UBUNTU magazine – issue 24 cSouth Africa’s Publicr Diplomacye in actiond its Publisher Advertising Clayson Monyela Nthabiseng Makuwa – [email protected] Tel: +27 12 351 0388 UBUNTU Editor-in-Chief a Nguni word meaning humanity Michelle Greeff – [email protected] Distribution Tel: +27 12 351 1743 Olwethu Koli – [email protected] The Department of International Relations Tel: +27 12 351 0006 and Cooperation’s quarterly magazine Editor Delien Burger – [email protected] Tel: +27 12 351 0948

Photographers Jacoline Schoonees, Yandisa Monakali, Katlholo Maifadi and Yolande Snyman, Department of International Relations and Cooperation; Government Communication and Information System; South African Tourism; UN Photo; Counterspace; Mabi Gabriel Thobejane Facebook page; Cameron Venti Unsplash; Marian de Pontes; Kruger Shalati Facebook page; Chris Pizzello; Sindiwe Magona Facebook page; AdobeStock; Diriye Amey; klipopmekaar.co.za; SA Reserve Bank Facebook page; Dirk van Rooyen; Pixabay; and Hougaard Malan

Acknowledgements President Cyril Ramaphosa; Dr GNM Pandor, Minister of International Relations and Cooperation; Stella Ndabeni- Abrahams, Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies; Candith Mashego-Dlamini, Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation; Alvin Botes, Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation; Ambassador Rapulane Molekane, Permanent Representative of South Africa to the United Nations and other International Organisations in Vienna, Austria; Dr Bobby J Moroe, Deputy High Commissioner of South Africa to the Federal Republic of Nigeria; Lesetja Kganyago, Governor of the South African Reserve Bank; Ruth Simbao, South African Research Chair in Geopolitics and the Arts of Africa, Rhodes University; John Luiz, Professor of International Business Strategy and Emerging Markets at the University of Sussex and the Graduate School of Business, University of Cape Town (UCT); Dr Bhaso Ndzendze, Head of the Department of Politics and International Relations at the University of Johannesburg (UJ); and Professor Tshilidzi Marwala, Vice-Chancellor and Principal of UJ, Deputy Chairperson of the Presidential Commission on the Fourth Industrial Revolution and member of the Namibia Fourth Industrial Revolution Task Force; Enrico Bonadio, Reader in Intellectual Property Law, City, University of London, and Magali Contardi, PhD Candidate, Intellectual Property Law, Universidad de Alicante; Professor Justine Olawande Daramola, Cape Peninsula University of Technology; Ian Goldin, Professor of Globalisation and Development and Director of the Oxford Martin Programmes on Technological and Economic Change and Future of Development, University of Oxford; United Nations Environment Programme; David M Witelson, PhD Candidate, University of the Witwatersrand (Wits), David Lewis-Williams, Emeritus Professor, Wits, David Pearce, Associate Professor, ON THE COVER Wits, and Sam Challis, Senior Research Scientist, Wits; Matthew Barac, Reader in Architecture, London Metropolitan University; Liani Maasdorp, Senior Lecturer in Screen Production and Film and Television Studies, UCT, and Ian-Malcolm Tremendous progress has been made in addressing Rijsdijk, Senior Lecturer in Film and Television Studies, UCT; Lindelwa Dalamba, Music Lecturer, Wits, and Phillippa Yaa the challenges faced as a country and a continent in access to vaccines. As a result of negotiations de Villiers, Poet and Lecturer in Creative Writing, Wits; Brent Lindeque, www.goodthingsguy.com; David Coplan, Professor with pharmaceutical companies and various Emeritus, Social Anthropology, Wits; Puleng Segalo, Professor of Psychology, University of South Africa; www.sahistory.org. developed-economy governments, South Africa za; and www.parliament.gov.za and Africa have been able to secure vaccines and are able to manufacture vaccines on the continent. Advertisers Aspen, based in Gqeberha, Eastern Cape, will from Ubuntu Radio, African Union, World Food Programme, Freedom Park, Iziko Museums of South Africa, Department of October 2021 be manufacturing vaccines solely for Environmental Affairs and Brand SA the African continent.

To subscribe The World Health Organisation has also chosen Send an e-mail with the words SUBSCRIBE UBUNTU in the subject line, your organisation, e-mail address and delivery South Africa as a hub for the manufacture of vaccines. The Biovac Institute in Cape Town, address in the body to [email protected]. Western Cape, has been appointed to manufacture the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for Back-issue enquiries distribution within Africa. [email protected] “The Coronavirus pandemic is the greatest threat to The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) ©2012 the lives and health of our people and to the recovery Tel: +27 12 351 1000, www.dirco.gov.za and transformation of our economy. We need to Private Bag X152, PRETORIA, 0001, Republic of South Africa continue to do everything in our means to contain the spread of the virus. As we have always said, our 460 Soutpansberg Road, Rietondale, Pretoria, 0084, Republic of South Africa most effective weapon in the fight against COVID-19 is an effective and comprehensive vaccination programme.” – President Cyril Ramaphosa

No portion of this magazine may be produced in any form without the written permission of the publishers. DIRCO is not responsible for unsolicited material and reserves the right to amend and to alter copy and visual material as deemed necessary. Copyright is reserved. Views in Ubuntu are not necessarily those of DIRCO or those of the South African Government. They can accept no liability of whatsoever nature arising out of or in connection with the contents of this publication. UBUNTU magazine – issue 24 cSouth Africa’s Publico Diplomacy in actionn tents In every issue

6 Letter from the Minister 8 Publisher’s note Diplomacy Lifestyle 26 Justice for the Palestinian people 12 2021 to 2031: The Decade of African Roots and Diasporas 82 16 Comrade KK has left an Africa united and strong An Oscar for My Octopus 52  18 Building back better, to advance the legacy of Charlotte Rooibos tea: EU protection is good news for South African agriculture Teacher Maxeke 54 A portal designed especially for informal businesses could be a 22 South Africa’s partnerships with Asia and the Middle East are game-changer crucial 56 The SDGs and South Africa’s Fourth Industrial Revolution 26 Justice for the Palestinian people Commission recommendations 58  28 South Africa committed to remain an influential actor and Accelerating digital transformation in challenging times with national, regional and international initiatives Comrade KK has partner on the international stage 30 62 COVID-19 has shown that following the same road will lead the world left an Africa united South Africa’s foreign policy draws on the spirit of internationalism over a precipice 16 and strong 32 64 Progress made but world set to miss environment-related Sustainable Advancing the African Agenda and seeking a better world Development Goals – UN report 34 South Africa and Nigeria – the continental giants with a sometimes uneasy, but always symbiotic relationship 66 An ancient San rock art mural in South Africa reveals new meaning 68 Flying the flag Feature LIFESTYLE The magnificent 38 Liberation heritage: Ray Alexander-Simons Mabi Thobejane 40 Remembering the legacy of the Young Lions of 1976: The 80 Young female South African architects reinvent Serpentine Pavilion in power of youth as agents of social change 90 London 44 Capturing the Soweto Uprising: South Africa’s most iconic 82 An Oscar for My Octopus Teacher is a boost for South African film. photograph lives on But … 46 Africa’s free trade area offers great promise. But only if risks 86 Remembering Zim Ngqawana 10 years on, a singular force in are managed with resolve South African music 48 SA Reserve Bank celebrates 100 years of excellence 88 South African female film director answers Hollywood’s call 90 The magnificent Mabi Thobejane, master South African drummer 94 Learning from the story of pioneering South African writer SA Reserve Bank celebrates 100 years of excellence Sindiwe Magona 48 96 Kruger Shalati: The Train on the Bridge Letter from the Minister

fought for by the Khoisan in the beginning of apply universally and not for a privileged few. the struggle. Their desire to settle on their land Our Constitution firmly affirms those beliefs. and derive sustenance from it, to breed and Idah Mtwana, Helen Joseph and Ray rear their cattle and not to be pushed to the Alexander came from vastly different margins are embodied in the transformative backgrounds, yet are united in the Constitution land rights and recognition of communities by the full recognition of the rights of workers elaborated in 1996. and the protections they should enjoy. Mary The epic confrontations of the frontier wars Burton promoted gender equality and the of the Xhosa, the Basotho and the Barolong, rights of all, drawing on these brave men and their dispossession and displacement and women and their core beliefs. their yearnings are mirrors in the aspirations The sacrifices, bravery and fearlessness of of nationhood and unity in the Constitution. the young people of 1976, of Mashinini, Hector The brave heroism of Makhanda, Xhosa, Peterson, Antoinette Peterson and thousands Moshoeshoe, Bathoeng and Sekhukhune of others gave life to the right to education and reverberate. to children’s rights in our document. Our Constitution was crafted over centuries Those who shaped the Constitution of South of experience. This is why we can refer to the Africa number millions. It does not belong to a his year, we commemorate 25 African claims of 1946, the Freedom Charter few; it is our instrument of freedom honouring years since the adoption of the of 1955, the Sharpeville Massacre of 1960, the Kwame Nkurumah, Patrice Lumumba and Constitution of a South Africa assertion that Africa is for Africans by Robert Sekotore. finally freeing itself from the Sobukwe and the courage and steadfastness We in Parliament and government have shackles of apartheid. of Steven Bantu Biko in his belief that given a critical role to play in honour of these men We agreed that our thematic opportunity, the oppressed will achieve and women and millions others. We need focusT for 2021 would be extolling and excellence and determine their destiny. to consistently ensure that the ambitions recollecting our national heroine Charlotte Added to these influences are illustrious of service to the people are honoured and Maxeke, a woman of distinction who marked women fighters such as Charlotte Maxeke, realised; that we do support the maturing of a her place in history through excellence, who showed women’s place is in struggle. nation united in its diversity. And, that all rights commitment and service. It is absolutely Albertina Sisulu, who withstood banning prison enshrined in the Constitution are accessed fitting to mark such heroes and heroines as and brutal assault on family, yet emerged with and enjoyed by all people in South Africa. We they have left an indelible mark on the socio- dignity and compassion for South Africa and all strive for this not just for ourselves but for all political landscape of our country. her people. Winnie Madikizela Mandela, who men and women who suffer oppression and The compilation and adoption of our would never give up believing that struggle exclusion today. This is why we are mandated Constitution was one of the boldest decisions would lead to victory. It is Mama Winnie whose to stand shoulder to shoulder with the people taken by our infant democracy. It signalled undying spirit must persuade us to consistently of Palestine, of Saharawi, of Cuba and of a decisive and necessary break with our believe that the progressive ambitions of our Myanmar. They too will overcome as our past while simultaneously setting out clear, Constitution will be realised and that we must leaders and our people ensured South Africa progressive, and even radical aspirations for never tire of wanting to achieve realisation of overcame. the future. its key goals for every person in South Africa. This history of framing our Constitution Our Constitution is a result of a long journey There is the leadership of Oliver Tambo and must be read today alongside the still visible by the people of South Africa, of Africa and the African National Congress constitutional remnants of systematic exploitation and the world. It draws us together in a manner committee in formulating Ready to Govern to discrimination that continue to scar our nation that no single legal instrument does and is prepare for drafting a constitution that draws due to centuries of colonialism and exclusion. extraordinary testimony of the ingenuity and from our history, our lived experience and our The key challenge all of us face is to strengthen humanity of millions of South Africans and the ambitions. Luminaries such as Kader Asmal, our efforts at reversing the precarious socio- legion of men, women and communities who Zola Skweyiya and Frene Ginwala all played economic situation in which millions of the most entrenched the values and principles that are a role. Human rights lawyers such as Justice vulnerable find themselves. We acknowledge emphatically elaborated in it. Mohammed, Arthur Chaskalson and Nelson that much has been achieved but the full The Constitution weaves together the Mandela believed just laws and accessible realisation of our Constitution demands much struggles for humane treatment and fair play judicial institutions were plausible and should more of each of us. Our Constitution is a result of a long journey by the people of South Africa, of Africa and the world. It draws us together in a manner that no single legal instrument does and is extraordinary testimony of the ingenuity and humanity of millions of South Africans and the legion of men, women and communities who entrenched the values and principles that are emphatically elaborated in it.

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specific intellectual property obligations related issues that are extraneous to its mandate, to the prevention and treatment of COVID-19 such as human rights, climate change or for a defined period and within defined development issues, undermine other parts parameters. of the UN and the wider multilateral system This would enable countries in Africa and tasked with addressing these issues. This RADIO elsewhere to access active pharmaceutical ultimately weakens the multilateral system, ingredients and benefit from technology as the perception is that the only body that is Since its launch in 2013, South Africa’s first, transfer, including the know-how to important and which matters is the UNSC. It also 24-hour online radio station has been setting manufacture vaccines in Africa at a cheaper undermines the authority and mandate of more in motion dialogue on South Africa’s foreign cost. representative, and often more democratic, policy. Back to the UNSC matter. South Africa’s bodies such as the General Assembly or the In celebration of its first anniversary in 2014, recent term as an elected member of the HRC. The reality is that bringing human rights SOUTH AFRICA’S UbuntuRadio launched on DSTV’s audio UNSC ended in December 2020. When the matters to the UNSC also allows these issues bouquet, increasing its reach to over 45 COVID-19 initiative came up for a discussion, to be subject to the geopolitical divisions and African countries and over 10 million potential South Africa called for the SC to consider paralysis that many highly contentious issues PUBLIC DIPLOMACY listeners. In addition to the mobile application the pandemic in the context of its linkages to on the SC’s agenda face, specifically when the threats of international peace and security. permanent members utilise their veto, or threat accessible globally, the UbuntuRadio Mxit The health or development dimensions of of the veto, to prevent any action. IN ACTION Application is also available to a potential 80 the pandemic are dealt with in other UN An honest assessment of South Africa’s million users. organs and agencies. South Africa therefore record in this area since 1994, will show consistently maintained that the SC should our country’s massive success in efforts at Follow the award winning station on Twitter n the 24th edition of Ubuntu magazine, I consider the impact of the pandemic within the advocating for the human rights of people living and listen live on www.ubunturadio.com. thought I should reflect on South Africa’s parameters of the council’s mandate, which is under foreign and colonial occupation, such engagements/record on human rights to maintain international peace and security. as those in Palestine and Western Sahara, matters in the United Nations (UN) and South Africa also called on the SC to support specifically at the UN General Assembly, the other international fora. the UN Secretary-General’s (SG) call for the UNSC and the HRC. South Africa has also Eyebrows were raised when South Africa easing of sanctions so as to allow affected provided leadership on efforts in advancing appearedI to be opposing an initiative in the countries to deal with the economic impact the implementation on the Women, Peace Security Council (SC) on the COVID-19 of the pandemic. This was rejected by other and Security Agenda, specifically during South global pandemic. This was a principle matter members of the UNSC. Africa’s last term on the UNSC. for us. South Africa’s work in fighting the One has observed that when some South Africa will never deviate from a COVID-19 pandemic is well documented. We permanent members of the UNSC fail to foreign policy anchored in respect and the are on record on the issue of calling for the get results at the council due to the use of promotion of human rights. Human rights vaccination programme to be rolled out in a veto, they then use the UN Human Rights remain our ultimate tool to help societies grow fair and equitable manner. Council (HRC) to get results. The UN SG, in freedom – to ensure equality for women All countries must get vaccines and must António Guterres, refers to this as the and girls, advance sustainable development, UbuntuRadioZA get them speedily. It is vital to the global “instrumentalisation” of human rights and has prevent conflict, reduce human suffering and containment of COVID-19, that vaccination repeatedly warned against it. Interestingly, build a just and equitable world. takes place in all countries and among all one of the key outcomes that some countries As the Universal Declaration of Human @UbuntuRadioZA populations. Unfortunately, challenges of want from the upcoming review of the HRC is Rights proclaims; human rights are “humanity’s accessing vaccines for developing countries, a direct link between the HRC and the UNSC, highest aspiration”. particularly in Africa, remain. as opposed to the HRC being accountable to @ClaysonMonyela APPLICATIONS NOW AVAILABLE ON SMARTPHONES UbuntuRadioZA In this regard, South Africa, India and the UN General Assembly. other like-minded countries have called on the Essentially, arguments put forward by World Trade Organisation to temporarily waive some countries that the UNSC should address Ubuntu Radio Android App Ubuntu Radio BlackBerry App Ubuntu Radio Iphone/Ipad App Ubuntu Radio mxit App Listen Live STUDIO NUMBER +27 (0) 12 329 2239 www.ubunturadio.com All countries must get vaccines and must get them speedily. It is vital to the global containment of COVID-19, that vaccination takes place in all countries and among all populations. Unfortunately, challenges of accessing vaccines for developing countries, particularly in Africa, remain.

8 UBUNTU South Africa’s Public Diplomacy in action Issue 24 Issue 24 South Africa’s Public Diplomacy in action UBUNTU 9 Betty's Bay is a small holiday town situated in the Overberg region of the Western Cape. It is located 96 km from Cape Town beneath the rugged Kogelberg Mountains and is on the scenic R44 ocean drive between Pringle Bay and Kleinmond.

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The Diaspora agenda is now fully integrated The Diaspora is the into the activities of the African Union (AU). For example, the Citizens and Diaspora symbolic sixth region of Directorate of the AU is working on documenting the continent, signalling the valuable work of diasporas in providing humanitarian assistance in emergencies and our desire to build ever- pandemics. closer relations and The Diaspora has an important role to play our determination to in meeting the aspirations of the AU’s Agenda 2063 and in helping African countries to meet deepen collaboration the Sustainable Development Goals. between bodies like the At the 34th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the AU in February 2021, the African Union and the years 2021 to 2031 were declared as the Caribbean Community. Decade of African Roots and Diasporas. This is an initiative aimed at strengthening the role and contribution of people from This is about a struggle to recognise the inter- African roots and diasporas to the economic, generational trauma that lingers still, and that social and cultural development of the African has held back development of whole societies. continent. It is about the restoration of dignity, about The Diaspora is the symbolic sixth region justice and about building a better future for all. of the continent, signalling our desire to build Now more than ever, as the world confronts ever-closer relations and our determination this grave pandemic, we are called upon to act to deepen collaboration between bodies in unity and solidarity. like the AU and the Caribbean Community As we stood together against colonialism, (CARICOM). United Nations (UN) resolutions aimed at the apartheid and injustice, now we must stand Many people in the African Diaspora are elimination of apartheid. together to overcome the Coronavirus actively engaged in the continent’s development. In 1987, the President of the African National pandemic. This global African community represents 2021 to 2031: Congress (ANC), Oliver Tambo, visited Jamaica Our struggle, however, is not just against a a vast pool of knowledge, expertise, energy and delivered an important speech in Kingston virus. and commitment able to make a tremendous on the unity of the African Diaspora. It is a struggle against the deep inequalities contribution to Africa’s growth and progress. The Decade of African Roots We recall the joyous reception that Nelson that have so severely hampered global efforts The AU’s theme for 2021 is: “Arts, Culture Mandela received in Jamaica in 1991, following to contain the pandemic, and have left so many and Heritage: Levers for Building the Africa we his release from prison. societies vulnerable to hardship and despair. and Diasporas Want”. It is a testament to the unwavering support It is therefore a priority that we must confront This is part of our effort to enhance the of the Jamaican people for the struggle Since the countries of Africa gained their independence, as apartheid and minority rule contribution of art, culture and heritage as and overcome all forms of global injustice that for our freedom that three Jamaican prime catalysts for social and economic development favour the few at the expense of the many. were defeated, we have sought to cultivate the relationships between the peoples of ministers – PJ Patterson, Edward Seaga and and integration. We must confront the vaccine apartheid Africa and the Caribbean Diaspora. Michael Manley – have been bestowed with It is an opportunity to explore, celebrate and that is allowing wealthy countries to buy up our National Order of the Companions of OR develop all of Africa’s cultural treasures. vaccines while less-resourced developing Tambo. Our shared histories provide many countries languish in the queue. By President Cyril Ramaphosa That cherished relationship continues into opportunities to deliver a united message to South Africa and India have sponsored the present, driving our shared efforts to build the world about the vast potential of the African a proposal at the World Trade Organisation n 25 May 2021, we that were sweeping across much of the Global played a leading role in the struggles against a more just, peaceful and inclusive global continent. for a temporary Trade-Related Aspects of celebrated Africa Day. South. oppression, racism, fascism and colonialism. community. These are opportunities to influence policies Intellectual Property Rights waiver to allow On that day, we The people of South Africa were still I speak of Robert Nesta Marley, one of Our common African heritage provides the that unlock trade, investment and development. countries in need to produce COVID-19 celebrated the unity of the suffering under a racist regime, and it would be Jamaica’s most famous sons, whose music rich soil from which our common future will At the same time, our common histories vaccines and medical products. African people, those who a full 31 years before we attained our freedom. didn’t define just one generation, but continues grow. and experiences must be harnessed in the I thank Jamaica for supporting the proposal live on the continent and The great luminaries and thinkers of the to provide hope and inspiration to people around Since the countries of Africa gained their cause of justice for the descendants of victims from the floor. With its support, and the support Othose in the Diaspora. Caribbean were at the heart of the Pan-Africanist the world even today. independence, as apartheid and minority rule of the transatlantic slave trade. of an ever-growing list of countries, I have no We celebrated the ties that bind us together movements that inspired our own liberation It was these sons and daughters of Africa were defeated, we have sought to cultivate the We commend the advocacy of the doubt we will prevail. – ties that no ocean, no slave trader, no war whose ideas, proclamations and actions struggle. relationships between the peoples of Africa Government of Jamaica as part of the We also welcome your ongoing support for and no pandemic can tear asunder. Among them were CLR James and Henry contributed so much to the drive for African and the Caribbean Diaspora. CARICOM Reparations Commission for the Access to COVID-19 Tools Accelerator as We commemorated the establishment of Sylvester Williams of Trinidad, Frantz Fanon unity, independence and self-reliance. The inaugural Global African Diaspora reconciliation, truth and justice for victims of it works to provide equitable access for all to the Organisation of African Unity nearly 60 of Martinique, Walter Rodney of Guyana and We remember with the deepest of humility Summit in Johannesburg in 2012 was the slavery and their descendants. vaccines, diagnostics and treatment. years ago, in 1963. Marcus Mosiah Garvey of Jamaica. and gratitude, the invaluable support that culmination of years of engagements and Just as the world must recognise the horrific On Africa Day 2021, it was our ardent wish The world was a vastly different place back I also speak of General Toussaint Louverture, Jamaica gave to our struggle for liberation. consultations, giving clear form and focus to crimes committed against people of African that we deepen our collaboration to overcome then. who was the leader of the Haitian revolution, Jamaica was one of the first countries our collective aspirations. descent, so too must it acknowledge that the poverty, inequality, underdevelopment, disease, Jamaica had just gained independence of the Cuban internationalists, and of the to impose a trade embargo on apartheid We must acknowledge the progress that we devastating social and economic legacy of illiteracy, gender-based violence and conflict. the year before, joining a wave of movements many men and women from the region who South Africa, and supported successive have made in forging unity within the Diaspora. slavery continues into the present.

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In doing so, we are guided by the overarching and that its success is fundamentally tied to our burden and rest our weary backs and feet objective of finding African solutions to African harnessing the potential and energies of its by the banks of the Niger, and sing our songs problems. people, including in the Diaspora. and chant our hymns to the God of Ethiopia. During our tenure as a non-permanent The AfCFTA will improve the prospects of “Yes, we want rest from the toil of centuries, member of the UN Security Council in 2019, Africa as an attractive investment destination. rest of political freedom, rest of economic and South Africa and other African members of It will advance the empowerment of Africa’s industrial liberty, rest to be socially free and the council worked closely with the Caribbean women by improving women’s access to unmolested, rest from lynching and burning, nation of St Vincent and the Grenadines. trade opportunities, which will in turn facilitate rest from discrimination of all kinds.” This organic cooperation was a practical economic freedom for women and expand the As a people who have known centuries demonstration of Africa-Caribbean partnership productive capacity of countries. of oppression, we have a moral duty to stand for peace and security. As nations that have known oppression with the Palestinian people and the people of We share a common commitment to and the denial of rights, we remain forever on Western Sahara in their quests for nationhood building a continent that is stable, developed, the side of justice for the oppressed, wherever and self-determination. prosperous and capable of delivering the they are. We know that freedom for only some is better life that all its people yearn for. We must all be concerned about the freedom for none. Sustainable peace can only be achieved resurgence in many parts of the world of We share a common position that reform of by building a just world and a rules-based racism, ultra-nationalism, xenophobia and the UN system is urgently needed. international order that is inclusive and that other forms of intolerance. We need a fair system of global governance addresses the root causes of conflict, such as We stand united behind the Black Lives that allows for the voices of all countries to be poverty and underdevelopment. Matter movement because it is black men, heard, regardless of their economic strength or In January 2021, the Africa Continental women and children who are more often than militarily might. Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) came into not on the receiving end of prejudice and Let us unite, let us work together and let us operation. It establishes a continental market violence. continue the onward march to prosperity and of some 1.3 billion people. This is a major Ours is a movement for respect for human progress. milestone towards the economic integration of rights and for the affirmation of our dignity. our continent. In the words of Marcus Garvey: This is the clearest affirmation that Africa is “Our desire is for a place in the world; not to determined to take charge of its own destiny, disturb the tranquility of others, but to lay down

i President Cyril Ramaphosa on Tuesday, 25 May 2021, participated in a webinar marking the celebration of Africa Day. The President’s participation in the webinar, titled, “A Conversation with Africa”, under the theme, “A Destiny of Peace, Prosperity, Strength and Unity”, was at the invitation of Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness. The Presidency in an advisory said the event was part of a series of webinars that started earlier this year, aimed at enhancing the relationship between Africa and the Caribbean. They are hosted by a collaboration between the South African High Commission in Kingston and the Jamaican Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sports. “The initiative aims to strengthen and boost South Africa-Jamaica bilateral relations and further revive the broader Africa-Caribbean Partnership, and as a result, forge even stronger strategic, economic, cultural and political cooperation between the two countries,” the advisory read. The two countries enjoy a special relationship and share a tradition of pursuing racial equality. The Presidency said Africa Day was a very important day for the people of the continent and those in the Diaspora, as it commemorated the establishment of the then Organisation of African Unity (OAU). The OAU in 2002 became the African Union, especially for its role in decolonisation and African independence. President Ramaphosa and Prime Minister Holness were joined by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator Kamina Johnson Smith; Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Olivia Grange: and South Africa’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation,

Dr Naledi Pandor, in the webinar. SAnews.gov.za

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Comrade KK has left an Africa united and strong He has left us, but we know that what he stood for, the standard of leadership he set, and his progressive ideals live on.

By President Cyril Ramaphosa

ormer President Kenneth Dr Kaunda was one of the last surviving part of nation-building, saying: “The fate of this David Kaunda passed away leaders of the generation who lit the path to country is in their hands”. on 17 June 2021 in Lusaka, Africa’s freedom from colonial misrule. He was a champion of African self-reliance. Zambia. Born on 28 April 1924, He has left us, but we know that what he We draw strength and inspiration from this now in Lubwa, near Chinsali, in the stood for, the standard of leadership he set, more than ever, as we find ourselves in the grip then Northern Rhodesia, he led and his progressive ideals live on. of a deadly pandemic. ZambiaF to independence in 1964 and served Dr Kaunda was a man for all seasons. He would be proud to see us working as that country’s President until 1991. As a freedom fighter, he led the liberation together to bring recovery to our continent that South Africa joined the people of Zambia movement to victory and independence. is rooted in compassion and human dignity. Like the mighty and noble African fish and all the peoples of our continent in mourning As a president, he led with humility and the passing of our great leader and father. eagle that adorns the national flag of Zambia, selflessness. He walked among the people. Dr Kaunda was a loyal friend of the South Comrade KK has soared into the sunset. He refused to surround himself with the African people. He stood by us during our long He has left a Zambia proud and free. trappings of power and influence. He was a struggle for liberation. He has left an Africa united and strong. man of extraordinary empathy. Even as the brutal apartheid regime In taking forward his legacy, let it be that He was often moved to tears of compassion sought to wreak havoc in the frontline Dr Kaunda’s teachings on compassion, against injustice. states in its efforts to destroy the liberation empathy and dignity are Africa’s gift to He was an elder statesman who even movement, Dr Kaunda stood firm, and never humankind. after leaving office played an important role in wavered in his support for the people of And that in the words of Steve Bantu Biko, it national life, advocating for important causes South Africa and the region. is we, the peoples of Africa, who bestow on the like HIV/AIDS, peace and conflict resolution. Zambia provided us with material and moral world a more human face. He was a lifelong Pan-Africanist who worked support, and gave refuge to our leaders. Let us go forward, one heart, one spirit, South Africa is grateful we could to advance African unity and integration. He united. acknowledge Dr Kaunda’s great role in our loved young people. He wrote of how being Let us go forward, for equality, for justice, struggle for freedom during his lifetime. among youth always filled him with humility for human prosperity, and for a better Africa In 2002, he was bestowed with one of and respect. and a better world. our highest national orders, the Order of the He called on Africa’s youth to work hard, Companions of OR Tambo in Gold. to reject lives of idleness and vice, and to be

16 UBUNTU South Africa’s Public Diplomacy in action Issue 24 Issue 24 South Africa’s Public Diplomacy in action UBUNTU 17 Diplomacy | Building back better, to advance the legacy of Charlotte Maxeke | Diplomacy Powerful nations must accept that we all depend on each other and even the most powerful will not achieve peace and security through unilateral actions and neglect of the poor, the oppressed and marginalised. We call on the UN and the Gulf Council to be more resolute in pursuing freedom for the people of Palestine.

focussing on our COVID-19 response, much by inadequate resources, we continue to many parts of the globe. The vicious attacks was done to continue our engagements with punch above our weight in international by Israel on Palestinian people and the forced Building back better, to advance the the globe, including support to the President’s cooperation. We will seek even greater impact removal of Palestinians from their homes are annual investment conference. The objective in 2021/22. We will do more to support Ethiopia, clear evidence of the absence of peace and of securing recovery funding is still being Sudan and Egypt to negotiate an agreement security for millions worldwide. Sadly, we legacy of Charlotte Maxeke pursued by President Ramaphosa and other on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam. We all watched as Palestine suffered more and leaders. The Financing Africa Summit in Paris will also work closely with South Sudan and more brutally. Greater effort must be exerted By Dr GNM Pandor in May 2021 focussed on the urgent need for Libya to promote and support post-conflict to achieve peace in the Middle East. Powerful Minister of International Relations and Cooperation the International Monetary Fund to finalise reconstruction and finally much more will be nations must accept that we all depend on the matter of Special Drawing Rights and the done to achieve the gender agenda mandated each other and even the most powerful will issue of vaccine production as well as the call by the AU adoption of 2020 – 2030 as the not achieve peace and security through Even in the worst effects of the pandemic, the one feature that was prominently confirmed for the World Trade Organisation’s temporary Decade of the Financial Inclusion of Women in unilateral actions and neglect of the poor, was the vital importance of multilateralism in global collaboration. Faith was restored in waiver of Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Africa. the oppressed and marginalised. We call multilateral institutions that had been confronting negativity for several years. Property Rights. The impact of COVID-19 resonates on the UN and the Gulf Council to be more Even in the worst effects of the pandemic, strongly with the legacy we have inherited from resolute in pursuing freedom for the people of the one feature that was prominently Mama Charlotte Maxeke. She was a woman Palestine. n 2020/21, South Africa chaired the African that we do achieve our objectives and who and consultative approach. Agreement that confirmed was the vital importance of who believed that it is possible to build back Charlotte Maxeke was a bold agent of Union (AU) and we had plans to advance tolerate significant sacrifices to ensure we Africa should use its own resources to support multilateralism in global collaboration. Faith better. In the unquenchable spirit of this great change. We must be as bold and determined our policy agenda of a better Africa and a succeed. We have done even more to focus the African Centres of Disease Control as the was restored in multilateral institutions that woman of Africa, it is imperative that we focus in seeking concrete practical reform of the better world. missions overseas on economic diplomacy as scientific adviser on our pandemic response had been confronting negativity for several this year on building back better. UNSC. I am pleased that early steps toward The key focus for 2020 was the priority we must secure more growth and jobs in South was a critical factor in Africa addressing the years. COVID-19 revived and affirmed global The negative impact of COVID-19 has text-based negotiations are in motion in the of silencing the guns in Africa and advancing Africa. pandemic’s effects. Furthermore, the decision cooperation. The multilateral and other regional clear directives for our future agenda. We will UN. There is significant resistance to changing Ithe economic participation of women. We were The positive character of DIRCO officials of the Chair to create the Africa Medical bodies enjoyed long-denied prominence and continue to promote the mainstreaming of the status quo and we must continue to insist also committed to ensuring implementation was shown in the COVID-19 crisis. The Supplies Platform, a web-based platform for leadership. This reality has assisted our long- gender perspectives in all our contributions in that change is urgently necessary. We need of all the steps necessary to give effect to the Consular Services Branch ensured the equal access to health equipment, treatment held belief that multilateral institutions matter the UN and AU. Working closely with the AU a representative and 21st-century relevant African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) successful repatriation of thousands of South and diagnostics, was innovative and impactful. and are a more inclusive and equitable global Special Envoy on Gender and the Commission UNSC responsive to today’s challenges. Agreement and further implementation of the Africans stranded overseas. The department’s The role of Chair went beyond the health option for managing global affairs. We have for Peace and Security, we will consult women There were 51 member states in 1945; we African Peer Review Mechanism. efforts benefitted from support of Portfolio response and also focussed on the economic continued to engage in the United Nations leaders in post-conflict areas and work have grown to 193, yet, the most important The funding pressures we continue to Committee members and from the general impact of the COVID-19 virus. The economic (UN) and to uphold the rights of the people with them to ensure their full contribution mechanism of the UN remains untransformed. experience have caused severe cutbacks in public. I wish to thank all who played a role in envoys appointed by the AU Chair and the of Palestine to statehood, those of Western to reconstruction and development in their Building back better also means we key areas. Low levels of economic growth and the repatriation efforts. commission engaged financial institutions and Sahara to self-determination and the need for countries. should utilise our global cooperation to declining investment in South Africa and Africa With respect to our AU Chairship, President government leaders to secure debt relief and the UN and the AU to assist Africa to finally We are pleased to be serving in the UN secure Africa’s ability to effectively respond are a severe constraint on our international Cyril Ramaphosa gave sterling leadership debt standstill for indebted African countries achieve continent-wide peace and focus on Peacebuilding Commission for 2021 – 2022 to complex challenges such as a global ambitions. to the Bureau, the AU Commission and so they can focus on the pandemic and development. as this will help us contribute towards the pandemic. We must increase our research South Africa is fortunate to have dedicated our continent. The AU Chair ensured a have liquidity for focussed socio-economic Our 2019/20 Annual Report and that of maintenance of international peace and and innovation capacity and be more ready men and women in the Department of coordinated African response to the pandemic, recovery. We continue to engage multilateral 2020/21 show the progress we have made security just as we did during our term in the to rely on our ingenuity, our products and our International Relations and Cooperation developed an Africa strategy and secured the financial institutions to provide such new in meeting our goals and objectives. They UN Security Council (UNSC). Peace and institutions in future. Charlotte Maxeke and (DIRCO) who work very hard to ensure support of African leaders through an open funding and not more debt loans. While show that while our strength is diminished security are extremely fragile or absent in all our great heroes and heroines believed

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It is due to the need to Charlotte Maxeke was a team player who A better Africa continues to be the key foreign policy sought to benefit all in her circle. She did not support the economic shy away from a challenge as shown by the focus of South Africa. Working closely with the ambitions of our support to her choir when stranded in the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition, we will United States of America (USA). Similarly, we government that we have been steadfast advocates of a vibrant support implementation of the AfCFTA. have directed increased active collaborative BRICS. We are hopeful community must stop this impunity. South pursuing our Africa Agenda vigorously, we attention to the of expanded bank membership this year and Africa should support the International Criminal will also build on the excellent trade relations fully appreciate the US$2 billion we secured Court in the planned investigation of the abuse with the USA, the EU member states and the promotion of economic from the NDB to assist us in our response to of human rights by the Israeli Government. We United Kingdom. These are also significant diplomacy through all COVID-19. We also secured a billion dollars hope sanctions and other measures to show trading partners for South Africa and we plan for our non-toll road infrastructure programme the world’s offence at this brutality will soon be to grow the trade, people and cultural links our missions. We are in 2020. evident. through our embassies. Several ambassadors also working hard to Our trilateral IBSA Forum with India and The people of Cuba also continue to be have drawn my attention to the inadequacy of secure increased trade Brazil has been a glowing example of a new victims of an unwarranted blockade that should our cultural diplomacy. I am told Black Coffee blueprint for South-South cooperation. Since be finally ended by the new US Administration. could fill Wembley Stadium and profile South opportunities with our its inception in 2005, the IBSA Fund for poverty We will continue to support Cuba and work Africa, but when he performs overseas, there is major trading partners. and hunger alleviation supported over 30 closely with that solid friend of South Africa. an insufficient association to his South African development projects in 22 countries of the A better Africa continues to be the key identity. We have immense talent in a range of in our innate abilities; let us use them to free of South Africa in the Security Council was to appoint honorary consuls to ensure we global South to the value of US$32 million. In foreign policy focus of South Africa. Working fields and could mount international cultural ourselves from post-colonial dependency. deeply appreciated due to South Africa’s continue to have a presence and that we 2020, the fund approved new development closely with the Department of Trade, events with a diversity of talents worldwide. Africa lies at the heart of our international principled position on issues on the council’s uphold established relations. projects in several African countries, including Industry and Competition, we will support This is an area of diplomacy I would like to agenda. We firmly believe we should ensure agenda. This relatively independent position, It is due to the need to support the economic Senegal, the Democratic Republic of Congo, implementation of the AfCFTA. We must do focus on more as we begin to free funds from Pan-African ability to determine our affairs together with a compelling commitment to ambitions of our government that we have Benin, Uganda, Sudan, Mail, Niger and everything possible to ensure successful other areas of activity. I also hope we can work and shape Africa’s future. We have begun peaceful resolution of disputes and a fair and directed increased attention to the promotion of eSwatini. implementation of the free trade area. For many closely with the Department of Arts and Culture a process of reviewing our Africa strategy in balanced approach in engaging with member economic diplomacy through all our missions. Our focus in international relations includes African countries, the AfCFTA means more on this aspect of our work. an effort to respond to the new realities on states, allowed South Africa to play a bridge- We are also working hard to secure increased our promotion of the values and ethos of our productive capacity, economic infrastructure We are working hard to build back better the continent through a new approach and building role in a divided Security Council. trade opportunities with our major trading Constitution through advocating for human and new trade opportunities. We must ensure as Charlotte Maxeke expects us to. We must consistent with Agenda 2063. During our tenure, we continued to advance partners. China is one of our most significant dignity, democracy and equality. We continue to evidence-based planning as we implement provide skills opportunities to young people, We have comparative advantages UN and AU cooperation on peace and security trading partners. Two-way trade with Asia and stand in full solidarity with the people of Palestine projects for increased African trade. enhance our innovation and digital capabilities that can support and promote increased matters, especially with reference to Libya, the Middle East region grew from R45 billion and will work even harder to persuade the AU DIRCO has supported countries that held so we rank with the best and ensure we African success. We intend to build strategic the Sahel region and the transitional process in 1990 to a staggering R984 billion in 2020. and the UN to robustly pursue freedom for the elections in 2020, providing expertise via the continue the work to build a South Africa, Africa partnerships and political alliances in a far in South Sudan. We note with hope the COVID-19 caused a contraction of 1,6% in people of Palestine. The cruel bombings and Independent Electoral Commission or relevant and world that will be of service to humanity more rigorous manner. We will strengthen positive progress in Libya and further actions our trade with Asia and the Middle East but, killings of the innocent we witnessed recently non-government partners. The support to the and responsive to the most progressive human bilateral relations and cooperation and build on the comprehensive agreement in South importantly, even in this time, trade with China are a sad testimony of the cruel impunity the Central African Republic supported an election development goals. strategic partnerships with clear goals and Sudan. DIRCO will remain closely attentive continued to expand. In 2019, two-way trade world has granted to Israel. The international that many judged as free and fair. While objectives. We plan to begin in southern to support for post-conflict reconstruction in with China stood at R413 billion and grew to Africa, and to ensure that Southern African South Sudan and we are in constant contact R437 billion in 2020. The agriculture sector Development Community (SADC) plans are with the Government there. We also welcome has led this growth. This has resulted in more reinforced and concretely implemented. the efforts by various organisations in South jobs, more small and medium sized business Mama Maxeke did not limit her world to South Africa to assist Sudan in the transition and growth, more small commercial farmers and Africa and as with our dialogue series icon, constitution-making processes. enhanced trade exchange. Most pleasing is she was a remarkable internationalist. This President Ramaphosa also worked that trade is beginning to be a surplus gain for is one of the reasons why we are robustly closely with G20 countries, with our BRICS our exporters with an increasing number of strengthening our trade cooperation and partners and the European Union (EU) to countries in the region. people exchange with Southeast Asia. We are continue supporting South Africa and Africa in Added to this welcome progress are the thrilled that our portfolio committee recognised implementing our international agenda. improved trade figures for South Africa in the exciting opportunities in the Association of The continued economic impact of the ASEAN region. In 2020, two-way trade Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) formation COVID-19 has led us to review South Africa’s between South Africa and East Asia amounted and supported our entry into the Treaty of diplomatic footprint globally. In an effort to to R119 billion. I have asked our missions in that Amity and Cooperation of the ASEAN. reduce costs while ensuring a presence region to help identify increased opportunities In August, South Africa will assume Chair throughout the world, we are in the process in the massive halal market and in citrus and of the SADC Organ on Politics, Peace and of closing 10 of our 122 missions during the other commodities. The statistics on current Security. The organ has been deliberating course of 2021. The missions in closest trade indicate significant growth in the ASEAN on the extremist attacks in Mozambique geographic proximity will provide diplomatic – a fast-growing region with a gross domestic and ministers of the organ have developed and consular services to countries that no product of over US$3.1 trillion and a market of proposals for support to Mozambique. longer host our missions. We plan to utilise over 650 million people. 2020 was our second year as a non- improved information technology services This evidence of progress links well with permanent member of the UNSC. The to ensure efficient consular support to our our progress in BRICS, especially in the feedback we received indicates that the role citizens in these countries. We also intend work of the New Development Bank (NDB).

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amounted to R122 billion, despite the effects of South Africa counts itself among progressive members COVID-19 on trade and investment. South Africa’s partnerships with Asia A key priority for South Africa with the of the international community advocating for the Middle East is to diversify our trade and this has settlement of disputes through inclusive dialogue, and been happening gradually, but the dominance the protection of the rights of vulnerable nations. Given and the Middle East are crucial of crude oil and petrochemicals remains. We are now working on diversifying this trading our history, it is natural that we are in solidarity with the dynamic through growth in other sectors. oppressed. South Africa would like to continue working closely with governments in this region to This is an overview of the state of relations pursue more trade, investment and business potential. There is substantial scope for between South Africa and the vast region of South Africa values the partnership with unilateralism, protectionism and populism, and improving current levels of investment, especially in industries that are geared towards Asia and the Middle East, as well as some of countries in Asia and the Middle East. We are continue to call for the respect of international our future priorities, and the global issues that particularly happy that these countries agree law and a reformed global order that is more the beneficiation and value-addition of our local commodities and natural resources. confront us and that will have an impact on or with our view that we should preserve the equitable, inclusive and representative of guide our future relations. centrality of multilateralism, speak out against current global realities. By Dr GNM Pandor Minister of International Relations and Cooperation

sia and the Middle East are Sadly, in addition to the ravages of the a United Nations-mediated and Yemeni-led important trading partners for COVID-19 pandemic, our brothers and sisters negotiation to resolve this conflict. South Africa. Our two-way in a number of countries in the Asia and Middle On a positive note, South Africa welcomes trade stood at R984 billion in East region also had to endure the pain and the progress being made in efforts to restore 2020. suffering of armed conflict and oppression. the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. We One of the major Nothing good can come out of conflict. The are pleased at the attempt to find a diplomatic Adeterminants of the strength of the short-term tragedy of the recent bombardment of Palestine solution to this issue. economic recovery after COVID-19 will be is testament to the cruel effects of war and The world is confronted by economic the effectiveness of pandemic containment conflict. More than 75 000 Palestinians were recovery challenges after COVID. The measures. South Africa intends to strengthen displaced, resulting in about 243 casualties, countries in Asia and the Middle East are cooperation with the Asia and Middle East including 64 Palestinian children and 38 important trading partners for South Africa. region in containing further COVID-19 women. Israel also suffered casualties. We Our two-way trade with the region stood at outbreaks. As part of this strategy, we are call on all in the Middle East to intensify peace R984 billion in 2020. Our country’s bilateral aggressively pursuing opportunities towards efforts. relations with the countries of this important the production of vaccines in Africa. We commend all the parties that assisted region are also well established in areas such South Africa, alongside India, has in the negotiations that led to the current as technical cooperation, health and skills submitted a proposal to the World Trade ceasefire. The Government of South Africa will development opportunities for our people, as Organisation for a temporary waiver of continue to campaign for the independence is their investment footprint in South Africa. certain rules in the Trade-Related Aspects of Palestine under the two-State solution, South Africa’s accession to the Association of Intellectual Property Rights Agreement to based on the international recognition and of Southeast Asian Nations Treaty of Amity and facilitate wider access to technologies needed independence of the viable State of Palestine, Cooperation in November 2020 is a milestone to produce vaccines and medicines, especially based on the 4 June 1967 borders, with and will contribute to closer and more beneficial to the poorer countries. We are pleased with East Jerusalem as its capital, and with both economic opportunities. the support of the international community Palestine and Israel existing peacefully as We fully support the association’s that we have received. A temporary waiver independent states. All outstanding status constructive role in facilitating a peaceful will allow the use of intellectual property, to issues must be resolved through direct solution to the undemocratic developments in share technology transfer, to produce vaccines negotiations without preconditions between Myanmar. and therapeutics, lower prices and expedite South Africa would like to continue working distribution to everyone, everywhere. Effective the parties, with support from the international closely with governments in this region to pursue and comprehensive global vaccination is vital community. to ending the pandemic. South Africa counts itself among more trade, investment and business potential. The pandemic has had a significant impact progressive members of the international There is substantial scope for improving current on the global economy generally and on community advocating for the settlement of levels of investment, especially in industries Africa in particular. Furthermore, Africa has to disputes through inclusive dialogue, and the that are geared towards the beneficiation and deal with the additional challenge of securing protection of the rights of vulnerable nations. value-addition of our local commodities and vaccines. Several countries in the Asia and Given our history, it is natural that we are in natural resources. The benefits of using South Middle East region have committed significant solidarity with the oppressed. Africa as a logistical nodal point from which to resources to the COVID-19 Vaccines Global Regarding the conflict in Syria, we believe access the vast African market to gain the full Access (COVAX) facility. This will benefit many that only a Syrian-led solution will provide a benefit of the African Continental Free Trade African countries as well as other nations. lasting outcome. The situation in Yemen has Area Agreement are another opportunity. South Africa firmly supports the World Health been of particular concern for South Africa as The Middle East will also be crucial to our Organisation in spearheading COVAX to roll it has created the greatest humanitarian crisis reconstruction and development after the out vaccines to the global South. of our times. South Africa reaffirms its call for pandemic. In 2020, total trade with the region

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Canola produces small yellow flowers, making a vibrant magical scene. The Canola fields in the Western Cape offer a picturesque landscape during the months of August to September as the farmlands become a patchwork of bright yellow flowers.

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coordination to uphold international norms and groups, especially women, girls, people with standards as we seek justice for Palestinians. disabilities and children, including those in the Most importantly, with regard to the Occupied Territory. Containment measures ongoing human rights violations Palestinians have affected access to socio-economic endure, South Africa urges the international necessities. Women and girls living under community, and in particular the UN, to ensure occupation and in armed conflicts are often the safeguarding of the rights of the Palestinian subjected to not only social, economic and people. In this regard, we welcome the initiative political subjugation but are also at particular to convene a Special Session of the Human risk of suffering from lifelong psychological Rights Council (HRC) on the grave human traumas. rights situation in the Occupied Palestinian In this regard, it is paramount that the Territory, including East Jerusalem, which was occupying power fulfil its obligations in terms held on 27 May 2021. of international law and together with the South Africa supports the recent adoption international community ensure that all barriers of the UN HRC Resolution, which establishes to accessing healthcare are eliminated in order an International Commission of Inquiry to save lives. to Investigate Violations in the Occupied We wish to reiterate that illegal settlements Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, leading to dispossession and displacements and in Israel. However, action in this regard and human rights abuses are incompatible with has to be peremptory to avoid reducing international humanitarian law and international these initiatives to “feel good talk shops”. human rights law. The policies and practices It is therefore our sincerest hope that the of Israel, as the occupying power, are in Independent Commission of Inquiry will be flagrant violation of UN General Assembly and established with all due haste to investigate all Security Council resolutions and contravene violations and abuses and that the necessary international law. It is therefore imperative that action will be taken to follow up on the the Security Council, as the body entrusted commission’s findings. to maintain international peace and security, We are currently living in unprecedented take concrete steps against these illegal acts times. The COVID-19 pandemic has and go beyond mere rhetoric condemnation. presented enormous social and economic The recorded failures of the Security Council challenges, straining existing systems that are in ensuring respect for and the upholding of already grappling with numerous difficulties. the rule of law have dented the integrity of this Since its inception in 1945, the United Nations The pandemic has further exacerbated the august organ and highlighted the urgent need Justice for the Palestinian people (UN) has championed the principles of equality, challenges faced by civilians and vulnerable for Security Council reform. non-discrimination and the right to self- The Palestinian narrative evokes experiences of South Africa’s own history of racial determination as an integral element of basic segregation and oppression. human rights and fundamental freedoms. With international human rights instruments to guide us, such as the Universal Declaration By Dr GNM Pandor of Human Rights, the Covenants on Civil and Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Political Rights and Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, as well as the Declaration he world has recently consequences of racial and other forms of living in the Occupied Territory, and the laws on the Granting of Independence to Colonial witnessed some of the most discrimination. and practices engineered to impede them Countries and Peoples (1960), we ask, why is horrific scenes of brutality and An unwavering commitment is required from participating in the political system that it that, over half a century later, the question of violence exercised against to eradicate discrimination and policies of governs their lives and determines their future. Palestine remains unresolved and why is it that Palestinians living in the exclusion completely and permanently the The Human Rights Watch Report, A the people of Palestine are denied many of the Occupied Palestinian Territory. world over. It is paramount that the global Threshold Crossed: Israeli Authorities and the rights contained in these seminal documents? T We have witnessed the senseless system deepens its efforts to eradicate the Crimes of Apartheid and Persecution, published We, along with many in the UN membership, taking of young, innocent lives, the destruction scourge of racism and discrimination and allow on 27 April 2021, draws similar conclusions. The have long accepted and supported a two-state of civilian infrastructure and livelihoods in those whose basic rights have been violated, regular land dispossession and illegal seizure of solution, with Israel and Palestine living side an “unbalanced power equation between to enjoy the inherent human rights that others homes evoke apartheid-forced removals and by side in peace. Decades of aggression have an occupying power and a people, resisting enjoy on a daily basis. intolerable harm to all people. made this internationally recognised concept occupation”. The fundamental freedoms that many of us These actions undermine the Palestinian improbable. The Palestinian narrative evokes take for granted remain absent for Palestinians people and deprive them of their universal The pivotal role played by the UN and experiences of South Africa’s own history of living in the Occupied Territory. A recent and inalienable right to self-determination civil society in supporting our respective racial segregation and oppression. report, published by the Israeli Information and equality. It goes against internationally liberation struggles and the impact this had As oppressed South Africans, we Centre for Human Rights in the Occupied adopted human rights instruments, violates on us achieving our self-determination must experienced first-hand the effects of racial Territories, B’Tselem, provides a detailed international law, further provoking political encourage the UN and its member states, the inequality and discrimination and we are account of the military occupation imposed tension and endangering international peace international community and civil society to join well aware of the long-term impact and on the approximately five million Palestinians and security. efforts to strengthen international action and

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Africa enjoys cordial bilateral relations with of the economies that continue to grow despite South Sudan and the two countries have a the difficulties associated with COVID-19. long-standing historical relationship that pre- Some of these are found in Asia. dates South Sudan’s independence from the South Africa’s bilateral trade with India Republic of Sudan in July 2011. An agreement amounted to R108.7 billion in 2020. There establishing official bilateral relations was are more than 130 Indian companies present signed in September 2012. in South Africa. Our strategic partnership has In 2019, South Africa committed to provide important dimensions beyond the bilateral humanitarian assistance to the Republic of facets, and also relates to multilateral South Sudan through the African Renaissance institutions, of which both countries are Fund (ARF) in the form of food aid and medical members. These institutions include the G20; supplies. These initiatives were intended to Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa address socio-economic challenges facing (BRICS); and India, Brazil and South Africa; vulnerable communities, including the (IBSA). refugees and internally displaced persons, DIRCO does important work to provide comprising mainly women and children who assistance to South Africans in distress were negatively affected by the conflict in South abroad. Following the rapid spread of the COVID-19 pandemic early last year, we set Sudan. The last intervention we made was to up the Consular Incident Command Centre to send a consignment of food items donated by facilitate assistance to South African citizens the South African Government to the people of who found themselves stranded abroad due South Sudan. This humanitarian aid package to unforeseen circumstances and the ongoing formed part of a series of other interventions COVID-19 pandemic. The other instance was by South Africa towards alleviating the during the insurgence attack in Mozambique. humanitarian challenges facing the people of South Africa committed to remain an appointed a facilitation team led by retired During the 2020/21 financial year, the South Sudan. Deputy Chief Justice Dikgang Moseneke, total number of consular cases attended to At the request of the Intergovernmental assisted by three deputy ministers, to support were approximately 700. In dealing with South influential actor and partner on the him in his facilitation in the Kingdom of Lesotho Authority on Development, David Mabuza, African citizens in distress abroad, it became Deputy President of South Africa, in his as per the decision of the SADC Double Troika evident that the concept of Consular Services capacity as the Presidential Special Envoy international stage Summit, held in Luanda, Angola, in April 2018. was misunderstood by the South African to the Republic of South Sudan, was invited The 40th Ordinary SADC Summit of Heads society and many of our citizens are unfamiliar of State and Government, held virtually on to facilitate a series of meetings between the with the nature of assistance they can expect We are making use of innovative ways, such as digital diplomacy, to achieve our 17 August 2020, decided that the role of the parties to the Revitalised-Agreement on the when stranded, destitute and distressed SADC Facilitator, President Ramaphosa, Resolution of Conflict in the Republic of South objectives within a global environment that continues to come to grip with the impact abroad hence the ongoing need to encompass should continue. Sudan (R-ARCSS) to resolve the impasse. of the COVID-19 pandemic. consular awareness campaigns, especially for The summit also recognised the important His mediation efforts significantly contributed citizens travelling abroad. By Candith Mashego-Dlamini role played by the SADC Facilitation Team towards an amicable political settlement The department has created an application Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation to the Kingdom of Lesotho, leading to the among the signatories to the R-ARCSS. for South Africans to register themselves during inauguration of the National Reforms Authority On 22 February 2020, the parties to the a major disaster, be it natural or manmade, so uring this financial year, the • enhanced regional integration with and refurbishing the state-owned properties on 6 February 2020, which will manage, R-ARCSS reached an agreement, which that an accurate database of South African Department of International increased and balanced trade within housing our missions abroad. coordinate and lead the national reform process paved the way for the establishment of the citizens globally can be maintained. This Relations and Cooperation the Southern African Development In his first speech to the United Nations from 1 October 2020 until 30 September 2021, Revitalised Transitional Government of database will assist to expedite the process (DIRCO) will focus on the Community (SADC) and on the continent as President of a free and democratic South with a possible extension until 30 April 2022, if National Unity (RTGoNU). On 22 February 2021, and time to render consular assistance to our following objectives, in line by supporting the creation of the African Africa, delivered in October 1994, President circumstances require. the country marked the first anniversary of the citizens abroad. The training phase of this with the Government’s Continental Free Trade Area Nelson Mandela said: “South Africa will help The latest visit by the SADC Facilitation RTGoNU. application will commence during the course of MediumD Term Strategic Framework for 2019 • promotion of peace, security and stability to create for themselves and all humanity a Team to Maseru took place from 11 to 13 The Middle East region is very important the current financial year. – 2024: on the continent common world of peace and prosperity”. This March 2021. The objective of the visit was to economically. Our trade with the Middle East These are some of the measures to ensure • increase foreign direct investment into • using South Africa’s membership and is a mission we continue to pursue, especially receive a status update on the implementation for 2020 amounted to R122 billion. There has that we remain of service to South African South Africa and Africa engagements in various international fora on our continent. of the reform process since the last visit in been export growth in a number of key areas, citizens wherever they find themselves in the • improve South African access to foreign to advance the African Agenda. In our own neighbourhood, we continue to November 2020. The current mandate of the particularly in agriculture products such as live world. markets focus not only on the situation in Mozambique, SADC Facilitation Team to the Kingdom of animals, citrus, nuts and vegetables. We are South Africa is committed to remain an • contribute to increased tourism arrivals to We are pursuing these objectives in a global but we also remain seized with the political and Lesotho is valid until the next SADC Ordinary also exporting precious metals, iron, steel, influential actor and partner on the international South Africa environment that continues to grapple with security situation in the Kingdom of Lesotho. Summit of Heads of State and Government in August 2021, where the facilitator is required to aircraft and machinery to a number of countries stage, while effectively contributing to the • improve investor confidence. the effects of COVID-19. We are making use We cannot overemphasise the importance report on the status of this process. of innovative ways, such as digital diplomacy, of a stable, secure and prosperous Lesotho. It in this region. delivery of the country’s domestic priorities and In July 2021, the Republic of South Sudan In our five-year strategic plan, we have said to achieve our objectives within a global is in our mutual interest as South Africans and South Africa is intensifying its economic advancement of the African Agenda. marked 10 years of its existence. South that we are striving towards: environment that continues to come to grip Basotho that our neighbourhood is safe and diplomacy efforts, and we are looking at some • a united and politically cohesive continent with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. secure. that works towards shared prosperity and The department is working on a strategy, President Cyril Ramaphosa, in his capacity sustainable development which focusses on developing, renovating as SADC Facilitator to the Kingdom of Lesotho,

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due to the international need for Vitamin C These include the promotion of investment, Throughout the nutrients, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. skills development, promoting exports, South Africa’s foreign policy draws on South Africa will be using the opportunity protecting our market share and promoting COVID-19 pandemic, to reset the bilateral relationship with the our country as a preferred tourist destination. the Cuban people US. South Africa is unequivocal that the We will be working with the countries of and Henry Reeves the spirit of internationalism deepening of multilateralism is paramount to Western Europe to support President Cyril world peace. Ramaphosa’s target to attract US$100 billion International Medical South Africa is unequivocal that the deepening of multilateralism is paramount to In addition, contact with the African in investment. Total investment from Europe Brigades have been an Diaspora in the region would serve to is estimated at around R1.4 trillion, which world peace. enhance relations between South Africa and represents approximately 77% of total FDI in the inspiration to humanity the African continent, especially with respect country. It has made a significant contribution By Alvin Botes with their commitment to to the Caribbean countries. The African towards job creation and industrialisation in Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Diaspora in the Americas, particularly in the South Africa. support other countries Caribbean, continues to have significance The apex event in terms of our relations in their battle against this he values that inspire and We trust that the leadership of President Joe opportunities for engagement that span the for South Africa considering their support for with Western Europe will be South Africa’s deadly virus. guide South Africa as a nation Biden will be inspired by the US foreign policy whole spectrum of South Africa’s foreign Africa’s liberation and a shared vision of an hosting of the Eighth South Africa-EU Summit, are deeply rooted in decades initiative of 2015, when President Barack policy priorities. equitable world. which will revitalise the Strategic Partnership of struggle for liberation. As Obama authorised a process of back-channel The US is a strategic partner for South Canada remains a vital ally in helping between South Africa and the EU. The be considered by the EU and its member a beneficiary of many acts of negotiations and normalised diplomatic Africa and a major export market for value- address our national priorities, including strength of this partnership is based on shared states in terms of development cooperation selfless solidarity in the past, relations with Cuba. added products as well as a significant source support for our efforts to build a capable values and interests, including effective are the targets as expressed in our National SouthT Africa believes strongly that what it Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, of foreign direct investment (FDI), technology state. South Africa and Canada have a multilateralism, the promotion of peace and Development Plan, and our recently adopted wishes for its people should be what it wishes the Cuban people and Henry Reeves transfer, development assistance and tourism. shared commitment to multilateralism, gender security, human rights, democracy, the rule Economic Reconstruction and Recovery for the citizens of the world. International Medical Brigades have been an The bilateral relationship continues to grow, empowerment and building social cohesion. of law, free and fair trade and sustainable Plan. Our foreign policy therefore draws on the inspiration to humanity with their commitment and we must regain the momentum that was We are also seeing continued strong development across both regions. South Africa’s trade relationship with the spirit of internationalism and is intertwined with to support other countries in their battle lost because of the COVID-19 pandemic and investments by Canada in the mining sector We trust that in the new South Africa-EU United Kingdom (UK) continues unchanged our pursuit of a better Africa in a better world. against this deadly virus. Even before the policy shifts under the Trump Administration. and will be strengthening this cooperation Multi-annual Indicative Programme for the after the UK left the EU and the country remains As we celebrate 27 years of freedom, as pandemic began, Cuban doctors and health South Africa believes that agreements further in the areas of mineral beneficiation, period 2021 to 2028, which will be under one of South Africa’s key trading partners. The a generation we should always be conscious professionals were already providing medical reached through multilateral forums must be value addition and support for junior miners. the EU’s newly created Neighbourhood strong and historic relationship that we have that there is a dialectical relationship between support in 59 countries; during the COVID-19 implemented in good faith. We are pleased, Similar to South Africa, the COVID-19 Development and International Cooperation with this region will be an important advantage our 27 years of freedom and the 27 years pandemic, Cuba deployed 187 of her most therefore, to note that the new administration in pandemic continues to have a devastating Instrument, the EU’s development support as we look towards rebuilding our economy of imprisonment, which sought to break the skilled medical practitioners to assist the the US, under President Biden, has taken steps impact in Latin America and the Caribbean for South Africa’s national programmes and pursuing our domestic, regional and resilient spirit of Nelson Mandela. South African people in our fight against to return to the multilateral fold by rejoining the with significant regional economic decline that will continue. For us, the critical aspects to international priorities. As we celebrate the silver jubilee of South COVID-19. Paris Climate Accord and the World Health has resulted in rising unemployment, poverty, Africa’s Constitution, we are conscious of The Cubans provide this solidarity and Organisation, and her leadership on negating inequalities and a significant loss of lives. the constitutional values reflected in the Bill ask for nothing in return, because they the matter of vaccine nationalism. South Africa South Africa will build on the existing solid of Rights. Our foreign policy aims should not believe in global solidarity, and possess a and the US have extensive relations that cover relations with the region to facilitate mutually conflict with the realisation of these rights. genuine commitment to make our world a wide spectrum of issues, which are aligned beneficial cooperation in several areas The right to self-determination, social justice a better place for everyone. They are to South Africa’s domestic priorities, including such as agribusiness, biotechnology, the and freedom are unalienable rights. Political instinctively multilateralist and progressive in such areas as health (the President’s blue economy, education and skills, energy freedom is at the apex of our envisaged vision internationalists. Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief [PEPFAR]), (especially biofuels and renewable energy), for a just and equitable world, which errs on the We must reiterate our unwavering support education, science and technology, water and mining, health, pharmaceuticals, science and side of the most vulnerable. for the people of the Bolivarian Republic of the environment. The PEPFAR allocation for technology, water and waste management, The objective of global solidarity and to Venezuela. We call on the US to reconsider 2021 to 2024 by the US has been cut by 11%, human rights, South-South partnerships deepen South-South cooperation become its stance on Venezuela regarding the report but still amounts to US$465 945 195.00. The and multilateral cooperation to advance the an important attribute in our foreign policy of the UN Special Rapporteur on Sanctions African Growth and Opportunity Act agreement development agenda of the South. repository. and Human Rights, Alena Douhan. She continues to facilitate trade between South The countries of Western Europe are We pause to mark 119 years of the published her initial recommendations in Africa and the US and amounts to R173 billion. well-placed to support South Africa’s post- independence of Cuba from the Spanish February 2021, which called for the lifting of Our citrus exports increased by 30% in 2020 COVID-19 economic recovery. This applies empire and the end of the first United States US unilateral coercive measures. both to our bilateral relationship with these (US) military occupation on 20 May 1902. Within the Western hemisphere, the As a beneficiary of many countries, as well as to the South Africa- Cuba remains a historical and strategic Americas and Caribbean span a vast acts of selfless solidarity European Union (EU) Strategic Partnership, partner and our relations continue to display geographical area that includes developed, which continues to serve as the main platform a good model of South-South cooperation developing and least developed economies in the past, South Africa of engagement between South Africa and and human solidarity. South Africa condemns as well as regional and global powers. Stark believes strongly that the EU and its member states. This region the continuation of unilateral sanctions contrasts exist among these countries, includes some of our major trading partners, against Cuba and will continue to support the among others, in terms of territorial size, what it wishes for its sources of FDI and tourism and providers of annual resolutions in the United Nations (UN) populations, economies, technologies and people should be what development assistance. General Assembly on the “Necessity of Ending military power. The diversity within this it wishes for the citizens In the year ahead, we will focus more on the Economic, Commercial and Financial hemisphere necessitates a nuanced foreign developing relations in those areas that will Blockade against Cuba”. policy approach and offers a wide range of of the world. assist us to address our domestic challenges.

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UNSC removed the matter from its agenda). economy, especially after Tropical Cyclone Idai, Unfortunately, there remain significant risks which destroyed their economic infrastructure. of instability and conflict on the continent. South Africa, through the African Renaissance These include developments in Cabo Delgado and International Cooperation Fund, pledged (Mozambique), North Kivu (Democratic R50 million in humanitarian support to Republic of Congo), Tigray (Ethiopia) Sahel Zimbabwe and the Minister of International and the Great Lakes; resurgence of hostilities Relations and Cooperation, Dr Naledi Pandor, between Morocco and the people of Western on Africa Day, solidified our intent with Sahara; and potential tensions arising from the substantive food security interventions. That Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam. is humanitarian diplomacy par excellence and We deepened democracy. The last few translating our value system of Ubuntu. years has seen an increase in participatory South Africa must remain unwavering politics across the continent with rising numbers on the question of the self-determination of of democratic governments emerging. Over Western Sahara. Morocco has suspended the last year alone, over 20 African countries all contacts with the German Embassy in held elections (Guinea, Mali, Benin, Burundi Rabat and related German organisations due and Malawi, among others) and 25 more are to “deep misunderstandings” over Western destined for a renewal mandate (South Africa, Sahara. We must hail Germany’s absolutely Zambia, Uganda, South Sudan, São Tomé and correct posture, which underpins the right to Príncipe, among others) at either presidential, self-determination of the Sahrawi people. parliamentary or local level in 2021. On Cuba, we must continue to solidify our We supported advancing gender equality, economic diplomacy, through the Economic the empowerment of women and the Assistance Package Agreement with Cuba, The AU noted with appreciation the combatting of violence against women and and indicate our unequivocal support for the progress report President Cyril Ramaphosa girls. South Africa has been chosen as the annual UN General Assembly Resolution, presented as Chair of the Heads of State co-leader of the Economic Justice and Rights entitled: “Necessity of Ending the Economic, Advancing the African Agenda and Action Coalition of the Generation Equality Commercial and Financial Embargo imposed and Government Orientation Committee’s High-level Sub-Committee on the PICI. Forum. This means that South Africa will by the United States of America against Cuba”. The AU Development Agency-NEPAD remain part of the global leaders aimed at South Africa’s freedom is incomplete seeking a better world accelerating gender equality and the financial without the freedom of the Palestine people. must collaborate with the African Development Bank in order to support the inclusion of African women. The UN Human Rights Council has agreed Africa Co-guarantee Platform. to launch an open-ended international We require a singular African identity, premised on the African Renaissance, Africa Deepening multilateralism • We strengthened cooperation between the investigation into violations during the 11-day unity and African solidarity. AU and the UN. South Africa has recently South Africa continues to participate in many conflict between Israel and Palestinian groups concluded its two-year term as an elected different plurilateral platforms such as the in Gaza, and into “systematic” abuses in the By Alvin Botes member of the UN Security Council (SC), G7, G20 and Brazil, Russia, India, China and occupied Palestinian territories and inside Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation and occupied a particular proximity with South Africa (BRICS), and we must be seized Israel. We must heighten our advocacy work other members of the A3, and other elect- with the plight of the highly indebted states, for the realisation of the Middle East Peace ed members in the E10 formation, with an and particular the least developed countries, Process, without pre-conditions. outh Africa continues to University of Pretoria in April 2021, when he We require a singular African identity, premised emphasis on states from the Non-Aligned of which 33 are African states, including The African heads of states at the 34th execute its foreign policy wrote: “We would do well to remember at times on the African Renaissance, Africa unity and Movement. our immediate neighbours, Lesotho and Ordinary Session said the following about through the canon of like these that we remain bound together as African solidarity. • We promoted peace and security and Mozambique. President Ramaphosa’s leadership: Pan-Africanism, South- never before as communities of fate, brought South Africa assumed the Chairship of the advanced efforts to Silence the Guns on India’s Chairship of BRICS coincides with “The AU Assembly expresses deep South solidarity, South- together by our mutual vulnerabilities and an African Union (AU) in 2020. The priorities it set the African continent. The AU Master Lu- them being subjected to the worst of the appreciation to His Excellency President North cooperation and abiding sense of solidarity, compassion and when assuming the Chair included: saka Roadmap of “Silencing of the Guns COVID-19 pandemic and we should as a Ramaphosa for providing exemplary, timely, multilateralism.S We do so, knowing that our interdependence”. • We supported continental integration, in Africa”, thereby advancing Aspiration caring nation err on the side of the vulnerable focused and effective leadership to Africa’s national interest is intertwined, interrelated and By building back better, we are restoring the economic development, trade and 4 of Agenda 2063, acknowledges the di- and mobilise humanitarian assistance to our response to COVID-19; integrally infused with the stability, unity and trust deficit. investment on the continent. We are alectical relationship between peace and BRICS ally. “Acknowledges the commendable and prosperity of Africa. Franz Fanon cautioned in his seminal work, pleased that the African Continental development. Patrice Lumumba reminded There is high-level support from China and extraordinary efforts he invested during his The United Nations (UN) Secretary- entitled: Black Skin, White Masks, that without Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) came into us that African unity and solidarity were no Russia for the operationalisation of the BRICS chairmanship of the AU in the year 2020; General, António Guterres, in his speech to conceptualisation and a new way of life, the operationalisation and commenced longer dreams. They must be expressed Vaccine Research and Development Centre, “Expresses and reiterates its profound the UN General Assembly in 2018, warned struggle would rely on the memories of past trading on 1 January 2021. The AfCFTA in decisions. The AU Assembly congratu- as approved by the Johannesburg Declaration gratitude to His Excellency President that “our world is suffering from a trust deficit battles and old formulas and fell back into an has a dialectical rooting from the Lagos lated the decision of South Africa, together of the 10th BRICS Summit in 2018. Ramaphosa, for his vibrant, visionary and disorder, and that trust in global governance is unhappy unconsciousness – what is called Plan of Action and the Abuja Treaty, and fragile”. “Afro-pessimism and Afro-optimism on the with Nigeria, Ghana and Senegal, for their sterling leadership of the Union during his term is a potent decolonial instrument we must Solidarity other hand”. pledges to financially support the Peace of office.” Trust must be earned use to negate our national grievance of We can no longer speak like our forebears Fund. South Africa must remain steadfast against President Ramaphosa has reset the trust unemployment, poverty and inequality. The former Deputy Minister of International of the Monrovia State, Brazzaville Groups, the unilateral economic sanctions against button; he has earned his stripes. Ma’m • We steered the implementation of the Relations and Cooperation, Dr Aziz Pahad, Casablanca Powers, Anglophone and Systematic work is being done in South Sudan Zimbabwe by the United States and United Charlotte Maxeke would have been proud Presidential Infrastructure Champion was instructive on the occasion of accepting Francophone. Let us put an end to these (unity government); Sudan (peace agreement); Kingdom administrations. This economic and confident about the inclusive Africa we Initiative (PICI) in support of the AfCFTA. his honorary doctorate degree from the terms. Libya (ceasefire agreement); and Burundi (the blockade has severely strain the Zimbabwean envisage in Agenda 2063.

32 UBUNTU South Africa’s Public Diplomacy in action Issue 24 Issue 24 South Africa’s Public Diplomacy in action UBUNTU 33 Diplomacy | South Africa and Nigeria — the continental giants with a sometimes uneasy, but always symbiotic rela- South Africa and Nigeria: Continental giants | Diplomacy

nations, or more, pursuing relations of any Nigeria and South Africa account for about Nigeria is a member of several international, form with each other, will always be confronted a third of Africa’s economic might, with each regional and subregional organisations, with challenges. These relations will be accounting for 60% to 70% of the economies which include the United Nations (UN) and impoverished if they are understood within in their subregions (southern Africa and several of its special and related agencies: the the context of the narrow confines of their West Africa respectively). Both countries are World Trade Organisation, the Non-Aligned divergences, and not in their shared common former British colonies and are members of Movement, AU, the Commonwealth of Nations, history, aspirations and global influence. It the Commonwealth of Nations and the AU. Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries is important to change the existing narrative According to a 2013 BBC World Service poll, and the International Maritime Organisation. In and focus on what enjoins the two countries 63% of Nigerians view South Africa’s influence West Africa, Nigeria holds a powerful position towards a common destiny, rather than what positively, with 24% expressing a negative in the Economic Community of West African can potentially destroy the very fibre of their view. Nevertheless, it remains strategic for States (ECOWAS), as a member and host relations. South Africa to maintain a strong presence country. ECOWAS seeks to harmonise trade There is, therefore, an urgent need in in Nigeria due to its fast-growing economy, and investment practices for its West African the public discourse to overcome a lack of highest gross national product on the continent member countries and ultimately to achieve a substantive theoretical framework in defining and third-largest manufacturing sector. Nigeria full customs union. The West African country the relations between South Africa and Nigeria also boasts the largest agricultural output and has also consistently committed itself to the and contextualise them within the framework the highest number of cattle, but requires cause of peacekeeping in the region. of what they seek to achieve. By doing so, partnership in agricultural research expertise, On the other hand, South Africa is a understanding relations within this framework which South Africa can provide through member of the Southern African Development will close the existing gap in the inadequacy bilateral engagements. Community (SADC) and remains one of of research conducted on how greater social According to US News and World Report’s the most influential member states in the and economic value can be achieved from 2019 power ranking, Egypt, South Africa's and regional body. Since the resumption of its harnessing South Africa-Nigeria solidarity for Nigeria are the three most powerful countries membership in August 1994, South Africa has concrete, stronger and revived economic and in Africa. Since South Africa's and Nigeria’s taken a leading role in the region to address social cooperation. transitions to democracy in different times of issues, including development and economic The National Development Plan (NDP) history, they have been economic allies and integration. Projections of global power Vision 2030, in Chapter 7, asserts that: “The are also seen as competitors. The top South capabilities among SADC countries using the South Africa and Nigeria: shift of global power towards developing African investors in Nigeria are the MTN Group, International Futures forecasting tool show that countries provides South Africa with an Remgro, Shoprite, Pick n Pay Holdings, Black by 2040, Angola will be the only country that the continental giants with a sometimes uneasy, opportunity to maximise its regional and Rhino, Pep, Standard Bank Group, Clover approaches South Africa, but that the latter will international influence over the next 20 to 30 Industries and Naspers. A total of R2.67 billion still wield more power potential. The only other but always symbiotic relationship years”. Among the other strategic key intents of from six Nigerian companies was invested in country in SADC that will come close to these the two countries are their collective desire to South Africa between 2008 and 2020. Dangote two heavyweights is Tanzania, largely because drive and lead the advancement of the African and GZI are the most significant, accounting of its rapid population growth. “The success of political and economic integration in Africa rests heavily on the Union’s (AU) Agenda 2063. Advancing this for 95% of the total foreign direct investment With the two countries wielding so much shoulders of these two regional powers that have both collaborated and competed agenda is critical for continental development from Nigeria into South Africa. power and influence in the region, and — and the two countries are key in this Despite their steady economic growth globally, their relations become significantly with each other in a complex relationship that is Africa’s most indispensable.” process. trajectory, which may be well below their important, particularly for purposes of driving South Africa’s international relations are potential, South Africa and Nigeria remain industrialisation on the continent. It is therefore guided by the promotion of the well-being pivotal states in the continental firmament. critical that their relations are not only viewed By Dr Bobby J Moroe and upliftment of its people, protecting the According to Brand South Africa, the total within the context of competition, but rather, Deputy High Commissioner of South Africa to the Federal Republic of Nigeria planet for future generations and ensuring African gross domestic product/economic collaboration that seeks to benefit the entire the prosperity of the country, the region and output in 2017/18 was US$2 175 billion. Of continent. frica’s two continental South Africa’s new democracy in 1994. The two There is no shadow of a doubt that the relations Africa. In order to achieve these objectives, this, South Africa’s output was U$295 billion giants, South Africa and countries have always enjoyed cordial fraternal between South Africa and Nigeria are among a critical and pragmatic evaluation of existing and Nigeria’s US$405 billion. Nigeria, maintain a complex relations dating back to the early days of South the most significant on the continent due to their international relations and untangling the relationship that is often Africa’s struggle for freedom and liberation – a enormous economies, abundant influence and “spaghetti” bowl of overlapping regional misunderstood, leading dark period during which Nigeria stood by South conspicuous stature. In his book, The Eagle affiliations and commitments are necessary some in the public discourse Africa. and The Springbok, Professor Adebayo Adideji (NDP 2011: 217). It is in this context, and in Ato conclude that the relationship is messy, Buoyed by their strong historical ties, the two validates the notion of two powerful states by pursuit of national interests, that South Africa’s truculent and laced with enmity. countries established the South Africa-Nigeria asserting that: “The success of political and approach to engaging with Nigeria must be Much has been written about the perceived Bi-national Commission (BNC) in 1999. Initially, economic integration in Africa rests heavily on understood. or imagined rivalry, competition and the quest the BNC was conceived at the level of vice- While Africa’s growth increases the size of the shoulders of these two regional powers for the hegemony of the continent by South president/deputy president as a mechanism the continent’s economy, this growth provides that have both collaborated and competed with Africa and Nigeria, and much less about their to manage their diplomatic relations. It was the continent with a greater voice in global and each other in a complex relationship that is successes, cordiality and milestones over the not until 2016 that the two countries elevated economic institutions. To this end, Nigeria, the Africa’s most indispensable.” years. Even fewer works that are available the status of this mechanism to head of state. most populous country in Africa, remains a key focus on the socio-economic contrasts Since then, the mechanism has operated at To this day, this narrative remains strong strategic country for South Africa due to its big between Nigeria and South Africa in a way that the highest level between any two nations who and has disappointingly bred a narrow-minded economy, population, power and influence seeks to project and promote competition. enjoy diplomatic relations, and this on its own and myopic picture about the two countries on the continent. As such, this presents Formal diplomatic relations between South signifies the strong bonds and ties that exist and how they view each other. It does not take an opportunity for South Africa to leverage Africa and Nigeria resumed at the dawn of between the two countries and their people a rocket scientist to understand that any two available opportunities in Nigeria.

34 UBUNTU South Africa’s Public Diplomacy in action Issue 24 Issue 24 South Africa’s Public Diplomacy in action UBUNTU 35 Diplomacy | | Diplomacy

The Cederberg Wilderness Area in the Western Cape is one of the most undisturbed parts of South Africa. It has a range of hiking trails that vary in intensity, including routes to fascinating rock formations such as Wolfberg Arch.

36 UBUNTU South Africa’s Public Diplomacy in action Issue 24 Issue 24 South Africa’s Public Diplomacy in action UBUNTU 37 FEATURE | Liberation heritage: Ray Alexander-Simons Liberation heritage: Ray Alexander-Simons | FEATURE Together, they wrote the classic labour history, Class and Colour in South Africa: 1850 – 1950, a pioneering analysis of the relationship between class and race, and how these shaped the South African political and social landscape.

After her return, Alexander-Simons advised Her family joined members of Parliament, various trade unions, as well as the ANC academics and civil-society organisations in LIBERATION HERITAGE: and SACP, and worked on a book on her a symposium under the theme: “Progress and involvement in the FCWU. Her husband Challenges for Working Women: From the passed away in 1995. 1956 March to Now”, as part of Parliament’s Ray Alexander-Simons remained honoured Memory Project aimed at celebrating the lives for her contributions to organisations such and contributions of women veterans of the as the CPSA, ANC, FEDSAW, unions, South struggle for South Africa’s liberation. West Africa People’s Organisation and the Alexander-Simons was described as “a New Women’s Movement. In 2004, the ANC’s pioneer unionist” and “a practical and very National Executive Committee bestowed the patient mentor” by her friend and fellow trade ANC’s highest honour of Isithwalandwe on this unionist, Leon Levy, who delivered the keynote Ray liberation movement stalwart. address during the symposium. She was the third woman to receive this Alexander-Simons’ daughter, Tanya award, and some of the previous 18 recipients Barben, said: “It is appropriate that the function ALEXANDER-SIMONS were Chief Albert Luthuli, Father Trevor takes place on the 7th of November for it is Huddleston and Yusuf Dadoo in 1955, Lilian the date on which teenager Rachel Esther Ngoyi in 1982, and Nelson Mandela and Alexandrowich (Ray Alexander) arrived in Helen Joseph in 1992. Literally translated, Cape Town from Latvia and it is also the Isithwalandwe means “the one who wears the anniversary of the October Revolution [which plumes of the rare bird”. took place in Petrograd, Russia, from 7 to Ray Alexander-Simons died on 8 November, 1917]. She was undaunted when ay Alexander-Simons, She helped organise workers in many Her FCWU banning precluded her attending the 12 September 2004 at the age of 91. facing the bosses, the bargaining councils or née Alexandrowich, was different trades, but the union which became 1956 Women’s March to the Union Buildings, On 7 November 2016, the South African the police forces. She sacrificed a lot, including born on 12 January 1914 synonymous with her name was the Food and but she was involved in its organisation and Parliament honoured the late labour unionist her own family to fight for a democratic South in Latvia. While at school, Canning Workers Union (FCWU). Founded recruited about 175 women from Cape Town. and civil rights activist for her heroic role in Africa,” she said.

she displayed little fear in in 1941, the FCWU spread through the fruit After another banning order in April 1954, she championing the rights of farm workers and www.sahistory.org.za / www.parliament.gov.za challenging authorities. Her canning industry of the Boland and up the west was forced to resign from FEDSAW. women in South Africa. independentR thinking suggested she pursue Alexander-Simons married Eli Weinberg in coast among fishing communities. a career in medicine but she soon took up The FCWU recruited black and white 1937, but they separated and she later married politics. When she was about 13, she became workers, men and women, and earned the Professor Jack Simons, a devoted communist active in the underground Latvian Communist reputation of being both effective and militant. and a lecturer in African Studies, in 1941. Party. On 6 May 1965, Alexander-Simons and In the 1950s, it played a leading role in the She arrived in South Africa on 6 November her husband left South Africa for Zambia. South African Congress of Trade Unions 1929, and began to organise black worker From Zambia, they went to England, where (SACTU). She also wrote a regular column unions. Five days later, on 11 November 1929, he obtained a lecturing post at Manchester on trade union matters in The Guardian, a after meeting Cissie Gool and lifelong friend University. Together, they wrote the classic newspaper affiliated to the CPSA. John Gomas, she joined the Communist Party labour history, Class and Colour in South In September 1953, she was served with of South Africa (CPSA), aged 16. Africa: 1850 – 1950, a pioneering analysis of banning orders. It was issued by Justice In the same year, she lost her first job the relationship between class and race, and Minister Charles Robberts (Blackie) Swart, when she took part in an anti-pass campaign. how these shaped the South African political which forced her to resign as general secretary She was involved with all facets of the party’s and social landscape. of the FCWU. work, and after being dismissed from a job They returned to Lusaka in 1967, and were In April 1954, together with Helen Joseph, for attending the founding conference of the the first white people to be accepted into the Lilian Ngoyi and Florence Mkhize, she helped Anti-Fascist League, she became increasingly African National Congress (ANC). During this found the Federation of South African Women involved in trade union activity. time, her husband lectured in the bush camps (FEDSAW), which fought for women’s rights Alexander-Simons was the Secretary of in Angola and Alexander-Simons continued to the Communist Party in 1934 and 1935, and and participated in drafting the pioneering do underground work. recruited many women into the organisation. Women’s Charter. In 1990, she attended the Malibongwe "She was undaunted when facing the bosses, Conference in the Netherlands, which was a follow-up to the 1984 women’s conference. the bargaining councils or the police forces. She Alexander-Simons and her husband returned sacrificed a lot, including her own family to fight for a to South Africa in 1990. democratic South Africa."

38 UBUNTU South Africa’s Public Diplomacy in action Issue 24 Issue 24 South Africa’s Public Diplomacy in action UBUNTU 39 FEATURE | Remembering the legacy of the Young Lions of 1976: The power of youth as agents of social change Remembering the legacy of the Young Lions of 1976: The power of youth as agents of social change | FEATURE

In helping to draw more young people into As daunting as this may appear, it has Commemorating Youth Day in Vienna REMEMBERING THE LEGACY OF THE the economy, government has under the given rise to career options, which were In commemoration of Youth Day, the South Presidential Youth Employment Intervention unimaginable a decade ago. In line with their African Embassy in Vienna, in collaboration initiated various youth development and global counterparts, South African youth have with the Southern African Documentation and empowerment initiatives to support young embraced the technological frontier through the Cooperation Centre, hosted a virtual panel people. It ranges from formal education and explosion of tech hubs across the country. As discussion on “The Challenges Faced by Young THE POWER OF YOUTH AS AGENTS OF training, learnerships and internships as well the cost of data drops and broadband speeds South Africans Pre-and Post-Democracy: A as support for youth entrepreneurship. Our up, we can look forward to more young South Reflection” on 16 June 2021, where I had the initiatives provide the necessary support for Africans using social media and smartphone SOCIAL CHANGE opportunity to share my personal recollection young people to take on their challenges and applications to display their innovative ideas as a youth activist in South Africa. We invited win. tailored to the local market. Some of the As we pay tribute to the 1976 Young Lions, I firmly believe the youth can truly honour two young South Africans, Mthobisi Shandu The Presidential Youth Employment more famous apps created by South Africans and Rustum Manuel, based in Vienna, to reflect their legacies by becoming agents for change; the change they wish to see. Intervention, implemented under the auspices include Gradematch, which assists learners to on the challenges facing the current generation of the Basic Education sector, has created apply for tertiary education and Khwela, which of youth. Both highlighted the positive attributes By Ambassador Rapulane Molekane employment opportunities for more than provides commuter information on where to that democracy have yielded in the country Permanent Representative of South Africa to the United Nations and other International Organisations in Vienna, Austria 320 000 education and general education catch taxis on their route, saving time and such as the Constitution, freedom of speech assistants, who were placed in schools money, among others. and movement and opportunities to access around the country. Other initiatives include he month of June is dedicated Eighteen years after the Soweto Uprising, the all had in common was the power to inspire As the workspace migrates from physical educational institutions and jobs previously the Expanded Public Works Programme, to the youth of South Africa. apartheid regime was dismantled and a new and bring about the change they desired. to digital, this new landscape offers a wide reserved for the white population. However, Community Works Programme and the Our former President Nelson democratic government elected. South Africa’s More recently, we witnessed South African range of opportunities to those willing to extend they also noted disparities among the races, Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator. Mandela paid tribute to the transition cannot be fully appreciated without youth successfully take up issues impacting on themselves. South Africa is filled with a deep mainly attributed to unaddressed historical and The National Youth Service also provides a heroism of youth by stating: their lives and livelihoods such as the high cost pool of talent of creative young people, who systemic factors such as the level of education, acknowledging the pivotal role played by its platform for young people to become activists “The youth of today are the of data and tertiary education through the “Data will no doubt be instrumental in rebuilding skills, resources and opportunities, which have youth in the struggle. As we commemorate the and leaders in their communities. During leadersT of tomorrow”. As a former youth sacrifice of these courageous young people, it Must Fall” and “Fees Must Fall” campaigns. sectors devastated by the COVID-19 further entrenched inequality and perpetuated June 2021, government and its agencies activist, I have a deep appreciation for the On the African front, we have witnessed the pandemic. The youth have a pivotal role to unemployment within the country. provides a timely opportunity to reflect on the such as the National Youth Development strong convictions and boundless energy Arab Springs Uprising in Tunisia and Egypt play in post-COVID recovery efforts through The panel discussion drew awareness to contribution of the youth to the upliftment of Agency hosted a number of engagements, young people have for causes close to their followed by the powerful Blacks Lives Matter digital innovation to promote socio-economic society and the role they can play as agents of including youth expos, dialogues and youth the historical significance of Youth Day and heart. I firmly believe they have an integral role Campaign, which have ignited long-overdue transformation, equality, inclusiveness, quality social change. entrepreneur hubs to showcase opportunities provided a platform for dialogue on challenges to play in the upliftment and development of discussions on accountability, transformation, healthcare, climate resilience and sustainable facing the South African youth. As we pay Youth as agents of change available to young people. our country and people, as demonstrated so social inclusion, police brutality and racial industrialisation. They are best placed to tribute to the 1976 Young Lions, I firmly believe many times in the past. South Africa has given birth to several youth discrimination globally. The novelty of these Keeping pace with a changing world understand the current and future needs of our the youth can truly honour their legacies by 16 June 1976 has been seared into the icons who have not only transformed their movements lies in the fact that they were The world is evolving at a rapid pace, ushering societies to shape new solutions in the post- becoming agents for change; the change they collective consciousness of all South Africans. immediate societies but also the global largely coordinated by the youth and conducted in great technological and social change, COVID world. wish to see. It is a stark reminder of the brutality of the community with revolutionary ideas in many through technological platforms in real time. which offers opportunities and challenges The importance of education apartheid regime opening fire on unarmed fields such as politics, culture, literature, The youth have reclaimed their agency and alike. Globalisation and the Fourth Industrial schoolchildren protesting against the use science and technology. Charlotte Mannya advocacy through powerful campaigns, which Revolution (4IR) have enabled countries to The South African Government recognises of Afrikaans as a medium of instruction at Maxeke was the first black South African have reawakened political consciousness and leapfrog development and improve the living and values the importance of quality education schools. The protest, which drew thousands of woman graduate, a teacher, religious leader redefined social awareness. standards of their people in a shorter span in transforming the lives of people and building young people, ended in tragedy with hundreds and political activist. Her extraordinary life was of time. Dividends of 4IR such as digitisation, a better future for them and their communities. South Africa’s future lies in the hands of its dead and many more injured. The senseless spent in service to her people and community automation, biotechnology, genomics, robotics, Mandela said: “Education is the great engine of youth killing of innocent schoolchildren struck a under very challenging circumstances at the Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things and personal development. It is through education poignant cord in the heart of the international turn of the century. We recall a young Nelson South Africa is blessed to be a youthful nation. cloud computing have redefined the workspace that the daughter of a peasant can become a community and signalled a turning point in our Mandela calling for human dignity amid gross However, the recent unemployment statistics and reconceptualised how we engage with doctor, that the son of a miner can become the history, leading to the downfall of the apartheid racial prejudice; the brave 11-year-old AIDS pertaining to young people are cause for the world. Innovation and creativity are now head of a mine and the child of farm workers government. South Africa’s youth had risen and activist, Nkosi Johnson, campaigning against concern. The 2020 Fourth Quarter Labour considered key skills for leveraging the 4IR. can become the president of a great nation. It issued a direct challenge to the Government of discrimination faced by those living with HIV; Force Survey found that about 8,6 million According to the World Economic Forum, the is what we make of what we have and not what the day. They would fight for the country and and Miriam Makeba with the heavenly voice of young people aged between 15 and 34 years future workforce will need to align its skillset to we are given, that separates one person from the future they wanted. angels and lyrics of freedom songs. What they were not in education and not in employment. keep pace. another.”

40 UBUNTU South Africa’s Public Diplomacy in action Issue 24 Issue 24 South Africa’s Public Diplomacy in action UBUNTU 41 FEATURE | | FEATURE

The Gariep Dam is located near the town of Norvalspont, bordering the Free State and Eastern Cape provinces. Its primary purpose is for irrigation, domestic and industrial use as well as for power generation. It is also a key tourist attraction with the focus on water sport and nature. Gariep Dam is the biggest dam in South Africa and attracts fishing enthusiasts and boat lovers. It is surrounded by nature reserves with wildlife running on open plains.

42 UBUNTU South Africa’s Public Diplomacy in action Issue 24 Issue 24 South Africa’s Public Diplomacy in action UBUNTU 43 FEATURE | Capturing the Soweto Uprising: South Africa’s most iconic photograph lives on Capturing the Soweto Uprising: South Africa’s most iconic photograph lives on | FEATURE

The photograph’s shadow The fact that it raises ongoing debate is The persistence of important, as this works against the grain In Nzima’s original photograph, the three of much government-led commemoration Nzima’s photograph is figures cast a deep shadow on the ground. that tends to reduce historical events to one- However, many versions of this image that remarkable. Not only dimensional interpretation. were silkscreened onto protest posters and One of the most poignant forms of response was it used on T-shirts, T-shirts flattened the image and omitted the to this iconic image is the live re-enactment posters and pamphlets shadow. Artworks that drew from this image, of the photograph. When I participated in such as Kevin Brand’s duct tape mural on in the 1980s, but it has the 2006 commemorative march from Morris the outside wall of Musée de Dakar (1998) in Isaacson High School to the Hector Pieterson reappeared in the form Senegal, and Ernest Pignon-Ernest’s public Memorial in Orlando West, a group of young murals at Warwick Triangle (2002) in Durban of artworks, memorials, people ended the march with a re-enactment reintroduced the shadow, suggesting that of the famous Nzima photograph. monuments and this powerful photograph withstood potential This performative engagement with numbing often induced by repetition. numerous cartoons, Nzima’s photograph, like the recent Recalling philosopher Roland Barthe’s correlations between the Soweto Uprising and including the work of assertion that texts need shadows in order the Rhodes Must Fall movement, is critical in cartoonists Sifiso Yalo to be productive and subversive rather than terms of the reanimation of history. Not only sterile, the shadow of this photograph and and Zapiro. are the historical events of Nzima’s photograph its numerous re-representations can be recalled, but new generations redefine events read as a metaphor for the rich debate that on their own terms and in relation to their own this image continues to bring to the surface. contexts. This brings alive the shadow of this Commemoration is contested, and Nzima’s iconic photograph. photograph has raised numerous debates. This article was first published on The Conversation. An important question to ask is: to what degree does a powerful photograph reduce Capturing the Soweto Uprising: South commemoration to the name of one person, thus overlooking the tragedies of other individuals who were killed on the same day? Africa’s most iconic photograph lives on Due to the wide reach of Nzima’s photograph, it was initially believed that Hector Pieterson was the first student to be killed by the police. But An important question to ask is: to what degree does a powerful photograph reduce oral testimonies suggest that Hastings Ndlovu was not only the first to be gunned down, but commemoration to the name of one person, thus overlooking the tragedies of other was also deliberately sought out by the police. individuals who were killed on the same day? Artist Johannes Phokela created a ceramic memorial wall that is dedicated to student By Ruth Simbao leader Tsietsi Mashinini. It was unveiled at South African Research Chair in Geopolitics and the Arts of Africa, Rhodes University the 30th anniversary of 16 June in 2006. The memorial is shaped like an exercise book and am Nzima, the photo- for the anti-apartheid newspaper, The World, overexposure can weaken the historical the grouting between the tiles represents the grapher who captured the came to an abrupt end. moments they capture. lines on the pages. iconic image of the 1976 While Nzima’s photograph quickly became In 1989, liberation struggle stalwart Albie This commemoration does not erase Soweto Uprising passed known as the most evocative photograph to Sachs made a similar assertion when he the memory of Hector Pieterson. Nzima’s away on 12 May 2018. The emerge from the struggle against apartheid, presented the paper “Preparing Ourselves for photograph is portrayed behind the photograph was one of six initially few people associated the photograph Freedom” at an African National Congress in- words of Mashinini that are written on Sframes showing Mbuyisa Makhubu carrying with him. At times, it was erroneously attributed house seminar on culture. He argued that: “the the wall. Representing an open book, the 12-year-old Hector Pieterson who was shot to acclaimed photographer Peter Magubane. power of art lies precisely in its capacity to expose commemorative wall suggests a willingness by police, and Hector’s sister, Antionette Just over a year later, The World was contradictions and reveal hidden tensions.” to accommodate counter-narratives of the Pieterson (now Sithole), running alongside. banned by the apartheid government, but Sachs warned that the repetitive use of uprising. As such, the horrific events of this day Sensing the impact these photographs Nzima’s photograph lived on. Printed onto visual portrayals of struggle icons such as are not flattened, but are presented as stories would have in exposing the cruelty of numerous T-shirts, posters and pamphlets, it guns, clenched fists and protest slogans merely or texts with shadows. apartheid, Nzima hid the roll of film in his became virtually synonymous with protest. flattened meaning and impact. His call to ban History reanimated sock. Following the release of the photograph the statement “culture is a weapon of struggle” Protest and (over)exposure worldwide, the police were ordered by the was contentious and ignited an intense debate. The persistence of Nzima’s photograph is apartheid government to kill Nzima if they What happens to images that appear over and Respondents such as historian Rushdy remarkable. Not only was it used on T-shirts, found him taking any photographs. When he over again in the visual economy? Siers argued that culture was based on lived posters and pamphlets in the 1980s, but it has was summoned to John Vorster Square, the Art historian Colin Richards suggests that experience, and “vivas, raised fists … AK’s and reappeared in the form of artworks, memorials, dreaded police headquarters in Johannesburg, powerful images can also be extraordinarily Amandlas” were indeed the lived experiences monuments and numerous cartoons, including he went into hiding. His career as a journalist vulnerable, for when they are sensationalised, of cultural workers. the work of cartoonists Sifiso Yalo and Zapiro.

44 UBUNTU South Africa’s Public Diplomacy in action Issue 24 Issue 24 South Africa’s Public Diplomacy in action UBUNTU 45 FEATURE | Africa’s free trade area offers great promise. But only if risks are managed with resolve | FEATURE

and staging of successively deeper integration African countries rate poorly for ease of doing poorer nations within the block through various that preceded the EU. Before becoming full business. Only two – Mauritius and Rwanda transfers. members of the EU, candidate countries – rank among the global top 50 countries The difficulty in Africa is that it has countries have had to meet strict criteria in terms of in the World Bank’s Doing Business 2020 at vastly disparate levels of development governance and economic conditions, among report where business can be conducted facing different challenges and so each step in other factors. Its exclusivity is part of the with ease. the process is going to be highly contested. reason for its success. Trying to implement a project of this nature One possible solution for down the line among 54 countries with sometimes vastly would be to put in place a mechanism that The promise disparate economies and infrastructure will offers both carrot and stick. This could be done, The main objectives of Africa’s free trade area stretch systems and patience. There are also for example, through the establishment of a are “to create a single continental market for challenges associated with marrying the free solidarity fund where future gains get “taxed” goods and services, with free movement of trade deal with existing regional agreements, with a levy to redistribute between countries to businesspersons and investments”. Its remit is as well as with bilateral trade agreements with promote convergence. sweeping: from the reduction of tariffs among non-African countries. Rewards member countries to introducing regulatory In the case of the EU, candidate countries In 1946, Winston Churchill espoused the measures such as sanitary standards and had to implement various economic reforms as notion of a “United States of Europe”, of the removing technical barriers to trade. part of the price of membership. There are tantalising opportunities need to recreate the European family, or as Risks and pitfalls for the plucking. Currently, a massively much of it as we can, and to provide it with a underperforming Africa accounts for just There is the danger that this could be yet structure under which it can dwell in peace, in Africa’s free trade area offers great safety and in freedom. 2% of global trade. And only 17% of African another bold African declaration that is stillborn exports are intended for other countries on the or badly implemented. The fall-out could mean That is the role the AfCFTA can play for the continent. promise. But only if risks are managed continent, well below intra-continental trade in that the continent simply reverts back to the To make it work, however, African leaders Asia (59%) and Europe (68%). status quo. But, some countries could be hurt need to commit to a full implementation of As the largest free trade area in the world more than others. the agreement. This will mean that they must with resolve when measured by the number of participating There is also a danger that the deal avoid turning inward, and buy into the notion countries, the potential for the AfCFTA to results in winners and losers. It’s therefore that a united and coordinated front presents nudge those numbers in the right direction is important to accept from the outset that not opportunities for the continent as a whole. The free trade deal won’t solve all of Africa’s woes. But it does have the potential to significant. all countries will benefit equally. Countries They must also get buy-in from citizens. As increase economic participation and lift citizens out of poverty. The United Nations Conference on Trade with larger manufacturing bases and more the UK’s exit from the EU showed, people will and Development suggests that, if the trade developed transport infrastructure and with want to opt out if they can’t feel – or understand pact is fully implemented, the gross domestic more diversified economies are likely to benefit By John Luiz – the benefits. product of most African countries could rise by more. Professor of International Business Strategy and Emerging Markets at the University of Sussex and the Graduate School of Business, The free trade deal won’t solve all of Africa’s 1% to 3% once all tariffs are removed. If the agreement deepens inequality University of Cape Town woes. But it does have the potential to increase The World Bank estimates the pact will boost between countries, it could raise tensions, economic participation and lift citizens out of regional income by 7%, or US$450 billion, and potentially spark conflict. Here, lessons or all its stutters and missteps, But will it? In terms of pitfalls, the EU has seen its fair poverty. speed up wage growth for women and lift gleaned from the EU could help. Under its there can be little argument that The experience of the EU could help show share of detractors and crises. This article was first published on The Conversation. wages by 10.3% for unskilled workers and arrangement, wealthier countries support the European Union (EU) has the way both in terms of the upside, as well as For example, questions were asked 9.8% for skilled workers. largely lived up to its ambitious potential pitfalls. about its heavy-handed response during the billing: to create stability and Greek debt crisis and more recently about its The caveats Lessons and pitfalls growth on a continent that, for a response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Some thorny issues still need to be thrashed period,F was dangerously prone to nationalism In terms of success, the EU has contributed to But, the EU has shown great resilience, even out. These include bringing down existing and conflict. the advancement of peace and reconciliation, in the face of losing one of its largest members, tariffs. For example, oranges imported from The question facing Africa is whether democracy and human rights in Europe. It the United Kingdom (UK), through Brexit. South Africa for sale in a supermarket in Kenya the continent’s free trade area can likewise has also promoted economic convergence It’s easy to aspire to such integration currently attract a 25% tariff. Non-tariff barriers, mitigate conflict and forge a prospering Africa. between its wealthier and poorer constituent without recognising the careful construction such as sanitory rules, also need to be tackled. The African Continental Free Trade Area parts. Another unresolved issue is finding (AfCFTA) is a project of the African Union When the EU was awarded the 2012 The World Bank consensus over “rules of origin”. This requires (AU). Founded in 2018, it’s described as a Nobel Peace Prize, the committee argued that estimates the pact will getting agreement on what tariffs, if any, will framework through which to deliver “inclusive “through well-aimed efforts and by building boost regional income by apply to goods that one country buys cheaply and sustainable growth”. By July 2019, 54 up mutual confidence, historical enemies in Asia, for example, and wishes to trade in of the AU’s 55 member states had signed can become close partners”. It highlighted 7%, or US$450 billion, Africa. the agreement, with Eritrea the only holdout. a number of achievements, including the speed up wage growth Vested interests often make it hard to deal While negotiations are still ongoing, the trade EU’s contribution to the introduction of with these issues. Again, the example of the agreement officially commenced on 1 January democracy in Greece, Spain and Portugal, the for women and lift wages EU is instructive, as the clear benefits from this year. The idea is that it will be rolled out strengthening of democracy in Eastern Europe by 10.3% for unskilled membership seemingly outweigh costs. over three phases. and overcoming the division between East workers and 9.8% for Africa needs to overcome some other The World Bank imagines it as a means “to and West as well as ethnically based national challenges too. lift 30 million people out of extreme poverty”. conflicts. skilled workers.

46 UBUNTU South Africa’s Public Diplomacy in action Issue 24 Issue 24 South Africa’s Public Diplomacy in action UBUNTU 47 FEATURE | SA Reserve Bank celebrates 100 years of excellence SA Reserve Bank celebrates 100 years of excellence | FEATURE The SARB debuted its “Big Five” banknote series, and introduced a R5 coin, commemorating the inauguration of our first democratically elected President, Nelson Mandela. We have continued the tradition of reflecting on our history and have released a newly designed R5 coin to commemorate our centenary.

prices had tripled and inflation reached post- primary object, [the SARB] must perform expanded for its work. The early 2010s also war highs around the world. its functions independently and without saw Cabinet approve the move towards the The early 1960s, amid the introduction of fear, favour or prejudice, but there must be Twin Peaks model. The Financial Sector a new currency, also saw signs of inflation, regular consultation between the Bank and Regulation Act was signed into law on 21 resulting in anti-inflationary measures that, by the Cabinet member responsible for national August 2017, paving the way for the formation 1967, slowed the rate of price increases. These financial matters”. Central bank independence of the Prudential Authority. In April 2018, the troubles ushered in a period of economic policy emerged as an effective way of ensuring Prudential Authority was officially launched, reform that eventually led us to the modern that monetary policy focussed on the key amalgamating the SARB’s Bank Supervision approaches to monetary and fiscal policy that objective of keeping prices stable. To ensure Department, the Insurance division of the we see today. that the SARB could pursue that objective Financial Services Board and the Supervisory Leading up to the 1980s, South Africa was independently and effectively, the late 1990s team of the Cooperative Banks Development in deep political and economic turmoil. At the were marked by further enquiry into monetary Agency. policy frameworks. height of the anti-apartheid struggle, inflation The SARB was born at a time when the The early 2000s saw our biggest policy hit a high of 18.4% in 1986, and annual growth world was exiting the devastating impact shift, the adoption of the inflation-targeting slowed to 1.6% for the decade. Significant of the 1918 Spanish Flu pandemic. As we framework. At the time, South Africa was the capital outflows resulting from the debt default approached our centenary year, the world 13th country to introduce this policy framework. and economic sanctions saw another policy began grappling with the great flu pandemic The Governor at the time, Tito Mboweni, was reform: exchange controls. The SARB adopted of our time, the COVID-19 pandemic. As tasked with guiding the SARB through this SA Reserve Bank celebrates 100 years a broadly defined money supply (M3) growth COVID-19 cases began to rise, South uncharted territory. Our inflation target, set by target framework. Inflation gradually slowed Africa, like many other countries, mandated the Minister of Finance in consultation with the towards the end of the decade, averaging forceful containment measures to abate the SARB, is between 3% and 6%. The adoption of excellence 12.9% in 1989. The SARB Act of 1944 was human cost associated with the virus. While of inflation targeting saw a radical change in replaced by the South African Reserve Bank these measures minimised the impact on the way in which the SARB communicated Act 90 of 1989, which contained the revised human lives, they came at a great cost to the with the public, focussing on transparency The women and men who staff this institution have proved their mettle, repeatedly primary objective wording of “monetary stability through communication, and ensuring that economy. South Africa’s real gross domestic and balanced growth”. rising to the challenges they are faced with. With this strength, we face the future, independence and accountability worked hand product contracted by a substantial 7% in The 1990s ushered in a renewed spirit in hand. 2020. This was the second-largest annual optimistic that we will continue to play our vital role in supporting our economy among South Africans with the advent of The flexibility of the inflation-targeting contraction since 1920, and about five times through maintaining price and financial stability. democracy. Continuity amid the change was framework and its anchoring of public larger than the contraction following the crucial for the smooth transition to democracy expectations about inflation assisted the global financial crisis in 2009. Unemployment By Lesetja Kganyago and gaining international investor confidence. country to weather the global financial crisis recorded its highest level since Statistics South Governor of the South African Reserve Bank This led to President Nelson Mandela asking in 2008 and 2009. With the critical role of Africa began measuring unemployment. Both Dr Chris Stals to continue serving as Governor. financial institutions in that crisis underscored, headline producer and consumer price inflation n 30 June 1921, at Church batch of banknotes ordered from England was republic. Despite the introduction of the rand, A critical pillar to this was ensuring that the Governor Gill Marcus helped expand the recorded historic annual average lows of 2.5% Street east, the first issued to the public on 19 April 1922. the 1960s was a period of rising inflation at SARB as an institution was stable, by retaining SARB’s mandate to explicitly include financial and 3.3% respectively for 2020. Governor of the South The monetary policy framework adopted at home and globally. In 1967, anti-inflationary institutional memory and the requisite skills, stability. In doing so, the Financial Stability In anticipation of the economic shock that African Reserve Bank the SARB’s founding was the gold standard, measures were introduced to slow the rise in while at the same time preparing to transform Committee was formed and resources would ensue, the SARB responded quickly (SARB), William Henry linking banknotes to gold. However, the Great the price level. These gains proved short-lived, the organisation. Clegg, and 14 other men Depression and its link to weaknesses in the however, as inflation again picked up in the The SARB debuted its “Big Five” Oopened the doors of the SARB to the public. gold standard ushered in a period of monetary 1970s on the back of the United States (US) banknote series and introduced a R5 coin, The world had just emerged from World War policy reform. A new policy direction linked the dollar depreciation (as the US removed parity commemorating the inauguration of our first I, leading to unusual financial and monetary value of the South African pound to the British to gold), major fiscal expansions and the first democratically elected President, Nelson conditions. In establishing the SARB, the pound sterling, and the further decision to join oil price crisis. By the end of the decade, oil Mandela. We have continued the tradition of primary objective was simple: to restore and the Bretton Woods Agreement in 1946 as a reflecting on our history and have released a maintain order in the issue and circulation leading member of the international monetary There is no question newly designed R5 coin to commemorate our of domestic currency, and restore the gold system. that our recovery will centenary. standard to the pre-World War I rate of Other currency reforms were initiated The adoption of our Constitution in 1996 exchange. From the archives, the first Board in subsequent years. In the 1950s, the progress and our sound saw the SARB bestowed greater responsibility meeting minutes, dated 29 July 1921 at 10:00, Decimal Coinage Commission recommended policy frameworks will in the rebuilding of our economy. The disclose that the first order of business entailed that South Africa formally introduce a SARB’s primary objective reads: “to protect “the purchase of property in Pretoria for £7 000 decimal system, which eventually led to the continue to allow flexible the value of the currency in the interest of and the first orders of banknotes”. The former introduction of the rand in 1961. This occurred approaches while balanced and sustainable economic growth was finalised in the late 1920s, while the first at the same time that South Africa became a building confidence. in the Republic”. Moreover, “in pursuit of its

48 UBUNTU South Africa’s Public Diplomacy in action Issue 24 Issue 24 South Africa’s Public Diplomacy in action UBUNTU 49 FEATURE | SA Reserve Bank celebrates 100 years of excellence | FEATURE

and aggressively with a broad array of actions inflation expectations, giving the SARB to allow flexible approaches while building to limit the economic damage. The SARB’s significant policy space to provide support to confidence. TOKYO, BERLIN policy responses encompassed monetary households and firms, primarily through the The SARB is a solid institution that all policy instruments, interventions in financial reduction in the repurchase (repo) rate. The South Africans can be proud of. The women market operations, regulatory tools as well as repo rate was cut by a cumulative 275 basis and men who staff this institution have proved collaborations with other entities to provide points between March and July 2020. At the their mettle, repeatedly rising to the challenges OR SHANGHAI? relief to the economy and enable the financial current rate of 3.5% (from 6.5% on 1 January they are faced with. With this strength, we face sector to help customers in need. In addition, 2020), the repo rate is at an all-time low, while the future, optimistic that we will continue to through its participation in global fora, the the prime rate, at 7.0%, is at a 54-year low. play our vital role in supporting our economy Try South Africa. On a continent that is SARB contributed to the strengthening of the The economic recovery is still on track, through maintaining price and financial considered the world’s future for the next 20 global financial safety net. but there will be pitfalls along the way. There stability. years in terms of growth and demand, South South Africa entered the COVID-19 crisis is no question that our recovery will progress Africa delivers world-class infrastructure and with stable and low inflation rates and moderate and our sound policy frameworks will continue a sophisticated business environment. Come to Africa and choose the country that has been voted the top investment destination in Africa. Choose South Africa.

Go to www.brandsouthafrica.com

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As part of its centenary celebrations, the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) released a commemorative R5 coin as well as a gold-plated sterling-silver collector’s coin. The coin, which depicts the design of previously issued coins, will circulate alongside the existing coins, and its value will remain the same as the existing R5. The existing R5 coin in circulation will also remain legal tender and will continue to be issued. The bank also launched a refreshed currency mobile app to create greater public awareness of South African banknotes and coin, as well as the role of the SARB. Some of the previously issued coins that appear in the new R5 include: • the 1923 three pence (tickey) represents the currency issued during the period of the Union of South Africa • a 1961 R1 gold coin features the springbok, South Africa’s national animal • the 1965 20c coin depicts the king protea, South Africa’s national flower • the 1990 1c coin features two sparrows and represents the third decimal coin series • the R5 coin minted in 2008, in honour of former President Nelson Mandela’s 90th birthday, recognises his vast contribution to South Africa • a 10c coin from the fourth decimal series depicts the Cape honey bee and represents the future of the currency and the SARB.

The obverse of the coin features the traditional Coat of Arms as well, the name of the c Gautrain Management Agency country in two official languages – “uMzantsi Afrika” and “Suid-Afrika”, as well as the 2021 printing date. Brand South Africa

50 UBUNTU South Africa’s Public Diplomacy in action Issue 24 Issue 24 South Africa’s Public Diplomacy in action UBUNTU 51

10028068 BSA JSE Quarterly 275X210_02.indd 1 FEATURE | Rooibos tea: EU protection is good news for South African agriculture Rooibos tea: EU protection is good news for South African agriculture | FEATURE The new EU designation is likely to offer rooibos producers and farmers a valuable market advantage, because only infusions produced in the local area north of Cape Town and according to specific rules can be labelled “rooibos ”.

The new EU designation is likely to offer than 60 countries. In 2019, the biggest export gastronomic heritage and genetic resources. rooibos producers and farmers a valuable markets were Germany (28%), Japan (22%), As Mogale Sebopetsa, head of the Western market advantage, because only infusions the Netherlands (9%) and the United Kingdom Cape Department of Agriculture, put it, “in this produced in the local area north of Cape Town (8%). way, we safeguard our heritage for posterity”. and according to specific rules can be labelled The global herbal tea market is growing The use of the dried leaves and stems of “rooibos”. This ensures that tea produced in at 7% per year. With rooibos’ new EU status, rooibos as a tea was first reported in 1772, other areas cannot be sold in the EU – one not only is the global demand for this product although Khoisan indigenous people from of the biggest markets in the world – under expected to increase; related sectors, such western South Africa have been consuming the name rooibos/red bush. Evocative uses as agritourism, are also likely to benefit. In the drink made with rooibos for centuries. of such designations by third parties (for 2021, an EU report revealed that European The name itself derives from the Afrikaans example, “Rooibos kind”, “Red Bush type”, food products listed on the EU register of all language, meaning “red bush” and referring to “Rooibos style” or “Red Bush imitation”) are protected geographical names generated in the plant’s red-brown leaves. also prohibited. 2017 an estimated sales value of €77 billion Employment could be boosted, too. As This brand monopoly in the EU will (£66 billion). confirmed in the Rooibos Council report, the arguably enhance the economic development As the example of Darjeeling tea shows, rooibos industry is already the biggest employer of the Western Cape and the whole of South premium pricing and more robust revenues of people from the rural provinces of South Africa. The region already produces an often follow geographical name protection Africa, with direct income and employment average of 14 000 tonnes of rooibos per year, as a result of consumers’ recognition of the given to more than 8 000 farm labourers, and and in 2019-20 expanding global demand product’s quality. This is exactly what farmers many others in the supply chain (processing, resulted in an increase to about 20 000 tonnes. and the entity that manages the rooibos brand packaging and retailing). With more production The South African Rooibos Council (the South African Rooibos Council) now and international sales in sight, this trend will estimated that the total rooibos sales in 2020 expect. probably increase. Rooibos tea: EU protection is good equalled six billion cups of tea – close to This article was first published on The Conversation. Beyond economics one cup per human on earth. It also reported that half the production is consumed locally, The rooibos EU designation could also news for South African agriculture whereas the other half is exported to more contribute to further promoting South African

Rooibos is in good company – this is the same kind of protection given to This brand monopoly in the EU will arguably enhance the economic development of the champagne, prosciutto di Parma, feta and many other iconic foods. This designation Western Cape and the whole of South Africa. The region already produces an average contributes to a product’s global standing, and is likely to have benefits – economic of 14 000 tonnes of rooibos per year, and in 2019-20 expanding global demand and beyond – for the region. resulted in an increase to about 20 000 tonnes.

By Enrico Bonadio, Reader in Intellectual Property Law, City, University of London, and Magali Contardi, PhD Candidate, Intellectual Property Law, Universidad de Alicante

he European Union (EU) Rooibos is obtained through the infusion of centuries-old manufacturing techniques rooted recently added rooibos (red dried leaves or stems of Aspalathus linearis. in their designated areas have contributed to bush) tea to its register of The plant grows in Cederberg, a mountain this renown. products with a protected region with a fertile soil north of Cape Town, These protected designations identify designation of origin. The iconic and in harsh microclimate conditions with hot “products with a story”. Rooibos tea is now one tea is the first African product dry summers and wet winters. Once harvested, of them. Its new EU status will “signal its unique toT receive such status in the EU, and the 40th the bushy plant is grown following a specific quality to consumers, not only in Europe but from a non-EU country. process to produce a tea that is fruity, woody, all over the world”, Western Cape Minister of Rooibos is in good company – this is the spicy in taste and naturally caffeine-free. Agriculture, Ivan Meyer, said. same kind of protection given to champagne, Café de Colombia was the first-ever non- Authenticity matters prosciutto di Parma, feta and many other EU product protected under this scheme in iconic foods. This designation contributes to 2007, followed in 2011 by others such as the Such legal protection matters, as attempts a product’s global standing, and is likely to Indian tea Darjeeling and Chinese green tea to misappropriate the rooibos brand have have benefits – economic and beyond – for the Longjing cha. occurred in the past. In 2013, a French company region. Part of the EU legal framework for tried to register the trademark “rooibos” for Protected status is given to products whose protecting regional foods is that they skincare products in France (one of the health quality is strictly linked to the local area and have acquired a strong reputation among benefits of this tea is its rich antioxidant content peculiar manufacturing techniques. consumers. Favourable climates and that may improve skin health).

52 UBUNTU South Africa’s Public Diplomacy in action Issue 24 Issue 24 South Africa’s Public Diplomacy in action UBUNTU 53 FEATURE | A portal designed especially for informal businesses could be a game-changer A portal designed especially for informal businesses could be a game-changer | FEATURE

project on Technology Support for the Informal We believe the same idea can be used to But governments in Africa are yet to take Sector of South Africa. The goal was to tackle promote informal sector services. advantage of this trend to help the informal some of the challenges of the informal sector sector and micro businesses. Thus far, What’s in place, and what’s missing? through ICT in a way that was beneficial to all virtually all the well-known platforms based stakeholders. Africa already has a reasonable foundation on the sharing economy are run by private The project aims to provide an online platform for the extensive use of technology. Take the enterprises. (portal) that uses Artificial Intelligence and cloud widespread use of mobile phones. A recent African governments must explore how technology to support business transactions in report showed that 91% of adults in South state-backed platforms can be used to support the informal sector. So far, the first version of the Africa own a mobile phone, 51% of adults the informal sector. They can be used to help platform (called Uvuyo) has been created. It will have a smartphone and 40% have a basic informal businesses access bigger markets enable informal business owners to register on phone. and thereby increase their incomes. the portal for free, and position their businesses Ghana, Senegal, Nigeria, Kenya and Next steps to be seen by customers. Tanzania also have relatively high-mobile We will go further in the second phase of penetration with over 30% of the adult Governments will have to put in a lot of money the project to ensure that interactions between population having a smartphone. and resources to make it work, and deal with customers and service providers on the portal This means that an informal service the obvious challenges faced by the informal can be done in local South African languages provider can engage in business transactions sector and informal sector workers. using text or voice messages. with customers over the phone via SMS or For example, money will need to be spent Online platforms that are specifically social media. on training users of the online platforms since designed to support local people in the informal Today, a lot of people post information most people in the informal sector have low sector of Africa in this way are not yet common. about their business on social media to gain levels of education. A possible solution might In a paper published in 2018, I set out the attention of customers. Smartphones be to make information available in languages how purpose-built portals could help informal enable service providers to link instantly with that sections of the informal sector community businesses meet some of their basic needs. customers. speak and read. Not-for-profit organisations I proposed the creation of an online platform The continent has a number of businesses can help with recruitment and training of that could be accessed via mobile phone, web that operate this way. Notable examples informal sector workers, and their registration or voice input. I argued that the platform would include Kenya’s lynk.co.ke; Nigeria’s on the platform. meet some well-known challenges such as poor kobo360.com, anyservice.ng and fixam.com. Other interventions should include free service quality and a lack of visibility. And that ng; and South Africa’s Sweepsouth.com, Internet, free data or cheap data for micro government agencies could benefit from data domestly.com and kandua.com. businesses and informal operators who cannot generated from the portal to make strategic They make money by matching customers afford the cost of data to use the Internet. plans on how to develop the informal sector with service providers. They vet credentials The question then is who pays the data cost. better. of service providers, receive payments on This is where the participation of A portal designed especially for informal Many new modern businesses are based their behalf and provide a guarantee for the governments, multinational companies and on the idea of a sharing economy where a risks of transactions. They also get rewarded telecom companies all across Africa will be technology platform facilitates on-demand by receiving a percentage of the service cost required. With various governments taking the businesses could be a game-changer services between customers in need of paid by the customer. lead, these entities can collaboratively support services and providers of these services. Many These online platforms – business models the informal sector to ensure that technology African governments must explore how state-backed platforms can be used to international companies that are doing well, that are part of the so-called sharing economy is used for the good of the majority of Africans such as Uber, Bolt and Taskrabbit.com, use this – are becoming more popular in Africa, who work in the informal sector. support the informal sector. They can be used to help informal businesses access approach. particularly among the younger generation. This article was first published on The Conversation. bigger markets and thereby increase their incomes.

By Professor Justine Olawande Daramola Cape Peninsula University of Technology

frica has the highest proportion regulation. These include all forms of petty environment and issues of intergovernmental of informal sector workers trading, artisan work, and sales and supply of coordination; lack of organisation; poor quality anywhere in the world. They goods. They also include diverse services such of service; and lack of service standards. They account for more than 85% as hairdressing, barbers, mechanics, painters, also lack business documentation, making it of the continent’s workers. handyman, artisans, domestic services and difficult for governments to tax them. This compares with 68.2% in other work endeavours that people engage in The same challenges are associated with AsiaA and the Pacific, 68.6% in the Arab States, for money. This definition excludes people who the informal sector of most African countries. 40.0% in the Americas and 25.1% in Europe are involved in crime. There have been a number of information, and Central Asia. But these businesses face numerous communications and technology (ICT)-based It is easier to work in the informal sector challenges, which hinder their growth. Based initiatives in South Africa targeting small, micro because no academic certificate or formal on research in South Africa, these include: and medium-sized enterprises. training is required. The most important thing lack of access to finance; poor access to But they have all bypassed the informal is the readiness and ability to work. skills training and technology; weak informal sector. The informal sector consists of all business associations and their lack of The Cape Peninsula University of Technology businesses that don’t fall under government “voice”; problems in the legal and regulatory sought to close this gap by initiating a research

54 UBUNTU South Africa’s Public Diplomacy in action Issue 24 Issue 24 South Africa’s Public Diplomacy in action UBUNTU 55 FEATURE | The SDGs and South Africa’s Fourth Industrial Revolution Commission recommendations The SDGs and South Africa’s Fourth Industrial Revolution Commission recommendations | FEATURE

essentially all of them requiring technological inputs, as well as renewed thinking around sustainability (particularly affordable and clean energy per SDG 7), given the high energy demand represented by the growth of automation, blockchain technologies and data storage. Already, some 25% of global energy consumption stems from cooling off computers in data centres. It was against the backdrop of the convergence of these technological changes and developmental imperatives that the South African Government set up the Presidential The South African Government set up the Presidential Commission on the Fourth Industrial Revolution (PC4IR) in 2018, beginning Commission on the Fourth Industrial Revolution operations in 2019. The PC4IR presented (PC4IR) in 2018. its report at the beginning of August 2020 to President Cyril Ramaphosa, following two 4. The meaning of “quality” takes on renewed vein as SDG 17 (partnerships to achieve the years of consultative sessions, stakeholder relevance given the kinds of skills required of the goals). engagement, comparative research on the 4IR worker, economic participant and citizen of the On 5 August 2020, government, the private strategies and trajectories of other countries future. This requires a focus on computational sector, non-governmental organisations and as well as punctilious analysis of the various thinking. With South Africa’s basic education institutions of higher education gathered for aspects of the South African and global budget representing the most significant the first South African AI Dialogue, with a view economies. From this, the PC4IR proposed portion of its annual national expenditure and towards fostering an inclusive and prosperous eight core recommendations: being higher than the global average of 5% AI ecosystem in the country. of gross domestic product (GDP), the country On the other hand, in the advocacy for 1. Invest in Human Capital (at above 6%) has not attained as much as it expertise in advanced manufacturing and new 2. Establish an Artificial Intelligence (AI) should from this massive investment. In 2014, materials, the PC4IR is congruent with SDG Institute the World Economic Forum’s competitiveness 9, as it will fulfil the goal of ensuring decent The SDGs and South Africa’s Fourth 3. Establish a Platform for Advanced report ranked the country last out of 148 work and economic growth, while also giving Manufacturing and New Materials countries for the quality of its Mathematics and impetus to SDG 9 as it requires investments in 4. Secure and Avail Data to Enable Innovation Science education. The worst-affected schools industry, innovation and infrastructure to offset Industrial Revolution Commission 5. Incentivise Future Industries, Platforms and in this regard are schools in rural settings. the trend of de-industrialisation, which saw the Applications of 4IR Technologies The establishment of an AI Institute, on country’s manufacturing base, for example, 6. Build 4IR Infrastructure the other hand, similarly has congruence with decline from 21% of its GDP in 1995 to 13.53% recommendations 7. Review and Amend (or Create) Policy and SDG 4 as it indicates the prioritisation of the in 2019. Similarly, the fourth, fifth and sixth Legislation widespread knowledge of AI. Moreover, in its recommendations (securing and releasing 8. Establish a 4IR Strategy Implementation noting that “the AI institute will be responsible data to enable innovation, prioritising future The Fourth Industrial Revolution highlights the continued relevance of technology as Coordination Council in The Presidency. for the country’s computer vision and deal industries and investing in 4IR infrastructure) a catalyst in the Sustainable Development Goals, with essentially all of them requiring with arising ethical issues but will not replace are in keeping with SDG 9 as they will result in A number of these recommendations have the role of the universities in carrying out a reinvigorated industry and innovation while technological inputs, as well as renewed thinking around sustainability. readily apparent moorings with the SDGs. The basic research on these issues”, the PC4IR also integrating enabling smart cities and smart prioritisation of human capital development advocates for national and international villages that will mean more efficient service By Dr Bhaso Ndzendze, Head of the Department of Politics and International Relations at the University of Johannesburg (UJ); and is pertinent to the SDGs' focus on the partnerships. The report therefore recognises delivery, increased tourism and new forms of Professor Tshilidzi Marwala, Vice-Chancellor and Principal of UJ, Deputy Chairperson of the Presidential Commission on the Fourth Industrial dissemination of quality education as per SDG the importance of partnerships in the same economic participation by those currently on Revolution and member of the Namibia Fourth Industrial Revolution Task Force the margins of the formal economy. They also stand to promote access to decent work and e live in technologically by the year 2030. In sum, they represent a principle, paying attention to the needs of economic growth (SDG 8). defined times, which “catchup” approach to development, both as a disadvantaged and marginalised populations, The seventh recommendation of the PC4IR, are set to become project and more explicitly in SDG 10 (reduced respectively. They also entail a recognition of the promulgation of legislation, is in keeping increasingly so as inequalities). the need to reduce internal inequalities along with SDG 16 as it recognises the enabling we enter the Fourth They recognise that technological access the lines of gender (SDG 5). and regulatory role that institutions should play industrial Revolution works as a key determinant of the economic In this regard, the 4IR is a complicating in the creation of a conducive and inclusive (4IR).W The scope of inequality between performance for countries. This is expressly factor, as it presents both challenges, with environment. Moreover, the legislation stands industrialised and industrialising worlds has the case in SDGs 8, 9 and 10 as they note inequality within countries and between to bring predictability in times of disruptive long been recognised by the international that sustainable economic growth will require countries standing to be widened, reproduced innovation. community, with the United Nations at the societies to create the conditions that allow and perpetuated. But, just as well, it Finally, the creation of the Coordination forefront in the new millennium. Following people to have quality jobs. Furthermore, they represents opportunity, provided the less Council with access to the head of state on the heels of the Millennium Development observe that investments in infrastructure are developed and still industrialising countries allows for the forging and management of Goals (2000 – 2015), the Sustainable crucial to achieving sustainable development. bolster their absorptive capacity. Moreover, partnerships, with national and international Development Goals (SDGs) represent a total Additionally, they assert that to reduce the 4IR highlights the continued relevance of networks and initiatives to be channelled in the of 17 socio-economic aspirations to be realised inequalities, policies should be universal in technology as a catalyst in the SDGs, with most efficient and impactful directions.

56 UBUNTU South Africa’s Public Diplomacy in action Issue 24 Issue 24 South Africa’s Public Diplomacy in action UBUNTU 57 FEATURE | Accelerating digital transformation in challenging times Accelerating digital transformation in challenging times | FEATURE

digital economy. The recurring challenge that intra-regional trade. The COVID-19 pandemic In addition, it is critical we also look at the ICT we continue to face is that of funding. has underscored the importance of reducing sector from the perspective of local economic The United Nations Broadband Commission the external economic dependencies of the development. How can we develop and was established in 2010, with the mission “to continent. Currently, we carry excessive risk nurture local production of ICTs, including bridge the digital divide and bring the goal of from the fortunes or attitudes of the major both hardware and software, as well as in the universal connectivity to the forefront of policy economic powers and regions, which cannot creative industries? discussions”. It brings together a group of be good in times of crisis. It is critical to our future as Africa, to find influential leaders from government, business, Of greater importance in the longer term ways to unlock the potential of local innovation. and experts from international organisations, is that, by easing the ability to trade within We must create an environment that will allow academia and development organisations. the continent, we will provide a platform for our innovative SMMEs and entrepreneurs It has produced some valuable reports African businesses to flourish and benefit from to flourish and to access regional and global addressing a range of important subjects. Of economies of scale within the region, thus opportunities. This will contribute to local particular relevance is the work that is being increasing regional economic activity. This economic development, with local innovation finalised on Innovative Financing Models for could create a virtual dynamic effect, creating often creating solutions that are relevant Sustainable Broadband Development. further opportunities for our businesses to for our local circumstances and challenges. As South Africa, we are interested in this benefit from a thriving regional economy. Often, such solutions can resonate globally work as it may further assist us in implementing African companies need other African markets too. Local innovation and SMME development the SA Connect programme, which is our to thrive and develop capabilities to build more can lead to an increase in our local intellectual national broadband roll-out strategy. SA value-added products. However, there is much property, higher value employment creation, Connect seeks to ensure universal service work to do to fully benefit from the AfCFTA. and increased local and regional investment and access to reliable, affordable and secure We need to strengthen the infrastructure and production, as well as exports. broadband services to all South Africans, that links our economies, businesses and Encouragingly, at the ITU Digital World prioritising rural and underserviced areas. people together. This must include not only Exhibition and Forum last year, an impressive A key goal of the programme is to enable Accelerating digital transformation in the transport infrastructure, but also the ICT number of SMMEs from SADC were schools, health facilities and government sector. ICTs will be critical in linking business recognised for their innovative ideas at a global offices to access connectivity through and people together, providing the first step in level. Appy Saude of Angola won the award for high-speed Internet access. Through this challenging times with national, regional strengthening regional integration. e-health. Companies from Botswana, Malawi, programme, over 44 000 government facilities It is therefore important to continue to Mozambique, South Africa and Zambia were will be provided with high-speed broadband prioritise and strengthen our programmes to shortlisted in all the remaining categories, connectivity. Government will be collaborating and international initiatives build our regional and national ICT infrastructure which is an impressive showing from our with the private sector, including greater and the digital economy. The implementation region. Clearly, we have great potential. participation of small, medium and micro of the African Digital Transformation Strategy However, more needs to be done to create The COVID-19 crisis must be viewed as an opportunity to leapfrog Africa to new enterprises (SMMEs), in rolling out broadband will no doubt be critical to support regional an environment that is conducive, that will in an efficient, cost-effective and sustainable heights, exploiting new opportunities brought about by the advent of the Fourth integration. In particular, we must look to enable these creative and mostly young manner. create an enabling environment, and develop entrepreneurs to convert their ideas into a Industrial Revolution. SA Connect seeks to pool public-sector appropriate policies and regulations for the successful business. demand for broadband, in order to stimulate sector that will support the development of our In each of the preceding three years, young By Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams investment into broadband infrastructure. In digital infrastructure, digital skills and capacity- South Africa entrepreneurs have won awards Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies the process, cross-border connectivity will building, entrepreneurship and innovation. in the ITU Digital World. In 2018, we dominated also be addressed by upgrading infrastructure We must also address the cross-cutting the prizes, winning the overall SMME global his year, we deemed it proper countries off-course from the promising growth also enable greater access to the rapidly and increasing network capacity to improve issues (digital content and applications, digital award, and three of the four category prizes. that we celebrate Africa trajectories that were prevalent on much of growing e-commerce sector. regional integration. ID, emerging technologies, cyber security, That year, we took approximately 50 SMMEs Day together as Southern our continent before the crisis. On the other It is in this context that our commemoration The benefits of broadband to economic and personal data protection, research and to the event, as we were the host. African Development hand, the COVID-19 crisis must be viewed of Africa Day reflected on our responsibility growth have been widely recognised by development) to ensure we transform our We need to harness the energy and Community (SADC) ministries as an opportunity to leapfrog Africa to new to accelerate digital transformation in international organisations such as the World digital future. creativity of our young aspiring entrepreneurs responsible for information and heights, exploiting new opportunities brought challenging times – the theme of the World Bank and the International Telecommunication Equally important, the draft African in the region. We must find ways to help them Tcommunications technologies (ICTs) under the about by the advent of the Fourth Industrial Telecommunications and Information Society Union (ITU). The recent research from the e-commerce strategy will provide the basis to develop their business plans and skills, and theme: Accelerating Digital Transformation in Revolution. This gives new impetus to our Day this year. Broadband Commission recognises that for dramatically improving e-commerce in to create a supportive ecosystem that will allow Challenging Times, Throughout the Year with global priority of connecting the unconnected, We already have a comprehensive broadband investment is not just about the National, Regional and International Initiatives. and demonstrates the importance of access to programme as SADC countries, which is traffic that goes on the network. Rather, the region. This could be critical to ensure them to develop. They need access to finance We celebrated Africa Day under the cloud broadband. updated regularly to respond to emerging broadband investment creates an ecosystem African countries benefit from this rapidly and markets. Their success will encourage of the COVID-19 pandemic, a challenge which There has been a significant increase in the issues. Three issues offer great potential for of economic activity. growing sector, both in terms of participating others, and will unleash the creative potential has put human genius to test in a manner that demand for ICTs and the use of the Internet. the development of our region. The second issue concerns the African meaningfully in the logistics supply chain, of our youth to solve the developmental knows no parallel in recent history. As we raise Unfortunately, this has been accompanied Firstly, the 21st-century financing models Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). and by providing platforms for SMMEs and challenges we face. Our youthful population our banners in memory of those we lost as a by rising inequality, whereby lack of access for sustainable broadband development. The This is a critical and timely intervention for manufacturers to benefit from intra-regional is a significant demographic asset. However, result of COVID-19, we rededicate ourselves to the Internet leaves our disadvantaged issue of financing broadband roll-out has the development of the African continent. trade and international exports through they need opportunities to shine. as a region to work together in confronting the communities more vulnerable. Access to long been a challenge for many developing It embodies the ideal of greater integration e-commerce. This will include implementing Their success will assist in the upliftment of pandemic. broadband will enable our peoples to access countries around the world. We all agree on the and of a united Africa. Currently, 80% to 90% measures to modernise our customs services our people and our economies. In spite of our limited resources, we have health services, education and governmental priority of rolling out broadband, the benefits it of Africa’s trade is directed to the rest of the in line with the World Customs Organisation, coped well so far. The economic impact services online when necessary, and thus brings to society and to our economies, and world, which is higher than any other region. and capacitating our postal services through has been severe, and it has knocked many reduce the need for public gatherings. It will the importance of extending participation in the Consequently, we have very low levels of the Universal Postal Union.

58 UBUNTU South Africa’s Public Diplomacy in action Issue 24 Issue 24 South Africa’s Public Diplomacy in action UBUNTU 59 FEATURE | | FEATURE

Annually, from roughly June to December, Hermanus is known as a mecca for whale watching, with the southern right whales choosing the area as their home and “playground”. The estimated population of southern right whales in Hermanus is 12 000.

60 UBUNTU South Africa’s Public Diplomacy in action Issue 24 Issue 24 South Africa’s Public Diplomacy in action UBUNTU 61 FEATUREFEATURE | COVID-19 has shown that following the same road will lead the world over a precipice COVID-19 has shown that following the same road will lead the world over a precipice | FEATURE

countries and between them, devastating investment, exports, tourism and ideas that awareness of other threats, including those the lives and livelihoods of many and greatly are urgently needed to rebuild countries and posed by future pandemics and climate increasing isolation and mental illness. A world create a future of shared prosperity. change, and has given us the means to rescue that functions online is more atomised and If isolating ourselves and stopping our lives and the future. may lead to a hardening of social and political globalisation could insulate us from risk, COVID-19 has caused the biggest silos. Unless the negative consequences of it may be a price worth paying. But far from development setback of our lifetimes, reversing the pandemic are urgently addressed, they will reducing risk, it will only increase it. What we 70 years of progress. Low- and middle-income cast a long, dark shadow. need is better managed and more regulated countries suffered negative growth for the first The idea that there is no such thing as and coordinated global flows, so the benefits time since the 1950s society, only selfish individuals, can now be of connectivity can be shared and the risks Many more people will have died of relegated to the dustbin of history. We have stopped. starvation and poverty-related causes than witnessed an outpouring of solidarity, not The greatest threat to our lives has from the direct health impact of COVID-19. least of the young for the old and of essential historically come from internal or external The pandemic has resulted in as many as workers for others. The young sacrificed their conflicts. Now, the threat comes from forces an additional 150 million people falling into social lives, education and jobs and took that are beyond the control of any one country extreme poverty, and acute hunger doubling on enormous debts to help the elderly get and which requires international cooperation, from 130 million people in 2019 to 260 million in 2020. In many poor countries, education through COVID-19. Essential workers placed rather than assertions of supremacy. It is in every country’s self-interest to cooperate to and health systems have collapsed and themselves at daily risk to staff our care contain global threats. Similarly, it is in each government safety nets are threadbare, where homes and hospitals and ensure that food of our own self-interest to contribute to the they exist at all. was delivered, rubbish collected and that lights creation of more cohesive and stable societies. It is business as usual, which allowed the stayed on. Many sacrificed their own health for COVID-19 has tested us. By passing the world to be overwhelmed by COVID-19. The others. COVID-19 has shown that following the test, we will have proved we can also conquer pandemic has revealed and exacerbated The intolerable costs of austerity and a climate and other threats. inequalities within countries and between culture that celebrated individualism and them. undermined the State have been starkly How to avoid the precipice same road will lead the world over a It forcefully demonstrates why bouncing revealed. Nothing should be taken for granted. The back or forward along the same road we are The world wars forever changed global virus is not only changing our possibilities and on is leading us over a precipice. Without politics and economics; the economist John precipice actions, but also the way we think, our dreams systemic change, we are all condemned to a Maynard Keynes argued that it was necessary and our imaginations. Every crisis creates an more unequal and unstable future. COVID-19 to “snatch from the exigencies of war positive It is in every country’s self-interest to cooperate to contain global threats. Similarly, it opportunity, and it behoves us to explore the has generated the potential to create a fairer social improvements”. silver linings. By highlighting the significance and more inclusive world. is in each of our own self-interest to contribute to the creation of more cohesive and The pandemic too will change everything, of systemic risks, the pandemic has raised This article was first published on The Conversation. stable societies. from personal priorities to global power. It marks the end of the neoliberal era of By Ian Goldin individualism and its primacy of markets and Professor of Globalisation and Development prices, and heralds a swing of the political Director of the Oxford Martin Programmes on Technological and Economic Change and Future of Development, University of Oxford pendulum back to state intervention. As Nobel Laureate economist Angus

espite the tragic deaths, change their behaviour when required to do so. and the reluctance to depart from the Deaton has argued, “we now face a set of suffering and sadness that And that governments are able to break out of business as usual. My book shows why we challenges which we cannot duck”, which it has caused, the pandemic their economic straitjackets. urgently need to. threaten the fabric of society, providing a could go down in history My work on globalisation and development Old excuses for inaction are no longer “once-in-a-generation opportunity to tackle the disadvantages faced by many that this as the event that rescued has led me to believe that while flows across credible. The task now is to turn the reactive pandemic has so devastatingly exposed”. humanity. It has created national borders – trade, people, finance, response to the health and economic Da once-in-a-generation opportunity to reset emergencies into a proactive set of policies medicines, and most importantly ideas – More, not less, global cooperation our lives and societies onto a sustainable are a very good thing, they also can lead to and actions to create an inclusive and path. Global surveys and protests have sustainable world of shared prosperity. Globalisation has caused universal health and growing risk and inequality unless properly demonstrated the appetite for fresh thinking Before the pandemic, this may have seemed economic emergencies. And yet, to address managed. What I think of as the Butterfly and a desire not to return to the pre-pandemic unattainable, even idealistic. Changes that it, we need more globalisation, not less. We Defect of globalisation has created a new world. would have taken a decade or more to emerge cannot stop a global pandemic without more form of systemic risk. It was the source of The devastating consequences of have taken place almost overnight. global politics. the global spread of the 2008 financial crisis, COVID-19 have led to a deepening recognition Nor can we stop climate change or any of the is evident in escalating climate change and Into sharp relief that business as usual is highly destabilising other great threats by political deglobalisation. and the source of our darkest fears. It has inequality and has now overwhelmed us with Among the positive changes have been a Economic deglobalisation would condemn shattered the mental mirrors that have the COVID-19 pandemic. deeper recognition of the importance of nature, to continuing poverty the billions of people in prevented us from breaking from the past and I have been predicting that a global the role of essential workers, the contributions the world who are yet to benefit from the jobs, embracing new horizons. pandemic was likely and would inevitably of science and experts and having supportive ideas and opportunities that globalisation In Rescue: From Global Crisis to a Better lead to an economic meltdown. The only family, friends and colleagues. brings. It would mean that citizens of poor World, I show how the Coronavirus rupture question is why more effort hasn’t been put But the pandemic has also exacerbated countries would not have access to the has demonstrated that citizens are prepared to into managing this underbelly of globalisation health and economic inequalities within international vaccines, solar power panels,

62 UBUNTU South Africa’s Public Diplomacy in action Issue 24 Issue 24 South Africa’s Public Diplomacy in action UBUNTU 63 FEATURE | Progress made but world set to miss environment-related Sustainable Development Goals – UN report | FEATURE

The interlinked nature of the SDGs means that achieving one goal or target may contribute to achieving other goals or targets, or the pursuit of one objective may conflict with the achievement of another. The report uses an analytical approach, driven by data, to test the relationship between SDG indicators. The analysis revealed examples where correlations were significant and were consistent with intuition or published evidence. For example, the report found that “The report makes it clear that we are falling short, and, Domestic Material Consumption related to biomass extraction was negatively correlated in some cases, actually receding. The world cannot with species at risk of extinction. sustain our rate of use and abuse forever, and it is On the other hand, with regard to imperative that we accept the changes in lifestyles and biodiversity loss, the increasing extent livelihoods necessary to achieve the 2030 goals.” Progress made but of protected areas and other protective measures have not led to reductions in the will support countries as they strengthen action UNEP is the leading global voice on the number of species under threat of extinction. on the environmental dimensions with a view environment. It provides leadership and Without exception, the Aichi Biodiversity to meeting the 2030 Agenda.” encourages partnership in caring for the Targets – a 10-year global strategy designed Strengthening environmental data environment by inspiring, informing and world set to miss to conserve biodiversity by 2020 – have capacities is needed if policymakers are to enabling nations and peoples to improve their been missed, according to the Fifth Global improve their understanding of the priority quality of life without compromising that of Biodiversity Outlook. actions required to “bend the curve” of continuing future generations. The report identified a gap in the diversity environmental deterioration and advance the Opened for signature in 1992 at the Earth and use of environmental data and statistics environment-related chances of meeting the environmental SDGs. Summit in Rio de Janeiro, and entering to inform government policy and decision- Capacity-building is required in three areas: for into force in December 1993, the CBD is making, particularly big environmental data collection of data using international-standard an international treaty for the conservation produced by remote sensing, in situ sensors methodologies to ensure data comparability; of biodiversity, the sustainable use of the Sustainable Development Goals – UN report and Artificial Intelligence technologies, as for data management to ensure open access components of biodiversity and the equitable well as data collated through environmental- to data; and for data analysis where data are sharing of the benefits derived from the use economic accounting activities. Many existing used to better understand what happened, of genetic resources. With 196 parties, the The report found that some environmental areas – such as biodiversity loss and data products, statistics and indicators seem why it happened, what may happen next and CBD has near universal participation among climate change – have continued to deteriorate. to be under-utilised, and governments have how to respond, according to the report. countries. failed to place an emphasis on that data when crafting policy. By the United Nations Environment Programme “Our comprehension of the environmental dimension of the SDGs is lagging,” said

espite progress in key 2030 Agenda,” said Elizabeth Maruma Mrema, and their progress around the world. The Jian Liu, Director of the Science Division environmental areas such Executive Secretary of the CBD. “The report publication is based on global and regional at UNEP. “Our limited capacities to collect, as clean water, sanitation, makes it clear that we are falling short, and, performances as assessed through the SDG disseminate and effectively use environmental data have hindered our holistic understanding clean energy, forest in some cases, actually receding. The world indicators that have a direct relation with of the environment and the effect on it of management and waste, cannot sustain our rate of use and abuse environmental issues. socio-economic factors – we hope this report countries are still living forever, and it is imperative that we accept the The report flagged an increase of available unsustainablyD and are on course to miss the changes in lifestyles and livelihoods necessary data, but with the newly available data, an environmental dimensions of the 2030 Agenda to achieve the 2030 goals.” increase in downward trends are among more The 2030 Agenda emanates from the for Sustainable Development, according to indicators when compared with a previous 2015 UN Resolution that sets clear targets the Measuring Progress: Environment and progress report in 2019. Environmental data for a sustainable future, with internationally the SDGs report issued by the United Nations published in the first Measuring Progress agreed goals in 17 areas such as poverty, Environment Programme (UNEP) and the report showed that out of the 32% of hunger, health, climate action, clean energy Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) indicators with data (30 indicators), 74% (22 and responsible consumption, among others. to coincide with the International Day for indicators) followed a positive trend, and 26% The Measuring Progress report calls for Biological Diversity on 22 May 2021. improved data and indicators to understand (eight indicators) indicated little change or a The report found that some environmental how to ensure development progresses within negative trend. In the 2021 report, out of the areas – such as biodiversity loss and climate planetary boundaries. 42% of indicators with data (39 indicators), change – had continued to deteriorate. The report reviews data and information 67% (26 indicators) followed a positive trend “We have still not embraced the rate of about the environmental aspects of each of the and 33% (13 indicators) showed little change change necessary to come in line with the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) or a negative trend.

64 UBUNTU South Africa’s Public Diplomacy in action Issue 24 Issue 24 South Africa’s Public Diplomacy in action UBUNTU 65 FEATURE | An ancient San rock art mural in South Africa reveals new meaning An ancient San rock art mural in South Africa reveals new meaning | FEATURE

When we looked at his copy, we found Depictions of this posture, though not rain and perform other tasks. The |Xam that the significance of some images on common, recur in other sites. The eland’s called these out-of-body journeys |xãũ. the site’s ceiling panel had been missed raised head suggests that it is smelling They obtained the power needed to by other researchers. This allowed us to something, most probably rain. Both accomplish them by summoning potency examine the meaning of these images smell and rain are supernaturally powerful from strong things, such as the eland. more closely. in San thought. The inter-realm nature of the line is Importantly, our realisation was not a The unique feature in this paintings further evidenced by the three creatures technological or methodological advance. is, however, the way in which a line runs depicted moving along it. The two moving Instead, it was a conceptual development up from an area of rough rock, breaking upward are quadrupeds or four-legged that occurred by turning our attention to a at the eland’s front legs, and then on to animals: one is non-specific and one has well-known site and viewing it again in the another area of rough rock. The painter, a tail and human arms. These images light of everything we have learned so far or painters, must have depicted the eland may depict the sort of bodily changes that about San rock art. first and then added the line to develop !gi:ten say they experience during out-of- Our re-investigation allowed us to the significance of its raised head. We body journeys. arrive at a new understanding of specific argue that both the raised head and the The faint white creature moving down elements of San belief. line emphasise contact with the spirit the line was for us the climax of our work. realm, though in different ways. Deeply religious art It is clearly birdlike (!gi:ten often speak The way in which the painted line of flying). But closer inspection revealed Two sources of San ethnography are emerges from and continues into areas that, though faint, it has a rhebok antelope especially important in rock art research of rough rock is comparable to the way head with two straight black horns, a and our understanding of the ceiling in which numerous San images were black nose and mouth. panel. In the 1870s, the German linguist, painted to give the impression that they It also has two “wings” emanating from Wilhelm Bleek, and his co-worker and are entering and leaving the rock face via its shoulders. In short, it is a hybrid form – sister-in-law, Lucy Lloyd, interviewed cracks, steps and other inequalities. But part bird and part buck. In addition, it has a series of |Xam San people, some what lay behind the rock face? two white lines coming out of the back of of whom had been brought from the Behind the rock face its neck. It was from this spot that !gi:ten Northern Cape to Cape Town as convicts. expelled the sickness that they drew out We have noted already that the San Remarkably, Bleek and Lloyd recorded of the bodies of sick people. An ancient San rock art mural in South universe is divided into different realms. over 12 000 pages of texts in the |Xam For many people, the detail and the Contact between these often interacting language, which is no longer spoken, and complexity of the images at this site come realms is sometimes depicted in the art by transliterated most of it line-by-line into as a surprise. Yet, they are typical. San Africa reveals new meaning long lines that link images or sometimes English. Much of this material remains rock art ranks among the best in the world appear to pass through the rock face. relevant to our understanding of the art. if we consider its beauty, its intricacy and We know from the ethnography that the San believe in a universe with spiritual realms San shamans or medicine people (called More recently, in the 20th century, a the rich sources of explanation on which !gi:ten in |Xam) move along or climb above and below the level on which people live. Decades of research have shown that number of anthropologists worked with we can draw. these “threads of light” as they journey San groups in Namibia and Botswana with This article was first published on The Conversation. the rock art is deeply religious and situated conceptually in the same multilevel universe. between realms to heal the sick, make a focus on a range of topics from hunting and gathering to folklore and childcare. By David M Witelson, PhD Candidate, University of the Witwatersrand (Wits); David Lewis-Williams, Emeritus Professor, Wits; David Pearce, Associate Professor, Wits; and Sam Challis, Senior Research Scientist, Wits The Kalahari ethnography complements the Bleek and Lloyd archive. he indigenous San good as another. However, this ignored the ceiling panel seems a confusing We know from the ethnography that communities of southern the San themselves. collection of paintings of antelopes and the San believe in a universe with spiritual Africa were originally We can deepen our understanding human figures, some of which are painted realms above and below the level on hunting and gathering if we try to view rock art in terms of San on top of others, in shades of earthy reds, which people live. Decades of research peoples. One of the shamanistic beliefs and experiences. yellow ochres and white. have shown that the rock art is deeply religious and situated conceptually in the greatest testaments to San Advances in ethnography (literature In 2009 and working under challenging same multilevel universe. Thistory is the rock art found throughout produced by anthropologists who work circumstances, South African artist the subcontinent. with San people) help convey San and author Stephen Townley Bassett Re-reading the ceiling The oldest rock art in southern Africa worldview to rock art researchers. produced a documentary copy of the In San rock art, the eland is a connecting is around 30 000 years old and is found ceiling panel. It shows the art’s beauty By locating new sites – thousands are element. It is the most commonly on painted stone slabs from the Apollo 11 and mystery. still to be found – and revisiting known depicted antelope in the uKhahlamba- rock shelter in Namibia. Where our study ones in the light of developing insights, San rock art ranks among Drakensberg paintings. It features in took place – the Maloti-Drakensberg we can go much further than guessing. the best in the world if several San rituals and was believed to mountain massif of South Africa and be the creature with the most !gi: – the New insights from old images Lesotho – rock paintings were made we consider its beauty, |Xam word for the invisible essence that from about 3 000 years ago right into the We re-investigated such a site in the its intricacy and the rich lies at the heart of San belief and ritual. 1800s. uKhahlamba-Drakensberg mountains. It sources of explanation on At RSA CHI1, there are many For decades, people thought that one was first described in the 1950s and is depictions of eland, but we focussed on guess about the art’s meaning was as recorded as RSA CHI1. At first glance, which we can draw. the one with its head sharply raised.

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Chauke joins Laureus Ambassador ranks

Chauke joins a prestigious group of South to empower young girls through netball Flying the Africans, including Banyana Banyana coach coaching, life skills training, as well as various FLAG Desiree Ellis and star Amanda Dlamini, community-based programmes. She decided Olympic gold medallist Wayde van Niekerk to give back to her community by establishing and Springboks Jean de Villiers, Schalk Burger the foundation at her alma mater, where she Wits archaeologist named 2021 National Geographic Explorer and Bryan Habana. nurtured her talent. The foundation has been Born in Limpopo, Chauke played basketball a great success, reaching more than 500 girls and soccer before getting involved in netball across Limpopo and Gauteng provinces. of the global National Geographic Explorer astronaut. She completed her PhD in around the age of 10. She completed her ‘I am thrilled and humbled by this amazing community of changemakers.” Biological Anthropology at Wits in 2020, and gesture. This is a remarkable opportunity Postgraduate Diploma in Sports Management “It’s been overwhelming,” said Molopyane then became involved in the UW105 Cave and I understand the power of sport and at the Tshwane University of Technology and about the honour of being named a National excavations, where she took on a leadership the immense impact it has on uplifting our role in the expedition. Molopyane has since went on to play for the Proteas for several Geographic Explorer. “Since I found out, I’ve communities. It is an honour to be part of this had little time to sit back and realise what it all become the first postdoctoral research fellow years. amazing organisation that continues to do means. I think it’s still sinking in!” at the Wits Centre for Exploration of the She retired from international netball in incredible work using sport as a tool for change “Keneiloe was selected as a member of this Deep Human Journey, which is headed up 2014 to focus on her coaching at the Nelson to help those in need,’ said Chauke. cohort because she exemplifies what it means by fellow Witsie and National Geographic Mandela Metropolitan University, where she to be a National Geographic Explorer,” said Explorer at Large, Professor Lee Berger. Laureus Ambassadors are a select group was a player-coach before being made head Alex Moen, Chief Explorer Engagement Officer Molopyane’s postdoctoral research will entail of both current and retired sportsmen and coach. In 2016, she was appointed assistant at the National Geographic Society. “Through deep exploration of the famous Gladysvale women who have achieved sporting greatness coach for the baby Proteas and is currently the rchaeologist and biological her work as an archaeologist and biological Cave system, which is located at the Cradle of or made significant contributions to the anthropologist, Keneiloe Molopyane, anthropologist, and her focus on inspiring the Humankind World Heritage Site. umisani Chauke, assistant coach SPAR Proteas assistant coach. sporting community during their careers. They is recognised as a trailblazer by the next generation, Keneiloe is advancing our Molopyane joins a group of 14 other of the South African netball team, Chauke has made a tremendous impact are recognised as role models and icons of prestigious National Geographic understanding of the world and all that's in it.” scientists, educators and storytellers in the A has been announced as the both on and off the court. She launched her success and volunteer their services to support Society. As an explorer, Molopyane has the 2021 Emerging Explorer cohort – a group latest Laureus Sport for Good Netball Foundation at Mangangeni Primary the work of Laureus Sport for Good. of people whose fields of expertise are D Molopyane was announced as part of the opportunity to work with National Geographic Foundation Ambassador. School in Malamulele. The foundation aims www.teamsa.co.za National Geographic Society’s 2021 Emerging to pursue new projects, collaborate with as diverse as culinary history and marine other explorers, amplify her work to National biogeochemistry. “They’re amazing people, Explorer cohort recently. “The Emerging Geographic audiences, and do educational phenomenal!” said Molopyane of her cohort. “I Explorer cohort comprises individuals breaking outreach through the society. She will also feel proud to represent Africa, and hope to see through in their respective fields with big ideas,” Algoa Bay declared a Whale Heritage Site participate in public speaking and media more Africans receiving the same recognition a statement from the National Geographic in the coming years.” training. heritage sites. The other Whale Heritage site Society explains. “They are nominated by the Molopyane joined the Rising Star Cave www.wits.ac.za is in Bluff, Durban. National Geographic Society to become a part research team in 2018 as a junior underground Lloyd Edwards of Raggy Charters and a member of the Whale Heritage Site’s steering committee, said that this accolade was huge for Algoa Bay and translated to sustainable Praise for local company tourism. “We have people from all over the world he Department of Small Business journey as a manufacturer of a “global brand coming to see our whales and dolphins. It’s Development has commended local in the making”. nice that they know there are organisations brand, Bathu, for being named as one “The ranking is the most authoritative showing off our beautiful marine life. The of the most admired African brands. survey and analysis on brands and underlying T diversity [of whales] is absolutely huge here “In our pursuit of intra-Africa trade, we are businesses in Africa. The survey was and this is one of the reasons they awarded excited that our fellow Africans in other parts conducted between March and April this certification to us,” said Edwards. of the continent love our brands. This is in line 2021 and yielded over 80 000 “Becoming a Whale Heritage Site will with our Small, Medium and Micro-Enterprises brand mentions and over 3 500 ensure that visitors to the Algoa Bay marine Focussed Localisation Policy Framework and unique brands. lgoa Bay in the Eastern Cape was bolsters tourism and officially reveals to area are contributing to destinations that Implementation Programme, supporting local “The list boasts some declared a Whale Heritage Site the world something many whale watchers celebrate natural heritage, protect marine brands and buying local campaigns,” the of the biggest corporates recently for its more than 90 species already knew – that it is a marine life gem. wildlife and build a connection between department said on Tuesday, 8 June 2021. across Africa such as MTN, A of whales, dolphins and porpoises. Algoa Bay has 90 species of whales, residents and sea life,” he said. Bathu has been named number 10 of this DStv, Shoprite, Vodacom The World Cetacean Alliance in Brighton, dolphin and porpoises. The city is renowned Residents can now bask in the knowledge year’s most admired African brands by the and Tiger Brands,” the England, declared the city of Gqeberha in for its southern right, humpback, brydes and that their town is to receive further recognition Brand Africa 100: Africa’s Best Brands. department said. which Algoa Bay is found, a whale heritage killer whales. Whale-watching season in on the tourism map. Bathu, meaning shoes in Kasi slang, is a SAnews.gov.za site recently. Algoa Bay occurs in June through January www.thesouthafrican.com proudly South African sneaker brand that was The organisation’s mission is to protect with, June, July, November and December founded in 2015 by Theo Baloyi, a qualified and conserve whales, dolphins and porpoises being peak observation periods. accountant who quit his job for a fulfilling through a global network of partners. The South Africa is one of the few countries accolade is a coup for the town as it further apart from Australia to have two whale

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South Africa’s Triggerfish wins Mifa Animation Industry Award at Annecy 2021

(Despicable Me); the co-founders of Aardman, in setting up crucial pillars of the animation Peter Lord and David Sproxton (Wallace & industry in South Africa, like the industry Grommet); Marc Bonny, the creator of Gebeka association, AnimationSA; the showcase Films (My Life as a Courgette); Eric Beckman, and networking event, AnimationXchange; founder of GKIDS (Wolfwalkers); and Women and The Cape Town International Animation in Animation. Festival, originally called Kunjanimation. She Handing over the 2021 award to Triggerfish also pointed to their support of the Triggerfish Cape Town Tourism shines at International Film Awards CEO Stuart Forrest, Encrenaz celebrated the Academy, both through bursaries and in taking studio’s animation, which she said had “already on so many of their graduates. espite the doom and gloom during “Our team worked exceptionally hard on these The Table Bay Hotel at the V&A Waterfront earned a constellation of prizes”. Triggerfish’s “I’m feeling so proud,” says Mike Buckland, a year when tourism is struggling, films to ensure that future visitors are inspired walked away with a gold and silver award for first two films, Adventures in Zambezia head of production at Triggerfish, after watching Cape Town scooped several top to visit Cape Town once again. So, to receive their COVID-19 safety protocols film in the and Khumba, sold nine million cinema Encrenaz’s video speech. “Sometimes you D awards at the international film this recognition from such a prestigious film accommodation categories. roudly South African company tickets globally. Triggerfish also produced need a speech and a rabbit to remind yourself awards. festival is an absolute honour.” “We have missed many of our regular Triggerfish has brought home the upcoming 2021 feature Seal Team and of how much you appreciate your partners and The prestigious International Tourism Film Cape Town Tourism’s That Homegrown guests at Cape Town’s best address during another award from the international animated the Academy Award-nominated your team. Thanks to everyone who’s helped Festival Africa (ITFFA) was recently held at Feeling and We are Worth Waiting For! the pandemic, and once lockdown eased P animation industry, adding to the Roald Dahl adaptation, Revolting Rhymes, as get us where we are. the Labia Theatre in Gardens, Cape Town. claimed a gold and a silver award each, while and allowed us to re-open, we put many growing number earned by the company. well as much-loved Julia Donaldson and Axel “We’ve been very fortunate to come The ceremony honoured and celebrated the ever-handy Pocket-friendly Cape Town measures in place to welcome them back in The Annecy International Animation Scheffler adaptations such as the 2021 Annie of age in a time when the world really is some of the top tourism films in both Africa Challenge scooped silver in the destination safety,” said The Table Bay General Manager, Festival has awarded Triggerfish the Mifa Awards winner, The Snail and the Whale, 2020 looking for other voices,” says Forrest. “We and the International Category. categories. Entries were evaluated by an Joanne Selby. “The video explains the hotel’s Animation Industry Award. International Emmy winner, Zog, the BAFTA- know animation has a unique ability to cross “We are extremely delighted to have international jury made up of acclaimed COVID-19 protocols, which protect guests “This is to highlight the pioneering role that nominated and Annecy-winning, Stick Man, boundaries, so we’re so excited to share the walked away with five awards this year,” says professionals in the audiovisual production, and provide them with peace of mind during the company has played in animation in South and the Rose d’Or-winning The Highway Rat, new wave of groundbreaking African creatives Enver Duminy, CEO of Cape Town Tourism. marketing and tourism sectors. their stay.” Africa, and Africa most widely,” says Véronique all produced by Magic Light Pictures. with the world.” www.goodthingsguy.com Encrenaz, head of Mifa. Encrenaz praised the way Triggerfish had www.goodthingsguy.com Previous recipients include Christopher helped with “structuring an industry to give all Meledandri, founder of Illumination its professionals support”, playing key roles Brad Binder signs new racing deal until 2024

Cape Town’s Chinchilla named among world’s best rooftop bars outh African Brad Binder – who won the 2020 MotoGP Rookie of

Chinchilla Rooftop Cafe & Bar in Camps Bay, the Year Award – says he is “super, Cape Town, among their “Top 25 Best Rooftop S super happy” to have signed a new Bars in the World”. contract that will see him remain part of the The popular travel website named Le Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team for the Perchoir in Paris at number one, but said that next three years and take him to 10 Grand coming in at number five, Chinchilla put bars Prix seasons in “orange” by the end of the situated at the very top of some of the world’s 2024 MotoGP campaign. highest skyscrapers to shame. Clearly, Binder’s Story of a Legend (watch According to Time Out, Chinchilla’s position on Showmax) continues. He recently posted between the famous Camps Bay beach and a new MotoGP milestone at the Gran Premio iconic Table Mountain makes it a “laid back, D’Italia by equalling the highest top speed in resort-chic” paradise “that’ll make you want to the history of the sport at 362.4 kmph during while away an afternoon”. FP3 around the iconic Mugello track. “Though this rooftop is only two stories up, Of his new deal, the South African sports the views rival some of the tallest skyscrapers star said: “I’m super, super happy to have in the world,” they said. signed again for three more seasons with the front. We are not terribly far away, and it to make a big commitment to us and that says Time Out also said that Chinchilla’s vast KTM and it will take us up to 10 years. It’s would be really nice to do something great a lot for our progression and our potential array of cocktails and seafood dishes, set to incredible to have been with this manufacturer in this championship. Sometimes you find the tune of a medley of some of Cape Town’s together. It’s exciting to see what these next for such a long time now and we’ve always a racer and a mentality that really fit with ime Out said that the Chinchilla best. Time Out recently listed two South African top DJs and performers, were well worthy of a years will bring.” had a good relationship. I’m extremely happy your own philosophy and the fact that Brad Rooftop Cafe & Bar in Camps Bay, streets among the “Coolest in the World” – and place in their Top 25. KTM Motorsports Director, Pit Beirer, said: in KTM colours, so it’s extra satisfying to have has come all the way to the top with us in a Cape Town, boasted spectacular now they’ve taken a fancy to one of Cape www.thesouthafrican.com “This was a very easy contract for us to do a long contract signed up. 10-year period is a very special story. We’re views that placed it among the world's Town’s many top-class restaurants, naming T “It’s cool to have that belief and support because we love Brad as a racer and what really proud to continue racing with him and to from a company. It’s an honour. From here on, he brings to the team, the factory and the keep setting new targets together." we can focus on building ourselves towards MotoGP class. He was also very enthusiastic www.sapeople.com

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South Africa’s Silo Hotel listed as third-best pool in the world Made By Africa, Loved By The World short films feature South African designer Laduma Ngxokolo is unbelievable. The hotel is starting to earn accolades around the world, and the latest is for the third-best pool in the world as voted by Big 7 Travel. Some 1.5 million people from 60 countries take surveys for Big 7 Travel and vote for the best travel accolades worldwide. The Silo Hotel pool boasts some incredible views, which is why the pool has earned a top- three spot. “Located in Cape Town on the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, the Silo Hotel occupies the grain elevator portion of a historic grain silo complex above the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa. The hotel bills itself as ‘a celebration of art, style, architecture and acebook highlighted creatives in Africa such as Beyonce and Alicia Keys, and most scene than here on the continent. These design’. Its spectacular rooftop pool has glass as part of the global celebrations for recently had his designs featured in the film people and businesses are changing the way sides and unrivalled views of Table Mountain Africa Month, and a South African Coming to America 2. Africa is seen, not just in Africa, but around and Lion’s Head as well as the Atlantic Ocean he Silo Hotel in Cape Town has the podium with Italy and Western Australia. The designer was featured in the short Available to view on a dedicated Made by the world, and are cementing our position and city skyline. Sunsets from here are F landed a top tree spot among the Silo Hotel at the V&A Waterfront is one of Cape films. Africa, Loved by the World microsite and the as leaders in innovation and the creative mesmerising and memorable.” – Big 7 Travel. best swimming pools globally. The Town’s newest highlights in travel. The hotel is As part of its celebration around Africa official Facebook Africa page, the films provide industries. We know that Africa is the future, www.goodthingsguy.com T proudly South African hotel shares built into an old grain silo, and the architecture Day and Month, Facebook launched a global a glimpse into the global successes of African and in honour of ‘Africa Day’ and the AU’s campaign, titled: Made by Africa, Loved by creatives and businesses hailing from Kenya, 2021 celebration of African ‘Arts Culture and the World – a series of short films unveiling South Africa, Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire and Gabon. Heritage’, Made by Africa, Loved by the World Labia Theatre named among the best in the world the stories of eight phenomenal creatives The series aims to showcase, hero’ing and is our way of recognising just some of these and small business owners from across the honouring the people who are impacting the remarkable individuals who continue to inspire According to Time Out, cinemagoers purchase continent who are breaking ground across the continent and the world through their music, the world,” said Nunu Ntshingila, Regional their tickets from an ornate ticketing booth (or world. arts and crafts. Director, Facebook Africa. online). In recent years, the rich and famous South African fashion designer Laduma “At Facebook, we’re deeply invested in the www.goodthingsguy.com like John Cleese, Werner Herzog, Matt Damon Ngxokolo was featured. His clothing brand, creative industry in Africa, and nowhere is it and Salma Hayek have popped by for a movie. “MaXhosa”, has been worn by global names more exciting to witness this vibrant creative According to its website, this gem was opened by Princess Labia in May 1949 as a theatre for the staging of live performances. For the past four decades, it has been operating as South Africa's Lerai Rakoditsoe becomes first African to host Nickelodeon show a cinema on the alternative circuit, appealing mainly to the more discerning viewer who She is the first African to host a show on the extremely grateful and looking forward to enjoys its quality product and the charm of its Nickelodeon platform. The daily weekday interacting with viewers across Africa and to old-world ambience. show premiered on 17 May 2021 and features show off some of my NickMusic moves." Thanks to the assistance of Crowd Funding music from across the African continent and Dillon Khan, VP for Nickelodeon at and the Digital Gold Fund, the Labia was able the world. ViacomCBS Networks Africa, says the to convert to digital projection and boasts The newly enlisted presenter is also a channel stands by its commitment to grow superior picture and sound quality while change-maker who has previously worked with local relevance and content for kids across retaining its unique charm. youth and female empowerment groups. An the African continent. "In our commitment to In addition to the conversion to digital elated Rakoditsoe, whose latest career move always celebrate and recognise the power of projection, the Labia has been able to continue has made history, had this to say about being youth culture across Africa, we welcome Lerai slowly upgrading her facilities to make one's a part of Nickelodeon's advancements on the to the Nickelodeon Africa family and encourage experience an even more memorable one. continent: kids and parents to put on their dancing shoes "I am excited to be part of the Nickelodeon and get ready for NickMusic." The top three are: Africa family and to be the first young The 18-year-old hails from Bassonia, south 1. Pathé Tuschinski, Amsterdam outh African social activist, Lerai he Labia Theatre in Orange Street, Located beneath Table Mountain, South African host for the channel. Having grown of Johannesburg. A self-defined storyteller, 2. Le Grand Rex, Paris Rakoditsoe, is making history by Gardens, Cape Town, has been Africa’s oldest indie cinema prides itself on up watching the channel myself, I know Rakoditsoe has been previously lauded for 3. Village East Cinema, New York. hosting NickMusic, a family-friendly recognised on Time Out’s top 50 marrying modern tech with an olde-worlde how important it is for young minds to see giving women a voice on her social media www.goodthingsguy.com music show that plays audience most beautiful cinemas in the world charm a world away from the gleaming modern S someone like themselves on screen. Authentic platforms. T favourites and tracks that resonate with both www.creativityweek.africa list. It’s number 14 on the list. multiplex. representation is really important and to see parents and children. myself on the channel is mind-blowing. I'm

72 UBUNTU South Africa’s Public Diplomacy in action Issue 24 Issue 24 South Africa’s Public Diplomacy in action UBUNTU 73 LIFESTYLE | | LIFESTYLE

UCT Prof becomes seventh South African to be elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society

Sciences, is the seventh South African to be “Science has given us a way to test new human awarded the honour. ideas and that is something to be treasured. The university said Bond was recognised Reason has been such a powerful tool for us as a global authority on open ecosystems and humans, but logic alone is not the answer. In his research into the forces that shape global fact, science requires the imagination to make vegetation, including wildfire, CO2 levels connections that lead to new discoveries and and herbivores, is credited with transforming this creativity comes from all sorts of sources, the understanding of how these systems including art, music, myth and poetry. I think materialised. that’s where South Africa and Africa have Prof. Bond said his sister was the one who much to offer: our perspective is unique and inspired him to become an ecologist. valuable; it leads to new ways of seeing,” said “I was inspired to become an ecologist by Prof. Bond. my older sister who read widely as a journalist He said at this moment when and always portrayed ecology as an important misinformation was a real danger and the field, but I only appreciated its scope and biomes that he had spent his career studying scientific fascination decades later,” he said. were under threat, it was a great honour to be Pretoria fourth-most “Instagrammable Neighbourhood” in the world University of Cape Town (UCT) He said he also looked up to other fellows recognised by an institution such as the Royal professor has been elected as from the society and specifically Charles Society, which promoted the role of science. ravel-Lust recently released a list of While travel is still curbed in most parts Pretoria was tagged more than 1.4 million times a Fellow of the Royal Society, Darwin. www.goodthngsguy.com the most popular and most tagged of the world, Travel-Lust, in partnership on Instagram, preceded only by Wynwood in A the world's oldest scientific Prof. Bond said Darwin had always been Instagrammable neighbourhoods with Stokemont, “wanted to find out which Miami, Shinjuku in Tokyo, and Astoria in New academy. his hero because he was a wonderful guide to T in the world. It compiled a list of neighbourhoods around the world we typically York. 50 neighbourhoods from around the world Other cities and neighbourhoods to make William Bond, Emeritus Professor at travelling the world as a biologist and such an lust over most”. based on the number of hashtags the areas it to the top 10 list include Silver Lake in Los the university’s Department of Biological astute observer of human society. The teams at Travel-Lust and Stokemont garnered on Instagram – and Pretoria has Angeles, Hongdae in Seoul, Champs-Elysees collected hundreds of the coolest most made the top 10. in Paris, Chefchaouen in Northwest Morocco picturesque places before narrowing it down to South African gin brand wins three awards at 2021 International Spirits Challenge Instagram has over the years turned into and Surrey Hills in Sydney. a key driver when it comes to travel trends, a comprehensive list of 50. While Pretoria came fourth, it was no match with more than a third of the platform’s users Then, the various neighbourhoods, cities for Wynwood in Miami, Florida, which had “We are honoured to be recognised again by choosing to visit a destination after seeing it on and locations were searched on Instagram to more than 3.8 million photos tagged. Wynwood the International Spirits Challenge judging the app. find out how many hashtags each place had. is famous for its trendy street art and graffiti. panel”, says Flowstone Gin representative, https://citizen.co.za/ Mark French. “We always feel truly proud to not only be representing our continent of Africa, but also South African soprano wins song prize at Cardiff Singer of the World Competition to wake up every morning and know that as

the sun rises, we are foraging and harvesting “Masabane Cecilia Rangwanasha performed the World 2021 contestants in performances in one of the most remarkable and beautiful with such assured technique and emotional of Lieder and art songs – partnered by regions in the world, the Cradle of Humankind.” power that the jury was unanimous in naming internationally-renowned pianists and took Of the ISC Challenge, Pieter de Bod, KWV her the winner,” said John Gilhooly, Wigmore place over four rounds. Master Distiller, says: “KWV regards ISC as Hall’s Artistic and Executive Director, and Chair The event took place at St David’s Hall one of the most prestigious competitions of its of the Judges. in the Welsh capital, without an audience type. The South African singer’s prize in attendance, and in strict compliance with The rigorous judging process is second to was £10 000, as well as many fantastic COVID-19 regulations. none and it is a remarkable achievement to According to a BBC press statement, opportunities to perform across the United garner ISC trophies and medals as it signals Rangwanasha started singing at school and Kingdom and internationally. not only supreme quality but also consistent church at an early age. She completed her Rangwanasha impressed the judging panel dedication to the craft of creating world-class postgraduate diploma at the University of Cape with her diverse performances of Schubert’s spirits.” Town, studying with Virginia Davids, and took a Gretchen am Spinnrade – D118; BPJ www.goodthingsguy.com BTech in Vocal Art (Performance) with Kiewiet Tyamzashe’s song in Xhosa, Isithandwa Sam; Pali at Tshwane University of Technology. n June 2021, South African soprano, Lizst’s Die Lorelei – S273; and Betty Jackson In a few months’ time, she will join the Masabane Cecilia Rangwanasha, won the King’s Ride Up In The Chariot. ensemble of Bern Staatsoper for two years. Song Prize at the prestigious BBC Cardiff “I wanted to show the audience that they www.sapeople.com Singer of the World 2021. outh African gin brand Flowstone The brand was launched four years ago I can enjoy both worlds: spirituals, the more Gin has earned three awards at the and has since earned a total of 21 awards, The 27-year-old rose to victory – against standard Lieder repertoire and also my 2021 International Spirits Challenge including the three newest ones. The brand has finalists from Madagascar, Wales, South Korea traditional South African Lieder,” she said. S (ISC), boosting its accolades to a earned two silver awards and a bronze for the and Austria – with a mix of popular Lieder, a The Song Prize competition showcased total of 21. Bushwillow, Snuffbox and Wild Cucumber Gin. South African song (in Xhosa) and spirituals. the voices of 14 of the BBC Cardiff Singer of

74 UBUNTU South Africa’s Public Diplomacy in action Issue 24 Issue 24 South Africa’s Public Diplomacy in action UBUNTU 75 LIFESTYLE | | LIFESTYLE

These two South African streets named among the coolest in the world Boulders Beach named one of the best beaches in the world

one neighbourhood in their city with the biggest buzz about it right now. Now, Boulders Beach has earned a top spot on This is the second time that the Time Out the Big 7 Travel 50 Best Beaches in the World. Index has lauded 7th Street for its abundance “Using aggregated scores from previous of pubs, clubs and restaurants, as well as its media results, official Blue Flag locations and strong sense of community. contributions from the Big 7 Travel editorial “There’s always a discernible buzz. And team, these are the most amazing beaches to that’s probably because pretty much the entire visit this year. street is filled with restaurants, pubs and “It’s a diverse list, with black sandy shores, clubs,” the guide said. city beaches and plenty of islands. From “The main road in suburban Kalk Bay is just Myanmar to Mauritius, consider this your magical. Head past all the historic sea-facing essential vacation guide. homes, just beyond the train station, and you’ll “Boulders Beach has something you won’t find the dream spot for an afternoon mooch in find anywhere else in the world – you can get the sun. On a warm day, it’s habitual to start close to African penguins, who nest by the with a swim at Dalebrook tidal pool, where beach. Summer is prime time to visit Boulders, locals and visitors lay out towels on the rocks.” oulders Beach in Simon’s Town Big 7 Travel has a list for everything and South and it’s when you’ll see the most penguin he 30 coolest streets have been As part of their Time Out Index 2021 survey, Topping the list is Smith Street that’s located has landed 12th spot on the “Top Africa is often featured on their Top 50 lists. action. revealed, and 7th Street in Melville, the publication asked more than 27 000 in Melbourne, Australia. 50 Best Beaches in the World” list Cape Town was even voted onto one of the “The cool, clear False Bay water and rock Johannesburg, and Main Road in city dwellers around the world about the Number two on the list is Barcelona’s B from Big 7 Travel. best destinations of the decade list. pools are an added bonus.” T Kalk Bay are among the hippest. best, most overrated and most undervalued Passeig de Sant Joan. The famous Boulders Beach is having a Some 1.5 million people from 60 countries www.goodthingsguy.com The 30 coolest streets in the world have neighbourhoods in their home town. South Bank, London, best known for its great PR year. First, the beach was the setting take surveys and vote for the best travel been named by the Time Out guide … and Then, armed with their opinions, they buzzing Thameside pathway, is the bronze for the Netflix series,Penguin Town; and now it accolades around the world. Big 7 Media 7th Street, Melville, Johannesburg, has been went to the experts – Time Out editors and medalist. is topping international travel lists as one of the shares several lists, which promote global awarded the number 12 spot and Main Road, contributing writers who know the city like www.goodthingsguy.com best beaches globally. travel. Kalk Bay, Cape Town, number 22. nobody else – and asked them to pinpoint the

South Africa’s Kgothatso Montjane makes history reaching Wimbledon final

female athletes. There’s no limit to what you’re capable of‚” said Montjane after receiving the wild card in 2018. Montjane wrote her name in the history books by becoming the first black South African woman to reach the final at Wimbledon. “I am just so happy to have made my first- ever Grand Slam singles final‚” Montjane said after her match. President Cyril Ramaphosa tweeted a special message to South Africa’s wheelchair tennis star, KG, before the match: “YOU’VE ALREADY MADE US PROUD” – PRESIDENT RAMAPHOSA President Ramaphosa said: “Kgothatso Montjane plays her first grand slam singles final @Wimbledon today. @KGMontjane1 may Garrick Higgo earns maiden win on PGA Tour the serves be sound and the forehands flow as you continue to fly the flag. You will have your outh Africa's Garrick Higgo earned Hadley blew a two-shot lead with bogeys on "I worked so hard with my coach on my short orld no 5 wheelchair tennis star It was a first Wimbledon final and a first Grand coach and the entire country with you. You’ve his first victory on the PGA Tour in his final three holes, finishing with a 75 at the game and my putting and I guess all this has Kgothatso Montjane ousted Slam singles final for the Limpopo-born star‚ already made us proud. Let’s ace this one!” just his second start on Sunday, South Carolina golf course. paid off," Higgo said. Momoko Ohtani 7-6(3) 4-6 6-4 who faced top seed and world no 1 Diede de The Dutch player wrapped up the match to S13 June 2021, edging late leader The 22-year-old Higgo, of Johannesburg, The tournament at Congaree filled in for W to reach her first Wimbledon Groot from the Netherlands in the final. win 6-2‚ 6-2. Chesson Hadley to capture the Palmetto earned US$1.31 million (R18 million) in prize the Canadian Open, which was cancelled for final at the All England Lawn Tennis Club in The 35-year-old from Seshego became www.sowetanlive.co.za Championship at Congaree. money and an exemption on the tour until a second straight year because of the global London on Friday, 9 July 2021. the first African woman to play at Wimbledon Higgo chased down Hadley on the back 2023. pandemic. In a big-hitting and big-serving affair‚ it was in 2018 after she was awarded a wild card

nine, shooting a three-under 68 for the round He is the second South Africa to win this www.news24.com Montjane who created more opportunities to and reached the semifinals. “I am proud to to finish at 11-under overall. season, joining Branden Grace. edge past Japanese world no 6 Ohtani. be blazing the trail for the next generation of

76 UBUNTU South Africa’s Public Diplomacy in action Issue 24 Issue 24 South Africa’s Public Diplomacy in action UBUNTU 77 LIFESTYLE | | LIFESTYLE

Clifton is an affluent suburb of Cape Town. It is an exclusive residential area and is home to the most expensive real estate in South Africa, with dwellings nestled on cliffs that have sweeping views of the Atlantic Ocean. Clifton lies just beyond Bantry Bay, between Sea Point and Camps Bay, in one of the most superb settings against the backdrop of Table Mountain.

78 UBUNTU South Africa’s Public Diplomacy in action Issue 24 Issue 24 South Africa’s Public Diplomacy in action UBUNTU 79 LIFESTYLE | Young female South African architects reinvent Serpentine Pavilion in London | LIFESTYLE The Counterspace trio are not the first female appointees. Celebrated British-Iraqi architect Zaha Hadid designed the inaugural pavilion, and women followed in 2009, 2015 and 2018. But Counterspace represents a new, forward-looking and timely attitude to inclusion, diversity and creativity.

want to make buildings. All three teach while The Counterspace ethos will allow the pavilion that I work with, about ingesting as much as practising professionally. to accommodate difference, even conflict. I can from a place and its people and then Projects in the Counterspace portfolio include Vally, the only architect on the 2021 Time100 translating that into form.” performances, installations, choreography and Next list, recently told me of her aspiration to Architecture of invitation curating, as well as research investigations and deliver a space meaningful to Londoners near building designs. Works include Folded Skies, a and far. It should reach out to those at the To date, the Serpentine Pavilion has provided large-scale mirror sculpture in Cape Town, and periphery, and reach in to the city centre. a passive setting for people to meet. But the Brixton Mosque in Johannesburg, a scheme Counterspace aims to actively engage with The pavilion to wrap an existing church reused as a mosque communities and sites of marginalised history in a new envelope that speaks the architectural A lofty circular roof defines the extent of the across London – to draw people in. language of Islamic geometry. pavilion. It is both cosmological – a canopy This is an architecture of invitation. The In contrast with the object-oriented of stars – and childlike in its symbolism of design does not attempt to deliver insights but architecture of most pavilions to date, centrality, reminding us of the circle of play we rather foster understanding, absorbing conflict Counterspace emphasises process. It wants to make by joining hands. by providing a context for bringing differences steer and gather the Serpentine Pavilion into Rising columns and wall fragments echo together. being over time. other histories, borrowing bits of the city It captures something of an emergent and bringing them together in a bricolage creative spirit – influenced but not defined by Time and the city of recombined and recycled fragments. wokeness and related cultural controversies – The act of building will extend beyond the Connections to other buildings, moments and in which the space to be flawed and unsure, to Young female South African architects opening date, spreading across the summer places across London are suggested. be real, is claimed as a stage for belonging. months. So, the pavilion you see in June may This architecture of visual quotations This approach, which resonates with Robert change by the time you return for a second recalls the postmodern theories of Robert McCarter’s reformulation of “place-making as reinvent Serpentine Pavilion in London look in September. Venturi and Denise Scott Brown. The approach resistance”, reminds us of the need to reclaim This aligns with the Serpentine Gallery’s superimposes memories represented by our capacity for human relationships. The view too. According to artistic director, Hans design motifs. A cut and paste detail from a pavilion invites us to rediscover public life and News of the choice of Counterspace was greeted with enthusiasm. Three women run Ulrich Obrist, the silver lining of the pandemic Notting Hill Caribbean café that was a hub for meet again, after our long confinement, in a the interdisciplinary Johannesburg practice. They are the youngest architects to land is an “opportunity to take more time”. A range anti-racist activists in the 1960s might appear space made for us and with us. of events and research activities have been on the pavilion alongside an element drawn The 2021 Serpentine Pavilion opened on the Pavilion commission in its 20-year history . initiated, reframing the official opening date as from the South London offices of the West 11 June 2021 in London.

a milestone on the Pavilion’s journey, rather Indian Gazette, a major black newspaper This article was first published on The Conversation. By Matthew Barac than its destination. founded by activist Claudia Jones in 1958. Reader in Architecture, London Metropolitan University Eminent architect David Adjaye counselled This accumulation of elements and the pavilion’s trustees to: “Accept the slowness influences is filtered through Vally’s artistic he arrival in London of a new Pavilion commission in its 20-year history. Past looking and timely attitude to inclusion, reshaping society today and utilise it to develop processes of interpretation: “Any work that I Serpentine Pavilion is a design designers include architectural superstars diversity and creativity. a deeper relationship with the architects.” do is about how I am shaped by the people diary highlight every year. such as Frank Gehry, Daniel Libeskind and Responding to the news, Lesley Lokko, Each commission sees a Peter Zumthor. African Futures Institute director and RIBA new temporary garden building The Serpentine Pavilion, a free-to-access Annie Spink Award laureate, said: – a pavilion – created by a destination and venue for cultural gatherings, “As the world grapples with issues of race, selectedT international architect. It is organised has been seen as a vehicle for innovation. But, identity and inequity in the built environment, by the Serpentine Galleries in Kensington detractors argue it has become a platform to this is an opportunity for a young African Gardens, Hyde Park, regularly attracting over celebrate “starchitects” and host paparazzi- practice to show that the imagination is the 1.2 million visitors a year. friendly parties. most powerful tool for change.” In 2020, the prestigious Serpentine Recent attempts to diversify the message Named for its belief that “every space Pavilion was awarded to South African by selecting “up-and-coming” designers have has an equal and opposite counter-space”, studio Counterspace. Soon afterwards, the met with mixed reviews, but the choice of Counterspace operates as a collaborative organisers decided to delay and extend Counterspace ups the ante. Here’s why. studio in which a culture of questioning is the commission over two years because of fundamental. Diverse alternatives the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, finally, it is Who is Counterspace? emerging into public life. The Counterspace trio are not the first female News of the choice of Counterspace was appointees. Celebrated British-Iraqi architect Founding partners Sumayya Vally, Sarah de greeted with enthusiasm. Three women run Zaha Hadid designed the inaugural pavilion, Villiers and Amina Kaskar established the the interdisciplinary Johannesburg practice. and women followed in 2009, 2015 and 2018. firm in their twenties. They want to change They are the youngest architects to land the But Counterspace represents a new, forward- architectural knowledge just as much as they

80 UBUNTU South Africa’s Public Diplomacy in action Issue 24 Issue 24 South Africa’s Public Diplomacy in action UBUNTU 81 LIFESTYLE | An Oscar for My Octopus Teacher is a boost for South African film. But … An Oscar for My Octopus Teacher is a boost for South African film. But … | LIFESTYLE

My Octopus Teacher shows viewers that meaningful Africa because it has focussed attention on a local story and the quality of local productions. engagements with the natural world can happen right It demonstrates that it’s possible – working from outside your door. home with a relatively low budget and a small crew – to reach a massive global audience touch and be touched by a common octopus perfect film for Netflix’s audience, which spiked from the tip of Africa and win one of the most (Octopus vulgaris). Foster is on a sabbatical sharply because of COVID-19 restrictions in influential awards in the film world. from documentary filmmaking after suffering many countries. But, there’s also a counter point to this: that from burnout on his previous production. While The film’s introspective and understated the film was only possible because Foster is a free-diving, he “meets” an octopus, and returns approach is also an important factor. Foster’s well-established and well-resourced filmmaker to her every day, documenting most of her life short walk to the cold-water kelp forests is living on a particularly scenic part of the South cycle, which spans about a year. He forms a the antithesis of Planet Earth’s globe-trotting African coast. strong emotional attachment to her, and relates aesthetic, where each exotic, remote location To say that My Octopus Teacher is a model the healing effect it has on him. reveals the natural world at its most dramatic for all filmmakers in South Africa would ignore The critical viewer can object to the and spectacular. My Octopus Teacher shows the situation of emerging filmmakers living in anthropomorphising of the octopus – the viewers that meaningful engagements with the very different circumstances. This includes, for applying of human attributes to an animal. And natural world can happen right outside your example, black female filmmakers living far for following the well-trodden path of privileged door. from the filmmaking centres in South Africa. white males documenting and representing the And, as the title proclaims, you don’t have to They might have brilliant stories to tell and exotic other. be an expert to gain something wonderful from amazing access to the people and places Even the surliest of critics were touched by the flora and fauna that you see every day, if you involved. But, they are unlikely to have access the story of man and octopus. look a little closer. to a digital cinema camera. Or the time to devote But, as it shot up the rankings on Netflix, In terms of the Oscar documentary outcome exclusively to a project of this kind. it became clear that these flaws were not an this year, there was a perfect meeting point Nevertheless, there are likely to be positive obstacle to millions of viewers around the world of Netflix’s penchant for producing cinematic who embraced the film wholeheartedly. Indeed, and sensational documentaries, pandemic spinoffs from the win. For one, streaming while the film’s unabashed sentimentalism and audiences’ appetite for small, solitary stories platforms’ interest in local documentary is Foster’s somewhat self-indulgent narration of individuals overcoming obstacles, and the increasing. An Oscar for My Octopus invited both parody and critique, even the Academy’s preference for entertaining, escapist And interest from international platforms and surliest of critics were carried away on a tide of documentaries. Think no further than previous distributors in African film will undoubtedly spike “the feels”. winners, 20 Feet from Stardom, Searching for in the coming months. Sugarman or Free Solo. The hope is that this leads to more Secrets of success Teacher is a boost for South international co-production treaties being What it means for the industry Key to the film’s success has been its word-of- signed. There are currently only eight with South mouth emergence during lockdown in 2020. It There is an argument to be made that the Africa – with three more in the works – that allow African film. But … was the very definition of a viral sensation, the documentary’s win is important for film in South two production companies to claim tax rebates The story of a man and his relationship with an octopus in the cold, cold water off Cape Town’s Peninsula triumphed over a number of heavy hitters. These included an exposé of hospital deaths caused by corruption in the Romanian Government (Collective) and the Obama-produced story of the battle for disability rights in the United States (Crip Camp).

By Liani Maasdorp, Senior Lecturer in Screen Production and Film and Television Studies, University of Cape Town (UCT) and Ian-Malcolm Rijsdijk, Senior Lecturer in Film and Television Studies, UCT

he Best Documentary Feature of heavy hitters. These included an exposé to voting; and the power of a well-made film with gong for My Octopus Teacher of hospital deaths caused by corruption in the a simple and life-affirming story. at this year’s Academy Awards Romanian Government (Collective) and the The answer to what impact it will have is has been seen by many critics Obama-produced story of the battle for disability more complicated: we think it could lead to as the type of underdog story rights in the United States (Crip Camp). wonderfully positive outcomes. But only, if Oscar loves. The film, directed So, what carried the underdog to victory? marginalised South Africans have agency and byT Pippa Erlich and James Reed, was – like And what does this mean for filmmaking in power in front of and behind the cameras. the other South African-themed documentary to South Africa? Will this sensational viral hit A tide of “the feels” wow the Oscars, Searching for Sugarman – the spawn “a trail of comparable works in its wake?” feel-good choice. The answer to why it won lies in a series of My Octopus Teacher follows documentary The story of a man and his relationship with interconnected factors: the power of Netflix; the filmmaker Craig Foster as he dives in the an octopus in the cold, cold water off Cape zeitgeist of the global COVID-19 lockdown; the ocean near his home on the southern shores Town’s Peninsula triumphed over a number Academy’s idiosyncratic nature when it comes of the Cape Peninsula to observe, document,

82 UBUNTU South Africa’s Public Diplomacy in action Issue 24 Issue 24 South Africa’s Public Diplomacy in action UBUNTU 83 LIFESTYLE | An Oscar for My Octopus Teacher is a boost for South African film. But … | LIFESTYLE WE, THE PEOPLE OF SOUTH AFRICA,

Recognise the injustices of our past; Honour those who suffered for justice and freedom in our land; Respect those who have worked to build and develop our country; and Believe that South Africa belongs to all who live in it, united in our diversity. We therefore, through our freely elected representatives, adopt this Constitution as the supreme law of the Republic so as to -

Heal the divisions of the past and establish a society based on democratic values, social justice and fundamental human rights;

Lay the foundations for a democratic and open society in which for work done in their respective home countries, what is being called extractive filmmaking – in global filmmaking history when “nothing government is based on the will of the people and every citizen is equally making international co-productions more when international production companies come about us without us” is both a rallying cry and a protected by law; desirable and profitable for both parties. in to film the country’s stories, bypassing its local commissioning brief, one hopes that this will not And the benefits could extend to under- storytellers. be the only personal story from South Africa that resourced and emerging filmmakers, for whom What South Africa needs more than anything makes it big on a global stage. Improve the quality of life of all citizens and free the potential of each an international co-producer could foot the bill for in the film and television industries are stories This article was first published on The Conversation. person; and that expensive camera, and their time. told by South Africans, not about them; told by filmmakers coming from inside communities, What needs to happen events and experiences, not by outsiders. Build a united and democratic South Africa able to take its rightful place There are dangers too. My Octopus Teacher centres on a white as a sovereign state in the family of nations. There’s a risk that an increased international male experience. But the story is told from the desire to see South African stories will result in inside, by the very person it’s about. At a time May God protect our people. Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika. Morena boloka setjhaba sa heso. i God seёn Suid-Afrika. God bless South Africa. Cape Town’s Great African Sea Forest has been crowned as one of “world’s new wonders”. This after seven “new” wonders of the world have been chosen by Bloomberg and the underwater enchanted Kelp Forest, 16 kilometres south Mudzimu fhatutshedza Afurika. Hosi katekisa Afrika. of Cape Town, ranks among them. The Kelp Forest is also known as the Great African Sea Forest. The forest’s profile was raised after its feature in the Academy Award-winning documentary, My Octopus Teacher. (Preamble to the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa) My Octopus Teacher reached global plaudits after its release on Netflix in the year 2020. It tells the heartwarming story of how filmmaker Craig Foster finds solace in the Kelp Forest and befriends an octopus where the two form a unique bond. Here are the full “seven new wonders of the world”: • Sigiriya, Sri Lanka ONE CONSTITUTION, ONE NATION • San Agustin, Colombia • Kelp Forests, South Africa • Top End Rock Art, Australia • Nahanni, Canada • Baalbek, Lebanon • Antequera Dolmens, Spain.

www.goodthingsguy.com

84 UBUNTU South Africa’s Public Diplomacy in action Issue 24 Issue 24 South Africa’s Public Diplomacy in action UBUNTU 85 LIFESTYLE | Remembering Zim Ngqawana 10 years on, a singular force in South African music Remembering Zim Ngqawana 10 years on, a singular force in South African music | LIFESTYLE Committed to creativity as healing, Ngqawana left an extensive archive of published and unpublished music. It is important, therefore, that 10 May 2021 also marked the resurrection of the Zimology Institute, the project he initiated as a holding space for his philosophy and music.

For us, Ngqawana’s enduring lesson is how clarion to draw the concerned listener’s The moment of annihilation art is able to contain, in its creation, its negation: attention to the fire that is engulfing our house Indeed, in 2010, Ngqawana’s studio was “The true purpose of great music should as a nation in a state of emergency.” vandalised by scrap metal thieves. To gouge lead us to silence … from sound to silence.” Antiquity and modernity the metal from the grand piano’s legs, it was – Qula Kwedini. turned on its side. Windows, the toilet and This article was first published on The Conversation. The call for commitment of the artist as cultural light fittings were broken. A saxophone was worker and warrior, and for the recognition smashed. that people’s lives could and must improve, At the moment of annihilation, perhaps, suggest why Ngqawana is important for our true voice is heard – we scream, sing, those who insist on the transformation of our respond. In improvising its hesitant future, society and refuse to relegate African cultural the artist’s voice is born; informed by all it knowledge systems to the dustbin of the past. has ever been and seen. The sound bears He wrote in 2001’s Zimphonic Suites, that witness, exhaled into the impassive air. it’s all about “harmony between antiquity and “This vandalism,” says Ngqawana in The modernity”. Exhibition of Vandalizim, a documentary For Ngqawana, this clarion should be created by the African Noise Foundation, heard and acknowledged by all. This explains Remembering Zim Ngqawana 10 years on, “shows the extent of what has happened to his visibility on South African TV in the 1990s them … A vandalism of the soul, vandalism of (especially with the hit Qula Kwedini) and his the heart, vandalism of the mind.” ubiquity on the airwaves and the live scene a singular force in South African music Committed to creativity as healing, and, most importantly, as a teacher. Ngqawana left an extensive archive of Meeting Zim published and unpublished music. It is “The true purpose of great music should lead us to silence … from sound to silence.” important, therefore, that 10 May 2021 also I first met Ngqawana when I was invited to marked the resurrection of the Zimology By Lindelwa Dalamba, Music Lecturer, University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) and Phillippa Yaa de Villiers, Poet and Lecturer in Rhodes University, where he had studied. As Institute, the project he initiated as a holding Creative Writing, Wits a student, I was privy to a jazz workshop he space for his philosophy and music. held. It was an odd, discomforting jam session. imasile “Zim” Ngqawana died generally treats the arts – and especially jazz – Mrwebi, Barney Rachabane, Duke Makasi, Ngqawana made us play endless rounds of Principles of poetics unexpectedly and too soon as an inconvenience outside of Heritage Day, Robbie Jansen and Dudu Pukwana, to name the standard Stella by Starlight, pushing us to – on 10 May 2011 at the age could resonate so widely. but a few. His legacy is also one of poetics, the the limits of our tolerance of its melody, chord of 51 – leaving bereft a family Ngqawana’s sound – indebted to Xhosa It is also why it can speak of Zim Ngqawana. principles – conscious or intuitive and changes and prior interpretations. That’s the and a musical community that traditional musical, Western art music and understood in retrospect – by which the artist A self-made brand point: to push through the given script until you spanned the globe. jazz – fills the silence that destruction leaves. articulates their style. In the film, a stubbornly find yourself on the other side. That used to be ZA flautist and saxophonist, composer and Committed to creativity as healing, Ngqawana’s We may consider Ngqawana as a “self-made” resilient Ngqawana sits in the rubble left by the point of jazz. teacher, Ngqawana was born in New Brighton legacy continues long after his death. brand. Through his creations like Zimphonic the vandals and plays a percussive solo on But, my most important encounter was the broken cistern. “We are condemned … township in then Port Elizabeth, South Africa. A long line of saxophonists Suites, Vadzimu, Zimology, Aphorizims, when I ran into him at the University of After a university music education, he became Zimphony Orchestra and the Zimology to move into the unknown,” he says. Moving In the mid-1800s, Belgium’s Adolphe Saxe known on the jazz and dance theatre scenes. Institute, he crafted his own public persona KwaZulu-Natal as a postgraduate student. beyond the palpable pain in seeing his invented a strange instrument made of brass It was Ngqawana who was chosen to present in such a way that the culture industry had to Avuncular as ever, he declared his pleasure instruments and studio destroyed, he insists but which, because of how it produced sound, music – a 100-piece ensemble – at the follow rather than shape it for him. that those he had known as youngsters were that the vandals are victims of the barbarism was classified as a woodwind instrument: the inauguration of President Nelson Mandela in Ngqawana’s making of the self was playful, continuing to blow the clarion. of colonisation. He makes art of the carnage. saxophone. 1994. He released his debut studio album, but not superficial. He also resisted the label When I said I was no longer blowing the In filmmaker and writer Aryan Kaganof’s film The hybrid instrument was adopted by jazz, San Song, in 1996. He would tour the world “jazz”, which he considered at once “too limiting saxophone, now determined to be a jazz Legacy, he stresses Ngqawana’s interest in a genre that has always embraced hybridity. and too all-encompassing”. Confronting the musicologist, he promptly went to his office the conscience. with his band Ingoma and work with the likes For jazz scholar Chris Merz, the saxophone in and returned with a copy of every single one of Conscience and consciousness formed of Wynton Marsalis, Abdullah Ibrahim and South African jazz became prominent from the controversial view that there was no word his albums, along with a copy of Amiri Baraka’s Hugh Masekela, in turn mentoring a new 1930s, part of the American Swing craze. for “music” in African languages, he correctly themselves through artistic discourse in generation of South African musicians. He later The 1950s saw the global decline of big grasped that this was because, historically, Blues People: Negro Music in White America. the 1970s and 1980s, where culture was established a school, the Zimology Institute. bands and rise of smaller jazz combos. So music in Africa was part of life’s sacred and This generosity was an assertion of community, an inextricable aspect of, and outlet for, Ngqawana’s biography and his began the reign of the alto saxophone in South profane rituals. It was ingoma (the drums). In possibly the only impulse that has assured the political in music. Ngqawana always achievements are well known. African jazz, despite some growling intrusions his sleeve notes for the 1999 album, Ingoma, jazz’s endurance in this country. The gift is my went beyond the political postures and Recalling him on the 10th anniversary of from tenor saxophonists like Winston he wrote: memento mori: Ngqawana’s mortality, beyond personalities of the day, cutting through to the his death is to remember how a South African Mankunku. This is why South African jazz can “Ingoma is a tour de force of committed death and vandalism, continues to inspire and meaning of human events and their impact on jazz musician’s life and death, in a country that speak of Ntemi Piliso, Kippie Moeketsi, Gwigwi conscious kultur warriors, blowing a national to teach. the experience of freedom.

86 UBUNTU South Africa’s Public Diplomacy in action Issue 24 Issue 24 South Africa’s Public Diplomacy in action UBUNTU 87 LIFESTYLE | South African female film director answers Hollywood’s call South African female film director answers Hollywood’s call | LIFESTYLE

directors working in international mainstream cinema, including Gavin Hood (Tsotsi, Wolverine), Neil Blomkamp (District 9, Chappie) and Jann Turner (TV’s Castle, Teen Wolf) with the winning of the prestigious Horizon Award in 2021, which partners with the Sundance Institute, HBO and the Adrienne Shelly Foundation to recognise female filmmakers. De Pontes is becoming known for her desire and aims to create films with diverse and inclusive voices to tell female and African stories that impact the ways people think about their approach to each other and the world. Her ambition is to create films with diverse and inclusive voices. “I love to make films about the most inspiring people I know, badass women.” Born and raised by two highly scientific and hardworking parents, science was an “every day” for Marian, but art and film always snuck their way in. Following an unpredictable career in the arts is a very brave and intimidating path, especially when you’re in South Africa and a long way from the heart of filmmaking in Hollywood. De Pontes owes her success to taking calculated risks, not being easily deterred, and her love for a challenge. She has politely South African female film director ignored the people who have tried to convince her to take the easier road – “The best answers Hollywood’s call response to someone who tries to obstruct you is to smile sweetly and make your kick-ass movie.” De Pontes is becoming known for her desire and aims to create films with diverse and With Hollywood mentors backing this South inclusive voices to tell female and African stories that impact the ways people think about African director and with multiple awards and nominations under her belt, it is easy to say their approach to each other and the world. that her approach and perspective are paying off. By Brent Lindeque “The ability to believe in yourself and say, I www.goodthingsguy.com want to find out if I can actually do this or not. These are the mindsets that really helped me.” arian de Pontes is the space for important conversations. De With science fiction as her genre of choice, on a mission to tell Pontes most prominent film, Etana, a story she is most interested and excited about the inclusive and diverse inspired by a New York Times article on evolution of the genre with real science for African female stories in child soldiers in South Sudan, is her greatest the future. She is working on two science- Hollywood. international triumph to date and has earned fiction features, one set in South Africa and The South African her a finalist position at the renowned 2021 one set in space. When filming opens again in nativeM film director is taking the international USA Film Festival and an official selection of Los Angeles, De Pontes will be prepping and film festival circuit by storm with the mission the Oscar-qualifying Cleveland International filming another short film towards the endof to tell impactful African female stories that are Film Festival. the year. inclusive and diverse. De Pontes is a University of the Keep a lookout and stay tuned for compelling Currently residing in Los Angeles, Witwatersrand Film Production graduate stories directed by a bold voice through the California, she is being mentored by Cassian who qualified top of her class and received a powerful medium of film on the world-class Elwes, producer of titles such as Dallas Buyers fellowship to one of the top four film schools Hollywood stage – Marian de Pontes is just Club and Mudbound, and shadowing television in the world, Chapman University. While at getting started. director Tucker Gates (Homeland and Bates Chapman, she was selected as a Woman Motel), all while working as a director in the of Chapman Scholar and was mentored by heart of Hollywood. This female director is renowned Hollywood producer Edward Saxon “The ability to believe in yourself and say, I want to find out if I can actually do this or passionate about using the medium of film (Silence of the Lambs). She is following in the not. These are the mindsets that really helped me.” to tell thought-provoking stories that create footsteps of other prominent South African

88 UBUNTU South Africa’s Public Diplomacy in action Issue 24 Issue 24 South Africa’s Public Diplomacy in action UBUNTU 89 LIFESTYLE | The magnificent Mabi Thobejane, master South African drummer The magnificent Mabi Thobejane, master South African drummer | LIFESTYLE

and in 1971, Philip and Gabriel travelled to the were influenced by Malombo. As were the Artist and showman United States (US) where they appeared at “alternative” black consciousness ensembles Mabi was as much a showman and a clubs and concerts around the country for two that often included spoken and sung poetry performance event as he was a musician. He years, playing with Miles Davis, Max Roach, that appeared in the late 1970s, such as not only built his own drums, but created his own Pharoah Sanders, McCoy Tyner and other Dashiki, led by the soon-to-be-exiled poet THE MAGNIFICENT costumes of beads, antelope and cattle hides first-rank jazz musicians … In 1973, (they) and artist Lefifi Tladi, Thabang Masemola’s and distinctive body paint. Characteristically, returned home to perform for and learn from Batsumi, and the Malopoets, precursors of he would perform stripped to the waist, his their own people in the Transvaal townships.” rappers like Prophets of Da City. face painted half chalk white and half charcoal Malombo’s 1976 album Pele Pele and black, his compact brown torso covered in their 1977 appearance at the New York A musical comrade white spots like a reverse-image leopard. His Newport Jazz Festival continued to build their In some ways, Mabi Thobejane’s great initial intention was to conquer his musical world international reputation. Their recordings, I achievement was his ability to partner with the as a drum guerrilla representing himself and wrote in the book, could not hope to capture MABI introverted, crusty Philip Thabane for so long. his deeper Tshwane origins, without hybridity, the electricity and spellbinding virtuosity of Quite the opposite, Mabi was unsurpassed as without borrowing. And in that guise, what a their live performances. I had the privilege of a joyful jester and musical comrade. He loved lender and a collaborator he turned out to be. performing with Malombo as a percussionist at and accepted his unpredictable fellow musos. I As a proper morena oa lefatse (king of the THOBEJANE many of their South African appearances at the witnessed many a musical showdown between earth), Gabriel Mabi Thobejane revealed the time. I wrote: Thabane and Thobejane on stage. After a inner character of the people of the land in both “Philip and Gabriel kept up a constant, difficult return tour to the US in 1977, they went musical expression and force of personality. almost competitive musical dialogue on guitar, their separate ways. He entered so many of our lives in unique kalimba (hand piano), flute, pennywhistle and By the 1990s, Mabi had started to find an modalities that enriched our worlds forever. drums. The intensity of Philip’s guitar solos master I cannot do better, before returning to outlet for the sounds that had stayed with him and melodic poetic recitation, and Gabriel’s shocked silence at his passing, than to share percussive power and dynamics with drums, from the Bronx. He continued being involved in a new poem by the musical commentator SOUTH AFRICAN dance, and ankle rattles kept black and white some of the most exciting collaborations – with and scholar Sam Mathe. In For Gabriel Mabi concertgoers alike jumping and shouting on the bassist Sipho Gumede and saxophonist Khaya Segwagwa Thobejane, Mathe refers to Mabi as edges of their seats. Truly innovative creative Mahlangu, guitar master Madala Kunene, and segwagwa, the frog, the creature he physically DRUMMER departures in black South African music tend percussionists Amampondo. For a decade, resembled that became Philip Thabane’s to create their own trends and offshoots, and he toured and haunted the electronic, eclectic musical praise name for him (See below). this was certainly true of Malombo.” studio sessions with United Kingdom act Juno Mainstream bands such as Sipho Reactor, who released the legendary acoustic/ This article first appeared on The Conversation. electronic percussive remixes of Conga Fury. As a proper morena oa lefatse (king of the earth), Gabriel Mabi Thobejane revealed Mabuse’s Harari and later Ray Phiri’s Stimela the inner character of the people of the land in both musical expression and force of personality. He entered so many of our lives in unique modalities that enriched our worlds forever. Segwagwa The bullfrog that croaks in the streams By David Coplan Professor Emeritus, Social Anthropology, University of the Witwatersrand and lagoons inhabited by ancestral spirits the elusive amphibian that greets springs Winter chokes the highveld in Johannesburg, absorbed the rural, neo-traditional, urban folk Abbey Cindi and afro-percussionist Julian with the gravel voice and tone of a groaner South Africa, and takes from me, from our and Sepedi jive drum and dance-song forms Bahula in the 1960s. entire culture, a mighty mountain. Gabriel Mabi that commingled in the streets and backyards. Philip’s uncompromising indigenous Segwagwa Segwagwa Thobejane, the diminutive tower The young Gabriel had no calling to blow originality led to a break-up. Before the end The showman with deft magical hands of rhythmic power, has left us: a man who did his horn in a church and defied his mother who of the decade, Abbey, Julian, guitarist Lucky whose rumbles are like a distant thunder not so much play the drums, but became The insisted he become a priest. Her tendency Ranku and mbaqanga vocalist Hilda Tloubatla Drum. to break up his makeshift drum kits led him had reformed as the Malombo Jazz Makers. The shaman who plays healing sounds He reportedly suffered a stroke at the age to hang about the tanneries and artisanal For Philip, only one young performer made the on baobab drums crafted by the gods of 74 and passed on on 3 June 2021. workshops, collecting materials he fashioned grade: Gabriel Thobejane. They went on to Even though he was both master and a into high-quality hand and mallet drums for gain local success and world fame as the duo Segwagwa creator of South Africa’s indigenous sonic which he later became so famous. From Malombo. In the south the cold season is upon us archive, Mabi, as we all came to call him, was early on, Mabi pursued whatever “arrested” The power of Malombo the rains are gone, rivers have dried up also a showman and a collaborator. He could (bopha!) him full force without equivocation and would play in support of almost anyone, or compromise. And he was to serve a Given the extent of his contribution and it is time for you to go into hibernation from jazz musicians to poets to mainstream life sentence in the total reinvention of the influence, there is pitifully little written about farewell grandmaster of the percussion artists. He was artistically intimidated by highveld’s African percussion. my former bandmate Mabi. In my book, In nothing and no one. This single-minded pursuit of a fading Township Tonight! South Africa’s Black City Till we meet again when the rainclouds musical patrimony from the ancestors ran in Music and Theatre, I wrote about Malombo: gather. The young Gabriel the family. Gabriel’s uncle, Philip Thabane, “This duo revolutionised progressive Mabi was raised in the township of Mamelodi was already doing so on the electric guitar, indigenous music in South Africa from 1965 to near the capital city, Pretoria, where he forming the Malombo Jazzmen with flautist 1977. Their first recording appeared in 1968,

90 UBUNTU South Africa’s Public Diplomacy in action Issue 24 Issue 24 South Africa’s Public Diplomacy in action UBUNTU 91 LIFESTYLE | | LIFESTYLE

The idyllic Letaba Rest Camp is situated on a sweeping bend of the Letaba River, midway between the southern and northern boundaries of the Kruger National Park. The name means “river of sand”, and the sandy riverbed is an excellent location for game viewing, particularly elephant, which thrive in the area.

92 UBUNTU South Africa’s Public Diplomacy in action Issue 24 Issue 24 South Africa’s Public Diplomacy in action UBUNTU 93 LIFESTYLE | Learning from the story of pioneering South African writer Sindiwe Magona Learning from the story of pioneering South African writer Sindiwe Magona | LIFESTYLE Magona’s autobiographies offer us an avenue for reflection, remembering, reimagining and dreaming. Future generations, the children’s children, carry the burden and responsibility of reshaping the country and the world – and they can do this only if they know and understand where they come from.

system that relegated her to the periphery and people with whom I am connected and to treated black people as sub-human. whom I belong. This is a given, a constant in However, she was one of the many my life.” black women who found a way to resist this In telling her story, Magona weaves together oppressive system that aimed at dictating her not only her personal lived reality but the

way of being in the world. According to literary collective story of growing up under apartheid. ‘civilized’. Now is the time for Africa to be truly scholar and author Barbara Boswell, Magona is Her whole childhood involved bearing witness African through critical self-examination, self- one of the writers who transcend their received to the inequalities and injustices that were healing, to a wholeness that we can hold up. identities as labourers and reproducers of rampant in society. She reflects: If you respect yourself, then you will respect labour for the apartheid nation, to become “Who drove cars? Whites. Who wrote others because you will see yourself in others. authors of their own lives and works. books? Whites. Who owned shops? Whites. Wholeness starts with the self and radiates Magona refused to be muted and instead Who lived in houses as distinct from shacks? outwards. This self-respect is all about the spoke back through writing about her lived Whites. Whose children always wore shoes to wholeness of healing and the wholeness of experiences. school? Who bought toys? Who bought butter? being.” Who had meals to sit at table for and tables to Home: here today, gone tomorrow She reminds us that it is not in loving our sit at? Who had servants and who were never neighbour that we become better human In her self-storying, Magona tells the narrative servants?” beings – the challenge before us is in learning of the violent ways in which the state apparatus Learning from the story of pioneering Resilience and hope to understand and perhaps one day to love our functioned to uproot people from their homes enemy. and resettle them elsewhere. People’s homes But Magona’s autobiography can also be Magona’s autobiographies offer us South African writer Sindiwe Magona were literally here today and gone tomorrow. read as an attempt to connect this past to the an avenue for reflection, remembering, Home is a multilayered and multidimensional present and a possible future. Her self-storying reimagining and dreaming. Future generations, concept that’s about more than just physical shows us that it is not just the suffering that can She reminds us that it is not in loving our neighbour that we become better human the children’s children, carry the burden and space. Home for Magona cannot be divorced be passed on from one generation to another, responsibility of reshaping the country and the beings – the challenge before us is in learning to understand and perhaps one day to from place, birthplace, belonging, deprivation, but also resilience, love, compassion and world – and they can do this only if they know alienation and also the mixing of cultures. In To hope. As she articulates in her conversation love our enemy. and understand where they come from. My Children’s Children she writes: with Salo: This article was first published on The Conversation. By Puleng Segalo “When I say place, that means less a “But we do need to fetch the good of Professor of Psychology, University of South Africa geographical locality and more a group of traditions that we left behind in our haste to be

he African proverb, “Until the of memory, remembering, class, belonging, in what was then known as the homeland of lion can tell its own story, the home and identity. Transkei, in the Eastern Cape of South Africa. story of the hunt will always In a conversation with anthropologist She was born five years before colonial Britain glorify the hunter,” speaks to the and activist Elaine Salo in 2009, Magona handed over power to the Afrikaners. Apartheid importance of telling one’s own said: “I experienced incredible anger about was officially introduced in 1948 and with it a stories. For a long time, African others writing about us, I asked myself, ‘How series of oppressive and racist laws such as storiesT and realities were told by colonisers dare they write about you?’ I told myself that separate living areas and the Bantu education in ways that painted a picture of Africa as shouldn’t stop me from writing about myself … system. It was within this context that Magona backward and uncivilised. It is for this reason, There is value in those like me writing about grew up. that many literary scholars tell the story of our experiences, who did not study apartheid In her work and her public talks, she tells of colonialism and apartheid through personal but lived it.” poverty and of making a living as a domestic autobiographies. So, I conducted a critical review of To My worker while she schooled herself through One such scholar is Sindiwe Magona. Children’s Children, which covers the first 23 distance learning. She would go on to be a Magona has published over a dozen books for years of Magona’s life. My aim was to bring teacher, mother, wife and community leader, adults, from critically acclaimed novels – like attention to the importance of self-storying as complete postgraduate studies and spend Beauty’s Gift – to poems, plays and biographies. a form of protest, of knowing oneself and of two decades in civil service with the United She has written over 130 children’s books. But healing. Nations. it is her two autobiographies that drew my Magona’s work reflects the fact that she Who is Sindiwe Magona? attention as a psychology scholar. In these, grew up during apartheid, when black people To My Children’s Children (1990) and Forced Magona was born in 1943 in the small town of were treated as second-class citizens. As a to Grow (1992), Magona narrates her story Gungululu, just outside an area called Mthatha, child, she had to navigate her way through a

94 UBUNTU South Africa’s Public Diplomacy in action Issue 24 Issue 24 South Africa’s Public Diplomacy in action UBUNTU 95 LIFESTYLE | Kruger Shalati: The Train on the Bridge Kruger Shalati: The Train on the Bridge | LIFESTYLE

Kruger Shalati looks forward to welcoming you on a journey of discovery with nature in the most extraordinary way imaginable. The glass-walled, large train rooms allow for infinite views along the length of the majestic Sabie River, while the style of the train is a celebration of African design in collaboration with local art and crafting skills. High above the riverbanks, aligned with the floor level of the train, are the bespoke deck and pool, offering a swimming experience unlike any other – with crocodiles, hippos, buffalos and elephants greeting guests metres below. The hotel offers guests a view of the majestic Sabie River, and if you are lucky, some animals that congregate on the banks of the river. Head to the lounge carriage for some incredible landscapes. The hotel is a birder’s dream location. Guests of the hotel are noticing that some rarely sighted birds are being spotted in and around the Shalati area. This includes a crowned eagle that one guest managed to see from his room. Other birds often seen in the area are dark capped bulbuls, tawny flanked Kruger Shalati: The Train on the Bridge prinia, blue waxbills and the majestic bush shrike. As the hotel is elevated, guests don’t even High above the riverbanks, aligned with the floor level of the train, are the deck and pool, have to leave their rooms to spot some game as the animals flock near the river below. If offering a swimming experience unlike any other – with crocodiles, hippos, buffalos and you do though, only a small group of people is elephants greeting guests metres below. allowed to go out on game drives at a time with strict COVID-19 prevention measures in place. Kruger Shalati has already been featured in many prestigious best-of lists: • The Best New Hotel Openings of 2021 – Best New Hotels • Best New Hotels Opening in Europe, Middle East and Africa in 2021 • The Most Extraordinary New Hotels Opening in 2021 • The 50 Best New Luxury Hotels to Visit in 2021 ne of the most anticipated Permanently stationed on the historically- would park overnight in the exact spot where • The New Lodges to Plan a Trip for as and exciting new rich Selati Bridge above the Sabie River, Kruger Shalati is positioned. South Africa Reopens offerings of the iconic Kruger Shalati offers the most unique luxury The train consists of 31 rooms, comprising • The 20 Best Places to Travel to in 2021: Kruger National Park is accommodation in a re-envisioned train, which 24 carriage rooms and seven bridge house Where to Go Next. Kruger Shalati – a perfect pays homage to the guests who explored the rooms, all of which provide a deeply visceral https://www.krugershalati.com combination of Africa’s park nearly 100 years ago while welcoming experience, tailored for immersive comfort. Omost breathtaking natural splendours with well- new explorers from near and far. The train Whether you’re looking for a one-of-a-kind deserved luxuries aboard a newly refurbished celebrates where the first visits to the iconic adventure, an enthralling break or to simply train that’s reminiscent of African excellence. park were allowed in the early 1920s – the train immerse yourself in earth’s finest creations,

96 UBUNTU South Africa’s Public Diplomacy in action Issue 24 Issue 24 South Africa’s Public Diplomacy in action UBUNTU 97 LIFESTYLE | | LIFESTYLE

LIVE Cape Town is also home to over 200 companies in INVEST the Information Technology (IT) and software industry Cape Town has a terrific mixture of areas to live, from Cape Town is South Africa’s oldest city, its second-most employing 7 500 people. Our large retailers have vibrant city-living to quiet, leafy residential suburbs. The populous and an important contributor to national extensive distribution channels into Africa opening up city is known for its successful property market. In recent employment. It is the legislative capital of South the possibility of collaboration in moving products within years Cape Town’s property values and sales transactions Africa, the administrative and economic centre of the the continent. Cape Town also has a booming film and have exceeded Johannesburg’s and continue to attract Western Cape, and Africa’s third biggest economic hub. CAPE TOWN media industry. It’s a sector that has created more than international property investors. The city and surrounds The Mother City produces 9.8% of South Africa’s gross 35 000 jobs, contributing about US$ 92 million to the is also home to four public universities, two globally domestic product (GDP) and accounts for more than economy in the last 3 years. recognised business schools and a number of trustworthy 71% of the Western Cape’s economic activity (Global private and public institutions. Educational institutions Insight, 2016). The City has a diversified economy, Cape Town is home to the only Hollywood style film WELCOMES YOU situated in the city include the University of Cape Town, and the three biggest sectors are: finance, insurance, studio complex in Africa. Coupled with exceptionally University of the Western Cape and the Cape Town property and business services. Cape Town is attracting skilled film crew and post-production services, our Cape Town is also a proud recipient of a number of Beaches awarded the prestigious status include: Bikini University of Technology. Cape Town is also fast becoming thinkers, innovators and design led entrepreneurs who facilities are winning awards and attracting a growing VISIT, LIVE, WORK, PLAY international awards and accolades. In 2018, the city Beach, Mnandi, Strandfontein, Llandudno, Camps Bay, the most digitally connected city in Africa. The City’s are helping to build an ecosystem that is strong in many number of productions and stars to our shores. We also was named one of the Top 10 Surf Cities in the world by Clifton 4th and Silwerstroom. public Wi-Fi service and other digital inclusion projects aspects of the knowledge economy. The city is the leader act as a gateway to Africa with several companies running & INVEST IN ONE OF THE Surfer Magazine and crowned the number one city in are part of a broader Digital City Strategy, which aims on the African continent in the information technology their African operations from our city. The City of Cape Africa for business tourism events by the International Cape Town has a number of world class museums that to make Cape Town the most digitally connected city in sector, with more tech start-ups than anywhere else on MOST BEAUTIFUL CITIES Town is making sure that our infrastructure investments Congress and Convention Association. Cape Town has offer up a treasure trove to the past. A number of these Africa. Other elements of the strategy include investment the continent. support key sectors, like the tech industry. An extensive also been voted one of the Top 10 Cities in the World for museums are located in the city centre - all within in digital infrastructure, digital business initiatives, and a ON EARTH open source fibre optic network has been installed with Travellers by Lonely Planet in 2017, Skytrax voted our walking distance of each other - and together offer a view focus on digital government. Cape Town has been chosen as the African headquarters plans to extend the footprint over the forthcoming years. Cape Town has been voted the world’s Best City by airport the Best in Africa and international real estate as diverse and entertaining as the city itself. of innovation by companies such as Barclay Rise and company Savills ranked the Cape Town amongst the readers of the UK’s Telegraph for five consecutive years, WORK Thomson Reuters. The city is also the home to many and there’s good reason why. We rank among the world’s world’s Top Tech Cities in a 2017 report. The state-of-the-art Zeitz MOCAA – recently voted the PLAY of South Africa and Africa’s financial institutions and, world’s top cultural destination – is the latest addition to Cape Town’s favourable lifestyle is one of the major top destinations to visit and have all the attributes that Cape Town hosts a wide range of local and international coupled with the national headquarters of many legal the Cape Town landscape and the first major museum reasons why many of the top wealth and asset appeal to people looking for a great city in which to live, events – from concerts and community-based events and consultancy firms, offer all the services needed to VISIT in Africa dedicated to contemporary art. The museum, management firms choose to base themselves here. work, play and invest. to business conferences and international sports underpin a global drive into Africa. Cape Town is a must-visit destination. Cape Point, housed in the historic Grain Silo at the V&A Waterfront, The city is home to an impressive group of wealth tournaments. The city is a creative hub with arts, heritage Groot Constantia, Kirstenbosch, Robben Island, the comprises over 9,500 square meters (102,000 square managers, including the likes of Allan Gray, Old Mutual, Cape Town is a proudly inclusive city, welcoming all who and cultural sites, activities and opportunities for all. We One of the fastest growing sectors in Cape Town’s Table Mountain Cableway and the V&A Waterfront are feet) placing it among leading contemporary art Foord, Coronation, Sanlam, Prescient and Sygnia. Most can join us in our vision to create a safe, sustainable, have a lively arts and culture scene where creativity and economy is the business process outsourcing (BPO) the iconic destinations that form the core of the true museums worldwide. of these companies’ staff and top executives live in vibrant urban environment for generations to come. heritage are explored through theatre, live music, dance, sector, with many global call centres and online retailers Cape Town experience, and a trip to the city will not be the city. Top employment sectors in Cape Town include visual arts and more. Both day and night in Cape Town like Amazon choosing to conduct their operations from complete without a visit to each Big 6 attractions. Cape Zeitz MOCAA is spread over nine floors, of which 6,000 community and social services, the financial and trade We are national leaders in business and have a thriving offer you exciting cultural spaces to visit and events to our shores. Town also has the highest number of Blue Flag beaches square meters (65,000 square feet) is dedicated to sectors. The financial services sector employed the largest knowledge economy; our skills market is growing and be a part of. Explore galleries and museums, cultural in South Africa. Seven of the city’s most popular beaches exhibition space. Through an entire floor dedicated to number of skilled individuals in 2015 (274 087) and the www.capetown.gov.za/visit the city offers numerous opportunities for work and precincts, attend signature events and explore our top and three Cape Town marinas have been recognised for education, the museum aims to develop a new art-loving, manufacturing sector employed the largest number of www.investcapetown.com investment. cultural venues. meeting the globally-acclaimed Blue Flag standards. museum-going audience. semi-skilled and unskilled individuals (111 213). www.capetown.travel

98 UBUNTU South Africa’s Public Diplomacy in action Issue 24 Issue 24 South Africa’s Public Diplomacy in action UBUNTU 99 LIFESTYLE |

The Stellenbosch wine routes have a coordinated network of more than 150 wineries, each offering a unique cellar-door experience for the wine-lover and tourist. There are five sub-routes and each has its own characteristics in terms of prominent wine styles, climate and geographical location. As part of the Cape Winelands, the Stellenbosch wine routes are part of the six most popular tourist attractions in South Africa and are also connected to the global Great Wine Capitals Network.

100 UBUNTU South Africa’s Public Diplomacy in action Issue 24