Latest News

Farming meets technology in new Fraunhofer app

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 07:59:22 GMT

Smartphones have become an omnipresent part of our day-to-day lives. Apple alone offers 500,000 apps in its online store, and last week German research foundation Fraunhofer announced a new app that will make work easier in an unlikely setting: on the farm.

South African football coaches receive certificates for DFB-Course

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 12:06:40 GMT

Three South African football coaches received their coaching certificates today at the German Embassy in Pretoria. They successfully completed the three-week International Coaching Course of the Germa...

Berlinale is fertile ground for those in SA film industry

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 10:26:56 GMT

The Berlin International Film Festival officially opened on February 9. In the German capital, amongst the glitterati, are two dynamic representatives of South Africa's film scene who have their minds set on making the most of this experience: Nodi Murphy, pivotal player in the Out in Africa and Encounters film festivals, and Sakhumzi Mati, a promising young filmmaker.

Science and technology partnerships in focus during German-South African Year of Science

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 11:03:33 GMT

A year-long programme of activities will begin in April focused on Germany and South Africa’s long-standing and diverse partnership in the fields of research, science and technology. The Year of Science will feature live and virtual activities throughout both countries during 2012 and 2013. The opening will take place in Cape Town with German Education and Research Minister Dr. Annette Schavan and South African Science and Technology Minister Naledi Pandor in attendance.

Dynamic partnership marks Johannesburg's Mozart Festival

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 11:09:52 GMT

For the past four years, South African and German artists have shaped the Johannesburg International Mozart Festival into a much-awaited and successful event. This year, from January 27 to February 19, classical meets jazz as the festival puts a new twist on the old classics, featuring artists from both countries in the program. The Goethe Institut adds to this partnership, sponsoring the festival for yet another year.

Consular Bulletin of the German Embassy

Tue, 13 Dec 2011 15:14:06 GMT

Dear Ladies and Gentlemen, As 2011 winds down to a close, it gives us time to reflect upon a year that saw many changes in the Consular Section of the German Embassy. We can also look ahead to 2012. ...

COP17 journalists take in context of German-South African climate partnership

Fri, 28 Oct 2011 10:10:43 GMT

Environmental journalists from a variety of German media outlets will begin a week-long stay in South Africa on October 30. They will participate in a program that will expose them to a broad spectrum of climate-related projects supported by the German Government and provide direct access to the project leaders and beneficiaries, and to critical policy makers, including South Africa's Deputy Minister for the Environment.

Inauguration of German micro-project in Phumula

Wed, 26 Oct 2011 05:17:16 GMT

On October 23, 2011 the German Ambassador Designate to South Africa Horst Freitag visited the small town of Phumula where he inaugurated a new farm building. The construction was a project planned and organized by the priest and missionary Karl Kuppelwieser and financed by the German Embassy.

New South Africa portal of the German Missions

Mon, 17 Oct 2011 13:21:36 GMT

On October 15, the new German Missions portal went online. With www.southafrica.diplo.de the German Embassy Pretoria, the Consulate General Cape Town and the German Information Centre Africa will bring you Germany to your living room.

South African soccer coaches benefit from German professional training

Tue, 20 Sep 2011 08:17:41 GMT

Germany and South Africa celebrated the peak of bilateral soccer relations with a graduation ceremony on September 15 for the first group of coaches who successfully completed the “Level 3 Pro Licence” coaching course. The three-month course is the internationally recognized coaching certification required for Bundesliga coaches, amongst others. The course was supported by Germany’s International Sports Promotion programme.

Fellowships for leaders in climate protection

Wed, 10 Aug 2011 11:39:57 GMT

Year-long climate protection fellowships in Germany are being offered to prospective leaders from emerging and developing countries. The International Climate Protection Fellowship Programme is entering its third round, seeking talented individuals working in the field of climate protection and resource conservation in academia, business or administration. Applications may be submitted immediately.

German Lions provide hearing aids to South Africans in need

Thu, 04 Aug 2011 08:48:03 GMT

During an international congress of the World Federation of the Deaf in Durban, representatives from Germany's Lions Club Frankenthal, hearing aid manufacturers and German Honorary Consul in KwaZulu Natal were present as more than 1,700 hearing aids were handed over to the organization DeafSA. In addition to the invaluable assistance these aids provide the hearing-impaired, the value of the donation itself was worth over 500,000 Euro.

South Africa's CSIR and Fraunhofer Heinrich Hertz Institute intensify their collaboration

Fri, 29 Jul 2011 08:37:14 GMT

Leading research institutes in Germany and South Africa have teamed up to improve the lives of people in rural regions of South Africa. The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research and Fraunhofer's Heinrich Hertz Institute signed agreements to intensify their collaboration on data infrastructure following four years of strong bilateral contacts.

Countdown for decision on revolutionary science project site has begun

Thu, 07 Jul 2011 09:54:49 GMT

South Africa, together with eight other African countries, is bidding to host the world largest radio telescope, the Square Kilometre Array (SKA). The decision is due in 2012. The only remaining competitor is Australia (together with New Zealand). The state of the SKA Project will be presented during International SKA Week 2011 in Canada from July 4-8, 2011.

Conference held on German-South African collaboration on the UN Security Council

Fri, 10 Jun 2011 08:07:41 GMT

A two-day conference in Pretoria discussed ways and means of strengthening collaboration between the South African and German governments during their 2011- 2012 tenure at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), tapping on their respective experiences. The conference took place at the end of May and brought together scholars and policy-makers from both nations, as well as officials and experts from regional bodies.

BMW named official vehicle sponsor of the Springboks

Mon, 30 May 2011 14:23:14 GMT

German carmaker BMW was announced as official vehicle sponsor for the South African Rugby national team, the Springboks. On May 25, the South African Rugby Union (SARU) and BMW South Africa (Pty) Ltd. announced their coopertation at Turbine Hall in Johannesburg.

Successful German-South African partnership recognized

Thu, 26 May 2011 07:19:54 GMT

During the 3rd international 'Wind Power Africa' conference in Cape Town on May 9-11, German engineer Wolfgang Diehl, from the Fraunhofer Institute for Surface Engineering and Thin Films, was recognized as an Extraordinary Professor of Tshwane University of Technology. In particular, Diehl's work in the global partnership RETECZA-programme was honoured.

Germany supports African Ombudsman Research Centre

Thu, 26 May 2011 07:16:20 GMT

On March 15, the African Ombudsman Research Centre (AORC) was launched at the University of Kwazulu Natal. Germany supports the AORC via the Trilateral Cooperation (TriCo) Fund, which is a mechanism for South Africa and Germany to assist and support African countries or regional activities.

German Embassy boosts girls soccer development in rural communities

Tue, 24 May 2011 10:19:32 GMT

On May 14, 2011, Markus Bollmohr, Head of Cultural Affairs and Sports at the German Embassy, handed over the first complete set of girls' soccer equipment to the winning team of a tournament in the village of Ezibayeni, close to the Hluhluwe National Park. In the presence of Mary-Jane Sokhele, vice-chairperson of the Executive Committee on Women's Soccer of SAFA, he thanked Ms Nyman for her strong dedication and effort and encouraged the girls to stay true to the sport.

German President Wulff to join Munich 2018 in Durban

Thu, 19 May 2011 09:50:06 GMT

The Munich 2018 Bid Committee confirmed that German President Christian Wulff, Germany’s Head of State, will travel to Durban in July for the 123rd IOC Session and the announcement of the 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Host City.