The Indian Ocean Rim Association’s First Woman Secretary General

14 August 2018

21 March 1990 is a day that made an indelible mark and became a precious memory for the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) Secretary General Dr Nomvuyo Nontsikelelo Nokwe that will stay with her for the rest of her life.

It was the first time she met Nelson Mandela with her family in exile. ‘Pampoen’ (pumpkin) he greeted her. He had fondly remembered her Afrikaans nickname which she had, until then, disliked. Then, the second daughter of Dumalisile and Vuyiswa Nokwe, suddenly developed a new affinity for her nickname.

The Brenthurst Foundation Appoints Three New Advisory Board Members

14 August 2018

The Brenthurst Foundation has appointed three new members to their Advisory Board: former President of Liberia (and Nobel laureate) Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, former Defence Minister of Colombia Juan Carlos Pinzón, and former Prime Minister of Ethiopia Hailemariam Desalegn.

The new appointments bring with them a wealth of leadership skills along with unparalleled knowledge of political and economic policy in both the African and South American continents.

197th Independence of the Republic of Peru

Mr. Oscar Roca Ferrand, Charge D’ Affaires A.I of the Republic of Peru held a reception on 27 July 2018 on the occasion of the 197th Independence of the Republic of Peru.

Addressing guests Mr Ferrand said that the Peruvian government has established important goals looking forward to the celebration of Peru’s bicentenary of independence in 2021.

Photo: Mr. Oscar Roca Ferrand, Charge D’ Affaires A.I of the Republic of Peru and Mr. Musa Alphane, Acting Chief Director: Latin America and the Caribbean: Department of International Relations and Cooperation of the Republic of South Africa

Contained in the “Bicentenary Plan” is the reduction of poverty to a rate of 10% of the population, the universal access to health insurance, 85% rate of access to water and 95% to electricity.

Culture Connected – Korea and South Africa

13 August 2018

In celebration of the 26th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations between the Republic of Korea and the Republic of South Africa, the Korea Foundation for International Culture Exchange (KOFICE) in collaboration with the Embassy of the Republic of Korea to the Republic of South Africa, the Korea National University of Arts and Kukkiwon (National Taekwondo Headquarters), presented a “Culture Connected” performance on Tuesday, 31 July 2018 at the Aula Theatre, University of Pretoria.

Photo: Dr Jong Dae Park, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea pictured with organisers, choreographers, directors and artists

The showcase brought together art, music, dance and sport.

El Salvador: Tips on Managing Crime and Avoiding Populism – or is it the other way round?

by Greg Mills

6 August 2018

El Salvador is adjudged the world’s most violent country, with a rate of 81 murders per 100,000 people in 2016 – more than three times that of Mexico, for example. San Salvador rivals Venezuela’s Caracas as the most murderous city at 137/100,000. The country is trapped in a vicious cycle of populism and insecurity. Because there is no security, there is little investment, no growth, few jobs, insufficient resources for security and thus an increase in insecurity. And the populism of the ruling FMLN has offered few answers, only greater problems. In this lie lessons for African states treading a populist path.

Polish tall ship “Dar Młodzieży” sets sail on Independence Cruise and docks in Cape Town on 15 August 2018

The year 2018 is a very special and important date for Poland.  One hundred years ago in November 1918, after 123 years of foreign rule, captivity and oppression, Poland regained its independence.

Photo: “Dar Młodzieży”, one of the most famous and beautiful Polish tall ships, will call at the Cape Town port between 15-17 August 2018. “Dar Młodzieży” will be open to the general public on Wednesday, 15 August 2018 at the V&A Waterfront.  The visitors will have a unique opportunity to visit the Polish tall ship, talk to the crew, get acquainted with Polish culture and traditions as well as listen to amazing stories about sailing, sea adventures and the ship itself.

Celebrating Cultural Diversity during the Mpondo Culture and Heritage Festival 14-16 September 2018

By Stella Sigcau

People from various walks of life and from various parts of the world including Switzerland and the Republic of Botswana are expected to converge to Ntabankulu the scenic and mountainous part of the Mpondo Kingdom (South Africa), which is surrounded by the great and magnificent Mzimvubu River to celebrate the Mpondo Culture and Heritage Festival.

Photo: 2017 Mpondo Culture and Heritage Festival

The Festival was launched in 2006 in commemoration of Nkosi Ntsikayezwe Sigcau (1947-1996), an ANC activist and stalwart, who made a meaningful and significant contribution in the liberation struggle of South Africa.

BRICS holding hands

31 July 2018

Hand holding is the provision of careful support or guidance to someone during a learning process or period of change. How apt was it that leaders elected to the high office of China, India, Russia, Brazil and South Africa interlocked hands in a photograph that signalled a decade long cooperation of the grouping of countries referred to as BRICS.

Brics Leader’s Family Photo on the side line of the 10th BRICS Summit under the theme “BRICS in Africa: Collaboration for Inclusive growth and shared prosperity in the Fourth Industrial Revolution”. Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg. South Africa. 26/07/2018. Siyabulela Duda

Johannesburg, South Africa was the epicentre of the 10th BRICS Summit. South Africa as chair embarked on an awareness campaign among its citizens of the significance of this milestone event. Academics, officials, politicians and media amongst others were inundated with public lectures, symposiums, round table meetings all around the country in preparation for hosting of the landmark summit.

‘BRICS in Africa: Collaboration for Inclusive Growth and Shared Prosperity in the 4th Industrial Revolution’ was a relevant theme for the summit. The Johannesburg Declaration was an outcome that prioritized Africa. It recognized that the African continent is well suited for the prospects of new thinking brought about by recent scientific discoveries. Block chain computing, the harnessing of free and clean energy, and a platform to quantum leap the current toxic financial and trade practices, are being introduced

Madiba’s  Magic

25 July 2018

Impeccable manners and humility were Mandela’s traits. “I am not a saint, unless you think of a saint as a sinner who keeps on trying.” Mandela’s biggest sin, according to those that had a misplaced sense of their superiority, and oppressed people in a most brutal, racist and vile manner, was to stand up to them and the hateful apartheid regime; to fight for freedom and justice.

Would you be able to survive, let alone thrive on a prison island in the southernmost coast of Africa for 27 years? Would you have had that sense of duty to stand up to a powerful yet insecure regime that victimized your family, wife and children in a most dehumanizing way?  

As a man, face to face with his own reality after a constant lock down, and the reality of the aspirations of a nation, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela (Madiba) was released from prison at the age of 72. He lived to the age of 95.

Mandela spent a quarter of a century incarcerated while P.W Botha and his apartheid regime spent the countries abundant natural resources to spin an ideology of racial superiority, especially at the expense of  South Africa’s most precious human resource.

Barack Obama, the former President of the USA was in South Africa to speak at a lecture in Johannesburg, commemorating the 100th birthday of Madiba.  As the orator he is renowned for, Obama made some confessions about the crisp South African winter mornings, his age and about being a good dancer. He is also acknowledged with having served as a two term president of the USA.

Resumption of diplomatic relations between Ethiopia and Eritrea

25 July 2018

Ethiopian Airlines commercial flight to Asmara was sold out within an hour to passangers looking forward to uniting with family and friends in Eritrea. It also carried amongst others Ethiopia’s former prime minister Hailemariam Desalegn and the former first lady Roman Tesfaye.

This flight follows the historic meeting in the Eritrean capital, Asmara, on 9 July 2018 between Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, and Eritrea's President, Isaias Afewerki, where they signed a declaration, ending 20 years of hostility and restoring diplomatic relations and normal ties between the countries.

On 15 July, President Afwerki visited Ethiopia for the first time in 22 years, coinciding with the opening of the old Eritrean embassy in Addis Ababa.