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By Gusti Coetzer - director at Signium Africa (previously Talent Africa)

Entrepreneurship is widely celebrated. Since 2010, National Entrepreneur’s Day on November 19 has been presidentially proclaimed in the USA and has now been joined by National Entrepreneurship Month (November), National Entrepreneurship Week and Small Business Saturday.

Celebration is understandable. Global experience indicates entrepreneurs create jobs and often develop products with worldwide appeal that boost export earnings.Entrepreneurial spirit is also high on the list of competencies when job specifications are drawn up by major companies looking for executive talent.

Though entrepreneurs are rightly applauded, there appears to be some confusion about what it takes to be one.Media coverage of entrepreneurship and the qualities required of the next Steve Jobs or Jeff Bezos confirms the confusion as many commentators are just as keen to outline misconceptions around entrepreneurship while others fail to distinguish between subsistence-level small business and game-changing innovation.

Those with real entrepreneurial fire go out to revolutionise their industries. Some even want to change the world.Opening yet another nail bar will hardly revolutionise the industry, though earning your own living without reliance on a boss is certainly a commendable goal.

Pretoria-born multiple entrepreneur and billionaire Elon Musk famously said, “Goingfrom PayPal, I thought, ‘What are some of the other problems that are likely to affect the future of humanity?’ Not from the perspective, ‘what’s the best way to make money?’”

He went on to launch SpaceX, the commercial space travel firm, and Tesla Motors, the electric car-maker.For the type of entrepreneurship that creates boundless new opportunities, it therefore appears a vision beyond financial security is required. In fact, financial insecurity and frugality may be the lot of the visionary entrepreneur in the early days.

There is general consensus that risk-taking ability is a must as so many entrepreneurs champion breakthrough concepts that may not look like a solid investment at inception stage. Generating ideas is therefore a plus, but even more important is the drive to implement them, often at pace.

Creative people have ideas. Entrepreneurs not only have them, they implement them, acting quickly to effect change.

Even a writer and poet like Goethe recognised the importance of get-up-and-go. He noted, “What is not started will never get finished.” In other words, dreaming won’t make it so.It takes a committed entrepreneur to get the job done and turn vision into a paying proposition.In addition, a positive mindset and persistence are obligatory, judging by media commentary.

Billionaire British entrepreneur Richard Branson remarked that business opportunities are like buses – there’s always another one coming. Decades earlier, inventor-entrepreneur Thomas Edison consoled himself during a rough patch that he had not failed, he had simply found 10 thousand ways that did not work.

Conservative investors would have given up long before his bright ideas led to the development of the electric light bulb and record-player.Of course, the start-up visionary does not monopolise entrepreneurship. Increasingly, we see major corporates committing themselves to a culture that embraces judicious risk-taking and champions ongoing innovation.

Only a self-motivated initiator (or several) can instil such a culture.It seems the day of the corporate entrepreneur is at hand … and not only on November 19.

Around R50 million has been invested in the project which since 2011 has facilitated the planting of over 500 hectares of tobacco leaves and 300 hectares of vegetable crops

PRETORIA, South Africa, October 23, 2017/APO Group/ -- 

New houses, cars, expansion of farms, employment of extra labour, money to send children to school and less reliance on social grants. This is how a group of small scale farmers in Mpumalanga and Limpopo who participated in an agricultural upskill initiative that introduced them to tobacco farming, spoke of how the project had changed their lives.

Evidence of their success is contained in a research study conducted by academics from the University of the North West who looked into how participation in an incubation project over a period of three years had led to a marked improvement in the lives of the farmers and their families.

The farmers were part of an experimental project run by British American Tobacco South Africa which partnered with Mobile Agri Skills Development and Training (MASDT) - one stop centre for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the agricultural sector, whose task is to provide support to emerging farmers in rural areas. Along with partner, Limpopo Tobacco Processors, they pioneered the Emerging Farmers Initiative aimed at transforming the agricultural sector by introducing emerging farmers to tobacco and other crops.

In total, 74 incubation projects were established in Bufflespruit, Badplaas and Steynsdorp in Mpumalanga; Nzhelele and Mianzwi in the Vembe area of Limpopo, as well in Groblersdal. Farmers that participated in the incubation received practical skills training in cultivating larger tracts of farmland and a deeper understanding of various crops. They also received resources such as fertilisers, pesticides, seeds, farming equipment and financial support.

Other benefits of the incubation included assistance with plant production, tobacco production, poultry and care of livestock. Alternate non-tobacco crops including maize, butternut, cabbage, peppers, beetroot, onions and spinach were added on a rotational cropping plan to help the farmers augment their income.

Around R50 million has been invested in the project which since 2011 has facilitated the planting of over 500 hectares of tobacco leaves and 300 hectares of vegetable crops. BAT buys all the tobacco leaf produced by participating farmers. The projects have created over 2500 jobs whose beneficiaries support in excess of 3 900 dependents.

Professors Hendri Coetzee and Werner Nell, independent researchers from the University of the North West, visited 22 of the projects to conduct an in-depth study on the impact of the initiative on emerging farmers. In their findings, the academics discovered that farmers that participated in the incubation had recorded drastically increased crop yields due to the skills acquired in the project. They were able to manage larger tracts of farmland, apply proper irrigation practices, control pests and diseases.

Their understanding and management of their personal finances had improved vastly. They were now able to save and actively invest their own money, something they were unable to do before. They were able to use money earned from their agri business to buy new homes or renovate their existing ones, to purchase new vehicles, and generally improve their farms by installing additional irrigation systems to secure water supply.

“Farmers in Badplaas region plagued by crop theft were able to hire private security to guard their crops, control access (to their farms) and protect agricultural assets. They could also hire additional staff to assist on farms,” the research found.

Profits earned from the projects also allowed the farmers to send their children to school and higher education institution, provide for their families and afford better healthcare. They were also able to employ additional labour from within their communities to assist them on the farms. Female farmers that were part of the incubation recorded less reliance on their husbands or on government social grants for support.

“The outcomes of the MASDT project were found to have a number of cumulative and/or secondary outcomes that resulted in positive impacts on a broader social and communal level, such as supporting local economic development and empowering women,” the research concluded.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Agri SA.

African countries that have for decades depended on their national oil company as a key source of revenue will need to rethink business models and strategies to avoid being captive to a single energy source and to allow them to rebalance budgets

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, October 5, 2017/APO/ -- 

NOCs across Africa have an enormous opportunity to secure a more sustainable future by transforming into “national energy companies” (‘NECs’), escaping the economic trap of a lower oil price and embracing the disruptive forces unleashed by climate change and a lowcarbon world.

A new era of lower oil prices is challenging business models that have long relied largely on exploration and production of hydrocarbons, particularly ‘black gold’ oil.  This is likely to prompt African countries that have for decades depended on their NOC as a key source of revenue to rethink the “nation-building” role that their NOCs have played.

In turn, the sustainability of NOCs will depend on their ability to transform into NECs, responding to the demands placed on them by consumers, governments and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to respond to climate change and a new energy future.

Chris Bredenhann, PwC (www.PwC.com) Africa Advisory Oil & Gas Leader, says: “Globally, the energy sector is experiencing significant change and upheaval. Whether it is in oil & gas or utilities, we are witnessing tectonic shifts in strategies, business models and ways of working.”

“Whether we are talking about fledgling NOCs with limited hydrocarbon resources or established NOCs sitting on large reserves, all of these companies will need to work out how to seize the opportunities emerging from this disruption.”

These are some of the highlights from an analysis by PwC titled ‘The new Nation Builders: Creating the African national oil company (NOC) of the future’ released today. In this paper, we look at the challenges of disruption facing African NOCs, what it means for them and how they should position themselves for a sustainable future.

“After all, not only do African NOCs have to navigate this disruption and tackle the challenges of uncertainty, as do their international oil company (IOC) counterparts, but given their sovereign importance as nation builders they must also identify the future pathways to evolve,” says Bredenhann.

African NOCs: from nation builders to national energy companies

African countries that have for decades depended on their national oil company as a key source of revenue will need to rethink business models and strategies to avoid being captive to a single energy source and to allow them to rebalance budgets.

However, in most cases, the new low oil price environment is likely to force many governments to consider what the most appropriate mandate should be for an NOC. Some projects may not proceed as originally planned due to the lower oil price environment.

Accordingly, NOCs will have to carry out assessments of where their strengths may lie and of potential revenue streams. This will become an increasing priority with the emergence of social and political challenges amid slowing regional economies.

According to our analysis, we think it is still possible to stay true to a nation-building mission, while adapting business models to the current environment.There is an opportunity to reinvent the NOC – whether established or fledgling – as a national energy company and in the process reinvent what nation-building itself can mean for the energy sector in Africa.

The report identifies three key factors which established NOCs should consider in order to diversify and grow beyond the historical reliance on oil: rapid moves globally towards an increasingly low-carbon energy industry; meeting the burgeoning demand for domestic power; and a need to meet crude and refined product requirements through storage and transport in domestic African countries.

To move towards this vision, NOCs may need to adopt partnership models to transform and operate successfully as NECs. In a budget-constrained environment with reduced access to resources and capabilities, partnering with IOCs will be key to delivering change. NOCs will also need to engage more widely with regulators and governments in order to ensure that they are playing an active role in the industry.

1. Low carbon
   NOCs might profitably focus on ensuring a supply of energy from multiple lowcarbon sources. The shift towards lower carbon is already taking place in a number of mature western markets. Similarly in the Middle East, Saudi Arabia has implemented a number of initiatives to boost the country’s non-oil revenue. In some instances, gas may be a bridge to a cleaner and more sustainable source of energy. Gas has been discovered in abundance across the African continent, and some NOCs are already exploiting it.

2. Domestic power needs
   While African economies have slowed in the past two years, the medium and long-term needs for domestic power generation are enormous. The report recommends that where gas exists as a resource, NOCs should consider forming internal and external partnerships to guarantee gas offtake for national power production. Significant shifts to move towards gas have recently taken place in countries like Nigeria, Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire.

3. Storage and transport
   Another potential role for NOCs outside the upstream and downstream space lies in midstream. NOCs should think about investing in storage facilities or pipelines. They need to also contemplate forming equity partnerships in large projects rather than taking on all of the risk themselves.

For fledgling NOCs, the above factors make it all the more important that their sponsor governments carefully assess the rationale for establishing and developing national champions in oil & gas – and find the right model for this new environment.

The report highlights six NOCs at various stages of maturity in Namibia, Ghana, Nigeria, Algeria, Angola and Mozambique.

The role of digital in reshaping business models

African NOCs should think about where and how best to invest in digitisation as they redefine their business models. Digitally-enabled technology systems are expected to substantially reduce the cost-per-barrel of future hydrocarbon resource exploitation.

It is notable that the sector has been slower than other industries to adopt digital solutions and has tended to focus rather on increasing production and recovery throughout the years. However, the new era of low oil is now forcing operators to shift focus from top-line to bottom-line growth, towards improving cost structures and margins in order to be competitive in current conditions and prioritising efficiency gains over production growth.

Digital also has a role in renewables and in shifting towards a lowcarbon energy industry. “Digital is no longer an enabler but a game changer,” Bredenhann adds. “African oil & gas organisations that respond to the need for reshaped business models by building digital capabilities will be well-positioned to win in the new market reality.”

Preparing for the future

As NOCs go through this major period of disruption, they will need to assess their current business models and strategies in order to build a sustainable NOC of the future. “In addition, they should consider partnering with international oil companies to develop the kind of capabilities that best complement their strategies,” Bredenhann comments.

Distributed by APO on behalf of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC).

The increasing availability of natural gas in South Africa represents a significant opportunity for industry to lower energy costs and improve profitability, while also moving towards cleaner emissions targets. This is being made possible through the development of a rapidly expanding gas distribution network by Virtual Gas Network (a division of CNG Holdings): the first commercial-scale supply of natural gas in South Africa, now available to businesses anywhere in a 300-km radius of Johannesburg.

With limited historical access, natural gas in South Africa has been used primarily as feedstock for the production of synthetic fuels, but the discovery and development of extensive regional off-shore methane-rich gas fields (especially in Mozambique) means it can now be expanded to meet a much greater industrial demand. This will radically change the country’s energy dynamic in the coming years as more and more companies seek to optimise their operational performance and reduce their reliance on coal-based power.

Natural gas provides about one fifth of the world’s total energy requirements, with industry accounting for around 40% of total gas consumption, concentrated mainly in food and beverage, pulp and paper, metals, chemicals, petroleum refining, glass, plastics and power generation (co- and tri-generation) industries.

Boilers, furnaces, dehumidifiers, heaters and coolers, ovens, kilns and turbines can all be fired more efficiently via natural gas, which offers a consistent, high energy content of +/- 39.22 MJ (10.89 kWh) per m 3 that is significantly more cost-effective than coal-based fuels. Apart from lowering energy costs as a cheaper fuel, the cleaner combustion of natural gas also improves equipment and plant performance and reduces maintenance by minimising the build-up of carbon residues and stench within components, which leads to increased production time. In the near future, the reduced emissions of natural gas – with up to 27% less CO 2 , NO X , HC and PM emitted than other fossil fuels – will become increasingly more critical as companies look to avoid carbon tax penalties.

Virtual Gas Network, together with fellow CNG Holdings division NGV Gas, has already converted a number of canneries, manufacturing and assembly plants across a range of industries in South Africa, in addition to fleets of warehouse forklifts in various storage and intralogistical applications, to gas.

It does so through turnkey gas solutions that cover the supply and installation of all necessary conversion equipment, including a pressure regulating plant and all associated hoses, connectors, valves and civil work requirements, through to managing the delivery of a constant supply of natural gas as required.

Any industrial company within a 300-km radius of CNG Holdings’ main compression station in Langlaagte, Johannesburg, can be supplied with gas. This includes businesses without direct access to the gas pipeline connecting Johannesburg and Pretoria, which can be serviced by Virtual Gas Network.

This ‘virtual’ distribution network is an innovative road-based delivery system of compressed gas tube trailer modules each storing compressed gas for distribution to customers. CNG Holdings, through Virtual Gas Network, manages the continuous delivery and collection of gas tube trailers as required, ensuring a guaranteed energy supply on a pay-as- you-use basis.

CNG Holdings, in partnership with the Industrial Development Corporation, is actively expanding this network to service a much wider geographic area, with Durban and Richards Bay soon to receive their first natural gas depots that will supply gas to the cities’ industry.

CNG Holdings is a partner of the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC).

Highlights from PwC’s ninth edition of SA Mine, a series of publications that highlights trends in the South African mining industry released by PwC

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, September 29, 2017/APO/ -- 

2017 was another challenging year for South Africa’s mining industry in light of a decrease in dividends and market capitalisation, various retrenchments across the industry, and marginal increases in taxes paid. However, spot price increases for bulk commodities supported the industry and resulted in a return to profitability after the first substantial increase in revenues in five years. These are some of the highlights from PwC’s ninth edition of SA Mine (APO.af/m8dmDx), a series of publications that highlights trends in the South African mining industry released by PwC (PwC.com) today.

Michal Kotzé, PwC Africa Energy Utilities & Resources Leader, says: "The 2017 year can be described as a year of policy uncertainty and real questions over the long-term sustainability of the industry."

“After the price lows of December 2015 and January 2016, the current year saw USD prices recover for most commodities with the exception of platinum. Although some USD price gains were offset by a stronger rand, the improved prices did bring the industry as a whole back into profitability.”

Despite an improvement in the financial performance of the industry, regulatory announcements in June 2017 resulted in market capitalisation dropping to June 2015 levels. A subsequent recovery at the end of August was aided by improved USD prices and hope by investors that the suspended new Mining Charter would be revised before final implementation. In this edition, we have also included a brief look at the regulatory changes in Nigeria, the DRC and Tanzania.

Market capitalisation

The 2017 financial year saw a decrease in the market capitalisation of the companies analysed to almost the low levels of 2015. The market capitalisation of the 29 companies analysed in this report decreased to R420 billion, a 25% decline from R560 billion as at 30 June 2016. Market capitalisation recovered somewhat to R506 billion as at 31 August 2017 on the hope that there would be an amicable solution between the industry and the regulator.

Contribution by commodity

Coal maintained its strong position as the leading South African mining commodity revenue generator. Despite its percentage of revenue generated remaining unchanged at 27%, it increased total revenue to R119 billion from the prior year’s R105 billion. Platinum group metals’ (PGMs) share of total revenue decreased to 22% from 24% as total PGM revenue decreased by R2 billion to R94 billion. Gold’s share of mining revenue decreased to 16% from the 18% in 2016. In contrast, iron ore’s share increased to 11% from 9% due to a R10 billion increase in revenue.

Financial performance

Revenue increased by 13% (R43 billion) from the prior year. “It is notable that this is the first substantial increase in more than five years,” says Andries Rossouw, PwC Assurance Partner.

The gold companies’ revenue increased by 17% (R23 billion) due to improvements in USD gold prices and a weaker rand for most of the reporting period. The platinum companies have seen revenue increases by 4% from the prior year on the back of improved platinum prices for parts of the year.

Operating expenses increased by R13 billion, which is a 5% increase from the prior year. Continued low commodity prices have resulted in another year with significant impairments in the industry, with a total of R22 billion in impairment provisions. More than R100 billion was impaired over the last three years, more than wiping out the last two years of capital expenditure in the industry.

After last year’s net loss the companies in this year’s analysis are back into a net profit position due to lower impairments. The EBITDA margin of 26% is 6% higher than the previous year. “It is encouraging that all commodities improved their EBITDA margins. However, the low platinum EBITDA margin (12%) is still a significant concern and threatens the sustainability of a number of operations,” Rossouw adds.

Labour still accounts for the majority of mining companies’ costs, accounting for approximately 44%. Labour costs increased by 4.5% which was marginally below inflation.

After the price lows of December 2015 and January 2016, the current year saw USD prices recover for most commodities with the exception of platinum

Integrating risk into business strategy

In the last number of years we have not seen a significant change in the risks identified by mining companies. These include: volatile commodity prices and foreign exchange fluctuations; the regulatory, political and legal environment; socio economic environment around mines; sustainable business plans or budgets; labour relations; operating costs; reliance on third-party infrastructure; employee safety and health; liquidity and capital management; and compliance with environmental standards. In 2017, the risks have remained relatively consistent with three companies also including cybersecurity and its consequences as a risk.

Safety in mines

According to safety statistics, the level of safety has improved substantially in the industry, with fewer fatalities reported over the past 10 years. This is indicative of investments made by mining companies in safety initiatives.

Value to investors in the mining sector

The mining industry continues to add value to all its stakeholders. As reported in company value added statements, employees still take the lion’s share of value added at 40%, followed by the Government through direct taxes, payroll and royalties with 19%. It is disappointing to note that shareholders got only 2% in the form of distributions.

The adoption of emerging technologies in the mining industry

Technological advancements have spurred innovation and new ideas in the mining industry. A number of mining companies have adopted emerging technologies. The use of remotely-piloted as well as autonomous drones to survey opencast mines is a common example of the adoption of emerging technology. Mines are also using autonomous drilling, proximity devices, collision awareness systems for mine vehicles and trucks, cloud and mobility solutions.

Illegal mining activities

The value of illegal mining and dealing of metals and diamonds in South Africa is estimated to be more than R7 billion per year. The South African gold sector has been the most adversely impacted by illegal mining within the industry, according to the companies included in our study. The Chamber of Mines has emphasized the need for mining houses, the DMR and the South African Police Service to work together at every level of illegal mining activity from individuals working underground to the large syndicates that organise activity and sell the end product.

Mining in Africa

The DRC

The growth in the DRC mining sector since 2002 has been facilitated by the commodities boom, attractive tax and customs incentives, greater stability and an improved regulatory environment. By the end of 2016, 482 companies held mining rights, compared to 35 in 2002. The production of copper amounted to 1.035 billion tons at the end of 2016 versus 27 259 tons in 2002. Cobalt production achieved 69 038 tons at the end of 2016, versus 11 865 tons in 2002.

Nigeria

Despite various challenges the Government has taken a number of steps to make the mining sector more attractive for investment by putting in place clear regulatory policies and operationalising existing ones. There are still a number of challenges in the sector ranging from insufficient infrastructure as well as regulatory conflicts. The Nigerian mining sector realises it needs to align itself with world trends and norms, especially around the future demand for various minerals.

Tanzania

In 2016, the Tanzanian Government introduced fundamental changes to the income tax regime for the extractive sector. June 2017 saw significant changes for the sector, even more fundamental than the 2016 changes. The broad objective of the new legislation is to seek to obtain a higher return to Tanzania from its natural resources. 

Distributed by APO on behalf of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC).

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Note to editor:
The study’s findings are based on the financial results of the top mining companies with a primary listing on the JSE, as well as those with a secondary listing whose main operations are in Africa for financial year ends to June 2017. In all, 29 companies met these criteria. Due to our earlier report date, four of these companies hadn’t released their results at the time of compiling this report and have been excluded from our financial analysis. While many companies have significant South African operations, their global exposure and size mean that they do not necessarily reflect trends in the South African mining environment.

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, September 8, 2017/APO/ -- 

The Manager of the Mangaung Society for the Care of the Aged, Ms Christine Mosala says funds from the National Lotteries Commission (NLC) have been very helpful to the Boikhuco Old Age Home by allowing them to provide and restore the dignity of the elderly in the community of Bochabela in Bloemfontein. 

She was speaking during the joint oversight visit to the Free State by Parliamentarians belonging to the Select Committee on Trade and International Relations aimed at assessing how government-funded programmes in the province were stimulating local economic growth, visited the Mangaung Society for the Care of the Aged yesterday.

Boikhuco which received funding from the National Lotteries Commission provides care and support services to older persons in Mangaung.

Over R21 billion has been distributed to good causes since the Commission’s inception

“In 2013 we received R8 million to build retirement houses for income generation and bought vehicles needed for each programme, over the years. We managed to employ additional staff on contract basis to assist mostly in our residential care programme that accommodates in excess of 80 aged persons. Mostly, the funds assisted with our operational needs,” said Mosala.

According to the Commissioner of the NLC, Ms Thabang Mampane, the Commission through its mandate has played a role to bring about this growth by ensuring that funds are distributed to qualifying beneficiaries. She said that sectors funded by the NLC contribute to job creation, rural development, infrastructure development, promoting wellness and social cohesion.

“Over R21 billion has been distributed to good causes since the Commission’s inception. However, the reliance on a single source of funds does not make it possible to address the needs of the entire Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO) sector in South Africa. The National Lottery in South Africa does not exist for the sole purpose of creating millionaires. The driving force behind it is to raise funds for good causes,” said Mampane.

She added that the Commission continues to capacitate beneficiaries in various ways to ensure the sustainability of their projects, and to a position where they are empowered enough to access alternative sources of funding.

“The National Lottery is now a South African staple, and the public, winners, and beneficiaries of grants, continue to derive benefit from the games. Protection of the public remains one of our pillars, and we will continue to perform this important task through regulation of lotteries, enforcement of laws against fraud and illegal lotteries, and the NLC will continue to the protect the basic human rights of vulnerable South Africans through the equitable and expeditious distribution of funds to good causes,” added Mampane.

Distributed by APO on behalf of The Department of Trade and Industry, South Africa.

Partnership-for-action conference addresses need of land ownership for women in Africa

Pretoria, 22 August 2017 – Influential women from across Africa gathered in Pretoria this week to share their findings on (among other things) land-policy initiatives, including women’s rights to own land. They were part of a conference hosted by Habitat for Humanity’s Solid Ground Campaign in association with the Urban CSO Cluster of the Global Land Tool Network (GLTN) of UN-HABITAT, focusing on land governance and management in Africa.

“The partnership-for-action conference saw an opportunity for policy-makers, academics and members from many organisations to share valuable information to help the transformation of policy development in Africa,” said Tamzin Hudson, advocacy specialist for Habitat for Humanity International. A common thread was the issue of gender inequality and the high priority it should take when working on land-governance related policy-making.

“We need to address equal rights to ownership to land, and ensure that the land-policy framework that we develop, guarantees equal rights to all people, including women, who have been excluded historically from inheriting land in Liberia,” said conference attendee Ellen Pratt, the Commissioner of Land Use and Management with the Liberian Land Authority.

Education and information are also paramount to ensure women are aware of their rights to land and the right to have their names on documentation. “Women need to have the right to bequeath land, trade land and cultivate land with the knowledge that the land belongs to them,” said Jacqueline Amongin, Uganda’s representative of the Pan African Parliament.

Marc Wegerif has worked on development and human-rights issues in a range of organisations for over 25 years, and is currently the Land Rights Policy Lead with Oxfam. Speaking on gender and women’s rights, at the conference, he pointed out that in communities where women have stronger land rights, there are lower levels of both of hunger and of violence against women. “With control over the land they depend on for their livelihoods, women are able to take more control of their lives. Women also play a vital role in the betterment of their families and communities, giving them secure land rights should be imperative.” says Wegerif.

Land is essential to securing shelter, for agriculture for food security, for mobilising investments and for sustainable management of resources. “Including women in decision-making in land policy, and creating programmes that give women the necessary tools to secure land ownership, will addressthe challenges facing most African countries,” Hudson said.

The conference took place in partnership with the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST), Habitat International Coalition (HIC), Pamoja Trust, the Huairou Commission, and Slum/Shack Dwellers International (SDI).Stakeholders from multiple sectors came together to explore approaches to land governance for inclusive and sustainable development in Africa.

For furtLher information, please visit http://solidgroundcampaign.org/partnershipforaction

-- ENDS -- 

About Habitat for Humanity International 
Driven by the vision that everyone deserves a decent place to live, Habitat for Humanity is an international NGO that helps individuals and families achieve the strength, stability and self-reliance through adequate shelter.  With a presence in nearly 70 countries, our work includes incremental housing support services; basic services such as water and sanitation and energy, security of tenure, resilient and sustainable construction; inclusionary financing; community development; and advocacy.  Habitat advocates changing laws, policies, systems and attitudes to eliminate barriers to housing in order to create a world where everyone has a safe, decent and affordable place to live. Worldwide since 1976, Habitat has helped 9.8 million people achieve the strength, stability and independence they need to build brighter futures. In Europe, the Middle East and Africa, it has supported more than a million people since 2015. Visit www.habitat.org/emea for more information.

For more information, please contact

KARINA VAN DEN HEEVER
PR for Habitat for Humanity International
+27 21 4182466
+27 84 347 3358
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KATERINA BEZGACHINA
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Habitat for Humanity and UN-Habitat host land and housing policymakers and practitioners from across Africa

Pretoria, 22 August 2017 – Habitat for Humanity’s Solid Ground Campaign in association with the Urban CSO Cluster of the Global Land Tool Network (GLTN) of UN-HABITAT are hosting a conference in Pretoria, August 15-17, 2017. The event will focus on land governance and management in Africa. Land is integral to securing shelter, agriculture for food security, mobilising investments and for the sustainable management of resources.

The conference is taking place in partnership with the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST), Habitat International Coalition (HIC), the Huairou Commission, and Slum/Shack Dwellers International (SDI). It will see stakeholders from multiple sectors come together to explore approaches to land governance for inclusive and sustainable development in Africa.

Torre Nelson, Area Vice President of Habitat for Humanity International welcomed delegates from many African countries. Today also saw key note speakers, namely Honourable Jacqueline Amongin from the Pan African Parliament and Rose Molokoane from SDl, share insights into the issues facing many Africans, especially women to have access to land ownership. Questions asked, included who owns the land and issues around land access and land ownership, which were discussed during the opening sessions.

Anne Myers, the director of Habitat’s Solid Ground Campaign designed to focus on land policies and systems to ensure that more people around the globe have access to adequate housing, believes the conference will capture key issues related to the planning and upgrading of human settlements through land use planning tactics with adequate housing as a driver of sustainable community development. Housing has substantial economic spin offs which needs leveraging through policy processes.

Africa has the highest urbanisation rates globally, and it is estimated that 87% of the population growth in Africa will take place in urban areas over the next two decades. Urban poverty is increasing in the absence of jobs, and many African countries are unable to provide basic services or adequate housing due to their economic situation, planning deficiencies, budget constraints and institutional weaknesses. This has resulted in slums and informal settlements forming and creative solutions for addressing this situation will be discussed over the next few days.

“Secure land tenure and property rights are fundamental to shelter and livelihoods as well as the realisation of human rights, poverty reduction, economic prosperity and sustainable development,” explains Oumar Sylla Unit Leader, Global Land Tool Network.

The Conference is taking place at a time when there is a heightened focus on the implementation of the New Urban Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals, which together set out a vision for vibrant, resilient and sustainable human settlements. This broader developmental agenda will inform many of the sessions and there will be a dedicated session on local implementation towards the SDG’s.

For further information, please visit http://solidgroundcampaign.org/partnershipforaction

-- ENDS --

About Habitat for Humanity International 
Driven by the vision that everyone deserves a decent place to live, Habitat for Humanity is an international NGO that helps individuals and families achieve the strength, stability and self-reliance through adequate shelter.  With a presence in nearly 70 countries, our work includes incremental housing support services; basic services such as water and sanitation and energy, security of tenure, resilient and sustainable construction; inclusionary financing; community development; and advocacy.  Habitat advocates changing laws, policies, systems and attitudes to eliminate barriers to housing in order to create a world where everyone has a safe, decent and affordable place to live. Worldwide since 1976, Habitat has helped 9.8 million people achieve the strength, stability and independence they need to build brighter futures. In Europe, the Middle East and Africa, it has supported more than a million people since 2015. Visit www.habitat.org/emea for more information.

For more information, please contact

KARINA VAN DEN HEEVER
PR for Habitat for Humanity International
+27 21 4182466
+27 84 347 3358
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

KATERINA BEZGACHINA
Associate Director of Communications for Habitat for Humanity International
+421 911 045838
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Partnership for Action Conference to be held in Pretoria this August

Pretoria, 4 August 2017 – Habitat for Humanity’s Solid Ground Campaign in association with the Urban CSO Cluster of the Global Land Tool Network (GLTN) of UN-HABITAT will be hosting a conference in Pretoria on August 15-17, 2017. The event will focus on land governance and management in Africa. Land is integral to securing shelter, agriculture for food security, mobilising investments and for the sustainable management of resources.

The conference is taking place in partnership with the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST), the Network of Excellence on Land Governance in Africa (NELGA), Habitat International Coalition (HIC), the Huairou Commission, and Slum/Shack Dwellers International (SDI). It will see stakeholders from multiple sectors come together to explore approaches to land governance for inclusive and sustainable development in South Africa.

Anne Myers, the director of Habitat’s Solid Ground Campaign designed to focus on land policies and systems to ensure that more people around the globe have access to adequate housing, believes the conference will capture key issues related to the planning and upgrading of human settlements through land use planning tactics with adequate housing as a driver of sustainable community development.

“National land policies, guided by the Framework and Guidelines on Land Policy in Africa, need to be supported by participatory implementation strategies and practical tools that are relevant to Africa and take into account key players,” says Susana Rojas Williams, Co-Lead of GTLN’s Urban CSO Cluster and Director of International Shelter Initiatives from Habitat for Humanity International.

“The public provision of serviced land and housing in Africa faces obstacles, human and financial resource constraints and institutional bottlenecks. We need to design responsive land and housing policy approaches taking into account the realities and contexts of the policy making environment,” says Tamzin Hudson, senior advocacy specialist at Habitat for Humanity Europe, Middle East and Africa.

Africa has the highest urbanisation rates globally, and it is estimated that 87% of the population growth in Africa will take place in urban areas over the next two decades. Urban poverty is increasing at a rapid rate, and many African countries are unable to provide basic services or adequate housing due to their economic situation, planning deficiencies, budget constraints and institutional weaknesses. This has resulted in slums and informal settlements cropping up that come with many problems and which this conference hopes to address.

“Secure land tenure and property rights are fundamental to shelter and livelihoods as well as the realisation of human rights, poverty reduction, economic prosperity and sustainable development,” explains Oumar Sylla Unit Leader, Global Land Tool Network.

The Conference is taking place at a time when there is a heightened focus on the implementation of the New Urban Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals, which together set out a vision for vibrant, resilient and sustainable human settlements. This broader developmental agenda will inform many of the sessions and there will be a dedicated session on local implementation towards the SDG’s.

For further information, please visit http://solidgroundcampaign.org/partnershipforaction

About Habitat for Humanity International
Driven by the vision that everyone deserves a decent place to live, Habitat for Humanity is an international NGO that helps individuals and families achieve the strength, stability and self-reliance through adequate shelter.  With a presence in nearly 70 countries, our work includes incremental housing support services; basic services such as water and sanitation and energy, security of tenure, resilient and sustainable construction; inclusionary financing; community development; and advocacy.

Habitat advocates changing laws, policies, systems and attitudes to eliminate barriers to housing in order to create a world where everyone has a safe, decent and affordable place to live. Worldwide since 1976, Habitat has helped 9.8 million people achieve the strength, stability and independence they need to build brighter futures. In Europe, the Middle East and Africa, it has supported more than a million people since 2015. Visit www.habitat.org/emea for more information.

For more information, please contact

KARINA VAN DEN HEEVER
PR for Habitat for Humanity International
+27 21 4182466 / +27 84 347 3358
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

KATERINA BEZGACHINA
Associate Director of Communications for Habitat for Humanity International
+421 911 045838
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Habitat for Humanity calls on corporate assistance on the eve of its Nelson Mandela Day build event.

Cape Town, 18 July 2017– Habitat for Humanity South Africa, in partnership with the Nelson Mandela Foundation, will be hosting its Nelson Mandela International Build Week from 17 to 21 July in Orange Farm, Gauteng. Together with more than 4000 volunteers, the organisation intends to build 67 homes, one for every year of Mandela’s public service.

“South Africa’s urban population is growing at a remarkable rate, while at the same time housing costs continue to increase,” says Habitat for Humanity South Africa national director Patrick Kulati. ”This prevents low-income families from entering the formal housing market.”

Habitat for Humanity South Africa builds not only homes, but communities too. Community members pinpoint the resources they need, while experts in the field focus on finding solutions. “We need the help of corporates to fund community projects from the get-go. This will allow us to strategically allocate the budget at the planning stages, providing communities with the developments they deserve,” says Kulati.

It’s for this reason that the organisation is calling on corporate teams to volunteer their time to help build the homes, and to use their financial resources to assist Habitat in building the community of Orange Farm beyond the build event. Habitat for Humanity South Africa has been involved with the Orange Farm Community since 2008. The current population is estimated to be 1 million – making it one of the largest informal settlements in South Africa. The initial four year engagement focused on building housing with volunteers, as a way to alleviate poverty. Since 2015 the strategy has evolved to include growing strong community-based leadership.

South Africa’s National Development Plan hopes to eliminate poverty by the year 2030 by promoting leadership and partnerships throughout society, among other factors. By helping build new homes, those involved become advocates in action and play a critical role in helping fellow South Africans take vital steps out of poverty. Corporates can use the Habitat for Humanity Build Week as a team-building exercise by getting their employees involved in the building programmes.

Habitat for Humanity South Africa will be celebrating its 21 st birthday at the end of this year. With the assistance of dedicated and loyal volunteers over these last two decades, the organisation has been raising awareness of the right of all people to access to decent shelter and in this way positively impacting communities. “I’ve been a volunteer at Habitat for Humanity South Africa for 14 years and the feeling of making a difference in the lives of others never gets old,” says Liyanda Maseko, Habitat for Humanity SA volunteer.

Mandela Day is held annually on 18 July, Nelson Mandela’s birthday.

For more information about the Build Week or to find out how to get involved, visit www.habitat.org.za.

About Habitat for Humanity
Habitat for Humanity South Africa’s vision is a South Africa in which everyone has a decent place to live. Building strength, stability and self-reliance for under-resourced communities through the provision of shelter. Established in 1996, the South African organisation is represented in the Western Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng. It will be celebrating its ‘coming of age’ 21 st birthday at the end of this year.

In 2013 the strategy of Habitat for Humanity South Africa shifted to building not only homes but entire communities. To bring this to life, Habitat invokes a (P4) approach – People – Public – Private - Partnership which has become the driving force bringing active citizens together with the help of business and government to address the country’s shelter needs. Central to its success is ensuring the community (people) is
at the centre of the partnership in that they know their needs and what they would like to achieve within their community. Through skills and leadership development, community leaders are equipped with the skills and knowledge they need to drive their own development.

For more information, please contact:
ADRIENNE BURKE
Marketing Manager
Habitat for Humanity
021-657- 5640
079-155- 8404
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

KARINA VAN DEN HEEVER
Dummett & Co (PR Agency for Habitat for Humanity)
021-418- 2466
084-347- 3358
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.