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Nzimande conducts oversight in Zululand district

Higher Education, Science and Technology Minister, Dr Blade Nzimande, has visited Ulundi and Nongoma in the Zululand District Municipality, as part of government’s outreach programme, following the recent unrest in the province.

Nzimande’s outreach programme is aimed at engaging stakeholders on the impact of the recent looting and destruction of private and public property in the Nongoma Local Municipality.

Joined by KwaZulu-Natal Human Settlements and Public Works MEC, Jomo Sibiya; Zululand District Mayor, Thulasizwe Buthelezi; Nongoma Local Municipality Executive Mayor, Albert Mncwango; local councillors and other stakeholders, Nzimande visited Nongoma shopping mall to assess the damage caused by the recent riots, and also interacted with community members at Nongoma taxi rank.

The mall employs over 700 people from the community of Nongoma and surrounding areas. According to the municipality, 98% of shops in town were looted and burnt, with only one shop and one petrol garage currently operating.

Nzimande echoed President Cyril Ramaphosa’s sentiments that the violence was an attempted insurrection.

“Even the [officials] here have told us that it looks like this was planned weeks before it actually happened. Cars came from different areas and targeted particular shops, including targeting ATMs.

“It is very clear that this… [was an attempt to] destabilise government, and to try to make people lose hope in government when they see that they’ve got no food, and many other things are actually affected,” Nzimande said on Wednesday.

Nzimande is concerned about the impact the violence will have on Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges and the education system.

“If there is no food in the locality and there are no other facilities, it’s bound to affect everything. We need to ensure that we clamp down on this criminality, and also most importantly, identify the ring leaders of [this] plot,” the Minister said.

Nzimande visited a vaccination site at Mthashana TVET College to monitor the progress of the vaccination programme in the district. He said all public universities and TVET colleges across the country are being used as vaccination sites, and are open to the public.

Budget cut affects repairing of vandalised schools

Meanwhile, KwaZulu-Natal Education MEC, Kwazi Mshengu, said with R6.3 billion cut from the provincial department, and the vandalism of schools, it is difficult for the department to instantly attend to the schools that have been affected by the riots.

He said the devastation will hamper other programmes that are meant to deliver quality education for all.

“There are schools where some classes have been burnt, and there are schools where classes were not affected, but they targeted particular classes, like the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) laboratory in one of the schools, where they did not destroy [infrastructure] except to steal the computers.

“It does appear that in this instance, the people who broke into the school had an intimate knowledge of the school because they tried to enter through the door and failed. They then tried to enter through the roof, they failed. They had all the time to dig the hole behind the ICT lab and they used that whole to basically take everything, which was there,” Mshengu said.

He said in other schools, food was stolen from the kitchens and infrastructure was destroyed.

Source: South African Government News Agency

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President welcomes Biovac-Pfizer deal

The African Union Champion on COVID-19, President Cyril Ramaphosa, has welcomed the announcement that the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine will be produced in Cape Town by the Biovac Institute.

In a statement on Wednesday, the President welcomed the announcement of a collaboration between South Africa’s Biovac Institute and the global pharmaceutical producer Pfizer as a ‘breakthrough in the protection of African nations against COVID-19″.

“Today’s agreement will contribute significantly to health security and sustainability on our continent, which currently has the least access to vaccination in the world,” President Ramaphosa said.

Biovac is a vaccine producer and public-private partnership between the South African government and the private pharmaceutical sector.

“In terms of today’s announcement, Biovac has been appointed to manufacture the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for distribution within Africa, making it the first company on the continent to produce a mRNA-based vaccine.

“Biovac will immediately embark on technological transfer activities that include on-site development and equipment installation for the production of the Pfizer-BioNtech COVID-19 vaccines,” the Presidency said.

Biovac expects the facility will be brought into the Pfizer-BioNtech supply chain by the end of 2021. Biovac will obtain drug substance from BioNTech’s facilities in Germany.

“At full operational capacity, the annual COVID vaccine production will aim for 100 million finished doses annually. All doses will exclusively be distributed within the 55 African Union member states.

“Biovac’s expansion in production and acquisition of specialised equipment related to mRNA technology entails an investment of shared cost of R200 million in the coming six months,” the Presidency said.

President Ramaphosa said the partnership between Biovac and Pfizer is a breakthrough in the efforts to overcome global vaccine inequity.

“The protection of Africans is a necessary and critical contribution to the protection of humanity as a whole. This partnership demonstrates what we can achieve when the state sector and the private sector craft a shared vision and pool resources for the greater good of society.

“This collaboration recognises the talent and technology that exists on our continent that can be harnessed in our irreversible march of sustainable and inclusive development,” the President said.

He urged people throughout the continent to play their part by making themselves available to be vaccinated.

“The more we roll up our sleeves to receive our jabs, the safer we will be as individuals, families and communities. The safer we are, the more secure our future as a continent on the rise will be,” the President said.

African Union Special Envoy on COVID-19 and member of the African Vaccine Acquisition Task Team, Strive Masiyiwa, joined the President in welcoming the Biovac-Pfizer initiative.

“The only way to guarantee Africa’s access to vaccines now and in the future is through this type of strategic manufacturing partnerships, which we welcome greatly,” Masiyiwa said.

Source: South African Government News Agency

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Death toll rises as police investigate 168 unrest-related murder cases

Acting Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni says the death toll from the civil unrest in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal has risen to 276 and police are investigating 168 murder cases.

The Acting Minister said this when she briefed the media to provide an update on government’s interventions to rebuild the economy following violent protests and looting incidents that led to the loss of lives and disrupted economic activity for over a week.

“A total of 234 deaths as related to the unrest were reported in KwaZulu-Natal. To date, the [SA Police Service] are investigating 151 cases for murder and 83 inquest dockets have been opened and 15 arrests related to the cases of murder have been made.

“A total of 42 deaths as related to the unrest were reported in Gauteng. To date, and of these reported deaths, the SAPS are investigating 17 cases for murder, and 25 cases are still at an inquest stage and no arrests have been made as yet related to the cases of murder,” she said on Wednesday.

Ntshavheni also released the identity of suspects who have appeared in court on charges of inciting violence, including Bruce Nimmerhoudt, Sibusiso Mavuso, Ngizwe Mchunu and Clarence Tabane.

She said while the suspects have been remanded in custody in Gauteng, one has been released on bail.

Food security stabilises in affected areas

Meanwhile, as a result of the violent protests, concerns were raised with regards to food security within SADC as the region relies on South Africa for food supply.

“We want to assure the SADC region that law enforcement agencies posted extra security personnel along the major routes to ensure the proper passage of long-haul logistics trucks and the rail network.”

Ntshavheni said government has engaged food processors and suppliers, farmers, and agri-businesses to ensure the stability of the food supply chain.

The security of food supplies have normalised, mainly across the affected provinces.

Bakeries have reopened and bread, which has been in short supply since the unrest, has been in full supply since the weekend. Milk supplies are also now available and sugar mills have been operational since Saturday.

Ntshavheni said, meanwhile, President Cyril Ramaphosa and over 100 business leaders have met to discuss the current security situation and assess the damage to infrastructure.

The meeting discussed areas where government and business can work together to rebuild the country in the aftermath of the crisis.

“In the meeting, business leaders and government committed to rebuilding the country and ensuring that poverty and inequality are addressed speedily,” she said.

Source: South African Government News Agency

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Biovac seals deal to manufacture Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine

Cape Town-based specialist biotech company, Biovac, has reached a deal to manufacture the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for distribution within the African Union (AU).

According to a statement released on Wednesday, this makes Biovac the first company in Africa to produce a mRNA-based vaccine.

Biovac is set to immediately commence technical transfer activities, which include on-site development and equipment installation activities.

In addition, the company, which is partly owned by the South African government, will obtain drug substances from facilities in Europe, and manufacturing of finished doses will begin in 2022.

At full operational capacity, the annual COVID-19 vaccine production will exceed 100 million finished doses annually.

Meanwhile, all doses would exclusively be distributed within the AU’s 55 member States and Biovac expects the facility will be brought into the Pfizer-BioNTech supply chain by the end of 2021.

“We are thrilled to collaborate with Pfizer and BioNTech to produce and distribute the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine within Africa. This is a testament to the long-standing relationship we have had with Pfizer through the Prevenar 13 vaccine,” said the Chief Executive Officer of Biovac, Dr Morena Makhoana.

Makhoana said it was a critical step forward in strengthening sustainable access to a vaccine in the fight against the worldwide pandemic.

“We believe this collaboration will create an opportunity to more broadly distribute vaccine doses to people in harder-to-reach communities, especially those on the African continent.”

Meanwhile, the Pfizer Chairman and CEO, Albert Bourla, said the goal has been to provide fair and equitable access to the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine to everyone, everywhere.

“Our latest collaboration with Biovac is a shining example of the tireless work being done, in this instance, to benefit Africa. We will continue to explore and pursue opportunities to bring new partners into our supply chain network, including in Latin America, to further accelerate the access of COVID-19 vaccines,” he said.

CEO and Co-founder of BioNTech, Dr Ugur Sahin, said: “We aim to enable people on all continents to manufacture and distribute our vaccine, while ensuring the quality of the manufacturing process and the doses.”

Sahin said BioNTech believes that mRNA technology can be used to develop vaccine candidates addressing other diseases as well.

“This is why we will continue to evaluate sustainable approaches that will support the development and production of mRNA vaccines on the African continent.”

According to the statement, this latest technology transfer agreement strengthens the already existing relationship and enables Biovac to widen its existing footprint in Africa, which aligns with the long-standing vision of being a local manufacturer with regional presence and relevance.

Source: South African Government News Agency

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Blue California Commercializes Nicotinamide Mononucleotide (NMN) for Supporting an Increased Healthspan

A better cost-effective option is now available for dietary supplement, functional food, and beverage manufacturers.

Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif., July 20, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Blue California joins with the innovative Massachusetts-based biotech company Conagen to announce the commercialization of high-purity, fermentation-derived nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN). A nature-based metabolic component which has caught the attention of health-conscious consumers for supporting energy and longevity.

The quest to age healthily and support longevity is surging among health-conscious consumers. “Consumers are reassessing their dietary regimen to make room for ingredients that can support an increased healthspan,” said Chief Science Officer at Blue California, Dr. Priscilla Samuel.

NMN supplements are highly sought-after for healthy aging applications, including brain health, vitality, heart health, metabolic health, and even cosmetics. However, current NMN ingredients used in products on the market are mostly produced by chemical synthesis.

While consumers are exploring dietary supplements for a holistic approach to health, they are also demanding clean labels from their supplements, and moving away from synthetic ingredients. Blue California’s fermentation-derived NMN opens new opportunities for producers to consider consumers’ health more holistically while acquiring a closer-to-nature position.

NMN serves as a precursor to nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+), a coenzyme present in all living cells and critical for mitochondrial function.

Increased intracellular levels of NAD+ boost energy production and improve cellular health, but levels decline dramatically with age. Replenishing NAD+ in the body with its precursor NMN has been proposed as a way to possibly combat age-related degeneration and increase healthy lifespan.

“Our fermentation-derived offering is well-positioned to capitalize on the growing recognition of NMN as an important ingredient in the food and supplement spaces,” said Samuel. “NMN is a well-known molecule in the longevity research community, and emerging research also suggests potential applications for immune health as well as sports nutrition.”

Harvard professor David Sinclair, a well-recognized leader in the field of aging research, is an advocate of NMN for improving the health of aging populations.

“NMN is a logical extension to our line of “longevity ingredients” which includes ergothioneine and pyrroloquinoline quinone. All of these molecules are made by our own proprietary fermentation processes, enabling our customers to better serve consumers who might reject chemically-derived ingredients,” said VP of Innovation at Conagen, Dr. Casey Lippmeier. “Because of the way we make it, Conagen’s NMN is of the highest purity and quality.  It is also very cost-effective and compatible with clean-label trends, all of which demonstrates our strength as a strategic partner with Blue California.”

As innovation in dietary supplemental nutrition advances, so does the growth of global vitamin, mineral and supplement (VMS) launches. Mintel reported a growth of 67% of global VMS launches in Apr 2020 – Mar 2021, as compared to Apr 2016 – Mar 2017 — where the United States leads the VMS market.

About Blue California

Blue California is a vertically integrated technology company providing innovative ingredient solutions to global partners. With more than 20 years of innovation success, our ingredients are used in commercial products and applications in the industries of nutrition, personal care, healthy aging and wellness, functional food and beverage, and beauty. www.bluecal-ingredients.com

About Conagen

Conagen is making the impossible possible. Our scientists and engineers use the latest synthetic biology tools to develop high-quality sustainable nature-based products through systems of manufacturing on a molecular level and fermentation basis. We focus on the bioproduction of high-value ingredients for food, nutrition, flavors and fragrances, pharmaceutical, and renewable materials industries. www.conagen.com

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Ana Arakelian
Blue California ingredients
+1-949-635-1991
[email protected]
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Coalition Including Google, GivePower and Silfab Solar Brings Solar Power to One of Africa’s Oldest National Parks and a Prominent Peace School in the Democratic Republic of Congo

The Garamba National Park and Congo Peace School solar installations will help support critical conservation efforts, vulnerable communities and children affected by conflict

AUSTIN, Texas, July 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — GivePower Foundation, a non-profit organization committed to extending the environmental and social benefits of clean, renewable energy around the globe, has completed three solar projects in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in partnership with Nuru, a Congolese renewable energy utility. The installations, designed to help protect endangered wildlife and support children historically affected by violence, were made possible by Congo Power, an initiative backed by Google, and by Silfab Solar, which generously donated equipment.

GivePower Logo

“The work we are doing with our partners in the Democratic Republic of Congo is both immensely challenging and incredibly meaningful,” said Hayes Barnard, founder and chairman of GivePower. “The DRC is rich in resources that have fueled conflict and instability for decades, while access to electricity remains scarce. Through our collaboration with Congo Power, Google and Silfab Solar, we will collectively unlock new opportunities to scale community-led clean energy solutions.”

Two communities (Tadu & Faradje) surrounding the Garamba National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1980 where armed conflicts and instability in past decades have led to an increase in poaching, now have solar mini grids that will bring reliable and clean power to the area. The mini grids, which were built and are operated by Nuru, were largely funded by the European Union through its partner African Parks Network, a not-for-profit organization working to revitalize conservation areas that are currently under threat. With access to stable and affordable electricity the communities of Tadu and Faradje are less reliant on extracting resources from the park and have a greater ability to generate sustainable livelihoods that don’t degrade the surrounding natural environment.

Additional financial support for the solar mini grids included the forward purchase by Google of Peace Renewable Energy Credits (P-RECs), an innovative financing instrument developed by Energy Peace Partners (EPP) to help fund high impact renewable energy projects that promote peace and stability. Google’s support further expands the P-REC market launched by EPP and Nuru in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2020.

The Congo Peace School solar project will help provide vulnerable youth with quality education in a region burdened by conflict. In addition to teaching the standard Congolese curriculum, the one-of-a-kind primary and secondary school provides nutritious meals, computer lab access and nonviolent dispute resolution training. The school is run by ABFEC, a Congolese owned and operated non-profit, with financial support from U.S. non-profits Action Kivu and The Dillon Henry Foundation. Action Kivu provides direct assistance to survivors of the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Eastern Congo through entrepreneurial training and education projects rooted in peace and equality.

The three solar projects were spearheaded by Congo Power, an initiative launched in 2017 that seeks to reinforce responsible minerals trade and expand economic opportunity in the African Great Lakes Region through the deployment of clean energy. Congo Power’s founding members include Google, GivePower and the grassroots peacebuilding organization Resolve. The University of California Berkeley’s Renewable and Appropriate Energy Lab, led by Dan Kammen, is also playing an important role in measuring and reporting on the impact of these solar energy systems.

“We are committed to supporting communities committed to conflict-free mining, reducing reliance through enabling livelihoods with clean energy, and improving the lives of people living near natural resource extraction sites. Providing access to clean electricity is a powerful way to do that,” said Alyssa Newman, responsible supply chain manager at Google and founder of Congo Power.  “We are grateful to GivePower for designing and managing our latest Congo Power projects, and to Silfab for donating solar equipment that will have an enduring positive impact.”

Installations in the two communities surrounding Garamba National Park as well as the Congo Peace School project are powered by Silfab Solar’s premium quality solar photovoltaic modules. Leveraging 40 years of solar experience and best-in-class manufacturing technologies, Silfab’s donation will ensure that the three sites have consistent access to clean power for many years to come.

“Silfab Solar is proud to have been a part of the incredible work done by GivePower, Google and the Congo Power project. We are committed to improving access to clean energy and sustainability across the globe and look forward to further collaborations with our partners at GivePower,” said Geoff Atkins, head of sales and marketing at Silfab Solar.

About GivePower

GivePower is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization committed to extending the environmental and social benefits of clean, renewable energy around the globe. GivePower uses solar and battery storage technologies to deliver essential services to the developing world. The organization has helped bring clean power and clean water to underserved communities in more than 20 countries across Africa, Asia and Latin America. Visit GivePower at www.givepower.org. Follow GivePower on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Twitter.

About Silfab Solar

Silfab Solar is the North American leader in the design, development and manufacture of ultra-high-efficiency, premium quality PV modules. Silfab leverages 40 years of solar experience and best-in-class technologies to produce the highest-rated solar modules from facilities in the state of Washington and Toronto, Canada. Each facility features multiple automated ISO 9001-2015 quality certified production lines utilizing just-in-time manufacturing to deliver Buy American approved PV modules specifically designed for and dedicated to the North American market. www.silfabsolar.com

Media Contacts:

Julia Pyper
Vice President of Communications
[email protected]

Aparna Mohla
Vice President of Corporate Partnerships
[email protected]

Geoff Atkins
g.atkins@silfabsolar.com 
Tel: +1-905-255-2501 Ext. 737
www.silfabsolar.com

Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1503291/GivePower_Logo.jpg