Two positions on the Executive Council were also contested. Jannie Louw was re-elected for a second term and Adv. Willie Small was elected as a new member for a four-year term.

The full membership of the Executive Council now comprises (in alphabetical order, elected unless stated): Mark Alexander (president), Francois Davids (deputy president), Hennie Baartman; Belia Karsten, (independent), Melody Lekota (independent), Jannie Louw, Mary-Anne Musikewa (independent), Rian Oberholzer (CEO), Tryphosa Ramano (independent), Abubakar Saban (CFO), Randall September, Adv Willie Small, John Smit (players’ association nominee), Mimi Tau (independent).

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The 2023 version of the tournament saw eventual champions, Free State Women, promoted into the Premier Division, and a handful of individual players getting call-ups into national squads, with Free State’s Sikholiwe (Sne) Mdletshe earning Test caps for the Springbok Women, and Shannon-Lee Windvogel (SWD Eagirls) drafted into the Springbok Women’s Sevens squad.

There will be no promotion/relegation in 2024, but for Griquas Women (against Pumas Women), Limpopo Blue Bulls Women (versus Leopards Women) and Valke Rugby Union Women (facing SWD Eagles Women) a good start in front of their home crowd could establish a solid support base and momentum for the tournament, which will culminate in semi-finals on 3 August, and the final a week later on 10 August.

The Griffons Women, who will be coached by the experienced Shamila Louw and former Griffons stalwart, Tertius Maarman, assisting her, have a bye in the opening round.

The first round of action will start an exciting weekend of rugby in Kimberley, Polokwane, and Kempton Park and with no clear front runners at this stage of the tournament, some intriguing matches are on offer.

In Kimberley, Griquas, again coached by Ronald Maarman, with Claudia Francke (forwards) and Coerispa Links (backs) assisting him, will welcome Pumas Women to Kimberley Rugby Club.  The Pumas Women will start the competition with a new head coach Devril Boucher, who has been involved with the team in a variety of roles in the past. He will be assisted by Sbusiso Ngomane and the duo would love to start on a winning note.

Limpopo Blue Bulls Women will again be a strong contender in 2024. They have retained most of their playing squad from last year and head coach, Artwell Makhubela, is in charge again. He will be assisted by Andile Dzavana (backs) and Bryan Mashigo (forwards). They will face another regular contender in the Leopards, a finalist two years ago.

Leopards Head Coach Franklin Jackson will be without his assistant, Jackie Kriel, for their trip north as she is currently with the SA Students Sevens team abroad, but will have the comfort of former Springbok Women wing, Verana van Heerden, to bring massive experience and calmness to his young squad.

The Eagirls will enter the tournament as likely favorites, but the Valke Women cannot be underestimated. The SWD side has been a top-three side consistently and will again have their regular stalwarts available. Elize Arendse is back as head coach and she will be assisted by Nicolene Barendse, who played for the Eagirls till last year.

Valke Head Coach, Catherine Lowane and assistant, Collen Mabasa, will have a plan to combat the free-flowing attack from their visitors for sure.

The first round of fixtures (all on Saturday, 15 June 2024):

Griquas Women vs Pumas Women

Venue: Kimberley Rugby Klub, Kimberley

Kick-off: 10h30

Referee: Cammy Dyers

Valke Women vs SWD Eagirls

Venue: Barnard Stadium, Kempton Park

Kick-off: 12h15

Referee: Siyanda Pikoli

Limpopo Blue Bulls Women vs Leopards Women

Venue: University of Limpopo, Polokwane

Kick-off: 13h00

Referee: Excellent Mnkomo

The post Huge Anticipation As Women’s First Division Kicks Off appeared first on NRI News.

SANDTON, SOUTH AFRICA: In the recent Global Trade Review (GTR) awards announcement, RMB (www.RMB.co.za) has been awarded as the Best Trade Finance Bank in Southern Africa and for the Best Trade Finance Deal in Africa for the Sovereign Trade Finance transaction – a collaboration with the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) and the Ministry of Economy and Finance for Côte d’Ivoire, to facilitate a trade-backed facility to support crucial trade-related initiatives.

Said Ben Bechet from RMB’s Trade and Working Capital, Head of Structured Solutions team: “While RMB has a proud history of supporting sovereigns on the continent, this is a first-of-its-kind facility for an African sovereign and brings a new, sizable liquidity pool into play. This transaction will pave the way for further short-term trade facilities across the continent to assist with developmental initiatives, critical projects and the importation of crucial goods such as food, fertilizer, and medicines alongside other resources.”

“Through the strong anchoring of the facility structure, positive Environmental, Social, and Governance (“ESG”) reporting track record and market support on this transaction, after deal closure and announcement last year, RMB has been working with the Ministry of Economy and Finance of Côte d’Ivoire to increase the size of the facility. This not only highlights the confidence the market has in the Republic of Cote’ D’Ivoire but also the positive impact the facility has made as a sustainable and cost-effective solution within the ministry’s funding mix. Although we have been recognized as the best Trade Finance bank in Southern Africa for the past 3 years, this best deal award demonstrates our reach and impact covers the entire continent.”

RMB has over the years, been providing various solutions to the African Sovereign market, from syndicated lending facilities, Green Bonds, Eurobonds, and more recently short-term structured solutions to provide budgetary support. This collaboration with MIGA continues RMB’s proud history of providing new and innovative solutions for our clients on the continent and further entrenches our position as one of the leading trade finance banks in Africa.

Mergan Naidoo, Head of Trade at RMB commented: “This deal was a demonstration of intentional collaboration with purpose. Africa is in desperate need of sustainable solutions that create value for the continent by accessing global credit appetite and packaging it in a simple, cost-effective, and, most importantly, meaningful way. This milestone transaction took time, perseverance, and ‘grit’ that forged relationships geared toward accelerated scalability, linear to the value returned to the continent.”

“We are delighted to have won both these awards, and that this is the 6th consecutive year we have won the award for Best Trade Finance Bank Southern Africa. These awards are proof of RMB’s trade finance capabilities and success in forging partnerships with insurance, guarantee and export credit agency providers to extend meaningful funding support to our clients across Africa. Collaboration with development financial institutions and multilaterals remains key to truly unlocking new opportunities to support our clients,” concluded Bechet.

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