MIL-OSI Publisher – Page 172 – MIL Africa Engine

May 18, 2026

Offtake Agreements Reshape Africa’s Next Phase of Mining Investment

Source: APO

Multinational commodities company Trafigura signed an offtake agreement in April 2026 with Ghana’s Heath Goldfields for the Bogoso-Prestea Gold Mine, committing to purchase around 700,000 ounces of gold. The deal provides immediate commercial certainty for the project while improving its financing profile by guaranteeing a long-term buyer, addressing one of the sector’s most persistent constraints: access to capital.

The move reflects a broader trend across Africa’s mineral sector whereby projects are turning to offtake agreements to secure capital and advance production. As Africa accelerates the development of its estimated $8.5 trillion in untapped mineral wealth, offtake agreements are emerging as an effective tool to unlock financing and de-risk projects.

This dual function – market assurance and capital enablement – is increasingly central to Africa’s mining financing landscape. By reducing demand risk, offtake agreements help unlock debt and equity financing that would otherwise be difficult to secure in early-stage or restart projects.

Similar structures are being replicated across the continent. In Sierra Leone, an offtake-backed arrangement involving Trafigura and FG Gold Limited helped unlock financing for the Baomahun Gold Project, marking a critical step in de-risking one of the country’s flagship mining developments and enabling financial close for large-scale gold production.

In the battery minerals space, NextSource Materials extended its offtake agreement in March 2026 with Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation to supply graphite from the Molo project in Madagascar. The arrangement provides predictable long-term demand for 9,000 tons per annum of graphite, while simultaneously supporting project financing and expansion plans tied to global battery supply chains.

Similarly, Bannerman Energy has secured offtake agreements with North American utilities for uranium from its Etango project, providing multi-year revenue visibility from 2029 to 2033 and strengthening the project’s long-term investment case.

These transactions reflect a broader structural shift in African mining finance: offtake agreements are no longer just sales contracts, but core instruments of project development, risk allocation and capital mobilization. For other markets seeking finance and long-term buyers, these examples demonstrate the viability of offtake contracts – not only for project commissioning phases but as tools for early-stage development.

Notably, in South Africa, where the government is targeting R2 trillion in investment to unlock its critical minerals potential, offtake structures could play a central role in de-risking projects. Similarly, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which holds an estimated $24 trillion in untapped mineral wealth, offtake agreements could accelerate the monetization of its vast copper, cobalt and strategic mineral reserves.

Against this backdrop, the upcoming African Mining Week (AMW) Conference and Exhibition – taking place from October 14–16 in Cape Town – will showcase how offtake-driven financing models can be scaled to accelerate project delivery and strengthen Africa’s position in global minerals supply chain. Uniting stakeholders from across the entire African mineral value chain, the event offers a platform to examine strategic financing, mechanisms to accelerate production and positioning the continent at the forefront of global mining investment.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital & Power.

May 18, 2026

Qatar Condemns Attempt to Target Saudi Arabia with Drones

Source: Government of Qatar

Doha | May 18, 2026

The State of Qatar strongly condemns the attempt to target the sisterly Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with drones, considering it as an unacceptable act of aggression, a violation of the Kingdom’s sovereignty, and a threat to its security and stability, as well as the security of the region.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reaffirms the State of Qatar’s full solidarity with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and its support for all measures taken to safeguard its security, sovereignty, and the safety of its citizens and residents.

May 18, 2026

Ebola survivors struggle to return to normal lives: what I found out in Sierra Leone and Liberia

Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Kevin J.A. Thomas, Distinguished Professor of Sociology, Rice University

During the Ebola epidemic of 2014 to 2016, Musu, a resident of Monrovia, Liberia contracted the Ebola virus along with her husband, five sons and daughter.

A few weeks later, six members of her family died. Musu and her youngest son survived. Since then, their lives have not been the same. Her husband was the family’s sole breadwinner. Now a widow and a single parent, Musu struggles to make ends meet. As she put it, “There is no one here to help besides God. No boyfriend. No father. I am the father, the mother, the uncle, and the brother. At the place we are renting, we can’t even find food to eat.”

Musu is one of the many survivors who recovered from the world’s largest Ebola epidemic. The epidemic started as a localised disease outbreak in the village of Meliandou in Guinea but spread to neighbouring Liberia and Sierra Leone.

Over the course of three years, the disease infected 28,600 people. Approximately 11,000 of them died while 17,000 survived.

On 9 June 2016, the World Health Organization announced the official end of the Ebola epidemic in Liberia.

Compared to the widespread media coverage of the epidemic when it started, news reports on its aftermath have been limited. As a result, very few people know that Ebola survivors have struggled to continue with their lives since the end of the epidemic.

These survivors include widows like Musu, orphans who are now homeless, and thousands of people who are now blind or have permanent vision problems.

I am a social demographer who studies health and population trends. My recent book Life After Epidemics: Ebola Survivors and the Social Dimensions of Recovery documents many of these experiences. Based on interviews with 250 Ebola survivors in Liberia and Sierra Leone, I set about trying to understand why many survivors live in worse conditions than before the epidemic, and what’s preventing them from returning to their normal lives.

Understanding these issues is a first step towards developing solutions to the problems currently faced by Ebola survivors. Learning about their experiences can prevent these problems from occurring among survivors of future epidemics.

Medical versus social responses to epidemics

The process of determining what went wrong begins by understanding the contrast between two types of responses to epidemics.

The first is the medical response, which emphasises the use of clinical medicine to save lives and care for infected patients.

The second is the social response, which addresses issues such as the provision of sustainable livelihoods, supporting orphans, and integrating survivors into their communities.

Policy makers placed a greater priority on short-term medical responses to the consequences of the Ebola epidemic than on long-term social responses.

The main objective of my research is to examine how Ebola survivors have been affected by that emphasis. I used information from interviews and other sources to assess how their health, sources of livelihood, and family lives have changed since the end of the epidemic.

The research provides evidence on the ways in which the limited investment in social responses continues to negatively affect the lives of survivors.

For example, there are no programmes that provide them with comprehensive access to healthcare, even though many of them are either blind, suffer from musculoskeletal conditions, have neurological conditions, or live with other long-term side effects of the virus.

It also describes the experiences of farmers in poor health, who can no longer till their land, and hunters who can no longer see. They are among the many survivors who were previously self-employed but have lost their sources of livelihood.

With the limited investment in social responses, the stigma of Ebola continues to thrive in local communities. As a result, the social interactions of Ebola survivors are often plagued by the fears of people who believe they are still infected. These fears caused business owners to lose clients and contributed to the end of marriages.

Many survivors no longer receive invitations to attend social events such as weddings and child naming ceremonies. In some cases, their children have also lost playmates after neighbours banned their children from playing with the children of Ebola survivors.

Humanitarian organisations played a major role in containing the spread of the disease during the epidemic. Some of their policies had unintended consequences, however, that have added to the problems of patients who survived. For example, the practice of burning the belongings of infected patients to prevent further transmission of the virus has increased economic hardship among many survivors.

The burning process led to financial losses among survivors who kept their savings under their mattresses, lost farming tools, and had to pay for equipment borrowed from neighbours that was also destroyed.

Some of the messages employed in public health campaigns used to contain the spread of the virus during the epidemic have also had unintended consequences. These campaigns warned the public to avoid touching infected people as a way of stopping transmission of the disease, because there was no cure for Ebola. Since the end of the epidemic, many people in local communities have continued to avoid touching survivors. They question how survivors can claim to be Ebola-free when the public was told that the disease had no cure.

Why Ebola survivors feel abandoned

Hearing the stories of the survivors made it clear that many of them felt abandoned. The visits from community leaders have stopped. The specialised care they received from hospitals has been discontinued. Many of the promises of political leaders who claimed they would provide resources to support their recovery remain unfulfilled. Some of the resources provided by donors were lost to fraud.

Meanwhile, Ebola survivors continue to be affected by the irreversible losses they experienced a decade ago. These experiences and the lack of attention to their social circumstances still define their lives.

Policy makers will need to give equal attention to medical and social issues when responding to future epidemics. This will require sustained investments to improve the lives of survivors long after we celebrate the end of epidemics.

– Ebola survivors struggle to return to normal lives: what I found out in Sierra Leone and Liberia
– https://theconversation.com/ebola-survivors-struggle-to-return-to-normal-lives-what-i-found-out-in-sierra-leone-and-liberia-281678

May 18, 2026

6th Canada–Africa Business Conference to take place in Lagos, Nigeria (June 24-25 2026) headline sponsored by Zenith Bank Plc

Source: APO – Report:

The Canada–Africa Chamber of Business (https://CanadaAfrica.ca/) is pleased to announce the 6th Canada–Africa Business Conference, taking place June 24–25 2026 in Lagos, Nigeria, with Zenith Bank Plc confirmed as Headline Sponsor, alongside the support of Canadian private sector companies, such as GardaWorld Security, that are expanding across African markets.

This flagship conference will convene senior decision-makers from across Canada and Nigeria to unlock new opportunities in trade, investment, and large-scale project delivery across the continent.

The 6th edition in Lagos comes at a pivotal moment for Canada–Africa relations, as both regions deepen economic cooperation.

With Nigeria representing one of Africa’s largest and most dynamic economies, Lagos provides a strategic gateway for Canadian firms seeking market entry and expansion, and for African partners seeking capital, shared expertise and global market access.

Read More and Request to Attend the 6^th Canada-Africa Business Conference (https://apo-opa.co/4dh8ZZI)

“Building on over three decades of convening excellence, the Chamber continues to serve as a privately funded, business-to-business platform advancing commercial partnerships aligned with Canada’s trade diversification strategy and Africa’s economic growth trajectory,” – Garreth Bloor, President of The Canada-Africa Chamber of Business.

“As a leading financial institution in Africa, Zenith Bank is proud to serve as Headline Sponsor of the 6th Canada–Africa Business Conference in Lagos. The Conference reflects the growing importance of financial linkages between Africa and Canada, including the vital role of the Nigerian diaspora in driving trade and investment. Nigeria is a gateway for capital deployment across the continent, and we look forward to working with partners to accelerate trade and investment.” – Dame Dr. Adaora Umeoji, OON – Group Managing Director/CEO, Zenith Bank Plc

“Canada brings a unique combination of capital, credibility, and world-class expertise in sectors that matter most to Africa’s growth—from mining and infrastructure to financial services and clean technologies. For Nigeria, this Conference is about unlocking that partnership in a practical way.” – High Commission of Canada in Nigeria.

A Proven Model for Impact

The Canada–Africa Chamber of Business has delivered high-level conferences across the continent, bringing together hundreds of delegates and facilitating meaningful commercial outcomes.

As per the official program page, the upcoming program in Lagos will follow the Chamber’s established format:

Day 1: Full-day conference program
Day 2: Executive-level engagements with members and sponsors

Registration & Participation

Organizations interested in attending or sponsoring are encouraged to engage early due to strong demand and limited capacity. Visit our official conference page for more (https://apo-opa.co/4dh8ZZI).

– on behalf of The Canada-Africa Chamber of Business.

Media & Sponsorship Inquiries:
The Canada–Africa Chamber of Business
Email: haba-maria@canadaafrica.ca

About the Canada–Africa Chamber of Business:
Established in 1994, the Canada–Africa Chamber of Business is Canada’s leading organization dedicated to promoting trade and investment between Canada and African markets. The Chamber operates as a fully private organization, to advance commercial partnerships and economic cooperation, though world-class networking and information-sharing events

Website: www.CanadaAfrica.ca

May 17, 2026

Statement by President Cyril Ramaphosa on the Ebola outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda and the growing risk of regional spread

Source: President of South Africa –

In my capacity as African Union Champion on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response, I commend the Governments of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda for their swift leadership and transparency in declaring the Ebola Virus Disease outbreaks of the Bundibugyo strain in Ituri Province in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and in Kampala, Uganda, following laboratory confirmation. Early detection, rapid reporting and decisive action remain critical to containing outbreaks before they escalate into a wider regional crisis.

We stand in solidarity with the Governments and peoples of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, particularly affected communities and frontline health workers. I also commend neighbouring countries that have moved rapidly to strengthen preparedness, cross-border surveillance and emergency coordination.

I further commend the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, under the leadership of the Director General, Dr Jean Kaseya, working together with the World Health Organisation, for its rapid support to affected countries, regional coordination efforts and mobilisation of partners around a unified continental response, building on the successful continental incident management model deployed during the mpox response. I also welcome the efforts of national authorities, Africa CDC, the World Health Organisation and partners to strengthen surveillance, laboratory systems, contact tracing, infection prevention and control, risk communication, case management and access to appropriate medical countermeasures.

I call on the Governments of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda to sustain strong political leadership and continue working closely with frontline responders and communities in an environment of trust and transparency to stop these outbreaks at their source and prevent further spread.

Ebola does not respect borders. In a region marked by high population mobility, insecurity and humanitarian movement, the risk of regional spread is significant and demands urgent, coordinated action. I therefore urge affected and at-risk countries to intensify cross-border collaboration, strengthen surveillance at formal and informal points of entry, and ensure rapid information sharing, particularly in areas affected by insecurity and population displacement. As the chair of the Global Leaders Network for Women’s, Children’s and Adolescents’ Health, I make a special plea to ensure that women, children and adolescents’ are not left behind and that routine services do not backslide as we handle this crisis.

These outbreaks are also a reminder that, despite the decline in Official Development Assistance, Africa must continue investing — including through increased domestic financing — in resilient public health systems and regional health security architecture. Preparedness requires sustained investment in national public health institutes, emergency operations centres, laboratory and genomic surveillance networks, trained health workforce and rapid response capabilities.

I therefore call on African Union Member States and international partners to strengthen support for pandemic prevention, preparedness and response through timely financing, technical assistance, medical countermeasures and direct support to affected communities. Solidarity must translate into concrete action.

As African Union Champion on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response, I will continue working with the African Union Commission, Heads of State and Government, Africa CDC and partners to ensure that Africa’s response remains coordinated, adequately financed and anchored in the principles of solidarity, health security and sovereignty.

The peoples of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda and the wider region must not face this threat alone. Africa has the experience, institutions and resolve to contain these outbreaks. What is required now is urgency, unity and collective action.

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

May 17, 2026

Qatar Strongly Condemns Drone Attack on UAE Targeting Barakah Nuclear Power Plant

Source: Government of Qatar

Doha | May 17, 2026

The State of Qatar strongly condemns the drone attack on the sisterly United Arab Emirates, including one drone that targeted Barakah Nuclear Power Plant in Al Dhafra region, describing it as a blatant violation of international law and a serious threat to regional security and

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs affirms the attacks marked a dangerous escalation through the targeting of vital facilities and civilian infrastructure.

The Ministry stresses the need to spare the region the consequences of such unjustified attacks and to intensify efforts aimed at de-escalation in order to restore regional and international security and stability.

It also reiterates Qatar’s full solidarity with the United Arab Emirates and its support for all measures taken by the UAE to safeguard its sovereignty, security, and the safety of its facilities.

May 17, 2026

Radio News Release (Soundbite): Special Briefing on Ebola Virus Disease Outbreak Status | May 16, 2026

Source: APO

Listen to the soundbite

Download the soundbite

Stay informed on the latest developments regarding the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak. Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (https://AfricaCDC.org/) led a coordinated regional response in close collaboration with health authorities in affected member states. The special briefing led by Dr. Jean Kaseya, Director General, Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, outlined urgent measures taken with global health partners to strengthen cross-border surveillance, reinforce laboratory support, and contain the spread.

Click here for more Audios: https://apo-opa.co/4dPubGc

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).

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May 17, 2026

Réponse à Ebola : République Démocratique du Congo (RDC) et Ouganda – Déclaration du Directeur Général

Source: Africa Press Organisation – French

Le 15 mai 2026, Africa CDC (https://AfricaCDC.org/) a alerté le continent africain et la communauté internationale sur le risque croissant de propagation régionale de l’épidémie de Maladie à Virus Ebola (MVE) provenant de la province de l’Ituri en République Démocratique du Congo (RDC). La zone affectée se caractérise par une forte mobilité des populations, un contexte d’insécurité et d’intenses mouvements transfrontaliers avec les pays voisins, notamment l’Ouganda. Cette alerte a mis en évidence l’urgence d’une action continentale coordonnée afin de prévenir une propagation supplémentaire et de protéger la sécurité sanitaire régionale et continentale.

Le même jour, la RDC et l’Ouganda ont officiellement déclaré des flambées d’Ebola sur leurs territoires respectifs. Conformément au mandat d’Africa CDC, lorsqu’une épidémie touche plus d’un État membre, Africa CDC assume la responsabilité de diriger et de coordonner la riposte aux niveaux régional et continental, en impliquant tous les différents partenaires.

Je félicite les Gouvernements de la RDC et de l’Ouganda pour les efforts continus qu’ils déploient afin de contenir cette épidémie. J’exprime également mon soutien au Soudan du Sud, pays voisin de la province de l’Ituri, pour les mesures de préparation qu’il a engagées. Africa CDC continuera à travailler étroitement avec tous les partenaires afin de garantir qu’un soutien rapide et approprié soit apporté à tous les pays affectés et à risque.

Le 16 mai 2026, à la suite de la confirmation des flambées d’Ebola dans les deux pays, Africa CDC a convoqué une réunion consultative de haut niveau réunissant plus de 130 participants représentant les pays affectés et les pays à risque, y compris le Soudan du Sud, ainsi que des partenaires donateurs, notamment les États-Unis, le Royaume-Uni et l’Union européenne ; des agences des Nations Unies, notamment l’OMS, l’UNICEF, la FAO, le PAM, l’OIM et OCHA ; des fondations philanthropiques ; des agences humanitaires ; des entreprises pharmaceutiques ; ainsi que d’autres parties prenantes clés.

Afin de renforcer la coordination et d’orienter la riposte, la réunion a recommandé l’activation immédiate de l’Équipe continentale de Gestion du Soutien aux Incidents (Incident Management Support Team – IMST), réunissant l’ensemble des partenaires clés pour soutenir et coordonner les efforts de préparation et de riposte dans les domaines de la surveillance, des laboratoires, de la prise en charge des cas, de la prévention et du contrôle des infections, de la communication sur les risques et de l’engagement communautaire, de la logistique, de la collaboration transfrontalière et des opérations de réponse rapide.

À la lumière de l’évolution de la situation, et conformément à l’Article 12 des Statuts d’Africa CDC relatif à la déclaration d’une Urgence de Santé Publique de Sécurité Continentale (Public Health Emergency of Continental Security – PHECS), j’ai consulté le Président de la Commission de l’Union africaine, S.E. Monsieur Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, ainsi que le Directeur général de l’Organisation mondiale de la Santé, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. J’ai également demandé au Président du Groupe Consultatif d’Urgence d’Africa CDC (Emergency Consultative Group – ECG), le Professeur Salim Abdool Karim, de convoquer de manière urgente l’ECG afin de fournir des orientations techniques et des recommandations sur l’évolution du risque et sur l’éventuelle nécessité de déclarer une PHECS.

Je suis également en consultation, pour des orientations politiques supplémentaires et afin de renforcer la solidarité continentale, avec S.E. Evariste Ndayishimiye, Président de la République du Burundi et Président en exercice de l’Union africaine, ainsi qu’avec S.E. Cyril Ramaphosa, Président de la République d’Afrique du Sud et Champion de l’Union africaine pour la Prévention, la Préparation et la Réponse aux Pandémies.

Afin d’assurer une coordination rapprochée de la riposte continentale à cette épidémie qui affecte notre continent, j’ai décidé d’annuler mes engagements à Genève dans le cadre de l’Assemblée mondiale de la Santé et de retourner en Afrique. Je me rendrai prochainement dans les pays affectés afin de soutenir les autorités nationales, mobiliser les partenaires et renforcer l’action collective continentale.

Africa CDC demeure pleinement engagé à travailler avec les États membres et les partenaires pour protéger les vies humaines, contenir l’épidémie et renforcer l’architecture africaine de sécurité sanitaire et de préparation aux urgences.

Distribué par APO Group pour Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).

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May 17, 2026

Ebola Response: Statement from the Director General, Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC)

Source: APO

On 15 May 2026, Africa CDC (https://AfricaCDC.org/) alerted the continent and the global community to the growing risk of regional spread of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak originating from Ituri province in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

The affected area is characterised by high population mobility, insecurity, and intense cross-border connectivity with neighbouring countries, including Uganda. This alert underscored the urgent need for coordinated continental action to prevent further spread and safeguard regional and continental health security.

On the same day, the DRC and Uganda officially declared Ebola outbreaks in their respective countries. In line with the Africa CDC’s mandate, when an outbreak affects more than one Member State, the agency assumes responsibility for leading and coordinating the response at the regional and continental levels, bringing all partners together.

I commend the Governments of the DRC and Uganda for their continued efforts to contain these outbreaks. I also express my support for South Sudan, which is geographically close to Ituri province, in advancing its preparedness measures. Africa CDC will continue to work closely with all partners to ensure that timely and appropriate support is provided to all affected and at-risk countries.

On 16 May 2026, following the confirmation of Ebola outbreaks in the two countries, Africa CDC convened a high-level consultative meeting bringing together more than 130 participants representing affected and at-risk countries as well as donor partners (USA, UK, European Union); Philanthropies, United Nations agencies (WHO, UNICEF, FAO, WFP, IOM, OCHA); humanitarian agencies; pharmaceutical companies; and other key stakeholders.

To strengthen coordination and guide the response, the meeting recommended the immediate activation of the continental Incident Management Support Team (IMST), bringing together all key partners to support and coordinate preparedness and response efforts across surveillance, laboratory systems, case management, infection prevention and control, risk communication and community engagement, logistics, cross-border collaboration, and rapid response operations.

In light of these developments, and in accordance with Article 12 of the Africa CDC Statute regarding the declaration of a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security (PHECS), I have consulted the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, H.E. Mr Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, and the Director-General of the World Health Organization, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

I have also requested the Chair of the Africa CDC Emergency Consultative Group (ECG), Prof Salim Abdool Karim, to urgently convene the ECG in order to provide technical guidance and recommendations on the evolving risk situation and the potential need for a PHECS declaration.

In addition, I am engaging, for further political guidance and continental solidarity, with H.E. Evariste Ndayishimiye, President of the Republic of Burundi and Chairperson of the African Union, as well as H.E. Cyril Ramaphosa, President of the Republic of South Africa and African Union Champion on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response.

To ensure close coordination of the continental response to this outbreak affecting our continent, I have decided to cancel my engagements in Geneva during the World Health Assembly and will return to Africa on Monday. I will be visiting the affected countries in the coming days to support national authorities, engage partners, and reinforce collective continental action.

Africa CDC remains fully committed to working with Member States and partners to protect lives, contain the outbreak, and strengthen Africa’s health security and preparedness architecture.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).

Media Contact:
Wilson Johwa, Senior Communications Officer
Directorate of Communication & Public Information
JohwaW@africacdc.org

Follow Africa CDC on:
LinkedIn: https://apo-opa.co/4wH8jV9
X: https://apo-opa.co/4nyEJNj
Facebook: https://apo-opa.co/42AI3Op
YouTube: https://apo-opa.co/4ve20a7

About Africa CDC:
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) is the public health agency of the African Union. As an autonomous institution, Africa CDC supports AU Member States to strengthen health systems, improve disease surveillance, and enhance emergency preparedness and response. For more information, visit: http://www.AfricaCDC.org

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May 17, 2026

Major routes reopen in W Cape after severe weather

Source: Government of South Africa

Major routes reopen in W Cape after severe weather

Major national routes in the Western Cape, including the N1 and N2, have been reopened and are operating close to normal capacity following recent severe weather, signalling significant progress in recovery efforts across the province.

Western Cape Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning MEC, Anton Bredell, said progress has been made in recovery, with mop-up operations and infrastructure restoration continuing in several affected areas.

“Restoration efforts are ongoing, particularly in areas affected by infrastructure damage, electricity outages, and displacement of communities. Electricity restoration remains a key focus area, with approximately 62% of affected areas now reconnected.

“Eskom teams are actively working to restore supply in the Cape Winelands and Theewaterskloof areas, where high-voltage infrastructure sustained significant damage,” Bredell said.

He added that humanitarian relief efforts are continuing across the province, with thousands of residents receiving relief in the form of food parcels, cooked meals, water, blankets, and hygiene supplies. Emergency shelters also remain operational in several districts, providing support to displaced individuals and families.

“Government acknowledges the challenges still faced by affected communities, particularly regarding access to clean drinking water, electricity and safe shelter. Municipalities and disaster response teams are working closely with partners, including NGOs and community organisations, to address these needs,” the MEC said.

While conditions are expected to remain stable over the weekend, the South African Weather Service has indicated the possibility of another weather system developing early next week, with rainfall expected primarily in the Overberg and Garden Route regions.

Officials said the situation is being closely monitored, with preparedness measures being strengthened in anticipation of further adverse conditions.

Western Cape Premier Alan Winde and Bredell are scheduled to conduct an aerial assessment of the affected areas on Monday. This will be followed by a formal briefing and media engagement to guide decisions on recovery, reconstruction and funding support.

Residents have been urged to remain vigilant, follow official advisories, and make use of available support services.

The Western Cape Provincial Government reiterated its commitment to ensuring that all affected communities receive the necessary assistance as recovery operations continue. – SAnews.gov.za

GabiK
Sun, 05/17/2026 – 13:57