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Digital training for thousands of South African SMEs

SA job seekers, file photo

SA job seekers, file photo

by MTHULISI SIBANDA
JOHANNESBURG, (CAJ News) – ABOUT 3 000 small South African businesses are to receive in vital tools and technologies to enable them unlock digital growth opportunities.

Facebook and Digify Africa are partnering for the training programme known as ‘Boost with Facebook’.

Formerly known as Boost Your Business, is an opportunity for learning and skills development for entrepreneurs, including small businesses, jobseekers, and other community leaders, allowing them to find the resources and training they need to thrive in the digital economy.

It also lives as an interactive, audience-curated website that houses and organizes the many services, resources, and training’s available to small businesses, job seekers, and community leaders across Facebook’s family of apps and services.

Emilar Gandhi, Public Policy Lead at Facebook, Southern African Development Community (SADC) region, said small and medium-sized businesses were the catalysts of growth and job creation in South Africa.

Gandi said with more than 1,6 billion people connected to small or medium business on Facebook, Boost with Facebook aimed to enable local businesses to use Facebook, WhatsApp Business and Instagram to unlock new business opportunities and conquer new markets.

Training sessions are scheduled in Ekurhuleni, Tsakane, Johannesburg Central, Soweto, Mthatha, Sedibeng, Mbombela and Cape Town.

During 2018, Facebook brought digital training workshops to small business owners in more than 15 towns and cities in seven South African provinces.

Qhakaza Mthembu, Chief Operating Officer at Digify Africa, said they were invigorated to reach more businesses and equip them with the hands-on digital skills.

Mthembu said this was inspired by how powerful Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp had been for businesses trained last year.

“Digify Africa is excited to continue working with Facebook to reach more entrepreneurs,” Mthembu added.

– CAJ News

Italy tightens crackdown on migrants saved at sea

Italy parliament

Italy parliament

from AHMED ZAYED in Tripoli, Libya
TRIPOLI, (CAJ News) – CIVIL society and humanitarian organisations have condemned moves by Italy to enact legislation that targets people rescuing migrants at sea.

The Italian Parliament this week approved the conversion into law a security decree that imposes more severe penalties on boats and people conducting search and rescue operations in the Mediterranean.

Fines for private vessels that undertake rescue of stranded migrants and refugees into Italy’s territorial waters have risen to a maximum of €1 million (R18 million).

“The latest piece of legislation approved is indeed an unprecedented act of criminalization of solidarity,” Solidair, the civil society group, stated.

The organisation argued Italy was in breach of international law by pushing back human beings towards war zones, particularly Libya.

Charlie Yaxley, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) spokesperson, financial or other penalties on shipmasters could deter sea rescue activities at a time when European states have largely withdrawn from rescue efforts in the Mediterranean.

He said the commitment and humanity that motivates shipmasters’ activities should not be criminalised or stigmatised.

“The extremely volatile security situation, ongoing conflict, widespread reports of human rights violations and routine use of arbitrary detention for people disembarked back to Libya underline the fact that it is not a viable place of safety,” Yaxley said.

– CAJ News

Banks must help stop illegal wildlife trade

Standard Chartered

Standard Chartered

by TINTSWALO BALOYI 
JOHANNESBURG, (CAJ News) – A BANKING executive has urged the finance sector to play a part in fighting illegal wildlife trade, a criminality that is endangering some species to the point of extinction.

Kweku Bedu-Addo, Chief Executive Officer of Standard Chartered Southern Africa, highlighted the enormous challenge, marked by more than 30 000 elephants killed each year.

About 1 000 wildlife rangers have been killed in the last ten years.

Bedu-Addo noted the brutal business is now worth between US$7 billion (R98 billion) and $23 billion (R322 billion) annually.

“Despite our best efforts, the criminals are still winning. To turn the tide, we need to rethink our approach. That means recognising that everyone has a part to play – including the financial sector.”

Standard Chartered is training branch tellers to better spot potentially suspicious transactions relating to the illegal wildlife trade.

“We’re making this crime an area of focus for our financial crime investigators and, through our Correspondent Banking Academies, working with clients to better understand and respond to the illegal wildlife trade,” Bedu-Addo said.

Standard Chartered’s latest brand campaign, showing across 11 countries, has focused on the illegal wildlife trade

“Through the trusted relationships we have with millions of customers around the world, including in many of the countries crucial to the demand, supply, or transit of illegal wildlife products, we can draw attention to the damage the trade can cause,” the executive said.

The bank has also played a central role in the establishment of the ‘United For Wildlife Financial Taskforce’.

Bedu-Addo is concerned illegal wildlife trade has barely received any attention as a form of financial crime.

According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, only 26 percent of jurisdictions look at the finances behind the trade.

“That means there is an important opportunity for banks to strengthen the fight against the trade,” said Bedu-Addo.

He expressed hope the world is approaching a tipping point in the efforts to combat the trade.

“It’s time for the financial sector to take a stand, and by working together we can make a real difference,” Bedu-Addo said.

– CAJ News

Mozambique deal signifies African solution for African problems

Mozambique President Filipe Nyusi (left) and opposition RENAMO leader Ossufo Momade pose for a photo after signing peace deal

Mozambique President Filipe Nyusi (left) and opposition RENAMO leader Ossufo Momade pose for a photo after signing peace deal

from ARIMANDO DOMINGOS in Maputo, Mozambique
MAPUTO, (CAJ News) – THE successful political dialogue between the government and Mozambique National Resistance (RENAMO), culminating in the signing of an agreement on cessation of military hostilities, is a major development in the quest for ‘African solutions for African problems.’

Mozambique peace deal

Mozambique peace deal

Lauded globally, it is a major reinforcement to the continent’s flagship project of ‘Silencing the Guns’ and a major boost to the A’frica We Want’ aspirations of the continental bloc.

Signed by President Filipe Nyusi of the Mozambique Liberation Front (FRELIMO) –led government and RENAMO leader, Ossufo Momade, this breakthrough, is anticipated to enable the Southern African country to realise its full potential following years of tensions.

This week, leaders from across the continent converged in the capital Maputo for the landmark Peace and Reconciliation Agreement ceremony.

An air of optimism permeated Mozambique, an unprecedented development in a country which despite the end of a decades-long civil war 27 years ago, has been characterised by intermittent conflict.

Mozambique is still reeling from devastating effects of cyclones, most tragically Idai that left more than 600 people dead with more than 500,000 others displaced.

“This (peace agreement) is another sign that Africans can find solutions to their problems,” said Claude Nikobisanzwe, Ambassador of Rwanda to Mozambique.

Moussa Faki, head of the African Union Commission (AUC) saluted Mozambicans and the leadership of Nyusi and Ossufo, describing the landmark deal as a great step towards national reconciliation and unity.

“As you all know, peace, security and sustainable development are our top priorities in the continent to achieve the Africa We Want. Therefore I welcome the signing of this peace agreement,” Faki said.

Faki urged the international community and the private sector to make the most of the atmosphere of peace and reconciliation, to invest in the ongoing Mozambique reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts.

The Mozambique peace deal has buoyed the mood in the AU ahead of the upcoming signing political agreement in Sudan.

It is scheduled for August 17.

María Fernanda Espinosa Garcés, President of the 73rd Session of the UN General Assembly, also welcomed the historic peace deal.

“This agreement brings hope for lasting peace and development to Mozambique,” she said.

The peace deal paves way for the holding of peaceful elections in the nation with an estimated population of over 30 million people.

Polls are set for October 15 and are again projected to be a two-horse race between FRELIMO and RENAMO.

João Lourenço, the President of Angola, said the agreement gave back lasting peace to Mozambicans and would be beneficial to the Southern African Development Community (SADC) regional bloc and the continent.

Mozambique is endowed with vast resources particularly gas fields discovered from 2011.

“The huge potential of Mozambique could serve the interest of the people of this country and Southern Africa region,” Lourenco said.

Mozambique plays key role in the region’s economy.

Its main ports provide access to international markets to countries of the landlocked countries such as Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

The Mozambique breakthrough is undoubtedly the biggest development as SADC prepares for the 39th Ordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government to be held in Tanzania on August 17-18.

– CAJ News

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