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Mitteilung
Dear readers, friends of South Africa,
This has been an extremely busy time for us at the Embassy. Firstly I would like to welcome in Berlin our new Minister Plenipotentiary Mr Mohamed Cassimjee who has arrived with his family in December 2016 and is already settling in the city and this Embassy.
The month of February started with a celebration of fifty years of the Krugerrand in cooperation with the South Africa Mint and we welcomed the Governor of the Reserve Bank Mr Kganyago and the Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank Mr Groepe in Berlin who were attending the World Money Fair, at which South Africa was the Guest of Honour.
The 4th of February is a very important date for us South Africans because it was a milestone: twenty years have passed since our new Constitution was put in place. A Constitution that is still considered as one of the most modern Constitutions world-wide which emphasises the right of each individual regardless of their skin colour, gender, sexual orientation or religion to bring together a united South African Society with all its diversity.
This landmark reminds South Africans therefore not only to celebrate democracy but also think about how it was achieved and which changes have already happened. It is therefore also a possibility to define together which challenges we see for our future and how we can tackle them united to fight social injustices and guarantee economic prospects.
We are looking forward in this month to the Fruitlogistika in Berlin which sees our most prominent fruit importers in this city and also to the Berlinale which features South African films. You will find more information on both events further down in this newsletter.
I wish you a peaceful and prosperous month.
With warmest regards
Ambassador Stone Sizani
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of South Africa to the Federal Republic of Germany
Since December 2016, Adv. MA Cassimjee has joined the South African Embassy in Berlin as the new Minister Plenipotentiary. An experienced diplomat, Adv. Cassimjee has served in the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) in various positions since October 1995. As the former Director (2012-2015) at the Desk for German Speaking Countries at DIRCO, he is not a stranger to the region and the bi- and multilateral issues at stake.
The Embassy hosted in collaboration with South African Mint a celebration of 50 years of the Krugerrand. Mint masters, of the World Money Fair that is taking place in Berlin from 3-5 February 2017 and members of the diplomatic corps gathered at the Embassy to celebrate the coin that is a leading form of investment for many people world-wide. Ambassador Stone Sizani welcomed the guests at the Embassy and Francois Groepe, the Deputy Governor of the South African Reserve Bank and Chairman of the South African Mint Company explained the importance and impact that the Krugerrand has for South Africa and investors.
Displayed was artwork from five South African contemporary artists, who designed items that symbolised the significance of the Krugerrand and entertainment was provided by the music group Simunye.
Pictures by Zenobi
Ms Xoliswa Ndoyiya has been Nelson Mandela's (Madiba) personal chef for the last 22 years, before his passing. On the occasion of the 50 Years Anniversary of the Krugerrand and the World Money Fair, Ms Xoliswa Ndoyiya was invited to Berlin by SA Mint to cook some of Madiba's favorite dishes during a Gala Dinner at Bolle Festsäle last Friday evening.
In appreciation of the Mission's support, a very special lunch was also organised at the Embassy and the entire staff had the pleasure of tasting the Chef's all African and health conscious food, which she previously cooked for Madiba's prominent guests such as Bill and Hillary Clinton, Oprah Winfrey, Michael Jackson and numerous heads of state.
In 2011, she released her first recipe/cook book, a collection of the former South African presidentâs favorite meals, including samp and beans, farm chicken, and tripe, this cookbook also features paella, peri-peri chicken, prawn curry, and a myriad of other delights. She is in the process of releasing a second book and wishes to open a small restaurant in Queenstown. (Picture by Zenobi)
The Berlin International Film Festival Berlinale is about to start on 9 February, so here is an update on South Africa's presence at this important film industry showcase. Although South Africa's presence at this year's Berlinale might not reach the level of the previous years in terms of quantity as there will not be a South African stand at this year's European Film Market, the quality of the representation and presented products remains unchanged: A big success is that the European-South African co-production "The Wound", a film that tackles the fabrication of masculinity, has been given the honour of opening the Panorama programme. Also screening in the Panorama section is Akin Omotoso's latest film "Vaya", a gripping portrait of small-town characters immersed in the intimidating, alluring, and dangerous world of big-city Johannesburg and Soweto.
As every year, a great number of South African filmmakers, producers and distributors will be attending the festival, as well as representatives of the Department of Trade and Industry (dti), the National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) as well as the different provincial film commissions.
This year's focus on the âBlack Worldsâ and Europe will also feature premieres of such films like the much anticipated "I am not your negro" by Raoul Peck on the late James Baldwin, while Alain Gomis' "Félicité" will be the only African film in official competition.
Fruit Logistika is the leading international meeting place of the fresh produce trade. From 8-10 February, more than 2,600 companies from across the entire fresh produce value chain will be present in a single location â including global players as well as small and medium-sized suppliers from all around the world. South Africa will be represented by 23 fruit exporters or producer associations who will be presenting high profile South African fruit production at Messe Berlin, at the South African Pavilion in Hall 11.1., Stand A16. To make meeting arrangements please contact: schmedingf(at)dirco.gov.za
Named after Anne Klein, the first feminist and openly lesbian woman senator in Berlin, the Anne-Klein-Award for Women is Heinrich Böll Foundation's yearly award honouring women' engagement for gender equality. The South African Mission in Berlin is happy to announce that this year's Anne-Klein-Award goes to Nomarussia Bonase for her struggle for Womens' Rights and Justice in South Africa! Nomarussia supports victims and survivors of the Apartheid Regime - especially women who were not heard by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (1996-1998), yet who have a right to Justice and Reparations. The Award Ceremony will take place on 3 March 2017.
read more on Nomarussia Bonase
The South African curator Gabi Ngcobo will head the 10th Berlin Biennale for Contemporary Art, due to take place in the summer of 2018. Ngcobo has most recently co-curated the 32nd Biennale of São Paulo (until 11 December) and in 2007 co-curated the Cape07 Biennale in Cape Town. She will join an illustrious list of past curators of the Berlin Biennale, among them Hans Ulrich Obrist, Maurizio Cattelan and Ute Meta Bauer.
Ngcobo is a founding member of the Nothing Gets Organised (NGO) collective and the now-defunct Center for Historical Re-enactments, a collaborative art platform for research and discussion. She also teaches at the Wits School of Arts, University of Witwatersrand. Ngcobo currently divides her time between Johannesburg and São Paulo, but will move to the German capital in the run up to the biennial.
She follows the New York-based collective DIS who organised this yearâs Berlin Biennale, which received mixed reviews. The Berlin Biennale styles itself âas an âopen spaceâ that experiments, identifies and critically examines the latest trends in the art worldâ, according to a statement on its website. The biennial was founded in 1996 by the then director of Berlinâs KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Klaus Biesenbach, with a group of collectors and patrons. Its first edition took place in 1998.
Picture by Stephan Röhl, CC-License, cut.
The soul of Mama Africa meets the fire of Motown and Soul in pint-sized packet of dynamite Music critics have tipped the singer for being the next big thing to come out of South Africa with the qualities of a world star. Nomfusiâs life story was described in Rolling Stone South Africa as âthe sort of story Hollywood is bound to snap up.â She was born in the township of KwaZhakele in the Eastern Cape. Her single mother raised her while her father languished in jail for 21 years.
After a mere six years in the industry, Afro-soul star Nomfusi has become one of South Africaâs most sought-after music exports with over twenty international tours under her belt.
âHer voice is bigger than mine, but sheâs smaller than my trumpet. The last time we invited her she stole the show from us.â Hugh Masekela
NOMFUSI is touring Germany with her new album "African Day" in March 2017, in Berlin on the 19.03. at Bi Nuu!
According to the latest statistics, 2016 has been a record year when it comes to German tourists travelling to South Africa. The country has definitely become a trendy holiday destination among German tourists. Only between January and October 2016, South Africa registered 237.740 German tourists â more than ever before! With an unbelievable rise of 23% only in the mentioned months, the dream destination is set to break all records. Only in October 2016 40.492 Germans travelled to South Africa â this is even a 30% rise compared to the years before. (*Statistics provided by South African Tourism, June 2016)
The Freundeskreis Südafrika (FSA, Friendship Circle South Africa) is seeking host families for its exchange programme 2017, which could accommodate South African youth for a period of four weeks or three months. The pupils are aged between 14 and 18 years and will attend school together with their German peers. They are expected to arrive in Germany in three groups: End of June and mid-December for four weeks, as well as from mid-October for three months. Please contact Petra Jacobi of Freundeskreis Südafrika directly if you are interested in hosting one of the kids.
President Jacob Zuma will present the State of the Nation Address (SoNA) to a joint sitting of the two Houses of Parliament (National Assembly and National Council of Provinces) on 9 February 2017 at 19h00. This will be President Zumaâs fourth State of the Nation Address (SoNA) since he was re-elected in May 2014. The theme for SoNA 2017 is: âThe Year of Oliver Reginald Tambo: Unity in Action Together Moving South Africa Forward.â
The President will provide an update on the implementation of the Programme of Action based on the National Development Plan (NDP). The 2017 SoNA will also be delivered within the context of the current strides made by government to respond to the various challenges that our country is facing. It will be followed by a debate in the National Assembly and the Presidentâs reply to the debate.
The 2017 SoNA will be broadcast live on a number of television and radio stations and streamed live on the Parliamentâs website and at public viewing centres.
South Africaâs Constitution is one of the most progressive in the world and enjoys high acclaim internationally. The Constitution was approved by the Constitutional Court on 4 December 1996 and took effect on 4 February 1997 - and hence celebrated its 20th anniversary last Saturday!
To celebrate this 20th anniversary, Brand South Africa has launched a new campaign that is aimed at highlighting the importance of South Africa's Constitution within the daily lives of South Africans and how it has inspired many young people to live the life they want to live in a society that is free.
In 2015, the annual Ubuntu Awards were launched to celebrate South African citizens who play an active role in projecting a positive image of South Africa internationally. Through excellence in their chosen fields, these proud South Africans serve as global ambassadors of our nation. The awards celebrate South African citizens, who, through their Integrity, Passion, Patriotism and Humility have raised the South African flag high on an international stage.
Vote now in the two following categories: Ubuntu Arts and Cultural Diplomacy Award (Veteran) and Ubuntu Arts and Cultural Diplomacy Award (Youth).
The World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting took place from 17-20 January 2017 under the theme âResponsive and Responsible Leadershipâ, with South Africa participating with a strong delegation under the leadership of Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa. Here are the two elements at the heart of South Africaâs global message from the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting: the country has a stable economy and is an attractive investment destination.
Speaking to the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC), Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan said the WEF theme was important to ensure societies became more inclusive. Team South Africa, he said, would show that the country was a desirable investment destination.
âResponsive and responsible leadership is fascinating both for us, the globe, whichever sector you come from and what is responsible leadership as they see it; it is about integrity and about understanding the environment in a holistic way so that you become part of a co-ordinated effort that they refer to,â Gordhan said.
read more on South Africa in Davos
Reflecting on the past year's political and diplomatic achievements, the South African Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ms Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, published an important opinion piece in City Press. "Our economic diplomacy seeks to contribute towards the realisation of the NDP vision and by extension the AUâs Agenda 2063 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)", Nkoana-Mashabane writes.
"We will keep moving South Africa forward through diplomacy as we reaffirm our commitment to serving the South African citizenry towards achieving a Better South Africa, a Better Africa in a Better World."
Recorded live in concert in the Endler Hall at the Stellenbosch International Chamber Music Festival on 6 July 2016, Denis Goldberg relates his life from his early childhood, through the struggle and prison years up until his post-apartheid engagement. Beautifully accompanied by Matthijs van Dijk's Chamber Orchestra, and emotionally told by Denis Goldberg himself!
Published at the end of 2016, the 12th edition of the Ubuntu Online Magazine (free of charge) reflects the South African Department for International Relations and Cooperation's outlook on Foreign Policy issues, featuring prominent statements on South Africa's agenda in the past and coming international and bilateral meetings, the country's view on multilateralism and much more. This issue also reflects on the late Fidel Castro's legacy for (South) Africa or on South Africa's Liberation Heritage, but also features articles on tourism, arts and lifestyle.
Monuments to peace and freedom are found all across South Africa â not surprising, given its long history of struggle against oppression. BrandSouthAfrica looks back on 2016 â the 22nd year of South Africaâs freedom â and showcases 22 monuments that pay homage to the heroes who made this country great, amongst others some of the somewhat lesser known like the Heroes Park in East London with its three monuments in memory of the country's freedom fighters and its cultural diversity or the Freedom Charter Monument in Kliptown, where the Congress of the People met to draw up the Freedom Charter, an alternative vision to the repressive policies of the apartheid state.
South African winemaker and Swartland revolutionary, Andrea Mullineux, was named Winemaker of the Year by prestigious international magazine, Wine Enthusiast. For the magazine's editor Adam Strum, Andrea Mullineux was recognised as the magazine's 2016 Winemaker of the Year âfor her outstanding wines, collaborative efforts to revolutionize a region and constant drive to be a better winemaker.â
The winners were honored at the annual Wine Star Awards Dinner held for the first time in Miami, Florida at Nobu Eden Rock on Monday, January 30th 2017.
Minister Malusi Gigaba and Procter & Gamble Vice President: South Africa, Faisal Sabzwari signed the MoU on 2 December 2016 to underscore the public-private partnership between government and the private sector to further encourage parents and all citizens to adhere to the 30 days period for the registration of all child births with Home Affairs. Through this partnership, government departments, key stakeholders and the private sector will jointly provide support and resources at their disposal to undertake communication campaigns to inculcate a culture among South Africans to register births within the prescribed 30 days. These will be achieved by promoting advocacy and mobilising citizens around early birth registration at grassroots level, pre-natal clinics and in maternity wards across the country.
With effect from 16 January 2017 all New Zealand diplomatic, official and ordinary passport holders who intend to enter the Republic of South Africa are required to be in possession of a port of entry visa, which must be applied for and issued at a South African mission abroad, before proceeding to the country (Read more here).
The port of entry visa requirements are available to download from the Embassy website.
New Zealand diplomatic, official and ordinary passport holders who are not in possession of a visa on or after 16 January 2017 will not be allowed entry into the Republic of South Africa.
The South African Mission is continuously compiling a reliable database of South African citizens living in Germany. As a South African citizen living in Germany, it would be appreciated, if you could complete the online registration form.
By registering, the Embassy is assisted in determining how many citizens are abroad in a city, town or region in Germany. It assists missions to plan and to be able to contact you and your family in South Africa in the event of an evacuation, natural disaster, family emergency etc. Furthermore, your contact details enable the Embassy to provide you with information related to Embassy events, registration for general election, etc.
Please note that this is a voluntary exercise, and we would like to assure that all information contained on the form is for the sole use of the Embassy in Berlin and Consulate General in Munich. Hence the information provided will be handled as strictly confidential and will not be divulged to other persons or institutions.
The Newsletter of the Embassy of the Republic of South Africa features Embassy activities and other South African events in Germany.
The Newsletter will be sent out each month and we invite you to share with us your comments and to also inform us if your city or community is organising an event that features South Africa, in any way. Please send us an email on berlin.info@dirco.gov.za and please visit our website: www.suedafrika.org
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Hier erhalten Sie aktuelle Informationen über das Land, die Menschen, das Bruttosozialprodukt, die Inflationsrate, Infrastruktur, Rohstoffvorkommen, wirtschaftliche Sektoren ... und viele Gründe, Südafrika zu besuchen.
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