South Africa filed a case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the Netherlands on Dec. 29, alleging that it violated the UN Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide of 1948…reports Asian Lite News
South African citizens fighting alongside or serving in the Israel army will face arrest when they return home, Israeli media reported Wednesday, citing the country’s foreign minister.
“I have already issued a statement alerting those who are South African and who are fighting alongside or in the Israeli Defense Forces. We are ready. When you come home, we’re going to arrest you,” The Times of Israel newspaper quoted Naledi Pandor as saying at a recent conference on solidarity with Palestinians in the South African capital Pretoria.
Her remarks came after an initial warning was issued in December by the South African Foreign Ministry which said alleged violations of international law by soldiers in Gaza during the Israel-Hamas war made them “liable for prosecution in South Africa.”
South Africa filed a case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the Netherlands on Dec. 29, alleging that it violated the UN Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide of 1948.
It asked the world court to issue provisional measures due to the urgency of the situation in Gaza, with hearings on the request held on Jan. 11-12 at the Peace Palace in The Hague.
The ICJ ordered Israel to take all necessary measures to prevent acts defined in Article 2 of the Genocide Convention, to prevent, hinder and punish those calling for genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, to eliminate adverse living conditions by providing essential services and humanitarian aid and to take effective measures to prevent the destruction of evidence showing the violation of the Genocide Convention against Palestinians.
The ICJ also ordered Israel to submit a report on all the measures it had taken within one month from the date of the decision.
Israel has waged a deadly military offensive on the Gaza Strip since an Oct. 7 cross-border attack by the Palestinian group Hamas in which 1,163 people were killed.
More than 31,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have since been killed in Gaza and over 73,000 injured amid mass destruction and shortages of necessities.
The Israeli war has pushed 85% of Gaza’s population into internal displacement amid a crippling blockade of most food, clean water and medicine, while 60% of the enclave’s infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed, according to the UN.
The revision was due to weaker-than-expected outcomes in the third quarter of 2023, particularly in household consumption and fixed investment…reports Asian Lite News
South Africa’s economy is estimated to have grown by 0.6 percent last year and will increase to 1.6 percent over the next three years, Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana has said.
He made this revelation while delivering the 2024 Budget Speech in Cape Town, the legislative capital of South Africa. Godongwana noted in his speech that despite the improved global outlook for 2024, South Africa’s near-term growth remained hamstrung by lower commodity prices and structural constraints.
“We estimate real GDP growth of 0.6 percent in 2023. This is down from 0.8 percent growth estimated during the 2023 Medium Term Budget Policy Statement,” said Godongwana.
The revision was due to weaker-than-expected outcomes in the third quarter of 2023, particularly in household consumption and fixed investment.
South African Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana delivers the 2024 Budget Speech in Cape Town.
Despite this, “between 2024 and 2026, growth is projected to average 1.6 percent,” Godongwana said. “The growth outlook is supported by the expected easing of power cuts as new energy projects begin production, and as lower inflation supports household consumption and credit extension.”
“But, there are also risks to the domestic outlook. These include persistent constraints in electricity supply, freight rail, and ports, and high sovereign credit risk. Our challenge … is that the size of the pie is not growing fast enough to meet our developmental needs,” he said.
The finance minister also said the budget deficit for the financial year 2023/2024 was estimated to worsen from 4 percent a year ago to 4.9 percent of GDP.
“The deficit will begin to improve from 2024/2025 to an estimated 4.5 percent of GDP, reaching 3.3 percent by 2026/2027,” Godongwana said. “Debt will now peak at 75.3 percent of GDP in 2025/2026.”
To address challenges that have held back the country’s economic growth, Godongwana said the government has embarked on a broad structural reform agenda.
“This agenda has included areas like electricity, logistics, water, telecommunications, and visa reforms,” he added.
The ICJ has determined that Israel’s actions in Gaza are “plausibly genocidal” and has indicated provisional measures on that basis
The South African Parliament has welcomed the “landmark ruling” of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the country’s genocide case against Israel, calling on the international community to apply pressure on Israel to comply with the order.
The ICJ has determined that Israel’s actions in Gaza are “plausibly genocidal” and has indicated provisional measures on that basis, Xinhua news agency reported, citing a statement issued by the parliament on Friday evening.
Calling it “a significant human rights victory”, the parliament said “the ruling vindicates South Africa’s position on an immediate ceasefire and cessation of hostilities in Gaza”.
In the statement, the South African parliament called on Israel to respect the binding measures and to cease all plausibly genocidal acts in Gaza and against the Palestinian people.
“There is now no credible basis for Israel and its supporters’ indiscriminate military actions in the name of self-defense. The ruling is a clear demonstration of Israel’s non-compliance with international law, including the Genocide Convention,” said the parliament.
Therefore, it noted, the ruling compels Israel to stop immediately all hostilities in Gaza and allow more UN humanitarian aid.
“Considering the measures ordered by the court, we call on governments, parliaments, and the international community to respond by applying pressure on Israel to comply with the order,” it added.
The parliament also called on the United Nations Security Council, upon formal notification of the ICJ’s order and pursuant to its statute, to ensure swift action as “no government or state is above the law.”
On December 29, 2023, South Africa filed an application to the ICJ for proceedings against Israel, concerning alleged violations by Israel of its obligations under the UN Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide related to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
South Africa’s previous lowest innings total against India in Tests was 79 at Nagpur in 2015. At home it was 130 at the same Newlands venue in 2018…reports Asian Lite News
After being bowled out for their lowest total of mere 55 runs at the stroke of lunch on Day 1 in the second Test against India, South Africa’s decision to bat first left former Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar surprised.
In a stunning turn of events at the Newlands venue in Cape Town, the second Test match between India and South Africa took an unexpected twist as the home side, captained by Dean Elgar, found themselves on the receiving end of a formidable Indian bowling attack.
South Africa’s previous lowest innings total against India in Tests was 79 at Nagpur in 2015. At home it was 130 at the same Newlands venue in 2018.
Sunil Gavaskar, while expressing his surprise at South Africa’s decision to bat first, highlighted the psychological aspect of the Indian team. Having suffered a defeat and poor batting performance in the previous innings, Gavaskar suggested that batting first on a fresh pitch would have put India on the back foot. He pointed out that South Africa could have capitalized on this vulnerability by choosing to bowl first, especially given their strong fast bowling lineup.
“Well, I tell you what I was a bit surprised by what happened. Because a lot of times, captains and coaches make a deal about what the pitch is gonna be. I think you’ve also got to look at the psychology of the Indian team, having been defeated in three days, having batted so poorly in the second innings and gonna be batting first on a fresh pitch would have been just a little bit defensive,” Sunil Gavaskar said while speaking to Star Sports.
“And I have thought that be South Africans with the fast bowlers that they have in their in their lineup could look to take advantage of the fact that they have not played any cricket in between and therefore put them in,” he added.
The star of the day was Mohammed Siraj, who delivered a career-best performance by claiming six wickets for just 15 runs. Exploiting the lively pitch, Siraj led India’s charge as they dismantled the South African batting lineup.
Captain Dean Elgar, who had earlier described the pitch as tricky with a few surprises, witnessed his team crumbling under the pressure of both the conditions and some questionable shot choices.
Gavaskar drew parallels to a past incident involving Australia, where they bowled India out for 36 runs and, in the subsequent Test in Melbourne, chose to bat first on a grassier pitch. However, this decision backfired as India managed to dismiss Australia for 190 and took control of the match. Gavaskar implied that Elgar could have learned from this example and applied pressure on India’s tentative batting lineup by putting them in to bat.
“Something similar happened in Australia two years ago, Australia dismissed India for 36. The next Test played in Melbourne, where the grass on the pitch was three millimetres more than the one at Adelaide. Australia batted first. India dismissed them for 190 got back in the game by the and they came into the bat on Day two. Here, it’s not Day two. The pitch had eased up considerably, so the psychology would have been. I mean, if I was the captain, I would have said No, I’m going to try and take advantage of the fact that they are not certain I’d like to insert India in,” Gavaskar added.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa is pictured after being re-elected as president of the African National Congress (ANC) during the 55th national conference of the ANC in Johannesburg, South Africa, on Dec. 19, 2022. (Xinhua/IANS)
United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres will participate in the virtual meeting…reports Asian Lite News
Amid the ongoing situation in Gaza, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa will host the BRICS groups of nations to convene a virtual BRICS Extraordinary Joint Meeting on Monday, the South African President Office said.
In a major development, United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres will also participate in the virtual meeting.
As per the press statement, in the meeting, the South African President will deliver an opening speech, followed by speeches from invited states and members on the current humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Later in the meeting, a joint statement on the situation in the Middle East with particular reference to Gaza will be adopted.
Leaders of BRICS countries, Brazil, Russia, India and China will join the virtual Extraordinary Meeting with invited BRICS leaders of Saudi Arabia, Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates, said the press statement.
Israel announced war against Hamas after it launched attack on Israel on October 7 and killed about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, with around 240 people taken hostage, according to Israeli officials.
South Africa has long been a vocal supporter of the Palestinian cause, with the ruling African National Congress (ANC) party often linking it to its own struggle against apartheid.
The South African government has said it will recall all diplomats from Israel to “signal” its concern over the situation in Gaza, Al Jazeera reported.
Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, a minister in the president’s office, said on Monday that all diplomatic staff in Tel Aviv would be called to return to Pretoria for consultations, without providing further details.
Pretoria has long been a vocal supporter of the Palestinian cause, with the ruling African National Congress (ANC) party often linking it to its own earlier struggle against apartheid.
China has historically been sympathetic to the Palestinians and supportive of a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Beijing has been calling for an immediate ceasefire since the start of the war last month.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has accused the West of stoking tensions in the Middle East, and criticised Israel for its conduct in the conflict. (ANI)
South Africa has vociferously condemned the Israeli brutalities in Gaza on unarmed Palestinian children, youth and aged. According to political scientist Lesiba Teffo, South Africa and Palestine have had historic relations for decades and that it is important for them to support the Palestinian cause for freedom, writes Asad Mirza
After October 7 following Hamas’s unprecedented surprise attack on Israel, much of the international community rushed to voice its concern about the escalation in tensions, but few took a moment to condemn Israel’s aggression against the Palestinians.
However, as Israel continues to bomb Gaza and attack Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, several governments have started to turn critical of Israel’s actions – some more directly than others. Surprisingly, even the number of nations, condemning Israel’s brutal military oppression in Gaza, doesn’t exceed a two-digit list.
In contrast there are some nations like South Africa, which have vociferously condemned the Israeli brutalities in Gaza on unarmed Palestinian children, youth and aged.
On November 17, the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) said he had received a joint request from five countries to investigate the situation in the Palestinian territories.
Prosecutor Karim Kahn said the referral had come from South Africa, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Comoros and Djibouti. South Africa said the request was made to ensure that the ICC pays urgent attention to the grave situation in Palestine.
Though, Israel is not a member of the court and does not recognise its jurisdiction, the ICC can investigate nationals of non-member states in certain circumstances, including when crimes are alleged to have been committed in the territories of member states.
The Palestinian territories have been listed among the ICC’s members since 2015.
Perhaps the emotional connect between S Africa and Palestine exists because of the two prominent leaders of the non-aligned movement i.e. Nelson Mandela and Yasser Arafat, from these two countries respectively, and recalling the experience of apartheid themselves, the South African leaders could better understand the plight of the Palestinians and raise their voice in their support.
The South African government has made its position clear expressing support for the Palestinians amid the on going attacks by Israel in the Gaza Strip, though also condemning resistance group Hamas for attacking and kidnapping Israeli civilians.
“We, who enjoy the freedom from Apartheid, can never, ever be the ones who agree to an apartheid form of oppression. This cannot be tolerated. This brutality should not be accepted.” Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor said in parliament on November 14 while delivering a ministerial statement on the raging conflict.
“These actions remind us of our experiences as Black South Africans living under Apartheid. This is one of the key reasons South Africans, like people in cities all overthe world, have taken to the streets to express their anger and concern at what is taking place in Gaza and the West Bank.” she said.
Taking a proactive action last week, South Africa withdrew all its diplomats from Tel Aviv for consultation over Israel’s assault in Gaza.
The South African government also instructed the Foreign Ministry to take the necessary diplomatic measures to deal with the conduct of the Israel ambassador to South Africa, Eliav Belotserkovsky, whose conduct, they said is becoming very untenable.
Belotserkovsky is accused of disparaging comments against people raising their voices against attacks on Palestinians.
South Africa is among a handful of African countries maintaining diplomatic ties with both Israel and Palestine. Yet, it has strongly advocated for Palestinian freedom and has called for a two-state solution.
Lesiba Teffo, a political scientist at the University of South Africa, commenting on the South African government’s response told Anadolu news agency that South Africa and Palestine have had historic relations for decades and that it is important for them to support the Palestinian cause for freedom.
“Palestine was with South Africa during the struggle against apartheid, while Britain and America never supported us but they were ever supporting Israel. This context is important,” he told Anadolu.
Teffo also said South Africa has been consistent in supporting Palestine over the years.
Dirk Kotze, another professor of politics at the same university, told Anadolu that South Africa’s ruling African National Congress (ANC) has had historical links with the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) since the time of late anti- apartheid hero and first Black South African President Nelson Mandela.
Siyabulela Mandela, the great-grandson of Nelson Mandela in an interview said that despite South Africa being liberated from the senseless violence and oppression, he (Nelson Mandela) was able to recognise the fact that our freedom is not complete until the people of Palestine are free.
Siyabulela, an independent consultant on human rights, peace and conflict resolution, spoke with Global National’s Farah Nasser while in Toronto where he was interviewed on stage at the Journalists for Human Rights annual gala.
He said that his great-grandfather, the first Black president of South Africa, was considered idealistic for thinking that there was a solution to apartheid in his country and people would consider it a miracle if it happened – and then it did.
Last week, President Cyril Ramaphosa joined a growing chorus of international voices against what many has termed “the genocidal operation” of the IDF in Gaza.
The South African Parliament also last week debated whether to cut diplomatic ties with the Jewish state.
Leading parties in parliament, notably the ruling ANC and the third largest party, Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), favour cutting diplomatic ties with Israel.
In recent years, human rights organisations and legal experts have increasingly described Israel’s policies toward Palestinians as apartheid, adding to a longstanding debate about whether this is an accurate way to categorise the country’s practices.
Human rights groups have argued that the Israeli government’s policies on land access, restrictions on movement, and limitations on the right to vote meet the ICC’s standard and that it has institutionalised racism against Palestinians in order to ensure Israeli Jews remain the dominant group across Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories (OPT), which includes the West Bank and Gaza.
Israel and its allies, including the U.S. and the European Commission, have rejected this assessment.
Overall, it makes one wonder what is holding back the so-called Islamic states from taking any firm step against the Israeli aggression, like South Africa?
Their own selfish interests and their lust for power, as most of them are monarchies and in no way are obligated to uphold the wish of their people, which recent demonstrations in some Arab states have shown.
It would not be wrong to surmise that the current conflict has shown the leopard’s true spots.
(Asad Mirza is a Delhi-based senior political and international affairs commentator)
In a statement, the African National Congress (ANC) also welcomed a call from President Cyril Ramaphosa for the International Criminal Court to investigate Israel for war crimes…reports Asian Lite News
South Africa’s ruling party has said it will support a parliamentary motion calling for the Israeli embassy in South Africa to be closed.
In a statement on Thursday, the African National Congress (ANC) also welcomed a call from President Cyril Ramaphosa for the International Criminal Court to investigate Israel for war crimes.
“Given the unfolding atrocities in occupied Palestine, the African National Congress will agree to a parliamentary motion which calls upon the government to close the Israeli embassy in South Africa and suspend all diplomatic relations with Israel until it agrees to a ceasefire,” the statement said.
The opposition Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) will propose the motion later on Thursday, also calling for the suspension of all diplomatic relations with Israel in solidarity with the Palestinian people amid Israel’s war on Gaza. The motion will be voted on at a later date.
The EFF’s motion is largely symbolic as it will be up to Ramaphosa’s government whether to implement it. But ANC leader Ramaphosa and senior foreign ministry officials have been vocal in their criticism of Israel’s leadership during its military campaign in Gaza, calling on the ICC to investigate them for potential war crimes.
Pretoria’s strong support for Palestine dates back decades to the fight against apartheid in South Africa, which the ANC was at the forefront of. The country likens the plight of Palestinians to that of Black South Africans under white minority rule, with former President Nelson Mandela saying in 1997: “We know too well that our freedom is incomplete without the freedom of the Palestinians.”
“As South Africa, we have accordingly, together with many other countries across the world, referred this whole Israeli government action to the International Criminal Court,” Ramaphosa said on Wednesday during a state visit to Qatar.
“We have put through a referral because we believe that war crimes are being committed there. And of course, we do not condone the actions that were taken by Hamas earlier, but similarly, we condemn the actions that are currently underway and believe that they warrant an investigation by the ICC,” he added.
Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas that governs Gaza have been at war for more than a month. Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, killing 1,200 people. Israel’s air and ground offensive has killed more than 11,300 Palestinians in Gaza.
‘World must urge Israel to stop crime against humanity’
The world has seen enough of the tragedy in Gaza and it is time for countries to use their influence over Israel to put a stop to “this real crime against humanity”, South African Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor has said.
South Africa was one of the few countries that cut ties with Israel in response to its attack on the Gaza Strip.
Pandor said that her government may refer Israel to the International Criminal Court (ICC) as it continues its assault on Gaza. “We are appalled at how this horror and tragedy that is unfolding continues to get worse and worse. I think the world has seen enough, and it is time for the most powerful in the world to put a stop to this horror that Israel is unfolding against the people of Palestine,” she said.
“It is only countries that have influence over Israel who can stop this real crime against humanity that we are seeing right before our eyes.”
The Palestinian people experience conditions similar to those in apartheid South Africa, she added.
South Africa has been outspoken about the plight of Palestinians and recalled its diplomats from Israel this month, as the death toll from Israel’s bombardment of Gaza continues to climb.
Palestinian authorities have said that more than 12,000 people in Gaza, more than a third of them children, have been killed since Israel began its attack on the Gaza Strip in retaliation for an attack by Hamas that Israeli authorities say killed about 1,200 people, mostly civilians.
While that attack by Hamas was widely condemned, Israel’s response has garnered criticism as a campaign of relentless air strikes has wiped out entire neighbourhoods and as an Israeli siege chokes off access to necessities such as food, fuel and electricity for Gaza’s 2.3 million residents.
The United Nations has said that about 70 percent of people in Gaza have been displaced, with few options for safe haven as Israeli strikes pound every corner of the Strip, including areas that Israel told Palestinians they should relocate to in order to avoid the fighting.
“We would have anticipated that the ICC would react much earlier because thousands of people have been mowed down,” Pandor said. “And these are innocent Palestinian people who have suffered decades of harassment and occupation.”
That occupation, she said, also has “very, very clear similarities,” to some of the practices that defined apartheid South Africa.
“We know people cannot own property, [and] that property can be seized without any compensation, which is what we experienced in our own country. People have to carry identity documents that reflect your ethnicity rather than citizenship. All of this is part of the apartheid feature,” Pandor said.
“So, there can be no denial that the corollary between the conduct of the Israeli state against the people of Palestine is so closely aligned to the apartheid conduct.”
Batting first, South Africa posted a total of 357/4 thanks to 200-run second-wicket stand between centurions Quinton de Kock (116) and Rassie van der Dussen (133)….reports Asian Lite News
South Africa went to the top of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup points table after a dominating 190-run against New Zealand in the league stage match at here MCA Stadium on Wednesday.
Batting first, South Africa posted a total of 357/4 thanks to 200-run second-wicket stand between centurions Quinton de Kock (116) and Rassie van der Dussen (133). Later, the Proteas were boosted by a late charge from David Miller (53).
Later, Marco Jansen’s double strike lifted South Africa in the first Powerplay during New Zealand’s chase before Gerald Coetzee and Kagiso Rabada followed up with wickets of their own. Keshav Maharaj ensured that the spinners had their say and struck four times as they bundled out New Zealand for 167 in 35.3 overs to ensure a dominant win.
Chasing 358, New Zealand tried their best to go for quick runs but lost Devon Conway pretty early to a sharp catch from Aiden Markram off the bowling of Jansen. Will Young and Ravindra tried to open their arms and go for quick runs. But Jansen struck yet again in the ninth over to get Ravindra caught at fine leg. However, Gerald
Coetzee and Kagiso Rabada ensured that the built-up pressure wasn’t let off. Coetzee had Young caught behind with a peach, and Rabada had the New Zealand skipper Tom Latham caught in the covers.
Daryl Mitchell was holding the fort for the BlackCaps before he fell to Maharaj in the 19th over. He lofted one down the wicket, where he was expertly caught by Miller.
New Zealand crumbled under the pressure exerted by Proteas bowlers lost their next four for merely 43 runs. A number of lusty blows from Glenn Phillips against the run of play, who was the only half-centurion from the Kiwi setup, helped New Zealand bat till the 36th over.
Earlier, New Zealand ensured that South Africa had to work for their runs in Pune. And skipper Temba Bavuma led the way with a number of confident strokes, especially through the cover region. However, he was outdone by Trent Boult.
Then, Rassie van der Dussen and Quinton de Kock came together to take forward the Proteas batting effort. They kept the scoring rate in the higher ranges of four till the 20-over mark, with a number of aggressive shots.
There were concerned faces in the New Zealand camp, who already have a number of injuries in their numbers after Matt Henry walked back into the pavilion without finishing his sixth over. The pacer had pulled a hamstring after the third ball of the 27th over, and the remaining deliveries were completed by James Neesham.
After going at a steady pace, De Kock and van der Dussen picked pace after the 30-over mark. They added 39 runs off the next five overs. De Kock then brought up his fourth Cricket World Cup hundred with a maximum off Neesham in the 36th over.
The Black Caps finally had their way in the 40th over, when Southee accounted for de Kock. However, this brought the dangerous Miller onto the crease. Along with van der Dussen, he added a quickfire 78 for the third wicket.
Brief scores: South Africa 357/4 ( Quinton de Kock 116, Rassie Van der Dusssen 133; Tim Southee 2-77) beat New Zealand 167 all-out in 35.3 overs (Glenn Philips 60, Keshav Maharaj 4-46, Marco Jansen 3-31) by 190 runs.
Ramaphosa also extended condolences to all victims of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and called for the immediate and unconditional opening of humanitarian corridors…reports Asian Lite News
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has said his country is ready to help mediate the conflict between Israel and Palestine.
“South Africa stands ready to work with the international community and to share our experience in mediation and conflict resolution as we have done on the continent and around the world,” Ramaphosa said in a statement.
The South African leader “urged the international community to accelerate its support for an inclusive process towards a lasting and durable peace that produces a viable Palestinian State, existing in peace alongside Israel, within the 1967 internationally recognized borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.”
Ramaphosa also extended condolences to all victims of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and called for the immediate and unconditional opening of humanitarian corridors.
“Our thoughts are with all the victims’ families and loved ones during this perilous period of fighting. We remain gravely concerned at the devastating escalation in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the atrocities committed against civilian populations,” he said.
Ramaphosa called for the immediate cessation of violence, saying: “It is vital that all those who require urgent humanitarian assistance are provided with the basic life-supporting necessities and that human suffering is ameliorated,”
In a dramatic escalation of Mideast tensions, Israeli forces have launched a sustained and forceful military campaign against the Gaza Strip, a response to a military offensive by the Palestinian group Hamas in Israeli territories.
The conflict began when Hamas initiated Operation Al-Aqsa Flood against Israel, a multi-pronged surprise attack including a barrage of rocket launches and infiltrations into Israel via land, sea, and air, which Hamas said was in retaliation for the storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem and Israeli settlers’ growing violence against Palestinians.
In response to Hamas’ actions, the Israeli military launched Operation Swords of Iron against Hamas targets within the Gaza Strip.
Israel’s response has extended into cutting water and electricity supplies to Gaza, further worsening the living conditions in an area that has reeled under a crippling siege since 2007.
Focused on curating seamless experiences for Indian travellers, the sessions are structured to bring forward novel activities, hidden gems of South Africa and customised itinerary options…reports Asian Lite News
Building on the inbound travel momentum led by robust recovery efforts in the previous year, South African Tourism has announced the 9th edition of its flagship travel trade training session ‘Learn South Africa 2023’.
Aimed at educating the travel trade fraternity on the newer destination offerings across the tourism’s board various target markets in India, the session will help equip travel agents with the finest tools allowing them to package and sell the destination effectively.
Tailored basis the insights derived from the local market, the 6-city training session will commence in Delhi on 12th September followed by Pune on 5th October, Kochi on 12th October, Indore on 18th October, Surat on 26th October and Jaipur on 1st November.
South Africa: Sustainability Meets Luxury.(photo:IANSLIFE)
Focused on curating seamless experiences for Indian travellers, the sessions are structured to bring forward novel activities, hidden gems of South Africa and customised itinerary options.
As South African Tourism aims to surpass pre-pandemic arrival numbers this year, such sessions are proven to set the ground for motivating the tourism board’s travel trade partners to align with the board’s initiatives. Furthermore, it also assists South African Tourism in positioning the destination as a preferred leisure and MICE haven for Indian travellers and businesses.
Commenting on the ‘Learn South Africa’ 2023 sessions Neliswa Nkani, Hub Head – Middle East, India and South-East Asia, South African Tourism said, “2023 has been translating into another successful year for South African Tourism as we are witnessing double-digit growth numbers from India. I am extremely excited to engage with the Indian travel and trade family and introduce them to our magnificent offerings. We have designed these workshops to not only educate but inspire and enable our valued trade partners to showcase South Africa in its full glory to the discerning Indian traveller. We recognize the immense potential that lies within the Indian market, and it is our collective endeavour to tap into this potential. Keeping this in mind, this year’s Learn SA will have a special focus on tier 1 and tier 2 cities of India. Together, with our Indian partners we look forward to creating majestic experiences for Indian travellers visiting the Rainbow Nation.”
Given the increasing preference of Indian travellers to go beyond the familiar and immerse themselves in the adventures of new destinations, ‘Learn SA 2023’ focuses its lens on highlighting the lesser visited provinces of South Africa. Besides the iconic cities of Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban the tourism board is extending efforts to promote newer geographies in the provinces of Gauteng, Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal, Northern Cape, Western Cape, Eastern Cape, Free State, Limpopo and North West.
The 2023 edition of the Learn South Africa session is expected to be attended by over 1,000 travel agents from different parts of the country. South African Tourism is deeply invested in India as part of its long-term global strategy and has been closely working with the travel trade fraternity in recent years to increase inbound traffic to the Rainbow Nation. Owing to the tourism board’s persistent efforts, India rose to become the 6th largest international source market for South Africa in 2022 and is one of the top focus markets for South African Tourism globally
