AReport_Ambassade_SA_2010

Mog么bag么ba Dialogue

South African Embassy to Belgium and Luxembourg and Mission to the European Union Annual Report 2009/2010

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1. President Jacob Zuma (standing) and Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane (seated).

2. President Zuma’s arrival at the inauguration of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) Building, named after former President of the African National Congress, the late Oliver Tambo, being received by Minister Nkoana-Mashabane, Deputy Ministers Ebrahim Ebrahim and Sue van der Merwe.

3. (Below) President Zuma (right) and Mr Dali Tambo (left), the son of the late Oliver Tambo, during the inauguration ceremony of the DIRCO Building.

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INDEX

Message from the Ambassador ...................................................................................................... 4 South African Government Priorities 2009 – 2014 ........................................................................ 5 South Africa-European Union Relations ........................................................................................ 6 African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States .............................................................................. 8 Southern African Development Community ................................................................................ 10 Relations between South African Parliament and European Parliament ....................................... 12 Relations with Belgium ................................................................................................................ 15 Relations with Luxembourg ........................................................................................................ 16 Trade and Investment .................................................................................................................. 18 Tourism ...................................................................................................................................... 24 2010 FIFA World Cup ................................................................................................................. 26 Mandela Day .............................................................................................................................. 28 Social Outreach .......................................................................................................................... 30 Agriculture ................................................................................................................................. 32 South African Revenue Service .................................................................................................... 33 Defence ...................................................................................................................................... 35 Science and Technology ............................................................................................................. 37

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Message from the Ambassador

H.E. Dr Anil Sooklal South African Ambassador to Belgium, Luxembourg and the European Union Our relationship with Belgium continues to mature, and we held the Belgo-South Africa and South Africa-Flanders Joint Commissions in 2009, reviewing our development, economic and other cooperation, while relations with Luxembourg at both bilateral and multilateral level continue to flourish.

South Africa hosted the first SA-EU Summit on South African soil in 2009, which saw President Jacob Zuma engaging with Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt, on matters of global interest, during the EU Swedish Presidency. Our structured dialogues continue in a number of important areas of bilateral interest such as transport, energy, statistics, health, migration and space.

We also continue to attempt to salvage the impact of the Economic Partnership Agreement negotiations on our relationship.

The global economic crisis has indeed slowed down trade with Europe, but trade with our emerging partners such as India, Brazil and China continues to grow and has helped our economy emerge from negative growth.

After a successful term as Chair of the SADC Ambassadors’ Group in Brussels, made possible by the enthusiastic participation of SADC Missions, South Africa handed over the Chair to the Democratic Republic of the Congo in September 2009. The SADC group continues to strengthen under the DRC Chair, promoting SADC, most significantly through the staging of the annual SADC Week, with the next edition set to take place in September 2010. Our active membership of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States will continue with a deepened engagement as the 2nd revision of the Cotonou Partnership Agreement comes to conclusion.

This year, we welcome the world to celebrate South Africa during the South Africa 2010 FIFA World Cup. We promise that this will be an event to remember. We are dedicated to ensuring that the World Cup delivers not only stunning football, but sustainable benefits to our people. Already improvements in facilities, security and transport infrastructure are being delivered throughout the country. The Embassy will also host an array of events in the period leading up to the kick-off.

South Africa hosts the 2010 FIFA World Cup barely 20 years after the world watched as Nelson Mandela walked out of prison and led the successful transition to democracy. As we mark this epoch-making event, the Embassy will embark on a Mandela Day programme in July 2010, in recognition of the former South African President’s commitment to human rights, conflict resolution and reconciliation and, as a call to all humanity to dedicate 67 minutes of their time to uplift society in some way.

I would like to encourage you to continue to partner with us and our programmes in support of a better South Africa, a better Africa and a better world.

Finally, I would like to thank my colleagues for their hard work and dedication, as well as, all the people that the South African Embassy interacts with, whose efforts made it possible and, indeed, pleasurable for us to achieve so much over the past year.

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South African Government Priorities 2009 – 2014

The fourth democratic elections ushered in a new electoral mandate which defines the strategic objectives and targets of government for the period 2009 – 2014.

This Medium Term Strategic Framework (MTSF, 2009 – 2014) builds on successes of the 15 years of democracy. It is a statement of intent, identifying the development challenges facing South Africa and outlining the medium-term strategy for improvements in the conditions of the life of South Africans and for our enhanced contribution to the cause of building a better world. Further, the national Government’s mandate underscores the need to create a nation united in diversity, working together to weave the threads that will result in the creation of a democratic, non-racial, nonsexist and prosperous society.

In developing targets for 2014, account is been taken of the United Nations (UN) Millennium Development Goals, and our responsibility as a country to strive to attain these goals. South Africa will, where possible, contribute to the attainment of these goals within Africa and further afield.

The following objectives are identified:

• halving poverty and unemployment by 2014; • ensuring a more equitable distribution of the benefits of economic growth and reducing inequality; • improving the nation’s health profile; • improving the nation’s skills base and ensuring universal access to basic services; and • improving the safety of citizens by reducing incidents of crime and corruption.

The priority areas to give effect to the above strategic objectives are: • more inclusive economic growth, decent work and sustainable livelihoods; • economic and social infrastructure; • rural development, food security and land reform; • access to quality education; • improved healthcare; • the fight against crime and corruption; • cohesive and sustainable communities; • creation of a better Africa and a better world; • sustainable resource management and use; and • a developmental state, including improvement of public services.

It should be noted that the electoral mandate also conceives of the establishment of long-term national planning capacity as the principal mechanism for defining long-term frames of reference and subsidiary objectives, coordinating and integrating government efforts, as well as monitoring and evaluating implementation. www.gov.za

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South Africa-European Union Relations The year 2009 was yet another exciting period in SA-EU relations with the hosting of the 2nd SA-EU Summit on 11 September 2009 in Kleinmond, South Africa. This was the first time that a meeting of this nature was hosted in South Africa.

Consequently, the event was met with fanfare in South Africa, with the hosting of two side events on - “Enhancing SMME participation in South Africa-EU science and technology partnerships”, co-ordinated by the South African Department of Science and Technology, in collaboration with the European Commission and the Swedish Ministry of Industry, Employment and Communication, as well as an SA-EU academic seminar, hosted by Higher Education South Africa (HESA). Held during the Swedish Presidency of the EU, the Summit was co-chaired by the Swedish Prime Minister, Mr Fredrik Reinfeldt and the South African President, Mr Jacob Zuma. The meeting reviewed the implementation of the Strategic Partnership, including the establishment of bilateral Dialogue Forums in the following areas: Trade Co-operation, Peace and Security, Migration, Health, Transport, Energy, Science and Technology, Environment, Space, Statistics, ICT, Education and Training and Employment and Social issues.

Discussions also focused on regional and global issues of common interest, such as the global economic and financial crisis, climate change, including peace and security issues.

The revised Trade, Development and Co-operation Agreement (TDCA), which constitutes the basis for SA-EU relations was also signed on the margins of the Summit. The Summit was preceded by the annual review of the co-operation at all levels, during the SA-EU Joint Co-operation Council, held on 23 July 2009 in Brussels. This forum considered progress reports on the implementation of the Dialogue Forums from which a joint report was prepared for consideration by the SA-EU Ministerial Troika, ahead of the Summit.

The 1st SA-EU Political and Security Dialogue meeting, held on 12 June 2009, under the Czech Presidency, provided an opportunity for both sides to deliberate and share analysis on international political and security issues.

The EU (jointly with its member states) remains South Africa’s largest development co-operation

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partner providing approximately 70% of Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) in the country. The Joint Country Strategy Paper for South Africa defines the reduction of poverty and inequality as the overriding objective of the development co-operation between the European Union and South Africa for the period 2007 – 2013, for which an amount of €980 million has been provided. In keeping with this mandate, the following projects were launched in 2009: • Economic Support and Employment Creation Fund: €120 million. The programme was launched on the margins of the 2nd SA-EU Summit on 11 September 2009; • Access to Justice and Promotion of Constitutional Rights: €25 million; • Youth Empowerment Programme: €10 million. The project will contribute to the country’s preparations for the South Africa 2010 FIFA World Cup; and • Trade and Development Cooperation (TDCA) Facility, to support the implementation of the TDCA and the Strategic Partnership: €5 million.

Inter-Parliamentary relations, which are underpinned by the Joint Declaration on the Strengthening of Inter-Parliamentary Relations and Political Dialogue Between the Delegations of the Parliament of the Republic of South Africa and the European Parliament, also flourished during this reporting period. The newly elected parliamentarians on both sides discharged this task with zest and enthusiasm, displayed through the vigorous, yet convivial discussions during the

14th SA-EU Inter-Parliamentary meeting, which took place on 20 - 22 October 2009 in Strasbourg, France.

Within the context of strengthening bilateral relations with the EU, Deputy Minister Sue van der Merwe visited Brussels in October 2009, to interact with various interlocutors in the EU, including DG: Trade, DG: Regional Policy, DG: Environment, AIDCO, as well as the Delegation for Relations with South Africa in the European Parliament.

The European Investment Bank (EIB) continues to play an important role in the economic development of South Africa, particularly in the infrastructure sector. The EIB’s mandate in the country for the period 2007-2013 amounts to €900 million, for the support of both public and private sector operations, including SMEs. By December 2009, the EIB had disbursed almost 70% of this amount - approximately half of it spent on supporting infrastructure development at local government level.

In January 2010, the EIB hosted a high level delegation from the Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs who visited Belgium to investigate how ICT solutions can be leveraged to improve service delivery and accountability at local government. In pursuit of its objective to support South Africa’s development priorities, the Bank’s Vice President, Professor Plutarchos Sakellaris visited South Africa in March 2009, meeting various Cabinet Ministers and private entities.

We look forward to consolidating and deepening the SA-EU relationship under the new institutional arrangements introduced by the Lisbon Treaty going forward.

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African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP) ACP-EU cooperation is one of the most dynamic in the world, covering a wide range of areas such as trade and development assistance as well as support for peace and security, governance and democracy in ACP States.

Currently, the ACP Group implements a number of projects, in cooperation with the European Commission on culture, education, information and communication technologies, science and technology, natural disasters, facility and support for local government. These are all aimed at promoting and supporting sustainable development in ACP States.

Role of South Africa in the ACP Group South Africa assumed membership of the ACP Group in 1996 and became a qualified member of the Lome Convention IV in 1997 and of its successor, the Cotonou Partnership Agreement (CPA) in June 2000. Qualified membership means that South Africa is excluded from the Trade Chapter, as well as from the Development Assistance Provisions of the Agreement, because South Africa already had an agreement with the EU at the time of the signing in June 2000, namely the TDCA (Trade Development Cooperation Agreement), which governs trade with the European Union.

Given this fact, South Africa participates in the political forums which are established under the Cotonou Partnership Agreement. These forums include the Council of Ministers, the Joint Parliamentary Assembly and the Ministerial Trade Committee, where South Africa is able to engage on issues of mutual concern to countries of the North and the South such as Climate Change, Energy, the Global Financial and Economic Crisis, Crime, Migration, Education and Health.

South Africa has been and remains one of the major financial contributors in terms of annual membership contribution to the annual ACP budget.

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The Parliamentary Dimension Parliamentary involvement in the work of the Cotonou Agreement is regulated through the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly (JPA), bringing together equal numbers of parliamentarians from the 27 EU member States and 79 ACP States to dialogue, to exchange views and propose solutions to the challenges of development that the ACP-EU Partnership is engaged in resolving. It is the only institution of its kind; there is no other multilateral development body that includes within its treaty obligations, the need to ensure the involvement of parliamentarians in such activities.

Among the highlights of 2009 as far as Embassy participation and support were concerned, South African Parliamentarians attended and participated in the various JPA’s that were held in Brussels, the Czech Republic and Angola. At the Angola JPA, South Africa moved from the Political to the Economic Development, Finance and Trade Committee and was appointed Co-Rapporteur to prepare a report on the Economic and Financial Impact of Climate Change on ACP States.

The Trade Dimension The South African Deputy Minister of Trade, Ms Thandi Tobias, participated actively in the ACP Trade Ministers Meeting on 12 - 13 November 2009, held with the objective to agree on the ACP position at the 7th Session of the WTO Ministerial Conference in Geneva in December 2009.

Negotiations of Economic Partnership Agreements have been a major pre-occupation of the ACP Group for the past seven years, with most countries expressing reservations about the signing of comprehensive EPA Agreements with the EU. The ACP Group’s main concern is that the EPAs will undermine regional integration or lead to the fragmentation of the regions of the Group, and indeed the ACP Group itself. An added concern is that the EPAs in their current form place very little emphasis on development.

The 2nd Revision of the Cotonou Agreement 2009 was also the year of the 2nd Revision of the Cotonou Agreement, with the objective to preserve the relevance of the ACP-EU Partnership and to adapt the Agreement to recent changes in international and ACP-EC relations.

The Revision aims to develop the political dimension, institutional issues, sector specific policy issues, economic cooperation, regional integration and trade, development finance cooperation, including humanitarian and emergency assistance and new development advances in

aid programming and management. The Revision process was concluded in March 2010.

South Africa’s participation in the ACP group constitutes an important part of South Africa’s foreign policy objectives and will continue to be a platform to send clear messages of South Africa’s solidarity with the countries of the ACP group in its efforts to eradicate poverty and promote sustainable development through the special partnership with the EU as defined through the Cotonou Agreement.

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Southern African Development Community (SADC) The Southern African Development Community (SADC) Missions based in Brussels staged a SADC week between 21 and 26 September 2009 in Brussels. The participating SADC Missions included Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Activities that took place during the week were: • Manneken Pis dressed in SADC attire 21 and 22 September; • An Investment Seminar on 24 September; • SADC Day Reception on 25 September; and • Mini-Soccer World Cup on 26 September.

The goal of the SADC group of countries is to promote SADC in Brussels, the capital of Europe. The SADC group chose to focus on promoting SADC culture, tourism and business. Given the rich culture, multitude of splendid tourist destinations and the numerous business opportunities in the steadily developing region, choosing the areas of focus was easy.

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Dressing the Manneken Pis in SADC attire was a momentous occasion for the group, as the Manneken Pis is one of the symbols of Brussels that is recognizable all over the world.

Having the Manneken Pis dressed in SADC attire was a prime opportunity for the promotion of SADC. The investment seminar focused on investment opportunities in the tourism industry, infrastructure and agriculture sectors. Attendance included the SADC Secretariat, SADC investment promotion agencies, including local business chambers, as well as a number of EU investment promotion institutions. The seminar received wide acclaim and greater participation is assured during the 2010 edition.

Since the 2010 FIFA World Cup will be hosted in a SADC country, having a Mini-Soccer World Cup presented a great opportunity for participants and spectators to have a taste of what is to be expected at the real thing. The event was full of colour from the different national soccer team jerseys, Makaraba hats and Zakumi (2010 FIFA World Cup mascot), who graced the event and numerous photo sessions with many young people and those that are young at heart.

Not to be forgotten is the music that was played during the event, with Vuvuzelas providing a unique orchestra sound that is becoming international during the matches, complemented by South African music at the braai (BBQ) later in the evening.

The SADC Week 2009 was a great success, with all who attended expressing interest in the forthcoming event taking place in 2010.

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Relations between South African Parliament and European Parliament

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The South African Parliament and the European Parliament usually meet twice a year, in Cape Town and in Strasbourg, the cities hosting the seats of the South African Parliament and the European Parliament, respectively. Interaction between the two parliaments is mandated by the South Africa-EU Strategic Partnership, which tasks the two parliaments with an oversight role in the implementation of the South Africa-EU Strategic Partnership.

IPM and contributed to playing the role of oversight that is mandated by the South Africa-EU Strategic Partnership.

Discussions also covered the EU constitutional reforms following the Irish referendum of the Lisbon Treaty, climate change taking note of the Copenhagen conference and trade issues in the World Trade Organisation and the Economic Partnership Agreement between the EU and the Southern African Development Community.

Relations between the South African Parliament and European Parliament continued to strengthen in the past year. Particularly significant is that both parliaments underwent elections towards the end of the first half of 2009 and managed to have an Inter-Parliamentary Meeting (IPM) on 20 and 21 October 2009 in Strasbourg. This was the 14th IPM.

As well as participating in the IPM, the South African delegation was able to watch some of the proceedings of a European Parliament plenary session, where they received an official welcome.

South Africa put together a high level delegation for the IPM, which was led by Ms Joan Fubbs, Chair of the Portfolio Committee on Trade and Industry, including Mr. Thulas Nxesi, Chair of the Portfolio Committee on International Relations. The European Parliament Delegation for Relations with South Africa was led by Mr Michael Cashman, Chair of the European Parliament Delegation for Relations with South Africa. That the two parliaments agreed to meet so soon after their elections highlights the value that the parliaments place on their interactions and the willingness to continue them.

The IPM discussed a broad range of topics, from the recent political, economic and social developments in both South Africa and the EU, and the far reaching effects of the global financial and economic crisis. Discussion on these areas took advantage of the South Africa-EU Summit topics for discussion which took place a month before the

The Members of Parliament (MPs) who took part in the IPM were pleased with the outcome of their discussions and were particularly pleased to have established such a good working relationship which would further strengthen the ties between their respective Parliaments.

As 2010 is the 20th Anniversary of former President Nelson Mandela’s release from prison, it is worth remembering that the European Parliament awarded him the first ever Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought in 1988, two years before he was released from prison. At a parliamentary session in Strasbourg on 9 February 2010, the Chair of the Delegation for relations with South Africa was given an opportunity to mention a few words in commemoration of Nelson Mandela’s release from prison and the strong relations between the European Parliament and South Africa. This was two days before the 20th anniversary of Nelson Mandela’s release from prison.

The Embassy is confident that these strong relations between the two parliaments will continue to flourish.

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Relations with Belgium The strengthening of political and economic relations, both at bilateral and multilateral levels, between the two countries remained a core high agenda item between South Africa and Belgium.

SouthAfrica participated in the Joint Commission for Co-operation (JCC) hosted by Belgium in Brussels in October 2009 to further consolidate the cordial political and economic relations between the two countries. The JCC reaffirmed the close and friendly ties between Belgium and South Africa. Both delegations reviewed political, economic and social developments in their respective countries and regions, paying attention to the challenges ahead and identified new areas of bilateral cooperation and trilateral commitments in other parts of Africa. The Belgian side, both at federal and regional level, gave special attention to South Africa’s challenges regarding economic and social development and both sides agreed that capacity building and skills development to transform the Second Economy remain crucial issues in the immediate future.

In November 2009, South Africa hosted the South Africa/ Flanders JCC to assess the progress of the co-operation programme, where both sides expressed satisfaction with the progress, notwithstanding challenges relating to execution and achieving targets. Noting the strong relations between South Africa and Flanders since the signing of the JCC founding agreement, both parties were unanimous that the co-operation between the two should be guided by the public policy imperatives. Within the context of the JCC, development co-operation programmes supported by the regional Flemish government focus, in the main, on rural development located in the provinces of the Free State, KwaZulu Natal and Limpopo.

In 2009, the provincial programmes progressed fairly well in the last two provinces, with administrative challenges faced in the Free State receiving attention. South Africa continued to co-operate with Flanders in the areas of port management capacity building and skills transfer. To this end, South Africa and Flanders are exploring plans to strengthen the port and maritime sector training capacity in South Africa.

From the above, it is evident that bilateral relations, both at federal and regional levels, remain very strong. Visits continue to be central in strengthening these relations. The Embassy facilitated high-level visits to Belgium, notably, the visit by Mr FW de Klerk, former President in April 2009, Mr Marthinus van Schalkwyk and Dr Sefularo, Minister of Tourism and Deputy Minister of Health respectively, visiting a month later.

These were followed by the visit of the Deputy Minister of Home Affairs, Mr Malusi Gigaba in November 2009 and Mr Sicelo Shiceka, Minister of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs in February 2010 to explore co-operation

with Belgium on e-government, with a view to enhance service delivery in South Africa. At officials level, Ambassador Jerry Matjila, the then Deputy Director General for Europe and Americas and Ambassador Kumalo, the Special Envoy for the Great Lakes Region visited Belgium in July 2009 for consultations on South Africa/Belgium relations and issues around the Great Lakes Region.

South Africa remains seized with mobilizing overseas development co-operation assistance within the context of the Joint Commission for Co-operation with Belgium and the Region of Flanders, with a specific focus on skills development.

To that end, the Deputy Minister of the Department of International Affairs and Co-operation, Ms Sue van der Merwe paid a working visit to Belgium in October 2009 where she met with the Belgian Minister of Development Co-operation, Mr Charles Michel. Of note were discussions on development co-operation with South Africa and the Southern Africa region, in light of the launch of the South Africa Development Partnership Agency. Minister Michel is expected to pay a visit to South Africa later in 2010.

On the cultural front, the Embassy held several activities in 2009. In May, the Embassy hosted a commemoration dinner in memory of Ms Miriam Makeba, with attendance from the African Embassies, the Diaspora and former anti-apartheid activists. In association with the Africalia, the Embassy facilitated the (In)Medea Res-Paper Body Collective and a photo exhibition and a wine tasting was held in Bütgenbach, with the Minister President of the German-speaking Community, Mr Karl-Heinz Lambertz and Mr Emil Dannemark, the Mayor, in attendance.

2010 promises to be an eventful year for both Belgium and South Africa. Belgium will hold the European Union Presidency in the second half of 2010 and Brussels will host the EU/South Africa Summit to be attended by President Jacob Zuma and delegation. These two seminal events will further strengthen South Africa’s relations with Belgium and the European Union.

The Embassy plans a high profile visit during that period, which may include a State Visit to Belgium to underscore the importance we attach to these relations. www.dirco.gov.za

Professional International Port Seminars

•Yearly Standard Seminars •Tailor Made Seminars •Study Visits •Lecturing Abroad For more information: www.portofantwerp.be/APEC APEC-Antwerp/Flanders Port Training Center npo Italiëlei 2, 2000 Antwerpen, Belgium Tel.: +32 3 205 23 22 - Fax: +32 3 205 23 27 apec@haven.antwerpen.be

Relations with Luxembourg The Embassy continues to engage the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg at both bilateral and multilateral level. It will be recalled that in 2008, Foreign Minister Asselborn visited South Africa, accompanied by a large delegation from the Association of the Luxembourg Fund Industry (ALFI). The links established with counterparts in South Africa are steadily taking shape, though more needs to be done. The Embassy has consistently throughout 2009 conferred with the South African Honorary Consul, Dr Jacques Elvinger, South Africans based in Luxembourg including those working in the funds industry and Friends of South Africa, to explore co-operation opportunities in this sector. Of importance is the acknowledgement that South Africa stands to learn a lot from the established Luxembourg finance sector.

The Embassy events calendar included a successful National Freedom Day reception held in Luxembourg, with attendance from the government and business, including members of the South African Club. The reception was an opportunity to renew acquaintances with key contacts and explore new avenues of co-operation. Preceding the reception was an open-top bus parade to promote the 2010 FIFA World Cup, with the presence of ZAKUMI, the 2010 FIFA World Cup mascot, the first of its kind in recent years.

2009 was also a year where the Embassy closely worked with the South African Club in Luxembourg to foster people-to-people co-operation. During the Club’s participation at the International Charity Day, the Embassy had a strong representation. ZAKUMI was also invited to entertain guests. It is envisaged that this relationship will be taken to a higher level in 2010.

The Embassy looks forward to a closer working relationship with our friends in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg in 2010.

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Trade and Investment SA economy expected to recover in 2010 The World Bank released their annual publication, Global Economic Prospects – 2010, in Brussels on March 12. The report indicated that South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa as a whole, is expected to make a dramatic recovery from the financial crisis and the recession in 2010.

Economic Prospects for South Africa Prior to the global financial crisis, South Africa experienced its longest period of sustained economic growth (3 to 5% percent) since the second-world war. Whilst the economy experienced a severe slowdown in the first 3 quarters of 2009, the economy recovered, recording annualised growth of 2.5 percent and created 89,000 jobs in final quarter of 2009.

The economic prospects for the next few years also look promising. According to the World Bank, with the recent recovery in commodities prices and the high rates of growth in India, China, and the rest of Africa, our economy is expected to grow 2.7 percent this year and 3.5 percent in 2011. These favourable growth rates are complemented by low inflation, a sustainable budget deficit and increasing inflows of foreign investment.

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Infrastructure investment to kick start recovery The major investment opportunities for European companies will be in SA’s massive public sector infrastructure investment program. The Minister of Finance, Pravin Gordhan, indicated in his 2010 budget speech that the infrastructure program is fully on track and that it will be at the core of the government’s strategy to recover from the global recession. The program is expected to cost in the region of R846 billion (approx 85 billion euro).

This program commenced in 2007 and the transport and related infrastructure relating to the 2010 World Cup has been completed. The remainder of the program will be rolled out over the next 3-5 years. The areas of investment include transport infrastructure (road, rail, ports), electricity generation, water and municipal services. A major focus of the investment will be in renewable energy – especially wind and solar power. The first commercial wind energy investment (by a Belgian company) is currently underway in Port Elizabeth. Feasibility studies in solar energy and bio-fuels are currently underway.

Industrial Action Plan In addition to the public infrastructure plan, the Minister of Trade and Industry, Dr Rob Davies, has released an Industrial Action Plan which seeks to boost growth in the manufacturing sector. Apart from the so-called Green Industries, there will be a renewed focus in the automotive and metal sectors, as well as in the textile, capital equipment and chemical industries. Full details are available on the Department of Trade’s website. (www.thedti.gov.za)

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Improved Economic Prospects for Sub – Saharan Africa – World Bank A dramatic recovery in economic growth is also expected in the rest of Sub – Saharan Africa. According to the World Bank, the region’s economy is expected to expand by 3.8 percent in 2010 and 4.6 percent in 2011.

This is a major turnaround from last year. The collapse of global trade slowed growth to 1.1 percent in 2009 from an average 5 percent in the preceding five years.

Whilst the impact of the financial crisis and the reversal of capital flows mainly affected South Africa, where financial markets are more integrated into global financial markets, the impact spread to oil exporters (such as Angola), and commodity exporters (such as Botswana and Zambia). Overall growth is estimated to have decelerated by 4 percentage points, mainly the result of falling commodity prices.

Growth rebounded in the latter part of 2009. In Kenya, for example, GDP increased by 5.8 percent in the second half of 2009, suggesting a strong recovery is underway. In the SADC region, growth is also expected to return to its previous trends with the recovery in commodities prices and increased demand from Asia. www.dti.gov.za

Rustenbuild® is a dark grey South African granite, a stone with numerous qualities and unlimited application possibilities.

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SE AFRICA Energy Solutions (Pty) Ltd, established by BIGEN AFRICA Services (Pty) Ltd in terms of a shareholder’s agreement with SME International BVBA, is involved in the planning and implementation of energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. BIGEN AFRICA is a leading multi-disciplinary group that provides engineering, management consulting and project finance solutions, to a broad range of public and private sector clients whilst SME International specializes in providing customized turn key Energy Management Systems offering a wide scale of technical and management services for industrial, institutional, governmental and local clients. SE AFRICA is furthermore registered as an energy saving company (ESCO) with the South African department of energy as well as the South African utility Eskom.

SE AFRICA Energy Solutions (Pty) Ltd has the following main business activities: • Planning, design and implementation of energy efficiency projects with technology such as our Light Efficiency Controller (or e-BOX®) as well as the Micro-Emulsion fuel (or EED2®) and micro-emulsion HFO’s for example.

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SE AFRICA is in a position to assist clients to save energy according to the Kyoto agreements by working with energy management plans, energy efficiency tools and training and capacitating. Some of the latest R&D development is focussed on the cooking and heating activities of the numerous poor households in the RSA.

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All challenges met !

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SOUTH AFRICA & ELECTRAWINDS POWERED BY NATURE 2010 looks like being an exceptional year for Electrawinds in South Africa.

The Belgian green power company Electrawinds is currently building – as the first-ever privately-owned power company to do so – a wind turbine that injects directly into the South African national grid; the first of its kind which coincides neatly with the start of the FIFA World Cup in Nelson Mandela Bay. The path to a people- and eco-friendly energy production lies open, in perfect harmony with nature.

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Tourism Tourism is one of the fastest growing sectors of South Africa’s economy, with contribution to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) steadily increasing over the years from 4.6% back in 1993 to over 8% in recent years. The sector creates 7% of direct and indirect employment opportunities.

Ideally placed to create new jobs and to add value to the country’s many natural and cultural resources, tourism has been earmarked by the government as one of South Africa’s growth sectors. The government attaches a lot of importance to tourism and to that end a dedicated ministry responsible for tourism was created.

As it stands, the Belgian market proved to be resilient to the economic downturn. From January to November 2009, 37,334 tourists from and out of Belgium visited South Africa, compared to 38,456 in 2008, i.e. 1,122 less, representing a 2.9% decrease. The arrivals between January and February 2009 amounted to 6,478, while during the same period in 2008, a total of 7,118 tourists visited South Africa, representing a 1.9% drop, with 640 less arrivals in 2009. This slight decrease in tourist arrivals from and out of Belgium is consistent with the general decrease in Europe.

Despite the fluctuations in the number of tourists from and out of Belgium (mainly due to the global crisis, especially in 2009), interest in cultural ties remains strong, as well as from the thousands of Flemish people residing in South Africa, who continues to be active in the tourism industry.

Tourists are attracted to South Africa’s world-class infrastructure, diversity of tourism products and the positive global perceptions of a peaceful political transition,

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amongst others; factors that appeal to the cosmopolitan and well-traveled Belgian and expatriate community of Brussels and Luxembourg.

The Embassy has stepped up efforts to increase the tourist market in Belgium and Luxembourg. We keep close contact with the South African Tourism office in Amsterdam and plans are afoot to expand the scope and level of interaction aimed at increasing tourist arrivals from Belgium and Luxembourg. Relevant promotional materials and regular communication with the local travel trade via the Visit Southern Africa (VSA) is proving fruitful. More and more tourists are traveling to South Africa with the assistance of VSA affiliated tour operators.

In 2009 emphasis was put on the 2010 Soccer World Cup promotion and opportunities abound for the benefit of the local travel trade to build the goodwill that will accrue from the event in the coming years. 2010 will be a year to pursue meaningful and more direct marketing support from the South African Tourism office for both free independent travelers (FIT) and business travelers. The idea is to aggressively market South Africa as a value-for-money destination to these segments.

With the heightened 2010 FIFA World Cup promotion, in 2009 the Embassy participated in only two fairs, Accenta in Ghent and the Visit Southern Africa Days at Brussels Expo, parallel to Zenith 50+ Fair. The outlook for the tourism industry is set to yield good results, due to the hype around the World Cup. South Africa stands to gain from the exposure in the lead-up to this world’s biggest sporting event and beyond.

In conclusion, it is apt to quote from a senior International Marketing Council official who said “We hope that the World Cup and the benefit it will bring to us, tourism wise, will push us over the (global annual tourist arrival of) ten million mark. We are also proud to say that of all our tourism, more than 70 percent of the revenue earned is from the African market. Our own continent is the most important market to us, revenue wise. It is with that in mind that we want to ensure that we have as many African visitors as possible coming to ensure that this is an African World Cup in its carriage, in its colour and in its flavor”. In preparation to receive thousands and thousands of soccer fans, South Africa engaged in massive upgrades to security, transport and accommodation infrastructure, that will have a lasting effect and to make this, the first FIFA World Cup on African soil, the best EVER!

www.southafrica.net

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2010 FIFA WORLD CUP – Ke Nako!

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2009 kicked off on a high note for the South African Embassy in Belgium and Luxembourg and the Mission to the European Union. The Mission hosted a press launch to unveil the 2010 FIFA World Cup Embassy Annual Programme, coinciding with the National Freedom Day in April. The press launch was followed by an open-top bus parade through the streets of Brussels with the FIFA 2010 World Cup mascot, ZAKUMI, in tow. The ZAKUMI parade stopped over at the European Commission for a visit to the then Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid, Mr Louis Michel, before proceeding to the Belgian Football Federation, the African Union and the ACP House.

The mascot also visited Luxembourg on the occasion of the National Freedom Day celebrations a few days later.

In June, South Africa successfully hosted the Confederations Cup, which is a precursor to the FIFA World Cup. In Brussels, the Embassy arranged with a local sports pub to host a live screening of the opening match between South Africa and Iraq.

The year programme included a mini-World Cup Soccer tournament held in September at the prestigious Belgian Football Centre in Tubize, where 18 teams had a fun-filled day of football in front of a 300 or so crowd.

In 2010, several activities including the mini-soccer World Cup, will be held in Bornem on the margins of the Ezperando World Music Festival in May; we also plan to host a Live Screening of the Opening Match between South Africa and Mexico.

The period leading up to the kick-off, will be one of the most exciting moments in the history of the Embassy and we are grateful that many Friends of South Africa continue to support our programmes.

Ke Nako! (Sesotho for: “It is time!�)

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Mandela Day The UN has declared 18 July Nelson Mandela International Day in recognition of the former South African president’s commitment to human rights, conflict resolution and reconciliation. Starting in 2010, the day will be observed each year on 18 July – Mandela’s birthday – and people across the world will be urged to dedicate 67 minutes of their time to uplift society in some way.

The UN General Assembly paid tribute to former President Mandela in its 64th session in New York on 10 November 2009 with a resolution that seeks to make the international community aware of Mandela’s humanitarian work.

It also recognises Mandela’s “leading role in and support for Africa’s struggle for liberation and unity, and his outstanding contribution to the creation of a non-racial, non-sexist democratic South Africa”.

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Mandela Day in South Africa The idea of Mandela Day was first introduced by President Jacob Zuma in 2009. It became a nationwide campaign to get the public involved in charitable activities for 67 minutes on 18 July – the day former President Mandela turned 91. The number of minutes was significant because it represented the 67 years since the former president first started fighting for human rights and the abolition of apartheid.

Although Mandela Day began as a South African initiative, the international community was involved with a launch at a glittering music concert in New York, where musicians such as Alicia Keys, Stevie Wonder, Wycleaf Jean and French first lady Carla Bruni Sarkozy performed. At this launch, via video streaming, the UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon and US president Barack Obama endorsed the idea to make it a worldwide event. The 2010 concert will be held in Madrid, Spain.

“Mandela is a living embodiment of the highest values of the United Nations,” Ban said. “His commitment to a democratic, multi-racial South Africa; his steadfast pursuit of justice; his willingness to reconcile with those who persecuted him most – these are just some of the hallmarks of a remarkable man.”

(Source: brandsouthafrica.com)

On July 18th, 2009, the South African Embassy in Brussels ably led by Ambassador Sooklal did its bit to contribute 67 minutes of the working time to charity. The Ambassador and staff visited Van Helmont Old Age Home in Anderlecht to assist the elderly with their morning meals. In 2010, the Embassy plans to host various events, amongst others, a photo exhibition, film screening, besides dedicating 67 minutes of our time to this cause and call for solidarity with the less fortunate.

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Social Outreach In 2009, ‘t Meiland Old Age Home, St-Truiden located in the Belgian Province of Limburg, donated walking aids, wheelchairs and physiotherapy equipment to a charity organization of the Embassy’s choice. The Mission accepted the offer and consulted the KwaZulu-Natal Social Development Department to nominate a deserving beneficiary. Mediterranean Shipping Cruise (MSC) was requested to provide a container to ferry the equipment to the Port of Durban, South Africa, on a complimentary basis; and the company gladly accepted.

The second-hand, yet usable, donated equipment included: • 103 x Wheelchairs and Spare Parts; • 43 x Walking Aids; • 21 x Elderly Toilet Seats; • 66 x Orthopaedic Beds; • 25 x Chairs; • 1 x Libra Weight Scale; • 1 x Stretcher; • 2 x Physio Tables; • 20 x Chairs; and • 10 x Sofas On the 6th of October 2009, a ceremony to mark the loading of the container was held in the presence of Ms Sue van der Merwe, the Deputy Minister of International Relations and Co-operation, who was on a working visit to Belgium at the time. The container has since arrived at the Port of Durban.

The Deputy Minister was asked to say a few words and on behalf of the Embassy and the people of South Africa, she thanked St-Truiden Old Age Home for the donation.

She further said that the equipment will be put to good use and is a testimony for the good relations the people of Belgium have with the people of South Africa. The ceremony ended with interviews with the South African Broadcasting Corporation, the Brussels Bureau and local television and radio.

The South African Embassy expresses its profound gratitude to Dr Gerrit Kempeneers and Team at the ‘t Meiland Old Age Home and the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) for their kind gesture. The donation is a valuable contribution to the elderly and physically challenged. We would like to reassure ‘t Meiland and MSC that your effort is not in vain, as the equipment will make a difference to the beneficiaries.

Siyabonga kakhulu! (isiZulu for: “Thank you very much!”).

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MSC Belgium nv Noorderlaan 127A B-2030 Antwerpen tel.: 03 543 22 00

Agriculture expands its mandate The Department of Agriculture evolved into the Department of Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) in 2009. This change has meant the expansion of the mandate of the department. It also meant an express mandate to protect, conserve and increase the forestry activities to derive more economic value.

The expansion provides an overlap into activities of the former departments i.e. food production and productive use and management of soil and water. A holistic management opportunity is presented by this overlap where food production and natural resource conservation and management are brought under one programme and thus more sensibly managed.

The new institutional arrangement is a move to improve coordination of service delivery. It touches at the core of rural livelihoods, food security, job creation and skills development while addressing poverty and unemployment.

Agricultural education is identified as a priority and necessary ingredient towards the achievement of these stated government priorities. To acknowledge this, DAFF embarked on an internship, experiential and bursary programme to train young professionals. The 2008/09 intake was 184 young professionals and 27 of them had already secured employment and retired from the programme by November 2009.

Food production is in part for food supply in South Africa, it is also for exports on the other part. In pursuance of its mandate to promote access to international markets, DAFF, under the auspices of the Department of Trade and Industry (theDTI), successfully concluded negotiations of long outstanding agricultural issues of the TDCA. In this regard, South Africa and the European Commission brought to a close the negotiations on cheese and net/gross weight of canned fruit during 2009. www.daff.gov.za

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South African Revenue Service The South African Revenue Service (Customs and Border Management) continued to strengthen the mutually beneficial relations by maintaining an office attached to the South African Embassy in Brussels. Both countries also maintain Customs Attache who serves as the contact points for enhancing co-operation and communication.

A pilot project between the ports of Antwerp and Durban has been progressing well, with focus on exchanging experiences on methodologies on Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) Management and Risk Management Training. Progress has been made to an extent where training was conducted in South Africa and the project equipment sent to Durban for the project to commence as agreed.

On the multilateral front, a customs co-operation framework was established after the signing of the Financing Agreement between the European Community (EC) and South Africa, concerning the Trade Development Co-operation Agreement Facility (TDCA). Through the TDCA, the SA-EU Customs Co-operation Project was established. The following were identified as the priority areas for the Customs Co-operation with the European Commission:

The project will encompass extensive exchanges of experience in setting up and managing a Customs Union in the following areas: • Technical Studies: - Technical study on EU-SA trade flows - Analysis on customs obstacles to trade - Technical comparison of Authorised Economic Operators schemes An agreement was reached between the SARS and EU Taxation and Customs Union Directorate-General (TAXUD) to establish a Customs Committee which will also be responsible for managing and drafting the terms of reference for the Customs Co-operation project. The implementation of the project is expected to commence early 2010.

Border Control Unit NII Capability

Advanced Customs Information

Automated Risk Management

Customs Systems Modernization

Electronic Seamless Processing

Authorised Economic Operators

• Technical assistance, entailing: - Exchange of experiences on implementation of the Secure and Facilitate Global Trade (SAFE) - Exchange of the experiences on other Customs issues, such as; • Risk Management • Relations with trade • Border Controls • Post Clearance controls • Legislation and operational policy • Fighting fraud and non-compliance schemes

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The Customs Office was part of the following Committees at the World Customs Organisation (WCO) and is still committed to play a critical role in influencing international customs role: • Enforcement Committee – whose purpose is to: - Contribute to the strategic direction of work done by the WCO in compliance, control and intelligence, within the framework of the WCO Strategic Plan. Focus areas in this regard are security, intelligence, commercial fraud, mutual administrative assistance, illicit drug trafficking, money laundering, electronic crime, smuggling, environmental crime, transnational organized crime, firearms and where applicable, the trans-border movement of people and goods.

- Promote exchange of views, experience and best practice and facilitate improved co-operation between customs administrations, private and governmental and non-governmental organizations.

• Global Information and Intelligence Strategy Group – the purpose of this committee is to: - Identify Intelligence standards for tactical, operational and strategic intelligence; - Elaborate Intelligence support specific to customs activities relating to airports and seaports, to subsequent investigations and to trade facilitation and management.

• SAFE Working Group – whose work includes: - Advising the WCO Policy Commission, the Permanent Technical Committee and the Secretary General on issues like monitoring pilot projects in relation to mutual recognition and assist in developing and monitoring the implementation of the Columbus Programme.

• Counterfeiting and Piracy Group – focussing on a dialogue mechanism on border measures on trademark counterfeiting and copyright piracy. This group is also responsible for exchange and discussion of views, experiences, practices and initiatives of Customs administrations and discussions on WCO Capacity Building activities for members requesting assistance.

The Customs Attache, Mr. Coffet Ndanganeni Lebepe was elected to chair the WCO Counterfeiting and Piracy Group (CAP) for the year 2009/10.

Another multilateral engagement involves the World Trade Organisation (WTO). The Customs office plays a vital role in the WTO Trade Negotiations supporting the Department of Trade and Industry (the DTI) on the negotiations.

These are some of the roles played by the Customs Attache in the WTO Negotiations: • WTO – Trade Policy Review of Southern African Customs Union (SACU). This process involved a review

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of the WTO policies and agreements in SACU countries by the WTO through its member states. The role of the Customs Office in this process was to attend and address all Customs and Tax matters before, during and after the review process.

• The office is also involved in the WTO Negotiating Group on Trade Facilitation on the role and inputs of customs in terms of WTO negotiation on trading and trade facilitation.

Other activities included participation in the following strategic forums, as part of the research and intervention of the Attaché for assisting and advising the SARS Leadership: • The 5th Global Congress on Combating Counterfeiting and Piracy – the congress dealt with counterfeiting of goods and piracy during the time of the global financial crisis.

• InWent High Level Dialogue on “New challenges for Customs Policy and Administration: Capacity Building” – one of the focuses of the dialogue was to exchange ideas and views on Customs Modernization in order to build capacity.

• Intergovernmental Negotiating Body on the Protocol of Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products – which is the World Health Organisation (WHO) Framework protocol to combat the illicit trade of cigarettes and tobacco.

• Achieving Management Potential at Commonwealth Association for Tax Administration –involving a United Kingdom-coordinated training for SARS, including presentations on the South African Tax status to other developing Commonwealth countries.

• Technical Conference of the Inter-American Centre of Tax Administrations (CIAT) – a conference about the Technical Tax discussions as co-ordinated by the Inter-American states • World Customs Forum 2009 – Trade Facilitation in time of Economic Crisis – where world leaders in International Trade and Customs discussed new emerging issues confronting trade and customs. The theme for the forum was “Trade Facilitation in time of Crisis – Preserving the engine of Global Economic Growth”.

The Customs Office will remain engaged, both at bilateral and multilateral level, to execute the South African government mandate and to further strengthen relations. www.sars.gov.za

Defence The Defence Attaché’s office continues to liaise with the counterparts in Belgium and the Netherlands. The following are some of the highlights of 2009:

Royal Air Force (RAF) Commemoration Ceremony The Defence Attaché, Brigadier-General Rebecca M. Hadebe was invited to participate in an RAF Commemoration Ceremony in honour of the 103RD SQUADRON WELLINGTON Bomber N2849, in which six (6) crew members lost their lives including one South African National, Stephanus Marais, FlightSergeant and Navigator aged 22 who sacrificed his life for a good cause.

fighters. It is not known whether Wellington N2849 received damage over Duisburg, but it is known that somewhere over the Soerendonk in the Netherlands and Hamont/Achel in Belgium, on its way back to England, they were intercepted by a German night fighter.

On 17 June 1941, the crew of six (6) young men between the ages of 21 and 26 began their operations day, as they had many times before, late in the day. Bomber operations were carried out by the Allies at night as it provided the most protection from enemy forces while flying over occupied Europe.

Wellington N2849 with its six member crew took off at around 22:30 hrs from Newton Air Base in the English county of Nottinghamshire.

Their mission was to bomb harbour installations on the Rhine River in the city of Duisburg 600 km away and then to drop propaganda pamphlets over the cities of Gladbeck and Krefeld on their return trip. Arriving over Duisburg they were forced to drop their bomb load blindly due to ground fog and as a result, missed their aiming point. At this point of the war, accuracy in bombing was minimal with only 5% of aircraft bombing within 20 km of the target. Above Duisburg, their Wellington came under attack from flak batteries as well as night

This courageous crew of young men willingly gave up their lives, ambitions, hopes, and dreams at 2:25 am on 17 June 1941 so that we, 68 years later, could come together and celebrate their short lives without fear and in a free and open way. Because of their sacrifice, we can now drive to all the locations they flew over in Germany, The Netherlands and Belgium that dark night, across open borders and safe with the thought that we are amongst friends.

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Speech at the Commemmoration “Senior Representatives of the RAF Memorial Committee, the Mayor, distinguished guests, Ladies, Gentlemen and all Protocol observed, I am deeply honoured to stand here today before you to participate at this Commemoration Ceremony, in honour of the 103rd Raf Squadron Wellington Bomber N2849, in which six (6) crew members lost their lives 700 meters from this place on 16th June 1941. In particular, Stephanus Marais, Flight-Sergeant and Navigator aged 22, who fought along with five other crew members and sacrificed his life for a good cause.

I would like to sincerely thank the RAF Memorial Committee for inviting us to participate in the commemoration and also the people of Hamont-Achel for their tireless efforts to ensure that these brave young men are remembered.

Thank you!”

Commander of the Belgian Maritime Component Divisional Admiral (R Admiral) Jean Paul Robyns visits the South African Navy The Commander of the Belgian Maritime Component, Rear Admiral Jean Paul Robyns, and his wife, Micheline, paid an official visit to the SA Navy from 20 to 26 June 2009.

On arrival in South Africa, the visitors were met by C Naq’ at Air Force Base (AFB) Waterkloof and proceeded to AFB Hoedspruit accompanied by Rear Admiral (JG) John Barket, for a Naval Defence Visit to Kapama Lodge.

The Admiral and his delegation not only visited the Navy and the industry, but also Robben Island. On the last day of their visit, Admiral Robyns attended the passing-out parade of new officers at the Naval College where he took part in the prize-giving ceremony. www.dod.mil.za

The unveiling of the memorial plaque is symbolic to keep the courage by giving recognition to those who have participated in this great war. The Republic of South Africa honours and remembers those who have shed their blood on foreign soil whose names are scattered all over Europe.

Their names and deeds are there to be witnessed by many generations to come and will forever be remembered.

Stephanus, we salute you and appreciate the sacrifices you made.

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Science and Technology 2009 was another excellent year for South Africa’s scientific and technological (S&T) cooperation with the EU. Building on the success of existing partnerships, such as South Africa’s impressive participation in the EU’s Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) for Research, several new cooperation initiatives were launched.

An important programme of events, organised in association to the annual South Africa-EU Summit, held in South Africa in September 2009, illustrated this growth in and the deepening of relations.

S&T had indeed featured prominently on the Summit agenda, with S&T events for example including the launch of the South Africa – COST (Cooperation in Science and Technology) partnership agreement. COST is one of the EU’s foremost international S&T networking programmes, and the partnership agreement will provide funding for short-term scientific exchange visits between South African and European researchers working on projects in the same domain. Already, several South African researchers have leveraged this opportunity to build relations with strategic European partners.

South Africa’s successful FP7 participation, which now comprises involvement in more than 100 projects and direct funding of more than R150 million allocated to South African researchers by the European Commission, is largely dominated by the participation of universities and public-funded research organisations. As part of the Department of Science and Technology’s (DST) efforts to broaden the range of participants, a special seminar was organised as part of the Summit programme, in partnership with the Swedish EU Presidency, to promote the participation of South African small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the FP7 and other European cooperation initiatives. This initiative has already resulted in a significant increase in the number of South African SMEs involved with FP7.

The annual South African – European Commission Joint Science and Technology Cooperation Committee (JSTCC) was held in Brussels in September 2009. The JSTCC appreciated the current excellent levels of cooperation and the promotional efforts of the European South African Science and Technology Advancement Programme (ESASTAP), but also agreed to new initiatives to improve collaboration in areas where the full potential for partnership has not yet

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been achieved, for example in energy research. In addition to the JSTCC deliberations, the South African delegation, led by the DST Director-General Dr Philemon Mjwara, participated in a series of other engagements to cement and enhance South Africa’s standing as a strategic S&T partner for Europe.

Initiatives agreed to at the JSTCC are being implemented with vigour, as illustrated by the week-long mission of energy research experts undertaken by the European Commission to South Africa in November 2010.

Subsequently, the first participation by a South African organisation in the FP7 energy research programme was achieved through the inclusion of the South African National Energy Research Institute in a major carbon capture and storage research project.

The programme of events organised during the DirectorGeneral’s visit to Brussels notably included an International Year of Astronomy Seminar hosted at the South African Mission, to highlight Southern Africa’s rich potential to contribute to global astronomy programmes, and a dinner lecture, attended by a number of influential European S&T policy and decision-makers, to present the African Institute of Mathematical Sciences. South Africa indeed continued to provide active and concerted support to the strengthening of broader African-EU S&T partnerships, for example through the DST’s role as Vice Chair of the Joint Expert Group of the Science, Information Society and Space Partnership of the Joint Africa-EU Strategy.

Other highlights during the year included the first meeting of the South Africa – EU Space Dialogue, involving both the European Commission and the European Space Agency. Much progress has been made in implementing an ambitious programme of space cooperation, including for example preparations for the extension of the European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service (EGNOS), a global navigation satellite system platform, to Southern Africa.

2009 also saw the long-awaited implementation of the Africa, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Science and Technology Programme, jointly funded through the European Development Fund and the EU Development Cooperation Instrument for South Africa. The DST had over the years played a central role in the preparation of the Programme and also actively supported its implementation.

South African organisations will participate in 8 projects (with a total funding of more than R80 million) to be supported under the Programme. These programmes will target S&T capacity building in ACP countries, with the Southern African Research and Innovation Management Association (SARIMA), based in South Africa, for example implementing a project to strengthen research management capacities at universities and other organisations in Africa and the Caribbean.

With regard to bilateral relations with Belgium, the preparation in 2009, of the new bilateral cooperation agreement between South Africa’s National Research Foundation and its Flemish counterpart, the FWO (Fonds voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek), was the undoubted highlight. The first call for proposals under this agreement has already been published in early 2010.

With a rich, diverse and growing portfolio of activities, S&T will undoubtedly remain one of the flagship areas of cooperation in South Africa – EU relations in 2010. During the year when the world’s attention will be on South Africa for the FIFA World Cup, the socio-economic relevance and impact of South Africa-EU S&T cooperation will be highlighted by the demonstration during the World Cup of the FP7 STADIUM project, which seeks to improve public transport management for large events through intelligent transport systems. Two South African SMEs and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) are key partners in this project. www.dst.gov.za

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Embassy Staff

H.E. Dr Anil Sooklal Ambassador

Ms Nolundi Dikweni Minister Plenipotentiary

Political Section

Ms Pinkie Moleko Counsellor

Mr Oupana Tsotetsi Counsellor

Mrs Lorenci Klopper Counsellor

Mr Thivhilaeli Makatu Counsellor

Mr Gideon Joubert First Secretary

Ms Zintle Koza First Secretary

Mr Phumlani Mfenyana First Secretary

Mr Chris Matjila Second Secretary

Agriculture Customs

Mr Itumeleng Makabanyane Counsellor

Mr Nndanganeni Lebepe Counsellor

Defence

Col. Rebecca Hadebe Defence Attaché

Science & Economic Technology

Mr Lionel October Minister-Counsellor

Mr Daan du Toit Minister

Corporate Services

Mrs Madalein Joubert Corporate Services Manager

Ms Sibongile Hlatshwayo Attaché

Ms Tercia Malepane First Secretary

Ms Corna Klopper Assistant Attaché

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South African Embassy to Belgium and Luxembourg and Mission to the European Union Rue Montoyer 17-19 Montoyerstraat 1000 Brussels, Belgium Tel: +32 (0)2 285 4400 Fax: +32 (0) 2 285 4402

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