Midrand - Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa will tomorrow, Thursday 10 March 2016, deliver a key-note address at the inaugural South African Business Incubation Conference (SABIC), at the Gallagher Estate, Midrand, Gauteng. 
 
The Conference is being hosted by Minister Lindiwe Zulu under the theme ‘’Incubation as a vehicle for economic prosperity”’
 
The conference will deal with the following key issues:
• Business incubation policy coherence between relevant national departments;
• Incubation funding models;
• International best practices;
• Technology commercialisation;
• The role of academic institutions in the incubation space, and
• The creation of national, regional and international technology incubation networking forums for public and private sector as well as academic institution-supported incubators in South Africa.
 
The National Development Plan (NDP) identifies the support of small business development as critical to achieving faster and more inclusive economic growth to create the millions of jobs South Africa needs.
 
In line with the NDP, South Africa is lowering the costs of doing business, improving skills and innovation, and targeting state support to specific sectors, especially labour absorbing sectors.
 
SABIC will be attended by various stakeholders across the country as well as international and SADC delegates. 
 
Media is invited as follows:
 
• Conference Schedule
Date: 10-11 March 2016
Time: 08h00 – 17h30
Venue: Gallagher Convention Centre, Midrand 
 
• Address by the Deputy President
Date: 10 March 2016
Time: 16h00
 
For more information contact:
Ronnie Mamoepa on 082 990 4853
Matome Sam Bopape (The Presidency) on 082 318 5251 and
Cornelius Monama (Department of Small Business Development) on 082 578 4063
 
Deputy President Ramaphosa to launch the ‘National Sex Worker HIV Plan’ - Friday 11 March 2016
 
Johannesburg - Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa, in his capacity as the chairperson of the South African National Aids Council (SANAC) will, on Friday, 11 March 2016, launch the ‘National Sex Worker HIV Plan’, at the Turbine Hall in Newtown Johannesburg at 13h00.
 
The National Sex Worker HIV Plan is a coordinated national sex worker HIV prevention, care and treatment plan. The Plan includes the provision of pre-exposure and early treatment for sex workers as core components of the health-care package and as advocated by the World Health Organisation  (WHO).
 
The National Strategic Plan on HIV, STI and TB 2012-2016 notes that sex workers need a comprehensive and nationally co-ordinated response. This should include HIV care, treatment and prevention services that address exacerbating factors such as alcohol and substance use including access to justice and legal protection to address violence and harassment of sex workers.
 
Over and above highlighting and presenting critical areas of the Plan and government’s response to sex workers issues, the launch event will also present an opportunity to raise awareness around sex worker’s health and human rights issues.
 
Deputy President Ramaphosa will be supported in the launch of the Plan by Deputy Ministers Dr Joe Phaahla of Health; John Jeffery of Justice and Constitutional Development and Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu of Social development.
 
Media is invited as follows:
 
Date: Friday, 11 March 2016
Venue: Turbine Hall, Newtown, Johannesburg
Time: 13h00
                 
For more information contact Ronnie Mamoepa on 082 990 4853 or Nthabiseng Rantau-Machiya on 082 570 5503.
 

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria