Our October issue brings you opinions, articles and an update on news and events.

In this issue, John Battersby examines the shift in focus by South Africa to building partnerships with emerging economic powers has the potential to transform trade with Africa in Eastsouth - South Africa's Shift East and South.

In Africa's Excellent Growth Prospects for the 21st Century: What Just Happened? we bring you excerpts from the speech by South African Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe to the Emerging Markets Summit 2010: The New Reality.

We report on the tremendous work being done by the Aspire Foundation in Aspiring Women how the Foundation aims to transform the world, one woman at a time.

Your ability to handle difficult situations maturely can build your or break your reputation. In Pass the Mature Test Test Vera Ng'oma highlights the behaviours and habits that could be undermining your career.

This month our Careers Coach offers some advice on how to get back into the job hunting game in Ask the Career Coach –'My Job Hunting Seems to have.

Chichi Okoye shares her thoughts on relationship marketing in The Business Thank You Card explaining how business owners will find it difficult to establish, develop, and maintain successful relationships with customers if they do not show them appreciation.

Andrea Bohnstedt questions why the world's richest man prefers to employ charity rather than business when it comes to Africa in Less Charity, Mr. Microsoft

Our guest interviewee in this month's '5 Minute Interview' is PR and Marketing Director Helen Van De Kaa. Helen answers our questions and shares some of the lessons she has learned along the way.

October sees an extensive line-up of events in the UK and overseas and our Events listing gives you details of what's on this month, what's coming up and some un-missable Dates for your Diary.

Keep up to date with events across Africa with constant breaking news from Africa through Thomson Reuters on the ReConnect Africa website. Catch up on news from the UK and around the world in bite sized chunks with our News Roundfeature.

Share your comments about our articles or write into our Letters page and let us know what you think about ReConnect Africa.

We visit the ReConnect Africa Library and give you another chance to read the inspiring interview with Helen Tucker and how she has overcome the challenges in her life in 'Vicissitude'.

Finally, in belated appreciation of our teachers, check out this month's Editorial – Lessons and Legacy – and let me know what you think.

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Keep up with the latest from South Africa on our dedicated portal, ReConnect South Africa, where we bring you features, articles, news feeds and highlight some of the key events taking place in and about South Africa.

ReConnect Africa.com brings you a wealth of information from jobs on the ReConnect Jobs website to our listings and features.

Revisit previous issues and browse through the hundreds of articles in the ReConnect Library.

Whether you need to write a great CV, make the right impact at interview or need help with your plans to find a job in Africa, our range of careers services are tailor made for your needs.

Other information you can find includes:

Our free ReConnect Africa Forum has been a little quiet lately and we are looking to you to make it an interactive and lively platform for discussion.

Start a new conversation today by Posting your comments or offering some information or advice to other members on our free ReConnect Africa Forum.

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Enjoy this issue and the new website and please write in to me and share your comments!