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Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hossein Amirabdollahian, who is in Pretoria for the 15th meeting of the Joint Commission of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Republic of South Africa, met with President Ramaphosa of South Africa on Thursday afternoon.
The Iranian Foreign Minister expressed satisfaction with the strong and expanding relations between the two countries and the successful outcome of the 15th meeting of the Joint Economic Cooperation Commission. He emphasized the importance of the constructive agreements reached across different sectors and the preparation of multiple cooperation documents.
Amirabdollahian also announced the Islamic Republic of Iran's acceptance of the invitation to participate in the BRICS summit. President Raisi of Iran will attend the meeting.
He highlighted Iran's vital role in West Asia and South Africa's influence in the African continent, emphasizing the potential for collaboration between Tehran and Pretoria in various fields given their capacities. The top Iranian diplomat warmly welcomed the development of cooperation between the two nations.
President Ramaphosa, in turn, conveyed his greetings to the Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and expressed satisfaction with his acceptance of the invitation to attend the BRICS summit and his upcoming official visit to South Africa in the fall. He described President Raisi's visit as important and stressed the significance of his Iranian counterpart's presence at the BRICS summit and South Africa's keen interest in Iran's participation in the event.
Ramaphosa noted that the BRICS summit holds significant global attention and South Africa fully supports Iran's inclusion as a friendly nation. He stated, "We are pleased with the agreements reached at the joint commission meeting and we are ready to implement them."
Ramaphosa expressed hope that during the upcoming official visit of the Iranian President, several cooperation documents would be signed, leading to the effective implementation of bilateral cooperation agreements across various fields.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Islamic Republic of Iran.
The Surfing South Africa Board has ratified the team that will represent South Africa at the 2023 International Surfing Association World Junior Surfing Championships in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil from November 24th to December 3rd, 2023. FULL STORY HERE Video: Cape St Francis Surfer Rory Dace selected to compete in the SA Junior Team For …
Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian's one-day trip to South Africa culminated in a warm gathering with Iranians residing there.
During Thursday's evening ceremony, the top Iranian diplomat described acknowledging Iranians living abroad as an inherent responsibility of all Iranian missions.
Amirabdollahian referred to Iranian compatriots abroad as invaluable spiritual assets of the Islamic homeland.
Subsequent to the speeches delivered by various representatives of the Iranian community living in South Africa, he highlighted the efforts made by the 13th Administration to address the challenges faced by Iranian expatriates.
He expressed hope that by resolving these issues, the bond between Iranians abroad and their motherland will be strengthened like never before.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Islamic Republic of Iran.
SA ready to host BRICS Summit
It's all systems go for the 15th BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) Summit, which will be held in Johannesburg later this month.
Taking place from 22 to 24 August, government has indicated that it has concluded the BRICS outreach programmes for various sectors and communities.
“Cabinet was apprised that it is all systems go in terms of South Africa’s readiness to host the 15th BRICS Summit. The last of the BRICS Ministerial Meetings – the BRICS Ministers of Agriculture Meeting – is currently underway, while the Ministerial Meetings of Foreign Affairs, Security, Trade, Industry, Education, Science, Labour, Communications, Health, and Urbanisation Forum have concluded their reports for the Leaders’ Summit.
“These engagements provided governments, organisations, experts and academics from the BRICS nations an opportunity to discuss issues of mutual interest that will enable informed decision-making during the BRICS Summit,” Minister in The Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, said on Thursday.
She was addressing a media briefing in Pretoria on the outcomes of the Cabinet meeting held on Tuesday.
Russia-Africa Summit
Meanwhile, President Cyril Ramaphosa and Russian President Vladimir Putin recently held a bilateral meeting and discussed opportunities to increase trade between the two countries, and for the Russian Federation to increase investments in South Africa.
This meeting took place during the Second Russia-Africa Summit in St. Petersburg, Russian Federation, on 27 and 28 July 2023. Ramaphosa was amongst other African leaders who attended the summit.
“This summit adopted the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum Action Plan, which focuses on strengthening cooperation in areas of politics and security, economics, humanitarian matters, and interests of mutual benefit and prosperity.
“On the sidelines of the summit, African Heads of State and Government, who are part of the African Peace Initiative on the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, held follow-up talks with President Putin on the previously discussed confidence-building measures that will create conditions for a negotiated settlement to ending the war,” Ntshavheni said.
Security in Niger
Cabinet also has noted the impact the security situation in Niger is having on air travel between South Africa/Southern Africa and Western Europe, with negative implications for business and individuals alike and the airline industry, which is just starting to recover from the devastating ravages of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
“Cabinet reiterated government’s condemnation of the coup in Niger and the call for the speedy restoration of a democratic order, and also noted the initiative to restore normality under the Economic Community of West African States,” the Minister said. – SAnews.gov.za
nosihle
Thu, 08/10/2023 - 11:47
Introduction A will is a legal document that outlines how an individual’s assets should be distributed after their death. It is a crucial instrument that ensures a person’s wishes are respected and their loved ones are provided for. In South Africa, as in many other jurisdictions, a will must meet certain requirements to be considered …
]FAME Week Africa, built by RX Africa, the continent’s premier platform for celebrating African talent, is proud to announce the highly anticipated Women in Entertainment Breakfast on 6 September as part of the esteemed FAME Week Africa 2023. This ground-breaking event, powered by EarCandy Dubbing and the Cape Town International Conventions Centre (CTICC) will shine …
The African filmmaking community is abuzz with anticipation as the FAME Film Shorts Festival, a prestigious addition to FAME Week Africa 2023, built by RX Africa, takes centre stage. This eagerly awaited event is dedicated to celebrating the innovation, creativity, and exceptional talent of the finest independent filmmakers from across the continent. Our aim is …
Africa CDC donates vaccine manufacturing equipment to SAHPRA
The Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) on Thursday officially handed over equipment worth US $750 000 (R14 083 950) to the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA), the first recipient in the continent.
According to a joint statement, the tools will support SAHPRA with its regulatory functions relating to vaccine manufacturing.
Africa CDC Director-General, Dr Jean Kaseya, and SAHPRA CEO, Dr Boitumelo Semete-Makokotlela, attended the ceremony in Pretoria.
The African Union (AU) Heads of State established the Partnerships for African Vaccine Manufacturing (PAVM), under the Africa CDC launched in 2021 and its Framework for Action in 2022.
The PAVM aims to steer a bold goal that will enable the African vaccine manufacturing industry to develop, produce and sustainably increase supply, currently sitting at less than 1%.
It is also looking to prop up the National Regulatory Authorities (NRAs) to ensure safe and quality vaccines.
The Africa CDC is working with four other NRAs to boost their capacities to achieve the ambitious goal of manufacturing 60% of vaccine needs on the continent by 2040.
“This donation is a proverbial breath of fresh air for SAHPRA and more importantly, the African continent. This stellar initiative will provide much-needed impetus for SAHPRA to take bold steps to capacitate the authority and the continent in paving the way for renewed vigour and innovation on the continent,” said Semete-Makokotlela.
Meanwhile, Kaseya said Africa CDC’s mission of safeguarding Africa’s health from disease threats such as pandemics would require viable and sustainable manufacturing of health products and technologies on the continent.
“To achieve this noble mission, NRA are our key partners. Today’s ceremony marks an important step in our commitment to support African manufacturing to ensure safe and effective vaccines are produced on the continent,” he said.
The Africa CDC worked with the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD) to set priorities such as regulatory process harmonisation, engaging with and strengthening NRAs directly, supporting and strengthening the Regional Centres of Regulatory Excellence (RCORE) platform to facilitate vaccine regulatory oversight, as manufacturing of health products expands in Africa.
Africa CDC is a continental autonomous public health agency of the African Union.
It supports member States in their efforts to strengthen health systems and improve surveillance, emergency response, prevention and control of diseases. – SAnews.gov.za
Gabisile
Thu, 08/10/2023 - 14:31
Introduction Hair growth is a concern that resonates with many individuals, both men and women. Whether it’s thinning hair, baldness, or simply the desire for a fuller mane, the quest for effective hair growth solutions is a common pursuit. In South Africa, the market is flooded with various products claiming to promote hair growth. This …
High Court slams “outrageous” attempt by Gauteng MEC to rescind an order that the MEC was liable for a multi-million rand damages claim
NOVACOM Summits (https://NOVACOMSummits.com) is proud to announce its first-ever African edition of the Digital Transformation Strategy Summit, an exclusive networking and business opportunity for Africa's telecommunications leaders. This prestigious event is set to take place at the esteemed Le Franschhoek Hotel & Spa in Cape Town, South Africa, from 5th to 7th September.
The summit intends to foster strategic relationships among executive decision-makers from leading African telecommunications companies and solution providers. This event will be held in a five-star, world-class setting in the Cape Winelands.
The digital transformation journey in Africa has gained immense momentum and presents a remarkable setting to connect people, representing a US$100 billion opportunity for the continent. NOVACOM Summits, with its extensive experience and customer base in the industry, has recognised the potential and value in this transformation and has taken the initiative to create a platform for industry leaders to connect, collaborate, and drive this crucial change.
We are delighted to announce Juliet Ehimuan as the Summit's keynote speaker. Renowned for her impactful contributions during her 12-year tenure as the Director of Google West Africa, Juliet played a pivotal role in introducing Google products, such as Google Maps and YouTube, to the region, revolutionising digital access. Additionally, she was instrumental in the success of the Equiano subsea fibre capacity cable project along the West Coast of Africa, a landmark digital infrastructure endeavour.
With her extensive experience and influence in the African telecom landscape, Juliet is now actively involved in guiding enterprises and telcos on their digital transformation journeys, perfectly aligning with NOVACOM's vision and purpose.
South African born and raised, Founder of NOVACOM Summits, Ryan Anderson says: "We are thrilled to host the inaugural African edition of the Digital Transformation Strategy Summit, bringing together the brightest minds and visionaries in the telecom industry. This gathering's core ambition is to facilitate digital transformation in Africa through the unique opportunity to connect the continent's leading telcos with innovative solutions providers, so we can connect the next 1 billion people. We are honoured to have Juliet Ehimuan as our keynote speaker, who embodies the spirit of innovation and progress that drives our industry forward.”
NOVACOM Summits will host a range of activities during the event, including pre-qualified one-on-one business meetings, in-person networking opportunities, and peer-led round table discussions. Thought-provoking workshops covering a variety of topics, from Building resilience during a power crisis and to how to monetise 5G, to raising cell towers in space, will enrich the debate around the continent's most ambitious industry projects. Our goal is to foster meaningful connections and collaborations among attendees while connecting the course for the telecom industry's future in Africa.
To request an invite to join us at the Le Franschhoek Hotel & Spa in Cape Town for a transformative experience that will shape the future of connection in Africa, please email invite@novacomsummits.com.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of NOVACOM Summits.
For media inquiries please contact:
Cheryl Naidu
Cheryl.naidu@apo-opa.com
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About NOVA SUMMITS Limited:
NOVA SUMMITS LIMITED is the organiser of the NOVACOM Africa - Digital Transformation Strategy Summit series. These exclusive invite-only telecom specific events for Sub-Saharan industry leaders bring together executive level decision makers, business leaders and policy makers with industry solution providers in first class luxury settings. Our belief is that connection is paramount to the digital transformation journey, and these summits provide a collaborative platform to accelerate this process. For more information on NOVA SUMMITS Limited and the FUTURE OF CONNECTION visit: https://NOVACOMSummits.com
Johannesburg 10th August – Inspired Schools South Africa, a leading educational institution committed to providing uninterrupted learning experiences, is excited to announce its collaboration with a highly reputable and well-known engineering company for a major solar energy project. This initiative aims to mitigate the effects of load shedding and drive the adoption of renewable energy, …
Public opening of Past Disquiet, guest curated by curator-writers Kristine Khouri and Rasha Salti Public opening of Seismography of Struggle: Towards a Global History of Critical and Cultural Journals, guest curated by art historian Zahia Rahmani Symposium titled The Poetics and Politics of Archival Practice Launch of Zeitz MOCAA’s latest publication, Radical Solidarity: A Reader …
The European Commission has provided EUR 100 000 (R 2,082,061.93) in emergency humanitarian funding to assist the most vulnerable families affected by the fire that broke out in July 2023, in the Kennedy Road informal settlement in Durban, KwaZulu Natal.
Around 1,213 families (2,357 people in total) were affected by the fire and more than 1,101 households destroyed. There were two fatalities. Food, non-food items including school uniforms and WASH supplies, and mental health support are urgently needed.
The EU funds will support the South Africa Red Cross Society (SARCS) meet basic needs by providing food and non-food items, WASH (hygiene packs and sanitary towels) and shelter support (smoke alarms, kitchen kits etc). SARCS staff and volunteers will be trained in fire awareness, to help raise awareness in the community.
The project will run for three months, until the end of October 2023, and is expected to reach all the people affected by the fire.
This funding is part of the EU's overall contribution to the Disaster Response Emergency Fund (DREF) of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of South Africa.
National Women's month in South Africa is both an opportunity to honour and celebrate the women who decided on the 9th August 1956 that the participation of women in the economy was not only the right thing to do but the only thing to do to build and grow the economy of this beautiful country. Today society has taken that even further to insist on addressing gender inequality and diversity in the workplace, in particular female representation in key, decision-making, leadership positions. This month, therefore, as KFC Africa (www.global.KFC.com) we take a moment to ask the question, “who is seated at your table”?
While efforts to address gender inequality in the workplace have boosted female representation at every level within organisations, the reality is that we are far from being fully representative and as organisations we have to continue to create an environment and culture where all voices are heard, respected, and valued, where the table is big enough for all.
Championing inclusivity and better representation is in fact good for business. Numerous reports (https://apo-opa.info/47uDTZp) comprehensively show that inclusive organisations that boast the greatest gender, ethnic and cultural diversity achieve better commercial returns and are more profitable than their less diverse counterparts. Moreover, more diverse teams tend to exhibit greater complexity in problem-solving and are more innovative.
Yes, the gender gap continues to close globally, with the World Economic Forum's 2023 Global Gender Gap Index (https://apo-opa.info/3YtKbo1) report showing a 0.3 percentage points improvement compared to 2022, which represents a 68.4% in terms of closing of the gap. At this rate of progress, however, it will take 131 years to reach full global parity. In South Africa, where 51% of the Economically Active Population is female, the gap is even wider as women comprise of only 40% (https://apo-opa.info/3s3fdqW) of directorships at state-owned entities, with just 36.7% representation in the professional services industry and only 26.9% of directorship positions at JSE-listed entities. From a broader continent perspective, while sub-Saharan Africa has closed 67.9% (https://apo-opa.info/3OxDoVZ) of its gender gap, it also means that 32% of females on average are less likely to have the same opportunities as males in the region – with individual country performances varying greatly.
As a result of these disappointing stats, KFC Africa has some bold ambitions when it comes making a seat at the table for women.
“Female empowerment is about engraining true transformation into the core of the organisation, and it must be driven throughout the value chain and embedded into the social fabric of the business to ensure it lasts,” explains Akhona Qengqe, the recently appointed first female General Manager for Africa at KFC. “As a people-first business, KFC Africa is committed to becoming the most inclusive organisation in the traditionally male-dominated Quick Service Restaurant (QSR) sector and across sub-Sahara Africa, and to actively advocating for allyship in every sphere within the business. As a customer facing business, it is important that our employees, stakeholders and franchise partners reflect the communities that we operate in.”
KFC has placed women at the forefront of its socially led initiatives and its hiring processes. For example, KFC Add Hope has a 60% female volunteer complement and 90% of the Add Hope beneficiary organisations, which KFC work with, are championed by women. Not to mention that KFC Mini-Cricket boasts a female volunteer community of 70%. In fact, today the organisation employs over 40,000 people across 23 markets in sub-Saharan Africa in over 1250 restaurants and 60% of those restaurants are managed by women. This is testament to the brand's commitment to female transformation.
“Giving women leadership opportunities to drive some of the core aspects of the overall business and bringing them into key decision-making roles ensures that their voices and views are represented in a meaningful and impactful way,” continues Qengqe.
But more than simply aiming to meet representation targets, Qengqe explains that KFC is intentional about how it creates an environment where women feel like they belong and can contribute meaningfully at a decision-making level.
“Gender equality at corporate level means understanding issues that women face, be it gender-based violence, single-income households, women-led households and family responsibility, and truly dig deep to ensure that the company provides support mechanisms that speak to real-life issues,” explains Nolo Thobejane, Chief People and Transformation Officer at KFC.
In this regard, KFC Africa develops, empowers and emboldens women to leverage their innate leadership qualities and take their seat at the table - with the confidence - to lead with impact and fuel results. KFC achieves this through its Women on the Move Program, which aims to build leadership know-how and equip women with the tools and resources that will accelerate the growth of female talent into meaningful leadership roles.
Conceptualised by Qengqe and launched in 2021, this transformative 12-month programme adopts a blended learning approach that includes formal training courses, personal development interventions, mentorship and peer learning circles, all of which results in bench readiness for leadership and drives a high-performance culture within the organisation.
“We have extended the reach and impact of this initiative even further through our Women on the Move Extended Network (WOM.EN) programme, which brings women across the globe together, at all levels, and affords them the opportunity to share experiences, learnings, challenges and create growth networks in the workplace,” elaborates Thobejane.
In the end, rather than rising into leadership roles in isolation, KFC's approach to female allyship creates powerful advocates for true upliftment. This process gives women the opportunity to achieve their goals, and creates a virtuous cycle of support, where women can pull up more chairs to make room for more female voices at the table.
“We understand the unique perspective and values women bring to our company and are bold in our ambitions to create opportunities for more inclusion, equity and belonging. Our commitment to advance more women into senior roles and achieving greater gender parity in senior leadership, globally, by 2030 is stronger than ever and we will continue to make fundamental steps to become the most inclusive brand in SA,” concludes Qengqe.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of KFC Africa.
Tourism sector shows signs of recovery
Cabinet has commended recent statistics which show that the tourism sector is slowly but surely recovering from the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to June 2023 data from Statistics South Africa (Stats SA), the volume of arrivals, departures and travellers in transit increased for both South African residents and foreign travellers between June 2022 and June 2023.
For South African residents, the volume of arrivals increased by 265 364 in June 2022 to 316 628 in June 2023 (19.3%). Departures increased by 330 327 in June 2022 to 384 972 in June 2023 (16.5%). Transits increased from 305 in June 2022 to 389 in June 2023 (27.5%).
For foreign travellers, arrivals increased from 581 375 in June 2022 to 851 647 in June 2023 (46.5%). Departures increased by 44.3% from 503 997 in June 2022 to 727 207 in June 2023 (44.3%). Transits increased from 24 624 in June 2022 to 30 730 in June 2023 (24.8%).
At a media briefing on the outcomes of Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting, Minister in The Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, said Cabinet also welcomed Stats SA’s report of a drop in consumer inflation from 6.3% in May to 5.4% in June 2023, which is the largest decline since May 2020.
“This drop shows the resilience of our economy, which has been further buoyed by the South Africa Reserve Bank’s decision to leave the repo rate unchanged at 8.25%," she said on Thursday.
National Development Plan (NDP) Ten-Year Review
In addition, Cabinet welcomed the Ten-Year Review of the National Development Plan (NDP) by the National Planning Commission, which shows that the economy remains structured in a manner that does not serve the interests of all South Africans, which is a major reason behind increasing levels of poverty and inequality.
“Government remains committed to restructuring and transforming the economy to serve the interests of all South Africans,” Ntshavheni said.
Meanwhile, 25 July marked the first anniversary since President Ramaphosa announced the Energy Action Plan.
“Cabinet welcomed the progress made to date to implement the Energy Action Plan, which continues to register an improvement in the Energy Availability Factor and improvement in the stages of load shedding,” the Minister said.
Financial Inclusion Policy
Cabinet has approved the Financial Inclusion Policy for implementation.
The policy forms part of government’s reforms of the financial sector regulations, in line with the Twin Peaks model of National Treasury.
“The policy, amongst others, aims to ensure better market conduct and the treatment of customers in the financial sector. The purpose is to ensure that financial institutions conduct business in ways that are fair to customers, prevent practices that undermine the integrity of financial markets, and build confidence in the financial system.
“The implementation of the policy will ensure that the country strengthens its financial systems to support economic growth and promote access to financial services and financial inclusion for all citizens. It is an acknowledgment that while levels of access have improved in transactional accounts, this has not reflected across many other financial products and services,” the Minister said.
The policy is available on the National Treasury website: www.treasury.gov.za
Cabinet also approved the submission of the draft Amendment Bill to Parliament, which amends the Regulation of Communications and Provision of Communication-related Information Act (RICA), 2002 (Act 70 of 2002).
“The amendments are largely to provide adequate safeguards to protect the right to privacy, as buttressed by the rights of access to courts, freedom of expression of the media and legal privilege in line with the 2021 Constitutional Court judgement that found the RICA of 2002 to be unconstitutional,” Ntshavheni said. – SAnews.gov.za
nosihle
Thu, 08/10/2023 - 12:03
Recognised as one of the leading business schools for its focus on sustainability and ethical leadership, Rhodes Business School (www.RU.ac.za/BusinessSchool/) has entered into a partnership with eLearnAfrica to develop a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE), to fulfil the School's goal of enabling its AMBA accredited MBA to reach into Africa and beyond, like never before.
Professor Owen Skae, Director of Rhodes Business School, says that the eLearnAfrica supported VLE will be operational from 2024. “We are very excited about this as it means our MBA is now more accessible than ever”.
Founded in 2000, Rhodes Business School's Vision is to “transform business for a sustainable world” and its Mission is to “educate and influence responsible business practice, responsibly”.
Says Skae, “We learnt two things from teaching through the pandemic. Returning to the old ‘business as usual model' of ‘chalk and talk' is not going to happen like it used to. At the same time, running Zoom or Teams sessions and just displaying your power-point slides does not suffice. Students and lecturers want the best of both the digital and the physical teaching world. ‘Phygital' is key! The digital or virtual mode provides convenience and flexibility. The physical mode provides the immersion and human engagement that we still need. We know that our students still value the opportunity to come to Rhodes University, given that it is such a unique and special institution.”
The common denominator is having the necessary technology enablement to provide the best teaching and learning experience for students whilst creating a virtual classroom environment for academic staff to deliver effectively and efficiently, regardless of the mode of delivery.
”Getting the state-of-the-art VLE platform that was needed required partnering with someone who knows what they are doing. Students need the right balance of synchronous and asynchronous interaction that only a top-class VLE can bring. That partner is eLearnAfrica” Prof Skae said.
The VLE will provide the full suite of synchronous and asynchronous teaching and learning applications to ensure that the Rhodes Business School MBA continues to be the transformative experience it is renowned for. The partnership with eLearnAfrica brings, immersion, flexibility and convenience.
The VLE-enabled MBA will allow the current four two-week block attendances (i.e. two blocks in Year 1 and two blocks in Year 2) to be reduced to one block in each year (i.e. one block in each of Year 1 and Year 2), for the invaluable face-face delivery mode.
The Rhodes Business School's s essence is “Leadership for Sustainability.” Leadership and sustainability principles underline all subjects in the curriculum. Emphasis is placed on business continuity and achieving a balance between economic, social and environmental sustainability. The School applies its unique 4E (Economy, Ethics, Ecology and Equity) model in its teaching and learning practice.
“Management Education is crucial to unlocking Africa's vast potential. Our MBA strives to educate Africa's future business leaders and managers that it ‘isn't about how much money organisations make, but how they make their money'. Getting that right is critical to achieving the African Union's Agenda 2063, whilst simultaneously meeting the Sustainable Dvelopment Goals and gearing up to take advantage of the African Continental Free Trade Area agreement. The favourable rand-dollar exchange is also a compelling reason to get full value for money in studying for a world class MBA”, says Skae.
The Rhodes MBA is a coursework degree comprising coursework and a research assignment. The degree is offered on a part-time, modular basis over two years.
The admission requirements are, an Honours degree or Postgraduate Dipploma, a minimum of three years' work experience and an admission test such as NMAT, GMAT or GRE. Applications close on 31st October 2023.
Rhodes Business School, Rhodes University is located in the rural city of Makhanda (formerly Grahamstown) in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. Its nearest large city is Gqeberha (formerly Port Elizabeth).
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Rhodes Business School.
For more information on how accessible a Rhodes Business School MBA is, email mba@ru.ac.za or visit www.RU.ac.za/BusinessSchool
With school tours back on the annual planner, South African schoolchildren can once again look forward to a fun, educational outings that reinforce what’s learnt in the classroom. With an abundance of nature-based, cultural, and animal-friendly establishments along the KZN South Coast, there is no shortage of outing options for KZN schools! “It is wonderful …
The streets of Johannesburg and Durban resembled a ‘sea of pink’ on Wednesday 09 August 2023 with runners and walkers coming out in their masses to participate in the iconic Totalsports Women’s Race, South Africa’s largest Women’s Day celebration. Irvette Van Zyl was the athlete to beat in Johannesburg, while Cacisile Sosibo showed the ladies …
State capture-accused officials cannot be allowed to use the State Attorney as an ATM, write Zackie Achmat and Zukiswa Vuka
Government pilots online platform for protection orders
Government is piloting a system in a number of provinces that will enable victims of domestic violence to apply for protection orders online.
“The violence perpetrated by men against women and girls is an assault on our common humanity. Women do not feel safe in their homes, on the street, in places of work and study and worship,” President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Wednesday.
The President made these remarks during his keynote address at the commemoration of Women’s Day at the Union Buildings in Pretoria.
He told South Africans that government has responded to the call for tougher bail conditions for perpetrators of gender-based violence (GBV).
“Effective from earlier this month, no police bail may be granted to persons charged with rape or if the victim was in a domestic relationship with the perpetrator. Such bail applications must be formally applied for in court. If the accused was in a domestic relationship with the alleged victim, the court has to issue a protection order against them before releasing them on bail.
“Also effective from earlier this month, gang or serial rapists face life imprisonment, as do perpetrators of date rape, marital rape, child rape and incest,” the President said.
In addition, as of earlier this month, gang or serial rapists face life imprisonment, as do perpetrators of date rape, marital rape, child rape and incest.
This year’s Women’s Month is being celebrated under the theme: ‘Accelerating Socio-Economic Opportunities for Women’s Empowerment'. This theme highlights the need to ensure that all women have access to participate equally in all areas of human endeavour.
“Women do not feel safe in their homes, on the street, in places of work and study and worship. It was in response to this crisis that the first Presidential Summit on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide in 2018 made a firm commitment to undertake a comprehensive, effective and united response.
“Through an extensive consultative process, the National Strategic Plan to Combat Gender-Based Violence and Femicide was launched three years ago. Since then, it has made important progress,” the President said.
More than 12 000 police members have received training to respond effectively to gender-based violence and to focus on the needs of victims.
More than one million DNA collection kits have been delivered to police stations around the country since 2019 and there are now just over 1 000 victim friendly rooms at police stations countrywide.
“Over the last year, we opened three new Thuthuzela Care Centres for victims of gender-based violence, bringing the national total to 62. We are improving access to shelters and associated services for survivors of gender-based violence.
“In January last year, I signed into law three key pieces of legislation, namely the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act, the Criminal and Related Matters Amendment Act, and the Domestic Violence Amendment Act,” the President said.
He said these new laws provide greater protection to survivors of gender-based violence, to ensure that perpetrators are no longer able to evade prosecution, and to strengthen measures to prevent gender-based violence.
Minister in the Presidency responsible for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, said while South Africa has made strides to improve the lives of women since democracy a lot more still needs to be done.
“South Africa is not free…it will only be free when we are free as women. Let us take the District Development Model approach to address GBV. In every ward, every councillor must be at the forefront of the fight against GBV and the religious leader in that ward must also be at the forefront of fighting against GBV.
“Women must have access to justice. They are very serious problems with women accessing justice. The lgbtqia+ community must stop being killed and discriminated against,” the Minister said.
Women in sport
The President paid tribute to the women of the country who are excelling in sport.
“Banyana Banyana and the Protea Netball Team did our country proud recently. Banyana Banyana won the African Women’s Cup and reached the top 16 in the Women’s FIFA World Cup and our Netball Team played very well and are now ranked 6th in the world.
“As a country, we are very proud of our women as they fly South Africa’s flag high. We need to pay them well and their pay must be equal to that of men and even exceed what we pay men,” Ramaphosa said.
Dlamini Zuma echoed the President’s sentiments as she congratulated Banyana Banyana for making history under difficult conditions.
“There is no women soccer league in the country and they get paid less than their male counterparts. The wage gap in South Africa is still there. Our ancestors are happy because Banyana Banyana has made history,” the Minister said.
Premier of Gauteng Panyaza Lesufi said the 9th of August is an affirmation that women are special.
“The 9th of August is not a ritual. It is an affirmation that we will empower women, it is an affirmation that will empower and support women,” he said. – SAnews.gov.za
nosihle
Wed, 08/09/2023 - 15:48
Government committed to advancing the lives of women
President Cyril Ramaphosa has used his address at the Women’s Day event to encourage all sectors of society to advance and improve the lives of the women and girls of South Africa.
“We must mobilise all of society to support the women of our country on their road to empowerment and the improvement of their lives. As government, we are irrevocably committed to continuing the process of advancing and improving the lives of the women and girls of South Africa,” the President said on Wednesday in Pretoria.
He was addressing the commemoration of Women’s Day, which is being celebrated under the theme, ‘Accelerating Socio-Economic Opportunities for Women’s Empowerment’.
This theme highlights the need to ensure that all women have access to participate equally in all areas of human endeavour.
“We call upon other key role players who control resources and can open opportunities for women to do so. Business is well placed to play a key role in this process of helping to improve the lives of the women of South Africa,” Ramaphosa said.
The President outlined a number of areas that government and the private sector can address to advance and improve the lives of women.
He emphasised the importance of increasing the representation of women in all structures of society.
“Women must be well represented in key positions in government, in management, in the judiciary. The representation of women in decision-making structures continues to improve.
“In Cabinet, half of the Ministers are women. In Parliament, in the judiciary, in the public service, in the armed forces, in the police and in many local councils, we are getting closer to gender parity,” Ramaphosa said.
Acknowledging these gains, he said more needs to be done to achieve a society of true gender equality.
“There must be policies and laws that focus and advance the lives of women. Our laws and policies must have a bias towards improving the lives of women.
“Since the advent of democracy in 1994, we have put policies and laws in place to empower women, improve their lives and advance gender equality,” the President said.
While he called for the prioritisation of the advancement in education, he noted some achievements in that area.
This, as more female learners sit for matric than males. Female learners are achieving more Bachelor’s passes.
In addition, young women make up the majority of students enrolled in higher education institutions.
The President expressed concern on girls dropping out of school, often due to domestic responsibilities.
“As a society and as families and as a nation we must ensure that our girls stay at school and finish school. Women’s health outcomes continue to improve as a result of progressive policies around reproductive health, antenatal care, HIV/Aids and other communicable diseases.
“Even though women’s health outcomes have improved by a number of indicators, women still carry the largest share of the burden of HIV and are more vulnerable to sexually transmitted diseases.
“Despite our laws, women and girls in many parts of the country still struggle to access reproductive health services,” the President said.
Equal representation in the economy
He called for the participation of women in the country’s economy to be improved.
“Our economy remains dominated by men. More women are unemployed than men. Women are more likely to work part-time, unskilled and semi-skilled jobs and for lower pay. Women are disproportionately responsible for unpaid care work.
“As a result of all these factors, women are more vulnerable to poverty, food insecurity and hunger. Even today, nearly three decades after the dawn of democracy, the face of poverty is a black women.
“The emancipation of women therefore cannot be achieved without economic empowerment. Women must also be breadwinners. They must have equal job opportunities and equal pay. They must be able to start, own and manage businesses,” the President said.
He said women need to have the financial security and independence to have control over their lives.
“We are determined to make the most of available resources to make a difference in the lives of young women, women with disabilities, rural women and LGBTQI+ women. We are making a difference in the lives of women in Small, Medium and Micro enterprises (SMMEs), in cooperatives and in the informal sector,” the President said.
Among other things, government is supporting women’s economic empowerment through public procurement.
Government has made a commitment to allocate at least 40% of public procurement to women-owned businesses.
“While government departments are working in earnest to award more contracts to women-owned businesses, we need to do much more. As things stand, less than a third of the companies listed on the government’s central supplier database are women-owned.
“We have trained more than 6,000 women entrepreneurs to take part in public procurement opportunities. The success of this programme has convinced us of the need to train many more entrepreneurs in their thousands.
“The African Continental Free Trade Area will give women-owned businesses in South Africa and across the continent access to new markets and opportunities. We are working with partners on opportunities for women’s employment and entrepreneurship in agriculture, manufacturing, technology, the oceans economy and others,” the President said.
He also mentioned that the green economy presents immense potential for women’s entrepreneurship and empowerment, especially in renewable energy.
“In a number of cities and towns there are many women who are established as green entrepreneurs working in recycling, in greening, in climate-smart agriculture and a number of other avenues.
We call on the business community to support women’s economic empowerment by partnering with small businesses as part of their green economy plans. There is also immense opportunity for young women in public employment initiatives,” the President said.
Presidential Employment Stimulus
Since it was established in 2020, the Presidential Employment Stimulus has provided work and livelihood opportunities to more than 1.2 million people. Of the participants in the programme, more than 60% are women.
The President has reiterated that the just transition to a low-carbon, climate resilient society protects the interests of women, as it does for all those affected, and that it offers opportunities for women workers and women-owned businesses.
Government is supporting women-owned businesses to expand and diversify. We are specifically increasing our support for women-owned SMMEs through the National Empowerment Fund, the Small Enterprise Finance Agency and others.
“Working with the financial services sector, we are looking to close the gender gap so that women can access banking services and credit for their businesses.
“As a country, we have the right policies and programmes in place. Led by the women of our country, we continue to develop policies that will advance their interests.
What we need now is to intensify the collective efforts of all social partners, including business, to do more to financially empower women,” the President said. – SAnews.gov.za
nosihle
Wed, 08/09/2023 - 14:57
Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Nasser Kanaani has announced that Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian will visit South Africa.
The spokesman said, “Mr. Amirabdollahian will leave for Pretoria on Wednesday with the aim of holding a joint commission on cooperation between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Republic of South Africa.”
The foreign ministers of the two countries are in charge of the Joint Commission for Economic Cooperation Between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Republic of South Africa.
This round of meeting will be held after a three-year hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Islamic Republic of Iran.