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Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Finance Minister and Former Deputy President Speak to Students about Investment in Africa

Tshepo Tshabalala

Former South African Deputy President,
Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka believes Africa
is capable of shaping its own success.

Prominent business and investment leaders took to the stage at the Association for Black Securities and Investments Professionals (ABSIP) Investment Forum Wits Chapter on Monday 14 March, at the university’s Great Hall. Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan attracted a big audience at the event themed, Awakening Investment Potential.

The forum brings together students and financial industry professionals in an interactive atmosphere to discuss current issues and opportunities facing both investment professionals and the corporate world.

The Wits Chapter of Absip invited a range of speakers like Former Deputy President of South Africa Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, CEO of Arcelor Mittal Nonkululeko Nyembezi-Heita, Country Manager of Google SA Luke Mckend, World Banl Lead Private Sector Development Specialist Chunlin Zhang, Lesley Mosimang CEO of Murray & Roberts, Graham Mackay CEO of SAB Miller to name a few.

Longing for Africa's Media to Tell the True Story of the Continent

Africa's first world cup was just one month of predominantly positive news
about Africa leading to the word "vuvuzela" being added
to the Oxford Dictionary.

I find it amazing how media organisations from first world countries dictate to us what should be leading and where the help is needed most in the world. Japan has been hit by an earthquake which was soon followed by a tsunami and the country needs relief assistance. We have been watching this story leading on television networks from around the world including those from the African continent.

Last year the devastation left by the quake in Haiti led in most media for much of the year and the story was probably the biggest of 2010. A year later, in January this year, many news organisations went back to check on the lack of progress in relief efforts and humanitarian assistance in the country. Two months later it seems as if many are forgetting what took place in Haiti and broadcast media organisation don’t even have a two second voice explaining the progress that has taken place since then.

PASMA Gauteng Chair, Terrance Ditlake, addressing delegates
during the movements election in TUT Soshanguve

Sthembiso Sithole

Close to 100 Pan Africanist Student Movement of Azania (PASMA) members attended the elections of their new executive at the Tshwane University of Technology’s (TUT) Soshanguve South Campus on Friday.

The main objective of the gathering was to nominate the new chairperson of TUT Soshanguve branch and the academic exclusion of some of their members by the university. Just like in South Africa’s municipal elections it seems as if issues of gender imbalances are at the top of the student movement’s agenda.

“I pray that the leadership to be elected today, gender will be gender equal,” said Terence Ditlake, PASMA’s Gauteng chairperson.