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Dear Friends,

Welcome to the South African Embassy website and find below the highlights of the month. As South Africa slowly approcahes the festive season, Turkey and South Africa are currently experiencing the best of their respective seasons wherein its neither cold nor hot. The beautiful flaura and fauna in both countries are currently more impressing and worth enjoying.

In relation to the current alert level 1 of the risk adjusted approach of South Africa’s Disaster Management Act, we are expecting movement in tourism and we wish all travellers safe and memorable visits.

Marine Month 1 to 31 October 2020

National Marine Month creates awareness of South Africa's marine and coastal environments and the benefits that our oceans bring to our nation.

South Africa is nestled between two currents: the warm Agulhas Current with rich ocean biodiversity, but not a large fish stocks and the cold Benguela system that supports large fisheries such as those focused on the small pelagic (anchovy and sardine) and the demersal (hake) stocks.

These currents, in addition to the cold southern oceans, are key drivers of South Africa climate and rainfall conditions.

South Africa's different climatic zones, with its different biodiversities, agricultural and economic activities, are shaped by the availability of one of our scarcest resources, namely fresh water.

Rainfall patterns dictate many activities as it is vital to defining natural habitats and ecosystems. Oceans, being the primary producer of moisture to the atmosphere that eventually produces rain over the country, are therefore playing a critical role in shaping the socio-economic activities in our land.

The month-long celebrations of National Marine Month include various programmes of events in different parts of the country including the Western Cape, Northern Cape, Southern Cape, Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng.

Mental Health Awareness Month 1 to 31 October

The month of October has been declared Mental Health Awareness Month with the objective of not only educating the public about mental health but also to reduce the stigma and discrimination that people with mental illness are often subjected to.

Mental health problems are the result of a complex interplay between biological, psychological, social and environmental factors. There is increasing evidence that both the content and context of work can play a role in the development of mental health problems in the workplace.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month 1 to 31 October 2020

The incidence of breast cancer among South African women is increasing and it is one of the most common cancers among women in South Africa. It is the most prevalent cancer amongst white and Asian women and the second most common cancer among black and coloured women.

Facts about breast cancer:

-Early detection of the condition can lead to effective treatment and a positive prognosis. About 90% of patients survive for many years after diagnosis when breast cancer is detected at the early stages.
-Regular self-breast examination and regular mammograms are key to early detection.
-Presenting yourself early for treatment may result in more effective treatment, leading to a reduction in pain and suffering and a significant decrease in the loss of life.
The designation of October as "Breast Cancer Awareness Month" in South Africa reflects a nationwide drive by public and private healthcare structures to raise awareness of this debilitating disease across all races and class structures.

Transport Month 1 to 31 October 2020

During this month South African Government and specifically the Department of Transport and its entities will showcase transport infrastructure services in aviation; maritime; public transport and roads. This month will also be used to further advance the country’s road safety initiatives, while also creating awareness of the economic benefits of the sector.

South African investments in the transport sector are aimed at stimulating development and creating jobs as part of the country’s Nine-Point Plan. These investments will ensure that South Africa build an integrated public transport network across the country.

South African investments in rail, roads and public transport is changing the way people access their places of work, study and entertainment. These investments will also help to grow our economy, and address the challenges of unemployment, poverty and inequality.

October was declared Transport Month in 2005 during the Transport Lekgotla. It is used to raise awareness on the important role of transport in the economy and to encourage participation from civil society and business, including the provision of a safe and more affordable, accessible and reliable transport system in the country.

Social Development Month 1 to 31 October 2020

October is Social Development Month which aims to engage communities to identify their challenges and put together action plans to deal with these challenges. The campaign, held in conjunction with the National Development Agency (NDA) and the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA), also aims to inform communities of the various social security programmes available to them and how these can be accessed.

We wish you all a Happy October Month.

Tshepo Ranamane
South African Embassy in Ankara, Turkey