A workshop underway at the Department of International Relations and Cooperation is seeking to promote sustainable development of the continent’s blue economy.

Secretary General of the 25-year-old UN  International Seabed Authority (ISA) Michael Lodge says in addition to oil there are vastly more mineral riches on the seabed than under the surface on dry land.

But Africa hasn’t even explored what rightly belongs to it.

“Africa is the only regional group that has not yet taken full advantage of the provisions of the convention to take part in deep sea mineral exploration,” he says.

Lodge adds exploration is a complex and costly business but it’s vital for Africa to draw on its own expertise and international assistance to discover what it has in store.

The post Africa is being left behind in tapping the riches of the seabed appeared first on Jean-Jacques Cornish.

He was speaking when he joined Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Lindiwe Sisulu in handing donations to Mozambique and Zimbabwe which have lost more than 800 people and had millions displaced by the effects of cyclone Idai.

ends intro

Patrice Motsepe and his wife Precious Moloi-Motsepe carried cheques for R30-million – R15-million each for Mozambique and Zimbabwe –  when they joined the humanitarian caravan to Beira and Harare yesterday. 

He says he came forward when government called for help.

(take in Patrice clip here)

Motsepe recalls when EBOLA struck a devastating blow in  West Africa in 2013, business  provided financial aid. 

The post Patrice Motsepe says business steps up to help in African humanitarian crises appeared first on Jean-Jacques Cornish.