Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Posted on

Uganda: Members of Parliament (MPs) Raise Conflict of Interest Concerns Over Standards Council Chair

Source: APO

Kampala top engineer, James Kalibbala, has come under scrutiny for being a member of the Uganda Manufacturers Association (UMA) while at the same time serving as Chairperson of the National Standards Council, which regulates the manufacturers.

Kalibbala, who has accumulated 46 years’ experience but not registered under the Uganda Engineers Registration Board, appeared before Parliament’s Committee on Tourism, Trade and Industry on Wednesday, 19 August 2026, as MPs widened their inquiry into the leadership and governance of the National Standards Council and the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS).

Committee Chairperson, Hon. Boniface Okot questioned whether Kalibbala’s membership of the UMA Advisory Council did not create a conflict of interest, given UNBS’s regulatory responsibilities over manufacturers and their products.

“You are ideally a regulator. Don’t you think, by you being on this advisory council of entities that you’re supposed to regulate is a conflict of interest?” Okot asked stating that individual businesses are the ones that form UMA.

Kalibbala defended the arrangement, saying the council regulates individual businesses rather than the UMA as an institution.

Stella Nyapendi, a member of the council and a legal expert said that she often advises the entity on conflict of interest, but she cannot do much noting that the appointing authority had already made a decision of the council members.

She however said the case of conflict of interest regarding the chairperson had not yet been brought to her attention since the person in question is the chairperson of the council.

The committee, however, continued to scrutinise whether such positions could compromise the independence or public confidence in the National Standards Council, which provides oversight to UNBS.

The inquiry originated from concerns raised in Parliament in October 2025 by Bwamba County MP Richard Gafabusa over the decision by the National Standards Council to send UNBS Executive Director Eng. James Kasigwa on leave pending investigations into alleged insubordination.

The matter, initially referred to the committee during the 11th Parliament, lapsed before being reinstated through a resolution of the 12th Parliament. As MPs examined the circumstances surrounding Kasigwa’s leave, the inquiry expanded to the qualifications, experience and conduct of members of the National Standards Council.

The committee also questioned Kalibbala over his use of the title “Engineer”, after he acknowledged that, although trained as an engineer he was not registered with the Engineers Registration Board.

The committee directed Kalibbala and other council members to submit their academic certificates and curriculum vitae for verification.

The committee is expected to continue examining whether the council’s composition, qualifications and external affiliations meet the standards required of a body responsible for overseeing Uganda’s national standards system.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Parliament of the Republic of Uganda.

Media files

.

Posted on

Deputy Minister Commends Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Volunteers for Contribution to Ghana’s Development

Source: APO

The Deputy Minister for Finance, Hon. Thomas Nyarko Ampem, has commended volunteers of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for their contribution to Ghana’s development and the strong relationships they have built with communities across the country.

Addressing 32 JICA volunteers during a courtesy call at the Ministry of Finance, Hon. Nyarko Ampem expressed appreciation for their dedication and service on behalf of the Minister for Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson.

For the Deputy Minister, the 50 years of volunteer and impactful service of JICA in Ghana was worth commemorating in 2027 noting that, “JICA volunteers continue to remind and rekindle the spirit of volunteerism in Ghana by the demonstration of the importance of giving time and skills to support local communities’’.

He disclosed that government had prioritized the construction of the Volivo Bridge and was planning to facilitate the drawdown of funds to accelerate the project.

The project, he underscored, together with other road investments under governments Big Push programme, would improve transportation and shorten travel distances to parts of the northern Ghana

The JICA’s programme, he opined had impacted several beneficiaries including himself and recalled being taught Mathematics by a JICA volunteer as a child and noted that, “like me, many Ghanaians had benefited from the contribution of JICA volunteers over the years”.

JICA’s cooperation with Ghana dates to 1963, with the first batch of nine JICA volunteers arriving in Ghana on 17th August 1977. Since then, a total of 1,557 volunteers have served in various fields, including education, health and agriculture, providing technical assistance to institutions in Ghana, while over 4,700 Ghanaian officials have received training in Japan or third countries.The delegation included the Chief Representative of the JICA Ghana Office, Mr. Takayuki Uchiyama, and the Counsellor and Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of Japan, Mr. Naoki Mitori. 

According to the Counsellor and Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of Japan, Naoki Mitori, the programme went beyond transferring Japanesse knowledge and expertise, as the volunteers also learnt from Ghanaian Culture, food, language and community experiences.

The visit provided an opportunity for the volunteers, serving in communities across eight regions of the country, to share their experiences and reflect on the relationships they have built with Ghanaians in the communities where they serve.

The event also included an impressive judo demonstration by members of the Ghana Judo Federation, highlighting the cultural and developmental exchanges that have defined the longstanding partnership between Ghana and Japan.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Finance – Republic of Ghana.

Media files

.

Posted on

Have your say on unclaimed financial assets paper

Source: Government of South Africa

Have your say on unclaimed financial assets paper

The National Treasury has invited public comments on a sweeping regulatory proposal to centralise South Africa’s multi-billion-rand worth of unclaimed financial assets under a newly established central administrator.

In 2022, the estimated value of these assets was R88 billion. Unclaimed financial assets include dormant bank accounts, unclaimed retirement benefits, and unpaid dividends, investment and insurance proceeds. 

“The paper proposes establishing a central administrator for unclaimed financial assets. The administrator would be responsible for record-keeping and tracing of asset owners and beneficiaries. 

“It also considers institutional options for the central administrator, including establishing a new entity or appointing an existing administrator with the necessary scale and capabilities,” National Treasury said in a statement on Thursday.

The proposed reforms aim to improve the identification, tracing and payment of owners and beneficiaries of unclaimed financial assets, while creating a consistent national approach to how these assets are recorded, administered and managed.

It is further proposed that financial institutions currently holding unclaimed financial assets be required to transfer those assets to the central administrator and be invested with the Corporation for Public Deposits (CPD), a subsidiary of the South African Reserve Bank responsible for managing public deposits from various governmental entities.

“This would replace the current fragmented approach with a single, accountable system for consolidating information, improving tracing efforts, standardising record-keeping and safeguarding the unclaimed assets, pending lawful claims by owners and beneficiaries. 

“By consolidating assets on a scale through the central administrator and investment with the CPD, the proposed model should also help reduce the erosion of unclaimed assets due to fragmented administrative costs,” National Treasury said.

The proposed reforms to address unclaimed financial assets will be implemented in phases, commencing with unclaimed retirement benefits and subsequently extending to other sectors.

The paper, titled “A Framework to Centralise Unclaimed Financial Assets in South Africa,”  builds on the Financial Sector Conduct Authority’s (FSCA) 2022 and 2024 reports on unclaimed financial assets. 

National Treasury has invited written comments on the proposals set out in the discussion paper and particularly the discussion questions.

Submissions should be limited to 10 pages and sent to Ms Alvinah Thela at retirementreform@treasury.gov.za by 19 September 2026. –SAnews.gov.za

 

 

 

 

 

nosihle

1

Posted on

Comfort Rooms to create safe spaces for student support, wellbeing

Source: Government of South Africa

Comfort Rooms to create safe spaces for student support, wellbeing

The Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities (DWYPD) has welcomed the launch of Higher Health’s first Comfort Room at Ekurhuleni East TVET College’s Springs Campus.

Higher Education and Training Deputy Minister, Dr Nomusa Dube-Ncube, led the official launch on Thursday, with Deputy Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities Mmapaseka Steve Letsike delivering the keynote address.

The Comfort Room is designed as a safe, accessible and stigma-free environment where students can pause, speak openly, seek assistance, access information and connect with appropriate support, without fear of judgement or stigma.

Letsike described the initiative as a practical intervention to help students access support for mental health, gender-based violence (GBV), HIV, and other psychosocial challenges.

“The Comfort Room may appear, at first, to be a physical space. But its meaning is much larger than the walls that contain it,” Letsike said.

Letsike said young people often carry personal challenges into institutions of learning, including mental health difficulties, GBV, HIV-related stigma, discrimination, social isolation, financial anxiety, and other psychosocial vulnerabilities.

“A student does not stop being a young woman when she enters a lecture hall. A student does not stop being queer when they register for a qualification. A student living with HIV does not leave stigma at the campus gate.”

She said access to education should mean more than simply entering an institution.

“It must also mean the ability to remain there, to feel safe there, to belong there, to complete a qualification, to transition into the world of work and ultimately to live with dignity,” she said.

Comfort Room offering

The Comfort Room builds on Higher Health’s established peer-to-peer and peer education model, recognising that young people are often more willing to speak to people they trust and with whom they can relate.

The space can support initiatives including Survivor Clubs, which provide peer support, solidarity and pathways to professional assistance for survivors of GBV.

It can also host Transforming Mentalities Clubs, providing space for reflection, accountability and behavioural change, as well as peer forums for young people living with HIV aimed at reducing stigma, improving treatment literacy, and promoting psychosocial wellbeing.

Other support includes mental health and wellbeing conversations, self-risk assessments, counselling referrals and peer-led assistance. The Comfort Room can also facilitate civic and soft-skills learning covering GBV, mental health, HIV, resilience, relationships, and emotional intelligence.

Getting help

Higher Health is the national agency responsible for providing holistic health and wellbeing support to students across South Africa’s post-school education and training sector.

Letsike said the initiative is particularly important in addressing gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF), noting that interventions should not only focus on responding to violence after it occurs, but also on prevention, early identification, survivor support and changing harmful social norms.

According to Higher Health, approximately 394,216 students have completed GBV self-risk assessments over the past four years, with more than 20,000 subsequently seeking psychosocial assistance or requesting support.

In mental health, more than 457,000 self-risk assessments have been completed, with approximately 188,651 young people identified as needing or actively seeking psychosocial support.

“Behind every one of those numbers is a human being. Perhaps the most important achievement is not simply that someone received a service. It is that somebody was finally able to say: I need help. Because stigma survives in silence,” Letsike said.

Safety and shaping society

She also stressed that the Comfort Room must remain genuinely inclusive and safe for all students, including lesbian, transgender and HIV-positive students, as well as students with disabilities.

“Safety cannot be majoritarian. If a space is safe only for those whose identities are socially comfortable, then it is not yet a safe space.”

Letsike also linked student wellbeing to broader questions of democracy, human rights and citizenship, urging young people to participate actively in shaping society.

She said citizenship extended beyond voting to include standing against discrimination, supporting peers experiencing mental health challenges, challenging HIV stigma, advocating for accessibility, and holding institutions and leaders accountable.

“The measure of today’s success will not be the ribbon we cut. It will be what happens tomorrow when a student walks through that door. Do they find judgement, or dignity? Do they find bureaucracy, or assistance? Do they find silence, or somebody prepared to listen?” Letsike said.

She said the ambition should be to expand the Comfort Room model across universities, TVET colleges and Community Education and Training colleges throughout the country.

“One successful Comfort Room is an important beginning. But a higher education system in which every young person knows that there is a safe door they can walk through is something much greater.

“It is institutional culture. It is social justice. And, in one small but powerful room, it is the promise of our Constitution becoming real,” Letsike said. – SAnews.gov.za 

GabiK

1

Posted on

Concern over number of building collapses

Source: Government of South Africa

Concern over number of building collapses

Public Works Minister Dean Macpherson says investigations into four building collapses, when considered together, point to recurring weaknesses across parts of the built-environment system.

“The principal problem identified by these investigations is inconsistent implementation, inadequate oversight, weak enforcement and non-compliance. At the same time, the reports identify areas in which the regulatory framework itself requires modernisation and strengthening,” the Minister said on Thursday, in Pretoria.

Macpherson was presenting the findings of investigations into four building and construction incidents that occurred in South Africa between December last year and March this year.

The investigations were commissioned against the backdrop of a deeply concerning period for building safety in the country.

The investigations followed serious incidents at Redcliffe in Verulam, eThekwini; Doornkop in Soweto; Ormonde in Johannesburg; and the Magnolia Development in Sea Point, Cape Town.

Across the four incidents, 17 people died, and 24 were injured.

“The second major finding is that significant unlawful construction can remain outside the formal regulatory system for far too long. Redcliffe and Ormonde are the clearest examples.

“In both cases, substantial construction had progressed without prior building approval. The investigations also raise concerns about the wider practice of construction proceeding first and approval being sought afterwards. That is unacceptable,” the Minister said.

He stressed that building approval is not unnecessary red tape.

 “It is a public-safety control. The purpose of obtaining approval before construction is precisely to allow the relevant authority to consider whether what is proposed complies with the law before people are exposed to risk.

“A system in which substantial construction can proceed and only afterwards be regularised fundamentally weakens that protection,” Macpherson said.

The third finding concerns what happens after approval has been granted and construction has commenced.

“The reports identify an excessive regulatory focus on the initial building-plan approval stage. Building control cannot stop when a plan receives a stamp. Authorities need visibility over what happens during construction. They need to know when construction has commenced,” the Minister said.

The fourth finding relates to municipal capacity and capability.

“The investigations raise concerns about shortages of suitably qualified building-control personnel, limited inspection capacity and the ability of municipalities to identify construction which has never entered the approval system,” he said.

Macpherson cautioned against generalising across all municipalities, saying the findings show materially different circumstances among the municipalities involved.

“The reports therefore recommend that the affected municipalities assess and strengthen their building-control capacity and enforcement systems,” the Minister said.

The fifth major issue is professional competence and accountability.

“The investigations raise concerns about inadequate supervision, failures to discharge statutory responsibilities and weaknesses in verifying whether people accepting responsibility for specialised or high-risk work have the required competence.

“The sixth finding is that our regulators do not share enough information with one another. Lastly, the finding raised concerns about consequence management.

“Where owners, developers, contractors or professionals deliberately ignore statutory requirements, penalties must provide a real deterrent,” the Minister said.

The reports recommend strengthening sanctions for violations of planning and construction requirements.

“Taken together, these are not four isolated lessons. They reinforce weaknesses that Government has now seen emerge across successive structural incidents.

“One of the important recommendations emerging from these investigations is that Government needs to become better at detecting risk before a collapse occurs,” Macpherson said.

He added that repeated building collapses point to deeper structural issues that must be urgently reviewed in order to improve building safety and construction oversight.

“As we work to turn South Africa into a construction site, it is critical that we do so in an environment where building construction can be trusted and the loss of life avoided.

“Increasing the pace and scale of construction cannot come at the expense of safety. In fact, the more we build, the more important effective building control, competent professionals, proper construction management and strong enforcement become,” the Minister said. –SAnews.gov.za

 

 

 

Edwin

7

Posted on

Public Works Chairperson Celebrates Winners of Women in Construction at the 2026 ERWIC Awards

Source: APO – Report:

.

The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Public Works and Infrastructure, Ms Carol Phiri, has congratulated the winners of the Empowerment and Recognition of Women in Construction (ERWIC) Awards, held in Johannesburg on 18 August 2026.

The annual awards, hosted by the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB), recognise and celebrate female contractors and built-environment professionals in what remains a largely male-dominated industry. Ms Phiri said the seventh edition of the ERWIC Awards demonstrate that recognising and supporting women in construction must be more than a once-off campaign.

“We congratulate all the women who have been recognised tonight. Your achievements show that women have the skills, determination and ability to succeed in the construction industry. We must ensure that these opportunities are not limited to a few, but that more women are supported to enter the industry, grow their businesses and compete for major projects.”

Ms Phiri noted that while women make up more than 51% of the national population, they account for roughly 10 to 11 percent of the approximately 1.259 million workers in the South African construction sector.

Furthermore, Ms Phiri raised as a concern that women-owned businesses remain concentrated in the lower CIDB registration grades, particularly Grades 1 to 4, while higher-value commercial and civil construction work in Grades 7 to 9 remains largely male-dominated.

“We must change this empowerment pattern by giving women real opportunities to move up the value chain, access bigger projects and build sustainable businesses. The construction industry cannot transform while women remain concentrated at the lower end of the sector,” Ms Phiri said.

The winners of the 16 categories at the 2026 ERWIC Awards:

Project Delivery Excellence of the Year – Women-owned Construction Entity:

  • Grade 1: Galo Maarohanye from GVM Civils for the Renovations to Kgodisong Flea Market
  • Grade 2–4: Shai Tshiskule from Livhone Advisory Pty Ltd for the Design and Construction of Warehouse Extension and Mezzanine Office for ZF Lemförder South Africa Pty Ltd
  • Grade 5–6: Johanna Mokoenene from Lebohile Construction for the Naledi Development: Construction of 26 Housing Units
  • Grade 7–9: Thoko Tshabalala-Shandu from VEA Road Maintenance & Civils for the Emergency Reconstruction of Evaton Municipal Access Road

Rural Project of the Year: Matlakala Radebe from Qualicon Construction for the Borwa Primary Healthcare Clinic Design and Construction
Interior Design and Build Project of the Year: Rene Bengu from Rene Forbay Designs for TLS Centurion Design and Project Management
Specialised Project of the Year: Mpho Bantsijang from Loago Electrical and Construction Pty Ltd for the Supply, Delivery and Construction of 2,5 km Long Diamond Mesh Security Fencing At Nongo’s Joint Project
Mentoring Entity of the Year: Sanele Ndlovu for the Magnacorp Project Managers for Learnerships, Skills Programmes, Workplace Learning Initiatives and Project-based Opportunities
Transformation Entity of the Year: Protilagor Laboratory and Construction for Female Participation in Technical, Managerial and Leadership Roles
Innovative Entity of the Year: Sonto Cheryl Sikhakhane from Zimisele Afrika Consulting for the Langalibomvu High School
Youth-owned Woman Construction Entity of the Year: Ayanda Phumo from Ayanda Phumo Consulting
Woman-owned Construction Entity of the Year: Noko Ramasenya from Noleo Projects Pty Ltd
Woman Mentor of the Year: Thato Mapuleng Elsie Mokhothu from RTT Africa Legacy/Thato M Foundation
Women with Disability Contractor of the Year: Katlego Charlotte Pfupa from Crystal Construction
Exceptional Woman in Construction Contributor of the Year: Tshidi Mndzebele from Avenir Holdings
Academic Excellence in the Construction and Built Environment Sector: Xolile Nokulunga Mashwama from the Walter Sisulu University
Chairman’s Award: Tshidi Mndzebele from AvenirHoldings

Ms Phiri called for greater recognition of the women who are actively shaping South Africa’s physical and economic landscape. She said the committee would continue to support efforts to remove barriers that limit women’s meaningful participation in the construction and built environment.

– on behalf of Republic of South Africa: The Parliament.

Posted on

Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Advances Harmonisation of the Regional Postal Sector Regulatory Framework

Source: APO – Report:

.

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission concluded a two-day Regional Workshop on the Harmonisation of the Legal, Policy and Regulatory Framework of the Postal Sector, held from August 12th to 13th, 2026, in Lomé, Togo.

The workshop brought together experts from ten ECOWAS Member States, alongside representatives of the ECOWAS Commission, the ECOWAS Project Preparation and Development Unit (PPDU), the Pan-African Postal Union (PAPU) and the West African Postal Conference (WAPCO). The purpose of the workshop was to validate the approach and orientations of the regional Directive on Postal Sector Reform and Regulation, and to consider the strategic priorities for a Regional Postal Master Plan covering the medium term.

Welcoming participants on behalf of H.E. Ambassador Deweh Emily Gray, ECOWAS Resident Representative in the Republic of Togo, Mr Jerome Wanyou, Political Advisor, underscored the strategic role of postal services in connecting communities, facilitating regional trade, supporting small and medium-sized enterprises and advancing financial inclusion. He emphasised that modernising and harmonising the regulatory framework goes beyond updating administrative rules to strengthening the foundations of West African integration.

Speaking on behalf of H.E. Dr Omar Alieu Touray, President of the ECOWAS Commission, Ms Folake Olagunju, Director of Digital Economy and Post, highlighted the transformation of the postal sector from traditional mail delivery towards an ecosystem encompassing e-commerce, logistics, digital services and financial inclusion. She stressed the need to ensure that the regional regulatory framework remains fit for purpose and creates an enabling environment for innovation, fair competition and consumer protection.

Mr Mouhamed Lamine Diallo, Executive Secretary of WAPCO, welcomed the review of the 2016 Directive, noting the need to modernise the framework in line with emerging trends in e-commerce, digitalisation and financial inclusion. He also emphasised the importance of establishing mechanisms and timelines for the effective transposition of the revised Directive by Member States.

Similarly, Mme Ndeye Coumba Seck, Director of Postal Services at Senegal’s Ministry of Telecommunications and Digital Economy and chair of the meeting, called for stronger regional cooperation to address the challenges of digital transformation, e-commerce and financial inclusion. She stressed the importance of moving beyond recommendations towards concrete solutions, clearly defined responsibilities and effective implementation.

At the conclusion of the workshop, participants supported the review of the 2016 Directive to better reflect technological, economic and regulatory developments in the postal sector.

Priority areas identified include digital transformation, e-commerce, modernisation of universal postal service, consumer protection, financial inclusion, innovation and strengthened regional harmonisation.

Participants also endorsed the broad strategic orientations for the future Regional Postal Master Plan 2027–2030, focusing on three axes: governance, regional integration and modernisation of the legal framework; digital transformation, logistics and e-commerce; and capacity building, partnerships and financing.

The ECOWAS Commission will continue consultations with Member States in the development of the revised Directive and Regional Postal Master Plan towards building a modern, integrated, competitive and resilient postal sector that supports trade, inclusion and regional economic development across West Africa.

– on behalf of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

Posted on

Egypt: President El-Sisi Receives Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs of State of Qatar

Source: APO – Report:

.

Today, President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi received Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, in the presence of Prime Minister Dr. Mostafa Madbouly, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Egyptians Expatriates Dr. Badr Abdelatty, Minister of Finance Mr. Ahmed Kouchouk; and Director of the General Intelligence Service Minister Hassan Rashad. From the Qatari side, Minister of Finance Mr. Ali bin Ahmed Al Kuwari and Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr. Mohammed Al Khulaifi were present.

The Spokesman for the Presidency, Ambassador Mohamed El-Shennawy, stated that President El-Sisi welcomed the Qatari Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs to Egypt and asked him to convey his greetings to his brother, His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.

The President commended the progress in relations between the two countries and looked forward to further strengthening them across various political, trade, and investment sectors. This includes building on the outcomes of the Egyptian-Qatari Joint Higher Committee to advance bilateral cooperation across various fields.

President El-Sisi also looked forward to increasing Qatari investments in Egypt across various sectors, stressing that the Egyptian state is ready to provide all necessary facilities in this regard.

The Qatari Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs conveyed to President El-Sisi the greetings of the Amir of the State of Qatar, His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and his appreciation for the close relations Egypt and Qatar share, noting Qatar’s interest in working with Egypt to further develop these relations.

The meeting also addressed regional developments. President El-Sisi underscored the importance of containing the current escalation, given its repercussions for the stability of the region, as well as its economic and trade impacts. In this context, the President highlighted the intensive efforts exerted by Egypt to de-escalate the current situation. President El-Sisi also reiterated Egypt’s supportive and steadfast position on the security of the State of Qatar and all Arab countries, as well as its categorical rejection of any attempts to undermine their sovereignty and stability.

The meeting also addressed the ongoing cooperation and coordination between Egypt and Qatar to implement the agreement to end the war in the Gaza Strip. The two sides stressed the need for all parties to fulfill their commitments under US President Donald Trump’s plan to end the war, in a manner that consolidates stability and contributes to the swift launch of the early recovery and reconstruction process, in addition to the need to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid to the Strip. In this regard, the two countries agreed to continue coordination regarding the implementation of the agreement to end the war and to preserve regional peace and stability in general.

– on behalf of Presidency of the Arab Republic of Egypt.

Posted on

Call for SEZs to help create jobs for the youth

Source: Government of South Africa

Call for SEZs to help create jobs for the youth

Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of  Special Economic Zones (SEZs)  have been urged to ensure that SEZ’s create job opportunities, particularly for the country’s young people.

This was the call made by the Chairperson of the Special Economic Zones Advisory Board, Fish Mahlalela, at the two-day SEZs CEOs Forum that was held at the Coega SEZ in Gqeberha, Eastern Cape, from 18-19 August 2026.

“I am convinced that what was discussed here over the two days will manifest itself in the work on the ground that all of you will be able to implement as part of your plans to use the SEZs to change the economy of your provinces. 

“These plans must enable you to contribute to creating jobs in your areas, using the SEZs as centres of industrialisation, hubs of manufacturing and academies of skills development. SEZs should provide infrastructure and unlock opportunities for micro, small, and medium enterprises that are critical in creating these jobs,” Mahlalela said.

At the forum hosted by the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic), Mahlalela cautioned that the forum took place at a critical time when the country was battling with a crisis of youth unemployment.

The purpose of the forum was to discuss the alignment of the implementation plans of the SEZs with the five-year implementation plan of the new Spatial Industrial Development strategy.

“If the crisis of youth unemployment is not attended to it may result in unpleasant consequences. Unemployment in the country is extremely high, and if no intervention is done, we might find ourselves in a very difficult situation.

“Therefore, SEZs become one of the key elements in the broader scheme of things to change this situation. SEZs should assist in intervening and addressing this crisis. There is a huge expectation for the SEZs to make sure that they contribute and assist the country in addressing this problem of unemployment, especially youth unemployment,” Mahlalela explained.

He also urged CEOs to set up skills academies in all the SEZs as part of the new SEZs model advocated by the Spatial Industrial Development (SID) Strategy.

He also called on SEZs to prioritise community involvement and participation.

“No one should be left behind in the implementation of these plans. It is fundamental that we move along with the local people so that they appreciate the work that the SEZs are doing. This will enable them to provide the necessary support that the SEZs require to make an impact in their environment,” Mahlalela said.

The Acting Deputy Director-General of Investment and Spatial Industrial Development at the dtic, Maoto Molefane, said the discussions that took place over the two days will assist in facilitating a seamless and integrated implementation of the SID Strategy for the next five years.

“The session enabled us to chart the way forward towards addressing the challenges that are facing the country, such as the re-industrialisation phenomenon, low gross domestic product growth, and high unemployment, through the implementation of the SID Strategy.  But also, to try and attract investments into the country,” Molefane said.

Molefane further added that Special Economic Zones “will never be a panacea for all these challenges” but that they make an impact in terms of driving industrialisation and spatial development in the country.

He added that the session achieved its objective as the dtic has been able to get a sense of what the various SEZs planned to implement in the next five years. 

The five-year SEZs implementation plan includes converting over R380 billion of combined SEZs investment pipelines into operational investments, infrastructure development, operationalisation of new SEZs, and strengthening capacity.

“We managed to provide inputs on the direction that we as the dtic think they should focus on. The CEOs also learnt from each other on how the SEZs can contribute to driving industrialisation. 

“It was also an opportunity to raise some of the challenges that inhibit the development and growth of the SEZs, such as policy uncertainty. We left with clear areas of concern that we as the dtic need to address going forward to ensure the smooth rollout of the SEZs Programme,” stressed Molefane. – SAnews.gov.za

 

Edwin

1

Posted on

La relance du gaz naturel liquéfié (GNL) au Mozambique et la poussée de la conversion du gaz en électricité façonnent les débats sur l’investissement lors de African Energy Week (AEW) 2026

Source: Africa Press Organisation – French


Le secteur gazier du Mozambique entre dans sa phase la plus active depuis une décennie. Des projets de GNL à grande échelle sont de nouveau en cours de développement, les infrastructures nationales de conversion du gaz en électricité se développent et le gouvernement poursuit ses objectifs en matière d’énergies renouvelables parallèlement à ses ambitions en amont.

Une session dédiée lors de l’African Energy Week (AEW) 2026, intitulée «Investir au Mozambique : libérer le premier front de l’exploration gazière et en amont en Afrique », explorera la manière dont ces développements redessinent le paysage énergétique et d’investissement du pays.

Cette session intervient à un moment charnière pour le secteur gazier du pays. En janvier 2026, TotalEnergies a annoncé la reprise complète du projet Mozambique LNG après une suspension de près de cinq ans. Plus de 4 000 travailleurs sont désormais mobilisés, des contrats d’une valeur de 4 milliards de dollars ont été attribués à des entreprises mozambicaines et la première production de GNL est prévue pour 2029. Le projet représente un investissement total d’environ 20 milliards de dollars et produira 12,9 mtpa à partir de la concession de la Zone 1 dans le bassin de Rovuma.

D’autres projets de GNL avancent à travers le pays. Eni a pris une décision finale d’investissement en octobre 2025 concernant le projet de GNL flottant Coral North, d’un montant de 6 à 7 milliards de dollars, qui ajoutera 3,6 mtpa à partir de 2028, en complément du projet Coral South déjà opérationnel. Le projet Rovuma LNG d’ExxonMobil, d’un montant de 24 milliards de dollars, a franchi une étape clé de l’ingénierie préliminaire et s’achemine vers une décision finale d’investissement. Ensemble, ces trois projets pourraient porter la capacité combinée de GNL du Mozambique au-delà de 25 mtpa d’ici le début des années 2030.

Le volet « gaz-électricité » est tout aussi important pour combler le déficit d’électrification du pays. Empresa Nacional de Hidrocarbonetos s’emploie à renforcer les infrastructures nationales de gazoducs et de logistique afin que le gaz du bassin de Rovuma puisse approvisionner le Mozambique ainsi que ses clients internationaux. Le gouvernement a clairement indiqué qu’il attendait du secteur gazier qu’il contribue à l’industrialisation du pays, non seulement par le biais des recettes d’exportation, mais aussi par la création d’emplois, le développement de fournisseurs locaux et un accès élargi à l’énergie pour les ménages et les entreprises mozambicaines.

Le Mozambique dispose également d’un potentiel considérable en énergies renouvelables, ce qui ajoute une nouvelle dimension aux discussions menées lors de l’AEW 2026. L’hydroélectricité représente déjà environ 70 % de la production d’électricité du pays – grâce notamment à la centrale de Cahora Bassa, d’une puissance de 2 075 MW – et la stratégie gouvernementale de transition énergétique juste vise à ajouter 2 à 4 GW d’hydroélectricité et 2 GW d’énergie solaire d’ici 2030. Les appels d’offres pour des projets solaires à grande échelle progressent, et les solutions hors réseau sont essentielles pour atteindre l’objectif d’électrification universelle d’ici la fin de la décennie.

« Pendant des années, nous avons parlé du potentiel gazier du Mozambique au futur. Avec la relance du projet Mozambique LNG, l’avancement du projet Coral North et le projet Rovuma LNG qui se dirige vers une décision finale d’investissement, le discours a changé », déclare NJ Ayuk, président exécutif de la Chambre africaine de l’énergie. « Il s’agit désormais de concrétiser ces projets, et l’AEW 2026 sera l’occasion pour le secteur de faire le point sur ce que cela signifie pour le pays et le continent. »

Cette session dédiée aux investissements au Mozambique se tiendra dans le cadre de l’AEW 2026 au Cap, du 12 au 16 octobre.

Distribué par APO Group pour African Energy Chamber.