SA News

Social Development on Technology Innovation World award

6 Nov 2015

Gender-Based Violence Command Centre wins best Technology Innovation World award

The Department of Social Development’s Gender-Based Violence Command Centre (GBVCC) – a 24-hour call centre dedicated to providing support and counselling to victims of gender based violence – has been named the Best Technology Innovation – Small Centre of the world at the Global Best Contact Centre Awards in Las Vegas on November 5.

As the Gold Medal Winner, this means the GBVCC is ranked number one in the world in its category.

This adds to three other highly acclaimed service awards the GBVCC has won since its launch in March 2014 – the Innovation Award in the Contact Centre Management Group (CCMG) awards, the Changing Lives Award in the Africom Awards, as well as the Golden Award won in the Technological Innovation Awards in London.

Minister for Social Development, Ms Bathabile Dlamini, says the international recognition of the GBVCC communicates the South African government’s commitment to fighting gender-based violence to the rest of the world and places the country at the lead of international best practice against gender-based violence.

“We launched the Command Centre as part of our service delivery improvement programme aimed at responding quicker, more effectively and innovatively to social challenges in the country, Project Mikondzo.  Being recognised for best technology innovation in the world confirms that we are on the right track and it inspires us to work even harder to find inventive ways of responding effectively to the social challenges in the country.

“The award comes just a few weeks before we launch the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children 2015 Campaign and emboldens us to work harder to eradicate violence against women and children.  We express our thanks to the organisations who have partnered with us in making this project a reality,” said Minister Dlamini.

The GBVCC uses mobile technology to estimate the location of a victim, assign the closest social worker in the field to the case, and record and receive continuous feedback on the case.  When a caller contacts the GBVCC from a mobile phone, they are (with explicit permission) geographically located, enabling the Centre to determine the resources nearest to the caller, whether it be a social worker, a police station, a hospital or safe house.  In this way, help is dispatched in quick fashion.

The toll free number to call to speak to a social worker for assistance and counselling is 0800 428 428 (0800 GBV GBV).  Callers can also request a social worker from the Command Centre to contact them by dialling *120*7867# (free) from any cell phone.

The GBVCC emanated from the work of the Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) on the Root Causes of Violence Against Women and Children – chaired by Minister Dlamini.

The IMC was established by President Jacob Zuma in May 2012 to reinforce political leadership and accountability in the national prevention and response to the rising figures of sexual violence in our country.

The membership of the IMC comprises of the Ministers of Justice and Constitutional Development; Women; Home Affairs; Police and Basic Education.  Through the GBVCC, the work of this Committee is certainly contributing towards the improvement of the country response to and prevention of sexual violence.

SA News

Minister Pandor congratulates Prof. Tebello Nyokong on winning the African Union Kwame Nkrumah Scientific Award

The Minister of Science and Technology, Naledi Pandor, has congratulated Prof. Tebello Nyokong, a distinguished scientist from Rhodes University, on winning the prestigious African Union Kwame Nkrumah Scientific Award.

The award ceremony took place on Saturday, 30 January 2016 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, during the opening of the 26th Ordinary Session of the African Union General Assembly for Heads of State and Government.

Minister Pandor said that this proved that South Africa and Africa have world-class scientists. "Our congratulations go to Prof. Tebello Nyokong for shining the spotlight on South Africa by winning such a prestigious award."

Last year, another distinguished South African scientist, Prof. Salim Abdool Karim, won the same award.

Advancing the African space programme to address Africa's socio-economic challenges

Minister Pandor said that she was also pleased that the 26th Ordinary Session of the African Union General Assembly for Heads of State and Government meeting had adopted the African Space Policy and the African Space Strategy, which the African Ministerial Council on Science and Technology (AMCOST) commissioned in 2012.

South Africa chaired the working group that undertook the work of developing the African Space Policy and the African Space Strategy.

Space-derived services such as Earth observation and satellite communications, navigation and positioning are crucial for the socio-economic development of the African continent. Over the past four decades such services have played a significant role in international, national and regional economic and social development efforts.

Such efforts include the proactive management of disease outbreaks, natural resources and the environment, responses to natural hazards and disasters, weather forecasting, climate-change modelling and monitoring, agriculture and food security, and peacekeeping missions and conflicts. In this respect, space science and technologies that enable the delivery of essential services and products are vitally important for the continent.

Affirming her support for the development of the African space programme, Minister Pandor said, "The benefits of such a programme include assisting in the development of a high-tech sector. This also has potential spin-offs for other fledgling industrial sectors and can provide benefits to the African continent."

Minister Pandor also thanked the formal working group for undertaking this historical work, which holds so much promise for securing an "integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in the global arena", as espoused in the African Union Vision.

SA News

30 March 2016

South Africa wins global Diplomatic Service Award

The World Affairs Council in Washington, DC has named South Africa as the 2016 recipient of the Distinguished Diplomatic Service Award. 

The award was received last night (29 March 2016) by His Excellency Mninwa Mahlangu, Ambassador of South Africa to the United States, on behalf of the South African government.

South African is the first African country to receive this award.

The World Affairs Council Honors recognise organisations who demonstrate an outstanding commitment to global education, international affairs and global communications.

International Relations and Cooperation Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane said: “South Africa is truly humbled to receive this prestigious award. This recognition will further inspire and encourage our diplomats who work 24/7 around the world to advance our country’s national interests”.

South Africa’s international engagements are driven by our foreign policy vision of a “united African continent that is peaceful, democratic, non-racial, non-sexist, and prosperous; and which contributes to a world that is just and equitable.” 

Minister Nkoana-Mashabane further said: “In pursuit of our foreign policy vision, South Africa’s diplomacy is informed and guided by the philosophy of Ubuntu; I am because you are. It speaks to our core humanity, inter-dependence and co-existence”. 

This award comes at a time when South African diplomats are focussed on achieving the goals set out in the National Development Plan. The pursuit of economic diplomacy, promotion of educationand skills development and other priorities of government as articulated in the 9-point plan as announced by President Jacob Zuma.

One of the areas where South Africa partners with the World Affairs Council is the Global Education Teacher Exchange program. This speaks to the commitment to the promotion of education and training as a tool of empowerment for individuals and society as a whole.

SA News

InvestSA wins the Global Investment Promotion Award for Excellence in Partnering for Investment Promotion at the UNCTAD Investment Promotion Awards 2016 in Nairobi, Kenya.  2016-07-19   The Minister of Trade and Industry, Dr Rob Davies says investors recognise South Africa as a regional hub and gateway into the African Continent and government is strengthening its Investment strategy to provide a one stop service to all investors. The Minister said this when he was receiving the Global Investment Promotion Agency (IPA) Award at the World Investment Forum and the UNCTAD 14 Conference on behalf of InvestSA. The award seeks to recognise best practice in IPAs or association of IPAs in forging partnerships to promote FDI that contributes to sustainable development. Since 2002, UNCTAD has been presenting Investment Promotion Awards, recognising best practices and achievements of IPAs. The 2016 award was in terms of excellence in partnering for investment promotion. Minister Davies said that with the establishment of InvestSA, Government has enhanced Intergovernmental Coordination and Facilitation to fast track, unblock and reduce red tape.  InvestSA is supported by an Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) on Investment and this approach is beginning to yield results. This is a proud moment for South Africa and significant achievement for InvestSA to be declared the winner from 51 Investment Promotion Agencies. Minister Davies commented that InvestSA is now leading the investment promotion and facilitation efforts in government. “This Global Award follows similar accolades that InvestSA has garnered in a short time. The InvestSA approach is a public private sector initiative of President Zuma that allows for business and the public sector to work together in facilitating increased investment. InvestSA is leading the overall coordination and facilitation of unblocking, fast tracking and reducing red tape in government,” added Minister. The award recognised the efforts of InvestSA to provide focussed support in attracing investment projects in the green economy and sustainable development. InvestSA partnered and facilitated with a number of government departments, agencies, regulatory bodies, DFIs, banks, investors, industry associations and communities to facilitate investments in this sector. These include amongst others the facillitatiion of  investment projects of ACWA Power Concentrated Solar Plant in Bokpoort, Northern Cape, DCD Wind Towers in COEGA, Eastern Cape to GRI Blade Component facility in Atlantis, Western Cape. InvestSA was instrumental in providing support, coordinating across the levels of government and in nuturing parnerships in rolling out these investments. Minister Davies further stated that we continue to be able to attract major investment projects and facilitate them into South Africa. . Government is committed to improving our investor servicing and South Africa’s investment climate. The Global Award is a significant boost to our investment attraction efforts and making South Africa a destination of choice. InvestSA wins a global award for partnership and excellence in investment promotion

SA News

Invest SA scoops another international prize!

Invest SA has been recognised for its work in attracting investments to South Africa with the CFI.co Best Investment Promotion Agency Africa 2016 award.

CFI.co, a renowned journal and online resource reporting on business, economics and finance, annually seeks out individuals and organisations that contribute significantly to the convergence of economies. 

Invest SA works with provincial investment promotion agencies to source opportunities for investors that meet local and national development goals. 

Since its inception earlier this year Invest SA has made strides in promoting packaged investment projects and facilitating direct foreign investment.

The CFI.co award follows the UNCTAD Investment Award for success in attracting investment which Invest SA received in July 2016.

• Trade Invest Africa

SA News

Tourism on tourism awards

21 Sep 2016

Tourism awards keep world focus on SA

Tourism in South Africa is maintaining its winning streak, as the country continues to attract international awards and welcome tourists from around the world in growing numbers.

In the latest accolade bestowed on South Africa, the entire country, its cities and tourism attractions featured prominently in the Condé Nast Traveller's Readers' Travel Awards for 2016.

South Africa was ranked fourth on Condé Nast’s list of the Top 20 countries in the world to visit, ahead of destinations like France, Spain, Thailand, Morocco and Australia, which have been favoured by the world’s tourists in the past.

Minister of Tourism Derek Hanekom said all South Africans should be proud of this achievement, considering the stiff competition we faced.

“It takes a huge collaborative effort by the public and private sector to provide a great experience for tourists, and it cannot be done without the support of host communities and the people of South Africa,” he said.

“These awards prove that we are succeeding in keeping our country globally competitive.

“The number of international arrivals are growing remarkably. These awards reinforce our position as a very attractive global destination. Tourism is well-placed to continue playing a meaningful role in the economy and in the lives of our people. The sector is striving to do even better in the future, so that we make full use of every opportunity presented by tourism,” said Minister Hanekom.

South Africa also featured several times in the Condé Nast list for "The Ultimate Travel Top 60", which identifies the best of the best tourism attractions and facilities around the world.

Cape Town was named the culinary capital of the world. The Bushmans Kloof Wilderness Reserve & Wellness Retreat was placed 20th on the list, with South Africa as a country destination at number 21, Cape Town at 53 and Singita Sabi Sands at 54.

The Readers' Travel Awards also named South Africa as a fantastic destination when it comes to value for money, putting it among the most affordable destinations in the world.

The Awards focused individually on Franschhoek, Johannesburg, the Kruger National Park, Londolozi private game reserve, Plettenberg Bay, the Garden Route and the Great Karoo as key attractions.

At its recent Travel Week conference in Las Vegas, Virtuoso recognised & Beyond Phinda Private Game Reserve in KwaZulu-Natal for Sustainable Tourism Leadership at its annual Best of the Best Awards. Phinda was hailed as a conservation leader that is now one of the world's most successful ecotourism projects.

At this year’s African Responsible Tourism Awards, Shark Spotters was a Gold Winner in Innovation for its pioneering work in keeping swimmers at Cape Town’s beaches safe, while protecting sharks and creating employment. The Bushmans Kloof Wilderness Reserve won a Gold Award for conserving over 130 unique San rock art sites. Sani Lodge Backpackers and Drakensberg Adventures were awarded for their contribution to local livelihoods and poverty reduction.

The National Department of Tourism won the Best Public Policy award, for recognising that tourism has a responsibility to make a significant contribution to making South Africa a better place to live in.

SA News

Minister Aaron Motsoaledi wins International USAID-TB award

18 Mar 2016

Motsoaledi scoops International USAID-TB award

Health Minister Dr. Aaron Motsoaledi has received the USAID-TB international award in recognition of his leadership in the global fight against Tuberculosis (TB) as well as championing bold South Africa's and regional initiatives in the screening, treatment and prevention of TB; TB/HIV co-infection and MDR-TB.

In his acceptance speech, the Minister of Health and the Chair of the Stop TB Partnership, Dr. Aaron Motsoaledi challenged all countries to intensify the fight against TB saying, “it is time for the world to treat tuberculosis with the same urgency it demonstrated in responding to major new health threats like Ebola and the Zika virus." 

He lamented that although TB accounts for many deaths in the world, it however, "do not evoke the emotions, passion, urgency and requisite activism that the world has seen in all other epidemics. TB as a disease in the last 200 years killed more people than the major epidemics, Ebola, malaria, HIV itself, small pox, bubonic plaque, influenza and cholera all added together." Motsoaledi said.

TB is killing more than 1.5 million and infecting 9 million people globally. He appealed to all leaders of the world, heads of state and governments, heads of major institutions, religious leaders, activists, academics, major world blocs like the BRICS, EU, G7, G20 and the AU and indeed the UN General Assembly itself to put TB on the agenda like they did with all the major pandemics that have beset the world thus far. 

"First and foremost we want them to work together with urgency to find an effective vaccine against TB to ensure that no one contracts TB in the first place. In the meantime we must be able to diagnose TB with a rapid diagnostic test much like we have for HIV. We must have an effective treatment that cures TB and MDR-TB in weeks, rather than months, without the debilitating side effects of current treatments."

He said South Africa will intensify the fight against TB in Lephalale, Limpopo province as part of the World TB Day. The Mass TB screening campaign will dominate this year's World TB Day activities.