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A graceful retreat near the roaring Victoria Falls, The Royal Livingstone Hotel by Anantara has revealed its refined new Livingstone Junior Suites. The classically furnished suites, accentuated with local designs, benefit from sweeping views of the Zambezi River and are abundant in modern comforts. Spanning 52 square metres, each of the four Livingstone Junior Suites …
New NBA Stores at Gateway Mall in Durban and V&A Waterfront in Cape Town Will Feature Extensive Range of Officially Licensed NBA Merchandise, Including Nike Jerseys, Apparel, Memorabilia and More;Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer Clyde Drexler to Attend Store Launch Events in December and Engage with Local Fans; NBA Fans in South Africa and Other Select African Countries Can Continue to Shop Online at NBAStore.Africa (https://NBAStore.Africa/).
NBA Africa and Shesha, a premium retailer of exclusive and limited-edition footwear, apparel and accessories, today announced that two new NBA Stores will open in Durban and Cape Town, South Africa. The NBA Store in Durban will be located at Gateway Mall and open on Friday, Nov. 24, while the NBA Store in Cape Town will be located at V&A Waterfront and open on Friday, Dec. 1.
The new stores build on NBA Africa's existing merchandise offerings, including the first NBA Store on the continent located in Sandton City, Johannesburg and the league's first e-commerce (https://NBAStore.Africa/) site dedicated to fans in Africa, which provides fans in select countries with the widest selection of official NBA merchandise ever available on the continent. To celebrate the new store openings, Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer Clyde Drexler will engage with fans at launch events in Cape Town on Tuesday, Dec. 12 and in Durban on Thursday, Dec. 14.
Both stores, which will be operated by Shesha, will feature an extensive range of officially licensed NBA merchandise for youth and adults, including current and former player jerseys, apparel, headwear, footwear, sporting goods, toys and collectibles from major brands such as Nike, Mitchell & Ness, New Era and Wilson. The stores will also feature a customization area where fans can personalize NBA jerseys.
“We are excited to expand our merchandise offerings in Africa as part of our multiyear collaboration with Shesha,” said NBA Africa CEO Victor Williams. “There is tremendous demand for official NBA merchandise from fans in South Africa and across the continent, and these beautiful new stores will allow fans in Cape Town and Durban to more easily represent their favorite teams and players.”
“Following the launch of Africa's first NBA Store in Johannesburg last year, we are excited to also deliver the NBA Store experience to fans in Durban and Cape Town,” said Shesha CEO Nirmal Devchand. “The launch of the new NBA Stores will provide more fans in these cities with better access to their favorite teams and players' merchandise, and we look forward to welcoming them to these new locations.”
Drexler, a 15-year NBA veteran who retired from the league in 1998, is an NBA champion, 10-time NBA All-Star, five-time All-NBA selection, and member of the NBA's 50th and 75th Anniversary Teams. He was inducted twice into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, first in 2004 for his individual career and again in 2010 as a member of the United States Men's National Team at the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona, Spain.
There are more than 400 NBA-branded, licensee-operated, retail stores and attractions worldwide that serve as the league's official destinations for fans around the world. NBA fans in Angola, Botswana, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, the Seychelles, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe can continue to shop online at NBAStore.Africa (https://apo-opa.co/47LGv4x).
Earlier this month, the Basketball Africa League, a partnership between the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and NBA Africa, announced that the league's fourth season will tip off in March 2024 in South Africa. Fans can register their interest in tickets to games at BAL.NBA.com (https://BAL.NBA.com/).
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of National Basketball Association (NBA).
Contact:
Chumani Bambani,
NBA Africa Communications,
cbambani@nba.com,
+27 65 548 1031
About NBA Africa:
NBA Africa is an affiliate of the National Basketball Association (NBA), a global sports and media organization with the mission to inspire and connect people everywhere through the power of basketball. NBA Africa conducts the league's business in Africa, including the Basketball Africa League (BAL), and has opened subsidiary offices in Cairo, Egypt; Dakar, Senegal; and Lagos, Nigeria. The NBA has a long history in Africa and opened its African headquarters in Johannesburg, South Africa in 2010. The league's efforts on the continent have focused on increasing access to basketball and the NBA through youth and elite development, social responsibility, media distribution, corporate partnerships, NBA Africa Games, an NBA Store, the BAL, and more. Last year, NBA Africa reached more than eight million youth across the continent through basketball development, life-skills programming and social media engagement.
NBA games and programming are available in all 54 African countries, and the NBA has hosted three sold-out exhibition games on the continent since 2015. The BAL, a partnership between the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and NBA Africa, is a professional league featuring 12 club teams from across Africa that will tip off its fourth season in March 2024. Fans can follow @ NBA_Africa and @ theBAL on Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube.
About Shesha:
The first Shesha store launched in Johannesburg, South Africa in 2005, and today features over 15 stores. The Shesha business is committed and passionate about street culture. The stores are dedicated to serve the community and fans with the freshest limited edition premium lifestyle and basketball merchandise. The Shesha stores offer a range of global and local brands, with a particular focus on footwear and headwear, and global collaborations across both lifestyle and basketball. Fans can follow @ shesha_fashion on Instagram, @ Shesha Lifestyle on Facebook, and @ SheshaLifestyle on Twitter, or visit their website – www.SheshaLifestyle.com
Three Minor Hotels triumph with prestigious awards in 2023 In a resounding testament to excellence, three remarkable properties in the Minor Hotels portfolio, The Royal Livingstone Hotel by Anantara, Anantara Bazaruto Island Resort in Mozambique, and Avani Windhoek Hotel & Casino in Namibia, have proudly secured prestigious global awards. Recognised for their commitment to luxury, …
I bring you compliments from the board and management of African Peace Magazine UK (https://AfricanPeace.org/).
Download the document: https://apo-opa.co/49G8Mex
On behalf of the Chairman Justice Suleiman Galadima, JSC, OFR, CFR (Rtd.), the board and management of African Peace Magazine UK, humbly wish to specially invite you to attend the Hybrid Award with the Theme: Africa is open for business: Strategic and Impactful Investment in Africa – That would facilitate peace and achieve sustainability goals.
The African Peace Magazine UK, in conjunction with her strategic partners: Rethink Africa Foundation, African Fact Checkers, Centre for peace and Conflict management in Africa, African Right Watch Television Ltd and several others is set to host the prestigious 13th Edition of African Peace Award at Hotel Hilton Garden Inn Dallas Arlington South USA on the 10th December 2023.
The event is designed to host business, political, and diplomatic leaders. It is set to have in attendance, policy makers, and think-tanks on Africa and Africa-related issues.
The African Peace Magazine introduces its awards in the hopes of promoting peace globally and specifically in Africa with the hope of effecting change in Africa first and then globally.
The event is designed to host business, political, and diplomatic leaders. It is set to have in attendance, policy makers and think-tanks on Africa and Africa related issues. The African Peace awards 2023 seeks to honor persons, institutions, organization, governments and others whose actions, and efforts have in one way improved or contributed to peace keeping and conflict management in Africa as well as improving the lives of Africans.
Several African Presidents, Heads of Government, first ladies, Past President and Vice Presidents, top business Executives, diplomats and others have received the award.
The past recipients of Award includes: H.E, the former Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, GCON, The former First Lady of The Federal Republic Nigeria, H.E, Mrs. Aisha Buhari, Hon Justice Stella Anukam Judge of the African Court on Human and Peoples Right. The former President of Sierra Leone, H.E Ernest Bai Koroma, Secretary to the Federation of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Boss Gidahyelda Mustapha Esq, The First Lady of Kwara State, H.E Amb. Dr. Olufolake Abdulrazaq, H.E the former First Lady of Taraba State, H.E Bar. Anna Mbasugun Darius Ishaku, Chief Akin Olujinmi SAN former Attorney General of the Federation, Chief Mike Ozek home SAN, Ahmed Raji SAN, Prof. Anthony Adegbulugbe, Chairman of Green Energy International Ltd and former SA to the President of Nigeria. H.E. Professor Monique Oshame Ekpong (KSJI), the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to the Republic of Angola
Prof Bolaji Owasonye SAN, The former Chairman of Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, The President of the ECOWAS Court Hon Justice Edward Amoako Asante, Babatunde Irukera Esq, Chief Executive Officer Federal Consumer Protection Council and several others
APM, organizers of the Prestigious African Peace Awards, through its Awards committee has unveiled the following persons as the winners of the African Peace Award 2023 in various categories.
The winners:
Ms. Amina J. Mohammed
The Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations and Chair of the United Nations Sustainable Development Group
HE. Mutinta Hichilema
The first lady of Zambia
H.E Fatima Maada Bio
The First Lady of Sierra Leone
H.E Mrs. Samia Suluhu Hassan
President of Tanzania
Dr. Demola Sogunle
Chief Executive of Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC
Mr. Gaspar Martins
Chairman/ CEO of Sonangol Angola
Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala
Director-General of the World Trade Organization
H. E Fuad Ademola Adeyemi
H.E Sanusi Kaura Mohammed
H.E Liman Munir Yusuf
H.E Mohammed Onawo Ogoshi
H.E Ojogbane Adegbe
H.E Suleiman Abdul Rahman
H.E Dickson Dominic Tarkighir
Gen Aliyu Gusau
H.E Auxillia Mnangagwa,
The first lady of Zimbabwe
Mr. Akindele Akintoye,
Chairman, Platform Capital
Mpumi Mpofu,
CEO, Airports Company South Africa
João Figueiredo
CEO, of Moza Banco
H.E Nadia Alaoui,
Morocco
Othman Benjelloun
CEO of BMCE Bank of Africa
Chief (Dr.) Mike Ozekhome
SAN, CON
H.E Joao Baptista Borges
Hon Minister Angola
H.E Nialé Kaba
Ivorian Minister for Planning and Development
H.E Philip Mpango
Tanzania's Vice-President
H.E Verde José Ulisses Correia e Silva
Prime Minister of Cabo
H.E Sahle-Work Zewde
Ethiopia's President
H.E Tiemoko Meyliet Koné
Ivorian Vice President
H.E Patrick Achi
Ivorian Prime Minister
H.E Mahamudu Bawumia
Ghanaian Vice President
H.E. Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali
President of Guyana
H.E. Gaston Browne
Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda
HE Peter Mutharika
Former President of Malawi
H.E. Dr. Terrance M. Dew
Prime Minister, St. Kitts and Nevis
HE Philip J. Pierre
Prime Minister of St. Lucia
HE Lazarus Chakwera
President of Malawi
Dr. Ameenah Gurib-Fakim
Former President of Mauritius
HE Ralph Gonsalves
Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
HE Julius Maada Bio
President of Sierra Leone
H.E. Hage Geingob
President of Namibia
HE Patricia Scotland
Secretary General of the Commonwealth
HE Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete
Former President of Kenya
Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus
WHO Director-General
H.E Princess Fifi EJINDU
Abuja Nigeria
H.E António Henriques da SILVA
Luanda Angola
H.E Bento dos SANTOS
Luanda Angola
H.E Senator Grace FOLASHADE
Luanda Angola
H.E Sabena JOHANNES
Luanda Angola
H.E Téte António,
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Luanda Angola
H.E Mário de Oliveira
Minister of Telecommunications Information, Technology and Social Communication
H.E Ricardo d´Abreu
Minister of Transport
Luanda Angola
H.E Domingos Vieira LOPES
The Secretary of State for International Cooperation His Excellency.
Luanda Angola
Hajia Bola Muinat Shagaya
MON
Abdul Samad Rabiu
CFR, CON, is the Chairman of BUA Cement Plc
Jacques Piekarski
Chief Financial Officer / Executive Director of BUA Cement Plc
Nicolas Pompigne-Mognard
Founder and Chairman of APO
Senator Daisy Danjuma
Executive Vice Chairman of SAPETRO South Atlantic Petroleum Limited
Joycee Awosika
Founder of Nigeria First Wellness Spa Franchise
His Excellency Kashim Shettima Mustapha GCON
Vice President Federal Republic of Nigeria
Aliko Dangote GCON
Chairman, and CEO of the Dangote Group
Craig Morkel
Chairperson - Gas Economy Leadership Team at South African Oil & Gas Alliance (SAOGA)
Simone Santi
President Leonardo Group
Mozambique
Mike-Anthony Johnson
CEO JIC Holdings
Hon Dr. Abike Kafayat Oluwatoyin Dabiri-Erewa
OON, CEO,NIDCOM (Nigerians In Diaspora Commission)
Mr. Elliot Ibe,FNAPE
President, Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE)
Her Excellency, Dr. Esperanca da Costa
Vice President of the Republic of Angola
Dr. Jose Chinjamba
Board of Director, Angola's Agency for Private Investment and Exports Promotion (AIPEX)
Engr. Felix Obike,
The Chairman, Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE)
Mr. Gwueke Ajaifia
(Executive Director) Oil Producers Trade Section (opts)
Mr. Gabriel Idahosa, FCA
President Lagos chamber of commerce and industry Alausa Lagos
Festus Osifo
Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN)
Bala M. Wunti
The Group General Manager of the National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS),
Mr. Farouk Ahmed
The Authority Chief Executive, the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA)
The President, Eze, Sir Mike Elechi, JP, FNIM, NPOM
The President of Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (PHCCIMA)
Mele Kolo Kyari OFR
Group Chief executive officer (GCEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum company limited (NNPC limited)
Mr. Umar Isa Ajiya
Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Nigerian National Petroleum company limited (NNPC limited)
Senator Hagiya Habibah Ireti Kingiba
Mario A. Caetano Joao
Minister of Economy and planning Angola
Markus Klaushofer
Chief Executive Officer Bei Alanova Aviation Partners
Francisco Mendes
Managing Partner Mc Kinsey and Company Angola
Ansalmo Neves
Director Regional Banco de Fomento Angola
Daniel Pires
President of the Textile Industrial Forum Angola
Jorge Cruz
Professor Agostinho Neto University Angola
His Excellency Dr. Diamantino Pedro Azevedo
Minister of Mineral Resources, Oil and Gas of the Republic of Angola
Dr. Omar Farouk Ibrahim
Secretary General of the African Petroleum Producers' Organization, APPO
Silvester Scott Beaman of Delaware
Chair Mimi Alemayehou of Washington DC
Rosalind Brewer of Georgia
Viola Davis of Rhode Island
Helene D. Gayle of Georgia
Patrick Hubert Gaspard of New York
C.D. Glin of Connecticut
Osagie Imasogie of Pennsylvania
Almaz Negash of California
Chinenye Joy Ogwumike of Texas
Ham Serunjogi of California
Kevin Young of Washington, D.C.
Deniece Laurent-Mantey
Rev Dr Michael Evans
Pastor Ropo Tusin
Pastor Laide Tusin
Theophilus Maku
Victoria Maku
Divine Oshideko
Shola Kareem
Dr Oladele Olusanya
Dr Edward Olutoke
Pastor Darolyn Brock
Pastor Robert Madu
Pastor Victoria Madu
Belinda Babila
Hon. Bobby DigiOlisa
Festus Adenisimi
HE Joaquin Chissano
Former President of Mozambique
HE Jakaya Kikwete
Former President of Tanzania
HE Hailemariam Desalegn
Former Prime Minister of Ethiopia
Adaralegbe Akintayo
CEO of TPumpy Concept Limited
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Peace Magazine.
Attendance is strictly by invitation.
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The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on International Relations and Cooperation, Mr Supra Mahumapelo, has held a successful engagement with the Swedish Ambassador, Mr Håkan Juholt, as part of strengthening relations between South Africa and Sweden.
The meeting was held at the behest of the Swedish Ambassador, who was accompanied by other Swedish ambassadors responsible for Angola (HE Ambassador Lennart Killander Larsson), the Democratic Republic of Congo (HE Ambassador Henric Råsbrandt), Mozambique (HE Ambassador Mette Sunnergren), Zambia (HE Ambassador Johan Hallenborg) and Zimbabwe (HE Ambassador Per Lindgärde).
During the engagement, Mr Mahumapelo welcomed the ambassadors and praised Sweden for supporting the struggle for democracy in South Africa during the Apartheid period. He also noted the various ways in which Sweden continues to work with South Africa. In addition, he described the role South Africa plays in the Southern African Development Community region and the importance South Africa places on regional cooperation on the African continent.
Ambassador Juholt highlighted the importance of strengthening ties between South Africa and Sweden and emphasised the extent to which the bilateral relationship between the two countries has grown since South Africa attained democracy in 1994. The ambassador also noted that South Africa and Sweden enjoy a bi-national commission in addition to various bilateral agreements, which he hopes will expand in the future.
In his concluding remarks, Mr Mahumapelo noted that as part of its oversight, the portfolio committee scrutinises the activities of the African Renaissance Fund (ARF), an entity that falls under the Department of International Relations and Cooperation. He then described the work of the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) and noted that the portfolio committee needs to look more closely at SIDA, given that the ARF will eventually be transformed into the South African Development Partnership Agency (SADPA).
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of South Africa: The Parliament.
First two matchdays of CAF qualifying will be played from 15 to 21 November; All matches will be streamed on FIFA+; Find out below which countries the matches will be available in.
Africa's qualifying matches for the FIFA World Cup 26™ kick off on Wednesday 15 November and you'll be able to watch them all live on FIFA+.
Nine African teams are guaranteed to compete at the World Cup. Another will participate in the FIFA Play-off Tournament as the global showpiece will host 48 teams for the first time ever.
Everything you need to know about African qualifying (https://apo-opa.co/47xtb3H)
Where to watch the CAF qualifiers for FIFA World Cup 26™
You will be able to watch all Matchday 1 African qualifiers on FIFA+ with English commentary from anywhere in the world, with the exception of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, sub-Saharan Africa*, India and Portugal.
* It will be possible to follow the matches live in sub-Saharan Africa in the following countries: Benin, Burundi, Ethiopia, Gambia, Guinea Bissau, Malawi, Sao Tome e Principe, Seychelles, Uganda and Zimbabwe.
Highlights of all the matches will also be available on FIFA+ worldwide.
Where can I watch FIFA+ content? (https://apo-opa.co/40FfYDJ)
CAF qualifiers schedule
Click on the links for each match to go to the streaming page. (all kick-off times local)
Matchday 1
15 November
Equatorial Guinea v Namibia (Group H) | 1400 | Malabo, Equatorial Guinea
Rwanda v Zimbabwe (Group C) | 1500 | Butare, Rwanda
Congo DR v Mauritania (Group C) | 1500 | Kinshasa, Congo DR
Ethiopia v Sierra Leone (Group A) | 2000 | El Jadida, Morocco
16 November
Botswana v Mozambique (Group G) | 1500 | Francistown, Botswana
Burundi v The Gambia (Group F) | 1600 | Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania
Gabon v Kenya (Group F) | 1700 | Franceville, Gabon
Nigeria v Lesotho (Group C) | 1700 | Uyo, Nigeria
Algeria v Somalia (Group G) | 1700 | Baraki, Algeria
Cape Verde v Angola (Group D) | 1800 | Praia, Cape Verde
Egypt v Djibouti (Group A) | 1800 | Cairo, Egypt
Sudan v Togo (Group B) | 1800 | Benina, Libya
17 November
Guinea v Uganda (Group G) | 1400 | Berkane, Morocco
Eswatini v Libya (Group D) | 1500 | Nelspruit, South Africa
Liberia v Malawi (Group H) | 1600 | Paynesville, Liberia
Ghana v Madagascar (Group I) | 1600 | Kumasi, Ghana
Comoros v Central African Republic (Group I) | 1600 | Moroni, Comoros
Zambia v Congo (Group E) | 1800 | Ndola, Zambia
Côte d'Ivoire v Seychelles (Group F) | 1900 | Ebimpe, Côte d'Ivoire
Mali v Chad (Group I) | 1900 | Bamako, Mali
Tunisia v Sao Tome e Principe (Group H) | 2000 | Rades, Tunisia
Cameroon v Mauritius (Group D) | 2000 | Douala, Cameroon
Burkina Faso v Guinea Bissau (Group A) | 2000 | Marrakesh, Morocco
18 November
South Africa v Benin (Group C) | 1500 | Durban, South Africa
Niger v Tanzania (Group E) | 1700 | Marrakesh, Morocco
Senegal v South Sudan (Group B) | 1900 | Diamniadio, Senegal
Matchday 2
19 November
Zimbabwe v Nigeria (https://apo-opa.co/49CLrKF) (Group C) | 1500 | Butare, Rwanda
Mozambique v Algeria (Group G) | 1500 | Maputo, Mozambique
Burundi v Gabon (Group F) | 1600 | Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania
Sierra Leone v Egypt (Group A) | 1600 | Paynesville, Liberia
Sudan v Congo DR (Group B) | 1800 | Benina, Libya
20 November
Djibouti v Guinea Bissau (Group A) | 1500 | Cairo, Egypt
Liberia v Equatorial Guinea (Group H) | 1600 | Paynesville, Liberia
Seychelles v Kenya (Group F) | 1900 | Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire
The Gambia v Côte d'Ivoire (Group F) | 1900 | Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania
Mali v Central African Republic (Group I) | 1900 | Bamako, Mali
Chad v Madagascar (https://apo-opa.co/40E03p4) (Group I) | 2000 | Oujda, Morocco
21 November
Somalia v Uganda (Group G) | 1400 | Berkane, Morocco
Botswana v Guinea (Group G) | 1500 | Francistown, Botswana
Malawi v Tunisia (Group H) | 1500 | Lilongwe, Malawi
Eswatini v Cape Verde (Group D) | 1500 | Nelspruit, South Africa
Rwanda v South Africa (Group C) | 1500 | Butare, Rwanda
Lesotho v Benin (Group C) | 1500 | Durban, South Africa
South Sudan v Mauritania (Group B) | 1600 | Diamniadio, Senegal
Togo v Senegal (Group B) | 1600 | Lome, Togo
Sao Tome e Principe v Namibia (https://apo-opa.co/49E13NY) (Group H) | 1700 | Agadir, Morocco
Libya v Cameroon (Group D) | 1800 | Benina, Libya
Comoros v Ghana (https://apo-opa.co/3G4ObTu) (Group I) | 1900 | Moroni, Comoros
Niger v Zambia (Group E) | 2000 | Marrakesh, Morocco
Mauritius v Angola (Group D) | 2000 | Saint Pierre, Mauritius
Ethiopia v Burkina Faso (Group A) | 2000 | El Jadida, Morocco
Tanzania v Morocco (Group E) | 2200 | Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania
Live streaming on FIFA+
During this international break, FIFA+ will be your point of reference for World Cup 2026 streaming, with all the African qualifiers and the CONMEBOL qualifier between Bolivia and Peru.
CAF schedule
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of FIFA.
Contact for African media:
AfricanMedia@fifa.org
Herbert Mensah, the newly elected President of Rugby Africa (www.RugbyAfrique.com), the continental governing body for rugby in Africa, recently engaged in a 45-minute face-to-face meeting with Dr Akinwumi A. Adesina, the President of the African Development Bank Group (AfDB). The meeting, held during the African Investment Forum in Marrakesh, Morocco, focused on the crucial topic of sports infrastructures in Africa.
During the meeting, President Mensah and Dr Adesina discussed the significant potential of sports as a thriving business in Africa, with a particular emphasis on advancing development of sports infrastructure across the continent. Recognizing the pivotal role of sport in economic growth and community well-being, both leaders explored strategic conversations to harness the continent's potential.
President Adesina took a moment to extend his heartfelt congratulations to the South Africa Springboks for their triumph at the Rugby World Cup. He emphasized the victory's significance in maintaining Africa's status as the reigning champion of the world for another four years.
The newly elected President of Rugby Africa, Herbert Mensah, continues to emphasize the business potential of sport across Africa. Since his election, Mensah has called for a change of mind-set among African governments and international organizations and to fully embrace, support and increase investment in rugby across Africa, as a wealth and development creating activity.
“With abundant talent and the world's attention, Africa stands at the forefront of the global marketplace,” said Mensah. “It's time to turn this potential into power, investing in ourselves, forging structures that allow our resources to fuel our own growth, breaking free from the cycle of export and import that hinders the realization of our true economic potential.”
The sports industry in Africa is experiencing rapid growth, with significant potential to generate jobs, improve public health, foster social inclusion, and drive economic growth.
According to PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), the industry was valued at $7 billion in 2018, with an expected growth of $12 billion in 2027. Despite the potential, investment across Africa remains limited, with only 1% of start-up financing directed towards the sports sector.
More information: https://apo-opa.co/3FV6pXA
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Rugby Africa.
Media contact:
Nicole Vervelde
Communications Advisor to the President of Rugby Africa
rugby@apo-opa.com
About Rugby Africa:
Rugby Africa (www.RugbyAfrique.com) is the governing body of rugby in Africa and one of the regional associations under World Rugby. It unites all African countries that play rugby union, rugby sevens, and women's rugby. Rugby Africa organizes various competitions, including the qualifying tournaments for the Rugby World Cup and the Africa Sevens, a qualifying competition for the Olympic Games. With 39 member unions, Rugby Africa is dedicated to promoting and developing rugby across the continent. World Rugby highlighted Ghana, Nigeria and Zambia as three of the six emerging nations experiencing strong growth in rugby.
Herbert Mensah, the newly elected President of Rugby Africa (www.RugbyAfrique.com), the continental governing body for rugby in Africa, participated in a one-to-one fireside chat at the 2023 Africa Investment Forum (AIF) on Thursday, November 10 in Marrakech, Morocco. Championed by the African Development Bank and seven other founding partners (Africa50, Africa Finance Corporation, Afreximbank, Development Bank of Southern Africa, European Investment Bank, Islamic Development Bank and Trade and Development Bank), the Africa Investment Forum is Africa's investment marketplace to accelerate transactions to close Africa's investment gaps.
Copyright-free video B-roll and images are available for the media to download and can be freely used without requiring authorization: https://apo-opa.co/478tDFH
Watch the video of the entire fireside chat: https://apo-opa.co/3SB1zq5
Founded in 2018, the Africa Investment Forum has mobilized nearly $143 billion in investment interest.
In the discussion, Rugby Africa President encouraged the investment of sport across Africa, emphasizing the importance of investment opportunities emerging from the continent itself.
“With abundant talent and the world's attention, Africa stands at the forefront of the global marketplace,” said Mensah. “It's time to turn this potential into power, investing in ourselves, forging structures that allow our resources to fuel our own growth, breaking free from the cycle of export and import that hinders the realization of our true economic potential.”
He added, “With South Africa emerging triumphant as the World Champions in the 2023 Rugby World Cup, the world once again witnessed the vast potential of Africa. To invest in rugby across Africa, is to invest in a continent of 1.3 billion people, utilizing the sport as a catalyst for both economic development and empowerment of the youth.”
The newly elected President of Rugby Africa, Herbert Mensah, continues to emphasize the business potential of sport across Africa. Since his election, President Mensah has called for a change of mindset from African governments and international organizations to increase investment in rugby across Africa.
The sports industry in Africa is experiencing rapid growth, with the potential to generate jobs, improve public health, foster social inclusion and drive economic growth. According to PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), the industry was valued at $7 billion in 2018 with an expected growth of $12 billion in 2027. Despite the potential, investment across Africa remains limited, with only 1% of startup financing directed towards the sport sector.
The 2023 Africa Investment Forum brought together heads of state, business leaders, decision makers and investors to advance critical investment transactions to closure. Previous attendees include H.E Paul Kagame, President of the Republic of Rwanda, H.E Cyril Ramaphosa, President of South Africa and H.E Nana Akufo-Addo, President of the Republic of Ghana. The annual three-day Africa Investment Forum Market Days event will conclude on Friday August 10 under the theme “Unlocking Africa's Value Chain” in Marrakech, Morocco.
Read more information about the Africa Investment Forum: https://www.AfricaInvestmentForum.com/en
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Rugby Africa.
Media contact:
Nicole Vervelde
Communications Advisor to the President of Rugby Africa
rugby@apo-opa.com
About Rugby Africa:
Rugby Africa (www.RugbyAfrique.com) is the governing body of rugby in Africa and one of the regional associations under World Rugby. It unites all African countries that play rugby union, rugby sevens, and women's rugby. Rugby Africa organizes various competitions, including the qualifying tournaments for the Rugby World Cup and the Africa Sevens, a qualifying competition for the Olympic Games. With 39 member unions, Rugby Africa is dedicated to promoting and developing rugby across the continent. World Rugby highlighted Ghana, Nigeria and Zambia as three of the six emerging nations experiencing strong growth in rugby.
SA records over 7 400 malaria cases
South Africa has recorded over 7 400 malaria cases between January and October this year, with only 17% of these having been locally acquired.
This means that more people got infected while out of the country, while the country logged at least 66 deaths during the same period.
The Department of Health has since urged all people travelling to and from malaria-endemic or high-risk areas to take the appropriate precautionary measures to prevent possible infection, as the country enters malaria season.
“Summer season marks the start of the malaria period in South Africa due to higher temperatures and increased rainfall in the malaria transmission areas,” the department explained.
Cases are starting to rise in some parts of the country, especially in high-risk areas.
Malaria symptoms include headache, fever, chills, and muscle and joint pain. The department advised citizens, who experience these signs, to visit their local health facility without delay for effective treatment.
“Late presentation to a health facility with symptoms is one of the contributing factors to increasing malaria morbidity and mortality rates,” the department said.
Malaria is defined as a life-threatening, but preventable and curable disease.
“Early detection saves lives,” the department stressed.
The department has since intensified its malaria response plan through screening and testing around borders in high-risk provinces such as KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga and Limpopo throughout the year for early detection of imported cases.
The department is also embarking on public education campaigns and indoor residual spraying in high-risk areas every year from September until the beginning of the following year.
The department warned pregnant women and children under five years to avoid visiting malaria-endemic areas, unless they take extra caution.
As the Southern African Development Community (SADC) observed Malaria Day on Monday, the Gauteng Department of Health (GDoH) said it continues to target public transport nodes, such as taxi ranks and bus stations, to heighten education among the public on prevention measures.
This comes as Gauteng hospitals reported 1 105 malaria cases and 10 deaths from January to September 2023, as a result of the life-threatening disease spread to humans by mosquitoes in endemic areas.
“The majority of people who were admitted and those who have demised as a result of the disease had travelled to Mozambique, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Angola,” the GDoH said, adding that these countries are known to be malaria-endemic regions. – SAnews.gov.za
Gabisile
Tue, 11/07/2023 - 10:08
The newly elected President of Rugby Africa (www.RugbyAfrique.com), the continental governing body for rugby in Africa, Mr Herbert Mensah, will discuss the business of sport in a one-to-one fireside chat at the 2023 Africa Investment Forum (AIF) (www.AfricaInvestmentForum.com) on Thursday, November 9 in Marrakech, Morocco.
Championed by the African Development Bank and seven other founding partners (Africa50, Africa Finance Corporation, Afreximbank, Development Bank of Southern Africa, European Investment Bank, Islamic Development Bank and Trade and Development Bank), the Africa Investment Forum is Africa's investment marketplace to accelerate transactions to close Africa's investment gaps.
Founded in 2018, the Africa Investment Forum has mobilized nearly $143 billion in investment interest. The event brings together heads of state, business leaders, decision makers and investors to advance critical investment transactions to closure. Previous attendees include H.E Paul Kagame, President of the Republic of Rwanda, H.E Cyril Ramaphosa, President of the Republic of South Africa, and H.E Nana Akufo-Addo, President of the Republic of Ghana.
The sports industry in Africa is experiencing rapid growth, with the potential to generate jobs, improve public health, foster social inclusion and drive economic growth. According to PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), the industry was valued at $7 billion in 2018 with an expected growth of $12 billion in 2027. Despite the potential, investment across Africa remains limited, with only 1% of startup financing directed towards the sport sector.
Rugby Africa President, Herbert Mensah, continues to emphasize the business potential of rugby across Africa. Since his election, President Mensah has called for a change of mindset from African governments and international organizations to increase investment in rugby across Africa. In June, President Mensah delivered a keynote speech on treating rugby as a lucrative business venture at the Bloomberg New Economy Gateway Africa 2023 event in Marrakech, Morocco.
Watch the video on the Bloomberg Website: https://apo-opa.info/466rOcr
The annual three-day Africa Investment Forum Market Days event will commence on Wednesday November 8 to Friday November 10 under the theme “Unlocking Africa's Value Chain” in Marrakech, Morocco.
Read more information about the Africa Investment Forum: https://www.AfricaInvestmentForum.com/en
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Rugby Africa.
Media contact:
Nicole Vervelde
Communications Advisor to the President of Rugby Africa
rugby@apo-opa.com
About Rugby Africa:
Rugby Africa (www.RugbyAfrique.com) is the governing body of rugby in Africa and one of the regional associations under World Rugby. It unites all African countries that play rugby union, rugby sevens, and women's rugby. Rugby Africa organizes various competitions, including the qualifying tournaments for the Rugby World Cup and the Africa Sevens, a qualifying competition for the Olympic Games. With 39 member unions, Rugby Africa is dedicated to promoting and developing rugby across the continent. World Rugby highlighted Ghana, Nigeria and Zambia as three of the six emerging nations experiencing strong growth in rugby.
US Secretary reiterates President Biden's commitment to extend AGOA
United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken has reiterated President Joe Biden’s commitment to extend the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) beyond 2025 when it expires.
“President Biden fully supports the reauthorisation of AGOA. But we don’t just want to extend AGOA – we want to work with the United States Congress to make it better. And that’s what this week’s dialogue is about,” he said on Friday.
Blinken was addressing delegates through a video speech at the three-day AGOA Forum at the Nasrec Expo Centre in Johannesburg.
Launched in 2000, AGOA grants exports from qualifying African countries duty-free access to the United States market.
“Last year, I travelled to South Africa to lay out the United States strategy to sub-Saharan Africa and to its core, it’s about partnerships -- what the United States can do with African nations and not for African nations.”
Blinken believes that AGOA is critical to realising this vision as thousands of people in sub-Saharan Africa have benefited in the past two decades.
“AGOA has meant new jobs, new skills, new connections and new investment. It has meant less corruption and greater human and labour rights.”
The piece of legislation, according to the United States Secretary of State, has translated into partnerships to advance new solutions to shared challenges from the climate crisis to food insecurity, to supply chain disruptions and vulnerabilities.
“More inclusive, sustainable growth is good for Africa and good for America and good for the world,” Blinken said.
In addition, he said America was dedicated to December’s African Leaders’ Summit commitments, which are essential to creating economies and societies where trade and investment can flourish.
Through the Partnership for Global Infrastructure Investment, Blinken believes his country is lending a helping hand to finance projects like the Lobito Corridor between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Zambia and Angola, which will enhance connectivity and make it easier to do business in and with Africa.
In addition, the United States, Blinken said, is mobilising US$8 billion in private and public investments to bolster climate resistance and advance women’s economic empowerment.
“We remain the single biggest country investor by far in food security and public health in the region and we’re working on new efforts like our VACS initiative to strengthen African seeds and soils,” he said, adding that they will support elevating African voices in global diplomacy.
Blinken welcomed the African Union joining the G20 and International Monetary Fund, which is working to expand sub-Saharan representation on its Executive Board.
On the other hand, he said the United States remain committed to reforming the United Nations Security Council to include permanent representation for Africa.
“This flourishing partnership between the United States and Africa gives me tremendous hope. And through gatherings like this, we continue to shape a future where workers and businesses are equipped and empowered, where governments are transparent and accountable, where all our people can thrive, and where our nations can come together for the good of our people and the world.”
AGOA is a United States Trade Act enacted on 18 May 2000 as Public Law 106 of the 200th Congress.
The AGOA legislation has been renewed on different occasions, most recently in 2015, when its period of validity was extended to September 2025.
The legislation significantly enhances market access to the United States for qualifying sub-Saharan African countries by allocating special programme indicators to about 6 800 tariff lines in the American tariff schedule.
This allows United States importers to clear goods sourced from eligible African countries duty-free under AGOA. – SAnews.gov.za
Gabisile
Fri, 11/03/2023 - 13:06
Hollard International (https://apo-opa.info/3tUpGWD) will extend its footprint in Africa through the finalisation, on 31 October 2023, of an agreement to acquire a significant interest in Apollo Investments Limited, the holding company of Kenya-headquartered insurer APA Insurance.
This strategic investment, subject to regulatory approvals, gives Hollard International a presence in the East African market, supplementing its existing operations in Southern and West Africa.
Hollard becomes the second international investor in the Kenyan group, following Swiss Re, which acquired a stake in 2014.
For APA, the partnership gives Kenya's second-largest insurer access to a larger market and expanded opportunities for growth, says Ashok Shah, Group CEO of Apollo Investments Limited.
“It's an exciting time for APA because the Hollard International partnership will open new doors and new avenues of growth for our business. We'll have access to substantial new expertise in classes of business such as Motor, Engineering, Marine and other specialist lines of insurance – which we believe will open up a number of profitable business opportunities.”
Expressing the significance of the partnership, Shah notes, "In addition to expanding our operations in Kenya, this venture will also enable us to strengthen our foothold in Uganda and Tanzania. Moreover, it positions us favourably to seize opportunities in the Ethiopian market once it becomes accessible.”
Pravin Kalpagé, CEO of Hollard International, is equally upbeat about the transaction, heralding it as “a vote of confidence in the Kenyan and East African markets”.
He says, “Hollard International has been looking for an East African partner for some time, and APA ticked so many boxes – it has an established track record, an impressive value proposition with strong broker and customer relationships, and it shares our values around community, reliability and customer-centricity. All these elements resonated strongly with us.
“This investment continues Hollard International's African model of finding strong local businesses and management teams with whom to partner in-country, rather than parachuting expatriates into a new market.”
He adds that exploring options in Francophone West Africa is next on Hollard International's to-do list.
Kalpagé has also pledged to bring Hollard International's model of “impact beyond insurance” to the East African market – as demonstrated in Mozambique and Ghana, among other countries.
Hollard Mozambique has developed risk-mitigation insurance products to protect smallholder and subsistence farmers – whose livelihoods are totally reliant on their crops – from extreme weather events through a partnership with local seed providers.
In Ghana, the MeBanbo microinsurance product arose from a partnership between Hollard Life, Vodafone Ghana and Sasai Fintech, a business of Cassava Technologies. It offers accessible, affordable life insurance cover, via an end-to-end digital platform, to the underserved Ghanaian market.
“This focus on being a catalyst for social impact in Africa is in line with Hollard's business purpose, which is to enable more people to create and secure a better future,” concludes Kalpagé.
In South Africa, Hollard is the largest privately owned insurance group, offering both life and non-life product suites. Hollard International extends insurance solutions outside of South Africa through operations in Namibia, Mozambique, Zambia, Lesotho, Botswana and Ghana, with East Africa (Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania) being added to the list through the APA transaction.
APA Insurance is owned by Apollo Investments Limited, which was founded in 1977 with a mission to provide “present and future peace of mind to the East African market and, in turn, enhance the quality of life for both our clients and loved ones”. Built on commitment, integrity and innovation, Apollo has since become one of the leading financial services groups in East Africa, with six companies under its belt.
Issued by Flow Communications on behalf of Hollard.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Hollard.
For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact Khaya Thwala on khayat@flowsa.com or +27 78 349 0668.
About Hollard International:
In South Africa, Hollard is the largest privately owned insurance group, offering both Life and Non-Life product suites. Hollard International extends insurance solutions outside of South Africa through operations in Namibia, Mozambique, Zambia, Lesotho, Botswana and Ghana, with East Africa (Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania) being added to the list through the APA transaction. https://apo-opa.info/3tUpGWD
About APA Insurance:
APA Insurance is part of the Apollo Group, one of the leading insurance groups operating in East Africa, providing a broad array of insurance solutions across Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. APA is one of Kenya's largest non-life insurers and provides access to Motor, Liability, Agriculture, Property and Health insurance as well as a unique range of micro-insurance products. APA Life Assurance is one the fastest growing life insurance companies in Kenya providing Individual Life, Savings, Investments and employee benefits solutions including Group Life, pensions and Annuities. Its other primary insurance business units include APA Life Insurance, APA Insurance in Uganda; an asset management company, Apollo Asset Management; and a property company, Gordon Court. The Apollo Associate in Tanzania is Reliance Insurance Company. https://www.APAInsurance.org/
Celebrating South Africa's victory against New Zealand in the final of the 2023 Rugby World Cup, Herbert Mensah, the newly elected President of Rugby Africa, (www.RugbyAfrique.com), the continental governing body of rugby across Africa, issues a message of congratulations addressed to Mark Alexander, President of the South Africa Rugby Union (SARU):
Dear Mighty Springboks,
Congratulations! We never doubted your greatness. We never doubted the results. From the very beginning, we knew that your indomitable spirit was in the right place. Your refusal to accept defeat was a testament to your character.
From the players who started the game to those who came off the bench, from the dedicated technical staff to the coaches, medics, and psychologists, we had faith. Losing was never an option.
On this day of greatness, with the ball that we love so much, which seemed to be drawn to YOU, following YOU and carrying YOU to this incredible victory.
All 1.4 billion of us followed YOU, pushed YOU on, sharing in your pain, knowing that YOU would lead us to victory.
To my dear friend and brother, Mark, congratulations.
To the coaches, the technical staff, and the dedicated support personnel, we extend our gratitude. To Siya, the greatest captain of this World Cup, and your entire squad, we thank you.
YOU have not only secured victory but offered hope to the hopeless, strength to the weak, and confidence to those who may have doubted themselves.
Africa thanks you, congratulations!
Herbert Mensah
President, Rugby Africa
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Rugby Africa.
Media contact:
Nicole Vervelde
Communications Advisor to the President of Rugby Africa
rugby@apo-opa.com
About Rugby Africa:
Rugby Africa (www.RugbyAfrique.com) is the continental governing body of rugby in Africa and one of the regional associations under World Rugby. It unites all African countries that play rugby union, rugby sevens, and women's rugby. Rugby Africa organizes various competitions, including the qualifying tournaments for the Rugby World Cup and the Africa Sevens, a qualifying competition for the Olympic Games. With 39 member unions, Rugby Africa is dedicated to promoting and developing rugby across the continent. World Rugby highlighted Ghana, Nigeria and Zambia as three of the six emerging nations experiencing strong growth in rugby.
Starbucks takes Sea Point Starbucks South Africa is delighted to announce the opening of a new double-story store in the picturesque neighbourhood of Sea Point, Cape Town. Situated along the stunning Atlantic coastline, Sea Point is a community like no other — a blend of scenic beauty, diverse population, enjoying an array of lifestyle choices. …
Large African delegation expected to attend the AGOA Forum in SA
A large number of African Trade Ministers and their delegations are expected to attend the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Forum taking place in South Africa next week.
“The US delegation at the Forum will be led by the US Trade Secretary Ambassador [Katherine Tai] together with members of the Congress, businesspeople and business delegation from around the continent,” Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Ebrahim Patel said.
Addressing the media on the state of South Africa’s readiness to host the AGOA Forum in Sandton, Johannesburg, earlier today, Patel said the Forum will also be attended by labour representatives from the United States and South African business people.
“We have taken steps to reduce barriers on trade. South Africa is the biggest trade market partner in the Sub-Saharan,” Patel said, adding that the forum is set to widen the trade corridors between South Africa, Africa, and the United States of America.
Patel explained that during the Forum there will be a number of break-away sessions as well as displays of products.
To date, 360 delegates from the US business sector, including the US Chamber of Commerce, together with delegates from Business Unity South Africa (Busa), Black Business Council, and Business Leadership South Africa have registered for the forum.
A further 80 labour representatives have registered to attend the Forum.
Minister Patel said about 520 firms were expected to exhibit their products at Nasrec.
The theme of this year’s Forum is: Partnering to Build a Resilient, Sustainable and Inclusive Agenda to Support Economic Development, Industrialisation and Quality Job Creation.
The AGOA is a United States of America trade programme that provides eligible countries in sub-Saharan Africa with preferential access to the US markets. The AGOA aims to promote economic growth, reduce poverty, and foster a stronger trade partnership between the United States and African nations.
South Africa will be hosting the AGOA Forum for 2023 in Johannesburg from 2 - 4 November 2023.
This will be the third time the AGOA Forum is hosted in Southern Africa after Zambia in 2011 and Mauritius in 2003.
The purpose of the Forum is to discuss ways to expand trade and investment relations between the United States and sub-Saharan Africa and the implementation of AGOA including encouraging joint ventures between small and large businesses.
The AGOA Forum will consist of the following elements:
The Formal AGOA Forum, with representatives of governments, and business/labour delegates.
Currently, 35 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa have been designated as eligible for AGOA benefits.
To qualify for AGOA, a country must first be eligible for the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) program. The GSP applies to 3 400 products from designated beneficiary countries, plus a further 1 450 products from least developed countries. AGOA supplements the GSP with an additional 1 835 products.
Only Sub-Saharan African countries are eligible for AGOA. The US determines whether countries have met these requirements of eligibility in Section 104 of the Act.
In order to qualify, countries must already be GSP beneficiary countries – though GSP eligibility does not imply AGOA eligibility. – SAnews.gov.za
Edwin
Thu, 10/26/2023 - 15:36
The eleventh edition of the COSAFA Women's Championship was held in Gauteng, South Africa between 4 - 15 October 2023; FIFA (www.FIFA.com) provides USD 1.25 million annually to COSAFA for the organisation of tournaments through FIFA Forward; For the fourth consecutive year, a research project dedicated to female health was conducted during the competition.
For the first time ever, Malawi were crowned COSAFA (Council of Southern Africa Football Associations) champions, thanks to a 2-1 win over defending holders and FIFA Women's World Cup debutants, Zambia in the final.
This year marked the eleventh edition of the tournament, which provides crucial playing opportunities for women's national teams and players in southern Africa. Malawi's triumph came at a tournament that featured two teams who had qualified for the Round of 16 of the FIFA Women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand: Zambia and South Africa..
Since 2017, FIFA has provided USD 1 million annually to COSAFA through its Forward programme to organise tournaments for senior women and youth (boys/girls) and USD 1.25 Million for the cycle starting in 2023.
"COSAFA is very happy with the year-on-year improvement in the level of play. This year we have seen a marked improvement by Malawi and Mozambique, as well as Eswatini and Lesotho,” said COSAFA Secretary General Sue Destombes.
“This development is largely due to FIFA's Forward grant to the Zonal Unions and the ability to organise consistent annual tournaments."
In addition to the COSAFA Women's Championship, FIFA Forward zonal funding also supported the hosting of the COSAFA qualifying tournament for the CAF Women's Champions League (from 30 August - 8 September 2023) in Durban, South Africa.
Working on initiatives that stimulate more women's national team activity is part of FIFA and COSAFA's ongoing commitment to promote the development of women's football competitions and advance the professionalisation of women's football in member associations in Southern Africa and around the world.
“We are proud that the FIFA Forward programme continues to contribute to women's football development in the COSAFA region. The 2023 edition of the COSAFA Women's Championship lived up to its elite status with all 12 teams performing well and new stars announcing themselves on the international stage," says Solomon Mudege, Head of Development Programmes – Africa.
"Congratulations to the Malawi women's team who emerged victorious. It's a fitting reward for all the efforts that the Football Association of Malawi is making for the development of talent in women's football and providing tailored support for female football players – under the FIFA Women's Football Development Programme and other related initiatives.
"Our sincere thanks also go to CAF and COSAFA for hosting this tournament and giving teams and officials the first-ever opportunity to work with VAR at this tournament. We are committed at FIFA to women's football development and will continue our work with CAF, the zones and FIFA member associations across Africa.”
During the tournament, COSAFA also began to implement elements of FIFA's Women's Health, Wellbeing, and Performance project (https://apo-opa.info/40afIMI). For the fourth year in a row, Dr Nonhlanhla S. Mkumbuzi has conducted extensive research on women's health. Her area of expertise is the health of female athletes - in particular the intersection between the biology of female athletes and the socio-economic, religious and cultural context in which they live.
“This Project demonstrates FIFA's dedication to increasing awareness and fostering a deeper understanding of this subject, thereby enhancing the confidence, health, well-being and performance of female players worldwide. Our goal is to highlight the importance of tailoring training and support for women, ensuring their holistic needs are met”, said Belinda Wilson, FIFA Senior Technical Development Manager.
“We know that we have a shortage of research on women and girls in sport: Most of that research has been conducted on women and girls from high income countries; women and girls from the global north," explains Dr Mkumbuzi. And this is where her research comes in. Her main motivation is to provide a research database so that in future, more accurate decisions can be made.
"Analysis where they can say for example in Africa the problem is ankle sprains; in Europe the problem is knees; in Asia the problem is concussions. Therefore, when we direct our resources for Africa, we are making sure we direct them towards the most relevant topics, instead of having a broad approach that benefits some, but doesn't quite provide the resources that you need for everyone," Dr Mkumbuzi continued.
"That's where we are coming from and I think it's a bit like Neil Armstrong. It's a tiny little step. We hope that somewhere we have a giant leap forward with other people taking on the same type of research - but in our case it a small little contribution that we hope can then lead to smaller contributions elsewhere and collectively we have a big research database."
The full interview with Dr Nonhlanhla S. Mkumbuzi on women's health and cultural differences will be available on FIFA.com soon.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of FIFA.
Contact for African media:
AfricanMedia@fifa.org
Celebrating South Africa's victory against England in the semi-final of the 2023 Rugby World Cup, Herbert Mensah, the newly elected President of Rugby Africa, (www.RugbyAfrique.com), the continental governing body of rugby across Africa, issues a message of congratulations addressed to Mark Alexander, President of the South Africa Rugby Union (SARU):
Dearest Mark, My Brother
Congratulations to YOU, Mark. Congratulations to the Springboks. In a tournament that began back in September, dedication and unity of the Springboks have been nothing short of extraordinary.
The path you've walked is not a sprint but a steady and relentless race. YOU have faced the world's best with unparalleled speed, tenacity and power.
The Springboks move as one, whether on the field with seven, fifteen or twenty-three players, or behind the scenes with the dedicated staff and medics.
Your achievements have not only left us in awe but have ignited a curiosity to the power of the Springboks. The greatest moments of rugby history have featured the Springboks, and now YOU have reached the final. Our pride in YOU knows no bounds.
From the very beginning to the end, it is the enduring spirit of positivity that will see us through. Mark, YOU and your team have embodied that spirit.
In all our languages, with all our spirits and power, we say congratulations to YOU and wish YOU the very best of luck in the final.
Go Springboks, go!
Herbert Mensah,
President, Rugby Africa.
Download official letter here: https://apo-opa.info/4070l7N
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Rugby Africa.
Media contact:
Nicole Vervelde
Communications Advisor to the President of Rugby Africa
rugby@apo-opa.com
About Rugby Africa:
Rugby Africa (www.RugbyAfrique.com) is the continental governing body of rugby in Africa and one of the regional associations under World Rugby. It unites all African countries that play rugby union, rugby sevens, and women's rugby. Rugby Africa organizes various competitions, including the qualifying tournaments for the Rugby World Cup and the Africa Sevens, a qualifying competition for the Olympic Games. With 39 member unions, Rugby Africa is dedicated to promoting and developing rugby across the continent. World Rugby highlighted Ghana, Nigeria and Zambia as three of the six emerging nations experiencing strong growth in rugby.
Pandor calls for urgent provision of humanitarian aid as Israel-Palestine conflict escalates
South Africa has called for an immediate end to hostilities and the unconditional provision of medical supplies and humanitarian aid as the conflict between Israel and Palestine escalates.
International Relations and Cooperation Minister, Dr Naledi Pandor, said this on Friday during her working visit to Zambia where she held talks with her counterpart Minister Stanley Kakubo in Lusaka.
She described the conflict between Israel and Palestine as “grave”.
According to various media outlets, the death toll of those killed since 7 October 2023 in the Gaza Strip has reached 4 127, including 1 661 children, while 13 162 people have been injured.
“The carnage and senseless destruction of property as well as the untold pain and suffering should be condemned unreservedly. These events remind us of our own suffering at the hands of apartheid machinery,” Pandor said.
The Minister said the relevant United Nations (UN) resolutions and decisions should now be fully executed to ensure peaceful co-existence between Israel and Palestine for sustained peace.
“In this regard, our struggle is not complete if the people of Palestine are not free.”
In the same breath, Pandor said leaders should take the opportunity to reinforce their support for the people of Western Sahara in pursuit of their right to self-determination.
“The immediate focus should be to ensure that the referendum is conducted in a free and fair manner. I am satisfied that we had an opportunity to exchange views on these important issues earlier on,” she added.
Repatriation
Meanwhile, Pandor told the Zambian delegate that government was inundated with requests from South African families for assistance in identifying the grave sites and repatriation of mortal remains of their loved ones.
“These are heroes and heroines of our struggle you sheltered during our dark days of apartheid.”
South Africa, she said, was looking forward to working closely with the Zambian government to accord these families closure.
“Whenever we touch down in this country, vivid memories of the support we received during the struggle against apartheid are evoked in our minds.”
According to Pandor, many of the freedom fighters either settled or transited through Zambia from as early as 1963 where the African National Congress (ANC) also established its headquarters in 1969.
“The Zambian people, within their means, provided security and shelter to our gallant fighters and their leadership, particularly OR Tambo whose leadership and resilience led to the intensification of our struggle in the 1980s,” she recalled.
Strategic partner
She noted that South Africa and Zambia also remain strategic partners because of the shared history and vision to foster a stable, cohesive, integrated, and prosperous Africa.
“South Africa will continue to work closely with Zambia and our regional partners to deepen peace and stability in Southern Africa and beyond.”
Pandor said a peaceful and stable region will enable the two governments to collectively rebuild their economies following the devastation of COVID-19 and restore people’s dignity.
“We must take advantage of the regional value chain projects in our region and contribute towards the fruition of the SADC Integration Agenda as well as the full implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCTA).”
Both countries are currently in the process of preparing for the Inaugural Session of the Bi-National Commission (BNC) which will take place in Zambia.
The BNC launch, she said, is overdue as the nations have not convened since 2017.
“We therefore need to utilise the occasion of the BNC to review the implementation of the existing 23 agreements and Memoranda of Understanding signed between the two countries.” – SAnews.gov.za
Gabisile
Fri, 10/20/2023 - 13:47
As South Africa reaches the semi-final of the 2023 Rugby World Cup, Herbert Mensah, the newly elected President of Rugby Africa (www.RugbyAfrique.com), the continental governing body of rugby across Africa, issues a message of support addressed to Mark Alexander, President of the South Africa Rugby Union (SARU):
Dearest Mark, My Brother
YOU have carried the hopes and dreams of an entire continent on your shoulders, and your journey to this point has been nothing short of spectacular. The Springboks are not just a team; YOU are a symbol of resilience, unity and determination.
As reigning World Champions, YOU have already achieved greatness, we have every confidence in your abilities and unwavering spirit.
Africa stands with YOU, proud of your achievements and excited for what the future holds. Together, we grow, we fight, and we stand as one, crafting a spirit that defines Africa's strength.
Show the world the power of the Springbok spirit, and may your performance be a source of pride all of us.
Go Springboks, go!
Herbert Mensah,
President, Rugby Africa.
Download official letter here: https://apo-opa.info/47guu79
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Rugby Africa.
Media contact:
Nicole Vervelde
Communications Advisor to the President of Rugby Africa
rugby@apo-opa.com
About Rugby Africa:
Rugby Africa (www.RugbyAfrique.com) is the continental governing body of rugby in Africa and one of the regional associations under World Rugby. It unites all African countries that play rugby union, rugby sevens, and women's rugby. Rugby Africa organizes various competitions, including the qualifying tournaments for the Rugby World Cup and the Africa Sevens, a qualifying competition for the Olympic Games. With 39 member unions, Rugby Africa is dedicated to promoting and developing rugby across the continent. World Rugby highlighted Ghana, Nigeria and Zambia as three of the six emerging nations experiencing strong growth in rugby.
The Minister of International Relations and Cooperation of the Republic of South Africa, Dr Naledi Pandor, will undertake a Working Visit to the Republic of Zambia to hold political and diplomatic consultations with her counterpart, Mr Stanley Kakubo, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, on 20 October 2023.
It is expected that the Ministers will discuss preparations for the Inaugural Session of the Bi-National Commission (BNC) at a date to be mutually agreed by both countries.
The Working Visit will also provide an opportunity to exchange views on regional, continental and international issues of mutual interest.
Zambia has assumed the role of Chair of the SADC Organ for Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation in August 2023. The Organ is responsible for safeguarding peace, democracy and good governance in the region.
Bilateral relations and the bond of friendship between the peoples of South Africa and Zambia date back to the 1960s when Zambia provided much-needed support to the South African anti-apartheid movement.
In 1992, relations between the two countries were conducted at the level of Representative Offices. Full diplomatic relations were established in 1994.
President Cyril Ramaphosa visited Zambia in August 2018. During the visit, the Agreement on the Establishment of the South Africa-Zambia BNC was signed.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of South Africa: Department of International Relations and Cooperation.
Prof. Dr. Frank Stangenberg-Haverkamp, Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej and African First Ladies of Botswana, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Central African Republic, The Gambia, Ghana, Liberia, Malawi, Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe, Zimbabwe, Democratic Republic of Congo, to inaugurate 10th Edition of Merck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary 2023 (http://www.Merck-Foundation.com); More than 10,000 participants including healthcare providers, policymakers, researchers, academia and media representatives from 70 English, French, Spanish and Portuguese speaking countries attended the Luminary through hybrid model to benefit from five parallel scientific and social sessions to advance healthcare capacity and awareness in 42 critical and underserved medical specialties; Celebrating 6th Anniversary of Merck Foundation and marking 11-year journey of their development programs, during 2023 Luminary; Merck Foundation reported the impact of providing 1700 scholarships to doctors from 50 countries in 42 critical and underserved specialties such as; Oncology, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Preventive, Endocrinology, Fertility, Embryology, Reproductive Care, Respiratory Care, Acute and Intensive Care, Neonatal Care, Pediatric Emergency, Advanced Surgery, Microbiology & Infectious Diseases, Internal Medicine, Ophthalmology, Psychiatry, Palliative Care and Pain Management and more; Merck Foundation marked Cancer Awareness Month during their annual conference.
Merck Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany, conducted their annual conference, the 10th Edition of “Merck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary”, in partnership with Tata Memorial Centre and Department of Atomic Energy, Ministry of External Affairs, Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Health of India, State Protocol Office of Government of Maharashtra and Krishna World University, Karad, on the 18th of October 2023 in Mumbai, India. The conference was inaugurated by Prof. Dr. Frank Stangenberg-Haverkamp, Chairman of Merck Foundation Board of Trustees, and Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation and Chairperson of Merck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary, along with African First Ladies of 11 countries;
Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation and Chairperson of Merck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary emphasized, “I am very proud to welcome our Guests of Honors and Keynote Speakers, the First Ladies of Africa and Ambassadors of “More Than a Mother” Campaign, for our annual conference that we have conducted first time in India. Together, we shared experiences and discussed the impact of our programs to transform patient care and raise awareness on a wide range of sensitive and critical social and health. Today we are also marking together Cancer Awareness Month, it is great to remember that Merck Foundation provided 138 scholarships of Oncology Training in many sub-specialties to doctors from 37 African countries, many of them have become the first oncologists in their countries. We are making history together in Africa, with our Ambassadors, First Ladies of Africa and our partners, Tata Hospital and Krishna University.”
Prof. Dr. Frank Stangenberg-Haverkamp Chairman of both of Executive Board of E.Merck KG and Merck Foundation Board of Trustees expressed “At Merck Foundation, our goal is improving overall health and well-being by building healthcare capacity and by providing access to quality & equitable healthcare solutions in the Africa, Asia and beyond. I would like to thank our partners, African First Ladies and Health Experts, Policy Makers, Government Officials, Academia and Media from more than 70 countries to join hands with us in order to realize the vision of Merck Foundation that “Everyone can lead a Healthy and Happy life.”
“I am proud to share that Merck Foundation has provided more than 1700 scholarships to young doctors from 50 countries in 42 critical and underserved specialties such as Oncology and Cancer care, Diabetes, Endocrinology, Cardiovascular, Fertility Care, Embryology, Sexual & Reproductive Medicine, Internal Medicine, Respiratory Medicine, Acute Medicine, Critical Care, Pediatric Emergency, Gastroenterology, Rheumatology, Clinical Psychiatry, Urology, Ophthalmology, General Surgery, Trauma & Orthopedic, Dermatology, Neonatal Care, Pain Management, Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases, Advanced Surgical Practice, Neuroimaging for Research and more. Many of them are becoming the first specialists in their countries. Many of these scholarships were conducted in India where a state of art clinical training was provided at the prestigious training institutions of our partners such as Tata Memorial Center, Manipal University, Maharashtra University, Krishna University, Indra IVF Training and more. Therefore, we are very happy to be this year in India to celebrate our 10 years partnership with our respectable Indian partners”, added Senator Kelej.
During the 10th Edition of Merck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary, the First Ladies of 11 African Countries, also the Ambassadors of Merck Foundation “More Than a Mother”, celebrated the 6th Anniversary of Merck Foundation and marked the 11-year journey of Merck Foundation development programs that started in 2012.
During the day 1 of the conference, the Plenary Session of Merck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary 2023 was held, during which a high-level panel meeting of Merck Foundation First Ladies Initiative Summit was conducted.
Day 2 of the conference will have important five parallel Medical and Scientific Sessions on Oncology, Diabetes & Hypertension, Fertility and Reproductive Care, and medical capacity building of other specialties such as; respiratory, acute care, emergency pediatric and neonatal care and more. Additionally, a community awareness session, the Merck Foundation Health Media Training session will also be conducted for the African journalists, to emphasize on the important role that they play to influence the community to create a cultural shift with the aim to Break Infertility Stigma, Support Girl Education, Stop GBV, End Child Marriage, End FGM, and Women Empowerment at all levels.
Countries participating in the 10th Edition of Merck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary include:
Angola, Bangladesh, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Central Africa Republic, Cambodia, Chad, Côte d'Ivoire, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, France, Gabon, Germany, Ghana, Guinea – Bissau, Guinea – Conakry, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Peru, Philippines, Russia, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Tanzania, Thailand, The Gambia, Togo, Tunisia, U.A.E, UK, Uganda, US, Vietnam, Zambia, Zimbabwe and more.
The 10th Edition of Merck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary 2023 was streamed live on the social media handles of Merck Foundation (https://apo-opa.info/3Ykd3hH) and Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej (https://apo-opa.info/3SfA0AF).
Link to the Facebook live steam of Inaugural Session of Merck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary & African First Ladies High Level Panel: https://apo-opa.info/3RYXLPa
Summarizing Merck Foundation's initiatives and impact:
Merck Foundation is transforming the Patient care landscape and making history together with its partners in Africa, Asia, and beyond, through:
• 1700+ Scholarships provided by Merck Foundation for doctors from 50 Countries in 42 critical and underserved medical specialties.
Merck Foundation is also creating a culture shift and breaking the silence about a wide range of social and health issues in Africa and underserved communities through:
• 3000+ Media Persons from more than 30 countries trained to better raise awareness about different social and health issues
• 8 Different Awards launched annually for best media coverage, fashion designers, films, and songs
• Around 30 songs to address health and social issues, by local singers across Africa
• 8 Children's Storybooks in three languages - English, French, and Portuguese
• 7 Awareness Animation films in four languages - English, French, Portuguese and Spanish to raise awareness about prevention and early detection of Diabetes & Hypertension and supporting girl education.
• Pan African TV Program "Our Africa by Merck Foundation” addressing Social and Health Issues in Africa through “Fashion and ART with Purpose” Community
• 1000+ Girls from 15 African countries supported through scholarships or school items, annually.
• 12 Social Media Channels with more than 5 Million Followers.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Merck Foundation.
Media contact:
Mehak Handa
Community Awareness Program Manager
+91 9310087613/ +91 9319606669
mehak.handa@external.merckgroup.com
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About Merck Foundation:
The Merck Foundation, established in 2017, is the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany, aims to improve the health and wellbeing of people and advance their lives through science and technology. Our efforts are primarily focused on improving access to quality & equitable healthcare solutions in underserved communities, building healthcare and scientific research capacity and empowering people in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) with a special focus on women and youth. All Merck Foundation press releases are distributed by e-mail at the same time they become available on the Merck Foundation Website. Please visit Merck-Foundation.com to read more. To know more, reach out to our social media: Merck Foundation (Merck-Foundation.com); Facebook (https://apo-opa.info/3Ykd3hH), Twitter (https://apo-opa.info/3Yo3y11), Instagram (https://apo-opa.info/3lsqM7q), YouTube (https://apo-opa.info/3CNFGLa), and Flickr (https://apo-opa.info/3JT8BSC).
The first day of the Critical Minerals Africa 2023 summit on Tuesday – organized by Energy Capital & Power (www.EnergyCapitalPower.com) – featured a series of presentations from leading industry experts, providing unparalleled insights into Africa's critical mineral reserves and geopolitical position in the global mining economy. The main conference program begins on Wednesday, October 18 and will feature a highly anticipated ministerial forum, investor briefings and panel discussions, taking place alongside African Energy Week in Cape Town.
Kicking off the agenda was a presentation by South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) exploring the future of critical minerals in the SADC – namely, copper in the DRC, South Africa and Zambia, lithium in South Africa and Zimbabwe, cobalt in the DRC and Zambia, graphite in Mozambique, manganese in South Africa, and nickel in Madagascar, South Africa and Tanzania. The ability to harness these reserves depends on several factors, including growing geoeconomic competition among China, the US and Europe, the ability of SADC states to manage regional value chains, and the urgency of global policy action toward renewable and low-carbon energies.
“In 20-30 years, not only will these minerals be in high demand, but how we put systems in place will be important,” stated Dr. Deon Cloete, Head of SAIIA's Futures Program. “We have focused on Rare Earth Elements (REEs) and the need to scale up exploration and extraction and develop the entire value chain. The transition to climate goals by 2050 is challenging and we need to be critical about how these fault lines are emerging. We propose a resource-based economy that challenges the paradigm of how we approach mining.”
The Critical Minerals International Alliance (CMIA) built upon the geopolitical nature of critical minerals development during its presentation, addressing China's race to solidify its leadership on the continent and its successful dual-pronged investment approach. Western nations have sought to counter this influence through various policy measures, including the US' Inflation Reduction Act, the EU's Critical Raw Materials Act and the Minerals Security Partnership, which seeks to secure a stable supply of raw materials for member economies.
“When we talk about critical minerals, we are focused on geopolitics — how they frame supply chains and influence pricing and how monopolies are increasingly changing the industry,” said Olimpia Pilch, Founder and COO of CMIA. “In a supply chain crunch, who gets priority and which industries will miss out? Those who have put in the work to have their own supply chain will be in a much better position.”
On the need to diversify mining supply chains, Roberto Cecutti, Head of Trade and Economics, EU Delegation to South Africa, stated during his presentation: "In terms of annual consumption, we have an aspirational target of covering at least 10% of extraction in Europe, 40% of processing and refinement and 15% of recycling capacity. We want to avoid dependence on the supply of one or more specific countries…This is why we have set this target, in which 65% should not depend on a specific country of origin of supply.”
"Each region has its own definition of what is ‘critical,' and what's critical for Africa may not be what's critical for the EU and vice versa. Africa has different requirements when it comes to minerals,” noted Sodhie Naicker, Managing Director: DMT Kai Batla and Consortium Partner: AfricaMaVal.
Energy research firm Rystad Energy also explored Chinese dominance within the low-carbon supply chain, as the country produces almost 90% of solar panels and is currently ramping up production of wind turbines. While Europe has made gains towards establishing its own clean energy supply chain, Africa remains reliant on imports to meet growing energy demand, despite having vast renewable energy potential and untapped mineral reserves.
“The resource potential for solar generation in Africa is more than enough to satisfy the needs of the planet – it's enormous,” said Per Magnus Nysveen, Senior Partner & Head of Analysis for Rystad Energy. “You can find sites for mining every mineral in sub-Saharan Africa.”
A presentation from Steenkampskraal – operator of the Steenkampskraal Mine in South Africa's Western Cape – underscored the continent's resource potential and its evolution into a critical and industrial minerals hotspot. The mine is home to one of the highest grades of REEs globally, is licensed to operate and possesses well-developed underground infrastructure with a low-capital, three-stage development plan.
“Not even 20% of the known resources have been mined,” emphasized Graham Soden, Director, CEO & Mine Manager of Steenkampskraal. “It puts the project at a unique level. It's fully legislative compliant, and we can get it up and running within one year.”
The agenda concluded with a presentation by Trade & Industrial Policy Strategies (TIPS), which explored opportunities to develop vanadium redox battery (VRB) manufacturing in South Africa and to position the country as a key player in the global battery value chain, with a view to exporting to other African and international markets. Demand for VRBs has skyrocketed in recent years – largely from China, Japan, Europe and the US – resulting in over 30 new VRB projects installed in 11 countries since 2014.
“Cell battery manufacturing remains to be proven competitive in South Africa. We have the industrial capacity, but we don't have a commercialized production,” said Lesego Moshikaro, Senior Economist for TIPS. “When you look at the short- to medium-term, South Africa cannot be competitive along the whole value chain, so it's important for us to choose key areas where we can excel.”
With its main conference program kicking off on October 18, the Critical Minerals Africa 2023 summit serves to position Africa as the primary investment destination for critical minerals. The event is held alongside the African Energy Week 2023 conference (www.AECWeek.com) from October 16-20, offering delegates access to the full scope of energy, mining and finance leaders in Cape Town.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital & Power.
South Africa's women's sevens team can look forward to their first-ever Olympics Games after winning the Rugby Africa Women's Sevens regional qualifying tournament in Tunisia.
Kenya pushed them all the way in the final in Monastir as they looked to book their place at a third Olympics having previously represented the region in Rio and Tokyo.
But the Lionesses came up just short, losing 12-7, and will now have to try their luck in the repechage – along with third place Uganda – in a bid to maintain their ever-present record.
Nadine Roos starred for South Africa throughout the two-day event, scoring nine tries and kicking 10 conversions including her side's first try in the final.
South Africa breezed through day one with comfortable wins against Zimbabwe (26-0), Uganda (19-0) and Tunisia (27-7) with Roos contributing 37 of their points.
A Roos hat-trick on day two then helped the Springbok Women's Sevens to beat Zambia 31-0 in the semi-final and set up a date with Kenya.
The Lionesses had kicked off their campaign with two big wins against Zambia and Ghana, scoring 68 points without reply, but nearly came unstuck against Madagascar in their final pool match, edging a tight contest 20-17.
Dennis Mwanja's charges had a far easier ride in the semi-final, beating Uganda 27-0, and went into the final with real confidence.
However, Kenya found themselves 5-0 behind at half-time with Roos' unconverted try the only thing separating the teams.
Sharon Auma then gave Kenya hope when she levelled the scores, Grace Okulu converting to send them into a 7-5 lead.
But Maria Thshiremba had the final say for South Africa when she scored from a set piece move, Roos adding the conversion to make it 12-7.
"A GREAT FEELING"
South Africa head coach Renfred Dazel said he was delighted for the players that they were able to create history and finally qualify for the Olympics.
“I feel so happy for the players who worked so hard to achieve this – we were denied in 2016 and 2020, but this time it is official, and it's such a great feeling,” said Dazel.
"We knew Kenya was going to be a tough opponent and I told the players that defence will win us this one. We did really well in the first half, but could not convert all our pressure into points, so when they took the lead in the second half, we had to fight hard.
“But once again, like in the Challenger Series final, we had the fight in us for the win and it was a great comeback.”
The Springbok Women's Sevens team earlier in the year secured core status on the revamped HSBC SVNS after winning the Challenger Series in Stellenbosch, and Dazel said qualifying for the Olympic Games will further boost their profile.
“It is huge for our system and it is huge for women's rugby in the country overall,” he said.
“There will be more opportunities now for girls to come and play rugby, so winning this weekend was immense for the women's game. The future looks bright.”
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Rugby.
As South Africa reaches the quarter-final of the 2023 Rugby World Cup, Herbert Mensah, the newly elected President of Rugby Africa, (www.RugbyAfrique.com), the continental governing body of rugby across Africa, issues letter of support addressed to Mark Alexander, President of the South Africa Rugby Union:
Dearest Mark, My Brother
In this most glorious of battles Africa is represented by the World Champions, the mighty, fearsome, indefatigable, fearless and blue print for all others, The Springboks (The insephe, Impalampala/Lithakayezi, سبرینغبوك,)!
We have followed Your success and shared Your pain. We have never feared because we realise that Springboks heal quicker than mere mortals.
Now we join you in what should be the finals! You are the reigning World Champions and you will battle with 15+ of France's finest PLUS 80,023 French supporters at the stadium (Stade de France, Saint-Denis) and 64 million French nationals!!
Africa as one are... we are in excess of 1.4bn. We are not religious. We are spiritual and WE will be the wind that You feel to propel you and to soothe You. Growing together, fighting together, battling together is what makes Africa invincible!
We are proud of You and stand by You in rain, wind, snow and sunshine. Our prayer for You, Mighty Springboks is simple ...
Thou, O Lord, art just and powerful: O Lord defend our cause against the face of the enemy. O God, thou art a strong tower of defence to all who fly unto thee: save us from the violence of the enemy. O Lord of hosts, fight for us; that we may glorify thee.
Go Springboks Go!
Herbert Mensah
President, Rugby Africa.
Download official letter here: https://apo-opa.info/48RahWL
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Rugby Africa.
Media contact:
Nicole Vervelde
Communications Advisor to the President of Rugby Africa
rugby@apo-opa.com
About Rugby Africa:
Rugby Africa (www.RugbyAfrique.com) is the continental governing body of rugby in Africa and one of the regional associations under World Rugby. It unites all African countries that play rugby union, rugby sevens, and women's rugby. Rugby Africa organizes various competitions, including the qualifying tournaments for the Rugby World Cup and the Africa Sevens, a qualifying competition for the Olympic Games. With 39 member unions, Rugby Africa is dedicated to promoting and developing rugby across the continent. World Rugby highlighted Ghana, Nigeria and Zambia as three of the six emerging nations experiencing strong growth in rugby.