Day: September 8, 2022

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Huawei Cloud Meeting Facilitates Shenzhou-14 Taikonaut Talk with African Youth

SHENZHEN, China, Sept. 8, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Three Shenzhou-14 Chinese astronauts (taikonauts), who are currently in space, took part in a dialogue with students from several African countries via video link on September 6. Behind the success of this globally livestreamed event was the unwavering support provided by Huawei Cloud Meeting, which ensured a smooth video connection between all participants.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the African Union. The activity, co-hosted by the Mission of China to the African Union, China Manned Space Agency (CMS) and the African Union Commission (AUC), was one of the activities organized to celebrate the occasion. It was the first time that the taikonauts had a direct dialogue with African teenagers.

Teenagers from Algeria, Egypt, Ethiopia, Namibia, Nigeria, Senegal, Somalia and South Africa had the opportunity to ask the three taikonauts questions. Taikonauts Chen Dong, Liu Yang, and Cai Xuzhe are currently on a mission at the Tiangong space station, and the trio answered questions on life in space, scientific experiments, and the growth that they have experienced.

The global network SparkRTC ensured stable real-time HD video connections for both the on-site and online meeting participants in China and the aforementioned African countries. Simultaneous interpretation between Chinese, English, and French allowed everyone to express their ideas easily and better understand one other. Diverse meeting control functions ensured that the event proceeded in an orderly manner. The professional end-to-end assurance and global service team of Huawei Cloud smoothened video connections.

Huawei Cloud Meeting ensures stable access from 170+ countries and regions. It has a proven track record of being featured at over 500 international conferences and earns the trust of more than 1.5 million customers in both private and public sectors. The professional cloud meeting solution helps organizations go digital and improve efficiency.

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1893524/20220907_193008_WeLinkPC__ID_6a6b83e3ad7c.jpg

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MORA Enters South Africa, Debuts Bar Fridges for Joy and Life

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, Sept. 8, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — MORA, a pioneering household appliance brand owned by Hisense Group, takes a milestone to officially launch its presence in South Africa by introducing three bar-fridge products to its local consumers in September. The first step to fulfilling the essentials for a high-quality life, MORA presents its function, technology, and design to take care of the well-being of South African families with the vision of “full of joy, full of life”.

MORA, with a rich history that can be traced back to 1825 in the Czech Republic, takes the step into South Africa to join the Hisense brand, intending to meet the needs of South African households. By launching a series of must-have accessories which come with A+ energy efficiency features and low noise design, including the M65RTS that is already in store, as well as the M125RT and M125RWH coming soon to the market, MORA takes its path to become that can be a reliable helper and a natural centrepiece of its consumer’s kitchen.

The introduction of the must-have bar fridges echoes MORA’s commitment to making life easier and fun for its South African consumers. The bar fridges apply low noise design and energy-saving technologies with different capacities and colours available, making them versatile with the potential in fitting into multiple parts of daily life. From individuals living in limited space to business professionals, the bar fridges can enable an entertaining lifestyle in many ways.

Using MORA’s products, South African families can not only enjoy its product’s performance, reliability, comfort and simplicity but also in many scenarios from equipping the cottages to decorating suites or flats used for business purposes.

Entry to South Africa marks a step further MORA’s ultimate aim to accomplish daily tasks for its consumers while living important moments and experiences with the family. Its advanced technologies innovate home appliances to apply economical and environmentally friendly modern functions.

MORA has been a part of the modern kitchen since its inception. By sharing its experience and innovation with its consumers in South Africa, MORA will support South African families’ in-home cooking and help create moments that are fun, light-hearted, and adventurous in their life.

MORA’s products will be available through multiple channels, including distributors and stores such as OK and HNH. Find more at https://hisense.co.za/mora/.

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1894631/image_5020023_43307694.jpg

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The $1.19 trillion USD lost to the global economy due to illiteracy dubbed “the hidden impact of the pandemic.”

For a country by country breakdown visit https://worldliteracyfoundation.org/

LONDON, Sept. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — On International Literacy Day (September 8 2022) a new report has highlighted the economic cost and social impact of a spike in illiteracy rates due to the disruption in children’s education caused by the pandemic.

World Literacy Foundation (WLF) CEO Andrew Kay said, “The study finds that children from low-income homes are those most impacted in a post-pandemic environment. With gaps in their reading development, many children face lifelong illiteracy without effective intervention”.

Released today on International Literacy Day to highlight the impact of illiteracy caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Foundation’s report titled “The Economic & Social Cost of Illiteracy” says illiteracy is costing the global economy $1.19 trillion USD. Report available here: https://worldliteracyfoundation.org/

Mr Kay said, “illiteracy traps young people in an endless cycle of poverty and life-long hardship, often unable to fill out a form, read a street sign or a medicine label”.

“The problem of illiteracy is often hidden by the person yet linked to numerous negative social and financial outcomes”.

“Globally, almost 770 million people can’t read a single word and another 2 billion people struggle to read a sentence.

As we observe International Literacy Day 2022, we must hold our political leaders to account, asking that they urgently remedy these catastrophic statistics.

“In both developing and developed countries, illiteracy is ruining lives and is linked with an array of poor life outcomes, such as poverty, inequity, unemployment, social exclusion, crime and long-term illness.

“We need to understand that early intervention can avert a lifetime of hardship, poverty and pain for a child, young person or adult who is struggling to read or write.

“Rapid change in digital technology is changing the landscape and ability of the populations in the poorest countries to learn to read and write. New and exciting opportunities are opening almost every day,” Mr Kay concluded.

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Tribert Rujugiro Ayabatwa se félicite de la décision de la Cour de justice de l’Afrique de l’Est selon laquelle la saisie par le gouvernement rwandais du centre commercial Union Trade Centre était illégale

TORONTO, 7 septembre 2022 /PRNewswire/ — L’entrepreneur et philanthrope Tribert Rujugiro Ayabatwa est heureux d’annoncer que le 30 août 2022, la Cour de justice de l’Afrique de l’Est (EACJ, East African Court of Justice) a statué que la saisie et la vente aux enchères par le gouvernement rwandais de son centre commercial Union Trade Centre (UTC) étaient illégales. L’EACJ a accordé à M. Ayabatwa 1 million de dollars US, 6 % d’intérêts et les frais de justice. Le gouvernement a saisi le centre commercial de 20 millions de dollars en 2013, en alléguant que l’UTC avait été « abandonné » parce que M. Ayabatwa, qui est né au Rwanda, résidait hors du pays. L’UTC était à l’époque une entreprise florissante, accueillant 80 entreprises avec près de 500 employés, gérée par une solide équipe locale en règle avec les autorités rwandaises. Puis, en août 2015, le gouvernement a déclaré l’UTC défaillant fiscal à hauteur de 1,4 million de dollars, une affirmation absurde, puisque le centre commercial était géré par l’État rwandais. Deux ans plus tard, le gouvernement a vendu l’UTC aux enchères pour la modique somme de 8 millions de dollars, soit moins de la moitié de sa valeur réelle.

Union Trade Centre Mall

M. Ayabatwa a porté le gouvernement devant l’EACJ, qui a statué en 2020 que la saisie et la mise aux enchères d’UTC étaient illégales. Il a été ordonné au gouvernement de rendre compte des produits de la location et de la vente d’UTC depuis 2013 et d’indemniser M. Ayabatwa pour des dommages s’élevant à 500 000 dollars et des intérêts annuels de 6 % à compter de la date du jugement. M. Ayabatwa a toutefois fait appel du jugement, car la Cour ne lui a pas restitué la propriété d’UTC. C’est alors que le gouvernement a fabriqué une nouvelle allégation absurde selon laquelle M. Ayabatwa et ses associés avaient détourné 458 058 dollars d’UTC en 2011. Le « crime » cité était en fait un prêt contracté pendant la construction du centre commercial UTC. Aujourd’hui, le gouvernement rwandais a une fois de plus perdu l’affaire du centre commercial UTC. M. Ayabatwa a salué la décision de la Cour du 30 août 2022, en faisant remarquer « qu’il y a des moments où nous sommes impuissants face à l’injustice, mais avec la vérité de votre côté, la justice prévaut toujours ».

À propos de Tribert Rujugiro Ayabatwa

Tribert Rujugiro Ayabatwa est un entrepreneur et un philanthrope rwandais accompli. Il est le fondateur du Pan-African Tobacco Group, le plus grand fabricant indigène de produits du tabac en Afrique, présent dans neuf pays africains et aux Émirats arabes unis, et dont les activités commerciales couvrent l’Afrique orientale, occidentale et australe. M. Ayabatwa est l’un des principaux philanthropes d’Afrique. Il aide les communautés à progresser en matière de sécurité alimentaire, d’accès à l’eau potable, de reforestation, d’éducation et de stages en ingénierie.

Pan-African Tobacco Group

info@ptg-hld.com

www.ptg-hld.com

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1892959/Tribert_Rujugiro_Ayabatwa__UTC_founder_Tribert_Rujugiro_Ayabatwa.jpg

David Himbara, Pan-African Tobacco Group, info@ptg-hld.com, www.ptg-hld.com

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MEC Tertuis Simmers reopens Spine Road after floods

Western Cape Government fixes crucial road in matter of weeks: Spine road re-opened to the public

On Tuesday 6 September, the Western Cape Minister of Infrastructure, Tertuis Simmers, officiated the official reopening of Spine Road to public use, following devasting floods in June. Construction to fix the road started within 3 days of it being washed away, and took a total of 6 weeks to be repaired. Commuters are once again using this well-trafficked route to get to work, visit friends and family.

Spine Road was closed to the public due to 20 metres of roadway that was washed away by the June rainstorm. Spine Road plays an integral role on the socio-economic front, as it is a link between communities and suburbs, such as Khayelitsha, Blue Downs, Mfuleni and Kuilsriver, to the economy.

Based on the 2017 traffic counts, the traffic on Spine Road (i.e. AM Peak Hour) is 1 337 vehicles/hour. Economically it provides employees and job seekers access to the Blackheath industrial hub, as well as transportation of services and goods between the national highway, the N2, and these suburbs.

A budget of R2 million was made available for the Emergency Flood Damage Repair project. The project included the repair of telecommunication cables and ducts, as well as new road markings. The new pavement is founded on rockfill, with new pavement layers as well as installation of rip rap, that will help mitigate future erosion. There is also a reinstatement of guardrails and new road studs.

Provincial Minister of Infrastructure said: “As a government, we are adamant to keep our infrastructure in top condition. When something like this happens, we do not let it go to rot – we fix it, and we fix it with speed, because we know our residents are counting on us to make sure the province functions very well. This road doesn’t only link three sub-councils but also acts as a gateway to schools, economic and job opportunities in the surrounding suburbs and business parks. It was for this reason construction commenced within three days of the road being washed away.”

The reopening of Spine Road has seen the resumption of commuter movement and alleviated traffic congestion on the alternative side road.

Source: Government of South Africa

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Work underway to resume operations on Central Line

Government has purchased land to accommodate the relocation of the illegal occupants on the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) Central Line in Cape Town.

The corridor has not been in operation since October 2019 due to theft and vandalism of the rail infrastructure and illegal occupation on the rail tracks and reserve.

The recovery of the Central Line corridor is being implemented in phases to achieve partial resumption as well as provide limited service.

Addressing the signing of a social compact between government and community stakeholders in relation to the relocation of the people, Minister of Transport, Fikile Mbalula, said the recovery of rail service in the Central Line will not be possible without the relocation of the settlement out of the rail reserve.

The Housing Development Agency (HDA), an agency of the Department of Human Settlement, was appointed to co-ordinate and facilitate the relocation program.

“The HDA has successfully negotiated and purchased 8.7Ha of land at a cost of R12.7 million from a private landowner in the Philippi Wedge area to accommodate the relocation of the Langa occupants.

“In an effort to ensure successful implementation of the programme for the relocation of the illegal occupants and ensure operationalisation on the Central Line, the HDA has undertaken a comprehensive stakeholder engagement exercise to ensure buy-in from the direct affected communities,” Mbalula said on Thursday.

The Department of Transport and HDA have concluded a service level agreement to undertake the implementation of the relocation programme.

The programme includes the relocation of occupants of the Central Line in the following areas and the respective subareas:

• Langa: Kuyasa Informal Settlement

• Philippi: Malema Informal Settlement; Down Town Informal Settlement; Eyadini Informal Settlement; Lungisile Informal Settlement; Sakhile Informal Settlement; Votsho Informal Settlement; Magwaza Informal Settlement and Lockdown Informal Settlement

• Khayelitsha: PP Informal Settlement

The Minister said Phase 1 of the service resumption provides a limited service on the network between Cape Town and Bellville (via Pinelands and Sarepta) and to Nyanga station.

”The limited service resumed on 26 July 2022 on the on the Bellville section of the network and that service is still running. The service could not be resumed on the Nyanga section of the Phase 1 due to a security incident where two contractor employees were shot on 7 June 2022 at the Bonteheuwel split,” he said.

The infrastructure works on the affected portion of the Central Line network has been further delayed and a new target date of 14 October 2022 has been determined

Phase 2 of the Central Line provides limited service beyond Nyanga station on the network of Cape Town to Chris Hani station in Khayelitsha and Kapteinsklip station in Mitchelsplain.

The limited service is planned to resume on 12 December 2022.

“However, the ongoing security incidents and interruptions of the infrastructure recovery works is placing the planned resumption date of the 12th December 2022 at great risk of not been met. PRASA has already lost two months of infrastructure works as a result of incidents at Bonteheuwel – Split, Netreg and Heideveld stations.

“PRASA is improving its security plan to respond aggressively to these security incidents which are threatening the returning of the Central Line to service,” the Minister said.

This security plan is already integrating all law enforcement unit, including the South African Police Service (SAPS), the City’s Law Enforcement Units and PRASA Security, among others.

A social compact has been concluded by three spheres of government and the affected people living on the rail reserve at Langa, Philippi and Khayelitsha.

The social compact provides a framework to govern the relationship and outlines the rights and responsibilities of all parties. The objective of the social compact is to create mutual communication, collaboration and decision-making.

Source: South African Government News Agency

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Accused to spend 22 years in jail for rape

THABONG - Mr Sediane (36) was arrested and sentenced to 22 years in jail for raping a 31-year-old woman. District Commissioner of Lejweleputswa, Maj Gen Lerato Molale praised the investigator for a thorough investigation.

On Monday, 07 December 2020 at about 2022 at about 02:15, a 31-year-old woman had just arrived home, when she received a telephone call from a male person she knows, asking her whereabouts and requested her to come to a tavern in the vicinity of her home.

She walked on foot and when they both arrived, they realized that the tavern had already been closed. She got inside the car of the accused and both drove to another tavern in Thabong. They later drove off to a secluded area behind Thabong Clinic where she was raped.

The incident was reported and a case of pape was registered for further investigation. Detective Warrant Officer Thabiso Twala of Thabong FCS was assigned to investigate. The suspect Isaac Moshishimane Sediane was arrested and was found guilty as charged. He was recently sentenced to 22 years for rape by Welkom Regional Court.

Source: South African Police Service