BuaNews (Tshwane)
Michael Appel
8 August 2007
Pretoria — South African investors and businessmen should take advantage of the economic opportunities in the small but resourceful West African country of Guinea Bissau.
This is the hope of Prime Minister of Guinea Bissau Martinho N'Dafa Kabi who met with the Minister of Trade and Industry Mandisi Mpahlwa in Pretoria for a business forum, Tuesday.
They were joined by Guinea Bissau's Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister in charge of Investment and Enterprise, Abel Incada, South African Ambassador to the West African region, Thembi Majola-Embalo, and business stakeholders from both countries.
Delivering his keynote address, Tuesday, Mr Mpahlwa began by saying it is a welcome development that South Africa and Guinea Bissau can meet as free nations after both fighting in the trenches against colonialism.
"We are meeting as free nations to see how we can better the lives of our people," said the minister.
He said he could see Guinea Bissau was on the path of development and growth and was eager to address the economic challenges facing the country.
South Africa began formal relations with the Republic of Guinea Bissau in October 1994.
However, the minister said, "South Africa has not yet fully exploited the economic opportunities between our countries, and we want to see how we can do things differently this time.
"We will be stronger working together than alone."
Mr Mpahlwa expressed his wishes for both countries to draw up a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on increased economic co-operation.
He said oil and alternative sources of energy have become increasingly essential to South Africa, referring to the fact that China has said it will require 60 percent of its oil resources from Africa by 2020.
The minister said South African companies would be able to partner with Guinea Bissau in the extraction of mineral resources including oil.
Mr Mpahlwa wished the West African delegation all the best in their deliberations in the country. "I'm sure the co-operation will yield tangible results."
Mr N'Dafa Kabi told the business forum he was hopeful the meeting would go beyond mere diplomatic relations and yield material results for both countries.
In the past, Guinea Bissau was political unstable, but a new three party government has pledged its commitment to creating a framework for investment, he said.
"I hope this framework will be used by South African service providers."
The Prime Minister described Guinea Bissau as a virgin country possessing a number of mineral and natural resources, including phosphates, the aluminium ore bauxite, oil, cashew nuts, peanuts and construction and manufacturing opportunities.
Covering only 36 000 square kilometres, Guinea Bissau is the second biggest producer of cashew nuts in the world, with India as its biggest buyer.
Mr N'Dafa Kabi said the country was experiencing problems in terms of energy production, transport and tourism infrastructure, mineral extraction and technological utilisation.
The country is a member of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which has a 15 country membership and a potential market of over 60 million inhabitants.
South Africa could use Guinea-Bissau as a "springboard" to take advantage of the economic opportunities in the West African region. -
Correctional Services to suspend 11 officials
REP By Edwin Tshivhidzo, tel: (012) 314-2454
KwaZulu-Natal - Processes are currently underway to serve suspension notices on 11 Correctional Services officials who are believed to be involved in the escape of 10 dangerous prisoners.
The ten men are thought to have escaped the Qalakabusha Correctional Centre in KwaZulu-Natal by cutting through a fence in the prison yard and driving off in a blue Volkswagen Polo.
Correctional Services Minister, Ngconde Balfour on Tuesday announced that three of the escapees are back behind bars.
Those rearrested are Mkhosi Mdluli who was incarcerated for murder and robbery with aggravating circumstances, Thabane Sibiya and Mandlendoda Mbuyazi Mkhwanazi.
The seven men who remain at large are: Mzwenhlanhla Sikhosana, Ndoda Sibusiso Chonco, Mbeki Mzimela, Sipho Buthelezi, Mgco Blessed Khanyile, Xolani Nhlanhla Ngobese and Phiwanhlanhla Mbatha.
Addressing a media briefing at Qalakabusha in Empangeni in KwaZulu-Natal, Minister Balfour praised the public who gave the police tip-offs, as well as the police and the Emergency Support Team of Correctional Services for the work well done.
He said the team tracking the remaining men were hot on their heels and would soon be capturing them and taking them back to prison.
The three recaptured offenders were found in Hluhluwe, Mtubatuba and Esikhaleni.
"They will appear in court before being sent to a place where they cannot escape," said the minister.
Minister Balfour also announced a multi-agency task team composed of members of the Department of Correctional Services, the SAPS and the National Intelligence Agency.
Minister Balfour said: "Their brief is very clear - they must spare no effort in discovering the truth about the escapes and bring a report before the department to take a decisive action to rid the institution of bad elements."
Correctional Services, in collaboration with the police has published a list of the escapees and their brief profiles.
The pictures obtained from the video material are being improved for distribution and publication in the media.
All but one of the escapees (Sipho Buthelezi) was facing further charges ranging from attempted murder to robbery with aggravating circumstances at the time of the escape.
Minister Balfour cancelled his planned trip to Swaziland for a conference and called back the Regional Commissioner of KwaZulu-Natal, Nathi Nhleko, from that conference, in order to attend the media briefing.
Last week, the department dismissed four Correctional Services officials who were allegedly implicated in a SABC Special Assignment expose on corruption within the department.
Special Assignment journalists conducted an investigation and apparently captured the four officials on video accepting bribes.
At the time, Minister Balfour said the department would not tolerate any form of fraud and corruption and "will waste no time in decisively dealing with fraudsters and corrupt officials.
"It gives us a clear sense that we will rid our department of the rotten potatoes that place lives and the property of our people in danger," the minister said.
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