Mining mogul Patrice Motsepe has called on African nations to consider the implementation of preferential visas for entrepreneurs.

Motsepe made the call during an interview at the 15th Brics summit`s business forum on Tuesday in Sandton. The billionaire entrepreneur drew attention to the idea that has been in circulation since 2013.

His remarks came as part of discussions at the Brics business forum, on the sidelines of the three-day Brics summit which ends on Thursday. He highlighted the need to expedite the visa application process, acknowledging the legitimate concerns of governments regarding maintaining sovereignty while promoting economic growth through entrepreneurship.

Motsepe emphasised:

We must expedite the visa process. While we recognise and support the necessity for governments to manage their borders, these are opportunities that have been discussed for a considerable period.

He also advocated for immediate action, suggesting that preferential access to visas could be extended to businesspeople from China, India, and Russia - the  key players within the Brics bloc. 

As the inaugural chairperson of the Brics Business Charter in SA, Motsepe reflected on the growth of trade between the country`s CEOs and their counterparts in other Brics nations. He noted that trade between South Africa and Brics countries in goods and services began in 2013, with just under $100 billion, with an ambitious goal to reach $400 billion.

Motsepe acknowledged the strategic significance of the Brics partnership, noting that while the European and US markets were substantial, the formation of Brics had significantly bolstered South Africa`s economic ties with countries such as India, China, and Brazil.

`From a Brics  perspective, granting visas to entrepreneurs from these countries would enable them to explore business opportunities not only in South Africa but across the continent,` Motsepe said, characterising India, China, and Brazil as `remarkable destinations` for business endeavours.

Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams, the minister of small business development, voiced her support for the proposed Brics visas for entrepreneurs. 

Speaking to News24, Ndabeni-Abrahams emphasised the importance of creating a conducive environment for businesses to thrive by addressing regulatory obstacles, including those related to visa issuance.

`To facilitate economic growth within the Brics alliance, it`s imperative that we address regulatory barriers, including those concerning visas.` 

Ndabeni-Abrahams elaborated:

These matters are currently under discussion among the home affairs ministers of Brics member states.

President Cyril Ramaphosa sought to allay global jitters ahead of the BRICS summit. More than 30 heads of state will attend the 15th BRICS summit in Johannesburg this week. Addressing the nation, President Cyril Ramaphosa said South Africa supports the expansion of BRICS members in order to create a more balanced global order. He stressed that the country would not be drawn into a contest between global powers. President Cyril Ramaphosa sought to allay global jitters ahead of the BRICS summit and affirmed South Africa`s neutrality in the shifting global power dynamics. On Sunday night, the president addressed the nation on South Africa’s foreign policy and the upcoming BRICS summit.

On Sunday night, the president addressed the nation on South Africa’s foreign policy and the upcoming BRICS summit.

`We will not be drawn into a contest between global powers,` Ramaphosa said, adding that the country was committed to a policy of non-alignment.

“We have resisted pressure to align ourselves with any one of the global powers or with influential blocs of nations. During the Cold War, the stability and sovereignty of many African countries were undermined because of their alignment with major powers. This experience has convinced us of the need to seek strategic partnerships with other countries, rather than be dominated by any [one] country.”

The president said while some of the country’s detractors preferred overt support for their political and ideological choices `we will not be drawn into a contest between global powers`.

He said instead, South Africa strived to work with all countries for global peace and development.

“It is for this reason that SA is a member of the Non-Aligned Movement, a forum of some 120 countries that are not formally aligned with or against any major power bloc.

“Our decision not to align with any one of the global powers does not mean that we are neutral on matters of principle or national interest,” Ramaphosa said. 

“Our nonaligned position exists alongside our active support for the struggles of the oppressed and marginalised people in different parts of the world.

“We always believed that the freedom that we won and the international solidarity from which we benefitted immensely imposes a duty on us to support the struggles of those who continue to experience colonialism and racial oppression; that is why we will continue to support the struggles of the people of Palestine and Western Sahara,” the president said. 

Ramaphosa gave his full support to the expansion of BRICS member countries, saying an expanded BRICS would result in a more balanced global order. 

During the live televised address, Ramaphosa said 20 countries had applied for BRICS membership and several others had expressed an interest in becoming part of its family.

“South Africa supports the expansion of the membership of BRICS. The value of BRICS extends beyond the interest of its current members,” he added. 

Currently, Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa form the BRICS community, which makes up a quarter of the global economy, accounts for a fifth of global trade and is home to 40% of the world’s population.

More than 30 heads of state are in South Africa for the 15th BRICS Summit, which starts on Tuesday and ends on Thursday. 

Ramaphosa had indicated during an ANC meeting in Joburg on Saturday that Russian President Vladimir Putin would join the summit virtually. 

“Together the BRICS members have used their collective voice to call for a world that is more equitable, balanced and governed by an inclusive system of global governance,” said Ramaphosa on Sunday. 

He added that being a member of BRICS had created positive opportunities for South Africa, enabling the country to develop a strategic relationship with China, the second biggest economy in the world.

Based on the relationship between the countries, Ramaphosa said he would be signing several agreements with President Xi Jinping. 

In 2025, South Africa is set to assume the presidency of the G20 group of nations and will be the first African country to host a G20 summit on African soil

Brain implants have long been trapped in the realm of science fiction, but a steady trickle of medical trials suggests the tiny devices could play a big part in humanity`s future.

Billions of dollars are flowing into a clutch of specialist companies hunting for treatments for some of the most debilitating ailments.

And pioneering studies have already yielded results.

In May, a Dutchman paralysed in a motorcycle accident regained the ability to walk thanks to implants that restored communication between his brain and spinal cord.

That experiment was one of several eye-catching trials that have helped spark a huge buzz around the industry.

In the decade to 2020, investors poured more than $30 billion into neurotechnology more widely, according to UNESCO.

And the money has continued to flood in thanks, in part, to rapid improvements in artificial intelligence (AI), used by researchers to interpret the data from the implants.

Tech titan Elon Musk has refocused some energy on his Neuralink firm after it received permission in May to test its implants on humans, helping it to raise $280 million in funding.

And other firms with less prominent bosses are proliferating, offering hope for sufferers of ailments from rare nerve diseases to severe epilepsy.

`Turning point`

Synchron, a company formed more than a decade ago, raised $75 million this year with backing from the likes of Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and Amazon`s Jeff Bezos.

The firm got permission from the US authorities in 2021 to test its implant, and has since rolled it out to nine people with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) - the motor neurone disease that physicist Stephen Hawking suffered from.

Its implant allows patients to use messaging apps or browse online using only eye movements and thoughts.

One of the big selling points is that, unlike other implants, it does not require invasive surgery.

The first goals of the Synchron test, said Dr David Putrino, who oversaw the medical trial at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York, were to make sure the implant was safe and could monitor the brain over long periods.

On both fronts, he said, the trial had been a success.

Synchron founder Tom Oxley thinks the technology, known as brain-computer interface (BCI), is now at a `turning point`.

The industry must aim to make the implants widely accessible, he told AFP.

Brain attack 

There are still pretty hefty impediments before that can happen, not least that the most powerful results often come from the most invasive implants.

For example, a patient in the US, Ian Burkhart, who was left paralysed from the neck down after a diving accident, told AFP that getting an implant that allowed him to control his arms and hands again was a `magical moment`.

But he was only ever able to do that in a lab and the implant, known as a Utah array, was far from comfortable.

`The brain doesn`t like having stuff inside it,` said Michael Platt, professor of neuroscience at the University of Pennsylvania.

Platt added: 

And so the immune system of the brain will attack these devices.

As the implants get covered by cells, they are less able to transmit signals from the brain and they function less well.

Although far less advanced, some researchers are pinning their hopes on techniques that do not involve implants.

In May, scientists at the University of Texas at Austin said they had used brain scans and AI modelling to glean `the gist` of what people were thinking.

The technique relied heavily on the GPT models developed by OpenAI, which are capable of analysing massive chunks of data increasingly quickly.

But such research is at the very earliest stage and involves patients spending as much as 16 hours each time in an MRI scanner.

Musk`s telepathy plan 

While most players in the field are exclusively concerned with medical uses for neurotechnology, Musk is different.

The maverick tycoon is touting the possibility of telepathy, using the technology to store memories or to enable humans to continue their existence without their bodies.

`In the future you will be able to save and replay memories,` he told a Neuralink event in 2020.

`You could potentially download them into a new body or into a robot body.`

These claims remain far from reality but this has not stopped Musk from going even further.

He sees implants as a way of enhancing humans - a vital move, he thinks, if our species is to co-exist with superintelligent machines.

`That might be the most important thing that a device like this achieves,` he said.

The visa backlog has nothing to do with people getting out, but rather workers who can’t get into South Africa to fill skills shortages. 

There’s a huge VISA backlog at home affairs that’s stifling the country.. 

It’s ironic that with so many South Africans trying to leave the country, it’s a visa backlog for people trying to get INTO the country that’s stifling economic growth.

According to a report from Business Tech, the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) has a visa backlog of 62 000 applications. These are for people and workers trying to get into the country to fill critical skills shortages.

Now, visa agent Xpatweb, says the DHA are rejecting applications out of hand to simply try clear the huge visa backlog. The agent specialises in work permits for people coming to South Africa. It says individuals, HR professionals and businesses face lengthy delays and a needlessly complex application process.

WHAT’S THE REASON FOR THE VISA BACKLOG?

Since COVID, there have been a number of changes to rectify problems within the DHA. And Xpatweb believes these administrative processes have led to mounting rejections for frivolous reasons. 

“While the Minister of Home Affairs, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, has announced several mitigation measures. Such as various concessions extending the validity of long-term visas. The deployment of more departmental resources has not solved the problem,” Xpatweb said.

MOUNTING REJECTIONS

The visa backlog in SA will only resolve itself by mid-2024. Image by flickr.com 

The agency said it had seen several rejected visas stating that applicants had filed the application incorrectly, despite this not being the case. The company believes these challenges are hurting the economy as many businesses and applicants are left frustrated and have to turn their back on South Africa.

WHAT CAN BE DONE?

Navigating the work-visa application process will continue to be a challenge for individuals until the visa backlog is cleared. But understanding the difficulties of the process, the qualifying criteria and being fully prepared for every aspect of the application process will help.

If this fails, another way to speed up the process is to consult with Xpatweb and follow a Legal Escalation Process. This places the DHA and Embassy under pressure to ensure a reasonable outcome.

The current visa backlog is only expected to be resolved by mid-2024 at the earliest.

In the first five months of 2023, the US market recovered to 94% of the arrivals in the same period in 2019. Black American travellers make up a large proportion of those travellers.

Jerry Mpufane, President of South African Tourism North America, said South Africa’s rich history, diverse cultures, stunning landscapes, and vibrant communities, held tremendous appeal for travellers seeking a profound and transformative experience. 

“Black American travellers, in particular, seek to reconnect with their ancestral roots and explore the continent as a powerful journey of self-discovery,” noted Mpufane.

“A key opportunity to attract Black Americans lies in festivals and events, cultural experiences, and sustainable tourism that emphasises giving back and leaving a positive impact following a trip.”

The US market was South Africa’s second-largest inbound market in 2019, recording 373 694 arrivals. It was also the second-highest overseas market for tourism pre-pandemic spending in South Africa, with R7.8 billion (€375.4m).

This market has grown significantly since then, recording R8.3 billion (€399.6m) 6% above the 2019 spend in tourism spending in 2022. This meant the US market was the highest in terms of spend, even though the UK market represented the biggest number of tourists in 2022.

Right platform

Speaking during a US Market Access Workshop at Africa’s Travel Indaba 2023  held in Durban in May Stephanie M Jones, founder, and CEO of Cultural Heritage Economic Alliance, Inc., emphasised the impact of this sector of travellers on social media.

“Black American travellers play an active role in shaping travel trends through social media platforms. They share their experiences, provide recommendations, and inspire others to explore new destinations.”

She pointed out that working with Black travel influencers, for example, could create an opportunity to reach Black American travellers with unique and insightful content. 

The right message and the right tone

Jones noted that travel industry professionals needed to demonstrate cultural sensitivity and inclusivity. Creating welcoming environments and providing diverse representations in marketing materials would help attract and cater for Black American travellers.

She explained: “South Africa offers various adventure activities, such as bungee jumping, shark-cage diving, hiking, and surfing. Black American travellers can participate in these thrilling experiences while enjoying the country`s natural wonders. Socialising with locals, immersing in cultural history, and experiencing the nightlife and culinary experiences are all important elements of the ultimate Black American trip to South Africa.”

Jones said Black travellers had a special connection with the destination, reiterating that there was ample opportunity for businesses to implement marketing strategies to target these travellers.