The President of the Republic of Seychelles, Mr. Wavel Ramkalawan, has announced a special financial contribution to all Seychellois athletes who won medals during the 13th Commission de la Jeunesse et des Sports de l’Océan Indien (CJSOI) Games, hosted in Seychelles from 1st to 11th August 2025.
In recognition of their outstanding performances and dedication, medalists of Team Seychelles will each receive:
• SCR 10,000 for every Gold Medal
• SCR 7,500 for every Silver Medal
• SCR 5,000 for every Bronze Medal
President Ramkalawan commended the athletes for their determination, discipline, and commitment, which brought pride and joy to the nation. He highlighted that their achievements serve as an inspiration for the younger generation and reaffirm Seychelles’ growing presence in the regional sporting arena.
Reflecting on the successful hosting of the 13th CJSOI Games, the President expressed Seychelles’ pride in welcoming athletes from all member states and emphasised the solidarity and unity fostered through the event. “These Games have once again proven that sport has the power to unite nations, strengthen friendships, and celebrate our shared values,” he said.
The President also extended his heartfelt congratulations to all participating athletes and teams from across the Indian Ocean region, thanking them for contributing to the spirit of camaraderie and sportsmanship that defined the Games on Seychelles soil.
In preparation for the first National Convention of the National Dialogue process, President Cyril Ramaphosa met on Thursday 7 August 2025 with representatives of the interim Preparatory Task Team (PTT), which has been given the responsibility of organising the convention and preparing for the public dialogues that will take place thereafter.
At the meeting, the representatives reported to the President that the members of the PTT were divided on a number of issues, including the state of readiness of the PTT to deliver the National Convention as scheduled to take place on 15 August 2025.
Members of the PTT representing some of the Foundations involved in the initial planning of the National Dialogue argued that the National Convention should be postponed to a later date.
President Ramaphosa said he understood the National Convention to be a call to action for citizens to lead an inclusive dialogue on the challenges facing the country.
“Ever since we announced the date of the first National Convention, South Africans from all parts of society have been getting ready to take part in the local conversations that will follow. There is a great desire to get involved and be heard.”
President Ramaphosa said that although challenges have been experienced, it was essential that the first National Convention proceed on 15 August 2025.
“The National Convention must happen so that South Africa’s people can take ownership and control of the National Dialogue. Invitations have gone out to organisations across the country and delegates are preparing themselves to attend the convention. It is at the National Convention that the people of South Africa will take over and run with the National Dialogue process,” he said.
As a consequence of the divisions within the PTT and the decision to proceed with the National Convention as scheduled, some of the Foundations have indicated that they would step back from organising the event and participation in the PTT. They told the President they nevertheless remained committed to the National Dialogue process and would continue to encourage participation.
President Ramaphosa expressed appreciation for the role played by the Foundations in initiating, championing and driving the National Dialogue. While he expressed regret at their withdrawal from this part of the preparations, he was encouraged by their intention to continue to play a meaningful role in the National Dialogue as it unfolds.
On Friday 8 August 2025, the President met with the co-chairs, deputy chairs and the secretary of the Eminent Persons Group. These are prominent South Africans who have accepted appointment by the President as volunteers who will use their standing and expertise to act as guarantors of the National Dialogue.
The meeting with the leadership of the Eminent Persons Group (EPG) reflected broadly on progress towards the National Convention.
The EPG emphasised the need for the inclusivity and credibility of the National Dialogue process. They also called for more effective coordination, governance as well as improved communication.
“The National Dialogue is a once in a lifetime opportunity to bring all South Africans together to resolve our challenges and build a better future. The Eminent Persons Group stands ready to play its part in making this a reality,” said Prof Tinyiko Maluleke, co-chairperson of the Eminent Persons Group.
Above all, the EPG members reaffirmed their commitment to voluntarily use their influence and expertise to ensure that the first National Convention laid a firm foundation for an inclusive and vibrant national conversation.
The first National Convention, which will bring together 200 organisations from 33 different sectors, will kickstart the National Dialogue process, by among others:
Endorsing the need for and value of a National Dialogue
Outlining key themes for discussion in the National Dialogue process
Agreeing on the approach and modalities for the public dialogues
Finalising the establishment of a broadly representative Steering Committee to coordinate the implementation of the National Dialogue going forward
The National Convention will be a call to action for citizens to lead an inclusive dialogue on the challenges facing the country. The National Dialogue itself will take the form of public dialogues in localities and within various sectors across the country.
To this end and in light of the difficulties within the PTT, the convention organising team has been reorganised and is being reinforced by various social partners and civil society formations. This will ensure that the National Convention is successfully held from 15 August 2025 and the National Dialogue process can begin.
Media enquiries: Vincent Magwenya, Spokesperson to the President – media@presidency.gov.za
“During my first pregnancy three years ago, I had to travel 45 km just to have get an ultrasound. I had to pay for transport, wait for an appointment and sometimes even go to a private clinic and pay 10 000 CFA francs. Between the cost of transport and the time lost, a lot of women gave up,” says Kindo, a mother of two. “Now that we can have an ultrasound here in Tiériba, free of charge, and on the same day as the consultation, it’s a real relief.”
In Burkina Faso, improving access to obstetric care is a major strategic focus in the efforts to curb maternal mortality. An initiative has been introduced: training midwives in basic obstetric ultrasound during antenatal consultations to improve pregnancy monitoring—particularly in remote areas where specialists are hard to reach. Obstetric ultrasound is a key tool in antenatal care to determine gestation date, detect foetal abnormalities, detect ectopic pregnancies, assess foetal growth and determine the most suitable delivery method.
In 2021, the Ministry of Health launched a pilot programme in eight health districts in Boucle du Mouhoun and Hauts-Bassins regions.
“In the past, pregnant women monitored at our centre had to go elsewhere to get an ultrasound. This caused delays in diagnosis, extra costs, and sometimes avoidable complications,” says Denise, a midwife and head of the maternity ward at the Sakaby Urban Medical Centre.
Denise, along with 17 other midwives, received specialized training in basic obstetric ultrasound in November 2023. “This initiative is a game-changer because early detection of complications is essential for the safety of both mother and baby,” she explains. Following the training, she and her team performed over 2000ultrasounds tests between January 2024 and March 2025, and 10 high-risk pregnancies were identified and managed in time.
“Easy access to ultrasound is of strategic importance, both in terms of public health and socio-economic development. Ultrasound enables early and noninvasive diagnosis of abnormalities, allowing for timely care,” explains Dr Moussa Dadjoari, Head of Women, Men and Elderly Health Services at the Ministry of Health’s Family Health Directorate.
The Sakaby Urban Medical Centre also recorded the highest number of antenatal consultations and deliveries since the start of the project, with over 1300 antenatal consultations and deliveries November 2022 and October 2023.
The initiative is part of a broader drive to improve maternal care quality, alongside other measures such as free healthcare for pregnant women and children under five, including childbirth-related care, free access to family planning, enhanced community health through targeted health promotion and prevention for pregnant and postpartum women, and better management of obstetric complications.
The project was made possible through funding from the Sexual and Reproductive Health Project, which supported the development of a training manual for ultrasound and the training of trainers.
Dr Jean de Dieu Sanou, a gynaecologist-obstetrician at Sourou Sanou University Hospital in Bobo-Dioulasso and one of six trainers recruited for the project, welcomes the results but highlights areas for improvement. “Although the training duration for midwives was relatively short, it provides useful basic knowledge in underserved areas. The lack of ultrasound can lead to late diagnosis of serious conditions or missing multiple pregnancies altogether.”
WHO recommends one ultrasound before the 24th week of pregnancy to optimise antenatal follow-up. This approach not only reduces risks for mother and child but also strengthens women’s trust in the health system. “For this recommendation to become a reality, it’s vital to invest more in staff training, health facility equipment and community awareness,” says Dr Ramatou Sawadogo Windsouri, head of the maternal and child health programme at the WHO office in Burkina Faso.
WHO has provided strategic support to the Family Health Directorate to engage professional bodies, particularly obstetrician-gynaecologists, midwives and radiologists in promoting acceptance. WHO also supported the development of a training manual tailored to the Burkina Faso context.
Nevertheless, challenges remain. In most health centres, only one midwife has been trained, making the service unavailable in their absence. Supply shortages have aso been reported.
WHO and the Ministry of Health plan to extend the project to other districts, with support from the World Bank. The goal is to make basic prenatal ultrasound an essential service accessible to all pregnant women, wherever they live. By bringing ultrasound into public health centres, inequalities in access to care are reduced and lives are saved.
“After having the ultrasound with my midwife, I felt reassured seeing the baby’s position in my womb and knowing everything was fine. It made for a better pregnancy experience,” says Kindo, hopeful that this essential service will remain sustainable and accessible to all pregnant women in Burkina Faso.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of WHO Regional Office for Africa.
In preparation for the first National Convention of the National Dialogue process, President Cyril Ramaphosa met on Thursday 7 August 2025 with representatives of the interim Preparatory Task Team (PTT), which has been given the responsibility of organising the convention and preparing for the public dialogues that will take place thereafter.
At the meeting, the representatives reported to the President that the members of the PTT were divided on a number of issues, including the state of readiness of the PTT to deliver the National Convention as scheduled to take place on 15 August 2025.
Members of the PTT representing some of the Foundations involved in the initial planning of the National Dialogue argued that the National Convention should be postponed to a later date.
President Ramaphosa said he understood the National Convention to be a call to action for citizens to lead an inclusive dialogue on the challenges facing the country.
“Ever since we announced the date of the first National Convention, South Africans from all parts of society have been getting ready to take part in the local conversations that will follow. There is a great desire to get involved and be heard.”
President Ramaphosa said that although challenges have been experienced, it was essential that the first National Convention proceed on 15 August 2025.
“The National Convention must happen so that South Africa’s people can take ownership and control of the National Dialogue. Invitations have gone out to organisations across the country and delegates are preparing themselves to attend the convention. It is at the National Convention that the people of South Africa will take over and run with the National Dialogue process,” he said.
As a consequence of the divisions within the PTT and the decision to proceed with the National Convention as scheduled, some of the Foundations have indicated that they would step back from organising the event and participation in the PTT. They told the President they nevertheless remained committed to the National Dialogue process and would continue to encourage participation.
President Ramaphosa expressed appreciation for the role played by the Foundations in initiating, championing and driving the National Dialogue. While he expressed regret at their withdrawal from this part of the preparations, he was encouraged by their intention to continue to play a meaningful role in the National Dialogue as it unfolds.
On Friday 8 August 2025, the President met with the co-chairs, deputy chairs and the secretary of the Eminent Persons Group. These are prominent South Africans who have accepted appointment by the President as volunteers who will use their standing and expertise to act as guarantors of the National Dialogue.
The meeting with the leadership of the Eminent Persons Group (EPG) reflected broadly on progress towards the National Convention.
The EPG emphasised the need for the inclusivity and credibility of the National Dialogue process. They also called for more effective coordination, governance as well as improved communication.
“The National Dialogue is a once in a lifetime opportunity to bring all South Africans together to resolve our challenges and build a better future. The Eminent Persons Group stands ready to play its part in making this a reality,” said Prof Tinyiko Maluleke, co-chairperson of the Eminent Persons Group.
Above all, the EPG members reaffirmed their commitment to voluntarily use their influence and expertise to ensure that the first National Convention laid a firm foundation for an inclusive and vibrant national conversation.
The first National Convention, which will bring together 200 organisations from 33 different sectors, will kickstart the National Dialogue process, by among others:
▪ Endorsing the need for and value of a National Dialogue
▪ Outlining key themes for discussion in the National Dialogue process
▪ Agreeing on the approach and modalities for the public dialogues
▪ Finalising the establishment of a broadly representative Steering Committee to coordinate the implementation of the National Dialogue going forward
The National Convention will be a call to action for citizens to lead an inclusive dialogue on the challenges facing the country. The National Dialogue itself will take the form of public dialogues in localities and within various sectors across the country.
To this end and in light of the difficulties within the PTT, the convention organising team has been reorganised and is being reinforced by various social partners and civil society formations. This will ensure that the National Convention is successfully held from 15 August 2025 and the National Dialogue process can begin.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of South African Government.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has urged South Africans to accelerate efforts to empower women economically and tackle the complex barriers such as poverty, inequality and unemployment that continue to hinder their development.
Speaking at the National Women’s Day commemoration at Nkowankowa Stadium in Tzaneen, Limpopo, on Saturday. President Ramaphosa saluted the achievements of South African women over the years, including their pivotal role in transforming the nation and contributing to socio-economic development.
“This celebration is also a clarion call to accelerate the role of women in the economy and empower them, as well as tackle the complex barriers, which hinder their development,” President Ramaphosa said.
The President highlighted government measures to increase women’s participation in the workforce, bridge the gender pay gap, and greater inclusion in every sector of the economy, including leadership positions.
“Over a quarter of top managers in the private sector are women. Today, South Africa ranks second out of the G20 countries in terms of female representation. Forty-two per cent of Members of Parliament are women, this is higher than a number of developed countries,” the President said.
While acknowledging this progress, the President emphasised that “it is not enough, [and] we cannot rest until we have achieved gender equality throughout society.” and called for renewed commitment to achieving full gender equality across society.”
He said women in South Africa today, continue to reap the benefits of the changes that were ushered in through the brave actions of the women of 1956.
The President also noted government’s achievements, including accelerated access to basic services, social welfare, and economic opportunities for women, lifting millions out of absolute poverty.
“The Employment Equity Act and other progressive laws have paved the way for more equitable representation of women in the economy – and by this one must add all women, whether they are Black or White.
“The proportion of women in the workforce has been increasing. The empowerment of women contributes to sustainable development, inclusive growth, and the cultivation of resilient communities.
“About 40 percent of preferential procurement in the public sector is awarded to women-owned businesses. Women-owned SMMEs are also supported through the National Empowerment Fund, the Small Enterprise Finance Agency, and National Infrastructure Fund,” the President highlighted.
March for women’s rights continues
In her opening remarks, Minister in the Presidency responsible for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Sindisiwe Chikunga encouraged women to continue to march for their rights like the 1956 women who marched to the Union Buildings, with a focus on tackling gender-based violence and Femicide (GBVF).
“The march must continue till we are free. We still live in a society, where there are women trapped in abusive relationships,” Chikunga said.
Limpopo Premier Phophi Ramathuba, called on women to establish themselves and carry each other’s problems.
Women are resilient and capable. We must be given opportunities to empower ourselves,” she said.
She also urged women who are trapped in abusive relationships to seek help.
For many women in Limpopo, the day symbolised liberation from many social ills.
Mandy Shikwambana, from Giyani, told SAnews that government must ensure protection of women and ensure that they live freely without been abused by their partners.
“Women are the cornerstone of every nation and yet they are oppressed by their partners. Government must ensure that women are protected,” Shikwambana said.
Another resident, Precious Ralikgo called on government to continue to educate women about their rights.
“There are many women who are being abused by their partners, but they do not know where to go for help. Those men who abuse women must go to jail — that is the only way to end violence against women and children,” Ralikgo said.
Every year on 9 August, South Africans from diverse backgrounds, races, and cultural groups come together to celebrate National Women’s Day.
On 9 August 1956, a significant number of women launched a campaign aimed at ending the pass laws imposed by the government at that time.
This year’s commemoration is held under the theme: ’Building Resilient Economies for All’. – SAnews.gov.za
The text of the following statement was released by the Governments of the United States of America, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Republic of Rwanda, the State of Qatar, the African Union Commission, and the Togolese Republic (as the Representative of the AU Mediator) on the occasion of the first Joint Security Coordination Mechanism meeting held this week at the African Union Commission headquarters in Addis Ababa.
Begin Text:
On August 7-8, 2025, representatives from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the Republic of Rwanda (Rwanda), along with observers from the United States, the State of Qatar, the Representative of the AU mediator, and the African Union Commission held the first meeting of the Joint Security Coordination Mechanism for the Peace Agreement between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Republic of Rwanda that was signed in Washington, D.C. on June 27, 2025.
The Joint Security Coordination Mechanism is responsible for the implementation of the Concept of Operations for the Harmonized Plan for the Neutralization of the FDLR and Disengagement of Forces/Lifting of Defensive Measures by Rwanda (annex of the Peace Agreement signed June 27, 2025). The Mechanism is also tasked with facilitating intelligence and information sharing between the parties for the purpose of implementing the Peace Agreement. During the first meeting, the Permanent Members—DRC and Rwanda—adopted terms of reference to govern future meetings of the Mechanism and began discussions on implementing the Peace Agreement.
The Representative of the AU Mediator, the African Union Commission, the State of Qatar, and the United States participated in these discussions to ensure the effective, efficient, and impartial implementation of the Agreement, as well as the continuation of good-faith initiatives to achieve lasting stability in the region. Both the DRC and Rwanda expressed their appreciation for the invaluable contributions and joint efforts of the African Union, United States, and Qatar as partners in advancing a peaceful resolution.
The United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa (UNREC) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission jointly issue this communiqué following the official visit of Mr. Adedeji Ebo, Director and Deputy to the High Representative for Disarmament Affairs of the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA), to the ECOWAS Headquarters in Abuja, Nigeria. UNREC is UNODA’s Regional Centre for Africa.
The visit served as a renewed demonstration of the United Nations’ steadfast support to regional mechanisms for peace, security, development and arms control in West Africa. It marked a significant milestone in the broadening and deepening collaboration between UNODA—through UNREC—and ECOWAS on disarmament, arms control and regional peace and security priorities towards a culture of peace.
During the visit, Mr. Ebo held strategic consultations with the ECOWAS President H.E Dr Omar Alieu Touray, ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, H.E. Ambassador Dr Abdel-Fatau Musah, as well as with senior leadership of the ECOWAS Department of Political Affairs Peace and Security. Discussions focused on reviewing the 2009 ECOWAS-UNODA Memorandum of Understanding in order to align it with current peace and security challenges in the sub-region. Topics included advancing the implementation of the ECOWAS Convention on Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) and tackling persistent and emerging threats in the region, including illicit arms flows, improvised explosive devices (IEDs), cybersecurity, artificial intelligence (AI), drones, and autonomous weapons systems.
The visit was also marked by the holding of a joint UNREC – ECOWAS Regional strategic workshop on gender mainstreaming in Small Arms control in West Africa in efforts to raise awareness and enhance the capacity of West African countries to effectively address gender-specific issues in SALW control and incorporate youth participation into programs.
UNREC and ECOWAS agreed to explore options for a strategic reconfiguration of the ECOWAS Small Arms Division to broaden its scope beyond SALW. The entities also reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening regional frameworks and initiatives—including the ECOWAS Convention on SALW, the Nairobi Protocol, and the African Union’s Silencing the Guns initiative—through enhanced coordination and technical support. UNREC and ECOWAS will also collaborate to provide tailored assistance to national stakeholders, leveraging and contextualizing existing tools for addressing small arms and ammunition, disarmament education platforms, and facilitating access to capacity-building programs.
Mr. Ebo commended ECOWAS Commission for its leadership in promoting peace and disarmament across the region and reiterated UNODA’s commitment to supporting ECOWAS Member States in building technical capacity, reinforcing legal frameworks, and advancing inclusive, evidence-based policy responses.
Considering recent peace and security developments in the region, both Mr Ebo and H.E. Ambassador Dr Abdel-Fatau Musah reiterated commitment to the effective implementation of the ECOWAS Convention on SALW, particularly its provisions related to cross-border arms control cooperation, harmonized legislative standards, and regional monitoring mechanisms. Dr. Musah cited the expanding terrorism in the region, as well as intercommunal violence and banditry as phenomena that highlight the imperative of heightened arms control as a priority. UNODA and ECOWAS reaffirmed the continued relevance of the Convention and agreed to explore pragmatic pathways for inclusive dialogue and cooperation with all West African stakeholders to uphold collective security and reduce the risk of arms proliferation in West Africa.
Furthermore, UNODA expressed its readiness to support the ECOWAS Commission, through UNREC, in initiating a review and update of the ECOWAS Convention on SALW to reflect new developments in the security landscape. This includes incorporating provisions on growing threats such as the trafficking of ammunition and the implementation of the Global Framework on Through-Life Ammunition Management (GFA), weaponization of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), cyber-enabled arms flows, and the challenges posed by emerging technologies, science, and innovation in weapon systems. The parties acknowledged the need to ensure the Convention remains responsive, comprehensive and effective in addressing the evolving nature of arms control, non-proliferation and disarmament in West Africa.
Both entities agreed to strengthen joint operations and advocacy, while exploring innovative strategies to integrate disarmament into broader peacebuilding and sustainable development agendas in West Africa.
– on behalf of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Gawie Botma, Associate Professor of Journalism, Stellenbosch University
In a recently published book, Reconsidering the History of South African Journalism: The Ghost of the Slave Press (2025 Routledge), author and journalism professor Gawie Botma explores the gap in the country’s understanding about the complicity of South African journalism in slavery. He spoke to The Conversation about what he found.
The South African media have remained silent about their historical role in Cape slavery. Slavery in the country lasted for more than 170 years between 1652 and 1838. Precise numbers are difficult to calculate. But according to the historian Robert Shell, approximately 63,000 enslaved people were imported to the Cape from four main areas: the rest of Africa (26.4%), India (25.9%), Indonesia (22.7%) and Madagascar (25.1%). In 1838 around 37,000 were emancipated.
The first newspaper in the Cape colony – including parts of what are now the Western and Eastern Cape provinces – appeared in Cape Town four decades before slavery was abolished in 1838. No other publishing activities existed in what is now South Africa. The Cape, then a colony of the British Empire, was the only formal European settlement and only a few printing presses operated at scattered mission stations in the interior of southern Africa.
What I found during my research was the sobering fact that several of the owners, editors, publishers and printers of around 16 early newspapers and magazines between 1800 and 1838 were slave owners themselves. In addition, the publications they were involved with regularly published advertisements and notices to enable the slave trade as well as to recapture enslaved people who absconded.
An advertisement appeared in The South African Commercial Advertiser on 4 February 1824, and was repeated in Dutch in the same edition. Credit: South African Library, Cape Town.
These facts are omitted or under-emphasised in academic and popular accounts of how South African journalism was founded. Instead, the focus is often on the establishment of press freedom through the heroic efforts of a few white (British) men.
Who were the early players in the newspaper space?
British slave traders Alexander Walker and John Robertson founded the first newspaper, The Cape Town Gazette and African Advertiser / Kaapsche Stads Courant en Afrikaansche Berigter (CTG/KSC), in 1800. Acccording to historian A.C.G. Lloyd in his book The Birth of Printing in South Africa, Walker and Robertson were
men of many interests, who in addition to being wholesale merchants on a large scale, were slave-dealers dealing in as many as six hundred slaves in a single consignment.
The public received their first copies on Saturday 16 August 1800. Separate, identical editions in English and Dutch were produced. Even the advertisements were translated. The format, which became a template for future newspapers, was a mixture of official government news, commercial advertising and public announcements, with snippets of international and local news. Enslaved persons worked as assistants of the press.
Twenty-four years later the second paper, The South African Commercial Advertiser, was founded under the editorship of immigrants George Greig, Thomas Pringle and John Fairbairn. Pringle and Fairbairn displayed entrepreneurship as well as idealism about the role of the press. As part of this they rather gradually positioned themselves against slavery.
Opposition to “liberal” ideas inspired the founding of De Zuid-Afrikaan in 1830. The newspaper reported in detail about slavery from the perspective of slave owners. Several prominent individuals involved with this newspaper were the owners of multiple enslaved people. These included the editor (after emancipation) Christoffel J. Brand. After he retired from the editorship in 1845, he became the first speaker of the Cape parliament in 1854 and was later awarded a British knighthood.
The printed press’s relationship with slavery
South African media historiography often cites The South African Commercial Advertiser as the first journalistic enterprise in the country. It also positions the paper as being a “liberal champion” of its time.
But on close inspection this newspaper’s positioning towards slavery is much more complex.
My research shows that the paper actively contributed to the slave trade by allowing the publication of slave advertisements from the start. It continued to do so until slavery was abolished in 1838. The founding owner and editor/printer Greig owned at least one enslaved person.
In the telling of the history of the time, comparisons are made between the first two endeavours. On the one hand CTG/KSC is more generally described as being an outlier as “a slave press” founded by a few “bad apples”. The South African Commercial Advertiser is positioned as being a liberal champion of the “free press” and founder of South African journalism.
What manner of free press would have emerged from the grubby commercialism of Walker and Robertson instead of the fiery idealism of Pringle and Fairbairn remains an intriguing question.
But should the “grubby commercialism” of CTG/KSC be regarded as an outlier in the history of the early colonial press? Or did it set a trend which was followed by contemporaries and influenced the development of South African newspapers for decades and perhaps even centuries to come?
The old dictum that the press promotes the views of those who own and support it was as true during slavery and apartheid as it is now.
Past evaluations of De Zuid-Afrikaan as one-sidedly reactionary should probably also be revisited.
For one, slave ownership also existed among other English newspaper pioneers like William Bridekirk, printer and editor of several publications, including The South African Chronicle and Mercantile Advertiser, and Louis Henri Meurant, founder of The Graham’s Town Journal, the first newspaper outside Cape Town.
This too has been largely ignored in established journalism history as the focus for involvement in slavery often remained on the “conservative” Cape Dutch.
The result is that a simple dualistic view of South African newspaper history has been passed down. The two poles are then seen as representative of respectively Afrikaans and English journalism as it developed in the 19th and 20th centuries.
What’s the legacy?
Some elements in the developing press in the Cape colony certainly played a role in the demise of slavery by frequently publishing government announcements, news, editorial and readers’ comments about slavery. They enabled a public debate and the development of a measure of consensus that slavery should be abolished.
Nevertheless, all the papers made compromises as they juggled interests, including political and economic factors. These decisions often worked against liberation. In that case the press was often following and not leading the momentum towards greater civic freedoms.
This was generated elsewhere, such as in the British parliament where the campaign to abolish slavery finally succeeded after decades of struggle.
– South Africa’s earliest newspapers made money from slavery: book offers new evidence – https://theconversation.com/south-africas-earliest-newspapers-made-money-from-slavery-book-offers-new-evidence-262376
Today, President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi met with Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Türkiye, Hakan Fidan. The meeting was attended by Minister of Foreign Affairs, Emigration and Egyptian Expatriates, Dr. Badr Abdel-Atty.
Spokesman for the Presidency, Ambassador Mohamed El-Shennawy, stated that the Turkish Minister conveyed the greetings of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to the President. President El-Sisi appreciated this gesture, and emphasized the importance of continuing to work on strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries.
In this regard, President El-Sisi highlighted the qualitative development in the Egyptian-Turkish relations, particularly after the signing of the Joint Declaration in February 2024 to reactivate the meetings of the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council and elevate them to the level of the two countries’ presidents.
The two sides confirmed the necessity to boost economic cooperation between Egypt and Türkiye. The aim is to reach a trade volume of $15 billion, as agreed upon during President El-Sisi’s visit to Ankara in September 2024. They also stressed the significance of expanding the participation of Turkish companies in investment projects within Egypt.
The meeting also tackled the developments in a number of regional issues, primarily the situation in the Gaza Strip. Both sides affirmed their rejection of a military re-occupation of the Strip. They reiterated the urgent need for an immediate ceasefire, the entry of humanitarian aid, and the release of hostages and captives. The two sides reaffirmed their rejection of the displacement of Palestinians.
The two sides also reviewed developments in Libya, Syria, and Sudan. President El-Sisi outlined Egypt’s vision for achieving peace and stability in these brotherly countries, and its efforts in this regard. The importance of respecting the sovereignty of these countries, and preserving their territorial integrity and the resources of their people were underscored.
– on behalf of Presidency of the Arab Republic of Egypt.
Programme Director, Minister of Women, Children and Persons with Disabilities, Ms. Sindiswa Chikunga, Ministers and Deputy Ministers, Premier of Limpopo, Dr. Phophi Ramathuba, Executive Mayor of the Mopani District Municipality, Cllr Pule Shayi, MEC’s Community, religious and traditional leaders present, Representatives of political parties, Residents of Limpopo and of the Mopani District Municipality Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, Fellow South Africans
Dumelang. Avuxeni. Ndi Matsheloni. Lotjhani. Sanibonani. Goeie môre. Molweni. Good morning. Greetings to all the women of South Africa. It is an honour to be here in Limpopo to celebrate Women’s Day with our mothers, our grandmothers, our sisters and our daughters. We, the fathers, grandfathers, uncles and sons of our nation celebrate alongside you today. We honour you, we pay tribute to – the ones who are the very fabric of our nation. Men and women complement each other. We are equal. Under our constitution. Before the law. And so should it be in our homes, in our communities, in our marriages and in our families. When a woman is empowered – everyone gets empowered. When women prosper, we all prosper. When women rise, we all rise. Today we pay tribute to all women of South Africa – Izimbokodo. Our Helpers. Our Anchors. The possessors of unique empathy, kindness and compassion.
On this day we pay homage to the more than 20 000 women who marched to the Union Buildings on the 9th of August 1956 to protest against the extension of the pass laws. Men were already subjected to the humiliation of carrying the dreaded dompas but it took women who were considered as minors at the time to stop the apartheid government in its oppressive tracks.
As we commemorate Women’s Day and Women’s Month, we salute the achievements of women over the years, including their pivotal role in transforming the nation, and in contributing to socio-economic development.
This celebration is also a clarion call to accelerate the role of women in the economy and empower them as well as tackle the complex barriers, such as poverty, inequality and unemployment, that hinder their development.
The theme for this year’s Women’s Month celebration is: “Building Resilient Economies for All”.
The overarching purpose of this commemoration is to promote women’s participation and representation in leadership and the economy.
It is focused on advancing women’s access to decent work, entrepreneurship, financial inclusion and care infrastructure. It reinforces the paradigm that resilient economies are those that are inclusive, equitable and gender responsive.
As government, we have enacted robust policies to increase women’s participation in the workforce and bridge the gender pay gap.
These developments indicate South Africa’s resolute drive towards establishing gender parity. We have consistently grown the number of women taking on leadership and decision-making roles.
The heroic women of 1956 and many others paved the way for equal rights, including gender equality and empowerment.
Their courageous actions culminated in the creation of a non-sexist, non-racial state cemented through our constitution, and policies and legislation that advance women’s social and economic development.
There is greater inclusion of women in every sector of the economy, including leadership positions. Over a quarter of top managers in the private sector are women. Today, South Africa ranks second out of the G20 countries in terms of female representation. Forty-two per cent of our MP’s are women, this is higher than a number of developed countries.
This is progress. But it is not enough. We cannot rest until we have achieved gender equality throughout society.
Today the women of our country continue to reap the benefits of the changes that were ushered in through the brave actions of the women of 1956.
Over the years government has accelerated women’s access to basic services, including social welfare provisions and economic opportunities, lifting millions out of absolute poverty.
The Employment Equity Act and other progressive laws have paved the way for more equitable representation of women in the economy – and by this one must add all women, whether they are black or white.
The proportion of women in the workforce has been increasing.
The empowerment of women contributes to sustainable development, inclusive growth and the cultivation of resilient communities.
About 40 percent of preferential procurement in the public sector is awarded to women-owned businesses.
Women-owned SMMEs are also supported through the National Empowerment Fund, the Small Enterprise Finance Agency and National Infrastructure Fund.
Government continues to work towards enhancing gender equality and women empowerment.
As government, we are committed to expanding economic opportunities for women through skills training, entrepreneurial support, access to funding and multi-sectoral partnerships to place women in key sectors of the economy.
We also continue our work to increase the participation of women in sectors such as science, technology, engineering and maths, as well as the green economy and industrial sectors.
Government also seek to increase women’s role in digital finance which includes digital banking, payments, access to finance and investments.
Women-led enterprises are being supported through policies, mentorships and funding. Through capacity building initiatives, we aim to increase the participation of women in politics, business and civil society.
In Greater Tzaneen, women make up a significant portion of the population and continue to play critical roles in education, health, agriculture and the informal economy.
And yet, much like in most parts of the country, women battle unacceptable levels of gender-based violence, high unemployment rates, teenage pregnancy, limited access to economic opportunities, and patriarchal social structures that are barriers to their full empowerment.
Women struggle with access to basic services, especially water.
Many of you rely on boreholes but they are often non-functional due to theft, lack of maintenance and infrastructure failure.
We cannot and we will not leave anyone behind – including the people of Tzaneen and Limpopo at large. There are therefore serious questions that need to be answered when it comes to service delivery in this area, and around the need for accountability.
I want to call on the leadership of the province to honour the women of 1956 by ensuring their descendants, the women of today, are able to lead lives of dignity through the provision of basic services.
Even as we have come a long way with respect to gender equality – we are still on this arduous journey – we dare not give up, or the next generation will be left with no inheritance.
The greatest challenge we face in this country is the pandemic of violence against women and children.
We condemn the many high cases of gender-based violence and femicide recorded in our nation.
Real men do not abuse women. Real men do not rape women. Real men do not kill women.
Let us strive to be a society where we teach young boys that women are to be protected, and respected, and not abused. A society where men and boys understand the meaning of consent in sexual relationships. A society where men do not use their money and influence to engage in predatory behaviour towards women. A society that does not condone the ill-treatment of women and children under the guise of culture or tradition.
Let us strive to be a society where someone’s sexual orientation is their business, and where we are clear that nobody, not a man, not a boy, not another woman, has the right to discriminate against or use violence against another because of how they choose to identify.
Ending the scourge of gender-based violence and femicide requires the efforts of government, business, labour, civil society and every member of society.
We must break the silence. This criminality thrives in a culture of silence.
We have introduced new legislation to enhance protection of women and children and strengthen the punishment of perpetrators.
Government has also increased the number of sexual offences courts and a number of police stations across the country are now better equipped to manage gender-based violence cases. These include the facilities at the Bolobedu police station, and the upgraded family law facilities at the Ga-Kgapane Magistrates Court.
To all the perpetrators of violence against women and children I’d like to say: you can run but you cannot hide.
We have zero tolerance for the abuse of women and children. It will never be acceptable, not now, not ever.
Fellow South Africans,
As a people and as a country we have emerged from situations that destroyed other nations.
Our unity is our strength. We may differ politically, religiously and socially but the glue that connects us all is our respect for human rights. And women’s rights are human rights. They cannot be separated.
On this important day, let us collectively recommit ourselves to playing our part in building a future where the equality of men and women is not something on paper, but a reality.
I wish all the women of South Africa a happy Women’s Day.
