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Winter in South Africa can be challenging with conditions ranging from crisp and clear to freezing when a cold front sweeps in. And, if you add loadshedding to the mix, you’re in for a real doozy. One way to beat the cold this season is to consider LG’s latest air conditioning units. You might not …
Two realities are driving business globally, and the SMME sector has to catch the wave or risk jeopardising its future sustainability. Digital transformation was always coming, but its forward momentum has been accelerated by the COVID-19 lockdowns, which graphically demonstrated the link between digital platforms and the agility to respond to disruptions. The second, related …
Optimum Coal Mine will pay back some R6.9 million in unpaid motoring licenses and fees after it signed an Acknowledgement of Debt (AoD) with the Special Investigating Unit (SIU).
Money muling and forged documents have become headline acts in the South African fraud landscape. The South African fraud landscape has increased significantly over the past three years, with impersonation fraud, money muling and forged documentation being the most significant challenges the Southern African Fraud Prevention Services (SAFPS) have had to deal with. This year …
We have all read the ‘propaganda’ that encourages us to find Business Directory sites and self submit our businesses to them. They all promise loads of traffic and an increase in visibility in the SERPs (Search Engine Results Pages). BUT, in order to get the promised traffic and concommitant rise in the SERPs you invariably …
The Department of Employment and Labour is today hosting an employment equity (EE) workshop with all trade union federations.
The African Union and a unit of Temasek Holdings Pte (SMEC) are considering backing a plan to develop as many as 123 new cities across Africa, as reported (https://apo-opa.info/3Nq2831) by Bloomberg. The plan has been developed by Africa123 (https://apo-opa.info/3NbnXlM).
''The Africa Foresight Fund is proud to be participating in a very exciting multigenerational Pan-African development vision. The company is pleased to have been able to assist in bringing together industry players - Africa123 and SMEC - for this exciting opportunity, with the ultimate goal of leading in green urbanism for African generations to come,'' says Jacques NdoutouMvé, co-founder and director of the Africa Foresight Fund (AFF). ''For investors, from institutional funds to family offices, the African continent is globally significant and will be a centre of gravity in the very near future''.
SMEC is a global infrastructure advisory firm that's owned by a unit of Singapore's Temasek, which holds a portfolio of roughly $300 billion.
The Africa Foresight Fund (AFF) is currently presenting investors with Milkwood City (https://apo-opa.info/3N57OOx), just north of Cape Town, a major project in the Africa123 portfolio: ''A green city of the future in beautiful South Africa,'' says NdoutouMvé. ‘'The land opportunity underpins an incredible new urban centre.''
AFF is a South African-based private equity fund company with a representative office in Toronto, Canada. Email jacquesn@africaforesight.fund
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Africa Foresight Fund.
For more information contact:
info@africaforesight.fund
+1 416-616-0062
https://apo-opa.info/3N1buRr
Investing in African Mining Indaba (Mining Indaba) (https://www.MiningIndaba.com) is honoured to announce that the President of the Republic of Angola, H.E. João Lourenço, will attend Mining Indaba 2024 where he will deliver a keynote address to delegates. His presence marks a significant step of progress for Angola and its mining industry as it seeks to increase investment and attract more companies to explore the country's potentially rich mineral resources.
Angola is the fourth largest diamond producer in the world, though much of its hinterland remains unexplored. The Angolan government has in recent years implemented regulatory reforms which have made it an attractive and best-destination country for foreign investors. The result has seen diamond major De Beers sign two mineral investment contracts in 2022 for diamond exploration and mining in Angola. Other major players such as Anglo American, Rio Tinto and Ivanhoe Mines have also more recently invested in the Angolan minerals and mining industry.
Importantly, Angola is looking to diversify and expand its commercial mining potential beyond diamonds to include critical minerals and gold in particular, which will bring a significant change in context to its mining sector. ASX-listed junior Tyranna Resources is working to help Angola realise this vision as it looks to develop and start mining the country's first lithium project by 2025. In addition, LSE-listed junior Pensana is working to develop the country's first rare earths mine by 2025. At this stage the mine will become Africa's first large-scale neodymium and praseodymium (NdPr) rare earth mine with an expected target production of 46,000 tonnes per year.
The Angolan government is committed to provide an investor-friendly environment for those interested in exploring the potential of its minerals sector while also creating sustainable economic growth for all its citizens. The presence of President Lourenço at Mining Indaba 2024 demonstrates this commitment, as well as his eagerness to promote international collaboration between business leaders keen on investing in Angola's minerals industry.
The theme for Mining Indaba 2024 is ‘Embracing the power of positive disruption: A bold new future for African Mining'. The steps taken by Angola to encourage mining investment supports the theme of disruption nature and shines a light on the positive steps this African country is taking to bring greater mineral wealth to the country.
Mining Indaba provides a platform for delegates to meet from around the world with interests spanning across finance, technology, sustainability and energy - all essential components of the modernising mining industry. President Lourenço's presence at the event will offer invaluable insights into how the industry can work together towards achieving collective goals and sustainable growth across the African continent.
For more information or to register your interest, please visit MiningIndaba.com.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Investing in African Mining Indaba.
For Media Enquiries:
Hyve Group
Amy Neville
Amy.neville@hyve.group
About Investing in African Mining Indaba:
Investing in African Mining Indaba is the largest mining investment event in Africa. With a proven track record of bringing together ministers, senior government representatives, mining companies, mid and junior miners, investors, professional services as well as mining equipment and service providers, Mining Indaba is the place to meet everybody who's anybody in the African and global mining industry.
It is the must-attend event that drives the mining industry forward and provides attendees with unmatched access to the entire value chain and the most influential players in African mining for four days of high-quality content, deal-making and networking opportunities.
We are looking forward to welcoming you to Cape Town for our upcoming Mining Indaba Conference. Investing in African Mining Indaba 2024 takes place in Cape Town, South Africa, from 5-8 February 2024. https://MiningIndaba.com/Home
Australian gas explorer Kinetiko Energy will be making a significant contribution to the upcoming African Energy Week (AEW) 2023 as its CEO, Nick de Blocq, takes the stage as a distinguished speaker. Recognized as Africa's premier event for the oil and gas industry, AEW 2023, taking place in Cape Town from October 16-20, will provide a platform for de Blocq to share Kinetiko's innovative approaches to natural gas exploration and production in South Africa. Attendees can anticipate invaluable insights into the company's strategies that are revolutionizing the energy sector in the region.
With an impressive career spanning more than 27 years in the oil and gas industry, de Blocq brings a wealth of experience from various countries. As the CEO of Kinetiko, he has been instrumental in highlighting the company's ongoing pursuit of impactful and innovative work in the energy sector. His dedication to the industry, willingness to embrace challenging roles, and commitment to sustainability and responsible business practices underscore his passion for driving positive change.
The presence of de Blocq and Kinetiko Energy at AEW will be highly valuable. Kinetiko Energy, an Australian company focused on developing conventional gas reserves in southern Africa, particularly in the Amersfoort-to-Volksrust region of the Mpumalanga province, holds vast opportunities for the energy sector. With the region's estimated gas deposits of 4.9 trillion cubic feet, Kinetiko has achieved impressive results in recent drilling programs. The strategic positioning of the company's wells, such as Block ER271 near the Majuba TPP and Block ER270 along the critical Lily Pipeline, showcases the potential to supply gas to industries and power generation facilities.
Establishing a joint development agreement with the Industrial Development Corporation of South Africa – a subsidiary of the South African government responsible for driving economic growth and industrial development in the country – the company's subsidiary, Afro Energy aims to develop approximately 20 gas fields in the country with the primary objective to extract gas for power generation. This partnership and development of gas is expected to contribute to the country's energy needs.
The Amersfoort Project, which employs state-of-the-art technology and pioneering techniques to extract gas from coal seams, aims to cater to various applications, including domestic and industrial use, as well as electricity generation. Through its pilot generator set to be installed at the Amersfoort Project, Kinetiko is positioning itself as a significant contributor to South Africa's long-term energy security and supports the country's transition to cleaner and more sustainable energy sources.
The company's dedication to innovation in sandstone gas and coal bed methane exploration distinguishes it as a leading enterprise in South Africa's energy-challenged sector. De Blocq's participation at AEW 2023 will enable him to provide insightful discussions on Kinetiko Energy's dynamic operations within the energy sector. Additionally, de Blocq's experience in promoting local content and sustainable business practices aligns with AEW's focus on sustainable and responsible development of the African energy sector, making his insights particularly relevant.
“The Chamber is pleased to have de Blocq participate at AEW. With his experience in the sector and a remarkable ability to navigate complex situations, his expertise and insights will be highly valuable to the conference. We look forward to hearing de Blocq's thoughts on the African energy industry, as well as his unique perspectives on Kinetiko Energy's pioneering strategies for natural gas exploration and production in South Africa. We have no doubt that his contributions to the discussions on sustainable and responsible energy development in Africa will be highly impactful,” states NJ Ayuk, the Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber.
By participating in AEW, de Blocq and Kinetiko Energy aim to share innovative technologies, cutting-edge techniques, and insights into natural gas exploration and production, potentially fostering collaborations and partnerships. Their presence at the conference will also raise awareness about the potential of natural gas as a viable energy source in Africa and contribute to the regions energy security.
African Energy Week (AEW) is the African Energy Chamber's (AEC) interactive exhibition and networking event, established in 2021, that seeks to unite African energy stakeholders, drive industry growth and development, and promote Africa as the destination for African-focused events.
For further information on the African Energy Week 2023 conference, click the link below: https://www.AECWeek.com/AEW-23/
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.
In its 20 years of existence the Media Development and Diversity Agency (MDDA) has contributed to the transformation of the media industry through the provision of grant funding to community media.
About 200 people picketed at the bank’s head office to demand it stop investing in fossil fuels
While government has adopted policies that have contributed to economic transformation over the years, Deputy President Paul Mashatile said he was concerned about the rate of economic growth.
On 8 June 2023 Namibia became the first Southern African country, and 8th country in Africa, to accede to the Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes (UN Water Convention).
Namibia, which has a population of some 2.5 million people, shares all its perennial rivers with neighbouring countries as well as several significant transboundary groundwater reserves. As both a mid-stream and downstream country, transboundary water cooperation is crucial for Namibia and the region's water security and sustainable socioeconomic development.
Namibia's Minister for Agriculture, Water and Land Reform, Mr. Calle Schlettwein stated “Transboundary water cooperation stands as the cornerstone of our nation's water security, and I firmly believe that through this accession, Namibia will not only reap substantial benefits from its participation in this global legal framework but will also have the opportunity to engage with fellow members in promoting the principles of peace and equity in transboundary water sharing. The principles and regulations of the Water Convention harmoniously align with Namibia's policies on transboundary water cooperation and integrated water resources management, as we collaborate alongside other nations to safeguard and sustainably utilize our shared freshwater resources”.
UNECE Executive Secretary, Ms. Olga Algayerova, stated: “I warmly congratulate Namibia on its accession to the UN Water Convention as called upon by the United Nations Secretary General to all UN Member States. As the first Party in Southern Africa, Namibia opens the door to more countries in the region joining this unique treaty to help address water challenges across national borders, which is especially crucial due to rising climate change impacts. After Nigeria and Iraq's accession earlier this year, this shows the relevance of the Water Convention as key means for supporting sustainable development and preventing conflict over shared waters.”
Namibia's accession will help to consolidate the long-standing commitment to transboundary water cooperation in Southern Africa.
Namibia has ratified basin agreements and is a member state of basin organizations including: the Okavango-Cubango River Commission (OKACOM) shared with Angola and Botswana; the Orange-Senqu River Commission (ORASECOM) shared with South Africa, Botswana and Lesotho); the Zambezi Watercourse Commission (ZAMCOM) with all other riparian states of Angola, Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe; and the Cuvelai Watercourse Commission (CUVECOM) with Angola. At a regional level, Namibia is a party to the 2000 Southern African Development Community's (SADC) Revised Protocol on Shared Watercourses and to the 1997 UN Convention on the Law of the Non-navigational Uses of International Watercourses (Watercourses Convention).
Namibia is one of only two states in Africa to have all its transboundary freshwater bodies covered by operational management arrangements according to the national report submission for the 2nd monitoring exercise in 2020 of SDG Indicator 6.5.2, for which UNECE and UNESCO are co-custodian agencies. The third exercise is currently ongoing.
As an effective global legal and intergovernmental framework and platform for cooperation and sustainable management of shared waters, including groundwater, accession to the Water Convention can enable support by the community of Parties, experience-sharing with basins and countries worldwide, facilitate access to financing and raise the country profile at the international level on transboundary water.
Namibia has just embarked on a two-year pilot Twinning Initiative with Finland, which is a party to the Convention, to exchange experiences, build capacity and strengthen bilateral cooperation on transboundary water management. It is the first Twinning of its kind between the two countries.
Open to accession by all UN Member States since 1 March 2016, the Convention now counts 50 parties. At present, more than 20 countries around the world are in the accession processes, predominantly from across Africa and Latin America. 153 countries worldwide share rivers, lakes and groundwater resources. The UN Water Convention is serviced by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE).
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE).
Presidential spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, has batted away suggestions that South Africa may be hit with international sanctions due to its non-aligned stance regarding the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
UN Women and the South African government co-hosted the Economic Justice and Rights (EJR) leaders retreat from 3 to 5 May 2023, in Pretoria, South Africa. The gathering was the leaders' first in-person meeting since the Generation Equality Forum in Mexico and Paris in June/July 2021.
The Action Coalition is unique in bringing together a collective of stakeholders from across the globe, with representation from governments, youth-led organizations, civil society, philanthropic organizations, and fellow United Nations agencies. The leaders of the EJR action coalition that attended the retreat included representatives from the Tanzanian, Mexican, German, Swedish, and South African governments, respectively. Civil society was represented by CARE International, FEMNET, ITUC, Huairou Commission, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and the Women's Working Group on Financing for Development. There was also youth representation from Amis Cameroun and Anyar from Peru, and United Nations agencies came from UN Women, ILO and UNCDF.
Aleta Miller, Representative of UN Women South Africa Multi-Country Office (SAMCO), outlined the Action Coalition's journey and indicated it primarily existed in a virtual setting due to lockdown restrictions. She commended the role of the South African government in localizing Generation Equality and hosting the retreat. “The aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly disrupted actions geared towards tackling existing gender inequalities. Previous experiences and past pandemics have taught us that women and girls experience national and global crises disproportionately. The current socio-economic climate poses unique challenges for the women and girls' movement, and there exists significant disparities in social investment in our communities.” she said.
In his opening remarks, Department of International Relations and Cooperation's (DIRCO) Acting Deputy Director-General, Zaheer Laher reiterated that gender equality remains a central tenant for South Africa's development and underscored the importance of platforms such as Generation Equality as a pathway towards realizing gender equality and achieving the sustainable development goals (SDG).
During the three-day retreat, leaders of the EJR Action Coalition engaged in mutual learning, strengthened relationships, and created a forward-looking pathway for key workstreams of the EJR action coalition. The leaders also had the opportunity to make substantive contributions to the discussions on the second phase of Generation Equality: developing and implementing localisation strategies. From the engagements, it was evident that for the localisation process to be effective, concerted efforts must be made towards identifying and allocating dedicated resources to further strengthen capacities and structures to effectually anchor and lead on Generation Equality at the local level.
The South African government shared its case study on EJR implementation: The Women Economic Assembly (WECONA) as a model for localization. As part of it's commitments, the government has used WECONA to transform the value chain ecosystems and create clear pathways for women-owned businesses to participate within the mainstream economy.
Additionally, the government is also promoting a programme of 40% preferential procurement in the public sector towards women-owned businesses domestically and is advocating for the adoption of a 30% public preferential procurement globally to increase the number of women entrepreneurs; while contributing to the sustainability of women-owned businesses. Some of the progress indicators highlighted included the establishment of the intergovernmental task team which includes multiple government departments for the implementation of the Generation Equality strategy at the government level; political will from the country's president around Generation Equality; and the engagement of stakeholders across other action coalition such as the action coalition on GBV.
Namhla Mniki-Mangaliso, a senior executive from the private office of the President of South Africa, highlighted that “the commitment maker model applied at national level is very effective and necessary, not only for the pronouncement of commitments, but also for setting gender transformation targets, co-creating solutions and developing models for implementation, and establishing a functional operating framework for gender transformation.” These sentiments further illustrated the South African government's thought leadership on the African continent, using its voice and influence, to articulate strong support for the jointly developed Global Acceleration Plan to support women's economic justice and rights.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of UN Women - Africa.
Government reforms in several network industries are critical to transforming South Africa into an economy that is inclusive, thriving, growing and more competitive.
African Energy Week (AEW) 2023 – organized in Cape Town from October 16-20 – takes place under the theme ‘The African Energy Renaissance: Prioritizing Energy Poverty, People, the Planet, Industrialization and Free Markets,' underpinned by the recognition that in order to make energy poverty history by 2030. To achieve this, Africa needs to ramp up exploration and production across the oil and gas sector. Stepping into this picture, Keith Hill, President and CEO of Canadian-based independent oil and gas company, Africa Oil Corp, will lead discussions on frontier exploration, the need to accelerate drilling campaigns and why Africa represents the biggest E&P play worldwide.
Under the leadership of Hill – who possesses over 35 years' experience in the oil industry, 20 years of which covered international new venture management and senior exploration positions – Africa Oil Corp has established itself as one of Africa's most competitive independent explorers, with a series of campaigns in Nigeria, Kenya, Namibia, South Africa and the Senegal Guinea Bissau Joint Development Zone. With interests through direct ownership in concessions, as well as through shareholdings in investee companies, Africa Oil Corp is leading the way towards resource maximization in Africa.
While global energy majors have commenced with divestment strategies in light of the energy transition, Africa Oil Corp continues to deliver on its promise to develop African hydrocarbons, representing a strong partner for host countries and governments. Recognizing Africa as the ‘greatest frontier,' Hill is committed to turning exploration hotspots into long-term and sustainable developments in Africa, with a number of key prospects well on their way to become impactful projects.
In Kenya, Africa Oil Corp is working towards the development of the South Lokichar development, located in Blocks 10BB/13T, as well as the associated pipeline. Alongside partners Tullow Oil and TotalEnergies, the company has a defined resource base as well as a Field Development Plan. In Nigeria, the company operates three of the top five oil producing fields in the country: Egina, Ekpo and Agbami. Combined, the fields produce approximately 450,000 barrels of oil per day. However, it is the company's exploration prospects that make it such a big contender in the upstream space.
In Namibia, Africa Oil Corp announced a sizable discovery offshore Block 2913B alongside partners TotalEnergies and Impact Oil & Gas. The discovery has positioned the country as an exploration hotspot. In 2023, Africa Oil Corp commenced its multi-well appraisal and exploration drilling program, targeting four wells to appraise the Venus discovery. Meanwhile, Africa Oil Corp has additionally secured two production sharing contracts for offshore Blocks EG-18 and EG-31 in Equatorial Guinea, marking the company's entry into the promising hydrocarbon market.
From Namibia to Equatorial Guinea to Nigeria to Kenya, Africa Oil Corp is gradually positioning itself at the head of Africa's oil and gas sector, representing a strong partner, players and competitor. As the continent accelerated exploration and production even further, all in pursuit of making energy poverty history by 2030, companies such as Africa Oil Corp will continue to play a key role in expanding the sector. During AEW 2023, Hill will discuss this very theme while sharing insight into Africa's E&P landscape, partnership opportunities and upcoming drilling campaigns.
“Africa Oil Corp is doing exactly what needs to be done in Africa: driving widespread exploration and production in the name of resource maximization. The independent has already been hugely successful in markets such as Nigeria and now with ambitious upstream campaigns underway in other promising markets, a new era of hydrocarbon growth is in sight,” states NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber, adding that, “We are looking forward to engaging with Hill and other high-level E&P players in Cape Town. AEW 2023 represents the best platform for regional and global energy stakeholders to discuss the future of African energy, and Hill represents a critical part of those discussions.”
For more information about AEW 2023, please visit the event website at www.AECWeek.com and secure your spot at the biggest gathering of energy stakeholders on the continent. Join AEW 2023 and be part of the African energy renaissance.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.
Sri Lankans in Johannesburg and Pretoria of South Africa joined residents of Thai and Nepal origin to celebrate the International Day of Vesak at the Johannesburg Thai Temple (Johannesburg Meditation Center – JMC - in Midrand, South Africa), on June 3, 2023. Over 100 residents from the three countries attended the event.
The Chief Monk of JMC, Rev. Kitsakol, conducted the religious ceremonies and delivered blessings of Vesak to those gathered. He highlighted the universal applicability of Buddha's preaching based on the four noble truths and extended Vesak blessings to people of all religions in the world.
High Commissioner of Sri Lanka, Prof. Gamini Gunawardane, at the invitation of the Chief Monk, led the gathering in reciting the traditional Pali verses for Offering of Picked-up Robes. He also mentioned how Buddhist relationship between Thailand and Sri Lanka goes back to the introduction of the Sihala Sangha to Thailand in 1425 and the introduction of Siam Nikaya to Sri Lanka in 1753 under Upali Maha Thera from Thailand and Sarankara Thera from Sri Lanka.
Ambassador of Nepal in South Africa, Dan Bahadur Tamang highlighted that Buddhism has remained one of the strongest links between the peoples of Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand. Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Buddha, is one of the most desired destinations in Nepal which is visited by thousands of Thai and Sri Lankan nationals every year.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Sri Lanka.
Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi’s efforts to “clarify” what she called “misleading media reports”, sees her accused of “deliberately lying”
There’s no clearer imperative for the sustainable future of our world and society than the need to reduce or mitigate carbon emissions. Nearly all land areas are warmer than they have been in history, with severe storms, increased rainfall, flooding, landslides, and droughts causing damage to life and infrastructure. There’s nothing that any single person …
Ricoh launches ocean and river clean-ups as part of global SDGs month Ricoh Southern Africa has launched a series of nationwide ocean and river clean-up activities as part of the company’s Earth Month and Ocean Month campaigns, and in solidarity with the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) initiative. “Every June is Global SDGs Action …
Cape Town, 11 June 2023 – Amidst the ongoing challenges faced by South Africa, Grow Hope, a nation-building initiative, takes a significant step forward by handing over its first cheque of R30,000 to Soil for Life, a non-profit organization (NPO) dedicated to training local community gardeners in Cape Town. The cheque was received by Cindy …
The KwaZulu-Natal Transport Department has welcomed the recruitment of 200 Road Traffic Inspectorate (RTI) trainees, who will boost road safety efforts in that province.
“No matter how remote we feel we are from the oceans, every act each one of us takes in our everyday lives affects our planet’s water cycle and in return affects us.” – Fabian Cousteau, Marine Explorer and Documentary Filmmaker The globe’s longest-running surfing contest is returning to KwaDukuza and with it, 2023 Ballito Pro …