South Africa

Lamola: South Africa’s Policy Centers on Human Rights

Africa /

South Africa’s foreign policy will be guided by human rights and the peaceful resolution of conflicts, its top diplomat Ronald Lamola told his US counterpart Antony Blinken. Calling for stronger bilateral relations with the US, Foreign Minister Lamola told Secretary of State Blinken on Thursday that South Africa is celebrating 30 years of democracy as well as “shared values” with the US. South Africa is a “constitutional democracy, (with) free and fair elections, and we have just emerged from them with about 10 political parties that have agreed to form a government of national unity with the priority to resolve the triple challenges of South Africa: unemployment, inequality, and poverty,” said Lamola. It was Lamola’s first face-to-face meeting with his US counterpart since being appointed in July. They met on the sidelines of the 79 UN General Assembly in New York, according to a US State Department readout of the meeting. “And our foreign policy will continue to be guided by human rights, constitutional principles, the national interest, solidarity and peaceful resolution of conflicts,” Lamola told Blinken ahead of their closed-door talk. The meeting came amid reports that Israeli diplomats are lobbying US lawmakers to pressure South Africa into dropping its genocide case against Tel Aviv at the International Court of Justice (ICJ). After Lamola’s appointment, Blinken called him to offer congratulations, and they also discussed Russia’s war on Ukraine as well as Israel’s war on Gaza. South Africa last December took Israel to the ICJ over its indiscriminate bombardment of the Gaza Strip, which has resulted in the deaths of more than 41,500 people since last October. In his opening remarks, Blinken said his meeting with Lamola was to take stock of the “extraordinary and important partnership between South Africa and the United States, a partnership that works on a bilateral basis, a regional basis, and indeed a global basis. After their meeting, Lamola said he and Blinken had a “constructive engagement.” “Our relationship is dynamic and constantly evolving,” he added.

Lamola: South Africa’s Policy Centers on Human Rights Read More »

Biden to make first presidential visit to Africa next month

Africa /

U.S. President Joe Biden will visit Africa next month, marking his first trip to the continent while in office, the White House announced on September 24. He will begin his journey in Berlin to strengthen alliances and express gratitude to Germany for its support of Ukraine against Russia, among other issues. Biden will then travel to Angola from October 13-15 to discuss economic ties and security with President Joao Lourenco. They will also explore a rail project linking the Atlantic and Indian oceans. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre stated that Biden’s visit to Luanda will celebrate the evolving U.S.-Angola relationship and highlight America’s commitment to African partnerships. Although Biden aimed to visit Angola last year, plans were delayed due to the Israel-Hamas conflict. He has pledged to enhance U.S. relations with African democracies amid growing Chinese influence in the region. Biden had previously promised to visit Africa following a summit with African leaders in late 2022, but 2023 has passed without his visit, despite several high-ranking U.S. officials visiting the continent on his behalf. Earlier on Tuesday, Biden announced over $500 million in aid and 1 million mpox vaccines to support African nations in combating the mpox outbreak. He also delivered his final address to the UN General Assembly as president.

Biden to make first presidential visit to Africa next month Read More »

Ramaphosa  calls for vaccine deployment against mpox in Africa

Africa /

 South Africa’s president on Tuesday called for the urgent deployment of vaccines and medical counter-measures to combat the growing threat of mpox, particularly in Africa. Speaking at the UN General Assembly in New York, Cyril Ramaphosa highlighted the dangers posed by pandemics and endemics, including mpox, which has been spreading rapidly across the continent. “Pandemics and endemics cause a serious threat to us all,” he said. “We are concerned by the spread of mpox across the world, and Africa in particular. We urge the international community to mobilize vaccine stockpiles and other medical countermeasures for deployment where they are most needed,” he added. The outbreak of mpox has raised alarms across several African nations due to its rapid spread and the vulnerability of healthcare systems. The call for vaccines comes as international organizations, including the World Health Organization (WHO) and Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, work to coordinate efforts to contain the virus. The Africa CDC recently warned about a worrying upward trend of mpox cases across the continent, stressing that the disease is not yet under control across Africa. Jean Kaseya, head of the Africa CDC, last Thursday said that compared to the same period last year, there has been a 177% and 38.5% increase in the number of mpox cases and deaths, respectively, across 15 African nations. Africa has recorded more than 29,000 cases and 738 deaths this year, according to the latest data from the Africa CDC.

Ramaphosa  calls for vaccine deployment against mpox in Africa Read More »

“South Africa launches scheme to boost chinese and Indian tourism”

Discover /

South Africa is setting its sights on increasing visitor numbers from China and India with the introduction of a new Trusted Tour Operator Scheme (TTOS) scheduled to launch in January 2025. The TTOS will invite vetted and approved tour operators from these countries to register with the Department of Home Affairs. This initiative aims to streamline the process and reduce bureaucratic hurdles for tourists, particularly targeting large tour groups and business delegations. In 2023, South Africa welcomed 93,000 Chinese visitors. However, Minister Leon Schreiber noted that the country has been underperforming in attracting tourists from China and India. He attributes this partly to the existing red tape that complicates the visa process. The TTOS is designed to address these issues by providing a dedicated team to expedite visa applications, ensuring a more efficient and reliable process. Currently, Indian tourists represent only 3.9% of South Africa’s international visitors, while Chinese tourists account for just 1.8%. The TTOS is expected to make significant strides in improving these figures, with strong support from South Africa’s hospitality industry. Angela Wu, Director of the Travel Service Department at upGrowth, a South African marketing company, emphasized that a simplified visa process would greatly enhance the attraction of Chinese clients, particularly for business and customized leisure tours. South Africa, one of the top five most-visited countries on the continent, anticipates that a 10% annual increase in tourism could boost the nation’s economic growth by 0.6% and generate thousands of new jobs. The TTOS will also focus on tourists from non-visa exempt countries, as announced by the Department of Home Affairs on September 2.

“South Africa launches scheme to boost chinese and Indian tourism” Read More »

Scroll to Top