Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane - Afrikan Heroes

Facebook Launches Africa’s First Online Community City Guide

December 9, 2020

South Africans especially dwellers and visitors to Johannesburg will be availed of the JoziPlug – Facebook’s first Community City Guide on the African continent. The initiative which was compiled and co-created by local Facebook Groups features unique and inspiring content about the city and is expected to add to the country’s tourism industry. Moreso, JoziPlug is aimed at showcasing Johannesburg’s “hidden attractions to visitors and members of the local community whilst supporting small businesses with their economic recovery” in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Facebook says that since early this year, it has added more than 1.5 million people to a group related to the city of Johannesburg. The guide compiles “the best tips and recommendations to some of the city’s local attractions, known and unknown through the eyes of these locals”.

Minister of Tourism, Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane

Themed around exploring hidden attractions and ‘plugging’ people into the “rich and varied culture that the city has to offer”, the JoziPlug consists of eight chapters, focusing on African Cuisine restaurants, cocktail bars, markets, parks, galleries, historic sites and buildings, and small businesses in the fashion and accommodation industry.“Johannesburg, the city of many names – is a fascinating city of diverse cultures and many facets. We’re excited to have had this opportunity to work closely with the Department of Tourism, Facebook groups and local contributors to profile Johannesburg’s evocative art and fashion, culinary delights, historical sites and many more,” says Nomonde Gongxeka-Seopa, Head of Public Policy at Facebook Southern Africa.

“3 million South Africans are connected to a Facebook Group related to Johannesburg. What all these groups and local contributors who compiled the JoziPlug Guide have in common, is their unconditional love for their city.”

Minister of Tourism, Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane says “it gives me great pleasure that we are collaborating with Facebook to encourage South Africans to travel locally and safely during this time. We are excited about this collaboration and believe it will grow over the years to showcase more of our South African cities and our vibrant offerings for both local and international tourists.”

Kelechi Deca

Kelechi Deca has over two decades of media experience, he has traveled to over 77 countries reporting on multilateral development institutions, international business, trade, travels, culture, and diplomacy. He is also a petrol head with in-depth knowledge of automobiles and the auto industry

A New $1.4m Relief Fund For Tourism Startups In South Africa

August 15, 2020

A local technology specialist company, Sautech has launched a relief fund worth R25-million aimed at businesses in the tourism industry. The new initiative is aimed at providing technological resources and relief to businesses within the tourism sector that have been negatively impacted by the pandemic and lockdown regulations.

*Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane, Minsiter of Tourism*

“After long and thorough consideration we’ve decided that we would like to offer this support to the tourism industry who has been allowed to open some activities and services, but it might not be enough to sustain their future,” Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane, Minsiter of Tourism told Fin24 in reports that a loss of an estimated R54.2-billion can be expected for the period between mid-March and the end of May 2020.

Here Is What You Need To Know

Sautech will offer free hosting services to qualifying businesses based on the tailor-made needs of each business.
Sautech is a South African, Gauteng-based company established in 2003 and offers all standard technology services. The value add is that they design specific solutions or consulting for projects, infrastructures or security application implantations.
Across the country, the tourism industry has taken a hard blow to their financing due to the impacts surrounding lockdown and prohibiting international visitors from our local shores.
Riaan van Jaarsveld, Director of Sautech explains that although some restrictions have been lifted, the tourism industry may need a secondary crutch to get back up and running.

What Startups Stand To Benefit

With this support from Sautech, successful applicants will receive this service as a share of the total relief fund value to assist them in their ongoing digital requirements without the heavy costs involved.

Van Jaarsveld points out the importance of technology in business operations.

“We know that technology costs can add up — but no successful business can operate without having access to the internet and the accompanying services.”

In line with the companies goals, providing this aid towards businesses in the tourism industry, Sautech would reach their overall goals by implementing this initiative.

Who can apply?

Any South African registered company in the tourism industry can apply for their share of the relief service.

Applicants will be evaluated individually and there will be no automatic qualifications.

To apply, for more information and the terms and conditions, click here.

Charles Rapulu Udoh

Charles Rapulu Udoh is a Lagos-based lawyer who has advised startups across Africa on issues such as startup funding (Venture Capital, Debt financing, private equity, angel investing etc), taxation, strategies, etc. He also has special focus on the protection of business or brands’ intellectual property rights ( such as trademark, patent or design) across Africa and other foreign jurisdictions.
He is well versed on issues of ESG (sustainability), media and entertainment law, corporate finance and governance.
He is also an award-winning writer

South Africa’s Passport Drops on Global Index Rating

January 8, 2020

tourism minister Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane

South Africa’s Passport has dropped from 53rd place to 56th in a year slipping 21 places behind its best ranking in 2007/2008, according to the latest Henley Passport Index. The Index which is a ranking of all the world’s passports according to the number of destinations their holders can access without a prior visa‚ based on data from the International Air Transport Association (Iata) and research by Henley puts the South African Passport alongside that of Belize and just ahead of Kuwait and East Timor.

Analysts say that this is a reflection of the present quality of leadership in the country as there is a correlation between having lower passport power and having lower government integrity scores. South Africa’s ruling African National Congress (ANC) has been going through series of scandals from the administration of former President Jacob Zuma to the Present Cyril Ramaphosa. The corruption scandals plaguing the country seem to be hurting its reputation abroad. The Henley report noted that despite the economic benefits that “open borders” bring‚ visa waivers can also pose a potential threat for the host country‚ as they undercut the host government’s ability to vet the visitors through background checks. “As such‚ countries with strong domestic institutions and political stability are able to sign more visa waiver agreements.”

However, the country’s tourism industry has continued to lobby for improved ease of access for visitors to the country. The government says it has a target of enticing more than 21-million international visitors by 2030. In November‚ tourism minister Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane welcomed the scrapping of unabridged birth certificates for international minors travelling to South Africa with their parents. “To completely rescind this requirement is a win for tourism and an upside for industry and travelers alike as this has been a real concern raised throughout my engagements with various stakeholders‚” she said.

“It is not surprising that countries which have lower passport power also have lower government integrity scores. For instance‚ the South African passport is ranked 56th on the Henley index and has a government integrity score of 39.7 out of 100. These results imply that governments associated with relatively high corruption have difficulties increasing their visa-free destinations‚ while high-functioning states are likely to have stronger passports‚” the Report says.

For the third consecutive year‚ Japan has secured the top spot on the index‚ with a visa-free/visa-on-arrival score of 191. Singapore keeps second place with a score of 190‚ while South Korea drops down a rank to third alongside Germany‚ giving their passport holders visa-free/visa-on-arrival access to 189 destinations worldwide. Henley noted: “The US and the UK continue their downward trajectory on the index’s rankings. While both countries remain in the top 10‚ their shared eighth place is a significant decline from the No 1 spot they jointly held in 2015.”

Elsewhere in the top 10‚ Finland and Italy share fourth place‚ with a score of 188‚ while Denmark‚ Luxembourg and Spain together hold fifth place with a score of 187. The UAE is the strongest individual climber over the past decade‚ from 65th place in 2010 to 18th place in 2020.

Taiwan has also made strong gains over the past 10 years‚ moving 37 spots up the ranking from 69th in 2010 to 32nd now. Georgia and Ukraine climbed 19 and 22 places up the rankings respectively.Globally‚ states affected by ongoing conflict or unrest have experienced heavy losses in score over the past decade. In the Middle East‚ Syria has dropped 18 places because 2010‚ while Yemen has dropped 15 spots in that period.

In the rest of Africa‚ Libya has dropped 15 places while Mali has dropped 13. Afghanistan remains at the bottom of the travel freedom spectrum‚ with its nationals only able to visit a mere 26 destinations visa-free. “Asian countries’ dominance of the top spots is a clear argument for the benefits of open-door policies and the introduction of mutually beneficial trade agreements. Over the past few years‚ we have seen the world adapt to mobility as a permanent condition of global life. The latest rankings show that the countries that embrace this reality are thriving‚ with their citizens enjoying ever-increasing passport power and the array of benefits that come with it‚” said Christian H Kaelin‚ chair of Henley & Partners. Countries with citizenship-by-investment programmes continue to consolidate their positions on the index. Malta sits in ninth place‚ with access to 183 destinations about the world‚ while Montenegro holds on to 46th place‚ with a visa-free/visa-on-arrival score of 124. In the Caribbean‚ St Kitts and Nevis‚ and Antigua and Barbuda secured 27th and 30th spot‚ respectively.

Kelechi Deca

Kelechi Deca has over two decades of media experience, he has traveled to over 77 countries reporting on multilateral development institutions, international business, trade, travels, culture, and diplomacy. He is also a petrol head with in-depth knowledge of automobiles and the auto industry