Securing a brighter future for youth

15 June 2021

With South Africa commemorating Youth Day this week, government is set to announce additional measures intended to improve the lives of young people.

“This week, on Youth Day, we will be launching a range of additional measures to create opportunities, enhance skills development, support young entrepreneurs and enable the full participation of young people in the economy,” President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Monday.

Addressing South Africans in his weekly newsletter, the President said the measures that will be launched include the establishment of a National Pathway Management Network, SA Youth, to make it easier for young people to view and access opportunities, and receive active support to find pathways into the labour market.

Colombia and Africa, hand in hand

Dr Ibrahim Assane Mayaki, Chief Executive Officer of NEPAD, Mrs Angela Ospina de Nicholls of the Presidential Agency for International Cooperation (APC - Colombia) and Mr Carlos Andres Barahona Niño, Ambassador of Colombia to South Africa

10 June 2021

The President of Colombia Mr Ivan Duque Marquez sent his General Director, Mrs. Angela Ospina de Nicholls, of the Presidential Agency for International Cooperation (APC - Colombia) to enhance relations with the African continent. The envoy concluded an agreement between APC-Colombia and the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD) at a signing ceremony held at their headquarters in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Speaking with the Diplomatic Society Mrs Ospina de Nicholls and Mr Carlos Andres Barahona Niño, Colombia’s Ambassador to South Africa said the agreement is considered as a milestone in Colombia-Africa relations based on the principals of South-South Cooperation (SSC). Even though the geographic distances between the two are great they share a common history. As a matter of fact around one fifth of Colombians are Afro descendants.

Beauty of Russia

10 June 2021

Moscow   | Baikal   |   Kamchatka   | Taiga   |   Volga

Moscow – Capital City of the Biggest Country in the World

Moscow is the capital city of the Russian Federation, the “heart” of the country. It is the largest Russian city both in terms of its territory – Moscow takes 2 511 км² - and in terms of its population: there are almost 12 million of people living there, only by official account which, as many experts insist, grossly underestimates the real numbers. In any case, Moscow is the most populated city in Europe.

Explore the Philippines

11 June 2021

The celebration of the anniversary of Philippine Independence on June 12 every year has always been an opportunity for the Philippine Embassy to gather its friends and partners to give them the Filipino experience here in Pretoria. Unfortunately, the pandemic goes on and we are forced to socially distance from each other.

But true to the indomitable and resilient spirit of the Filipino, we, at the Embassy, firmly believe that we can still virtually celebrate this important milestone of Philippine nationhood.

Cuba and South Africa sign Cultural Cooperation Agreement

Ambassador Rodolfo Benitez Verson of Cuba and Minister Nathi Mthetwa signing the agreement

10 June 2021

As part of the celebrations of the 27th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between South Africa and Cuba, the South African Minister of Sport, Art and Culture Nathi Mthetwa and the Cuban Ambassador to South Africa, Rodolfo Benítez Verson, signed an Intergovernmental Agreement for Cooperation and Cultural Exchange between both countries.

The implementation of the agreement will allow increasing and consolidating cultural cooperation between Cuba and South Africa, through the organization in both countries of cultural workshops, music and film festivals, as well as artistic events of folk and contemporary dance, classical ballet, painting, and sculpture, among other modalities.

Resolving SA's energy challenge

10 June 2021

In an effort to resolve the country’s energy supply shortfall and reduce the risk of load shedding, President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced an intervention intended to achieve energy security.

“Following an extensive public consultation process and a significant amount of technical work undertaken by the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy, we will be amending Schedule 2 of the Electricity Regulation Act to increase the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) licensing threshold for embedded generation projects from 1 MW to 100 MW,” the President said.

Towards a Greener planet – COP 26

(image: pixabay.com)

10 June 2021

From 11 - 13 June British Prime Minister Boris Johnson gathers leaders of G7 nations, the EU and guest countries to unite, leading democracies to help the world fight and then build back better from COVID-19, and create a greener, more prosperous future.

At the end of October Johnson will host leaders again at the COP 26 summit taking place in Glasgow, Scotland together with their Italian partners. COP stands for Conference of the Parties that are the signatories of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) - a treaty agreed on in 1994 which has 197 Parties (196 countries and the EU).

African Union Launches World’s Largest Single Electricity Market 

9 June 2021

The African Union officially launched the African Single Electricity Market (AfSEM), the world’s largest continent-wide energy trading program meant to interconnect all 55 African Union Member States through efficient, affordable, and sustainable electricity market. The event took place on 3rd of June 2021.

Held virtually due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, the launching ceremony was attended by high profile officials of the African Union Commission (AUC) including H.E. Dr. Monique Nsanzabaganwa the Deputy Chairperson and H.E. Dr. Amani Abou-Zeid Infrastructure and Energy Commissioner, dignitaries from the 55-Member States, representatives of AU Specialized Institutions, Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and their institutions as well as development partners and the media, among others. The European Union, which supported the AU in designing AfSEM was represented by the EU Commissioner for Energy, H.E. Mrs. Kadri Simson.

South Africa and Rwanda to normalise diplomatic relations

Ministers Vincent Biruta and Naledi Pandor (photo: Jacoline Scoonees/Dirco)

8 June 2021

Dr Vincent Biruta, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Republic of Rwanda was on a working visit to South Africa on 4 June 2021. He met with his South Africa counterpart Dr Naledi Pandor.

The two Ministers met to assess the current state of bilateral relations as well as to iron out challenges that are affecting the conduct of relations between South Africa and Rwanda.

In a joint statement at the conclusion of the working visit the Ministers recalled the good bilateral relations that existed between the two countries prior to the events that led to the straining of relations in 2013.

7 June 2021

There are many limitations to the thinking that humans, animals and the environment exist separately. “Many of our shortcomings,” says Dr Fabiola Quesada, Founder of the Wild Spirit Fund, “stem from this short-sightedness. The chaos in the world caused by the Covid-19 pandemic is giving rise to the realisation that the three are all connected,” said Quesada at an official presentation of Wild Spirit Fund hosted by Mr Carlos Fernández-Arias, Ambassador of Spain to South Africa in conjunction with the Spanish Chamber of Commerce.

Powering the economy through alternative energy

5 June 2021

South Africa is finalising the much-anticipated Hydrogen Society Roadmap as the country shapes its industrialisation and economic pathway.

This development was recently outlined by the Department of Science and Innovation’s (DSI) Chief Director for Hydrogen and Energy, Dr Rebecca Maserumule.

Crafting the document began last year and is expected to be finalised in the next three months.

Dr Maserumule outlined this during a webinar on the future of alternative energy sources.