Welcome to South Africa

Standing (l-r) Kingdom of Lesotho, HE Mr Nehemia Sekhonyana Bereng, Russian Federation, HE Ilya Rogachev, Republic of Colombia, HE Mr Carlos Andres Barahona Nino, Republic of Cyprus, HE Mr Costas A Papademas, Republic of Kazakhstan, HE Mr Kanat Tumysh, Swiss Federation, HE Dr Nicolas Bruhl and European Union, HE Mrs Riina Kionka
Seated (l-r) Republic of Rwanda, HE Mr Eugene Segore Kayihura, Republic of Malta, HE Mr Dionisio Vella, Republic of Guatemala, HE Mr Erick Estuardo Escobedo Ayala, Kingdom of Morocco, HE Mr Youseff Amrani, Republic of India, HE Mr Jaideep Sarkar, President Cyril Ramaphosa, Australia, HE Gita Kamanth, Republic of Zambia, HE Major General Jackson Miti, French Republic, HE Mr Aurelien Lechevallier, Republic of Niger, HE Mrs Mariama Seydou and Republic of Ireland, HE Ms Fionnuala Gilsenan (credit: Siyabulela Duda/GCIS) 

15 October 2019

President Cyril Ramaphosa on Tuesday, 15 October 2019, received Letters of Credence from Ambassadors and High Commissioners-designate who have been designated by the governments of 16 countries to serve in diplomatic missions in South Africa.  
 
The credentials ceremony took place at the Sefako Makgatho Presidential Guesthouse in Tshwane.

6th SKA Africa Partner Countries Meeting

17 October 2019

Senior officials and experts concluded the 6th Square Kilometre Array (SKA) Africa Partner Countries Meeting on Monday, 14 October 2019, noting progress in the Square Kilometre Array (SKA), African Very Long Baseline Interferometry Network (AVN) and other astronomy initiatives aimed at the development of astronomy in the nine African SKA partner countries.

The SKA/AVN partners – Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa and Zambia – meet annually to provide strategic leadership on matters relating to SKA/AVN projects, as well as other relevant radio astronomy initiatives.

The AVN project aims to establish a network of self-sufficient radio telescopes in Africa through the conversion of redundant telecommunications antennas into radio telescopes, "new-build" telescopes or training facilities with training telescopes. This network will strengthen the science that the international VLBI community can do.

A rising star ready to make it internationally

by Stella Sigcau

16 October 2019

Azemahle Lwanda Matebese a 13 year old, grade 8 scholar from Durban Girls High School has had a passion for dancing since a young age.

Daughter of businessman from KwaBomvana in the Eastern Cape Mr Ntsikelelo Matebese and his wife Princess Nombongo Matebese (nee Ndamase) who traces her roots to the Faku dynasty and ooBhayi has been dancing since grade 1, doing ballet and modern dancing. Her curiosity and love for the arts, according to her mother Nombongo Matebese saw her participate in other cultural activities at her school and in grade 3 was awarded with a Pick n Pay trophy for being an all- rounder in cultural activities within her Primary School, Glenmore in Durban.

SADC enhances cooperation with Indonesia

15 October 2019

”Indonesia is ready to be part of the African development, especially in the southern African region”

Photo: Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to South Africa Mr Salman Al Farisi with Executive Secretary of the Southern African Development Community, Dr. Stergomena Lawrence Tax

This was conveyed by the Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to South Africa and concurrently the Republic of Botswana, the Kingdom of Eswatini, and the Kingdom of Lesotho, H.E. Salman Al Farisi, at a meeting with the Executive Secretary of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), Dr. Stergomena Lawrence Tax, on October 10th at the SADC Secretariat office in Gaborone, Botswana.

Ambassador Farisi conveyed that Africa has become the top priority of Indonesian diplomacy especially in the fields of investment, trade, and people-to-people contact.

Culture and Heritage Tourism Boost the Economy of the Mpondo Kingdom

15 October 2019

By Stella Sigcau

Mpondo Kingdom is known for its cultural richness, beautiful environment with an amazing landscape. It’s also known for the dynamism and warmth of its people rooted on Ubuntu principles. The environment and land to amaMpondo which to most is the main source of survival and being remains imperative. Mpondoland boasts a pristine coastline along the Indian Ocean which hosts marine and coastal habitats as well as pristine estuaries. It is also known for the annual sardine migration (Sardine Run) and its diversity of indigenous plants and trees. The rare Pondoland coconut palm was declared a national monument. Some of its wonders include the beautiful and magnificent rivers e.g. the Mzimvubu, Mngazi, Sikombe, Mbotyi Rivers, its falls e.g. Magwa falls, the nature reserves e.g. Mkhambathi and Hluleka, beautiful oceans e.g. Mzamba, Port St Johns, Umthatha mouth, Lambasi bay, the beautiful Mountains and natural forests in Ntabankulu which is host to the annual Mpondo Culture and Heritage Festival.

A MEMORIAL, CORONATION, ENGAGEMENT AND A WEDDING: A ROYAL AFFAIR

by Stella Sigcau

15 October 2019

September and October months were very busy in the royal calendars throughout South Africa with heritage events hosted by Traditional leaders to promote their unique cultures and heritage whilst contributing to culture and rural development as well as tourism.

Photo: Nkhosi Mahumane coronated

To mention a few AmaMpondo celebrated their annual Mpondo Culture and Heritage Festival, amaBhaca celebrated umkhosi wokukhahlela, amaHlubi celebrated the King Langalibalele Day, amaNtlane from Centane commemorated their local hero Nkosi Nqabane kaNtlane.

The famous Zulu Reed dance and the commemoration of Nkosi James Senzakhona Mahlangu of the Ndebele Kingdom also took place during this period. Apart from these heritage activities there were other significant royal affairs that attracted people from various walks of life who came to witness also culture and heritage, namely, an unveiling of a memorial monument, a royal engagement, a coronation and a royal wedding that saw relations created between two Kingdoms and between two countries.

Indonesian Tourism responds to Millennials and wins Award

8 October 2019

"The challenge to the tourism world is not getting easier. It is not only the global economic slowdown, but also a change in the traveller’s lifestyle which are very dynamic. Indonesia has all the capacity to serve the millennial market, from the digital infrastructure to a variety of special-interest tourism options”, said Mr Salman Al Farisi, Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia in Pretoria, at the Indonesian Tourism Sales Mission in Johannesburg, South Africa on 3 October 2019.

Photo: Mr Salman Al Farisi, Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia in Pretoria addressing the Sales Mission

The Indonesian Embassy in Pretoria, the Ministry of Tourism and ITPC Johannesburg in collaboration with Singapore Airlines invited 25 travel agents and business partners in South Africa to brief them about the latest updates from Indonesia.

The 7th TICAD comes to grips with the Japanese ‘can do’ psyche

30 September 2019

“It’s not only about the amount of assistance,” explains HE Norio Maruyama, Japan’s Ambassador to South Africa during a discussion on TICAD 7 with The Diplomatic Society.  Ethical culture, a can do attitude and capable behaviour in relation to work and society are the basis of innovation, skills and management. The theme for this TICAD 7 was “Advancing Africa’s Development through People, Technology and Innovation.”

Photo: His Excellency President Cyril Ramaphosa welcomed and received by the Japanese Ambassador to South Africa, His Excellency Norio Maruyama, at the Tokyo International Airport, Japan, ahead of the 7th Tokyo International Conference on African Development. Looking on are Mr Yasushi Naito, Japan's Consul General in Cape Town and Mr Ebrahim Edries, Chief Director, State Protocol, Dirco (Siyabulela Duda​)

It is unprecedented that in 26 years since the establishment of the conference. 42 African heads of state/government attended the 7th TICAD (Tokyo International Conference on Africa’s Development) in Yokohama, Japan at the end of August 2019. The huge attendance saw the Tokyo conference moved to Yokohama, Japan’s second largest city to accommodate the 10 000 participants who attended the conference this year.

Festival of India

2 October 2019

To celebrate the 150th Birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi a Festival of India was held in Joburg, Cape Town and Durban.

Photo: Mrs Minako Sarkar, Mr Jaideep Sarkar, High Commissioner of India and Dr Sonal Mansingh

Guests of the High Commission in Pretoria viewed the ‘Story of Kasturba’, where Dr Sonal Mansingh and her troupe though demonstration-cum-performance took the audience through the tremendous life journey of Kasturba Gandhi.

At the other centres audiences also enjoyed Contemporary Indian Music by Indie Routes Band, Shri Shreyas Abhas Group, ‘Shanti Sutra’ – Bharatnatyam Dance Drama on Mahatma Gandhi, by Kalakshetra Foundation and Light Classical Music (Vocal) by Ms. Sunanda Sharma.

Obasanjo presents book to Ramaphosa

2 October 2019

By Oru Leonard, newsdotafrica.com

President Cyril Ramaphosa received former Nigerian President, General Olusegun Obasanjo who paid a courtesy call on him on Thursday, 26 September 2019 and presented him with a book.

Photo: President Ramaphosa receiving a book from President Obasanjo (Elmond Jiyane)

The book titled, “Democracy Works: Rewiring Politics to Africa’s Advantage”, was authored by Greg Mills of the Brenthurst Foundation in South Africa; Former President Obasanjo; Jeffrey Herbst, a celebrated Africanist, and Tendai Biti, former Finance Minister of Zimbabwe.

President Ramaphosa thanked the former President for working hard and still having the energy to write and contribute to current debates about the development of Africa.

Action for People and Planet - Tackling Global Challenges Together

30 September 2019

I WEEK – 5 SUMMITS – 17 GOALS

Photography by Marla Mossman
Text by UN.org

Photo: His Excellency Hassan Rouhani, President, Islamic Republic of Iran

Every September, the Member States of the United Nations meet at the General Assembly in New York to discuss the critical issues of global concern. This year, in addition to the general debate, world leaders participated in a series of summits and high-level meetings to boost action on climate change and accelerate progress on sustainable development, aimed at securing healthy, peaceful and prosperous lives for all.