Guardian: South Africa’s only black billionaire donates half his fortune to charity – South African billionaire Patrice Motsepe announced last week in Davos that he would give “at least half of the funds generated by [his] family assets to uplift poor and other disadvantaged and marginalized South Africans.” The Motsepe Foundation, which was founded in 1999 by the African Rainbow Minerals chairman and his wife, oversees the philanthropic work of the family, which includes “education and health; the development and upliftment of women, youth, workers and the disabled; churches; the development of entrepreneurs . . . rural and urban upliftment; soccer,” and music. (Sipho Hlongwane)
Bloomberg: Suzlon Energy to Build, Operate 66 Wind Turbines in South Africa – Suzlon Energy, India’s largest wind-turbine maker, received approval to put 66 units of its 2.1-megawatt turbine at the Cookhouse wind farm in South Africa. Suzlon was “selected to develop the project in the first round of renewable energy auctions held by the African nation in 2011.” The company plans to generate 2,000 megawatts of power in the country within five years. (Archana Chaudhary)
Devex: Global development’s star hangs up her jersey – Hillary Rodham Clinton leaves the office of U.S. Secretary of State this week after having visited more countries than any of her predecessors and writing the script for a “new type of U.S. engagement abroad, one in which international development is a central pillar.” While the “tug-of-war over Clinton’s legacy on U.S. development cooperation will continue long after she leaves” office, Clinton has undoubtedly given USAID a boost in its prominence and size and “maybe political support.” (Elizabeth Becker)
LATimes: Ads to fight hunger in Africa, without the hungry – Food for All, a new Oxfam ad campaign in Britain seeks a fresh way to attract donations for Oxfam’s anti-hunger drive and “features beautiful African landscapes rather than starving Africans.” The counter-intuitive campaign comes “after a survey found the British public has grown to view negative images of Africa as ‘depressing, manipulative and hopelss,’ making people less inclined to donate.” Critics wonder if this “high-minded campaign” will fail to garner actual donations, as “people give in order to accomplish specific action that’s within their reach.” (Robyn Dixon)
