1999 Press Releases

Guguletu Community Welcomes U.S. Navy's "Project Handclasp"
November 5, 1999: The Guguletu community today welcomed the U.S. Navy to the Mother City at a presentation ceremony at the Community Development Corporation's (CDC) center in Guguletu.

NCOP Uses Cutting Edge Technology to Improve Legislative Process
October 25, 1999: The National Council of Provinces (NCOP) launched a new technology initiative today designed to strengthen the legislative process by amplifying provincial and local government voices and increasing public participation in policy-making.

GIFT OF AMY BIEHL GOES ON. U.S. Ambassador announces new support by USAID for the Amy Biehl Foundation
September 30, 1999: South Africa's battle against violence received new ammunition today with an additional grant of $1,435,000 (approximately R8,610,000) to the Amy Biehl Foundation Trust by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). U.S. Ambassador, James A. Joseph, signed an agreement with Mr. Peter Biehl, Director of the Foundation bearing his daughter's name, regarding the grant that will enable the Trust to expand its successful violence interventions in the Western Cape through March 31, 2001. Total USAID support for the Foundation's strategies to deter violence are now at $2,345,000 (about R14,070,000).

Adult Learning Means Business
July 24, 1999: Eradicating illiteracy within the next five years is a South African government priority, according to new Education Minister, Kader Asmal. An important vital step towards achieving this objective has been taken by the Adult Education and Training Directorate, supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), in the form of two pilot projects in the Eastern Cape and Northern Province.

Statement By The Department Of Constitutional Development on The Graduation Of Candidates Partaking in The University Course on Capacity Building in Support of Municipal Partnerships
May 7, 1999: The Department of Constitutional Development has developed a capacity building programme for the implementation of Municipal Service Partnership (MSPs) in partnership with the three Jupmed Universities, namely, the Universities of Durban Westville, Western Cape and Fort Hare, the South African Local Government Association (SALGA) and USAID (United States Agency for International Development).

Joint Statement: Annual Development Co-Operation Consultations Between The Government of South Africa and The United States Agency For International Development (USAID)
May 7, 1999: Annual consultations on development co-operation between the Government of the Republic of South Africa and the Government of the United States of America, represented by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), were held in Pretoria on 4 May 1999. The Agreed Minutes of the consultations were signed during a short ceremony at the Union Buildings on 7 May 1999.

Bankers Do It Better. Durban Launch of Financial Services Training
May 7, 1999: South Africa's banking industry is tackling the dual need to improve staff skills to better service customers and to expand their base of employees to represent the country's population. The FINANCIAL SERVICES TRAINING PROGRAMME (FST) that will encompass this transformational development training was launched in Durban on Friday, May 7. The event was hosted by the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Human Resources Department of the ABSA Group.

1999 Mandela Economics Scholars Programme (MESP) Pre-Departure Orientation
May 3, 1999: Twelve South Africans will begin graduate degree programs in economics in United States in May 1999. The Mandela Economics Scholars Programme (NESP) is an initiative of the Deputy President Thabo Mbeki and Vice President AI Gore Bi-National Commission (BNC) that is funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

USAID Supports Metro Restructuring
March 29, 1999: USAID will contribute approximately R18 million to assist metropolitan local authorities to govern effectively and democratically in the context of the Local Government White Paper and the transformed Local Government Policy Framework.

USAID Supports Multimillion Rand Urban Management Program
February 19, 1999: Harriet C. Babbitt, Deputy Administrator for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), announced today R4,2 million ($700,000 USD) in assistance to the South African Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEA&T) and the University of Cape Town (UCT). At a ceremony with DEA&T Deputy Minister, Peter Mokaba, and UCT Professor, John Martin, Deputy Administrator Babbitt signed a Memorandum of Agreement to partner a program in South Africa that will provide practical ways for urban people to better manage their environment. The key focus is to enable urban residents to improve their quality of life while also protecting their environment.