Ramaphosa Lauds Israel's Entrepreneurship Funding
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A positive he African National Congress has taken the a reality. “We would be delighted to deploy Wrote Joan Elias, “Put your pride in your move, Mr President. Now keep moving approach of disinvestment, disengagement, challenge funds together with the South African pocket. Go to Israel. You will be amazed forward. Speak to the Israeli ambassador and downgrading relations with Israel government, and to stimulate cutting-edge at what you will see and they would be in South Africa, visit Israel, and speak to Tsince Cyril Ramaphosa’s election in December technology in the private sector. thrilled to help you move forward in our people who can show you the right way 2017, so it came as a surprise when the president “We see a growing business interest between country with all their innovations and forward. Tey can teach you a lot. Are we himself lauded Israel’s economic and technological Israeli and South African companies especially proven techniques. Go Cyril, go!” seeing our prayers answered?” innovation at a conference in Johannesburg last in agritech, cyber security, fintech, mining tech, week. and healthcare. Te trade mission assisted in “Tey [Israel] are leading by leaps and bounds, facilitating more than R100 million of business South Africa...big in Japan and they are actually innovative in a number deals this year in these sectors in order to of sectors of the economy, in agriculture, in strengthen technology and innovation among maritime, and a number of other areas. Tey South African companies.” have shown that they can lead, and we can learn Te South African Jewish Board of Deputies a lot from what they do with challenge funds said the comments were positive, with National [funds that enable entrepreneurs to come up with Director Wendy Kahn remarking that “Israel business solutions to solve developmental issues]. has so much to offer South Africa in the area I find this very interesting and would like to know of technology, and we are encouraged by our more,” said Ramaphosa at the Women in Business president’s recognition of this potential for our Conference on 29 October. country.” In response to the president’s points, Israeli Ambassador Lior Keinan said, “Israel has become a world leader in innovation and “I’m certain that Israel would be more entrepreneurship. We are delighted to see Israeli tech discussed by President Ramaphosa. We are than willing to assist South Africa also delighted to see such an amazing result in should she be open to it. It’s time to our efforts to increase economic co-operation, upgrade relations between South trade, and investment. Te Israeli embassy will continue its mission to encourage avenues of co- Africa and Israel.” operation between Israel and South Africa for the betterment of our countries.” Rowan Polovin, the national chairperson of He was responding to a question about Israel’s the South African Friends of Israel (SAFI), said, technology investment model in the public and “We are most pleased that President Ramaphosa private sectors. appreciates Israel’s remarkable economic model Pointing out that South Africa could learn from of funding, innovation, and entrepreneurship. We Israel’s leadership in creative entrepreneurship, believe this model could be replicated in South he said, “I’m interested in this one you talk about Africa to the enormous benefit of our economy. in Israel, because one knows about what exists, “South Africa can only gain from opening up say for instance in other countries like the US. But to Israel and learning from the ‘start-up nation’. [Israel] funds enterprises in the technology space, Every other BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and you call it a challenge fund,” said Ramaphosa. and South Africa) nation except our country has “For me that’s a very interesting nomenclature realised the impact that Israel can make on the [classification], because it possibly could challenge country’s local economy. I’m certain that Israel the private sector, but it could also challenge the would be more than willing to assist South Africa entrepreneurs themselves that come out of the should she be open to it. It’s time to upgrade woodwork. ‘Here is money, come with plans and relations between South Africa and Israel.” innovative ideas which we can fund, and then A clip of the president making these remarks Johannesburg businessman Selwyn Trakman stopped traffic in Tokyo when he spotted Springbok rugby captain Siya Kolisi while crossing the busiest intersection in the city. we can seed your business.’ In many ways that was posted by SAFI on Facebook, where it was “There were zillions of people crossing the road, yet Siya didn’t hesitate to oblige when I [challenge funds] is what I guess has got Israel to widely shared. But some South Africans saw the asked him for a selfie,” said Trakman. lead in the technology space,” he added. comments as “too little, too late”, saying they Israel’s trade commissioner to Southern Africa, were contradictory. See World Cup stories on pages 8 and 9 2 SA JEWISH REPORT 8 – 15 November 2019 Shabbat times this week Evangelist’s comments on Jews and Afrikaners causes race row Starts Ends TALI FEINBERG covenant with the G-d of Abraham, Isaac, 18:11 19:03 Johannesburg and Jacob. Tey are the Jewish people and 19:03 19:58 Cape Town conomic Freedom Fighters (EFF) the Afrikaans people, that is fact.” 18:05 18:59 Durban Secretary General Godrich Gardee Wendy Kahn, the national director of the 18:15 19:16 Bloemfontein called for an upcoming gathering South African Jewish Board of Deputies, 18:15 19:29 Port Elizabeth Eof Christians to be “booby-trapped” said, “In our fraught South African 18:15 19:18 East London after evangelist preacher Angus Buchan environment where race and religion can was recorded as saying that only Jews be potentially divisive and sensitive issues, Appliance Repairs on Site and Afrikaners had a “covenant with it’s imperative that our words are chosen ers, G-d”, but both have since apologised for carefully. wash ish ves their comments. EFF Deputy President “Tese types of provocative comments s, D es, Sto ge achin Floyd Shivambu posted a video clip on from all parties in this conversation rid ng M F shi Twitter of Buchan convening a prayer serve only to polarise South a ryers & more W le D meeting to be held on 1 February in Africans further. We urge mb Call Jason Tu Pretoria. Shivambu wrote, “A racist all political, religious, and 082 401 8239 / 076 210 6532 Boer Pastor Angus Buchan says it’s communal leaders to FREE QUOTATIONS only the Boers & Jews who have a utilise speech that isn’t covenant inflammatory. We again Angus Buchan with G-d, endorse the campaign & he’s #NoPlaceforHate.” Michael David convening a Gardee to be “prosecuted” for his comments. QUALITY WORKMANSHIP predominantly Boers “Tis isn’t only hate speech, it’s incitement to Israel rejects NGO director’s meeting in Loftus violence. Godrich should be prosecuted,” he deportation appeal Rugby Stadium in said in a tweet of his own. February 2020. You Buchan apologised for his comment about Israel’s Supreme Court has rejected an appeal can wish whatever Jews and Afrikaners in a Facebook post. by the local director of Human Rights Watch Tired of your old you want Afrika [sic], “Having stated that the Jews and the against deportation over his involvement in but these people Afrikaans people were the only two nations the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) worn-out furniture? don’t want us.” that had a covenant with G-d is totally wrong movement. Omar Shakir was ordered to leave Rejuvenate your home... In response, and for that statement, I humbly ask your the country within 20 days. He was expelled Gardee said, “Tat forgiveness,” he said. from the country a year ago. • Custom upholstery stadium needs some Gardee responded on social media that he “Te court confirmed that while in Israel, • Furniture repairs Michael limpet mines booby- didn’t accept the apology. “Tis is what we Shakir spent his time unjustifiably vilifying • Dining room suites trapped around it are subjected to … stir up racial disharmony Israel and promoting BDS activities,” said • and more 082 820 7091 prior to that date. and apologise when taken to task … the fact Maurice Hirsch, an attorney for NGO Ten let’s see what is that the man sees Africans in their own Monitor. “Despite his claims, Shakir’s 430 Louis Botha Avenue, cnr Main Street, Rouxville happens to the only country and continent as subhuman and not work had very little, if anything, to do with people who have a worthy of G-d.” But he eventually apologised protecting human rights.” ‘covenant with G-d’.