South Africa monitoring COVID-19 spread

5 May 2021

South Africa’s teams remain on high alert to survey, detect and contain the spread of COVID-19 in general, with heightened awareness of travellers from countries where variants of concern (VOCs) are dominating.

“We confirm that the B.1.617 variant, circulating widely in India, has not been detected; however, the genomics teams are working on some samples and we will need to allow the time it takes to sequence before we get an answer,” Minister of Health, Dr Zweli Mkhize, said on Tuesday.

Mkhize has noted the concern expressed by South Africans over the possible recent importation of VOCs.

SANParks welcomes report on wildlife management

Image by instagram.com/@diressh_parbhoo  

4 May 2021

The South African National Parks (SANParks) has welcomed the report of a High Level Panel into the management, breeding, hunting, trade and handling of elephant, lion, leopard and rhinoceros.

The panel was appointed by the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Barbara Creecy to review policies, regulatory measures, practices and policy positions that are related to the hunting, trade, captive keeping, management and handling of elephant, lion, leopard and rhinoceros.

SA's ports remain on high alert for COVID-19

4 May 2021

Health Minister Zweli Mkhize has assured the public that South Africa is on high alert for the B.1.617 Coronavirus variant.

“All our ports of entry employ stringent containment procedures to minimise the importation of COVID-19,” he said, adding that government remained on high alert to screen passengers and test those who require further assessment.

He said while the variant was yet to be detected in South Africa, members of the genomics team had informed government that they had intensified surveillance to not only ensure detection of the virus but to also understand its implications.

Call for equal access to health coverage

4 May 2021

President Cyril Ramaphosa says a vital lesson learnt from the Coronavirus pandemic is the necessity for collective leadership, collaboration, solidarity and innovation among the countries of the world.

“As we prepare for future pandemics, we need to accelerate efforts to realise universal health coverage. We need to ensure that vaccines and other life-saving treatments are considered a public good,” President Ramaphosa said.

Addressing the Friends of Multilateralism’s roundtable on the work of the Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response on Tuesday, he said while the pandemic has highlighted the value of partnership, it has also demonstrated the damaging effects of unilateral action and unequal access to resources.

Neighbourhood Diplomacy: Leveraging SAARC's Economic Interdependence

By Dr Srimal Fernando

4 May 2021

Regionalism in the contemporary global context. has always had a strong political motive and facilitated to fill the political vacuum through cooperation among states. Despite facing a series of internal and external challenges since its formation, the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) has in the past three decades witnessed encouraging developments. Political decision making in intergovernmental organizations like the SAARC is important in developing a consensus on the promotion of interdependence in economic, social, cultural and security spheres

The Art of African-European relations

3 May 2021

Listen to 'Two the power of MORE' - podcast with Christian Salow and Dieter Brockmeyer in discussion with Nomaza Nongqunga Coupez from Undiscovered Canvas about African Arts and Innovation. She was appointed by French President Emmanuel Macron to serve on the Conseil Presidential pour Afrique (CPA). A group made up of 11 Africans to advise the President to bridge the gap between France and Africa in art.

3rd May Constitution

by Andrzej Kanthak, Ambassador of the Republic of Poland to South Africa and Dainius Junevičius, Ambassador of the Republic of Lithuania to  South Africa

3 May 2021

Europe’s oldest constitution sees Poland and Lithuania commemorating 230th anniversary of their Commonwealth constitution adoption on 3 May 2021.

For 226 years (1569 - 1795), both Poland and Lithuania formed a common state known as the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. In sixteenth and early seventeenth century the Commonwealth experienced its Golden Age, at the time it was the largest state in Europe.

Since the end of the 17th century, the political and economic power of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth began its fast and deep decline. The Commonwealth, surrounded by enemies, was unable to respond to the aggression of its neighbours. The destruction of the country and its economy was also related to political turmoil and the degradation of the political and social institution of the Commonwealth.

The pride of the Republic of Poland

The 230th anniversary of the enactment of the Polish Constitution, the first in Europe, should be an inspiring holiday for the whole of today’s Europe - by Andrzej Duda, President of Poland

3 May 2021

Filled with the joy of spring, we are celebrating a great Polish holiday whose origins date back to the 18th century. It marks the anniversary of the Constitution signed on the 3rd of May 1791 also known as the Government Act or the Constitution of 3 May. It was Europe’s first and the world’s second modern act of this type and a truly momentous piece of legislation. Its adoption by the Great Sejm of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth held in Warsaw was a historic breakthrough. The legacy of the Constitution, the idea of a political system it contains as well as its liberating and democratic message all make an important contribution to European heritage. Indeed, the 230th anniversary of the enactment of the Constitution should be an inspiring holiday for the whole of today’s Europe.

Diplomats and Vodacom contribute to improving school results

30 April 2021

Bokamosa High School in Tshwane North District hosted an awards ceremony for their teachers and staff for their integral role in the increase of the pass rate to 94% in 2020. The school underwent an improvement, from less than 50% a few years ago, when Ms S Madumo took over as principal. The school with limited resources and in an underprivileged community of Stinkwater took 2nd place in top performing township schools in the Tshwane North District.

Principal Madumo awarded certificates and handed gifts to her fellow colleagues as recognition for their commitment, dedication and belief in team work and achieving outstanding success.

Africa-Asia Inter Regional

By Dr Srimal Fernando and Kirtan Bhana

30 April 2021

Regionalism has undergone several waves of change in the past century. The term ‘regional integration’ has also come to be associated with several meanings. In contrast, new regionalism approaches for African and Asian challenges could be addressed on a broader basis in a comprehensive fashion without solely focusing on specific areas of cooperation. The importance of collectively unifying strengths and designing policies that are aligned in a way that enhances the well-being of the entire region needs to be recognized.

29 April 2021

In 1982 the Dance Committee of ITI founded International Dance Day to be celebrated every year on the 29th April, the birthday of Jean-Georges Noverre (1727-1810), creator of modern ballet. The intention of the International Dance Day Message is to celebrate dance, revel in the universality of this art form, cross all political, cultural and ethnic barriers, and bring people together with a common language - dance.

Every year a message from an outstanding choreographer or dancer is circulated throughout the world. This year's message is from Friedmann Vogel. 

Friedemann Vogel’s Message for International Dance Day on April 29th, 2021