http://www.suedafrika.org/ Topnews de http://www.suedafrika.org/fileadmin/tt_news_article.gif http://www.suedafrika.org/ Topnews TYPO3 - get.content.right http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Thu, 23 May 2013 15:03:00 +0200 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=1153&cHash=252ed8056e0748138bba08ee46b4f61b The South African Consulate General in Munich is looking for a fully bilingual English and German speaking Accountant. Applicants should have a relevant three years post-school qualification... Requirements:

• Adhere to the Public and Finance Management Act (No. 1 of 1999) and Treasury regulations of the Republic of South Africa
•  Knowledge of International conventions and protocols 
•  Understanding the Consulate’s Business Plan

Duties include:

• Assist in the management of annual budget process
•  Preparation of monthly and annual financial reports
•  Processing of payments and general ledger reconciliation
•  Cashflow management 
•  Salary administration
•  VAT administration
•  Assist with Office Administrative matters
•  Manage the bookkeeping system of the Consulate
•  Supervision of Administration Clerk, mentoring and coaching of subordinates

SKILLS

• Project management skills
•  Organizational skills
•  Time management skills 
• Networking
• Strong written and verbal Communication skills
• Negotiation
• Problem-solving skills
•  Language proficiency
•  Diplomacy
•  Flexibility & adaptability
•  Able to work under pressure
•  High sense of responsibility & urgency
•  Translation skills

Salary:  EUR34 595 minimum – EUR 51 931 maximum, depending on experience & qualifications. Applicants are expected to submit their applications with a covering application letter, accompanied by a detailed CV, in English; certified translated copies of qualifications to be marked for the attention of the Corporate Services Manager, Ms AN. Mokgohlwa, South African Consulate-General, Sendlinger-Tor-Platz 5, 80336 Munich or by email to: mokgohlwal@dirco.gov.za.  The closing date for receipt of applications is 24 May 2013. Applications received after the closing date will not be considered. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.]]> Topnews Stellen Thu, 23 May 2013 15:03:00 +0200 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=1151&cHash=fc7209439434e009c9fba4b3974cf018 Addressing this Council in the past, we noted that a historical feature of the South African economy most of the national gross value-add (GVA) is concentrated in a few regions of the country. ... nd National Conference in Polokwane and the manifesto we were elected on in 2009, this administration tabled the New Growth Path, within which the Industrial Policy Action Plan (IPAP) was identified as the manufacturing job driver. IPAP has become the centrepiece of the dti’s work with all our actions being co-ordinated or aligned to it. Over the course of this administration, we have institutionalised the tabling at the start of the financial year of a new iteration of IPAP covering the financial year in question and the two outer years.  IPAP has moved far beyond vision statements or diagnostics to identify Key Action Plans with defined timeframes to be implemented by various entities developed after consultation with industry players. Last month we released the 5^th iteration of IPAP covering this ANC led government’s last full financial year.  Accordingly we highlighted a number of key lessons we have drawn from our efforts over the past five years as well as identifying the broad direction we believe a higher impact IPAP would need to traverse in the future. One of our major conclusions is that where government has acted purposefully to implement programmes developed in consultation with industry players, business as well as labour – concrete positive results have been achieved. Among our significant achievements has been the finalisation of the transition from the Motor Industry Development Programme (MIDP) to the Automotive Production and Development Programme (APDP) which now includes the Medium, Heavy and Commercial vehicle segments of the automotive industry, including SA’s domestic Original Equipment Manufacturer in the sector – Bell Equipment. Providing incentives to promote competitiveness and localisation in this important sector of the South African economy has seen production volumes increasing to 539,424 units and exports reaching 277,893 units in 2012.  Furthermore, this change in focus in incentive to support and encourage deepened local component manufacturing, has resulted in 128 projects supporting or sustaining 57,197 jobs. As a sign of confidence in the steps we have taken and in the future of this sector, private investments of nearly R16bn have been secured.  These have included both new investors and new lines of operation, by existing investors. Among the new investors in the sector, we have welcomed the First Automobile Works of China which is constructing a truck plant in Coega and the Beijing Automotive Works which is building a taxi assembly line and distribution centre are examples of existing investors expanding their operations. We also saw important new investments by long established OEM’s including Mercedes Benz’s new C-class production in East London, BMW’s increased production capacity in Rosslyn, Ford in Silverton and GM in Port Elizabeth. The Clothing, Textiles, Leather and Footwear industry experienced a remarkable turn-around, directly attributable to a radical change in our incentive programme with the introduction of the Clothing & Textile Competitiveness Programme 12,205 new permanent jobs have been created in companies benefiting from this programme. A pleasing new development has been key local retailers committing to local procurement in support of manufacturing companies. Over 469 companies were assisted under the CTCP with R1.5 billion worth of applications approved. Approximately 49,888 existing jobs are being retained through the support of the CTCP. The roll-out of the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPP) has under-pinned significant investments in renewable energy component manufacture.  Significant investments in wind tower manufacturing facilities and solar power plants have been made – including DCD (R300m), Mainstream Renewable Power (R4.6bn) and Sun Edison (R2.6bn). Mr Speaker, in 2009 we said that the threat of de-industrialisation loomed large and that we must confront this danger with interventions that will promote industrialisation in a systematic and sustainable manner.  We also said that the infrastructure roll out, which is our main countercyclical response, must be a tool of industrial development. Accordingly we have sought to strengthen our procurement system to support increasing local industrial production.  In this regard we can point to the designations of sectors for local procurement under the Preferential Procurement Policy Framework Act as introducing a sea change in industrial development in South Africa. The first wave of designations has already seen significant new investments in sectors such as transport and capital equipment, and companies are actively ‘tooling up’ to ensure that they are well positioned to take up the opportunities, which arise from the localisation programme. Sectors already designated include:

• Rail rolling stock (locomotives, wagons and carriages);
•  Power pylons;
•  Bus bodies;
•  Textile, Clothing, Leather and Footwear;
•  Canned Vegetables;
•  Furniture;
•  Certain Pharmaceuticals and
•  Set Top Boxes.

Furthermore, localisation is now fully entrenched in a number of key procurement programmes such as the renewable energy generation programme and the fleet procurement processes of State Owned Companies (SOCs). Moving ahead, work has already begun on assessments of sectors and products for designation including the designation of Valves, Manual and Pneumatic actuators; Power and Telecommunication Cables; and Components of Solar Water Heaters. In addition to the strategic use of localisation in Government procurement, the dti also uses a variety of incentives to support and encourage investment in the manufacturing and value-added services sectors. A case in point is the Manufacturing Competitiveness Enhancement Programme (MCEP). Grants to 214 enterprises have been approved valued at R1, 35 bn; 41, 626 jobs are expected to be retained as a result with a total investment outcome of R5.37bn. I am pleased to report that the MCEP is currently operating on an average of 2 months turnaround time. Considering the large numbers of applications and the amounts of funding involved this is an excellent rate and the feedback I am receiving from a range of firms is very positive indeed. Through the 12i Tax incentive, we have supported 26 projects involving investments valued at R32, 6bn, creating or sustaining 3,326 jobs over the last four years. Additionally, we can report that the European Outsourcing Association awarded SA its prestigious Offshoring Destination of the Year Award. Over the past three years, we have seen investments in Business Process Services with a value of R1, 3bn supporting 4,500 new jobs. Our change in the support programme for Business Process Services attracted key foreign investors such as Amazon, and SERCO, which opened its International Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) service delivery centre at Newspaper House in Cape Town with 500 seats and plans to increase to 1,500 – 2,000 seats to service a R1bn contract for Shop Direct in the UK. Significantly, the skills development support provided by the dti has led to a high proportion of young people finding employment in the sector, and we have accepted the target in the Youth Employment Accord of ensuring that at least 80% of new jobs created in the sector go to young people. Mr Speaker, at the beginning of this administration, we identified the film industry as having significant potential. Our efforts to work with industry to unlock this potential have resulted in an impressive roster of locally shot blockbuster films. They include Chronicle, Safe House, Jock and the Adventures of Zambesia.  I recently had an opportunity to see some of the rough cuts of the film “Mandela”: Long Walk to Freedom” and can report that we can be proud to have been associated in supporting what I have no doubt will be one of the very most important films South Africa has ever produced. Mr Speaker, in short we believe that our record speaks to what can be achieved from industrial policy and that we have laid a basis to strengthening our efforts to reindustrialise our economy in the future.  As the current iteration of IPAP argues, industrial development in the future will need to be built on 6 pillars. These include:

• Beneficiation of mineral products;
•  Regional economic development and industrial integration;
•  The steady roll out of the infrastructure development programme;
•  Developing new export markets;
•  Local Procurement and Supplier Development; and
•  Partnerships with BRIC countries.

We believe that what we need in future is a higher impact industrial policy rather than a lighter touch programme called for by some of our critics. South Africa’s history does not however, allow us to grow the economy, to industrialise, without addressing the legacy of disadvantage, discrimination, and underdevelopment left by Apartheid. However, while one element of economic transformation is consistently about redressing the injustices of Apartheid, it is important to recognise that there are also sound socio-economic reasons for aspiring to a much more inclusive and egalitarian economic model. The dti considers entrepreneurship, cooperatives and SMME development as not only central to broadening economic participation but also as key to efforts to ensure a more vibrant and effective productive economy. In other words, by broadening economic participation to encompass participants excluded in the past, we develop a stronger entrepreneurial base for the future. It is for that reason that in 2009 all SMME support programmes were reviewed to improve outputs and impact. One result of this exercise was that we decided to prioritise incubation programmes based on the evidence both in SA and elsewhere that such programmes which seek to actively support productive SMMEs in their start up phase dramatically improve survival chances. In line with this new priority and to leverage private investment, the dti introduced the Incubation Support Programme (ISP) in September 2012 with the aim of establishing 250 incubators by 2015/16. To date 13 projects have been approved with a total project value of R373 million in renewable energy; information and communication technology; agro-processing; chemicals; mining; and clothing and textiles sectors.  Currently, the seda Technology Programme (STP) has 42 Incubation Centres in the 9 provinces in different sectors such as biotechnology, mining, agro-processing, construction, jewellery, automotive, metals and renewable energy. To date, 376 new enterprises have been created, 2,247 SMMEs were supported, 28% of which are women-owned and 2,161 jobs were created. We will in future also encourage universities and science councils to host incubators. These incubators will be used to develop hi-tech and high-growth sectors. Honourable Members, since 2009, we have made steady but important progress to ensure that the Cooperatives sector receives the attention the potential of this sector deserves. We have reviewed the Cooperatives Development Act and when the new Amendment Bill is signed into law will establish a Cooperatives Development Agency, to provide more focussed development support to cooperatives.  We will also establish the Cooperatives Tribunal to adjudicate over conflicts as well as an Apex body to represent the interests of cooperatives. Honourable Members will be well aware of the efforts the dti has made over time to increase the participation of black people in the economy. In line with the changing landscape, BBBEE legislation and proposed new Codes of Good Practice were introduced in 2012. This BEE Bill seeks to eliminate fronting. It will establish a BBBEE Commission to deal with complex fronting and thus enhance compliance with the legislation. The Codes of Good Practice have been revised to incentivise stronger performance in enterprise development and supplier development becoming key features of broad based black economic empowerment. The shift to enterprise development and supplier development are intended to support a stronger symbiotic integration of black owned enterprises in key value-chains in the economy. It will ensure that big business plays a key role in developing a viable supplier base that will be able to take on opportunities in both domestic and international markets. The dti views women empowerment as one of its priorities and it is in the process of developing a National Strategic Framework on Women’s Economic Empowerment. Honourable Members, in 2009 we said that Industrial Policy requires a supportive regulatory environment to foster more competitive and dynamic industries and businesses, and prevent harmful market domination and abuse, and the exploitation of consumers. Consequently business regulation and the protection of vulnerable consumers over the last four years has been another area of focus. A key outcome has been the establishment of the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC). We took the decision, which I believe has now been vindicated, to go ahead with the roll out of the new Companies Act despite reservations from some quarters. The new Companies Act gives SA:

• a forward-looking regulatory framework that provides for simple, easy company registration,
• enhanced governance and clarity on disclosure standards for business, and
•  Measures to assist companies facing economic difficulties.

The innovative business rescue provisions have already shown their mettle as a tool to save otherwise viable enterprises facing cash flow problems from the previous inevitable fate of liquidation.  945 companies including Close Corporations were assisted and 6,624 jobs have been saved. We have also introduced other important legislative changes: These include: The Intellectual Property Amendment Bill for the protection of Indigenous Knowledge which was introduced to Parliament and public hearings commenced in May 2010. Key reforms to the operation of the National Lottery have taken place. We have responded to criticisms and suggestions made in wide consultation and Cabinet recently approved that the Lotteries Policy Framework and Bill be released for public consultation. In addition, we have introduced Regulations and a Directive to improve the accessibility of Lottery funds by needy communities and causes, improve governance structures on Lottery matters and ensure optimal distribution of Lottery funds for developmental purposes. The Consumer Protection Act was finalised and implemented during this Administration. Despite some initial teething problems, I am pleased to report that there is now overwhelming support for the work of the National Consumer Commission (NCC) especially in poorer communities which is where the worst abuses of consumer rights has been uncovered. Mr Speaker, as we look beyond South Africa and our immediate challenges we must not lose sight of the changing global economy. This Administration foresaw the importance of broadening developmental integration in Africa as well as of the emergence of new global powerhouses such as China, India and Brazil. Negotiations for a T-FTA between the SADC-EAC-COMESA countries are proceeding, but we have said that our efforts in this regard must be complemented by the promotion both of infrastructure development and cooperation to transform productive sectors and industrialise the continent. Infrastructure development has focused on the North-South Corridor with significant progress on upgrading road links. Projects have been identified for rail, border posts and port development. The T-FTA will combine the markets of 26 countries with a population of nearly 600 million people and a combined GDP of US$1 trillion. In summary, this key initiative will provide market scale that could launch a sizeable part of the continent onto a new industrialisation trajectory. The T-FTA will also form part of an Africa-wide FTA, which will create a market of US$2.6 trillion. Speaker the election of Roberto Azavedo of Brazil as the next Director-General of the World Trade Organisation creates an important new opportunity to advance a multi-lateral trade agenda informed by the mandate agreed at the 2001 Doha Ministerial to the place the needs and interests of developing countries at the heart of the work programme. We know Mr Azevedo well and actively supported his candidature particularly after the unfortunate elimination of the AU endorsed candidate in the first round. We congratulate Mr Azevedo and look forward to building a strong working partnership in advancing the WTO’s work, South Africa’s participation in the BRICS grouping, is a significant component in this diversification strategy as it  provides important opportunities to build South Africa’s domestic manufacturing base, enhance value-added exports, promote technology sharing, support small business development and expand trade and investment opportunities. It is for this reason that a key priority for us is to develop a work programme that will promote more value-added exports among the BRICS Members. In the coming year, we will focus on strengthening SA’s relations with BRICS and other fast-growing emerging economies. In addition, the National Export Plan will shift to the implementation phase as we seek to develop a new layer of emerging exporters to lead SA export diversification. Mr Speaker, in conclusion, are all these efforts bearing fruit or are the pessimists right? Let me just say that in one week last month, I participated in 3 key investment announcements, by Proctor and Gamble in Gauteng, Johnsons Controls in East London and Tellumat in Atlantis. Investment announcements by these three companies amount to R2, 4 billion. In fact over the period from 2010/11, the dti has facilitated investments of R125, 5bn. In the 2012/13 financial year, the department attracted R53, 5bn in investments, with the potential to create 20,000 jobs. However of greater significance than the value of the investment is the strong vote of confidence that these companies’ have provided in the SA economy. These are not investments that were made on the spur of the moment; these companies have rigorously assessed the SA market, considered the potential risks, and compared SA to other potential investment destinations. After considering all these factors, these companies - and many more like them – have chosen to invest and create jobs in the SA economy. These investors have not been put off by our challenges but recognise that Africa is the next growth frontier and that South Africa as the most industrialised country on the continent is of key strategic importance. They have accepted the necessity for broad based black economic empowerment, for them to be active in responding to our skills challenges, and they have not been put out by our industrialisation and localisation programme. In fact many of them have embraced these challenges and our initiatives as necessary developments that will lead to a stronger economy. Mister Speaker, in closing, I do not believe that we could have made these advances without the support of the people in the dti and its family of institutions. I am proud that what we have achieved, we have achieved with a staff that has a much more diverse profile than the dti of 1994. This new profile, so much more reflective of the demographics of South Africa is emerging as a strength that will lead us into the future.  Thank you to the Deputy Ministers and the Director General]]> Topnews Wirtschaft Presse Wed, 22 May 2013 11:40:00 +0200 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=1150&cHash=2f2ca2ae5f39cbaaa8af773a05196a8b The current administration’s central focus has been on creation of decent jobs, economic transformation and creating an inclusive economic growth. These are some of the key strategic priorities...  MEC’s and Heads of Departments; 
 Officials of the Department Trade and Industry andits Council of Trade and
 Industry Institutions (COTII); 
 Members of SAWEN Leaders of Organised Business and Labour; 
 Distinguished guests; 
 Ladies and gentlemen.
 
 I would like to specifically recognise:

•  My 2012 Technogirls competition winners from Ponelopele Secondary School, in Ivory Park, Thembisa; and the Technogirl from the Northern Cape, Ms Boitumelo Olifant;
•  Nomarika Motaung, my mentee;
•  Kgotso Mokoele, an incubatee from SECOPA manufacturing hub;
•  Mangqoba Katane- A young man who’s very passionate about small business development, currently working with an incubation centre known as SECOPA as a social media guru;
•  Sister Jenny, the winner for South Africa and first runner up for Africa for 2012 Africa SMME awards, for her skin repair products for burns and wounds;
•  Mamalolo, a beneficiary of our tourism support programme and a former lecturer who now owns a B ‘n B in SOWETO.
•  Sister Jenny, the 2012 Africa SMME award winner.

The current administration’s central focus has been on creation of decent jobs, economic transformation and creating an inclusive economic growth. These are some of the key strategic priorities identified in the 2009-2014 medium-term strategic framework that was later translated into government outcomes. thedti further articulated these key priorities in its 2010-2013 Medium Term Strategic Framework. Therefore, it is imperative that we reflect on the achievements that have been recorded in these areas.   Women and Gender Empowerment  The National Development Plan identified poverty, unemployment and inequality as the major challenges facing our country. Women and youth have not been fully integrated into our economic system. The Department understands that economic emancipation should be broadened to include women and youth who were excluded in the mainstream economic activities of the country in the past.  It is against this backdrop, that the dti introduced programmes that are tailor-made for women, such as the Isivande Women’s Fund, Bavumile and Technology for Women in Business (TWIB). The Isivande fund aims to provide women entrepreneurs with affordable financial support. Between 2011/12 and 2012/13 financial years, the Fund supported 31 projects. The Bavumile Programme provides training to women in the clothing sector while TWIB with its awards programme recognises women enterprises which used technology to grow and develop their businesses.  While we recognize the need to afford women opportunities to participate in the economy, we need to encourage our young girls to pursue technology, mathematics, commercial and science related careers. The Technogirls programme is a vehicle that the Department is utilising to achieve this objective. In this regard, the dti has partnered with provincial departments of Economic Development and Education, SEDA and Cell C in delivering the programme.  In addition, the department will be tabling the National Strategic Framework on Women’s Economic Empowerment to Cabinet in the course of the 2013/14 financial year. The strategy aims to ensure the development and growth of women owned enterprises as well the integration of women enterprises in the mainstream economy through the provision of targeted interventions. Small and Medium Enterprises and Cooperatives  The Department considers entrepreneurship development as strategic to broadening economic participation since we understand that economic success and development of many economies is anchored around increased participation of Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMME) in the mainstream economy. We believe that SMMEs form a principal driving force of economic growth and development. In this regard, we undertook to accelerate the delivery and up-scaling of support particularly to black-owned, rural and township SMMEs as well as cooperative programmes. Through SEDA’s network of financial service providers (known as Retail Financial Intermediaries (RFI)), we have further improved access to finance for SMME’s. Also through the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC),the ANC led government has been implementing the Risk Capital Facility (RCF) 2 in the last seven (7) years with the aim of granting risk capital finance to historically disadvantaged people. To date 3 400 BEE shareholder companies, 72 BEE empowered SMEs and 1 605 women shareholders have been supported resulting in a total of 7 024 jobs created.  thedti in collaboration with the Department of Cooperative Government and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) developed a red tape reduction programme to address regulatory constraints created by local municipalities. The programme seeks to lower barriers to entry and stimulate access to business opportunities by small enterprises.  thedti believes that sustained support to SMMEs should be an integral part of social and economic development. The merger of the national government’s major credit programmes for small and micro enterprise has been finalised and a new agency SEFA was established in May 2012.  It is imperative that the government continues to build entrepreneurial capacity in order to address the socio-economic challenges that are facing us. In this context, the dti through SEDA launchedthe Small business incubation programme in 2012.The programme seeks to nurture small, micro and medium enterprises into sustainable enterprises that can create jobs and contribute towards economic development. To this end we launched SECOPA (Seed Container Park) in SOWETO on the 27^th of March 2013. It will ensure that SMMEs eventually graduate into the mainstream economy, creating successful enterprises with a potential to revitalise communities and strengthen local economies. The success of the programme will be measured by the number of enterprises that graduated into the mainstream economy and employment created. Currently, the incentive is supporting 13 projects to the value of R373 million in sectors such as ICT, agro-processing and clothing and textile amongst other. Together with the Foundation of African Business and Consumer Services (FABCOS) the dti launched agro-processing investments worth R1.2 billion to assist in growing sustainable HDI-owned or controlled SMMEs and support the retailer/supplier development model. These investments are in small-scale milling, malt plants, snack plants, blended foods and incubator farms.  We also launched the Emerging Organic Farmer/Retailer Programme, with Pick 'n Pay, Shoprite and Spar providing shelf space and support to emerging organic farmers' cooperatives.  We have also launched 4 walk-in-25 mini-markets in Gauteng. To fast track timely payment to SMMEs a call centre was established through SEDA to facilitate payment to SMMEs contracting with government within 30 days. The 30 day payment has been elevated to the Presidency with departments submitting their monthly reports. The SEDA call centre has performed well, facilitating the payment of over R300 million to SMMEs. Honourable members, we have reviewed the Cooperatives Development Act with a view to enhancing institutional mechanism such as the establishment of the Cooperatives Development Agency, the cooperatives Apex body and the cooperatives Tribunal. The agency will provide business development support to cooperatives while the Cooperatives Tribunal will adjudicate over conflict and the Apex body will represent the interest of cooperatives. The ANC led governmentis also serious about the informal sectorand youth empowerment and in this regard, the Youth Enterprise Development Strategy has been drafted and consultations with key stakeholders are at an advanced stage while the Informal Sector Strategy is being developed.   Black industrialists  The creation of black industrialists is one of the key priorities of the department of Trade and Industry. To fulfil this responsibility, as the Minister has indicated, the department has amended the BBBEE legislation and Code of Good Practice with a view to creating an enabling environment for the restructuring of the South African economy to enable a meaningful participation of black people, women, youth and people living with disabilities.  We have also partnered with UNISA and WITS University to offer a BBBEE Management Development Programme. The programme isaimed at professionalizing the BBBEE industry, more specifically the verification industry as part of creating an enabling environment conducive to the development of black industrialists. In conclusion, it is clear that the ANC led Government remains committed to the embetterment of the economic situation of our people.]]> Topnews Wirtschaft Presse Wed, 22 May 2013 11:31:00 +0200 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=1147&cHash=64bb6ea07d47c231680506739079f3d4 On the African continent, women are among the pioneers of contemporary dance. In countries where it is considered a political act to appear on stage, female artists cross through and transgress the... "Moussokouma" Contemporary Dance Festival curated by Moussa Sawadogo, Kulturbrauerei e.V. in cooperation with HAU Hebbel am Ufer and Tanzfabrik will stage seven performances accompanied by film screenings, workshops and artist talks, most of the performances being German Premieres! South Africa will be represented by outstanding performers Nelisiwe Xaba, Mocke J. van Veuren and Mamela Nyamza.  Bouchra Ouizguen (MA)
Madame Plaza
11.+12.6. / HAU1

“Madame Plaza”, so heißt eines der ältesten Kabaretts in Marrakesch.
In dem gleichnamigen Stück arbeitet die Choreografin
Bouchra Ouizguen mit drei Frauen, die bei Feiern, auf Hochzeiten
und in Nachtclubs auftreten. Diese sogenannten “Shikhat” haben
in Marokko eine widersprüchliche soziale Stellung. Sie werden wegen
ihrer kräftigen Stimmen und ihrer sinnlichen Bewegungen bewundert,
aber durch ihre Familien geächtet, weil sie mit der Zurschaustellung
ihres Intimlebens die Grenzen des gesellschaftlich Akzeptierten überschreiten.

“Madame Plaza” is the name of the oldest cabaret in Marrakesh. In this
piece of the same name, the choreographer Bouchra Ouizguen works with
three women who appear at parties, weddings and in nightclubs. These
so-called “Shikhat” have a mixed social standing in Morocco. They are admired
for their strong voices and sensuous movements, but are ostracized
by their families because exhibiting their intimate lives transgresses the boundaries of what is socially acceptable.

Nacera Belaza (DZ/FR)
Le Trait
13.6. / HAU2 Mit einem aus zwei Soli und einem Duett bestehenden Stück bewegt sich die Choreografin an den Grenzlinien von traditionellem und religiösem algerischen Tanz und entwickelt aus diesem Material einen ebenso minimalistischen wie hypnotischen Stil. Es entsteht eine unendliche Anzahl von Bildern, ohne dass eine Repräsentation in einer anderen aufgeht. Nacera Belaza nimmt die Zuschauer mit auf die Suche “nach einem Raum, in dem Zeit keine Rolle mehr spielt, wir die Unendlichkeit berühren und am Ende etwas teilen.”

In a piece consisting of two solos and a duet, the choreographer moves along the borderline between traditional and religious Algerian dance, developing from this material a style that is at once minimalist and hypnotic. The result is an infinite number of images, without one merging into the other. Nacera Belaza takes the spectator along on a search “for a space in which time no longer plays any role, and we can touch infinity and, in the end, share something.”

Mamela Nyamza (ZA)
Shift
11.+12.6 / HAU3 Vor fünf Jahren wurde Eudy Simelande, eine offen lesbische Football-Spielerin, kollektiv vergewaltigt und mit 25 Messerstichen getötet. Mamela Nyamza erforscht Stereotypen der Maskulinität und formuliert ihren Respekt vor Sportlerinnen, die sich gegen patriarchale Strukturen auflehnen. Five years ago, Eudy Simelande, an openly lesbian football player, was gang raped and murdered. Her body had been stabbed 25 times. Mamela Nyamza researches stereotypes of masculinity and formulates her respect for athletes that rebel against patriarchal structures.

Nelisiwe Xaba & Mocke J. van Veuren (ZA)
Uncles and Angels / Scars & Cigarettes
14.+15.6. / HAU3

Nelisiwe Xaba und Mocke J. van Veuren beschäftigen sich in diesem Duo mit traditionellen Konzepten der Keuschheit, Jungfräulichkeit und Reinheit. Gleichzeitig werfen sie einen ironischen Blick auf die Interaktionen zwischen dem Körper und den Projektionen, die sich auf ihn richten.

In this duo, Nelisiwe Xaba and Mocke J. van Veuren take on traditional concepts of chastity, virginity, and purity. At the same time they cast an ironic gaze at the interaction between the body and the projections directed at it.

Fatou Cissé (SN)
Regarde-moi encore
14.+15.6. / HAU1

Das Solo beginnt mit dem Bild einer bewegungslosen Frau. Wir sehen die Verkrümmungen einer Seele, die sich mit der Gesellschaft im Krieg befindet. Rebellische Gesten und unbarmherziger Humor formieren sich langsam zu einem schwungvollen, mutigen und raumgreifenden Bewegungsrepertoire. The solo begins with an image of motionless woman. We see how a soul gets distorted within a society at war. Rebellious gestures and ruthless humor slowly form into a spirited, courageous, and expansive repertoire of movement.

Kettly Noël (ML/HT)
Je m’appelle Fanta Kaba
14.+15.6. / HAU1

Fanta Kaba ist eine Tänzerin oder eine Prostituierte. In der Gegend in Mali, in der sie lebt, macht das mitten in der Nacht kaum einen Unterschied. Kettly Noël schlüpft in die Rolle dieser imaginären Figur und erforscht die Narrative der Intimität. Fanta Kaba is a dancer or a prostitute. In the area of Mali where she lives, there's hardly any difference between the two in the middle of the night. Kettly Noël slips into the role of this imaginary figure and explores the narrative of intimacy.

Nadia Beugré (CI)
Quartiers Libres
15.+16.6. / HAU2

Was geschieht mit uns, wenn wir Grenzen überschreiten und uns Orten nähern, die wir nicht betreten dürfen? In einer undomestizierten Performance konfrontiert uns Nadia Beugré mit Vorstellungsinhalten und Tatsachen, die wir verdrängen. Inmitten eines ausladenden interaktiven Settings kämpft sie mit den Begrenzungen der Bühne, beklemmenden Sounds, einem Meer von Wasserflaschen aus Plastik und einem verwickelten, schier endlosen Mikrofonkabel. Eine Welt aus Müll droht sie zu begraben. Ihr Körper behält die Oberhand – und mit ihm das Verlangen nach Freiheit.

What happens to us when we transgress boundaries and approach places where we aren't allowed to go? In an undomesticated performance, Nadia Beugré confronts us with ideas and facts that we suppress. In the middle of a projecting interactive setting, she struggles with the delimitations of the stage, with oppressive sounds, a sea of plastic water bottles, and a tangled up, seemingly endless microphone cable. A world of trash threatens to bury her alive. Her body gets the upper hand – and with it the longing for freedom. |+| read more]]> Südafrika in Deutschland Topnews Thu, 16 May 2013 15:55:00 +0200 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=1144&cHash=3dfaf936629f82459718a73cf752d103 "...Künstler wie Francois le Roux trifft man nicht jeden Tag. Aber wenn man sie trifft, dann ist die Begegnung unvergeßlich". (SUNDAY TIMES) Der Südafrikanische Cellist, Pianist und spontan... Le Roux gilt als eines der bedeutenden Musiktalente Südafrikas. Er versteht es meisterhaft verschiedenste musikalische Einflüsse, wie Klassik, Jazz, afrikanischen Folk und Rock miteinander zu verbinden und daraus auch eine neue, authentische Sprache zu erschaffen. Sein auf spontaner Kreativität und Improvisation basierendes Programm ist eine unberechenbare Reise der Gefühle, Phantasie und kreativen Überraschungen. Cello, Keyboard, Gesang, Klang Samples, zufällige Fundstücke, Tanz, Poesie und Performance fließen in mitreißendes, klimaktisches Ganzes. Das "HA!" Erlebnis läßt sich mit Worten kaum beschreiben. Für sowohl das Publikum als auch die Künstler ist es eine Herausforderung zu bewußter Wahrnehmung und kreativer Lebendigkeit.

Francois le Rouxs HA!Man Shows haben ihn u.a. in die USA, Kanada, Frankreich, Deutschland, Korea und England geführt, einschließlich der Royal Albert Hall in London. Bei seiner Aufführung im MoBe wird er begleitet von der belgischen Performance Dichterin, Schauspielerin und Schriftstellerin Joke Debaere, der in Berlin lebenden südafrikanischen Bildenden Künstlerin Liz Crossley, und, wie üblich, von einem begeisterten Publikum.

The South African cellist, pianist and spontaneous performance artist Francois Le Roux brings his electrifying music and performance extravaganza to Berlin. Le Roux is one of the major musical talents of South Africa. He skillfully combines different musical influences, including classical, jazz, african and modern to create a new, authentic language. His unscripted program, an experience of cello, keyboard, vocals, flute, sound samples, found objects, dance, poetry and performance, is entirely based on spontaneous creativity and improvisation. It is an unpredictable journey of emotions, mental images and creative surprises, each time flowing into a convincing and climactic whole.
Audience members are often left speechless, unable to describe the HA! experience in regular terms. In short, for both performer and audience, HA! is a dare to be present and creatively alive.

Le Roux's HA!Man Shows and workshops have brought him to countless venues in South Africa, the USA, Canada, France, Germany, Korea and England, including the Royal Albert Hall in London. For his performance at MoBe he will be accompanied by the Belgian performance poet, actress and writer Joke Debaere, the Berlin-based South African visual artist Liz Crossley, and, as usual, by an enthusiastic audience.

"...This is pure genius in play. Genius rolls off every note. This man is as original as Adam. To listen to him is an experience that swings us in and out of history, and stretches the imagination into worlds besides ours."
(Greg Pastoll)

"...die lebendigste und zugleich tiefste musikalische Erfahrung meines Lebens ... eine Fest der Harmonien und Inspiration..." (Zuschauer)

"...let me say you are the most remarkable and electrifying musician I have ever seen and I've loved music all of my life. I've seen Jimmie Hendrix, the Beatles and others going back that far. There really aren't enough adjectives to describe your performances." (Nancy Nicolay, Kansas City, USA)

MEHR INFO auch bei www.hamanworld.com

WAS: The HA!Man Show

WANN: Freitag, 24. May 2013, 20:15 Uhr

WO: MoBe - moving poets Berlin
Bruno-Bürgel-Weg 23-37
12439 Berlin
(ca. 200m von S-Station Oberspree (S47) oder Bushalte Bruno-Bürgel-Weg (Bus 167))

TICKETS: 12€ (8€ Schüler & Studenten)

INFO & RESERVIERUNG: info@movingpoets.org oder Tel: 030-60988584]]> Südafrika in Deutschland Topnews Thu, 16 May 2013 15:13:00 +0200 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=1148&cHash=43888bbde4d9b05fafdc0245be08b1b9 14 May 2013. South Africa has been voted the top destination by members of the world's largest travel and lifestyle social network, Where Are You Now? (WAYN), in the site's recent "dream...
The country beat Brazil, India, Dubai, Fiji, Turkey and Indonesia with 15 300 votes from members around the world.

A total 78,000 votes were counted for all seven of the destinations. The nominated countries and cities were selected through market research and tracking user engagement on WAYN.

"All seven countries and cities nominated were extremely worthy contenders and dream destinations in their own right," WAYN co-founder and chief risk officer, Jeremy Touze, said in a statement last week.

"The immense popularity of South Africa as a tourist destination has been reinforced by this competition, and interestingly the activity we are seeing correlates with the recent announcement by President Jacob Zuma that the amount of foreign visitors to South Africa has grown by 300% to 13.5-million visitors, 9.2-million of which were tourists."

Touze said South Africa's strongest following comes from Asia, in particular India. "Out of the 408 000 fans of South Africa on WAYN, there are now over 108 000 fans from India alone," he said.

"We are privileged to live in an incredible country, a land of spectacular wildlife, awe-inspiring adventure and unique heritage and culture," said chief executive officer of South African Tourism, Thulani Nzima.

"It is home to warm, welcoming people, eager to share it with travellers from around the world.

"We are already touched by the hundreds of thousands of friends our destination has made on the WAYN.com platform and we are delighted with this accolade, which we hope will make more people's dreams of visiting South Africa a reality," Nzima said.

SA - the Good News via SouthAfrica.info ]]> Topnews Tourismus Wed, 15 May 2013 11:12:00 +0200 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=1143&cHash=457cac3813fa0464f77fde6c93f2b5a8 On 7 May 2013, Minister of Economic Development Ebrahim Patel submitted the Economic Development Department Budget's for vote in Parliament. The Berlin Mission herewith publishes the full text... gain of 44 000 new jobs in the first quarter of 2013.  Over the 12 months up to end of March this year, nearly 200 000 new jobs were created, in difficult domestic and global circumstances. The biggest job gains were in agriculture, followed by manufacturing and community services.  These figures show that our transformation policies are having some success despite the headwinds from the global slowdown. But unemployment levels are still stubbornly high. Our task is to consolidate these gains and accelerate job growth, for unemployment constitutes the biggest economic challenge for the country. We must begin to see a decline in the levels of joblessness. That is the task that we have taken on through the New Growth Path.  From October 2010 when the NGP was adopted, 646 000 new jobs were created. Of these, 366 000 new jobs were created for women, 57% of the new jobs. As South Africans we need to bank these positive trends and commit to do more.  Our GDP recovered from the 2009 recession and is now R750bn higher in current rands, or 9,4% in real terms than at the low-point of the recession. The economic output of no less than 38 other countries - including the UK, Holland, Spain, Italy and Portugal are still lower than before their recession. I wish to welcome one of our visitors today, Richard Matsomela, a worker at the BMW factory in Rosslyn. He was placed on special training financed through the Training Layoff Fund, one of the new tools created by government in 2009 to respond to the recession.  Production recovered, the company expanded and Richard now works again on the assembly line for the new 3-series BMW made in SA.  This is active partnership with the private sector.  The New Growth Path mapped out a labour-absorbing economic trajectory. Under the infrastructure jobs driver and through the leadership of the President, we developed a National Infrastructure Plan, coordinated by the PICC to which EDD provides technical support.  We made real progress to lay the physical platform for growth and development over the past year, working with Minister Nkwinti and other members of the Management Committee.  Construction levels are up.  Visitors in the public gallery illustrate what our programme is doing.  Ms Elakanyani Ndlovu, a 30-year old female electrical engineer, is part of a team building one of the world’s largest coal-fired power-stations, Kusile, near Witbank in Mpumalanga.  Ms Kedisaletse Maseko is a welder employed on the new locomotive build programme in Koedoespoort. Mr Thomas Solomon is a contractor who lays tar on roads in the Western Cape. They are part of more than 150 000 workers currently on PICC monitored construction sites across the country, building roads, power stations and dams, deepening our ports, building schools, laying broadband cable, manufacturing components,  changing the spatial patterns of the past.  The project-pipeline for new infrastructure projects has been developed into the 20-year R4 trillion plan, a blueprint for our generation.  Spending levels are up too.  Indeed, during this administration, we would have spent roughly R1 trillion on infrastructure, compared to half that sum in the previous five years, and substantially more than in the last five years of apartheid. Even when adjusted for inflation, this is a remarkable achievement.  We now monitor every quarter how much is spent, what construction has actually taken place and how many people are employed in construction projects worth nearly R900 billion rands. Working closely with Minister Gordhan through the PICC, R19bn of new money or reprioritised resources were identified for infrastructure projects over the next three years.  State capacity challenges identified in the NDP articulated by Minister Manuel, are being addressed, including improved environmental processes led by Minister Molewa and the new Infrastructure Development Bill, recently released for public comment.  Honourable Members We need to bring the cost of the infrastructure build down.  Private sector collusion and price-fixing cost the state many billions of rands in previous infrastructure projects, including the 2010 World Cup stadia . The competition authorities identified 300 cases of irregular and illegal behaviour by the private sector in the construction industry, on projects valued at about R47 billion. Eighteen construction companies, including the top six firms, have now confessed and are in discussions on settlements with the competition authorities. We are determined to ensure that we develop an affordable infrastructure build programme and that our tax rands do not improperly find their way into private pockets.  The competition probes extend wider than infrastructure and include input costs across the economy, to improve competitiveness and reduce costs for consumers. Following discussions with Minister Motsoaledi, I am pleased to announce that the Competition Commission will conduct a market enquiry into the private health-care sector. As ordinary working South Africans will know, private medical care is becoming unaffordable. The enquiry will use new powers under section 6 of the Competition Amendment Act of 2009 and will examine the pricing, costs and the state of competition in the sector. It is expected that the Enquiry will commence before the end of September this year. The authorities are ensuring that public interest tests in our law are met when companies acquire existing operations.  I welcome Mr Emmanuel Motumi, one of a few hundred workers reinstated by the Competition Appeal Court at Walmart following its purchase of a local retailer. Government’s efforts led to the Competition Appeal Court ordering the creation of a fund of up to R240 million for local supplier support by Walmart.  The judgement expanded competition jurisprudence and ensured that the central economic imperative of our time, namely jobs and local industrial capacity, is pivotal to competition policy.  It demonstrates our commitment to policy integration and coherence.  Trade policy is being harnessed to support infrastructure roll-out and to support agro-processing industries who are infrastructure users, ranging from poultry to tomatoes. More will however need to be done to support farming jobs and agro-processing as part of food security strategies. The Port Regulator introduced a differentiated port tariff that encourages export of manufactured goods rather than raw minerals.  We are using the infrastructure programme to address skills and industrialisation challenges. We now have a skills model for all major infrastructure projects over the next twenty years, developed through working closely with Ministers Nzimande and Nxesi, the engineering industry, the construction regulator and the private sector.  Honourable Members will be pleased to know that say for the Mzimvubu Dam in the Eastern Cape, we can quantify the number of bricklayers, carpenters and engineers we need per quarter over the five years of construction, to help universities and FET colleges plan their student intake and graduate output. On industrialisation, EDD has worked with Ministers Davies and Gigaba on measures to provide a major boost to local manufacturers through the infrastructure rollout programme. State owned companies deepened their supplier development plans.  Complementing these efforts, the IDC set up a localisation unit and increased its 5-year plan for industrial funding available to R102 billion.  Over the past two years, the IDC increased actual funding approvals substantially to about R27 billion, 48% higher than the previous two years.  We have success stories out of these interventions.  In the past, we imported buses for the infrastructure rollout of inner city public transport.  Last year, to implement one of the Accords, new policies were introduced that led the cities of Johannesburg and Cape Town to order 240 locally-assembled buses. I welcome Ricardo Truby, a production line worker for the Cape Town buses where the IDC provided bridging finance. The first locally-assembled bus for Johannesburg will come off the production line in June 2013 from a Germiston factory. This is real progress with industrialisation. When this administration came into office, all our minibus taxis were being imported. Today, two taxi assembly plants have been set up, by Toyota and BAW. I wish to recognise Ms Brenda Smith, a supervisor on Toyota's new taxi line who is here in the audience today. Honourable Members, by 2015, two out of every three new minibus taxis will come from local factories.  This is real progress with industrialisation. The country will expand rail transport very significantly in the next twenty years. The IDC is working with companies in the sector to use the R198 billion procurement to build coaches, locomotives and wagons and create jobs locally. We have already landed one export contract for trains, from Mozambique. These success stories in transport are replicated in other parts of the build programme, such as the new condenser unit commissioned from a local company for the Kusile power station.   Working with Minister Peters, we plan to improve the localisation impact of wind and solar energy, so that green energy creates local jobs.  The industrialisation drive is at the centre of our work.  Last year the IDC concluded a R3,4bn deal to take majority ownership of Scaw Metals, a large diversified manufacturer of steel products  for the infrastructure sector and industry, that employs about 7 000 people.  It is the only producer of locomotive frames in southern Africa. When Anglo American Corporation decided to divest from the asset, we ensured that this critical national asset was placed in local hands rather than asset stripped and closed down.  I am pleased to have Ms Patricia Mashigo, an artisan and production team-leader at a Scaw Metals factory present today, with a Group manager, Mr Paul Zinn.  Scaw Metals operations in South Africa have a crude steel production capacity of about 600 000 tons per year. It has manufacturing operations in Canada, Australia, Italy, Namibia, Zimbabwe and Zambia, which also serve as important distribution channels for its products.  A sophisticated industrial strategy as outlined in the IPAP requires the injection of foreign and local capital, know-how and innovation. I offer a few examples of success. Asia's largest commodities trading company, Noble Resources, is the main investor in one of two advanced soya crushing plants under construction. In the past 12 months, the company invested about R2,2 bn in the local economy. I acknowledge the presence of Mr Ronald Jettin, the local CEO. Later this week I will host the senior management of the company to consider additional investment in South Africa.  We attracted Turkish investment in manufacturing of stoves in East London, and to restart the Cape Town based steel mill CISCO, by August this year, with a R250m investment which points to a growing appetite by investors to manufacture goods in South Africa. I welcome Mr Turanli, the President of the new shareholding company of CISCO and Turkish Ambassador Kaan Esener who is with us today.  Honourable Members These efforts are supported by greater beneficiation of our natural resources.  By July this year, the largest Manganese sinter plant in the world, backed by the IDC, will open in the town with the quaint name of Hotazel in the Northern Cape. I welcome the major shareholder, Ms Daphne Nkosi, whose company will produce 2,4m tons of manganese sinter for ferro-manganese smelters. Honourable Members, following public consultation, I have decided to issue a trade policy directive in terms of section 5 of the International Trade Administration Act to limit the export of scrap metal so that this resource is used in South African foundries and steel factories, saving energy, creating local jobs and promoting infrastructure development. To strengthen regional integration, manufactured exports to the rest of Africa rose by about R20 billion or 21% in this past year, now accounting for more than 90 000 jobs in South Africa.  Tomorrow, South Africa hosts the World Economic Forum Africa Summit here in Cape Town.  BRICS countries are now the fast-growing part of the global economy. Our membership is the result of successful economic diplomacy and opens up many opportunities if we work at it.  The BRICS Summit hosted by President Zuma six weeks ago announced the establishment of a BRICS-led development bank and we signed a number of partnership agreements with BRICS members and investors, including to set up a new television and fridge factory in South Africa.  Honourable Members, the New Growth Path calls for greater economic inclusion, through small business development and youth employment. Policies before 1994 largely excluded young black people and small businesses from the economic mainstream.  Today 1,6 million more young people under 35 are working than in 1995, and school and university enrolment is dramatically higher, as even critics of government concede. As University of Stellenbosch research released a few weeks ago show, in less than a generation we more than doubled the number of graduates in the labour market.   Three weeks ago we signed a Youth Employment Accord at Hector Pieterson Memorial in Soweto, in front of a 2000-strong crowd of young people, bringing together the efforts of the public and private sectors.  The Accord provides for a comprehensive approach, which include incentives, commitments and action to address the problem from its starting point: inadequate skills formation. It provides for work experience through internships and, most importantly, new jobs for young people.  I welcome the delegation of youth leaders - led by Thulani Tshefuta and Yershin Pillay – in Cape Town to attend a workshop on youth entrepreneurship and the Accord.  To support the Accord, the IDC announced a R1 billion Youth Fund to provide concessional lending to youth-owned enterprises that create jobs.  I am pleased to announce today that the new small enterprise funding agency, sefa will make R1,7 billion available over the next five years for youth enterprises, with a target of R220 million in this financial year.  This combined 'fighting fund' of R2,7 billion is mobilised so that young people are mainstreamed in economy. My Small Business Advisory Panel has noted the substantial resources available to small businesses through various Budget Votes, but delivery is fragmented, costly, with little integration of funding and business support. We are beginning to address this, though our work is by no means done.  In April last year we launched sefa combining three small business programmes,  bedded down the institution and expanded the lending rate.  Sefa approved loans worth R435m, up by 106% on what its predecessors did the previous year.  Through sefa we created the machinery to vastly increase access, impact and the level of small business support. By next year, sefa plans to approve annual funding of more than R1 billion to more than 20 000 SMMES. I welcome Ms Magdalena Paledi, a female entrepreneur contracted by Anglo Platinum to build a school in Serafa Village in Sekhukhune. Her company is a beneficiary of sefa funding.  Over the next five years, sefa plans to provide R2,3bn for women-owned enterprises, with R295 million this year, so that women are more actively represented in the economy but also so that the economy can benefit from the energy and enterprise of women. We financed a training programme for 100 young people, in partnership with the SA Institute of Chartered Accountants. One of the graduates with us today, Ms Thandeka Nyani, is now working in the sefa Business Hub as an Accounting Clerk supporting small business clients.  I am pleased to announce that a further 170 young people will be enrolled in the programme, to which we are committing R9m. We will take the small business programmes to our people through 18 large community road-shows over the next ten months, with a special focus on youth and women.  To meet the numerical targets in the Youth Employment Accord, government entities will adjust regulations and tender conditions to bring more young people into infrastructure programmes, the green economy, call centres and other business process services.  Social dialogue has been stepped up.  Last year EDD provided support to the Presidency to conclude the October Social Accord that brought the strike wave in the mining sector to an end. Ministers Chabane, Shabangu and Oliphant are now driving the follow-up. I have released a report today on progress with the Accords on skills, the green economy, local procurement and basic education. I welcome learners from Litha Primary School – they are benefitting from one of the Social Accords through the adopt-a-school pledge.  Looking ahead, we need an Accord or social agreement to address industrial relations in infrastructure programmes.  Honourable Members The budget allocation for this financial year amounts to R772 million, of which R231m goes for small business funding, R193,8m for the competition authorities, R79,8m for trade administration and R108m to the IDC for the agro-processing fund.  The Department’s budget for operations and capital spending is R159 million.  The Budget Vote of EDD is a window across programmes in many different departments. I thank my colleagues in the Economic Cluster and the PICC, Deputy Minister Mkhize, the Director General Ms Jenny Schreiner and her predecessor, Saleem Mowzer, the agencies and DFIs and staff of EDD. Our work benefitted from the engagement with social partners: thanks to the shop stewards, managers and workers. Finally I thank my family for their support. I now table the Economic Development Department Budget for consideration by this august House.]]> Wirtschaft Topnews Fri, 10 May 2013 10:06:00 +0200 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=1152&cHash=2437fe1850b1699fe9254c9e6d6fc1ef On Thursday, 2nd May at 18h00 the South African Embassy in Berlin hosted a function on the occasion of Prof. Denis Goldberg's 80th birthday celebrations. Denis Goldberg fought, alongside... Thursday, 2nd May at 18h00 the South African Embassy in Berlin hosted a function on the occasion of Prof. Denis Goldberg's 80th birthday celebrations. Denis Goldberg fought, alongside Nelson Mandela, against the dehumanising system of Apartheid, was sentenced at the Rivonia Trial and spent 22 years in prison. After his liberation in 1985, he was the ANC representative for Europe, the US and Canada. Until today, Goldberg is involved in many projects aiming at making South African society more just and egalitarian. For his merits in favour of the German-South African relations and for a egalitarian world, Goldberg was decorated with the Bundesverdienstkreuz in 2011.  Through this event the Embassy of the Republic of South Africa and EXILE Cultur-Coordination e.V. honoured Denis Goldberg for his many merits in the exchange between Germans and South Africans and his tireless commitment to a more egalitarian South Africa and a more just world.  |+| read Denis Goldberg's Portrait]]> Topnews Botschaft Fri, 03 May 2013 14:00:00 +0200 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=1142&cHash=06cbd5bf04e6aa493da3b4be988f0639 On Monday 15 April 2013 the Embassy of the Republic of South African in Berlin hosted a reception in celebration of the successful closure of the German-South African Year of Science... Monday 15 April 2013 the Embassy of the Republic of South African in Berlin hosted a reception in celebration of the successful closure of the German-South African Year of Science 2012/2013. The SA-German Year of Science, which was launched in Cape Town on 16 April 2012 by both the German Ministry of Education and Research and the South African Ministry of Science and Technology, has seen the realisation of 41 Science projects which were jointly funded by both countries in the fields as diverse as Astronomy, Bioeconomy, Social Science & Humanities, Human Capital Development, Health Innovation, Climate Change and Urbanisation/Megacities. The function at the Berlin Mission was attended by South Africa's Minister of Science & Technology Mr Derek Hanekom, who led a delegation of 20 people from the Ministry and different Science institutions and University Rectors to Berlin. Minister Hanekom emphasised the importance of Science cooperation with Germany, especially in involvement of students which he said was a major contribution in developing and attracting youth into science career. He also emphasized that although this joint Year of Science was now coming to an end, the cooperation between the two countries had experienced a boost and would intensify in the future. On 16 April 2013, the German-South African Year of Science 2012/2013 was then officially concluded in Berlin by Ministers Prof. Johanna Wanka from the German Ministry of Education and Research and Minister Hanekom. The official ceremony took place at Technology Museum in Berlin and was officiated by both Ministers.  |+| read more on the German-South African Year of Science]]> Topnews Botschaft Presse Fri, 03 May 2013 08:36:00 +0200 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=1141&cHash=58e6370051239b9c7cf7cb9325a5b746 “2013 will mark a momentous occasion for the continent: the 50th anniversary of the formation of the Organisation of African Unity, and 11 years of the launch of the African Union. As the Secretariat... “2013 will mark a momentous occasion for the continent: the 50th anniversary of the formation of the Organisation of African Unity, and 11 years of the launch of the African Union. As the Secretariat of the union, the commission will ensure that the marking of the 50th anniversary is an important milestone in the history of the continent. It will be an opportunity to reflect on where we come from, appreciate where we are, and plan for where we are going in the next 50
years.” – Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, African Union Commission Chair

The Organisation of African Unity (OAU) was established on 25 May 1963 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on signature of the OAU Charter by representatives of 32 governments. A further 21 states have joined gradually over the years, with South Africa becoming the 53rd member in 1994. The main objectives of the OAU were, among other things, to:

• rid the continent of the remaining vestiges of colonisation and apartheid
• promote unity and solidarity among African states
• coordinate and intensify cooperation for development
• safeguard the sovereignty and territorial integrity of member states
• promote international cooperation within the framework of the United Nations.

As a continental organisation, the OAU provided an effective forum that enabled
member states to adopt coordinated positions on matters of common concern to the continent in international fora and defend the interests of Africa effectively. Through the OAU Coordinating Committee for the Liberation of Africa, the continent worked and spoke as one with undivided determination in forging an international consensus in support of the liberation struggle and the fight against apartheid.  As the then Deputy President of South Africa, Mr Jacob Zuma, said at the opening of the 76 Ordinary Session of the OAU Council of Ministers in Durban on 4 July 2002: “When it was established in 1963, the main mandate of the OAU was to unite the African people, fight colonialism, imperialism and all forms of racial oppression, including the most inhumane one – apartheid, thereby promoting the independence of the African nation states. “The struggles waged by our people under the banner of the OAU were aimed at freeing and restoring the dignity of the African people. The unity and solidarity of our peoples from Cape to Cairo, and from Madagascar to Senegal characterised the anti-colonial struggle. Today, we are able to celebrate this major achievement of the OAU.” “Those achievements of the OAU have laid the perfect foundation for the AU, which will seek to consolidate the gains of the OAU, and foster unity and cohesion in confronting the challenges facing the continent.” The OAU initiatives paved the way for the birth of the AU and its official launch in July 2002 in Durban. The vision of the AU is that of: “An integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa,
driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in the global arena.” This vision of a new, forward-looking, dynamic and integrated Africa will be fully
realised through relentless struggle on several fronts and as a long-term endeavour. The AU has shifted focus from supporting liberation movements in the erstwhile African territories under colonialism and apartheid, as envisaged
by the OAU since 1963 and the Constitutive Act, to an organisation spear-heading Africa’s development and integration. “May I reiterate our conviction that only by working together, as a single and indivisible continent of Africa, under the able leadership of the African Union, can we do more to improve the quality of life of all Africans while discharging our responsibilities on the African continent and globally.” – Dr Nkosazana
Dlamini Zuma. (Acknowledgement: www.au2002.gov.za, http://au.int/en/about/nutshell) Source: |+| Ubuntu Magazine (pdf)]]> Topnews Politik Afrikanische Union Thu, 02 May 2013 16:03:00 +0200 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=1140&cHash=81913ac96c85bc2da7cfbf555609f306 On 11 April 2013 Denis Goldberg turned 80. Denis Goldberg fought, alongside Nelson Mandela, against the dehumanising system of Apartheid, was sentenced at the Rivonia Trial and... 11 April 2013 Denis Goldberg turned 80. Denis Goldberg fought, alongside Nelson Mandela, against the dehumanising system of Apartheid, was sentenced at the Rivonia Trial and spent 22 years in prison. After his liberation in 1985, he was the ANC representative for Europe, the US and Canada. Until today, Goldberg is involved in many projects aiming at making South African society more just and egalitarian. For his merits in favour of the German-South African relations and for a just world, Goldberg was decorated with the German Bundesverdienstkreuz in 2011. On the occcasion of his 80th birthday, the Embassy of the Republic of South Africa publishes his portrait and would like to honour him for his many merits to the exchange between Germans and South Africans and his tireless commitment to better South Africa and a just World. Denis Theodore Goldberg, an engineer by training, was born on 11 April 1933 in Cape Town, Cape Province (now Western Cape) into a secular jewish family of communist immigrants. As he vividly describes in his auto-biography, people of all skin colours and cultural background were going in and out of his family's home, which is why he very early became conscious of the absurdity of the Apartheid regime.  When in 1960 the police shot 69 peaceful demonstrants durind the so-called „Sharpeville Massacre“, the communist Denis Goldberg was one of those supporting Mandela's conviction that after decades of pacifist resistance it was now time to also take up arms and create a military wing defying the racist regime. Goldberg became a technical officer at the regional Western Cape command of Umkhonto we Sizwe (Speer of the Nation), the armed wing of the ANC, making bombs and teaching others how to make explosive substances. Before the MK-Leadership could bring him out of the country, Goldberg was captured with 17 other activists during a Razzia on the Lillieasleaf-Farm in Rivonia near Johannesburg, imprisoned and charged in the so-called Rivonia Trial, together with Nelson Mandela, Walter Sisulu, Govan Mbeki and others under the Sabotage and Suppression of Communism Acts for ‘campaigning to overthrow the Government by violent revolution and for assisting an armed invasion of the country by foreign troops’. The charge sheet contained 193 acts of sabotage allegedly carried out by persons recruited by the accused in their capacity as members of the High Command of uMkhonto we Sizwe.

Goldberg was found guilty and sentenced to life imprisonment in Pretoria Local Prison. At the time, he too responded with a liberated laughter to this sentence since what had been expected was the death penalty. What he could not know in this moment was that he would indeed spend 22 years of his life in prison and what this meant. He was brought to a prison for Whites, seperated from Mandela and his other comrades. In order to not loose his mind, he started taking correspondence degree courses of study and graduated in Public Administration, History and Geography, and in Library Science. He was halfway through a law degree when he was released.

In the 1980s the ANC-led resistance made South Africa practically ungovernable. At the same time, the international pressure on the regime increased. In this situation, Goldberg's daughter negotiated the release of her father, ironically through the State of Israel, which Goldberg accused of supporting the Apartheid system. He tried through various channels to get in touch with the ANC leadership in order to get their approval, but the contact could not be established. He finally accepted the offer without renouncing to be part of the struggle nor regretting his previous acts.  He only had to promise not to engage in further antigovernment violence any more.  "I promised that I would not carry a gun in the struggle for South Africa", he said. "At the age of 51, I'm not cut out anymore to make bombs and be a soldier in the field. Even had I been free all this time, I would have had to give it up by now" (Chicago Tribune). "I hope Nelson understands my decision to leave, but in the end, my future activities will determine whether I was right or wrong" (Chicago Tribune) Goldberg said shortly after his release. Already in Tel Aviv, he started to put his promise into action and asked for an appointment with Isreal's foreign Minister in order to convince him to cut the ties to Pretoria. In the following years, Goldberg became a political agitator and activist, traveling, giving speeches and trying to convince foreign governments to cut their economic and military ties with Pretoria. In London he resumed his work in the African National Congress (ANC) from 1985 to 1994. He was a spokesperson for the ANC and also represented it at the Anti-Apartheid Committee of the United Nations. A large group of US organisations presented Denis Goldberg with the Albert Luthuli Peace Prize in recognition of his work against apartheid.

At his return to South Africa in 2002 was appointed Special Adviser to Ronnie Kasrils MP, Minister of Water Affairs and Forestry until 2004. After this posting, he retired to Hout Bay, a small town near Cape Town, where he bought a house in direct neighbourhood of the local township. 

With an indefatigable enthusiasm and strength, Goldberg engages in social, educational and cultural projects with the aim of making South Africa a more egalitarian society. Many South Africans world wide believe that all white South Africans supported the Apartheid regime. Comrade Goldberg is the living proof that this is not true. Equally false is the belief that every Black South African supported the liberation struggle. What can be learned today from the great humanist Denis Goldberg is something that many politicians and decision makers world wide seem to lack today: Moral integrety, the belief in the possibility of change, nevermind how powerful the enemy might be and, more than anything else, the disposition to make personal sacrifices in order to achieve the bigger objectives. Denis Goldberg could easily have turned away and focussed on his personal career, his family, his individual life, as much as Mandela and Tambo could have become rich lawyers. Because they chose to pursue a broader cause and were prepared to pay a high personal price, South Africa is free today.  Happy Birthday, Denis Goldberg! Sources:

• Wikipedia
• Wolfgang König: Denis Goldberg: Der Auftrag. Ein Leben für die Freiheit in Südafrika, multicult.fm
• Jonathan Broder: Apartheid Fight Still His Passion, Chicago Tribune, March 21, 1985

]]> Topnews Botschaft Südafrika Presse Tue, 30 Apr 2013 16:54:00 +0200 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=1145&cHash=99b043e3a14ac52a19b44e3074107adb On Friday 26 April 2013 between 12h30-15h00 the Embassy of South Africa in Berlin hosted approximately 400 guests for its 19th Freedom Day Celebration. Although weather forecasts had been... Friday 26 April 2013 between 12h30-15h00 the Embassy of South Africa in Berlin hosted approximately 400 guests for its 19th Freedom Day Celebration. Although weather forecasts had been mitigated, the sun was out the whole afternoon, allowing for most of the guests to enjoy the garden in a joyous and celebretive mood. After the paying of the National Anthems, Ambassador Stofile delivered a speech, pointing out the key themes and messages for the Freedom Day Celebration. This was followed by an address of Mr Mertens, Chief of Protocol of the German Federal Foreign Office, who emphasised the intensifying relations between Germany and South Africa.   After these official proceedings, the guests were, thanks to the generous support of South African National Defence Force, afforded the exceptional opportunity to enjoy real South African cuisine prepared by two of South Africa's top Chefs.  All enjoyed the truly South African cuisine and atmosphere of this very special Freedom Day which coincided with the 10th Anniversary of the opening of the Embassy building in Berlin's Tiergartenstrasse 18.   The Freedom Day Reception provided an excellent opportunity to market South African products being imported to Germany e.g. South African wine, Amarula, sparkling wine, biltong, bobotie, boerewors, apricots, plums, grapes, apples, pears, avocados and gourmet salt (all from local importers). The Embassy also invited local companies promoting South African arts and crafts to decorate the premises with paintings, sculptures and crafts. Many Officials wore traditional South African clothing further enhancing the South African atmosphere of the event.]]> Botschaft Topnews Tue, 30 Apr 2013 15:18:00 +0200 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=1138&cHash=e05dfb064a6b028498ea0c6c85f971cb Federal Republic of Germany Foreign Affairs Minister Dr Guido Westerwelle on Monday reiterated the European country’s plans to invest about R3.4-billion in South Africa in 2012/13, noting that the...
The majority of this investment – R2.9-billion – was allocated for financial cooperation, with the remainder allotted to technical cooperation.

Speaking at the Department of International Relations and Cooperation’s offices, in Pretoria, during a working visit, he said South Africa was one of the new “heavyweights” in the economic world and Germany aimed to strengthen its strategic partnership with the country.

Germany’s direct investment volumes into South Africa’s automotive, chemicals and mechanical and electrical engineering industries, besides others, had reached in excess of R37.66-billion between 2003 and 2012. Further, over 71 German companies invested in South Africa, creating more than 18 000 jobs.

South African exports to Germany reached R37.9-billion in 2012, while imports from Germany increased from R77.6-billion in 2011 to R83.9-billion in 2012.

South Africa, Westerwelle said, was a symbol of how the world was changing and how new “centres of power” were developing in emerging economies, adding that Africa was a continent “full of opportunities”.

The European country, which supported South Africa’s National Development Plan and its ambitions, was also an important player in South Africa’s trade and investment priorities, International Relations and Cooperation Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane pointed out.

Germany was South Africa’s third-largest trading partner, its second-largest investor and its third-largest tourism market. In 2012, tourism flows from Germany increased substantially by more than 12%.

The German Foreign Affairs Minister had visited Ghana in the preceding week and, following the completion of bilateral discussions with his South African counterpart, would continue on to Mozambique. Edited by: Chanel de Bruyn]]> Topnews Wirtschaft Presse Tue, 30 Apr 2013 13:11:00 +0200 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=1130&cHash=3bcc04896eb7f829ea47e757feeb9fbd Finance Ministers and central bank governors from Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (Brics) agreed, during meetings in Washington in April, to an “intensive” six-month work programme to...
The programme, which was confirmed by South Africa’s Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan this week, was one of several initiatives approved following the ‘Durban Declaration’, which was issued by the heads of State after their yearly Brics Summit, in South Africa in March.

Gordhan said the work programme would interrogate the bank’s mandate and scope of operations, its capitalisation and the sources of funding, as well as where the new bank would be located and when it would become operational.

A report would be provided to the Brics leaders when they met in Saint Petersburg, Russia, in early September, where they would be assembling for the 2013 G20 Summit.

Reports suggest that the Brics countries aim to complete preparations for the bank in time for the 2014 Brics Summit, which is scheduled for Brazil. In fact, Reuters recently quoted Indian Finance Minister P Chidambaram as saying that “we hope to complete our homework” ahead that summit.

Representatives from the central banks of the five countries were also preparing the way for a treaty to deal with the contingency reserves arrangements agreed in Durban and Gordhan expected progress “over the next few months”.

A work programme had also been initiated on the development of a Brics trade reinsurance scheme, which would seek to diversify these activities away from European institutions. A technical paper would be produced, which would feature on the agenda of a Brics finance Ministers meeting scheduled for Moscow, in July.

Attention was also being given to the issue of improved tax and customs arrangements between the Brics participants.

Besides following up the Durban Declaration, the Brics finance Ministers and central bank governors also jointly raised concerns about the state of International Monetary Fund (IMF) reform.

They were particularly unhappy with the lack of agreement on a new ‘quota formula’, which determined a country’s voting strength within the IMF, and the “bias” in the current formula against certain emerging and development countries.

“Generally, the view is that European economies are over represented in the IMF, particularly given the new economic circumstances were you’ve got new and stronger actors emerging,” Gordhan said.

There was a particular concern that the current formula would result in the further erosion in the “voice and representation” of sub-Saharan African countries as the IMF sought to accommodate the bigger emerging economies.

“What we are fighting for here … is that Brics countries and developing countries more generally must be given a greater voice in the governance and other processes of the IMF. And from an African point of view, we are saying that, in the new formula, it is very important Africa doesn’t, once again, lose a quota share in order to benefit constituencies outside of Africa.” By: Terence Creamer    
Published: 26 Apr 13
Source: http://www.engineeringnews.co.za ]]> Topnews Wirtschaft Politik Mon, 29 Apr 2013 10:39:00 +0200 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=1135&cHash=06e572e393ae137443f76d60b827c2e0 Orania ist ein abgelegenes Dorf im unwirtlichen Hinterland Südafrikas, eine "intentional community", deren Einwohner ausschließlich weiß und afrikaans sind - ein kulturell homogener Ort in... Ein Dokumentarfilm über kulturelle Identität und den schmalen Grat zwischen Selbstbestimmung und Ausgrenzung. Ausführliche Synopsis
Orania liegt inmitten Südafrikas unwirtlicher Karoo-Wüste. Die 800 Einwohner sind allesamt weiß und afrikaans, auch Buren genannt. Sie leben hier auf einem Privatgrundstück, das 1991 erworben wurde. Menschen anderer Kulturen oder Ethnien dürfen hier nicht leben oder arbeiten.

Die Oranier möchten nicht Teil der südafrikanischen "Rainbow Nation" sein, zu der sich das Land seit Ende der Apartheid entwickelt. Auf Grund von Kriminalität, Arbeitslosigkeit und sozialem Druck fühlen sie sich dort verwundbar. Daher bleiben sie unter sich, um eine "Kulturheimat" zu erschaffen und ihre Traditionen zu bewahren. Manche leben hier für dieses Ideal, andere wegen der Sicherheit und wieder andere aus purer Verzweiflung.

Orania ist ein kulturell homogener Ort in einem von Grund auf multikulturellen Land. Durch behutsame Beobachtung seiner Protagonisten erforscht der Film die Mechanismen hinter diesem gesellschaftlichen Experiment. Pressestimmen (Auswahl)
“ Beautifully shot, ... simultaneously humorous and disturbing.” - Lisa Henry (Jozi Film Festival, Johannesburg)

“Surely that is the best result a documentary can hope for” - Dean Bowman (Raindance Film Festival)

“An inspiring look at life” - Spencer Hawken (Views from the Edge)

“An insightful and intuitive documentary about an unfamiliar culture and lifestyle” - Jennifer Tate (viewlondon.co.uk)

“That he (Tobias Lindner) has won the trust of the people of Orania is already quite remarkable but the stunning way in which he created this fly-on-the-wall portrait of a remarkable quirky and somewhat frightening town is something to applaud for.” - Alexandra Zeevalkink (DocGeeks)

“An accurate portrayal of Orania, delving under the skin of a people dislodged, yet strangely anchored by their beliefs, traditions, faith and determination, a sense of community binding them.” – Martie Bester (Screen Africa)

www.orania-film.de 
www.facebook.com/Oraniafilm 
http://achtungberlin.de/programm0/made-in-berlin-brandenburg0/dokumentarfilme/orania/

Deutschlandpremiere beim achtungberlin Festival: Dienstag, 23. April 2013, 19:15 Uhr im Filmtheater Friedrichshain/Berlin mit anschließendem Q&A mit Regisseur Tobias Lindner. Wiederholung am Mi, 24. April 2013 17:30 Uhr Babylon. Sonntag, 28.04.2013 um 12 Uhr Berlin, GER im Sputnik Kino – Sonntagsmatinee mit anschließender Paneldiskussion mit geladenen Gästen und Regisseur Tobias Lindner

Sonntag, 05.05.2013 um 13 Uhr Dortmund, GER im Sweet Sixteen – Sonntagsmatinee mit anschließender Paneldiskussion mit geladenen Gästen und Regisseur Tobias Lindner

Sonntag, 26.5.2013 um 11 Uhr Nürnberg, GER im Cinecitta – Sonntagsmatinee mit anschließender Paneldiskussion mit geladenen Gästen und Regisseur Tobias Lindner

Sonntag, 26.5.2013 um 14 Uhr München, GER im Monopol Sonntagsmatinee mit anschließender Paneldiskussion mit geladenen Gästen und Regisseur Tobias Lindner

13.6. Kinostart in Berlin mit anschließender Paneldiskussion mit geladenen Gästen und Regisseur Tobias Lindner.]]> Südafrika in Deutschland Topnews Sat, 20 Apr 2013 13:11:00 +0200 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=1136&cHash=7b651cdc89e7c0372965b347c2fc1578 On Thursday, 11 April 2013 at 17.30 hours, the Embassy of the Republic of South Africa in Berlin in cooperation with the Seminar of African Studies at the Humboldt University and the German... Thursday, 11 April 2013 at 17.30 hours, the Embassy of the Republic of South Africa in Berlin in cooperation with the Seminar of African Studies at the Humboldt University and the German Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung in the framework of the German-South African Year-of-Science celebrations 2012/13 hosted a function publicly presenting for the first time the collection of Northern Sotho cultural heritage left by the Berlin missionary Carl Hoffmann. A combined research team from Germany and South Africa worked collaboratively over the past two years on a research project named the “Hoffmann Collection of Northern Sotho Cultural Heritage” (HC-NoSo-CH). The goals of the HC-NoSo-CH project were to unlock and to prepare the comprehensive collection of Northern Sotho cultural heritage left by the Berlin missionary Carl Hoffmann, as National Cultural Treasure; and to exchange this endangered cultural heritage that is still currently scattered in different institutions in Germany and South Africa through new technologies such as the digital media. Through this project, curator and project leader Dr. Anna Joubert of the Humboldt University and her student research team aspired to increase the level of public awareness of Germany and South Africa as research partners by sharing the fruits of unique academic cooperation in the field of Social Science and Humanities (Indigenous Knowledge Systems & Archival Repositories). The cultural evening at the Embassy of the Republic of South Africa included the first screening of the documentary film “The Making of a Missionary”, a podium discussion, the international exchange of scanned digital archive material, and a photo exhibition. Opening the evening on behalf of Ambassador Stofile, Minister Plenipotentiary Mr Horst Brammer said: “As the South African Embassy in Berlin, we are truly proud to be able to host the first public presentation of the results of this project which aims at making this comprehensive collection available to researchers in Germany and South Africa. As South Africans, we are thankful to institutions like the Humboldt University, with whom we have indeed worked for many years in a very positive way, but also to German Research Foundation to have adhered to the aim, together with South African institutions like the University of Pretoria and the University of South Africa, to make this invaluable archive available to South Africans and particularly to the Northern Sotho speaking communities – it is also part of their indigenous knowledge System and as such of invaluable worth to their memory and future as a cultural community.” Picture by Anna Krezel: Dr. Buhle Mbambo-Thata (UNISA) and Dr Wolfgang Krogel - Director of ELAB]]> Botschaft Topnews Fri, 12 Apr 2013 12:13:00 +0200 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=1137&cHash=85b0aff8917704aeab789a47ebe27825 Between the Lines aims to reflect on and facilitate innovative artistic research that engages specifically with questions of translation and mediation across social and cultural difference. It is a...
The first symposium was held at the Michaelis School of Fine Art at the University of Cape Town (25-28 February, 2013), the second will be held at the Braunschweig University of Art (17-19 April, 2013). Between the Lines is funded by Germany’s Federal Ministry of Education and Research in the context of The German-South African Year of Science 2012/2013, an exchange between the two countries that aims to strengthen cooperation and create new networks. Members of the public are warmly invited to attend.

The gatherings bring together a variety of South Africa and Germany’s most significant artists, where they will share ideas and strategies relevant to the role that art can play in translating unknown experiences and creating mutual understanding across international borders. To what extent can the artist function as a translator and mediator in situations where cultural understanding may otherwise be hard to achieve?

A German delegation (5 artists based in Germany / 20 Braunschweig students) traveled to Cape Town to participate in the first conference at the Michaelis School of Fine Art in late February 2013. The participating artists are Candice Breitz and Asta Gröting (both professors at the Braunschweig University of Art), as well as Berlin-based artists Ulf Aminde, Yael Bartana and Ming Wong.

A South African delegation (5 artists based in South Africa / 10 Michaelis students) will travel to Braunschweig to participate in the second conference at the Braunschweig University of Art in April 2013. The participating artists are Penny Siopis (honorary professor at the Michaelis School of Fine Art), as well as Nandipha Mntambo, James Webb, Athi-Patra Ruga and Gabrielle Goliath. Senior Lecturer Andrew Lamprecht will accompany the 5 artists on their trip to South Africa, and will participate in the symposium in Braunschweig:

SYMPOSIUM: NORTH
Location: Braunschweig University of Art, Braunschweig, Germany
Dates: 17 - 19 April 2013
Detailed schedule to be announced
Events are open to the public.
Free of charge.

Parallel to Between the Lines, the work of the 10 participating artists will be brought together in an exhibition that will open in Berlin in April 2013. The invited artists are Ulf Aminde (DE), Yael Bartana (IL/DE), Candice Breitz (ZA/DE), Gabrielle Goliath (ZA), Asta Gröting (DE), Nandipha Mntambo (ZA), Athi-Patra Ruga (ZA), Penny Siopis (ZA), James Webb (ZA) and Ming Wong (SG/DE). Between the Lines is funded by Germany’s Federal Ministry of Education and Research in the context of The German-South African Year of Science 2012 / 2013, a year of exchange between South Africa and Germany that aims to strengthen cooperation and create new networks between the two countries.

www.betweenlines.co.za

Exhibition
Curated by Eva Scharrer

With works by Ulf Aminde (DE), Yael Bartana (IL/DE), Candice Breitz (ZA/DE), Gabrielle Goliath (ZA), Asta Gröting (DE), Nandipha Mntambo (ZA), Athi-Patra Ruga (ZA), Penny Siopis (ZA), James Webb (ZA) and Ming Wong (SG/DE).

Please Join Us:
Vernissage // Monday, 15 April 2013, 18:00 – 21:00
Meet The Artists // Saturday, 20 April 2013, 17:00

General Information:
Exhibition Duration // 16 April – 19 May 2013
Opening Hours // Tuesday – Saturday: 11:00 – 18:00

Location:
Former Tagesspiegel Building
Potsdamer Straße 77–87
Courtyard, 2nd Floor
10785 Berlin

More Information:
veranstaltungen@hbk-bs.de 

]]> Südafrika in Deutschland Topnews Wed, 10 Apr 2013 14:31:00 +0200 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=1129&cHash=e971dbbc5099c2671e899dd72fcb6b6b Freedom Day on 27 April is the central annual celebration of South Africa's first non-racial democratic elections of 1994. It marks the end of over three hundred years of colonialism, segregation and...
The moment which changed the path of South African history came after long and tension-ridden negotiations held between 1991 and 1992. The South African government, the African National Congress (ANC), the South African Communist Party (SACP) and other liberation movements engaged in these talks.

The 1994 election paved the way towards a new democratic dispensation and a new constitution for the country. The elections took place in a peaceful and festive atmosphere, though there were threats of political violence.

Of South Africa’s 22, 7 million eligible voters, 19.7 million voted in the 1994 national election. The election was won by the ANC with 62.65 % of the vote. The National Party (NP) received 20.39 %, Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) 10.54 %, Freedom Front (FF) 2.2 %, Democratic Party (DP) 1.7 %, Pan Africanist Congress (PAC) 1.2 % and the African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP) 0.5 %. Although the ANC gained a majority vote, they formed the Government of National Unity, headed by the president of the ANC’s Nelson Mandela who became the first democratically elected President of the country.

Speaking at the first anniversary of South Africa’s non-racial elections President Mandela said; “As dawn ushered in this day, the 27th of April 1995, few of us could suppress the welling of emotion, as we were reminded of the terrible past from which we come as a nation; the great possibilities that we now have; and the bright future that beckons us. Wherever South Africans are across the globe, our hearts beat as one, as we renew our common loyalty to our country and our commitment to its future. The birth of our South African nation has, like any other, passed through a long and often painful process. The ultimate goal of a better life has yet to be realised. On this day, you, the people, took your destiny into your own hands. You decided that nothing would prevent you from exercising your hard-won right to elect a government of your choice. Your patience, your discipline, your single-minded purposefulness have become a legend throughout the world...”

At Freedom Day celebrations in 2008 Thabo Mbeki delivered his last speech as South Africa President: “The brutalities of the past - detentions without trial, disappearances of our people, deaths in detentions, hangings of those opposed to apartheid, imprisonment, exile, massacres, assassinations, forced removals, banishments, the Group Areas Act and many more laws that made the lives of black people unbearable - are testimonies that our freedom was never free. Although today we walk tall because our collective efforts culminated in the 27th of April being our Freedom Day, we all still carry scars that remind us that our freedom that is at times taken for granted, was never free...”

In 2009 the acting President, Kgalema Motlanthe (who took over from Mbeki) maintained “I am equally honoured to celebrate this important day on our National Calendar in the province of KwaZulu Natal. For it is also here in this beautiful land of our forefathers that the struggle for liberation was fought by generations of heroes and heroines - fearless warriors, brave students, determined workers, powerful men and women, who believed that it was their mission to bring us our freedom. And fear of death itself would not stop them. This movement took on greater strength as new generations joined them. Their only purpose was that the next generation would live to taste the fruits of freedom...”

During the 16th anniversary of Freedom Day celebrations held at the Union Buildings in Pretoria prior to  the FIFA 2010 World Cup, President Jacob Zuma paid tribute to  the brave activists that played a role in South Africa’s liberation: “On this day we remember all the brave men and women whose struggle and sacrifices made it possible for us to enjoy the benefits of democracy today. It is a day to reflect on how far we have advanced in building a new, united and democratic nation. Importantly, it is also a time to consider the extent to which the freedoms articulated in our Bill of Rights find expression in the daily lives of our people. From the ruins of a racially polarised order, we have built a nation driven by a strong commitment to the values of justice and equality. As taught by our icon President Nelson Mandela, we must remain steadfast in our determination that never, never and never again shall it be that this beautiful land will again experience the oppression of one by another...”

Since political freedom in 1994 South Africans have strove to correct the wrongs of the past. We are still faced with a number of challenges such as crime, poverty, unemployment, racism and sexism amongst others. Freedom Day affords South Africans the opportunity to make a pledge towards fighting against the legacy of racism and economic inequality as well as renewing their loyalty to their country and their commitment to its future.

Source: |+| South African History Online]]> Topnews Wed, 03 Apr 2013 16:56:00 +0200 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=1133&cHash=90132a4b729d11b1f5cd85992ff3d583 Marking another milestone in the history of the country and continent, President Jacob Zuma hosted Her Excellency President Dilma Rousseff of the Federative Republic of Brazil, His... Dilma Rousseff of the Federative Republic of Brazil, His Excellency President Vladimir Putin of the Russian Federation, His Excellency President Xi Jinping of the People’s Republic of China and the Honourable Prime Minister Manmohan Singh of the Republic of India for the fifth BRICS Summit in Durban from 26 to 27 March 2013. A major outcome of the summit, outlined in the eThekwini Declaration, was the announcement of the establishment of the BRICS-led Development Bank to address the challenges faced by developing countries of infrastructure development due to insufficient long-term financing and foreign direct investment, especially investment in capital stock. The leaders said BRICS cooperation towards more productive use of global financial resources could make a positive contribution to addressing this problem. Another announcement, among several others, was the construction of a financial safety net through the creation of a Contingent Reserve Arrangement (CRA) among the BRICS countries. The self-managed CRA will have a positive precautionary effect to help BRICS countries forestall short-term liquidity pressures, provide mutual support and further strengthen financial stability. It is envisaged that Africa’s development will be enhanced through infrastructure development projects and the BRICS countries will play a pivotal role. This was affirmed during the discussions between BRICS and African leaders during a Retreat on 27 March in Durban post the summit.  The theme of both the summit, “BRICS and Africa: Partnership for Development, Integration and Industrialisation” and the retreat, “Unlocking Africa’s Potential: BRICS and African Cooperation on Infrastructure”, followed on the 2011 Sanya Summit commitment that discussions would continue on the role of BRICS partnering with Africa to support Africa’s infrastructure development and industrialisation. For more information on the summit and the eThekwini Declaration and Action Plan, visit www.brics5.co.za   |+| Statement by BRICS Leaders on the Establishment of the BRICS-led Development Bank]]> Topnews Presse Wirtschaft Politik Fri, 29 Mar 2013 11:45:00 +0100 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=1124&cHash=70e1a69d410aa107620e2477d8f81668 On Wednesday, 13 March 2013 Ambassador Reverend Dr M.A. Stofile, in the presence of State Minister Cornelia Pieper of the Federal Foreign Office and the new Minister Plenipotentiary Mr... Wednesday, 13 March 2013 Ambassador Reverend Dr M.A. Stofile, in the presence of State Minister Cornelia Pieper of the Federal Foreign Office and the new Minister Plenipotentiary Mr Horst H. Brammer, welcomed senior diplomatic representatives of African Embassies and an Honorary Consulate to taste some excellent, upcoming wines created by young South African BEE wine makers. The professional wine seminar was conducted by architect Gisela Schneidewind who is also owner of Stein+Wein. This company passionately promotes South African wines through tastings and events.  Ms Schneidewind presented nine selected wines by Howard Booysen, Seven Sisters / African Roots, Carmen Stevens of Armani Vineyards, Ntsiki Biyela of Stellekaya Winery, M'Hudi Wines and The Township Winery and intriguing background stories about the winemakers. Along with her brochure containing essential information on the wines, the guests received the book “Ithemba”. An impressive and very informative publication produced by Wines of South Africa (WOSA) and supported by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). The book which title means “hope” in Zulu presents fascinating descriptions and photographs of leading South African wine makers and their products.

After the wine tasting the guests took the time to exchange opinions and experiences and taste some delicious South African finger food. |+| Impressions of the Seminar (pdf, 1,7 MB)]]> Botschaft Topnews Presse Sat, 16 Mar 2013 17:29:00 +0100 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=1121&cHash=c6b957124b26b3bd968eb3ab8a8ded7b Berlin, 5 March 2013. One day before the opening of the tourism fair in Berlin (ITB) Ambassador Rev Dr M.A. Stofile welcomed the Minister for Tourism: Marthinus van Schalkwyk,... Tourism Fair ITB opens in Berlin  Berlin, 6 March 2013. After the official opening of the tourism fair in Berlin (ITB) South Africa`s Tourism Minister, Marthinus van Schalkwyk, visited the 44 exhibitors on the South Africa booth and wished them a successful trade show.  South Africa`s traditional core markets definitely include Germany which has shown consistent growth since 2009. From January to October 2012 tourist arrivals from Germany to South Africa amounted to 204,247. German tourists admire South Africa for the welcoming nature and diverse culture of its people as well as the country`s beautiful landscape and wildlife. Moreover, the majority of German tourists are return visitors who view South Africa as a tourist destination that is also an appealing place to live and work.  Minister Van Schalkwyk also underlined the significance of tourism as an economic growth driver and one of the six priority sectors in South Africa to gain economic growth and attract investment. Berlin, 6 March – 10 March 2013. During the show South African Ndebele artist Thembi Nkabinde hand painted a two by three meters wide wall of the South African Tourism Stand at the International Tourism Bourse (ITB). Many a visitor stood to watch and take photographs of the artist and admire her vibrant colours and designs.]]> Botschaft Südafrika in Deutschland Topnews Thu, 14 Mar 2013 16:44:00 +0100 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=1119&cHash=9919affc253f3f5e15f40c997c39b45f DIE LINKE und die Deutsch-Afrikanische Gesellschaft e. V. laden ein am 4. April 2013, 18.00 -20.00 Uhr in die Rosa-Luxemburg-Saal im... DIE LINKE und die Deutsch-Afrikanische Gesellschaft e. V. laden ein am 4. April 2013, 18.00 -20.00 Uhr in die Rosa-Luxemburg-Saal im Karl-Liebknecht-Haus zur Filmvorführung und anschließendes Gespräch mit der Regisseurin Beatrice Möller „Shosholoza Express“. 
Im neuen Südafrika sind alle gleich: Schwarze, Weiße, Inder und Farbige. Auf einer Zugfahrt im „Shosholoza Express“ begegnen sie den Brüchen ihrer Vergangenheit. 

20 Jahre nach Ende der Apartheid ist nichts wie es war, aber auch nichts wie es seinsollte. Auf der Reise durch moderne Stadtzentren, verwahrloste Townships und endlose Weiten erzählt der Film von inneren Grenzen, nicht überwundenen Vorurteilen, unerfüllten Hoffnungen und schwelenden Konflikten. Alle sitzen im selben Zug, aber nicht im selben Abteil.

Moderation: Katrin Voß und Frank Heller

|+|http://www.shosholoza-film.com/Shosholoza_Express/The_Film.html  |+|http://www.beamoeller-film.com/home/news.html]]> Südafrika in Deutschland Topnews Wed, 13 Mar 2013 11:56:00 +0100 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=1127&cHash=fb93aaa60b7e0e572055641a46c74da0 The Dean of the African Ambassadors HE Paka and African Ambassadors would like to invite you to participate in the Africa night of talent show on 24 May...  Dean of the African Ambassadors HE Paka and African Ambassadors would like to invite you to participate in the Africa night of talent show on 24 May 2013 to celebrate 50 years of African independence. Participants are invited to come and showcase their talent in the following categories  Stand up Comedy Singing Dancing Fashion Poetry Art If you think you are talented, please come and register your name with us by 15 April 2013  You can email us your details on Mbavhi- South African Embassy at |+|manenzhem@dirco.gov.za
Oliver Kumbambe- Malawi Embassy at |+|olikumbambe@yahoo.co.uk
Hillaria Mabel Dey- Ghana Embassy at |+|htetteh@yahoo.com  For enquiries call 030 220 73125 ]]> Topnews Tue, 12 Mar 2013 16:41:00 +0100 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=1120&cHash=ceb79a743e488e63d0ac060809c91e6e Fotografien über Stadt und Land in Südafrika Eröffnung, eine Abschiedsgala und eine Feier zum 82. Geburtstag an einem Abend. Obwohl gebürtiger Berliner verläßt Jürgen Schadeberg und seine Frau Claudia nach nur zwei Jahren wieder die Stadt, in der sie sich eigentlich für Länger niederlassen wollten. Sie ziehen weiter nach Südspanien. Dorthin, wo sich Menschen wieder freuen von ihm fotografiert zu werden. Einige Tage bevor er Berlin verlässt, wollen wir eine sehr fröhliche Eröffnung machen und uns mit ihm über den Wechsel und seinen Geburtstag freuen. In der Ausstellung zeigen wir etwa 60 Fotografien als Ausschnitte aus den Serien Voices from the Land und Tales from Jozi. Ein begleitendes Filmprogramm ist in Vorbereitung. Voices from the Land zeigt schwarz/weiß-Bilder des agrarischen Südafrika wo noch heute Menschen unter fast feudalen Situationen leben und Armut zum Greifen nah wird. In dieser feinen und ruhigen Serie zeigt sich der dokumentarische Anspruch des Fotografen. Dem gegenüber steht die Serie Tales from Jozy. Hier springt uns das pralle städtische Leben in Farbe an und zeigt uns Johannesburg in all seinen Facetten. Die Bücher zu den Serien und andere, wie die von uns 2003 gezeigte Serie The Black and White Fifties werden in der Galerie verkauft. Galerie Peter Herrman
Potsdamer Straße 98 A
10785 Berlin(Berlin-Tiergarten Süd)
Tel.: 030-8862 5846 |+|info@galerie-herrmann.com
|+|www.galerie-herrmann.com ]]> Südafrika in Deutschland Topnews Tue, 12 Mar 2013 16:29:00 +0100 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=1118&cHash=e7f8056a562ded3c8733a1882bc40302 Layla lebt als alleinerziehende Mutter mit ihrem Sohn in Johannesburg und schlägt sich mit Gelegenheitsjobs durch. Auf dem Weg zu einem neuen Arbeitsplatz in... Layla lebt als alleinerziehende Mutter mit ihrem Sohn in Johannesburg und schlägt sich mit Gelegenheitsjobs durch. Auf dem Weg zu einem neuen Arbeitsplatz in einer Sicherheitsfirma, die auf Lügendetektoren spezialisiert ist, wird sie in einen Unfall verwickelt, der ihr Leben radikal verändert. Layla verstrickt sich in einem Netz aus Lügen und Täuschungen, die sie an sich selbst zweifeln lassen. Ihr kommt ein grausiger Verdacht, der den Verlust ihres Sohnes bedeuten könnte. Pia Marais gewann 2011 mit Im Alter von Ellen den LICHTER- Langfilmwettbewerb und steckte das Preisgeld in die Produktion ihres dritten Spielfilms. Sie zeigt mit Layla Fourie die Gegensätzlichkeit Südafrikas in eindrucksvollen Bildern und erzählt von Misstrauen und Paranoia in der Gesellschaft. In diesem Jahr präsentiert sie ihren Film außerhalb des Wettbewerbs und ist selbst als Jurymitglied zu Gast.
In Anwesenheit der Regisseurin Pia Marais. Spielfilm, D/SA/F/NL 2013, Engl.OmU, Dauer: 105 min Im Rahmen des Lichterfests am Freitag, den 22. März 2013 / Metropolis Saal 11 / 20:00 Uhr http://www.lichter-filmfest.de/]]> Südafrika in Deutschland Topnews Wed, 06 Mar 2013 11:40:00 +0100 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=1116&cHash=6b4210c057c8b377f3a606a42b51159d Ausstellung 15.02 – 26.05.13 500 Fotografien – zeigt die Ausstellung, wie die Strukturen der Rassentrennung in das alltägliche Leben Südafrikas verwoben und als Teil der bürokratischen Ordnung normalisiert wurden. Dabei geht es weniger um die Geschichte der Apartheid, als um die Frage, wie sich Apartheid im Alltag der Menschen manifestiert hat: Welches waren ihre normativen Symbole und Zeichen und wie wurden sie in Fotografie, Film und anderen Medien dargestellt? 
1948, nach dem unerwarteten Sieg der "Afrikaner National Party", wurden südafrikanische Fotografen auf die Veränderungen aufmerksam, die sich in Politik und Gesellschaft vollzogen: Ihre Bilder verdeutlichen den Wandel von einem "kolonialen Gebiet mit Rassentrennung zu einem heiß umkämpften Ort, in dem die große Mehrheit der Bevölkerung um Gleichheit, demokratische Vertretung und Bürgerrechte kämpfte" (Okwui Enwezor). Die Fotografie veränderte ihre visuelle Sprache und entwickelte sich von einem anthropologischen hin zu einem sozialen Werkzeug. 
Niemand konnte den Kampf gegen die Apartheid kritischer dokumentieren als die südafrikanischen Fotografen. Sie zeigten ihre Mitbürger nicht nur als Opfer, sondern auch als Vertreter ihrer eigenen Emanzipation. Zudem einte sie eine politische Überzeugung: Sie waren Gegner des Apartheid-Regimes.  Eine Aufnahme von Sam Nzima aus dem Jahr 1976 zeigt den 12-jährigen Hector Pietersen, der im Zuge eines Schülerprotestes ("Soweto Uprising") gegen die Einführung von Afrikaans als Unterrichtssprache ums Leben kam. Das Bild zeigt den Jungen wenige Augenblicke nach seinem Tod auf den Armen eines Mitschülers – es wurde zu einer der berühmtesten Darstellungen vom Kampf gegen die Apartheid. 
Ebenso eindrucksvoll zeigen die Fotorgrafien Peter Magubanes, was die Trennung der Wohnbereiche nach Hautfarbe Tag für Tag für die farbigen Südafrikaner bedeutete: Seine Aufnahmen zeigen sie im Bus, in unbequemer Haltung schlafend, auf dem langen, strapaziösen Weg von ihren Siedlungen zur Arbeit. Mit Ausnahme von einigen wenigen westlichen Fotografen — u.a. Margaret Bourke-White, Hans Haacke und Adrian Piper — vereint die Ausstellung ausschließlich Werke südafrikanischer Fotografen. Arbeiten einer jüngeren Generation wie Sabelo Mlangeni und Thabiso Sekgale verdeutlichen zudem die Auswirkungen von Apartheid, die bis heute spürbar sind.

"Aufstieg und Fall der Apartheid: Fotografie und Bürokratie des täglichen Lebens" wurde organisiert vom International Center of Photography, New York, in Zusammenarbeit mit dem Haus der Kunst. Haus der Kunst
Prinzregentenstraße 1
80538 München

+49 89 21127 113
+49 89 21127 157 Fax
mail (at) hausderkunst.de Öffnungszeiten Haus der Kunst
Montag — Sonntag 10?—?20?Uhr
Donnerstag 10?—?22?Uhr   |+|http://www.hausderkunst.de/index.php?id=83&no_cache=1&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=3590&cHash=1df0a2c4417a3be431e4612923e1a0c7 ]]> Südafrika in Deutschland Topnews Fri, 01 Mar 2013 16:49:00 +0100 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=1115&cHash=2672abc2b2435b74d913634b2804faf6 POLICE ACTION CONDEMNED South African Police Service is a constitutionally based institution of the South African Government that is there to ensure the safety and security of citizens. It was thus, with extreme shock and outrage that we witnessed the incident that unfolded in Daveyton on Tuesday the 26 February 2013. From the video which has gone viral, it is obvious that the rights of Mido Macia were violated in the most extreme form.  The behaviour displayed in that video, when it is committed by Police who are expected to serve and protect, is to be abhorred by all right thinking people.
 
The SAPS management regrets the incident that led to the death of Mr Mido Macia and we would like to assure the country and the world that, that what is in the video is not how the SAPS in a democratic South Africa goes about its work.
 
I have therefore, instructed the Acting Provincial Commissioner of Gauteng Province, Major- General Gela to immediately suspend all policemen that were involved in the incident. I have also instructed that the officers involved be disarmed. Further, I have instructed that an internal investigation in terms of the SAPS disciplinary procedures be initiated immediately. We are also removing the current Station Commander of Daveyton Police Station from his position so that investigations can proceed uninhibited.
 
The Independent Police Investigative Directorate is already busy with its investigation in regards to the matter. I would like to assure the IPID and the country that the SAPS will give IPID any support it needs in order for them to conduct their investigation. As stated above, the officers will be suspended with immediate effect. The suspensions are intended inter alia, to enable IPID to conduct its investigation unhindered and without any hindrance from any quarter.
 
 
We fully support the principle of police being policed and we shall be transparent about the outcome of the investigation. We thank the community in advance for bringing to our attention and the attention of the public the callous act that we all witnessed. We urge any witness to come forward and co-operate with the investigation. Witnesses are requested to contact the IPID investigating officer Mr Ramadwa at 011-220 1500 or 072 360 3838.
 
On behalf of the SAPS management and SAPS as a whole, we extend our sincere condolences to the Macia family.
 
The conduct of the members clearly goes against the values that the SAPS represent. All SAPS members are expected to respect and uphold the law at all times and avoid at all costs any conduct that makes us violators of the law. The SAPS distances itself from any member who does not uphold the code of conduct and the ethos of the SAPS. The behaviour of the suspended members is therefore condemned in the strongest terms.
 
Enquiries: Brigadier Phuti Setati
Contact number: 0027 82 778 4312
Date: 01 March 2013]]> Topnews Presse Pressespiegel Fri, 01 Mar 2013 16:28:00 +0100 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=1114&cHash=6683cac1387ff67ee8bc8675f7e5dcb8 In the framework of this year's Berlinale International Film Festival, the South African project STEPS for the Future has been awarded Special TEDDY AWARD for HIV awareness on 15 February 2013. With... STEPS for the Future has been awarded Special TEDDY AWARD for HIV awareness on 15 February 2013. With this award TEDDY and Berliner Aids-Hilfe are paying tribute to the commitment of STEPS for the Future to the active social participation of people with HIV and the fight against discrimination and stigmatization. Their work is inspirational in its use of creative means to bring sufferers out of isolation and back into society, restoring the courage and hope that enables them to live active and self-determined lives. The project's two founding members Elaine Maane and Don Edkins have received the award on behalf of all their fellow workers. About STEPS for the Future:
Of the 32 million South Africans aged between 15 and 49, one in five is HIV positive. The fate of South Africa lies in the hands of these people, now and in the future. Every year 350,000 of them die from AIDS. Yet the attempt to educate people about the virus is often met with ignorance, prejudice and stubborn resistance, especially because it touches on sensitive issues such as prostitution and domestic abuse. This South African self-help project, which is supported by the Weltfriedensdienst, is fittingly named “STEPS for the Future”. It helps people infected with HIV to organize as a community and stand up for their rights. This is the only way they can live with dignity. A particular focus of the organization's work is the use of film to support HIV victims and prevent transmission. The films are made for young people by young people. They tell stories of people carrying the HIV virus or suffering from AIDS. They present real life situations to which audiences can relate. The film screenings, which are introduced by employees of the organization, give audiences an opportunity to grapple with AIDS-related issues. They also provide information about risk factors and transmission modes. Since people in rural communities are at a disadvantage compared to city dwellers in terms of information and opportunities for sharing experiences, STEPS specifically reaches out to people without access to television by using mobile cinemas. Screenings often take place outdoors. The project workers also train volunteers to help realize further film projects, as well as lead and moderate discussions. This helps to activate people beyond merely passive viewing. In recent years 38 films have been made in the southern African region, and they have since been translated into 18 local languages to make them accessible to the majority of the population.]]> Topnews Mon, 18 Feb 2013 15:28:00 +0100 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=1113&cHash=7950df1e87a32f13a4eb5dd6bd024e20 President Jacob Zuma delivered the State of the Nation Address (SoNA) on Thursday, 14 February 2013 where he outlined government’s priorities and plans and set the tone for... State of the Nation Address (SoNA) on Thursday, 14 February 2013 where he outlined government’s priorities and plans and set the tone for delivery in the year ahead. The 2013 SoNA was the first that was delivered in the context of the National Development Plan (NDP), which has been adopted as the high-level framework and national roadmap to which all government programmes and plans will be aligned from 2013 with a focus on implementation. The plan was endorsed by all political parties in the National Assembly on 1 August last year, and enjoys the support of all sectors of society. The NDP was produced by the National Planning Commission in The Presidency, which is chaired by Minister Trevor Manuel with Cyril Ramaphosa as Deputy Chairperson. The NPC was established by President Zuma in 2009 and was given the task of producing the national plan within 18 months.

In SoNA 2013, the President provided an update on all key programmatic areas, especially the five priorities, education, health, creating decent work, the fight against crime as well as rural development and land reform. He outlined the progress made in the implementation of the New Growth Path (NGP), the economic strategy within the NDP. The NGP promotes inclusive growth and job creation in six job drivers. These are infrastructure development, agriculture, mining and beneficiation, manufacturing, the green economy and tourism.

Here is the official video of the speech and below the transcript.

Honourable Speaker of the National Assembly,
Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces (NCOP);
Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly and Deputy Chairperson of the NCOP;
Deputy President of the Republic, Honourable Kgalema Motlanthe;
Former President Thabo Mbeki and Mrs Mbeki,
Former President De Klerk and Mrs De Klerk,
Former Deputy Presidents Ms Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka and Baleka Mbete,
Honourable Chief Justice of the Republic, and all esteemed members of the Judiciary;
Honourable Peeroo, Chairperson of the SADC Parliamentary Forum,
Honourable Ministers and Deputy Ministers,
Distinguished Premiers and Speakers of our Provinces;
Chairperson of SALGA, and all local government leadership;
Chairperson of the National House of Traditional Leaders;
The Heads of Chapter 9 Institutions;
The Governor of the Reserve Bank; Ms Gill Marcus,
The Deputy Chairperson of the National Planning Commission and Deputy President of the ANC, Mr Cyril Ramaphosa and all ANC Officials,
Leaders from business, sports, traditional, religious and all sectors,
Members of the diplomatic corps, Special and distinguished guests,
Honourable members,
Fellow South Africans,
Good evening to you all, sanibonani nonke, molweni, dumelang.

Let me thank the Presiding Officers for affording me this opportunity to share our 2013 programme of action with the joint sitting of Parliament.

We greet all who are watching this broadcast from their homes and at GCIS viewing centres around the country, including those in Khayelitsha, Nyanga and Gugulethu here in Cape Town.

Let me also extend my gratitude to all who contributed to the preparation of this address.  I received several messages via email, twitter and Facebook.

I also spent some time with Grade 12 learners who shared their own views on what should be contained in the speech. I found the inputs very informative and enriching.

Honourable Members,
Compatriots and friends,
On the 15th of August last year, the National Planning Commission handed over the National Development Plan, the vision of the country for the next 20 years, to the President in this august house.

The NDP contains proposals for tackling the problems of poverty, inequality and unemployment.

It is a roadmap to a South Africa where all will have water, electricity, sanitation, jobs, housing, public transport, adequate nutrition, education, social protection, quality healthcare, recreation and a clean environment.

The achievement of these goals has proven to be difficult in the recent past, due the global economic recession.

The crisis in the Eurozone affects our economy as the Eurozone is our major trading partner, accounting for around 21 per cent of our exports.

Our GDP growth is expected to average at 2.5% cent, down from 3.1% in the previous year.  We need growth rates in excess of five per cent to create more jobs.

The National Development Plan outlines interventions that can put the economy on a better footing. The target for job creation is set at 11 million by 2030 and the economy needs to grow threefold to create the desired jobs.

In my last meeting with the business community, the sector indicated that for the economy to grow three-fold, we must remove certain obstacles.

We will engage business, labour and other social partners in pursuit of solutions. No single force acting individually can achieve the objectives we have set for ourselves.

Honourable Members,
I would now like to report on progress made since the last State of the Nation Address and also to discuss our programme of action for 2013.

I will look at the five priorities – education, health, the fight against crime, creating decent work as well as rural development and land reform.

Last year, I addressed the nation on government’s infrastructure plans. 

By the end of March this year, starting from 2009, government will have spent about 860 billion rand on infrastructure. Various projects are being implemented around the country. I will discuss just a few.

The construction of the first phase of the Mokolo and Crocodile River Water Augmentation has commenced and it will provide part of the water required for the Matimba and the Medupi power stations.

The construction of the bulk water distribution system for the De Hoop Dam began in October 2012, to supply water to the Greater Sekhukhune, Waterberg and Capricorn district municipalities.

We have to shift the transportation of coal from road to rail in Mpumalanga, in order to protect the provincial roads. Thus the construction of the Majuba Rail coal line will begin soon.

We have also committed to improve the movement of goods and economic integration through a Durban-Free State-Gauteng logistics and industrial corridor.

In this regard, substantial work is now underway to develop the City Deep inland terminal in Gauteng.

Initial work has commenced in the expansion of the Pier 2 in the Durban Port.

And thirdly, land has been purchased for the development of a new dug-out port at the Old Durban airport.

In the Eastern Cape, I officially opened the port of Ngqura and construction is now underway to develop a major new transhipment hub.

The Umzimvubu Dam is critical for rural livelihoods. Preparatory work has commenced for the construction to begin next year.

The upgrading of Mthatha airport runway and terminal and the construction of the Nkosi Dalibhunga Mandela Legacy Road and Bridge are currently underway.

I have asked for work in the North West to be fast-tracked further in light of the huge backlogs in that province, especially electricity, schools, clinics, roads and water in the next two years.

To improve the transportation of iron-ore and open up the west coast of the country, we have expanded the rail capacity through the delivery of 11 locomotives.

The first phase of the expansion – to increase iron ore port capacity at Saldanha to 60 million tons per annum – was officially completed in September last year.

Construction work is taking place in five cities – Cape Town, Nelson Mandela Bay, Rustenburg, eThekwini, Tshwane to integrate the different modes of transport – bus, taxi and train.

In the energy sector, we have now laid 675 kilometres of electricity transmission lines to connect fast-growing economic centres and also to bring power to rural areas.

In addition, government signed contracts to the value of R47 billion in the renewable energy programme. 

This involves 28 projects in wind, solar and small hydro technologies, to be developed in the Eastern Cape, Western Cape, Northern Cape and in the Free State.

We established an 800 million rand national green fund last year.  To date, over 400 million rand investments in green economy projects has already been approved for municipalities, other organs of state, community organisations and the private sector across all provinces.

We have also rolled out 315 000 solar water geysers as of January this year, most of which were given to poor households, many of whom had never had running hot water before.

We have scored successes in extending basic services through the infrastructure programme. Close to 200 000 households have been connected to the national electricity grid in 2012.

You will also recall that Census 2011 outlined the successes in extending basic services. The report said the number of households with access to electricity is now at 12.1 million, which translates to 85%. Nine out of 10 households have access to water. 

To prepare for the advanced economy we need to develop, we will expand the broadband network.

Last year, the private and public sector laid about 7 000 km of new fibre optic cables. The plan is to achieve 100% broadband internet penetration by 2020.

With regard to social infrastructure, a total of 98 new schools will have been built by the end of March, of which more than 40 are in the Eastern Cape that are replacing mud schools.

Construction is expected to begin in September at the sites of two new universities in the Northern Cape and Mpumalanga.

Last week, we published an Infrastructure Development Bill for public comment.

We are cracking down on corruption, tender fraud and price fixing in the infrastructure programme.

The state has collected a substantial dossier of information on improper conduct by large construction companies.

This is now the subject of formal processes of the competition commission and other law enforcement authorities.

The infrastructure development programme has been a valuable source of learning for government.  In the year ahead, we will fast-track many of the projects that the PICC has announced.

The lessons are that we must coordinate, integrate and focus on implementation.

Honourable Members,
The past two years have demonstrated that where the state intervenes strongly and consistently, it can turn around key industries that face external or internal threats as has happened in our manufacturing sector.

We have seen the revitalization of train and bus production in South Africa, largely because of the drive for local procurement. 

PRASA and Transnet have committed hundreds of billions of rands to improving our commuter and freight train network.

The clothing, textiles and footwear industry has stabilised after 15 years of steadily falling employment. A clothing support scheme provides broad financial support, saving a number of factories and jobs.

On broader economic transformation, revised Broad-based Black Economic Empowerment Act and codes are being finalised.  The development of black owned enterprises and black industrialists will be prioritised.

Government has several programmes of supporting small business.  A key project for the Presidency currently is to get government departments to pay SMMEs within 30 days.

Departments are required to submit monthly reports so that we can monitor progress in this regard.

We have taken a decision that accounting officers who fail to execute this directive, should face consequences.

In the 2010 State of the Nation Address, I announced the Job fund, and three billion rand has been approved for projects that will create jobs.

Honourable Members,
Just over a third of the population is under the age of 15. Our country, like many others, has a crisis of youth unemployment.

Last May I asked constituencies at NEDLAC to discuss youth employment incentives. I am pleased that discussions have been concluded and that agreement has been reached on key principles. The parties will sign the Accord later this month.

The incentives will add to what Government is already doing to empower the youth.

State owned companies provide apprenticeships and learnerships and we urge that these be increased.  We appeal to the private sector to absorb 11 000 FET graduates who are awaiting placements.

The Department of Rural Development and Land Reform runs the National Rural Youth Services Corps, which has enrolled 11 740 young people in various training programmes.

The Department is also planning nine Rural Youth Hubs per province, including in the 23 poorest districts in the country.

We will also use the Expanded Public Works Programme and the Community Work programme to absorb young people.

Working together we will find a solution to youth unemployment.

>Honourable members,
We identified tourism as one of our job drivers.

Tourist arrivals grew at an impressive 10.7 percent between January and September 2012, which is higher than the global average of 4% for last year.

Ironically, the very success of South Africa’s national conservation effort resulting in over 73% of the worlds’ rhino population being conserved here, has resulted in our country being targeted by international poaching syndicates.

We are working with recipient and transit countries such as Vietnam, Thailand and China and are intensifying our efforts to combat this increasing scourge.

Honourable Speaker
Honourable Chairperson,

Mining, which is historically the backbone of the economy, has faced difficulties in recent months.

Last year the sector was hit by wild cat strikes and the tragedy in Marikana where more than 44 people were killed.

We established an Inter-Ministerial Committee made up of senior cabinet Ministers to assist families during that difficult period. The Judicial Commission of Inquiry led by Judge Ian Farlam continues its work.

Through working together we were able to restore social stability in the area.

Government, labour in the form of COSATU, NACTU and FEDUSA, Business Unity SA, Black Business Council and the community sector met in October and reached an agreement which laid the basis for a return to work across the mining industry.

In particular, we agreed to work together to strengthen collective bargaining; to address the housing problems in the mining towns; to support the National infrastructure Programme; to address youth unemployment; and to identify measures to reduce inequalities.

Work is underway and the team will report in due course with specific plans for Rustenburg, Lephalale, Emalahleni, West Rand, Welkom, Klerksdorp, Burgersfort/Steelport, Carletonville and Madibeng.

Two weeks ago, I had a meeting in Pretoria with Sir John Parker, the chairman of Anglo-American Plc to discuss the reported plans to restructure and retrench 14 000 workers at Anglo American Platinum.

Compatriots,
Honourable Members,
We believe that at a policy level we have managed to bring about certainty in the mining sector. The nationalisation debate was laid to rest in December at the ruling party’s national conference.

Ensuring that the public services we provide our people today can continue to be provided to our people tomorrow, requires that we have suitable tax policies to generate sufficient revenue to pay for these services.

From time to time, we have commissioned studies into our tax policies, to evaluate the extent to which they meet the requirements of the fiscus.

Later this year, the Minister of Finance will be commissioning a study of our current tax policies, to make sure that we have an appropriate revenue base to support public spending.
Part of this study, will evaluate the current mining royalties regime, with regard to its ability to suitably serve our people.

Honourable Members,
Distinguished guests,

In last year’s address we raised the issue of the gap market, the people who earn too much to qualify for an RDP house and too little for a bank mortgage bond.

From April 2012 to December 2012, Provincial Departments committed a budget of 126 million rand of the Human Settlements Development Grant for this programme, known as the Finance Linked Individual Subsidy programme.

The money is being used through the National Housing Finance Corporation, which has been appointed to deliver houses to people within the Gap market in twelve registered projects.

A total of 70 million rand of this amount has been used to date.

Projects include Walmer Link in the Eastern Cape, Lady Selbourne, Nelmapius, Bohlabela Borwa, Cosmo City and Fleurhof in Gauteng, Intabazwe Corridor Housing in the Free State and Seraleng in North West.

The implementation of these eight GAP housing projects is currently underway.

Compatriots and friends,
Honourable Members,
On education, we are pleased that the Grade 12 pass rate is finally on an upward trend. We congratulate the Class of 2012, their teachers, parents and communities for the continued improvement.

We congratulate the top province for 2012, Gauteng and top grade 12 learner, Miss Madikgetho Komane, from Sekhukhune district, Limpopo, who is our special guest.
Honourable members,

The Annual National Assessments in our schools, have become a powerful tool of assessing the health of our education system. 

We welcome the improvement each year in the ANA results, but more must be done to improve maths, science and technology.

The Department of Basic Education will establish a national task team to strengthen the implementation of the Mathematics, Science and Technology Strategy.

We urge the private sector to partner government through establishing, adopting or sponsoring maths and science academies or Saturday schools.

Compatriots,
We are pleased with the growth of our early childhood education programmes, including Grade R.

We are also pleased with our adult education programme, Khari Gude, which has reached more than 2,2 million people between 2008 and 2011. 

We also continue to encourage people from all walks never to stop learning.  Many were inspired when accomplished musician and my special guest, Mr Sipho Hotstix Mabuse obtained his matric last year, at the age of 60.

Honourable Members,
We declared education as an apex priority in 2009. We want to see everyone in the country realising that education is an essential service for our nation.

By saying education is an essential service we are not taking away the Constitutional rights of teachers as workers such as the right to strike.

It means we want the education sector and society as a whole to take education more seriously than is happening currently.

All successful societies have one thing in common – they invested in education. Decent salaries and conditions of service will play an important role in attracting, motivating and retaining skilled teachers.

In this regard, we will establish a Presidential Remuneration Commission which will investigate the appropriateness of the remuneration and conditions of service provided by the State to all its employees.

I have directed that the first priority should be teachers.

The Commission will also assess the return on investment.

In elevating education to its rightful place, we want to see an improvement in the quality of learning and teaching and the management of schools. We want to see an improvement in attitudes, posture and outcomes.

Working with educators, parents, the community and various stakeholders, we will be able to turn our schools into centres of excellence.

Honourable Members,
Five years ago, South Africa had such a low life expectancy that experts suggested that by 2015, our life expectancy would have been exactly where it was in 1955.

It was with good reason that we were delighted when late last year, studies from the Medical Research Council, the Lancet medical journal and others began reporting a dramatic increase in life expectancy from an average baseline of 56 years in 2009 to 60 years in 2011. These reports also noted significant decreases in infant and under five mortality.

Increased life expectancy is a key to the country’s development. People are returning to work, they are being productive, economically and socially.  The family structure is increasingly stable and parents live longer and are able to take care of their children.

We should not become complacent, in light of these achievements.

Given the high co-infection rate between HIV and TB, we have integrated these services.

Work is also continuing on the research side. South Africa has discovered a candidate drug to treat Malaria.

In addition, researchers at the Centre for the Aids Programme of Research in South Africa consortium, also discovered broad neutralising antibodies against HIV.

Deputy President Motlanthe has appointed new members of the South African National Aids Council Trust. We congratulate the team, which is led by retired Judge Zac Yacoob, as chairperson.

Diseases of lifestyle are on an alarming increase.  We have to combat and lower the levels of smoking, harmful effects of alcohol, poor diets and obesity.

Honourable members,
In 2014 we will create the National Health Insurance Fund. The Department of Health will accelerate and intensify progress in the pilot districts. 

In that regard, as from April this year, the first group of approximately 600 private medical practitioners will be contracted to provide medical services at 533 clinics within villages and townships in 10 of the pilot districts. 

Compatriots and friends,
In June we will mark the centenary of the 1913 Land Act which turned black people into wanderers, labourers and pariahs in their own land.

Former ANC President Sefako Makgatho outlined as such in his 1919 ANC conference presidential address.

He said;
“The Native Land Act still operates as mercilessly in different parts of the Union, and as a result many native families are still working for white farmers only for their food’’.

We are also honoured, in this year of the anniversary of the 1913 Land Act, to have present among us, Mrs Nomhlangano Beauty Mkhize, one of the veterans who together with her husband, Saul Mkhize, led the struggle against forced removals in Driefontein and Daggaskraal, in the present Mpumalanga Province.

The land question is a highly emotive matter.

We need to resolve it amicably within the framework of the Constitution and the law.

I received a message on Facebook from Thulani Zondi who raised his concern about the slow pace of land redistribution. He said:  “Mr President, as we are commemorating 100 years since the Land act of 1913 was introduced to dispossess the African majority.

“I urge you to accelerate redistribution of the land to the landless African people.

“When we do the redistribution we need to be mindful of food security. Training and mentorship of emerging black commercial farmers must take place”.

From 1994, we have been addressing the land reform problem through restitution, redistribution and tenure reform.

As stated before, we will not be able to meet our redistribution targets.

Government’s mid-term review last year revealed a number of shortcomings in our land reform implementation programme. We will use those lessons to improve implementation.

Firstly, we must shorten the time it takes to finalise a claim. In this regard, Government will now pursue the ‘just and equitable’ principle for compensation, as set out in the Constitution instead of the “willing buyer, willing seller” principle, which forces the state to  pay more for land than the actual value.

Secondly there are proposed amendments to the Restitution of Land Rights Act, 1994 in order to provide for the re-opening of the lodgement of restitution claims, by people who missed the deadline of 31 December 1998.

Also to be explored, are exceptions to the June 1913 cut-off date to accommodate claims by the descendants of the Khoi and San as well as heritage sites and historical landmarks.

Another key lesson is to provide adequate post-settlement support to new landowners so that land continues to be productive.

We also need to provide better incentives for commercial farmers that are willing and capable of mentoring smallholder farmers.

Another challenge we have faced is the preference for money instead of land by some claimants, which also does not help us to change land ownership patterns.

As part of the Presidency stakeholder engagement programme ahead of the State of the Nation Address, Deputy President Motlanthe held a meeting with both farmers and farm workers in Paarl on Tuesday.

Stakeholders agreed that there should be peace and stability in the agriculture sector and that the living and working conditions of farm workers should be improved urgently.
It is also encouraging that even the farmers called for the fast tracking of land reform and support to emerging farmers.

We will continue the engagement with both farmers and farm workers.

Compatriots and friends,
We should also remain mindful of rapid urbanisation that is taking place. The Census Statistics reveal that 63% of the population are living in urban areas. This is likely to increase to over 70% by 2030.

Apartheid spatial patterns still persist in our towns and cities. Municipalities alone cannot deal with the challenges. We need a national approach.  

While rural development remains a priority of government, it is crucial that we also develop a national integrated urban development framework to assist municipalities to effectively manage rapid urbanisation.

As part of implementing the National Development Plan, all three spheres of government need to manage the new wave of urbanisation in ways that also contribute to rural development. 

Honourable Members,
Improving the status of women remains a critical priority for this government.

The Bill on Gender Equality and Women Empowerment has been approved by Cabinet for public comment. The Bill criminalizes practices that have adverse effects on women and girls.

It also legislates the 50/50 policy position with regard to the representation of women in decision making structures.

Honourable members,
The brutal gang rape and murder of Anene Booysen and other women and girls in recent times has brought into sharp focus the need for unity in action to eradicate this scourge.

The brutality and cruelty meted out to defenceless women is unacceptable and has no place in our country. Last year the National Council on Gender Based Violence was established. 

It comprises government, non-governmental Organizations, Community-Based Organizations, Faith-Based organizations, academia, research institutions, government, men’s groupings, and representation from women, children and persons with disabilities.

We urge this coordinating structure to make the campaign of fighting violence against women an everyday campaign.

We applaud all sectors for the campaigns that have taken place already, highlighting that such acts will not be tolerated.

I have directed law enforcement agencies to treat these cases with the utmost urgency and importance. The Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Units, which were re-established in 2010, have increased personnel.

During the last financial year, the Units secured over 363 life sentences, with a conviction rate of 73% for crimes against women above 18 years old and 70% for crimes against children under 18 years of age. 

Masibhunkule sisebenze sonke, silwe nalenkinga esibhekene nayo yabantu abadlwengula omame nezingane, ngisho nezalukazi imbala. Ihlazo nobunswelaboya obesabekayo lokhu abakwenzayo. Izigilamkhuba kufanele zibikwe emaphoyiseni ziboshwe.

Government is adding other mechanisms to protect women, such as the Protection from Harassment Bill. While the Domestic Violence Act also provides protection, it only applies to persons who are in a domestic relationship.

The Protection from Harassment Bill also deals with harassment by persons who stalk their victims by means of electronic communications. 

In addition, the Combating of Trafficking in Persons Bill was passed by the National Assembly last year and is now at the National Council of Provinces.

Once implemented, the law will  assist women and children, who are often victims of this heinous crime.

Compatriots and friends,
There is increased visibility of the police which contributes to the reduction in the levels of serious crime.

The operations focusing on illegal firearms, stolen and robbed vehicles, liquor and drugs which are regarded as main generators of crime have assisted in crime reduction.
Compatriots and friends,

Government continues to wage a war against corruption.

The capacity of the Special Investigating Unit has grown from an initial 70 staff members to more than 600 at present.

I have since 2009, signed 34 proclamations directing the SIU to investigate allegations of corruption, fraud or maladministration in various government departments and state entities.

Criminal Investigations were initiated against 203 accused persons in 67 priority cases under investigation by the end September 2012.

In total, pre-trial proceedings have been initiated against 191 persons. A total of 66 persons under investigation are alleged to have received R5 million or more benefits through corruption. Freezing Orders were obtained against 46 persons.

In other successes, in the past financial year, 107 officials working within the criminal justice system were convicted. 

The Asset Forfeiture Unit seized assets valued at more than R541 million. A total of R61 million of these assets have already been forfeited to the State. The assets are channelled back to fighting crime and corruption through the Criminal Asset Recovery Account.

Last year, additional funding of R150 million from the Criminal Assets Recovery Account was approved for the work of the Anti-Corruption Task Team which comprises the Hawks, the Special Investigating Unit and the National Prosecuting Authority. 

These resources are aimed at strengthening the capacity of these law enforcement agencies in our resolve to fight corruption.

We urge the private sector to also take this fight against corruption seriously so that we tackle it from all angles.

To further boost the fight against corruption, we will fill all vacant posts at the upper echelons of the criminal justice system.

Compatriots and friends,
Honourable Members,
There are some lessons from Marikana and other incidents that we cannot allow to recur in our country.

Our Constitution is truly one of our greatest national achievements.   Everything that we do as a government is guided by our Constitution and its vision of the society we are building.

We call on all citizens to celebrate, promote and defend our Constitution.

Our Bill of Rights guarantees that “everyone has the right, peacefully and unarmed,  to assemble, to demonstrate, to picket and to present petitions”. 

We therefore call on our people to exercise their rights to protest in a peaceful and orderly manner.

It is unacceptable when people’s rights are violated by perpetrators of violent actions, such as actions that lead to injury and death of persons, damage to property and the destruction of valuable public infrastructure.

We are duty bound to uphold, defend and respect the Constitution as the supreme law of the Republic. We will spare no effort in doing so.

For this reason, I have instructed the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security (JCPS) Cluster to put measures in place, with immediate effect, to ensure that any incidents of violent protest are acted upon, investigated and prosecuted.

Courts will be allocated to deal with such cases on a prioritised roll. The law must be enforced and it must be seen to be enforced - fairly, effectively and expeditiously.

The citizens of our country have a right to expect that their democratic state will exercise its authority in defence of the Constitution that so many struggled so long and hard for. We cannot disappoint

this expectation.
The JCPS Cluster has therefore put measures in place at national, provincial and local level to deal with such incidents effectively.
Let me hasten to add that government departments at all levels must work closely with communities and ensure that all concerns are attended to before they escalate.  That responsibility remains. We are a caring government.

Honourable Members,
This year we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the birth of the Organization of African Unity which has been succeeded by the African Union.

We pay tribute to the OAU for its relentless struggle for the decolonization of our continent, including contributing to our own freedom.

We will continue to work for a stronger and more effective organization of our Union.
The NEPAD programme as well as the African Peer Review Mechanism have just celebrated their tenth year of existence.

As the convener of the NEPAD Presidential Infrastructure Championing Initiative, South Africa continues to work with other champions to implement high impact infrastructure projects in the continent.

On peace and security, we stand by the people of Mali in their effort to claim and assert the territorial integrity of their country.

We urge the leadership in the Central African Republic, Guinea Bissau and Somalia to continue their march towards lasting peace for the sake of their people. We remain firmly opposed to unconstitutional change of government. 

We are encouraged by the developments between Sudan and South Sudan. We commend our former President Thabo Mbeki and other members of the AU High Level Panel for the dedicated manner in which they have been working with the two sides. 

We are in solidarity with the DRC as the country battles the menace to its security.

South Africa will continue supporting Africa's peace efforts including through mediation, troop contribution for peace keeping, and by providing material and financial assistance.

In this regard, we look forward to the conclusion of political dialogues in Zimbabwe and Madagascar. 

Our vision of a better Africa in a better world will receive great impetus when we host the 5th BRICS Summit next month in Durban.

We are inspired by the exponential growth of bilateral relations, diplomatically and economically, between South Africa and other BRICS countries.

Strengthening North-South relations remains central to our foreign policy agenda.

We reaffirm our partnership with countries of the North, especially the USA, Europe and Japan.

The UN’s 70th anniversary provides an opportunity to take forward the transformation of the UN Security Council.

We shall continue to use the G20 to represent the aspirations of the people of Africa and push for the transformation of Bretton Woods institutions.

South Africa’s internationalism has a strong element of solidarity to it.  We stand with the people of Palestine as they strive to turn a new leaf in their struggle for their right to self-determination; hence we supported their bid for statehood.

The expansion of Israeli settlements into Palestinian territories is a serious stumbling block to the resolution of the conflict.

The right of self determination for the people of Western Sahara has to be realised.

We remain firm in our call for the lifting of the economic embargo against Cuba.

Working together we can do more to create a better Africa and a better world.

Compatriots,

In the year 2012, we focused on preserving and promoting our country’s cultural heritage with particular emphasis on our liberation heritage.

We also hosted a historic National Summit on Social Cohesion, focusing on building a socially inclusive, caring and proud nation.

In the implementation of our programme we will work with our Social Cohesion Advocates; eminent South Africans drawn from a variety of sectors within our society.

We are proud to have in our midst this evening, two of our eminent social cohesion advocates, Judge Yvonne Mokgoro and Advocate George Bizos.
Compatriots,

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Raid on Liliesleaf Farm, the Escape from Marshall Square as well as the Start of the Rivonia Trial.

A series of events are being planned throughout the year to mark the three events, culminating in a national commemoration on the 11th of July.

Honourable Members
We have just concluded a highly successful Africa Cup of Nations tournament. We extend hearty congratulations to the African champions, the Federal Republic of Nigeria and also to all participating teams for their contribution to showcasing the standard of African football.

We thank all our people for being excellent hosts and fans.

I had the opportunity to personally thank CAF President Honourable Issa Hayatou for affording us the honour of hosting the AFCON.

Compatriots and friends,

As I said earlier, this programme of action will be implemented differently as the activities of departments must be aligned with the National Development Plan.

Compatriots,

Before concluding, let me take this opportunity to extend our heartfelt condolences to the family of struggle stalwart and prominent human rights lawyer, Comrade Phyllis Naidoo who passed on today.

Only recently, we lost Comrade Amina Cachalia.

We are truly saddened by the loss.

Honourable Members,
Compatriots,

As South Africans, we should continue to have one primary goal - to make our country a truly great and prosperous nation.

Happy Valentine’s Day to you all!

I thank you.

Issued by: The Presidency
14 Feb 2013]]> Topnews Pressespiegel Mon, 18 Feb 2013 14:28:00 +0100 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=1112&cHash=4c7e93101f5b6a8c650b4c7ff4308583 On Wednesday, 13 February 2013 the South African Mission in Berlin celebrated the Farewell of its Deputy Head of Mission, Minister Plenipotentiary Cassandra Mbuyane-Mokone, in a... Wednesday, 13 February 2013 the South African Mission in Berlin celebrated the Farewell of its Deputy Head of Mission, Minister Plenipotentiary Cassandra Mbuyane-Mokone, in a festive and solemn atmosphere in presence of her spouse, Mr Joseph Mokone and her son Billy. After very intense four years, in which she served as Chargé d’ Affaires a.i. both in Berlin at the Embassy and at the Consulate General in Munich, Minister Mbuyane-Mokone has recently been promoted to become the High Commissioner of the Republic of South Africa to the Republic of Malawi in Lilongwe. Before her departure to Southern Africa, Ambassador Stofile, the Embassy staff and her closest Berlin contacts from the diplomatic corps, ministries, economy and science came together to wish her well in this new and exciting posting, but above all to celebrate a dedicated career diplomat who without any doubt left her mark on the Berlin Mission and has shaped the image of South Africa in Germany. After speeches by Ambassador Stofile, South Africa’s Honorary Consul to the Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia, Hans-Jörg Hübner and local staff member Russel Pillay, Minister Mbuyane-Mokone responded in a very personal address, thanking colleagues and friends and urging them to continue extending the good South African – German relationship. A solemn toast was the starting signal for a pleasant evening, accompanied by South African food and wines as well as music provided by DJ Bheki Rashid Nzimande. ]]> Botschaft Topnews Mon, 18 Feb 2013 08:58:00 +0100 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=1134&cHash=ff3b4865b81badaa445bc2f8abe3745a Organized by the International Center of Photography, New York in collaboration with Haus der Kunst, "Rise and Fall of Apartheid" offers a comprehensive historical... International Center of Photography, New York in collaboration with Haus der Kunst, "Rise and Fall of Apartheid" offers a comprehensive historical overview of the pictorial response to apartheid, which has never been undertaken before. Through its images, it explores the significance of the civil rights struggle, from how apartheid defined South Africa’s identity from 1948 to 1994, to the rise of Nelson Mandela, and finally its lasting impact. It examines the aesthetic power of the documentary form – from the photo essay to reportage, social documentary to photojournalism and art – in recording, analyzing, articulating, and confronting apartheid’s legacy and effects on everyday life in South Africa.  |+| read more]]> Südafrika in Deutschland Topnews Fri, 15 Feb 2013 11:58:00 +0100 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=1111&cHash=19059895066ee0e298bedb0261cc8c2e On Saturday, 9 February 2013 at 5 p.m. the Embassy of the Republic of South Africa hosted a networking event in the framework of the International Film Festival “Berlinale”. 150... Saturday, 9 February 2013 at 5 p.m. the Embassy of the Republic of South Africa hosted a networking event in the framework of the International Film Festival “Berlinale”. 150 film professionals, mainly from South Africa and Germany, but also from Mauritius, Greece, the UK etc. – attended the function which was organised on the occasion of an important South African participation to the 63rd Berlinale Festival. More than 25 South African Production Companies were represented, taking part in one of the most important film markets world wide, buying and selling films or sealing co-production agreements. With Pia Marais’ “Layla Fourie” running in the main competition and Ntshavheni wa Luruli’s “Elelwani” and Harry Patramanis “Fynbos” selected for the more experimental “International Forum” section, the Mission laid out the red carpet for the three nominated directors as well as part of their production teams and cast – including South African star actors Florence Masebe and Rapulana Seiphemo. After a warm welcome speech by Ambassador Stofile and an enthusiastic communication by DTI’s representative Dr Nonceba Mashalaba (Director, Monitoring and Evaluation) who gave an overview of her Department’s incentive programmes, the directors and producers of the three nominated movies expressed their joy and gratitude of being able to showcase South Africa’s growing and blossoming film industry in Berlin. Sponsored by the DTI, the function was a huge success as it assembled all South African stakeholders, their German counterparts and Berlinale representatives in a warm South African atmosphere, in which they could discuss past and future projects, co-operations and co-productions. By Eric Van Grasdorff, Communication & Marketing, Embassy of the Republic of South Africa, Berlin, Germany

Picture: Copyright Sera Cakal.
From left to right (back): Eleni Asvesta (Producer, Fynbos), Pia Marais (Director, Layla Fourie), Dr Nonceba Mashalaba (Director, Monitoring and Evaluation, DTI), Karin Liebenberg (Director, South African General Consulate, Munich), Minister Plenipotentiary Cassandra Mbuyane-Mokone, Florence Masebe (Lead Actress, Elelwani), Ambassador Makhenkezi A. Stofile, Ntshavheni Wa Luruli (Director, Elelwani), Florian Schattauer (Producer, Elelwani).
Front: Harry Patramanis (Director, Fynbos)]]> Botschaft Topnews Fri, 15 Feb 2013 08:45:00 +0100 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=1110&cHash=22c754a7caf676d0f80400b25de012ca The Embassy of the Republic of South Africa in Berlin is proud to announce the selection of the South African movie "Layla Fourie" by director Pia Marais for... South African movie "Layla Fourie" by director Pia Marais for the Berlinale 2013 Official Competition. Layla Fourie, a single mother in South Africa, is given the opportunity to get proper employment as polygraphist for pre-employment tests at a casino complex. In the constant present atmosphere of mistrust, lies and fear, Layla becomes a suspect herself on a murder happening on her first working day. Almost casually, Layla Fourie develops into a political thriller which takes the audience into the paranoia, fear and mistrust of a society that is still profoundly affected by racial conflict. Layla Fourie
South Africa, 2012, 90 min., Director: Pia Marais, Produced by Pandora Film Produktion/DV8 Films/Zinebar, IDTV (Netherlands), Cinema Defacto (France) and WDR/ARTE. Starring: Rayna Campbell, August Diehl, Rapule Hendricks, Terry Norton, Jeroen Kranenberg, Rapulana Seiphemo, David Mello
Layla is a single mother living with her son in Johannesburg, getting by with casual work. After training as a polygraph operator she manages to secure a job with a company specialising in lie detectors and security. On her way to her new workplace she is involved in an accident which will fundamentally change her life. Layla becomes entangled in a web of lies and deceit. The truth could lead to the loss of her son. For her third feature film Pia Marais - who has lived in Berlin for many years - returned to South Africa where she grew up to make this classic thriller. She uses the genre to take a look at a country which still bears the scars of apartheid. In this way, everyday life in South Africa enhances the tension in the screenplay which she co-wrote with Horst Markgraf. Almost casually, Layla Fourie develops into a political thriller which takes the audience into the paranoia, fear and mistrust of a society that is still profoundly affected by racial conflict. Screening Dates
11.02.13, 22:00 Uhr, Berlinale Palast (Original English Version)
12.02.13, 15:00 Uhr, Friedrichstadt-Palast (Original English Version)
12.02.13, 20:30 Uhr, Haus der Berliner Festspiele (Original English Version)
15.02.13, 21:30 Uhr, Neues Off (Berlinale goes Kiez) (Original English Version)

Pia Marais
Born in Johannesburg in 1971, she grew up in South Africa, Sweden and Spain. She first studied sculpture and photography in London, Amsterdam and at the Kunstakademie Düsseldorf, followed by film at the German Film and Television Academy Berlin. After graduating she worked as a casting agent before making her feature film debut as director in 2007 with THE UNPOLISHED. Her second feature AT ELLEN’S AGE was developed during the Résidence du Festival de Cannes and celebrated its premiere in competition at the Locarno Film Festival in 2010.

Filmography
1996 Loop, Short 
1998 Deranged , Short 
1999 Tricky People, Short 
2003 17 (Seventeen), Short
2007 Die Unerzogenen (The Unpolished) 
2010 Im Alter von Ellen (At Ellen‘s Age) 
2013 Layla Fourie]]> Südafrika in Deutschland Topnews Tue, 29 Jan 2013 10:48:00 +0100 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=1109&cHash=95cf8e710e958336dc39ada66c8fa613 The Embassy of the Republic of South Africa is proud to announce the selection of the South African movie "Elelwani" by South African director Ntshavheni Wa Luruli (The... South African movie "Elelwani" by South African director Ntshavheni Wa Luruli (The Wooden Camera, Chikin Biznis) for the Berlinale Forum. Shot against the glorious green backdrop of the Thohoyandou area of Limpopo, Elelwani relates the story of a young woman who has to negotiate the demands and rituals of her Venda culture alongside those of her modern aspirations. It deals maturely with conceptions of gender applying sensitivity and balance, and comes to a complex and grounded resolution that functions as a refreshing antidote to many of the hysterical binarisms found in discussions of postcolonial identity. Beyond its sophisticated subject matter, the daringly directed Elelwani is one of the most visually memorable South African films ever made. Elelwani
South Africa, 2012; Drama; 103 minutes; Director: Ntshavheni Wa Luruli, original language Tshivenda with English subtitles, Starring: Florence Masebe, Ashifashabba Muleya, Vusi Kunene
Elelwani and her boyfriend are in love and plan to spend the rest of their lives together. They are both educated and live urban lives with aspirations to travel abroad. After the University graduation Elelwani returns to her family in the rural countryside to introduce her boyfriend and announce their future plans. But the weight of tradition bears heavily on her family and they refuse to accept the union. The father wants his daughter to become the wife of the local king, despite her insistent refusal. What unfolds is a secret hidden by the royal family from the community and Elelwani is destined to uncover these mysteries and deceptions.  Screening Dates:
10.02.13 21:30  CinemaxX4  (Tshivenda with English subtitles)
11.02.13 14:00  Delphi-Filmpalast  (Tshivenda with English subtitles)
12.02.13 16:30  CineStar 8  (Tshivenda with English subtitles)
15.02.13 17:30  Arsenal  (Tshivenda with English subtitles)

Ntshavheni Wa Luruli 
Born on 28 August 1955 in Johannesburg, South Africa. He studied acting at the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa, as well as screenwriting and directing at Columbia University in New York. As an assistant director to Spike Lee, he worked on films such as MALCOLM X (1992) and JUNGLE FEVER (1991). Along with making his own films, he also writes screenplays for film and television, and is a lecturer in the Department of Journalism, Film and Television at the University of Johannesburg.

Filmography (Selection)
1999 Chikin Biznis: The Whole Story!, 103 Min. 
2003 The Wooden Camera , 92 Min.
2012 Elelwani ]]> Südafrika in Deutschland Topnews Tue, 29 Jan 2013 10:33:00 +0100 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=1108&cHash=c68cb2c23bd40a5a82870343f272a38b The Embassy of South Africa in Berlin is proud to announce the selection of the South African movie "Fynbos" by director Harry Patramanis for the Berlinale Forum.... "Fynbos" by director Harry Patramanis for the Berlinale Forum. Set against the dramatic backdrop of contemporary South Africa and the harsh but physically beautiful landscape of the Cape Peninsula, Fynbos tells the story of a real estate developer, on the brink of bankruptcy, who travels with his wife to a lavish and remote property he owns in order to close a prospective deal in a last ditch attempt to save his life as he knows it. Fynbos
South Africa/Greece, 2012, 96 Min., Director: Harry Patramanis, Producer: Eleni Asvesta, Starring: Warrick Grier, Jessica Haines, Susan Danford, Sthandiwe Kgoroge, Cara Roberts, John Herbert, Chad Philips
Set against the dramatic backdrop of contemporary South Africa and the harsh but physically beautiful landscape of the Cape Peninsula, Fynbos tells the story of a real estate developer, on the brink of bankruptcy, who travels with his wife to a lavish and remote property he owns in order to close a prospective deal in a last ditch attempt to save his life as he knows it. What actually transpires within the walls of this glass house where six disparate lives intersect, has little to do with money, and everything to do with the human condition: souls are laid bare, others are obscured, and still others are left pondering the line between what is real, and what is perceived. Screening Dates:
08.02.13 22:00  CineStar 8  OV
09.02.13 20:00  Cubix 9  OV
11.02.13 17:30  Arsenal  OV
16.02.13 19:15  CineStar 8  OV

Harry Patramanis 
Born on 23 September 1967 in Athens, Greece. He studied at the University of Film and Television in Munich, Germany (HFF). Since then, he has made a number of short films and television commercials. Patramanis lives and works in the United States, Greece and South Africa. FYNBOS is his feature debut.

Filmography
1989 Frankie , 8 Min. 
1992 Flight into Night, 30 Min. 
1993 Der Schacht , 10 Min. 
2012 Fynbos
Fynbos by Harry Patramanis trailer von Flixgr]]> Südafrika in Deutschland Topnews Tue, 29 Jan 2013 10:06:00 +0100 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=1107&cHash=d95309e14c3dccc7d456c85d72e3fe1f 21 January 2013. UNAids executive director Michel Sidibe has congratulated South Africa and President Jacob Zuma on the progress the country is making in the fight against HIV and Aids.Zuma met...
Zuma met with Sidibe at his residence in Pretoria on Friday. The two discussed various ways in which the fight against the disease in Africa and the world could be intensified.

According to the Presidency, Sidibe said he was particularly impressed by the government's policy interventions and leadership that, since 2009, have led to significant progress in the fight against HIV and Aids in the country.

He appealed to South Africa to "lead all efforts in Africa, especially in manufacturing their own medicine and thus reducing dependency on countries outside the continent".

"We appreciate the support of UNAids in this difficult battle against the epidemic," Zuma said.

Zuma reiterated that the country had moved from "very difficult times" on HIV and Aids to a success story in a short space of time.

There were now more than 1.7-million South Africans on antiretroviral treatment, with dramatic improvements in life expectancy, Zuma said. "We have about 2 948 public health facilities now initiating patients on antiretroviral treatment compared to 495 in January 2010."

The country had also seen a drop in the rate of new infections, from 1.4% to 0.8%, in the 15-24 age group, while mother-to-child transmission of HIV had been massively reduced, from about 8% in 2008 to 3.5% in 2011.

Zuma added that more than 20-million South Africans had been tested for HIV through the government's HIV Counselling and Testing Campaign since its launch in 2010.

"This indicates that the stigma around the disease is being eradicated, which will assist our continued prevention efforts, and the rate of new HIV infections looks set to decline over the coming years as we deepen our existing programmes."

Source: SANews.gov.za

Read more: http://www.southafrica.info/about/health/aids-210113.htm]]> Topnews Politik Pressespiegel Tue, 22 Jan 2013 11:57:00 +0100 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=1101&cHash=0558846a9dca93cf32072692b1fd997d The countdown is on to the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon). The tournament kicks off at Johannesburg's FNB Stadium on 19 January with a double-header featuring South Africa... 2013 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon). The tournament kicks off at Johannesburg's FNB Stadium on 19 January with a double-header featuring South Africa versus Cape Verde and Angola versus Morocco. As hosts, South Africa's national team, Bafana Bafana, enters the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations carrying the weight of immeasurable expectation from the home nation's supporters. Not only this, there is the weight of history too, because the country previously claimed the Afcon title in 1996 on the only other occasion it has hosted the continental championship. Afcon 2013 offers Bafana Bafana an opportunity to uplift the game in the country by recapturing some of the magic of the 2010 Fifa World Cup and drawing on the memories of the 1996 Cup of Nations. |+| Read more]]> Topnews Südafrika Thu, 10 Jan 2013 08:39:00 +0100 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=1102&cHash=8c2a242b1f6d067a13deb4350df4d2ca South Africa's national football team, known as Bafana Bafana ("The Boys"), has a relatively short international history. That's because the first team to represent all South... Bafana Bafana ("The Boys"), has a relatively short international history. That's because the first team to represent all South Africans only played its first match in 1992 – two years before the country's first democratic elections. Bafana's first match was played in Durban, against Cameroon, on 7 July 1992. It proved to be a strong debut against one of Africa's leading teams, which had made the quarterfinals of the Fifa World Cup only two years previously. Mid-fielder, Doctor Khumalo scored the game's only goal to give South Africa a 1-0 win. Despite that victory over the Indomitable Lions, the effects of isolation soon showed as South Africa failed to qualify for the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations after suffering four defeats in succession. Two years later, however, Bafana Bafana's place at the Africa Cup of Nations finals was assured when the country hosted the tournament. Under coach Clive Barker, the national team rose to the occasion. In front of a crowd of 80 000 at the FNB Stadium, Neil Tovey's men beat the Tunisians 2-0 in the Afcon final, with Mark Williams netting both goals. |+| Read more]]> Topnews Südafrika Thu, 10 Jan 2013 08:30:00 +0100 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=1103&cHash=5fa8ab6e6fec853d22951e2d59dea214 On 15 December 1993 the South African parliament led by President F.W. de Klerk officially announced the restoration of South African citizenship to Black South Africans which became... citizenship to Black South Africans which became effective on 3 January 1994, four months before the first South Africa non-racial polls of 27 April, 1994. More than seven million people in the former homelands, forced to accept citizenship of their various homelands, regained their South African citizenship. The Restoration and Extension of South African Citizenship Act No 196 of 1993 was part of a package agreed upon by the CODESA negotiating team. |+| Read more]]> Topnews Südafrika Thu, 03 Jan 2013 08:43:00 +0100 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=1105&cHash=78bdedace308ef9de0ba653ca9029aee The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) has launched a new quarterly publication entitled "Ubuntu Diplomacy" which aims to guide readers in... Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) has launched a new quarterly publication entitled "Ubuntu Diplomacy" which aims to guide readers in understanding South Africa’s foreign policy and the positions the country takes on the global stage. Besides introducing some of the central figures and concepts of South Africa's diplomacy, this first issue explains South Africa's position in relation to some of its main foreign policy instruments like its current role in the UN Security Council, the upcoming BRICS Summit in Durban and the challenges faced by the AU. The publication is available for free download on the Department's Website in PDF format. |+| Read more (pdf, 9,1 MB)]]> Topnews Politik NEPAD Afrikanische Union Tue, 01 Jan 2013 08:49:00 +0100 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=1100&cHash=bf12f1c371c59b8e787d1d2a9bb0d96f In einem Video-Interview für Die Welt erklärt Südafrikas Tourismusminister Marthinus van Schalkwyk, wie sich der Tourismus seit der Fußball-WM 2010 verändert hat. Das Land am Kap der guten... Marthinus van Schalkwyk, wie sich der Tourismus seit der Fußball-WM 2010 verändert hat. Das Land am Kap der guten Hoffnung hat für die Zukunft noch einiges vor. |+| Video ansehen auf Die Welt]]> Topnews Tourismus Pressespiegel Fri, 21 Dec 2012 13:41:00 +0100 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=1099&cHash=a56014ad4768f3604b3e36eb0074b5b2 13 December 2012. South Africa's Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu was this week awarded the prestigious Unesco/Bilbao Prize for the Promotion of a Culture of Human Rights. The prize was awarded at...
"In selecting Desmond Tutu, the jury recognized the outstanding role he played in building the new democratic, non-racial South Africa and his invaluable contribution as chairperson of South Africa's Truth and Reconciliation Commission ... which became a model for other post-conflict societies," Unesco (the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) said in a statement.

The prize recognized Tutu's "courageous activism, particularly with young people, to promote non-violence and oppose all forms of discrimination and injustice".

The biennial prize, which comes with a a US$30 000 cheque, was established in 2008 thanks to a generous endowment from the City of Bilbao.

French human rights activist Stéphane Hessel was the first laureate, followed by Pakistani human rights campaigner Asma Jahangir in 2010.

South African President Jacob Zuma on Tuesday congratulated Tutu, saying he had been "a tireless and visible ambassador of our country all over the world, promoting human rights and justice.

"Even in his retirement he continues to be a beacon of hope, an elder statesman who is highly regarded by the South African people," Zuma said in a statement.

"He has never veered away from his mission of building a better society. We extend our sincere congratulations on behalf of government."

Source: SANews.gov.za

Read more: http://www.southafrica.info/about/people/tutu-131212.htm#.UMsfT6ywWSo#ixzz2F1ufqsfZ 13 December 2012

South Africa's Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu was this week awarded the prestigious Unesco/Bilbao Prize for the Promotion of a Culture of Human Rights.

The prize was awarded at Unesco's Paris headquarters on Monday, international Human Rights Day, in the presence of the Mayor of Bilbao, Iñaki Azkuna. Tutu was represented by his eldest daughter, Thandeka Tutu-Gxashe.

"In selecting Desmond Tutu, the jury recognized the outstanding role he played in building the new democratic, non-racial South Africa and his invaluable contribution as chairperson of South Africa's Truth and Reconciliation Commission ... which became a model for other post-conflict societies," Unesco (the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) said in a statement.

The prize recognized Tutu's "courageous activism, particularly with young people, to promote non-violence and oppose all forms of discrimination and injustice".

The biennial prize, which comes with a a US$30 000 cheque, was established in 2008 thanks to a generous endowment from the City of Bilbao.

French human rights activist Stéphane Hessel was the first laureate, followed by Pakistani human rights campaigner Asma Jahangir in 2010.

South African President Jacob Zuma on Tuesday congratulated Tutu, saying he had been "a tireless and visible ambassador of our country all over the world, promoting human rights and justice.

"Even in his retirement he continues to be a beacon of hope, an elder statesman who is highly regarded by the South African people," Zuma said in a statement.

"He has never veered away from his mission of building a better society. We extend our sincere congratulations on behalf of government."

Source: SANews.gov.za

|+| Read more]]> Pressespiegel Topnews Fri, 14 Dec 2012 13:47:00 +0100 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=1104&cHash=b58ab26db294c2bff4175f8ed279e5e4 The governments of South Africa and Vietnam signed a landmark agreement that authorities hope will help quash the alarming scourge of rhino poaching that has been seen in... South Africa and Vietnam signed a landmark agreement that authorities hope will help quash the alarming scourge of rhino poaching that has been seen in the North West, Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces. (…) the memorandum of understanding, signed by South Africa's Environmental Affairs Minister Edna Molewa and her Vietnamese counterpart Cao Duc Phat, could signal the broadest step yet by the two governments to pull the plug on illegal rhino horn dealings.  The bilateral agreement sealed today lists seven areas of cooperation in biodiversity and is not only limited to the issue of rhino poaching. But judging by the media interest the poaching crisis has generated and what has been coming out of Molewa's department, the fight to save the horn will be central to the agreement. South Africa wants Vietnamese government officials at the highest level to commit to the fight by imposing strict punishments for poachers. "Having signed this memorandum of understanding with Vietnam today, we hope that the two countries will be able to tighten the regulatory framework so that any potential transit that can happen or could happen is actually curbed," Molewa said. |+| Read more]]> Topnews Politik Tourismus Südafrika Mon, 10 Dec 2012 08:46:00 +0100 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=1085&cHash=cf91e4c3e8dd3142399634d1cc85ac9c Am 9. November 2012 ab 18 Uhr lädt AHOI Kunst & Kultur zum ersten Miriam Makeba Mem – Festival in die Universal Hall in Berlin. Am 9. November 2008 erlitt... 9. November 2012 ab 18 Uhr lädt AHOI Kunst & Kultur zum ersten Miriam Makeba Mem – Festival in die Universal Hall in Berlin. Am 9. November 2008 erlitt Miriam Makeba während einer Zugabe auf der Bühne einen Herzinfarkt und verstarb. Das Festival möchte die Sängerin, aber auch die politische und Menschenrechtsaktivistin ehren. Programm
18h Film: MAMA AFRICA
by Mika Kaurismäki

20h Live-Acts:
Zenzi Makeba Lee -
SoulVoice aus SA, Enkelin von MM
Tlale Makhene -
Groove Master aus SA
Djatou Touré & Band -
AfriPop & Jazz
Vido Jelashe & Band -
SouthAfrican Traditional
Joaquin la Habana -
Hommage to the Ancestors
Souleymane Touré -
Master of Percussion 23h Party: DJ Matar

Moderation: 
Martiale Kenfac Nembot & Francois Asukaten Tendeng
Bühne: Bassirou Sarr & Mizza Caric

Supported by:
Makeba Centre For Girls Trust
Miriam Makeba Foundation
IKS Consulting & Promotions

Eintritt: 25,-€ + 15,-€ + Party 23h 10,-€
VVK 20,-€ alle Stellen
www.koka36.de  Website: http://www.miriam-makeba-mem.de/ 

Dr. MIRIAM MAKEBA - Anti-Apartheid Ikone
“..South Africa’s first lady of song and so richly deserved the title of Mama Africa"
Nelson Mandela

Geboren 1932 im Township-Prospect, nahe Johannesburg begann Miriam Makeba ihre musikalische Karriere mit den Manhattan Brothers, einer südafrikanischen Vokalgruppe, die während der 40-50iger Jahre sehr populär war: die erste Band der Südafrikanischen Musikszene mit Plattenverkäufen, die in die Millionen gingen.

1957 übernahm sie eine Rolle in Lionel Rogosin’s Anti-Apartheid- Film Come Back Africa, (Spielfilm, Südafrika/USA 1959) der eine internationale Resonanz hervorrief und in die USA verlagert wurde. Auf ihre Teilnahme an dem Film © CityMedialTwo reagierten die su?dafrikanischen Behörden mit Verweigerung ihrer Einreise nach Su?dafrika. Auf diese Weise wurde Miriam Makeba gezwungen, die nächsten 30 Jahre im Exil in den USA und Guinea zu verbringen. 1990 kehrte sie auf Bitten von Nelson Mandela nach Johannesburg zurück.

1967, während ihres Aufenthalts in den USA, entstand ihr Song Pata Pata, das repräsentativste Lied Afrikas, welcher es in die Top Ten der US Hitparaden schaffte. Das Lied symbolisiert die Energie Afrikas und war z.B. das Eröffnungslied der WM 2010 in South Afrika. Weitere bekannte Lieder sind, The Click Song, Soweto Blues sowie eine Version von Mbube (The Lion Sleeps Tonight).

Makeba feierte große musikalischen Erfolge. 1965 erhielt sie zusammen mit Harry Belafonte einen Grammy. Sie inspirierte zwei Generationen mit dem Motto: „seid stolz auf eure afrikanischen Wurzeln“ und spielte zusammen mit Angela Davis u .v. a. die ausschlaggebende Rolle in der politischen Schwarzen Bewegung "Black is Beautiful" in den 60-70iger Jahren.

Ihre Arbeit mit Menschenrechts-Themen wurde mit internationalen Preisen ausgezeichnet. 1964 und 1975 berichtete sie als Guinea Delegierte der UN, der UNGeneralversammlung über den Terror der Apartheid und war Goodwill-Botschafterin von Präsident Mbeki. Sie gru?ndete die Makeba Centre For Girls Trust, ein Rehabilitations-Zentrum für missbrauchte Mädchen und Frauen und Anti-HIV/Aids-Aktionen. Gemeinsam mit UNICEF & PLAN warb sie in Werbesendungen Senegals und war Sponsorin des UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES. Ihr unermüdlicher Einsatz für die Schwachen und Unterprivilegierten machte sie zum UNDP GOOD WILL AMBASSADOR im Kampf gegen die Armut.

Am 9. November 2008 trat Miriam Makeba auf einem Benefizkonzert für den von der Camorra bedrohten Schriftsteller und Journalisten Roberto Saviano in der Mafia-Hochburg Castel Volturno in Italien auf. Sie erlitt während einer Zugabe auf Bühne einen Herzinfarkt und verstarb am frühen Morgen des 10. November im Krankenhaus an dessen Folgen.]]> Südafrika in Deutschland Topnews Thu, 25 Oct 2012 15:39:00 +0200 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=1071&cHash=63fe6899ead37e236be5762909a47704 BERLIN, 23 August 2012 – H.E. Ambassador Reverend Makhenkesi Stofile, South Africa’s Ambassador to Germany, has ordered that flags at South Africa’s Missions in Germany be flown at half-mast as part...
The period of national mourning, declared by President Jacob Zuma, will last from Monday, 20 August 2012, to Sunday, 26 August 2012, to commemorate the lives of all South Africans who have died violently, especially the 44 who were killed in the Marikana incident.

“I am deeply dismayed and saddened by the developments at the Lonmin Marikana mine,” said H.E. Ambassador Stofile. “I wish to join my Government in offering our sincere condolences to all families who have lost their loved ones. We wish those who have been injured a speedy recovery.”

H.E. Ambassador Stofile further commented on the supremacy of the South African constitution: “I can assure those concerned that South Africa’s Constitution dictates that the rule of law applies to everyone - employers, labour and the police.”

“Following this incident, President Zuma has established an Inter-ministerial Committee to lead and coordinate assistance to the families of all who died in Marikana,” said H. E. Ambassador Stofile. “The Committee will be led by Minister in the Presidency, Collins Chabane, and he will be supported by the Premier of the North West Province and the National Ministers of Mineral Resources, Police, Social Development, Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Labour, Defence and Military Veterans, Health, State Security, and Home Affairs.” The Inter-Ministerial Committee will oversee government intervention and strategies, working with key stakeholders, to restore peace, order and stability at Marikana.

The Presidency also will shortly announce the composition of the Judicial Commission of Enquiry and its terms of reference. The Judicial Commission of Inquiry will investigate all events that led to the Lonmin Mine incident. 

H.E. Ambassador Stofile further wished to assure the international community that all parties to the conflict are being called back to the negotiation table to reach a peaceful resolution. He stressed that South Africa is renowned throughout the world for its capacity for peaceful resolution of disputes and he reaffirmed the belief in peace, stability and order and in building a caring society free of crime and violence. “This is not the time for inflammatory statements and pointing fingers. All South Africans must work together and unite against incitement of violence from whatever quarter – as we have done in the past.”

President Jacob Zuma declared Thursday, 23 August as the official day for memorial services to be held around the country to mourn and promote a violence-free society. The official day of memorial services will be marked by mourning and memorial activities observed throughout the country.]]> Topnews Presse Thu, 23 Aug 2012 10:52:00 +0200 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=1070&cHash=2a6fbd548158f34628e7842c497ffd44 19 August 2012. President Zuma has declared a period of national mourning from Monday 20 to Sunday 26 August 2012, to commemorate the lives of all South Africans who have died violently, especially...
Ten Lonmin mine employees were killed between 10 and 12 August, and on 16 August, 34 people were killed and 78 were injured.

The period of mourning is also for the eight members of the community-based anti-stock theft group called Isikebhe, who were ambushed and killed in Pomeroy near Msinga in KwaZulu-Natal.

Flags will fly at half mast at all flag stations in South Africa and missions outside the country, from 20 to 26 of August. 

The President has also declared Thursday, 23 August as the official day for memorial services to be held around the country to mourn and promote a violence-free society.

“The nation is in shock and in pain. We must this week reflect on the sanctity of human life and the right to life as enshrined in the Constitution of the Republic. We must avoid finger-pointing and recrimination. We must unite against violence from whatever quarter. We must reaffirm our belief in peace, stability and order and in building a caring society free of crime and violence." 

In addition, the President has appointed an Inter-ministerial Committee on the Marikana Tragedy, led by the Minister in the Presidency Mr Collins Chabane. The Committee comprises the following: 

Ministers and Premier;
North West Premier, Ms Thandi Modise
Ms Susan Shabangu, Mineral Resources
Mr Nathi Mthethwa, Police
Ms Bathabile Dlamini, Social Development
Mr Richard Baloyi, Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs.
Ms Mildred Oliphant, Labour
Ms Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, Defence and Military Veterans,
Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, Health
Dr Siyabonga Cwele, State Security.
Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, Home Affairs.

The committee will visit Marikana tomorrow. They will coordinate and lead all support to families and relatives including the identification of family members, counselling and burials. 

The President has requested faith-based organisations to work with government in assisting families during this difficult period.

The President met with the police and the injured mineworkers in Marikana on the 17th of August, and announced the establishment of a commission of inquiry into the tragedy.

It will be a judicial commission of inquiry, and the President will announce the composition and terms of reference in a few days’ time. As per Circular Letter from the Presidency, please note that the South African Flag will fly at half-mast at all flag stations in South Africa and missions outside the country, from 20 to 26 of August 2012.

Enquiries: Mac Maharaj 079 879 3203 or Harold Maloka on 082 847 9799. 

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria]]> Pressespiegel Presse Politik Topnews Mon, 20 Aug 2012 13:45:00 +0200 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=1069&cHash=402979cdff4024393aea50ad07f13d25 Issued by: GCIS, 17 August 2012. Premier Modise, Ministers and Deputy Ministers, Ladies and gentlemen of the media, I have just returned from the SADC Summit in Maputo to be with the...
We have all been saddened and dismayed by the events of the past few days and hours around the Marikana mine.

The loss of life among workers and members of our Police Service is tragic and regrettable.

These events are not what we want to see or want to become accustomed to, in a democracy that is bound by the rule of law, and where we are creating a better life for all our people.
 
We do not expect such incidents, particularly in a country where there is a high level of organization within the labour movement. We have trade unions with many years of experience in organizing workers, within the framework of the labour laws of the country.

Today, our thoughts are primarily with the families of those who have lost their lives.

As government and as fellow citizens, we offer our sincere condolences to all families who have lost their loved ones.

Our thoughts are also with those who are recovering in hospitals and clinics.

Our thoughts are also with our Police Service who are at times called upon to intervene in difficult situations.

The events of the past few days have unfortunately been visited upon a nation that is hard at work, addressing the persistent challenges of poverty, unemployment and inequality.

We undertake this work in conditions of peace and stability, working with all sectors in our country.

We also work with international investors and development partners who have over many years derived great benefits from working in, and associating with South Africa.

We assure the South African people in particular, that we remain fully committed to ensuring that this country remains a peaceful, stable, productive and thriving nation, that is focused on improving the quality of life of all, especially the poor and the working class.

It is against this background that we have to uncover the truth about what happened here.

In this regard, I have decided to institute a Commission of Inquiry. The inquiry will enable us to get to the real cause of the incident, and to derive the necessary lessons.

However, today is not an occasion for blame, finger-pointing or recrimination.

Today challenges us to restore calm and to share the pain of the affected families and communities.

Today is about reminding ourselves of our responsibilities as citizens. We have rights that are guaranteed in the Constitution of the Republic, such as the rights of association, assembly and freedom of expression.

We can protest against any institution peacefully. It is one of the cornerstones of our hard won democracy.

However, as I said, this is not a day to apportion blame. It is a day for us to mourn together as a nation. It is also a day to start rebuilding and healing.

We have gone through painful moments before, and were able to overcome such challenges through coming together as a nation, regardless of race, colour, creed or political affiliations.

We must use that national trait again during this difficult period.

Most importantly, we will not be derailed from the progress we have made as a country since 1994.

We will continue with our task of consolidating our hard-won freedom and democracy. And we will continue working tirelessly, to build a united, non-racial, non-sexist and prosperous South Africa.

I thank you. 

Enquiries: Mr Mac Maharaj 0798793203]]> Pressespiegel Presse Politik Topnews Mon, 20 Aug 2012 12:43:00 +0200 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=1066&cHash=8440902e497b8c2725d08662886e901e 1 August 2012. From today until the end of the month, the government and people of South Africa will be commemorating Women’s Month under the theme: “56 years of women united against poverty,...
I can state without any fear of contradiction that, as a country and government, we have registered significant progress in the promotion of women empowerment and gender equality. An array of measures introduced since 1994 to promote women empowerment and uphold gender equality, have drastically improved the position and conditions of women in our country. Women occupy influential positions in government and play an important role in decision-making processes. The living conditions of the majority of ordinary women have undergone significant qualitative change. Women now have access to housing, water, electricity, education, social services, healthcare and other services.

We are making progress in addressing the primary health care needs of women and girls as reflected in the decline of child and maternal mortality as well as mother-to-child transmission of HIV rates. We are encouraged by these developments, but believe that more still needs to be done.

There is consensus that South Africa has some of the most progressive policies that are aimed at advancing women empowerment and gender equality. However, the challenge remains the actual translation of these policies and legislative frameworks into implementation. While significant strides have been made to empower women and promote gender equality, women still bear a disproportionate burden of the triple challenges of poverty, inequality and unemployment. Women continue to be marginalized and discriminated against in terms of economic opportunities, the labour market as well as access to land, credit, and finance. In addition, a life of abuse, discrimination and violation of human rights remain the harsh reality for the majority of the women in our country.

I am pleased to announce that the process of developing the women empowerment and gender equality policy that will lead to the Women Empowerment and Gender Equality Bill is at an advanced stage. The national policy is proposing guidelines for promoting women empowerment and gender equality. The Draft Bill will be tabled before Cabinet during the 2012\13 financial year. This will help enforce compliance in both government and the private sector. South Africa has made commitments through the Constitution, various pieces of legislation and international conventions to respect, promote, protect and advance the rights of women. We have a duty and obligation to honour these commitments.

We believe that one of the key areas that can be critical in advancing women empowerment and gender equality is the budget. Early this year, we launched the Women and Budgeting Initiative in partnership with the Motsepe Foundation. Together, we need to reflect on the budgeting process and economic frameworks and how these can constrain or promote the development and implementation of policies aimed at empowering women and vulnerable groups.

We are fully aware that budgets have been instrumental in perpetuating gender biases globally. We also know that budgets can be instrumental in transforming and redressing existing gender inequalities. Mainstreaming gender into budgeting processes is critical to building an equal society. We believe that gender-responsive budgeting can be a tool to promote the socio-economic rights of women, children and people with disabilities, and is key in reducing inequality in our country.

We continue to work tirelessly to ensure that the New Growth Path and the Green Fund are gender and disability responsive. Working together with government departments and other partners, we are facilitating opportunities for women in rural, peri-urban and informal settlements to participate in green economy projects such as solar energy, water purification, agriculture, construction, waste management and tourism. The department will also monitor the extent to which women and people with disabilities benefit through the preferential procurement system in government. The department will continue to encourage companies and organisations of women to register on government entities and departments’ supply chain databases.  

We are also facilitating financial support and training for women farmers and women’s co-operatives with our national and international partners. We are painfully aware that financial dependency on husbands, fathers, partners and family members has increased women’s vulnerability to domestic violence, rape, incest, abuse, and murder. We remain convinced that empowering women will help us win the war against poverty, inequality, unemployment and abuse.

As we fight poverty in the countryside, we must recognize that in South Africa this scourge bears a female face. We must therefore make a solemn commitment to continue our sustained offensive against discrimination and abuse of women and girl children as part of our war on poverty. The rural profile of South Africa continues to be one of female-headed households, growing poverty, human rights abuses and increased gender-based violence, unemployment and high prevalence of HIV and AIDS.


Working together with the Department of Land Reform and Rural Development, we want to facilitate women’s access to land. We are determined to ensure that women, including women with disabilities, become the main beneficiaries of the land reform processes. This is because the challenges of rural development, food security and land reform affect women disproportionately. Together, we have a responsibility to ensure gender equality and women empowerment in the countryside.

Together, we must ensure that the progress we have made as a nation to promote women empowerment and gender equality is not reversed. This explains women’s relentless opposition to the Traditional Courts Bill. Rural women’s lack of access to resources and basic services is compounded by their unequal rights in family structures, as well as unequal access to family resources, such as land and livestock as well as oppressive traditional practices. We are concerned that the Bill will perpetuate this state of affairs. As government, we are painfully aware that women’s dependence on husbands, fathers, partners and family members has increased women’s vulnerability to domestic violence, rape, incest, abuse, and murder.

With regard to violence against women, we remain concerned that the combined figures of all sexual offences, including rape and indecent assault, indicate an upward trend of 2,1% in 2010/11 compared to 2009/2010. Cases of murder of women increased by 5,6%  and sexual offences against children increased by 2,6% during this period. We are also confident that the strengthening of law enforcement measures, particularly the re-establishment of Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) units within the SAPS will assist in turning the tide against these crimes.  

As government, we are taking the war against gender-based violence to a higher level. Cabinet approved the establishment of the National Council Against Gender-based Violence, which is a high-level multi-sectoral national response to the scourge. Led by the Deputy President, we are confident that the work of the Council will lead to a significant reduction in the incidents of violence against women and children. The National Council Against Gender-Based Violence will be launched on the 25th of August 2012.

Congratulations to Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma

On behalf of the women of our country, I wish to congratulate one of the greatest and most extra-ordinary patriots and heroines of our struggle, Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, on her election as the Chairperson of the African Union Commission. She is an inspiration to all women across Africa and the world. Indeed, 15 July 2012 will occupy a special place in our hearts and on the African calendar, for it heralds the dawn of progressive and decisive leadership. We wish her success as she prepares to assume one of the most challenging tasks on our continent. We are very proud of her and her legacy. We have confidence that she will represent us well as Head of the AU Commission.

Charlotte Maxeke lecture

This Saturday, we will be paying tribute to one of the greatest leaders of country, Ms Charlotte Maxeke, through a memorial lecture which will be delivered by President Jacob Zuma in Bloemfontein. During this Women’s Month, it is important for all of us to reflect on the important roles played by selfless leaders such as Charlotte Maxeke and her generation in liberating our country. As we commemorate Women’s Month, we must also reaffirm our commitment to ensure that her legacy lives on.

WOMEN’S DAY PROGRAMME

The main event will take place at the Union Buildings from 9:00. The Department of Women, Children and People with Disabilities in collaboration with the Department of Arts and Culture, Gauteng Provincial Government and the City of Tshwane are working together to ensure a successful commemoration. The programme for this year Women’s Day commemoration on August the 9th will unfold as follows:






The formal programme of 9 August will be preceded by the following key activities:

Night Vigil – City Hall, Tshwane (8 - 9 August 18h00pm –06h00am)

On the eve of Women’s Day, women will hold a night vigil in memory of the 1956 March and in honour of the women who contributed to the attainment of freedom in our country. An interdenominational prayer and worship will be held in memory of all the heroines and women veterans who took part in the march.

Unveiling of the Women’s Memorial Site (Sod Turning Ceremony at Lillian Ngoyi Square)

One of the major activities planned for this year’s celebration is the launch of the Women’s Monument at Lillian Ngoyi Square in Tshwane on the morning of the 9th of August.

The monument is in memory of all the women who took part in the 1956 Women’s march to the Union Buildings. It will be a living monument which includes the multi-purpose centre, will provide space for formal and informal training for women, provide market access for local crafts and provide information to the young generation about the women’s struggle for emancipation.

March to the Union Buildings

The leaders, dignitaries and women will march from Lillian Ngoyi Square to the Union Building where they will join the formal programme. Through this march, participants will be reliving the 1956 march and the journey that 20 000 women travelled in pursuit of our liberation struggle.






Conclusion

We consider the media as our critical partners throughout Women’s Month, because our view is that inadequate access to information has meant that the majority of women continue to remain vulnerable, marginalised and unable to participate in the mainstream of society because they are not aware of their rights as well as the services and opportunities that they can seize in order to change their lives for the better.

Working together, we will be able to overcome a life of indignity, abuse and oppression that continues to define the daily experiences of the majority of women. Working together, we can succeed in ensuring that all the women of South Africa are empowered to taste the fruits of our freedom and democracy.

I thank you

END

Enquiries:  Cornelius Tanana Monama
Department of Women, Children and People with Disabilities
]]> Topnews Tue, 14 Aug 2012 16:21:00 +0200 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=1059&cHash=232357f3efe25704d8ca7e690e2f0285 Berlin, 24. Juli 2012.- Wer bei Young Euro Classic an den üblichen Konzertbetrieb denkt, der kennt das Festival nicht. Und wer nur Klassik erwartet, wird überrascht von viel mehr. Vom 27. Juli bis... selbst ein profilierter Film-Komponist, dirigiert an diesem Abend. Europäischen Schwung und Avantgarde bringt auch das Joven Orquesta Nacional de España mit – neben Klassischem eine Deutsche Erstaufführung von der gerade 32 jährigen Nuria Núñez Hierro. Gefördert vom Bundesverband der Deutschen Volksbanken und Raiffeisenbanken (BVR) garantiert dieser Abend Strahlkraft.  Der europäische Funke wird auch bei Orchestern des Festivalkalenders überspringen, die kaum unterschiedlicher im musikalischen Duktus sein könnten. So die NJO Summer Academy aus den Niederlanden (7. August), die als Spezialisten der alten Musik gelten und mit Barock bis Romantik verzaubern. Und bei den Musikern der Ostsee-Anrainerstaaten, die sich mit dem Baltic Youth Philharmonic (11. August) einen Klangkörper geschaffen haben, der auf Nordisches spezialisiert ist und mehrere zeitgenössische Kompositionen mitbringt. Am Pult der estländisch-amerikanische Dirigent Kristjan Järvi. Für Überraschung dürfte auch das Nationale Jugendorchester Rumänien (4. August) sorgen, das mit Stars der Musikwelt auftritt: dem Dirigenten Cristian Mandeal, der bei Karajan und Celibidache studiert hat und der ECHO Klassik Preisträgerin Mihaela Ursuleasa. Dagegen könnte ein vergleichsweise fernes und unbekanntes Jugendorchester wie das Ural Youth Symphony Orchestra (8. August) andere Seiten zum klingen bringen: die große russische Tradition und stilistische Perfektion. Deutschland präsentiert sich mit dem Bundesjugendorchester, das den europäischen Reigen gleichsam eröffnen wird (30.7.) und mit dem jungen deutsch-französischen Cellisten Nicolas Altstaedt kommt, der zu den Shootingstars an diesem Instrument gehört. Ein bedeutendes Stück Europa verkörpert auch das Moritzburg Festivalorchester mit seinem herausragenden künstlerischen Leiter
Jan Vogler. Gegründet in der sächsischen Musikmetropole Dresden, steht das Orchester für Glanz und Ausstrahlung einer in der europäischen Musikgeschichte besonders fruchtbaren Region. Die jungen Musiker indes kommen aus allen Teilen der Welt und lassen erkennen, wie weit der europäische Musikfunke in der Welt trägt. Einen Glanzpunkt des Festivals setzt das Orchestre Français des Jeunes am Schluss (12. August) und demonstriert dabei in bester europäischer Gepflogenheit den transatlantischen Sprung. Am Pult steht der Chefdirigent des Orchesters, der Amerikaner Dennis Russell Davies. Avantgardistisch setzt das Programm mit einer Komposition des amerikanischen Europäers Philip Glass ein. Er ist wohl der bemerkenswerteste zeitgenössische Komponist dieser Saison, der sein Publikum gleichzeitig für Oper, Konzert, Tanz, Film und Pop gewinnen kann. Ein anspruchsvolles Programm, das durch die Unterstützung des Fachverbands für Bordeaux-Weine: CIVB möglich wurde. Abseits der Symphonik bietet das Festival an zwei Sonntagen Programm für alle – erstmals auch für ganz jungen Hörer. Der Young Euro Classic Tag „Alles Klang“ (29. Juli) ist der Kammer- und Chormusik gewidmet aber auch dem kleinen Format wie der Salonunterhaltung und dem Geschichtenerzählen mit musikalischer Begleitung. Und eine Woche später findet wieder das beliebte Klavierfestival statt (5. August) mit Auftritten junger Stars im Zwei-Stunden-Takt.  Im diesjährigen Epilog musiziert einer der großen international renommierten Klangkörper, das Schleswig Holstein Festival Orchester. Hier spielt der talentierteste Nachwuchs aus aller Welt unter dem Dirigat des Oscar-Preisträgers Tan Dun. Ein Orchester, das das Publikum ganz am Ende wieder zurück zu den Wurzeln führen wird. Der künstlerische Leiter von Young Euro Classic, Dr. Dieter Rexroth, beschreibt es so: „Es geht darum, dass Originäre der jeweiligen Weltkulturen vorzustellen, zu zeigen, was die Menschen kulturell bewegt. Aber richtig ist auch, dass letztlich der Bezug auf die europäische Musikkultur erkennbar bleibt. Und daran ist den jungen Musikern, aus welcher Weltregion auch immer sie kommen, sehr gelegen. Ohne die großzügige Unterstützung der öffentlichen Förderer wäre das Festival in seiner Fülle und Internationalität nicht denkbar. Zu danken ist an dieser Stelle der Stiftung Deutsche Klassenlotterie Berlin, deren Vorstand Dr. Marion Bleß beispielhaft die Motivation beschreibt: „Ohne Förderung bleiben viele gemeinnützige Projekte nur ein Traum. Deshalb freut sich die LOTTO-Stiftung ganz besonders, maßgeblich dazu beigetragen zu haben, dass dieses großartige Festival realisiert werden kann." Besonderer Dank für sein großartiges Engagement gilt Dieter Rosenkranz. Sowie der Ernst von Siemens Musikstiftung, die drei Auftragskompositionen des Festivals gefördert hat. Kooperationspartner ist auch in diesem Jahr wieder ein ganz besonderer Akteur des musikalischen Lebens der Hauptstadt: das Konzerthaus Berlin. Die Firma Ströer stellt dem Veranstalter – dem Deutschen Freundeskreis europäischer Jugendorchester e.V. - großzügig Außenwerbeflächen zur Verfügung. Der langjährige Medienpartner Deutschlandradio Kultur engagiert sich in diesem Jahr unter dem Motto „Deutschlandradio Kultur präsentiert Young Euro Classic“ noch ausgedehnter für das Festival. Eine langjährige Medienpartnerschaft verbindet das Festival außerdem mit dem rbb Kulturradio und rbb Fernsehen sowie dem Tagesspiegel und der Zitty. Tickets zu einheitlich 16 Euro an allen bekannten Vorverkaufsstellen, Online www.youngeuro-classic.de/tickets oder per Hotline 01805 9690000. Weitere Vorverkaufsstellen sind direkt im Konzerthaus am Gendarmenmarkt oder im Kulturkaufhaus Dussmann. Kontakt: Sabine Schaub, Schwindkommunikation, Knesebeckstr. 96, D-10623 Berlin, Tel: 030 31 99 83 40, s.schaub@schwindkommunikation.de, www.schwindkommunikation.de . Die gesamte Pressemappe finden Sie online unter
http://www.young-euro-classic.de/presse/pressemeldungen/ ]]> Topnews Südafrika in Deutschland Presse Tue, 24 Jul 2012 17:06:00 +0200 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=1054&cHash=256d3c0e0aff32ae858d3f9edf0bccfa Berlin 18.7.2012. Die Botschaft der Republik Südafrika in Berlin feierte am Mittwoch, den 18. Juli den 94. Geburtstag des früheren Präsidenten Nelson Mandela. 2009 haben die Vereinten Nationen den...
Der Mandela Tag ist ein Aufruf für wohltätige Taten von und für Menschen rund um den Globus – er ruft dazu auf, Verantwortung zu übernehmen und die Welt Schritt für Schritt, so wie es Nelson Mandela tat, zu verbessern. Herr Mandela feierte seinen Geburtstag mit Freunden und seiner Familie in Qunu während Menschen in Südafrika und in anderen Teilen der Welt sein Leben ehrten indem sie 67 Minuten ihrer Zeit dem Slogan „Let the spirit of generosity shine through“widmeten. Die 67 Minuten stehen symbolisch für jedes Jahr, das Nelson Mandela aktiv für Gerechtigkeit und Menschenrechte gekämpft hat. Die Mitarbeiter der Botschaft der Republik Südafrika in Berlin hatten sich für dieses Jahr die Kinder und Jugend-Einrichtung FEZ herausgesucht, in welcher sie ihre 67 Minuten Freiwilligen-Arbeit geleistet haben. Das FEZ-Berlin ist das größte non-profit Kinder- , Jugend- und Familienzentrum in Europa. Berlins Bürgermeister Klaus Wowereit beschreibt es als „ein Leuchtturm im Bereich der Kinder- und Jugendkultur für Berlin“. Jedes Jahr kommen ca. eine Million Besucher zum FEZ, das indoor auf seinem 13.000
Quadratmeter großen Gelände 30 verschiedene Vereine beherbergt sowie über
Spielplätzen, Badesee, Öko-Garten, Theater, Kindermuseum, Schwimmbad, Kindermuseum und sogar über ein hochmodernes Raumfahrtzentrum verfügt. Es bietet kreatives Spiel, Spaß und Erholung und vereint in seinem Programm Bildung, Erlebnis und Kultur. Einzigartig sind die inhaltlichen Angebote zu den Themen Globales Lernen, Nachhaltige Entwicklung, Kultur, Lebensweise, Ökologie, Technik, Raumfahrt, Spiel- und Bewegungspädagogik sowie Internationale Begegnungen.  In den Ferien können Kinder und Jugendliche im FEZ-Berlin z. B. in der Hogwarts Zauberschule oder bei Detektiv-Spielen verbringen. Oder sie nehmen teil an FEZitty: einem Stadtspiel, in dem sie arbeiten, studieren, Geld verdienen, hohe Ämter besetzen sowie das politische und kulturelle Programm ihrer Stadt selbst gestalten können. Das Projekt wurde mit dem Kinderkulturpreis ausgezeichnet. Der Botschafter der Republik Südafrika, S.E. Reverend MA Stofile sagt über das FEZ: “Es ist eine fantastische Organisation, weil es ein Ort ist, zu dem Kinder und ihre Familien kommen können und über die Welt und ihre Umwelt jede Menge lernen." FEZitty dient als Vorbildsprojekt, denn hier lernen Kinder bewusst zu handeln und die Verantwortung für ihre Entscheidungen zu übernehmen – so verstehen sie, was es bedeutet, in einer Gemeinschaft zu leben und wie einzelne Entscheidungen das Leben von vielen Die Botschaftsangestellten trugen an diesem Tag T-Shirts mit dem Nelson Mandela Logo. Sie führten mit ihren Partnern vom FEZ-Berlin Aufräum- und Reparaturarbeiten auf dem FEZ-Gelände durch. Dabei waren die Gedanken dem Mann gewidmet, der so viel zu einer besseren Welt beigetragen hat: Nelson Mandela. Kontakt:
Sarah Pöhlmann
Communication & Marketing
Embassy of the Republic of South Africa
Tel 030-2207 3127
PoehlmannS@dirco.gov.za

Foto-Credit:
Botschaft der Republik Südafrika]]> Botschaft Topnews Presse Thu, 19 Jul 2012 12:14:00 +0200 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=1053&cHash=68974c2a36a91ac688e5f34c3c26bde1 ADDIS ABABA, July 15, 2012 (AFP) - South Africa's Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma won a tight fought vote to become the new head of the African Union Commission, the first woman to hold the post, African...
She beat the incumbent, Jean Ping of Gabon, in a closely fought election over several rounds of voting.

"Now we have the African Union chair Madame Zuma, who will preside over the destiny of this institution," Benin's President and current AU Chairman Thomas Boni Yayi said.

Ms Dlamini-Zuma, 63, an experienced diplomat, is a veteran of the fight against apartheid. A doctor by training, she has served as Health, Interior and Foreign Minister in South Africa.

Her victory brings to an end an impasse that has lasted for the past six months.

Her former husband, South African President Jacob Zuma, was one of the first to offer his congratulations after the vote.

"It means a lot for Africa... for the continent, unity and the empowerment of women -- very important," Mr Zuma said.

Voting took place at an AU summit, where, earlier in the day, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo agreed to an international force to neutralise rebels in eastern DR Congo, as the African Union said it was ready to send peacekeepers there.

Rwandan President Paul Kagame told AFP both sides had agreed "in principle" to accept the force.

He was speaking after his first face-to-face meeting with DR Congo President Joseph Kabila since a UN report in June accused Rwanda of supporting Congolese rebels. The two leaders met on the sidelines of the AU summit. Ms Dlamini-Zuma's win follows her challenge six months ago to unseat Mr Ping, the former Commission Chairman, which ended in deadlock after neither won the required two-thirds of the vote, leaving Ping in the post.

"She's a freedom fighter, not a bureaucrat or a diplomat," said Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, beaming enthusiastically.

Noureddine Mezni, spokesperson for the outgoing chairman, told AFP that Ping had acknowledged defeat.

He "has accepted the results of the elections and wishes Madame Dlamini-Zuma the very best.

"He expressed his readiness to cooperate with her to work together for the unity of the continent."

Erastus Mwencha of Kenya was re-elected as Deputy Chair of the AU Commission, he added.

Members of the South African delegation smiled and congratulated one another as they filed out of the conference hall.

"It's good for southern Africa. We (in southern Africa) never had this job," a delegate from Zimbabwe told AFP with a broad grin.

Officials said the elections went to four rounds of voting before Ms Dlamini-Zuma won 37 votes, three more than the required majority, to confirm her win over Ping.

Jakkie Cilliers of the South Africa-based Institute for Security Studies told AFP how Dlamini-Zuma's score had crept up from one round of voting to the next.

"She got ahead in the first round and after that the momentum kicked in," said Mr Cilliers. "The Heads of State wanted a decision.

Ms Dlamini-Zuma's win had brought "clarity as to who's in charge" at the AU, after six months of deadlock over the leadership issue, he added.

Some analysts say South Africa has violated an unwritten tradition that continental powerhouses do not run candidates for the post, but leave smaller nations to take the job.

Before the vote however, Ms Dlamini-Zuma played down concerns that the vote could divide the AU.

"I don't think the continent will be polarised," she said.

The winner would "make sure they work with everybody, irrespective of where and who they voted for," she added.

Mr Cilliers said he was optimistic that divisions created by the vote would heal.

"She'll be an inclusive chair, she won't be divisive ... She was a very competent Foreign Minister and even better at Home Affairs (the Interior Ministry)," he said.

Rwandan and DRC leaders will meet again in early August to try to thrash out the details of the force -- including size, mandate, nationality and deployment details -- for eastern DRC.

UN peacekeepers already operate in the region. UN Deputy Secretary General Jan Eliasson called for an immediate end to the violence, warning that "countries of the region ought to respect the principle of non-interference."

AU Peace and Security Commissioner Ramtane Lamamra said that changing the mandate of the UN peackeeping mission there "was one scenario.

On Monday the heads of state will wrap up their two-day meeting.]]> Topnews Politik Afrikanische Union Pressespiegel Tue, 17 Jul 2012 08:29:00 +0200 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=1040&cHash=f29babe29fbc85019ef57fa3a54d0e66 MIAGI (Music is a Great Investment), renowned for its incredible dedication in developing young South African musicianship, is sending over 90 young South African orchestral musicians to Germany and... 90 young South African orchestral musicians to Germany and Austria for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to perform on a 16 day tour of some of the most prestigious and  major European summer festivals.
 
Performing with the great Austrian multifaceted artist, conductor, composer, painter and sensational jazz trombonist, Christian Muthspiel, the MIAGI Youth Orchestra (MYO) will headline at the already sold-out event Young Euro Classic Festival in Berlin on the 27th July.

The musicians, most of who have been nurtured by MIAGI for years, will embark on a whirlwind tour of Germany and Austria. The orchestra has already received overwhelming media and audience success from having performed in Berlin in 2009, and has been invited back to play the opening night of the Young Euro Classic Festival as just one leg of their amazing European itinerary.

This massive honour puts the MIAGI Youth Orchestra on par with the best youth orchestras from all over the world.

Christian Muthspiel had the pleasure of conducting the MYO in 2011 and due to the great success of that collaboration, MIAGI asked him to lead the musicians once again on their tour.  Muthspiel has been inspired by South African culture and has collaborated with one of MIAGI’s talented young musicians – Tshepo Tsotetsi to create a unique piece that will form part of the Orchestra’s touring programme.
 
Muthspiel explains, “during my first phase of work with the MIAGI Youth Orchestra, I was particularly impressed by the music and dances which the young musicians rehearsed and performed in the evenings merely for their own pleasure. The unconditional passion and ferocity displayed brought a wealth of African tradition before my eyes and sparked in me a desire to draw on this source of power within the orchestra.  In discussions with the MIAGI founders, a concept was gradually developed to realize this idea.”  

This inspiration birthed the composition that will be headlining the programme during the tour - Christian Muthspiel: Out of South Africa, Symphonic Poem on Themes by Tshepo Tsotetsi.   
 
Tshepo is a highly talented musician from the orchestra that has brought his own compositions from the exciting playing field between traditional folk and jazz, as well as being a highly talented band leader, saxophonist and clarinetist.  Tshepo and Christian worked together on various themes during their time together in Vienna and gradually transformed them into a symphonic vocabulary. 

Tshepo will also be leading a number of more informal tour performances by a group of MYO musicians with the name 'New Skool Orchestra @ MIAGI', also Tsotetsi's brainchild. The New Skool Orchestra was born as a result of the evenings of music and dance that Mutspiel drew his inspiration from, the so-called ‘Kwela evenings’. The formation offers among others, a flexible, multi cultural, experimental ground to young composers, affording them the chance to hear and thoroughly develop their music with a group of young, energetic musicians.
  
The programme will also include Leonard Bernstein’s symphonic suite ‘On the Waterfront’, George Gershwin’s ‘An American in Paris’, Claude Debussy’s ‘Prelude a l’apres-midi d’un Faune’ and Antonin Dvorak’s ‘Romance in F Minor for Violin and Orchestra Op. 11’.  
 
South African audiences will have an opportunity to be the first to experience the full programme and wish the young musicians of the MIAGI Youth Orchestra Farewell at the Farewell Concert at the Linder Auditorium on July 15th. This concert was made possible through support through the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund and the Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of South Africa, within the Youth Empowerment through Arts and Culture programme. Once again MIAGI delivers on its mentorship for these young musicians.  MIAGI is a non-profit organisation in its 12th year of changing lives through music.  This rare and exciting opportunity will open up a whole new world for the young musicians.  Catch them live at their farewell concert as they embark on this life-changing event.

TOUR ITINERARY

• 15 JULY @ 15h30 – FAREWELL CONCERT AT LINDER AUDITORIUM IN JOHANNESBURG - tickets from 1 June at Computicket and one hour before the event at the door.
• 18 JULY – LUDWIGSBURGER SCHLOSSFESTSPIELE - CONCERT BY NEW SKOOL ORCHESTRA @ MIAGI
• 19 JULY - LUDWIGSBURGER SCHLOSSFESTSPIELE - CONCERT BY MIAGI YOUTH ORCHESTRA  
• 21 JULY – CARINTHISCHER SOMMER FESTIVAL – CONCERT BY MIAGI YOUTH ORCHESTRA 
• 22 JULY – GRAZ MINORITENSÄLE – CONCERT BY MIAGI YOUTH ORCHESTRA
• 27 JULY – YOUNG EURO CLASSIC FESTIVAL – CONCERT BY MIAGI YOUTH ORCHESTRA - SOLD OUT
• 28 JULY – YOUNG EURO CLASSIC FESTIVAL – CONCERT BY NEW SKOOL ORCHESTRA @ MIAGI
• 29 JULY - DIE FABRIK HAMBURG - NEW SKOOL ORCHESTRA @ MIAGI 
• 31 JULY – KAMPNAGEL HAMBURG - CONCERT BY MIAGI YOUTH ORCHESTRA

For more information visit www.miagi.co.za email info@miagi.co.za or call 012 320 5154]]> Topnews Südafrika in Deutschland Mon, 11 Jun 2012 14:39:00 +0200 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=1030&cHash=d5b0c5d57dc4adea822d99e1183c2b1d Ein rundes Jubiläum gibt immer Anlass für einen Rückblick, aber auch für einen neugierigen Blick in die Zukunft. In diesem Jahr feiert der Afrikanische Nationalkongress (ANC) sein 100-jähriges...
Nach 100 Jahren, in denen der ANC über 80 Jahre eine Protest- und Widerstandsbewegung war und seit nunmehr fast 20 Jahren die Regierungspartei stellt, lässt sich kein einheitliches Bild zeichnen. Dies gilt auch für die Beziehungen zur Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung. Lange Zeit vom Ost-West-Konflikt beeinflusst sind es heute die Herausforderungen der Globalisierung, die unser Verhältnis bestimmen und die wir kritisch miteinander diskutieren. Dennoch oder vielleicht gerade deshalb hat diese Partnerschaft bis zum heutigen Tage gehalten.

Das 100-jährige Jubiläum des ANC regt auch dazu an, die unterschiedlichen Formen von Solidaritäten über Grenzen hinweg im Lichte dieser langjährigen Partnerschaft zu beleuchten. Im Mittelpunkt stehen dabei zwei komplementäre Ausstellungen. Einerseits werden das Verhältnis und die Zusammenarbeit des ANC mit der deutschen Sozialdemokratie, den Gewerkschaften und der Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung reflektiert. Andererseits erzählen wir die Geschichte der Anti-Apartheidsolidarität in den beiden deutschen Staaten. Begleitet wird diese Erzählung durch die Präsentation spannender und mehrfach ausgezeichneter internationaler Filmdokumentationen zum Widerstand in Südafrika und dessen weltweiter Unterstützung. Nicht zuletzt sollen Zeitzeugen aus Deutschland und Südafrika in Podiumsdiskussionen und Interviews zu Wort kommen.

Wir möchten Sie sehr herzlich einladen, die spannenden Analysen, Präsentationen und Diskussionen mit zu verfolgen, aus denen eventuell auch Lehren für zukünftiges Handeln in Fragen internationaler Solidarität gezogen werden können. |+| Link zum Flyer
|+| Website

Alle Veranstaltungen im Überblick

Mi, 16. Mai, 17-18 Uhr | Galerie im Haus 1, FES
Eröffnung der Ausstellung
Solidaritäten über Grenzen. Die deutsche Sozialdemokratie und der African National Congress (ANC)

Mi, 16. Mai - Fr, 15. Juni | Galerie im Haus 1, FES
Ausstellung
Solidaritäten über Grenzen. Die deutsche Sozialdemokratie und der African National Congress (ANC)

Mo, 21. Mai, 18-20 Uhr | Galerie, August Bebel Institut
Eröffnung der Ausstellung
Solidaritäten über Grenzen. Anti-Apartheid-Kampagnen in der BRD und DDR

Mo, 21. Mai – Fr, 22. Juni | Galerie, August Bebel Institut
Ausstellung
Solidaritäten über Grenzen. Anti-Apartheid-Kampagnen in der BRD und DDR

Mi, 16. Mai, 18–21 Uhr | Haus 1, FES
Podiumsdiskussion
Sanktionen und ihre Wirkung am Beispiel Südafrikas

Mi, 23. Mai, 19–21 Uhr | Haus 1, FES
Interview
Thierse trifft... EXTRA: S.E. Makhenkesi A. Stofile

Do, 24. Mai, 17-18 Uhr | Galerie, August Bebel Institut
Führung durch die Ausstellung
Solidaritäten über Grenzen. Anti-Apartheid-Kampagnen in der BRD und DDR

25. Mai, 5., 12., 15. Juni, jeweils 17-19 Uhr | Galerie im Haus 1, FES
Filmvorführungen
Have you heard from Johannesburg

Do, 31. Mai, 18-20 Uhr | Galerie, August Bebel Institut
Vortrag und Diskussion
Graswurzel-Bewegung vs. staatlicher Auftrag?

Mi, 06. Juni, 17-21 Uhr | Galerie im Haus 1, FES
World Café und Fishbowl, geschlossene Veranstaltung
Ohne Netz und Twitter

Do, 14. Juni, 18-21 Uhr | Galerie, August Bebel Institut
Podiumsdiskussion
Anti-Apartheid-AktivistInnen erinnern sich

Fr, 15. Juni, 19-21 Uhr | Haus 1, FES
Finissage der Ausstellung
Solidaritäten über Grenzen. Die deutsche Sozialdemokratie und der African National Congress (ANC)
mehr

Mi, 20. Juni, 18-21 Uhr | Movimento Kino
Filmvorführung
Memories of Rain. Views from the Underground

Fr, 22. Juni, 18-20 Uhr | Galerie, August Bebel Institut
Finissage der Ausstellung
Solidaritäten über Grenzen. Anti-Apartheid-Kampagnen in der BRD und DDR

Alle Veranstaltungen werden simultan gedolmetscht]]> Südafrika in Deutschland Topnews Wed, 09 May 2012 16:44:00 +0200 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=1035&cHash=57cc38547706cf9dc36b1b2528fa53f8 The results of the seventh Bi-National Commission between the Republic of South Africa and the Federal Republic of Germany are captured in a joint communiqué. It entails the results of the joint...
|+| Download this communiqué in pdf |+| Final Speech by Deputy President Motlanthe |+| Final Speech by Foreign Minister Westerwelle]]> Bilaterale Beziehungen Politik Topnews Presse Tue, 08 May 2012 15:56:00 +0200 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=1032&cHash=e27fdfff37efeb18b6eef8a44d55cd26 Your Excellency, my delegation and I wish to thank you most sincerely for the warm welcome extended to us since our arrival to your beautiful country and historic city yesterday. |+| Download a PDF... |+| Download a PDF version of the Speech Your Excellency, Dr Guido Westerwelle, Foreign Minister of Federal Republic of Germany;
Ministers and Deputy Ministers; 
Ambassadors and Senior Government Officials;
Ladies and gentlemen: Your Excellency, my delegation and I wish to thank you most sincerely for the warm welcome extended to us since our arrival to your beautiful country and historic city yesterday.   I am happy to preside jointly with you over the seventh session of the Bi-national Commission, another milestone in our strategic co-operation since it was launched during the State Visit of former President Mandela in 1996.  South Africa and Germany have become partners in the international community, and have shared a joint vision of how to create a world which is worthy of its inhabitants and future generations. We took note of the German Government’s Africa Strategy with interest and welcome your Government’s renewed commitment to Africa, on the basis of a partnership of equals.   Both our countries share the goals of enhancing peace and security; good governance; rule of law; democracy and human rights; economic development; and indeed, dealing with the challenges posed by climate change, as well as finding new sources of energy. Let me also point out that our deliberations are taking place at a critical juncture. Since the last meeting of the BNC in Pretoria two years ago, the world has been in a state of flux. These changes require constant monitoring and detailed analysis so as to find practical solutions to the resultant socio-economic challenges before us. 
The economic crisis in Europe and the other parts of the world has had a ripple effect around the globe and as such we felt it strongly in South Africa.  Despite our careful stewardship of the South African economy, our exports declined massively in the period 2008 to 2009. However, we are pleased that our trade with Germany is approximating levels previously reached before the crisis of 2008.  In addition, South Africa values even more Germany’s strong financial support, especially with regard to its efforts to strengthen peace and stability on the African continent.  Accordingly, we look forward to enhancing the success of our cooperation and to extend even further our joint support of development cooperation projects on the African continent. The strategic partnership between South Africa and Germany is showing concrete and specific outcomes. For example, the South African-German Year of Science was launched on 16 April 2012 in Cape Town by our Ministers of Science and Technology and of Education and Research.  The initiative aims to further foster local skills development and innovation, while providing a platform for further joint ventures in science. We look forward to identifying new projects of cooperation in this field. I am also pleased to note that the decision taken at the BNC of 2010 in Pretoria that the political dialogue on foreign policy and global issues between our countries should further be strengthened was implemented and that a meeting was held yesterday between our respective departments.  There are also other opportunities in many sectors, particularly infrastructure development, renewable energy, automotives, mining, chemicals, agro-processing and cultural industries.  In this regard, Your Excellency, I wish to bring to your attention the South African Government’s nationwide infrastructure development drive, overseen by the Presidential Infrastructure Coordinating Commission, (PICC), which was established in September 2011, bringing together ministers, provincial premiers and mayors of big cities, under the leadership of President Jacob Zuma.    We are targeting a range of areas, including roads, rail, ports, water infrastructure, and telecommunications. To this end we wish to invite the Government of Germany and German cooperates to participate in this important initiative.  Your Excellency, colleagues, ladies and gentlemen,
Let me pause here to allow the committees to report on the outcomes of their engagements over the last few days. Lastly, let me convey our sincere gratitude to you, for your kind words of condolence on the loss of one of our own ministers.  He actually left a cabinet meeting on Thursday last week, to travel to Ethiopia, where  he was to attend a meeting of the African Peer Review Mechanism.  I thank you.]]> Topnews Bilaterale Beziehungen Politik Presse Tue, 08 May 2012 15:40:00 +0200 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=1031&cHash=d27aa08e537ad29999955648d1e0efaf Berlin, 7.Mai 2012. S.E. Botschafter Makhenkesi Stofile begrüßte den südafrikanischen Vizepräsidenten Kgalema Petrus Motlanthe, in der Botschaft der Republik Südafrika in Berlin. Unter der Leitung... S.E. Botschafter Makhenkesi Stofile begrüßte den südafrikanischen Vizepräsidenten Kgalema Petrus Motlanthe, in der Botschaft der Republik Südafrika in Berlin. Unter der Leitung von Vizepräsident Motlanthe wird die südafrikanische Delegation an der siebten Südafrikanisch-Deutschen Binationalen Kommission teilnehmen. Diese Kommission wurde 1996, anlässlich des Staatsbesuchs von Präsident Nelson Mandela in Deutschland zur Förderung der bilateralen Zusammenarbeit vereinbart. Die Initiative war Ausdruck des Interesses auf beiden Seiten, eine langfristige und ein breites Spektrum umfassende strategische Partnerschaft zwischen beiden Ländern aufzubauen und die Beziehungen auf eine neue Stufe zu heben und tritt seitdem alle zwei Jahre zusammen. Die letzte Kommission fand im April 2010 in Pretoria statt.

Vizepräsident Motlanthe wird von Ministern aus den Ministerien von Wissenschaft und Technik, Handel und Wirtschaft und Finanzen begleitet. Außerdem nehmen hochrangige  Vertreter aus Politik und Wirtschaft daran teil.

Die Zusammenarbeit innerhalb der Kommission erstreckt sich derzeit auf sieben Bereiche, zu denen jeweils Fachkommissionen tagen: Wirtschaft, Umwelt, Entwicklungszusammenarbeit, Verteidigung, Bildung/Wissenschaft/Forschung, Kultur, Arbeit und Soziales.]]> Botschaft Topnews Bilaterale Beziehungen Presse Mon, 07 May 2012 13:16:00 +0200 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=1028&cHash=dbd3a644f6e7afeb555556af1b64b7a6 The Deputy President of the Republic; Mr Kgalema Motlanthe; The Chief Justice of the Republic, Honourable Mogoeng Mogoeng; Honourable Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, Ms Noma... The Chief Justice of the Republic, Honourable Mogoeng Mogoeng; 
Honourable Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, 
Ms Noma India Mfeketo; 
Honourable Deputy Chairperson of the NCOP, Ms Thandi Memela;
The Minister of Arts and Culture, Mr Mashatile and all Ministers; Deputy Ministers and MECs present;
Acting Premier of Gauteng Mr Nkomfe and all Premiers present;
Representatives of Chapter nine institutions;
Representatives of political parties represented in Parliament; 
Mayor of Tshwane, 
Mr Ramokgopa and all other Mayors present; 
Government representatives from all levels;
Religious and Traditional Leaders; 
Compatriots;
Fellow South Africans,

The free, democratic, non-racial and non-sexist South Africa is coming of age today, as it turns 18 years old.

This year’s Freedom Day theme is “Working Together to Build Unity and Prosperity’’. It takes into account our strong focus on boosting inclusive growth and prosperity.  

It also underscores the focus on heritage and the celebration of unity through celebrating the heroes of our struggle for freedom, to whom we owe so much.

The past 18 years have seen huge progress towards building a truly non-racial, non-sexist, democratic and free South Africa. 

Together we have built from the ashes of apartheid a country that is dedicated to patriotism, nation-building and reconciliation. 

We have built stable democratic institutions based on our country’s progressive Constitution. 

We have a Bill of Rights that enshrines and entrenches a human rights culture, ensuring that we totally undo the evil of the past and promote a new society.

The creation of a stable democratic system has opened conditions for us to tackle our socio-economic development challenges. 
It has been a short but very meaningful road from a pariah state to a peaceful, stable, vibrant non-racial, non-sexist, democratic country that is working hard to achieve prosperity for all.

Formerly oppressed peoples and nations celebrate Freedom Day or Independence Days for very good reasons.

As South Africans, we celebrate this significant day in order to ensure that the present does not erase the past, and in order to protect the future. 
On the 27th of April, we celebrate  how as a people, we brought to a close, phase one of our struggle, as we buried colonial oppression, racism, apartheid and hatred when we cast our votes together for the first time in 1994. 

Like a phoenix, a new society rose from the ashes of a system that had been declared a crime against humanity by the United Nations.

On Freedom Day we recall and celebrate a heroic and selfless struggle that was fought over more than three centuries.

It was fought in the wars against land dispossession.

It was fought in the campaigns against the pass laws, described by Lillian Ngoyi as “a badge of slavery in terms whereof all sorts of insults and humiliation may be committed on Africans by members of the ruling class”.

It was fought in the struggles against the inhumane migrant labour system which violated the right to human dignity.

It was fought in the battles of young people for education.

It was fought by the workers for a living wage, with the conditions of farm and mine workers being horrific. These are the conditions that inspired men like Selope Thema and later Gert Sibande into action, particularly in the Northern and Eastern Transvaal areas such as Bethal, to rise against these injustices.

The struggle was fought by women for their rights and dignity, and we recall how they fired the first salvo of protest against pass laws in Bloemfontein in July 1913.  

It was fought by rural communities for land, as the 1913 Land Act systematically took away 87 percent of the land from the African people.

And our people never gave up. As Lillian Ngoyi said at the third Federation of South African Women Conference in 1961, “Freedom does not come walking towards you - it must be won’’.

It has indeed been a long walk from the days of Master and Servants Act, where long hours of work, child labour, and unpaid labour were the order of the day.

And we have indeed come a long way since General Smuts’ utterance in 1906, that:  “When I consider the political future of the Natives in South Africa I must say that I look into shadows and darkness, and I feel inclined to shift the intolerable burden of solving that sphinx of a problem to the ampler shoulders and stronger brains of the future.”  

Today we celebrate that ampler and stronger brains of the future, such as the gallant leaders of the struggle for liberation, proved Smuts wrong.

On Freedom Day we celebrate our victory over racial bigotry.

We celebrate that this country produced visionaries black and white, who were determined that South Africa shall be a free, non-racial and non-sexist democracy that enshrines human rights.

We recall today that our freedom was gained through blood, sweat and tears. It is through the blood of the people of Sharpeville, Soweto, Langa, kwaMashu, kwa Zakhele, Mdantsane, and many other areas, that we gained our freedom and equality.

In essence, today we are celebrating the colossal victory over colonial oppression and apartheid, marking the end of the first phase of our struggle. 

We are celebrating the unique nature of the South African struggle for liberation, which although was against racism, was never a racist struggle. 

That is why there were so many white democrats and freedom lovers who sacrificed so much so that South Africa could be free.

They include heroes like Braam Fischer, Father Trevor Huddlestone and Ruth First. 
 
It is that unique nature of the struggle, that produced the profound words in the Freedom Charter adopted in 1955 in Kliptown, when delegates proclaimed that “South Africa belongs to all who live in it, black and white, and that no government can justly claim authority unless it is based on the will of the people’’.

In turn the Freedom Charter inspired the democratic constitution that we have today which in its preamble also declares that “South Africa belongs to all who live in it, united in our diversity.”

It is those ideals which were formalised in the adoption of a Constitution that entrenches democracy, through the Bill of Rights which enshrines rights of all people of our country, and affirms democratic values of human dignity, equality and freedom. 
 
We also celebrate our unique and model Constitution which is an envy of many nations all over the world. 

Our Constitution is among the best in the world with equality clauses, which guarantees equality before the law, right to life, and human dignity, right to privacy, freedom of religion, belief and opinion, freedom of expression, freedom of association and freedom of assembly, demonstration, picket and petitions. 
   
We are indeed a unique people and unique nation, as Chief Albert Luthuli explained in 1961 as follows;  “It may well be that South Africa's social system is a monument to racialism and race oppression, but its people are the living testimony to the unconquerable spirit of mankind.’’ 

He was right, because the first phase of our struggle delivered political freedom for all, black and white. 

For the black majority, April 27 delivered true liberation, human dignity, full citizenship and real belonging to their motherland. 

The colour of their skin no longer determined where they could live, go to school or church. Colour no longer determined the jobs they could do or the wages they should get.

For white compatriots who had benefitted from the policies of successive racist regimes, April 27 brought about the lifting of the burden of guilt or shame. 

For those who believed in, and practiced racism, April 27, 1994 freed them from the fear of a black majority that could rise against them at any time. 

It freed them from vengeance, as the democratic state immediately instituted reconciliation as a policy of government to heal the divisions and pain of the past. 

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission was instituted to manage this process and help the new nation to find healing. 

Indeed the first phase of our freedom was the freedom of all of us, black and white.

Following the attainment of freedom, the task of turning South Africa around began, as stated by the former ANC President OR Tambo in 1993 at the International Solidarity Conference. He said: “The challenge confronting all of us is to turn South Africa round - to make of her the opposite of what she has been”.

Work to consolidate political freedom and to achieve a better life began immediately after the inauguration of President Nelson Mandela as the first President of a democratic South Africa.

The democratisation of government, the judiciary and the legislature began, in order to de-racialise the three arms of the State, and make South Africa the opposite of what she had been.

During the first ten years of democracy, Parliament approved 789 laws or amendments to eliminate institutionalised racism from our statute books.

A lot has been achieved in the extension of basic services since 1994, in turning South Africa around, but much more still needs to be done.

The fourth democratic administration has made it its primary focus to invest in the achievement of prosperity.  

In this regard, we are leading the struggle to eradicate unemployment, inequality and poverty through promoting inclusive economic growth. 

In 1994, we knew that our toughest task was to transform the economy to reflect the change to democratic governance. 

The challenge has been to ensure that more of our people benefit from economic growth whilst maintaining and indeed building on the strength of our economy. 

The international economic downturn in 2008 was a major setback, especially on the employment front. We are still recovering from that downturn. 

Despite these setbacks, employment has risen by over a third since the mid-1990s. 

Ladies and gentlemen;

The past 18 months have seen a substantial recovery. In 2011 alone, employment grew by a thousand jobs a day; investment climbed by 4%; and the GDP grew by just over 3%. 

The challenge now is to accelerate our gains – to ensure above all that growth supports increased inclusion, employment and equity. 

Finally, we are committed to a massive expansion in public employment programmes as a measure to support unemployed people in the short run, especially the youth. 

In particular, we are working to expand the Community Work Programme over the coming two years. 

This programme is critical because it provides the basis for collective action and mobilisation by communities, which determine where the employed people should work. 

We are working with all South Africans to build unity and prosperity, as outlined in the State of the Nation Address in 2012, and also in 2011 when we declared that year as one of job creation and inclusive growth.

The proportion of the population living below a R422 a month poverty line decreased from 50% in 1994 to 34,5% in 2009. 

In education, we have improved our school enrolments drastically since 2003 and have put 8.8 million learners on the nutrition programme.

We have allocated R8.2 billion for school infrastructure.

In 1994, only 62% of households had access to running water, and the figure has risen to 94,5%. With regard to water infrastructure, forty-three regional bulk projects will be completed by 2014, benefiting 3.2 million people.  

In 1994, only 50% of households had access to decent sanitation, which has now risen to 82%.

By 2011, 75,8% of households had access to electricity, a huge improvement from 51% in 1994.

Our government has delivered over three million subsidized housing units since 1994 and provides one billion rand guarantee fund to help lower income earners.

Most importantly, primary health care in South Africa is now accessible to all South Africans regardless of race, background and nationality. 

Through the National Health Insurance, all South Africans will have access to quality health care irrespective of their economic and social standing.

On the land issue we have transferred 6.7 million hectares of land since 1994 through restitution and redistribution. We must still do much more in this regard in order to meet the 2014 target of 30 percent.

We are working together as the national, provincial and local government in preparing for the implementation of the projects.

Since 2012 has been declared the United Nations International Year of Cooperatives, with the theme “Cooperative Enterprises Build A Better World”, we also acknowledge the central developmental role that cooperatives play, particularly in rural economy. 

As government we therefore will assist the 54 000 registered cooperatives financially by increasing funds for the Cooperative Incentive Scheme and to access the markets. 

Esteemed guests;

Our bid to host the Square Kilometre Array Radio Telescope   has made excellent progress and we are confident of our infrastructure, technical and scientific ability.   
  
At the cost of over two billion Euros, this is the biggest telescope ever built, which will create many jobs for over fifty years.  We look forward to winning this bid and thank you for your support.

There is a lot more work that is being done to extend services and improve the quality of life, as we consolidate political freedom and democracy.

Having gone far in consolidating democracy and achieving a non-racial, non-sexist society, our  fourth democratic administration has made it a priority to move to the second phase, that of achieving a more prosperous South Africa.

Ladies and gentlemen,

The fight against crime is one of the five key priorities of our government.

Ladies and gentlemen,

In keeping with the spirit of the celebration of our 18 years of freedom, and in line with established international practice, I have decided, in terms of the powers given to me by section 84 (2) J of the Constitution, to grant a special remission of sentence to specific categories of sentenced offenders, probationers and parolees.  

This is the first time that we have taken a decision to grant such a remission under the current term of office of this Administration.  

The previous remissions, granted to coincide with key national days have been on 10 May 1994 (Madiba’s Inauguration); 27 April 1995 (first anniversary of our freedom); 18 July 1998 (Mandela’s 80th birthday) and on 30 May 2005 (First year of former President Thabo Mbeki’s second term of office). 

The Ministers of the JCPS cluster will provide the relevant details and specific circumstances with regard to those offenders who will benefit from the reduction of a part of their sentence as a result of this decision.

The categories and the lengths of reduction will be based on the decision of Cabinet in relation to the previous special remission of 2005, in terms of which the following categories will apply:

• 6 months blanket special remission of sentence to all sentenced offenders, probationers and parolees, and an additional 12 months special remission of sentence for all sentenced inmates, probationers and parolees  excluding sentenced offenders, probationers and parolees who have been sentenced for aggressive, sexual, firearm and drug related offences. 
• People who are declared dangerous criminals in terms of section 286A of the Criminal Procedure Act of 1957.

This evening, we will, with great delight, acknowledge those who in various ways contributed to the achievements that our country has enjoyed.

Special reference will be made to some of the ANC presidents who led the struggle for liberation over many years.  

As a country we will honour the following former Presidents of the ANC with National Orders Awards, Chief Albert Luthuli, Oliver Reginald Tambo, James Sebe Moroka, A.B. Xuma, Pixley ka Isaka Seme, Zac Mahabane, Josiah Gumede and Sefako Makgatho, for their outstanding role in ensuring that our country became a free and democratic society. 

They represented particular epochs in our country’s history and contributed immensely to the society we live in now.

We will also honour citizens in various categories from the arts, journalism, science and technology, crime fighting as well as distinguished foreign nationals who played a critical role in the advancement of the struggle.

In celebrating these achievements, and in recalling where we come from, we urge all to continue working for unity and to build a strong South African nation that is mindful of the past it has emerged from only 18 years ago.

We dare not forget. We must put the country first in everything we do, and work together to make a success of the second phase of struggle, that of working towards a prosperous South Africa.  
As we continue to work we must remember the theme for Freedom day this year: “Working Together to Build Unity and Prosperity’’.

Happy 18th Birthday to the Republic of South Africa and Happy Freedom Day to you all! I thank you.]]> Topnews Politik Pressespiegel Thu, 03 May 2012 11:57:00 +0200 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=1026&cHash=68c73d5ad0bf68b97948da5cb6b6739a Berlin. Die Botschaft der Republik Südafrika in Berlin begeht Südafrikas Nationalfeiertag am 27. April 2012. Am Freiheitstag diesen Jahres feiert Südafrika 18 Jahre Freiheit und Demokratie unter dem...
Die Feierlichkeiten dieses Jahr sind außergewöhnlich, da in diesem Jahr auch die Hundertjahrfeier der regierenden Partei – des African National Congress - stattfindet. Es wird nicht nur die glorreiche Geschichte eines selbstlosen Kampfes von Millionen südafrikanischen Bürgern, die sich gegen das Apartheid-Regime aufgelehnt haben, gefeiert, sondern es werden vor allem auch neuer Mut und Energie gesammelt, um der Zukunft mit Selbstvertrauen zu begegnen. 

In seiner Ansprache anlässlich des Freiheitstages betonte Botschafter Stofile die engen und strategischen Beziehungen zwischen Südafrika und Deutschland. Er würdigte auch die Unterstützung Deutschlands für den südafrikanischen Freiheitskampf, ebenso wie die vielen Helden und Heldinnen, die Südafrika dorthin gebracht haben, wo es heute steht.

Die Solidarität zwischen Südafrika und Deutschland hat sich inzwischen zu einer strategischen Partnerschaft auf gleicher Augenhöhe entwickelt. Diese strategische Partnerschaft wird durch die 7. Runde der Deutsch-Südafrikanischen Binationalen Kommission gestärkt, wenn deren gemeinsame Komitees, die in den Kernbereichen Wirtschaft, Handel und Investitionen, Wissenschaft und Technologie, Verteidigung, Kultur, Umwelt, Soziales und Arbeit, am 7. und 8. Mai in Berlin zusammenkommen. Vizepräsident Kgalema Motlanthe, begleitet von Kabinettsministern, hochrangigen Regierungsvertretern und einer Wirtschaftsdelegation, wird die südafrikanische Delegation anführen. 

Deutschland bleibt auch weiterhin ein wichtiger Partner für Südafrika: Vor elf Tagen wurde in Kapstadt das Deutsch-Südafrikanische Wissenschaftsjahr von den Ministerinnen Pandor und  Dr. Schavan eingeläutet. Das Wissenschaftsjahr ist eine einjährige Kooperationsinitiative zwischen den beiden Ländern, die berufliche Fortbildung fördert und eine Plattform für Joint Ventures im wissenschaftlichen Bereich bietet.

Südafrika und Deutschland arbeiten weiterhin zusammen als nicht-ständige Mitglieder im Sicherheitsrat der Vereinten Nationen, um die Afrikanische Agenda und Post-Konflikt-Programme zur Wiederherstellung von Frieden und Entwicklung voranzubringen.

Nach der FIFA Weltmeisterschaft 2010 hat sich die Botschaft der Republik Südafrika in Berlin die Farbe Grün der Fußballfelder als Symbolfarbe für die Zukunft gewählt. Nach der erfolgreichen Ausrichtung der UNO Klimakonferenz COP17/CMP7 im November 2011 in Durban erfolgte der kick-off: Die Botschaft hat ihr aktives „grünes“ Engagement verstärkt und verschiedene Initiativen zur Schaffung eines „grüneren“ Arbeitsumfelds eingeleitet.]]> Botschaft Topnews Presse Wed, 02 May 2012 11:48:00 +0200 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=1023&cHash=92cea3f73c0156c48cdd8fd3a0b48d8f Bitte beachten Sie, dass die Botschaft der Republik Südafrika (inklusive der Konsularabteilung) ab Freitag, den 27. April 2012 bis einschließlich Dienstag, 1. Mai 2012 geschlossen bleibt. Ab... Botschaft Topnews Konsular Mon, 23 Apr 2012 09:02:00 +0200 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=1021&cHash=f29331b58b54253a5a3e838060e8d22a Bundesforschungsministerin Annette Schavan und die südafrikanische Ministerin für Wissenschaft und Technologie, Naledi Pandor, eröffneten heute in Kapstadt, Südafrika, das Deutsch-Südafrikanische...
„Ziel ist es, die Potenziale unserer Wissenschaftsstandorte zu bündeln und die bestehenden Forschungspartnerschaften in Deutschland und Südafrika zu stärken“, betonten beide Ministerinnen bei der Eröffnung. Schon jetzt kooperieren deutsche und südafrikanische Wissenschaftler beispielsweise bei einem Projekt zur Entwicklung und Realisierung eines effektiven Energie- und Klimaschutzkonzeptes unter Einbeziehung technischer, wirtschaftlicher, ökologischer und sozialer Fragestellungen. Auch am Auf- und Ausbau einer nachhaltigen Wasser- und Abwasserinfrastruktur in einigen der trockenen Regionen  Südafrikas wird gemeinsam geforscht.

Deutsche und südafrikanische Forschungseinrichtungen, Hochschulen und Unternehmen sind nun dazu aufgerufen, sich mit eigenen Initiativen und Veranstaltungen am Deutsch-Südafrikanischen Jahr der Wissenschaft 2012/2013 zu beteiligen. Auf einer gemeinsamen Webseite werden aktuelle Meldungen und Veranstaltungshinweise präsentiert. Ein Deutsch-Südafrikanisches Science Network Portal fördert den Austausch unter Forschern und Nachwuchswissenschaftlern.

Der Fokus des Jahres liege auf den globalen Herausforderungen, vor denen wir heute stehen, unterstrich Schavan in ihrer Eröffnungsrede: „Der Klimawandel, die fortschreitende Urbanisierung, die Nutzung knapper Ressourcen, die Sicherung der Welternährung und globale Gesundheitsprobleme stellen uns in Politik und Gesellschaft vor große Herausforderungen. Diesen Herausforderungen müssen wir gemeinsam begegnen.“ Unter dem Motto „Forschungspartnerschaften stärken für Innovation und nachhaltige Entwicklung“ stehen daher sieben Themenfelder im Mittelpunkt des Wissenschaftsjahres: Astronomie, Bioökonomie, Geistes- und Sozialwissenschaften, Human Capital Development, Innovation in der Gesundheitswirtschaft, Klimawandel und Urbanisierung/Megastädte.

Mehr als 200 Wissenschaftler beider Länder reichten im Rahmen der Bekanntmachungen des BMBF und DST ihre Vorschläge für Initiativen im Rahmen des Wissenschaftsjahres ein. Davon wurden in einem aufeinander abgestimmten Prozess 41 Vorschläge vom BMBF und DST zur Förderung ausgewählt. Sie repräsentieren die sieben Themenfelder des Deutsch-Südafrikanischen Jahres der Wissenschaft 2012/2013. Beispielsweise unterstützt die Zusammenarbeit zwischen der Bauhaus-Universität Weimar (BUW) und North West University Petschefstroom (NWU) den Erfahrungsaustausch und die Mobilität von Nachwuchswissenschaftslern auf dem Gebiet der nachhaltigen, Ressourcen orientierten Siedlungswasserwirtschaft und Bioabfallnutzung. In einem weiteren Projekt wird von der University of Pretoria and der Fachhochschule Kiel eine Konferenz Women in Science – Promoting Excellence and Innovation for Future Development durchgeführt, um Frauen in Wissenschaft und Forschung zu fördern.

Die feierliche Eröffnung fand im International Convention Centre in Kapstadt mit Vertretern aus Politik und Wissenschaft, Studenten und weiteren Akteuren des Jahres statt. Auf der gemeinsamen Pressekonferenz im Anschluss bekräftigten die Ministerinnen Schavan und Pandor die hohen Erwartungen, die sie an die Kooperation knüpfen: „Wir erhoffen uns Impulse für zukünftige, zukunftsweisende Projekte und Innovationen“, so Ministerin Pandor. Eine begleitende Ausstellung der Partner des Jahres der Wissenschaft und ein Astronomie-Symposiums mit dem Titel Innovating the future; reaching for the stars rundeten die Zeremonie in Südafrika ab.

Über die internationalen Wissenschaftsjahre
Das Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (BMBF) setzt mit dieser Initiative die Reihe der internationalen Wissenschaftsjahre mit strategisch wichtigen Partnerländern fort. Seit 2006 wurden erfolgreiche Wissenschaftsjahre und Länderkampagnen mit Schwerpunkten in Wissenschaft und Forschung mit Ländern wie z.B. China, Brasilien und Russland durchgeführt. Pressematerialien
Pressemappe: Deutsch-Südafrikanisches Jahr der Wissenschaft 2012/2013
ZIP, 5.2 MB

Pressemitteilung: Deutsch-Südafrikanisches Jahr der Wissenschaft 2012/2013 gestartet, 16.04.2012
PDF, 1.1 MB Source: |+| Deutsch-Südafrikanische Jahr der Wissenschaft]]> Bilaterale Beziehungen Politik Topnews Presse Fri, 20 Apr 2012 15:41:00 +0200 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=1013&cHash=14415f46e55576e1c30c6b52ed41e940 Please note that the Embassy (including the Consular Section) will close at 10am on Thursday, 5 April 2012 and will be closed all day on Good Friday (Karfreitag) and Family Day (Ostermontag). Normal... Konsular Botschaft Topnews Wed, 04 Apr 2012 12:45:00 +0200 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=1006&cHash=dea234ac9f68dc43c398f549ca3b1946 Berlin, 12.3.2012. S.E. Makhenkesi Arnold Stofile, Botschafter der Republik Südafrika, und die „The Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site“ (Gauteng, Südafrika) übergaben zusammen mit der... Botschaft Topnews Presse Mon, 12 Mar 2012 14:44:00 +0100 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=1008&cHash=e8b7f077b33fa6cb24f8acbc2f95a35a Berlin, 9.3.2012. On his tour of the tourism fair ITB in Berlin, Development Minister Dirk Niebel made a point of stopping at the South African stand to greet Country Manager for Germany for... Berlin, 9.3.2012. On his tour of the tourism fair ITB in Berlin, Development Minister Dirk Niebel made a point of stopping at the South African stand to greet Country Manager for Germany for SAT  Theresa Bay-Mueller and Counsellor Andrea Kühn of the Embassy of the Republic of South Africa. Minister Niebel enquired about the South African tourism industry and was pleased to hear of the significant growth over the last two years. For more information, please see the German press release on our website: http://www.suedafrika.org/de/tourismus/tourismus-newsdetails/datum/2012/03/16/suedafrikas-tourismus-bleibt-auf-erfolgskurs.html ]]> Botschaft Topnews Presse Fri, 09 Mar 2012 15:18:00 +0100 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=998&cHash=a9823c71f84d8d79b47b3b657c9702e3 Berlin, 23.02.2012Noch 101 Tage bis zur Inbetriebnahme des neuen Hauptstadtflughafens BER „Willy Brandt". Die große Digitaluhr im Garten der Botschaft der Republik Südafrika in der...
Noch 101 Tage bis zur Inbetriebnahme des neuen Hauptstadtflughafens BER „Willy Brandt".  Die große Digitaluhr im Garten der Botschaft der Republik Südafrika in der vielbefahrenen Tiergartenstraße, wo 2009/2010 die letzten 365 Tage bis zur Eröffnung der FIFA Fußball-WM in Südafrika weithin sichtbar heruntertickten, wurde mit gänzlich neuer Mission reaktiviert. Wenn am 3. Juni morgens um 5.30 Uhr der Riesen-Airbus A380 „Berlin“ der Lufthansa als erstes Flugzeug von der Südbahn des neuen Hauptstadt-Airports abhebt, wird die Uhr im Berliner Botschaftsviertel auf „0“ heruntergelaufen sein.

Bisher war die „Countdown-Clock“ im Botschaftsgarten ein reines Erinnerungsstück an die unvergessene und erfolgreiche erste Fußball-Weltmeisterschaft auf dem afrikanischen Kontinent. „Ich freue mich, dass Lufthansa die Idee hatte, ihr für ein wirklich würdiges Projekt neues Leben einzuhauchen“, betont Südafrikas Botschafter Makhenkesi Arnold Stofile. „Dies zeigt: Südafrika ist auf der Höhe der Zeit, wir sind stolz darauf, uns aktiv am Leben hier in Berlin zu beteiligen – und wir freuen uns mit den Berlinern auf den neuen Flughafen.“

Aus Lufthansa-Sicht hatte die ungewöhnliche „Countdown-Allianz“ mit der Botschaft der Republik Südafrika ganz pragmatische, aber auch ideelle Gründe, wie Thomas Kropp, Bevollmächtigter des Lufthansa-Vorstands für Berlin, unterstreicht: Tagtäglich passieren tausende Berufspendler, aber auch zahllose Linien- und Touristenbusse das Botschaftsviertel am Rande des Tiergartens im Zentrum Berlins. „Einen besseren Platz für eine Countdown-Uhr kann man kaum finden“, so Kropp. „Zudem ist es ein ‚Deal’ unter Freunden – schließlich ist South African Airways, die große Airline Südafrikas, unser langjähriger bewährter Partner in der Star Alliance, dem weltweit stärksten Airline-Verbund.“ 

Den BER-Countdown der Lufthansa kann man ab sofort auch im Internet permanent verfolgen. Auf www.BER-countdown.com gibt es Informationen und wöchentlich wechselnde Gewinnspiele unter dem Motto „Friday is flyday“. In der ersten Countdown-Woche sind unter anderem Tickets für den BER-Erstflug mit der A380 der Lufthansa am 3. Juni zu gewinnen. 
 

]]> Topnews Fri, 24 Feb 2012 12:46:00 +0100 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=995&cHash=e3e9a39002685273016df9991c8da17d Press Release Berlinale Reception 2012 Berlin, 14 February 2012. South Africa has a long history of film production and is among the oldest film industries in the world. In celebration of the South...  Talent Campus Berlin and the South African Department of Trade and Industry.  
The short film “Five ways to kill a man” that is one of the five finalists for the Today Award by South African filmmaker Christopher Bisset was shown to around 180 guests.  Peter Rorvik, Director of the Durban International Film Festival introduced the 5th Talent Campus Durban to be held in cooperation with the Berlinale Talent Campus from 20 – 24 July 2012 during the 33rd Durban International Film Festival.   Under this year’s theme of “Africa Superimposed,” the festival aims to facilitate meaningful exchange between African filmmaking talents, generating experience and opportunities for participants and also empower new film makers in Africa. Amongst the guests at the reception were filmmakers from the African continent like Akin Omotoso whose film “Man on Ground” is shown at the Berlinale as well as representatives of the South African film industry.   South Africa has a vibrant and growing film industry that is increasingly competitive internationally. The South African Government has identified the film industry as a sector with excellent potential for growth. The benefits of the burgeoning film industry to South Africa are clear, it currently employs around 30 000 people. It further generates foreign exchange as co-productions with international companies result in the direct investment of millions of Rands into the economy. South Africa has signed co-production treaties with four countries including Germany and the event hosted at the Embassy also aims to further strengthen the cooperation between Germany and South Africa in this field.


 
(This document is available in English only)]]> Topnews Botschaft Pressespiegel Presse Fri, 17 Feb 2012 14:38:00 +0100 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=992&cHash=b00852be74092f3d7701e319fb02bfc0 State of the Nation Address By His Excellency Jacob G Zuma, President of the Republic of South Africa on the occasion of the Joint Sitting of Parliament, Cape Town 9 Feb 2012Honourable Speaker of the...
9 Feb 2012

Honourable Speaker of the National Assembly,
Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces,
Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly and Deputy Chairperson of the NCOP,
Deputy President of the Republic, Honourable Kgalema Motlanthe,
Former Deputy President FW De Klerk,
Former Deputy President Baleka Mbete,
Honourable Chief Justice of the Republic, and all esteemed members of the Judiciary,
Honourable Chairperson of the SADC Parliamentary Forum and Speaker of the
Parliament of Zimbabwe; Mr Lovemore Moyo,
Honourable Ministers and Deputy Ministers,
Honourable Minister of International Relations of the Republic of Angola, Mr Rebelo Chikoti,
Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Mozambique, Mr Julio Baloi,
Distinguished Premiers and Speakers of our Provinces,
Chairperson of SALGA, and all local government leadership,
Chairperson of the National House of Traditional Leaders,
The Heads of Chapter 9 Institutions,
The Governor of the Reserve Bank,
Leaders of all sectors from business, sports, traditional and religious leaders,
Members of the diplomatic corps,
Special and distinguished guests,
Fellow South Africans,
Dumelang, good evening, goeie naand, molweni, thobela, abuxeni!

I would like to extend warm greetings to all on this important day.

It is an honour to speak to South Africans in this House and in their homes and viewing centres around the country.

I also extend a warm welcome to Ambassadors and High Commissioners representing 146 countries, with which South Africa has diplomatic relations. We value your presence in our country.

Compatriots and friends,

This State of the Nation Address takes place during a significant year in the history of our country, the centenary of the ruling party, the African National Congress.

In marking this occasion we are recognising the work of all South Africans in bringing about a truly free, non-racial, non-sexist, democratic and prosperous country.

We wish to single out the former presidents of the ANC who led our struggle for liberation and of creating a better life across generations. We salute John Langalibalele Dube, Sefako Makgatho, Zac Mahabane, Josiah Gumede, Pixley ka Isaka Seme, AB Xuma, JS Moroka, Chief Albert Luthuli, Oliver Tambo, Nelson Mandela and Thabo Mbeki.

We welcome the families of the former ANC Presidents who are our special guests this evening.

We also recognise other components of the liberation movement - the Black Consciousness Movement which was led by Mr Steve Biko, whose son Samora is also our special guest, and the Pan-Africanist Congress which was led by Mr Robert Sobukwe.

We acknowledge too, the contribution of the late former MP, Ms Helen Suzman, who was a lone voice in this very House, speaking out against oppressive laws.

Honourable Members,

Compatriots and friends,

The year 2012 is also special because it marks the 16th anniversary of the Constitution of the Republic, which gives full expression to our democratic ideals.

The Constitution is South Africa’s fundamental vision statement, which guides our policies and actions. We reaffirm our commitment to advance the ideals of our country’s Constitution at all times.

Compatriots and friends,

At the January Cabinet lekgotla, we decided to undertake a mid-term review, looking at progress from 2009 till now instead of the usual annual review.

The mid-term review indicated steady progress in various areas such as health, education, the fight against crime, human settlements, energy, water provision, rural development and others.

However, the triple challenge of unemployment, poverty and inequality persists, despite the progress made. Africans, women and the youth continue to suffer most from this challenge.

Somlomo nosihlalo abahloniphekileyo,

Njengekhabhinethi kazwelonke sithathe isinqumo sokuthikufanele senze ngokwedlulele, ukukhulisa umnotho wezwe, ukuze siqede lezizinkinga zokwesweleka kwemisebenzi, ubumpofu kanye nokungalingani ezweni.

Ilezo zinto ezintathu esizobhekana nazo ngqo, kulonyaka naseminyakeni ezayo.

Compatriots,

When freedom was attained in 1994, South Africa inherited a problem of structural unemployment which goes back to the 1970s. Employment continued to deteriorate in the 1990s and the early 2000s due to slow growth and declining employment in gold mining and agriculture.

Although jobs grew rapidly during the boom of 2003 to 2008, unemployment did not fall below 20%.

Employment received another setback in the recession of 2009.

Fortunately, Government entered the 2008-2009 recession with healthy public finances, and a comparatively low level of debt.

This allowed for a flexible response to deteriorating economic conditions.

For example, we increased spending on social security and on infrastructure development to stimulate the economy, mainly through the 2010 FIFA Soccer World Cup build programme.

Informed by some of these difficulties and the need to move away from piecemeal planning, we took a decision in 2009 to establish the National Planning Commission and asked them to produce a national development plan for the country, informed by the Constitution of the Republic.

The Commission released the first draft of the National Development Plan [PDF] for consideration, which looks at where we want to be in 20 years’ time.

The Plan also directly addresses the elimination of poverty and inequality as critical points that must be attended to.

The solution for the country therefore, is higher growth and job creation to reduce and ultimately eradicate poverty and inequality.

As a developmental state that is located at the centre of a mixed economy, we see our role as being to lead and guide the economy and to intervene in the interest of the poor, given the history of our country.

Informed by this responsibility, in 2010 we launched the New Growth Path framework and identified our job drivers as infrastructure development, tourism, agriculture, mining, manufacturing and the green economy.

We declared 2011 the year of job creation, and mobilised our social partners, namely business, labour and the community sector, to work with us in implementing the New Growth Path.

The results are encouraging, although we are not out of the woods yet, given the global economic situation.

The fourth quarter figures released on Tuesday, indicate that the rate of unemployment has come down from twenty-five percent to 23.9% as a result of new jobs.

During 2011, a total of 365 000 people were employed. This is the country’s best performance since the recession of 2008.

What is also important is that all the new jobs are in the formal sector of the economy, in sectors such as mining, transport, community services and trade to name a few.

There are two main things that we did right in 2011 which are contributing to this joint success.

Firstly, we mainstreamed job creation in every government entity including state owned enterprises.

Secondly, we strengthened social dialogue and cooperation between government, business and the community sector.

The Accords, signed by government, business and labour on procurement, skills development, basic education, and the green economy, confirm our common purpose and determination to build this country.

Government alone cannot solve the challenges faced by the country, but working together, solutions are possible.

Compatriots,

Let me take this opportunity to report back on the undertakings made in the SONA last year.

The Job Fund which we announced last year began operating in June. Over 2 500 applications were received in the first round. Project allocations of over one billion rand have been committed.

We had also announced 20 billion rand worth of incentives under Section 12(i) of the Income Tax Act, designed to support new industrial projects and manufacturing, and seven projects with an investment value of 8,4 billion rand were approved.

The procurement regulations empowering the Department of Trade and Industry to designate specific industries where local content is prescribed came into effect in December.

The sectors include clothing textiles, canned vegetables, leather and footwear.

Progress has also been made in amalgamating small business institutions, and a new entity will be launched this year.

We had announced 10 billion rand to be set aside by the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) for job creation.

To date, about one point five billion rand was approved for 60 companies to promote job creation.

Compatriots and friends,

The mining industry, one of the job drivers in the New Growth Path, plays a critical role in the socio-economic development of the country.

As part of addressing the triple challenge of poverty, inequality and unemployment, government has developed a beneficiation strategy, which seeks to provide opportunities in the downstream part of the minerals sector.

We remain committed to the creation of a favourable and globally competitive mining sector, and to promote the industry to attract investment and achieve both industrial growth and much-needed transformation.

Honourable Speaker,

Honourable Chairperson of the NCOP,

The work done last year indicates that if we continue to grow reasonably well, we will begin to write a new story about South Africa—the story of how, working together, we drove back unemployment and reduced economic inequality and poverty.

It is beginning to look possible.

We must not lose this momentum.

For the year 2012 and beyond, we invite the nation to join government in a massive infrastructure development drive.

Baba Somlomo noSihlalo,

Sizoqala umkhankaso omkhulu wokwakha izingqalazizinda ezweni lonke. Lokhu kuzophakamisa izinga lomnotho, futhi kuveze amathuba emisebenzi.

Compatriots,

We will use the project management expertise gained during the 2010 FIFA Soccer World Cup to make this project a success.

The infrastructure plan will be driven and overseen by the Presidential Infrastructure Coordinating Commission, (PICC), which was established in September, bringing together Ministers, Premiers and Metro Mayors under the leadership of the President and the Deputy President.

The PICC has identified and developed projects and infrastructure initiatives from state-owned enterprises as well as national, provincial and local government departments.

These have been clustered, sequenced and prioritised into a pipeline of strategic integrated projects.

We have chosen five major geographically-focussed programmes, as well as projects focusing on health and basic education infrastructure, information and communication technologies and regional integration.

The projects are as follows:

Firstly, we plan to develop and integrate rail, road and water infrastructure, centred around two main areas in Limpopo: the Waterberg in the Western part of the province and Steelpoort in the eastern part.

These efforts are intended to unlock the enormous mineral belt of coal, platinum, palladium, chrome and other minerals, in order to facilitate increased mining as well as stepped-up beneficiation of minerals.

Using the developments in Limpopo as a base, we will expand rail transport in Mpumalanga, connecting coalfields to power stations.

This will enable us to decisively shift from road to rail in the transportation of coal, which has caused a deterioration of the roads in Mpumalanga.

The eastern parts of the North West province will also benefit from the greater focus on infrastructure connected to mining and mineral beneficiation.

Secondly, we will improve the movement of goods and economic integration through a Durban-Free State-Gauteng logistics and industrial corridor.

This project is intended to connect the major economic centres of Gauteng and Durban/Pinetown, and at the same time, connect these centres with improved export capacity through our sea-ports.

In this regard, I am pleased to announce the Market Demand Strategy of Transnet, which entails an investment, over the next seven years, of three hundred billion rand in capital projects.

Of this amount, 200 billion rand is allocated to rail projects and the majority of the balance, to projects in the ports.

Amongst the list of planned projects, is the expansion of the Iron Ore Export channel from 60 million tons per annum to 82 million tons per annum.

It also includes various improvements to the Durban-Gauteng Rail corridor and the phased development of a new 16 million tons per annum manganese export channel through the Port of Ngqura in Nelson Mandela Bay.

The Market Demand Strategy will result in the creation of more jobs in the South African economy, as well as increased localization and Black Economic Empowerment. It will also position South Africa as a regional trans-shipment hub for Sub-Saharan Africa and deliver on NEPAD’s regional integration agenda.

We have also been looking at the necessity of reducing port charges, as part of reducing the costs of doing business. The issue of high port charges was one of those raised sharply by the automotive sector in Port Elizabeth and Uitenhage during my performance monitoring visit to the sector last year.

In this regard, I am pleased to announce that the Port Regulator and Transnet have agreed to an arrangement which will result in exporters of manufactured goods, receiving a significant decrease in port charges, during the coming year, equal to about 1 billion rand in total.

Thirdly, we will develop a major new South Eastern node that will improve the industrial and agricultural development and export capacity of the Eastern Cape region, and expand the province’s economic and logistics linkages with the Northern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal.

In the former Transkei part of the Eastern Cape, we are committed to building a dam using the Umzimvubu River as the source, in order to expand agricultural production.

In addition, the implementation of the Mthatha revitalization project, which is a Presidential special project, is proceeding very well.

Work is at an advanced stage to improve water, sanitation, electricity, roads, human settlements, airport development and institutional and governance issues.

Fourthly, in the North West, we will expand the roll-out of water, roads, rail and electricity infrastructure. Ten priority roads will be upgraded.

Fifthly, we see enormous potential along the west coast of the country and need to improve infrastructure to unlock this potential.

Our plans include the expansion of the iron-ore rail line between Sishen in Northern Cape and Saldanha Bay in the Western Cape, which will create large numbers of jobs in both provinces.

The iron-ore capacity on the transport-side will increase capacity to 100 million tons per annum.

This will allow for the expansion of iron-ore mining over the next decade to feed the developing world’s growing investment in infrastructure and industrial activities.

Compatriots,

We have also identified critical social infrastructure projects. These include projects aimed at laying the basis for the National Health Insurance system such as the refurbishment of hospitals and nurses’ homes.

A total of 300 million rand has been allocated for the preparatory work towards building new universities in Mpumalanga and Northern Cape.

Another infrastructure project with great potential is South Africa’s bid to host the Square Kilometre Array radio telescope in partnership with eight other African countries. The winning bid will be announced next month. We urge you to support the country’s bid.

Lastly, our infrastructure work extends beyond our borders. South Africa champions the North-South Road and Rail Corridor, which is part of the African Union’s NEPAD Presidential Infrastructure Championing initiative [PDF].

Work in this regard, comprises various inter-related projects that cover roads and railways, border crossings, energy and information and communication technologies.

Compatriots,

The massive investment in infrastructure must leave more than just power stations, rail-lines, dams and roads. It must industrialise the country, generate skills and boost much needed job creation.

I will convene a Presidential infrastructure summit to discuss the implementation of the plan with potential investors and social partners.

Honourable Speaker, Honourable Chairperson of the NCOP,

I would now like to discuss matters relating to the extension of basic services, addressing inequalities, peace and security and social cohesion.

I received a lot of valuable correspondence in the run-up to this SONA. Such interaction enables us keep in touch with our people and their needs.

I received an email relating to a housing problem from Mzukisi Mali, a public servant from the Fingo area in Grahamstown. He wrote;

“In 1994 my income was too high to get an RDP and too low to get a bond, this continued until to date.I have three children and my wife is not working.

“When I apply for an RDP I am told that I do not qualify and cannot get a bond because I am risky to the banks...’’

Fortunately we have gone some way to address the problem facing Mr Mali and many others.

In 2010, we announced a one billion rand guarantee fund to promote access to loans.

We are pleased to report that this fund will start its operations in April, managed by the National Housing Finance Corporation. The scheme will enable the Banks to lend to people who are in a similar situation as Mr Mali.

In addition, from April, people earning between three thousand five hundred rand and R15 000, will be able to obtain a subsidy of up to R83 000 from Provinces, to enable them to obtain housing finance from an accredited Bank.

Ungalilahli ithemba Mr Mali nabaningi abanye, kuzolunga ngenxa yalomxhaso ozotholakala kohulumeni bezifundazwe, kanye nalomshwalense omusha ozokwenza kubelula kumabhange ukuthi aniboleke imali.

Compatriots,

There is an ongoing concern from business and communities about high electricity costs.

I have asked Eskom to seek options on how the price increase requirement may be reduced over the next few years, in support of economic growth and job creation and give me proposals for consideration.

We need an electricity price path which will ensure that Eskom and the industry remain financially viable and sustainable, but which remains affordable especially for the poor.

However to achieve sustainability, a pact will be required with all South Africans – including business, labour, municipalities, communities and all customers and suppliers.

We must save electricity.

For the next two years, until the Medupi and Kusile power stations come into operation, the electricity system will be very tight.

We should all play our part in order to avoid load shedding.

To increase energy capacity we will continue searching for renewable energy sources, especially solar electricity and biofuels as we implement the Green Economy Accord with economic stakeholders.

To date we have installed more than 220 000 solar geysers nationwide.

The Government target is one million solar geysers by 2014-2015.

Honourable Members,

Compatriots,

Government continues to extend access to basic water supply. However, clearly, water access is still a challenge in some areas.

An email from Mmatsheko Pine from Hammanskraal is a case in point.

The writer says; “There is the area called Ngobi near Hammanskraal, under Moretele Local Municipality, the people residing in the area are now old, aged and mostly sick.

“The area has been without water for the past two years. People rely on rain to harvest water.

There are water pipes and machines installed but the problem is said to be pressure to pump water. Could your office kindly assist with the powers that be?”.

I have asked the Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs to investigate this matter with a view to finding an urgent solution.

Water expansion has been delayed in some parts of the country due to a lack of infrastructure.This is being attended to. For example, five new water augmentation schemes are on schedule.

These are Olifants River Water Resource in Steelpoort in Limpopo Province, the Vaal River Eastern Sub-System in Secunda in Mpumalanga, Komati Water Augmentation Scheme in Nkangala in Mpumalanga, the raising of Hazelmere dam in KwaZulu-Natal and the Clan William Dam in Clan William in the Western Cape. In addition, nine out of 25 dams have been rehabilitated.

In relation to the announcements we made during the United Nations COP17 climate change conference, an amount of 248 million rand is to be invested over next two years to deal with the issue of Acid Mine Drainage in Witwatersrand.

Let me take this opportunity to congratulate the inter-ministerial committee on COP17 for making the conference a huge success

The final outcome of COP17 was historic and precedent setting, ranking with the 1997 conference where the Kyoto Protocol was adopted.

Building on the success of COP17, South Africa will participate in the Rio plus 20 Summit in Brazil, which marks the 10th anniversary of the World Summit on Sustainable Development.

Honourable Speaker and Honourable Chairperson,

Our intensive focus on education is paying off.

We are pleased that the matric percentage pass is on an upward trend.We congratulate the teachers, learners, parents and the communities for the efforts.

We will continue to invest in producing more teachers who can teach mathematics, science and African languages.

Compatriots,

Our call to teachers to be in school, in class, on time, teaching for at least seven hours a day remains pivotal to success. We thank the teacher unions for supporting this campaign.

A major achievement is the doubling of Grade R enrolment, from 300 000 in 2003 to 705 000 in 2011. We appear poised to meet our target of 100% coverage for Grade R by 2014.

To fight poverty and inequality and to keep learners in school, over 8 million learners attend no-fee schools while over eight million benefit from government’s school feeding scheme.

Last year, national government instituted a Section 100 (1)(b) intervention in the Eastern Cape, to assist the department of education to improve the delivery of education.

Problems included non-delivery of textbooks, non-payment of scholar transport, excess teachers and a general poor culture of learning and teaching.

The implementation of the intervention will continue and we are working well with the province in this regard. Sizimisele ukwenza immeko yemfundo ibengcono eMpuma Koloni. We call on all stakeholders to work with us to make this turnaround a success.

Compatriots,

During the 2010 FIFA Soccer World Cup, we resolved that the South African legacy would be to promote universal access to education.

School attendance in the country is now close to 100 percent for the compulsory band, 7-15 years of age.But we remain concerned by the report of the General Household Survey in 2010 that just over 120 000 children in that band are out of school.

Grade 10 drop outs appear to be a problem, particularly in the rural and farm areas of the Western Cape.

The national Government will work closely with the Western Cape government, to trace these learners and provide support so that they do not lose their future.

With regards to higher education, we are exceeding targets. Close to 14 000 learners were placed in workplace learning opportunities over the past year, and over 11 000 artisans have completed their trade tests.

Siyajabula ukubona ukuthi liyanda inani lentsha efunda amakhono kulamakolishi abizwa phecelezi ngama-Further Education and Training Colleges.

Siyaninxusa bazali ukuthi nigqugquzele izingane zifunde kulamakolishi. Akufanele zicabange ukuthi imisebenzi ifundelwa emanyuvesi kuphela.

Siyawadinga amakhono atholakala kulamakolishi.

To expand access to tertiary education as per our announcement last year,200 million rand was utilised to assist 25 000 students to pay off their debts to institutions of higher learning.

Compatriots and friends,

We congratulate the health sector as well as the South African National Aids Council led by the Deputy President of the Republic on the success of the HIV and AIDS programme.

While we are doing well with regards to treatment and the prevention of mother to child transmission, general prevention efforts must also be accelerated.

We also wish to encourage South Africans to live healthier lives to reduce the impact of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and hypertension.

Compatriots and friends,

The year 2013 will mark the centenary of the Natives Land Act of 1913, which took away 87 percent of the land from the African people.

The Constitution requires that the State must realise the restitution of land rights for those who were dispossessed by the 1913 law.

We have only distributed 8% of the 30% target of land redistribution for 2014 that we set ourselves. The process is slow and tedious and there is general agreement that the willing buyer- willing seller option has not been the best way to address this question.

That is why have introduced a new policy framework, the Green Paper on Land Reform.

We urge the public to participate in the process of improving land redistribution and reform to reverse the impact of the 1913 Act.

Honourable Speaker,

Compatriots,

On economic transformation, we are amending the Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment Act [PDF]. The amendments amongst other things, establish a statutory Commission that would deal with non-compliance and circumvention.

The proposed law will also criminalise fronting and other forms of empowerment misrepresentation.

With regards to issues of disability, we have directed all government departments to ensure that we meet the target we set several years ago of having 2% of people employed in the Public Service to be disabled persons.

We are also working towards a Women Empowerment and Gender Equality Bill, to promote compliance in both government and the private sector and to provide for sanctions in the case of non-compliance.

Meanwhile, the NEDLAC Process on the Atypical Forms of Employment and Labour Broking has now been completed.

Government seeks to eliminate all forms of abusive practices inherent in labour broking, in order to strengthen the protection of vulnerable workers. We trust that common ground will be found this year on this matter.

Compatriots,

In 2009 we made a commitment to accelerate the fight against crime and corruption.

The crime statistics for the period 2010/2011 indicate that our country witnessed a decline of 5% in the number of reported serious crimes compared to the previous year.

We will however, not become complacent. We are continuing to implement our programmes of making South Africans feel safe and to be safe.

We also continue to improve the performance of the state in various ways, including the fight against corruption.

The Multi-Agency Working Group on procurement led by the National Treasury, SARS and the Financial Intelligence Centre is reviewing the entire state procurement system to ensure better value for money from state spending.

Initiatives include the vetting of supply chain personnel in government departments.

To further improve security, the Department of Home Affairs, signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the banking industry, to roll out the online fingerprint verification system in all participating banks, to assist in fraud prevention and detection.

Compatriots and friends,

We are working with various provinces to improve governance, systems and administration.

These include Gauteng to improve health service delivery, the Free State on transport and roads and Limpopo to improve governance and financial administration in five departments, including the provincial treasury.

We welcome the launch of Corruption Watch by COSATU, as well as the recent agreement between government and business to implement anti-corruption programmes.

These interventions will complement the work of government in combating corruption.

Compatriots and friends,

As part of promoting social cohesion, this year we will undertake and continue many heritage projects.

Museums and centres to be unveiled will include the 1980 Matola Raid museum in Maputo, the Ncome museum in KwaZulu-Natal, phase 2 of the Freedom Park museum and the Steve Biko heritage centre in Ginsberg in King Williamstown.

We have also prioritised thehomes and graves of former ANC Presidents and other national heroes including Thomas Maphikela, Lillian Ngoyi, Walter and Albertina Sisulu, Griffiths and Victoria Mxenge, Robert Sobukwe and others.

Memorial sites to be prioritised include that of the Pondo Revolt, the sites of the Frontier Wars, the 1913 revolt by African women in the Free State, the 1957 anti-pass revolt by women in Zeerust, the Rocklands Civic Centre in Mitchells Plein where the United Democratic Front was formed and the Gugulethu Seven monument in Cape Town.

We are also in the process of purchasing and rehabilitating the Winnie Mandela house in Brandfort, the Dr. Moroka house in Thaba Nchu and the Bram Fischer house in Westdene.

Additional projects include the launch of the Dube Tradeport and the unveiling of the statue of John Dube at King Shaka International Airport next month and renaming the Kings House presidential residence in Durban after Dr Dube.

The Presidential Guest House in Pretoria will be named after Mr Sefako Makgatho and the Diplomatic Guest House in Pretoria after the late prolific diplomat, Mr Johnny Makatini.

Government will also table the National Traditional Affairs Bill which makes provision for the recognition of the Khoi-San communities, their leadership and structures.

It is important to remember that the Khoi-San people were the most brutalised by colonialists who tried to make them extinct, and [View Source] undermined their language and identity. As a free and democratic South Africa today, we cannot ignore to correct the past.

I discussed this matter extensively with the Khoi-San community when I met with them in Cape Town last year and we agreed to work together to redress the injustices of the past.

Compatriots,

Next year 2013, the seat of government, the majestic Union Buildings, will mark 100 years of existence and planning will start this year to mark the centenary.

Fellow South Africans,

We must perform better in sports this year! Our star performer, Oscar Pistorius has set the standard for the year by winning the 2012 Laureus Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability Award.Congratulations for this achievement.

We also congratulate the national women’s soccer team Banyana Banyana for qualifying for the London Olympics for the first time. With our support, they will do well.

We have been given the honour to host the Africa Cup of Nations next year, replacing Libya as they are unable to do so.

Compatriots,

Allow me to use this opportunity to extend heartiest congratulations and good wishes to Mama Rebecca Kotane, wife of former ANC treasurer general, Moses Kotane and SACP general secretary, who will turn 100 years old on Sunday the 12th of February.

The Young Men’s Guild of the Methodist Church of Southern Africa, Amadodana aseWesile, is also celebrating 100 years this year.

Another centenary celebration is that of Omama Besililo of the United Congregational Church of South Africa.

We wish them all successful celebrations.

Compatriots,

We have outlined a busy infrastructure implementation programme for now until 2014 and beyond.

I would like to appeal to all our people to join hands as they always do, as we deal decisively with the triple challenges of unemployment, poverty and inequality. Nobody will do this for us, it is in our hands. And we are all equal to the task.

As we get back to work tomorrow, let us internalise the words of ANC Women’s League founding president Charlotte Maxeke who said in her Presidential address to the National Council of African Women.

“This work is not for yourselves — kill that spirit of self, and do not live above your people, but live with them. If you can rise, bring someone with you’’.

I thank you.

Issued by: The Presidency
9 Feb 2012 (This document is not available in German)]]> Politik Pressespiegel Presse Topnews Fri, 10 Feb 2012 14:11:00 +0100 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=982&cHash=4e4f435a1ae3da6b556c0c2fa3d14aea RESS RELEASE, 11 December 2011COP17/CMP7 – The Durban PlatformAfter months of preparation and a marathon two weeks of negotiations that ended in the early morning hours of 11 December 2011, the...
COP17/CMP7 – The Durban Platform

After months of preparation and a marathon two weeks of negotiations that ended in the early morning hours of 11 December 2011, the United Nations (UN) Climate Change Conference or COP17/CMP7 came to an end at the International Convention Centre (ICC) in Durban.
Parties have delivered a breakthrough on the future of the international community’s response to climate change, whilst recognizing the urgent need to raise their collective level of ambition to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to keep the average global temperature rise below two degrees Celsius.
The Parties thanked the COP17/CMP7 President, Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, for her leadership in guiding the conference to produce a positive outcome.

Durban expectations

There were two main tasks that the UN wanted the conference to accomplish. One related to building the institutions that would help support the developing countries response to climate change.
The second pressing task for governments was to answer the question of how they would move forward together to achieve their agreed goal to limit the average global temperature rise to two degrees Celsius, and how to review progress towards that goal between 2013 and 2015.
A decision on the future of the Kyoto Protocol was also a central part of the Durban outcomes. The Kyoto Protocol is the only legally binding treaty the world presently has to combat climate change, and it is important that governments safeguard what they had worked on so long to agree and develop, and what has proven effective.

The process

During the first week of the Conference negotiators worked on the technical aspect of the negotiations. The officials were joined by no fewer than 12 Heads of State and Government, as well as 130 ministers, during the High-Level Segment which started on 6 December 2011.
At the opening of the COP17/CMP High-level Segment, President Jacob Zuma said: “We are agreed that this global challenge requires a global solution. However, different positions still prevail on some critical points. It is important that there is common ground on the elements that will remain critical in reaching any agreement. These are multilateralism, environmental integrity, common but differentiated responsibility and respective capabilities, equity, and honouring of all international commitments and undertakings made in the climate change process.”

The outcomes in Durban

Speaking at 5:10am at the conclusion of the Conference, Minister Nkoana-Mashabane thanked all Parties for their dedication, hard work and for the spirit of Ubuntu and compromise that prevailed during the Conference.
“I applaud you for what you have been able to accomplish here in Durban. You were prepared to show the required political will to move this process forward. It is without any doubt in my mind that we have ‘worked together to save tomorrow, today!’”. The Minister said the decisions that had been taken were “truly historical”.

Decisions reached at COP17/CMP7

Governments decided to adopt a universal legal agreement on climate change as soon as possible, but not later than 2015. Work will begin on this immediately under a new group called the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Durban Platform for Enhanced Action.
Governments, including 35 industrialised countries, agreed to a second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol from 01 January 2013. To achieve rapid clarity, Parties to this second period will turn their economy-wide targets into quantified emission limitation or reduction objectives and submit them for review by 01 May 2012. This is highly significant because the Kyoto Protocol’s accounting rules, mechanisms and markets all remain in action as effective tools to leverage global climate action and as models to inform future agreements.
A significantly advanced framework for the reporting of emission reductions for both developed and developing countries was also agreed, taking into consideration the common but differentiated responsibilities of different countries.
In addition to charting the way forward on reducing greenhouse gases in the global context, governments agreed to the full implementation of the package to support developing nations, agreed last year in Cancun, Mexico (COP16/CMP6). This means that urgent support for the developing world, especially for the poorest and most vulnerable to adapt to climate change, will also be launched on time. The package includes the Green Climate Fund, an Adaptation Committee designed to improve the coordination of adaptation actions on a global scale, and a Technology Mechanism, which are to become fully operational in 2012.
Whilst pledging to make progress in a number of areas, governments acknowledged the urgent concern that the current sum of pledges to cut emissions both from developed and developing countries was not high enough to keep the global average temperature rise below two degrees Celsius. They therefore decided that the UN Climate Change process shall increase ambition to act and will be led by the climate science in the Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) Fifth Assessment Report and the global Review from 2013-2015.  

Key decisions:

Green Climate Fund

•       Countries have already started to pledge to contribute to start-up costs of the fund, meaning it can be made ready in 2012, and at the same time  can help developing countries get ready to access the fund, boosting their efforts to establish their own clean energy futures and adapt to existing climate change.
•       A Standing Committee is to keep an overview of climate finance in the context of the UNFCCC and to assist the Conference of the Parties. It will comprise 20 members, represented equally between the developed and developing world.
•       A focussed work programme on long-term finance was agreed, which will contribute to the scaling up of climate change finance going forward and will analyse options for the mobilisation of resources from a variety of sources.

Adaptation

•       The Adaptation Committee, composed of 16 members, will report to the COP on its efforts to improve the coordination of adaptation actions at a global scale. •       The adaptive capacities above all of the poorest and most vulnerable countries are to be strengthened. National Adaptation Plans will allow developing countries to assess and reduce their vulnerability to climate change. •       The most vulnerable are to receive better protection against loss and damage caused by extreme weather events related to climate change.

Technology

•       The Technology Mechanism will become fully operational in 2012. •       The full terms of reference for the operational arm of the Mechanism - the Climate Technology Centre and Network - are agreed, along with a clear procedure to select the host. The UNFCCC secretariat will issue a call for proposals for hosts on 16 January 2012.

Support of developing country action

•       Governments agreed a registry to record developing country mitigation actions that seek financial support and to match these with support. The registry will be a flexible, dynamic, web-based platform.


Other key decisions

•       A forum and work programme on unintended consequences of climate change actions and policies were established. •       Under the Kyoto Protocol’s Clean Development Mechanism, governments adopted procedures to allow carbon-capture and storage projects. These guidelines will be reviewed every five years to ensure environmental integrity.
•       Governments agreed to develop a new market-based mechanism to assist developed countries in meeting part of their targets or commitments under the Convention. Details of this will be taken forward in 2012.

 
ISSUED BY THE PRESIDENCY OF COP17/CMP7

For further information, please contact Mr Clayson Monyela on 082 884 5974

This press release is only available in English.

]]> Topnews Pressespiegel Politik Mon, 12 Dec 2011 14:32:00 +0100 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=978&cHash=d5bf6c6ce241121ee39c0d1c26fbd9bb Berlin, 17 November 2011. Exciting opportunities afforded by radio astronomy for scientific, industrial and development cooperation between Germany and Africa were presented at a special presentation... Dr Bernie Fanaroff.   South Africa’s Deputy Minister of Science and Technology, Mr Derek Hanekom, introduced the event.    Southern Africa has the potential to become one of the world’s major centres for radio astronomy over the next decade.  South Africa and several African partner countries are making important investments in radio astronomy infrastructures and related human capital development programmes, which have attracted great interest from the international community.  There is rich potential for mutually beneficial cooperation in this regard between Africa and Europe, not only to advance global scientific partnerships and harness technological innovation for industrial competitiveness but also to make a decisive contribution to Africa’s development. Southern Africa is already the home of major telescopes, including the Southern African Large Telescope (SALT) in South Africa and the High Energy Stereoscopic System (HESS) gamma ray telescope in Namibia.  South Africa is now building one of the world’s largest radio telescopes, the MeerKAT (http://www.ska.ac.za), in its arid Northern Cape Province, and has assembled a talented team of young African engineers, which has achieved all of the milestones in the construction of the telescope ahead of schedule.
MeerKAT is one of the precursors for the global Square Kilometer Array (SKA) radio telescope project.   The international radio astronomy community has shown considerable interest in the project, both with regard to collaboration during the development of the MeerKAT and in applying to observe with it.  The first five years of observation with MeerKAT have already been allocated to ten major international observing programmes, involving several European and German radio astronomers (specifically 24 German radio astronomers from 8 different institutions.)
South Africa and partners in Africa are also planning to build an array of radio telescopes throughout Africa, by reconfiguring and linking for radio astronomy, redundant satellite communication dishes across the continent.  This network will in turn be linked to telescopes in Europe and other continents.  Work in this regard has for example already started in Ghana.  The network will be known as the Africa VLBI (Very Long Baseline Interferometry) Network.   South Africa’s investments in radio astronomy aim to leverage Southern Africa’s comparative advantages that make it an ideal location for astronomy.  The region’s geographical position provides wide coverage of the astronomy rich southern skies and is an optimal location to study our own Milky Way galaxy.   South Africa’s Karoo semi-dessert has very low population density and very low levels of radio frequency interference (critical for radio astronomy) as well as very little light pollution.    At the same time, the Karoo has good basic infrastructure of roads, electrical grid power and optical fiber communication networks.  
The site established for the MeerKAT telescope is at a high altitude, is very dry and has amongst the world’s lowest cloud cover and highest solar radiation.  There is not cyclonic weather and the troposphere and ionosphere are stable.  These factors make it ideal for radio astronomy.  South Africa also has excellent academic and industrial infrastructure to support science and technology partnerships of this magnitude.   Besides building the MeerKAT telescope, South Africa, together with eight other African countries, has been shortlisted (along with a joint bid by Australia and New Zealand) as a possible site for the largest and most powerful radio telescope ever built, the Square Kilometer Array.  The SKA will be built by an international consortium of countries and is expected to be operational by 2025.  In addition to producing ground breaking science, the SKA will drive innovation in ICT, wireless communication, sensor technology, renewable energy and other technologies.  Africa’s bid to host the SKA has been endorsed by the Heads of State of the African Union.   The design and construction of the MeerKAT is already addressing many of the huge challenges which will be faced by the SKA in such fields as ultrafast computing, ultrafast data transport, image processing, digital signal processing, control and monitoring of huge sensor networks and radio engineering.  In this regard, the SKA South Africa team has created vibrant partnerships with South African industries and universities and many of the world’s leading research institutions and universities, as well as multinational companies.   The development of large-scale radio astronomy research infrastructures in Southern Africa can become powerful drivers for socio-economic development.  It is already attracting larger numbers of young people into science and engineering and training a new generation of highly qualified scientists, technicians and professionals.  Iconic projects such as the MeerKAT and the SKA can retain the best young people in Africa and contribute to limiting and reversing the brain drain in science and technology.   Growing Africa’s human resources in science and technology will, thus, enable the continent to play an increasingly important role in the international knowledge economy, thereby supporting global sustainable development. Recognizing this enormous potential for mutually beneficial cooperation between Europe and Africa, a proposal for a Written Declaration calling on greater support for African-European radio astronomy partnerships, has recently been launched in the European Parliament.    (For a German translation of this document, please contact berlin.info(at)dirco.gov.za)]]> Botschaft Pressespiegel Presse Topnews Fri, 18 Nov 2011 00:00:00 +0100 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=971&cHash=653006654e581d65a3f93a93c2fa35c6 Berlin, 3 November 2011. The staff at the Embassy of South Africa showed their support for the 17th Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change...
Just like the yellow Bafana Bafana jerseys worn by South Africans on  “Football Fridays” to show support for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, South Africans are now showing their support and highlighted the countdown of twenty-five days to the Conference by joining their fellow citizens all around the world by wearing green.

For more information on COP17/CMP7 please visit:

www.cop17-cmp7durban.com Working Together: Saving Tomorrow, Today. (This document is available in English only)]]> Botschaft Pressespiegel Presse Topnews Thu, 03 Nov 2011 00:00:00 +0100 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=973&cHash=8b045d162c1ff59d163fa3f75f5c0f5f Berlin, 2 November 2011. Minister Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, the Minister of Home Affairs in the Republic of South Africa, undertook a courtesy call to Parliamentary State Secretary Dr Ole Schröder... Minister Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, the Minister of Home Affairs in the Republic of South Africa, undertook a courtesy call to Parliamentary State Secretary Dr Ole Schröder of the Interior Ministry of the Federal Republic of Germany, during her visit to Berlin. Minister Dlamini-Zuma was in Berlin to deliver a keynote speech as the Guest of Honour at the Caroline von Humboldt Award Ceremony at the Humboldt University. The Prize carries a value of 15.000 Euros and was awarded for the second time. This year it went to physicist, Dr Constanza Toninelli for her research on “Organic Molecules in Disordered Photonic Structures: from co-operative effects in mesoscopic ensembles to a random quantum network”. The introduction of molecular nanophotonics as a novel research field will reshape the research landscape in this field and will add to the existing body of knowledge. In her speech, Minister Dlamini-Zuma emphasised the importance of gender equality, stating that “It seems that despite some advances in the emancipation of women, males and females continue to interact in a social context that is essentially skewed towards a masculine paradigm.  Patriarchy has become so entrenched we are no longer even aware of it.  Although it is very difficult to defeat this, we must keep going and indeed, it will be a long journey.”  The Minister also honoured all the women who have fought for women´s rights and highlighted that women nowadays have to fulfill various roles: “Today women need not be restricted in their achievements merely for having been born female.  We owe this to the many women who have come before us, fighting for empowerment, equality and emancipation.  We often have to work harder than our male counterparts while also fulfilling our traditional roles as mothers, caregivers, wives and housekeepers.  Even today, there are countries where females do not earn the same salaries as male employees, even when they do the same jobs.  This phenomenon exists not only in the developing but also in some developed countries.” This is also true for Germany where even though the Chancellor is a woman, women earn on average 23% less than their male counterparts. The Minister´s speech captured many hopeful aspects and emphasised that South Africa is a forerunner in gender equality with its very modern Constitution stating that “I am certain many of you are familiar with the African Union (AU) commitment to achieve gender parity by 2020.  South Africa is however committed to achieving this by 2015.  It is my firm conviction that when women find themselves in positions of leadership they should strive not merely to maintain the status quo in a man’s world, but rather to change this man’s world into a human world.”

(This document is available in English only)]]> Botschaft Konsular Pressespiegel Südafrika in Deutschland Topnews Thu, 03 Nov 2011 00:00:00 +0100 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=974&cHash=1376d30ba7b940529b35ee9260e8db41 Press release: Since 26 of October it is a fact: Cape Town will become Design Capital 2014 ahead of the cities of Bilbao and Dublin.The renowned title “World Design Capital” is awarded every two... Design Capital 2014 ahead of the cities of Bilbao and Dublin.

The renowned title “World Design Capital” is awarded every two years from the International Council of Societies of Industrial Design (CSID).
 
It takes into consideration the special considerations a city puts towards “design” when it comes to its social, cultural and economical development.

For Cape Town this nomination comes at a perfect moment since the city is increasingly working towards sustainable economic growth and attracting more international visitors.

It has been only recently that Cape Town Tourism has presented its new marketing strategy and their global marketing campaign. The strategy and campaign are in harmony with the intention for the application of Cape Town as World Design Capital: to create stronger interest and more demand for the destination Cape Town.

At Cape Town Tourism the news was greeted with great enthusiasm. CEO, Mariette du Toit-Helbold says: “This is the biggest achievement of Cape Town since hosting the FIFA World Cup. It will be a great motivation for the design, the public and the private sector." (This document is available in English only)]]> Topnews Presse Pressespiegel Südafrika Tourismus Sat, 29 Oct 2011 00:00:00 +0200 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=969&cHash=b4c21ae228e528bda6eac5c55eca6877 Berlin, 20 October 2011. On Thursday, 20 October 2011, eleven of the fourteen Southern Africa Developing Community (SADC) countries which are based in Berlin celebrated for the first time, “SADC DAY”... “SADC DAY” in Germany.  Each year, citizens of SADC come together on 17 August to celebrate SADC DAY. This Day was set aside following the 1992 Windhoek Treaty that transformed the South African Development Co-ordination Conference (SADCC) into Southern African Development Community (SADC).

This year’s SADC DAY celebration was dedicated to “the Protection and Development of the Child” and hosted at the Embassy of the Republic of South Africa, Berlin.

The theme of the SADC Day celebration, “Bridging the gap between SADC and German children,” saw many happy and excited children participating from the Nelson Mandela School, Die Arche, Caritas and SOS Kinderdorf, under the patronage of Mrs Wullff, First Lady of the Federal Republic of Germany, who was the guest speaker of the day. A general belief is that celebrating SADC Day would be more significant if it involves children. This will help them understand the role young citizens can play in the process of improving regional integration.

The First Lady, Bettina Wulff, has increasingly emphasised the importance of education and development of young children and was very impressed by the traditional games from the home countries, played by the SADC children.

The event included the singing of the SADC Anthem by students from the Nelson Mandela School in Berlin, a presentation of traditional dress from the participating SADC countries, a display of games that are played by the SADC children and the sampling of traditional SADC cuisine. (This document is available in English only)]]> Botschaft Topnews Pressespiegel SADC Tue, 25 Oct 2011 13:48:00 +0200 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=959&cHash=c3176f3c4a23fa60664c3ded7c2eb22b Berlin, 26 September 2011. The Embassy of the Republic of South Africa welcomed Western Cape Province Premier Helen Zille for a courtesy call on Ambassador Reverend Makhenkesi A. Stofile and Minister... Premier Helen Zille for a courtesy call on Ambassador Reverend Makhenkesi A. Stofile and Minister Plenipotentiary Cassandra Mbuyane-Mokone.   Between 23 September and 29 September 2011, Premier Helen Zille led a delegation of Western Cape Government officials and business representatives on an official visit to the Federal Republic of Germany. The visit focused on strengthening bilateral relations with the Federal Republic of Germany.  

The relations between Western Cape Province and the Free State of Bavaria have been very active since 1995 with the Joint Action Plan signed in June 2011. There have been back-to-back meetings at senior level on both sides since 2009. In addition, there have been a number of completed projects that are funded by the Bavarian Government in the Western Cape.

Mr Nils Flaatten, acting CEO of the Western Cape Investment and Trade Promotion Agency (Wesgro) and Mr Francois Du Plessis, CEO of the Green Cape Initiative accompanied Premier Zille on the visit. Despite the partnership between Western Cape and Bavaria being very productive many more opportunities exist to broaden it into new areas of cooperation that include the green economy and renewable energy; disaster management; agriculture and education.

It was envisaged that the visit would strengthen trade relations between the Western Cape and the Federal Republic of Germany which is vital to growing the economy and creating jobs in South Africa as well as promoting South Africa as a renewable energy hub on the African continent. (This document is available in English only)]]> Botschaft Südafrika in Deutschland Presse Topnews Mon, 26 Sep 2011 00:00:00 +0200 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=953&cHash=e7ce3a870a661d738934783755db91b5 On 24 September 2011, the Embassy of the Republic of South Africa will commemorate the national Heritage Day. The theme for 2011 is "Celebrating the Heroes and Heroines of the Liberation... "Celebrating the Heroes and Heroines of the Liberation Struggle in South Africa". The aim of the 2011 Heritage Month is to remind and reconnect the South African nation with its rich and diverse collective liberation heritage.

The story of the liberation of South Africa is a significant part of the cultural heritage of the country and is shared and celebrated by all those in the world who value equality and freedom. Ambassador Stofile stated that “our liberation heritage was forged in the theatre of struggle that shaped the new South Africa and it behoves us to ensure that we protect our common heritage and advance a national heritage which is accommodative of cultural diversity.”  
The aim of the Heritage Month is to strengthen the South African brand as one of the greatest theatres of struggle, victory over apartheid and a world-recognised model of reconciliation and nation-building.

Ambassador Stofile also expressed his appreciation to the contribution made by Germany and the many friends in the struggle for the liberation of South Africa. In the endeavour to intensify the good relations between our countries Ambassador Stofile pronounced that “I will give the opportunity to the younger generation to get involved to strengthen the ties between the two countries. South Africa was not alone in the battle against Apartheid and South Africa cannot be left alone in its battle for economic emancipation.” Heritage Month coincides with International Tourism Month, under the theme “Tourism Linking Cultures” and celebrates tourism’s role in breaking down barriers across cultures and fostering tolerance, respect and mutual understanding. The Government of the Republic of South Africa has therefore decided to call on all sectors to support the National Heritage Council Project of establishing a national liberation heritage route that will link all liberation heritage sites in South Africa, the Southern African Development Community region and the continent. In pursuit of active participation to promote unity in diversity, the South African  Government aims to illustrate the importance of the liberation heritage to all South Africans, especially the youth by ensuring interactive, interesting and modern platforms for the 2011 Heritage Month, geared towards creating awareness through oral history narrations, exhibitions, poetry, dance, songs and site visits to reinforce our collective memory and promote a national identity and the importance of our shared liberation heritage.

The 2011 Heritage Month celebrations will be held by various sectors across South Africa and the national celebrations will be hosted on 24 September 2011 in Mpumalanga.

(Document available in English only)]]> Botschaft Politik Südafrika Topnews Presse Wed, 21 Sep 2011 10:31:00 +0200 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=948&cHash=7c10e3584a50f6eb3ebbd9f2ee750e54 Berlin, 22 July 2011. On Friday 132 scouts from all over South Africa paid a courtesy call to Ambassador Stofile at the Embassy of the Republic of South Africa. The scouts were in Berlin en route to... 132 scouts from all over South Africa paid a courtesy call to Ambassador Stofile at the Embassy of the Republic of South Africa. The scouts were in Berlin en route to the World Scout Jamboree to be held in Sweden. They were welcomed to the Embassy by the Ambassador who fondly conveyed his experiences as a boy scout in the Eastern Cape and stressed that the values of the scouts are still very relevant and important in every day life. The scouts responded by singing “shosholoza” and the South African National Anthem and inaugurated Ambassador Stofile as an honorary scout.   (Document available in English only)]]> Botschaft Südafrika in Deutschland Topnews Presse Mon, 25 Jul 2011 15:06:00 +0200 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=947&cHash=d70f865f6e12de44e9036f11d9b0a0fd Berlin, 19 July 2011. The Embassy of the Republic of South Africa hosted a South African evening to the Rotary Club Berlin. The evening commenced with the showing of a film on South Africa as a... Rotary Club Berlin. The evening commenced with the showing of a film on South Africa as a tourist destination and was followed by a presentation on social, political, economical and cultural aspects of South Africa. After the presentation there was room for questions and answers which was followed by lively discussion while traditional South African food and wines were served. 
(Document available in English only)]]> Botschaft Südafrika in Deutschland Topnews Wed, 20 Jul 2011 16:50:00 +0200 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=944&cHash=e85ead0d8940b03fb0ce1628c36c7019 Berlin 18.7.2011. Die Botschaft der Republik Südafrika in Berlin feierte am Montag, den 18 Juli den 93. Geburtstag des früheren Präsidenten Nelson Mandela. 2009 haben die Vereinten Nationen den 18.... Nelson Mandela. 2009 haben die Vereinten Nationen den 18. Juli zum internationalen Nelson Mandela Tag erklärt und 2010 wurde dieser Tag erstmals in der ganzen Welt mit humanitären Aktionen gefeiert. Mandela Tag ist ein Aufruf für wohltätige Taten von und für Menschen rund um den Globus – er ruft dazu auf, Verantwortung zu übernehmen und die Welt Schritt für Schritt, so wie es Nelson Mandela tat, zu verbessern.
Herr Mandela feierte seinen Geburtstag mit Freunden und seiner Familie in Südafrika während Menschen in Südafrika und in anderen Teilen der Welt sein Leben ehren indem sie 67 Minuten ihrer Zeit dem Slogan „Let the spirit of generosity shine through“ widmen. Die 67 Minuten stehen symbolisch für jedes Jahr, das Nelson Mandela aktiv für Gerechtigkeit und Menschenrechte gekämpft hat.
Die Mitarbeiter der Botschaft der Republik Südafrika in Berlin haben sich für dieses Jahr die Kinder und Jugend-Einrichtung FEZ herausgesucht, in welcher sie ihre 67 Minuten Freiwilligen-Arbeit leisten wollten. Im Jahr 2010 haben alle Angestellten der Botschaft und ihre Familienmitglieder der Organisation „Die Arche“ in Berlin Reinickendorf geholfen, indem sie sämtliche Fenster des Gebäudes gereinigt haben.
Das FEZ-Berlin ist das größte non-profit Kinder- , Jugend- und Familienzentrum in Europa. Berlins Bürgermeister Klaus Wowereit beschreibt es als „ein Leuchtturm im Bereich der Kinder- und Jugendkultur für Berlin“.
Jedes Jahr kommen ca. eine Million Besucher zum FEZ, das indoor auf seinem  13.000 Quadratmeter großen Gelände 30 verschiedene Vereine beherbergt sowie über Spielplätzen, Badesee, Öko-Garten, Theater, Kindermuseum, Schwimmbad, Kindermuseum und sogar über ein hochmodernes Raumfahrtzentrum verfügt. Es bietet kreatives Spiel, Spaß und Erholung und vereint in seinem Programm Bildung, Erlebnis und Kultur. Einzigartig sind die inhaltlichen Angebote zu den Themen Globales Lernen, Nachhaltige Entwicklung, Kultur, Lebensweise, Ökologie, Technik, Raumfahrt, Spiel- und Bewegungspädagogik sowie Internationale Begegnungen. In den Ferien können Kinder und Jugendliche im  FEZ-Berlin z. B. in  der Hogwarts Zauberschule oder bei Detektiv-Spielen verbringen. Oder sie nehmen teil an FEZitty: einem Stadtspiel,  in dem sie arbeiten, studieren,  Geld verdienen, hohe Ämter besetzen sowie das politische und kulturelle Programm ihrer Stadt selbst gestalten können. Das Projekt wurde mit dem Kinderkulturpreis ausgezeichnet. Der Botschafter der Republik Südafrika, S.E. Reverend MA Stofile sagt über das FEZ: “Es ist eine fantastische Organisation, weil es ein Ort ist, zu dem Kinder und ihre Familien kommen können und über die Welt und ihre Umwelt jede Menge lernen. FEZitty dient als Vorbildsprojekt, denn hier lernen Kinder bewusst zu handeln und die Verantwortung für ihre Entscheidungen zu übernehmen – so verstehen sie, was es bedeutet, in einer Gemeinschaft zu leben und wie einzelne Entscheidungen das Leben von vielen beeinflusst – hoffentlich dient ihnen die Vision von Nelson Mandela als Vorbild.“ Michael Kunsmann, Teamleiter beim FEZ fügt hinzu “Im FEZ lernen die Kinder viel über die Natur, das Klima und das Öko-System kennen.  Die UNO Klimakonferenz COP17 findet in diesem Jahr in Südafrika statt und so hatten wir das Gefühl, dass es da eine enge Verbindung zwischen der südafrikanischen Botschaft und dem FEZ-Berlin gibt. Viele der Botschaftsangestellten trugen an diesem Tag T-Shirts mit dem Nelson Mandela Logo. Sie hatten mit ihren Partnern vom FEZ-Berlin Aufräum- und Reparaturarbeiten auf dem FEZ-Gelände durchgeführt.  Dabei haben sie dem Mann gedacht, der so viel zu einer besseren Welt beigetragen hat: Nelson Mandela.





]]> Botschaft Südafrika in Deutschland Topnews Presse Tue, 19 Jul 2011 11:29:00 +0200 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=943&cHash=2524ecc373a5bcf4200d34338b2f28f9 South Africa 18 July 2011. Millions of school children throughout South Africa successfully sang the special rendition of Happy Birthday Madiba this morning. Ordinary South Africans also joined in...
"We’ve received overwhelming feedback from all corners of the country. All provinces are reporting that the national flag was hoisted, the National Anthem was sung and children stood side by side in their millions and sang Happy Birthday Tata with pride."

Special advisor to the Minister, Panyaza Lesufi, said: "The target was 12.4 million. I am confident that we have reached it and even exceeded all estimates with television and radio stations all playing the song at the same time. Citizens took the lead from the children and also joined in. We united the nation and we thank all our partners," said Lesufi.

Lead SA partnered with the Department of Basic Education, the Nelson Mandela Foundation, Brand SA, the SABC and other media houses to get the nation to sing.

Minister Motshekga joined hundreds of learners at Tsakane Primary on the East Rand. Miss South Africa, Bokang Montjane, Miss Earth finalists and representatives of Lead SA also took part. Bokang said: "It was amazing to see our children sing with so much enthusiasm and realize what the day really represents. There is no doubt that Madiba magic swept South Africa today." The Minister also spent 67 minutes teaching a Grade 3 class at the school.

Miss South Africa together with Lead SA’s Yusuf Abramjee also spoke to children in several classes as part of their 67 minute contribution. Abramjee said: "Today, we stood united as a nation and sang Happy Birthday to Madiba with pride and passion. We thank the nation. The unity was overwhelming. Media houses all partnered in the true spirit of ubuntu. Lead SA is about standing up, doing the right thing and making a difference. Today, we did it. Let’s continue to lead in the days, months and years ahead."

All public, commercial and community radio stations as well television stations played the song at 8.05am. It’s estimated that the song was heard by some 30 million people. The song has also been downloaded in its thousands. It can still be accessed by SMSing 32 929 with the word MADIBA at a cost of R1. Minister Motshekga has again appealed to South Africans to dedicate 67 minutes of their time today "and make a difference".

Source: SA - the Good News (Document available in English only)]]> Südafrika Topnews Pressespiegel Presse Tue, 19 Jul 2011 11:24:00 +0200 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=941&cHash=245574e6262fc8c87be63fe3d79c8c93 On 3-4 July 2011, at the invitation of South Africa and Germany, a group of 35 Ministers and their representatives, the Chairs of the AWG-LCA, AWG-KP and SBSTA, as well as the Deputy Executive... Chancellor Merkel advocated strong leadership and stressed the urgency to act. The main messages from the discussion are summarised below in a non-exhaustive manner.

Ministers acknowledged the successful outcome of the Cancún Conference of Parties to the Convention and agreed that this was a powerful signal that the international community can indeed act collectively. Ministers agreed that it was important to build on this success and the trust it had created and show continued commitment and leadership. This is crucial for moving the process forward. However it was restated that the level of ambition of existing commitments and actions was insufficient to limit the global temperature increase to below 2 degrees and that countries should urgently consider how to raise their level of ambition both at the national and international level. Ministers recognised that the incremental approach adopted since the Copenhagen Conference had been successful and should be continued. Ministers emphasized that the Durban outcome needed to represent clear progress since Cancún, including both by addressing those outstanding issues from COP 16/CMP 6 and by operationalizing the COP 16/CMP 6 decisions. Ministers identified the key political issues under negotiation that needed to be dealt with before, during and after Durban, including the question of legal form, 2nd Commitment Period of the Kyoto Protocol, equity, and the level of ambition of mitigation pledges.

The continued value of the multilateral rules based system was strongly emphasised. The specific form that such a system would have in future was seen by some as a two-track outcome with a 2nd Commitment Period under the Kyoto Protocol and by others as a single legally binding agreement under the Convention. An indication was given that Durban should give political direction to the shape of and timing for a future comprehensive, global rules based system that ensures global warming stays below 2 or 1.5 degrees Celsius. In this regard the 2015 review will play a critical role. Ministers presented a variety of approaches on how to address equity in the negotiations. Equity was linked by some to the consideration of the long term global goal and others emphasised access to sustainable development. It was noted that further discussion was needed in the run up to Durban and beyond.

The successful operationalization of the Cancún Agreements can facilitate the resolution of outstanding political issues. Ministers noted that many countries have already launched projects, initiatives or programmes to tackle climate change and acknowledged the value of learning from experience. Examples of effective implementation were presented at the Petersberg Climate Dialogue II which demonstrates commitment and enhances mutual trust. The importance of sharing practical experience in particular in the area of MRV and transparency was highlighted. In relation to means of implementation Ministers stressed the importance of the delivery thereof to enable the delivery of a meaningful and credible Durban outcome.

Ministers reiterated the need to address both mitigation and adaptation in an equal manner. As a basis for effective action Ministers stressed the need for enhanced capacities in developing countries. Technology was also identified as an important component of sustainable economic transformation. On finance, Ministers highlighted that the timely and transparent delivery of “fast start” financing to support implementation of mitigation and adaptation action in developing countries will strengthen confidence in the multilateral process.

Ministers stressed the need to avoid a financing gap after 2012, when the fast start finance period ends. They also emphasised the importance of meeting the long term financing goal of US$100 bn per year by 2020. In this context some Ministers raised the need for meaningful mitigation action and transparency on implementation. A variety of sources would be required, and Ministers acknowledged the need to explore further sources for long term financing that will provide the required new, additional, adequate and predictable financial flows.

Ministers agreed that Durban should take a decision to operationalize the Green Climate Fund. At the same time Ministers cautioned against the fund becoming an empty shell. The Fund should play a catalytic role in assisting developing countries in their efforts to pursue transformational low-carbon and climate-resilient development paths.

There was a discussion about a possible Durban outcome which identified a variety of scenarios. Ideas for a transitional phase were suggested. With regard to mitigation Ministers acknowledged the linkage between the outcomes on the Kyoto and the Convention tracks and the relationship with the legal options for an agreed outcome on pending issues. Ideas on a transitional phase and middle ground options should be explored further.

As elements for a possible Durban outcome Ministers identified i.a. the operationalization of the Cancun outcomes, a transitional solution to ensure the continuation of a rules based system, equal emphasis of mitigation and adaptation, transparency (MRV, IAR, ICA) and finance, as well as progress on pending issues. In this regard, the insufficient level of ambition was noted. Ministers identified the need for a balanced outcome to move forward.

The meeting demonstrated once again the value of informal fora in stimulating an open and political exchange. Ministers further emphasised that such meetings were critical to advance formal negotiations and welcomed the South African initiative for further meetings in September and a PreCOP in October.

Ministers agreed to take the constructive spirit and ideas of the Petersberg Climate Dialogue II back to their respective delegations to the UN negotiations and the negotiation groups they were representing. In this way the key messages from this Dialogue will be communicated to the larger group of countries that would be coming together in the autumn of 2011. They further agreed that it was critical to provide political guidance and a clear mandate to negotiators.

Ministers expressed their optimism that this Ministerial Dialogue would contribute to progress in forthcoming negotiations, a further convergence of positions and the generation of much needed political momentum. This would be critical in making the Durban Conference in December a success and a key milestone in our long-term efforts to prevent dangerous climate change.

Source: http://www.dfa.gov.za/docs/speeches/2011/mash0706.html (Document available in English only)]]> Botschaft Politik Südafrika in Deutschland Topnews Presse Mon, 04 Jul 2011 00:00:00 +0200 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=939&cHash=698b6eca6e8c0dae1c2747dd83378a42 3 JULY 2011Federal Chancellor MerkelMinister Norbert Röttgen,Excellencies,The Chairs of the Working Groups and the UNFCCC SecretariatDistinguished participants, delegates and colleagues,Ladies and...
Federal Chancellor Merkel
Minister Norbert Röttgen,
Excellencies,
The Chairs of the Working Groups and the UNFCCC Secretariat
Distinguished participants, delegates and colleagues,
Ladies and Gentlemen.

I also want to thank Federal Chancellor Merkel for the taking the time in her busy schedule to address us and again pointed out the difficulties and many challenges we face to address climate change impacts. It is inspiring to get this encouraging message from a prominent woman of the stature of Chancellor Merkel at a Forum like this and where she clearly gave us food for thought on the road leading to Durban.
For South Africa as the incoming COP17/CMP7 President, this provides a valuable opportunity to ensure that political support and guidance is given by the Parties. We need to deliberate and to share experiences and good practices in order to fortify our global effort to address Climate Change which in essence is now a key sustainable development issue.  
It is against this background that South Africa with all its challenges of poverty and job creation offered to take on the challenge of hosting and presiding over the COP17/CMP7.  I am sure you have by now learned that South Africa is very positive in our expectations. Being from the most affected continent, we have set our sights high, and we are ready to work with you to meet these challenges head-on.
Ladies and gentleman,
Cancun brought faith back in the multilateral process’ ability to achieve a globally acceptable agreement. However, the trust that was built in Cancun is fragile and the process requires compromises from all Parties by operationalising what has been agreed to and dealing with outstanding political issues, and ensure there is no legal gap in the international climate change regime. We do acknowledge that different Parties may have different views on the priorities and approaches to the Cancun decisions and the expected outcomes for Durban. However, after some informal consultations with various Parties it appears to us that if we do not make balanced progress in the first area of work, to operationalise the elements of what were agreed in Cancun, we may risk losing the trust and confidence in the multilateral system gained in Cancun.
It is within this framework that as the Presidency we identified the following as the way forward in relation to Durban:
1.    South Africa believes that fundamental to achieving success at the COP17/CMP7 in Durban, is the consolidation of trust rekindled at the COP16/CMP6 in Cancun as well as the belief restored in the UNFCCC multilateral process.
2.    Critical to the consolidation of trust must be a willingness by Parties to compromise, while seriously applying their collective wisdom to address intractable political issues.
3.    The operationalisation of the Cancun Decisions requires momentum from the commitment to deal with unfinished business from the Bali Road Map and Action Plan. Equally, addressing unfinished business from the Bali Road Map and Action Plans requires progress on actions to realize key decisions reached in Cancun.
4.    Durban is the end of the line for the postponement of key political issues. Therefore there is urgency for all the Parties to lead and be bold.
5.    South Africa will spare no effort in ensuring that Parties strive for a balanced and credible outcome. To this end we will rely on the Bureau; work optimally with the Secretariat of the UNFCCC and consult with the parties and their regional groups in an inclusive and transparent manner.

I can assure you that all the logistical arrangements are on track and that we are ready to receive all the delegates to Durban to make their stay a memorable one.  With regard to the substantial issues, we are well advanced in our consultations with Parties, to get the views of all of you, because I have heard it so many times that, countries insist that it is a Party Driven Process.  Above everything else, it is my government’s wish that the UNFCCC processes should emerge intact and much more secure. To this end, we will spare no effort in ensuring that all the Parties negotiate in good faith to consolidate all the gains made thus far in building the architecture to address climate change.  We will do our best to facilitate understanding among the parties and ensure that they hear each other and do not talk past each other in confronting the big political issues which if not addressed will put us all at the risk of collapsing the UNFCCC framework.

We are committed to find solutions in a multilateral system, because alone we can never achieve the credible outcome we all aspire to. Therefore Ladies and gentleman, in helping to strike whatever balances have to be struck in Durban, it is our hope this is the spirit that will infuse the negotiations at all levels to ensure that while we consolidate the gains thus far made, we secure these by addressing the big political issues as well as the future in good faith.  Yes, we all come into this with our own national interests, but we need to rise above our narrow interest and find innovative solutions to the very difficult issues we are confronted with.

With the leadership of the Mexicans, at the COP16/CMP6, they assisted us to again have faith in the UNFCCC process and we should not squander this momentum gained.    In Cancun, we managed to, create space for the parties to re-group and start to address the big political issues which we need to resolve.  We have now reached that uncomfortable point from which no-one can run away but which we must confront head-on.

Mindful of all of this ladies and gentleman, the central focus of our preparations with respect to the Durban outcomes necessarily must be to ensure that we do not loose the gains made in Cancun particularly for developing countries in finance, technology, adaptation and capacity building. The other elephant in the room is what to do with the Kyoto Protocol as the 1st commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol comes to an end.  Parties cannot avoid or postpone addressing this issue any longer.  Therefore in Durban, we are hoping for a spirit of compromise to prevail. To ensure that Parties rise to all these challenges, as mandated by the Cancun decisions as contained in 1/CP.16, I will use every avenue, specifically meetings as this one to intensify my consultations to build the political will and courage necessarily to deliver a credible outcome at the COP17/CMP7 in an inclusive and transparent manner.
Excellencies and Colleagues, it is therefore my hope that as you leave here you will not only support my efforts to galvanise the necessary political will, but will also assist in securing a healthy foundation for the continuation of the work you will do during this Dialogue. I therefore implore you to rally your negotiators and political primaries to approach Durban with a sense of urgency and common purpose.
In the final instance I trust that you will leave Berlin with a sense of accomplishment in order to secure the gains made in Bonn in preparation for the inter-sessional meeting in September/October 2011 in Panama.

Thank you. (Document available in English only)]]> Botschaft Politik Südafrika in Deutschland Topnews Presse Sun, 03 Jul 2011 00:10:00 +0200 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=938&cHash=2474eb6e4bbec95581b358e36e5948d0 Berlin 2 July 2011. Today a conference gets underway in Berlin to prepare for the UN climate summit taking place in Durban, South Africa at the end of this year. Until 4 July ministers and ... Berlin 2 July 2011. Today a conference gets underway in Berlin to prepare for the UN climate summit taking place in Durban, South Africa at the end of this year. Until 4 July  ministers and high-ranking representatives from 35 countries are meeting for the Petersberg Climate Dialogue II at the invitation of Federal Environment Minister Norbert Röttgen and South African Minister of International Relations Maite Nkoana-Mashabane. The following is the welcoming address by Minister Nkoana-Mashabane: Minister Röttgen
Excellencies
Ladies and gentlemen
Permit me to thank the German Government for their support to jointly host with us the Petersberg Climate Dialogue II – “Rising to the Climate Challenge”, here in Berlin. I believe the Petersberg Climate Dialogue could become a permanent fixture within the climate change calendar of events where ministers in an informal setting can meet and hold open and frank exchanges on possible ways forward within the UN climate change negotiations. This Dialogue in particular gives us an opportunity to exchange ideas and thoughts on the process leading up to the COP17/CMP7 in Durban at the end of the year.
Minister Röttgen has already outlined the major issues that we need to focus our attention on during the next two days.  For the incoming COP17/CMP7 President one of the major challenges facing the negotiation in the lead up to Durban is the fact that we have limited negotiating time. On the one hand, we have limited time to develop global consensus on the issues that have so-far proved to be politically very difficult to reach. These require policy choices, solutions and guidance at the political level.
On the other hand, we have limited time to develop a common understanding of the nature and extent of the in principle decisions/agreements reached thus-far, as well as to negotiate decision texts to operationalise these agreements. The decisions adopted in Cancun will shape major parts of the architecture of the future post 2012 climate change regime and need to be operationalize without delay.  It is however undeniable that the commitments made under the Bali Road Map, must also be honored as part of the future climate regime.  Progress on the one without progress on the other is not possible.  Therefore it is incumbent on us to bring to bear on the negotiations our collective political will as Ministers to ensure traction on both the operationalisation of the Cancun decisions and the resolution of outstanding matters of the Bali Action Plan and the Bali Roadmap.
The message coming out of the negotiations thus far and other fora is that the Durban outcome must be comprehensive, ambitious and balanced.  The question which we might want to focus on therefore is how we deal with the issue of the 2nd Commitment Period of the Kyoto Protocol. The outcome needs to ensure progress and to get a sense of the legal form under both Kyoto Protocol and the Convention. The outcome under the Convention on mitigation is directly linked to the Kyoto mitigation outcome. Mitigation in itself, comprises a balance between various currently contentious and divergent interpretations of the Cancun decision, namely how do we interpret the international consultation and analysis of developing countries mitigation actions, international assessment and review of developed countries mitigation commitments, and measurable, reportable, and verifiable support by developed countries to developing countries.
Although a solution for the mitigation question is critical, we need to balance mitigation with the issue of adaptation, as adapting to the impacts of climate change and financing this work is a key priority for many developing countries, particularly SIDS, LDC’s and Africa. Linked to this is progress on the issue of loss and damage, as well as the forum on response measures. The implementation and operationalisation on the decisions on adaptation taken in Cancun must receive highest priority. In this regard, the importance of the extension of the Nairobi Work Programme on adaptation cannot be over emphasised. For Africa and most other developing countries the urgent need to advance and deepen the response to adaptation is a matter of life and death.
We need to make substantive progress on the means of implementation, especially on the set of finance related issues namely; the design of the Green Climate Fund; the functions of the Standing Committee, as well as sources of funding and the scale of finance needed.
To achieve this, progress must be made on the key mechanisms and institutional arrangements agreed to in Cancun; the Adaptation Committee, the Technology Executive Committee, the Technology Centre and Network, the mitigation registry, the Finance Standing Committee of the Green Climate Fund.  
Another pressing question is how to increase our collective level of ambition setting a long term global goal and peaking year. How do we use the 2013/15 review innovatively through the decisions of the Durban COP17/CMP7?
I wish to use this opportunity to thank the Ministers that will act as facilitators during the next two days. I am certain they will steer the discussions wisely.
I thank you. (Document available in English only)]]> Botschaft Politik Südafrika in Deutschland Topnews Presse Sun, 03 Jul 2011 00:00:00 +0200 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=940&cHash=818c47b6084b053bcc41403e1e3e1c18 Berlin 2 July 2011. Today a conference gets underway in Berlin to prepare for the UN climate summit taking place in Durban, South Africa at the end of this year. Until 4 July ministers and... Berlin 2 July 2011. Today a conference gets underway in Berlin to prepare for the UN climate summit taking place in Durban, South Africa at the end of this year. Until 4 July  ministers and high-ranking representatives from 35 countries are meeting for the Petersberg Climate Dialogue II at the invitation of Federal Environment Minister Norbert Röttgen and South African Minister of International Relations Maite Nkoana-Mashabane. Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel will hold the keynote speech on Sunday. At the start of the conference Röttgen noted: "Last year on the Petersberg near Bonn we set the course for the outcome of the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Cancun. We want to build on this tradition. This year, too, we want to use this informal ministerial meeting to mark out at political level an ambitious yet realistic framework for the upcoming UN Climate Change Conference in Durban."

Germany and the EU advocate legally binding reduction targets as described in the Kyoto Protocol. A binding legal framework provides transparency, ensures that countries and private players have a predictable planning base and generates confidence that commitments will actually be kept. However, those states that made reduction commitments under the Kyoto Protocol will not be able to stop climate change on their own. These countries account for less than one third of global emissions, and their share continues to fall. Therefore Germany and the EU are calling on the US to make comparable commitments and for the major newly industrialised countries to set themselves appropriate and binding targets.

Röttgen: "In Cancun we achieved important progress in international climate protection. For instance the 2 degree ceiling for global warming was recognised and important decisions were taken on strengthening international climate protection architecture, such as the establishment of a Global Climate Partnership Fund to support developing countries. These decisions must now be implemented. In addition we need to find a way of increasing the level of ambition regarding reduction commitments and make it legally binding. Step by step we must develop solutions to the complex question of how much, and in what form, each country contributes. I am certain that as the next holder of the presidency South Africa will find the right balance between widely different expectations."

Background: Petersberg Climate Dialogue
The first Petersberg Climate Dialogue took place in May 2010 on the Petersberg near Bonn. It began as a political initiative by the Federal Chancellor in 2009 in Copenhagen. As president of both the EU and G8 in 2007, Germany had already taken on a pioneering role in international climate policy. The aim of the Petersberg Climate Dialogue was to comprehensively support and advance the international climate negotiations following the disappointing summit in Copenhagen and bridge the gap between "implementation and negotiation".

This year's Petersberg Climate Dialogue II will continue in the same spirit. Once again the focus is on linking implementation and negotiation. Once again, Germany is sharing the chair of the Petersberg Climate Dialogue with the president of the next climate change conference – this year, South Africa. In 2010 Germany and South Africa launched the International Partnership for Emission Reductions and MRV, thus drawing developed and developing countries closer together on one of the core issues of the negotiations.
Source: http://www.bmu.de/english/current_press_releases/pm/47552.php

(Document available in English only)

]]> Botschaft Politik Südafrika in Deutschland Topnews Presse Sat, 02 Jul 2011 00:00:00 +0200 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=937&cHash=e53fb760ff994b21fb6fd4ef538ec739 Berlin, 28 June 2011. The Ambassador of the Republic of South Africa Reverend MA Stofile was the keynote speaker at a reception co-hosted by German Africa Foundation (Deutsche Afrika Stiftung e.V.),... Reverend MA Stofile was the keynote speaker at a reception co-hosted by German Africa Foundation (Deutsche Afrika Stiftung e.V.), German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Deutsche Industrie und Handelskammertag e.V.), Afrika-Verein (Afrika-Verein der Deutschen Wirtschaft e.V.)  and the Siemens AG with the theme: “Tasks, Challenges and Ideas” . In front of an audience of German politicians, industry representatives, media and clerical representatives the Ambassador outlined tasks, challenges and ideas of the German- South African relationship and his vision for his time as Ambassador in Germany in line with the South African government. The Ambassador´s speech was followed with many questions from the audience and a lively discussion. Please find the speech below, for a CV of Ambassador Reverend Stofile please click |+| here

Introduction
From time immemorial since the evolution of societies and nation states, human relations have always been defined by access to resources for livelihood and wellbeing. The search for resources, their protection and later ownership of e.g. land, minerals, animals (for hunters), roots and fruits (for gatherers) have always defined relations. In the modern era the situation has not changed but has become more sophisticated. “National Interests” have replaced what old sociologists called “human needs”. But the essence of what defines relations remains basically the same.

The ancient world relied on might and power of the armies to resolve contestations. Modern times have seen the ascendance of the power of the pen and debating fora for resolving relations among nations. Multi-laterals, bi-nationals and a plethora of Resolutions and Protocols have become very important tools for good neighbourliness and world peace. Force has not exactly been cancelled by these peaceful tools. But it has been immensely limited.

I have sketched this background to answer the question of why South Africa has a Mission in Germany. Such diplomatic Missions are established with the mutual consent of two states (Germany and the RSA). Our functions in Germany are largely the same with those of our counterpart in Pretoria, Dr Haller. They are:

• To represent the RSA in Germany:
• To protect in Germany the interests of the RSA, within International Law;
• Negotiating (when necessary) with the Government of Germany;
• The promotion of friendly relations between the RSA and Germany and our peoples;
• To develop and facilitate strong economic, cultural and scientific relations between our two countries.

These are the tasks I have been assigned and I mean to carry them out diligently and with great humility. Honourable Public Representatives (MPs) will be our important partners as we tackle these tasks.

As part of the large team of Ambassadors and High Commissioners that South Africa has deployed to many countries, here in Germany we must:

• Strive to consolidate the African Agenda. This means that we must promote and popularise NEPAD and its programmes. This way the economic growth and development of Africa will be enhanced. The African trade and investment must be aligned to regional and sub-regional Strategic Plans. It is also our task to support good governance and democratisation initiatives in Africa. This, in partnership with the German Government and institutions.
• Strive to strengthen our co-operation with Germany. Our two countries have cordial and dynamic relations based on mutual trust and equal partnership. Germany is our largest economic partner in Europe and our number 4 in the world. We have been instructed by President Zuma to strengthen this relationship. Of course, as we do so we shall also be contributing to a strong South – North cooperation. Minister Westerwelle correctly pointed out (15 June 2011) that Germany will strengthen existing relations whilst also forging new ones. This is normal for all countries of the world.
• Together with Germany we are confronting such challenges as poverty, underdevelopment in Africa, skills transfer, post conflict reconstruction and peace and security. As non-permanent members of the UNSC we consult regularly to develop a common approach to our endeavours to reform the UN and other Institutions of Global Governance. We work closely in promoting human rights and in promoting the global political and socio-economic stability within the multi-lateral system.

What are we going to do? (Challenges)
After centuries of colonial conquest followed by many decades of segregation, protest, resistance and brutal repression, our country is on the way to a fully functional and participatory democracy.  A significant progress has been made towards making our country a more just and inclusive society. Or political institutions have been entrenched through four national and provincial and local government elections. Such institutions as an independent Judiciary, a Public Protector, Auditor General, Human Rights, a Gender and Electoral Commissions are strong bulwarks for our democracy. But much more must be done still.

Divisions of race, gender and class remain. More often than not inequality reflects these lines of division. The continued social and economic exclusion of millions of South Africans is our biggest challenge. These have a historical basis in apartheid and are driven by a poor quality of education for many blacks which leaves a lot of people unemployed, poor and unemployable. Improving the supply and relevance of skills is desperately needed at home.

So Honourable Members, we are challenged to grow the level of German investments in South Africa and vice versa. We are challenged to come up with innovative technologies that will provide more jobs and skills for our people. The agreements between Germany and South Africa on Education, Science and Technology, Skills training, Provinces/Lände and City/City co-operatives must be made to work smarter and faster. MPs could assist by organising South Africa or Africa days in their constituencies. This way, our challenges can be properly and broadly explained. Potential entrepreneurs could also see how to participate in the R11 billion scheme announced by Government to boost infrastructure development and to promote innovative technology-driven industries.

Next week Germany and South Africa are hosting a very important Climate Change Conference. This is another effort to build a solid consensus as we move to COP17 in Durban, South Africa during November/ December 2011. All agree that a global, legally binding agreement is the first prize for Durban. But all concerned, agree the journey is not going to be easy. But we must walk that road, together.

Conclusion
We are cognisant of the immensity of our responsibilities. But we also know what happens when we work together. Preparations and the hosting of the 2010 FIFA World Cup started with Germany and South Africa working together since 2004 already to prepare for the 2006 World Cup in Germany. The history of South Africa / German relations is very long. Of course it has not always been positive. But that is what diplomatic missions are for:  to iron out problematic areas. Some German Companies have been in South Africa for more than 150 years. We have climbed many hills together. We dare not stop now. (Document available in English only)]]> Wirtschaft Botschaft Politik Topnews Presse Wed, 29 Jun 2011 12:38:00 +0200 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=946&cHash=c9c76a177292c11d9ced9f43bc570c1d Berlin, 27 June 2011. In December 2010 AMANDLA EduFootball with the support of the Federal Foreign Office of Germany and streetfootballworld hosted the first international "PASCH Football... Federal Foreign Office of Germany and streetfootballworld hosted the first international "PASCH Football Tournament" on their top class artificial turf facility in Khayelitsha, Cape Town.

On invitation of the Federal Foreign Office of Germany, the South African winning team was in Germany in June and July 2011 to participate in the  PASCH Festival in Berlin. Seven boys and girls from the Khayelitsha FC team represented South Africa and together with the other teams from Israel/Palestine, Bosnia/Herzegovina, India and Brazil  and Berlin participated in the tournament at Tempelhof in Berlin on 25 June. The two-week trip was dedicated to intercultural exchange, historical exploration and educational football activities and offered the participants a once in a lifetime opportunity to meet peers from all around the globe.

The visit also included a reception at the  German Federal Foreign Office and all the teams delivered a cultural performance. The SA team sang the South African National anthem, performed the Tswarelo dance, the gumboot dance, the Kilo and sang the Shosholoza song to close the performance. They also attended workshops on Fair Play in preparation for the tournament that included playing in multi-cultural teams. They also had the opportunity to attend the opening match of the FIFA Women’s Football tournament at Olympia stadium. From Berlin they proceeded to Stuttgart where another PASCH tournament was held.

Herewith quotes by the seven participants from Khayelitsha on their German experience

Akona: For me the most exciting thing on the trip to Germany was to visit the Brandenburg Gate and the Berlin wall. But at the same time the opening match of the Women’s FIFA Football World Cup (Germany vs. Canada) was also really amazing. Meeting one of the National players and getting autographs was pretty exciting. I also really enjoyed the boat trip on the Spree. It was nice and fun and we got to see lots of different places and buildings.

William: It was really nice in Berlin. Right at the beginning, on the second day I met a boy from Cameroon. His name is Michael. Over the past 10 days he became my best friend in the group. I will never forget him. That was my highlight of the trip.

Zikhona: The best day to me was the day we arrived at the airport in Berlin because of the warm welcome that we received. The evening on which we went bowling was also a lot of fun. We all tried bowling for the first time, it was so cool! I also enjoyed interacting with all the other youth. My favourite person was Julia, a kind and adorable person.

Thando: The most exciting thing for me was to see the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, but I also made some really good friends who I hope to visit in Brazil one day.

Mbasa: Our arrival in Germany was really exciting for me and my highlight of the trip was to see the Women’s opening match of the Football World Cup in the stadium, where Germany played against Canada.

Nosipho: The most exciting thing for me was going to the Bundestag, the German parliament and learning about German history and politics. They also showed us very interesting pictures of the Berlin wall that divided Berlin and other parts of the country in East and West Germany.

Pixie: I made many friends in Germany, which I liked a lot. Out of the activities I enjoyed the streetfootball tournament in Stuttgart the most. My team played very well.

]]> Südafrika in Deutschland Topnews Mon, 27 Jun 2011 00:00:00 +0200 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=929&cHash=137e0e4563d243792903e4e6fc465ffa Die Republik Südafrika ist mit 13 Ausstellern auf der GIFA / Newcast-Messe (die 12. Internationale Giesserei-Fachmesse) in Düsseldorf vom 28.6. - 2.7. 2011 in Halle 13 Stand B22... http://www.suedafrika-wirtschaft.de/index.php?&pageID=87]]> Botschaft Wirtschaft Südafrika in Deutschland Topnews Mon, 20 Jun 2011 00:00:00 +0200 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=931&cHash=27f627fc120019604920bd99f4402075 Accreditation of Ambassador Reverend Dr Makhenkesi Arnold Stofile as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of South Africa to the Federal Republic of Germany on 1 June... Berlin, 1 June 2011. The Embassy of the Republic of South Africa in Berlin is honoured to announce that on 1 June 2011 His Excellency Ambassador Reverend Dr Makhenkesi Arnold Stofile presented his Letter of Credence to His Excellency President Christian Wulff accrediting him as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of South Africa to the Federal Republic of Germany.
His links to Germany go back to his days as a student in the late 1970`s when he studied the German language which prepared him for classes that he subsequently took at the University of Tübingen as part of a post graduate Diploma in Theology. Later in life, his link was to be strengthened at the political economic level when as Premier of the Easter Cape Province Reverend Stofile travelled frequently to Germany mobilising political and business support for the development of the new South Africa.
His academic career saw him attain a number of university degrees at different universities in South Africa and the United States of America. He became lecturer at his alma mater, the University of Fort Hare, as well as at the then University of Transkei (now Walter Sisulu University). A passionate student of Theology as well as of History.
Like many South Africans of his generation Reverend Stofile was exposed to political work since the early 1950`s. After the banning of political organizations he was recruited to the ranks of underground freedom fighters. He rose to the rank of Regional Chairperson of the Area Political Committee (APC) by 1978 and of the Regional Military Combat Work Committee (MCW) by 1985. From 1983 he became a Regional Secretary General (Border Region) as well as National Executive Committee member of the United Democratic Front (UDF). In 1974 the Presbyterian Church of Southern Africa ordained Ambassador Stofile as Minister of the Word and Sacraments.
In 1994 Reverend Stofile became one of th 400 MPs of South Africa`s first democratic Parliament. The ruling African National Congress elected him as the first Chief Whip in that parliament. Two years later President Mandela appointed the Ambassador as Premier in the Government of the Eastern Cape Province. In 2004 President Mbeki called him to be national Minister of Sport and Recreation. As such, Reverend Stofile became the lead coordinator of government and private sector as well as NGO`s as South Africa prepared for and finally hosted a memorable FIFA World Cup in 2010. This again brought him into very close cooperation with German institutions and the Federal Government who had ably hosted the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
Ambassador Stofile has been a member of the National Executive Committee of the ruling party (ANC) since its unbanning in 1990 to date. From 1995 to 1997 he was the Treasurer General of the ANC. He is also a corresponding member of the National Working Committee (NWC).
Ambassador Rev Dr Stofile pointing out the strong relationship between South Africa and Germany stated:
 “South Africa continues to count its relationship with the Federal Republic of Germany as being one of its treasured bilateral relationships. Our relationship with Germany is a partnership, in the truest sense of the word, which is based on mutual respect and trust.”
And he continued:
“I consider my current deployment as a great statement of trust by our President. The honour of serving the President, our country and our people at this level is a daunting one. I accept it with great humility and inspiration derived from those who led us to where we are. I look forward to a meaningful engagement with those who share our vision of a democratic, prosperous and peaceful South Africa.”
Ambassador Reverend Dr Stofile has moved to Germany with his wife of over thirty years, Nambitha Stofile. His two daughters work in South Africa.

]]> Botschaft Südafrika in Deutschland Topnews Thu, 02 Jun 2011 00:00:00 +0200 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=928&cHash=d8e6c1c46ec2fba0a753b76f2ab70aa9 Pretoria - The Department of International Relations and Cooperation celebrates 2011 Africa Day, under the theme Accelerating Youth Empowerment for Sustainable Development. Africa Day is... Accelerating Youth Empowerment for Sustainable Development.  Africa Day is annually commemorated on May 25, as on this day in the year 1963 the Organisation of African Unity (which has evolved into the African Union) was founded. The Republic of South Africa places high regard for this celebration as it marks an important sign of unity amongst the people of our continent and reaffirms our resolve to reconfigure our world along the values of human dignity, equality, and justice for all.  

In addition, the government and people of the Republic of South Africa acknowledge that the future of our continent is closely linked to our own future - as aligned in our foreign policy objective of establishing a better Africa in a better world.  In this pursuit, the Republic of South Africa continues to support regional and continental processes to respond to and resolve conflicts, strengthen regional integration, companions for an increase in intra-African trade and sustainable development of our continent. At the same time, South Africa continues to advance common African positions through its structured bilateral activities and other international fora.

In celebration of Africa Day 2011, the DIRCO has arranged a series of seminars at head office, OR Tambo Building, to commemorate this day of unity. These seminars, which commenced on Monday, 23 May 2011 and will end on Friday, 26 May 2011, are being held to raise awareness and unpack the concepts of an African identity and culture, the economic emergence of Africa, as well as the empowerment of our young African Diplomats. DIRCO’s trainees, academics, members of the Diplomatic Corps and other invited guests have been engaging in constructive exchange of ideas and were also treated to samples of African art, music and poetry. The Republic of South Africa’s diplomatic missions, throughout the world, are scheduled to celebrate this day in their respective countries of accreditation. The DIRCO will host the Diplomatic Corps accredited to South Africa in Johannesburg, Gauteng later this week.

]]> Topnews Südafrika Politik Afrikanische Union Tue, 24 May 2011 11:15:00 +0200 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=917&cHash=8b780fcbdd063ca2d8d48675ce43295c Berlin 27.4.2011. Die Botschaft der Republik Südafrika in Berlin feierte Südafrikas Nationalfeiertag am 27. April 2011. Der Tag, der als Freiheitstag gefeiert wird, hat dieses Jahr als Themen...
Die Festlichkeiten um den Nationalfeiertag waren auch der erste offizielle Anlass, um den neuen südafrikanischen Botschafter für Deutschland vorzustellen: Der designierte Botschafter Reverend Makhenkesi Arnold Stofile.

Freedom Day für Südafrikaner ist eine Erinnerung an den Kampf für eine freies und gerechtes Südafrika. Es ist der Tag, an dem alle Südafrikaner die neue Konstitution feiern, die gegen die Unterdrückung steht, unter der so viele Südafrikaner litten und die die Vergangenheit des Landes so gekennzeichnet hat. Es ist der Tag an dem gefeiert wird, dass die menschliche Würde garantiert ist, dass es an der Zeit ist, keine Diskriminierung basierend auf ethnischer Herkunft, Geschlecht oder sexueller Orientierung zu erlauben.

 Freedom Day 2011 ist ein Tag an dem Südafrikaner zurückblicken und sehen, was diese junge Demokratie in den letzten siebzehn Jahren, seit den ersten freien Wahlen, die am 27 April 1994 Nelson Mandela zum Präsidenten machten, schon alles erreicht hat.

Seit diesen ersten Wahlen hat das Land einen langen Weg hinter sich gebracht und ist jetzt ein wichtiger Partner, auf internationaler Ebene sowohl wirtschaftlich als auch politisch. Seit diesem Jahr ist Südafrika, zusammen mit Deutschland, ein nichtständiges Mitglied im UN-Sicherheitsrat. Und Südafrika ist seit kurzem Mitglied der wirtschaftlichen Vereinigung der Schwellenländer BRIC – was nun BRICS genannt wird.

Für die Botschaft der Republik Südafrika war das letzte Jahr voller Ereignisse, die sichoft um die FIFA Fußball Weltmeisterschaft drehten und die Musik, Kultur und ein reiches Erbe Südafrikas zeigten. 

Zusammen mit verschiedensten Partnern wurde südafrikanisches Flair nach Deutschland gebracht und viele Beziehungen und Partnerschaften wurden während dieser wichtigen und aufrgenden Zeit eingegangen. Diese können sich nun weiter entwickeln und blühen, sodass die exzellenten bilateralen Beziehungen weiterhin wachsen. ]]> Botschaft Topnews Wed, 27 Apr 2011 13:47:00 +0200 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=905&cHash=620db6f84da0f5a93bac138f19171318 Berlin, 11 March 2011. South Africa`s Minister for Tourism, Marthinus van Schalkwyk together with Tourism Ministers from Kenya and Jamaica as well as the Ambassadors of New Zealand, Singapore, Kenya...
The joint communiqué issued by the group can be read |+| here]]> Topnews Tourismus Tue, 15 Mar 2011 16:58:00 +0100 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=904&cHash=6fe957dbf7ca1bfc3f4a1cfa59f9d86b Berlin, 10 March. In the morning a press conference saw a fully packed room with journalists for the Emerging Tourism Entrepreneur of the Year Award (ETEYA), a function that took place within the... Tourismus Topnews Tue, 15 Mar 2011 16:53:00 +0100 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=903&cHash=9d152aadb9ef3431bbcba4a611b654e5 Berlin, 9 March In the evening Johannesburg Tourism launched their new online booking portal at the Embassy of the Republic of South Africa and presented Johannesburg as a fantastic tourist... Botschaft Topnews Tourismus Tue, 15 Mar 2011 16:36:00 +0100 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=902&cHash=8033896f7fce2b7d0d91fff5b80ad84a Berlin, 9 March 2011. After the official opening of the tourism fair in Berlin (ITB) South Africa`s Tourism Minister, Marthinus van Schalkwyk, visited the exhibitors on the South Africa booth and... Topnews Tourismus Tue, 15 Mar 2011 16:29:00 +0100 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=901&cHash=a603f8f7598a13c4356f879708d2abb7 Berlin, 8 March 2011. One day before the opening of the tourism fair in Berlin (ITB) Chargé d`Affaires, Ms Cassandra Mbuyane-Mokone welcomed the Minister for Tourism: Marthinus van Schalkwyk, the... Botschaft Topnews Tourismus Tue, 15 Mar 2011 16:13:00 +0100 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=906&cHash=7930de03112632ddade4070cceefc1d3 Berlin, 13 March 2011. A cultural group from South Africa participated in the closing ceremony of the ITB as part of the Delphic Games Celebrations where the announcement was made that South Africa...
]]> Topnews Mon, 14 Mar 2011 17:03:00 +0100 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=900&cHash=847c92437f145023fad5fbb841650991 The President of the Republic of South Africa, HE Mr. Jacob G. Zuma, has today, Friday, 11 March 2011, on behalf of the Government and the people of South Africa, extended the country’s deepest...
President Zuma said “I wish to extend our condolences to the Government and the people of Japan. The people of South Africa share the pain and loss of the loved ones, their homes and property and our thoughts and prayers go to the affected families.”

The South African government wishes the rescue and recovery teams every success in their efforts. The Government of South Africa stands ready to assist in whatever manner possible within our limited resources.

The Department of International Relations & Cooperation’s Consular Services is in contact with our Embassy in Japan to assess any assistance required by South African citizens that may have been affected.

Members of the public who have family in Japan are requested to contact the Department’s Consular Section at: 012 351-1750;
012 351-1751; or
012 351-1000

For further information please contact Mr. Clayson Monyela spokesperson for DIRCO on 082 884 5974

ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND COOPERATION
OR Tambo Building
460 Soutpansberg Road
Rietondale
Pretoria

11 March 2011]]> Topnews Mon, 14 Mar 2011 10:08:00 +0100 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=899&cHash=52e4a2d150a70a147f814314e47e7f2a 11 March 2011 – ITB, Berlin, Germany. At the invitation of the Minister of Tourism of the Republic of South Africa, Mr Marthinus van Schalkwyk, tourism ministers and senior officials from...
Having met in Berlin to discuss streamlining and growing our respective tourism industries; and noting that tourism is a major driver of job creation, poverty eradication, socio-economic development and people-to-people contact in our respective countries; and

understanding that the sector is particularly important as a source of export revenue, contributing 30% of the world’s services exports, amounting to US$1 trillion a year and 45% of the total services exports in developing countries, rendering it an important driver of growth in the global economy; and believing that the low-carbon development of sustainable eco-tourism destinations and sustainable modes of transport are critically important; and noting the increase in unilateral and discriminatory taxes imposed on international travel in a number of European countries; and that aviation will in addition also be included under the EU’s emissions trading system from 2012; and noting our respective commitments under ICAO; and now therefore we express concern that: these unilateral taxes and the basis for its calculation are inherently discriminatory favouring short flights over long haul travel; and more specifically, that some taxes discriminate against long-haul destinations through so-called ‘distance banding’ based on distances to capital cities; and the order of magnitude of these taxes on long-haul destinations is excessive; and the International Air Transport Association estimates that flight costs on these routes could increase by 3-5%, which will have a negative impact on passenger numbers, tourist volumes and downstream tourist receipts in long-haul destinations;

and we stress that: there is no practical alternative to air travel when it comes to long-haul destinations, whereas travellers in Europe may choose to avoid the burden of extra taxes by resorting to rail, road or ferry modes of transport; and as likeminded long-haul destinations, we are concerned about the longer-term negative impacts that these taxes will have on our competitiveness; and there is a need to avoid duplicative measures that could undermine progress towards a multilateral approach.

We therefore call on those countries involved to reconsider these excessive, discriminatory taxes that adversely affect long-haul destinations, including many developing economies.

Recognising the ongoing efforts by various countries and regions, we have extended an invitation to other countries affected by these unilateral,  discriminatory taxes to become part of the process.]]> Presse Topnews Tourismus Fri, 11 Mar 2011 12:14:00 +0100 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=897&cHash=287e86afeea4f48a442c06da11ba6e76 Berlin, 24 February 2011. The Embassy of the Republic of South Africa in partnership with Deutsche Bank hosted a discussion forum on the theme: “Investing in Emerging Markets - Good Buy or Good... Botschaft Topnews Thu, 03 Mar 2011 15:30:00 +0100 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=922&cHash=02984f54895c961721cf54c2ce62997e 03 March 2011. As we are all aware the term of our municipal councils will be ending soon. In terms of the Local Government: Municipal Structures Act, 1998 (Act No. 117) “the term of...
We have decided to announce the election date now to give the Electoral Commission more certainty and time to prepare for the elections.

Once the election date is gazetted next week, the municipal segment of the voters roll will close.  This means eligible voters have the last opportunity from today until the proclamation of the election date is published in the Government Gazette to ensure that their names appear correctly on the voters roll.

I therefore call upon all South Africans to make full use of the last voter registration weekend of 5-6 March 2011 set by the IEC to ensure that their names appear correctly on the voters roll.

Enquiries:
Thabo Masebe 082 410 8087
Issued by The Presidency]]> Politik Topnews Thu, 03 Mar 2011 12:03:00 +0100 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=911&cHash=5bdbcad1a5062f073bc29427c4efea22 Berlin, 2 March 2011. The Embassy of the Republic of South Africa hosted a group of ten students from the Association Model United Nations Bern (MUN Bern) of the University of Bern. The students will... Botschaft Topnews Wed, 02 Mar 2011 15:16:00 +0100 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=896&cHash=12a02a5ec1476ea69ef124ed932ab04b The following is the Budget Speech delivered by Minister of Finance Pravin Gordhan at Parliament, 23 February 2011. Honourable Speaker, It is my privilege to introduce the Second Budget...
Mister President, you outlined our programme of action in the State of the Nation Address two weeks ago. Your vision for the future is abundantly clear: “We want to have a country where millions more South Africans have decent employment opportunities, which has a modern infrastructure and vibrant economy and where the quality of life is high.”

This Budget, Mister President, reflects the collective determination of the Government to address with energy the challenges of creating jobs, reducing poverty, building infrastructure and expanding our economy.

The Budget sets out a financial framework for implementing this vision, a framework that is sound and sustainable. It recognises that building South Africa is a multi-decade project that must invigorate our capacity to grow, and must include all South Africans in that growth. 

This Budget sets us on a path, Honourable Members, that will be neither easy nor uncontested – hard work and difficult choices lie ahead. But the journey is under way. We have embarked on the long walk to economic freedom. All South Africans aspire to these freedoms: 

• Freedom from poverty,
• Freedom from need,
• Freedom to exercise our talents and thrive as individuals,
• Freedom to work together as communities, as organised social formations, as business enterprises, as a proud and forward-looking nation.

This Budget is about making South Africa work smarter, harder, and differently.

What does this Budget offer?

Mister Speaker, the 2011 Budget ensures

• That government can intensify activities that make a difference to the lives and prospects of all South Africans,
• That priority programmes required for implementing the New Growth Path are funded,
• That macroeconomic stability is maintained, with necessary adjustments supporting enterprise and job creation. 

In tabling another weighty load of documentation today, our aim is to display transparently how South Africans benefit from government’s programmes and policies and how their tax contributions are spent.

For the poor, the Budget continues to expand spending on housing, rural development, better community services and social assistance grants for the elderly, the disabled and children in need.

For workers, the Budget emphasises job creation and expenditure on the “social wage,” including access to health services, education, social security, transport and municipal infrastructure.

For the business sector, the Budget expands investment in modernising our infrastructure and transport logistics, accelerating further education and skills development and supporting research, technology and industrial investment.

For the small business sector, there are targeted financial and enterprise development programmes, and tax relief measures.

For the youth, there is expanded access and financial assistance for further education, and a range of initiatives aimed at expanding job opportunities.

All of this, and more, we must do within a sound fiscal framework. We must also recognise that we are taking steps, this year and next, on a long-term growth path, a decades-long transformation and expansion of our social and economic possibilities.

In reflecting on commitments made in last year’s budget, we can point to progress on several fronts:

• Savings have again been identified in low-priority categories of spending, releasing over R30 billion to frontline service delivery allocations.
• Support for the Industrial Policy Action Plan is further enhanced. Tax and spending measures are proposed to improve investment and trade performance, enhance science and technology, accelerate job creation, boost small enterprise development and to strengthen rural development and emerging farmer support.
• Education and skills development are bolstered over the period ahead through expanding further education colleges and student financial assistance, and a new school building programme.
• Spending on economic and social infrastructure of over R800 billion is projected over the next three years.
• A new community-based family health-care programme is to be introduced as part of national health insurance, while work is proceeding on the design and consolidation of our social security arrangements.
• At Parliament’s request, we are tabling guidelines on long-term fiscal sustainability and debt management.

An opportunity to create hope for young people

Mister Speaker, we live in an extraordinary time in human history – a time of immense transition, of profound risks, but also of great opportunities.

We are in the midst of epoch-changing shifts in the global economy as large fast-growing countries, particularly China and India, have become major world producers and consumers. Their weight in world trade, finance and investment and in restructuring the world’s industries affects every country, every firm and every family.

Fast-growing economies that are raising living standards and creating jobs have one thing in common. They are continually moving into new products and improving the ways of producing the things they sell. Adaptation to the disciplines and the productive possibilities of the new global economy opens up new vistas of opportunity for improving living standards and expanding employment. But it also presents great challenges.

We shoulder the responsibility to build a better South Africa. We have taken on the challenge that the legacy of apartheid left us – a legacy of disempowerment, landlessness, inequality of opportunity, and millions of unemployed young people who cannot see a realistic prospect for a decent life. Confronting these realities is not about blaming the past or denying our own shortcomings.

It is about recognising that now is the time to do extraordinary things, in dealing with our particular development circumstances. It requires new ideas and bold efforts from all: government, business, labour, communities and every family. 

We must show, across the economy, the game-changing strengths we have shown on big issues, from creating our democracy to hosting Africa’s first Soccer World Cup festival.

Now we have to ignite the flame of higher inclusive growth, and sustain it.

We cannot view the fact that 42 percent of young people between the ages of 18 and 29 are unemployed as merely a statistic. Young men and women in cities, informal settlements, towns and villages may not have jobs, but have skills in life. They possess the awareness and the ability to learn, they drive fashion and inspire with their music, yet they know their local traditions. And they have hope, and look to us to give meaning to that hope. 

In response we must take measures to ensure that our young people can look forward to decent work in productive, competitive enterprises. It means that we will continue to strengthen social expenditure, enabling families to commit to participating in education and community activities, while supporting the old and sick.

Inclusive growth means strenuous efforts to cut back poverty and shrink the inequality that continue to blight us. The South African growth path we envision is not measurable by GDP alone. It must be an inclusive growth, which especially benefits the many South Africans who have been left behind.

Inclusive growth also means addressing the climate change challenges that confront the long-term global outlook. This year South Africa will host the 17th United Nations Conference of the Parties on climate change. Our own efforts to green our economy will come under special scrutiny. Mitigation initiatives are not just about reducing the dangers associated with a hotter future, but they also offer significant opportunities to create jobs and reduce costs in our economy.

And so in mapping a New Growth Path that will lead to rapid creation of jobs, that will ensure an equitable distribution of benefits, that will reduce inequality, ignite industrial development and transform rural and urban communities – in charting this course, we are mindful of the specific realities of our circumstances and the changing shape of the global economy.

As comrade Chris Hani so rightly said, “We want to build a nation free from hunger, disease and poverty, free from ignorance, homelessness and humiliation, a country in which there is peace, security and jobs.”

It is time to celebrate and embrace the potential of our unemployed young, knowing that they are our future. How we meet this challenge will shape the quality of life that our children and their children will enjoy. 

Economic outlook
Mister Speaker, there are encouraging signs of stronger recovery in the global economy as we enter 2011. But it remains essentially a two-speed recovery. There is moderate growth in the United States and parts of Europe again, whereas China and many other emerging economies continue to expand rapidly.

The roots of this divergent growth pattern lie in the unbalanced structure of world growth in the years leading up to the financial crisis. World growth came to rely too heavily on countries that exhibited overly high consumption, financed by countries with high savings and large trade surpluses.

The financial crisis and subsequent recession brought painful adjustments. However, the shift in world trade, investment, manufacturing, incomes and consumption is a structural transition that will take many years, as a multi-polar world evolves.

Up until the turn of the century, developing countries accounted for about 20 percent of global output. This will increase to 40 percent by about 2015.

Developing economies in Africa, Latin America and South Asia will play an increasingly important role in the global economy in coming years as incomes rise and poverty falls.

South Africa’s invitation to join the BRIC economies [Brazil, Russia, India and China] reflects this broadening of the sources of economic growth. Over the next five years, these economies will account for 36 percent of world economic growth. We have to construct our own growth and development strategies to propel our economy forward, create jobs and compete on the global stage.

The New Growth Path outlines our approach to accelerate growth and employment, focusing on several key drivers:

• Continuing and broadening public investment in infrastructure,
• Targeting more labour-absorbing activities in the agricultural and mining value chains, manufacturing, construction and services,
• Promoting innovation through “green economy” initiatives, and
• Supporting rural development and regional integration.

The latest estimate released by the Statistician-General is that the domestic economy grew by 2.8 percent in 2010. Strong commodity prices, low interest rates, and faster global growth, have been the main forces behind our economic recovery. Improving household consumption and accelerating investment will support an increase in economic growth over the medium term.

Real GDP growth is projected to reach 3.4 percent in 2011, 4.1 percent in 2012 and 4.4 percent in 2013.

Steady employment gains – of about 2 percent a year – will raise disposable incomes, supporting household consumption and investment.

Private gross fixed-capital formation increased in the second and third quarters of 2010 – a marked turnaround after five successive quarters of decline. Total investment is expected to grow by 3.9 percent in 2011, rising to 6.8 percent in 2013. The buoyancy of the investment recovery is an important determinant of future economic growth.

Real growth in exports is expected to average 6.5 percent a year over the medium term as commodity exports benefit from strong demand and high prices.

Inflation is forecast to remain within the target range of 3 – 6 percent, edging towards the upper end of the range in 2013 as the economy strengthens.

Increasing food and oil prices represent risks to the inflation outlook. The price of Brent crude reached US$107 yesterday – further increases will put upward pressure on prices more broadly.

The improved terms of trade for South Africa contributed to a better current account deficit for 2010 than was expected a year ago. As it widens from the 3.2 percent of GDP expected this year to 5 percent in 2013, we would like it to reflect rapidly rising investment rather than higher consumption.

Macroeconomic stability in an uncertain world
Mister Speaker, the growth and transformation of financial markets in recent decades has seen increased volatility of exchange rates and capital flows.

Global commodity markets now account for significant fluctuations in prices for our energy imports, mineral exports, and food supplies.

The macroeconomic environment facing South Africans – through interest rates, exchange rates, inflation, and credit conditions – can be destabilised by those international shocks. The macroeconomic policy task is to provide a stable and predictable economic environment by offsetting such shocks as far as possible.

Our monetary policy, designed to target inflation, has been conducted successfully by the South African Reserve Bank, achieving the current low rate of inflation and interest rates.

Fiscal and monetary policy will continue to work in partnership. Monetary policy, operated by the Reserve Bank, will continue to be focused on controlling inflation, and we will continue to ensure that fiscal policy is countercyclical within a sustainable long-term framework.

Movements in the exchange rate affect different sectors of the economy in different ways, and present difficulties in macroeconomic policy for many countries.

Recognising the impact of rand strength on the manufacturing industry, in particular, we announced measures in October to moderate the potential effect of capital inflows.

• Foreign exchange regulations were amended to permit greater foreign investment by South African institutions.
• Stepped up foreign exchange purchases by the Reserve Bank have partially offset upward pressures on the rand.

As a result of these policy adjustments, and in line with shifts in investor sentiment globally, the rand depreciated from December 2010 to mid-February 2011 by about 10 percent against the US dollar, the euro and sterling.

During 2010 South Africa received net inflows of R92 billion in liquid foreign capital, which contributed to upward pressure on the exchange rate. Since the fourth quarter of last year, South Africa experienced capital outflows. Along with uncertainties and volatility in global financial markets this contributed to the depreciation of the rand.

Furthermore the increase in oil and food prices is posing new risks to the inflation outlook. 

Government will continue to assist the Reserve Bank to accumulate foreign exchange reserves when market conditions are favourable and engage in foreign currency swaps to moderate the effect of capital flows on the exchange rate.

Overly rapid currency depreciation carries risks to macroeconomic stability, however, and so we expect the Governor of the Reserve Bank to be vigilant in monitoring inflationary pressures and ensuring that monetary policy is effective in meeting our inflation targets. The credibility of monetary policy in achieving our target inflation range, combined with our commitment to fiscal discipline, are important foundations for moderating exchange rate volatility.

Changes in the volume and direction of capital flows may be significant over the year ahead, and are largely beyond our control or influence. We will allow the actions announced in the MTBPS to have their full effect and continue to monitor capital flows.

Other countries, too, experienced high capital inflows in 2010. Several, including Brazil, South Korea and Thailand, introduced tax or regulatory measures to deter such investment flows and currency speculation. We have examined these options and their impact, and will continue to monitor the adjustments made in other countries, while recognising that circumstances vary from country to country. National Treasury is cognisant of the risk that financial instability and currency volatility can arise from large capital movements. If necessary, appropriate steps to moderate these effects will be taken, together with the Reserve Bank.

Transformation of the financial sector
Mister President, you pointed out in your State of the Nation Address that our financial sector proved to be remarkably resilient in the face of the recent financial crisis and the global economic meltdown.

In line with global developments, there are further steps to be taken to enhance the regulatory framework and improve financial services. The proposed reforms include a shift to a “twin peak” system of financial regulation, with market conduct under the Financial Services Board, and prudential regulation in the Reserve Bank. An inter-agency financial stability oversight committee will be formed, and a Council of Financial Regulators. A policy discussion paper sets out the new framework for how the financial sector could better serve South Africa.

Among the issues to be addressed are the findings of Judge Jali’s Enquiry into Competition in Banking – findings that are echoed by many people’s complaints that bank charges are high and opaque. As senior citizen Mr Bill Nobile wrote to me last week, “We do not fully understand the complexity of the payment systems for credit and other cards but there does appear to be considerable leeway in reducing costs to the consumer, including the elderly.”

I have met with the chief executives of our banks to take up this issue, and I believe it is time to put in place measures that will ensure that banking charges are fairly set, are transparent and do not create undue hardship.

As part of the work of modernising and harmonising our investment framework, Treasury is releasing two further discussion papers – one on the regulation of foreign direct investment, and another on the prudential framework for institutional investors. We look forward to consultation with stakeholders on these issues over the coming months.

The fiscal framework
South Africa adopted a counter-cyclical fiscal stance two years ahead of the crisis. We entered the recent recession with a healthy fiscal position and a comparatively low level of debt. This allowed us to maintain government spending despite a sharp deterioration in revenue.

Government spending continues to grow over the next three years, though at a slower rate than in the recent past. Since the Medium Term Budget Policy Statement, several additional spending allocations have been made, including provision for a response to the damage caused by last year’s floods. 

The impact of slightly slower growth in revenue and the additional expenditures is that the deficit for next year is half a percentage point of GDP higher than we projected in October. The trend remains downwards however, with a deficit of 3.8 percent of GDP expected in 2013/14. This reduction in the deficit over the next three years is consistent with stabilising the growth in our debt and the conduct of a countercyclical fiscal policy. National government net debt is set to rise from R526 billion at the end of 2008/09 to over R1.3 trillion in 2013/14.

Mister Speaker, to ensure that our spending on schools, hospitals and roads is not crowded out by an ever-rising interest burden, government debt needs to be managed sustainably. We don’t want an unmanageable increase in expenditure, nor do we want the severe austerity measures some western countries have had to adopt.

In view of these considerations, Parliament asked the National Treasury to investigate how we might reinforce long-term sustainability of our public finances. For the further consideration of the House, I will be proposing a set of fiscal guidelines, informed by three principles:

• A counter-cyclical fiscal stance, to counteract variations over the business cycle,
• Long-term debt sustainability, to ensure that financing costs do not crowd out expenditure on public services, and
• Inter-generational equity, so that our children’s wellbeing is not compromised by short-term interests.

Developing fiscal and budgetary guidelines will strengthen parliamentary oversight, encourage transparency and enhance accountability.

Division of revenue
Mister Speaker, our Constitution sets out specific criteria for the sharing of nationally-raised revenue between national departments, provinces and municipalities. Proposals for this division are set out in the Division of Revenue Bill.

Total expenditure from the National Revenue Fund of R889 billion is provided for in 2011/12, which is 9.8 percent more than the revised estimate for 2010/11.

• Debt service costs will amount to R77 billion next year, rising to R104 billion in 2013/14. Though our overall debt burden remains moderate, the size of the budget deficit at present results in debt service costs rising faster than any other category of spending over the period ahead.
• In keeping with established practice, the budget framework includes an unallocated contingency reserve of R4 billion in 2011/12, R11 billion in 2012/13 and R23 billion in 2013/14. This allows for unforeseeable and unavoidable spending requirements next year, and future policy priorities over the medium term.
• This leaves R808 billion to be allocated between national, provincial and local government in 2011/12, up from R743 billion in 2010/11 and rising to R926 billion by the end of the MTEF period. National departments are allocated 47 percent of the total, provinces 44 percent and municipalities just under 9 percent. National transfers to local government have increased substantially, and will amount to over R70 billion in budgetary assistance and infrastructure grants in the 2011/12 year.

Revisions to baseline, savings and reprioritisation
Mister Speaker, the proposed medium-term expenditure framework has been structured to enable government’s policy priorities to be implemented, in accordance with delivery agreements.

The 2011 Budget makes available R94 billion in addition to baseline allocations over the next three years. Savings of R30.6 billion were identified, of which R21.6 billion was reprioritised within departmental baselines to meet existing commitments. In order to accommodate additional funding for the National Student Finance Aid Scheme, all departments were required to effect unprecedented spending cuts of 0.3 percent, amounting to R6 billion. I want to place on record our appreciation to Cabinet colleagues and departmental accounting officers for their co-operation.

Part of this revision to baseline allocations is the carry-through cost of the 2010 wage agreement, which requires an additional R39.4 billion for remuneration of employees over the MTEF period. The public service salary bill has doubled over the past five years, from R156 billion to R314 billion. This constitutes just under 40 percent of consolidated non-interest expenditure. 

Consolidated government expenditure
Members of the House will know that the spending plans of national government departments, public entities and social security funds are set out in considerable detail in the Estimates of National Expenditure. Estimates of consolidated government expenditure for the period ahead are set out in chapter 8 of the Budget Review.

Consolidated expenditure is projected to increase from R897 billion in 2010/11 to R1.2 trillion in 2013/14, with non-interest spending on public services growing by an average of 8 percent a year.

Creating jobs
As you have emphasised, Mister President, our aim is to put development first, and not dependence on welfare. The Budget therefore proposes a range of measures to accelerate employment creation over the period ahead:

• As announced by the President, R9 billion has been set aside over the next three years for a Jobs Fund to co-finance innovative public- and private-sector employment projects.
• Further education and training colleges are allocated over R14 billion for the period ahead, and student financial assistance will be stepped up.
• Over R20 billion goes to Sector Education and Training Authorities and R5 billion to the National Skills Fund, which have key responsibilities for training work-seekers.
• The expanded public works programme is R73 billion over the next three years, including community-based projects, environmental and social programmes and maintenance of roads and infrastructure.
• Tax incentives have been renewed for manufacturing investment of R20 billion, with a focus on job-creation potential.
• Investment will be increased in housing, and residential infrastructure and services.
• Small enterprise development initiatives will be strengthened, including a focus on employment activation by the National Youth Development Agency.
• Initiatives are under way to promote rural employment, and provide stepped up support for agricultural producers.
• Funding is allocated for renewable energy, environmental protection and “green” economy initiatives.
• As promised last year, details of a R5 billion youth employment subsidy are set out in a discussion paper, for further consideration in the House and at Nedlac. We must offer young work-seekers real hope where at present there is despair. 

We need to do things differently. We need to have the courage to pilot new approaches and build new partnerships, promoting innovation throughout our economy.

Improving the quality of education
Education takes up the largest share of government spending – 21 percent of non-interest allocations – and receives the largest share of the additional allocations.

• An amount of R8.3 billion over the MTEF period is added for schools infrastructure. A programme to address backlogs in school facilities over a three-year period will be administered by Minister Motshekga’s department.
• Just under R1 billion is added for funza lushaka teacher bursaries and bursaries for postgraduate students in natural sciences.
• R9.5 billion is provided for expanding further education and training colleges and skills development.

Including adjustments for the remuneration of teachers, a total of R24.3 billion will be added to education and skills spending over the next three years, which rises from R190 billion next year to R215 billion in 2013/14.

Minister Nzimande and Minister Motshekga exercise stewardship, Mister Speaker, over the largest network of service providers in our economy, and the most important programme of investment in future growth and redistribution.

Enhancing health services
Several further steps in implementing Minister Motsoaledi’s ten-point plan for reform of health services are accommodated in this Budget.

Total spending on public health services has increased strongly over the past three years, from R63 billion in 2007/08 to R113 billion projected for next year.

In addition to provision for higher personnel expenditure over the period ahead, over R8 billion is added to specific health service interventions, laying the foundations for National Health Insurance. This includes:

• R1.2 billion to introduce family health care teams, 
• R2.9 billion to improve quality in health facilities, medical equipment and hospital systems,
• R1.4 billion for improved district-based maternal and child health services,
• A new Office of Standards Compliance to inspect and certify hospitals,
• Funding for the Department of Health to lead the necessary institutional and management reforms,
• Revitalising health infrastructure, including a new infrastructure grant for provinces,
• Expanding capacity to train medical doctors and nurses.

Total expenditure on the Comprehensive HIV/Aids conditional grant will amount to R26.9 billion over the MTEF period, based on an increase in the number of people on treatment from 1.2 million this year to 2.6 million by 2013/14.

The phasing-in of National Health Insurance will require substantial reforms to address imbalances across the public and private sectors and expand health professional training. The financial and organisational implications of these reforms are being jointly addressed by the Department of Health and the Treasury.

Making communities safer
Additional resources are also allocated to the safety and security cluster led by Ministers Radebe, Mthethwa, Cwele and Mapisa-Nqakula for the period ahead.

A total of R12.8 billion goes to the departments of Police, Justice and Constitutional Development, Correctional Services and the Independent Complaints Directorate. The budget provides R2.1 billion for the increase in police personnel to 202 260 in 2013/14, from about 190 000 at present. An additional R670 million is allocated for the upgrade of information technology over the MTEF period, and R490 million is for construction of courts, including new high courts in Nelspruit and Polokwane.

Total expenditure on public order and safety functions will amount to R91 billion next year, rising to R105 billion in 2013/14.

Defence
On Minister Sisulu’s Defence vote, further allocations are made for assistance in safeguarding the country’s borders, and to upgrade and maintain border facilities and equipment.

Additional funding of R1.3 billion in 2011/12, rising to R2 billion in 2013/14, will bring total expenditure on defence and state security to R38.4 billion next year, rising to R43.9 billion in the outer year.

Economic development and industrial promotion
Additional allocations in support of industrial and economic development over the period ahead include:

• R600 million for enterprise investment incentives,
• R735 million for the Competition Commission and other economic regulatory agencies,
• R250 million to the Industrial Development Corporation to support agro-processing businesses,
• R120 million for the national tooling initiative,
• R282 million for the Micro-finance Apex Fund, and
• R55 million for Khula Enterprises to pilot a new approach to small business lending.

Under the guidance of Minister Davies, about R10 billion will be spent on Industrial Policy Action Plan investment promotion over the MTEF period, including the automotive production and development programme, clothing and textiles production incentives, the film and television production incentive and support for small manufacturing and tourism enterprises.

Small businesses are an important source of jobs. Businesses that employ fewer than 50 workers account for 68 percent of private sector employment.

We need to get our small business sector growing. Allow me to share just a few inspiring examples.

• Mlondolozi Kosi is a young man with a passion for building skills in his community, Willowvale. He has set up a small ICT training Centre where he has trained more than 120 people IT skills.
• Norman Mpedi is an ex-MK combatant, who after being forced to live off the bush in Angola discovered the umviyo fruit and has grown this into a thriving juice-making, Nguni Juice.
• Antonio Pooe started Exactech Fraud Solutions in 2007 as a small one-man business operating out of his home and has since grown it to a company with offices in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban and he now employs 24 people.

These are a few examples of thousands of small and micro businesses which have taken root and fill a vital place in our economy. In many instances they have been supported by financing from both the private sector and programme of the Department of Trade and Industry.

Rural development and agriculture
Under Minister Joemat-Petterssen and Minister Nkwinti, government’s land reform and agricultural development programmes are focused on rural job creation and poverty reduction, while expanding agricultural production and improving food security.

Additional allocations amounting to R2.2 billion go to these functions, including a further R400 million for the comprehensive agricultural support programme and the land care programme grant and funding to enable a further 5 000 recruits into the National Rural Youth Services corps.

Including provincial allocations for agricultural support, a total of R19 billion will be spent on rural development and agriculture in 2011/12, rising to R21 billion in 2013/14.

Transport
Additional allocations of R10.3 billion are made over the MTEF for transport infrastructure and services on Minister Ndebele’s vote.

• This includes R3.8 billion for maintenance of the coal haulage road network, financed from the increased levy on electricity collected from Eskom.
• An additional R1.5 billion goes to provinces for road maintenance and weighbridges, as part of a new conditional grant for roads infrastructure.
• Funds are also stepped up for the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa, for replacing signaling infrastructure and refurbishing rail coaches.
• A further R2.5 billion goes to municipalities for public transport systems and infrastructure.

Consolidated government transport spending will amount to R66 billion next
year, rising to R80 billion by 2013/14.

Environmental protection and adapting to climate change
Funding amounting to R800 million has been set aside over the next three years for “green economy” initiatives. Specific allocations will be made in the Adjustments Budget.

Additional allocations for research into energy-efficiency technologies are proposed, efforts to prevent wildlife trafficking and improved air quality, waste disposal and coastline management. A total of R2.2 billion is allocated for environmental employment programmes over the medium term period and funding is provided on Minister Molewa’s vote for hosting the Conference on Climate Change in November this year.

Total spending on the integrated national electrification programme will increase to R3.2 billion in 2013/14.

Housing and community amenities
Mister Speaker, recent research published by the Development Policy Research Unit confirms that significant progress has been made in the delivery of housing, water, sanitation and electricity.

• The proportion of poor households living in formal dwellings has increased from 47 percent in 1994 to 66 percent,
• Households with piped water have increased from 28 percent to 53 percent,
• Those with electricity for lighting, from 20 percent to 75 percent, and
• With flush or chemical sanitation, from 18 percent to 37 percent.

Additional allocations to Minister Sexwale’s vote for human settlements upgrading and municipal services amount to R4.9 billion over the MTEF period.

Two new grants to provinces and municipalities are proposed under Minister Shiceka’s oversight, to respond more rapidly to disasters.

A further R3.6 billion is added for water infrastructure and services, including funding for the acid water drainage threat associated with abandoned underground mines. A report on this by a team of experts has been approved by Cabinet, and Minister Molewa is taking the lead in consulting with industry on a shared and coordinated response.

Government aims to upgrade 400 000 homes in informal settlements by 2014. 

A new urban settlements development grant contributes R21.8 billion over the next three years for these projects.

Total spending on the housing, water and community amenities social wage will amount to R122 billion in 2011/12, rising to R138 billion in 2013/14.

Social protection
The social protection budget is another substantial part of the social wage. This practical expression of a caring society amounts to R147 billion in 2011/12, rising to R172 billion in 2013/14. Income support to poor households has been extended over the past decade, mainly through the phased extension of the child support grant to older children.

At present close to 15 million fellow citizens receive social grants on Minister Dlamini’s vote, equivalent to more than a quarter of the population. Social grant payments mainly go to pensioners (38 percent), children in poor households (35 percent) and the disabled (19 percent). 

With effect from April:

• The monthly state old age grant and the disability and care dependency grants will rise by R60 a month to R1 140,
• For pensioners over the age of 75, the old age grant will rise by a further R20 a month to R1 160,
• Foster care grants will increase by R30 to R740,
• The child support grant will increase from R250 to R260 in April, and to R270 in October.
• Revisions are also proposed to the means test thresholds, which will benefit households with modest incomes that reduce their grant entitlements.

Social protection also includes unemployment insurance, occupational injury compensation and the road accident fund. Proposals are now well advanced for alignment and consolidation of these social security arrangements, together with the introduction of a mandatory basic retirement savings plan. Over R9 billion a year is currently spent in administering our fragmented social security system. An integrated and better coordinated social security system will offer better protection to vulnerable households, at a lower administrative cost.

Revenue estimates and tax proposals
Let me turn, Mister Speaker, to the revenue required for these spending plans.

Members of the House have been very patient, and may be thinking of the need for liquid refreshment, and the cost thereof! I will say something about that in a moment. But first let me report on revenue.

Revenue outcomes and tax expenditures

I am pleased to report that tax revenue has recovered during 2010/11. The revised estimate is R672 billion, or 12.3 percent higher than last year.

Personal income tax has increased strongly as have VAT receipts and customs duties. However, corporate income tax revenue has remained below projections, indicating the effect of the 2009 recession on company profits. 

Total budget revenue, including provincial receipts, and income of social security funds and public entities, is R755 billion, or 13.6 percent above the 2009/10 estimate.

This Budget Review includes, for the first time, a tax expenditure statement.

This is a summary of potential tax revenues foregone as a result of various tax incentives. The purpose of the statement is to make transparent those fiscal incentives or indirect subsidies that lie behind the headline revenue and spending numbers. The initial estimate puts the value of tax expenditures at R78 billion a year. We are also publishing the latest edition of the annual Tax Statistics which provides the most detailed view to date of our tax base and revenue contributions and helps to complete the overall picture of the budget system.

Tax proposals – individuals, trusts and non-business entities Mister Speaker, revisions to the personal income tax brackets and rebates are proposed which represent relief for individuals of R8.1 billion. These adjustments compensate for the effects of inflation for the coming year and the balance of the fiscal drag effect that could not be accommodated last year. 

From March 2011:

• Tax will be payable only on income above R59 750 for taxpayers below age 65, and R93 150 for those 65 and older.
• A third rebate of R2 000 per year is proposed, increasing the tax threshold for taxpayers aged 75 and older to R104 261.
• An increase in the annual tax-free interest income to R22 800 for individuals below 65 years is proposed, and to R33 000 for individuals 65 years and over. The treasury is exploring the possibility of incentivised savings schemes for housing or for education as alternatives to this exemption.
• The tax-free lump sum benefit upon retirement will increase from R300 000 to R315 000.

As in past years, inflation-related increases will be made to the monthly thresholds for tax-deductible contributions to medical schemes. These deductions and those for qualifying out-of-pocket medical expenses will be converted into tax credits with effect from March 2012. A tax credit is more equitable since it provides for an equal benefit to all taxpayers regardless of their income.

Changes to the tax treatment and administration of contributions to retirement funds are also proposed. These will simplify administration and improve the fairness of the system. There will be extensive consultation on the matter. The proposals include treatment of employer contributions as a fringe benefit, limits on tax deductible contributions and alignment of the tax treatment of provident and pension funds.

From March 2012, an employer’s contribution will be treated as a taxable fringe benefit, and employees will be allowed to deduct up to 22.5 percent of taxable income for contributions to approved retirement funds. A maximum of R200 000 a year will be deductible. With a view to protecting workers’ savings, it is proposed that the one-third lump-sum withdrawal limit applicable to pension and retirement annuity funds should also apply to provident funds.

The following capital gains exclusion amounts will be increased from 1 March 2011:

• For individuals and special trusts, from R17 500 to R20 000 annually,
• On death, from R120 000 to R200 000,
• On disposal of a small business when a person is 55 years or older, from R750 000 to R900 000.

The annual trading income exemption for public benefit organisations will increase from R150 000 to R200 000, and for recreational clubs from R100 000 to R120 000.

Withholding tax on gambling winnings
Mister Speaker, last year we indicated that the taxation of gambling winnings would come under review. With effect from April 2012, all winnings above R25 000, including pay-outs from the National Lottery, will be subject to a final 15 percent withholding tax. This is in line with practice in a number of other countries, such as the United States. I hope it will assist in discouraging excessive gambling. Despite the obvious merits of this argument, I expect vigorous debate during the Parliamentary process.

National health insurance
Proposals are under review for a national health insurance system, as part of the broader restructuring and enhancement of health services. There will be substantial cost implications. We will consider and consult on options for meeting the funding requirements, including a payroll tax (payable by employers), an increase in the VAT rate and a surcharge on individuals’ taxable income. The fiscal and financial implications of health system reform, and alternative revenue sources, will be examined in the year ahead.

Tax proposals – businesses
For businesses, the following is proposed:

• As indicated in previous years, a dividends tax will take effect on 1 April 2012, replacing the secondary tax on companies.
• Dividend schemes that undermine the tax base will be closed by treating the dividends at issue as ordinary revenue. These include dividend cessions, where taxpayers effectively purchase tax-free dividends without any stake in the underlying shares.
• Government introduced the concept of a venture capital company into the Income Tax Act in 2009, but the response has been poor. The approach will be refined so as to facilitate greater access to equity finance by small and medium businesses and junior mining companies.
• From March 2011, the turnover tax for micro businesses with annual turnover up to R1 million will be adjusted so that tax will be payable only if turnover exceeds R150 000 a year. The rate structure will also be reviewed.
• Also, from 1 March 2012, micro businesses that register for VAT will no longer be barred from registering for turnover tax.
• The learnership tax incentive, designed to support youth employment, will expire in September 2011. Government proposes to extend this for a further five years, subject to an analysis of its effectiveness with all stakeholders.
• A youth employment subsidy is proposed. Subject to completion of consultations, it will take the form of a tax credit costing R5 billion over three years to be administered by the South African Revenue Service through the PAYE system.
• To support the objectives of the industrial policy action plan and the New Growth Path, certain investments qualify for tax relief.

Consideration will be given to expanding such incentives for labour-intensive projects in Industrial Development Zones (IDZs).

Indirect taxes

• The transfer duty exemption threshold will be increased from R500 000 to R600 000.
• Excise duties on alcoholic beverages will be increased by between 4.5 and 10.3 percent – an increase of 6.4 cents for a 340ml can of beer, 13.5 cents per bottle of wine, or R2.86 for a bottle of spirits.
• Taxes on tobacco products will increase between 6 and 10.2 percent – 80 cents more for a packet of 20 cigarettes.
• Currently there is an ad valorem excise tax on new motor vehicles. The rate increases as the price of the vehicle increases. These rates will remain unchanged below a purchase price of R900 000. For vehicles above R900 000, the tax rate will increase to a maximum of 25 percent, from 20 percent at present.
• The general fuel levy will increase by 10 cents a litre on both petrol and diesel on 6 April 2011.
• The Road Accident Fund levy will be increased by 8 cents to 80 cents a litre.
• Increases will take effect on 1 October 2011 in the air passenger departure tax on flights to international destinations.
• The levy on electricity generated from non-renewable and nuclear energy sources will increase by 0.5c/kWh to 2.5c/kWh from April 2011.

The increase should not impact on electricity tariffs, as it has already been taken into account in the National Energy Regulator’s approved tariff structure.

Tax administration
Mister Speaker, allow me to pay tribute again to the continued support received from millions of honest taxpayers. Their contributions are reflected in the recovery of tax revenue this year. We have been able to expand spending where other nations have been forced into austerity adjustments. Even those who have not contributed fully to date have begun to come forward to take advantage of the Reserve Bank and SARS’s voluntary disclosure programmes.

Others who wish to have until the end of October this year to join the 1200 applicants to date.

Administrative reforms will continue to focus on ensuring that all those who earn an income through employment or other economic activity pay what is due to the fiscus.

This year, SARS will turn its attention to enhancements to the business tax process including corporate income tax, VAT and an enhanced Turnover Tax for emerging businesses. As with personal income tax, a pre-requisite for these improvements is an accurate picture of all business entities no matter their size or tax liability. SARS, in partnership with other state institutions, will make significant improvements to the business registration process this year – including conducting a door-to-door drive in the informal sector to help complete the picture.

Tax and customs evasion remains a serious threat. Working together, the police, the prosecuting authority, the Financial Intelligence Centre and SARS ensured that more than 200 taxpayers were convicted of fraud and tax evasion during the last six months.

Recently, customs officers with the support of the police impounded nearly 3 000 illegally imported second-hand vehicles, two significant tobacco smuggling rings have been snuffed out and a tobacco manufacturer has been shut down in the last month. We are also, in conjunction with the tobacco industry, investigating a new method of marking and authenticating legal cigarettes with a counterfeit-proof digital system to replace the current “diamond mark”.

Mister Speaker, the sector most visibly affected by the illicit economy in recent years has been the clothing and textile industry, resulting in significant loss of jobs in local manufacturing plants. In the coming months a multidisciplinary task team comprising representatives of the manufacturing, importing and retail industries and a range of public sector stakeholders, will begin interventions across the entire supply chain to clamp down on illicit clothing and textiles imports.

Measures to combat fraud and corruption
Mister Speaker, public procurement plays a significant part in the economy and is central to government service delivery. However, citizens and taxpayers do not get full value for money, because this is an area vulnerable to waste and corruption. This compromises the integrity of governance and frustrates the pace of service delivery.

Alongside the work of the competition authorities in addressing supplier collusion and tender-rigging, a strong procurement framework is critical to boosting jobs and service delivery.

The first round of measures announced in October will come into effect this year:

• Government departments will be required to establish rigorous demand management procedures, including submission of advance tender programmes for the next financial year to the relevant treasury authority.
• Limits will be prescribed for variation orders, to restrict significant changes to procurement orders and bring our system in line with international standards.
• Companies bidding for tenders will be required to disclose the identity of all directors, to determine whether any of the directors are government officials or tax non-compliant.

There are currently 53 investigations involving procurement irregularities, involving contracts worth R3 billion. Minister Radebe recently reported that 65 people linked to some of these investigations have been arrested and brought before the courts. More than R250 million has been seized by the state. SARS is investigating another 9 cases of tender fraud, with a total value of approximately R1.7 billion.

SARS has also increased its analytical capacity with the aim of ensuring that vendors winning state contracts satisfy their tax obligations fully. As at the end January 2011, SARS had identified some 13 000 vendors who have won state contracts and who owe taxes amounting to over R1 billion.

Mister Speaker, we have a shared responsibility to prevent corruption and we call on all citizens to blow the whistle on corruption and to report any procurement irregularities to the relevant authorities.

Equally important is the call of this Government to its managers to ensure that our communities and our taxpayers get full value for their money. Poor delivery and stealing from the fiscus are never acceptable. Senior managers of our institutions and municipalities are expected to work actively to improve their procurement processes and oversight.

Infrastructure investment, city planning and development finance

Public sector infrastructure spending
Mister Speaker, government and state-owned enterprises will spend more than R800 billion over the next 3 years on new power stations, road networks, dams and water supply pipelines, rail and ports facilities, schools, hospitals and government buildings. This builds on the steady progress made over the past decade which saw the contribution of government and public enterprises to gross fixed capital formation rise from 4 percent of GDP in 2000 to 8.6 percent in 2009. These are long-term investments in the future of our country, and in the capacity of the economy to grow and create jobs for generations to come.

Major projects under way include:

• Medupi power station, which will generate 4 700 MW at a projected investment cost of R125 billion,
• The R23 billion Transnet multi-product pipeline which will secure our inland fuel supplies,
• And the R21 billion freeway improvement scheme, which has already significantly eased congestion on Gauteng roads.

These investments are largely financed through borrowing, with costs recovered from future electricity consumers and road-users.

As part of a long-term strategy for modernising public transport in metropolitan areas, the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa is embarking on an 18-year programme to replace its coach and locomotive fleet, at an estimated cost of R86 billion.

While infrastructure spending in the lead-up to the Soccer World Cup assisted in moderating the impact of the recession on South Africa, there has been an apparent deterioration in government construction spending over the past year. 

The challenge of intensifying infrastructure spending over the period ahead will require attention to planning, budgeting and contract management in national and provincial departments and municipalities.

Planning and financing cities for inclusive growth
It is time for special initiatives to accelerate growth and development in South Africa’s cities, which have immense potential for inclusive growth and are home to many millions of poor people.

The public finance challenge is to balance investment in expanding urban capacity while also providing key public services – electricity, water, sanitation, refuse removal and public transport. An efficient and cost-effective public transport system is crucial because the majority of our people live too far from where job opportunities are. In addition, through better land use management, we need to deliver integrated human settlements that break from the apartheid past.

A start is made in this budget, in the allocation of funds directly to cities to upgrade informal settlements. Minister Sexwale will implement the accreditation of municipalities which have demonstrated their capacity to manage the low-income housing subsidy system. The public transport function, including the management of rail, has been delegated by Minister Ndebele to metropolitan municipalities in terms of the National Land Transport Act. These are steps that create direct responsibilities for city councils, and open up opportunities for accelerating investment and change in the urban landscape and how cities promote their local economic development.

Development finance institutions
Mister Speaker, a Development Finance Institutions Council has been established, as recommended by a review committee. One of its primary tasks is to ensure alignment between the programmes of these institutions and government’s development agenda.

Members will recall that in last year’s budget we agreed to support an expanded lending capacity of several development finance institutions. The recapitalisation of the Land Bank is under way. So far, R1.7 billion has been transferred to the Land Bank, and its finances are improving. The Land Bank board has agreed to step up the Bank’s support for emerging farmers. In cooperation with the Departments of Rural Development and Land Reform, and Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, steps are in progress to turn failing farms that were transferred to emerging farmers under the land reform programme into successful business enterprises.

The lending capacity of the Development Bank of Southern Africa has also been enhanced, by providing an interim guarantee while processing the necessary legislative amendment. The DBSA is now working closely with National Treasury and the departments of Health and Water Affairs, amongst others, on strengthening infrastructure project management – revitalising five major hospitals and their medical faculties, and preliminary planning of nine bulk water schemes. The Bank also plays a key role in supporting municipal financial capacity, and will assist in operationalising the new Jobs Fund. Our agreement is that the delivery capacity and excellence we mobilised at national level to build stadiums and host the World Cup, will be the benchmark for undertaking these initiatives.

Including the investment and lending capability of the Industrial Development Corporation, our development finance institutions are ready to expand financing substantially over the next three years. The challenge is to ensure available funds are allocated effectively and efficiently, to contribute to raising productive capacity and to complement the investment activities of the wider financial sector.

Conclusion
Mister Speaker, I extend my sincere appreciation to the President and Deputy President for their unwavering support and wise counsel. Keeping our country on a steady course through the Great Recession has been a challenging task for all of us and the support of the Presidency has been both indispensable and inspirational.

I would like to thank my Cabinet colleagues for their support. The Budget is our collective statement. Your positive and encouraging contributions have been most helpful.

The Members of the Ministers Committee on the Budget have shouldered an immense responsibility to restructure and reform our fiscal system and make bold recommendations to Cabinet. Theirs has been an excellent and enduring team effort.

Deputy Minister Nene has offered wise insights and shared many responsibilities. He forms an invaluable part of a maturing ministry.

Thanks also go to the MECs for Finance, who play a vital role in managing over 40 percent of the budget.

Our collective thanks go to:

• Governor Gill Marcus and the staff of the South African Reserve Bank,
• Commissioner Oupa Magashula and the South African Revenue Service,
• Jabu Moleketi, chair of the DBSA, and CEO Paul Baloyi,
• The Financial and Fiscal Commission and its acting chair Bongani Khumalo,
• NEDLAC, its Managing Director, Herbert Mkhize, and representatives of the business, labour and community constituencies on the Public Finance and Monetary Chamber,
• The Honourable Thaba Mufamadi and Honourable Charel de Beer who chair the Standing and Select Committees on Finance respectively and to the two chairs of the Appropriations committees, the Honourable Eliot Sogoni and Honourable Teboho Chaane,
• Lesetja Kganyago and the National Treasury team, who continue to surpass their own high standards and remain wonderful examples of loyal and professional public servants, and are an invaluable asset to our democratic state,
• Staff of the Ministry who make my work easier and give vital support daily.

I thank my family for their support and sacrifices so that I may serve our country.

Once again, my sincere appreciation to the wide range of South Africans who provide positive feedback and ideas on how government could work better and differently.

Fellow South Africans, the President has clearly stated that job creation is our number one priority. This budget outlines what government’s capabilities and finances can do to support the delivery of jobs.

Now it is time for all of us to say “making South Africa work begins with you and me.”

Giving every South African the dignity of a job, the security of an income, the prospect of training, the support to launch new businesses, the confidence to be an entrepreneur and the sheer passion and optimism to break the shackles of unemployment – is the best legacy this generation can leave for the next.

The world is full of opportunities. Ours is the task of transforming these opportunities into real, tangible outcomes which all of our people can experience and call their own.

Or as Mandisa Motha-Ngumla advised me in a budget tip: “Government must teach its people to fish; not be suppliers of fish. The latter is not sustainable; the government pond will never be able to supply more fish in twenty years than it is doing now to the ever growing masses of people of this country. Let’s work to reduce dependency and give back dignity that was eroded by our past.”

We repeat, with jobs comes dignity. With dignity comes participation. And from participation emerges prosperity for all. In Madiba’s words “In judging our progress as individuals we tend to concentrate on external factors, such as one’s social position, influence and popularity, wealth and standard of education… It is perfectly understandable if many people exert themselves mainly to achieve all these. But internal factors may be even more crucial… Honesty, sincerity, simplicity, humility, pure generosity, absence of vanity, readiness to serve others – qualities which are within easy reach of every soul.”]]> Wirtschaft Topnews Thu, 24 Feb 2011 14:24:00 +0100