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30 Years on: Students join the conversation on South Africa’s constitutional journey

Source: Government of South Africa

30 Years on: Students join the conversation on South Africa’s constitutional journey

The Deputy Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development Andries Nel is expected to host a student engagement as part of the Human Rights Month programme.

The engagement, which will be held in Kimberley on Friday, commemorates 30 years since the adoption of the Constitution.

“The engagement will bring together students from the campuses of the Northern Cape Urban TVET College in Kimberley to reflect on the significance of the Constitution, its role in advancing democracy, and the responsibility of young people to uphold and protect constitutional values,” the department said.

The theme for the 30th anniversary of the Constitution is: 30 Years of Constitutional Democracy: Reflect, Renew, Recommit.

“The engagement also forms part of Anti-Racism Week, which runs from 14 – 21 March 2026, and aims to create public awareness about 21 March, the consequences of the events that took place on that day in 1960, and how racism, if not confronted, continues to affect individuals and broader society.

“The week also encourages individuals and all sectors of society to actively call out racism,” the department stated.

At the launch of the commemoration of the Constitution earlier this month, Justice Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi called the supreme law of South Africa a testament of a tangible commitment to “peaceful coexistence”.

“Because of the adoption of the Constitution 30 years ago, we now have a foundation upon which we can strive towards the common vision of unity in diversity, whilst strengthening the culture of respect for human rights and the rule of law in South Africa.

“The Constitution is a testament that wise men and women of all races, religions and diverse cultures freely came together to weave a new nation in a South Africa that belongs to all who live in it, both black and white,” Kubayi said. – SAnews.gov.za

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Government moves to curb underspending of human settlements grants

Source: Government of South Africa

Government moves to curb underspending of human settlements grants

The Department of Human Settlements is implementing a range of measures to curb the underspending of grants, and improve the delivery of housing and related infrastructure.

Responding to oral questions in the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) on Tuesday, Human Settlements Minister Thembi Simelane said the interventions aim to ensure that allocated funds lead to the delivery of serviced sites, housing units and bulk infrastructure, while minimising underspending across all levels of government.

She revealed that provinces and metropolitan municipalities returned millions of rands in unspent Human Settlements grants during the 2024/25 financial year.

At provincial level, a total of R8.801 million from two key grants was surrendered to the National Revenue Fund. This included R5.951 million from the Human Settlements Development Grant (HSDG) and R2.850 million from the Informal Settlements Upgrading Partnership Grant (ISUPG).

Gauteng accounted for the largest share of unspent HSDG funds at R5.529 million, followed by Mpumalanga and Limpopo, while smaller amounts were returned by other provinces.

Under the provincial ISUPG, Gauteng again recorded the highest underspending at R2.553 million, with additional amounts surrendered by the Free State, North West, Northern Cape and Eastern Cape.

At municipal level, the total amount returned was significantly higher, reaching R174.873 million across two grants.

The Urban Settlements Development Grant (USDG) accounted for R105.866 million in unspent funds, with Nelson Mandela Bay returning the largest portion at R74.137 million. This was followed by eThekwini (R15.678 million), the City of Cape Town (R13.451 million) and the City of Tshwane (R2.6 million).

A further R69.007 million was returned under the Metropolitan Informal Settlements Upgrading Partnership Grant. Mangaung and Nelson Mandela Bay recorded the highest underspending at R34.111 million and R34.707 million, respectively, while smaller amounts were returned by the City of Tshwane and Buffalo City.

Measures to strengthen grant spending performance

Simelane said the department has introduced several measures to strengthen grant spending performance across all spheres of government.

“Key initiatives, which include the quarterly performance review sessions for provincial, municipal and human settlements entities, allow these organisations to report on their performance and enhanced monitoring and early warning systems that help the department to identify underperformance early in the financial year and take timely action,” the Minister said.

The department is also enforcing provisions of the Division of Revenue Act, allowing for the conditional allocation, withholding and reallocation of funds from persistently underperforming provinces to those with the capacity to spend effectively.

Additional interventions include technical and capacity support to provinces and metros, such as the deployment of built environment specialists and project management assistance, as well as improved planning alignment to ensure readiness in areas such as procurement, land availability and bulk infrastructure before funds are allocated.

Simelane said quarterly MinMec (Minister MEC) performance engagements with accounting officers and political leadership are being used to strengthen accountability for grant performance and ensure adherence to compliance requirements.

The department has also convened rollover workshops with metropolitan municipalities, provincial treasuries and the South African Local Government Association to support credible applications to National Treasury.

“The department, together with provincial treasuries and other transferring officers, is part of the committee that assess rollover applications of the metropolitan municipalities, and the department plays a significant support role for the metros.

“These initiatives aim to ensure that allocated funds lead to the delivery of serviced sites, housing units, and bulk infrastructure while minimising underspending across all levels of government,” Simelane said. – SAnews.gov.za

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About 3.4 million households registered for housing assistance

Source: Government of South Africa

About 3.4 million households registered for housing assistance

Approximately 3.4 million households have registered for government housing assistance, Human Settlements Minister Thembi Simelane told the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) on Tuesday.

Responding to questions for oral reply, Simelane said the figure is drawn from the National Housing Needs Register (NHNR) – the department’s official database of individuals and households seeking State housing support.

She noted that Census 2022, released by Statistics South Africa, does not provide a single official national housing backlog figure, but instead offers household and dwelling data used to derive estimates.

According to the census, South Africa had about 17.8 million households in 2022, with roughly 12% to 13% living in informal dwellings, including informal settlements and backyard structures.

“Using Census 2022 as the demographic base, national housing backlog estimates currently in use range between approximately 2.1 million housing units (Institute of Race Relations – Public Policy Estimates, 2025) and 2.2 million housing units (Centre for Affordable Housing Finance 2024/25).

“While Census 2022 does not state a backlog figure directly, the most recent, widely cited and sector accepted backlog estimate is between 2.1 and 2.4 million housing units, derived using Census 2022 household data as the baseline,” the Minister explained.

Simelane emphasised that while the department does not publish a single verified official “housing backlog” figure, the NHNR remains the most reliable indicator of demand for housing assistance.

On government interventions, she said in line with the Medium Term Development Plan for the 2024/25 to 2029/30 period, the department has planned to deliver 230 000 full subsidy units and 314 000 serviced sites over five years, with existing programmes, such as the Upgrading of Informal Settlements Programme, playing a key role.

Flood damage verification process underway

Simelane also confirmed that a verification process will be conducted to assess the impact and cost of recent flood damage in Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Gauteng, Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal to determine the required interventions in those areas.

She said the process will determine the necessary interventions, including the provision of emergency fire kits in informal settlements, assessments by the National Home Builders Registration Council (NHBRC) for partially damaged homes, and Temporary Residential Units where properties are completely damaged.

“Once the project has been concluded, the department is able to confirm the expenditure base on the work done,” the Minister explained.

Simelane said all affected provinces have already conducted preliminary impact, and a cost analysis and impact on infrastructure as a motivation to apply for the Disaster Relief Fund. – SAnews.gov.za

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Qatar Reaffirms Support for UN Refugee Efforts in New York Meeting

Source: Government of Qatar

New York, March 18, 2026

HE Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations Sheikha Alya Ahmed bin Saif Al-Thani has reiterated the country’s support for international efforts to assist refugees.
This came during a meeting with HE United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Dr Barham Salih at the headquarters of Qatar’s permanent mission in New York.
Discussions focused on the latest regional developments, as well as ongoing humanitarian challenges linked to displacement.
HE Sheikha Alya reaffirmed Qatar’s full backing for the work of the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), highlighting the country’s commitment to supporting global initiatives aimed at easing the suffering of refugees.
For his part, Dr Salih praised Qatar’s humanitarian role, noting its continued contributions to international efforts addressing refugee crises worldwide.
The meeting underscores Qatar’s ongoing engagement with multilateral institutions and its emphasis on humanitarian cooperation amid evolving regional conditions.

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Prime Minister of Vietnam Meets Ambassador of Qatar

Source: Government of Qatar

Hanoi, March 17, 2026

HE Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam Pham Minh Chinh met on Tuesday with HE Ambassador of the State of Qatar to Vietnam Khalid bin Ali Abdullah Abel.
The meeting reviewed cooperation relations between the two countries. 

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President submits responses to Parliamentary Ad Hoc Committee investigating security matters

Source: President of South Africa –

President Cyril Ramaphosa has formally provided written responses to questions submitted by Parliament’s Ad Hoc Committee investigating allegations regarding security matters made by Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. 

President Ramaphosa’s submission shows the President’s support for the parliamentary process, including ensuring that the committee receives all necessary information to carry out its mandate effectively.

The President is committed to transparency and welcomes parliamentary oversight over the executive arm of the state, as part of the democratic processes that govern the country.

Media enquiries: Vincent Magwenya, Spokesperson to the President – media@presidency.gov.za 

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria
 

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Cabo Verde: IV edição das Olimpíadas do Desporto Escolar reúne 750 alunos de todo o país

Source: Africa Press Organisation – Portuguese –

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A IV Edição das Olimpíadas do Desporto Escolar (ODE) vai reunir, na cidade da Praia, 750 alunos de todo o país. O evento, que decorre entre os dias 22 e 29 de março, mobilizará uma caravana de 1400 pessoas. As informações foram avançadas, nesta quarta-feira (17), pelo Diretor Nacional da Educação, Adriano Moreno, durante o ato de lançamento e o sorteio que define o calendário do certame desportivo.

O Diretor Nacional da Educação procedeu ao lançamento oficial e ao sorteio da IV edição das Olimpíadas do Desporto Escolar, evento que terá como palco a cidade da Praia entre os dias 22 e 29 de março. O responsável destacou que este é atualmente “um dos momentos mais importantes do calendário educativo e desportivo nacional”, focado em promover a prática desportiva e valores como “o espírito de equipa, a disciplina, o respeito e o fair-play”.

Nesta edição, a capital recebe 750 alunos de todos os concelhos, acompanhados por 240 professores e 200 voluntários. Segundo Adriano Moreno, estes números demonstram “o crescente interesse e envolvimento das escolas e das comunidades educativas nesta iniciativa”.

Para o Diretor Nacional da Educação, as Olimpíadas ultrapassam a vertente competitiva, constituindo um espaço de encontro entre jovens de diferentes ilhas e realidades, promovendo a convivência saudável, a integração e o fortalecimento do espírito de unidade nacional.”

Um dos pilares desta edição é a diversidade de modalidades, que incluem Futsal, Andebol, Basket 3×3, Voleibol de Praia, Atletismo, Natação e Xadrez. A introdução do Desporto Adaptado foi realçada como uma escolha deliberada na organização do sistema de ensino:

“A inclusão do desporto adaptado reflete o que pretendemos para uma escola inclusiva, onde todos os alunos têm a oportunidade de participar, desenvolver os seus talentos e afirmar as suas capacidades.”

As caravanas começam a chegar à Praia já este dia 18, com alojamento garantido nos liceus Domingos Ramos, Várzea, Pedro Gomes, Cesaltina Ramos e Abílio Duarte. O Diretor fez questão de reconhecer o papel dos parceiros institucionais, nomeadamente o Instituto do Desporto e da Juventude (IDJ)e a FICASE, pelo apoio “fundamental para garantir as melhores condições de participação aos nossos estudantes”.

O responsável dirigiu ainda uma palavra de apreço às delegações do Ministério da Educação, professores e treinadores que “têm estado fortemente mobilizados para o sucesso desta edição”.

“Estamos convictos de que esta 4.ª edição será um momento de celebração do talento, da energia e do potencial da juventude cabo-verdiana, reforçando o papel do desporto como instrumento essencial na formação integral dos nossos alunos.”

O ato de lançamento da IV edição das ODE, contou com a presença do administrador do IDJ, Anildo Santos e com outros dirigentes do Ministério da Educação. A ocasião serviu igualmente para a realização do sorteio do evento, ficando assim definidos os calendários das competições.

Distribuído pelo Grupo APO para Governo de Cabo Verde.

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Cabo Verde lança primeira Estratégia Nacional Anticorrupção e reforça compromisso com integridade e boa governação

Source: Africa Press Organisation – Portuguese –

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A Estratégia Nacional de Prevenção e Combate à Corrupção em Cabo Verde para o período 2026–2029, constitui um instrumento estruturante de política pública, que reafirma, de forma clara e inequívoca, o compromisso do Estado com a promoção da transparência, da ética pública e da boa governação.

Estas declarações foram proferidas pela Ministra da Justiça, Joana Rosa, na abertura do Workshop de apresentação da primeira estratégia nacional neste domínio. Segundo Joana Rosa, o documento propõe uma abordagem integrada, centrada na atuação sobre as causas estruturais da corrupção, com enfoque no reforço da prevenção, na gestão de riscos, na transparência administrativa e na promoção de uma cidadania ativa e participativa.

Para Joana Rosa, “a corrupção é um dos fenómenos que mais ameaçam a estabilidade institucional, a confiança dos cidadãos nas instituições e o funcionamento saudável das economias, comprometendo a justiça social e fragilizando os pilares da democracia”. sublinhou, ainda, a sua natureza particularmente nociva, pela estreita ligação a outras formas de criminalidade, como a lavagem de capitais, o tráfico de influência, o desvio de fundos públicos e, em muitos casos, o crime organizado transnacional.

Neste sentido, enfatizou que o combate à corrupção transcende a dimensão jurídica e institucional, constituindo, sobretudo, uma exigência ética e política dos Estados e dos seus agentes.

A Ministra realçou também os progressos alcançados por Cabo Verde neste domínio, destacando o Índice de Perceção da Corrupção de 2025, divulgado pela Transparência Internacional, no qual o país volta a posicionar-se como o melhor classificado da Comunidade dos Países de Língua Portuguesa e o segundo no continente africano. Para a Ministra, “preservar e consolidar esta reputação exige um esforço contínuo de aperfeiçoamento institucional, vigilância democrática e compromisso permanente com a integridade pública”.

A primeira Estratégia Nacional de Prevenção e Combate à Corrupção em Cabo Verde para o período 2026–2029 foi elaborada pelo Conselho de Prevenção da Corrupção, em estreita articulação com o Ministério da Justiça, e visa reforçar os mecanismos de transparência, integridade e responsabilização, tanto no aparelho do Estado como no setor privado, com enfoque na prevenção, deteção e repressão da corrupção e de infrações conexas.

O Conselho de Prevenção da Corrupção pretende, igualmente, mobilizar não apenas as instituições públicas, mas também a sociedade civil e os cidadãos em geral para a implementação da Estratégia, promovendo uma abordagem participativa que contribua para o reforço contínuo dos instrumentos e das práticas de prevenção e combate à corrupção no país.

Organizado pelo Conselho de Prevenção da Corrupção, o workshop teve como principal objetivo apresentar a primeira Estratégia Nacional de Prevenção e Combate à Corrupção (ENPCC) em Cabo Verde para o horizonte 2026–2029.

Distribuído pelo Grupo APO para Governo de Cabo Verde.

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South Sudan: Displaced families in Mundri live in limbo amidst persistent violence between armed forces

Source: APO


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The usually quiet church compound in Mundri has turned in a bustling hub of activity with more than 4,000 people crowded together in makeshift shelters.

These families have sought sanctuary at the site after being forced to abandon their homes and flee for their lives during military confrontations between armed forces in Greater Mundri a few months ago.

Thirty-eight-year-old Aida Stephen is among those struggling to support her family in dire conditions.

Her youngest child clings to her side, traumatized by the experience, as she explains the challenges they face.

“It is very difficult to survive. We must hustle to fetch water and collect firewood. We are working for the host community harvesting cassava just to feed our children,” she says.

“Our shelters are damaged and collapse when it’s raining. We don’t know what to do. We don’t know whether peace will come or not.”

For many families, reaching Mundri in the eastern part of Western Equatoria meant walking for days.

“It took us seven days to get here because our children were struggling to travel such a long distance. We faced a lot of hardship and were lucky to reach here without anything bad happening to us,” explained Elizabeth Joy.

Peacekeepers from the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) have visited the site, meeting displaced families and local leaders to assess urgent needs and encourage dialogue to prevent further violence.

“During our interaction, we identified many protection concerns,” said Thomas Bazawi, UNMISS Protection, Transition and Reintegration Officer. “We are also engaging with authorities, including the County Commissioner, to try and organize a peace dialogue to improve security and create the conditions so that people can safely return home.”

While these efforts are underway, the families remain in limbo. They are not alone in this struggle which is familiar to hundreds of thousands of South Sudanese across the country who are caught in the catastrophic crossfire of persistent violence and victims of the political failure to secure peace.

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

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A United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS)- supported dialogue seeks to build social cohesion, counter hate speech

Source: APO


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“Information is the backbone of communication. When the public lacks accurate information, rumors and misinformation can quickly spread and create conflict.”

This warning from civil society leader Bol Deng Bol reflects growing concern among community leaders in South Sudan’s Jonglei, where peace actors are intensifying efforts to counter hate speech and strengthen peaceful coexistence between communities.

A dialogue supported by the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) is geared towards reducing hostilities between Nuer internally displaced persons (IDPs) and Dinka host communities in Bor.

“The idea is to build trust and have constructive engagements that strengthen unity and social cohesion among those who have traditional grievances. If underlying drivers of conflict are addressed, communities will feel encouraged to resolve disputes peacefully” explained Khalif Farah, Civil Affairs Team Leader, UNMISS Bor.

The initiative also focuses on encouraging joint activities that bring together youth, local authorities, and community leaders.

For their part, youth leaders in Bor say they are playing an active role in strengthening communication between communities. “We are validating what we discussed over the past two days,” said Thon Jacob Kuany, speaking on behalf of Bor youth representatives. “The aim is to produce a final document that will guide everyone involved in the peace activities.”

According to Mr. Kuany, youth groups are developing a communication framework that will assign focal points along different routes to improve coordination and prevent misunderstandings that could escalate tensions. This framework will also guide participation in upcoming peace initiatives, including a planned marathon intended to promote unity among communities.

Another recommendation: the formation of joint peace committees representing different ethnic groups across Bor town, as well as measures to support youth engagement and strengthen community policing.

Access to reliable information will remain critical in the bid to prevent rumors and hate speech, particularly during times of political tension, say civil society representatives, who also emphasized the need to protect civic space and press freedom.

Organizers are hopeful that candid and constructive conversations will help reduce violence by strengthening early warning mechanisms and improving coordination between community leaders, youth groups, and local authorities. But, as community leaders point out, lasting stability in Jonglei will depend on communities themselves taking ownership of reconciliation efforts and rejecting messages of division.

The programme comes amid concerns about a potential spillover of tensions following clashes in neighboring counties such as Pigi, Ayod, Nyirol, Uror, and Akobo.

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