Publisher

International relations

From January 2013 South Africa will serve a three-year term as a member of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations (UN).

ECOSOC is a central forum for discussing economic, human rights, health, social and cultural issues at the UN.

International relations

Preparations for the Fifth Brics Summit scheduled for 26 to 27 March 2013 are well underway.

International relations

Trade between South Africa and China keeps rising as the relations between the two countries deepen.

According to the Department of Trade and Industry (dti), South Africa’s exports to China reached an all-time high of R85 billion in 2011, an increase of 45 per cent over 2010.

There should be more collaboration, improved infrastructure and awareness campaigns for road users throughout Africa.

This was the dominant sentiment at the second Africa Road Safety Conference held recently in Boksburg.

The conference was organised by the South African Road Federation and the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) in partner- ship with transport stakeholders.

Residents of Thembalethu in George recently had an opportunity to raise their concerns in person with Minister of Social Development Bathabile Dlamini. For one young mother this was a particularly special occasion, as she was served by the Minister in the new office and her grant application was approved.

She is just 12 years old and blind, but Nigerian girl Adeife Unwumsnachi Adeniran has already written a book. Adeife, who attends Prinshof High School for the Visually Impaired in Pretoria, recently launched her very own book titled, Can You Imagine, to coincide with Disability Month, which runs from 3 November to 3 December.

Census results

The South African population has increased by almost 7 million since the last census in 2001. Handing over the official results in Pretoria to President Jacob Zuma, Statistician-General Pali Lehohla said although the population has grown, it grew at a lower rate, especially between 2007 and 2011.

Youth matters

The National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) was so impressed by the work done by an exceptional community upliftment initiative that it pledged R400 000 towards it.

Youth matters

Grade 11 pupil Sibongile Xaba had ambitions of becoming a doctor but wasn’t sure where the money to further her studies would come from.

South Africa’s biggest science fair, the Eskom Expo, has once again shown that our youth feel at home in laboratories. After 28 exciting and competitive regional finals countrywide, the grand finale of the Eskom Expo for Young Scientists was held at the Birchwood Hotel and Conference Centre in Johannesburg in October.