The Nation Newspaper

Tag: South Africa

  • Ki – moon, Obama, others on Mandela’s day

    Ki – moon, Obama, others on Mandela’s day

    Former South Africa President and anti-apartheid fighter clocks 95 today. As the world celebrate this great icon of our time, World leaders including Ban Ki Moon, Barrack Obama, Jacob Zuma and others send their messages of goodwill to mark the Mandela International Day. The Nation presents the messages below:

    “Mandela gave 67 years of his life to the struggle for human rights and social justice. Today is a day for good works for people and the planet. It is meant to mobilise the human family to do more to build a peaceful, sustainable and equitable world.”- The United Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon

    On behalf of our family and the people of the United States, Michelle and I extend our warmest wishes and prayers to Nelson Mandela on the occasion of his 95th birthday, as well as to Graça Machel, the Mandela family, and the government and people of South Africa as they mark the fifth annual Nelson Mandela International Day.   Our family was deeply moved by our visit to Madiba’s former cell on Robben Island during our recent trip to South Africa, and we will forever draw strength and inspiration from his extraordinary example of moral courage, kindness, and humility.

    On Nelson Mandela International Day, people everywhere have the opportunity to honor Madiba through individual and collective acts of service.  Through our own lives, by heeding his example, we can honor the man who showed his own people – and the world – the path to justice, equality, and freedom.  May Nelson Mandela’s life of service to others and his unwavering commitment to equality, reconciliation, and human dignity continue to be a beacon for each future generation seeking a more just and prosperous world.

    Statement by President Obama and his wife, Mitchelle on Nelson Mandela International Day

    “We must all be able to do something good for humanity on this day, in tribute to our former president,”- South Africa President, Jacob Zuma.

    Wishes from our followers on twitter

    • Mukaddas MM ‏@mmukaddas

    @TheNationNews #Mandela95 I wish he lives to see tomorrow!

    • Ahmed Ibrahim, DVM ‏@demho11

    @TheNationNews I wish his family will stop fooling around because of inheritance and allow the hero to rest in the lord #Mandela95

    • Awizy O. Alades ‏@Awizy_oro

    I wish he dies without life support @TheNationNews

    • baba idris ‏@babaidris090

    @TheNationNews #Mandela95 I wish him long life and prosperous years ahead with sound #health!

    You can also make your wish by our twitter handle @thenationnews, using the hastag #Mandela95

  • Mandela challenge: Eagles’ list for Bafana tie out today

    Mandela challenge: Eagles’ list for Bafana tie out today

    Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi, would on Wednesday release the list of invited players for the much-anticipated international friendly between Nigeria and South Africa slated for August 14 in Durban.

    Several players that featured for Nigeria at the African Cup of Nations and the Confederations Cup in Brazil would be included the list for the match tagged: “Mandela Challenge Cup.”

    New faces such as Obinna Nsofor and Shola Ameobi would also be considered for the match, futaa.com reports.

  • South Africa is destination of the year

    South Africa is destination of the year

    South Africa’s reputation as one of the world’s most sought-after offshoring destinations has received endorsement from the European Outsourcing Association (EOA), which named the country as its destination of the year.

    Last year’s winner was another African country, Morocco. It was honoured along with MEDZ Sourcing, which manages business parks in Morocco that are dedicated to offshoring.

    The EOA is Europe’s most important association of professionals and experts in the outsourcing industry, according to AbderrafieHanouf of MEDZ Sourcing. It has over 1,000 corporate members representing national trade associations from Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, The Netherlands, theUnited Kingdom.

    South Africa was a finalist last year, and this year saw off competition from Russia and Serbia to clinch the top spot, and put the continent of Africa on the global map. It also boosts the African brand

    The ceremony took place on in Amsterdam. South Africa was entered by the national association, Business Processing enabling South AfricaBusiness Processing enabling (BPeSA), and the award comes hot on the heels of its October, last year’s triumph at the London-based National Outsourcing Association’s yeraly ceremony, where it was voted the UK offshoring destination of the year.

    BPESA Western Cape Chief Executive Gareth Pritchard was delighted with the honour, saying it confirmed the quality of service that South Africa offered to its European clients. “Services in other languages, combined with a growing base of high-end skills in financial and legal services, have highlighted the country’s status as a world-class offshoring location,” he said.

    Offshoring contributes about $895-million to the province’s economy and employs thousands of people, according to the Western Cape’s minister of finance, economic development and tourism, Alan Winde.

    Statistics from the City of Cape Town reveal that the city’s outsourcing industry grew from 20,428 agents in 2007/8, to 27,552 in 2011/12 – a year on year increase of 10.5 per cent.

    During the same period, the offshoring sector increased from 2,963 to 4,727 agents. This represents a remarkable yearly growth of 16.9 per cent. Last year, the industry attracted investments of $57-million).

    A survey by the international research group Everest Consultancy named South Africa as one of the top three emerging offshore business process outsourcing (BPO) destinations in the world.

    Offshoring goes one step further than BPO, which relocates business processes that a company performs in-house, such as accounting or customer call centres, to a third-party service provider, to carry out on behalf of the company.

    Outsourcing becomes offshoring when the third-party service provider is located in another country.

    South Africa is expected to make steady progress in the offshoring sector in years to come, said senior analyst ParthaIyengar of technology research firm Gartner. He predicted the creation of 40,000 new jobs through offshoring by next year, while the local insourced sector would provide jobs for 120,000 people.

    Iyengar said by 2015, he expected offshore contact centre jobs in South Africa to grow toover three times the number in 2010.

    Firms making use of South African facilities include, among others, British Gas; Amazon; Switzerland’s Edelweiss Air; global outsourcing leader WNS; Bloomberg; Virgin Mobile; Everything Everywhere, which handles communications for the Orange and T-Mobile brands; and British retailer Asda, which has been running its contact centre from Cape Town since 2005.

  • Mandela as the ultimate beacon

    Mandela as the ultimate beacon

    The African political desert is sprouting oasis here and there. Theeconomies of a number of countries in the continent are reportedly growing, at an average of five per cent plus. Even the widespread brutal war-fare in the past decades, as alternative to politics or brinkmanship, seems to peter out. What is, however, not certain is how long it will take the people to feel safe enough, to intuitively demand accountability in the exercise of public power as a right; instead of a rare privilege or aberrations in a continent desolate for centuries. Interestingly as Africa totters at this historic juncture, the supreme iconic brand for the continent, Nelson Mandela, is graciously bowing out.

    Even more interesting is that Africa has also been able to export what it lacked most – accountable public service, to the most powerful country in the world – the United States. In the past week, that proud export of our continent, President Barak Obama, as a dutiful son should do, came home to wish our dear Madiba, a safe journey to the ancestral homestead. President Obama, however, made sure that he sent a historic warning to the wayward siblings, particularly Nigeria and Kenya; that the time for accountability has come, by ignoring their sense of entitlements, and refusing to visit them. This natural cycle of departure as epitomised by Madiba, and new birth, as represented by Barak, shows that Africa can not forever remain entirely bad news; as her time will surely come.

    Madiba’s ascendency as the ultimate world hero did not come cheap. It cost him 27 years in jail. Even before that life changing journey to prison, Mandela had with his comrades in the African National Congress (ANC), devoted their whole being to the liberation of their people from the apartheid regime. While in prison, he grew in stature to become the scourge of the regime, the ultimate national sacrificial lamb, and the beacon of hope for a free country. When he regained his personal freedom, his country also gained its freedom. As the first President of a multiracial South Africa, Madiba refused to be vengeful. He did not use his executive powers to hunt down his jailers and their collaborators. He resisted the common malaise of his colleagues, to turn to an ‘African big man’, with fat bank accounts and mansions in Europe and North America that they never get to sleep in. He served for a single term in office, and went ahead to hand over to the younger generation, in a free and fair election.

    Mandiba did not seek to continue to determine who gets what in his country, after leaving power. He did not organise dubious fund raising ventures for personal aggrandisement while in office; or corner for himself and his cronies’ prime national assets through fraudulent privatisation exercises. While in office, Madiba, did not appropriate the natural resources of the country through a criminal licensing process, neither did he acquire prime real estates of the people, through a dubious legislation. President Mandela resisted the company of criminals parading themselves as leaders, and was ready to call their bluff, despite that they could donate to dubious projects in his village. He rejected the temptation that power is everything, preferring always the high moral ground, whether while in power and out of political power; marking him out today and for a very long time to come, as the ultimate world moral authority.

    His company and endorsement was sought after by the most powerful political, economic, religious and social leadership of the world. Entertainment icons, business moguls, presidents, kings, athletes, all sought to meet him. President Obama, equated him with Ghandi of India, as his moral mentors. To underscore their spiritual bonding, Obama’s earlier planned trip to Africa coincided with President Mandela’s final journey, to immortality. It is hoped that President Obama will also go further than peddling his huge influence, to practically help Africans. He could use his powers to design programs that will force political and economic changes in Africa. President Obama can use his intellect to convince his white cousins that Africa is not an immutable basket case; particularly as modern economic growths have confirmed.

    The United States, no doubt, has the biggest influence in the world, and President Obama can use that to help Africa to fight corruption and economic underdevelopment. Obama can use his adopted country’s intelligence to track and repatriate corrupt African monies across the world. He can influence as I have previously argued on this column, the establishment of International Economic Court, to try the ‘African Big Men’ who have grown too big for their local judicial systems. He can also weigh in economically in Africa by establishing something akin to the Marshall plan that elevated the European economy after the world wars.

    The political elite must also wake up on their own, even when President Obama has chosen to allow them to slumber in their mess. They must realise that it is in their self-interest to stop their doodling in corruption. It is also foolhardy on their part to think that our country will continue to exist, if they don’t stop the economic rape passed off as political leadership in the country. From the presidency to the councilors, our leaders should take a lesson in the life of the Madiba. As his life clearly shows, the stature of a leader is not measured by how much of the public wealth, such a leader has appropriated for personal benefits. Rather, it is selfless sacrifices that endear leaders to their people. As President Obama makes his preferences, the Nigeria’s political leadership for one can not blame him, for ignoring our country, which clearly is not abhorrent to corruption.

     

     

     

     

     

  • Mandela’s supporters hold all-night vigil

    Mandela’s supporters hold all-night vigil

    The crowd of well-wishers outside former President Nelson Mandela’s Pretoria hospital continues to grow as the health condition of the global statesman is said to be improving but still in “critical condition.”

    On Thursday, 15 buses filled with supporters arrived at the Mediclinic Heart Hospital, the News Agency of Nigeria reports.

    Throughout the night, crowds of people from all over the country were singing and praying in spite of the bitterly cold winter weather.

    They were given a glimmer of hope on Thursday when President Jacob Zuma who cancelled a trip to Mozambique to remain close, said there had been an improvement in his condition and that he remains in critical but stable condition.

    Relatives concurred with this, saying he was “responding to touch and attempting to open his eyes.”

    In spite of all the goodwill, Mandela’s eldest daughter Makaziwe Mandela on Thursday expressed her outrage at the media frenzy around her father, describing journalists reporting on her father’s deteriorating health conditions as “vultures.”

    “It’s like vultures waiting when a lion has devoured a buffalo, waiting there you know for the last carcasses, that’s the image that we have as a family,’’ she said in an interview with the state broadcaster.

    She added that journalists who were camped outside her father’s Pretoria hospital and childhood village in the Eastern Cape “violate all boundaries.”

  • Fatunla: undying passion for medicine

    Fatunla: undying passion for medicine

    Justice Ilevbare recalls the life and times of Late Dr Victor Olubi Fatunla, former Director of Medical Services, Nigeria Baptist Convention who died on June 17 in South Africa.

    For Dr Victor Olubi Fatunla, death has brought to an end a fruitful medical practice on planet earth. While he will be missed by his family and friends, those whose lives he touched one way or the other will forever remain grateful to God for bringing their way.

    Though, Fatunla is no more, his exploit in the medical field and his undying passion for the profession stood him out throughout his lifetime. No wonder he had a rich resume and expertise, which can only be matched be very few of his equals dead or alive today.

    Born on the January 12, 1932 to the family of Reverend Nathaniel Faboyade Fatunla and Mrs. Joanna Aina Fatunla in the town of Igede – Ekiti in Ekiti State, the late Fatunla started his education at Baptist primary School Igede Ekiti in 1938 and completed it at Baptist primary School, Benin City in 1945.

    In his quest to get a secondary education, he then progressed to the prestigious Baptist Boys High school, Oke -Igunya, Abeokuta which he completed in 1952 and passed his Cambridge exams with flying colors.

    He began his working career very early in life at the Audit department and secretariat of the federal government of Nigeria (then still under colonial rule). He also had the privilege of working with the then African Bank.

    While working at the federal government’s metrological department, he also embarked on private studies of pure mathematics, applied mathematics and physics. He wrote and passed GCE advanced level in these three subjects. Then wrote and passed as Jamb in 1954.

    At that time several opportunities came his way, but the problem of making up his mind on which to take up was quite a challenging one. He obtained a federal government scholarship to study meteorology in England, got admission to the University College of Ibadan to study Engineering, was offered a Baptist mission scholarship to study Education and also had a childhood interest in becoming a doctor having been coached by his father.

    Even though he had already started his Engineering studies whilst contemplating the dilemma he was faced with. He remembered that he had been admitted into the government hospital for arthritis in 1948 where he found out that there was only one doctor in the entire hospital and district.

    At that point, he had promised God that he would be a missionary doctor in future so as to be able to help the doctor. This was the answer he was looking for and subsequently changed his study to medicine which was sponsored by the Baptist mission.

    He got his MBBS London in 1962 and then proceeded to Lagos University Teaching Hospital for internship where he got a federal government scholarship to enroll for post graduate studies in surgery in London in 1966.

    He became a fellow of the royal college of surgeons England in 1969. It was at this point that he heard about the Baptist mission wanting to wind down hospital operations in 3 towns in Nigeria.

    Worried by this development and a careful deliberation and divine guidance, he decided to go to Saki, Oyo state to resuscitate the hospital in 1970. He grew it from a dispensary to a 100 bed hospital by 1976. By the time Dr Fatunla retired from Baptist Hospital Saki in 1998, he had expanded the hospital tremendously.

    Some of the exploits he recorded at the hospital include, linked the hospital as a faculty to UCH in 1976. He was an associate lecturer; increased number of hospital beds to 200; established Baptist midwifery school Saki in the early 80’s; established Baptist nursing school Saki in the early 90’s, established Baptist nursery school Saki in the 80’s and Baptist Primary school in the late 80’s. Others are Baptist Secondary school Saki in the late 80’s, established four additional hospitals around Oke-Ogun in the 80’s and early 90’s, adviser to several associations in Oke- Ogun region and director of Baptist medical services in Nigeria

    He also extended the same service to South Africa. In 1997, Dr Fatunla travelled to South Africa, where he quickly set up community based health care service centres to help the local community. He was also involved in the local Baptist church where he helped in the expansion and building of the Baptist ministry in the local communities.

    Dr Fatunla subsequently joined the Government health care service in 2006 where he practiced selflessly as a Doctor until his retirement from South Africa government service in 2012. He was blessed with a loving wife Mrs. Grace Olutola Fatunla and seven children as well as Grand children. Among whom are ; Mrs Victoria Olusola  – South Africa; Dr Abiola Fatunla  – South Africa  (Late); Dr. Mrs. Olubunmi Oyeleye  – USA and Dr. Mrs. Modupe Adeniyi – USA. Others are; Mrs Mobolaji Hassan – USA, Mr Adeyemi Fatunla  – South Africa and Mr Oluwatosin Fatunla – South Africa.

     

  • South Africa buys N46b shares in Dangote Cement

    South Africa buys N46b shares in Dangote Cement

    The South African government yesterday emerged the second largest equity investor in Dangote Cement Plc, with the purchase of 1.5 per cent equity stake worth N45.75billion in Nigeria’s most capitalised quoted company.

    The deal was consummated at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) by South Africa, through its wholly owned investment company, Public Investment Corporation of South Africa (PIC).

    A total of 255.61 million ordinary shares of 50 kobo each of Dangote Cement were bought at N179 per share.

    The transaction makes the South African government the second largest institutional shareholder, after Dangote Industries Limited (DIL). It is also the only known public entity with significant shareholding in the company.

    The transaction price of N179 represents 30-day volume weighted-average-price of Dangote Cement. The stock, however, closed yesterday at N210 per share.

    Established in 1911 and owned 100 per cent by the South African government, PIC has some R1.17 trillion Rands, equivalent to $115 billion, funds under management.

    The NSE confirmed the details of the transaction, which set a milestone as the largest trade on the stock market.

    Dangote Industries, which held about 94.9 per cent majority equity stake in Dangote Cement prior to the sale yesterday, still holds more than 93 per cent majority equity stake in the cement company.

    Dangote Industries Limited sold 63.35 per cent of its equity stake in Dangote Flour Mills Plc to Tiger Brands Limited, a leading South African fast moving consumer goods company. The deal was consummated at $181.9 million, about N30.1 billion. The transaction saw the transfer of 3.17 billion ordinary shares out of Dangote Group’s 3.67 billion ordinary shares of 50 kobo each in Dangote Flour Mills Plc to the Tigers Brand.

    The Nation recently reported exclusively that Alhaji Aliko Dangote, the core investor in Dangote Cement Plc, had been given a deadline to reduce his domineering equity stake in Dangote Cement. The dilution could be by way of shares sale or issuance of new shares to the general investing public to dilute the core investor’s shareholding.

    Dangote Industries Limited was mandated by the NSE to either sell down or dilute its shareholdings to enable the company meet the crucial 20 per cent free float requirement for the main board of the Exchange.

    A report on companies in violation of the 20 per cent free float obtained by the newspaper showed that Dangote Industries Limited, Dangote’s holding company, and core investor in Dangote Cement has up till October 2014 to sell down or dilute its shareholdings in the cement company.

    By the expiration of the deadlines, Dangote Industries is required to have completed partial divestments or dilution of its shareholdings to free 20 per cent equity stake for public holding, unless the management of the NSE grants fresh waivers and extensions for the company. In the extreme instance, a company with deficient public float may opt to delist its shares.

    The Nation’s checks had indicated that Dangote Industries may divest as much as N396 billion, according to current market valuations. Dangote Industries then had about 94.9 per cent majority equity stake in Dangote Cement, falling short of the minimum public float by about 14.9 per cent. With this, Dangote Industries would have to sell about 2.54 billion ordinary shares of 50 kobo each if it chooses the divestment option. The sale yesterday represented a fraction of the required dilution.

    The NSE’s report indicated that the timeline for the compliance with the 20 per cent minimum public float was given to Dangote Industries after it had applied for waivers from the Quotations Committee of the NSE. It was said to have outlined plans to meet the minimum public float, which the NSE took into consideration in extending the timeframe for compliance with the minimum public float.

    Public float is technically a synonym of public shareholder and it refers to the shares of a quoted company held by ordinary shareholders other than those directly or indirectly held by its parent, subsidiary or associate companies or any subsidiaries or associates of its parent company; its directors who are holding office as directors of the entity and their close family members and any single individual or institutional shareholder holding a statutorily significant stake, which is 5.0 per cent and above in Nigeria.

    Thus, public shareholders and public float do not include shareholders or shares held directly or indirectly by any officer, director, controlling shareholder or other concentrated, affiliated or family holdings.

  • Thailand to host trade shows in South Africa

    Thailand to host trade shows in South Africa

    The Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP), Ministry of Commerce of the Royal Thai Government has concluded plans to host two trade shows in South Africa, to mark the 20 years of trade and diplomatic relations between the countries.

    In a release made available to the Nation, Dr. Chakarin Komolsiri, Head of the Office of Commercial Affairs at the Royal Thai Embassy in South Africa, said the first leg of the event will take place from 18-20 June at the Cape Town International Convention Centre, while the second leg of the show is billed for between 25-27 June at the Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg.

    Komolsiri said, “Two decades of trade and diplomatic relations between South Africa and Thailand have yielded significant benefits for both countries. Bilateral trade between the countries has enjoyed steady year-on-year growth. In 2012 bilateral trade grew to USD 5.256 Billion over the USD 3.5-billion of 2011, representing the highest level of two-way trade that the two nations have experienced in 20 years. It seems fitting to commemorate this anniversary with a double showing of our Thailand Trade Show.”

    According to the release, the Thailand Trade Shows will be the 15th and 16th of such events hosted by the DITP in South Africa. The show typically attracts a strong contingent of local buyers, traders, importers, retailers, wholesalers, agents and distributors keen to explore new trade opportunities or to expand or diversify their relationship with Thai exporters.

    Among the diverse sectors that will be on show this year, are food and beverage; health; beauty; textiles; accessories and fashion products, footwear; household and kitchen products amongst others.  Quality, flexibility, product diversity and an excellent business ethic are the key reasons that South African importers favour trading with Thailand. Thai exports to South Africa range from automotive to food and beverage, rubber and agri-industry products, among others, and totalled USD 2.428 Billion  in 2012.

    Last year, food products accounted for three of Thailand’s top 15 exports to South Africa. Cereal (rice) ranked fifth, Prepared Meat & Fish (canned tuna and sardines) sixth and Meat (poultry) fifteenth.

  • Jonathan aborts Namibia visit, meets security chiefs

    Jonathan aborts Namibia visit, meets security chiefs

    President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday cancelled his scheduled State visit to Namibia.

    After two days visit to South Africa, where he attended World Economic Forum among other official functions, he was expected to proceed to Namibia yesterday along with other members of his delegation including State governors and Ministers.

    A statement issued yesterday by Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, said that the President had to return home to tackle the fresh security challenges in Nigeria.

    The statement reads: “In view of recent developments at home in Nigeria, President Goodluck Jonathan has cut short his visit to South Africa and aborted his state visit to Namibia which was due to start (yesterday) today.”

    “The President is returning to Abuja immediately to personally oversee efforts by national security agencies to contain the fresh challenges to national security which have emerged this week in Borno, Plateau and Nassarawa States.”

    “President Jonathan will on arrival, meet with the Chief of Defence Staff, the Service Chiefs, the Inspector-General of Police and heads of national security services on arrival to review the security situation in the country.” It stated

  • South Africa, Nigeria paper the cracks

    For some time now, the relationship between Nigeria and South Africa has not been rosy. It became worse when South Africa deported Nigerians last year. The leaders of both countries are cementing the cracks, with ministers signing pacts covering oil and gas, power, defence and communication reports AFP

     

    The leaders of Africa’s two biggest economies, South Africa and Nigeria, pledged closer ties yesterday in what was hailed as a milestone in a some time patchy relationship.

    President Jacob Zuma rolled out a red carpet for his counterpart Goodluck Jonathan as ministers signed nine sectoral pacts covering oil and gas, power, defence and communication.

    “South Africa and Nigeria are critical countries,” said Jonathan who is on the first state visit by any Nigerian leader since 2009.

    “If the continent of Africa must move forward, then the world will expect maximum cooperation between South Africa and Nigeria and we’re just doing that.”

    Saluting each other as “brother”, the two leaders pointed to a new path for the continental powerhouses.

    Zuma described the trip as a “historic state visit”.

    “We are very pleased with the outcomes of our discussions, they do mark a higher level of cooperation between the two countries.”

    Jonathan’s visit comes on the heels of a trip last month by Zuma to Lagos.

    The South African leader on yesterday hailed Nigeria’s support for the southern nation’s anti-apartheid struggle.

    “We have a duty to take these historical relations further,” he said.

    Zuma also stressed the need for an African Union standby force “for rapid deployment in crisis areas without delays”.

    “The need for an intervention brigade has become more crucial in light of the sits of instability in the Central African Republic, the eastern DRC (Democratic Republic of Congo) and Mali where decisive intervention is needed.”

    Jonathan addressed South Africa’s parliament, with Nigerian and South African flags lining the road in Cape Town and also hanging outside the National Assembly.

    The state visit was hailed as a positive step in bilateral ties which have faced many rocky patches and frequent rivalries.

    “Nigeria and South Africa must come together, must work together, to help the continent of Africa,” said Jonathan.

    “Because whether we like it or not if we refuse to cooperate, we will be considered as failures.”

    While South Africa is still the continent’s biggest economy, Nigerian business activity is set to grow more than twice as fast, by 7.2 per cent, this year, according to International Monetary Fund estimates.

    Total two-way trade has risen to $4.1 billion, with a surplus in oil-rich Nigeria’s favour, according to South Africa’s department of trade.

    Nigeria is the continent’s most populous country and its biggest oil producer.

    The two states, which both want seats in an expanded UN Security Council, were at loggerheads last year over who would become head of the African Union’s commission.

    South Africa has also taken actions in countries considered Nigeria’s neighbourhood, such as the conflict in Ivory Coast.

    An embarrassing tit-for-tat row also broke out over yellow fever vaccinations. This led to passengers being turned away at airports in both countries in March last year.

    While courting the emerging BRIC markets – Brazil, Russia, India and China – South Africa has not shown the “same political eagerness on the continent” with Nigeria an obvious target, said Dianna Games, honourary chief executive of the South Africa-Nigeria Chamber of Commerce.

    “If this is the start of a closer relationship, then I think that would be a very good thing all around for both countries and the continent as a whole because they are the two big powers in Africa,” she said.

    The two leaders will attend a meeting of a bilateral business forum, while Jonathan will also hold separate talks with the South African-based MTN telecommunications company, as well as representatives of car manufacturers Toyota and Nissan in South Africa.