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Attention all passengers and unidentified creatures! Afro-Galactic Airways is now boarding all travellers bound for Imagination Flight AG9777! Despite a healthy appetite for Spacescanner flight bookings and the Orbit Oasis becoming the Airbnb of the future, this journey is not actually bound for space! Join South African comedian Kevin Fraser for his #Imagination2025 comedy tour, […]
De Lille highlights the power of tourism
The tourism sector is a dynamic economic force that contributes significantly to worldwide gross domestic product (GDP) while creating jobs and fostering human development.
“As South Africa, we are acutely aware of the transformative power of tourism and business events and we are working hard to elevate the profile of tourism and attract more business events and visitors to our beautiful and diverse country,” Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille said.
The Minister was addressing the Incentives, Business Travel & Meetings (IBTM) World Trade Show 2024 in Barcelona, Spain, on Wednesday. Tourism was for too long, seen as a “secondary” sector, its full potential often underestimated, she said.
“We come to IBTM World this year with excitement as in a few days’ time South Africa will officially take [the] Presidency of the 2025 G20 Summit, following Brazil’s hosting of the summit this year and ahead of the United States of America who will host the summit in 2026.”
She said as the leading business events destination in Africa and the Middle East as affirmed in the latest International Congress and Conventions Association (ICCA) rankings, South Africa stand proud and ready to host the G20 Summit and showcase all our diverse offerings in business and leisure tourism.
“South Africa hosting the G20 Summit marks a significant milestone and it is important both for our country and the greater African continent.
“As the only African country in the G20, South Africa brings a unique perspective to discussions, particularly those affecting developing nations and the African continent.
“Hosting the summit allows South Africa to not only spotlight issues such as economic inequality, development, climate change, and fair-trade practices but it is also helps to once again helps to connect countries to grow tourism and highlights South Africa’s capability to host successful incident-free global big events,” she explained.
READ | Brazil officially hands over G20 Presidency to South Africa
De Lille said the South African meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE) industry was valued at 6.6 billion US dollars (R121.8 billion) in 2023, and it is projected to grow fourfold over the next eight years, reaching 25.9 billion US dollars (R477.9 billion) by 2032.
“I am confident that, with our dedicated efforts, we can even exceed these projections and this is why being at this crucial platform at IBTM World is important to us as we are committed to growing this sector beyond projections.
SA's hosting prowess
“South Africa has consistently demonstrated its capability to host high-profile local and international events, showcasing our expertise and commitment to excellence.
“I can confidently assure you that, as a country we are looking forward to welcoming all the visitors including world leaders, delegates, media personnel and support staff to our shores.”
She added that South Africa has a formidable track record of hosting successful major business events annually and that the country’s hosting prowess will once again be on show for the world to see.
“We are excited to be able to share our unique stories with the world’s media as we also share with them our vast tapestry of cultures, award winning cuisine, natural beauty, diverse attractions and infrastructure.
“There is no doubt that as more of the world gets to see our country through the G20 Summit lens, we are confident that they too will be interested in coming to meet in South Africa and exploring our country.
“We are therefore looking forward to hosting even more international conferences, trade shows, and business events in future because certainly if the world still did not believe it, the G20 Summit cements our country as a capable host for large-scale events.”
De Lille told delegates attending the summit that South Africa is not just a destination, it is the gateway to the future of global collaboration and unforgettable experiences.
“The G20 Summit provides South Africa many gains and we are excited to use this event to grow global visibility, showcase our infrastructure improvements, and a strengthen our brand as a tourism and business events destination,” she said. – SAnews.gov.za
Edwin
Wed, 11/20/2024 - 15:11
Serving as the leading platform for deal-making, energy partnerships and capital investment in Africa's energy sector, African Energy Week (AEW): Invest in African Energies will return to Cape Town, South Africa in 2025, in partnership with the Government of South Africa, S&P Global Commodity Insights and Afreximbank.
Featuring a strong lineup of industry leaders dedicated to securing a sustainable energy future for the continent, Africa's largest energy sector gathering will take place from September 29 to October 3 at the Cape Town International Convention Center 2. Building on the success of previous editions, the event continues to solidify its status as the premier gathering for the African energy industry.
With over 125 million barrels of proven oil reserves, 620 trillion cubic feet of natural gas and abundant renewable resources, Africa holds the potential to become a global energy leader. With African energy demand expected to more than double by 2050 and fossil fuels projected to comprise up to 60% of the energy mix by 2040, AEW: Invest in African Energies 2025 aims to eradicate energy poverty by 2030 through an influx of investment and innovation across the continent.
With a tailored program addressing key challenges and opportunities within Africa's energy sector, AEW: Invest in African Energies 2025 promises impactful sessions, innovative showcases and unparalleled networking opportunities. This premier gathering will bring together industry visionaries, African governments, national oil companies and key stakeholders across the energy value chain to tackle the complexities and seize the opportunities within Africa's thriving energy landscape.
AEW: Invest in African Energies 2025 will feature workshops, discussions and presentations covering critical topics such as investment in upstream development, legislative and regulatory policies, infrastructure growth strategies, the downstream sector and Africa's role in the global energy transition.
With just one year to go, AEW: Invest in African Energies 2025 aims to build on the momentum of the 2024 edition. The impressive five-day agenda featured seven premium stages, five content stages, two technical hubs and a pre-event workshop day. Delegates in 2025 can look forward to new project updates, industry highlights, investment opportunities and strategies that align with Africa's energy and sustainability goals.
“AEW was established with the mission to make energy poverty history by 2030. As a central pillar of Africa's energy sector, the conference offers an unparalleled platform to forge partnerships, share knowledge and drive progress,” said NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber. “Having grown into one of the continent's largest energy events, we look forward to welcoming everyone back in 2025, with next year's edition promising to surpass all prior events. We are thrilled to bring together delegates from around the world to address Africa's pressing energy needs.”
Entering its fifth year, AEW: Invest in African Energies 2025 reaffirms its position as the preferred platform for project operators, financiers, technology providers and government leaders.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.
Africa Tech Festival (www.AfricaTechFestival.com) 2024 wrapped up last week, marking the most successful edition in the event's 27-year history. Organised by Informa Tech, the event is Africa's most extensive showcase of enterprise tech innovation, bringing together influential founders, business leaders, policymakers, investors, and startups.
Building on the momentum of the event's first two days, the final day kicked off with an opening address by Alderman James Vos, Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth, City of Cape Town. Commenting on the host city's standing as a leading tech hub hosting 51% of South Africa's startups, he emphasised Cape Town's focus on skills development in AI and tech in particular, reiterating his excitement at “making Cape Town a focal point for African innovation and setting an example of how tech can empower communities and social change.”
LeadersIn Africa Summit
Preceding the main event, the by-invitation LeadersIn Africa Summit was an exclusive VIP series of executive discussions designed to facilitate actionable dialogue between 100 of the continent's most influential tech players. Panel sessions, fireside chats, networking events, and roundtables provided a platform for sharing insights and collaborating on solutions to Africa's tech challenges. Topics ranged from emerging technologies to AI for startups, ESG, regulatory frameworks, fundraising strategies, and support for founders and investors.
Skills development and knowledge sharing
The final day of Africa Tech Festival 2024 also featured several keynote fireside discussions across the various event streams. Skills development was a theme of the day, including a masterclass session on AI content creation, a security fundamentals certification training session, and a technical workshop where participants worked in groups to develop scaling strategies for AI pilot projects.
Key Highlights
The USAID Young African Leaders Initiative(YALI) hosted the YALI Alumni Expo and Trade Show running alongside Africa Tech Festival. The YALI Expo connected and celebrated YALI alumni making positive change in their communities by creating these networking opportunities and showcasing innovations for sustainable impact.
One of the key topics focused on the gender gap and a panel discussion on day 4 centred around Empowering Female Founders: Narrowing the Gender Gap in Venture Capital. The challenge that female-founded companies face is that only 16% of tech funding and 8% of total funding go to these companies due to bias, lack of female representation among venture capital decision-makers or insufficient diversity in teams and investment criteria. It was proposed that female representation in venture capital leadership needed to be increased, more training and support was essential to encourage female founders to build networks and strengthen pitch preparation and business strategies.
The Africa Tech Festival Awards took place on the penultimate night, at the Bay Hotel in Camps Bay, Cape Town. The awards celebrated the exceptional technological advancements and expertise across the continent and highlighted the pioneering work that is transforming lives and industries across Africa, inspiring future innovation and growth. Some of the winners included:
“Africa Tech Festival 2024 exceeded our expectations in terms of engagement, active participation by key industry stakeholders, and the sheer scale of the event. As we wrap up the 2024 event, we'd like to express our gratitude to all our sponsors and supporters, with special mention to the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies and the City of Cape Town.
As the largest and most influential telecoms and technology event in Africa, with an audience that spans the entire ICT ecosystem, we're proud of the progress made in opening dialogue, sharing insights, and working together to advance Africa's digital transformation journey,” said Informa's James Williams, Event Director of Africa Tech Festival.
Visit the AfricaTech Festival website (https://apo-opa.co/4hPy9P7) for more details.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Africa Tech Festival.
About Africa Tech Festival:
Africa Tech Festival, including anchor events AfricaCom, AfricaTech, AfricaIgnite & AI Summit Cape Town is part of the Informa Tech Connecting Africa event series. A vibrant celebration of Africa's diverse community of tech champions, Africa Tech Festival is the largest tech and digital connectivity conference and exhibition in Africa, attracting hundreds of exhibitors, more than 450 speakers and more than 15000 delegates.
Over 15,000 attendees were welcomed to the 27th annual Africa Tech Festival (www.AfricaTechFestival.com) by South African Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, Hon. Solly Malatsi. The Department is an official partner of this year's event, which features more than 300 exhibitors and 400 speakers representing all facets of the tech ecosystem.
Emphasising a shared vision of a digitally connected, inclusive, and prosperous Africa, leveraging technology to drive economic and social progress, the Minister reaffirmed host country South Africa's commitment to bridging the digital divide through policy, partnerships, and investments in universal connectivity and affordability. “While technology holds enormous promise, it is essential that we harness this potential in a way that can benefit all the people on the continent and the rest of the world. South Africa is honoured to play its role on this journey, both as a leader and a partner to our fellow African countries,” he said.
Organised by Informa Tech (https://www.InformaTech.com/), the Africa Tech Festival's anchor events –AfricaCom, AfricaTech, and AfricaIgnite – along with the AI Summit Cape Town, provided delegates with the opportunity to explore enterprise tech innovation and disruption across key sectors such as cybersecurity, cloud, data centres, and green ICT.
Highlights of the first two days of the event, which ran from 12 to 14 November at the Cape Town International Convention Centre, included:
AI Summit Cape Town
Hon. Mondli Gungubele, Deputy Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, opened the inaugural AI Summit Cape Town. Along with introducing the newly-formed AI Institute of South Africa, he called for collaboration among government, industry, academia, and civil society to maximise AI's benefits while addressing challenges like job displacement and ethical considerations, saying, “Let's seize this opportunity to shape a future where AI helps us uplift our citizens, drive economic growth, transform our society for the better and leave no one behind.”
The AI Summit features the biggest names and brightest minds in AI, all exploring how this transformative technology can create a brighter future for Africa. For instance, the panel session Navigating AI Policy Challenges: Collaborative Approaches to Strengthen Governance in Africa focused on fostering global cooperation in AI governance, emphasising cross-border collaboration, universal safety standards, and ethical innovation. The discussion also highlighted the role of public-private partnerships in implementing equitable AI policies.
AfricaIgnite
AfricaIgnite is the flagship event for founders, investors, and key players in the tech ecosystem. It supports market access and investment opportunities.
The panel Overcoming the Funding Winter: Strategies for Early-Stage Start-Ups highlighted resilience in the early-stage start-up ecosystem, exploring strategies employed by successful start-ups to attract investors and secure funding in a competitive market. It also examined the role of accelerators and incubators in fostering growth and supporting the development of African tech start-ups.
A dynamic fireside chat on The Rise of Debt Financing as an Alternative Funding Model explored the growing appeal of debt financing for late-stage start-ups, delving into the key drivers behind this trend. The benefits of debt financing and insights into the strategic considerations start-ups should evaluate when transitioning to this alternative funding model were also discussed.
Another high-level panel, titled The Search for Liquidity: Navigating African Startup Exits, explored the growing dominance of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) as the main exit strategy for African start-ups, especially in fintech, with IPOs remaining scarce. It also examined the factors driving this trend and its impact on the African startup ecosystem.
AfricaCom
AfricaCom brings together Africa-focused connectivity leaders and the brightest minds in the telecoms space. Within the Connectivity & Digital Infrastructure stream, an insightful panel discussion on Connecting Africa's Next Billion: Scaling Africa's Digital Infrastructure explored the economic and social benefits and challenges of expanding internet connectivity. Industry experts and stakeholders discussed the critical role of governments, telcos, and tech innovators in building sustainable infrastructure to expand internet access, particularly in remote and underserved areas, to advance digital inclusion across the continent.
In the Telcos of Tomorrow stream, panellists explored AI's transformative potential in the telecoms sector in a session titled Integrated AI: Telco Blueprints for Business Model and Service Delivery Transformation. Emphasising how AI optimises complex organisational systems, the panel discussed the challenges of implementing these systems.
AfricaTech
Driving funding for female-led start-ups was the theme of the Empowering Female Founders: Narrowing the Gender Gap in Venture Capital panel discussion, which addressed the persistent challenge of gender disparity in African venture capital. Networks, mentorship, technical support, celebrating successful female founders as role models, and challenging stereotypes were some of the topics.
“2024 is a standout year for Africa Tech Festival, being the largest event in almost three decades. We have more attendees and exhibitors, more features, more content, and more opportunities to position Africa as a tech powerhouse. The opening days have been overwhelmingly positive, with delegates engaging, networking, and sharing insights that have the potential to reshape Africa's tech ecosystem. We are seeing innovative solutions to the continent's tech challenges and a commitment to contribute positively to growing Africa's economic potential. I'm confident that this will continue not only for the remainder of the event but into the future as well,” concluded James Williams, Event Director of Africa Tech Festival.
Visit the AfricaTech Festival website (http://apo-opa.co/3ANhFGy) for more details.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Africa Tech Festival.
About Africa Tech Festival:
Africa Tech Festival, including anchor events AfricaCom, AfricaTech, AfricaIgnite & AI Summit Cape Town is part of the Informa Tech Connecting Africa event series. A vibrant celebration of Africa's diverse community of tech champions, Africa Tech Festival is the largest tech and digital connectivity conference and exhibition in Africa, attracting hundreds of exhibitors, more than 450 speakers and more than 15000 delegates.
Minister visits Stilfontein mine shaft
Police Minister Senzo Mchunu has told local communities in Stilfontein in the North West where illegal miners are remain underground that the authorities are doing everything in their power to get them to resurface.
Mchunu said on Friday that 1187 people have come to the surface from the mine.
One illegal miner has passed away and police have registered an inquest to investigate the circumstances surrounding his death.
A significant number remain underground.
The Minister conducted a visit to the Stilfontein mine shaft and engaged with members of the South African Defence Force on the events that have unfolded at the mine shaft to date.
Addressing the local community after the visit, Mchunu said the police were aware of the illegal firearms the illegal miners have.
“These are people who are coming to South Africa illegally. What we are doing as the police is to ensure that there is law and order in the country,” Mchunu said.
Mchunu said police were intensifying their operations to get the illegal miners out of the mine.
“We are aware that some community members know what is happening down there, we are appealing to them to distance themselves from those activities, engaging in illegal mining is illegal,” the Minister said.
He appealed to the local communities to assist the police in combatting illegal mining.
“We are aware that what is happening there is dangerous. We are doing everything in our power to deal with the situation we are faced with,” Mchunu said.
On Tuesday, a total of 15 suspects including Zimbabweans, Mozambicans, Basotho and South Africans surfaced from Magaret Shaft.
The suspects are being processed and are expected to appear before the Stilfontein Magistrates Court on charges of possession of gold dust, contravention of the Immigration Act, 2002 and illicit mining.
The Operation Vala Umgodi team - comprising members from the SAPS, SANDF and stakeholders - have seized illegal mining equipment and goods including alcohol, energy beverages, oxygen cylinders, an air compressor, scrap generator, a laptop, and bags containing gold bearing material as well as a jackhammer and generators. – SAnews.gov.za
Edwin
Fri, 11/15/2024 - 15:35
Recently, at the JETOUR Global Travel+ Conference 2024 (www.JETOURGlobal.com) in Fuzhou, JETOUR emphasized the importance of wildlife conservation and reaffirmed its strong commitment to the pursuit of "Travel as ESG Practices". After releasing a teaser of Discovery's documentary "Return of the Cheetah", JETOUR invited the documentary's protagonist, Hazen Audel, a renowned biologist and artist, to jointly launch the charity auction for the protection of cheetahs. JETOUR announced that all proceeds from the auction will be donated to cheetah conservation, continuing its consistent support for ecological conservation.
JETOUR: Cheetah Protection will be Our Long-term Public Service
At the conference, more than 1,000 people watched the teaser of the documentary "Return of the Cheetah". The documentary, jointly produced by JETOUR, the Discovery Channel and the Cheetah Conservation Fund, uses the Namibian grasslands in Africa as a backdrop to illustrate the plight of the cheetah around the world, and to encourage more people to get involved in this public welfare activity and help protect the environment for the survival of wildlife, including the cheetah.
While discussing cheetah conservation with Dr. Laura Marker, founder of the Cheetah Conservation Fund, and Hazen Audel, the main character in the documentary, Ke Chuandeng, Vice President of JETOUR Auto, said, "Public welfare is not just about giving. It is about encouraging more people to get involved. Through our cheetah conservation project, we hope to raise awareness of the importance of wildlife conservation and inspire more people to get involved. When we add up every small act of kindness, it creates energy that can help build a better and more harmonious world.”
On September 20, 2024, JETOUR officially announced its strategic partnership with CCF in South Africa. In support of CCF, JETOUR will sponsor the care of two orphan/non-releasable cheetahs and donate official vehicles to improve cheetah habitats. JETOUR has successfully adopted a wild cheetah and partnered with the Discovery Channel to produce the documentary "Return of the Cheetah" about the growth of the cheetah cub. Hazen Audel also brought his own hand-carved "Cheetah's Guardian" artwork for the auction. He said, "I am very fortunate to be able to participate in the ESG project of cheetah conservation, and during the filming of the documentary I was very touched by the actions of JETOUR and CCF to help cheetahs continue to live on earth. With the sculptures I created for cheetah conservation, I hope to attract new people to see what's happening in the world. I wanted the proceeds from the sculptures to go back into the efforts of wildlife conservation.
Travel as ESG Practices: Enriching the "Travel+" Strategy
Currently, ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) mission has become a significant trend in corporate development. JETOUR has incorporated ESG mission into its business and global development since its establishment.
In China, JETOUR launched the long-term charitable program of "Journey of Hope", focusing on the education and healthcare of left-behind children. Since 2020, JETOUR and its users have organized over 300 charitable activities. The company also established an ESG section on its app, encouraging users to participate in various charitable activities, with plans to hold 2,000 events over the next decade.
Internationally, JETOUR follows the "In somewhere. For somewhere" philosophy, conducting various charitable activities, such as traffic safety campaigns in Angola, sponsorship of vehicles for disabled athletes in Peru, support for rural road construction in Kazakhstan, and donations to children's education in Saudi Arabia. Through these initiatives, JETOUR continues to demonstrate that travel and ESG are deeply interconnected, creating social value for regions where it operates.
Li Xueyong, President of JETOUR Auto, said, “With the development of JETOUR's global business, we are increasingly aware of the harmonious symbiosis between economic development and the ecological environment. If we treat the earth well, the earth will treat us well. Cooperation with CCF is just the beginning. In the future, we will continue to support ecological conservation and contribute to global sustainable development.”
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of JETOUR.
JOHANNESBURG: Cricket South Africa (CSA) has today announced Ola South Africa as its official ice cream partner for the current...
Tickets now available for 15th edition of Simola Hillclimb which takes place in Knysna from 1 to 4 May 2025 General Entry tickets along with upgrades for Pit Access, Turn 2 and The Esses Grandstands, plus VIP Parking – all available on simolahillclimb.com Hospitality packages offer exclusive VIP experience with 1, 2 or 3-day packages […]
By Ajong Mbapndah L.
In 2021, the citizen-driven African Energy Chamber-AEC (www.EnergyChamber.org), and its unapologetic position in support of the right of African countries to produce oil and gas spread like wildfire. They adopted a narrative of Drill Baby Drill shocking most western political establishment, African elites and pundits.
Within a short time, well funded backers were leaping at the chance to harness this new display of African public power backing the oil and gas industry led by a charismatic and well-connected US trained lawyer NJ Ayuk. He talks like a southern Baptist preacher and trial lawyer and religiously wears only cowboy boots. Ayuk had been mentored at the University of Maryland by Dr. Ron Walters, who was Jesse Jackson's campaign Manager and at William Mitchell College of Law by John Radsan who was Assistant general counsel of the C.I.A under George W Bush. In 2013, he became part of Global Shapers, a non-profit foundation created by the World Economic Forum to unite a community of young leaders. In 2015, he was named among the 10 most influential men in Africa by Forbes magazine.
Eventually, hundreds of energy groups across Africa translated their collective strength into substantial results, putting a message engineered by the African Energy Chamber to influence African political establishment to back the oil and gas industry during COP and also provide incentives for oil drillers. Oil and natural gas is not a dirty word in Africa thanks in large part to the crusade of the African Energy Chamber.
It's true that the AEC's anger at western wokeness and transition plans sometimes came across as extreme. While they showed that African voices can impact energy policy and international discourse, they may have also set the stage for increased divisiveness in a polarised energy discussion across the world. In some instances, observers believe the AEC pressured African leaders into backing a capitalist driven oil and gas industry at the expense of green energy. They gave home to Trump loyalist who wanted to deal with Africa.
Given even sharper language in 2021 and 2022, it's perhaps more important than ever to understand that the AEC's success wasn't dependent solely on hostility. Behind the scenes, the story is a bit more complex. And love them or hate them, the AEC showed that African voices really can add up to something big.
So, how did the AEC turn regular, even highly cynical, Africans into an army of engaged people defending the interest of Africa and oil and gas investors in Namibia, Nigeria, Angola, South Africa, Equatorial Guinea, Libya, Senegal, Algeria, Mauritania, Ghana, Mozambique, Uganda and many more countries? Here are some strategies that set the AEC apart, gained it instant attention, and built—in short order—real power.
These strategies aren't really secret, of course, or even necessarily new, but the AEC offers lessons that any grassroots group would be wise to review even when it is a capitalist organisation. After attending African Energy Week in Cape Town and talking to observers you understand a few things.
The AEC Gave Good Content And Sweets To The Media
The AEC content and position or energy transition and oil and gas were irresistible political theater for news media. Some of the early success was about novelty. An unusual African protest movement, featuring not only Africans but older, whiter, more conservative Europeans and Americans who weren't used to taking their views in public (that kind of action was considered by many whites, the domain of hippies and Lefties).
But beyond that, members' intensity and authenticity were key factors: their heart and soul, their true colors were on display and the media couldn't get enough. The AEC got massive coverage. Their members loudly embraced slogans and symbols, and most were extremely passionate and vocal. They demonstrated their commitment in authentic, home-spun ways that made great TV footage—that is, by brandishing provocative Drill Baby Drill signs. The attention they earned was tremendously exciting for participants, and when events garnered headlines, they encouraged others to join in and start AEC groups of their own in Nigeria, Namibia, Ghana, Equatorial Guinea, Angola, Senegal and Algeria.
The AEC Gave Africans A Safe Haven To Oppose A Western Driven Anti Oil And Gas Agenda
Many Africans were anxious about longstanding cultural shifts they felt were occurring in the climate change culture and strong calls to abandon oil and gas. Africans still have to deal with energy poverty issues and also industralisation that is lagging behind in the continent.
According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), more than 600 million Africans lack access to energy, around 900 million are without clean cooking. To solve this the African Energy Chamber has aggressively lobbied and pushed African nations to embrace an “All of the Above” energy strategy—which supports greater domestic production of oil and natural gas, renewable and nuclear energy, and critical mineral mining—would help to provide energy access and encourage development and job creation.
For many Africans, speaking their minds in public was daunting and unfamiliar. The AEC events prompted many people to speak out in public for the first time. People who had felt shut out, misunderstood, and alienated were encouraged to vent their frustrations and talk about themselves, their families, and what they wanted—and into a microphone, no less! Great early set up and as crazy as it sounds it worked.
Africans and oil industry for once felt safe. The western oil companies had found “their people.” Their voices finally mattered. Western oil companies felt for once that an African organisation spoke to their issues. The AEC spoke from the heart through their press releases.
Most importantly, speaking out made them feel like proper, boisterous Africans having their say.
The AEC Kept It Simple And Never Strayed Away From Its Core Purpose
The AEC has been laser focused on its core message around free markets, Drill Baby Drill, individual liberty, fiscal responsibility, and limited government intervention in the energy markets. They have been virtually lock stepped in agreement that these issues—and only these—were their primary focus.
Motivated largely by opposition to a radical energy transition that does not consider Africa's energy poverty needs and development, they built a solid and well-structured case against what they saw as a radical overreach by western governments. These values resonated powerfully with conservative whites and corporations in America and Europe who rallied support for the AEC, help sharpened their message and represent an agenda that any group could buy into. By sticking to these values, they avoided getting bogged down in arguments over more contentious issues that could divide, delay, or sidetrack their core base.
You need to watch how NJ Ayuk the Executive Chairman Keeps a clear and narrow focus and invites more people in and avoids alienating others over inevitable differences. By experimenting with this stripped-down approach, they have been able to avoid quibbles about top priorities and fast-forward to high-impact activities across Africa.
The AEC Built Its Muscle By Picking Fights It Could Win
While the rhetoric of the AEC favored sweeping Pan African change on how oil and gas industry is viewed and a rejection of western climate action, their actual achievements were huge, and they basically got the IEA and western governments to start listening to Africans. They got African Presidents and Ministers to be bold in their defence for oil and gas sector. They became the premier lobbying house for the oil and gas sector in Africa. They figured out where they could have an immediate impact and put their energies into small wins. Case in point, in 2021, Hyve group made a brutal and arrogant move of taking Africa Oil Week (AOW) to Dubai. The AEC saw an opportunity and produced a textbook rebuke of this British group. It recruited Blackwater's Erik Prinz, Robert Stryk Ryan Zinke (Trump's interior secretary) various American congressmen and former US Ambassadors to speak at its rival African Energy Week in Cape Town. They quietly built a relationship with the American Petroleum Institute and other US oil and gas groups and support came strong from the oil and gas companies like ExxonMobil, Total Energies, Chevron and many others. Since then, the Africa Oil Week brand by Hyve group has seen a gradual death with most of its staff defecting to the AEC or other companies. In 2023, sensing change the Biden administration deployed Joshua Volz, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Africa to attend the African Energy Week and meet with the African energy sector. American official Joseph McMonigle, Secretary General, International Energy Forum also gave a keynote speech at the event.
Small wins like African Energy Week or getting governments to approve projects for oil companies in a speedy format, gave the AEC the taste of victory and built momentum. And all the little victories tallied around Africa added up to a greater voice for the AEC. The AEC also scored strong victories across Africa for incentives to oil companies, getting them permits, license extensions, reduction in taxes, and passion oil friendly reforms.
Most organizations have broad, high-level goals, but it's worth remembering that every small victory can help pave the way in the direction you're going. In fact, you may want to purposefully pick a small, winnable fight, especially as you're getting started.
Climate Group Reaction
Climate activist have been stunned because they dismissed and overlooked the AEC. Climate activist and their allies ignore the AEC as it built a 4 million membership base something of a dream for any group. They decided to pummel the AEC and its leadership with a volley of attacks on the media then demonstrations at the AEC office and also in Cape Town. And yet from the blowback that erupted once the attacks started Africans rallied around the AEC and supported the AEC. Climate activists were surprised that an oil lobby group in Africa was being seen as innocent civilian under assault by a drone western activist. Green groups and their negativity were self-destructive and made it difficult for them to push a green energy message in Africa which a continent that has great potential for renewables.
Only at the African Energy Week will you have a closing panel with Oil and Gas stalwarts like Bruno Jean-Richard Itoua, Minister of Hydrocarbons of the Republic of Congo, Heineken Lokpobiri, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil) of Nigeria, NJ Ayuk of the AEC, Florival Mucave, Executive Chairman of the Mozambique Oil & Gas Chamber, Eric Williams, Principal Consultant and President at Royal Triangle Energy Solutions inviting climate change zealots like David Le Page, Director-Coordinator at Fossil Free South Africa.
When I come to your events, I am booed and vilified, but here at the African Week, we welcome debates and diverse opinions and people even cheer for you when you make points, NJ Ayuk reminded David Le Page who looked flummoxed at the buoyant atmosphere and civility that greeted his presence.
“There is an amazing opportunity to transition as quickly as possible to renewable energy – if we can find the finance, and any new developments of oil and gas, no matter where they are developed in the world, risk the chance of pushing us past the point of stability, Le Page said.
Africa only accounts for 3% of global greenhouse gas emissions, NJ Ayuk schooled Le Page. “We need oil. We are not saying that we do not welcome solar, wind and renewable energy, but we understand the intermittent nature of these technologies. With oil and gas, you create a market where people do things for themselves rather than relying on others,” Ayuk said.
The Bottom Line: Restore Africans' Trust In Their Own Energy Sector.
So many people in the Africa and its energy sector feel isolated, frustrated, and powerless. Despite this, no matter how cynical or checked out they get, and no matter how divisive things seem, the vast majority of Africans still have faith in a foundational part of the oil and gas industry thanks to the AEC. Africa Oil Week has been sold to Paul Sinclair and he exited quietly to Ghana as the brand faces a natural death. Many observers wait to see what the AEC opinion on Hyve Group and Mining Indaba is. Will the AEC make a move?
Whatever you think of the AEC, one thing it did was restore trust in Africa's oil industry, showing that the grassroots—the public—can make a difference. Regular people who had long felt shut out of the process flexed their civic muscle in the AEC, and they saw quick and enormously satisfying results.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.
MultiChoice Group (MCG or The Group) (www.MultiChoice.com) continued to deliver exceptional video entertainment and execute on core strategic initiatives during the first six months ended 30 September 2024 (1H FY25). However, unprecedented foreign exchange volatility severely impacted the Group's interim financial results, while ongoing macroeconomic challenges weighed on customer growth and moderated overall performance.
Facing the most challenging operating conditions in almost 40 years and to generate desired returns, the Group has been proactive in its focus to ”right-size” the business for the current economic realities and industry changes. Although operating across Africa typically subjects the group to currency moves, abnormal currency weakness over the past 18 months have reduced the group's profits by close to R7 billion. Combined with the impact of a weak macro environment on consumers' disposable income and therefore on subscriber growth, it required the Group to fundamentally adjust its cost base - which is exactly what has been done. The normal cost savings program was accelerated, resulting in permanent savings of R1.3bn in over the past six months and an increased target of ZAR2.5bn for the full year.
“We are making good progress in addressing the technical insolvency that resulted from non-cash accounting entries at the end of the last financial year. We expect to return to a positive net equity position by the end of November this year, supported by a number of developments and initiatives. The Group's liquidity position remains strong, with over ZAR10bn in total available funds,” says Calvo Mawela, MultiChoice Group CEO.
The Group is also adjusting to global pay-TV challenges as streaming services, the rise of social media and changing consumer preference impact the traditional broadcast business. Showmax, which reported 50% growth YoY in its paying customer base, strategically positions the business to actively participate in the streaming revolution as it gains momentum across Africa. To create sufficient capacity and drive growth, the group stepped-up its investment in this business by an incremental ZAR1.6 billion during the interim period.
“We have successfully been implementing our strategy over the past few years, achieving key milestones such as our investment in KingMakers, returning the Rest of Africa business to profitability in FY23 and FY24, concluding the Showmax partnership with Comcast and investing in Moment. While we've made huge inroads to reduce our cost base, there's still more work to be done”.
“However, our focus extends beyond cost efficiency—we are equally committed to grow the business. We remain committed to driving new revenue streams and see significant medium to long-term opportunities in video entertainment, particularly in streaming, and in our adjacent new businesses,” says Mawela
The Group reported strong momentum in its new products and services, which all delivered robust YoY revenue growth, i.e. DStv Stream +71%, DStv Internet +85% and DStv Insurance + 31%. KingMakers reported a healthy 27% increase in its online monthly active users in Nigeria and grew its revenue in Naira by 53%, while newly-launched SuperSportBet is showing good early traction in South Africa.
Financial Results Overview
Subscriber base: The pressure on the linear pay-TV subscriber base was lower than the previous six-months, reflecting a 5% decline (0.8m) compared to 6% reported (1.0m) in 2H FY24. This reflects an improving sequential trend. On a YoY basis, the linear subscriber base declined by 11% or 1.8m subscribers to 14.9m active subscribers, impacted by the challenging macroeconomic conditions that negatively impacted discretionary consumer spend.
Group revenues: Revenues increased by 4% YoY to ZAR25.4bn on an organic basis, due to disciplined inflationary pricing and revenue growth of new products. On a reported basis, revenues declined by 10%, impacted by foreign exchange pressures on the Rest of Africa business and a stronger Rand against the US Dollar.
Group trading profit: The Group's ongoing cost optimisation drive delivered ZAR1.3bn in savings, and together with other improvements in the business, it resulted in a 33% increase in trading profit before incorporating the Showmax costs. A ZAR1.6bn step-up in the investment behind Showmax to create capacity for growth, trimmed the organic trading profit to ZAR5.0, a decline of only 1% YoY. Foreign exchange losses in the Rest of Africa business amounting to ZAR2.3bn reduced reported trading profit to ZAR2.7bn.
Adjusted core headline earnings, the board's measure of the underlying performance of the business, amounted to ZAR7m, impacted by foreign exchange losses and the investment in Showmax.
Cash flow and liquidity: The Group free cash flow remained positive at ZAR0.6bn, with ZAR5.7bn retained in cash and cash equivalents. Despite the increase in net interest costs and a higher average debt balance, the Group remains well-positioned to navigate current challenges with access to ZAR4.4bn in undrawn facilities.
Operational update
General entertainment and sport
Delivering content that customers love remains the Group's core focus— whether it is the best of local or international general entertainment or the most exciting sport events.
In the past six months, the Group produced 2,763 hours of local content, bringing its local content library to 86,215 hours.
SuperSport reinforced its reputation as a global leader in sport broadcasting with extensive coverage of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, EURO 2024, and the ICC T20 Men's World Cup. Over the past six months, SuperSport has broadcast 10,240 live events and provided a total of 21,540 hours of live coverage, a 22% increase YoY.
SuperSport Schools doubled its user base and crossed a milestone of one million registered users on its app, delivering over 35,000 hours of content over the past six months.
Business segments
As a mature business, MultiChoice South Africa is focused on subscriber retention and reconnections, identifying remaining growth opportunities, as well as optimising processes and systems to improve customer experience and operational efficiency.
In the Rest of Africa business, the Group is implementing several initiatives to support improved financials, including price adjustments to counter the impact of inflation, renegotiating content deals where feasible, restructuring select packages to enhance ARPU, optimising the DTT network, and intensifying anti-piracy initiatives.
In FY25, Showmax is focussed on enhancing its content line-up, bedding down distribution partnerships, expanding payment channel integrations and refining its go-to-market strategy.
Irdeto delivered encouraging revenue growth, after securing a major customer in Asian and expanding managed services with a key customer in Australasia.
KingMakers continued to gain strong momentum in Nigeria, where BetKing Nigeria has secured the second position in the online betting market. SuperSportBet, the South African business launched late last year, is showing early signs of success and reported a remarkable tenfold increase in net gaming revenue over the past nine months.
Moment, now live in 40 African countries, has shown rapid growth since its launch last year, with total payment volumes (TPV) growing to USD242m. It is already processing almost 30% of the Group's payments.
Looking Ahead
The Group continues to invest in its long-term future, focusing on the following strategic priorities:
By executing well on these objectives, the Group will be well positioned to deliver future growth and create value as Africa's leading video entertainment platform and most-loved storyteller.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of MultiChoice Group.
New Simola Hillclimb logo pays homage to the event’s history in a contemporary way, emphasizing a love for speed, good competition and heritage Exciting range of merchandise being created with the new logo designs, including T-shirts and caps, which will be sold at the event 15th edition of SA’s premier motoring and motorsport lifestyle event […]
Government activities for the week 11 - 15 November 2024
On Monday, 11 November, the Department of Basic Education has invited members of the media to the Partnerships for Education Business Breakfast, hosted by the Minister of Basic Education Siviwe Gwarube at Wanderers Club, 21 North Street, Illovo, Johannesburg.
Also on Monday, the Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe will deliver a keynote address at the Mintek 90 Conference to be held at the Sandton Convention Centre on 11 and 12 November 2024.
On Tuesday, 12 November, Statistics South Africa will release the Quarterly Labour Force Survey results for the third quarter of 2024 at a media briefing in Tshwane.
On Wednesday, 13 November, the 2024 Border Management Conference and Expo takes place and the CSIR International Convention Centre, Pretoria.
On Thursday, 14 November and on Friday, 15 November, there are no confirmed events.
Janine
Mon, 11/11/2024 - 10:40
Call to avoid buying fake versions of Ozempic and Mounjaro
The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) has expressed concern at the increasing presence of counterfeit Glucagon-like Peptide (GLP-1) products, such as Ozempic, on the local market.
According to SAHPRA, GLP-1-containing products, like Ozempic, which help lower blood sugar levels and promote weight loss, are being made available to the public through websites, social media, and other informal channels.
“These pose a health risk to the public. SAHPRA cautions the public to not purchase and/or consume such products as their safety, efficacy, and quality have not been assessed.”
SAHPRA has reported an increase in suspected counterfeit Ozempic, chemically known as semaglutide, which is one of the registered products containing GLP-1 agonists from Novo Nordisk.
According to the watchdog, Ozempic in South Africa is registered under two presentations of pre-filled injectable pens, namely 0.25 mg and 0.5 mg/dose pen and 1 mg/dose pen.
“Ozempic is registered in South Africa for the treatment of adults with type 2 diabetes to reduce blood sugar levels for the treatment of adults with insufficiently controlled type 2 diabetes mellitus as an adjunct to diet and exercise.”
It is also approved to reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events, such as heart attack, stroke, or death, in adults with type 2 diabetes who have known heart disease.
“Ozempic is not registered in South Africa for weight management,” said the authority.
Mounjaro (tirzepatide), developed by Eli Lilly and Company, is also gaining attention in South Africa. It is available in pre-filled pens that come in a single dosage, containing either 2.5 mg, 5 mg, 7.5 mg, 10 mg, 12.5 mg, or 15 mg in a 0.5 ml solution for injection.
Mounjaro is indicated for treating type 2 diabetes mellitus but has not yet been imported into and placed on the market in South Africa through Eli Lilly and Company distribution channels.
Just like Ozempic, the watchdog stated that Mounjaro is not approved in South Africa for weight management.
“The complexity of compounding GLP-1 agonists, which are sterile medicines containing complex active substances poses a public health and safety risk.
“The risk associated with compounded medicines containing GLP-1 agonists are posed by the absence of the evaluation of these medicines by SAHPRA and the unknown nature and safety of ingredients used in compounding.”
Compounded products that claim to contain semaglutide have not been verified or evaluated by SAHPRA to determine if the active pharmaceutical ingredient is identical to the registered one, as required by the Medicines Act.
“Therefore, it maybe substandard and pose a risk to those using them,” said SAHPRA, adding that the medicine using an active ingredient that is not contained in a product registered with SAHPRA is illegal in terms of the requirements of the Medicines and Related Substances Act.
“The public is urged to purchase only SAHPRA-registered products containing GLP-1 agonists, considering these risks.”
According to Section 29 of the Medicines and Related Substances Act, a person who commits an offence will be held criminally liable, and applicable penalties will be enforced.
SAHPRA CEO, Dr Boitumelo Semete-Makokotlela, stressed that safeguarding the well-being of the South African public remains a primary concern for the regulatory authority.
“SAHPRA is monitoring the supply chain as well as the online platforms for unregistered, substandard, and falsified medicines containing or claiming to contain semaglutide. We are also investigating any contraventions relating to the Medicines and Related Substances,” said Dr Semete-Makokotlela.
The public is urged to report any suspected products falsely claiming to be sold as Ozempic or Mounjaro.
Citizens are urged to report through these whistle-blower platforms, SAHPRA’s 24-hour hotline 0800 204 307, or via https://bit.ly/3nrku5t. – SAnews.gov.za
Gabisile
Mon, 11/11/2024 - 13:27
COP29 expected finalise financing model for developing economies
With the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) taking place this week, South Africa expects the COP29 Presidency to enhance efforts to finalise the New Collective Quantified Goal on Finance (NCQG), which is a matter of great importance for developing economies.
“As I have said before, the current financing mechanisms have proven insufficient in scale and effectiveness, highlighting the urgency for a new financing model,” Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Dr Dion George said on Sunday.
The Minister expressed confidence in the South African delegation who will be participating in the COP29 as they departed to attend the conference.
COP29 kicks off on Monday, 11 November and will conclude on Friday, 22 November in Baku, in Azerbaijan.
George will join the South African team in Baku as head of the delegation this week.
READ | SA prepares for UNFCCC COP29
COP29 is expected to focus on intensifying efforts to quantify resources for developing countries to meet ambitious climate targets under this year’s theme of “In Solidarity for a Green World.”
The climate change conference takes place at a critical moment of intensifying geopolitical tensions, heightened trade protectionist measures, and divisive approaches on issues such as carbon border adjustments.
COP29 is expected to build on strong leadership and outcomes from Dubai COP28.
The incoming COP29 Presidency has set ambitious priorities and the two-day summit at the start of the conference will get proceedings underway, by bringing together global leaders to raise awareness and accelerate climate action.
“Another key issue for South Africa and other developing economy countries is the adoption of Article 6.4 rules that will allow the immediate implementation of carbon market measures and unlocking new projects that contribute to economic growth, decarbonization of value chains and job creation.
“By establishing transparent and robust mechanisms under Article 6, we can enable countries to work together more effectively,” the Minister said.
George will be co-chairing discussions on mitigation together with his Norwegian counterpart and in their consultations, the Ministerial Pair will be engaging with parties and all negotiating groups to conduct informal consultations on concrete issues related to overcoming barriers and complexities in implementing countries’ Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) as well as the necessary means of implementation to achieve the 1.5-degree goal and net-zero decarbonisation in 2050.
The NDC cover adaptation, mitigation as well as finance and investment requirements and is based on equity.
George, and his counterpart from Norway, Minister of Climate and Environment Tore Onshuus Sandvik, have been appointed to steer informal consultations on mitigation before and during the COP29.
The Ministerial Pair was appointed by COP29 President-designate and Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources in the Republic of Azerbaijan, Mukhtar Babayev.
READ | SA, Norway Ministers to drive talks on climate change mitigation
“I have full confidence in our negotiating team, and I encourage all South Africans to follow proceedings on all online platforms. I look forward to joining the team shortly,” George said.
Once again, South Africa will be hosting a South African exhibition pavilion at the climate change talks in partnership with the National Business Initiative (NBI).
During the conference a number of dialogues and side events are to be hosted at the Pavilion to showcase the work being done by various South African organisations to raise awareness, adapt to, and mitigate, climate change. -SAnews.gov.za
nosihle
Mon, 11/11/2024 - 09:23
Imbizo a "demonstration of GNU at work"
President Cyril Ramaphosa has hailed the KwaZulu-Natal District Development Model (DDM) Presidential Imbizo as a powerful example of the Government of National Unity (GNU) in action.
The President underscored the collaborative efforts of various political leaders to address pressing community issues.
Addressing community members at the Umnini Sportsfield in Umgababa, the President said the imbizo was a fairly productive session.
“As I end, I think we have held a fairly productive imbizo session. Today has been a clear demonstration of how our Government of National Unity is also working. I have Ministers from our various political parties that are part of the GNU.
“I would like to thank them all and I want all the parties in the GNU to see the value of izimbizo. They are important because they enable us to interact with our people and hear their views, and answer their questions and at the same time, follow up on their issues that they have raised,” the President said.
The Presidential Imbizo is a platform for communities to interact with government leaders from all three spheres of government on service delivery challenges, and for the executive to respond to the community on what they are doing to resolve those issues.
Community members gathered at the Umnini Sportsfield raised issues such as crime, unemployment, the rising cost of living and matters concerning education.
The South African Democratic Teachers Union asked President Ramaphosa to intervene on the issue of safety and security at KwaZulu-Natal schools, highlighting previous incidents where teachers were attacked, shot and killed at schools.
Before the Ministers took to the podium to respond to the above issues, President Ramaphosa apologised for the delayed start due to technical issues, stressing the need for better preparedness at such events.
Ministers in the GNU accompanying the President responded to the issues respectively and promised residents that they will follow up and provide solutions.
Turning to the City of eThekwini municipality, the President also spoke about plans to rejuvenate Durban’s tourism sector, which has historically made the city the "holiday mecca" of South Africa.
With tourism numbers currently in decline, President Ramaphosa expressed optimism for a revival through the planned reopening of key hotels like the Hilton and lease renewals for iconic establishments such as the Maharani and Elangeni.
“Durban has been the holiday mecca of our country. Many people from all over the country have always considered Durban when they needed to go on a holiday.
“Tourisms in the province has gone down but the mayor has plans to revive big hotels such as the Hilton Hotel and the renewal of leases by Southern Sun of the Maharani and Elangeni Hotel.
“The business sector has pledged to invest billions of rands to revive tourism, so I am looking forward to the revival of tourism so that Durban can go back to being the jewel of South African tourism. It must once again become the mecca of tourism in SA,” the President said.
Tourism Minister Patricia De Lille said that her department is working hard to rebuild the tourism sector in the province.
“Tourism is a very important sector for this province. It is making a significant contribution to the GDP and economic growth of the province. The tourism sector has gone down in KZN, but we are working hard with the Presidential Task Team and the private sector to rebuild it.”
The Minister said that she has already agreed with the KZN Premier that they will be meeting as a matter of urgency so they can see how they can work together with the plans of the province to do an aggressive marketing campaign to deal with all the negative perceptions around the province.
“For the summer season, the department partnered with the private sector and already we have 440 private sector tourist attractions that are offering discounted deals for the summer season and I want to encourage all South Africans to look at the Shot left site and check the discounts,” de Lille said.
The President also drew attention to ongoing infrastructure challenges, particularly highlighting the partial collapse of a bridge on the N2 highway, which has disrupted local transportation.
He expressed confidence in South African engineers, who have devised a plan to restore the bridge, calling it a testament to the country’s engineering expertise.
“In the morning, I went to the N2 bridge that partially collapsed. The bridge is causing a lot of inconvenience for the people, as it is an important road on the N2," the President said. - SAnews.gov.za
DikelediM
Fri, 11/08/2024 - 19:08
Professor Benedict Okey Oramah, President and Chairman of the Board of Directors at African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) (www.Afreximbank.com), has been awarded the prestigious Mohammed S. Barkindo Lifetime Achievement Award at the African Energy Awards, held on the sidelines of the African Energy Week (AEW) 2024: Invest in African Energy conference, happening between 4-8 November in Cape Town, South Africa.
The award, named in honour of the former Secretary-General of OPEC, the late Dr Mohammed Barkindo, recognizes individuals who have made exceptional and lasting contributions to Africa's oil, gas, and energy sectors. This honour represents the highest accolade in African energy, awarded to individuals whose work has had a transformative impact on the continent's energy sector. Notable past recipient of the Mohammed S. Barkindo Lifetime Award in 2023 is Keith Hill, former President and CEO of Africa Oil Corp.
For over three decades, Prof. Oramah has played a critical role in driving sustainable development across Africa by channelling essential funding into major oil, gas, and infrastructure projects. Since assuming leadership of Afreximbank in 2015, he has pioneered innovative financing structures that have democratised energy access and accelerated industrialization and the growth of Africa's strategically critical energy sector.
Under Prof. Oramah's leadership, Afreximbank has made substantial contributions to the growth of Africa's energy sector. Under his stewardship, the Afreximbank has facilitated the mobilization of over USD 70 bn to support Africa's energy sector. Included in this is more than USD 5bn for refineries in Nigeria, Angola and Senegal, to further Africa's refined product independence and reduce the continent's Foreign Exchange drain.
In Nigeria, Afreximbank now acts as Adviser and Settlement Bank for NGN denominated crude sales to Nigerian refineries. Replicated across the oil producing states in Africa, this will save several USD 100mn per annum in transactional charges alone. Ranking among President Oramah's most significant achievements is the historic signing of the Establishment Agreement and the Charter of the Africa Energy Bank (“AEB”) in Egypt in June 2024, in partnership with the African Petroleum Producers Organization (APPO). This landmark initiative aims to mobilize funding to support investments across Africa's entire energy system, aligning with the continent's energy needs and its environmental sustainability goals.
Professor Oramah has led the energy transition agenda through the Bank's support in renewable energy transactions including, but not limited to, the EUR1.3 bn ECA import facility Project Gleam in support of the import of sonar panels for rural electrification in Angola, the EUR 147mn Government of Cameroon solar power project and the US$363 million Gasmeth Energy Rwanda gas extraction and processing project.
Significantly, the majority of the above-mentioned transactions received numerous industry awards for their impact on the continent, their complexity and their unique structures.
Prior to joining Afreximbank, Professor Oramah distinguished himself in international trade finance and development. Beginning his career at the Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM), he played an instrumental role in shaping Nigeria's export development strategies. Prof Oramah holds a Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics from Obafemi Awolowo University in Nigeria.
Acknowledging the award, Prof. Oramah commented:
“It is a great honour to be awarded the Mohammed S. Barkindo Lifetime Achievement Award. Whilst a great honour for me personally, this award reflects the work and dedication of many others, including my colleagues at Afreximbank and our various partners. At Afreximbank, we remain deeply committed to reducing energy deficit on the continent and ensuring we are self-sufficient.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Afreximbank.
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About Afreximbank :
African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) is a Pan-African multilateral financial institution mandated to finance and promote intra-and extra-African trade. For 30 years, the Bank has been deploying innovative structures to deliver financing solutions that support the transformation of the structure of Africa's trade, accelerating industrialization and intra-regional trade, thereby boosting economic expansion in Africa. A stalwart supporter of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), Afreximbank has launched a Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) that was adopted by the African Union (AU) as the payment and settlement platform to underpin the implementation of the AfCFTA. Working with the AfCFTA Secretariat and the AU, the Bank is setting up a US$10 billion Adjustment Fund to support countries to effectively participate in the AfCFTA. At the end of December 2023, Afreximbank's total assets and guarantees stood at over US$37.3 billion, and its shareholder funds amounted to US$6.1 billion. The Bank disbursed more than US$104 billion between 2016 and 2023. Afreximbank has investment grade ratings assigned by GCR (international scale) (A), Moody's (Baa1), Japan Credit Rating Agency (JCR) (A-) and Fitch (BBB). Afreximbank has evolved into a group entity comprising the Bank, its impact fund subsidiary called the Fund for Export Development Africa (FEDA), and its insurance management subsidiary, AfrexInsure, (together, “the Group”). The Bank is headquartered in Cairo, Egypt.
For more information, visit: www.Afreximbank.com
Memorial lecture series to honour past and present leaders
The National House of Traditional and Khoisan Leaders (NHTKL), as the custodian of culture and tradition and the anchor of societal moral values, will launch a series of memorial lectures titled ‘Lenaka’.
Lenaka is a Setswana phrase that means "elephant tusk". It is also the name of a ring that symbolises wisdom, strength and protection.
“Historically, the sounding of a horn has been used to summon communities, announce important events and mark moments of transition or unity.
“By invoking the image of the horn, this lecture not only honours the memory of the individual being celebrated but also reinforces the call for collective reflection, wisdom and the continuity of cultural heritage.
“It is a powerful metaphor for gathering people together to share knowledge, uphold traditions and inspire future generations,” the NHTKL explained.
According to the leaders, the Lenaka Memorial Lectures aim to celebrate the heroes and heroines within the traditional leadership landscape, past and present, whose contribution has shaped the course of the institution’s history and the country.
The organisation believes that celebrating the life and legacy of past and present traditional leaders will take the form of a memorial lecture, annually, in the identified community, coupled with the promotion of socio-economic development and service delivery and the social well-being and welfare of communities.
The inaugural Lenaka Memorial Lecture will be dedicated to honouring the life and legacy of Queen Manthatisi of Batlokoa ba Mota, in QwaQwa, Free State, on 14 November 2024.
Queen Manthatisi is revered as a great leader, who ruled the Batlokwa community from 1813 to 1824.
“Although she ascended the throne as a regent for her son after the death of the reigning King, she became a formidable force through her dedication to the community and her bravery in protecting her people from adversaries.”
As a royal child herself, the organisation said she understood the immense responsibility placed on her shoulders when she took over from her husband to lead the Batlokoa people.
“Her father’s community also boasts a history of warriorhood, which shows that bravery and leadership were in her blood. Of course, her ascension to the position of authority was not without contest as she was challenged from within, but she remained resolute in her vision to protect the Batlokoa.”
The NHTKL said it has chosen the month of November aptly because according to the African calendar, this is a month of procreation and giving life.
“This marks the birth of a memorialisation journey, the unearthing of a history untold!”
The Lenaka Memorial Lectures will take place under the ‘Traditional leaders looking back to take the institution forward’ theme.
Building up to the memorial lectures, the NHTKL will work with its partners to promote socioeconomic development in traditional communities.
The objective is to support community initiatives that seek to improve and uplift the social and economic livelihood of community members. – SAnews.gov.za
Gabisile
Thu, 11/07/2024 - 10:37
KZN a hive of activity ahead of Presidential Imbizo
The province of KwaZulu-Natal has been a hive of activity ahead of the District Development Model (DDM) Presidential Imbizo taking place on Friday.
Ministers, Deputy Ministers and provincial government officials have been visiting various communities to check on service delivery deliverables.
Friday’s DDM will be held in conjunction with South Africa’s 30 years of freedom and democracy celebrations.
On Wednesday, Deputy Minister in the Presidency, Kenny Morolong, visited the Old Prison in Pietermaritzburg, the nearby Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) train station and the Nelson Mandela Capture site in Howick.
Addressing locals in Pietermaritzburg, Morolong said that as the country celebrates 30 years of democracy, it is also reminded of its painful past.
“We share our appreciation to those who laid their lives for our democracy. We convey our appreciation to the families of those who laid [down] their lives for democracy. We are reminded of our men who were brave and able to face the then apartheid regime. We are reminded of Nelson Mandela and others who stood firm and face[d] the apartheid regime so we could enjoy our democracy today.”
He emphasised the importance of preserving the Old Prison’s (which has been declared as an official heritage site) history for future generations.
According to Project Gateway, the prison houses “both a National Monument and a museum documenting some of South Africa’s diverse history."
“The Old Prison dates back to Voortrekker times, with more than 160 years of history, including the Colonial times, Apartheid, the Liberation Struggle, the Political Struggle and ultimately to the dawn of democratic South Africa in 1994,” said Project Gateway.
“Today we are a nation proud of its democracy. Today we are proudly celebrating 30 years of democracy. But we should not forget that our democracy did not come cheap. Sacrifices were made to achieve our democracy.
“We are also reminded of those women who were brave who fought for our democracy. We should be proud of our democracy. We should be proud of our government which is taking care of its people,” Morolong said.
Meanwhile, representative of the Ghandi Foundation, David Gangen, spoke passionately about events which led to South Africa’s democracy.
Gangen said what happened to Ghandi was the beginning of South Africa’s democracy.
“So having come to SA to fight a case, [Mahatma Ghandi] was to stay for 21 years, during which time he established the first formal political structure in SA in 1894, the Natal Indian Congress (NIC).
“The NIC celebrates its 130th anniversary this year. It was during this time that he experimented with truth and developed the core tenets of his philosophy in all aspects of life,” Gangen said.
Mayor of Ungungudlovu, Nzi Zuma Nxamalala, said he appreciated the visit by the Deputy Minister.
“As we do in our work, we keep on reflecting back to remind ourselves of our past. We appreciate being part of the celebrations [of] our democracy,” Nxamalala said.
On Tuesday, the Deputy Minister and a delegation visited the Open Gate Special School, a school with special educational needs for the disabled.
The visit to the school coincides with the commemoration of Disability Rights Awareness Month (DRAM) which is observed from 3 November to 3 December 2024.
The Deputy Minister also visited households that benefitted from Set-Top-Box installations and mobilised qualifying community members to apply for the set top boxes.
President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to lead the second DDM Presidential Imbizo under the Government of National Unity (GNU), in Umgababa, at the Umnini Sportsfield in Ward 98 on Friday.
Cabinet adopted the DDM in August 2019.
The DDM is an integrated planning model for cooperative governance which seeks to be a new integrated, district-based, service delivery approach aimed at fast-tracking service delivery. It also seeks to ensure that municipalities are adequately supported and resourced to carry out their mandate. – SAnews.gov.za
Edwin
Wed, 11/06/2024 - 15:51
Following the success of its debut performances in Cape Town last month, the WGRUV Dance Company, South Africa’s newest contemporary ballet dance company brings its 3rd Season of 2024, presenting “Trilogy of Notes – A Symphony of Dance” at three theatres across Gauteng starting in Pretoria this week and continuing with performances in Roodepoort later […]
JOHANNESBURG: Cricket South Africa (CSA) is excited to announce key insights from the newly released Women’s Future Tours Programme (FTP)...
Council indaba to zero-in on climate resilient build environment
The Council for the Built Environment (CBE) is on track to convene its second Built Environment Climate Change Indaba (BECCI) next week.
“The CBE’s 2024 BECCI is centred on building a climate-resilient built environment for South Africa while acknowledging and incorporating the Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) in the entire construction lifecycle, and processes and legislations of national, provincial and local government,” said the council in a statement on Thursday.
The CBE is public entity of the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure and is a regulatory body established under the Council for the Built Environment Act 43 of 2000 (the CBE Act) that coordinates six councils for the built environment professions including architecture and engineering.
The two-day indaba is set to be held in the Mandeni Local Municipality in KwaZulu-Natal next Thursday and Friday.
This, as KwaZulu-Natal has experienced adverse weather in recent years.
“These natural disasters are worsened by poor drainage and building standards, especially in low-income areas. There was significant damage to over 13 000 homes, disrupted water supply, impassable roads, and destroyed bridges. Additionally, the recent snowfall in KwaZulu-Natal… underscores the growing severity and unpredictability of South Africa's weather patterns.
“The snow and icy conditions led to the closure of the N3 highway between Gauteng and KZN, stranding numerous travellers, which highlights the vulnerabilities in our infrastructure amid extreme climate events, necessitating urgent policy and planning responses.”
READ | Condolences to family of victim affected by freezing weather conditions
The indaba will be held under the theme: “Co-creation of spaces and places that respond to just transition.”
The council said the indaba will together stakeholders from the engineering and the built environment sector, disaster management and the South African Weather Service (SAWS) to co-create sustainable, resilient, and equitable spaces that address climate change and socio-economic disparities.
“The Indaba is particularly critical in the context of the CBE’s mandate to transform the built environment, promote sustainable development, and contribute to inclusive socio-economic growth.”
The BECCI will bring together stakeholders from the engineering and the built environment sector under one roof to discuss and enhance climate resilience in South Africa’s built environment “by fostering collaboration to generate new knowledge and insight geared towards reducing and mitigating the impact of climate change in the sector.”
The outcomes and resolutions from the BECCI 2024 are expected to feed into the operations and functions of the CBE’s and its stakeholders on numerous levels. Furthermore, the BECCI will aim at addressing climate change related challenges facing the South African Built Environment and vulnerable communities at large.
Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson and Deputy Minister Sihle Zikalala, among others, are expected to attend the indaba. – SAnews.gov.za
Edwin
Fri, 11/01/2024 - 09:30
African countries reaffirm commitment to nuclear weapons treaty
South Africa has welcomed the convening and outcomes of the 6th Conference of States Parties (CSP) to the African Nuclear-Weapons-Free Zone Treaty, also known as the Pelindaba Treaty.
The meeting was held from 24 to 25 October 2024 at the headquarters of the African Union (AU) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) said the States Parties have reaffirmed their commitment to the Pelindaba Treaty.
They expressed concern over recent events and actions that have adversely impacted the operations of the Secretariat and the work of the African Commission on Nuclear Energy (AFCONE).
“They resolved to take the necessary measures to prevent such challenges in the future and strengthen cooperation among themselves and between the treaty structures,” the statement read.
The department said the parties also reaffirmed the decision taken by the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC) on 30 July 2024 to dismiss the former Executive Secretary, Enobot Agboraw.
“They decided that a recruitment process to appoint a new Executive Secretary of AFCONE should commence urgently.”
In addition, the States noted the difficult task of the South African government, as the host country, to implement the decision by the AUC Chair regarding the dismissal of the former Executive Secretary.
However, they confirmed that no dispute exists between AFCONE and South Africa as the host country but expressed appreciation to the country for its continued cooperation and support and for hosting the AFCONE Headquarters.
“The Department of International Relations and Cooperation trusts that the pronouncement of the 6th CSP outcomes, as well as the dismissal by the High Court of South Africa on 18 September 2024, of the urgent application brought by Mr Enobot Agboraw, against the department regarding the withdrawal of his diplomatic immunities and privileges following termination of his employment contract as Executive Secretary of the AFCONE Secretariat.
“This will effectively dispel the unfounded and false allegations in recent media reports against officials in the department, who have been carrying out their official responsibilities.”
Meanwhile, the department said South Africa remained fully committed to the Pelindaba Treaty and achieving its objectives.
These include the establishment of an effective, impartial and professional Secretariat of AFCONE that can execute its mandate satisfactorily in promoting the peaceful application of nuclear energy on the African continent.
“South Africa will continue to work with all States Parties to the Pelindaba Treaty to prevent any further reputational, operational and financial damage to AFCONE and its Secretariat and to restore its credibility in the interest of the African continent.” – SAnews.gov.za
Gabisile
Thu, 10/31/2024 - 11:35
South Africa welcomes the convening and the outcome of the Sixth Conference of States Parties (CSP) to the African Nuclear Weapons Free Zone Treaty (Pelindaba Treaty) held from 24 to 25 October 2024 at the Headquarters of the African Union in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
States Parties to the Treaty reaffirmed their commitment to the Pelindaba Treaty and noted with concern recent events and actions that have negatively affected the operations of the Secretariat and the work of the African Commission on Nuclear Energy (AFCONE). They resolved to take the necessary measures to prevent such challenges in the future and strengthen cooperation among themselves and between the Treaty structures.
States Parties reaffirmed the decision taken by the Chairperson of the African Union Commission on 30 July 2024 to dismiss the former Executive Secretary, Mr Enobot Agboraw. They decided that a recruitment process to appoint a new Executive Secretary of AFCONE should commence urgently.
Furthermore, States Parties noted the difficult task of the Government of South Africa, as the Host Country, to implement the decision by the African Union Commission Chair regarding the dismissal of the former Executive Secretary and confirmed that no dispute exists between AFCONE and South Africa as the Host Country. The Conference expressed appreciation to South Africa for its continued cooperation and support and for hosting the AFCONE Headquarters.
The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) trusts that the pronouncement of the sixth CSP outcomes, as well as the dismissal by the High Court of South Africa (Gauteng Division: Pretoria) on 18 September 2024, of the urgent application brought by Mr Enobot Agboraw, against the Department regarding the withdrawal of his diplomatic immunities and privileges following termination of Mr Agboraw's employment contract as Executive Secretary of the AFCONE Secretariat, will effectively dispel the unfounded and false allegations in recent media reports against officials in the Department who have been carrying out their official responsibilities.
South Africa remains fully committed to the Pelindaba Treaty and achieving its objectives, including the establishment of an effective, impartial and professional Secretariat of AFCONE that can execute its mandate satisfactorily in promoting the peaceful application of nuclear energy on the African Continent.
South Africa will continue to work with all States Parties to the Pelindaba Treaty to prevent any further reputational, operational and financial damage to AFCONE and its Secretariat and to restore its credibility in the interest of the African Continent.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of South Africa: Department of International Relations and Cooperation.