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Newsletter of the South African Embassy in Berlin
Dear readers, friends of South Africa,
The last few months have witnessed several historic milestones for South Africa. On 27 April 2019, South Africa celebrated its 25th year of democracy. A day later the Embassy hosted overseas electoral voting as South Africans across the world, including here in Germany, cast their ballots in South Africaâs 6th Democratic Election. On 26 May 2019, President Cyril Ramaphosa was sworn in as South Africa's sixth democratically elected president. The President subsequently delivered the State of the Nation Address on 20 June 2019. The African Continental free Trade Agreement came into effect in July 2019.
Here at the Mission we have hosted several meetings and participated in various conferences in support of the Presidentâs investment drive and call to âgrow South Africa togetherâ; such as the High-Level Business Conference "Meet Africa" in Stuttgart and German African Business Day in Berlin.
In this edition of the newsletter you will further find articles detailing these events and further Embassy activities, and we have again put together selected news from South Africa that we deem relevant for our audience here in Germany.
We hope you will enjoy the read!
With warmest regards
Ambassador Stone Sizani Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of South Africa to the Federal Republic of Germany
(Picture Credit: fotodesign-klaus-dombrowsky.de)
On 29 July 2019, Ambassador Sizani welcomed Prof. van Zyl and Mr Fischer from the Duale Hochschule Baden-Württemberg (Baden-Württemberg Cooperative State University) as well as Prof. Wolfgang Arens-Fischer and Prof. Gochermann from the Hochschule Osnabrück to exchange the latest ideas and developments on the intended implementation of Dual Study programmes in South Africa also known as Vocational Training programmes. The main characteristic of the dual system is cooperation between mainly small and medium sized companies, on the one hand, and publicly funded vocational schools, on the other. Trainees in the dual system typically spend part of each week at a vocational school and the other part at a company.
On the 18th July 2019, the SA Mission celebrated former President Mandela's 101st birthday by participating in the International Nelson Mandela Day. Now in its 10th year, it has become an irreplaceable tradition for the staff of the South African Embassy in Berlin to participate in charitable initiatives for at least 67 minutes and to honour Nelson Mandela's memory, his life and struggle for equality and freedom in South Africa that has touched the world.
South African Ambassador Phumelele Stone Sizani and his team have once again supported the Bahnhofsmission Zoologischer Garten in Berlin. Working in shifts from 13:00 until 18:00 hours the South African staff prepared and served food to people in need.
On 11 July Ambassador Sizani was invited by the Stuttgart Chamber of Commerce, the German-African Business Association (Afrika-Verein der deutschen Wirtschaft) and the Ministry of Economy to a high profile event themed âMeet Africaâ. The Ambassador delivered the key note address at the business seminar during which he eloquently presented a compelling business case for South Africa and Africa at large. Africa should be recognised as a rising continent with greater prospects, he stated, and invited German companies to seize the immense business opportunities offered by the continent. Ambassador Sizani emphasised the importance of vocational training for South Africa and the continent and acknowledged the German system of dual education and skills development.
In a short but precise and comprehensive speech, Deputy Minister Alvin Botes outlined South Africa's foreign policy vision and mission as well as the concrete priorities for the years to come. One major policy focus will be Economic Diplomacy, and in this context the Mission in Germany and particularly Ambassador Sizani were explicitly lauded for their successful efforts in increasing South Africa's exports to Germany and attracting German investments while at the same time enhancing skills development to South Africa.
On 10 July 2019 Minister Plenipotentiary Cassimjee attended a high-level panel discussion organised by Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik (SWP) in cooperation with Hans-Seidel-Stiftung on "South Africaâs New Way? Challenges to the Ramaphosa Government". In their discussions the panelists Sello Hatang (Chief Executive, Nelson Mandela Foundation), Panyaza Lesufi (Minister of Education and Deputy Party Chairman of the ANC in Gauteng), Dr Martin Schäfer (Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany in South Africa, Lesotho and Eswatini) and Dr Melanie Müller (SWP - Foundation for Science and Politics) analysed the results of the May elections in South Africa and evaluated the initial steps of the Ramaphosa government.
On 9 July 2019 Ambassador Phumelele S. Sizani and Minister Counsellor Jacob Moatshe met with Ms Christina Riess, President of Bundesverband der Vertriebsmanager (Federal Association of Sales Managers) and Heiko Ammermann of the company Roland Berger to discuss numerous German investment projects in South Africa. This is in line with President Ramaphosa's Investment Drive - a campaign kick-started in 2018 to raise $100bn (R1.42trillion) in investments in the next five years.
In the first week of July Ambassador Phumelele S. Sizani paid a courtesy call to MP Thomas Oppermann, Vice President of the German Bundestag. During the meeting both Ambassador Sizani and Mr Oppermann spoke about developments in South Africa and shared views on the strengthening of relations between South Africa and Germany for mutual benefit. Since the launch of President Ramaphosa's investment drive, the Berlin Mission has systematically approached federal and regional government bodies and private companies in view of enhancing bilateral cooperation, particularly in the economic sphere.
On 13 June 2019, Ambassador Sizani and the Minister Counsellor Economic, Jacob Moatshe participated in the 6th edition of the German African Business Day which was hosted by Afrika-Verein in Berlin. The theme of the conference was "Blue Economy for Africaâs Growth". Ambassador presented a compelling business case for the South African Blue Economy, highlighting business and investment opportunities in this sector as well as reflecting on challenges facing this industry. The aforesaid are encapsulated in the governmental Ocean Economy Programme and Strategy, "Operation Phakisa".
On 5 June 2019 Ambassador Sizani led an Embassy delegation to a strategy briefing session with South Africa's Honorary Consuls in the Federal Republic of Germany. The purpose of the lunch meeting was to provide the Honorary Consuls with feedback emanating from the Embassy's Strategic Planning Session with its South African stakeholders such as South African Tourism (SAT) and South African Airways (SAA), especially as it relates to the Embassy's visits to different German Länder (States) and its efforts to engage with a wide range of Länder stakeholders.
On 12 May 2019 the South African Government and the South African Air Force were thanked for being part of the historic Berlin Airlift relief operation, which can be described as a true act of Ubuntu. The Commander of the Airlift summarised the South African contribution as follows: "The South African Squadron has impressed all of us. They fulfilled their task in the endeavour 'Airlift' with such devotion and selflessness, that they were an inspiring role model for all of us".
For his bravery South African pilot Joe Joubert was also awarded a medal of honour after the Berlin Airlift. In the service of humanity, one South African flying officer lost his life in the humanitarian operation.
On 28 April 2019, the South African expat communities around the globe were called to cast their votes for South Africa's 6th General elections since the end of Apartheid. Electing provincial legislatures in each province, a new National Assembly and in consequence also the new President of the Republic, approximately 800 South Africans living in Germany cast their ballots in an almost festive athmosphere at the Berlin Mission in TiergartenstraÃe. Globally, close to 30.000 South Africans were registered to vote abroad ahead of the elections in South Africa, which took place on 8 May 2019.
The Embassy of the Republic of South Africa in Berlin, Germany, hosted its National Day event on 26 April 2019, to commemorate and celebrate South Africaâs 25th Freedom Day. On 27 April 1994, South Africans of all "races", genders and creed went to the polls to participate in the countryâs first democratic and free elections, to elect the first president of the new South Africa, Nelson Mandela.
This yearâs Freedom Day celebrations were dedicated to the celebration of South Africaâs 25th Year of Democracy.
President Cyril Ramaphosa says the coming into effect of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area Agreement (AfCFTA) is a milestone that fulfils a dream crafted by the founders of the Organisation of African Union (OAU) 60 years ago when they conceptualised an integrated Africa. President Ramaphosa was speaking at the conclusion of his working visit to Niger where he attended the 12th Extraordinary Summit of the African Union (AU) from 7 â 8 July 2019. The Summit marked the entry into force of the agreement and formally launched the operational phase of the African Internal Market.
"The digital revolution is an opportunity to build an entrepreneurial state" - President Cyril Ramaphosa believes there are trillions of Rand waiting for SA to âgrabâ if it can keep pace with the digital revolution and create its own version of Silicon Valley, the San Francisco home to the worldâs largest high-tech firms, including Apple and Facebook, as well as thousands of start-up companies.
The digital revolution called on the state to be a risk taker and be entrepreneurial, he said during his keynote address at the fourth industrial revolution (4IR) digital economy summit in Johannesburg beginning of July. The 4IR is expected to merge exponential digital growth with the physical world and human biology.
The State of the Nation Address, at the annual opening of Parliament, is an address to the nation by the President of the Republic of South Africa. The President addresses a joint sitting of the two houses of Parliament, the Nation Assembly (NA) and the National Council of Provinces (NCOP). It focuses on the current political and socio-economic state of the nation. On 20 June 2019, President Cyril Ramaphosa presented the first State of the National Address (SoNA) of the 6th Parliament. The theme for this yearâs event was: âLet's grow South Africa together as we celebrate 25 years of freedomâ.
On 29 May 2019 President Cyril Ramaphosa appointed Dr. Grace Naledi Mandisa Pandor as the new Minister of International Relations and Cooperation in the Government of the Republic of South Africa. She served as Minister of Higher Education and Training (2018 - 2019), having previously served as Minister of Science and Technology (2014 - 2018). She was born on 07 December 1953 and holds Master's degrees in Education (University of London) and Linguistics (University of Stellenbosch). She has been a Member of Parliament since 1994 during which time she served as ANC Caucus Whip and Chairperson of the NCOP as well as Member of the Portfolio Committee on Education. Dr Pandor taught at distinguished institutions such as Ernest Bevin School, Taung College of Education, University of Bophuthatswana and the University of Cape Town. In the mid to late 90s, she served as both Deputy Chairperson and Chairperson of the Tertiary Education Fund of South Africa (TEFSA). She has also served as Minister of Basic Education and Home Affairs.
In 2016, Germany awarded Naledi Pandor with the Grand Cross of Merit.
On Saturday, 27 April 2019, South Africa took stock of the progress it has made over the course of its 25 years of democracy while also highlighting the challenges that persisted. This yearâs official Freedom Day celebration, held at the Mili Yili sports grounds in Makhanda, commemorated 25 years since South Africans voted in the first democratic elections in 1994.
âOn this day 25 years ago", President Ramaphosa said, "we founded a new country defined by the principles of equality, unity, non-racialism and non-sexism. Despite the passage of time, it is a day we remember vividly â the exhilaration of seeing nearly 20 million South Africans of all races waiting patiently at polling stations around the country to cast their ballots."
|+| watch the full speech and ceremony
The prestigious German research organisation, the Max Planck Society, has become the 13th member of the SKA Organisation, following a unanimous vote by the SKA Board of Directors at its meeting at the SKA Organisation Global Headquarters in the UK. The Max Planck Society thus joins the final phase of the SKA Organisation, which is overseeing the telescope design phase, until the process of transitioning into the SKA Observatory, an intergovernmental organisation established by treaty to manage the construction and operation of the SKA, is completed.
âI am delighted to welcome the Max Planck Society to the SKA Organisation as our 13th member, a deserved recognition of the significant contributions Germany has made to the SKA project over the years, and particularly in this crucial pre-construction phase,â said Chairperson of the SKA Board of Directors Dr. Catherine Cesarsky.
President Cyril Ramaphosa expressed his heartfelt sadness at the passing of anti-apartheid cultural activists, performers and National Order of Ikhamanga recipients, Mama Nomhle Nkonyeni and Jonathan âJohnnyâ Clegg.
Mama Nomhle Nkonyeni passed away on Wednesday, 10 July 2019, at the age of 77 and following a career of 55 years as an actor who performed ground-breaking anti-apartheid theatre and mastered roles on stage and screen nationally and internationally.
The award-winning singer, songwriter, anthropologist and academic Johnny Clegg passed away on 16 July 2019 at the age of 66. Energetic and passionate Clegg very early in his life campaigned against the injustices of apartheid South Africa and helped put the new South Africa on the map as a cultural ambassador.
âSouth Africa is a better place today due to the courage, resilience and irrepressible creativity of these two special icons from whom we are now taking our leave,â said President Ramaphosa.
A team of six South African undergraduate students took the first prize at the International Supercomputing Conference (ISC) in Frankfurt, Germany. The spectacular success followed four days of working on a selection of tests and applications to optimise and run their computer cluster to demonstrate the performance of their chosen design. The competition took place from 16 to 19 June 2019.
The team of four University of Cape Town students and two University of the Witwatersrand students, was one of the few to be made up of 50% men and 50% women.
The upcoming next edition of the visual arts festival from 20-25 August 2019 will once again transform Haus der Kulturen der Welt into a space of discovery and reflection focused on new cinema and contemporary art. Premières, cartes blanches, special events, video programmes, performances, discussions... This year, South Africa will be represented by two works: Abri De Swardt âRidder Thirstâ and âTomato Sauce Takeawayâ by Riley Pam-Grant, Abi Meekel and Claire Meekel. Entrance to the festival and the opening is free!
Whether on the street or on the football field, group singing is an essential part of South Africaâs lifestyle. Its songs bear marks of the countryâs turbulent colonial history and also traces of apartheid. Deutsche Welle's Campus Concerts in Bonn and Berlin take up these themes and place them in a dialogue with the European heritage of song. Two a cappella groups from South Africa and Germany will present the results of their meetings in both countries, framed by Germanyâs National Youth Orchestra. A concert as rich and colourful as life itself in this multi-cultural ârainbow nationâ.
|+| read more & tickets for Bonn (more information on the Berlin concert will follow soon on the Embassy website www.suedafrika.org).
Cape Town Opera is touring Germany in September 2019 in three separate tours and including 54 artists. The Cape Town Opera Chorus has been invited to perform Porgy and Bess at Alte Oper in Frankfurt, while the CTO Young Artists will perform in Hamburg: Laeiszhalle Hleiner Saal (17.09.), Esslingen: Stadtkirche St Dionys (19.09.), Germering (Munich): Germering City Hall (20.09.) and Dortmund: Ballettzentrum Westfalen (23.09.). Last but not least, CTO is taking "Grace Note", the acclaimed concert of an cappella sacred music to Germany, Austria and Luxembourg, with dates in Trier (Germany): Mosel Muskfestival (26.09.), Nettetal-Lobberich (Germany): Catholic Church (27.09.), St Poelten (Austria): St Poelten Cathedral (29.09.) and Esch-Sur-Alzette (Luxembourg): Conservatoire (04.10.). Picture: Jesse Kramer
Hailing from Empangeni in the heart of Zululand, David âQadasiâ Jenkins and Maqhinga Radebe are an acoustic duo on a quest to revive the powerful sounds of traditional Maskandi music. Both SAMA and SATMA Award nominees in their own right, the duo have taken their fusion of traditional Zulu and western folk music to audiences in the UK, Europe, Asia and throughout South Africa. Their debut collaborative album, âLashisâ Ilangaâ, was recently nominated for a 2017 SATMA Award for Best Male Group.
The group is presently on tour in Europe and will also perform in and around Berlin in September! (Picture by Samora Chapman)
On 19 November 2019 Abdullah Ibrahim will be presenting his latest Solo-Album live at Berlin's Philharmonie. Abdullah Ibrahim is South Africaâs most distinguished pianist, a global jazz icon. His music inspired a generation and his most famous song, Mannenberg, became a theme song of the struggle against Apartheid. For more than a quarter-century he has toured the world extensively, appearing at major concert halls, clubs and festivals. His latest solo album, Dream Time, has been released on Enja Records in Spring 2019 and is Ibrahim's first solo release since 2014. For Matthias Winckelmann, founder of Enja Records, the new album is a 'breathtakingly beautiful recording'.
South Africa was this year's host country at the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting 2019 beginning of July. On the International Day, South Africa presented itself as a research-focused nation and set the bar high for future international partner countries. The International Night consisted of two musical performances with magnificent costumes and dance, highlighting the majesty of South Africaâs cultures. The music was magical and Lindau participants couldnât help but sing along and get up and dance with the performers. But South Africaâs contributions to Lindau did not manifest themselves simply at this dinner. In fact, the team was active throughout the Lindau Meeting, and given that there were 20 young scientists and multiple members of the official delegation attending #LINO19, their presence was clearly felt throughout the entire week... A report by Alaina G. Levine.
After its successful 2018 tour, the Travelling Art Gallery returned to Germany in June and July 2019, exhibiting its Pop-Up Exhibition in Frankfurt, Stuttgart and Munich.
âOur aim is to take South African art to the world, and to invite the world back to South Africaâ, explains Barbara Lenhard of the Opulent Living Concept Store & Gallery in Cape Town. She and her partner Florian Gast are putting their considerable experience as gallery owners and event planners into making the travelling gallery a reality. âThe Travelling Art Gallery is a collaboration between various artists in South Africa who want to show their art to an international audience,â says Barbara.
Please help the South African Mission keep track of South African citizens currently residing in Germany. By voluntarily registering, you do assist the mission to determine the number of citizens living in the country 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 (which will be handled in a strictly confidential way) enable the Embassy to provide you with information related to Embassy events, registration for general election, etc. |+| go to register form
The Newsletter of the Embassy of the Republic of South Africa features Embassy activities and other South African events in Germany.
The Newsletter is published quarterly 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 webmaster(at)suedafrika.org and please visit our website: www.suedafrika.org
Get easy and quick information about South Africa or deepen and extend your knowledge about our country on the BrandSA website. |+| read more
Play Your Part is a national initiative that encourages all South Africans to contribute to positive change. There are numerous opportunities, big and small, for each and every South African. |+| get involved
Listen live to the Department of International Relations and Cooperation of the Republic of South Africa (DIRCO) 24-hour online radio station aimed at enhancing communication on South Africaâs foreign policy. |+| listen live
Read the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO)'s quarterly magazine Ubuntu â South Africaâs Public Diplomacy in action which communicates with and educates stakeholders on South Africaâs foreign policy positions, achievements, objectives and goals. |+| read online
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