[SACP] The Press Ombudsman and Panel of Adjudicators direct the Rapport newspaper to apologise to Nzimande

South African Communist Party

Press statement, 12 April 2016

The Press Ombudsman and Panel of Adjudicators direct the Rapport newspaper to apologise to Nzimande

The South African Communist Party (SACP) welcomes the ruling by the Press Ombudsman and Panel of Adjudicators directing the Rapport newspaper to apologise to the Minister of Higher Education and Training (HET), our General Secretary Comrade Blade Nzimande and other persons for creating wrong impressions the newspaper published about them, adversely affecting their reputations. The SACP condemns in the strongest terms possible all fabrications of lies pushed and carried by newspapers such as the Rapport against the Party, its leaders and members in any of their capacities or any South African for that matter.

On 31 March the Press Ombudsman and Panel of Adjudicators found that Naspers’ Media24 title the Rapport newspaper created the unfair impression that the HET Minister Dr Blade Nzimande was in some way conflicted and that the newspaper adversely affected his reputation as well as that of the other persons impacted negatively by the story including Sector Education and Training Authorities (Setas).

The Rapport newspaper published the lies to create the impression that the Minister (and also the SACP – i.e. in other stories it has published) were reaping money from Setas. The newspaper committed the violation of the Press Code in the story it first published 8 November 2015 under the headline: “Seta-miljoene is na Blade se trust – Verwaarloosde hoenders is ál teken van lewe” (Seta millions went to Blade’s trust – Neglected chickens the only sign of life). The story was also carried by Naspers’ Media24 online news publication News24 under the headline: “Nzimande’s trust reaps R11m in funding from education organization”. The story propagated the lies as captured in the headlines, despite the wealth of correct information it has been supplied and had in its possession. Nzimande dismissed the lies with contempt and condemned in the strongest terms possible the Rapport’s conduct.

In their finding, the Press Ombudsman and Panel of Adjudicators state in no uncertain terms, that:

“The problem we [The Press Ombudsman and the Panel of Adjudicators] have with the headline is not the statement that the trust was Nzimande’s [which is a lie] (because he founded it and still was its patron), but rather that it enhanced the impression of a conflict of interest.

“We [The Press Ombudsman and Panel of Adjudicators] have little doubt that this has unnecessarily and unfairly done damage to Nzimande’s reputation.

“Section 4.7 of the Press Code is relevant in this regard. It reads:

“The press shall exercise care and consideration in matters involving…reputation. The dignity or reputation of an individual should be overridden only by a legitimate public interest and in the following circumstances:

4.7.1 The facts reported are true or substantially true; or

4.7.2 The article amounts to fair comment based on facts that are adequately referred to and that are true or substantially true; or

4.7.3 The report amounts to a fair and accurate report of court proceedings, Parliamentary proceedings or the proceedings of any quasi-judicial tribunal or forum; or

4.7.4 It was reasonable for the article to be published because it was prepared in accordance with acceptable principles of journalistic conduct and in the public interest.”

“None of these provisions was applicable in this case”, said the Press Ombudsman and Panel of Adjudicators about the violation committed by Naspers’ Media24 publications the Rapport newspaper and its accomplice News24. In their findings – “Minister of Higher Education and Training et al vs. Rapport” – the Press Ombudsman and Panel of Adjudicators conclude that:

“The headline, together with some elements of the article as discussed above [i.e. in their findings], created the unfair impression that Nzimande was in some way conflicted, adversely affecting his reputation, as well as those of Damcom and the two Setas”. The Press Ombudsman and the Panel of Adjudicators concludes that: “This is in breach of the following sections of the Press Code: 1.1: “The press shall take care to report news…fairly”; and 4.7: “The press shall exercise care and consideration in matters involving…reputation.”

The Press Ombudsman and Panel of Adjudicators categorised the breach as serious.

The Rapport newspaper was ordered to apologise to Dr Nzimande and the other whose reputation it violated by its breach of the principles of ethical news reporting prescribed in the Press Code. The Press Ombudsman and Panel of Adjudicators directed that the headline of the apology:  “should reflect the content of the text. A heading such as Matter of Fact, or something similar, is not acceptable. If the offending article appeared on Rapport’s website, the apology should appear there as well.”

Napers through its Media24 is engaged in wider political agenda to tarnish the reputation of the SACP and its leaders

The Rapport story was not an accident but part of a wider strategy.

Naspers’ Media24, through several of its titles and online news outlet News24 has been pushing a negatively charged, politically motivated coverage agenda to tarnish the reputation of SACP General Secretary Comrade Blade Nzimande and other senior leaders of the Party. This Media24 news coverage agenda emerged in the aftermath of the SACP initiated campaign to achieve transformation of the media. The campaign seeks to achieve de-monopolisation. It has as its main, but not exclusive, focus on the monopoly or dominance Naspers has established among others through its Media24 oligopoly and pay TV monopoly Multichoice. The other objects of the campaign are to achieve diversity of ownership and perspective, robustly independent accountability and decent work for all media workers.   

The SACP has strongly come out and campaigned against the problematic relationship established between Naspers’ Multichoice and the SABC. The relationship has effectively given Multichoice enormous influence or control over the SABC, our public broadcaster. In what amounts to collusion, the SABC’s rights for example to have the words “twenty four” or numbers “24” in the name of its 24-hour news channel were handed over to Naspers’ Multichoice in a wider package that works well for Multichoice’s capital accumulation interests compared to the SABC. The handing over of the heritage of SABC archives to Multichoice and control by Multichoice over how they must be used as opposed to independent public programming by the SABC are part of the problematic relationship.

It is among others because of the wider manoeuvres of corporate capture in the communications industry including the monopoly interests of Naspers’ Multichoice that the analogue to digital television broadcast migration process has been delayed. In addition, the monopoly is almost completely left untouched instead of using the process to de-monopolise the industry. As a result, new entrants will find it prohibitive to gain access to broadcasting and content protection.

The SACP has been fighting against all of these and other harmful structural and behavioural agendas. The SACP will not be deterred by Naspers’ shenanigans. The Party will continue fighting, and intensifying the struggle to achieve media transformation. This includes taking Naspers’ unethical news reporting head on!!

Issued by the SACP

-- 
__________________________________________
FOR GENERAL ENQUIRIES ON SACP STATEMENTS 
 
CONTACT:
 
ALEX MOHUBETSWANE MASHILO: NATIONAL SPOKESPERSON, HEAD OF COMMUNICATIONS
SKYPE: MASHILOAM
MOBILE: 082 9200 308
OFFICE: 011 339 3621/2
TWITTER: SACP1921
WEBSITE: WWW.SACP.ORG.ZA
FACEBOOK PAGE: SOUTH AFRICAN COMMUNIST PARTY
SACP USTREAM TV CHANNEL: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/sacp-tv

Southern African Times

• Politics

Writting the struggle – Many 

voices, one struggle

16th January 2012

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The actual war is fought out in the mountains and forests – the battlefields – but the 

real effects of every war stay in the mind where those gifted with the talent of telling 

stories tap and package them for consumption.

This was the case with Africa’s liberation struggles just about every other war 

throughout the centuries.

Last year, in this column “Writing the Struggle”, we revisited such wars as put 

down on paper by writers from Angola, Mozambique, South Africa, Zimbabwe 

and Namibia.

From Angola came Pepetela in his masterpiece “Mayombe,” a novel which deals 

with tribal relationships within the context of the liberation struggle as waged by the eventually victorious MPLA in that country.

It captures a typical African problem during most struggles where small tribal 

differences threaten to derail the bigger plans for the future.

Poetry by the first President of Angola, Agostinho Neto, speaks volumes of the 

desire haboured in every oppressed African’s heart to one day walk as a free person.

While in “Mayombe” Pepetela writes about the war front, Neto and 

Antonio Jacinto – who was the first Minister of Education and Culture – write 

about the wishes, desires and determination to fight.

Both Neto’s anthology “We Shall Return” and Jacinto’s “Letter from a 

Contractor Worker” capture what it was like, not only in Angola, but the 

whole of Africa.

From Mozambique come Bernardo Honwana (“We Killed Mangy Dog and 

Other Mozambican Stories), Jose Rodrigues (“The White Angel”) and Mia Couto (“Sleepwalking Land”).

Dos Santos captures a moment during in the FRELIMO-led war while Couto 

dwells on the ensuing civil war, with Honwana depicting the effects of war 

on children.

Unlike other wars in the region, the Mozambique struggle was under-reported 

by the mainstream media.

Thus Couto’s “Sleep Walking Land” comes in with a boy and a man fleeing 

the war meet and see the struggle through the diary of a dead man.

There were poets too.

The liberation hero Eduardo Mondlane in his book “The Struggle for Mozambique” 

says poets led the struggle through an inspirational cultural movement.

In particular he mentions José Craveirinha, Carolina Noémia Abranches de Sousa 

Soares and Marcelino  dos Santos, calling them “pioneer poets of rage”.

“They began a purely cultural movement by means of paintings and writings.

“They inspired a younger generation of intellectuals to join the armed struggle 

when it began in 1964,” Mondlane wrote.

He added that “small, educated and therefore politically aware minority of 

urbanites had to perform the difficult task of organising resistance among 

the mass of illiterate African country people, with whom they had little contact”.

Zimbabwe’s war narratives – like those of South Africa – are from two 

perspectives: blacks and whites.

Alexander Kanengoni, an ex-combatant, wrote so beautifully about the 

pain of war; while John Gordon Davis spoke from the Rhodesian angle.

Kanengoni’s “Echoing Silences” explores war’s post-trauma and Davis’ 

“Hold My Hand I’m Dying” sweeps through the early days of township politics; 

Ian Smith’s Unilateral Declaration of Independence and Independence in 1979.

Namibia’s war narratives are three-fold: those by ex-combatants during the 

struggle but in exile; those after the war; and those by South African Defence Forces personnel.

One of those who wrote in exile is Mvula ya Nangolo (“From Exile” in 1976), 

as well two others after independence (“Thoughts from Exile in 1991 and “Watering the Beloved Desert in 2008”).

Antony Feinstein, an apartheid defence forces wrote “Battle Scarred: The Hidden 

Costs of the Border War” where he deals with the Namibian war.

Not to be outdone were a group of Namibian women who tell their stories in a 

collection titled “Tears of Courage”, compiled by librarian Ellen Ndesheetelwa Namhila.

The women are the late Meme Priskila Tuhadeleni, Drothea Nikodemus, Justina 

Amwaalwa, Lahja Iyambo and Aili Iyambo.
This year, the column “Writing the Struggle” will trace war narratives in Botswana, 

Zambia, Mauritius, Lesotho, Tanzania and Uganda.

These countries have one common thing – they never went through bloody 

struggles to attain their independence but they experienced war in their own ways.

Be that as it may be, Africa’s struggle is one: attaining true independence.

Southern African Times

• Politics

Writing the Struggle

12th December 2011

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And it was in this furnace that moulded comrades like Major Willibard“Nakada Shikolo” Tashiya (West Front regional commander, member of SWAPO Military Council), Jackson Mazazi (instructor/commissar for politics and the Vietnam Political Information Officer), “Mbunjana” Munashimwe (camp commander at Vietnam Front), Kalwele Saleus Nehunga (Vietnam physical training instructor), Sakeus “Jocks” Heita (Western Front regional commander for anti-aircraft), David “Kapinya” Mbango (Western Front regional political commissar), and Sekitus “Situation” Shoopola (Western Front regional commander for logistics).

These men are the subject of  Willy Mary Amutenya’s “Brave Unyielding Comrades”.
The account captures the period from 1978 to 1990 and Amutenya (real name Mweshilengelwa Willy Amutenya) unravels the torment he went through when the struggle started and why he had to join the war.
Amutenya attended Anamulenge Primary School from 1966 to 1972 and secondary school from 1973 to 1975. In 1976-1977, he worked for the government as a Telecom switchboard operator at Ondangwa Post Office.
After getting involved with SWAPO, Amutenya was elected vice secretary of the Youth League in the then Ovamboland in 1975.
He decided to cross into Angola in 1978 because of harassment and death threats from the South African Defence Forces and the notorious Koevoet Units.
After four months in exile, the SADF raided Angola attacking SWAPO refugee camps.
Unfortunately, he was one of those captured and brought back to Namibia for incarceration in Mariental.
“By mid-January 1978 I received regular deaths threats from members of Koevoet in Oshakati and Ondangwa while I was in the middle of covert preparations for the armed struggle for liberation.
“I had an ominous feeling that my days were numbered, and decided to leave the country early in March 1978. “Since I had been assisting members of PLAN in Namibia, it was not difficult to get over the borders.
“I was smuggled into Angola and ended up at the Vietnam (Chetequera) transit camp, roughly 40 kilometres from the Angolan-Namibian border.
“Vietnam transit camp became my home from March to May 1978.
“On Thursday, 5 May 1978 the South African Defence Force invaded southern Angola, brutally attacking two SWAPO-led refugee camps, Cassinga and Vietnam.
“I lost my right arm in that violent clash, and was captured as a prisoner of war together with 190 others,” he reveals.
Amutenya and his fellow prisoners were released from Keikanachab Prison in 1984 through a pressure campaign by the Council of Churches in Namibia and other parties involved in the conflict for implementing UN Resolution 435.
This is but one story in this narrative.
While the war itself is of great interest, sometimes life after the war is an even greater story.
Amutenya’s life since the struggle has differed from many of his comrades because he pursued education rather than politics.
In 1985, Amutenya worked for the Anglican Diocese of Namibia as a pre-school teacher at the Anglican Kindergaten in Katutura before moving to the Roman Catholic Church as a social worker, co-ordinating Justice and Peace Commission issues on human rights in 1988.
He then studied for a certificate in Theology through correspondence from Theological Extension College of Southern Africa.
He also obtained a diploma in Production and Supervision from Damelin College in 1994 and thereafter worked for the Ministry of Higher Education as Chief Hostel Patron for International Youth Hostels.
 

Cape Town Delivered Another Successful WTM Africa In 2016

Thandisizwe Mgudlwa

Thousands made their way to Cape Town gets ready for the 2016 version of World Travel Market (WTM) Africa this week.

South Africa needs to watch, listen and learn from yet another opportunity that consists of the best in the tourism industry, in order for the country to develop it's economy.

Last year the Cape Town successfully hosted this premier travel event in Africa with thousands ascending to the 'Mother City' and created new and unforgettable memories.

For this years event though, exhibition leader, Thebe Reed Exhibitions for the third year running, brought Africa’s leading travel and tourism gurus to the southern most tip of Africa, Cape Town.

Cape Town, a multiple international award winning city, is known for its creativity, nature conservation and numerous historical, heritage and cultural pluralism.

Carol Weaving, Managing Director of Thebe Reed Exhibitions notes she had been keen to see as many local travel professionals as possible come through the doors during the 3 days of engaging travel and tourism business activities.  

The WTM Africa 2016, which kicked off on Wednesday and ended on Friday at the Cape Town Convention Centre (CTICC), is an event which organisers have confirmed that "the spotlight is on the continent as international exhibitors, buyers and visitors descend on Cape Town to create valuable partnerships and negotiate successful business deals which will contribute to the impact the industry has on the African economy."

WTM Africa also brings to the table, a diverse array of premium exhibitors, associations and tourism authorities.

"As Africa’s leading B2B exhibition for both inbound and outbound travel and tourism markets, presenting a diverse range of destinations and industry sectors to South African, African and International travel professionals. Through its industry networks, global reach and regional focus, WTM Africa creates exclusive business opportunities, providing industry professionals with quality contacts, content and communities," according to organisers.

And WTM Africa 2015 saw over 500 exhibitors showcase their products and services to 4127 trade professionals over 3 days, with 7600 prescheduled appointments and 2 days of very successful speed networking. 

This prestigious gathering has been blessed before with key tourism authorities exhibited here with then likes Abu Dhabi Tourism, Culture Authority. The Authority conserves and promotes the heritage and culture of such places as Abu Dhabi emirate. They manage the emirate’s tourism sector and markets the destination internationally through a wide range of activities aimed at attracting visitors and investment.

Tracey Krog, Country Manager, South Africa – Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority who commented that  WTM Africa 2015 was the first time destination Abu Dhabi and its key partners showcased prominently to the South African and African travel industry with exhibitors such as Etihad Airways and Oryx Tourism participating on the TCA Abu Dhabi stand.

Included in last years WTM Africa’s diverse array of exhibitors was Namibia Tourism. Area Manager for the destination, Cristina Cicognani, who has the distinction of showcasing the country along with 20 Namibian Tourism suppliers.

Cicognani noted, “WTM Africa has created a wonderful international platform for our Namibia Tourism Suppliers to showcase their tourist related products. Last year marked the year in which Namibia celebrated its Silver Jubilee, 25 years of successful and fruitful years of a peaceful independence. 

She said, Namibia Tourism Board is always proud to support their businesses in South Africa and to the International Tourist Trade.

A true highlight of WTM Africa 2015’s was the official charity, The Tourism Child Protection Code of Conduct (The Code), which together with leading South African tourism industry stakeholders signalled their game-changing approach to protecting children from the worst forms of exploitation. 

"The Code is an industry-driven, multi-stakeholder initiative with the mission to provide awareness, tools and support to the tourism industry in order to combat the sexual exploitation of children in contexts related to travel and tourism."

Southern African News

• Business

USAID ends Southern Africa 

Trade Hub contract

19th March 2016

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> Mpho Tebele

Gaborone- After more than five years, the current contract for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)’s Southern Africa Trade Hub is coming to a close, an official announced on Monday, March 7.

The USAID Southern Africa Trade Hub works to enhance economic growth and food security in the region through trade.

USAID regional trade adviser Paul Pleva said in a statement that “With deep gratitude, we say farewell to USAID’s Southern Africa Trade Hub. After more than five years, the current contract for the “Hub” is coming to a close.”

He said this is not really an end, but just a transition. “You will soon hear more about USAID’s Southern Africa Trade and Investment Hub, a new project to continue the work of the current hub. This new project is still under procurement,” said Pleva.

The hub has reported increases in access to warehouse receipts and new deals for exporting garments.

“We’ve seen financing come together for greater agricultural production and the establishment of new labs for testing standards. We’ve read about new rules for promoting renewable energy and portals for keeping traders informed. Although we say good-bye to this Hub, the results will carry on,” he said.

Pleya said at the heart of the Hub was a dedication to results. “The Trade Hub has reported on increases in access to warehouse receipts and new deals for exporting garments.

“We’ve seen financing come together for greater agricultural production and the establishment of new labs for testing standards.

“We’ve read about new rules for promoting renewable energy and portals for keeping traders informed. Although we say good-bye to this Hub, the results will carry on,” said Pleya.

USAID’s Trade Hub was integral to implement President Barack Obama’s “Feed The Future” (FTF) initiative by enabling Southern African farmers to improve agricultural production and supply nutritious food in the region where some countries often face food deficits.  It was headquartered in Gaborone with a budget of more than $80 million over five years (from 2010 to 2016 March).

With offices in Gaborone, Botswana; Centurion (Pretoria), South Africa; and embedded advisors in offices in Malawi and Namibia, the Trade Hub worked primarily in Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, and Zambia.

The Trade Hub provided needs-driven assistance to the Southern African Development Community (SADC), the Southern African Customs Union (SACU), governments, and private sector organizations in eight countries to advance regional trade within Southern Africa while incorporating gender integration, environment compliance, and strategic outreach in all activities.

As a regional program the Trade Hub’s objective was to reduce the time and cost of transporting goods across borders by deploying modern trade facilitation tools such as trade information portals and national single windows in selected countries.

It was also aimed at strengthening the competitiveness of the grain, soy and groundnut value chains by reducing post-harvest losses, introducing better seeds and technologies, strengthening regional agricultural institutions                  and supporting trade and investment links.

Its objective was to Increase capacity for regulating and enhancing the clean energy sector to increase investments.

It was also to improve the regional trade, investment and integration enabling environment through regulatory reform and the promotion of harmonized standards.

PUMPMAKERS launches world’s first platform for DIY Solar Pumps in AFRICA

PUMPMAKERS from Austria have launched the PumpmakersPlatform, a virtual marketplace that helps people help themselves by providing individuals, local companies, NGO's and volunteers with free access to the easy-to-use Do-It-Yourself Solar Pump and a global network to implement projects for everyone where there is a need of water. This helps reduce the global water shortage, strengthens the local economy, creates jobs and prevents migration from rural areas.Pumpmakers have successfully installed DIY Solar Pumps in Africa and Europe since 2012. A single pump system provides up to 1.000 people a day with clean drinking water. Building on the success of these first projects, new PUMPMAKERS projects are following suit in Somalia, Morocco, Zambia, Cameroon and Tanzania.

Free registration for individuals, companies, organizations or volunteers

PUMPMAKERS are expanding the PUMPMAKERS PLATFORM globally with new projects and project partners in the African region. To this effect, entrepreneurs, local companies, NGOs and simply individuals requiring water every day may register themselves free of charge on the PUMPMAKERS PLATFORM, and present their company, organization or project to a global community. Furthermore,PUMPMAKERS are on the lookout for new project entries and water wells as well as existing sources of water with and without water pumps (e.g. hand pumps or diesel-powered water pumps) which may be replaced by or equipped with a DIY Solar Pump. Dietmar Stuck, an experienced Austrian well-builder, founder & CEO of PUMPMAKERSexplains: “There is a huge need for safe, clean drinking water in Africa. To date however, more than 300 thousand hand pumps are inoperative or broken. That’s why our DIY Solar Pump and the PUMPMAKERSPLATFORM present an ideal solution. Project entries on our world map will provide us with the information we need to realize these projects together with our partners.”

Watch the video 1: https://youtu.be/dvH77aOJs4c

Inexpensive, modern, sustainable – a water pump for everyone

Back in 2010, Dietmar Stuck developed the world’s first DIY SolarPump together with his team of experts, using the latest technology as well as a sustainable and patented concept: “All materials as well as the individual parts of the pump are maintenance-free and corrosion-free. What’s more, the pump is affordable and has been designed for easy assembly, even in the remotest corners of the world. Due to the fact that we only use renewable solar energy to pump water from a depth of 100 metres, our system incurs no running costs. The optional hand pumpcan be used for operations at night. More importantly, our DIY SolarPump works independently from wind and fuel. It is the ideal substitute for conventional systems that are often too expensive or require a lot of maintenance.”

Global network to fight the water crisis

Just basic DIY skills and a few parts that are readily available locally are required to assemble and install the solar pump. The pump-kit, piston and gear unit as well as suitable tools or

advertising material can be purchased via the webshop of the multilingual PUMPMAKERS

PLATFORM. The parts needed for the pump tower can either be obtained locally or via the webshop. Videos and images provide step-by-step assembly instructions.

The new platform offers local companies and start-up entrepreneurs – the Pumpmakers – a straightforward business model and the support they need. Pumpmakers can present their services to the global community, network with NGOs, customers or fellow Pumpmakers, report on their DIY Solar Pump project and upload images and videos. A world map highlights water supply needs and shows the status of current projects. According to master well builder Dietmar Stuck, there is a great demand, not only in Africa but also increasingly in South America, Asia and Australia. Therefore, the next series production of the DIY Solar Pump will commence in March 2016.

Compared to many traditional water pump systems that are often maintenance prone and expensive, the investment of about $ 7,500 for the maintenance-free DIY Solar Pump is amortised over about one to two years. However, even individuals or volunteers who want to make a difference can help fight the global water crisis. They can invest time and effort by joining the PUMPMAKERS PLATFORM and highlighting their project on the world map. That way, they can effectively draw sponsors’ and organisations’ attention of to the need for water in their region.
“Our goal is to provide thousands of people worldwide with access to safe, clean drinking water and give those wanting to start their own business the support they need. That is why we came

up with a unique DIY concept. It makes people more self-sufficient and effectively helps fight the global water shortage and poverty,” summarises Dietmar Stuck. Today, almost 800 million people still have no access to safe, clean drinking water. As a result, some 10,000 people die every day - most of them are children under the age of five.

Watch the video 2: https://youtu.be/1mogGXbIe8g

For media enquiries please contact:
Dietmar Stuck – CEO, PM Pumpmakers GmbH
Industriepark Strasse 13, 9300 Sankt Veit an der Glan, Austria
Tel: +43 4212 71 88 715
press@pumpmakers.com
www.pumpmakers.com

Background information:
The Austrian master well builder Dietmar Stuck has been active in the water well drilling industry in Europe, Australia and Africa since 2000 and has installed several hundred drinking water wells. In six African countries he carried out surveys for water projects on behalf of humanitarian aid organizations and saw that conventional water pumps were completely unsuitable for local conditions. These experiences led him to develop the worldwide unique DIY Solar Pump: a cost-effective and sustainable solution that enables water to be pumped from a depth of up to 100 meters - independently from electric power. The founder & CEO of PM Pumpmakers GmbH has received numerous awards for his patented concept, e.g.: in 2011, the Energy Globe Award, build! Ideenwettbewerb and Social Impact Award, in 2012, the Innovation-Slot, in 2013, the Ben & Jerrys–Join our Core, in 2014, the Green Business Award, and in 2015, the Vote for a Better Planet Award and Sustainable Entrepreneurship Award. People all over the world should benefit from his knowledge and should be able to easily build wells to supply their village with water and start their own business. Following a successful crowdfunding campaign, the PUMPMAKERSPLATTFORM went live in January 2016, complete with construction plans and a webshop for the DIY Solar Pump.

Further press information:
Please visit https://PumpMakers.com/press to download a detailed PRESS KIT.

IMAGES & VIDEOS can be downloaded at:https://PumpMakers.com/press-photos-videos
Click on http://tv.pumpmakers.com/live-view for a LIVE VIEW of the DIY Solar Pump.

More information: www.PumpMakers.com

Pumpmakers on the Internet:
Website: www.pumpmakers.com
Facebook: https://facebook.com/pumpmakers
Twitter: http://twitter.com/DIYsolarpump
YouTube: http://youtube.com/pumpmakers
Google+: https://google.com/+Pumpmakers
LinkedIn Pumpmakers: http://linkedin.com/company/pumpmakers
LinkedIn Dietmar Stuck: http://linkedin.com/in/dietmarstuck

SOURCE
PM Pumpmakers GmbH

Southern African News

• Opinion

Should African Countries Adopt The American Entrepreneurship Model?

9th March 2016

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> Thandisizwe Mgudlwa

At the Black Forum Conference of September 2004 held at the University of Pretoria, a link between Entrepreneurship and Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) was debated extensively.

Although now its 12 years on since the Black Business leaders and BEE stakeholders gathered, the issues they discussed at the conference are still far from being addressed, as the majority of South Africans and their African counterparts are still living in poverty.

Currently, the are about five African countries which practice BEE. These are of SA, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Morocco, Mauritius and Namibia.

Titled, “Entrepreneurship and Black Economic Empowerment (BEE): An alternative way”, the forum asserted that entrepreneurship is sometimes seen as a process of few peoples.

Some notable outcomes included that, “Although some persons have innate abilities as entrepreneurs, many can also develop this capacity in their life through a learning process.”

According to Timmons (1999: 27), entrepreneurship is a way of thinking and reasoning.

“At the heart of entrepreneurship is the creation and/or recognition of opportunities.”

Therefore, entrepreneurship can help disposed people to change their social life, from poverty to wealth.

On the other hand, BEE is a policy aimed at empowering previously disadvantaged people in South Africa. Botswana, Zimbabwe, Morocco, Mauritius and Namibia.

In Nigeria, BEE seems no longer to be a top of the list these days.

Essentially though, is the question, what is the link between BEE and entrepreneurship?

The forum noted that the history of the Unites States could assist them in explaining how entrepreneurship can contribute to job creation and change the lives of millions of people in SA and the rest of Africa.

How can this be achieved? How can an entrepreneurial mind-set be implemented among the African population? These questions and others were going to ground the paper.

This paper would explain why to focus on entrepreneurship as a remedy to improving African’s lives and eradicate poverty.

The final report also developed definitively entrepreneurship as an alternative way of implementing BEE in an entrepreneurial context.

Furthermore, it was noted that society is the social and physical context in which people establish or acquire businesses.

“Entrepreneurship is important for any society to generate economic growth for social-economic welfare of the population in general” (Van Aardt et al., 2002: 3).

In this regard, Michel Porter (1990: 125) noted that entrepreneurship is at the heart of economic advantage.

The forum further declared that in a South African divided society, where a large part of the population leaves in poverty, entrepreneurship needed to be a ‘must’.

The whole paper has developed a strategic framework in which BEE can be implemented in an entrepreneurial context.

It has been found that during the years 1970s, entrepreneurship was defined as a way of thinking, reasoning, and acting that is opportunity obsesses, holistic in approach, and leadership balanced (Timmons, 1999: 27).

Although this definition of entrepreneurship has evolved over the past decades, however, the core of the concept remains the same.

According to Timmons (1987: 409), entrepreneurship results in the creation, enhancement, realization, and renewal of value, not just for owners, but also for all participants and stakeholders.

At the heart of this process according to Timmons, there is the creation and/or recognition of opportunities, followed by the will and initiative to seize these opportunities.

Therefore, entrepreneurship requires a willingness to take risks-both personal and financial.

During the years 1990s, entrepreneurship was associated with the creation of start-ups.

Today, entrepreneurship has evolved beyond the classic start-up notion to include organisations of all types at all stages.

Thus entrepreneurship can occur -and fail to occur- in new firms and in old, in small firms and large, in fast and slow growing firms, in the private, not for-profit, and public sectors, in all geographic points, and all stages of a nation’s development, regardless of politics (Timmons,1999: 27).

In simple terms, Antonites (2003: 29) defines an entrepreneur as an individual with the potential to create a vision from virtually nothing.

Furthermore, “Entrepreneurship requires a willingness to take calculated risks, both personal time, intellectual and financial, and then doing everything possible to fulfill ones’ goals and objectives.”

This would also also involve “building a team of people with complementary needed skills and talents; sensing and grasping an opportunity where others see failure, chaos, contradiction, and confusion; and gathering and controlling resources to pursue the opportunity, making sure that the venture does not run out of finance when it needs it most.”

At any time, the entrepreneur needs certain resources to start a business venture, or to realize a business opportunity, either outside or inside the business, which are financial, and human resources (Van Aardt, 2002: 5).

From all the definitions outlined here, entrepreneurship holds the promise of future growth, expansion and long-term financial gain; that is why sometimes a small business that is only aimed at the survival of its owner cannot be seen as an entrepreneurial venture (Van Aardt 2002: 5).

The term Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) started slipping into vocabulary of Blacks Activists at about the same time that “Black Advancement” was the term invogue in the late 1970s in South Africa during the Freedom Struggle.

But it was only in the late 1980s, that it began to be used strongly as a counterpoint to the weak “Equal Opportunity” that had been given prominence by the corporate sector.

However, the term as used in the 1980s may well end up being judged by history of the anti-Apartheid Struggle prior to the elections of 27 April 1994.

The term also found itself smack in the middle of the political turmoil that was enfolding in South Africa at that time.

According to Paul Browning (1978), the goal of BEE is to assist in the process of dismantling apartheid and creating a non-racial representative government in South Africa.

“The empowerment strategy has two distinct elements. The first is the breaking down of social barriers as result of increased Black incomes. This will lead to changes in lifestyles and greater communication between Blacks and whites. This in turn will ease the process of political change. The second is the creation of wealth within the Black community sothat in a capitalist society Blacks will be able to vote with their money” (Madi 1997).

The BEE Commission defined BEE as a strategy aimed at substantially increasing Black participation at all levels in the economy. BEE is aimed at redressing the imbalances of the past by seeking to substantially and equitably transfer ownership, management and proportionate control of South Africa’s financial and economic resources to the majority of its citizens.

It also aims to ensure broader and meaningful participation in the economy by Black people. From this definition, there is a keyword that needs to be underlined and which explains the whole policy of BEE,

BEE is a strategy aimed to redress the imbalances of the past by increasing Black participation in their national economies.

For an example, in March, 2008, Zimbabwe’s President, Robert Mugabe signed the Indigenization and Economic Empowerment Bill into law.

The law gives Zimbabweans the right to take over and control many foreign owned companies in Zimbabwe. Specifically, over 50% of all the businesses in the country will be transferred into local African hands. The bill defines an indigenous Zimbabwean as “any person who before the 18th of April 1980 was disadvantaged by unfair discrimination on the grounds of his or her race, and any descendant of such person.”

Moreover, the 2004 forum had concluded, other ways must be explored as alternative means for implementing BEE.

“Entrepreneurship is one. The present initiative tackles the process in the South African context.”