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Rota da Transformação Digital do País em Destaque no ANGOTIC 2026

Source: Africa Press Organisation – Portuguese –

A sexta edição do ANGOTIC (www.ANGOTIC.ao) – Fórum Internacional de Tecnologias de Informação, decorrerá em Luanda no Centro de Convenções de Talatona, nos dias 11, 12 e 13 de Junho de 2026 (quinta, sexta e sábado).

Sob o lema na Rota da Transformação Digital, que é um lema que não escolhido e definido ao acaso, pois, resulta e evidência os resultados alcançados pelo Executivo nos últimos anos, que como se sabe, estão alicerçados no reforço, melhoria e alargamento das infra-estruturas aos nível das TIC, onde se destacam: o ANGOSAT-2 e o Programa Espacial Nacional, o projecto de Rede Nacional de Banda Larga, a ampliação e reforço dos cabos em Fibra Óptica, com destaque para o 2Africa, a operacionalização do programa de modernização do INAMET, a Televisão Digital Terrestre, e mais recentemente, a entrada em funcionamento do Data Center e Cloud do Governo, que além de outros, têm facilitado e ampliado o acesso aos serviços de telecomunicações e tecnologias de informações por parte das populações, bem como incentivar os operadoras na busca permanente de geração de soluções ajustadas as necessidades das empresas e dos próprios indivíduos.

O ANGOTIC, além de outros, apresenta-se como uma plataforma internacional de facilitação e reforço de relações, envolvendo exposição de produções e serviços – baseados na capacidade inovadora dos operadores, comunicações e debates em torno de temas e desafios da actualidade no sector das TIC, e é ainda um espaço privilegiado para a oferta e realização de acções de formação e capacitação, lançamento de novos produtos e serviços, ampliação da relação entre os operadores – através da assinatura de acordos e realização e reuniões, bem como à promoção da cultura nacional.

No ANGOTIC, e considerado necessário por parte da organização e do próprio mercado, os participantes em geral, deverão encontrar além das actividades já partilhadas acima, a ZONA das Startups, bem como a ZONA dos Kandengues – de onde (ambas), se podem apreciar e experimentar um grande movimento diário com diversas dinâmicas de actividades.

A ZONA das stratups, concebida com um conceito integrador e inclusivo (360º), é constituída pelo Centro de apoio ao empreendedor, Centro de investimento, Sala de formação para inteligência artificial para negócios, Pontos de pagamentos digitais, Hackaton – focado em inteligência artificial e tecnologia espacial.

No Centro de Apoio ao Empreendedor, empresas e participantes em geral poderão conhecer e experimentar todos os passos para a concretização de uma empresa, ou seja, da ideia de negócio ao Financiamento, Estudo de viabilidade, Legalização/Constituição de empresas – Guiché Único da Empresa, Criação de .marca/Branding, Certificação INAPEN, Registo de Marcas e Patentes( IAPI).

Ainda na Zona das Startups, no Palco 360.º, todas as startups e empresas presentes no evento têm a oportunidade de obter a certificação do INAPEN no centro de apoio ao empreendedor e com isso habilitarem-se para a obtenção de vantagens como isenção de impostos e participação em concursos públicos. Já no Centro de Investimentos, estarão disponíveis soluções de investimentos para empresas, micronegocios e empreendedores, bem como oportunidades de microcrédito.

O Ponto de pagamentos digitais, facilita o estabelecimento de parcerias com a pay4all para integração de pagamentos por referencia, multicaixa, express e EKwanza numa única plataforma em 24 horas, além de exposição da Incubadora de empresas do INAPEM (TWENDY).

Já a Zona dos Kandengues, um espaço família, direccionado as crianças, adolescentes, jovens, estudantes, professores, parceiros, empresas, visitantes institucionais, entre outros, reservou-se para a presente edição do ANGOTIC as seguintes principais actividades: Kids Tech Academy, em electrónica e programação para crianças; Creator Studio ITEL, podcast, fotografia vectorizada e criação digital; Robotics Arena — robótica, montagem e demonstrações; Future Careers Zone — profissões do futuro com suporte imersivo; Immersive Tech Lab — realidade virtual e aumentada; STEM Simulation Lab — experiências simuladas de ciências e tecnologia; E-Sports Learning Zone — jogos digitais com orientação educativa; Electric Mobility Track — carrinhos eléctricos desenvolvidos por alunos; ITEL Brand Store — produtos institucionais; Student Innovation Gallery — exposição de 12 projectos tecnológicos de estudantes do ITEL.

Em Luanda, o ANGOTIC 2026 prevê movimentar mais de 20 mil participantes/visitantes, destacadas entidades politicas mundiais, líderes globais do mercado das TIC, empresas expositoras nacionais e estrangeiras, startups proveniente de várias provinciais de Angola, cerca de 100 prelectores – nacionais e estrangeiros, órgãos de comunicação social nacionais e estrangeiros – alguns deles deslocando-se propositadamente a capital angolana para este fim, académicos, investigadores, e entusiastas do mundo das TIC.

Conforme programação para a presente edição, estão confirmadas até a data da presente Nota de Imprensa: como patrocinadoras oficiais do ANGOTIC, 11 empresas nacionais e estrangeiras, mais de 300 startups – tendo chegado ao limite do espaço reservado para elas, cerca de 200 empresas expositoras e não expositoras, perto de 5 mil ingressos já foram adquiridos. Relativamente aos ingressos, vale destacar, que tal como ocorreu na edição de 2025, estão disponíveis para comercialização, também, através do www.ANGOTIC.ao, a tipologia de ingresso “família” possibilitando que até 3 três crianças acompanhadas do seu encarregado, com um único ingresso, possam ter acesso ao mundo ANGOTIC.

Distribuído pelo Grupo APO para ANGOTIC.

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Junior Achievement (JA) Africa Delivers 1.6 Million Learning Experiences in a Single Year, Marking Twelve-Fold Growth in Five Years

Source: APO

JA (Junior Achievement) Africa (www.JA-Africa.org), one of the continent’s largest youth-serving organizations, released its Annual Impact Report for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2025, documenting a landmark year of growth, innovation, and deepening impact across 23 African countries. The report reveals that JA Africa delivered 1,637,137 learning experiences in FY2025, more than 12 times the 131,260 experiences delivered in FY2021, making it the fastest-growing region within the global JA Worldwide network. Over the same five-year period, JA Africa has delivered a cumulative 4,269,881 learning experiences in entrepreneurship, financial capability, work readiness, STEM, and sustainability across the continent.

Download Report: https://apo-opa.co/4vuyiNU

The FY2025 report closes JA Africa’s “Boundless” strategic cycle, a five-year framework developed in partnership with Accenture built on four pillars: Accelerate Digital, Empower the Underserved, Cultivate Partnerships, and Strengthen OneJA. Over that period, the organization grew from delivering 200,000 learning experiences per year in 12 countries to more than 1.5 million in 23 countries, a transformation driven by stronger systems, governance, digital infrastructure, and a shared commitment to execution excellence.

“Scale was never the goal in itself, impact was,” said Simi Nwogugu, President and CEO of JA Africa. “What stands out most is not only how much we have grown, but how intentionally we have grown.”

Among the report’s standout achievements is the Social Equity Program (SEP), supported by the Z Zurich Foundation, which exceeded every target in FY2025, delivering learning experiences to 53,970 young people who were not in education, employment, or training across seven countries, 115% of its set target, and running 476 bootcamps, double the projected number. The program’s impact extended well beyond the classroom: 554 youth launched social enterprises addressing water scarcity, malnutrition, waste, and climate; 1,006 graduates secured employment within six months of completing the program; 521 jobs were created through SEP-supported enterprises; and 3,618 social impact projects were designed by participants. In Burkina Faso, JA Africa formalized a three-year partnership with the Ministry of Youth and Entrepreneurship Promotion, signaling growing government ownership of youth empowerment at the national level.

JA Africa’s Digital Entrepreneurship Education Program (JA DEEP), launched with support from the Citi Foundation and upgraded with backing from the Z Zurich Foundation, recorded its highest-ever adoption this year with 66,546 participants completing core modules. More than 50% of participants were women, and more than 2,000 went on to pitch business ideas or transition into internships and apprenticeships. In Tanzania, JA DEEP alumnus Mohammed Salim Suleiman used the program’s entrepreneurship training to launch Akili Hub LMS, a digital learning platform for secondary school students, and was subsequently selected for the Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship 2025.

The scale of delivery documented in this report would not have been possible without the commitment of JA Africa’s institutional partners. We extend our deepest gratitude to the Z Zurich Foundation, ExxonMobil Foundation, Prudence Foundation, the Project Management Institute Educational Foundation, Delta Air Lines, Boeing, FedEx, Johnson & Johnson, and the Citi Foundation, whose sustained belief in Africa’s youth makes this work possible. Special recognition goes to the Citi Foundation as we mark 30 years of partnership together, a legacy of investment that has shaped thousands of entrepreneurial journeys across the continent.

To every partner, donor, volunteer, teacher, and government institution who has stood with us: thank you. You are not just funding programs. You are investing in the architects of Africa’s future.

We invite you to read the full FY2025 Annual Impact Report and join us as we set our sights on even greater impact in the years ahead.

To access the full FY2025 Annual Impact Report, visit: https://apo-opa.co/4ue94Cn

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Junior Achievement (JA) Africa.

Media Contact:
Ellen Ukpi
Director, Marketing and Communications,
JA Africa
info@ja-africa.org  

About JA Africa:
JA Africa is one of Africa’s largest and most impactful youth-serving organizations, working at the intersection of economic empowerment, entrepreneurship education, and digital skills. Operating across 23 African countries, JA Africa delivers hands-on learning in entrepreneurship, work readiness, financial capability, STEM, and digital skills, recording more than 1.6 million learning experiences annually. JA Africa is a member of JA Worldwide — a three-time Nobel Peace Prize-nominated organization and one of the world’s largest youth-serving nonprofits, operating in more than 110 countries and delivering more than 19 million student learning experiences each year.

www.JA-Africa.org  

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Call for stronger partnerships to unlock agricultural growth

Source: Government of South Africa

Call for stronger partnerships to unlock agricultural growth

Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen has called for deeper collaboration between government and the private sector to unlock the next phase of growth in South Africa’s agricultural sector.

Addressing the Agbiz Congress 2026 Gala Dinner on Thursday under the theme: “Embracing Collaboration”, Steenhuisen said South African agriculture had consistently demonstrated resilience amid global uncertainty and domestic challenges but warned that future growth would depend on stronger cooperation between stakeholders.

The Minister described agriculture as one of the few sectors where practical problem-solving continues to take precedence over ideology, enabling the industry to remain competitive despite global conflicts, rising protectionism, disrupted shipping routes, volatile exchange rates, logistical bottlenecks, climate shocks, and ongoing biosecurity threats, among others.

“We have seen how quickly tariffs can alter global trade flows and how fragile supply chains remain in an increasingly fractured world. Yet despite all of this, South African agriculture continues to grow.

“That says something important about this sector. Agriculture succeeds in South Africa not because conditions are easy, but because this sector has learned how to adapt faster than the obstacles confronting it,” the Minister said.

He attributed the sector’s performance to the resilience, innovation and adaptability of farmers, agribusinesses, exporters and commodity organisations.

The Minister said government’s role should primarily be to create an enabling environment for growth by removing barriers, opening export markets, strengthening biosecurity systems and ensuring policy certainty.
He argued that prosperity is ultimately driven by productive sectors, while government should focus on creating conditions that support investment and economic activity.

“Once we have done that, we must have the confidence to get out of the way and allow farmers, exporters, agribusinesses and investors to do what they do best. The reality is that government does not create prosperity on its own.”

Steenhuisen said the theme is more than a slogan and has become an economic necessity.
“The next phase of agricultural growth in South Africa will not be delivered by government alone, nor by the private sector alone. It will be built through practical partnerships focused on execution rather than endless process,” he said.

The Minister identified four priority areas where greater collaboration could accelerate growth and improve competitiveness.

The first is biosecurity, which he described as central to trade, investment confidence and food security following recent outbreaks of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD). Steenhuisen said government was pursuing an aggressive risk-based disease management strategy, including efforts to achieve an FMD-free status with vaccination, while strengthening vaccine procurement, traceability, and surveillance systems.

Other priorities 
The second priority is infrastructure and logistics. Steenhuisen acknowledged that producers have long borne the cost of inefficiencies in ports, rail and freight systems, which continue to undermine competitiveness.

While welcoming recent reforms and growing private-sector participation in logistics infrastructure, he said agriculture should play a leading role in shaping public-private partnerships aimed at restoring efficiency and supporting export growth.

Access to finance was identified as the third area requiring stronger cooperation. Steenhuisen said government, financial institutions and agribusinesses needed to work more closely to expand support for emerging farmers and integrate them into commercial value chains.

This includes expanding the use of commodity-backed lending, warehouse receipt systems, off-take agreements, blended finance guarantees and inventory-backed facilities that allow farmers to leverage verified commodity stock and productive cashflows alongside traditional forms of collateral.

The fourth focus area is technology and extension services. Steenhuisen said traditional agricultural extension models were no longer sufficient to meet the demands of modern farming and highlighted the potential of digital advisory platforms and technology-driven support systems.

He encouraged greater collaboration between government, agribusinesses, commodity organisations, financial institutions and technology companies to improve farmers’ access to information, markets and technical expertise.

The Minister also highlighted biofuels as a potential growth frontier for the sector, saying the industry could create new opportunities for grain, sugar and oilseed producers while supporting rural economic development.

However, he warned that progress would require policy certainty, investment and coordinated action across multiple government departments and industry stakeholders.

“We have already initiated interdepartmental engagements to establish a coordinated pathway forward involving agriculture, energy, trade and industrial policy stakeholders.”– SAnews.gov.za
 

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When global trade becomes a weapon, how can African economies protect themselves?

Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Jonathan Munemo, Professor of Economics, Salisbury University

“Today, everyone recognises that trade is as much a security issue as an economic one.”

European Central Bank president Christine Lagarde made this comment in February 2026, while addressing the Munich Security Conference.

Although she was speaking about Europe, her words matter profoundly for Africa.

The continent’s 54 economies face a three-way tension that has no easy resolution.

Firstly, they must stay integrated enough with the world economy to grow. Secondly, they must pull back enough to protect themselves economically against the deliberate weaponisation of external dependencies. Weaponised interdependence is the use of a country’s position within global economic and technological networks as a tool of political influence or coercion against other countries. And thirdly they must remain open enough to diversify beyond commodities – which account for more than 60% of total merchandise exports in 45 African countries – if they are to build lasting prosperity and reduce their vulnerability to commodity price shocks.

As an economist who studies African trade and development, I don’t believe the answer to weaponised interdependence is retreating from the global economy. The real challenge for Africa is navigating this tension between interdependence, economic security, and diversification rather than simply choosing one objective and abandoning the rest. This will be one of the continent’s most important policy tests in the years ahead.

How interdependence became a weapon

To see why this tension is so difficult to navigate, it helps to understand what has changed. When the world economy was governed by shared rules and norms from the 1990s to the 2010s, deeper economic integration had some benefits. Countries that plugged into global supply chains and attracted foreign capital grew faster. Interdependence was an asset.

That is no longer the case. We have entered a new era that is being shaped by the deliberate use of chokepoints – economic and geographic areas that underpin the interdependent global economy – as instruments of coercion. In 2025, China imposed sweeping export controls on rare-earth elements, inflicting pain on importing countries deeply integrated with its mineral supply chains. The United States has repeatedly deployed the dollar and advanced semiconductor technology as weapons against adversaries.

The consequences can be sudden and severe. In early 2026, Iran disrupted tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz – the world’s most important geographic chokepoint, carrying roughly 20% of global oil and liquefied natural gas on any given day, with no alternative routes.

African countries, including Ethiopia, Kenya, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania and Uganda – each sourcing more than half their petroleum imports from the Middle East – faced an immediate and unexpected surge in energy costs. Their fiscal positions were ill-equipped to absorb it.

Fertilizer and food prices followed. Financial markets roiled and remittances from diaspora workers in the Gulf region to highly dependent economies such as the Comoros, Gambia, Lesotho and Liberia fell sharply.

The timing was particularly painful. Africa had just achieved its fastest growth in a decade – 4.5% in 2025, according to the IMF. The World Bank has revised this down to projected regional growth of 4.1% in 2026.

Today, the world that made integration so attractive is now vulnerable to deliberate weaponisation by external actors pursuing geopolitical objectives.

The three-way tension, unpacked

The tempting response to weaponised interdependence is to reduce it. Yet history shows that retreating from economic integration can be costly. The protectionist wave of the 1930s – when countries raised trade barriers and turned inward – contributed to the collapse of global trade and deepened the Great Depression.

Integration is not merely a risk. It is a source of the prosperity that makes resilience worth building in the first place.

The World Bank projects that non-resource-rich African countries will have per capita incomes nearly 20% above their 2014 levels by 2026. Abandoning engagement to reduce vulnerability would mean sacrificing the growth needed for long term stability and economic security.

Worse, if African countries attempt to reduce their vulnerability independently, their exits from shared global markets lower the value of these markets for those who remain. That encourages further exits, in a self-reinforcing spiral. This dynamic is already playing out in other countries. US “Buy American” policies have prompted the EU to advance similar “Buy European” measures. Economists call this the “fragmentation doom loop”.

In addition, building alternative supply chains domestically is costly for exiting countries. Replacing established international production networks requires significant investment and can raise costs for businesses and consumers. The IMF has warned fragmentation would reduce incomes and everyone ends up worse off.

Diversification and economic security also pull against each other. Economic diversification would involve shifting African economies away from commodity extraction towards a broader private sector, and spreading trade relationships across multiple partners. It is essential both for long-term prosperity and for reducing exposure to commodity price shocks.

For example, Rwanda and Côte d’Ivoire, which diversified away from commodity dependence, are projected to have per capita incomes more than 45% above their 2014 levels by 2026.

By contrast, Angola and the Republic of Congo, which remained heavily dependent on oil exports, are projected to have per capita incomes more than 25% below their 2014 levels. They have still not recovered a decade after oil prices collapsed.

Natural resources alone generate around 62% of Africa’s GDP, according to the African Development Bank. Moving beyond that concentration requires both diversification and deeper integration which provides access to foreign investment, technology transfer and larger markets.

But deeper integration is precisely what creates the vulnerabilities that great powers have learned to exploit. The US-China rivalry and the Iran crisis have made this plain. The goal of diversification cannot be pursued without the openness that creates security risks. This is a genuine structural tension that policy must navigate.

Strategies for managing the three-way tension

The resolution of these tensions does not lie in choosing one objective and abandoning the others. Three strategies, pursued in combination, can advance all three goals at once.

Pursue security collectively, not unilaterally. The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is the continent’s most important instrument for avoiding the fragmentation doom loop. An integrated continental market of 1.4 billion people:

  • creates the scale needed to attract diversified foreign investment

  • gives African countries the collective bargaining power to negotiate with great powers from a position of greater strength

  • enables the development of intra-African supply chains that reduce dependence on external actors, without sacrificing the gains of integration.

In the current environment, the AfCFTA is no longer primarily a trade liberalisation project. It is a security strategy.

Make partner diversification targeted. Not all trade relationships carry equal risk. The goal is to engage more strategically in the global economy by expanding trade and investment ties across a broader range of partners, particularly in sectors where multiple suppliers and markets exist. This reduces dependence on any single country and limits the ability of one partner to use economic ties as a source of leverage.

Build indispensability in critical supply chains. The most durable form of economic security is not reducing dependence on others – it is ensuring that others depend on you. Africa holds genuine chokepoint positions in several minerals critical to clean energy technology. Here are some examples.

The Democratic Republic of Congo accounts for roughly 65% of global cobalt production. South Africa dominates platinum-group metals. Guinea holds the world’s largest bauxite reserves. Zambia is a major copper producer and Zimbabwe is one of the world’s largest lithium producers.

The indispensability strategy means building on this: processing cobalt in the DRC rather than exporting raw ore, developing platinum beneficiation in South Africa, and building battery supply chain infrastructure around existing mineral wealth.

Done well, this simultaneously advances diversification (moving up the value chain, away from raw commodity exports), strengthens security (creating dependencies that deter coercion), and deepens integration on Africa’s own terms.

The Hormuz disruption of early 2026 was a warning. It demonstrated that the vulnerabilities created by decades of open integration are real, that external actors are willing to exploit them, and that the consequences for African economies can be swift and severe. But the answer is not withdrawal. Africa’s growth story has been built, in part, on engagement with the world economy. The task is to make that engagement more resilient.

– When global trade becomes a weapon, how can African economies protect themselves?
– https://theconversation.com/when-global-trade-becomes-a-weapon-how-can-african-economies-protect-themselves-284321

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Deputy President receives courtesy visit from Cuba’s Ambassador to South Africa

Source: Government of South Africa

Deputy President receives courtesy visit from Cuba’s Ambassador to South Africa

Deputy President Paul Mashatile on Friday received a courtesy visit in Johannesburg from the Ambassador of the Republic of Cuba to South Africa, Fakri Rodríguez Pinelo.

The Presidency said the courtesy call reaffirmed the historically friendly ties between the governments and peoples of South Africa and Cuba, while also underscoring Cuba’s willingness to continue deepening bilateral relations for the mutual benefit of both countries.

Discussions focused on the strong historical ties between South Africa and Cuba, anchored in Cuba’s support for South Africa’s liberation struggle and in the shared values of sovereignty, multilateralism, respect for international law, peace and South-South cooperation.

“We are committed to sustaining and strengthening this cooperation for the mutual benefit of our peoples,” the Deputy President said at the meeting.

He welcomed the longstanding bilateral cooperation between the two countries in health, education, infrastructure development, water and sanitation, science and innovation, as well as sport, arts and cultural exchange, noting that these areas remain strategic priorities for both nations.

The Deputy President also expressed South Africa’s anticipation of hosting the 19th Session of the South Africa-Cuba Joint Consultative Mechanism (JCM) later this year.

“The Deputy President reaffirmed South Africa’s enduring solidarity with Cuba and expressed South Africa’s support for the lifting of the US embargo and unilateral coercive measures against Cuba, which have caused devastating humanitarian and socio-economic difficulties for the people of Cuba,” the Presidency said. –SAnews.gov.za

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Address by President Cyril Ramaphosa at the launch of Lenacapavir for HIV prevention in South Africa, Secunda

Source: President of South Africa –

Programme Director,
Minister of Health, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi,
Deputy Minister of Health, Dr Joe Phaahla,
Premier of Mpumalanga, Mr Mandla Ndlovu,
Executive Mayor of the Gert Sibande District, Cllr Walter Mngomezulu,
Co-Chairperson of SANAC,Mr. Solly Nduku,
Chief Executive of Gilead Sciences, Mr Daniel O’Day,
Executive Director of the Global Fund, Peter Sands,
International Development partners,
UNITAID, WHO, UNAIDS, Children Investment Funds Foundation,
Partners from labour, civil society and business,
Distinguished guests,
Fellow South Africans,

Today is a day of hope.

It is a day that reminds us how far we have travelled as a nation, and how far humanity has come in confronting one of the greatest public health challenges of our time.

Twenty-six years ago, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela stood before the world at the International AIDS Conference in Durban and challenged humanity to rise above fear, denial and division.

At a time when millions faced what seemed an inevitable death sentence, Madiba dared to imagine something different.

He dared to imagine a generation free from HIV and AIDS.

He reminded us that victory would require focus, strategy, solidarity and perseverance.

Today, as we gather here in Secunda, we honour that vision. Today, we take another decisive step towards making it a reality.

The launch of Lenacapavir marks a turning point in our nation’s fight against HIV.

To us, Lenacapavir is not just a medicine or a drug; to us it represents a major turning point in South Africa’s national story. 

It represents one of the most significant scientific breakthroughs since the advent of antiretroviral treatment.

It represents the triumph of science over despair. It represents the power of innovation to save lives. And above all, it represents hope.

Hope for young women who continue to face a disproportionate burden of HIV infection. Hope for families and communities that have lived through decades of loss. Hope for a generation that may one day know HIV not as a threat, but as a chapter in history.

Fellow South Africans,

Few countries have carried the burden of HIV as heavily as South Africa.

We have buried too many mothers and fathers. Too many sons and daughters. Too many teachers, workers, healthcare professionals and community leaders.

The HIV epidemic has left scars on our society that can never be fully erased. Yet it is also true that few countries have responded with the courage, resilience and determination that South Africa has shown.

Together, we built the largest HIV treatment programme in the world. Together, we fought for affordable medicines. Together, we challenged stigma and discrimination. Together, we demonstrated that when government, communities, scientists, activists and international partners work together, lives can be saved.

South Africa has never been a passive observer in the global HIV response.

We have been leaders. We have been innovators. We have been advocates for justice and equity.

Today, we lead once again.

Lenacapavir gives us an unprecedented opportunity to strengthen HIV prevention.

A single injection administered twice a year can provide powerful protection against HIV infection.

This is not merely a medical advance. It is a practical intervention that can transform lives. It reduces barriers to adherence. It expands choice. It strengthens dignity. And it empowers people to take control of their health and their future.

As we launch this programme, 360 public health facilities across six provinces and twenty-four high-burden districts stand ready to provide this groundbreaking intervention.

Our ambition is bold.

By the end of 2027, we aim to reach close to one million people. Over the next three years, we aim to reach three million people.

This is not simply a health target. It is a nation-building target.

Every HIV infection prevented is a life protected. A family preserved. A future secured.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Scientific breakthroughs only change lives when they are accessible to all.

That is why we welcome the partnership between the South African Government, the Global Fund and the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation.

Together with government funding, this catalytic investment will contribute R1.3 billion towards the rollout of Lenacapavir.

This partnership reflects a principle that South Africa has consistently championed: that lifesaving medicines must not be a privilege reserved for a few.

They must be available to all who need them.

We therefore remain committed to expanding access through affordable generic medicines, technology transfer and local manufacturing.

As Africa pursues the African Union goal of producing sixty percent of the continent’s health products by 2040, South Africa will continue to support the development of a vibrant African pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry.

Health security can no longer be separated from economic development.

The capacity to develop, manufacture and distribute medicines is essential to our sovereignty, our resilience and our prosperity.

Fellow South Africans,

Let us be clear. Lenacapavir is not a silver bullet. It is one more powerful tool in our arsenal.

It complements HIV testing, oral PrEP, treatment as prevention, condoms, voluntary medical male circumcision and behavioural interventions.

Success will still depend on education. Success will still depend on responsibility. Success will still depend on ending stigma and discrimination. Most importantly, success will depend on all of us.

To our healthcare workers: continue to serve with dedication and compassion.

To parents and families: continue to guide and support our young people.

To traditional leaders, religious leaders and community leaders: continue to be champions of awareness and prevention.

To young South Africans: know that your future is worth protecting.

Take advantage of the prevention options available to you.

Make informed choices. Protect yourselves and one another.

Today we enter a new chapter in the history of our HIV response.

A chapter defined by science. A chapter defined by partnership. A chapter defined by dignity, choice and hope.

One day, future generations will look back on this period and say that this was the moment when humanity finally gained the upper hand against HIV.

That this was the moment when an HIV-free generation moved from aspiration to possibility.

And that this was the moment when South Africa once again helped to lead the world towards a better future.

As we move forward, let us remember Madiba’s words.

Let us remain focused. Let us remain strategic. Let us mobilise all our resources and alliances. And let us sustain the effort until this battle is won.

Together, we can protect a generation. Together, we can end new HIV infections. Together, we can end AIDS as a public health threat. Together, we can build a healthier, stronger and more hopeful South Africa.

I thank you.

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United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) helps plant hope among youth on World Environment Day

Source: APO

“To me, taking care of the environment also means taking care of ourselves.”

Powerful statements like this by 17-year-old student Princess Juliana were shared by hundreds of young people participating in a clean-up and tree planting event at One Primary School in Juba.

Organized by the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) to commemorate World Environment Day, the initiative brought together peacekeepers and students in a collective commitment to environmental protection and creating a safer environment on their school grounds.

“This day is not just about planting trees but also planting hope,” emphasized the head teacher at the girls’ school, Clementina Deng Arkangelo.

To her, environmental awareness goes beyond seeing the beauty in nature which is why she’s been encouraging her students to start their own initiatives and projects.

Such as the ‘Nature Club’ led by Princess that has become a core advocacy branch both in and outside the school.

“One of the main things I’ve learned through our project is that it’s always better to speak up about things that matter than quietly observe what happens,” shared the passionate nature protector.

Her strong opinions about resource preservation and health impacts of environmental neglects were also echoed by her peers.

“Environment is the foundation for all life. It provides us with water, air, and food as well as raw materials. So, it is our personal and moral duty to protect it,” shared student Yakubo Deng during a moving speech.

The weather also decided to echo their sentiments.

Just moments after peacekeepers and students planted the last tree, long-awaited rain came to water and welcome the new seedlings.

Projects like this also foster social cohesion as their new garden will require students to plan and maintain their new food sources together. Already during the event, students vibrantly discussed how they will use their future mangos, avocados, and lemons.

“Every year, we organize events like this for World Environment Day and, each year, I am amazed to see how eager students are to make their own contributions to protecting the world they live in,” smiled UNMISS Chief of Environment, Occupational Safety and Health, Shazneen Cyrus Gazdar.

Especially in countries like South Sudan where climate shocks are exacerbating an already dire humanitarian situation, educating next generations about the power of protection is crucial for themselves as well as the global community.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).

Media files

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Tourism sector shows strong signs of recovery and growth

Source: Government of South Africa

Tourism sector shows strong signs of recovery and growth

Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni says Cabinet has welcomed the positive developments in the tourism sector, which continues to show strong signs of recovery and growth.

According to Statistics South Africa’s International Tourism Report, the country recorded 989 329 tourist arrivals in April 2026.

READ | Minister welcomes increase in tourist arrivals 

“This marks the highest monthly year-on-year growth ever recorded, reaffirming South Africa’s enduring appeal as a global tourism destination,” said the Minister, who was briefing the media on the outcomes of the Cabinet meeting held on Wednesday.

She said to sustain this momentum, government continues to expand international air connectivity.

Recently LATAM Airlines decided to bring forward the launch of its three weekly direct flights between São Paulo and Cape Town to July 2026, ahead of its original September schedule. 

In addition, on 24 June 2026, Air Europa’s launched its direct flight between Madrid and Johannesburg which will strengthen connectivity with Europe and support growth across the tourism and hospitality sectors.

SASSA cards

Cabinet further welcomed progress in modernising social grant payments, noting ongoing efforts to ensure a smooth transition for South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) beneficiaries using the new Postbank black cards.

Beneficiaries were encouraged to replace expiring cards and continue making use of the available support mechanisms to ensure uninterrupted access to grants.

“Cabinet urges all social grant beneficiaries using SASSA Gold Cards to replace them with the new Postbank Black Cards before the deadline of 31 August 2026.

“The replacement process is free of charge and can be completed at designated Postbank service points in participating retail outlets nationwide,” the Minister said. – SAnews.gov.za

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NYDA launches 100 000 paid youth service opportunities

Source: Government of South Africa

NYDA launches 100 000 paid youth service opportunities

The National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) has launched Phase V of the National Youth Service (NYS) Programme, which will unlock 100 000 paid service opportunities for unemployed young people across South Africa’s nine provinces.

Unveiled on Thursday in partnership with the Presidential Youth Employment Intervention (PYEI), the programme aims to provide young people with meaningful opportunities through community service, work experience, skills development, civic participation and pathways to sustainable livelihoods.

The NYS programme enables young people to contribute meaningfully to their communities while gaining practical experience, strengthening social cohesion, and advancing nation-building efforts.

NYDA Board Executive Chairperson, Dr Sunshine Myende, said the programme was designed to provide young people with meaningful community service opportunities, while creating pathways to employment, entrepreneurship, education, training and broader economic participation.

“Participants will gain practical workplace exposure, civic and leadership experience, skills development opportunities, and a chance to contribute directly to improving the communities in which they leave,” Myende said.

She said the agency remains committed to ensuring the inclusion of young people from historically marginalised groups, including persons with disabilities; Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning, Intersex, and Asexual (LGBTQIA+) youth; young people from rural communities; and others who continue to face significant barriers to economic participation.

According to the NYDA, the programme forms part of broader efforts to tackle youth unemployment by equipping young people with skills, experience and opportunities that enhance their employability and economic prospects.

Young people interested in participating can register and submit applications through the SAYouth.mobi platform.

Further information on eligibility criteria, application timelines and participation requirements will be communicated through the agency’s website and official public communication channels. – SAnews.gov.za 

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SA to mark 50th anniversary of the Soweto Uprising

Source: Government of South Africa

SA to mark 50th anniversary of the Soweto Uprising

As the country marks Youth Month, Cabinet has called on all sectors of society to support initiatives aimed at empowering young people through education, skills development, entrepreneurship and employment opportunities.

Briefing the media on the outcomes of the Cabinet meeting held on Wednesday, Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni said the month provides an opportunity to honour the legacy of the youth of 1976 while reflecting on the progress made in expanding opportunities for younger generations in a democratic South Africa.

The national programme commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Soweto Uprising marks the start of a year-long government programme aimed at honouring the sacrifices of the 1976 student uprising, a defining moment in South Africa’s liberation struggle, while inspiring a new generation of young people to advance freedom, justice and equality.

As part of government’s broader Milestones of Freedom programme, the 50th anniversary will not only honour the courage and resilience of the youth of 1976 but also create a platform for dialogue on challenges facing young people today.

These include unemployment, mental health, access to education, gender-based violence and social inclusion.

The initiative forms part of government’s ongoing efforts to preserve the legacy of 1976 while strengthening youth participation in nation-building and socio-economic development.

The launch of the golden jubilee will unveil a series of activities to be rolled out over the next year, focused on accelerating investment in youth development.

The Minister said Cabinet highlighted the country’s ongoing celebration of the milestones of freedom, noting the significant gains made since the advent of democracy in areas such as access to housing, electricity, water, education, healthcare and social protection.

Government will launch the Milestones of Freedom Campaign under the theme “Honouring the Past, Delivering the Future” on 18 June 2026 at the Union Buildings.

Ntshavheni  said Cabinet would support the launch of the 70th Commemoration of the 1956 Women’s march that forms part of the National Milestones of Freedom events, marking the beginning of a national programme of activities commemorating the historic 1956 Women’s march. – SAnews.gov.za

 

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