Its fiscal deficit stood at 6.7 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) in the 2009/10 fiscal year that ended on 31 March, much lower than the 7.3 percent the government had forecast.

“I am more confident that we are in a better fiscal position than many other countries,” Gordhan said in the weekly Financial Mail on Thursday.

Gordhan had previously said the government had a clear plan to narrow the shortfall to about 4.1 percent of GDP by 2012/13. 

Source:  www.busrep.co.za

REMARKS BY THE MINISTER OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND COOPERATION, MAITE NKOANA-MASHABANE, TO A MEDIA CONFERENCE  ON SOUTH AFRICA’S PARTICIPATION IN THE SHANGHAI 2010 WORLD EXPO IN CHINA

Quote:

Honourable guests and members of the media

It is a great honour for me to extend a warm welcome to all present here this afternoon.  A very special word of welcome to our Chinese hosts, my South African compatriots and my other African sisters and brothers in attendance.

Today is another very special day in South Africa –China bilateral relations, as this marks the culmination of meticulous planning and hard-work – resulting in this magnificent designed and uniquely South African pavilion.  There is no doubting that the interior design of this pavilion draws its inspiration, from, amongst others, the impressive innovative architectural designs of our stadiums – the venues for 2010 FIFA World Cup.

I should also hasten to comment that the features and designs of this Pavilion does not only resemble our rich cultural tapestry as a country, but extends and borrows from our rich African culture and history.  It is our hope that this collective and all-encompassing presentation of our African tradition will reverberate throughout this Shanghai 2010 World Expo.

Let me also take this opportunity to convey South Africa’s words of congratulations to the Government and People of China for their preparations and hosting of this unprecedented and spectacular World Expo.  We believe that this billion-dollar event has enabled our Chinese counterparts to bring back the lustre to the World Expos, as magnificently displayed by the Japanese during the Aichi World Expo.

A century from now people will look back at the Shanghai 2010 World Expo as one of the greatest events of the 21^st Century, alongside Beijing’s hosting of the Olympic Games.

Just we now marvel at the Crystal Palace which was part of the first World Expo in London in 1851 and the Eiffel Tower which was constructed as part of the Paris World Expo in 1900, people will look back in amazement at the Chinese Expo Pavilion as one of the greatest architectural accomplishments of this century.  Not only does the Chinese Expo Pavilion reflect traditional Chinese culture and architecture, but also the growing international stature of China.  China’s time has indeed arrived.

In the same vein, I am also confident that when future generations look back at the footage of this South African Expo Pavilion – its unique design, displays and exhibits – they will also marvel and embrace the connection between our Pavilion theme:  South Africa: The rise of a Modern Economy – Ke Nako! And the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

It is indeed proper to note that the Shanghai 2010 World Expo takes place at a fortuitous time – just some 34 days before the kick-off of the much-awaited 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.  The good news is that this will not be a far-off event, but that visitors to the Shanghai Expo would be able to see some of the games live at the South African Expo Pavilion, courtesy of the South African media company MIH.  This company is deeply involved in China through joint ventures and is at the forefront of the latest media technology.

Honourable guests and members of the media

History has it that trade links between Africa, particularly the Southern African Development Community region, and China, and the greater Asia region, go back to the 11^th century when the latter established contact with the ancient Kingdom of Mapungugwe – a southern African region that centralised trade from Namibia in the west, to the Mozambican shores in the east;  from today’s border between Zambia and Zimbabwe in the north, to the deeper south of South Africa.  This legendary kingdom, whose ruins have been declared a World Heritage Site by the United Nations’ Scientific and Cultural Council (UNESCO), lies in the most northern part of South Africa called Limpopo – my home province.

The significance of these inter-trade voyages was that they had taken place long before Western colonialists’ claims to have ‘discovered’ Africa.

It is therefore not surprising that after both China and Africa threw off the yoke of imperialism and colonialism (around the middle of the 20^th Century) – that the historic links between China and Africa resumed and rapidly expanded. Today, we can make the brave assertion that Sino-Africa political and economic relations are broadening, deepening and strengthening.

The socio-economic development of Africa is today inextricably linked to the economic development of China.  China has become not only one of the largest exporters to our continent, but equally one of the largest export destinations for African products in general.

Through the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, China has become an indispensable development partner of Africa.  China has become a key investor in Africa; a major provider of infrastructure; provider of assistance in debt relief; a creator of numerous training opportunities for thousands of people in key sectors; and a provider of medical facilities, including the combating of pandemic and communicable diseases.

During the third quarter of this calendar year South Africa will be undertaking a state visit to China.  The two countries will be elevating their relationship to a higher level by signing a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement.

It is thus befitting that Africa should be adequately represented at the Shanghai 2010 World Expo.  We would like to extend our heartfelt appreciation to the Chinese government and people for their invaluable support to have made the African presence here a reality.

As the Roman author and philosopher, Pliny the Elder, once commented in Latin “ Semper aliquid novi Africa affert” – when translated into English it means, “ Out of Africa, always something new”.  This Latin phrase is also the motto of one of South Africa’s premier Museums.  It is believed that this South African Pavilion will indeed demonstrate the truism of Pliny the Elder’s words, some tho thousand years ago.

“Ke Nako!” It is indeed time to showcase the nation on the move, a nation that went through hardships and in 17 years rose to become one of the successful emerging economies, a nation that was led by one of the greatest leaders of our times, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela.  He led a nation that is on the rise.  It is these great achievements of our country that will bury African pessimism.

I am very pleased to announce that this year is a very momentous year for us as a country as we will be hosting the 2010 FIFA World Cup.  We have also celebrated the 20^th anniversary of  Nelson Mandela’s release.

In conclusion, I would like to mention that South Africa’s time has come.  It’s time to come and trade with South Africa.  It’s time to come and visit South Africa to experience its modern infrastructure.  And it is also time to come to our beautiful country and come and see the Big 5 in our game parks.

I would like to invite all to the official opening of the South African pavilion during the early evening of tonight.  Please do come and celebrate with us our achievements.

I thank you all!

Unquote

Issued by the Department of International Relations and Cooperation

Pretoria

Republic of South Africa

6 May 2010

One of the major stakeholders of the  projects, Bernd Utz, director of the Project Desertec within German society Siemens outlined the initiative  during an international meeting  recently held in the city of Seville , Spain.

Could you outline the Desertec project where Siemens is deeply involved?
Siemens has been one of the cofounders of the Desertec industry initiative, a consortium which is kind of company that tries to work on the implementation plan for the Desertec , a  concept, an idea that came from the club of Rome. We can work on the business plans and the regular framework for the building of power plants as well as the green power located in the MENA and European  region which are preferred for export of electricity to Europe. This is the main goal of that initiative.  Some major companies from Germany, Spain, and Algeria and hopefully from more and more countries around the Mediterranean are involved in.

Did you set a date for the launch and the implementation of the project?
We haven’t set a date for the implementation

Do you have estimates?
I’ve estimates. I think that, for the next 2 or 3 years, we will be probably more or less working on the regular framework that is required to attract investment for such project and also to work out the plans how to do that with the countries, the sites for such plants as soon as this business plan is finished and maybe some private projects identified. Then, we can start implementing first projects. So probably, facing construction time of a couple years, we may see the first plan by 2020 in operation.

Do you have a short list of the countries that will receive the facilities?
It’s difficult to have a short list. We see interest from many countries, naturally countries that already have been acquainted with solar power, such as Tunisia for example, and countries from the Middle East and North African region.

You have certainly launched a road show to sensitize the financial market and banks to the project. What is the feedback?
The financial market is very sensitized to the project. We have financial institutions that are involved in the initiative, namely huge banks, national insurance companies. So there is sensitivity to the project, but there is  some “wait and see”, there is also a couple of needs to see clear regularly framework to make an investment decision. This is what we will be working on.

Did you check some reluctance from banks?
We haven’t seen yet any real reluctance. It could be an interesting investment case and it’s more like a general interest. Investment bodies are interested in seeing opportunities provided by the project.

What about governments?
We are talking with governments in the Mediterranean region. Of course, there is a strong interest in the overall concept. But there are also questions raised especially at the level of North African countries: what is the value-add for local development, the job creation, what is the economic development that comes with this initiative? We try our best to show the potential case where we can have a lot of local development.

What is the average of job creation for North African countries following the launch of this project?
I can’t give you a figure on that. We have a lot of job creation in the construction phase of power plants, some more qualified jobs in the operation phase which is a phase of 20 years and more. So definitely, setting up such plans and operating them over years is a major force for economic development and job creation. But I can’t tell you a specific figure on that.

Technically, do you think that the project is perfectly feasible?
From a technical point of view, I would say it’s perfectly feasible. It depends a little bit on the sites we might need where we have to qualify some components for specific application, but it’s technically feasible. It’s the technology used for that project that is proved in various markets. So probably, it’s comfortable to say that it’s feasible.

And do you expect that Europe will not depend, in the long run, on fossil energy?
I would see a sustainable energy mix in the next decade and I think that, for sustainable energy production, we need all packs of the energy mix.

Are you involved as well in wind energy?
Yes, definitely. We are one of the major suppliers of wind turbines with a special focus on offshore installations.

Can you tell me something about technology which should be used in Desertec project?
In terms of Desertec, the concept is very much technology open. So, it includes green power solar power of various technologies decided for this concept. There is a certain attitude to have to store energy not power but feed energy; and if you want to have a major feed into the grid from solar resources, you have to control a little bit the production and when you feed in.

Storage and transport seem to be a crucial problem…
The storage helps integrating renewable energy into grids, especially if you have a high level of renewable in feed.  There is a solution for this. It’s a feasible solution and it makes the solar power “dispatchable”. It’s much easier then storing electricity. It’s really good and universal technology to store electricity right now and there is certainly more development to be seen in the next decade.

The technology that will be used should be multinational or only German?
The technology development is already multinational. We are now increasing partnership with North African countries and some activities in Egypt, for example, including some research in a couple of things. They started with academic institutions, and certainly in Tunisia, there are some ambitions. So this should be done in getting partnerships.

What are the main benefits of this project for Europe and other countries?
I think the main benefit for some North African countries like Tunisia is that, in first time, there is more available renewable energy. So, it’s just having more power into the grid which could help meet the increasing demand. On the second, it’s creating jobs, creating qualified jobs; it’s creating economic development skills. In the third row, it can open a channel for export and revenues from export which is helpful for development.

If we can contribute to reaching the challenge by importing some of the renewable energy, I think it’s a win win situation for development.        

Do you believe deeply that the future will be” renewable energy”?
I think that renewable will grow over proportionally. We will have, for the next decade, to address the cost as well as the capability to have a regulatory power you cannot replace for the next decade but you will see certainly a shift to more renewable energy and in a long run rather in a short time.                 

Source: africanmanager.com

A l’instar de notre précédente édition, l’Ethique demeure notre guide en 2010. Elle est le fruit d’une trilogie qui s’achèvera en 2011.

Après “Un Monde Ethique est possible”, le Festival 2010 nous invite à nous diriger vers l’éthique en adoptant pour thème “Le Monde Ethique est en Marche”. Nous sommes donc plus que jamais heureux de vous faire partager de nouveau, notre bonheur dans la mise en lumière des savoir-faire panafricains dans le domaine du 7ème art.

Cette 7ème édition est d’une richesse inégalée par la qualité des œuvres et des professionnels invités :
Léonora MIANO (France / Cameroun – Ecrivaine), Présidente d’Honneur, Frances-Anne SOLOMON (Canada – Réalisatrice / Directrice du Festival Carribbean Tales), Présidente du Jury,

Les Membres du jury :

• Mata GABIN (France / Côte d’Ivoire – Atrice),
• Véronique DOUMBE (USA / Cameroun – Réalisatrice),
• Vanessa DELPHIN (France / Antilles – Miss Univers), 
• Stefano LEOCINI (France – Directeur du Master pro “Traduction, sous-titrage, doublage” – Responsable de la chaire UNESCO “Cinéma et imaginaire(s) -”Université Nice Sophia Antipolis, 
• Valério TRUFFA (Italie – Réalisateur – Photographe – Fondateur de « L’atelier FIWE », première école de cinéma du Bénin), 
• Jawad RHALIB (Maroc – Réalisateur), 
• ZIFA (Suède / Congo – Musique), 
• Manbouss ( Vanuatu / France – Musique),…

Pour ne citer que ces derniers, car notre Festival accueille le monde entier dans sa communauté universelle du 21 au 25 avril 2010 à Cannes autour du Cinéma et des arts PanAfricain.

Séance / Screening : 5€

Soirée CinéConcert : 13€ (Prévente) – 15€ (sur place)

Pass Festival

Pass : Intégral (du 21 au 25 avril) : 60€

Pass C.E, Association et carte privative : Intégral (du 21 au 25 avril) : 55€

Forfait Pass : (22 au 25 avril) : 40€

Pass : Etudiants, Senior, Chômeur : 25€

Lieux de Location : Fnac, Virgin, Cultura, Carrefour, Auchan, Leclerc, Géant, Intermarché, Système U, Cora… www.ticketnet.fr

Ou nous contacter pour vente Pass et prévente Soirée non datés :
Grasse : Virginie 06 62 32 24 42
Cannes : Roseline 06 75 68 06 01
Antibes : Anik 06 26 72 81 17

Promotion / Séjour : Spécial Festival PanAfricain

> 5 nuits d’hôtel*** ou studio + Pass Festival : à partir de 175€ (du 21 au 26 avril 2010 – départ le 26 avril)

> 5 nights hotel *** or studio + Festival Pass: 175 € (from 21 to 26 April 2010)

Nous consulter

Contact : + 33 (0) 610 046 944 – filmpanafricain@yahoo.com

Mr Zuma, who has there wives, hit out after comments about his polygamous lifestyle were made in the British press.

But at a joint Downing Street press conference with the Prime Minister today, he suggested he had been taken out of context.

Mr Zuma said: ”It was in the context of how people judge other people’s cultures and who gives authority to others to judge others, in general terms. ”I think if we talked about the media, it is not just the British media, it is the South African media as well that has views about specific things. ”It was in that context that we made a point. We are not necessarily trying to condemn the British or whatever. ”I’m sure you are aware that the colonial life in South Africa has been viewed by Africans in a very particular way. I think we are sort of making a comment in that context.”

In his opening remarks, after his meeting with Mr Brown, the president said he had been ”very happy” on the visit and his delegation had been ”very warmly” received.

At a banquet in his honour last night, the Queen praised South Africa’s progress since the end of apartheid.

Ahead of the visit, however, Mr Zuma had signalled unease at certain British attitudes.

”I don’t know why they are continuing thinking that their culture is more superior than others, those who might have said so,” he told a South African newspaper.

”I am very clear on these issues, I’ve not looked down upon any culture of anyone, and no one has been given an authority to judge others. ”The British have done that before, as they colonised us, and they continue to do this, and it’s an unfortunate thing.”

The Prime Minister said today that Mr Zuma was leading South Africa with ”great distinction”.

He described the visit as ”incredibly important”, particularly given the size of the South African delegation, which includes 200 business leaders. ”Over the last 15 years South Africa has restored its rightful place in the international community,” he said.

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk, 20100305

The findings of the report, compiled by Resolve Group attorneys, led to the suspension and dismissal of Sibusiso Buthelezi, former head of the public transport, roads and works department, last year.

After this, Premier Nomvula Mokonyane had requested legal advice on the findings of the report and forwarded it to the Special Investigating Unit , said Gauteng government spokesman Thabo Masebe.

The unit’s spokeswoman, Trinesha Naidoo, said on Friday investigators were still assessing whether the evidence merited further investigation.

Shilowa commissioned the report in 2008 after Buthelezi had clashed with the then member of the executive committee for public transport, roads and works, Ignatius Jacobs, over the awarding of certain contracts.

Last week, Democratic Alliance member of the Gauteng legislature Jack Bloom wrote to speaker Lindiwe Maseko, urging her to ensure the report was made public and distributed to members of the legislature.

Bloom said the roads and transport member of the executive committee, Bheki Nkosi, had promised late last year to make the document public, but that never happened.

Maseko’s political adviser, Mzi Khumalo, said she had received the report on Friday.

Nkosi’s department had mistakenly sent the report straight to integrity commissioner Jules Browde’s office instead of to Maseko’s.

He said Maseko would go through the report before forwarding it to the privileges and ethics committee.

The committee would then forward it to Browde, who would make recommendations.

Browde would brief the committee and the recommendations would be sent to Maseko, said Khumalo.

A fuming Bloom said the delay in releasing the report reflected badly on Mokonyane’s promise to fight corruption.

“It is ridiculous that it has not been made public. I had a commitment from Nkosi that the report will be released.”

Bloom said he suspected that more people were implicated in the report “and that is why it has not been made public”.

Mokonyane today delivers her state of the province speech at the Gauteng legislature, but it is not known whether she will address the topic.

Source: www.businessday.co.za, 20100222

“Urgent: Ndombolo is filming a video clip this saturday 13 february 2010 at 1PM behind the Town Hall of Asnieres sur Seine (France)”. They need people dressed in a fashion way who want to appear in the video. If you happen to be there all you have to do is leave name and telephone number on these blogs www.babelashow.skyrblog.com and www.missbabela.skyrock.com

Message en Français

URGENT TOURNAGE DE CLIP NDOMBOLO CE SAMEDI 13 FEVRIER 2010 à 13H00 AURA LIEU LE CLIP DE BABELA DERRIERE LA MAIRIE D ASNIERES SUR SEINE L’ADRESSE DU TOURNAGE EST AU 16 PLACE DE L’HOTEL DE VILLE 92600 ASNIERES SUR SEINE VENEZ NOMBREUX AVEC UN STYLE FASHION PARCE QUE CET CLIP SERA TRES LOURD ET PLEIN DE COULEUR FASHION
SI VOUS VOULEZ PARTICIPER AU CLIP C’EST TRES SIMPLE ILS VOUS SUFFIT DE LAISSER VOS NOMS+PRENOM ET NUMERO DE TELEPHONE SUR MON BLOG MUSIC

www.babelashow.skyrblog.com

www.missbabela.skyrock.com

An 18-month old girl who police mistakenly allowed to be taken by an impostor from a station has been found.

Audrey Kessie Nyanor’s mother, Cynthia Boakye, 36, was arrested on Thursday in Southwark, south London, over alleged immigration offences.

A woman claiming she was a friend of Ms Boakye went to Walworth police station and took the toddler.

The child was found in Harlesden, north London. A woman, 31, has been arrested on suspicion of abduction.

A Met spokesman said officers were called at 1400 GMT by a member of the public and that the toddler and the 31-year-old woman were found 55 minutes later on Harlesden High Street.

The woman remains in police custody at a west London police station.

Another six people were arrested during the investigation. One has been released and the other five are bailed to return to south London police stations in February next year.

‘Great mistake’

The spokesman added: “While we are pleased to have found Audrey safe and well.

“We are working closely with colleagues in our Directorate of Professional Standards to investigate the circumstances surrounding this incident, to look at how it happened, and to ensure that any lessons are learned.

“In the meantime, the matter has also been voluntarily referred to the IPCC.”

Earlier, Audrey’s grandmother Agatha Owsuah, 54, of Peckham, south-east London, said the police made a “great mistake”.

She said Audrey’s mother should have been asked to confirm the woman’s identity before the toddler was handed over.

They should have asked for ID before handing over a human being to someone Agatha Owsuah

“All the time in this country they check your identity,” she said.

“They ask for my ID when I take money from the bank, they ask for ID before you can get a job.

“They should have asked for ID before handing over a human being to someone.”

The child went missing after officers went to an address in Walworth to make inquiries about a man wanted for failing to appear at court.

He was not in, but police arrested Ms Boakye and took the pair to Walworth police station.

Mrs Owsuah said an officer asked her daughter who they could call to look after the toddler.

Phone call ‘overheard’

“Cynthia gave them a relative’s number but the officer would not let her call and went outside the room to make the phone call,” the grandmother said.

She thinks someone overheard that phone call and then came back to the police station pretending to be the relative and was given Audrey.

She said the woman who took Audrey gave a different address to the one the relative gave over the phone.

A police spokesman said: “The details she gave to police corresponded with the name of the woman Audrey’s mother had told police would pick up her daughter, and as a result she left the police station with the child.”

Mrs Owsuah’s husband, Eric Obeng, 48, said police arrested him and several other relatives and friends the day after Audrey was taken but later bailed them without charge.

He said: “They thought we had taken the child. Why would we do that?

“Why would we take our own child? The police were wasting time.”

Audrey’s mother was later released on bail.

The Metropolitan Police has begun an internal inquiry into what happened.

At the foot of the Tsitsikamma Mountains, enclosed by the Tsitsikamma National Park, lies Platbos Reserve – the home of Plateau Country House.

Dedicated to the health and well-being of its guests and its environment alike, Plateau offers so much more than accommodation.