People, Prosperity, Poland 1918 – 2018

by K. Bhana

According to historical records the Kingdom of Poland was founded in 1025 and its origins can be trace backed to 966 AD. As a liberal state the Polish people adopted one of the earliest constitutions on May 3 1791.

Photo: Warsaw, Poland’s capital replicated from paintings and images

In 1918 after the ‘First World War’ Poland was established and recognized as a country under the Treaty of Versailles. It enjoyed relative stability as a sovereign state until the invasion in 1939 by Hitler’s Nazi German army. The invasion marked the end of the policy of appeasement and the beginning of the Second World War. The worst and most gruesome atrocities of humankind carried out by the Nazis who occupied the country were documented and became known as a holocaust.

Making Africa Work

19 April 2018

Is there a lever in a basement somewhere that when pulled sees the rise of some governments and the fall others?

The book, Making Africa Work – A handbook for economic success, was compiled after many hours of painstaking research, interviews with heads of state, business leaders and other high profile influential women and men. Interaction and conversations with the ordinary person, worker and pedestrian makes for a holistic account of the attitude required to revolutionise the way Africa goes about doing its business.
   
Photo: Greg Mills with Senior Marshal of the Sejm of the Republic of Poland Mr. Kornel Morawiecki

Argentina – South Africa Bilateral Meeting on Oceanic and Antarctic Affairs

13 April 2018

Argentina and South Africa carried out a Bilateral Meeting on Oceanic and Antarctic Affairs, in a three days meeting carried out in Cape Town and Pretoria. The first step was a two days technical meeting in Cape Town (April 4/5), where specialists from the Department of Environmental Affairs welcomed the Argentine experts. The meeting was chaired by Judy Beaumont, Deputy Director General, Oceans and Coasts Branch, Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA).

Photo: (l-r) Emiliano Ezcurra (Vice-President, National Parks Administration), Advocate Thembile Joyini (Principal State Law Advisor: International Law, DIRCO); Josefina Bunge (Office of the Legal Council, Argentine MFA); Silvia Cao (Chief of Staff, Undersecretary for the Malvinas Islands, Antarctica and South Atlantic Ocean, MFA); Amb. Figueroa; Simon Cardy (Director: Climate Change, Environment, Science and Technology, DIRCO); Ms Hester Pretorius (Deputy Director: Marine and Antarctica, DIRCO); Frida Armas Pfirter (Directorate for the Continental Shelf, MFA); Romi Brammer (State Law Advisor: IL, DIRCO)

Front: Bárbara Aubert Casas (Technical Cooperation, Embassy of Argentina)

Amampondo honour Mama Winnie Mandela

by Stella Sigcau

10 April 2018

Amampondo from all walks of life and from various provinces and beyond borders in their numbers ascended to Mama Winnie Mandela's home to pay their respects to Mama Winnie Mandela and to comfort her family during this difficult time.

Photo: Princess Stella Sigcau II with the Award, (left) Princess Zoliswa Ndamase Madlanga and (right) Ambassador Nomvuyo Nokwe

Mama Winnie Nomzamo Mandela, a struggle activist is also a princess from the Mpondo Kingdom.

In attendance were also representatives from the various Amampondo Kingdom Royal families and dignitaries including former South African Ambassador to Mauritius and current Secretary General of IORA Dr Nomvuyo Nokwe who is based in Mauritius, a liberation activist in her own right and daughter of the first black advocate and liberation stalwart Duma Nokwe who was from the Mpondo Kingdom and Prince Sonwabile Ndamase who is the founder of Madiba T Shirts and personal designer of the late Mama Winnie Mandela who is also a member of the Mpondo Royal family from Nyandeni Great Place.

Mauritius celebrates 50th Anniversary of Independence

10 April 2018, Pretoria

Addressing guests at the Mauritius National Day celebration High Commissioner Vijaye P. Lutchmun said that this year marks a major milestone for Mauritius. "At the time of our independence, some economic experts had predicted a bleak future for the tiny island in the Indian Ocean. So much so that many world maps still leave us out!

"Rising from those humble beginnings as a monocrop economy, I feel extremely proud to have witnessed, in the last fifty years, the emergence of our country as one of the most competitive, stable, and successful economies in Africa.

"On this special occasion, it is most befitting to pay tribute to our ancestors for their indomitable courage and hard work which contributed to lay the foundations of the economic transformation of our nation. It is equally important to salute the farsightedness of our political leaders and successive Governments since 1968, for the bold decisions taken in addition to implementing the right domestic and foreign policies towards the socio-economic development of our country," said High Commissioner Lutchman.

Nusa Dua Bali to host Indonesia-Africa Forum 2018

10 April 2018

Bali is one of the thousand islands making up the Indonesian Archipelago that has long been famous as a leading tourist destination in the South Pacific or even in the world for its exotic and vibrant art and culture, natural beauties and the hospitality of the people. Furthermore, Bali is an island located in the central part of Indonesia that is famous as a beautiful tourist spot. Various tourists from all over the world admire the beauty of Bali and flock to come to visit. Many nicknames have been given to this small island such as : Island of Thousand Temples, Morning of the World, Paradise Island, Island of Gods and The Island of Peace.

From 10-11 April 2018, Bali will host the first ever the Indonesia-Africa Forum.

Bulgaria enhancing relations with Africa

1 April 2018

Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ekaterina Zaharieva met with South African International Relations and Cooperation Minister Lindiwe Sisulu in Pretoria, South Africa.

"Reviving our traditional and long-standing excellent relations with the states in Africa is a priority of our foreign policy. There are 25,000 expatriate Bulgarians in the Republic of South Africa, who serve as a bridge between our two countries. I hope that bilateral business contacts will be intensified further," Zaharieva told her South African counterpart.

Boosting cooperation between Africa's biggest capitals

29 March 2018

Ambassador Sherif Issa of the Arab Republic of Egypt to South African met with officials of the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality, Tshwane Economic Development Agency - TEDA and Tshwane Chamber of Commerce, at the Egyptian Embassy in Pretoria on 28 March. Also present were members of the Egyptian Embassy and the Egyptian Commercial Counsellor Wahid Adly.

Photo: Front row (l-r) Refilwe Nyathi- International Relations Specialist, H.E. Ambassador of Egypt Sherif Issa, Chrys Haitas - Executive Director, Strategic Business Development, Capital City Business Chamber and Vusi Mweli – Senior Manager, Investment Promotion, Tshwane Economic Development Agency
Back row (l-r) Monzer Selim - Counsellor and Deputy Head of Mission, Fanie du Plessis - CEO, Capital City Chamber of Commerce, Wahid Adly – Commercial Counsellor, Solly Mabunda – Director International Relations, City of Tshwane and Mohammed Hassan - Third Secretary of the Mission

Boosting relations and cooperation between the biggest two capitals in the African continent, Cairo and Pretoria, were discussed. The upcoming visit of the Governor of Cairo to attend the Capital Cities Sustainability Forum taking place from 5 – 7 June 2018 in Pretoria was also discussed. Ambassador Issa extended an open invitation to the Mayor of Tshwane Mr. Solly Msimanga to visit Cairo later this year.

South Africa signs MOU with Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic

29 March 2018

The South African Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Hon Lindiwe Sisulu, and Hon Bulahi Sid, Minister of Cooperation of the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR), signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Technical Assistance and the Exchange of Notes on Humanitarian Assistance to the Western Saharawi refugee camps.

The MoU forms part of the political and humanitarian assistance the South African government is extending to the people of Western Sahara, the last colony on the African continent. South Africa maintains a position that Saharawi people must be allowed to exercise their right to self-determination and independence.

SADC Council of Ministers underway

26 March 2018

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) Council of Ministers’ two-day meeting kicked off in Tshwane this morning with a call for increased focus on industrialisation.

With increased industrialisation, the regional bloc is set to diversify economies and expand value chains in the zone.

Photo: International Relations and Cooperation Minister Lindiwe Sisulu in her capacity as Chair of the SADC Council of Ministers, hosts the meeting of the SADC Council of Ministers on 26 and 27 March 2018 at the OR Tambo Building in Pretoria. (Katlholo Maifadi: DIRCO)

“Industrialisation remains a core pre-requisite for prosperity in the region and has to be achieved through a strong partnership with the private sector,” International Relations and Cooperation Minister Lindiwe Sisulu said on Monday.

She was speaking at the opening of the meeting in her capacity as the new chairperson of the council which oversees the functioning and development of SADC and ensures that policies and decisions are implemented.