Latest news with #BUSA
The Citizen
23-05-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
Presidency clarifies Mcebisi Jonas' absence from Trump meeting
Jonas contributed to preparatory engagements ahead of the meeting between Ramaphosa and Trump. The Presidency has moved to clarify US special Mcebisi Jonas' noticeable absence from the much anticipated meeting between President Cyril Ramaphosa and US President Cyril Ramaphosa at the White House in Washington DC. Jonas, a former deputy finance minister, was part of Ramaphosa's delegation to meet Trump at the Oval Office on Wednesday. Delegation Others in the delegation included four ministers, renowned businessman Johann Rupert and golfers Ernie Els and Retief Goosen. Business Unity South Africa (BUSA) Vice President Adrian Gore and Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) President Zingiswa Losi were also in Washington DC to provide support to Ramaphosa and the South African delegation for the meeting with Trump. However, Jonas didn't join Ramaphosa with the Presidency, dismissing speculation around his status. ALSO READ: Ramaphosa says Trump meeting a success despite ambush [VIDEO] Clarification Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya on Thursday said Ramaphosa's office acknowledged the 'recent commentary' regarding Jonas and deemed it prudent to provide clarity. 'Initial interpretations of procedural matters, communicated in good faith, have been amended following confirmation that Mr. Jonas holds a valid visa for travel to the United States of America'. Magwenya said no 'formal concerns or substantive inquiries' related to Jonas' professional responsibilities have been brought to the attention of the Presidency. 'Mr. Jonas contributed to preparatory engagements ahead of the meeting between President Ramaphosa and President Donald Trump, including consultations abroad. His absence from Washington, at his own request, has no bearing on the President's official programme'. Jonas appointment Ramaphosa appointed Jonas in April as tensions between the United States and South Africa continued to simmer. His appointment as special envoy followed the expulsion of the former South African ambassador to the US, Ebrahim Rasool. Rasool returned to South Africa in March after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio expelled him and stripped him of his diplomatic privileges. He was declared persona non grata and given just a week to leave the US due to comments he made about the country and the Donald Trump administration during a webinar. Ramaphosa said Jonas would serve as the official representative of the Presidency and government. ALSO READ: 'There is doubt in Trump's head about genocide in SA,' Ramaphosa says [VIDEO]
Eyewitness News
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Eyewitness News
Ramaphosa, his delegation could've done better job defending SA: Former BUSA head
JOHANNESBURG - Former Business Unity South Africa (BUSA) head Bonang Mohale says President Cyril Ramaphosa and his delegation could have done a better job explaining themselves to the United States (US). US President Donald Trump hosted Ramaphosa at the Oval Office in the White House on Wednesday to discuss the two countries' diplomatic relationship. ALSO READ: Unfair to compare treatment of black people during apartheid to alleged white genocide: Ramaphosa Trump appeared unconvinced by South Africa's refutal of genocide against Afrikaner farmers, even playing video clips of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) chanting the 'kill the Boer' song. Mohale said that given Trump's commitment to his false narrative about genocide, the South African delegation could have better countered his claims. 'Now we want to convince somebody who has clearly made up his mind. His problem is the United States of America, not here at home in our shores. So, we are just collateral. We should have been concise, precise, and clear as daylight. That's what we needed.'
News24
07-05-2025
- Business
- News24
SA faces rising trend of fake drugs as law enforcement battles to curb illicit sales
An independent report on illicit trade has found that counterfeit medication to deal with issues like weight loss has been on the rise in SA. While such medication poses a risk to consumer health, the report notes that laws in SA cannot deal with the problem effectively. According to the Tracit, SA ranks 60th out of 158 countries in effectiveness in combating illicit trade, costing the country an estimated 10% of its GDP. For more financial news, go to the News24 Business front page. The sale of counterfeit pharmaceutical products from online platforms and vendors has been growing in popularity as more SA consumers try to source cheaper versions of scheduled medications such as Ozempic, a medication for diabetes that is also widely used for weight loss. The trend has taken root as regulatory gaps make it difficult for law enforcement to stop illegal sales, according to an independent report from the Transnational Alliance to Combat Illicit Trade (Tracit), which was released this week with Business Unity South Africa (BUSA). Tracit is an independent NPO that aims to combat illicit trade globally. The report, titled SA's fight against illicit trade: A strategic view, found that SA's current regulations were not equipped to hold third-party platforms accountable. Illicit sales also posed a risk to consumers' health and safety, including strokes and high blood pressure, the report said. According to the Tracit report, the popularity of counterfeit medication and pharmaceutical products, both online and in the informal economy, were driven by factors including weak trade enforcement at borders, more consumers seeking cheaper alternatives, a lack of public awareness around counterfeit goods, and a lack of capacity for the courts and law enforcement to hold guilty parties and companies accountable. Although South Africa's pharmaceutical regulatory framework meets international standards, a lack of a strategic framework and clear enforcement responsibilities leaves the system vulnerable to counterfeit infiltration. Efforts to mitigate these risks must focus on strengthening enforcement mechanisms, modernising regulations, and closing gaps in the pharmaceutical value chain to protect public health and safety. SA's fight against illicit trade: A strategic review Health bodies such as the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) had already raised the alarm over counterfeit Ozempic-like medication or Glucagon-like Peptide-1 (GLP-1) products last year, the report said. Online platform weaknesses The report also found that the growth in online platforms had led to more hotspots for the illicit trade of vapes and cigarettes. Looking at SA's online platforms, Tracit said: 'Key deficiencies [relating to online platforms in SA] include inadequate regulations establishing platform liability for third-party illicit sales, insufficient transparency measures such as seller verification, limited proactive risk management by online marketplaces, and weak consumer recourse mechanisms […] 'Existing frameworks, including the Medicines and Related Substances Act, have not sufficiently evolved to address digital commerce, resulting in critical vulnerabilities.' Tracit found that SA had been particularly vulnerable to illicit trade, ranking 60th out of 158 countries on its 2025 Illicit Trade Index. Among the top performers on the index, which indicates how capable countries are able to fight illicit trade, are Denmark, followed by the US, Finland, and Germany. While SA scored above the global average and landed at 52.4 out of 100 in Africa, the index found that supply chain weaknesses, corruption, and the prevalence of illicit trade in cigarettes, alcohol and pharmaceutical products had hampered its ability to achieve a higher score. The report also found deficiencies in SA's postal and parcel delivery service systems, saying that better regulations were needed to combat smuggling through international and domestic mailing systems. Speaking at the report's launch, Tracit director Esteban Guidici said that modern illicit trade was often facilitated through small parcels. Guidici said reports from the Consumer Goods Council found that SA lost 10% of its GDP every year due to counterfeit goods and illicit trade. '[Like all countries], South Africa is grappling with national post [offices] and private couriers. It is flooded with them, and all the illicit goods are inside because of a lack of controls. When it comes to pharmaceutical products, [these are] often sent through small parcels to avoid detection.' Meanwhile, other recommendations from Tracit included establishing a public-private Interagency Anti-Illicit Trade Coordinator with BUSA and BLSA, to combat illicit trade locally, including a Pharma Crime team. The coordinator, which will form part of the national government, would aim to raise awareness of illicit trade, provide financial resources to law enforcement, and enforce more aggressive anti-illicit trade regulations.
IOL News
24-04-2025
- Business
- IOL News
BUSA supports Zelenskyy's visit: Unlocking new economic opportunities for South Africa
In a pivotal moment amidst escalating global tensions, Business Unity South Africa (BUSA) has expressed robust support for the visit of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to South Africa. On Thursday, Zelenskyy touched down in South Africa on for talks with President Cyril Ramaphosa. The discussions are focused on strengthening bilateral relations and seeking diplomatic solutions to the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. BUSA CEO Khulekani Mathe articulated the significance of Zelenskyy's visit, emphasising its alignment with South Africa's commitment to international peace initiatives. "The visit by Ukrainian President Zelenskyy this week is an important visit for South Africa, given what is happening in that part of the world, the tensions that are ongoing in that region, and the role that South Africa seeks to play in trying to resolve those tensions," Mathe told Newzroom Afrika.
BBC News
15-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Boston United fans raise funds for Pilgrims' pitch
A group of Boston United supporters have launched a campaign to raise funds for pitch Lincolnshire club will be full-time from next season, and the Boston United Supporters Association said helping with the cost of maintaining the pitch would help relieve the pressure on the club's to the association, the whole pitch at the Jakemans Community Stadium needs to be renovated, and that will cost the National League club about £60, initial fundraising target of £30,000 has been set, with BUSA pledging the first £5,000. The appeal has so far raised more than £7,000. If the £30,000 target is hit, they will then look to raise the full £60, chair Steve Slater said: "With the club going full-time next season, we know they will have other things on which to spend their funds."If we can take the pressure off them and allow Jim [Portas, the groundsman] to complete this vital piece of work then we are sure they will appreciate all of our support."He added: "You can only do so may bingo nights and race nights, and really to get a good lump of money we've got to try something different."We have a great fan base who want to give to the club, and this is their opportunity to do that." Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
