African and the Caribbean governments are set to invest more resources and energy towards developing and promoting stronger linkages between the two regions in the fields of trade and investment, science and technology and tourism.

These, and many other such ideas geared towards fostering a stronger culture of cooperation between the mother continent and her diaspora, are some of the ideas contained in the draft declaration document that will be taken forward to the Global African Diaspora summit, which will be held on Friday, in Johannesburg.

Over 60 representatives from various African countries and the diaspora, including the Caribbean and the Americas, will converge at the Sandton Convention Centre tomorrow - a day that coincides with Africa Day - for the eminent summit.

Ministers from countries represented at the summit on Wednesday gathered at South Africa's Department of International Relations and Cooperation headquarters in Pretoria for a meeting that essentially set the tone for tomorrow's all-important summit.

Chief amongst discussions between ministers was the draft declaration document, which is envisaged to be adopted at the close of the summit.

The resolutions set forth, amongst others, the need for Africa and her diaspora to work together towards achieving the objectives of the African Union (AU).

The AU's vision is that of "an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in global arena".

Identifying areas of cooperation

The ministers identified areas of cooperation including education, health, culture and environmental issues as some of the crucial fields where Africa and her diaspora could build concrete relations in order to bring to fruition the AU's vision.

With global competiveness for skills, resources, land and other commodities being at an all-time high, the ministers resolved that more needed to be done through the various regional organisations to explore ways of harmonising international diplomacy and cooperation.

SA's International Relations and Cooperation Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane said they would take these ideas contained the draft declaration to the leaders' summit so they can be considered for implementation.

Tomorrow's summit will be held under the theme, "Towards the Realisation of a United and Prosperous Africa and its Diaspora".

Amongst others, it will consider the possible inclusion of the diaspora as a sixth region of the AU and endorse an AU Diaspora Volunteer Programme, which would associate the diaspora directly with the development efforts on the continent.

In a statement issued at the end of the ministerial meeting on Wednesday, Nkoana-Mashabane said the summit was one of the vehicles through which the African Union and the African diaspora aimed to realise the vision of a united, peaceful and prosperous Africa and her diaspora.

"We are mindful of the fact that unifying Africa's people is a process; and we are of the view that this summit marks a significant milestone in this process of unifying Africa and her diaspora."

Funding Africa's infrustructure drive

The other resolution the ministers' meeting hoped would be adopted on Friday included the African Diaspora Fund, whereby Africans abroad would be able to invest in African development projects and an increase in spending on infrastructure development of the continent.

According to the AU, the continent would require about US$60-billion over the next 10 years to meet its infrastructure needs.

The ministers also hoped that there would be a creation of a database of professional skills in the African diaspora, as well as the adoption and promotion of the Development Market Place for an African Diaspora model as a framework to facilitate innovation and develop entrepreneurship to empower the youth of the continent and her diaspora.

The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Jean Ping, had indicated in his opening remarks that the draft declaration was a credible and important document that was adapted to the letter and spirit of the Diaspora Initiative. Equally important was that it was both a proposed law and working document.

Ping added that the process of rebuilding the African family was and would always remain a work in progress that could not be accomplished in one day. Concomitantly, he said focus must be on establishing appropriate structures that would facilitate more effective diaspora participation in the affairs of the Union.

The ministerial meeting, meanwhile, reinforced the call for Africa and its diaspora to unite in order to build a solid foundation for reviving the African family across the world - a move that will give impetus to the renaissance of the continent.

Source: BuaNews

South Africa is not only an important emerging economy in its own right - it is also a key gateway to sub-Saharan Africa.

With the uncertainty over supply of oil from Iran, South Africa is looking to Nigeria to purchase its oil, the Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe said, following the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement with the Vice President of Nigeria, Namadi Sambo, in Cape Town on Wednesday.

South Africa may be forced to comply with a US order to cease buying oil from Iran - from which it sources about a quarter of its oil - or risk economic penalties from America. The Minister of Energy Dipuo Peters last week said government would decide on its response to proposed sanctions by the end of this month.

Motlanthe said PetroSA and private traders were expected to look at supply agreements for oil from Nigeria. "We would guarantee going forward to our Nigerian brothers (that there will be) demand for their liquid fuel, because we don't want to source our fuel in areas that are likely to be unstable.

"Indeed, we are quite confident that Nigeria will become one of our trusted suppliers of liquid fuel going forward," he said.

Ready to offer support

Sambo said Nigeria was ready to offer any economic support - be it energy or otherwise.

Motlanthe said the agreement he signed with Sambo today would help prepare the way for a more enabling business environment between two of the continent's biggest economies.

He said the agreement enabled both countries to rope in business people from both countries that had an idea for investment opportunities in both countries.

Nigerian companies with the wherewithal to supply infrastructure projects - including the supply of cement - would be invited to participate in South Africa's massive infrastructure programme.

Bi-National Commission

Sambo arrived in South Africa on Monday at the invitation of Motlanthe to attend the 8th South Africa-Nigeria Bi-National Commission. He is expected to depart the country today.

The two discussed several issues and reviewed the progress made since the 7th Bi-National Commission was held in Abuja in 2008. They also discussed the progress made on the seven working groups of the Bi-National Commission.

These workings groups are: foreign affairs and co-operation; trade, industry and finance; security and defence; agriculture, water resources and environment; minerals and energy; public enterprises and infrastructure; and the social and technical working group.

Today, a Memorandum of Understanding on economic and technical co-operation was signed between Minister of Trade and Industry Rob Davies and Nigeria's Finance Minister Olusegan Aganga.

Another Memorandum of Understanding was also signed between Aganga and the Minister of Finance Pravin Gordhan, to offer mutual assistance with customs administration between the two countries.

Sambo said Nigeria had put the incident that took place at OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg in March - when several Nigerians were deported after a dispute over yellow fever vaccinations - behind it.

"Nigerians are happy about the way they are treated in South Africa," he said, adding that there was a plan to expand the number of years for which travel visas can be used for, while doing away completely with diplomatic passports.

Source: BuaNews

Two South Africans were among five leading innovators named African Social Entrepreneurs of the Year at the World Economic Forum (WEF) on Africa in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on Wednesday.

Paul Matthew, Africa director of innovative public-private health partnership North Star Alliance, and Andrew Muir, executive director of the Wilderness Foundation, were honoured by the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship on the opening day of the latest WEF gathering on the continent.

The five winners received their awards from WEF chairman Klaus Schwab in the presence of the presidents of Gabon, Nigeria, Tanzania and Ethiopia.

"Social entrepreneurs use innovative approaches to extend access to healthcare, education, energy and housing to marginalized populations that may not otherwise be included in the traditional markets," said Schwab Foundation chairperson Hilde Schwab.

"They ensure that growth, such as that experienced in Africa, is and will be inclusive."

Health care for Africa's workers on the move

In the 1990s, Paul Matthew witnessed the alarming impacts of HIV/Aids on long-distance truck drivers and other mobile workers in southern Africa, and realized that they lacked access to basic health care.

In 2005, Matthew co-founded what was to become North Star Alliance, a public-private partnership that provides mobile workers and related communities with access to high-quality health and safety services through a network of interlinked clinics known as "roadside wellness centres".

"Since opening its first centre in Malawi in 2005, North Star has grown to 22 centres in 10 countries," the Schwab Foundation said in a statement on Wednesday.

Conservation integrated with social upliftment

The Wilderness Foundation, founded in 1972 by Ian Player, now directed by Andrew Muir, successfully integrates conservation programmes with social and educational programmes, and has trained thousands of young people in southern Africa to be community leaders and national park rangers.

In 2006, Muir founded the South African–based Umzi Wethu programme, which targets vulnerable youth "that show resilience and ambition, but despair of opportunities to support their households", and gives them the skills and training they need to become highly employable young adults.

The Schwab Foundation commented: "Under the stewardship of the Wilderness Foundation, over 200 000 hectares of African wilderness have been rehabilitated and expanded in the interests of conservation and environmental protection.

"More than 100 000 disadvantaged/vulnerable youth have benefited from the Wilderness Foundation through its social intervention and environmental education programmes."

Africa's other three Social Entrepreneurs of the Year are: Bethlehem Alemu, co-founder and managing director of soleRebels in Ethiopia; Sameer Hajee, chief executive officer of the Nuru Energy Group in Rwanda; and Seri Youlou and Thomas Granier, co-founders of the Association la Voute Nubienne in Burkina Faso.

SAinfo reporter

South Africa may be able to tap into thousands of megawatts in renewable energy when the massive Inga hydro-electric project in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) goes live.

The Department of Energy's chief director of clean energy, Mokgadi Modise, said a treaty that would make this possible, outlining the roles and responsibilities of the different actors, was being finalised.

Modise was speaking at a media briefing during the Africa-European Union Energy Partnership's first stakeholder forum in Cape Town on Wednesday.

Potentially largest project in the world

The Inga hydro-electric project on the Congo River could become the largest hydro-electric project in the world, and is expected to generate a massive 40 000MW of electricity - more than the current electricity generation in South Africa.

Modise said the South African negotiating team was being led by the Department of International Relations and Co-operation and included the Department of Public Enterprises, the Department of Energy and the National Treasury.

She said the project would help more South Africans access electricity while significantly boosting African regional integration.

Africa-EU Energy Partnership

According to the government's Integrated Resource Plan, a 20-year projection on electricity supply and demand, about 6% of electricity generated in the country will be required to come from hydro resources.

Modise added that the Finnish and Austrian governments were funding nine energy-efficiency and renewable energy projects in South Africa.

The Africa-EU Energy Partnership, created in 2007, is a partnership between business, government and civil society to find ways of meeting sustainable energy challenges on the continent. The partnership has 54 African and European members.

In Vienna in 2010, the partners signed a declaration setting out targets, to be met by 2020, for energy access, energy security, energy efficiency and the adoption of renewable energy.

The partnership's stakeholder forums - of which the Cape Town meeting is the first - are intended to enable members to explore ways of achieving these targets.

Source: BuaNews

10 May 2012

South African authorities have seized properties and assets worth R55-million believed to be the proceeds of rhino poaching involving a game farmer, two veterinary surgeons and nine other suspects from Limpopo province.

The assets - including helicopters, luxury vehicles, houses, townhouses and farms - were attached on Wednesday in a joint operation by the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), elite investigative unit the Hawks and South African Police Service (SAPS).

Game farmer Dawie Groenewald, veterinary surgeons Karel Toet and Manie du Plessis and nine others were arrested in late 2010 on 1 872 charges related to rhino poaching, making it one of the highest-profile case in South Africa, according to the NPA.

The charges include assault, fraud, corruption, malicious damage to property, illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, contravention of the National Environmental Biodiversity Act and racketeering.

"This team has seized assets in the region of R55-million, believed to have been acquired through criminal activities, particularly rhino poaching from Dawie Groenewald, and two veterinary surgeons, Drs Karel Toet and Manie du Plessis," national police spokesperson Colonel Vish Naidoo said on Wednesday.

"We are still attaching all 11 suspects' assets, and we will make sure that we attach more of them until that [court] case resumes in October this year."

Naidoo said that while the matter was still before the court, the provisions of the Proceeds of Crime Act allowed the Asset Forfeiture Unit to seize and preserve the assets of an accused until the case was finalised.

"On conviction of an accused, the seizure is realised and these proceeds are then used to continue with the combating of crime," said Naidoo.

The seizures, which are classified under Uncapped Asset Forfeiture, took place in Musina and Polokwane on Wednesday.

"The operation is expected to last until the end of the day today," Naidoo said, adding that the assets would be placed under curatorship.

With regard to the court case, Naidoo said the matter had been postponed for the defence counsel to file a request for further details.

Source: BuaNews

President Jacob Zuma, in talks with visiting Indian President Pratibha Devisingh Patil on Wednesday, extended an invitation to the Asian nation to invest in South Africa's massive, state-led infrastructure drive.

"We have once again extended an invitation to Indian business to invest in our infrastructure development programme, in which we are to invest more than R800-billion until 2014," Zuma said following his meeting in Pretoria with Patil, who began his state visit to the country on Wednesday.

Zuma noted the fact that relations between the two countries dated back many years, that South Africa and India also shared a history of struggle against colonial oppression and racism, as well as "deep social, economic and cultural ties".

R111-billion trade target for 2014

While trade was increasing steadily, "we should all work to reach even higher figures", Zuma told journalists.

According to the Department of International Relations and Cooperation, trade between the two countries stood at R48.2-billion as of November 2011, with South African exports at R21.9-billion and imports from India at R26.3-billion.

The two countries have set a bilateral trade target of R111-billion to be reached by 2014.

Patil said relations between South African and India had taken on a robust and dynamic character, adding that strong institutional frameworks for co-operation in the economic, political and technological fields were in place.

"Our bilateral relations today are wide-ranging, multi-dimensional and mutually beneficial," Patil told journalists. "Our shared and abiding commitment to the ideals of democracy has only reinforced our close and friendly ties."

'Opportunities need to be explored'

Since the establishment of full diplomatic relations between South Africa and India in 1993, numerous high-level visits have taken place between the two countries, with cooperation agreements signed in trade, investment, education, defence, and information and communication technology (ICT).

"We have agreed to monitor the implementation of various agreements that exist," Patil said, adding that they were looking into expanding these into areas including health, science and technology and infrastructure.

"We felt that considerable opportunities need to be explored," said Patil, adding that India was also interested in working with South Africa to develop a Ghandi heritage site in the country.

Zuma said the two presidents had looked at ways in which "we can further translate our historical ties into meaningful socio-economic development cooperation."

Source: BuaNews

First-world infrastructure plus a vibrant emerging market equals huge investment potential!

The South African Navy played a key role in a major multi-national operation that saw 12 suspected pirates captured and six Sri Lankan hostages rescued off the coast of Tanzania last week.

Revealing the operation on Wednesday, the navy said a suspected pirate mother ship had coincidentally been spotted off the Tanzanian coast during a search the previous weekend for the South African yacht Dandelion.

South African Navy ship the SAS Drakensberg, which is equipped for anti-piracy operations and was busy patrolling the Mozambican Channel at the time, was helping the French Navy when the pirate suspects were spotted last Monday.

"The pirate mother ship, with a skiff in tow, was identified as the Sri Lankan fishing vessel Nimesha Duwak which was captured by pirates on 9 November last year," the navy said in a statement.

Search and rescue becomes pirate hunt

Around midday on the Monday, Dandelion was found safe and sound off the coast of Mozambique, and the search and rescue operation shifted to a "piracy interdiction operation" involving the SAS Drakensberg, the Tanzanian Navy and European naval units busy operating off Somalia.

By the Monday afternoon, the Tanzanian Navy had given South Africa permission to conduct anti-piracy operations within its territorial waters, and the hunt was on.

Over next 24 hours, the SAS Drakensberg and its South African Air Force helicopter scoured the cluttered Tanzanian coast - applying the crucial pressure from the south that eventually drove the pirates into the hands of the European and Tanzanian vessels closing in from the north.

By midday last Wednesday, the pirates had been forced to split up, and the Tanzanian authorities subsequently found the skiff and arrested five suspected pirates on Songo Songo Island.

Teamwork rewarded

"Wednesday evening saw units from four different countries closing in on the estimated position of the pirate mother ship," the navy said.

"The Spanish warship got there first and managed to capture the vessel by 20:30. Seven suspected pirates were apprehended and the six long-suffering Sri Lankan crew members were finally freed."

The suspects were all handed over to the Tanzanian authorities, who would now start navigating "the legal minefield of prosecuting them for crimes committed in International waters".

The successful operation had sent out a clear message that the South African National Defence Force, as part of the armed forces of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), "will not allow illegal activities within SADC waters," the navy said.

"It is also clear that the tripartite agreement between South Africa, Mozambique and Tanzania, and the subsequent deployment of SADC forces to safeguard our sea lanes, is paying dividends in ensuring the safety of our seafarers and their precious cargoes."

SAinfo reporter

South Africa's national women's football team, Banyana Banyana, were handed a very tough draw for the London Olympic Games on Wednesday. Their pool includes three teams ranked inside the top seven in the world.

At number three in the Fifa rankings, 2011 World Cup winners Japan present a formidable obstacle, while Sweden is ranked fifth and Canada seventh. South Africa is ranked 65th.

"Drawing World Cup champions Japan in our group ... well, it doesn't come much more challenging than that," captain Amanda Dlamini said in a statement on Wednesday. "But we are a highly competitive unit and will give it our all to make all those who have been supporting us, including the football fans in South Africa and across the African continent, proud.

'A dream come true'

"It's a dream come true for Banyana Banyana to be a part of Team SA at the Olympics, and I can assure you that the players will be working harder than ever in training in the hope of being among the 18 athletes who will get the chance to compete in London," Dlamini said.

South Africa face the Swedes first in Coventry on 25 July. That match is followed by another at the same venue two days later, against Canada. On 31 July, Banyana take on Japan in Cardiff.

Banyana coach Joseph Mkhonza was in London for the draw on Wednesday and shared his thoughts about it afterwards. "We are humbled to be here as this is a historic day for us as South Africans, and we have been drawn against some high-profile teams," he said.

'Not an easy task'

"It will not be an easy task for us, so we need to step up preparations to ensure that we're ready to compete against these three countries, but as you know the game of football can be very unpredictable, and this all depends on how a team performs on the day.

"We are very optimistic given the fact that, thanks to Sasol and Safa (the South African Football Association), we've been having various training camps since the beginning of the year to ensure that we make our presence felt coming to the Olympics as we look to promote women's football in South Africa."

South Africa will contest Group F at the Olympics. Group E is made up of composite team Great Britain, New Zealand (ranked 24th in the world), Cameroon (52nd) and Brazil (4th), while Group G includes the USA (1st), France (6th), Colombia (28th) and North Korea (8th).

After the group phase of competition, the top two teams from each pool will advance to the last eight, along with the two best third-place teams.

SAinfo reporter

South Africans have been urged to get out the six-coloured flags, pull on the green and gold t-shirts, and show their support for the country's Olympic and Paralympic athletes on Team SA Fridays.

At a special event to mark the 100-day countdown to the 2012 Olympics at Gold Reef City in Johannesburg on Wednesday, the SA Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc) called on South Africans to get behind the men and women who would be representing them in London in July and August.

The new campaign is in line with Magnificent Fridays, a Department of Sport and Recreation-led drive to unite the country behind its national football, cricket, rugby, netball and other sporting teams and competitors.

Magnificent Fridays is modelled on the concept of Football Fridays, the highly successful Brand South Africa initiative that saw South Africans rally as never before behind the national football team, Bafana Bafana, and the country's 2010 Fifa World Cup effort.

Track and field athletes and members of the national men's hockey team, which will be leaving for an Olympic Qualifier tournament in Japan on Thursday, were among those in attendance at Wednesday's launch event, where a number of Team South Africa Ambassadors were announced.

These include Springbok Sevens' star Cecil Africa, former Bafana Bafana captain Lucas Radebe, World Golf Hall of Famer Ernie Els, cricket great Makhaya Ntini, and Cynthia Tshaka, founder of the Sports Hero's walk against HIV/Aids.

"The role of the Team SA Ambassador is to inspire and mentor the Team SA athletes competing at the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, while encouraging young and old people worldwide to become more active in sport," said Sascoc CEO Tubby Reddy explained.

Team SA mascot Chukuru also showed off his moves at Wednesday's launch, where he proved to be a big hit.

SAinfo reporter

South Africa is a major receiving state for refugees and asylum seekers, currently handling around 3 500 to 4 000 new applications a month. The Department of Home Affairs has identified a huge backlog in its review of asylum refusals, but is working hard to clear it.

The department has roped in the police to help with queue management, appointed a document management company, and will extend working hours as part of efforts to clear the backlog, Director-General Mkuseli Apleni said on Thursday.

Audit uncovers massive backlog

After a recent audit, it was found that there was a backlog in the review of decisions by the Refugees Appeal Board and the Standing Committee on Review Affairs.

Apleni explained that if a person's application for asylum was judged to be unfounded, he or she could appeal the decision with the Refugees Appeal Board.

If an application was found to be manifestly unfounded, the decision was automatically reviewed by the Standing Committee on Refugee Affairs.

Apleni said the department had identified backlogs in reviewing unfounded applications by the Refugees Appeal Board in Durban, Port Elizabeth, Cape Town, Marabastad, the Pretoria Showgrounds, and Musina. The backlog currently stands at 87 602.

A backlog of 68 740 in the review of manifestly unfounded applications by the Standing Committee on Refugee Affairs was also found in these regions.

Apleni was hopeful that the backlog would be cleared within the next four months

Longer hours, extra hands, tight schedule

"Having acknowledged the immense challenge we face in finalising applications for asylum, we have taken a number of steps which will be effective from Monday, 16 April," he said.

As of Monday, working hours at Home Affairs offices will be extended, with the offices operating from 7.30am to 5pm from Monday to Friday.

In addition, Refugee Reception Offices will be opened on Saturdays from 8am to 1pm until the backlog has been resolved.

The department will put in place a schedule which will see asylum seekers from specific regions being attended to on allocated days.

Those from Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries will be attended to on Mondays and Tuesdays; from East Africa on Wednesdays and Saturdays; from West Africa on Thursdays; and those from Asia and other countries will be attended to on Fridays.

Since Wednesday, members of the SA Police Service have been assisting Home Affairs with queue management. Immigration officers will also be deployed to help the police and existing security teams at Refugee Reception Offices.

Source: BuaNews