zansi ews

Issue no. 1, July 2011

South African Embassy, 17th Floor, Sason Hogi Towers, 12 Abba Hillel Silver Street, Ramat-Gan, Tel 03-5252566, Website: www.safis.co.il

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Welcome to another exciting edition of news from the most Southern part of

the African Continent, captured in this 1st edition of the Mzansi News.

As always, there is so much happening in our part of the world that itbecomes impossible to capture it all. At the top of the list is the birthday offormer President Nelson Mandela. We have been blessed with another year tospend with him and hope to count some more. 93 years is a bonus for anyonebut for Madiba it is far more; having spent 27years of a life sentence in prisonis no mean feat.

In its many international activities, South Africa has joined BRICS. Since South Africa’s joining the group, itbecame evident that one BRIC cannot build much, but many BRICS will go a long way to building andcontributing to the economies of the developing world. In addition, South Africa recently hosted the 2ndTripartite Summit which aims to integrate the economies of Southern and Eastern Africa more speedily.

South Africa’s first Green Economy Summit was held in Johannesburg in May. South Africa is also proud tohost the 17th Conference of Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP17/CMP7)from 28 November – 09 December 2011 in Durban.

In these difficult economic times, it is pleasing to see major manufacturers investing resources in SouthAfrica. This is true for Ford and the TATA Group. These initiatives will contribute significantly to the SouthAfrican Government’s attempts at creating jobs and enhancing the quality of jobs being created.

The waves of struggle made by the youth of 1976 in changing the political landscape in South Africacontinues to this day, as we celebrated Youth Month in June to commemorate those brave young peoplewho refused to be fed substandard education. In remembering the past we also marked the 48thanniversary of the arrest of the Rivonia Trialists, among them were Nelson Mandela and the late ArthurGoldreich, who, sadly passed away on 25 May 2011.

Sadly, I would like to bid farewell to comrade “Ma-Sisulu” and Professor Kader Asmal, stalwarts of the SouthAfrican struggle who have passed on. Their contributions to South Africa and internationally will remain alegacy for generations.

I look forward to your continued feedback and interaction on issues which have can have a positive effecton changing the lives of the people of South Africa, Africa and the world for the better.

Ismail CoovadiaAmbassador

MADIBA’S BIRTHDAY PRESENT

South African President JacobZuma paid a special visit toNelson Mandela at his home inQunu in the Eastern Cape andpresented him with anarchitect's model of the NelsonMandela Legacy Bridge as a giftfor his 93rd birthday.

The Nelson Mandela LegacyBridge will be constructedacross the Mbashe Riverbetween Mvezo village, NelsonMandela's birthplace, in theKing Sabata Dalindyebomunicipality, and Ndondolovillage in the Mbashemunicipality. Read More…

Source: www.southafrica.info

“HAPPY BIRTHDAY MADIBA”

t 08:05 on Monday, 18 July 2011,around 12million school children all over South Africasang "Happy Birthday" to Nelson Mandela ashe celebrated his 93rd Birthday – echoing thesentiment of people across the world. Theoccasion was televised by the nationalbroadcaster. Read More..

Source: www.southafrica.info

The legacy of Nelson Mandela was given wingsearly July with the unveiling of the Mandela Day logo by South African Airways (SAA) onthe first aircraft of its entire fleet. The new branded A330-200 Airbus is the fourth out of six new such branded aircraft.

In celebration of Madiba’s birthday, SAA andits partners also flew 93 underprivilegedchildren from all nine provinces to theNelson Mandela Foundation, giving them theirfirst flying experience. Read More..

Source: Nelson Mandela Foundation.

SAA aircraftbranded withMandela Daymaterial

Nelson Mandela with some of his family in Qunu on the day before his 93rd birthday. (Photo: Nelson Mandela Foundation)

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South African President Jacob Zuma at the third

BRICS Leaders Meeting in Sanya, China, 14 April

2011 (Photo: GCIS)

SOUTH AFRICA JOINS BRICS

South Africa joined BRICS, the powerful

emerging market group comprising of

Brazil, Russia, India and China during

the BRICS leaders’ meeting held in Sanya,

China on 14 April 2011.

During the opening, President Zuma said

it was a great honour for South Africa to

attend the Summit.

The five BRICS members all are currently

serving on the UN Security Council, either

as non-permanent members (Brazil, India

and South Africa) or permanent members

(China and Russia).

South Africa's inclusion in BRICS, has

given the continent of Africa new

geopolitical significance. Read more…

Source: www.southafrica.info

TRIPARTITE SUMMIT

South Africa hosted the Second Tripartite

Summit of the Common Market for East

And Southern Africa (COMESA), East

African Community (EAC) and the

Southern African Development Community

(SADC) on 12 June 2011 in Sandton,

Johannesburg.

The creation of a single Free Trade Area (FTA)

would see the coming together of combined

population of approximately 700 million people

and a Gross Domestic Product of US$875 billion

from 26 countries. This would open borders to

approximately half of the continent, spanning the

entire southern and eastern regions of Africa –

from Cape to Cairo. Read more…

Source: BuaNews

SOUTH AFRICA ON THE INTERNATIONAL STAGE

FIGHTING PIRACY : Despite a hike in attacks bySomali pirates, the actual number of vesselsbeing hijacked off the east Coast of Africa fell to13% of all ships captures, compared with 27% ayear ago. South African Minister of Defence andMilitary Veterans, Ms Lindiwe Sisulu, called onSADC countries to put in place robust laws to

effectively prosecute pirates. Read more…

Source: http://www.buanews.gov.za/index.html

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REMEMBERING THE PAST

HONOURING LILIESLEAF FARM,RIVONIA

Monday, 11 July 2011, marked the 48th

anniversary of the arrests of keyactivists in 1963 on Liliesleaf Farm (ownedby the late Arthur Goldreich) which led to amajor change in the history of SouthAfrica and the struggle against apartheid.

During the anniversary celebrations,President Zuma said these arrests andevents that followed, made South Africawhat it is today. The discovery of the farmand the trail that followed, sent the “RivoniaEight” to life imprisonment for sabotage.

The Department of Arts and Culture haddecided to declare the farm a nationalheritage site to make sure that it was

properly preserved. Read more…

Source: www.southafrica.info

ON THE TRAIL OF THE 16 JUNE '76 STUDENTS

This year’s Youth Month (June) was markedby declaring the route that protestingSoweto school students took on 16 June 1976as a heritage trail.

With this trail, visitors can now relive theevents of 16 June 1976, the day that markedthe beginning of the end of apartheid. Byretracing the steps of the Soweto studentsand children, heart-rending anecdotes aretold by locals who were likely participants,bystanders or spectators on the day it allexploded.

The heritage trail begins at Morris IsaacsonHigh School in Jabavu, where the protestgained momentum, after starting at NalediHigh School, in the southwestern end of thetownship. Read more..

Source: www.southafrica.info

16 June 1976: a day that changed the course of South Africa's history(Photo: City of Johannesburg)

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FREEDOM DAY CELEBRATIONS

South Africa celebrated 17 years offreedom and democracy and itsachievements as a nation on 27 April2011. In South Africa, Freedom Dayprovided a platform for all SouthAfricans to collectively participate inthe commemoration of the pain andstruggle to build a non-racial,democratic and free South Africa inwhich all South Africans, have thefreedom to prosper.

Ambassador Coovadia & Minister Binyamin Begin

The theme for this year’s celebration was “Working Together to Unite the Nation, PromoteDemocracy and Protect Freedom.”

Apart from celebrations throughout South Africa, President Zuma bestowed the NationalOrders, the highest civilian awards, to 36 South Africans for their contributions to SouthAfrican society. In addition, four foreign nationals, including former Brazilian President Lulada Silva received the Order of the Companions of OR Tambo. Read more….

The Embassy in Tel Aviv celebrated the event by hosting a reception on Thursday, 28 April2011 at the Dan Tel Aviv Hotel. The State of Israel was represented by Minister BinyaminBegin, Minister without Portfolio. Approximately 300 guests attended and joined in singingthe national anthems of South Africa and Israel before enjoying some traditional delicasies.

(Above) Guests at the reception and (right) Embassy personnel and some cupcakes. Photos: Andres Lacko 5

AFRICA DAY CELEBRATIONS

South Africa, together with the elevenother African countries accredited to theState of Israel celebrated Africa DayCelebrations on 25 May 2011 with areception at the residence of theEmbassy of Nigeria. The theme of theevent was “Accelerating YouthEmpowerment for sustainabledevelopment.” Minister Uzi Landau,Minister of National Infrastructure for theState of Israel was the Guest of Honour.

A group photograph of the African Ambassadors and Charge d’Affaires accredited to the State of Israel. Photo: Philip Kouame Kablad

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LONG SERVICE AWARDSTwo Embassy staff members recently received recognition for long service. The two colleagues, Messrs Haggai Ben David and Shmuel Tal, both celebrated their 30th year of service. Another colleague, Mr Colin Winkler, will be celebrating his 25th year with the Embassy in August. Congratulations and thank you for your dedicated service to the people of South Africa throughout the years!

The Harry Oppenheimer Museum in Ramat-Gan is currently hosting the All About Diamonds Shining Light Awards Diamond Design Collection 2010 – 2012. The collection features 30 magnificent pieces, created by designers from South Africa, Namibia and Botswana. Read more…

Mr Shmuel Tal, Ambassador Coovadia and Mr Haggai Ben David

H.E. Ambassador Coovadia, Mr ShmuelSchnitzer, Chairman of the Board of the Harry Oppenheimer Museum, Ms VardaShine, Chief Executive Officer, DTCPhoto: Kobi Fochs

GOING GREEN GREEN ECONOMY SUMMIT

South Africa’s 1st Green Economy Summitwas held in Johannesburg during the week of16 May 2011.

President Zuma, during his address at thesummit, committed his government toembarking on a new path that will aim atcreating jobs through focussing on the greeneconomy and climate friendly initiatives.

The President further said that renewableenergy is becoming an increasingly viablealternative to the energy sources that fuelledthe growth of the developed world.

Both Economic Development MinisterEbrahim Patel and Environmental AffairsMinister Buyelwa Sonjica said that therenewable energy industry could boost theGovernment’s plans of halvingunemployment by 2014.

In a unity statement produced at the end ofthe conference, delegates committedthemselves to ensuring that the country'sgrowth path is resource sufficient, far lesscarbon intensive and more labour absorbing.Read more….

Source: BuaNews

SASOL TO BUILD GAS POWER PLANT

South African petrochemical giant Sasol is to build South Africa’s largest gas power plant in Sasolburg in the Free State Province.

The R1.8-billion facility will produce electricity from natural gas, and will have a capacity of 140MW. Read more….

Source: www.southafrica. info

Sasol's plant at Secunda in Mpumalanga province is the largest synthetic fuels facility in the world (Photo: Sasol)

EASTERN CAPE FARMERS IN “GREEN” DAIRY VENTURE

A newly established South African dairy company has taken the lead in milk processing, and boasts the smallest carbon footprint of any dairy in the southern hemisphere.

The idea to establish a dairy with green credentials came about in 2010 when a group of Eastern Cape dairy farmers decided that they wanted to create a facility that could add value to locally produced milk. Read more…

Source: www.southafrica.net 7

GOING GREEN (CONTINUED) & FLYING TO SOUTH AFRICA

TOP AIRPORTS IN AFRICA

South Africa's three majorInternational airports, OR TamboInternational, Cape Town Internationaland King Shaka International, scored atreble at the 2011 Skytrax WorldAirport Awards, held in Copenhagen,Denmark being named the top threeairports in Africa.

The awards were based on the resultsof an annual survey of 11.38-millionquestionnaires completed by airlinepassengers over 100 differentnationalities, covering more than 240airports worldwide.

The survey, highly regarded for itsclarity and independence, bases itsresults on unsolicited Customerresponses, with no subscription ormembership required for an airport tobe included. It evaluates travellerexperiences across 39 different airportservice and product factors, fromcheck-in, arrivals and transferthrough to departure at the gate. Read more…Source: http://www.southafrica.info/

Coca-Cola South Africa celebratedthe opening of its new “green”Valpré Spring Water plant inHeidelberg, south-east ofJohannesburg, by launching anenvironment-friendly plastic bottle– of which 30% is organic material.

The US$54-million (R371-million) state-of-the-art facility was opened on 7 July 2011 by the Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs Edna Molewa

South Africa is the 10th market in the world to launch the bottle. The newly introduced PlantBottleis Africa’s first completely recyclable plastic bottle. Read more….

Source: http://www.mediaclubsouthafrica.com/

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INVESTING IN WHEELS

FORD READY TO EXPORT FROM SOUTH AFRICA

Ford Motor Company announced in Junethe completion of a two-year, US$500-million (R3.4-billion) upgrade of itsmanufacturing and assembly plants inSouth Africa. With this upgrade, the plantwill be able to produce and export itsnew Ranger diesel pickup trucks to 148countries, mostly in Africa and Asia.

According to Automotive BusinessReview, Ford's Struandale, Port Elizabethengine plant has been extensivelyupgraded and is now capable ofproducing 75 000 engines and 220 000engine component kits a year.

However, it’s South Africa investment wasnot just aimed at growing local marketshare. The Ford motoring company wastransforming its South African operations"from a domestic to global manufacturingsite". Read more….

Source: http://www.southafrica.info/

TATA OPENS TRUCK PLANT IN SOUTH AFRICA

Tata Motors and Tata Africa recentlyopened a joint venture investmentassembly plant outside Pretoria. The R100-million assembly plant can assemble light,medium and heavy trucks, at a rate of3,650 vehicles a year.

In a statement issued by Tata, it ismentioned that the investment is R110-Million and that “the plant can assemble,from semi knocked down kits, light,medium and heavy commercial vehiclesranging from 4 to 50 tonnes, with anannualised capacity of 3,650 vehicles. Thecapacity can be further expanded asrequired.”

To begin with , two models, the Tata LPT813 and Tata LPT 1518, both already

popular in South Africa, will be assembled.Read more…Source: http://www.southafrica.info/

Tata Motors' assembly plant in Rosslyn outside Pretoria (Photo: Tata Motors)

The all-new Ford Ranger pickup truck will be manufactured in South Africa (Image: Ford Motor Company)

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ECONOMIC OUTLOOK

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) hasraised its growth forecast for South Africa inits latest World Economic Outlook (June2011), exceeding an upgraded forecast foremerging and developing economies asa whole, and in contrast to a loweredforecast for advanced economies.

According to Business Report, the IMF raisedits April forecast for South Africa's economicgrowth from 3.5% to 4% for 2011, and from3.8% to 4.2% for 2012.

More widely, for sub-Saharan Africa, the IMFforecast that economic activity wouldcontinue strengthening, with domesticdemand remaining robust, and commodityexporters benefiting from elevated prices.Read more…Source: http://www.southafrica.info/

ECONOMY GROWS BY 4.8% IN FIRST QUARTER OF 2011

South Africa's economy grew by a higher-thanexpected 4.8% in the first quarter of 2011,driven by increased manufacturing activityand despite a contraction in agriculture dueto floods in January and February.

According to Statistics South Africa (Stats SA),the seasonally adjusted real GDP at marketprices for the first quarter of 2011 increasedby an annualised rate of 4.8% compared withan increase of 4.5% (revised from an increaseof 4.4%) in the fourth quarter of 2010.

According to Stats SA, contributors to theeconomic activity were themanufacturing sector, which contributedthe most to the economy at 2.2%. Thissector has a relative size of 15.1% of theeconomy.

The finance, real estate and businessservices contributed one percentagepoint to growth, followed by thewholesale, retail, motor trade andaccommodation industry. Read more…

Source:http://www.southafrica.info/

SIGNING OF NATIONAL SKILLS ACCORDS

A milestone in the South AfricanGovernment’s New Growth Path (NGP)was celebrated with the signing of theNational Skills Accord and the Accord onBasic Education and Partnerships withSchools on 13 July 2011.

Present at the signing ceremony werethe Minister of Economic DevelopmentMr Ebrahim Patel, together with theMinisters of Basic Education, AngieMotshekga and Higher Education &Training, Dr Blade Nzimande. Alsopresent were leaders of business, labourand the community.

The objective of the Accord is to developa partnership between theconstituencies to strengthen skillsdevelopment as a crucial pillar of theNGP.. Read more….

Source: http://www.gcis.gov.za/

SOUTH AFRICA & IMF’s WORLD ECONOMIC OUTLOOK

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FIGHTING CRIME

MOBILE POLICE STATIONS The fight against crime has taken aninnovative turn with the deploymentof more mobile police stations invarious central business districtsaround South Africa.

Clothing and textiles retailer Edconhas provided the South AfricanPolice Service (SAPS) and theCommunity Policing Forum with10 trailers worth R800 000 in total.

With the new additions, the numberof police trailers has increased to 19,which allows the project to go national.

The objective of the project was toboost awareness of crime and helpimprove police presence, visibilityand service delivery in crime hotspots.Read more…Source: http://www.southafrica.info/

SOUTH AFRICA’S ANONYMOUS CRIME

TIP-OFF LINE

Over 1,000 arrests have been made andmore than R40-million worth of stolengoods and drugs seized since the launchof Crime Line, a groundbreaking anti-crime initiative that allows members ofthe public to make anonymous SMS tip-offs on suspected crimes at any time ofthe day. Read more….Source: http://www.southafrica.info/

The South African police are now more mobile and visible, thanks to the mini police stations (Photo: http://www.edcon.co.za/

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LET’S SURF AND RUN

Participants in the Surfing South Africa Development Surf Camp line up on Cape St Francis Beach

Photo: Surfing South Africa)

DEVELOPING SOUTH AFRICA’S FUTURE

SURF CHAMPIONS

Surfing South Africa's inaugural DevelopmentSurf Camp took place in the Eastern Capeduring the week of 20 July. The DevelopmentSurf Camp included surfing, hands-oncoaching, tag-team competition and freesurfing, but there was much more for theinvited surfers, coaches and managers, whowere given a chance to visit the Billabong Proat Jeffreys Bay, where the world's best surferswere in action at the legendarySupertubes break.

The 13 girls and 17 boys who took part in thisexercise were drawn from all parts of theSouth African coast. They were put throughtheir paces by national coach Graham Hynesand Surfing South Africa (SSA) coachingDirector Ant Brodowicz.Read more…Source: http://www.southafrica.info/

SOUTH AFRICA 7TH AT THE ISA WORLD SURFING GAMES

South Africa finished in seventh place out of 27 nations at the 2011 Billabong ISA World Surfing Games in Panama, which ended in inconsistent one-metre waves at Playa Venao early July. The eight-person team collected one medal, copper, for being fourth in the Aloha Cup event. Read more….

OSCAR ACHIEVES OLYMPICQUALIFYING TIME

Double amputee Oscar Pistorius achieved a long-held dream in Lignano, Italy when he ran a qualifying time for the 400 metres at this year's World hampionshipsand the 2012 London Olympic Games.

It was his last opportunity to achieve the qualifying standard of 45.25 seconds and, with fairytale timing, the 24-year-old did it, smashing his previous personal best of 45.61 seconds with a time of 45.07 aseconds.

It makes him the fifteenth fastest 400 metres runner in the world this year. South African 400 metre hurdler LJ van Zyl occupies sixth place with a time of 44.86 seconds. Read more….

Source: http://www.southafrica.info/

Oscar Pistoriusas he appears in an advertisement for Nikehttp://www.nike.com/nikeos/p/nike/language_select/

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“MA- SISULU”

Albertina Sisulu, wife of veteran African National Congress leader Walter Sisulupassed away on 2 June at the age of 92 at her home in Linden, Johannesburg.

MaSisulu, as she was commonly known, was the oldest serving member of the African National Congress (ANC). PresidentZuma honoured the late activist by saying that “she reared, counselled, nursed and educated most of founders of the democratic South Africa.”

The President went further by saying:“While we mourn her loss, we must thank her most profoundly for the selfless service to all South Africans and humanity at large, for her generosity of spirit and forteaching the nation humility, respect for human dignity and compassion for the weak, the poor and the downtrodden.“ Read more…Source: http://www.southafrica.info/

Albertina and Walter Sisulu, cast in cement in Johannesburg's CBD. The sculpture stands in Diagonal Street, opposite the building which was once home to Sisulu's offices. Artist: Marina Walsh(Photo: Johannesburg Development Agency)

PROFESSOR KADER ASMAL

Professor Kader Asmal, former Minister of

Water Affairs & Forestry and Education

Passed away at the age of 76 at the

Constantia Medi Clinic in Cape Town on 22

June 2011.

Former President Mbeki said "[Kader Asmal

was] an outstanding fighter for the

liberation of South Africa and one of the

architects of our democracy. Comrade

Kader had a keen intellect, a fierce loyalty

to principle and a firm and sustained

commitment to serve the people of South

Africa,” Read more….

Source: http://www.buanews.gov.za/

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PAYING TRIBUTE TO….

Kader Asmal was an internationally renowned authority and sought-after speaker on human rights (Photo: SA Reconciliation Barometer)

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