome of the political phase of the GST, together with Denmark, South Africa is supporting the incoming Emirati COP Presidency to help identify areas of convergence and divergence between parties in the run-up to and during COP28,” the Minister said.

She said at the past three COPs, the South African delegation had joined delegations from other developing countries in calling for a clear adaptation work programme with clear targets for building the resilience of developing countries and clear financial mechanisms to achieve this.

“To date, there has been little or no progress on this matter,” the Minister said.

South Africa fully committed to addressing climate change

Minister Creecy affirmed that South Africa was committed to addressing climate change based on science, equity and in the context of sustainable development.

“Hence, our updated Nationally Determined Contributions seek to balance the three structural components of mitigation, adaptation and the need for international support for implementation.

“Our Climate Change Bill, which was adopted by the National Assembly, will lay a strong legal basis for climate action and the regulatory framework for the whole of government, business, organised labour and civil society to implement our country’s climate commitments,” the Minister said.

She said COP28 provided a key platform for broader conversations, including:

• how developing countries in Africa can take advantage of their abundant renewable resources and strategic minerals to build shared prosperity and sustainable development on the continent
• the threat to sustainable development posed by unilateral trade measures imposed outside the Paris Agreement and in violation of its key principles
• the pressing need for transformation of the global financial architecture to make the global financial system fit for purpose, in assisting countries to combat climate change and achieve their sustainable development goals.

‒ Source:  SAnews.gov.za

The conference, held from 29 October to 2 November 2023, was organised by the Egyptian Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation and was attended by ministers, water experts, stakeholders and academics from around the world.

Held under the theme: Action on Water Adaptation for Sustainability, the conference focussed on fostering cross-sectoral cooperation and presented innovative solutions for the sustainable management of water resources.

Over the past five years, CWW has evolved into a prominent global platform for addressing pressing water-related challenges.

The Department of Water and Sanitation said through its diverse workshops, seminars and knowledge exchanges, it had played a pivotal role in shaping innovative solutions and collaborative strategies to tackle issues such as water scarcity, climate change and ecosystem resilience.

The Deputy Minister engaged in constructive discussions on vital issues, including policies, strategies, plans and measures related to water adaptation, to ensure sustainability for the Arab, Mediterranean, African and worldwide regions.

Among the issues discussed were technologies of reclamation and desalination of water in the African region, which can increase freshwater supplies to areas that are experiencing decreased water supply and water quality.  

The department noted that the current installed desalination inventory in South Africa was modest in comparison to other parts of the world like the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, Australia and the United States of America.

“There are about 33 plants that have been built over several years, with a combined capacity of not exceeding a total of 200 Ml/d to treat various types of waste water, including seawater and mine water for mostly domestic consumption.

“The plant capacities range from 1 kl/d to 47 Ml/d, but the vast majority are smaller than 10 Ml/d and were implemented as emergency drought response projects. Such plants are generally not deemed viable for continued operation when the drought breaks and conditions returned to normal. For comparison, some of the new schemes coming up in the MENA region are in the order of 600 Ml/day,” the department said.

Deputy Minister Mahlobo said that South Africa needed to increase projects for the re-use, reclamation and desalination of seawater to strengthen its water resilience.

This is in line with the country’s National Water and Sanitation Master Plan.

– Source: SAnews.gov.za

“Notwithstanding state capture, notwithstanding the COVID pandemic, SAA is where it is today. What we can see ahead of ourselves, as part of the recovery of SAA, is a tremendously bright future, if we manage the current expansion properly but also conclude the deal with the equity partner, which should be concluded either late this year or early next year.

“That will add a lot more money ... to SAA to expand and will multiply its capacity to fly South Africans out of South Africa and also bring tourists into South Africa from all parts of the world as it once did, but now in a financially sustainable way,” Minister Gordhan said.

The State-owned airline has endured challenges for several years.

The Minister explained the turnaround for the airline.

“What we have been able to do is to firstly establish that there’s no more money that’s going to come from taxes that’s going to go into SAA, like the R40 billion that went in over a 10-year period. SAA must survive on its own strength ... [and] on the capital that is actually provided by the strategic equity partner and it must grow organically. Through the business rescue process, its balance sheet is not encumbered in any kind of way.

“It took three and a half years of very hard work … to ensure that we steer this process. It’s a signal to investors and the investing community in South Africa that reforms are possible in South Africa. That we can execute, just with South African talent, these very complex deals and complex reform processes in state-owned entities,” he said. 

Minister Gordhan hailed SAA’s new offering to fly to Brazil as just the start for the airline.

“This flight to São Paulo … is an important event because it signifies an important gesture to all those who critically watch what we’re doing with SAA at the moment. There are many naysayers around and many people in the industry ‒ and sometimes outside the industry ‒ who wish it wouldn’t work. But … we are South African and South Africans are known … for resilience, and a sense of vision. We have our pitfalls every now and again.

“But SAA … is going to be a success. This is a sign that the intercontinental flights – not only through code shares, but SAA in its own right – should be around the corner. São Paulo is just the start. We need to see how we can expand the network because … the beneficiary will be South Africans at the end of the day,” he said.

– Source: SAnews.gov.za

The company said the award was testament to its e-library programme, which is dedicated to providing accessible digital educational resources to learners from diverse linguistic backgrounds.

"The inspiration for this online resource was a realisation of the profound language diversity that exists worldwide. Accessing sufficient digital educational resources is often a significant challenge, especially for learners from different linguistic backgrounds. The COVID-19 pandemic further underscored the importance of remote learning and accessible digital resources," it said.

With over 50 000 free e-books, Snapplify's e-library offers around-the-clock access to engaging educational and leisure reading materials.

Teachers can easily share curriculum-aligned educational content and grow reading communities in their schools while receiving insightful analytical data on student activity and performance.

Various language settings are accommodated and teachers receive language-specific training and support. Currently, the platform hosts content in all 11 South African languages and several other African languages

"The impact of Snapplify's Africa e-library project extends far beyond the classroom. Through partnerships with local governments and over 1 000 local and international publishing and content partners, over three million learners have been reached. This initiative has also brought educators, parents and the wider community together to inspire a love for reading and life-long learning," Snapplify said.

At the launch of the programme in the Eastern Cape, Snapplify South Africa Government Partnership Manager, Stephen Bestbier, expressed his pride in the company's achievements, stating, "We were very warmly welcomed by the entire community and our contribution to their children’s education has been deeply appreciated. Seeing little children in some of the remotest parts of our country proudly reading aloud from books they only have access to because of our work, is extremely humbling."

‒ Source: www.bizcommunity.com

Book Dash is a literacy awareness organisation that creates and distributes storybooks to children in need. They have spent the last several years boosting literacy for children through unique and relatable books.

Book Dash believes that every child should own 100 books by the age of five, so to make that happen, they hand out free books to children, many in the very languages the children speak at home.

The incredible organisation was recently nominated for the 2024 Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award, which was created in 2002 by the Swedish Government to promote every child’s right to great stories.

This award is given annually to a person or organisation for their outstanding contribution to children’s and young adult literature and it can go to anyone in the world. The prize is five million Swedish kronor, the largest of its kind for an award of this nature. A judging panel of 12 people will decide who gets the honour of receiving the 2024 Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award.

The Project for the Study of Alternative Education in South Africa won the award in 2015, becoming the first and only African organisation to do so. There are a total of four South African organisations and people nominated this year, including Book Dash. Also included are fellow organisation Biblionef; author and illustrator Niki Daly; and storyteller and reader Gcina Mhlophe. Canadian-based South African author Kagiso Lesego Molope is also nominated ‒ this being her third time honoured with a nomination.

“A total of 245 candidates from 68 countries have been nominated for the 2024 award, including 66 candidates new from previous years. The list of nominees is one of the most complete rosters of the leading children’s book creators and reading promoters from around the world. The laureate will be announced on 9 April 2024. The nominations have been submitted by organisations from all over the world.

We are elated to be nominated for such a prestigious award alongside so many esteemed candidates.” – Book Dash

Book Dash is a registered non-profit organisation and has an innovative model to create and share new, quality South African children’s books that are highly affordable. Over the past few years, more than 128 original storybooks, across 11 indigenous languages, have been created by volunteer creative teams at 12-hour events called Book Dashes.

– Source: www.goodthingsguys.com

New Media's nods at the Eddie & Ozzie Awards follow a gold win at the local New Generation Awards for Blogging Excellence by an Agency – also for Vodacom. This was the third time in four years New Media and Vodacom had won that award.

Vodacom's Portfolio Manager for Social Media and Content Marketing, Sunaina Parbhu, says: "The Tech Talk with Vodacom podcast leverages a powerful medium to discuss emerging tech in an easy-to-understand way, bringing listeners along the journey with us as we uncover and expand on the latest trends. After all, technology is nothing without humanity. We're thrilled that the podcast, with our partners New Media, has achieved international recognition at the Eddie & Ozzie Awards."

New Media also has eight nominees at the upcoming International Content Marketing Awards: four for Woolworths Taste, one for the Vodacom now! blog, one for Mediclinic and two for Coca-Cola Beverages Africa. The ceremony takes place in London on 23 November 2023.

Lamb concludes: "Huge congrats to our incredible clients, winning teams and our finalists. At New Media, we value deep partnerships with our clients and it's always gratifying to see that translate into meaningful engagement with their customers ‒ and internationally recognised work."

– Source: www.bizzcommunity.com

The international jury selected 82 finalists from the 262 films submitted from 47 countries, for the prestigious ART&TUR – International Tourism Film Festival. Four southern African-based short films took home awards, produced by South African company, Love Africa Marketing, each film telling unique conservation and tourism stories based in Africa.

“We are extremely proud to have been recognised on a global scale for these films. A big thank you to our cinematographer, Sven Musica, and the rest of our team for their dedication to the craft of storytelling. We are very grateful to work with passionate individuals and organisations who are making a significant impact in southern Africa in conservation and tourism. Thank you to them for choosing us to tell their important stories.” Nicola Gerrard – Director, Love Africa Marketing.

The world-renowned ART&TUR – International Tourism Film Festival held its 16th edition this year, which took place over four days in Caldas da Rainha, Portugal. The winners were announced on the last day of the festival on 27 October 2023. The festival aims to celebrate cinematography and the important role it plays in promoting tourism worldwide.

Making Contact, the five-part mini-series produced with Hill’s Pet Nutrition took home gold for the Environment and Ecology Category. This mini-series showcases South Africa’s K9 conservation heroes, telling the personal stories of companionship, perseverance and connection while highlighting key organisations, protected areas and individuals on the ground.

There is Power in our Mountains, produced with Semonkong Lodge in Lesotho, was awarded gold for Best Promotional Film: Nature Tourism. The short film highlights Lesotho’s impressive waterfalls, mountainscapes and unique experiences. Most famous for operating the World Record Abseil alongside the Maletsunyane Falls, this production saw Semonkong Lodge highlighting a different adventure, introducing a tailored overnight trek featuring local guides and packhorse teams for an immersive experience of mountain life and Basotho culture.

“It is a great honour to have received this award. We are truly grateful to Love Africa Marketing, who believe in us and who have enabled us to showcase to the world the incredible landscape and natural beauty of Lesotho, a little unknown Kingdom in the Sky – landlocked by South Africa, full of beautiful people and adventures to be experienced – a secret of Africa.” Armelle Halse, owner of Semonkong Lodge.

Gold was awarded to The Return of the King produced with Babanango Game Reserve, for Best African Documentary Film. This film documents the reintroduction of two male lions to Babanango Game Reserve, marking the first time the reserve has had lions roaming its landscape in over 150 years.

Babanango Game Reserve also took home a silver award in the Best Nature Tourism Documentary Category for the short film called This is Home. The documentary follows the process of reintroducing the iconic black rhino into the reserve as part of Babanango’s rewilding efforts.

During the closing session, Turismo Centro de Portugal president, Raul Almeida, said, “Festivals like ART&TUR encourage the tourism industry to seek excellence in its films, to promote its territory and its most important tourist attractions.’

ART&TUR forms part of the CIFFT (International Committee of Tourism Film Festivals), a global tourism network that selects the world’s best tourism film annually.

– Source: www.goodthingsguy.com

One of the most inspiring moments of this journey has been the quality time spent with Antoinette Sithole, the older sister of Hector Pieterson. She serves as an inspirational speaker and a moral leader within her community. Moreover, the expedition has taken the opportunity to engage with young people, particularly at schools and orphanages.

Despite the physical demands of the expedition, Boyd’s legs remain in good shape. Even the right knee, which had previously posed challenges during training, is holding up well. While the left ankle has been problematic, the team has adapted by changing shoes throughout the day, thus altering the foot strike to manage this issue effectively.

But Boyd’s journey is not merely about breaking records; it’s a testament to his unwavering commitment to a noble cause. This adventure is more than a physical challenge; it’s a journey for change, a run to raise awareness for youth voter participation in South Africa.

By conquering this incredible distance, Boyd is raising funds for the Rainbow Leaders Vote Education Programs, an initiative aimed at empowering South Africa’s youth through civic education. The programme’s mission is to instil the knowledge and awareness necessary for young South Africans to participate actively and responsibly in the democratic process.

Boyd’s dedication to this cause speaks volumes. He believes that youth voting is the key to mitigating unemployment, poverty and inequality in South Africa. By encouraging responsible leadership through youth engagement, he hopes to create a brighter future for his nation.

Boyd’s journey exemplifies the strength of the human spirit and a deep commitment to a better South Africa. His passion for promoting youth voting is inspiring and we wholeheartedly support his mission.

‒ Source: www.sagoodnews.co.za

The world champions will embark on a four-day Trophy Tour to major regional population centres from Thursday. The team arrived back in South Africa on Tuesday, 31 October 2023, at OR Tambo International Airport.

This as the national side triumphed over New Zealand in the final match of the tournament, beating New Zealand 12-11 on Saturday to lift the Webb Ellis trophy.

The tour will start in Pretoria, Johannesburg and Soweto – concluding at FNB Stadium – on Thursday, 2 November. It will then continue in Cape Town (Friday, 3 November) and Durban (Saturday, 4 November) before concluding in the Eastern Cape (East London) on Sunday, 5 November.

“The locations have been selected for population size in the first three instances and because of the Eastern Cape’s rugby significance in the fourth. Satellite tours to Bloemfontein, Nelson Mandela Bay and other centres will be scheduled for 2024. Such tours following the 2019 victory had to be abandoned because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The route for each tour has been prepared in consultation with the respective local authorities and the South African Police Service,” SA Rugby said on Sunday.

Route maps and timings will be published at www.springboks.rugby, on SA Rugby’s social media channels and by local authorities in due course.

– Source: SAnews.gov.za

Banyana registered a hard-fought 2-0 victory in the home leg of the two-legged second round.

They will face either Botswana or Tanzania in the penultimate round to be one of two African representatives at the Games.

The pintsized Thembi Kgatlana flexed her broad shoulders to carry Banyana Banyana to the penultimate round of the Olympics qualifiers with a 3-1 win on aggregate over the DRC.

Pikinini, as Kgatlana is nicknamed due to her small frame, showed her big heart by scoring both goals in the 2-0 win at Orlando Stadium on Monday, 30 October 2023, in a frustrating afternoon under cold and wet conditions. The scoreline might make it seem like it was a comfortable win for Banyana, but it was far from it, as the side missed numerous chances to demolish a DRC side that was there for the taking.

A goalless draw would have seen Banyana go through after Kgatlana was again the hero in DRC last week, helping Banyana score an important away goal to draw 1-1. But the longer the match stayed goalless, the more frustrated Banyana became and the more confident DRC grew – especially playing against the reigning African champions.

It looked like the visitors would steal a win in the dying moments of the game, such is the wicked sense of humour of football when it comes to punishing teams that don't take their chances. Kgatlana ensured that didn't happen with a late brace to seal the result. Both goals were created by Nicole Michael, who was brilliant throughout the encounter.

Banyana had a firm grip on the match when coach Desiree Ellis brought in Kholosana Biyana for Hildah Magaia just before the hour mark. Biyana bossed the midfield, dictating terms for Banyana and also allowing her team to attack with more confidence. She started the move that was finished by Kgatlana to break the deadlock.

Banyana will face either Botswana or Tanzania in the third round. Tanzania will take a 2-0 lead from the first leg when they meet with Botswana on Tuesday.

– Source: www.news24.com

It’s a role he is particularly proud of even though he does often face criticism from those who are not able to fully appreciate the subtle nuances of the game.

Crucially, Van der Dussen is experienced enough not to let it influence his “blueprint” as his first 50 came off 61 balls, but the next required only 42 balls to bring up his second century of this World Cup.

His next 33 runs were even faster with Van der Dussen ultimately dismissed for 133 off 118 deliveries (9x4,5x6) at a strike rate of 112.71.

To put Van der Dussen’s innings into greater context, Quinton de Kock is enjoying a dream World Cup with the opening batter becoming the first South African to score 500 runs in the tournament as he brought up his fourth century, another record for a Protea, but his 114 required 116 balls (10x4, 3x6) at a strike rate of 98.27.

“The current form I'm in is probably the best. I think they bowled well upfront. Especially (Trent) Boult, I felt scratchy. I was being told to bat through by the guys on the bench. I'm trying to not give it away as much as I can, just want to keep batting. My career is coming to a finish, I'm trying to bat as much as I can,” said De Kock, who is set to retire from ODI’s after this World Cup.

Both batters were smart in assessing that the conditions were not conducive to free-flowing stroke play as the Black Caps discovered later in the evening when they were bundled out for 190.

The major point of difference for the Proteas throughout this campaign has been their ability to build partnerships with very rarely two new batters finding themselves together at the crease.

After captain Temba Bavuma’s dismissal for another sweet but short 24, Van der Dussen and De Kock put on exactly 200 for the second wicket.

It was South Africa’s seventh partnership in excess of a 100 at this World Cup, and the second time the duo has passed 200 together.

Last night, New Zealand’s best was 37 between Will Young and Rachin Ravindra for the second wicket.

That was primarily due to Marco Jansen’s sustained ability to strike in the Powerplay with the new ball that sets the tone for the rest of the innings.

And when backed up by the likes of Gerald Coetzee (2/41) and Kagiso Rabada (1/16), it smooths the path for Keshav Maharaj (4/46) to tie the middle-order into knots, particularly on a surface that offered him prodigious turn last night.

Scorecard

South Africa: 357/4 (Van der Dussen 133, De Kock 118, Miller 50, Southee 2/77)

New Zealand: 167 all out (Phillips 60, Young 33, Maharaj 4/46, Jansen 3/31, Coetzee 2/41)

South Africa won by 190 runs

– Source: www.iol.com

“South Africa’s Rugby World Cup 2007-winning captain John Smit achieved it all on the pitch, playing 111 tests for the Springboks and leading the side out in 83 of them. However, his impact has been just as significant off the pitch, serving as a director of MyPlayers, the South African Rugby Players’ Organisation, from 2018 to 2022, and taking the players’ secondment to SA Rugby’s Executive Council in a period that coincided with the COVID-19 pandemic and the challenges that it brought.

He is currently the CEO of the South African Rugby Legends Association, dedicating his time to their work developing grassroots rugby and supporting the needs of retired players in South Africa. He also finds the time to work as a pundit for SuperSport.” – World Rugby.

– Source: www.goodthingsguy.com

Born with the “congenital absence of both legs” to athletic parents, Van Dyk’s talent in sports was easily spotted from his youth.

He has since gone on to wave the South African flag around the world at every Paralympics since 1992 as the NYRR recalls, reminding people from all walks, sittings and runs of life that pursuing dreams does not always have prerequisites of ability.

Of his recent induction into the NYRR Hall of Fame, he joins Deena Kastor; a marathon record-holder and three-time Olympian.

Kastor expressed that it was an honour to be inducted into the Hall of Fame alongside Van Dyk who she has long looked up to and admired.

Speaking of the induction, Van Dyk shared:

“This came as a total surprise and I’m profoundly honoured and deeply humbled.

“This induction isn’t about me, it’s about the spirit of perseverance and the belief that every obstacle is an opportunity to redefine what’s possible. I accept this honour with immense gratitude, knowing that it is not an end, but a reminder to keep pushing boundaries and inspiring others to roll forward in the pursuit of their dreams.”

– Source: www.goodthingsguy.com

After making it to their respective A finals (Westley for the Women’s Single Scull and Hlongwa for the PR1 Men’s Single Scull), Westley rowed her way to victory by coming in second place against Algeria’s Nihed Benchadli.

As for Westley, she certainly achieved the things she values deeply ‒ making South Africa proud and being part of the sport’s growth, especially for female athletes.

Speaking to the University of Pretoria before her big world events (where she is a student), she shared, “The most important thing to me is to make South Africa proud and play my part in growing women’s rowing.”

– Source: www.goodthingsguy.com

The team consists of BeauAnn Hegyi (a charted accountant), Jo-Anne Gibbon (who works in film and is a yoga teacher), Lea-Anne Massey-Hicks (who runs her own interior design business) and Natalie Weston (currently a driving instructor after a career as a stunt driver.)

Together, the Arrows united to target two important goals in a single speed: having adrenaline-inducing fun together while driving women’s interest in motorsport further.

“We are pushing ourselves out of our comfort zones and while we’re doing it, we are shifting perceptions about the capabilities of female drivers,” Gibbon said.

“The age-old narrative is that women are bad drivers but as our teammate Natalie Weston says, ‘Women have a natural finesse behind the steering wheel and that’s what a car likes, it doesn’t matter if you’re in a race car or a normal car on the road’.”

The Pink Arrows took part in the largest motorsport event on the continent, the MF Autobody 24 Hours of iLamuna.

Fabulous, fierce and ready to rumble, this squad’s message and momentum couldn’t be more on point.

– Source: www.goodthingsguy.com

On Friday, 27 October 2023, Griffith earned his place as the adult brown belt double gold champion ‒ a huge notch on his belt at only 22 years old.

“Luke has always had an amazing work ethic,” shares his mother, Michelle.

“His self-discipline and commitment to reaching his goals have been astounding! His goal is to be the best in the world,” she adds.

Griffith has been competing since the age of 16 but began training when he was around six/seven. Trained by his father who is a jiu-jitsu black belt, the young champ would train before school in the morning alongside his sister, Hannah, who now also competes.

Now, he trains under John Danaher in Austin, Texas, but his competitive journey has taken him around the world. Earlier this year, he also earned gold in the ADCC Submission Fighting World Championship trials in Poland and won double gold at the IBJJF Pan American games thereafter (with a 100% submission rate).

However, his heart still proudly sings the South African spirit, which is why it’s only fitting that South Africa puts him on our national radar.

– Source: www.goodthingsguy.com