PRESIDENT RAMAPHOSA PARTICIPATES IN VIRTUAL 13TH BRICS SUMMIT

BRICS is a grouping of five major emerging economies – Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa – which together represents about 42% of the global population, 23% of gross domestic product, 30% of the world’s territory and 18% of global trade.

The 13th BRICS Summit was chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi of the Republic of India, as Chair of BRICS for 2021, under the theme: “BRICS@15: lntra-BRICS Cooperation for Continuity, Consolidation and Consensus”.

The programme included opening remarks, which were open to the media, and the traditional closed Leaders’ Session, which reflected on the future direction of BRICS. Leaders were focussed on strengthening intra-BRICS relations and mutually beneficial cooperation across the BRICS pillars of cooperation, namely: political and security, economic and finance, social, and people-to-people cooperation. The summit also received reports from the BRICS National Security Advisers, the Chair of the BRICS Business Council, the Chair of the BRICS Women’s Business Alliance and the President of the New Development Bank (NDB).

The summit adopted the BRICS 2021 New Delhi Declaration that emphasises the priorities of the Indian Chairship in 2021, namely reform of the multilateral system, counter-terrorism cooperation, the application of digital and technological solutions for achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals and enhancing people-to-people exchanges.

For this year’s summit, some of the cooperation outcomes included a revised Action Plan for Agricultural Cooperation of BRICS Countries, a Counter-Terrorism Strategy Action Plan, an Action Plan for implementing the Strategy on BRICS Economic Partnership and a revised BRICS Action Plan for Innovation Cooperation.

South Africa’s membership of BRICS enables the country to employ additional and powerful tools in its fight to address its domestic triple challenges of unemployment, poverty and inequality through increased trade, investment, tourism, capacity-building, skills and technology transfers, particularly to address its post-pandemic economic recovery.

South Africa has made concerted efforts to place the African continent and the Global South on the agenda of BRICS and to harmonise policies adopted in regional and international fora with those pursued in BRICS, particularly Africa’s Agenda 2063 and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

President Ramaphosa was supported by Dr Naledi Pandor, Minister of International Relations and Cooperation; Enoch Godongwana, Minister of Finance; Ebrahim Patel, Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition; Dr Joe Phaahla, Minister of Health; and Zizi Kodwa, Deputy Minister in The Presidency responsible for State Security.

COLLABORATION KEY TO AFRICAN-CARIBBEAN PROSPERITY

He was speaking during a virtual gathering of the inaugural Africa-Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Summit where heads of state from Caribbean nations and Africa discussed various issues, including trade, investment and ways to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

President Ramaphosa said there were commonalities between the historical and present-day struggles between the two regions, which should spur on a deepening of cooperation.

“[This] summit presents a reimagining of the future of relations between our peoples, who, although separated by a vast ocean, are united by a shared history. Our common heritage should encourage us to deepen our engagement, strengthen trade and investment, collaborate in research and development, and share expertise and knowledge among our countries.

“Just as we share a common history, we also have common challenges. We are all contending with the devastating human, social, political and economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. We are all working to overcome the effects of colonialism and underdevelopment by building inclusive economies and creating more opportunities for our people,” the President said on Tuesday, 7 September 2021.

Fighting COVID-19

President Ramaphosa highlighted that African countries had come together to try and mitigate the impact and challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“[We] developed a united African continental response strategy, established a special COVID-19 Response Fund and launched the ground-breaking African Medical Supplies Platform to enable countries to access vital medical supplies. We share a determination that when it comes to vaccines and other critical health interventions, no region, no country and no person should be left behind.”

He added that the joining of Caribbean countries in these collaborative efforts was a major step.

“It is therefore a matter of great significance that the Caribbean countries have joined in the efforts galvanised by the African Union on acquiring vaccines. Just as we have worked together to access vaccine doses for our peoples, we need to share experiences, expertise and technology to better respond to COVID-19 and future pandemics,” he said.

The President also called on the countries in the two regions to mobilise behind calls for a temporary waiver of the Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Agreement at the World Trade Organisation.

The agreement prohibits countries, who have the capacity to do so, from producing their own vaccines because vaccine-manufacturing companies hold the intellectual rights on the technologies and information needed to do so.

"Gone must be the time when Africa and the Caribbean will need to be sourcing medical supplies and vaccines from other lands and continents that do not have the same perspective or full solidarity that we have.”

Changing the future

He added that the summit presented an opportunity for governments in both regions to change the future for their citizenry.

“Through this partnership, let us work to transform the fortunes of all the people of Africa and all the people of African descent. Through our actions, let us be the architects of our common future, where Africa and the Caribbean are joined together by the common goal of the prosperity of our people,” he said.

– Source: SAnews.gov.za

PRESIDENT RAMAPHOSA WISHES THE SOUTH AFRICAN JEWISH COMMUNITY WELL OVER ROSH HASHANAH

President Cyril Ramaphosa has wished the Jewish community well on the first day of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year.

The holy period between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, is a time of introspection and of reaching out to others.

“This holiday is an opportunity to reflect on the year that has passed, and to commit ourselves to treat others with kindness and integrity in the year ahead,” President Ramaphosa said.

“May this be a good and sweet year for the Jewish community, and for all South Africans."

DEPUTY MINISTER BOTES CONCLUDES VISITS TO POLAND AND ROMANIA

In Poland, the Political Consultations focussed on economic cooperation, including technology, agricultural and industrial products, digitisation of administration and banking services. The two delegations discussed possible collaboration on regional and multilateral areas of common interest; increased foreign direct investment into South Africa and value-added exports into Poland.

In addition to the Political Consultations, Deputy Minister Botes held meetings with the Polish Chamber of Commerce and the Polish Investment and Trade Agency.

In Romania, the Political Consultations focussed on enhanced bilateral and multilateral cooperation in areas of higher education and training, science and technology as well as marine transport.

The Deputy Minister also met with the Romanian Chamber of Commerce, Port Authorities Constantia and the Romania-South Africa Business Association.

Deputy Minister Botes said he was pleased with the success of the engagements held with a variety of stakeholders in the two countries, adding that South Africa remained an attractive market for foreign investors.

SOUTH AFRICA EXPRESSES CONCERN OVER GUINEA COUP

The South African Government has noted with great concern the ongoing political and security situation in the Republic of Guinea following an apparent coup d’état at the weekend.

In a statement issued by the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO), the South African Government called for the “immediate release” of Prof. Alpha Condé, the President of Guinea “unharmed and the African Union to actively intervene to ensure a speedy return to stability”.

Government further called on the soldiers/military to exercise total restraint and refrain from political interference.

“In addition, South Africa urges all political actors and civil society to engage in meaningful dialogue in order to resolve the current political challenges facing the country,” said DIRCO on Monday, 6 September 2021.

SOUTH AFRICA ENCOURAGED TO SUPPORT LOCAL TOURISM

Tourism Month is commemorated under the theme: “Tourism for Inclusive Growth – COVID-19 Recovery – Building Back Better”.

“This year’s Tourism Month will encourage South Africans to do their part in sustaining jobs by travelling domestically and supporting the recovery of tourism in line with the Tourism Sector Recovery Plan, which sets out interventions to support the sector’s recovery,” Minister in The Presidency, Mondli Gungubele, said.

Cabinet encouraged South Africans to vaccinate while exploring the country and “adhere to all health protocols, including the wearing of a face mask in public, washing hands regularly and maintaining social distancing”.

South African achievers praised

Meanwhile, Cabinet extended congratulations and well wishes to various South Africans who have done the country proud.

Those are:

• South Africa’s Under-20 athletics team who amassed nine medals at the Under-20 World Athletics Championship held in Kenya. The team also broke the 4x100m relay world record.
• Team SA’s Paralympic athletes for their performance at the Tokyo Paralympics.
• Actress Thuso Mbedu, who was lauded for winning the TV Breakout Star Award at the 2021 Hollywood Critics Association TV Awards for her role in The Underground Railroad.

The Republic of Zambia’s newly elected President Hakainde Hichilema was also congratulated on his win in that country’s presidential elections.

– Source: SAnews.gov.za

SOUTH AFRICA EYES SPECIAL ECONOMIC ZONES (SEZs) TO RAMP UP JOB CREATION

Addressing the Limpopo Investment Conference on Wednesday, 1 September 2021, Trade, Industry and Competition Acting Deputy Director-General of Spatial Industrial Development and Economic Transformation, Maoto Molefane, said SEZs had attracted more than R56 billion worth of private investment in 10 operational zones, with 222 companies having invested in the zones.

“We recently undertook a SEZ programme review to look at what works and what is not working. We introduced a new approach aimed at solidifying a number of instruments, including a strong involvement of national government in terms of assisting provinces to ensure that all the SEZs are accelerated, attract investment and that they are operational,” Molefane said.

As a result of the review, the Acting DDG said provinces, municipalities, communities and the private sector would be strongly involved in the planning, development and management of the zones.

“Our focus in the Musina region is to ensure that we develop a city. We use SEZs either to expand or create a new city through a tripartite partnership agreement with provinces and municipalities. The agreement is to ensure that we clarify roles and responsibilities of social partners as they have a critical role to play,” Molefane said.

To address the high unemployment rate, which currently sits at 34.4%, Molefane said the ultimate goal for government was to see SEZs creating decent jobs, developing the regions and transferring skills to small, micro and medium enterprises.

He reiterated that to attract investors, SEZs needed to develop the communities in which they operate.

“We also want to see regions competing competitively with other regions. We would in future want to see the Musina and Tubatse SEZs competing with the cities of New York and London. We can only achieve this through the creation of state-of-the-art infrastructure in our provinces, and a specific tax incentive that will enable and create a conducive environment for these businesses to thrive.

"We are also looking at other incentives such as 15% corporate tax, accelerating the building allowance for those companies that invest in buildings and employment tax incentives, and also providing state-of-the-art security apparatus to ensure that our investments are well protected.”

Molefane stressed that all the developments would not be implemented at the expense of the environment, as all partners and spheres of government were obliged to ensure that all of SEZs are environmentally and industrially sustainable, while creating decent jobs and attracting investments.

SEZs are specified as geographically designated areas of a country set aside for specifically targeted economic activities, which are supported through special arrangements and specific systems.

SEZs offer various incentives such as reduced corporate tax rates, VAT and customs relief, building allowances and an employment tax incentive.

– Source: SAnews.gov.za

SANDTON NOW HAS AFRICA’S HIGHEST URBAN BAR – WITH A MOËT VENDING MACHINE

The bar is on the rooftop and 57th floor of the tallest building in South Africa, The Leonardo.

With seven seating areas, the bar offers a 360-degree view of Johannesburg – and allows guests to buy 200ml bottles of Moët from a vending machine.

Alto234 is located on the rooftop of The Leonardo, the tallest building in South Africa, housing 232 luxury apartments, eight penthouses, and nine conference areas, among other amenities.

It offers a 360-degree view over the city of Johannesburg; west to the Magaliesberg mountain range, north to the Voortrekker Monument, south to the once home of Nelson Mandela, and east to the planes taking off at OR Tambo International Airport.

The seven seating areas include large lounge suite spaces, dining areas and look-out points. Alto234 also offers three gas firepits to warm the lounge areas on cooler days.

Furniture in the area is custom-made to fit the various spaces and is arranged to ensure that each space is private, while also optimising the views from all angles.

When it comes to champagne, the establishment has picked Moët & Chandon as its preferred supplier. Recently, the champagne-maker gifted Alto234 a special edition Moët Mini Machine as a permanent feature – delivered to the 57th floor via helicopter.

The Moët machine allows guests the opportunity to order Moët Mini 200ml bottles with golden sippers using Moët & Chandon tokens at R345 each.

– Source: Business Insider SA

ALL-WOMAN TEAM OF PRETORIA SCIENTISTS SETS SAIL FOR SOUTH ATLANTIC

Four postgraduate students from the University of Pretoria’s (UP) Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology are about to set sail for the South Atlantic.

The all-female team of scientists will spend 36 days aboard the RV SA Agulhas II, which will be operated by the Department of Environmental Affairs.

As part of a programme supported by the National Research Foundation and the SA National Antarctic Programme, the students will collect samples and conduct experiments in the ocean.

Team leader Mancha Mabaso, Caitlyn Fourie, Sade Magabotha and Francinah Ratsoma will join a team of scientific researchers from several South African universities.

“We hope to reveal new insights into microorganisms [bacteria, archaea, fungi and viruses] in the South Atlantic,” Mabaso said.

“The large research programme focusses on marine environments that are geographically strategic for South Africa. While there have been several large projects focussed on birds, seals and other charismatic macro fauna, few studies have assessed the role played by microorganisms in the South Atlantic. The team aims to shed light on the exact role played by microbial communities in regulating the function of the oceans [ecosystem services].”

Mabaso, a PhD genetics student, has participated in several marine voyages in the Southern and Pacific oceans. This will be her first trip to the South Atlantic.

“I am enthusiastic about the role of women, especially black women, in marine microbial ecology and in science. Research has always been notoriously male-centric, and it is empowering to be part of a research group that gives us a platform to grow and make a meaningful contribution to the field.”

Her doctoral studies explore how nutrient supplementation may affect microbial function and carbon sequestration in marine environments.

“The findings of this study will have greater implications for understanding climate change in the global ocean,” she said.

The students are being supervised by Prof. Thulani Makhalanyane of the Centre for Microbial Ecology and Genomics at UP.

“I am very pleased women scientists in South Africa are taking their rightful place in leading microbial oceanography,” he said.

– Source: TimesLIVE

NATIONAL PARK WITH A DIFFERENCE PLANNED FOR EASTERN CAPE GRASSLANDS

This is according to SANParks Acting CEO, Dr Luthando Dziba, who said the ultimate objective was to establish an ecologically, economically and socially sustainable consolidated protected area, primarily by working with private and communal landowners.

"The establishment of this national park will mark a new and innovative approach to protected area expansion as it will be located within a working agricultural landscape," he said.

Not only is this area rich in biodiversity and endemic species, but it also lies within the Eastern Cape Drakensberg Strategic Water Source Area, which is a natural source of freshwater for people downstream. When declared, the park will also improve formal protection of South Africa's grasslands, which have been identified as a national conservation priority.

According to Dr Dziba, the proposed NE Cape Grasslands National Park will take a somewhat different form to traditional parks, in that the landowners will have the opportunity, through stewardship, to incorporate their land in the park on a voluntary basis. As such, they also stand to benefit from a range of financial incentives for private and communal land that is formally protected.

He said on the economic front, the project aims to raise significant government funding for the restoration and maintenance of the landscape for water security, bringing much-needed employment opportunities to the area (through alien plant clearing and wetland restoration) ... "and because of its rugged, unspoilt landscape, the area has rich potential for adventure and cultural tourism, which could help to build an all-year-round tourism industry, further unlocking potential jobs. The declaration of a national park will also be a motivation for the inclusion of this area into the adjacent Drakensberg World Heritage Site".

This new proposed national park is a collaboration between SANParks and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). This will see a 30 000-hectare protected area that, once formally declared, will become South Africa's newest national park, significantly contributing towards the conservation of grasslands and water security.

Dr Morne du Plessis, CEO of WWF South Africa, said: "The beauty of this model is that biodiversity conservation and ecological management will be done in partnership with those who live and work in this area, while allowing them to continue deriving benefits from their land through sustainable agriculture and other compatible land uses. Ultimately this is a win-win – for nature and for people. We can't wait to see this project coming to fruition."

TEAM SA BRINGS CURTAIN DOWN ON PARALYMPICS IN STYLE AS LOUZANNE COETZEE BAGS ANOTHER MEDAL

The 28-year-old had earlier in the Games won the silver medal in the women’s 1500m (T11) and she added to her collection with a sensational second half of the T12 marathon on the Tokyo streets on Sunday, 5 September 2021.

The bronze medal that Coetzee won, having finished in a world record time for her T11 classification in 3hr 11min 13sec, closed Team SA’s tally at seven for the Games, comprising four golds, one silver and two bronze medals, as well as three world records. Coetzee shaved 1min 42sec off the previous T11 world marathon record.

Team SA’s medallists in Tokyo were Ntando Mahlangu (two golds), Pieter du Preez (gold), Anrune Weyers (gold), Coetzee (silver and bronze) and Sheryl James (bronze).

Coetzee also carried the flag for Team SA in Sunday night’s closing ceremony.

– Source: www.news24.com

MINISTER CONGRATULATES BAFANA BAFANA

“Hugo Broos, the national team coach, led the team to a super victory against Ghana's Black Stars at FNB Stadium, winning 1-0 in a game that many thought would be threatening for South Africa’s Senior Men’s National Team,” the department said on Monday, 6 September 2021.

The team has jumped on the top of Group G with four points, setting them on probable motion to qualify for the FIFA 2022 Qatar World Cup.

Bafana Bafana is now leading Group G after collecting one point during their initial goal-less draw match against neighbouring Zimbabwe last Friday.

“Congratulations to our youngest looking Bafana Bafana who proved to be too much for Ghana throughout the 90 minutes. This result will go a long way in giving hope to a nation that has been starved of victories.

“I so hope that as a nation we can give our youngsters the much-needed support by standing up in large numbers and getting vaccinated so that when they play their final qualifiers, they are able to play in the presence of our passionate supporters,” the Minister said.

The next stop for Bafana Bafana is their travel to Ethiopia on 6 October for their next FIFA World Cup Qualifier.

– Source: SAnews.gov.za

SOUTH AFRICA'S LLOYD HARRIS REACHES MAIDEN GRAND SLAM QUARTER-FINAL AT US OPEN

Harris downed the 22nd seed in four sets, winning 6-7 (6/8), 6-4, 6-1, 6-3 in an encounter that lasted a little over two and a half hours.

In defeating Opelka, Harris managed an impressive 36 aces and was successful with 76% of his first serves.

South Africa's highest-ranked singles player also managed to convert six out 17 break points while only allowing for two on his own service game.

By reaching the last eight at the US Open, Harris achieved his best-ever performance at a Grand Slam event.

Harris' impressive run at the US Open ended at the hands of Alexander Zverev on Wednesday, 8 September 2021, with the German fourth-seed winning their quarter-final clash in straight sets.

– Source: www.news24.com