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April 10, 2026

Minister of State for International Cooperation Receives Phone Call from French Minister

Source: Government of Qatar

Doha, April 09, 2026

HE Minister of State for International Cooperation Maryam bint Ali bin Nasser Al Misnad received Thursday a phone call from HE Minister Delegate to the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of the French Republic, Responsible for Francophonie, International Partnerships, and French Nationals Abroad, Eleanor Carois.

During the call, both sides discussed cooperation relations between the two countries as well as the the humanitarian situation in Lebanon, the Gaza Strip, and the occupied Palestinian territories, in addition to the efforts exerted to achieve security and stability in the region.

April 10, 2026

Treat water with the same seriousness as energy security: Majodina

Source: Government of South Africa

Treat water with the same seriousness as energy security: Majodina

Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina has emphasised that water is no longer a sectoral issue that can be treated as a routine service delivery function, warning that it has become a binding constraint on economic growth.

Delivering a keynote address during a Ministerial webinar on Friday to track progress on the 2025 Water and Sanitation Indaba resolutions, Majodina said that South Africa’s water crisis now poses a direct threat to development and human well-being.

Held under the theme: “Tracking Progress and Strengthening Partnerships for Sustainable Water and Sanitation Delivery”, the webinar served as the first structured national platform to assess implementation of the Indaba resolutions.

It brought together national and provincial government, municipalities, water entities, business, labour, civil society, and sector partners to confront the sector’s deep and persistent challenges.

Majodina said the Indaba was designed as a “turning point” to move the sector away from prolonged discussions towards practical implementation.

“Its purpose was to identify practical, implementable solutions to the infrastructure backlogs, governance weaknesses, financial instability, technical capacity deficits, criminality, corruption, and underinvestment that continue to undermine water and sanitation delivery in South Africa.

“The message from that Indaba was unmistakable: the era of endless discussion had to give way to the era of delivery,” Majodina said.

Citing the latest national assessments, the Minister painted a stark picture of the sector’s condition, with nearly half of the country’s water supply systems failing to meet required standards, while about 64% of wastewater treatment works are in a critical state.

In addition, close to 47% of water is lost before reaching communities due to leaks, poor maintenance, ageing infrastructure and operational failures.

“In a water-scarce country such as ours, that is not simply inefficiency, it is unacceptable,” the Minister said.

Majodina stressed that the crisis is not only technical but rooted in governance failures, including institutional weakness, delayed maintenance, poor planning, weak revenue collection and in too many cases, a lack of accountability.

Majodina noted that water shortages affect key sectors, including agriculture, mining, manufacturing, housing development, and investor confidence.

“Water security is national security,” the Minister said, calling for the issue to be treated with the same seriousness as energy security and economic reform.

She said communities are suffering not because we do not know what must be done, but due to institutions failure do what they are required to do.

“Many are failing due to poor planning, a lack of preventative maintenance, weak financial management, poor billing and revenue collection, and, in some instances, the misuse of funds,” she said.

Majodina warned that where municipalities cannot deliver, government will intervene decisively, adding that accountability is “no longer optional, it is non-negotiable”.

She outlined five key priorities emerging from the 2025 Indaba, including the need to adopt fit-for-purpose delivery models, improve financial sustainability, strengthen technical capacity, deepen partnerships and intensify the fight against corruption and criminality.

On investment and financial viability, the Minister said the sector is financially unsustainable in many areas due to poor revenue collection, a culture of non-payment, weak billing systems and the misallocation of grants, which have created a cycle of collapse.

“No money means no maintenance, no maintenance means no reliability, and no reliability means no service delivery,” she said, emphasising the enforcement of financial discipline.

She also highlighted the importance of partnerships with civil society and the private sector.

Collaboration with law enforcement

The Minister said efforts to combat corruption and vandalism will be intensified, with collaboration with law enforcement, strengthen consequence management and advance the work of the anti-corruption forum in the sector.

“Corruption, theft, illegal connections, vandalism and procurement abuse are not side issues. They are actively destroying the sector, drain scarce resources, undermine delivery and rob poor communities of dignity,” the Minister said.

She said the webinar programme would include progress reports from all nine provinces, aimed at identifying challenges, sharing best practices and strengthening implementation.

“Let us fix what is broken, restore what has failed, defeat corruption, dysfunction, and indifference. The time for action is now,” Majodina said. – SAnews.gov.za

GabiK
Fri, 04/10/2026 – 11:50

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April 10, 2026

Remarks by Deputy President Paul Mashatile on the occasion of the Title Deeds Handover Celebrations for the Sebilong Restitution Community, Portion 27 of Farm Zwartkop 369 KQ, Thabazimbi

Source: President of South Africa –

Programme Director, Deputy Minister Stanley Mathabatha;
Minister of Land Reform and Rural Development, Honourable Mzwanele Nyhontso;
MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development, Ms Nakedi Grace Kekana;
Representative of Waterberg District Municipality Executive Mayor, Cllr Jeremiah Ngobeni;
Mayor of the Thabazimbi Local Municipality, Cllr Andries Tshukudu;
Chairperson of Sebilong Communal Property Association, Mr Boitshoko Tselane;
Deputy Land Claims Commissioner, Mr Francois Beukman;
Provincial House of Traditional Leaders and all Hosi present from the Local House;
Commodities Sectors, Farming, and Farm Workers’ Organisations present;
Agricultural Research Council and other Professional Bodies present here;
CPA and Stakeholders present;
Most importantly, the distinguished beneficiaries of Sebilong Restitution;

Good Afternoon. Avuxeni. Ndi Masiari. Dumelang!

It is always a great pleasure to set foot in this beautiful province of Limpopo. A peaceful, verdant gateway to our country’s untamed bushveld and its wildlife sanctuary and to the rich cultural history that still inspires us all.

Today marks a significant milestone. A milestone that seeks to redress the historic injustice of land dispossession endured by the majority of our people. We affirm that the struggle for dignity, for equity, and for rightful ownership is not only a matter of policy but also a moral imperative that binds us together as a nation.

We are here today to witness the handover of title deeds to the Sebilong Restitution Community. The rightful owners of this land have long been denied their heritage. But today, history bends towards justice, and the arc of our democracy delivers on its promise.

This occasion represents an important step in the implementation of South Africa’s land restitution programme and affirms the government’s commitment to addressing land dispossession in line with the Constitution.

The Sebilong Community was dispossessed of its ancestral land on Farm Zwartkop 369 KQ through a series of forced removals that took place between the 1930s and the early 1960s. These removals were driven by mining expansion, restrictive land and labour policies, and the declaration of the area as a so-called Black Spot.

As a result, families were displaced from their land, livelihoods were disrupted, and the community experienced long-term socio-economic hardship.

The land restitution claim was lodged by the late Mr Lazarus Nkale Tisane on behalf of the Sebilong Community and was processed in terms of the Restitution of Land Rights Act of 1994.

As we celebrate, we must do so in remembrance and in honour of Mr Lazarus Nkale Tisane. His legacy will live on in the soil beneath our feet and in the hearts of all who cherish freedom.

Compatriots,

The Sebilong story transcends mere geographical considerations of hectares and boundaries; it encapsulates the profound impact on families who have been displaced from their ancestral lands. It is about livelihoods destroyed and dreams deferred.

It is about the pain of dispossession that scarred generations of men, women, and children who were forced to watch others prosper where their ancestors once tilled, mined, and farmed.

Today’s handover restores ownership and secure tenure to 1 071 verified beneficiaries from 89 originally dispossessed households.

The claim was settled through a combination of land restoration and financial compensation, and a Communal Property Association was established as the legal entity to hold and administer the restored land.

Therefore, this moment is not only about the handing over of title deeds, it is about the restoration of justice, the healing of wounds, and the renewal of hope for generations to come.

The title deeds to be handed over today, provide legal certainty and form the basis for productive land use, economic participation, and long-term development.

Government remains clear that land restitution must contribute to sustainable livelihoods and local economic development.

In this regard, the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development is providing post settlement support, including funding for development initiatives and support in the preparation of a comprehensive business plan.

The aim of this support is to ensure productive use of the restored land, adhering to sound governance and development principles.

I would like to acknowledge the leadership of the Sebilong Communal Property Association for maintaining compliance with legislative requirements and for providing stability within the community.

Effective governance of communal property is essential to safeguarding restored land and ensuring that it benefits both current and future generations.

The restoration of Farm Zwartkop 369 KQ is a clear demonstration of government’s ongoing work to redress historical injustices and to advance land reform as a key element of inclusive growth and rural development.

Our Government is reversing the 1913 Natives Land Act legacy through a comprehensive land reform programme focusing on restitution, redistribution, and tenure reform. Key actions include returning land to dispossessed communities and implementing the Restitution of Land Rights Act.

This Act, passed in 1994, was designed to restore land or provide equitable redress to persons and communities dispossessed under racially discriminatory laws. Its objectives are to foster reconciliation, to enable land ownership for victims of forced removals, and to promote development through restorative justice.

Minister Nyontsho will agree with me that restorative justice serves as a mechanism to fulfill the promises of this freedom, particularly through reconciliation and addressing the legacy of systemic inequality.

As we mark Freedom Month, a time when we reflect on the sacrifices that brought us democracy and the responsibilities that come with it, we are reminded that true freedom must be lived in the soil beneath our feet. For without land, freedom remains incomplete.

I have always maintained that the handing over of a title deed is far more than a legal transaction. It is the restoration of justice for the people. It is the handing over of dignity, recognition, and justice to people who were once stripped of their land and identity. It is the return of identity, the restoration of belonging, and the renewal of hope.

As I stand and look around today, I can see hope shining through your eyes and joy that fills this gathering. I also believe that today, your ancestors who did not live to witness this day are joyful at the progress we have made.

Their spirit walks with us, and their dream of justice finds fulfillment in this moment.

As a community, you have a huge responsibility to use this land productively. Let it be a source of food security, of jobs for the youth, of opportunities for your women and other vulnerable groups, and a source of wealth for your families.

Let the mines, the cattle farms, and the poultry projects become engines of growth that uplift the entire community.

Let the land be managed with wisdom so that it does not only restore the past but also secure the future.

To the Sebilong Communal Property Association, I say: guard this land. Use it to build a community that thrives in freedom and prosperity.
In short, let the land flourish, lefatshe ha le phele!

Together as South Africans, we must continue to strive for a nation where every citizen enjoys the fruits of justice, equality, and prosperity.

I congratulate the Sebilong Community on this achievement and wish them success as they move forward with the sustainable development of their land.

I thank you, Kealeboga, Inkomu.

April 10, 2026

Nigeria and Senegal Must Follow Ghana and Mozambique Against Exclusionary Practices

Source: APO

The African private sector is raising the alarm over Frontier Energy Network’s policies that systematically exclude African professionals and service providers from meaningful roles in major energy forums. Such exclusionary practices threaten decades of progress in African energy development, including local capacity building, knowledge transfer and economic participation.

Frontier’s approach, framed as a global platform for Africa, is in practice a system that extracts value from the continent while denying Africans the opportunities to lead, participate and benefit. Marginalizing the very people who build, operate and sustain energy projects is not partnership – it is structural exclusion masquerading as opportunity.

African businesses – particularly in Nigeria and Senegal, which drive regional growth – must reassess their participation in platforms that perpetuate these policies. African capital, sponsorship and attendance cannot continue to legitimize forums where local stakeholders are systematically sidelined. Market access must be earned and mutually respected.

Mozambique and Ghana have already set a precedent. In March 2026, Mozambique’s oil and gas industry withdrew from the Africa Energies Summit in London, citing repeated failures by the organizers to improve diversity, transparency and inclusion of Black professionals in leadership, contracting and deal-making roles. In early April 2026, the Ghana Energy Chamber followed suit, formally pulling out of the same summit over discriminatory hiring practices that sidelined African professionals, executives and service providers. These coordinated actions send a clear message: Africa will no longer support platforms that deny its talent the right to lead, contribute and benefit.

The gold standard for companies to thrive in Africa is robust collaboration with international partners while building local capacity – exemplified by Senegal-based energy services company Alliance Energy. Alliance has advanced African expertise in the sector, notably supporting the launch of the National Institute for Petroleum and Gas in Senegal to train young professionals for leadership roles, while backing diverse energy initiatives across power, solar, gas and wind that strengthen Senegal’s position as a regional energy hub.

This success demonstrates that African companies flourish when local talent, leadership, contracting and workforce development are central to execution, alongside strategic partnerships with the US, UK and Europe. Any entity attempting to operate in Africa without a commitment to hiring or contracting local professionals threatens not only the ecosystem that nurtured companies like Alliance Energy but also the continent’s broader ambition to grow regional capability, ownership and sustainable energy development.

“The message is simple,” says Dr. Ndjuga Dieng, Managing Director of Alliance Energy. “Africa will no longer sit quietly while its talent is excluded from opportunities on its own continent. Nigeria, Senegal and all African nations must follow the lead of Ghana and Mozambique by standing against platforms that discriminate. Protect your people, your companies and your energy future. Inclusion is not optional – it is the foundation of growth.”

African energy markets have historically thrived on collaboration, both within the continent and with international partners. Events such as the Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) and the Invest in African Energy (IAE) Forum exemplify this model, integrating African executives, policymakers and service providers into core programming, deal-making and knowledge transfer.

African stakeholders must prioritize platforms that respect local content, equitable hiring and fair contracting. Strategic withdrawal from exclusionary events is not isolationism – it is a stand for principle, economic logic, and the future of Africa’s energy sector. The continent defines its own trajectory and will engage only with partners that recognize African talent as integral, not optional, to the industry’s future.

The position advanced by Alliance Energy aligns with broader advocacy across the continent, including that of the African Energy Chamber, which has consistently called for stronger local content policies, fair contracting practices and greater inclusion of African professionals across the energy value chain. This alignment underscores a growing consensus among African private sector leaders that sustainable industry growth depends on meaningful participation by local companies and talent, not their exclusion.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

April 10, 2026

Le Nigeria et le Sénégal doivent emboîter le pas au Ghana et au Mozambique pour lutter contre les pratiques d’exclusion

Source: Africa Press Organisation – French

Le secteur privé africain tire la sonnette d’alarme face aux politiques de Frontier Energy Network qui excluent systématiquement les professionnels et les prestataires de services africains des rôles significatifs au sein des grands forums sur l’énergie. Ces pratiques d’exclusion menacent des décennies de progrès dans le développement énergétique africain, notamment le renforcement des capacités locales, le transfert de connaissances et la participation économique.

L’approche de Frontier, présentée comme une plateforme mondiale pour l’Afrique, est en réalité un système qui extrait de la valeur du continent tout en privant les Africains des opportunités de diriger, de participer et d’en bénéficier. Marginaliser ceux-là mêmes qui construisent, exploitent et soutiennent les projets énergétiques n’est pas un partenariat – c’est une exclusion structurelle déguisée en opportunité.

Les entreprises africaines – en particulier au Nigeria et au Sénégal, qui sont les moteurs de la croissance régionale – doivent réévaluer leur participation à des plateformes qui perpétuent ces politiques. Les capitaux, le parrainage et la présence africains ne peuvent continuer à légitimer des forums où les parties prenantes locales sont systématiquement mises à l’écart. L’accès au marché doit se mériter et être mutuellement respecté.

Le Mozambique et le Ghana ont déjà créé un précédent. En mars 2026, l’industrie pétrolière et gazière du Mozambique s’est retirée du Sommet Africa Energies à Londres, invoquant les échecs répétés des organisateurs à améliorer la diversité, la transparence et l’inclusion des professionnels noirs dans les rôles de direction, de passation de marchés et de négociation. Début avril 2026, la Chambre africaine de l’énergie du Ghana a emboîté le pas, se retirant officiellement du même sommet en raison de pratiques d’embauche discriminatoires qui mettaient à l’écart les professionnels, cadres et prestataires de services africains. Ces actions coordonnées envoient un message clair : l’Afrique ne soutiendra plus les plateformes qui refusent à ses talents le droit de diriger, de contribuer et de bénéficier.

La clé du succès des entreprises en Afrique réside dans une collaboration solide avec des partenaires internationaux tout en renforçant les capacités locales – comme l’illustre la société de services énergétiques Alliance Energy, basée au Sénégal. Alliance a fait progresser l’expertise africaine dans le secteur, notamment en soutenant le lancement de l’Institut national du pétrole et du gaz au Sénégal pour former de jeunes professionnels à des postes de direction, tout en appuyant diverses initiatives énergétiques dans les domaines de l’électricité, du solaire, du gaz et de l’éolien qui renforcent la position du Sénégal en tant que pôle énergétique régional.

Ce succès démontre que les entreprises africaines prospèrent lorsque les talents locaux, le leadership, la sous-traitance et le développement de la main-d’œuvre sont au cœur de la mise en œuvre, parallèlement à des partenariats stratégiques avec les États-Unis, le Royaume-Uni et l’Europe. Toute entité qui tente d’opérer en Afrique sans s’engager à embaucher ou à sous-traiter à des professionnels locaux menace non seulement l’écosystème qui a permis l’épanouissement d’entreprises comme Alliance Energy, mais aussi l’ambition plus large du continent de développer les capacités régionales, l’appropriation locale et le développement énergétique durable.

« Le message est simple », déclare le Dr Ndjuga Dieng, directeur général d’Alliance Energy. « L’Afrique ne restera plus les bras croisés alors que ses talents sont exclus des opportunités sur son propre continent. Le Nigeria, le Sénégal et toutes les nations africaines doivent suivre l’exemple du Ghana et du Mozambique en s’opposant aux plateformes qui pratiquent la discrimination. Protégez votre population, vos entreprises et votre avenir énergétique. L’inclusion n’est pas facultative – c’est le fondement de la croissance. »

Les marchés énergétiques africains ont toujours prospéré grâce à la collaboration, tant au sein du continent qu’avec des partenaires internationaux. Des événements tels que l’Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) et le forum Invest in African Energy (IAE) illustrent ce modèle, en intégrant des dirigeants, des décideurs politiques et des prestataires de services africains dans la programmation principale, la conclusion d’accords et le transfert de connaissances.

Les parties prenantes africaines doivent donner la priorité aux plateformes qui respectent le potentiel local, l’embauche équitable et les contrats justes. Se retirer stratégiquement d’événements exclusifs n’est pas de l’isolationnisme : c’est défendre des principes, la logique économique et l’avenir du secteur énergétique africain. Le continent définit sa propre trajectoire et ne s’engagera qu’avec des partenaires qui reconnaissent que le talent africain est partie intégrante, et non facultatif, de l’avenir de l’industrie.

La position défendue par Alliance Energy s’aligne sur un plaidoyer plus large à travers le continent, notamment celui de la Chambre africaine de l’énergie, qui appelle constamment à des politiques de contenu local plus robustes, à des pratiques contractuelles équitables et à une plus grande inclusion des professionnels africains tout au long de la chaîne de valeur énergétique. Cet alignement souligne un consensus croissant parmi les leaders du secteur privé africain selon lequel une croissance durable de l’industrie dépend d’une participation significative des entreprises et des talents locaux, et non de leur exclusion.

Distribué par APO Group pour African Energy Chamber.

April 10, 2026

N3 reopens near Harrismith following truck obstruction

Source: Government of South Africa

N3 reopens near Harrismith following truck obstruction

All lanes in both directions on the N3 near the Harrismith North Interchange have been reopened on Friday to traffic, after an earlier multiple-truck obstruction.

Motorists are, however, advised to expect ongoing congestion and delays in the area while the traffic backlog is cleared.

N3 Toll Concession (N3TC) Chief Operating Officer Thania Dhoogra has urged road users to approach the area with caution.

“Please remain patient and drive with extra caution until the current traffic backlog has been cleared and mobility is fully restored,” Dhoogra said.

The Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) has also warned that delays may persist for several hours while traffic flow returns to normal.

“We thank motorists for their patience and urge them to exercise caution, as they may still encounter congestion,” the RTMC said. –SAnews.gov.za

nosihle
Fri, 04/10/2026 – 12:07

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April 10, 2026

Public urged to shape new whistleblower protection law

Source: Government of South Africa

Public urged to shape new whistleblower protection law

Government has called on South Africans to help shape a sweeping new law aimed at protecting whistleblowers.

Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, Mmamaloko Kubayi, on Thursday unveiled the proposed Protected Disclosures Bill in Pretoria, describing it as a “critical intervention” to safeguard individuals who come forward with information on wrongdoing.

But while the Bill introduces far-reaching reforms, Kubayi stressed that it is still a proposal — and its final strength will depend on public input before the 14 May 2026 deadline.

The legislation stems largely from findings of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of State Capture, which exposed how whistleblowers were often left vulnerable after speaking out.

Kubayi acknowledged that existing protections have fallen short, pointing to cases where whistleblowers were dismissed, financially devastated or even killed. High-profile figures such as Babita Deokaran, Martha Ngoye, Athol Williams and Mpho Mafole were cited as reminders of the risks involved.

“Many whistleblowers are left to navigate complex legal processes without support, often after losing their livelihoods and assets,” Kubayi said.

The Bill seeks to close the gaps by introducing a more comprehensive framework for reporting and protecting disclosures.

Among its key proposals are:

Clear definitions of what constitutes a protected disclosure and harmful retaliation.
Strict confidentiality rules, with criminal penalties for exposing a whistleblower’s identity.
Access to state-backed protection under the Witness Protection Act, 1998, including relocation and security measures.
Legal assistance through Legal Aid South Africa for those who cannot afford representation.
A complaints mechanism overseen by a retired judge.

The Bill also introduces tough penalties – including up to 15 years in prison – for those who retaliate against whistleblowers or conceal evidence.

Employers would carry the burden of proving that any action taken against a whistleblower is unrelated to their disclosure.

To prevent cases from stalling, the proposed law sets strict timelines:

Disclosures must be acknowledged within five days.
Decisions taken within ten days.
Investigations finalised within 12 months.

A central database will track cases to improve accountability, although it will not store identifying details of whistleblowers.

Kubayi emphasised that this is a Bill that is still going to have to go through public participation.

Government has urged civil society, businesses, labour groups and ordinary citizens to submit written comments before the deadline, stressing that public input will directly influence the final legislation. – SAnews.gov.za

Janine
Fri, 04/10/2026 – 11:50

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April 10, 2026

A Nigéria e o Senegal devem seguir o exemplo do Gana e de Moçambique contra as práticas excludentes

Source: Africa Press Organisation – Portuguese –

Baixar .tipo

O setor privado africano está a alertar para as políticas da Frontier Energy Network que excluem sistematicamente profissionais e prestadores de serviços africanos de papéis significativos nos principais fóruns sobre energia. Tais práticas excludentes ameaçam décadas de progresso no desenvolvimento energético africano, incluindo a capacitação local, a transferência de conhecimento e a participação económica.

A abordagem da Frontier, apresentada como uma plataforma global para África, é, na prática, um sistema que extrai valor do continente enquanto nega aos africanos as oportunidades de liderar, participar e beneficiar. Marginalizar precisamente as pessoas que constroem, operam e sustentam projetos energéticos não é parceria – é exclusão estrutural disfarçada de oportunidade.

As empresas africanas – particularmente na Nigéria e no Senegal, que impulsionam o crescimento regional – devem reavaliar a sua participação em plataformas que perpetuam estas políticas. O capital, o patrocínio e a presença africanos não podem continuar a legitimar fóruns onde as partes interessadas locais são sistematicamente marginalizadas. O acesso ao mercado deve ser conquistado e mutuamente respeitado.

Moçambique e o Gana já estabeleceram um precedente. Em março de 2026, a indústria petrolífera e do gás de Moçambique retirou-se da Cimeira Africana das Energias em Londres, invocando repetidas falhas por parte dos organizadores em melhorar a diversidade, a transparência e a inclusão de profissionais negros em funções de liderança, contratação e negociação. No início de abril de 2026, a Câmara de Energia do Gana seguiu o exemplo, retirando-se formalmente da mesma cimeira devido a práticas de contratação discriminatórias que marginalizavam profissionais, executivos e prestadores de serviços africanos. Estas ações coordenadas enviam uma mensagem clara: África deixará de apoiar plataformas que negam aos seus talentos o direito de liderar, contribuir e beneficiar.

O padrão de excelência para as empresas prosperarem em África é uma colaboração robusta com parceiros internacionais, ao mesmo tempo que se desenvolve a capacidade local – exemplificado pela empresa de serviços energéticos Alliance Energy, sediada no Senegal. A Alliance promoveu a especialização africana no setor, apoiando nomeadamente o lançamento do Instituto Nacional de Petróleo e Gás no Senegal para formar jovens profissionais para funções de liderança, ao mesmo tempo que apoiou diversas iniciativas energéticas nas áreas da energia elétrica, solar, gás e eólica que reforçam a posição do Senegal como um centro energético regional.

Este sucesso demonstra que as empresas africanas prosperam quando o talento local, a liderança, a contratação e o desenvolvimento da força de trabalho são centrais para a execução, a par de parcerias estratégicas com os EUA, o Reino Unido e a Europa. Qualquer entidade que tente operar em África sem um compromisso com a contratação de profissionais locais ameaça não só o ecossistema que alimentou empresas como a Alliance Energy, mas também a ambição mais ampla do continente de aumentar a capacidade regional, a apropriação e o desenvolvimento de energia sustentável.

«A mensagem é simples», afirma o Dr. Ndjuga Dieng, Diretor-Geral da Alliance Energy. «África não ficará mais de braços cruzados enquanto o seu talento for excluído de oportunidades no seu próprio continente. A Nigéria, o Senegal e todas as nações africanas devem seguir o exemplo do Gana e de Moçambique, opondo-se a plataformas que discriminam. Protejam o vosso povo, as vossas empresas e o vosso futuro energético. A inclusão não é opcional – é a base do crescimento.»

Os mercados energéticos africanos têm historicamente prosperado graças à colaboração, tanto dentro do continente como com parceiros internacionais. Eventos como a Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) e o Invest in African Energy (IAE) Forum exemplificam este modelo, integrando executivos africanos, decisores políticos e prestadores de serviços na programação principal, na celebração de acordos e na transferência de conhecimento.

As partes interessadas africanas devem dar prioridade a plataformas que respeitem o conteúdo local, a contratação equitativa e a celebração justa de contratos. A retirada estratégica de eventos excludentes não é isolacionismo – é uma posição de princípio, de lógica económica e em defesa do futuro do setor energético africano. O continente define a sua própria trajetória e só se envolverá com parceiros que reconheçam o talento africano como parte integrante, e não opcional, do futuro da indústria.

A posição defendida pela Alliance Energy está alinhada com uma defesa mais ampla em todo o continente, incluindo a da Câmara Africana de Energia, que tem consistentemente apelado por políticas de conteúdo local mais robustas, práticas contratuais justas e uma maior inclusão de profissionais africanos ao longo da cadeia de valor energético. Este alinhamento destaca um consenso crescente entre os líderes do setor privado africano de que o crescimento sustentável da indústria depende da participação significativa de empresas e talentos locais, e não da sua exclusão.

Distribuído pelo Grupo APO para African Energy Chamber.

April 10, 2026

Title deeds bring jubilation to Limpopo community

Source: Government of South Africa

Title deeds bring jubilation to Limpopo community

Today is a day of jubilation for the community of Sebilong, situated just outside Thabazimbi, in Limpopo, as they received their title deeds from Deputy President Paul Mashatile.

All roads led to Thabazimbi on Friday as the community gathered to witness the title deeds handover ceremony. This landmark ceremony represents a significant milestone in advancing land reform efforts aimed at redressing the injustices of historical land dispossession and restoring land rights to rightful beneficiaries.

The Sebilong community successfully lodged their land claim with the Commission on Restitution of Land Rights more than a decade ago.

According to local community members, the Sebilong Land Claim was lodged by Lazasrus Nkale Tisane on behalf of 89 originally dispossessed households totaling 1 071 verified beneficiaries.

The claimed land is Farm Zwartkop 369 KQ which consists of 21 portions located within the Thabazimbi local municipality which is located in the Waterberg District.

After the claim was approved, the CPA opted for both land restoration and financial compensation.

Through the Department of Land Reform and Rural Development, under the leadership of Minister Mzwanele Nyhontso, more than 340 000 hectares of land has been restored to the community.

Community member Anna Tisani told SAnews.gov.za that they have been waiting for this day to come.

“Although we are getting our land back, I am sad because some of the people we started this journey [with] with have passed on, but I am happy that their families are still here and they will enjoy the benefits.

“I am happy that we are finally getting our land back. We waited for too long for our land to be brought back to us,” she said.

Another community member, Mido Moela, told SAnews that they planned to use the land for ploughing to benefit the community.

“We have been waiting for this day to come. We thank all those who led us during the claim process. It was not easy but we made it. Our children are going to benefit from our land,” Moela said.

Young and old came in their numbers to witness the occasion when the Deputy President hands over the title deeds to the successful land claimants.

To date, the Department of Land Reform and Rural Development has settled over 83 721 land claims nationally, resulting in the transfer of approximately 3 916 733 hectares of land.

This progress underscores government’s continued commitment to resolving land claims and facilitating equitable land ownership among affected communities.

The Deputy President is accompanied on the title deed handover by members of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Land Reform and Agriculture, the Premier of Limpopo, Dr Phophi Ramathuba, Members of the Limpopo Provincial Executive Council, leadership of the Waterberg District Municipality and Thabazimbi Local Municipality as well as representatives of the Commission on Restitution of Land Rights.

READ | Mashatile to hand over title deeds in Limpopo land restitution milestone

–SAnews.gov.za

Edwin
Fri, 04/10/2026 – 10:55

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April 10, 2026

Embryo fossil found in South Africa is world’s oldest proof that mammal ancestors laid eggs

Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Julien Benoit, Associate professor in Vertebrate Palaeontology, University of the Witwatersrand

Between 280 and 200 million years ago, a group of animals evolved which would eventually give rise to mammals, including humans: the therapsids. They were first described more than 150 years ago, based on fossils from South Africa. Since then, many more fossils have been discovered.

James Kitching, one of the most talented South African fossil hunters of the 20th century, excavated many thousands of therapsids from the rocks of the Karoo (a semi-arid region of the country’s interior). He also found fossilised dinosaur eggs, but neither he nor any palaeontologist after him ever found therapsid eggs.

They should exist, because some mammals (platypus and echidnas) do lay eggs. But Kitching began to doubt that therapsids laid eggs: perhaps, he thought, they were, like most of their mammalian descendants, already viviparous (giving live birth)?

We are scientists who study extinct animals and the environments they lived in millions of years ago to understand more about the evolution of life. In our new paper we describe, for the first time, the embryo-containing fossilised egg of a 250 million-year-old mammalian ancestor.

It finally shows that therapsids were indeed egg-laying (oviparous). This discovery sheds new light on the reproduction and survival strategy of that group of animals.

The egg about to be synchrotron scanned at the ESRF. Author provided, CC BY

A 20-year-old mystery

The fossil egg and embryo we described was discovered near Oviston, in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa, by John Nyaphuli, a palaeontologist from Bloemfontein, in 2008. It’s been kept in the National Museum in Bloemfontein. We knew that it belonged to a species that lived 252 million to 250 million years ago called Lystrosaurus, but we didn’t know whether the species was an egg-layer. The adult looked like a pig, with naked skin, a beak like a turtle, and two tusks sticking out and pointing down.

The reason it took 20 years to prove that it had been in an egg is that this fossil preserves no shell. Only a curled-up embryo is visible. If there was a shell, it was likely leathery or had dissolved. Only the most advanced dinosaurs laid hard-shelled eggs.

So how could we find out whether this young creature had once been inside an egg?

The answer to this question lay in the advanced technology of the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility at Grenoble, France. There, we used a powerful X-ray source to image the inside of the bones of the embryo. Under this treatment, the fossil unveiled all its long-kept secrets – most crucially, its stage of development.

3D reconstruction of the embryo based on synchrotron scan performed at the ESRF. Author supplied, CC BY

We discovered that the lower jaws of its beak were not completely fused. This developmental trait is only found in modern turtles and birds in which jaw bones fuse long before they are born so that their beak is strong enough for the hatchling to catch and crush its food.

This meant that our curled up Lystrosaurus embryo had died in ovo (in an egg), tightly nestled in its soft, leathery eggshell. This was the evidence palaeontologists had been looking for.

Thanks to the synchrotron-assisted examination of its lower jaw, we could finally demonstrate that this embryo was indeed that of an unhatched Lystrosaurus baby.

Famous survivor

What does it unravel about the survival strategy of Lystrosaurus?

Lystrosaurus is a herbivorous (plant-eating) therapsid famous for surviving the “Great Dying”, which was a major mass extinction of species 252 million years ago. During this event, 90% of all living things on Earth died. Life almost ceased to exist, which makes this the second most important event in the history of life on Earth after the origin of life itself.

How Lystrosaurus survived this is still an intriguing mystery, but the egg gives a possible clue. The fossil we describe shows that the animal laid arguably large eggs for its body size. Large eggs are produced by species that feed their embryos with yolk rather than milk. The young develop to an advanced stage in the egg and then they hatch. In contrast, monotremes (the platypus and echidnas), which feed milk to their young, lay small eggs because the baby is fed after hatching. The large size of its egg implies that Lystrosaurus did not feed milk to its young.

More relevant to its survival strategy, this further indicates two things. Firstly, it means that the egg was less prone to desiccation (drying out). The larger the egg, the smaller its surface area (comparatively speaking), so Lystrosaurus eggs would lose less water through their leathery shell than those of other species of that time. Given the dry environment during and in the immediate aftermath of the extinction, this was a significant advantage, especially since hard-shelled eggs would not evolve for another 50 million years, at least.

Secondly, a large egg implies that Lystrosaurus was likely precocial, meaning that the babies likely hatched at an advanced stage of their development. Lystrosaurus hatchlings were big enough to feed by themselves and run away from predators, and would reach maturity faster so they could reproduce early.

Growing up fast, reproducing young and proliferating were the secrets of Lystrosaurus survival.

Our ability to identify the fossil egg adds to our understanding of the origin of mammalian reproductive biology and lactation, and the survival strategy of Lystrosaurus in the most devastating biological crisis. This is significant to better grasp how modern species might cope with the current sixth mass extinction of species.

– Embryo fossil found in South Africa is world’s oldest proof that mammal ancestors laid eggs
– https://theconversation.com/embryo-fossil-found-in-south-africa-is-worlds-oldest-proof-that-mammal-ancestors-laid-eggs-277673