A South African community is to challenge German homeopathic giant Schwabe Pharmaceuticals in court in Munich next week over a traditional medicine the company is seeking to patent.

The case could set a precedent in cases in which multinationals use the plants and indigenous knowledge of developing countries, where laws may not protect communities’ intellectual property rights.

Schwabe wants to patent a method for producing extracts from the roots of Pelargonium sidoides and Pelargonium reniforme to make cough and cold syrups. The company has also hit problems in India over alleged bioprospecting.

Read the full article at M&G …

South African national soccer team player Sboniso Pah Gaxa hails from the township of KwaMashu and he is the first professional player to host a tournament within this township. The tournament is called a “Gaxa Cup”.

Sboniso Gaxa also plays for the South Africa’s ABSA Premier Soccer League Champions, Mamelodi Sundowns said he is doing this to make sure that soccer does not die in the township and he also want to make sure that the people are ready for the FIFA World Cup Tournament taking place South Africa.

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