South Africa Roundup: Tourism boost, rally for Gaza, Prince Harry extends stay
Tourism boost
South Africa is poised to enhance its tourism sector by launching a Trusted Tour Operator Scheme in January 2025. This initiative targets vetted foreign nationals from mainland China and India, aiming for streamlined visa processing and pre-registration protocols. Through dedicated adjudicators for group tourist applications, the scheme ensures that approved tour operators undergo rigorous screening, ultimately bearing responsibility for all group travellers. Notably, travel data highlights substantial outbound tourism from China and India, with Chinese tourists making over 100 million trips in 2023, reports BAL.
Prince Harry extends stay in South Africa
In a social context, Prince Harry is extending his solo trip to South Africa, opting for family time over a reunion with his wife, Meghan Markle. An insider disclosed that Harry feels more positively received during his independent engagements, prompting him to prolong his stay. Although he will visit family in Johannesburg and Cape Town, the Earl Spencer has offered the couple a temporary base at Althorp in the UK, signalling a shift in family dynamics since Harry's marriage, Sky News reports.
South Africa dominates Surfski championships
On the sporting front, South Africa's Surfski team claimed an impressive five out of six titles at the ICF Canoe Ocean Racing World Championships in Madeira Island. Kira Bester excelled by winning gold in both the U23 women's event and the overall title. The South African women secured five of the top ten spots, further showcasing the nation's prowess, with senior world title holder Michelle Burn and junior champion Georgia Singe also making notable contributions. According to Good Things Guy, the men's category saw Hank McGregor achieve bronze, reinforcing South Africa's dominance by topping the medal table with 14 medals on Day 1.
Miss World South Africa
In the realm of beauty and advocacy, Zoalize Jansen van Rensburg was crowned the winner of the Miss World South Africa 2024 pageant, held at Sun City on October 5. This 18-year-old marketing executive captured the judges' attention with her project 'Never Too Young to Advocate', which seeks to elevate youth voices. The event showcased ten finalists and was hosted by Tebogo 'ProVerb' Thekisho; Jansen will subsequently represent South Africa at the Miss World finals in February 2025 as reported by Jacaranda FM.
March in support of Palestine
Meanwhile, social activism unfolded in Cape Town, where several hundred protesters gathered to commemorate the anniversary of the Israel-Hamas conflict. The demonstration, marked by Palestinian flags and anti-Israeli slogans, was orchestrated by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign. Protesters referenced allegations of genocide against Israel and drew parallels to South Africa's apartheid past, advocating for the local government to implement the UN's Apartheid Convention. Additional pro-Gaza protests are slated for Johannesburg, Durban, and other cities worldwide, reports News Central.
