EMBASSY OF SOUTH AFRICA RUSKA 65, 100 00 PRAGUE 10

EMBASSY OF SOUTH AFRICA
RUSKA 65, 100 00 PRAGUE 10
NEWSLETTER - AUGUST 2014 (No. 8)
WORD BY THE AMBASSADOR
I have just returned to Prague after spending
the whole month of August in South Africa. It
was good to touch base with home. I visited
the beautiful Eastern Cape which is my home
province, caught up with news of my friends in
Pretoria and attended the Heads of Mission
Conference at Head Office.
The conference provided an excellent
opportunity for us to be briefed by our
Principals on the policy priorities of South
Africa’s
5th
democratically
elected
government. I am filled with optimism in the
knowledge that there are clear plans and
projects for implementation to address social
needs and promote economic development.
In Prague, the highlight of August was the
Embassy’s participation in the annual end-ofsummer festival Vibrant 9 which also provided
a platform for the launch of our 20 Years of
Freedom celebration. We had put together a
photo exhibition to tell the story of the last two
decades of South Africa’s remarkable history
which we will also take on a road show to
other cities. As in past years, the delicious
smell of traditional home-made boerewors
grilling on the coals and fresh coffee was very
enticing and Heather Crowther’s Tombalina
Wines provided an additional attraction. For
the first time, we also partnered with Jan Brett
who brought a wonderful selection of African
crafts which turned out to be very popular with
the public.
We now look forward to a very busy autumn.
EVENTS/ EMBASSY’S PROGRAMME
Annual conference of Heads of Missions
The Ambassador attended the annual
conference of the Heads of South African
Diplomatic Missions in Pretoria from 24-31
August 2014. Various South African Ministers
outlined the priorities of the new
administration following its inauguration in
May after the 5th general elections earlier.
President Zuma addresses the Heads of Missions
Conference, Pretoria, 31 August 2014
In his address on Sunday, 31 August 2014
President Jacob Zuma told diplomats to spread
the good news of the country’s success and
potential; to support all initiatives that promote
the country’s economy.
QUOTE
In only 20 years we have moved from being a
pariah in the world to a key player that is
recognised and respected.
…
As Head of Missions your role is to ensure that
South Africa becomes a preferred destination
for any prospective tourist and also for
busines.
…
Let us work harder towards the goal of give
percent economic growth target by 2019, and
towards more jobs, better education, health
and other outcomes.
2
Meeting in České Budějovice
On 20 August 2014 Mr Dasa, Ms Schoeman
and Ms Hlávková visited the Original Afrika
company near České Budějovice and
discussed cooperation with Mr Jan Brett, the
director of the company.
Ms Dasa distributes
the gifts
Original Afrika
Mr Jan Brett
The company imports and sells products
from South Africa, Mozambique, Malawi,
Namibia, Botswana, Zambia and other
African states.
For more details see www.original-afrika.cz.
Vibrant Nine – Barevná devítka
As per tradition, the South African Embassy
hosted a stand at the 2014 Vibrant Nine
Ethnic Festival held in Prague 9 Podviní
Park on 30 August 2014.
Ms &Mr Schoeman
in front of SA tent
A cheerful atmosphere prevailed at the stand.
People queued to get promotional materials
and the gift bags; to taste home-made
boerewors or delicious South African wine;
and to buy South African arts and crafts.
Mr Jan Brett (Original Afrika), Heather
Crowther (Tombalina Wines), Diana
Růžičková (Kafíčko 33) offered their
products and contributed to the success of
the event.
Mr Dasa giving interview to Ms Veronika Štefanová
from the Český rozhlas radio station
As part of its celebration of the 20th
anniversary of democracy, the Embassy
mounted a photo exhibition at the festival
depicting the last two decades of South
Africa’s history and distributed gift bags
with T-shirts and caps with the Twenty Years
of Freedom logo to the visitors at the South
African stand.
Photo Exhibition Twenty Years of Freedom
Preparation and sale of boerewors
Mr Schoeman
Ms Radebe-Mothibe
Picnic at Vibrant Nine
3
Advance notification:
Ms Kovář, Mr Ptáček, Ms Hlávková and
Ms Herclová at Vibrant Nine Ethnic Festival
A 40-minutes’
performance by famous
South African jazz
singer and composer
aaaaMelanie Scholtzaa
accompanied just by a
looper was the main
attraction of the music part of the festival.
Recommended concerts
Two excellent musical performances will be
held in Prague on September 18, 2014. Lucie
Kostelecká and M.A.T. band will give a
concert at the P.M.Club from 8:00 pm and
Nomfusi Gotyana, a South African
performer of Afro-Soul music will perform
at the Lucerna Music Bar from 9:00 pm.
Tickets for Lucie Kostelecká’s concert
will be available in the P.M.Club,
reservation: lucieafrica@gmail.com;
and for Nomfusi Gotyana’s concert on
www.ticketpro.cz.
DIRCO
Ms Dasa, Mr &Ms Schoeman, Mr Sanjin Nesimi, Ms
Melanie Scholtz, Ms Radebe-Mothibe and Mr Dasa
US-Africa Leaders Summit
The US-Africa Leaders Summit, the first
event of its kind, was held in Washington
DC, USA from 5-6 August 2014. The theme
of the Summit was Investing in the Next
Generation. The Summit aimed at
strengthening ties between the United States
and one of the world’s most dynamic and
fastest growing regions.
For more details of the Vibrant Nine please
see the Attachment No.1 of the Newsletter.
Diplomatic Functions
The summer period is usually very quiet in
the Czech Republic with the majority of
Czechs and the representatives of foreign
states enjoying their annual leave. Mr Dasa
attended the farewell reception of the
Ambassador of Kazakhstan and a reception
held by Ambassador of the Philippines to
commemorate the 47th Anniversary of the
Establishment of the Association of
Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
President Barack Obama talks with President Jacob
Zuma at the US-Africa Leaders Summit dinner on the
South Lawn of the White House, 5 August 2014,
Photo: Pete Souza
State visit of Chilean President
Chilean President Michelle Bachelet Jeria
undertook a State Visit to the RSA from 8-10
August 2014. The visit focused on promoting
social and gender equality. The Chilean
4
President delivered the 12th annual Mandela
lecture at the historic City Hall in Cape
Town on 9 August 2014.
Is South Africa Ebola Free?
To get the answer please see the article in
the attachment No. 2 of the Newsletter.
Chile’s President Michelle Bachelet and President
Jacob Zuma in South Africa (SABC)
SA NEWS
SADC Summit in Zimbabwe
The 34th Ordinary Summit of Southern
African Development Community (SADC)
Heads of State and Government was held at
Victoria Falls, Republic of Zimbabwe from
17-18 August 2014 under the theme SADC
Strategy for Economic Transformation:
Leveraging the Region’s Diverse Resources
for Sustainable Economic and Social
Development through Beneficiation and
Value Addition.
SADC Heads of State and Government, Elephant Hills
Resort Conferences Centre, Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
17-18 August 2014. Picture:Jacoline Schoonees
Working visit to Moscow
President Jacob Zuma undertook a Working
Visit to the Russian Federation from 24-29
August 2014. President Zuma and his
Russian counterpart President Vladimir Putin
assessed the implementation of the
Intergovernmental Committee on Trade and
Economic Cooperation (ITEC) and discussed
opportunities for developing the strategic
partnership between Russia and South
Africa.
President Zuma holds bilateral talks with
President Vladimir Putin, Moscow
Blue economy strategy
The ocean economy has been identified as
one of the key drivers to eliminate poverty
and reduce inequality in South Africa by
2030; South Africa’s oceans have the
potential to create up to one million direct
jobs. On 19 July 2014 President Jacob Zuma
launched the first phase of Operation Phakisa
which will focus on unlocking the economic
potential of South Africa’s oceans. The key
areas are: fishing (including aquaculture),
marine transport, offshore oil and gas
exploration.
Zuma says the operation will initially be implemented
in the ocean economy and health. Picture: GCIS.
National Women’s Day
Women’s Day 2014 was celebrated in the
King Zwelithini Stadium Umlaki, eThekwini
(Durban) to commemorate the anniversary of
the great women’s march of 9th August 1956,
when women marched to the Union
Buildings to protest against the carrying of
pass books. The whole of August was
declared as Women’s Month.
5
CZECH NEWS
Visit of Austrian chancellor
Austrian
Chancellor
Werner Faymann visited
Prague on 31 July 2014
to
discuss
the
improvement of crossborder transport infrastructure including the
modernization of railways with Czech Prime
Minister Bohuslav Sobotka.
EC adopts partnership agreement with the
Czech Republic
On 26 August 2014 the
European
Commission
adopted
a
partnership
agreement for European Structural and
Investment Funds submitted by the Czech
government. The agreement lays out the
strategy for using EU Structural and
Investment Funds for growth and jobs until
2020.
!!!Czech scholarships for South Africans
The Czech Republic awarded two
scholarships for enrolment at Czech
universities in 2015 in the following
academic programs: Follow-up Masters’ and
Doctoral Programme in power engineering
and agriculture taught in English. The
scholarships include tuition and personal
allowances, but they do not cater for airfare
to and from the Czech Republic. The
deadline for applications is 30 September
2014.
For more details consult the Czech Embassy
in Pretoria: www.mzv.cz/pretoria
European Athletics Championship
Vítězslav Veselý, Barbora Špotáková,
Anežka Drahotová and Jan Kudlička
Czech athletes gained four medals at the
2014 European Athletics Championship in
Zurich, Switzerland from 12-17 August
2014:
Medal
Gold
Silver
Bronze
Bronze
Name
Barbora
Špotáková
Vítězslav
Veselý
Anežka
Drahotová
Jan
Kudlička
Event
Women’s
javelin throw
Men’s javelin
throw
Women’s 20
kilometres
walk
Men’s pole
vault
Date
14 August
2014
17 August
2014
14 August
2014
14 August
2014
Sázavafest 2014
The traditional Sázavafest
multicultural
festival
(music,
theatre,
film,
authors’ readings, photo
and art exhibitions etc) was held in Castle
Park in Světlá nad Sázavou during the first
weekend of August 2014.
Trutnoff Open Air Festival 2014
The oldest Czech open
air
music
festival,
Trutnoff
Open
Air
Festival 2014 was held in
Trutnov,
Eastern
Bohemia from 14-17
August 2014.
The festival culminated in a
concert by the famous
American singer, songwriter
and poet Patti Smith.
Antelopes donated to RSA put down
Eight Sitatunga antelopes donated by Prague
Zoo to South Africa were put down on 5
August 2014 due to one missing veterinary
examination. Prague Zoo has filed a
complaint over the incident with the World
Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
For
more
information
about
the
activities of the South African Embassy
in Prague please visit our website:
http://www.saprague.cz
Attachment No.1
2014 Vibrant Nine Ethnic Festival
Prague 9 – Podviní Park, 2:00 -10:00 pm
aa
aa
aa
Mr Dasa in front of the Exhibition
Ms Dasa, Ms Radebe-Mothibe, Ms & Mr Schoeman
South African tent
Mr Dasa, Mr Sanjin Messini and Melanie Scholtz
People and companies that presented their products in the South African tent:
Mr Jan Brett
Original Afrika
Dolní Třebonín
382 01 Dolní Třebonín
Tel: +420 725 900 019
www.original-afrika.cz
Ms Heather Crowther
Tombalina Wines
Tel: +420 774 669 173
www.tombalinawines.cz
Ms Diana Růžičková
Kafíčko 33
Zborovská 38
150 00 Prague 5
Tel: +420 731 914 699
www.kaficko33.cz
7
Attachment No. 2
IS SOUTH AFRICA EBOLA FREE?
The recent outbreak of the deadly disease Ebola in the West African countries of Guinea,
Sierra Leone and Liberia and lately also in Nigeria, Africa’s most populated country, struck
fear across the world. There were immediately visions of an epidemic morphing into an
apocalyptic pandemic on the scale of the Black Death in the Middle Ages.
To allay these fears, let us take a rational look at the disease. Firstly, medical experts indicate
that it is a hemorrhagic disease. It is not airborne like the pandemic Spanish Flu which struck
down an estimated 30 million people worldwide in 1918. It is transferred through direct
contact with the body fluids of the affected person for instance, blood or perspiration entering
through a cut in the skin. It is for this reason that health workers tending to Ebola patients are
completely covered up.
Ebola is not a new disease. The first recorded outbreak occurred in 1976 in the then Zaire,
today called the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). It petered out and almost
disappeared from public awareness although sporadic cases were reported and in all
probability the disease continued to claim lives in particular in the Kivu Region and the DRC
in general. Other pressing global problems, natural disasters and medical emergencies
claimed the world’s attention and Ebola was all but forgotten. When the current outbreak
occurred in the Mano River Union countries i.e. Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia in March
2014, everybody woke up to the reality of the existence of the disease and its impact and
threat of contagion. Disease knows no border. Governments, businesses and the media to
sprang into action. There was a concerted effort to concentrate medical research and speed up
clinical tests to produce a viable vaccine.
Governments in the affected region took various measures such as closing borders, screening
people and quarantining certain areas etc. Many people are ignorant about the geography of
the huge African continent and there is a perception in parts of the world that the outbreak of
the disease in a specific region of West Africa necessarily means that travelling to any part of
Africa constitutes a risk. To contextualise it, it should be borne in mind that West Africa is
equidistant from Prague and Cape Town, namely around 5 000 km. There is no case of Ebola
in Southern Africa nor in North Africa, the SAHEL, the Horn of Africa and in East Africa.
As a preventative measure, the South African Government has appointed an inter-ministerial
committee that will continuously assess the situation. It has also introduced a limitation in the
movement of people to and from the countries affected by Ebola, breaking down the
countries into categories of high, medium and low risk. However, it must also be stated
clearly that South Africa is not imposing absolute ban on people flying to and from the
affected areas as other practical measures will also be looked into. The South African cabinet
has furthermore approved an amount of R32,5 million requested by the South African
National Health Department from the African Renaissance Fund to support international
containment measures. Part of the funds will be used to deploy a mobile laboratory in Sierra
Leone, to fund transport and accommodation for a team of specialists and to provide training
to health workers.
To conclude, there is no case of Ebola in South Africa.