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Newsletter of the South African Embassy in Berlin

Foreword by H.E. Ambassador Phumelele Stone Sizani

Dear readers, friends of South Africa,

The month of April always holds a special place in our country´s history: it is the month in which we celebrate Freedom Day. The 27th April is the day that Nelson Mandela was elected President in 1994 in the first democratic and free elections in South Africa.

We also celebrated 21 years of the Constitution of South Africa, highlighting the strength of our Constitutional Democracy and the strength of its democratic Institutions in creating a better life for all. In some countries 21 marks the year that a child becomes an adult and in a way this is how we see our country. It has matured greatly over the years and it is now our obligation to make sure it becomes a responsible adult with a nation that wants to continue to grow together.

During the month of May the continent traditionally commemorates "Africa Month", culminating in the Africa Day celebrations on 25 May 2017, a day which marks the founding of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) in 1963. Today known as the Africa Union (AU), the organisation promotes greater unity and solidarity between African countries. 

Coinciding with the centenary celebration of Oliver Reginald Tambo, South Africa will celebrate this Africa Month under the theme “The Year of OR Tambo: Building a Better Africa and Better World”. Oliver Tambo, who epitomised our struggle for liberation and was the architect of the huge continental and global support to the struggle against Apartheid, would have turned 100 years on 27 October this year.

This fits perfectly with our roundtable discussion event entitled “German Africa Policy - Way Forward” in which we will discuss together with many other African Ambassadors and Embassy Representatives as well as German Foundations and Politicians how we can shape the African Continent by working hand-in-hand for a continental stability, unity and prosperity of Africa.

With warmest regards

Ambassador Stone Sizani
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of South Africa to the Federal Republic of Germany



EMBASSY ACTIVITIES & NEWS

SA Embassy in Berlin Celebrates Freedom Day

The South African Embassy on 27 April 2017, celebrated 23 years of Freedom and Democracy. The occasion was honoured by the attendance of former German Ambassador to South Africa Walter Lindner, now State Secretary of the Federal Foreign Ministry amongst other prominent dignitaries. Ms Maureen Quin, who received the Medal of Honour for Visual Art from the South African Academy of Science and Culture, and whose sculptures were on display was also in attendance. South African musical group Africapella provided the entertainment for the day. |+| read more



South Africa to Commemorate Africa Month in Conjunction with O.R. Tambo Centenary

South Africa will mark Africa Month in May under the theme: “The Year of OR Tambo: Building a Better Africa and a Better World”. The month, which this year coincides with the O.R. Tambo Centenary, is an opportunity to promote African unity, deeper regional integration and recommit Africa to a common destiny. A focal point of this year’s programme is to create discussion platforms for South Africans to engage in conversation within the broader theme of decolonisation. Activities over the month will culminate with Africa Day celebrations on 25 May 2017. The annual commemoration of Africa Day marks the founding of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) in 1963. |+| read full inaugural speech



SA Embassy reaches out to SPD Parliamentary Group in Bundestag

In an outreach programme to Members of Parliament from different parties and Think –Tanks in Germany, Ambassador Phumelele Stone Sizani met with Mr Niels Annen, MP and Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs of the SPD Parliamentary group in the Bundestag and SPD MP Mr Martin Rabanus. Dr Ohm and Mr Henning Effner from the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung also participated in the meeting. Ambassador Sizani was accompanied by Advocate Mohamed Cassimjee: Minister Plenipotentiary and Ms Feziwe Madikizela: Counsellor Political.



Embassy Discusses Possible Ways of Enhancing SA-German Trade Relations

The Mission's Minister Plenipotentiary, Advocate Mohamed Cassimjee had a meeting with Mr Matthias Boddenberg, the Chief Executive of the Southern Africa-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry in South Africa to discuss possible ways of enhancing trade cooperation between South Africa and Germany. Trade between the two countries reached an all-time high in 2015 with a volume of 15.4 bn Euro but has slightly decreased since.



SOUTH AFRICA RELATED EVENTS & NEWS IN GERMANY

South African Environmentalist Andrew Zaloumis Receives Prestigious KfW-Bernhard-Grzimek-Award

South African environmentalist Andrew Zaloumis has received the prestigious KfW-Bernhard-Grzimek-Award for his commitment to conservation and management as CEO of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park on the KwaZulu-Natal east coast. The ceremony was held in Frankfurt, Germany on 3rd May 2017. Zaloumis was nominated by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco). The internationally-renowned award (50.000 EUR) is awarded every two years. In a statement from the Park, it said under Zaloumis, who manages more than 200km of coastline, the iSimangaliso Wetland Park became South Africa's first Unesco World Heritage site which in turn has contributed to KZN's tourism GDP. (Picture Copyright:
KfW Stiftung; Photografer: Frank Blümler). |+| read full article



SA Curator Gabi Ngcobo Announces Curatorial Team for 10th Berlin Biennale for Contemporary Art

Gabi Ngcobo, curator of the 10th Berlin Biennale for Contemporary Art, has invited Moses Serubiri (Kampala, UG), Nomaduma Rosa Masilela (New York, US), Thiago de Paula Souza (São Paulo, BR), and Yvette Mutumba (Berlin, DE) to collaborate with her as the curatorial team. In addition, Gabi Ngcobo selected graphic designer Maziyar Pahlevan to create the visual identity for the 10th Berlin Biennale. |+| read more



South African Sculptor Maureen Quin Exhibits in Germany

South African sculptor Maureen Quin, who was awarded the 2016 Medal of Honour for Visual Art from the South African Academy of Science and Culture, not only was the guest of honour at the Mission's Freedom Day celebration in Berlin, but on the initiative of Ulrich Reimann's Rainbow Agency will now be touring Germany and Sweden with her visually impressive sculptures series named "The Hunt". "I have tried to express the horror I feel for man's inhumanity to his fellow man, compounded with the wanton destruction of our environment in the name of development, greed, power and self gratification" says the 83-year old artist who will be present at all the different stations of the tour. The exhibition opened at Glücks-Galerie in Neustadt/Holstein on Thursday 4 May and can be visited until 28 May before leaving for the Glemme Art Centre in Helsingborg (3 June to 10 July). Picture Copyright: Pierre Rouchaléou. |+| go to Glücks-Galerie



African Food Festival Berlin 2017 - FOOD MUSIC ART | VOL. II, 20/21 May 2017

The AFRICAN FOOD FESTIVAL BERLIN Vol. II brings the best of healthy & delicious #AfricanFood to Berlin. The festival bridges the gap between innovative African Street Food & Traditional Cuisine & brings the rich variety of authentic African Food to the city, from grill to vegan, from East to West, from North to South. A beautiful venue along the SPREE, FOOD STANDS, MUSIC ALL DAY & NIGHT with the best of Afrobeats, -house and Highlife, KIDS CORNER for the little ones and AFTERPARTY. SAT 20th May '17 - 12:00 - 22:00h, SUN 21st May '17 - 12:00 - 20:00h. At: ALT STRALAU 1, 10245 Berlin - Friedrichshain. |+| go to Facebook Event



Rise - (South) African House Party at Berlin's Watergate Club, 27 Mai 2017

Having originated in Chicago's "The Warehouse", House Music spread throughout the world. But whilst the genre may be synonymous with places like Ibiza or Miami, South Africa today is the biggest market per capita anywhere in the world! For all fans of (South) African House music in Berlin, look forward to the next RISE party taking place at Watergate Club. Besides the RISE residents Hyenah, Floyd Lavine or Dede, the party will feature artists like Mr Raoul K, who has established as one the most popular artists when it comes to the very danceable mix of Afrobeats, House and Techno. |+| go to facebook event



Africapella on Tour in Germany

The South African Vocal-Jazz-Group Africapella, which performed at the Mission's Freedom Day celebration in Berlin, is currently still touring Germany. Africapella consists of six singers connecting modern music with the deep cultural influences of the people of South Africa. The group created an unique vocal music which brings the rich music traditions of South Africa to a new level. The group released their debut album ‘Blue Junxion’ which won the international Contemporary Acappella Recording Award for Best African Album in Boston, Massachusetts. |+| read more



Hugh Masekela, Abduallah Ibrahim and the Mahotella Queens - Legends on Tour

Three South African living musical legends will be touring Europe this summer and autumn - the great and unique Hugh Masekela will be playing in different constellations, e.g. with his legendary friend and colleague Abdullah Ibrahim to revive the Jazz Epistles, in his full band "No Borders" or in duo with his friend Larry Willis. The Mahotella Queens, formed in 1964, are world-famous for their distinctive multi-part vocal harmonies, guitar-led mbaqanga music and fast-paced dancing. After several line-up changes over the decades, the Mahotella Queens have evolved from a studio recording “girl group” of five or six singers to the trio of in-demand international superstars they are today. |+| read more on Griot



NEWS FROM SOUTH AFRICA

South Africa to Host World Economic Forum on Africa

The World Economic Forum (WEF) on Africa is currently taking place under the theme “Driving economic transformation in Africa through inclusive growth models”. The forum convenes regional and global leaders from business, government and civil society to explore solutions to create economic opportunities for all. Over a thousand participants are currently present in Durban. Headed by President Jacob Zuma,Team South Africa will include 16 Ministries. WEF’s global gathering is held in Davos, Switzerland, at the start of every year. It is followed by regional meetings across the world, one of which is WEF on Africa. |+| read more



SA Remains an Attractive Investment Destination

Brand South Africa welcomes South Africa’s performance in the 2017 A.T. Kearney Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) Confidence Index, as well as in the Africa Investment Index 2016 by Quantum Global’s independent research arm, Quantum Global Research Lab. South Africa has made a comeback in the 2017 A.T. Kearney Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) Confidence Index, and has been ranked as the fourth most attractive investment destination in Africa according to the latest Africa Investment Index 2016 by Quantum Global’s independent research arm, Quantum Global Research Lab. |+| read full article



SAEconomy: Township entrepreneurs recognised for success

There were 17 categories in this year’s Gauteng Township Entrepreneurship Awards (TEA), while the Lifetime Achievement Award was handed to Dr Sam Motsuenyane, the former president of the National African Federated Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The Awards recognised 16 businesses out of 33 nominees chosen by judges in 2016 from more than 200 entries. Each nominee received R100,000. The awards are aimed at entrepreneurship development, exposure to market access, and development of competitive mindset. It also encourages entrepreneurs in the townships to move from being labourers and consumers to being black industrialists and manufacturers. |+| read full article



Milestone for South African Satellite Technology

The South African satellite industry is taking a giant leap as a global aerospace player, with the inclusion of two locally developed nanosatellites on the Atlas V rocket, launched on 18 April 2017: nSight1, designed and manufactured by Cape Town group SCS Space, a member of the SCS Aerospace Group; and ZA-Aerosat, designed and manufactured by CubeSpace of Stellenbosch University. The satellites will be deployed into low-Earth orbit over a period of 30 to 60 days as the ISS orbits Earth. The two South African satellites will be used to record factors in the Earth’s lower thermosphere, between a 200 km and 380 km altitude. |+| read full article



Sun farming technology spells good news for food security

Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Senzeni Zokwana has commended a farming project, which harnesses the power of the sun to grow vegetables. The solar powered vegetable growing project was born from a partnership between SUNfarming and the University of Potchefstroom in 2013, establishing the first Solar Training Centre in South Africa. The centre has trained over 450 people since 2013, providing skills on solar photovoltaic (PV) technology. |+| read full article



South African HIV/Aids research pioneer Glenda Gray on 2017 Time’s 100 Most Influential list

Dr Glenda Gray, the pioneering medical researcher, who specialises in the search for a vaccine for HIV/Aids, is the only South African to be selected as one of Time magazine’s prestigious 100 most influential people in 2017. Dr Glenda Gray joins previous South African Time100ers such as comedian Trevor Noah, former Public Protector Thuli Madonsela and tech entrepreneur Elon Musk. Gray is the president and CEO of the South African Medical Research Council (SMRC), and also leads a group of internationally acclaimed medical researchers giving hope to people living with HIV/Aids. |+| read full article



Blackboard Africa is changing the views of African youth

Two young women from Gauteng were prompted to create Blackboard Africa by the negative portrayal of young Africans. They are 15-year-old Amonge Sinxoto, a Grade 11 learner, and her cousin, Zingisa Socikwa (21), a film student. The two explain that they were not happy with the conversations their peers were having regarding the image of the black girl. “We want to redefine and model how people in the world view our African identity and move away from negative, preconceived, colonial settings,” says Amonge. “Blackboard seeks to paint a beautiful picture on a clean blackboard through the eyes of the vibrant youth.” |+| read full article



ANNOUNCEMENT

South African Citizens Register

Please help the South African Mission keep track of South African citizens currently residing in Germany. By voluntarily registering, you do assist the mission to determine the number of citizens living in the country and to be able to contact you and your family in South Africa in the event of an evacuation, natural disaster, family emergency etc. Furthermore, your contact details (which will be handled in a strictly confidential way) enable the Embassy to provide you with information related to Embassy events, registration for general election, etc. |+| go to register form



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The Newsletter of the Embassy of the Republic of South Africa features Embassy activities and other South African events in Germany.

The Newsletter will be sent out each month and we invite you to share with us your comments and to also inform us if your city or community is organising an event that features South Africa, in any way. Please send us an email on berlin.info@dirco.gov.za and please visit our website: www.suedafrika.org 

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Get easy and quick information about South Africa or deepen and extend your knowledge about our country on the BrandSA website. |+| read more

Play Your Part

Play Your Part is a national initiative that encourages all South Africans to contribute to positive change. There are numerous opportunities, big and small, for each and every South African. |+| get involved

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Listen live to the Department of International Relations and Cooperation of the Republic of South Africa (DIRCO) 24-hour online radio station aimed at enhancing communication on South Africa’s foreign policy. |+| listen live

Ubuntu Magazine

Ubuntu Magazine

Read the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO)'s quarterly magazine Ubuntu – South Africa’s Public Diplomacy in action which communicates with and educates stakeholders on South Africa’s foreign policy positions, achievements, objectives and goals. |+| read online

 
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