Category: General

Minister of Works and Transport, John Mutorwa and Botswana’s Minister of Transport and Public Works, Eric Molala, affirmed their commitment to the Trans-Kalahari Railway Project during a meeting in Windhoek on Wednesday.

Mutorwa said the project is gaining momentum and that visible developments are on the way.

“Roads play a very important role in the transportation of people, services and goods, but rail transportation is much better in terms of the transportation of lives,” Mutorwa said.

He added that people cannot exchange goods if there is no transportation infrastructure.

Molale meanwhile said the justification for the Trans-Kalahari Railway Project could not have come at a better time.

“The people of Namibia and the people of Botswana will benefit from this rail line,” Molale said.

The meeting was held to discuss the two countries’ mutual interests and the progress made thus far on the Trans-Kalahari railway.

The governments of Namibia and Botswana in 2010 signed a Memorandum of Understanding to facilitate the development of the Trans-Kalahari railway line connecting Botswana’s Mmamabula coal fields to Walvis Bay in Namibia. The two governments signed a bilateral agreement in 2014 to establish the 1 500 kilometre line.

Namibia and Botswana reaffirmed their commitment to the multibillion-dollar Trans-Kalahari railway project in 2022.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

Minister Ntshavheni to visit Johannesburg fire scene

Minister in The Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni will visit the scene of the Johannesburg fire.

Members of the media are advised as follows:

Date: Thursday, 31 August 2023

Time: 13h00

Venue: Johannesburg CBD, corner of Alberts and Delvers Street

Enquiries: Sipho Mbhele

Spokesperson of the Ministry

Cell: 0836253446

Source: Government of South Africa

The South African Women in Science Awards (SAWiSA), which recognises and rewards excellence by women in science and technology, will take place in September.

The Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) will host a two-day celebration from 8 September in Durban.

Themed, ‘Harnessing technological change and innovation to achieve gender equality and empower women and girls,’ the awards recognises younger women who are starting their careers as researchers and scientists, as well as registered master’s and PhD students.

Participants will be awarded in the following categories:

Distinguished Woman Researchers: winner receives R90 000, first runner-up: R65 000, second runner-up: R40 000;

Distinguished Young Woman Researchers: winner receives R80 000, first runner-up: R55 000, second runner-up: R30 000;

DSI-Ndoni Mcunu Fellowship: six participants will receive R70 000 for a master’s degree and six participants will receive R90 000 for a PhD degree.

The category DSI Fellowships was renamed to DSI-Ndoni Mcunu Fellowships in honour of Mcunu’s memory and legacy as a young brilliant scientist and phenomenal woman.

The late Mcunu was one of South Africa’s leading young scientists in climate change, a social entrepreneur, and the founder of Black Women in Science (BWIS).

BWIS has provided developmental training to over 400 postgraduate fellows in business, entrepreneurship and research skills, scientific writing, project leadership, science communication skills and research career preparation.

During her lifetime Mcunu achieved numerous accolades including being named a 2017 Mandela Washington Fellow, receiving an honorary award at the KZN Young Achievers Awards in the Science Research and Entrepreneurship category, winning the Gagasi FM Shero award in the Science and Technology category and recognised as one of the 40 under-40 African Leaders for Climate Resilience in 2019.

The DSI and 2023 SAWiSA has 26 finalists and one of the finalists selected is Gizelle Roque Van Niekerk from the University of Pretoria, who is a second year MSc student.

In 2022, she attended the 14th Green Chemistry Postgraduate Summer School (GCPSS) in Venice, Italy.

“I am grateful to Pietro Tundo for seeing potential in me as a young scientist by selecting me to attend the in-person event on scholarship.

“The 14th Green Chemistry Summer School was a life-changing experience and instrumental to my future career as a chemist. It was an honour to present my research at such a prestigious international summer school.

“The opportunity reinforced my belief that green chemistry solutions are a fundamental course of action for sustainable development in the Global South,” Van Niekerk said in a statement.

She said it was a privilege to engage with postgraduate students from a broad spectrum of countries and found the talks given by highly influential scientists very inspiring.

Networking with people who share the same common goal encouraged her to fervently continue the ground-taking field of green chemistry. – SAnews.gov.za

Source: South African Government News Agency

International Relations and Cooperation Minister, Dr Naledi Pandor, will pay a working visit to Moroni, Comoros, where she will meet with her counterpart, Dhoihir Dhoulkamal on Friday.

In a statement on Thursday, the Department of International Relations and Cooperation said the two Ministers will assess the status of the bilateral relations between South Africa and the Comoros.

“They will also share information and exchange views on regional and global issues of mutual interest.

“The two Ministers will also sign a General Cooperation Agreement, meant, among other objectives, to establish a Joint Commission at the Senior Official’s Level.”

Through the Joint Commission, the department hopes that an increased level of cooperation across various sectors between the two nations will occur.

Pandor will also use the opportunity of her visit to pay a courtesy call to Comoros President Azali Assoumani, the current Chair of the African Union (AU).

In addition, she will have an engagement with the Comorian business community, women leaders and youth entrepreneurs during lunch.

The meeting will focus on women and youth as active African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) participants.

The engagement will be hosted by the Governor of Ngazidja, Madam Sitti Faroutta and be attended by the Comorian Minister of Economy and Investment, Ahmed Ali Bazi, and other dignitaries. – SAnews.gov.za

Source: South African Government News Agency

The Petroleum Trust Development Fund (PTDF) says it has partnered with some Nigerian universities on research into alternative source of energy called renewable energy.

The PTDF’s Executive Secretary, Dr Bello Aliyu Gusau, disclosed this at a workshop on Wednesday held at University of Benin.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the workshop titled: “Agro Waste to Energy: Biodiesel Bedrock of Energy Sufficiency in Nigeria” was organised by PDTF Professionals Chair.

Gusau was represented by the Deputy General Manager, Strategic Planning and Documentation, Mr Olayinka Agboola,

He said the workshop was to expand the frontier of knowledge based on findings of research work on alternative energy sources.

“We have invested funds in this research work, to see how we can make our local materials in renewable energy,” he said.

According to him, the effort became necessary due to the complexity of the energy problem in Nigeria which requires alternative sources.

The D-G pointed out that the fossil fuel used as a source of power by Nigerians is becoming expensive to procure, adding that time has come to harness solar, wind and geothermal as energy sources.

In her welcome address, Vice-Chancellor, University of Benin, Prof. Lilian Salami, commended PTDF for assisting the universities with research funds.

Salami, who was represented by her Deputy Vice Chancellor Ekhewan Campus, Prof. Buniyamin Ayinde, said that the partnership would move the society forward.

Speaking, a scholar Prof. Ikuonase Emovon of the Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun, Delta, said Nigeria is endowed with renewable energy resources capable of easing the power generation problems.

Also contributing, Prof. Kessington Obahiagbon, the PTDF Chair Holder, said biomass fuel is becoming a viable alternative for fossil fuels due to rising demand for clean energy, diminishing fuel stocks and lowering reliance on crude oil.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Federal Government has is set to revamp the nation’s steel sector to enhance the economy as well as create employment opportunities.

The Minister of Steel Development, Prince Shuabi Audu, said this in Abuja when he met with heads of agencies and departments in the ministry.

Audu said that Nigeria’s abundant mineral resources hold the key to reshaping the nation’s economic landscape and extending the benefits of democracy to every Nigeria.

“By tapping into the latent potential of the steel sector and channeling it into lucrative ventures, we can ensure that the dividends of democracy reach every citizen.

“The steel sector stands as a pivotal pillar of Nigeria’s industrial growth, carrying the potential to provide substantial job opportunities for the youth.

“To realise this vision, the government is fully dedicated to implementing an extensive array of measures designed to attract reputable international investors,” he said.

Audu said that every Nigerian deserves to partake in the benefits that democracy brings, adding that a core tenet of democracy was its ability to uplift individual needs and aspirations.

According to him, the government is steadfastly focused on cultivating an environment conducive to ensuring these advantages.

“In the pursuit of attracting investments, the Federal Government remains resolute in its mission to boost economic growth and empower its citizens through the potential of the steel sector.

“This is by fostering strategic alliances, facilitating investment inflow and cultivating a business-friendly atmosphere, the government envisions a future marked by prosperity, progress, and collective advancement,” he said.

The minister said that Nigeria was ready to take a leading role in the global steel market, adding that the transformative journey was poised to reshaping the nation’s economic trajectory.

“This is to ensure that the benefits of democracy are tangible and accessible to all.”

Source: News Agency of Nigeria