JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) &#8211; The New Development Bank, set up by the BRICS group of emerging economies, has approved loans of $300 million for energy projects in South Africa and $300 million for a transportation project in China.
South Africa, which will host a BRICS summit later this week in Johannesburg, is trying to diversify its energy mix to reduce its reliance on heavily polluting coal-fired power plants.
It has launched several bidding rounds for billions of dollars of renewable energy deals in recent years, with the latest expected to open later this year.
The BRICS development bank said in a statement that its $300 million loan to South Africa would be channelled via the Development Bank of Southern Africa and would focus on projects which reduce carbon dioxide emissions and boost energy efficiency.
Its $300 million loan to China is for a new metro line in the city of Luoyang. With the two projects, the bank’s portfolio of loans stands at more than $5.7 billion.
The BRICS grouping comprises Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.
Russia said this month that it was in talks with the New Development Bank about borrowing more than $1 billion for infrastructure projects.
Reporting by Alexander Winning; Editing by Alison Williams

Why BRICS bank is loaning South Africa and China $300 million each

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) &#8211; Diamond producer De Beers said on Monday it was relocating 200 elephants from its private reserve in South Africa to neighbouring Mozambique, part of wider efforts to restore wildlife populations ravaged by conflict there.
The Anglo American unit said its 32,000-hectare )80,000-acre) Venetia Limpopo Nature Reserve could support around 60 elephants but now had 270, causing “extensive damage to an ecosystem that must sustain a diverse wildlife population.”
The world’s largest land mammals have a jumbo-sized impact on their terrain and in many South African parks, which are fenced to contain them, populations have reached levels where the vegetation cannot support their numbers.
De Beers said the elephants would be moved 1,500 km (1,000 miles) to Mozambique’s Zinave National Park, which has over 400,000 hectares and an elephant population of only 60.
Mozambique’s wildlife numbers were badly hit by a 15-year civil war that ended in 1992. In more recent years, its remaining elephant populations have been targeted by ivory poachers.
The operation is being conducted with the Peace Parks Foundation (PPF) conservation group, and De Beers said it was providing it with $500,000 to support anti-poaching efforts.
“Ecosystems require a range of fauna and flora to stay balanced. If you remove one species, such as elephant, it has a ripple effect on the whole system,” said Werner Myburgh, the chief executive of the PPF.
“The reintroduction of elephants to Mozambique will bring us one step closer to achieving our dream of restoring the landscape.”
Elephants are extremely social animals and family groups will be kept together for the translocation, a huge logistical undertaking that will include darting operations and the movement of tranquilised animals over long distances by road.
Editing by James Macharia and Robin Pomeroy

Here’s why De Beers is moving 200 elephants from South Africa to Mozambique

<div id="attachment_313563" style="width: 706px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-313563" class="wp-image-313563 size-large" src="http://cnbc.africa/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/50th_Anniversary_African_Union_Summit_in_Addis_Ababa_Ethiopia1-1110x683.jpg" alt="" width="696" height="428" />African Union Summit in Addis Ababa. Photo: Wikimedia Commons</div>
Agenda 2063’s guiding vision is to see “an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in the international arena.” Let’s look at this guiding vision carefully, point by point.
By Nnamdi Oranye
Agenda 2063 is a strategic framework for the socio-economic transformation of our beautiful continent over the next 50 years. The next 50 years for us as a continent are critical. By 2030, Africa will have the largest workforce in the world. Can you imagine the possibilities that are opening up to us within just twenty years?
Or can you imagine how badly things will go if this large workforce becomes a liability to the world?
I’m optimistic. We have what it takes, and in effect nothing stops us from taking advantage of our time. Strategies such as Agenda 2063 are absolutely key for our generation going forward, and as such we shouldn’t treat such moments as simple paperwork but should seek to collectively hop on board and work for our future.
Agenda 2063 has seven aspirations it wants to reach by the year 2063. These are as follows.
&#8211; A Prosperous Africa, based on inclusive growth and sustainable development
&#8211; An integrated continent, politically united, based on the ideals of Pan Africanism and the vision of Africa’s Renaissance
&#8211; An Africa of good governance, democracy, respect for human rights, justice and the rule of law
&#8211; A Peaceful and Secure Africa
&#8211; Africa with a strong cultural identity, common heritage, values and ethics
&#8211; An Africa whose development is people driven, relying on the potential offered by people, especially its women and youth and caring for children
&#8211; An Africa as a strong, united, resilient and influential global player and partner
It also has a unique way of getting there, as outlined by the web page at <a href="https://au.int/agenda2063/about">https://au.int/agenda2063/about</a>. These are important details. However, what I want to do for our purposes here is examine each detail of the guiding vision and break it down, showing why it is relevant.
The guiding vision
Agenda 2063’s guiding vision is to see “an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in international arena.” Let’s look at this guiding vision carefully, point by point.
<ol>
<li> An integrated Africa</li>
</ol>
We’re getting there. The AU passport promises that by 2020, travelling in our beautiful continent will be significantly easier for citizens of our many nations. I don’t think we should ever sacrifice the local for the Pan-African, but I think that without the Pan-African and us working together we will not be able to tap into our tremendous potential.
<ol start="2">
<li> A prosperous Africa</li>
</ol>
This is a tough one, but it’s an ideal we can reach. We have the prosperity in our incredible natural resources, but we also have something more important than that – our mind.
This is so often missed yet it is so important. Have you ever wondered how come the one country to have an atomic bomb dropped on it (and not just one, but two), Japan, has persistently and consistently done so well in the last few decades? Have you even gone to see what kind of natural resources that nation has? It’s an island, basically, with very few natural resources and with every reason to live in the horrors of its past. But yet that’s not what we see there.
The answer is profoundly simple. Japan taps into the most valuable resources there is: people with ideas. It invests everything into ideas and making these ideas a reality. For decades it has put innovation at the top of its priorities. Even politics comes second to innovation! We have excellent innovation in Africa. We just need to see the value and invest!
<ol start="3">
<li> A peaceful Africa</li>
</ol>
I wonder if we don’t put too much emphasis on the politicians to achieve this, rather than take up responsibility for this ourselves. Rwanda is an unbelievable example right now of a nation that has put its past horrors and grievances aside and has looked to the future. When last did you visit Kigali? Let me give you a tip: go there. It’s a truly wonderful place. What I see in Rwanda is a nation that has begun to tap into its true potential and has begun to see the incredible value of innovation.
<ol start="4">
<li> Driven by its own citizens</li>
</ol>
This, for me, is such a pivotal point of this guiding vision. No one is going to get us where we can and should be except ourselves. We need to work together. We can’t leave it up to the politicians or the celebrities or the people in power. We have the power in our own two hands and in our own minds and hearts and we can do something with it.
<ol start="5">
<li> Representing a dynamic force in the international arena</li>
</ol>
Ultimately, this is the goal. We can be this by 2030 if we roll up our sleeves now – not tomorrow, not next month, not in five years, but now. We will have the largest workforce in just over 20 years. What are we going to do about it?
I know the tremendous challenges we have to get us there, but if we are willing then we will be able. We just need to keep disrupting Africa, together!

Op-Ed: Going Through Agenda 2063’s Guiding Vision

<figure><img decoding="async" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/227960/original/file-20180717-44094-fmecx.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt="File 20180717 44094 fmecx.jpg?ixlib=rb 1.1" /><figcaption>Policies must be put in place to reduce the number of working children in Nigeria. 
Shutterstock/Atfie Sahid</figcaption></figure>
<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/prof-dimeji-togunde-517962">Prof. &#8216;Dimeji Togunde</a>, <a href="http://theconversation.com/institutions/spelman-college-3559">Spelman College</a>
Stories of children being used in Nigerian mines <a href="https://www.thecable.ng/nothing-changed-ngo-says-children-still-slaving-ebonyi-mines">have hit</a> the headlines. But this phenomenon isn’t uncommon. About 15 million Nigerian children work –- the highest rate of working children in West Africa.
Globally <a href="https://www.dw.com/en/growing-number-of-children-forced-to-work-in-nigeria/a-39209370">there are</a> over 168 million children, aged 5 to 14, that work. While most studies focus on child labour that happen in rural and agricultural areas, <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/09718923.2008.11892615#aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cudGFuZGZvbmxpbmUuY29tL2RvaS9wZGYvMTAuMTA4MC8wOTcxODkyMy4yMDA4LjExODkyNjE1P25lZWRBY2Nlc3M9dHJ1ZUBAQDA=">very few</a> have reported the dangers experienced by children in urban areas of Africa where they work as street hawkers, hustlers, vendors and domestic servants.
But in a rapidly growing society such as Nigeria, where poverty is widespread, child labour in urban areas has become a systemic avenue for augmenting parental income. Though it may build the <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10796120500502201">entrepreneurial skills</a> of youngsters for later life, it can have detrimental consequences.
I set out to find out more about the lives of children who are working. Drawing on interviews with 1,535 children (aged 8 – 14 years) and their parents, <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/09718923.2008.11892615#aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cudGFuZGZvbmxpbmUuY29tL2RvaS9wZGYvMTAuMTA4MC8wOTcxODkyMy4yMDA4LjExODkyNjE1P25lZWRBY2Nlc3M9dHJ1ZUBAQDA=">my study</a> documented their experiences. It showed that although child labour provides significant economic assistance towards the sustenance of the family, children don’t get a proper education and experience negative health and social consequences in the process.
<h2>Working children</h2>
Over half the children interviewed were female and the average age of all children was 12 years, though some were as young as 7-years-old. Most were engaged in sales (such as street hawking) and services (like car washing). While some of the children worked as much as six hours a day, the average daily hours of work was four.
When it came to the parents, more than two-thirds were engaged in trading and services, the remaining 28.4% were employed in administrative and professional occupations, indicating more education. Regarding parental income, an overwhelming 8 out of 10 parents earned about 20,000 Naira (about USD$55) per month. Such low earnings mean the households turned to using the labour of their children to supplement the family’s income.
Despite the economic benefits of child labour, the findings show that children face a variety of challenges in their daily activities.
More than a third had experienced accidents involving motor vehicles. “John,” a boy aged 9, complained that: “I get hit by car and motorcycles when I want to cross the roads.”
Surprisingly, 1 out of 7 children told our interviewers about attempted kidnapping. 
“Laide”, a 10 year-old-girl, narrated a scenario where two men wanted her to follow them by promising to give her 5,000 Naira (about USD$14).
The study also found that about 1 out of 10 children had been subjected to rape, sexual molestation, or assault while on the streets selling foodstuffs and fruits.
“Tayo”, a 13 year old girl said: “At times, some men would pretend that they want to buy things from me, but later would be touching my body.” “Kehinde”, a 14-year-old girl, said: “I was raped twice and became pregnant on one occasion by two men…My parents aborted the pregnancy so that it wouldn’t ruin my education.”
Because children spend considerable time away from their family and household, about one-quarter (22.8%) reported that gangsters would invite them to join in their bad activities. “Tolu”, an 11-year-old boy said: “Touts and gangsters would come to me and ask me to smoke Indian hemp (marijuana). Sometimes, they would ask me to describe my house so that they can come to visit me and invite me to join them in their activities.”
Almost one quarter (24.1%) of children miss one day or more of school each week. Moreover, 7 out of 10 of the working children attribute their poor school attendance to tiredness or sickness resulting from long distance walking due to their daily work activities, while the remaining 28% miss school because of their parents request that they should sell foodstuffs instead of attending school that day. This finding shows how child labour can have a detrimental effect on child health, which invariably affects their school attendance.
When children do go to school, about half are sometimes, or always, late. When asked why they’re late, 52.6% cited child labour as the major reason. Another one-third mentioned tiredness or illness as reasons for the lateness. Again, child labour appears to have a negative impact on their punctuality which does not bode well for effective learning and success in school.
Children were also asked about opportunities for doing homework after school. Just a little over 40% said that child labour does not hinder their time for homework.
Finally, interviews with the children reveal that two-thirds do not have time for recreation, although the remaining one-third manage to play with friends during the time they are engaged in child labour. Child labour disturbs children’s leisure time, hindering their optimal social development which they get through interacting with peers.
<h2>New policies</h2>
I recommend that policies need to be put in place that reduce the number of children working in Nigeria. Policy programmes such as credit facilities, poverty reduction schemes, by creating jobs for adults, and the provision of affordable medical facilities would improve the quality of lives and, consequently, reduce the need for child labour.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/100068/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />Existing laws should also be enforced, including compliance with the minimum working age and ensuring universal enrolment of Nigerian children in schools.
<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/prof-dimeji-togunde-517962">Prof. &#8216;Dimeji Togunde</a>, Associate Provost for Global Education &amp; Professor of International Studies, <a href="http://theconversation.com/institutions/spelman-college-3559">Spelman College</a>
This article was originally published on <a href="http://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a>. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/nigerian-children-recount-the-challenges-they-face-working-in-a-city-100068">original article</a>.

About 15 million Nigerian children work and these are the challenges they face

By Zikhona Masala, CNBC Africa reporter and producer
As the world celebrates 100 years since the birth of struggle icon, Nelson Mandela, we can’t ignore the growing list of things named after the former statesman from restaurants to streets across the globe. Here are 18 of the not so obvious.
<ol>
<li>Nelson Mandela Train Station </li>
</ol>
A train station in Tunis, the capital city of Tunisia.
<ol start="2">
<li>Singafrotypa Mandela </li>
</ol>
 An African orb-weaver spider which belongs to the spider family called Araneidae.
<ol start="3">
<li>Paravanda Nelson Mandela</li>
</ol>
An orchid in Singapore named after Nelson Mandela.
<ol start="4">
<li>Mandela Tea</li>
</ol>
 A tea brand specialising in making indigenous South African flavours.
<ol start="5">
<li>Nelson Mandela Tree</li>
</ol>
 A tree named after Mandela in Columbia.
<ol start="6">
<li>Strelitzia reginae also known as Mandela’s Gold</li>
</ol>
 A crane flower previously called the Kirstenbosch Gold which was later renamed in honour of Nelson Mandela.
<ol start="7">
<li>House of Mandela Wine</li>
</ol>
 A wine collection produced by the daughter and granddaughter of the late South African President Nelson Mandela.
<ol start="8">
<li>Australopicus nelsonmandelai </li>
</ol>
The oldest woodpecker species whose remains were unearthed at the Langebaanweg fossil site named in South Africa&#8217;s south-west coast.
<ol start="9">
<li>Mandelia Micocornata</li>
</ol>
 A sea slug named by Marine biologists.
<ol start="10">
<li>Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University </li>
</ol>
The result of the merging of the University of Port Elizabeth and PE Technikon in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa.
<ol start="11">
<li>Nelson Mandela Bridge</li>
</ol>
South Africa’s largest cable-stayed bridge which connects Johannesburg’s inner city.
<ol start="12">
<li>Nelson Mandela Square</li>
</ol>
A public shopping square situated in Sandton, Johannesburg in Africa’s richest square mile.
<ol start="13">
<li>Nelson Mandela Gateway </li>
</ol>
The gateway to Robben Island Prison in Cape Town where South African freedom fighters were imprisoned.
<ol start="14">
<li>Nelson Mandela Capture Site</li>
</ol>
The site at which Nelson Mandela was apprehended for his anti-Apartheid activism in August 1952.
<ol start="15">
<li>MandelaDay Marathon</li>
</ol>
 Mandela Day Marathon venue is just next to the site where Madiba was captured.
<ol start="16">
<li>Madiba Shirts</li>
</ol>
The shirts became Madiba’s trademark clothing item. FUN FACT: Sonwabile Ndamase who was Nelson Mandela’s designer the shirts were not a fashion statement but were because of the former statesman’s health.
<ol start="17">
<li>Nelson Mandela Coins</li>
</ol>
 An edition of the Protea coin series in honour of Nelson Mandela.
<ol start="18">
<li>Mandela Particle</li>
</ol>
 A fragment of matter found in the 70s.

18 Unusual things named in honour of Nelson Mandela that you probably never heard of

The world is celebrating the memory and legacy of one of Africa’s most illustrious leaders, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela. This year is special because it’s the <a href="https://www.nelsonmandela.org/nelson-mandela-100">centenary celebration</a> of his birth. His leadership was important in reprioritising humanity and dignity by emphasising forgiveness and reconciliation, the protection of human rights, respect for all, and equal opportunity. Thabo Leshilo asked Cheryl Hendricks and Keith Gottschalk to reflect on <a href="http://ewn.co.za/2018/07/17/obama-s-best-quotes-from-the-mandelalecture">Barack Obama’s speech</a> commemorating Mandela’s legacy.
<hr />
Did Obama strike the right chord?
Cheryl Hendricks: Obama was chosen to give this important lecture because he represented a great deal of what Mandela stood for. And because he provided hope and inspiration for a better world during his tenure as president.
His lecture struck the right chord. It was a forceful reminder of how far humanity has come over the past century – as well as the world’s current tensions and uncertainties. It was also a reminder of how we need to keep the hope and spirit alive of a world in which social justice and democracy can prevail. A world in which tolerance, inclusivity and the pursuit of a common good is the norm.
<a href="http://www.sahistory.org.za/people/nelson-rolihlahla-mandela">Mandela</a> was a humble, visionary, leader of international stature seeking to bridge the divides between the North and the South to promote a common humanity, to reinvigorate multilateralism, to fight inequality and provide a moral compass for the world.
His ideas about attaining peace in Africa through negotiations and mediation and creating more inclusive societies is one that still shapes conflict management on the continent. In South Africa his contribution remains his vision of a united, non-racial, non-sexist, democratic society that eschewed tribalism and patronage politics, and that promoted collective and servant leadership. He was a unifier in a deeply racially divided society.
But the last decade has seen a shift from Mandela’s vision – globally, continentally and nationally. Globally, multilateralism is under threat by rogue states, “America first” forms of engagement with its stress on national interests, and the return to militarised solutions for resolving conflicts.
For its part, the continent has lost its way in implementing the ideals of pan-Africanism. Today it’s more constrained by narrow nationalist and authoritarian politics, and by high levels of poverty and inequality.
Mandela’s legacy was probably under the most threat in South Africa itself where we had deviated substantively from integrity, humility, non-racialism, participation, eradicating inequality and empowering all.
Obama’s speech was powerful because it drew on all these themes.
Keith Gottschalk: Speaking for nearly two hours, Obama set current world events against the arc of history. His speech made a fitting centennial address for Madiba, and went down well with the frequently applauding crowd of 15 000.
What are the three most important things to take away from the speech?
Cheryl Hendricks: His key points were firstly that we are at a crossroads. What we have built and achieved over the last 100 years is being contested by those who espouse the politics of fear and resentment, fuelled by the contradictions of globalisation, failures of governance and political elites that have assumed a monopoly of power. This is manifested in xenophobia, terrorism, chauvinism, narrow nationalism, gender inequality, economic greed and authoritarianism.
It’s in direct opposition to the values, ideals and principles embodied by Madiba and the many who fought for democracy and freedom. It is uncertain which one will win. But that we need to resist the cynicism, the divisions, hatred, corruption and be guided by universal principals, love, and servant collective leadership.
Secondly, our biggest challenge is technology. Artificial intelligence threatens job security and forces us to find creative ways of generating employment.
Thirdly, democracy is still the best vehicle to achieve social justice. But it needs to be about more than just holding elections. It must be part of civic culture, and driven by young people who are passionate about building a new society.
Obama’s message is a timely one for South Africa and the world as they struggle with the complexities and contradictions of globalisation and the retreat into the politics reminiscent of an unequal authoritarian past.
He reminded us of our own duties and responsibilities to protect our democratic gains, and to continue the quest for a just, free world where all can enjoy dignity. That we are bound together, interdependent, and therefore have a common destiny. This fact should shape how we interact with one another. It’s about promoting active citizenship and the transformation of global governance institutions.
Keith Gottschalk: First, Obama pointed out that the first two decades of the 21st Century saw the world freer, healthier and wealthier than ever before. Globalisation lifted one billion people out of poverty. Violators of human rights feel on the defensive. We have reduced the prospects of war.
But he also pointed out that the previous structures of oppression and exploitation were never fully dislodged. Racial discrimination can still be found – in the US as well as South Africa.
Unlike those who predicted the triumph of liberal democracy, there are contesting narratives pitting race, ethnicity, tribalism, nationalism, or religion against not only the West, but against modernity.
We have to address the fears of those who feel left out or left behind by globalisation. We must work harder and smarter to realise Madiba’s vision for freedom.
Strong men politicians are on the ascendancy, hiding behind façade of elections, while harassing their opponents and the media.
And we have to believe in the facts. Some politicians now make stuff up, and when caught out lying show no sense of shame.
Second, unlike some free market fundamentalists, Obama more than once made the point that if we want to work for freedom, we have to fight inequality. Where you have extreme economic inequality, the wealthy elite will have wildly disproportionate political influence. We need to keep protesting and keep resisting. We need inclusive education, collective bargaining rights, and to break up monopolies. You must worry about economics if you want to get democracy to work.
Third, the struggle for basic freedoms and justice is never truly finished. Human rights require us to recognise the humanity in all persons. These are not western ideals but universal ideals. Schools should teach not blind obedience, but critical thinking.
Democracy is about more than just elections. It means listening to opposing views, not only the ones you agree with. It means working with your enemies, so they become your partners.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/100141/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />Ultimately, right makes might. Madiba is an example of the politics of resilience and hope; never give in to cynicism. We need a collective spirit – young people are hope carriers. Keep believing in the vision; keep marching; keep building; raise your voice.
<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/cheryl-hendricks-267661">Cheryl Hendricks</a>, Executive director, Africa Institute of South Africa, <a href="http://theconversation.com/institutions/human-sciences-research-council-2144">Human Sciences Research Council</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/keith-gottschalk-115227">Keith Gottschalk</a>, Political Scientist, <a href="http://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-the-western-cape-1018">University of the Western Cape</a>
This article was originally published on <a href="http://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a>. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/obama-pays-tribute-to-mandela-and-invites-the-world-to-find-its-better-angels-100141">original article</a>.

Key points to take away from Obama’s speech paying tribute to Nelson Mandela

<figure><img decoding="async" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/226552/original/file-20180706-122280-1k6sidt.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt="File 20180706 122280 1k6sidt.jpg?ixlib=rb 1.1" /><figcaption>Shutterstock
</figcaption></figure>
<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/bernelle-verster-447757">Bernelle Verster</a>, <a href="http://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-cape-town-691">University of Cape Town</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/cheri-leigh-young-502285">Cheri-Leigh Young</a>, <a href="http://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-cape-town-691">University of Cape Town</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/francois-steenkamp-502558">Francois Steenkamp</a>, <a href="http://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-cape-town-691">University of Cape Town</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/jennifer-lee-broadhurst-245778">Jennifer Lee Broadhurst</a>, <a href="http://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-cape-town-691">University of Cape Town</a>, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/sue-harrison-246842">Sue Harrison</a>, <a href="http://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-cape-town-691">University of Cape Town </a>
South Africa’s economy was built on the mining industry. But the sector has been in decline for decades. <a href="http://www.statssa.gov.za/?cat=41">Mining</a> contributed R312 billion, or 6.8%, to South Africa’s GDP and 464 667 direct jobs in 2017, a far cry from the 21% contribution to GDP in the 1970’s.
Over the past two decades, 6 000 mines have been <a href="http://crown.co.za/latest-news/modern-quarrying-latest-news/5530-planning-for-successful-mine-closure">abandoned</a> and a large <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/278035528_Mine_closure_in_South_Africa_A_survey_of_current_professional_thinking_and_practice">number</a> are expected to be closed in the next ten years. As one consulting <a href="https://www.miningmx.com/news/platinum/32500-third-sa-platinum-harvest-mode-industry-crisis-deepens/">analyst</a> and engineer in mining puts it, “we are in mine closure inducement mode right now”. Fixed investment in the industry has been shrinking over the past 10 years, while almost 30 000 jobs have been lost since 2014.
Mine closures create an economic vacuum, especially if the mines have been the only generator of economic activity in an area. Essential services, such as medical and health facilities, can also disappear if they were provided for by mining companies. Distressed communities are left behind to fend for themselves.
Towns like <a href="https://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/tough-times-for-small-town-blighted-by-mine-closure-20170529">Carletonville</a>, Kroondal and Witbank in South Africa have already felt the impact.
A mine closure is a multifaceted injury that occurs in a narrow time frame. Communities don’t have a chance to adapt. It’s therefore important for closures to be planned and managed throughout a mine’s life cycle so that when the inevitable happens, people are better prepared.
We have been conducting <a href="http://www.resilientfutures.uct.ac.za/inputs">research</a> into different approaches to mine closures, viewed from several angles. The research covers a range of topics. These include how value can be added by treating acid mine drainage through <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0892687509002453">biomining</a>, evaluating sustainable development in the context of mines preparing for <a href="https://www.ajol.info/index.php/ajsd/article/view/111127">closure</a>, evaluating the legal requirements to facilitate <a href="https://brill.com/view/book/edcoll/9789004313521/B9789004313521-s009.xml">mine transformation</a> and investigating the <a href="https://www.afdb.org/fileadmin/uploads/afdb/Documents/Publications/WPS_No_256_Manufacturing__Employment-Complexity_Analysis_Zc_.pdf">economic complexity</a> required to grow the South African economy beyond primary resource extraction.
A great deal of research is going into <a href="http://www.resilientfutures.uct.ac.za/inputs">green mining</a> – an approach that involves mining metals and minerals for the benefit of local communities and in ways that lead to minimal environmental degradation. This includes planning beyond mine closure, while the mine is still operational.
Members from each of the teams involved in the research at the University of Cape Town are trying to find more integrated opportunities to address the complexities of mine closures. Our approach has been to address the challenge through a <a href="http://www.resilientfutures.uct.ac.za">multi-faceted</a> approach that involves collaboration across disciplines. This approach takes into account the perspectives of natural scientists (including bio, environmental and inorganic chemists), chemical engineers, legal specialists and developmental economists.
<h2>Opportunities beyond mining</h2>
An area we are exploring is whether the infrastructure left behind after mine closures can be put to new use.
One key insight is that the infrastructure that supports mining can also be used for <a href="http://www.miningfacts.org/economy/how-does-large-scale-mining-affect-agriculture/">agriculture</a>.
Another avenue of research investigates planting fibre-producing plants such as bamboo or hemp on mine land. The attraction here is that fibre-producing plants could achieve multiple objectives.
The first is that they have the ability to rehabilitate the land itself. Fibrous plants are particularly useful because they selectively absorb metals from the soil.
Secondly, communities can diversify a local economy by changing the land use from mining to agricultural activity. This could spur the development of downstream industries, including the manufacturing of textiles and furniture which can be produced from the fibre and stems of some of these plants.
An inter-disciplinary approach has been adopted in exploring the possibility of using fibrous plants on land previously used for mining.
For example, the <a href="http://www.ceber.uct.ac.za/">Centre for Bioprocessing Engineering Research</a> from the University of Cape Town, is reviewing the available information on fibrous plant suitability. This is done by assessing the best match of plant and degraded land. Key considerations include:
<ul>
<li>the features of the geography and soil;</li>
<li>the resilience of the plant and its productivity; and</li>
<li>the nutrient and water requirements.</li>
</ul>
At the same time the <a href="http://www.mineralstometals.uct.ac.za/">minerals to metals group</a> is assessing the potential for plants removing metal from the soil, the impact of plant type on removal, and ease of metal recovery. Their goal is to identify the most suitable crop types to achieve not only the best outcome for economic diversification, but also rehabilitation of the land.
The project draws on <a href="http://www.hsrc.ac.za/en/research-outputs/view/9301">existing research</a> that’s already been done around the economic potential of bamboo in South Africa.
<h2>Opportunities</h2>
South Africa isn’t short of opportunities in which to try out new approaches. Mine closures are a regular occurrence. Lonmin, for example, has announced that over the next three years it will be closing some operations with the loss of over <a href="https://www.moneyweb.co.za/news-fast-news/shrinking-platinum-sector-adds-to-ramaphosas-economy-challenge/">12 000 jobs</a>.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/98505/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />Moving from the concept of mine closure to mine transformation – taking into account the environmental as well as societal and economic effects of mining – provides new opportunities to fill the economic and governance vacuum of mines closing, easing the traumatic transition for affected communities and contributing to securing resilient future livelihoods.
<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/bernelle-verster-447757">Bernelle Verster</a>, Researcher, Future Water Institute. Bioprocess engineering background, <a href="http://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-cape-town-691">University of Cape Town</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/cheri-leigh-young-502285">Cheri-Leigh Young</a>, Postdoctoral research fellow, <a href="http://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-cape-town-691">University of Cape Town</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/francois-steenkamp-502558">Francois Steenkamp</a>, Researcher, <a href="http://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-cape-town-691">University of Cape Town</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/jennifer-lee-broadhurst-245778">Jennifer Lee Broadhurst</a>, Associate Professor, <a href="http://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-cape-town-691">University of Cape Town</a>, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/sue-harrison-246842">Sue Harrison</a>, Director for the centre of bioprocess engineering research, <a href="http://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-cape-town-691">University of Cape Town</a>
This article was originally published on <a href="http://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a>. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/finding-ways-to-keep-communities-alive-after-mine-closures-98505">original article</a>.

How communities in Africa can thrive after mine closures

Astronomy in Africa will take a giant leap forward with <a href="https://www.gov.za/speeches/science-and-technology-minister-mmamoloko-kubayi-ngubane-launches-64-dish-meerkat-13-jul-10">the unveiling</a> of the 64-dish MeerKAT array in South Africa on July 13. The MeerKAT will be the largest and most sensitive radio telescope in the southern hemisphere until the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) is completed.
Why is this such a big deal? After all, Africa has many challenges more pressing than exploring the universe. But, as my colleagues and I recently argued in <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41550-018-0524-y">an article for Nature Astronomy</a>, astronomy occupies a special place among the many efforts to address development challenges. It has a unique ability to stimulate thoughts of “what is possible” in the minds of marginalised communities, women and children.
Astronomy connects philosophical, cultural and inspirational elements with the cutting edge of science and technology. This affords the discipline a unique advantage to foster socioeconomic development. For instance, astronomy has been used in <a href="http://www.astro4dev.org/blog/category/tf2/astronomy-for-literacy/">Sierra Leone</a> to improve middle school pupils’ literacy. It worked because they loved what they were learning.
Astronomy techniques are also used across sectors from <a href="http://www.astro.ljmu.ac.uk/astro-ecology">conservation</a> to <a href="https://www.darabigdata.com/">medical imaging</a>.
The <a href="http://www.astro4dev.org/">International Astronomical Union’s Office of Astronomy for Development</a> uses astronomy to drive positive developmental change. It has ten regional and language centres. Three are in Africa, in Ethiopia, Nigeria and Zambia. The global coordinating office is situated in South Africa.
Our challenge as astronomers is not only to grow the discipline in Africa. We also need to ensure that this growth is accompanied by the educational, technology transfer and societal engagement initiatives that can drive the continent’s development priorities.
<h2>Skills training</h2>
The funding we disburse has been used to run a number of programmes aimed at developing skills among school and university students.
One of these was the <a href="http://www.astro4dev.org/blog/category/tf1/madagascar-astronomy-python-workshop/">Madagascar Astronomy Python Workshop</a> in 2017. It focused on practical coding in the Python programming language for university students and lecturers. The aim was to build on astronomy tools that participants can develop for their own research and teaching, not necessarily in the field of astronomy.
At school level the <a href="https://awbnigeria.com/2018/05/07/2018-girls-astronomers-camp/">Girls Astronomy Camp</a> was held in Abuja, Nigeria earlier this year. This not only dealt with education. It also tackled the <a href="http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0025/002534/253479E.pdf">large gender disparity</a> in science, technology, engineering and maths fields, which can be a complex, socio-cultural issue in many regions.
It’s crucial for educational interventions to address the fact that astronomy students often find employment outside the field. Students must learn science in a way that allows them to build their repertoire of transferable skills.
So the Office of Astronomy for Development has funded a number of Joint Exchange Development Initiative workshops in <a href="http://www.astro4dev.org/blog/category/tf1/jedi-2014/">Namibia</a>, <a href="http://www.astro4dev.org/blog/category/uplifting-the-mozambican-astronomy-community/">Mozambique</a> and <a href="http://www.astro4dev.org/blog/category/tf1/big-data-in-astronomy-a-tool-for-social-innovation/">Mauritius</a>. These workshops focus on direct transfer of specific skills in an informal but intense learning environment. They’re also excellent for data science skills, which are particularly important for economic growth and jobs in emerging markets.
To support this need and bridge the data science and astronomy communities, the Office of Astronomy for Development hosts a <a href="https://datascience.astro4dev.org">repository for data science resources and code examples</a>.
<h2>Beyond disciplinary boundaries</h2>
Astronomy can also be put to use in perhaps surprising ways to boost development.
One of our projects, <a href="http://www.astro4dev.org/blog/category/tf3/citizen-science-developing/">Accessible Citizen Science for the Developing World</a>, has married health issues with astronomy skills through running a proof-of-concept type intervention. Retinal defects are common, but curable. <a href="https://www.peekvision.org/">Peek Vision</a>, a social enterprise that works to bring better vision and health to everyone, developed a retinal imaging device that can be easily used, even in rural Kenya, with an Android phone.
But there weren’t enough qualified ophthalmologists at hand to use the app to diagnose retinal problems. So Peek Vision teamed up with astronomers at a citizen science portal called the <a href="https://www.zooniverse.org/">Zooniverse</a>. In the same way that the citizen scientists had previously worked to classify thousands of galaxies, they were called on to learn how to identify retinal problems on the Zooniverse portal.
Such partnerships are quintessential examples of working together across disciplinary boundaries to achieve development outcomes.
<h2>Creating spaces</h2>
There are numerous other initiatives that contribute to development through astronomy. Large astronomical infrastructure investments like MeerKAT aim to stimulate the technology industry and advance the development of technical skills.
International aid initiatives with a science focus like <a href="https://www.dara-project.org/">Development in Africa with Radio Astronomy</a> (DARA) and its sister project, <a href="https://www.darabigdata.com/">DARA Big Data</a>, are using the momentum generated through the SKA programme to develop skills and train more astronomy students for the continent.
Of course, the few examples illustrated in this article hardly begin to address the myriad challenges facing Africa and the world. Technology and science can only do so much: these challenges have solutions that are, at least in part, driven by human values.
That’s why conversations that span natural and social sciences are key to making development progress on the continent. The Office of Astronomy for Development is one of the spaces hosting these conversations. We’re challenging astronomers and other scientists to reach across the disciplinary boundaries to explore how their skills can help Africa meet its development goals.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/99714/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />Author’s note: the article on which this piece is based <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41550-018-0524-y">first appeared</a> in Nature and was co-authored by Ramasamy Venugopal, Munira Hoosain, Tawanda Chingozha &amp; Kevin Govender.
<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/vanessa-mcbride-514506">Vanessa McBride</a>, Astronomer, <a href="http://theconversation.com/institutions/international-astronomical-unions-office-of-astronomy-for-development-3542">International Astronomical Union&#8217;s Office of Astronomy for Development</a>
This article was originally published on <a href="http://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a>. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/a-big-moment-for-africa-why-the-meerkat-and-astronomy-matter-99714">original article</a>.

How the #MeerKAT 64 telescope is set to benefit Africa

<figure><img decoding="async" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/227126/original/file-20180711-27033-b0q5oh.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt="File 20180711 27033 b0q5oh.jpg?ixlib=rb 1.1" /><figcaption>Despite a new law allowing younger candidates to run, Nigeria isn’t ready for this transition. Shutterstock</figcaption></figure>
<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/oludayo-tade-244002">Oludayo Tade</a>, <a href="http://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-ibadan-1955">University of Ibadan</a>
The presidency of Muhammadu Buhari continues to <a href="http://thenationonlineng.net/fg-delivering-election-promises-lai-mohammed/">lay claim</a> to achievements in the fight against corruption in Nigeria as well as the war against Boko Haram. But its record leaves a lot to be desired.
The state has been unable to tackle the problem of poverty. The US-based research house, the Brookings Institution, <a href="https://www.brookings.edu/blog/future-development/2018/06/19/the-start-of-a-new-poverty-narrative/">recently reported</a> that Nigeria has overtaken India as the country with the largest number of extreme poor in early 2018. For its part, Transparency International has <a href="http://saharareporters.com/2018/02/21/transparency-international-ranks-nigeria-148th-worlds-least-corrupt-country">reported</a> that Nigeria is sliding backwards when it comes to corruption.
Added to this is the fact that nearly 7.5 million people have lost jobs and the <a href="https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/01/7-5m-nigerians-jobless-since-2016-nbs/">unemployment rate is increasing</a>. Young people are alienated while <a href="http://www.africanews.com/2018/05/16/about-120-people-kidnapped-along-road-in-nigeria-s-kaduna-state//">kidnapping-for-ransom is on the rise</a>.
It’s against this background that Buhari announced that he will be contesting next year’s elections. There were mixed reactions to the news. Some hold the view he is <a href="https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/01/obasanjo-rejects-buharis-2019-bid/">too old to grasp how to deal decisively</a> with the challenges of a modern state. His supporters believe there is <a href="https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/04/no-alternative-buhari-2019-forum-tells-northern-elders/">no better alternative</a> to Buhari, who will be 76 years by the time he contests a second term in office in 2019.
Nigeria has a population of 180 million, <a href="http://www.nigerianstat.gov.ng/index.php">60%</a> of whom are between the age of 18 and 35. Yet the state has been unable to translate the energy of its young population into development.
Young Nigerians don’t only suffer marginalisation from a government that is run by a gerontocracy. They are also the victims of bad governance.
This is what lies behind the recent call for younger people to be able to run for office. Yet, despite a new law <a href="http://punchng.com/breaking-buhari-signs-not-too-young-to-run-bill-into-law/">being promulgated</a>, it’s obvious that the gerontocracy in power isn’t ready for a transition. Buhari is playing political games – and for time.
<h2>The history</h2>
In most Nigerian cultures, starting in the family, roles are assigned based on age. In the political arena, the country has been through periods of being run by young men.
In pre-colonial Nigeria, young people acted as the vanguard by providing security of their societies and serving to check or remove tyrannical rulers.
The post-colonial environment gave rise to young people in military uniform taking over government through a series of coup. These <a href="http://www.tribuneonlineng.com/113367/">post-colonial coup beneficiaries </a>were mostly under 40. They included Aguiyi Ironsi (42), Yakubu Gowon (31) , Murtala Muhammed (37) and Olusegun Obasanjo (38).
Student activists such as the late Segun Okeowo led the National Union of Nigerian Students to fight for welfare of students and protest against draconian policies during the famous <a href="https://guardian.ng/opinion/ali-must-go-and-the-nigerian-left/">“Ali must go protest”</a> staged nationwide against “bad” education policy. This was the peak of active youth involvement in ensuring good governance. The current leadership of the students’ movement have lost the ideology of the early years and have <a href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/27756290?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents">been co-opted by the ruling class</a> in Nigeria.
The signing into law of the <a href="http://punchng.com/breaking-buhari-signs-not-too-young-to-run-bill-into-law/">not-too-young to run bill</a> has been widely applauded as a step aimed at democratising the political space. But the facts contradict this.
The law reduces the age for contesting for president from 40 to 35; governor from 35 to 30; senator from 35 to 30; House of Representatives membership from 30 to 25 and State House of Assembly membership from 30 to 25.
But Buhari has asked Nigeria’s young people <a href="https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/05/2019-drop-presidential-ambition-now-buhari-begs-youths/">to wait</a> until 2023 before contesting any elections. This is clearly a cynical political strategy designed to capture the vote of young people but leaving the status quo intact.
<h2>Young candidates</h2>
The National Youth Policy of Nigeria and the African Youth Charter <a href="https://www.africa-youth.org/resources/#1459861241522-7a839c69-3f45">pegs the age </a> of youth between 18-35 years of age.
But there’s no consensus on this in practice. Most political parties are much more interested in experienced, versatile and loyal mobilisers. They are less interested in age than they are in candidates who have passion, energy and show enough enthusiasm and have political capital.
In pre-2015 presidential campaign, Nigerians were asked <a href="https://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/03/dame-jonathan-in-onitsha-describes-apc-as-expired-drug/">to choose between </a> Goodluck Jonathan, who was 58 at the time, and Buhari, who was 73. Adverts were placed in newspapers warning against voting for an older person, pointing to the challenges of ill-health and inability to understand and cope with demands of modern governance.
As 2019 elections draw near, <a href="https://newtelegraphonline.com/2018/01/2019-young-inexperienced-presidential-aspirants/">about 18 young people</a> have indicated interest in the presidency. Ranging between the ages of 33 and 46, they come both from the diaspora as well as from within the country. Two of them, Fela Durotoye and Omoyele Sowore, have <a href="https://www.pmnewsnigeria.com/2018/04/08/of-sowore-durotoye-fasua-rupturing-the-fetish-of-political-experience/">moved around the country</a> to test the ground. They have expressed distrust in the Buhari leadership and promised to edge him out of power in 2019.
Buhari’s Minister of Communication, Adebayo Shittu, has described them as [inconsequential](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USUA75YSDHM](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USUA75YSDHM ).
That may be true given that the candidates have yet to connect with the real voters. And being young may not be an asset to leadership unless aspiring young leaders have the capacity and capability to govern.
The young aspirant politicians lack structures and the money, both of which remain strong factors in deciding politics in Nigeria. For example, the Young Democratic Party lacks the structure to change the political equation.
On top of this, those contesting positions in popular parties are former governors, former vice president, who are billionaires and have the structures to back them up.
A new paradigm is being championed by <a href="http://www.africa.upenn.edu/Newsletters/irinw52799.html">former President Olusegun Obasanjo</a>, now 81 years old, who ran the country between 1999 and 2007. He supported Buhari in 2015 but is <a href="https://guardian.ng/politics/obasanjos-coalition-adopts-adc-to-unseat-buhari-in-2019/">spearheading a movement</a> that hopes to support a qualified younger presidential aspirant to unseat Buhari. This <a href="http://thenationonlineng.net/2019-pdp-38-other-parties-form-coalition-against-buhari/">coalition</a> of 38 political parties including Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and marginalised members of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) have signed Memorandum of Understanding. But even if this works, gerontocrats would still be playing backroom politics and assuming the role of godfathers to the ‘young’ leaders.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/99691/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />The implication of is that the odds favour the old in 2019 elections.
<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/oludayo-tade-244002">Oludayo Tade</a>, Lecturer of Criminology, Victimology, Deviance and Social Problems, <a href="http://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-ibadan-1955">University of Ibadan</a>
This article was originally published on <a href="http://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a>. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/young-nigerians-have-made-their-mark-but-odds-are-still-with-the-old-in-2019-99691">original article</a>.

Why the old have an edge in Nigeria’s 2019 elections despite new law allowing younger candidates

Over the last decade, and despite impressive growth rates in most of the continent, Africa’s infrastructure needs to remain huge with annual financing gap between US$ 130 and US$ 170 billion annually.
To close this gap, the African Development Bank is working with leading global development finance institutions to set up a mutualized co-guarantee platform to de-risk investments and facilitate projects that have the capacity of transforming the continent under the Africa Investment Forum (AIF).
The Bank is positioning the AIF, scheduled for South Africa, 7-9 November 2018, as a platform to improve the ease of doing business in Africa by advancing and promoting investment friendly regulations. AIF will also champion ethical business practices in Africa.
Speaking at a roadshow on the AIF held in Abuja, the Special Advisor to the Nigerian President and Coordinator of the country’s Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) Unit, Folarin Ayalande, assured that Nigeria was ready for investment but lack of affordable and long-term finance remain a major constraint.
He described the lending de-risking component of AIF as a game changer and assured of the support of the Nigerian Government. New approaches are required to deliver on the country’s development targets, with a focus on private sector-led growth, he added.
“Nigeria’s Economic Recovery and Growth Plan requires billions of dollars of investment to deliver on its growth and job-creation targets. We will collaborate with the private sector and the AIF by targeting opportunity-driven entrepreneurs by upgrading skills, developing business clusters and economic corridors. These are critical factors to developing a buoyant and productive industrial sector in Nigeria,” he said.
“I am particularly delighted to learn that the AIF will not be another talk show but a platform with convening power to bring different players together to explore investment opportunities for the transformation of the African continent. We have talked enough and must now start to act,” he said.
Senior Director for Nigeria Country Office of the African Development Bank, Ebrima Faal, stressed the critical need to change the current funding mix and create partnerships to finance infrastructure and other projects in Africa.
“Nigeria’s infrastructure cumulative financing needs are estimated to reach US$ 3 trillion by 2044 or about US$100 billion annually. This is all happening at a time when public sector finances are extremely pressured,” Faal said.
“As an African optimist, therefore, I dare say that there has never been a better time to invest in Africa’s infrastructure asset class, while ensuring a diverse source of resources, water-tight project preparation and a strong business case. The Africa Investment Forum has been designed to meet the needs of African stakeholders looking to capitalize on the increasing potential of multi-staker partners and the growing investment appetite in Africa.”
The AIF as a marketplace will bring together the Bank and other multilateral financial institutions to de-risk investments at scale,” said Stella Kilonzo, AIF Senior Director.
“AIF will work closely with investors and project sponsors to enable them increase trade and investment in local and global markets, ensuring that projects are able to secure adequate and appropriate finance.”
Working with multilateral institutions, the private sector, and Governments, the Bank is helping Nigeria and other African countries to fine-tune investment-ready projects for investors, fund managers and others managing substantial assets ahead of the AIF in November.
The Abuja roadshow included a briefing session, interaction with key private players, and presentations from Nigeria’s senior Government officials on the country’s development priorities and project pipeline that could benefit from the AIF partnership.
&nbsp;
By the African Development Bank

How the Africa Investment Forum plans to help businesses mobilize financial resources to catalyze private sector development

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) &#8211; South Africa’s rand retreated on Wednesday after the United States threatened to impose tariffs on another $200 billion worth of Chinese imports, cooling risk demand that had seen the currency rally to its best in three weeks.
At 0700 GMT the rand was 0.58 percent weaker at 13.4075 per dollar compared with the close of 13.3300 overnight in New York.
The surprise move by the United States reignited fears of a trade war between the world’s two biggest economies that risks derailing a global economic recovery.
Emerging currencies suffered across the board, with investors opting for safer bets after the first half of the week had seen sentiment slightly favour riskier assets.
As a result the dollar rose 0.1 percent in early trade against a basket of currencies.
Analysts said the rand would trade cautiously in a narrow range between 13.30 and 13.60.
Bonds were also weaker, with the yield on the benchmark bond due in 2026 up 3 basis points to 8.7 percent.
The Johannesburg Stock Exchange’s Top40 index opened down 1.35 percent at 51,094 points.
Reporting by Mfuneko Toyana, editing by Louise Heavens

Why US-China trade war is weakening the South African rand

By Rosalind Davey, partner, Employment and Benefits Practice at Bowmans
Gone are the days when office hours were from 9 to 5 and employees spent the working day under one roof. Technology has changed everything and employers who prepare properly for the changes stand to benefit the most. Rosalind Davey, partner in the Employment and Benefits Practice at Bowmans, outlines what employers need to do to manage the risks and capitalise on the advantages of the new world of work.
We frequently hear terms such as ‘the digital workplace’, ‘the Internet of Things’, ‘automation in the workplace’ and ‘the future world of work’ bandied about. But what does all of this mean for your business?
Information and communication technologies have led to significant developments in the way we work. The digital office is becoming the norm and has resulted in more people working from remote locations – the advent of the tele-commuter or tele-worker. This is an exciting new digital world for employees and employers alike. It is critical that employers embrace this brave new world but, in doing so, they must tread with care and make sure they understand the possible traps that may ensnare the unwary.
In order to make the digital world work for your business it is important to have a proper strategy in place. A good starting point is to analyse your business environment so as to identify your strategic focus and enhance your ability to meet customer demands and other business objectives. The process should also incorporate risk management – recognising the issues associated with operating in the digital world will enable you to identify what steps should be taken to address these risks. Implementing a crisis management plan to deal with virtual business crises is essential for safeguarding your business and your employees.
Take steps to address risks
The next step is to ensure that you put appropriate policies in place to guide the business’s strategy. For example, a communications policy is essential for governing online communications and providing clear guidelines within which employees conduct themselves online. Similarly, a tele-commuter policy should provide guidance on flexible work arrangements, hot-desking, job-sharing and working from remote locations. Further, an IT policy should highlight security protocols and data protection obligations. Policies dealing with automation in the workplace should identify the roll-out of artificial intelligence, robotics and virtual reality so as to provide an understanding of how these technologies will impact on existing career paths.
Once the necessary policies have been developed and implemented, the next step should be to educate your employees on the policies. The aim here is to ensure that employees understand the risks associated with conducting a virtual business, communicating online and implementing flexible work arrangements. Knowing what they can and cannot do in the digital world is essential to minimise business risks such as brand damage arising from inappropriate online communication, data leaks and cyber-bullying. 
This process should also be aimed at encouraging a focus on performance output and addressing potential employee dissatisfaction due to the fear that automation in the workplace will result in job losses. Upskilling and reskilling employees to work in the virtual workplace is also crucial.
Policies need teeth
Education and training is, sadly, not enough. In order to properly safeguard your business, you need to ensure that your rules and guidelines, as set out in your policies, are properly monitored and enforced. A failure to enforce the policies may render them redundant.
Operating in the digital world requires dedication, care and effective management. If used properly, the virtual world can eliminate boundaries and enhance business performance but, if the proper precautions are not taken, this could spell disaster for your business.

How to make the digital world work for your business

The <a href="http://www.brics2018.org.za/">10th BRICS summit</a> to be hosted by South Africa is going to be closely watched. It comes at a time when extraordinary global political and economic challenges are facing the world.
The BRICS bloc is made up of 5 of the leading countries in the global South — Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.
The challenges facing the world range from country specific problems relating to domestic poverty, inequality and unemployment to climate change and a global economic system that is biased in favour of corporate interests, particularly in finance and technology.
One of the most immediate political challenges relate to the changing dynamics in global economic governance. The current global powerhouse, the US, appears intent on starting trade wars with both China and the European Union. Africa can’t avoid being adversely affected by a trade war between these three economic powers, which are its three largest trading partners.
The US is also pulling back from multilateral governance arrangements that it created. For example, it withdrew from the upcoming United Nations (UN) <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/dec/03/donald-trump-pulls-us-out-of-un-global-compact-on-migration">conference on migration</a> and from the <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/06/withdraws-human-rights-council-180619173311272.html">UN Human Rights Council</a>. And Washington is effectively paralysing the World Trade Organisation (WTO) by refusing to agree to the <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/foreign-trade/trade-wars-us-blocking-appointment-of-members-of-wtos-appellate-body/articleshow/63177200.cms">appointment</a> of new judges at the WTO Appellate Body.
These developments are creating a volatile and unpredictable situation for all countries. Small players on the global stage, like South Africa and other countries on the continent, face the prospect of becoming collateral damage in the destruction of the current global governance arrangements.
Given all these complex challenges, how should we judge the success of the BRICS Summit?
We can use three tests: is BRICS being strengthened? What benefits will accrue to Africa? And how is the bloc planning to influence global economic governance reform?
<h2>BRICS strengthening</h2>
One goal of the upcoming summit should be to strengthen the relationship between the BRICS partners.
A concrete way of measuring this will be to look at the number and quality of agreements to emerge out of the summit. A successful summit will result in a range of substantial agreements being reached. The world will be able to scrutinise the outcome in the communique released at the end of the meeting.
It is important to note that the summit is the apex event in a year-long process. During the year various groups of BRICS government officials, civil society groups and technical experts meet to discuss issues of common interest. They have included technical groups such as the BRICS water forum and a committee looking at customs cooperation. Others have involved political matters, such as meetings of foreign affairs ministers and government officials who help guide their leaders to the summit (known as Sherpas).
The participants in these meetings try to reach agreements on issues of mutual interest – such as establishing a BRICS vaccine research centre – or finding ways to collaborate in sectors like tourism. Their job is also to try and resolve differences.
These efforts feed into the work of the summit as the Sherpas prepare the statement of what has been agreed. Details of the agreements that have been struck will be released in a statement at the end of the summit.
<h2>BRICS in Africa</h2>
Given that the theme for this year’s summit is: “BRICS in Africa: Collaboration for Inclusive Growth and Shared Prosperity in the 4th Industrial Revolution”, it’s reasonable to expect the BRICS summit to produce benefits for Africa.
One area that would be beneficial for the continent would be a signal from the leaders that the BRICS members are willing to commit to funding infrastructure projects on the continent. This is important because Africa is in the process of putting in place an ambitious new <a href="https://www.iol.co.za/capetimes/news/continents-free-trade-deal-a-game-changer-for-africa-15795779">Continental Free Trade Agreement</a>. Successful implementation will require constructing infrastructure that can link the continent both internally and with other parts of the world.
BRICS could position itself for a critical role in the funding of these infrastructure projects.
Two obvious vehicles for such funds are the BRICS’s New Development Bank and the funds that China has created to support its <a href="https://qz.com/983460/obor-an-extremely-simple-guide-to-understanding-chinas-one-belt-one-road-forum-for-its-new-silk-road/">One Belt One Road Initiative</a>.
Thus a test for summit success will be whether it generates new financing for sustainable infrastructure in Africa, and the nature of the financing.
<h2>Global governance reform</h2>
One goal shared by all the BRICS states is reforming global economic governance structures like the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF). The bloc hasn’t been particularly successful in this mission. But this year may be an opportune time to promote reform.
Actions by the US have undermined its leadership position in the world and may have made other countries more open to governance reforms in key international economic organisations. This is particularly relevant for the IMF which is reviewing its quota allocations. A shift would lead to the world body being more responsive to the concerns of its poorer member countries.
There is a longstanding call for the inclusion of a third African chair on the IMF board. It is unconscionable that the 46 sub-Saharan African countries have the lowest level of representation of any region on the IMF board. South Africa should push BRICS to stand behind this call.
The BRICS should also support making the IMF more <a href="https://theconversation.com/top-job-for-south-african-gives-african-countries-sway-at-the-imf-90700">accountable</a> to countries affected by its operations. This could be done by demanding that the IMF create an independent accountability mechanism. It is currently the only multilateral financial institution without one.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/99526/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />A key benefit of the BRICS is its potential to lead efforts to meaningfully reform the global economic system. It therefore behoves the citizens of BRICS countries to hold their governments accountable for fulfilling this potential.
<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/danny-bradlow-168878">Danny Bradlow</a>, SARCHI Professor of International Development Law and African Economic Relations, <a href="http://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-pretoria-1645">University of Pretoria</a>
This article was originally published on <a href="http://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a>. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-to-judge-the-success-of-the-brics-summit-three-questions-will-do-the-trick-99526">original article</a>

The questions to ask when measuring the success of the BRICS summit

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) &#8211; South Africans are paying too much for private healthcare, the country’s antitrust watchdog said on Thursday, adding patients are sometimes prescribed treatments they don’t need by an industry with limited competition.
Presenting its findings of a four-year investigation into the sector, the Competition Commission said private health providers sometimes recommended pricey treatments unnecessarily.
“This happens, for example, if a doctor orders more tests than are absolutely necessary or conducts a Caesarean section when it is not absolutely necessary to do so,” said Sandile Ngcobo, a former chief justice who headed the Commission’s investigating panel.
The findings could boost health minister Aaron Motsoaledi’s efforts to cut costs for patients as the government works towards implementing a nationwide medical insurance plan that aims to give the poor greater access to healthcare.
South Africa spends roughly 9 percent of gross domestic product on healthcare but more than half of that is spent by about 16 percent of the population with private medical schemes, according to the health department.
The inquiry also found there was limited competition in both the healthcare insurance and the private hospital markets.
South Africa’s private hospital industry is dominated by Mediclinic International, Life Healthcare and Netcare, while the medical insurance sector counts Discovery Ltd , Liberty Holdings and MMI Holdings among the biggest players.
“One of the challenges of this, from a competition perspective, is that it affords the big-three hospital groups “must-have” status in bargaining for contracts with funders which reduces funders’ countervailing power,” Ngcobo said.
To address the concentration, the Commission proposed divestments and imposing a moratorium on issuing new licences to the three large hospital providers until such time as their national market share is no higher than 20 percent.
It also proposed setting up a regulator to set tariffs for health services after extensive consultation with stakeholders in a public forum.
South Africa already uses a regulator to set the price of electricity, the bulk of which is supplied by utility Eskom.
Stakeholders have until Sept. 7 to comment on the findings and proposed recommendations.
Ngcobo and his team will consider the comments and, if necessary, revise the report. The final report and recommendations are expected to be published by the end of November.
Reporting by Tiisetso Motsoeneng; Editing by Mark Potter

Watchdog finds that South Africans are paying too much for private healthcare, here’s why…

JUBA (Reuters) &#8211; South Sudan’s government proposed a bill to extend President Salva Kiir’s term for three years, undermining peace talks with opposition forces who condemned the move as illegal.
The bill seeks to amend the constitution to extend Kiir’s tenure to 2021, lawmakers told Reuters on Tuesday.
Deputy Paul Yoane Bonju said the bill was presented on Monday to parliament and that lawmakers intended to vote it into law this month.
The world’s youngest nation, which gained independence from Sudan in 2011, erupted into violence in late 2013 over a political disagreement between Kiir and his former vice president Riek Machar.
Tens of thousands of people have been killed since, and more than three million forced to flee their homes.
Kiir and Machar met last week and agreed on a new peace deal that included a ceasefire that took effect on Saturday. [L8N1TT39A]
It was violated on that day when government forces and rebels launched attacks on each other’s positions. [L8N1TW0I4] On Monday, there was more fighting and at least 18 civilians were killed.
On Tuesday, a spokesman for Machar’s rebel group SPLM-IO said the government was proposing an “illegal procedure” in attempting to extend Kiir’s term.
Reporting by Denis Dumo; Writing by Maggie Fick; editing by John Stonestreet

Why South Sudan’s proposed bill to extend President Kiir’s term undermines peace talks

* Countries require $2.4 tln to meet needs, U.N. goals
* Investments fall short under current trend
* Fighting corruption, reforms key to attracting capital
By Joe Bavier
JOHANNESBURG, July 3 (Reuters) &#8211; A group of 10 African nations, including some of the continent’s rising economic stars, will fall $1 trillion short of the infrastructure financing required to meet U.N.ited development goals by 2040, a study released on Tuesday found.
The report by the Global Infrastructure Hub (GIH) of the G20 wealthy and developing nations exposes the challenges facing one of the world’s least developed regions. But it also highlights the opportunities for investors willing to take the plunge.
“Africa is a fascinating continent for investors,” GIH Chief Executive Chris Heathcote told Reuters. “They’re not saying ‘Am I going to Africa?’. They’re saying ‘I am going to Africa. I want to go to Africa. Which country should I go to?’”
The GIH report focuses on Morocco, Ethiopia, Ivory Coast, Senegal, Egypt, Ghana, Tunisia, Benin, Guinea and Rwanda &#8211; all participants in the G20’s ‘Compact with Africa’ initiative, which aims to channel investment to the continent.
To keep pace with success stories such as Vietnam in terms of developing roads, railways, airports, sea ports, electricity, water and physical telecommunications infrastructure these nations will require investments of $2 trillion through 2040.
Meeting the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals, which call for universal access to power and water by 2030, would require $383 billion in additional investment, the study found, bringing the total to around $2.4 trillion.
If they maintain their current average investment level of 4.9 percent of gross domestic product, that would leave the 10 countries with a 42 percent funding gap to fill.
African nations do not have the resources to ramp up infrastructure spending on their own, even with backing from aid agencies and multilateral donor institutions, Heathcote said, and so attracting private sector investment is essential.
Major international conglomerates including Bouygues , Bollore, China Railway Construction Corp and General Electric are already active in African power, transportation and construction.
A pool of potential infrastructure financing was now poised to enter Africa under the right conditions, Heathcote said.
“There is a wall of money being held by the pension funds. They are looking more and more at emerging market infrastructure,” he said.
Unleashing that money, however, will require clamping down on the corruption and inefficiencies that have long hindered large-scale investment in Africa.
Heathcote points to Rwanda, where private investment represents two thirds of infrastructure spending, as an example of how it can be done right.
“They worked out that if you run transparent processes, if you have clear regulation that allows you to understand what your outcomes are likely to be in the long-term in your contracts, then investors will look very seriously at you.” (Reporting by Joe Bavier Editing by Edmund Blair)

Why ten African countries could fall short of $1 trillion infrastructure financing

By Dylan Kohlstädt, entrepreneur, speaker and digital marketing expert
I recently attended a social media marketing conference, where one of the large agencies talked about Social Media 1.0 (happy Friday, everyone), 2.0 (six ways to save on insurance) and 3.0 (give us a ridiculous amount of money, so we can fly our entire creative crew to the Serengeti and film elephants romping and produce an eff off expensive advert that you can post on social media, and we can win an award, and call it social media).
That got me thinking. What are the levels of social media and what is the definition of Next Level Social Media?
When I started Shift ONE digital six years ago, I’ll admit to you that, while I knew digital marketing backwards, I wasn’t very strong on social media marketing. I had to work each social channel out, and fast.
Through the years my team has grown from just myself and an intern, to fifteen full-time, powerful, wonderful, beautiful staff members, highly skilled in what they do and who produce compelling and engaging content for our clients.
This six-year journey has come with its fair share of learnings and epiphanies. One of the biggest revelations came shortly after deciding to build my personal brand on YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, Web, LinkedIn and Facebook.
I wanted to turn myself into a digital influencer, simply to understand the journey and the steps to becoming internet famous. Nearly a year later, I would like to share with you all that I have learned.
Based on my experiences, I believe there are five levels to social media marketing:
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-medium wp-image-312107 aligncenter" src="https://cdn.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/03160359/shift-300x300.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="300" />
The Five Levels of Social Media Marketing: © 2018 Dylan Kohlstädt @ Shift ONE digital
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1. Level One Social Media Marketing: Dead Silence
Level One is dead silence. Masses and masses of businesses aren’t visible on social media, possibly for one of the following reasons:
● They’re intimidated by this newfangled digital voodoo
● They don’t have time to run a business, create content and manage platforms and comments all in one day
● They don’t know how to, and don’t have the time to learn
● They don’t know how to turn likes into sales
● They don’t believe their customers are on social media, so what’s the point?
If your business is at this level, the only questions I have to ask you are:
● Which platforms are your customers using?
● Can you master just one of these platforms?
Spend 20 minutes a day on this platform, familiarise yourself with your competitors’ content and what your customers are talking about. Make sure you like posts and comment to increase awareness of your own brand. From there on, decide on a thought piece or post of your own that you can publish.
Even if you only do one of the above actions, the great thing is this: it’s a 100% improvement from where your business is currently at.
Oh, and don’t worry about making a mistake and the whole world laughing at you. I assure you, unless your post is racially charged, nobody will notice your blunder. So just starting doing one thing every day, and you’ll learn and grow from there.
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2. Level Two Social Media Marketing: Hard Sell
This is usually where companies start out, posting their products, specials and company information onto social media.
After trying this for a couple of months, they complain that social media doesn’t work for them as they are not making sales from their efforts.
Here’s the problem: it’s Social Media, not SALES Media. If you want to hard sell, hire a big ad agency to make a TV advert for you – maybe a family sitting around a table, the kid runs in, his shirt is dirty from playing soccer and WHAM! The mom pulls out the detergent and his shirt is white again.
Social media won’t work with hard sell messaging, unless you have a product that sells itself, like Janine Binneman’s handmade jewellery. I can’t get enough of their finely crafted, proudly South African sparklers.
Save the hard sell for outbound call centre staff who call at all hours trying to sell you a new cellphone or short-term insurance.
Social media is made for social engagements, social content, and building community and relationships.
After this content fails, you decide to move to the next level…
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3. Level Three Social Media Marketing: Blah Blah Blah
Ever gone on a date with someone who won’t let you get a word in edgeways?
That’s what this level is about.
You’ve started posting content onto social media (probably too often) just so the box can be ticked. It doesn’t have the goal of creating engagement, eliciting a click-through to your website, or turning followers into fans. It’s just so that you can say ‘Yes, we are on social media, look at all the work we’re doing!”
There’s no problem with that. The problem centres on not replying to comments, or copy-pasting generic responses to save time.
I’ve been on so many social accounts, where followers are left out to dry, their lonely comments hanging in midair, like an ignored high-five.
If you start becoming a regular on social media, it is imperative that you not only check your replies and comments, but you also engage back in a timely fashion.
That’s what social media is made for. Social. Media.
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4. Level Four Social Media Marketing: Me Too
Ok, so you’ve ticked the box, and you’re producing content and posting it out regularly.
‘Me Too’ social media is basically your traditional content marketing. Companies on this level are posting more than just hard sell content or blah blah blah content on social media. They’re starting to post ‘Happy Friday’, or ‘What are you doing this weekend?’ posts. They might even go as far as writing a blog about ‘Seven Ways to Save Money’ or ‘Top Ice-Cream Parlors In Pretoria’.
Nothing wrong with this. It’s necessary to go through this phase, just as it’s necessary to pass through the five stages of grieving.
Usually on this level you start chasing likes &#8211; the vanity metric. Don’t get me wrong &#8211; likes are important if you’re a big, national brand. It’s expected for you to have at least a few tens of thousands of followers. So do that, get them, and then work out what you’re going to do with them.
Why? Because social media likes don’t translate into sales. It’s not SALES media. It’s SOCIAL media.
Content here is usually too glossy, and not very believable. That’s the basic flaw with most social media content plans &#8211; nobody believes you. Even though it’s soft sell, it’s still produced from your brand, for your brand, according to Neilsens. It’s not credible, but don’t stop!
There’s no shame at this level, at least you are growing and moving up the social hierarchy.
Just don’t get stuck here! Enlightenment is just a few posts away.
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5. Level Five: Kingmake Me
When I started building my own brand, we created a product called Kingmake Me, where we turn thought leaders into digital influencers using video and social media. This then went on to expand into Visionmake Me, where we use video and social media to inspire and unite a business. We did this either by filming the senior management live out the vision and values, or filming staff or even customers interacting with the brand in their day-to-day lives.
What I learned during this process, is that social media is designed for people, not brands.
If brands want to be active on social media, they have to do it as individuals, not as brands.
Sure, you can layer into your content plan the usual content marketing articles and images and videos, a few specials and products and hard sell posts, but you absolutely definitely also have to be using people (real people) in your posts.
Real people in the form of your senior management, CEO, staff, customers or other influencers.
&nbsp;
Video
And it has to be video. And the video has to be cool and edgy and vibey, showing what it’s like to be them, what it’s like to walk in their shoes, not dull boring ‘interview-style’. What’s great about this style of video is that the person being filmed gets used to the camera, and even forgets about it. Think of day one in the Big Brother house – the Jacuzzi starts heating up only a few hours into the first day, cameras, inhibitions, clothing and reputations all forgotten as the story takes over.
Video communicates tone, body language and personality in a way that no other medium can. I can sense your mettle just by watching you on video. We’ve won clients just by having the Maggs on Media video on our home page.
Video communicates AUTHENTICITY. You can’t fake it in front of a camera. And the great thing about creating authentic video content is that people want it to look ‘real’ and not glossy and over produced.
Imagine, instead of creating an interview-style video of your vision for the year to share with your 3,000 staff members situated globally, our camera crews follow you for a day or two, filming your day, filming how you live the vision, how you live the values, and sharing that with your team daily.
And that’s the thing… once you start making video, you can’t stop. You need to create daily snippets for your followers who want to connect with you, and feel a part of your vision, dream and day.
Remember, it’s not unusual for millennials, even Gen Y (and a few of the really with-it Gen X’s) to form relationships digitally, and to not distinguish between virtual relationships and actual friendships.
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Influencer Marketing
Influencer Marketing resides on this level. If you don’t want to be an influencer, then approach influencers. If you don’t want to produce this kind of content, then approach the many people who have built up a following, and ask them to collaborate. Get them to write a guest blog for you, sit on an expert panel, or review your product to their followers.
The bad thing about influencer marketing is that it’s already starting to lose its shine. Followers stop believing posts, as influencers take money to promote brands, authenticity and trust are lost, and as a result, relationships are burned.
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Community Management
Your community management has to go to the next level here too. You can’t simply reply to comments. We are talking Social Amplification here. Teams of people who are proactively building relationships, becoming friends with your followers.
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Live Video
Live video is being prioritised over normal video by nearly all social platforms. Live video gives your customers and followers a chance to engage with you, face-to-face, virtually. Yes, that is a thing.
Content on this highest level has to be credible, believable, authentic and build relationships. If you mix this in with your Me Too content marketing, then you are onto a winning formula.
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What’s next after Level Five?
Funnily enough, we are going full circle: from hard sell in the 50’s, to soft sell in the 80’s, to content marketing in the 00’s to face-to-face, real, genuine, person-to-person connections in the 10’s.
Virtual and augmented reality will bring you face-to-face with brands like no other technology.
Whatever’s next is going to be more relationship driven, more personalised, and more real…even if it’s virtual.
If you don’t hop onto the social media bandwagon now, it will be a rocket ship to Mars by the time you try get on board.
Start now: level two.

Special Report