August 24, 2022 – South Africa News Gazette

August 24, 2022

Owner of the longest standing CBI programme, St Kitts and Nevis, takes top spot at this year’s annual CBI Index

Basseterre, Aug. 24, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Caribbean nation of St Kitts and Nevis tops this year’s CBI Index rankings for offering one of the best citizenship by investment (CBI) programmes in the world.

St Kitts and Nevis was rated against 12 other countries with operational CBI programmes, which, in 2022, include Antigua and Barbuda, Austria, Cambodia, Dominica, Egypt, Grenada, Jordan, Malta, Montenegro, St Lucia, Turkey and Vanuatu.

The CBI Index, published by PWM Magazine, a publication from the Financial Times in collaboration with CS Global Partners, is a rating system designed to measure the performance and appeal of global CBI programmes across a diverse range of indicators and its purpose is to provide a rigorous and systematic mechanism for appraising programmes in order to facilitate the decision-making process for individuals considering them, and to bring value to the CBI industry

The primary methodological objective of the CBI Index is to isolate pillars that measure CBI programme features and jurisdictional desirability. The nine pillars that constitute this year’s CBI Index include: Freedom of Movement, Standard of Living, Minimum Investment Outlay, Mandatory Travel or Residence, Citizenship Timeline, Ease of Processing, Due Diligence, Family and, Certainty of Product.

The country received full marks – 10 out of 10 in the Mandatory Travel or Residence, Citizenship Timeline, Ease of Processing, Due Diligence, Family and Certainty of Product pillars.

The Mandatory Travel or Residence pillar examines the travel or residence conditions imposed on applicants both before and after the granting of citizenship.

St Kitts and Nevis, along with the rest of the Caribbean countries, does not have any travel or residency requirements for CBI applicants. This makes it easy for busy entrepreneurs to continue running their businesses and still be eligible to get their second citizenship while not having to fulfil any minimum stay requirements.

St Kitts and Nevis scored top marks for the Citizenship Timeline pillar – which looks at the average time taken for citizenship to be secured by the applicant – due to the Accelerated Application Process where for an additional fee, an applicant can obtain their citizenship within a maximum of 60 days instead of the standard processing time of approximately three months.

Ease of Processing measures the end-to-end complexity of the CBI application process. St Kitts and Nevis makes the process of obtaining citizenship easy and straightforward, the country has an official government website and a dedicated CBI unit. It has also done away with burdensome application requirements such as interviews, language, culture or history tests, proof of minimum business experience and evidence of the purchase of tangible or intangible assets.

The overall effortlessness of the application process is a particularly important component, and the promise of a smooth, hassle-free process can generate readiness to engage with a programme.

One of the areas where Caribbean nations really differentiate their programmes, is the area of due diligence. St Kitts and Nevis’ due diligence process is multi-faceted and is undertaken by the country’s CBI unit, law enforcement and external third-party due-diligence agencies from the UK and USA. This ensures that the process is stringent and comprehensive, applicants are required to provide either fingerprints or a biometric passport, police certificates from both an applicant’s country of residence as well as their country of citizenship and comprehensive supporting information in respect of an applicant’s source of funds.

The CBI Index recognises that the rise of increasingly complex family relationships is driving investors to seek programmes that allow for a more diverse range of family members to be included under a primary application. St Kitts and Nevis retains a perfect score for their family friendliness as, in addition to a main applicant, they allow the applicant’s spouse, children under 18 and over 18 in certain circumstances, siblings, parents and grandparents of both the main applicant or their spouse to be included in an application.

St Kitts and Nevis’ CBI programme is one of the oldest in the industry, having been established in 1984, it assures investors of a certainty of product. The CBI Index measures certainty across five different dimensions: longevity, popularity and renown, stability, reputation, and adaptability – aspects which St Kitts and Nevis’ programme can tick off confidently.

In the 2022 CBI Index, the Freedom of Movement pillar measures the relative strength of each country’s citizenship based on three equally weighted factors: the number of destinations to which a country’s passport allows travel without restriction, the number of prime business hubs to which it provides access, and the degree to which a given citizenship provides settlement rights in other nations. St Kitts and Nevis scored a seven out of 10 in this area as it offers visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 156 countries.

The Minimum Investment Outlay pillar measures one of the most practical and foremost considerations of CBI: how much capital is required for the investor to become an eligible applicant for the programme of their choosing.

St Kitts and Nevis offers one of the most affordable routes to alternative citizenship, and even though it ended its limited time offer of US$150,000 for a family of four at the end of December 2021, it did not impact its score, five out of 10, as the scores are based on minimum investments for a single applicant.

The St Kitts and Nevis CBI programme is a family-friendly route for those looking for a reputable and trusted programme that prioritises both applicants and its citizens – the stringent due diligence process upon application ensures that only honest hard-working families are approved. The citizenship can also be passed down to future generations, giving investors who want to leave a legacy, peace of mind.

Download the full CBI Index here, to get further insights into the CBI industry and a full evaluation of the CBI programmes of the 12 other jurisdictions in the rankings.

Attachment

St Kitts and Nevis Infographic

St Kitts and Nevis PR
Government of St. Kitts and Nevis
+27828215664
nandi.canning@csglobalpartners.com

August 24, 2022

TCM Lianhua Qingwen Launched in Liberia

SHIJIAZHUANG, China, Aug. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Last week, the Launching Ceremony of Lianhua Qingwen Capsules in Liberia was held in the Chinese Embassy to Liberia. The Chinese ambassador Ren Yisheng, Liberian Minister of Health Wilhemina Jallah, Defense Minister D. D. Ziankahn, Minister of State without Portfolio Trokon Kpui, senior Liberian and Chinese officials attended the event.

Ren Yisheng said that TCM is an original medical system that has been gradually formed and continuously enriched and developed by the Chinese nation in the thousands of years of production and daily life practice and the struggle against diseases, “More and more countries in the world and more and more people opt for, use and learn Chinese medicine”.

Ren congratulated the official launching of Lianhua Qingwen Capsules in Liberia, and introduced that in recent years, China’s “Belt and Road” initiative has been effectively aligned with Liberia’s “Pro-poor Agenda for Prosperity and Development”.

He emphasized that China will continue to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with Liberia in the fields of medical care and public health, actively explore cooperation in traditional medicine including herbal medicine and acupuncture, and vigorously carry out capacity building such as training, so as to contribute to strengthening Liberia’s response to the epidemic and health challenges, improving the people’s health and well-being.

Jallah expressed her appreciation to China’s long-term support for Liberia in the medical field and extended her congratulations to the launching of Lianhua Qingwen. “Today we are also celebrating the launching of a new medicine in Liberia……I want to say thank you for this official launching of this medicine is coming at a good time, because people are coughing, sneezing all the time and they have something to drink as a medicine to make them feel better”, Jallah said.

Kpui also delivered his congratulations. “I would like, on behalf of His Excellency, George Manneh Weah, the President of the Republic of Liberia, my colleagues here and the people of Liberia, to thank you and with open arms we are welcoming the new capsules to help us mitigate the challenges, the treatment for patients”, he told.

According to information available, Lianhua Qingwen has been approved in nearly 30 countries and regions including Canada, Kuwait, Thailand, and 8 African countries including Liberia, Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya.

August 24, 2022

Hantec Markets signs sponsorship agreement with Haas F1 Team through 2023 F1 season

STAVELOT, Belgium, Aug. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Hantec Markets has announced a new partnership to be the official online trading partner with Haas F1 Team before this weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix.

Hantec Markets operates a trading platform for CFDs, including margin trading across forex, bullion, indices, commodities and stocks. The multi-million pound contract runs through the 2023 F1 season.

Haas F1 Team currently holds seventh place in the Constructors’ Championship with 34 points.

Hantec Markets’ brand logo will adorn the Haas race car on the nose of the car, and include full branding in the Haas team garage. The Hantec logo will also be featured on the uniforms of Haas drivers Mick Schumacher and Kevin Magnussen.

Earlier this month, Hantec Markets unveiled a global rebrand campaign that included a new website (https://hmarkets.com/) and a renewed growth strategy to direct the next phase of its dynamic development. The Hantec team has introduced the #TimeToStrike hashtag to signify this time of growth at Hantec Markets.

“We’re delighted to welcome Hantec Markets and we look forward to a productive working partnership for the rest of the 2022 F1 season and beyond,” said Guenther Steiner, Haas’ team principal. “Hantec Markets provides innovation for people in emerging economic markets so that they are able to unlock their full financial potential. It’s similar to the type of collaboration that goes on in our garage. We want to provide our drivers with that type of innovation so that they can unlock the fastest car on the track.”

“Hantec Markets and Haas are both global brands that strive for speed and perfection in some of the most competitive environments,” said Nader Nurmohamed, Chief Operating Officer of Hantec Markets. “The integrity, passion and family feel of the Haas F1 Team has been the driving force behind their achievement and future goals. Hantec Markets shares this ethos and has embroidered the same in tailoring our services to our client’s needs. We strive to provide an unrivaled trading experience to our customers, with the same attention to detail and service that Guenther, and Haas brings to each race.”

About Hantec Markets
Hantec Markets offers leveraged trading on global currencies, bullion, equities and commodities, through the multi-asset MT4 and MT5 platforms. The firm’s 32 years of experience and unmatched expertise enables it to provide deep liquidity, bespoke client commission structures, customizable trading conditions and forward-thinking, adaptive innovation in an ever-changing marketplace. Hantec Markets is a subsidiary of the award-winning Hantec Group, and provides services across five different continents in seven jurisdictions. Regulated in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Hong Kong, Jordan and Mauritius and winner of the 2021 Global Forex Award for Most Transparent Forex Broker, it is Hantec’s mission to empower financial freedom, be a partner that clients can trust and create unparalleled opportunities to audiences across the world.

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1884036/Haas_F1_Team_car_with_Hantec_Markets.jpg

August 24, 2022

Nikkiso Clean Energy & Industrial Gases Group Wins Multiple Hydrogen Fueling Station Contracts in California and South Korea

TEMECULA, Calif., Aug. 23, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Nikkiso Clean Energy & Industrial Gases Group (“CE&IG”), a part of the Nikkiso Co., Ltd (Japan) group of companies, is proud to be the recipient of multiple contracts to provide over a dozen Hydrogen Fueling Stations (“HFS”) to customers in California and South Korea. These stations, intended to be operational between Q4 2023 and Q2 2024, cover fueling stations for light-duty, heavy-duty, and transit fuel cell vehicles that need H35 and H70 dispensing.

“As an ambassador member of the California Fuel Cell Partnership (“CaFCP”) and core leader of cryogenic technology, Nikkiso is key in connecting the hydrogen ecosystem to advance the clean energy agenda,” said Peter Wagner, CEO of Nikkiso CE&IG.

“We are pleased to offer flexible and scalable commercial and technical offers where our customers need us the most: from equipment fabricator to turnkey EPC solutions,” said Joseph Pak, President of the Nikkiso Integrated Cryogenic Solutions.

The purchase orders have a combined value of almost US$60 million. Nikkiso has dedicated over 150,000 ft2 (14,000 m2) square feet of floor space to mass produce hydrogen fueling stations in Murrieta, CA, Escondido, CA, Busan, S. Korea, and Neuenbürg, Germany. Every station will be manufactured to comply with the local content requirements, including the Buy America Act for the US Hydrogen Hub market.

Starting with these hydrogen station projects, the Nikkiso Group aims to further expand their hydrogen-related business by strengthening their participation in the hydrogen supply chain and expanding into the global market.

About Nikkiso Clean Energy & Industrial Gases Group
Nikkiso’s CE&IG is part of the Nikkiso Co., Ltd group of companies. Nikkiso Co. is a $1.4B public company. CE&IG comprises five distinct functional units: Cryogenic Pumps (ACD, Nikkiso Cryo), Process Systems (Cosmodyne), Heat Exchanger Systems (Cryoquip), Cryogenic Services (through 20 global facilities) and Integrated Cryogenic Solutions (providing centralized management of products and project development). In 2020, CE&IG expanded its capabilities further with the acquisition of what was GP- Strategies’ Alternative Fuels Division. This addition provides yet another major manufacturing facility in Southern California. Acknowledged as a market leader in the design, engineering, manufacturing, construction and maintenance of Cryogenic infrastructure, this facility offers full in-house capabilities from engineering & permitting through manufacturing, construction, and maintenance.

For over 50 years, Nikkiso has been a leader in the Clean Energy industry and are leading the change to a healthier world. With our hydrogen fueling technology, Nikkiso has become a leader in the evolving hydrogen revolution, including a project on the world’s first LH2 bunkering facility. For more information visit www.NikkisoCEIG.com.

For more information, please visit www.nikkisoCEIG.com and www.nikkiso.com.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Anna Quigley
+1.951.383.3314
aquigley@cryoind.com

August 24, 2022

Le Rwanda accueille la 11e édition du Forum africain sur le peering et l’interconnexion (AfPIF)

Cet événement annuel sert de plateforme pour l’expansion et le développement de l’internet en Afrique

KIGALI, Rwanda, 23 août 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Le Rwanda accueille pour la première fois cette année le Forum africain sur le peering et l’interconnexion (AfPIF) à Kigali. Le forum est organisé par l’Internet Society (ISOC) et l’Association africaine des IXP (AFIX) en collaboration avec la Rwanda Internet Community and Technology Alliance (RICTA). L’événement, qui se déroule du 23 au 25 août à l’hôtel Marriott, a réuni des parties prenantes de tout le continent et du monde entier, notamment Meta, Google, Liquid Intelligent Technologies, Microsoft, Internet Initiative Japan Lab et Africa Data Centers, etc.

Cet événement annuel, qui en est à sa 11^e édition, sert de plateforme pour l’expansion et le développement de l’internet en Afrique. Il met en relation les fournisseurs d’infrastructures, de services et de contenus afin d’identifier les moyens d’améliorer l’interconnexion des réseaux, de réduire le coût de la connectivité et d’accroître la résilience de l’internet et l’expérience des utilisateurs locaux. Il fournit également aux participants des informations mondiales et régionales pour maximiser les opportunités qui aideront à développer l’infrastructure et les services Internet en Afrique.

L’AfPIF a été créé pour remédier au fait que la majeure partie du trafic Internet local en Afrique est échangée en dehors du continent. L’échange de trafic local par le biais de points d’échange Internet (IXP) réduit les coûts d’accès à l’Internet et les retards sur le réseau et augmente les vitesses d’accès au contenu.

Les points d’échange Internet sont des infrastructures techniques qui permettent de vivre une expérience Internet plus rapide, moins coûteuse et plus fiable en connectant plusieurs réseaux des secteurs privé, public et éducatif pour échanger du trafic Internet. Au lieu d’utiliser des voies de transit internationales coûteuses, le trafic internet est échangé localement et les vitesses d’accès au contenu peuvent ainsi être multipliées par dix.

L’AfPIF de cette année se concentre sur les dynamiques de l’interconnexion d’Internet, la diffusion de contenus et les obstacles au transit tant au niveau local qu’au niveau régional. Le forum de Kigali marque un retour aux rencontres en présentiel, qui avaient été reportées depuis 2020 du fait de la pandémie mondiale de COVID-19.

Citations :

Le secrétaire permanent du ministère des TIC et de l’Innovation du Rwanda, M. Yves Iradukunda a déclaré : « L’accès à l’Internet à haut débit et son utilisation ont un impact profond sur l’amélioration de la prestation de services dans tous les secteurs de notre économie. Aujourd’hui, l’utilisation d’Internet permet d’obtenir de meilleurs résultats en matière d’apprentissage, de soins de santé, de gestion de nos ressources énergétiques et de participation des citoyens à l’action gouvernementale.

Nous sommes donc très heureux d’accueillir cette année le Forum africain sur le peering et l’interconnexion, une rencontre qui permettra de discuter de l’amélioration de l’interconnexion des réseaux au niveau local et dans la région. »

Michuki Mwangi, technologue émérite chez Internet Society a déclaré : « Nous avons fait des progrès remarquables dans la mise en place de nouveaux points d’échange Internet (IXP) tout en soutenant la croissance des points existants. Cependant, nous n’avons pas encore réalisé pleinement l’impact de l’échange du trafic Internet aux 49 IXP répartis dans 35 pays d’Afrique. Pour y parvenir, nous tirons les leçons du rapport intitulé « Moving Toward an Interconnected Africa: The 80/20 Initiative » et mettons l’accent sur l’augmentation du nombre de réseaux locaux, transfrontaliers et internationaux qui se connectent aux IXP. Nous pensons que cela est possible grâce à une collaboration accrue entre les fournisseurs de services Internet, les opérateurs de réseaux mobiles, les fournisseurs de contenu, les réseaux de grandes entreprises et les décideurs.https://www.internetsociety.org/resources/doc/2021/moving-toward-an-interconnected-africa-the-80-20-initiative/ »

Grace Ingabire Mwikarago, directrice générale de la RICTA, a déclaré : « Nous sommes honorés d’accueillir cette conférence unique. L’importance des IXP pour contribuer au développement socio-économique global de l’Afrique ne peut être surestimée, en particulier dans des situations critiques telles que la pandémie de COVID-19. Les IXP permettent l’apprentissage en ligne et le travail à distance dans de telles circonstances. Le courrier électronique, la vidéoconférence, la communication mobile et la messagerie rendent également l’éloignement social plus supportable, dans la mesure où ils aident les gens à s’adapter à la nouvelle donne. Sans ces technologies, des milliers d’entreprises ne seraient pas opérationnelles. »

Kyle Spencer, co-coordinateur de l’Association africaine des IXP, a déclaré : « Le Rwanda est un petit pays enclavé qui a favorisé son développement économique et son indépendance régionale grâce à la combinaison d’une politique de télécommunications progressive et d’un climat des affaires favorable aux investissements. En tant que passerelle clé entre l’Afrique de l’Est et l’Afrique centrale, le Rwanda est un lieu idéal pour discuter des défis et des opportunités que présente notre région. »

Ben Roberts, directeur de la technologie et de l’innovation chez Liquid Intelligent Technologies, a déclaré : « Le peering et les échanges Internet et d’infrastructures numériques sont au cœur de la transformation numérique accélérée observée en Afrique. Il est donc essentiel que les membres de la communauté Internet se retrouvent en présentiel pour évaluer les progrès réalisés et le chemin qui reste à parcourir. Liquid Intelligent Technologies est un acteur majeur de l’industrie des TMT, et est fière d’être le sponsor platine de l’AfPIF 2022. »

À propos de l’Internet Society

Fondée par des pionniers de l’Internet, l’Internet Society est une organisation à but non lucratif dont la mission est de garantir un développement, une évolution et une utilisation ouverts de l’Internet. Travaillant par le biais d’une communauté mondiale de chapitres et de membres, l’Internet Society collabore avec un large éventail de groupes pour promouvoir les technologies qui garantissent la sécurité de l’Internet et plaide en faveur de la mise en place de politiques qui permettent un accès universel. L’Internet Society est également le siège organisationnel de l’Internet Engineering Task Force.

À propos de l’AF-IX

L’Association africaine des IXP est un groupe d’opérateurs de points d’échange Internet (IXP) issus de toute l’Afrique, unis par un besoin commun de coordination et d’échange de connaissances. L’Association vise à créer un environnement favorable pour les opérateurs IXP, à améliorer la connectivité sur le continent et à accroître la valeur de l’Internet pour tous. Fondée en 2012, l’AFIX a rejoint la Fédération Internet eXchange (IX-F) en 2014 et organise désormais le forum annuel africain du peering et l’interconnexion (AfPIF).

À propos de la RICTA

La RICTA est une organisation à but non lucratif qui représente les intérêts de la communauté Internet rwandaise. Elle a été créée en 2005 dans le but de gérer le domaine national de premier niveau .rw et le point d’échange Internet du Rwanda, ainsi que de promouvoir la localisation du contenu local. La position impartiale de RICTA lui permet d’améliorer et de promouvoir l’utilisation de l’Internet au Rwanda.

Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1656167/Internet_Society.jpg

August 24, 2022

South Africa’s Workers March as Inflation Hits 13-Year High

South African workers are holding protests nationwide against the rising cost of living, as inflation hits its highest rate of since 2009.

Thousands of workers took to the streets in all nine provinces to demand, among other things, a basic income grant, a better minimum wage, and a cap on fuel prices and interest rates.

They also want the ongoing problems at the state-owned supplier of electricity, Eskom, to be resolved so that businesses stop losing work due to power cuts.

Azar Jammine, chief economist at consultancy firm Econometrix, said the July inflation rate of 7.8 percent was expected.

"The main causes obviously have been the steep increase in fuel prices at the beginning of July and the continuing rise in food prices as a result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the halting of food exports from the latter until recently, which pushed up commodity prices globally," Jammine said.

The $88 basic income grant demanded by of the Congress of South African Trade Unions (CPSATU) and the South African Federation of Trade Unions (SAFTU) is unrealistic, Jammine added.

"It's a path to total catastrophe in a very short space of time if we were to succumb to the kind of basic income grant that they're looking for, which would cost R400-billion extra per year," Jammine said. "Let us rather just live with the kind of social grants that we already have, which are more magnanimous and widespread than is the case with most other countries."

Economist Lebohang Pheko, a senior research fellow at the Trade Collective research group, disagreed.

"My question is, can we afford not to?" Pheko said. "I think the notion of a basic income which is able to deal with things like hunger at household level and at childhood level which has other impacts like stunting, cognitive functioning at a very crucial developmental age is quite important."

But can the protests force the government's hand?

"I do think that what these kinds of protests do is they are a challenge to the state, they are a reminder, a poll cast from the very poor and from the very angry of what is happening on the ground," Pheko said. "And what do you do when you receive something in the mail? You do well to read it."

Jammine, meanwhile, is optimistic prices will improve soon.

"Given the fact that fuel prices came down sharply in August and are likely to fall further in September and given that Ukraine has now started shipping food back abroad, exporting to Middle East and other countries, food prices could also start coming down," Jammine said.

Ironically, COSATU, which initially called for the protests, is an alliance partner with the ruling African National Congress party, which has been in power since 1994.

Source: Voice of America

August 24, 2022

SA,Lesotho cooperate on local government, disaster management

South Africa and Lesotho have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation in the field of decentralisation and local government.

The MoU was on Wednesday signed by Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) Minister, Dr Minister Dlamini Zuma, and her counterpart, Moshe Leoma, during a ceremony in Pretoria.

The MoU will expand cooperation in the areas of:

• fiscal decentralisation,

• integrated development planning,

• development of local government and governance institutions and structures,

• human resource development, and

• exchange programmes by councils/municipalities.

Addressing the event, Minister Dlamini Zuma said the two nations were entering into the agreement in the hope that they will consolidate actions to build non-sexist and inclusive societies.

“Building such societies in our nations will go a long way in realising the objectives we set for ourselves in agenda 2063 for the Africa we want.”

She said: “The decentralisation agreement will also contribute to ensuring an integrated prosperous and peaceful Africa driven by its own citizens. The decentralisation agreement will also add a fresh impetus to the other areas of cooperation our governments have entered into.”

These, she said, span a wide range of areas, from trade and investment, security and energy, transport, agriculture, tourism, water as well as the environment.

"The signing of the MOU is welcome, particularly as we last year ratified the African Charter on the values and principles of decentralisation of local governments and local development. The charter will also be able to contribute to the gearing of all spheres government and society towards decentralisation, localised financing and spatial referencing," she said.

For its part, the Minister said the South African government was implementing the District Development Model, which seeks to integrate programs and budgets of all spheres of government.

This will ultimately ensure that citizens experience development where they live. "Thus, this will ensure that outward migration is a result of choice and not as a result of desperation.”

To achieve this, she said the two governments should do all in their power to address the challenges faced by the local sphere of governance, of which the institutions of traditional leadership are an important part.

"Our cooperation will enhance these institutions whilst we are facilitating a more inclusive, accountable and transparent form of governance. These key agreements will also assist in addressing key challenges faced by our municipalities. These include the lack of technical skills such as those directed at planning and financing," she said.

Disaster management

The two Ministers also oversaw the signing of a technical MoU on disaster management. This MoU sets out a framework for a collaborative arrangement, which includes joint actions towards preventing and mitigating risks related to disasters. It was signed by the Acting Head of the National Disaster Management Centre in South Africa and the Head of the Disaster Management Authority of Lesotho.

The MoU has a special framework for collaborative arrangements between the two entities. These include joint actions towards preventing and mitigating risks related to disasters.

"This agreement could not have come at a better time since we've had to endure disasters, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, droughts and floods which have negatively impacted on both nations. This agreement will therefore contribute to the construction of our economies whilst we are trying to build back better.

"So we welcome the signing of the MoU on disaster as it will enable both countries to cooperate in carrying out their respective responsibilities in disaster prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery operations in the event of natural, man-made or technical disasters," she said.

The MoU is also expected to strengthen research and capacity building programs.

Working together, both countries should be able to increase efficiency and extend the impact of individual and joint activities in the areas of disaster reduction and management.

"As South Africa, we are busy with the 21 year review of local government and we hope that we will be able to establish what has worked well... and what hasn't so that we can strengthen those areas that have worked well and maybe change those that have not.

Leoma said the signing of the documents had long been coming.

He said these were in line with the objectives of the Joint Bilateral Commission of Cooperation (JBCC) between the two countries.

He said: "Similarly, we have long-standing relations with the Republic in the area of disaster risk reduction and the emergency preparedness response.

The JBCC seeks to strengthen the two nations' strategic partnership and to co-foster good governance, which, he said, was the basis for stability and economic growth.

"The Ministry of local government and Chieftainship engaged with CoGTA since then and agreed to formalise the relations through an MoU, not only focusing on issues pertaining to local government structures, but even extend into model for a physical decentralisation framework," he said.

In the area of disaster management, the same was being perused.

"While signing of this MoU marks the beginning of formal collaboration between us, a lot has been achieved. It can be seen already in the existing joined bilateral committee or search and rescue by the two countries. However, more is still to be achieved," he said.

Source: South African Government News Agency