2000 Press Releases

United States and South Africa Bilateral Development exceeds R200 million in 2000
December 14, 2000:  On Thursday, December 14, Deputy Finance Minister Mandisi Mpahlwa and U.S. Ambassador Delano Lewis signed a Declaration of Development Cooperation at a ceremony to mark United States Agency for International Development (USAID) assistance to South Africa. USAID has provided more than R200 million (US$26.2 million) in direct support to the South African government for development priorities during this past year, bringing the total government-to-government development assistance amount to more than R1.6 billion (about $226 million) since bilateral cooperation was established after the 1994 elections.

Export Development of Handcrafted Goods
July 25, 2000:"Amazing!"...Made in South Africa?" was the reaction of some of the most prominent U.S. designers and retailers who examined the product samples made by South African producers, in collaboration with a textile expert of New Ideas for Export Development Aid (NIEDA), a not-for-profit organisation based in New York. This past spring, the team was in Durban on an export development mission funded by the United States Agency for International Development to increase international trade and generate employment.

May we introduce you to Zikwe, Moshe, Neno, and Zuzu?
July 24, 2000: Zikwe, Moshe, Neno and Zuzu may soon become household names in South Africa, thanks to Takalani Sesame, a new educational children's program funded in part by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). The show makes learning fun for pre-school children whose preparedness for school has been neglected for decades.

USAID and Nelson Mandela Children's Fund Link To Help Children and Orphans Threatened by HIV/AIDS
July 14, 2000: On the last morning of the Xlll lnternational AIDS Conference in Durban, South Africa, the States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund (NMCF) announced a $5 million partnership to mobilize community support for children infected with and affected HIV/AIDS.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Summers Pledges Partnership on HIV/AIDS
June 13, 2000:  U.S. Treasury Secretary Lawrence Summers today committed approximately US$5 million (R 35 million) to enhancing a partnership with two key units targeting HIV/AIDS at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital. The money will go toward HIV prevention, reproductive health, education, care and support over three to five years and will complement the South African government’s efforts in these areas. Dr. Helen Rees of the Reproductive Health Research and Training Unit and Professor James McIntyre of the Perinatal HIV Research Unit joined Secretary Summers at a signing ceremony at Hope Worldwide Jabavu Clinic in Soweto today.

Mandela Economics Scholars Depart for U.S.
May 23, 2000:  Twenty-four South Africans will depart on May 25 to begin graduate degree programs in economics in the United States. An initiative of the United States and South Africa Bi-National Commission (BNC), the Mandela Economics Scholars Programme (MESP) is funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), with management oversight provided by the South African Department of Education.

USAID and SA Government Broaden Development Cooperation
May 9, 2000: The South African and U.S. governments have agreed on a mutual strategy for further development cooperation for the next 12 months to tackle the country's most pressing economic, health, education and service delivery challenges.

USAID assists family project at city courts
April 14, 2000: United States Ambassador to South Africa Delano E. Lewis today officially presented a R64,000 (USD $10,000) grant to the Pretoria Children's Court. Ambassador Lewis and Chief Magistrate Heinrich Moldenhauer signed a Memorandum of Understanding, which will allow the court to establish the Family Preservation Project. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is providing the funds.

American and German Governments Support African States in Urban Sustainable Development
March 28, 2000: In their opening addresses to the African Regional Conference 'African Solutions towards sustainable Urban Development', U.S. Ambassador Delano Lewis and German State Secretary Dr. Erich Stather welcomed the initiative of the African countries to develop African solutions for the upcoming Urban 21 Conference in Berlin in July. Many African nations face problems relating to rapid and unplanned urbanization. This conference seeks to identify best management practices currently used in African countries to address challenges such as lack of adequate shelter, insufficient infrastructure and sustainable financing. Best management practices will also be identified for critical environmental issues including water supply and waste management. The result will be a global strategy to help developing countries address the most pressing urban challenges.

Latest statements and statistics regarding the U.S. response to the crisis in Mozambique
March 8, 2000: Journalists in need of the latest statements and statistics regarding the U.S. response to the crisis in Mozambique now have access to a new website with that information. It contains links to the voluminous U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and Department of Defense websites related to this matter, as well as a compilation of texts and articles on the U.S. effort. All sites are updated continuously.

Humanitarian Aid Flown to South Africa
March 2, 2000: Humanitarian aid flown to South Africa on board a U.S. military aircraft is now on its way to flood victims in Northern Province and Mpumalanga. The C-5 Military Transport landed at Waterkloof Air Force Base March 2, and the 45 metric tons of cargo was immediately unloaded. Included in the supplies were 86 medium-size tents, 48 large tents, and 4,400 blankets.

USAID and Office of the Auditor-General Share Vision of Democracy and Development
March 3, 2000: 'Working together and changing lives for good governance and development' - these words characterise the goals of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in their mission in South Africa. They were spoken by Mr William Stacy Rhodes, Mission Director of USAID in South Africa, during the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between USAID and the Office of the Auditor-General in Pretoria today.

U.S. Government Aids South African Flood Victims
February 18, 2000: U.S. Ambassador Delano E. Lewis has announced that the U.S. Government is providing over R150,000 (US$25,000) to the South African Red Cross to provide emergency food and blankets to flood victims in the Northern Province. The donation will assist the hardest-hit flood victims in the regions that have suffered destructive torrential rains.

South Africa to receive USAID funds to fight AIDS
January 11, 2000:   The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) announced yesterday in Washington, D.C. that 12 African nations have been targeted to receive additional funding under President Clinton's LIFE (Leadership and Investment Fighting an Epidemic) initiative.