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Government continues drive for energy security

Source: Government of South Africa

Government continues drive for energy security

Mineral and Petroleum Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe has outlined government’s comprehensive plan to fortify South Africa’s energy security, while driving the transition toward sustainable energy.

The Minister delivered the keynote address at the Fuels Industry Association of South Africa Annual Imbizo, which kicked off at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg on Wednesday.

The Minister warned that geopolitical tensions – first between Russia and Ukraine, and now in the Middle East – are a stark reminder that South Africa’s energy security “cannot be taken for granted”.

“The ongoing conflict in the Middle East has once again reminded us that energy security cannot be taken for granted. Events occurring thousands of kilometres away continue to affect fuel prices, supply chains, investment decisions, and economic stability across the globe.

“South Africa has not been immune to these developments. The disruption of global energy supply chains has contributed to increased volatility in international fuel markets and placed pressure on fuel-importing countries, including our own,” Mantashe said.

Despite this, he added, South Africa has “maintained fuel supply stability” through close cooperation between government and the petroleum sector.

“I would, therefore, like to thank the industry for working with government to ensure that fuel supplies remain sufficient to meet domestic demand. This collaboration demonstrates what can be achieved when we work together towards a common objective.

“However… we remain troubled by incidents where some operators increased fuel prices ahead of official price adjustments. While these actions were limited to a minority of participants, they undermined public confidence and tarnished the reputation of the broader industry.

“Compliance with regulatory requirements is not optional. It is fundamental to maintaining public trust and ensuring a level playing field for all participants,” Mantashe emphasised.

Petroleum stocks

To build long-term, sustainable resilience against external shocks, the department has finalised the draft Strategic Petroleum Stocks Policy, which will be put before Cabinet for consideration.

The policy came about after the department commissioned a comprehensive study on the country’s strategic petroleum stocks in 2024, which identified areas for attention, including the need to strengthen stockholding arrangements and increase domestic refining capacity.

“The policy proposes a mixed stockholding model, under which the South African National Petroleum Company (SANPC), will maintain strategic reserves equivalent to 60 days of net imports in both crude oil and refined products.

“This represents a major step towards strengthening South Africa’s resilience against future supply disruptions,” Mantashe said.

This step is complemented by a firm push to unlock domestic upstream potential with the implementation of the Upstream Petroleum Resources Development Act (UPRDA).

“Whereas the publication of the regulations took longer than originally anticipated, we are pleased to report that the extensive stakeholder submissions have been fully considered, and that the regulations are now ready for publication and implementation.

“Together, the Act and its regulations will establish a dedicated regulatory framework for the upstream petroleum sector, which is distinct from mining, thereby creating a more appropriate and investment friendly environment for oil and gas development,” the Minister said.

Furthermore, South Africa can no longer afford to remain a passive buyer in global energy markets and must look inward by accelerating local gas and oil exploration.

“The geopolitical disruptions we continue to witness have exposed the risks associated with excessive dependence on imported refined petroleum products.

“If we are serious about improving our energy security, reducing our vulnerability to external shocks, and strengthening our economic sovereignty, then we must accelerate exploration and development of our own oil and gas resources.

“South Africa cannot indefinitely remain a price taker in global energy markets. We must position ourselves to become producers, where commercially viable resources exist,” Mantashe insisted.

Alternative sources

Turning to South Africa’s energy transition, Mantashe told the conference that the country is intent on a transition that does not abandon one energy source for another.

Related to this, the Integrated Resource Plan 2025 sets out the country’s ambitions to build a “diversified and resilient energy mix that supports economic growth, industrial development, energy security, and environmental sustainability”.

The Minister noted that while conventional fuels will continue to play a role in South Africa’s economy, biofuels remain a major, largely untapped economic and energy resource.

“Within this context, biofuels represent an important opportunity. The development of a sustainable biofuels industry has the potential to support agricultural development, create employment opportunities in rural communities, stimulate new investment, and contribute meaningfully to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

“We have engaged with the Minister of Agriculture [John Steenhuisen], who has expressed strong support for the biofuels programme. This gives us confidence about the availability of feedstock required to support the industry’s growth,” Mantashe said.

Furthermore, regulations on pricing have also been released.

“The publication of the regulated biofuels price last year marked an important milestone in providing regulatory certainty and creating conditions conducive for investment.

“We now look to the industry to partner with government in developing this strategic sector and ensuring its long-term success,” the Minister said.

Moreover, Mantashe said LP Gas is a viable alternative as global tensions wreak havoc on prices on paraffin.

“The recent pressure on paraffin prices should also encourage us to accelerate the growth of the Liquefied Petroleum Gas market. LPG offers households a cleaner, more efficient, and often more affordable alternative for cooking and heating.

“Our mission is to ensure that every South African household has access to LPG as a viable energy option.

“Achieving this objective will require coordinated investment in infrastructure, storage, distribution networks, and market development. Industry participation will be crucial,” the Minister noted.

He called on the industry to work with government to ensure the future of South Africa’s energy security.

“Let us use this imbizo to identify practical solutions, strengthen partnerships, unlock investment, and build a petroleum sector that is secure, competitive, transformed, and capable of supporting South Africa’s developmental objectives.

“Working together as government and industry, we can ensure that the future of energy mobility is not something we merely react to, but something we actively shape,” Mantashe concluded. – SAnews.gov.za

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South Africa’s jobs crisis: what 10 years of tax data tells us

Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Justin Visagie, Associate Professor at the Southern Centre for Inequality Studies, University of the Witwatersrand

It’s time South Africa faced up to an honest question: what if the formal economy can’t deliver the jobs that are needed?

I am an economist who has been working closely with South Africa’s administrative tax data over the past five years – arguably the best way to track progress in the formal sector.

The sobering reality is that the country has gone backwards. And young people are bearing the brunt of the deterioration. The scale of the jobs crisis is now so large that even decades of strong economic growth won’t be enough to eliminate it.

Looking at the last 10 years (2013/14 to 2023/24 tax years) of formal sector jobs data, as reported in the Spatial Tax Panel – a database constructed from employer-employee tax returns – South Africa managed to create only about 130,000 net new full-time equivalent work opportunities per year. This rate of job creation works out at just under 1% growth per annum – which isn’t enough to keep pace with the country’s growing population.

The official statistics from the Quarterly Labour Force Survey confirm this. The number of unemployed job seekers in South Africa has risen from about 8 million to almost 12 million between 2014 and 2024. The reported number of formal sector jobs is also around 12 million.

What is perhaps more alarming is that even if formal sector employment were to grow at 3% per annum, it would still take more than 50 years to substantially reduce unemployment.

The crisis of unemployment youth is deepening

The problem is not only the pace of job creation, it is also who is being left behind. The next cohort of young job seekers is faring worse than ever, according to the latest tax data.

Figure 1 shows how formal employment has shifted across age cohorts in cities, compared with the pre-COVID baseline. It’s drawn from our recent report on the performance and economic outlook for South African cities.

Figure 1: Percentage change in employment by age group across all metropolitan municipalities

Andrew Nell (2026) Chapter 9 ‘The Impact of Covid-19 on Employment in South African Cities’; Cities Economic Outlook 2026; Spatial Economic Activity Data South Africa

The main message is that the pandemic had a dividing effect on labour market outcomes across younger and older workers.

Workers aged above 35 years were surprisingly resilient to the shock. Numbers fell only slightly. They soon reached – and even surpassed – their pre-pandemic levels.

It was younger age groups – either aged 15-25 or 25-35 years – that faced the worst of the layoffs. The 15-25 cohort contracted by 5% and the 25-35 cohort by 15%.

Neither of the younger age cohorts showed much sign of recovery. Job numbers levelled off much lower.

Job creation has apparently shifted even further away from young people. This trend isn’t unique to the tax data; a number of other studies confirm it.

The limits of standard economic tools

What do mainstream economic theory and related empirical work have to say about addressing this crisis?

The economist’s toolbox is powerful when it comes to tweaking incentives, prices and market functioning around an existing equilibrium. The rise in data availability and computational power has also made analysis more precise and useful.

But South Africa’s unemployment crisis is not that kind of problem. It doesn’t need just a small adjustment.

When the required changes are large, the assumptions underpinning the models become less reliable. Attempting to move the dial on unemployment at the scale South Africa requires pushes us into guesswork.

South Africa is facing the prospect of multiple generations with little chance of finding employment. This calls for more than just policy tinkering.

The constraints of standard economic reasoning are illustrated in the debate around minimum wages and the costs of labour. In its simplest form, economic theory suggests that unemployment should all but disappear if you could be flexible about setting wages. Problem solved.

The trouble is that empirical evidence about this is mixed. The employment tax incentive and sectoral minimum wage laws, intended to encourage hiring, showed little effect on employment.

What if South Africa’s market can’t clear out surplus labour even at half the current wage level?

This is further complicated by spatial constraints. For many poorer people, high transport costs mean they can’t get to work even when low-wage jobs are available.

Policy choices

There are other options.

The informal economy is receiving growing policy attention. While I do not want to romanticise the precariousness of many micro and small enterprises, there is reason to believe that this sector could generate far more employment in the future.

According to the Quarterly Labour Force Survey, the informal economy already employs more workers than formal manufacturing.

Another advantage of expanding informal sector employment is that it is often well matched to marginalised communities and places, including township economies, women, and black-owned enterprises.

Yet despite this potential, South Africa still does not have a coherent strategy for supporting small and informal businesses at scale.

Another widely discussed option is some form of basic income grant.

The appeal of this option is that the public sector already has the administrative capacity to do it. It has the blueprint in the Social Relief of Distress grant.

The main constraint is fiscal cost and the associated risks to public finances.

A further set of ideas relates to large-scale infrastructure-led stimulus. This might be complemented by a minimum employment guarantee, such as expanded community works or public employment programmes.

It is likely that the answer lies in some combination of these approaches.

Yet the fundamental challenge across all of them is the financial cost required to scale them to a point where they can make a meaningful difference. Would global financial markets punish South Africa for expanded public spending, or worse, would it destabilise the broader economy?

I am sympathetic to the difficult balancing act faced by the National Treasury.

Taking some strategic bets

Does South Africa still need the formal sector to create millions of jobs?

Without a doubt. But formal employment can’t double in size overnight.

It is difficult to accept a future in which millions of South Africans who are willing and able to work go hungry while the country waits for the formal sector to grow.

It is time to take some bold and strategic bets.

This article was originally published by Econ3x3 under the headline, What if the formal economy can’t deliver the jobs we need?

– South Africa’s jobs crisis: what 10 years of tax data tells us
– https://theconversation.com/south-africas-jobs-crisis-what-10-years-of-tax-data-tells-us-282187

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Vaccination: A thread of protection across generations

Source: APO


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Mohamed arrives at Moungali Health Centre in northern Brazzaville carrying his ten-day-old son, Petito, in his arms. On this particular morning, he is the one bringing his child for vaccination.

“His mother needed some rest, so I brought Petito to receive his polio and tuberculosis vaccines. We want him to receive all his vaccines on time,” he says, highlighting the importance his family places on protecting their child at the very beginning of life.
Around him, consultations continue throughout the morning. Vaccination cards are checked, doses prepared and parents guided through the process. Some have come for their child’s first vaccines, while others are seeking advice or catching up on missed doses.

Every working day, families from surrounding neighbourhoods visit the health centre to access vaccination services. Before each session, parents participate in health talks covering different aspects of maternal and child health.

For Gisèle Manguitoukoulou, a nurse working in the vaccination unit, these discussions are a key part of the job. “Our role goes beyond administering vaccines. We listen to parents, reassure them and help them understand why every vaccination appointment matters,” she explains.

Nearby, Elyam gently rocks her nine-month-old son, Cresty, who has just received his yellow fever vaccine. Comforted in his mother’s arms, the baby quickly calms down and begins smiling again. “Cresty usually cries a little after vaccination, but when I hold him, he feels better and starts smiling again. When that happens, I smile too, because I know he is protected against disease,” she says.

Behind these everyday moments lies a strong community-based effort to ensure families have access to life-saving vaccines. In Brazzaville, this work relies on health centres and dedicated frontline health workers who engage with communities every day.
With support from the World Health Organization (WHO), the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) continues its efforts to improve access to vaccination services, strengthen community awareness and ensure better follow-up for both children and adults.
This support includes training health workers, analysing vaccination coverage data and implementing outreach strategies to reach people who have not yet received all recommended doses.

The results are encouraging. In Brazzaville, vaccination coverage increased significantly between January and April 2026. Coverage for the first dose of the measles-rubella vaccine rose from 85% to 94.4%, while coverage for the third dose of oral polio vaccine increased from 82.4% to 92.3%. “Vaccination protects people at every stage of life,” says Dr Angelie Serge Patrick Dzabatou-Babeaux, WHO Immunization Adviser in the Republic of the Congo. “WHO supports vaccination teams through training, monitoring tools and field activities so that children and adults can more easily access these services and benefit from the protection that vaccines provide.”

This commitment to expanding access to essential health services is reflected in health centres across the country, where every vaccination session helps strengthen the relationship between families and health workers.

For Professor Jile Florient Mimiesse, Director of the Expanded Programme on Immunization, the scenes observed in health facilities illustrate the importance of sustained commitment. “Every vaccination card reviewed, every dose administered and every family counselled contributes to stronger community protection. Our priority is to maintain confidence in vaccines, reduce missed opportunities and ensure that vaccination remains accessible to everyone, from newborns to adults,” he says.

The flow of people seeking vaccination services also highlights the importance of dialogue between health workers and families. Beyond the act of vaccination itself, these interactions provide opportunities to address concerns, review vaccination records and guide individuals according to their vaccination needs.

They also help identify children who have been missed during vaccination drives and support families in continuing care when vaccination cards have been lost.

As the day progresses, vaccination emerges as something that accompanies families through different stages of life. It protects infants, reassures parents and reminds adults of the importance of prevention.

In health centres, this continuity takes a very practical form: adults whose vaccination schedules need to be completed can also receive EPI vaccines free of charge.

Love, a woman in her forties, has just completed her vaccination visit. She proudly holds up her vaccination card, now filled with years of carefully recorded appointments, before placing it back in her bag. On this day, she receives the final dose of a diphtheria and tetanus vaccination series that she began three years ago.

She pauses for a moment, smiles and reflects on what this journey means to her. “Vaccination is not only for children. At every age, it is important to protect yourself. I encourage other adults to do the same and make sure their vaccinations are up to date.”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Health Organization (WHO) – Republic of the Congo.

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KZN Education welcomes return to stability at UMkhumbane High School

Source: Government of South Africa

KZN Education welcomes return to stability at UMkhumbane High School

The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education has welcomed the restoration of stability and the resumption of teaching and learning at UMkhumbane High School in Durban, following a period of disruption that negatively affected the school’s academic programme and the well-being of learners.

The department, led by Head of Department Nkosinathi Ngcobo, witnessed the return of 22 educators and the school principal, Ntokozo Ngobese – marking a significant step towards restoring normality at the school.

The department said a “spirit of optimism and renewed hope” characterised the return of the teachers, with learners enthusiastically welcoming their teachers back to the classroom. The return of educators was met with applause, warm embraces, and excitement from learners eager to resume their academic activities after a prolonged period of uncertainty.

Speaking during a visit to the school on Monday, Ngcobo emphasised that schools must remain centres of excellence, stability and learning, insulated from conflict and focused on delivering educational outcomes.

“The education of our children cannot be compromised. We are encouraged by the spirit of cooperation displayed by all parties in resolving the challenges that confronted the school.

“This outcome demonstrates that constructive engagement and social dialogue remain the most effective tools in addressing disputes while safeguarding the future of our learners,” Ngcobo said.       

On behalf of the Provincial Government and MEC for Education Sipho Hlomuka, the department expressed its appreciation to parents, educators, learners, organised labour, the School Governing Body and community leaders for their patience and commitment in reaching an amicable resolution that ensures that teaching and learning return to normal.

The department reaffirmed its commitment to supporting UMkhumbane High School, as it embarks on a new chapter of unity, stability, and academic excellence.

“Every effort will now be directed towards recovering lost teaching time, strengthening learner support programmes, and ensuring that the school continues to fulfil its mandate of providing quality education to all learners.

“The return of peace and order at UMkhumbane High School serves as a powerful reminder that when communities unite behind the common objective of educating children, sustainable solutions can be achieved, and the future of learners can be protected,” Ngcobo said. – SAnews.gov.za
 

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Let’s Go Bafana Bafana!

Source: Government of South Africa

Let’s Go Bafana Bafana!

By Sandile Nene 
There are moments when time seems to stand still, when millions of hearts and minds are united by a shared experience. Our nation felt this during the 2010 FIFA World Cup when Siphiwe Tshabalala scored a spectacular opening goal for South Africa against Mexico.

Bafana Bafana went on to the draw the game 1-1 and in doing so ignite the dreams of millions during the 2010 World Cup.

Sixteen years have passed since that magical moment, and in a twist of fate, Bafana Bafana will once again face Mexico in the opening game of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. This time we are the visitors and Mexico is one of the three host nations alongside the United States and Canada.  

On Thursday 11 June 2026 our gladiators will enter a cauldron of noise, passion and national pride.  There may only be 11 men on the pitch, but in reality, they will represent an army of millions back home, united in support and bound by a common belief in the power of the national team.

On this day, time will once again stand still as we watch anxiously on tv screens across the nation. The 11 men on the pitch, coaches and management carry the hopes of a nation on their backs.  But they are not alone, they are the embodiment of the resilience and courage of our nation on a global stage.

Time after time we have defied expectations and proven the naysayers wrong. It has always been our greatest strength that when we come together as a nation, anchored by our shared commitment to our country, we can achieve the impossible.

Let us therefore dream of victory and glory on far away fields, while working to ensure that we make our country a better place for all. Let us use this moment of unity and national pride to build a better South Africa.  

Bafana Bafana taking to the field presents an opportunity for us to leave our comfort zones and interact meaningfully with other South Africans. Together we can turn conversations around the water cooler and coffee stations into zones where we interact openly, helping break down the barriers of race, class and cultural differences.

As a nation we share a painful past, but this must not stop us from building a united future for all. Building a shared future requires all South Africans to embrace a common national identity that instils us with pride, patriotism, love for our country, nation building and social cohesion.

To simply assume that the wounds of the past will heal without tangible interventions, dialogue and honest conversations is unwise. We are all united by the love for our flag, our national heroes and our country.  These shared bonds can serve as a catalyst for greater understating, social cohesions and a better tomorrow for all.

Together we can be the generation who builds a better future where we aim to maximise the things we have in common and minimise that which divides us. A future where our diversity and unique heritage unites and inspires us as a nation.

It is this fire that will fuel Bafana Bafana in the cauldron of battle as they face Mexico in the opening game of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Our support will carry our boys as they seek to conquer all before them, and the collective screams of support from millions back home will reverberate in the Estadio Azteca as Bafana Bafana take to the field.

Let us rally behind our national team, wear our Bafana Bafana jerseys with pride and use this moment to strengthen nation-building, unity and social cohesion across our country.  

*Nene is the Acting Deputy Director-General at the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS)

 

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More resources deployed in the Cleveland mass shooting incident

Source: Government of South Africa

More resources deployed in the Cleveland mass shooting incident

The Acting National Commissioner of the South African Police Service (SAPS), Lieutenant General Puleng Dimpane, has directed the deployment of additional national specialised capabilities to augment provincial teams in the investigation of the Cleveland shooting incident.

Dimpane also noted the swift response by the Gauteng Provincial Commissioner and operational teams, following the mass shooting incident, which claimed the lives of 12 people.

The additional specialised resources include members from Forensic Services, Tactical Response Teams and other specialised investigative resources to accelerate efforts aimed at identifying, tracing and apprehending those responsible for the incident.

A multidisciplinary task team comprising provincial and national experts will work around the clock to pursue all investigative and intelligence leads, including the tracing of the white Toyota Quantum allegedly linked to the incident.

According to the police, the shooting incident took place shortly after 23:00 on Tuesday. The police arrived at the scene and found multiple victims with gunshot wounds and immediately requested emergency medical assistance.

Police allege that more than 10 suspects arrived in a white Toyota Quantum near a petrol station in Cleveland before entering the informal settlement through two access points. The suspects allegedly moved through the area, firing at residents at several locations before fleeing in the same vehicle.

“We have reinforced provincial efforts with additional national specialised resources to ensure that the investigation is expedited and that those responsible are swiftly brought to justice,” Dimpane said.

The Acting National Commissioner has conveyed her condolences to the families of the deceased and wished those injured a speedy recovery.

Police investigations remain ongoing, and anyone with information that may assist is urged to contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111 or submit information anonymously via the MySAPS App. – SAnews.gov.za

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Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and African Union (AU) Deepen Cooperation on Early Warning and Conflict Prevention Mechanisms

Source: APO – Report:

The Commissions of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Union (AU) commenced a three-day technical engagement in Abuja aimed at strengthening cooperation between the Continental Early Warning System (CEWS) and the ECOWAS Early Warning and Response Network (ECOWARN). The meeting, taking place from 8 to 10 June 2026 at the new ECOWAS Commission Headquarters, forms part of a coordination and experience-sharing visit by a delegation from the West Africa Regional Desk and the CEWS Situation Room of the AUC in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to the ECOWAS Commission.

The meeting builds on the outcomes of the September 2025 AU–ECOWAS–WANEP Early Warning Desk-to-Desk Technical Meeting on Joint Conflict Analysis and Governance Monitoring in West Africa and seeks to advance the implementation of the agreed roadmap for enhanced collaboration, information sharing, and conflict prevention.

During the opening ceremony, Dr. Onyinye Onwuka, Acting Director of the ECOWAS Early Warning Directorate, and Mrs. Ma-yah Ngalla, AUC Senior Political Officer and Regional Desk Officer for the Sahel and West African Region, underscored the importance of deeper cooperation in a rapidly evolving peace and security environment. They stressed that strengthened coordination, anchored in the principles of subsidiarity and complementarity, is vital to advancing peace and security in West Africa.

Participants in this important technical engagement include representatives of the African Union West Africa Regional Desk, the ECOWAS Early Warning Directorate (EWD), the ECOWAS Directorate of Political Affairs, the Directorate of Peacekeeping and Regional Security (DPKRS), and the West Africa  Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP).

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

Media files

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Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Releases the 2025–2027 Regional Economic Outlook Focused on Food Security and Regional Integration

Source: APO – Report:

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The Commission of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has released on Tuesday, 9 June 2026, the 2025–2027 edition of its **Regional Economic Outlook (REO)**, a flagship report that analyses macroeconomic developments across the region and highlights the challenges and opportunities related to food security and regional integration.

This new publication comes at a time when the international environment is characterized by a moderate global economic recovery, persistent geopolitical tensions, inflationary pressures, and growing uncertainties affecting global supply chains. The report reviews the recent economic performance of ECOWAS Member States, assesses medium-term growth prospects, and proposes strategic policy directions aimed at fostering inclusive and sustainable development across the region.

According to the report, the West African economy has demonstrated remarkable resilience in recent years. Regional real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth is estimated at 4.3 percent in 2024, up from 3.6 percent in 2023. This positive momentum is expected to continue throughout the 2025–2027 period, with projected growth rates of 4.8 percent in 2025, 5.0 percent in 2026, and 7.1 percent in 2027, driven in particular by the expansion of the energy sector, extractive industries, infrastructure development, and financial and digital services.

The report nevertheless highlights several risks that continue to weigh on the region’s economic outlook. These include persistent inflationary pressures, vulnerabilities associated with public debt, the impacts of climate change, disruptions to trade flows, as well as geopolitical and security-related uncertainties.

The 2025–2027 edition places special emphasis on food security, identified as one of the major development challenges facing West Africa. In 2024, more than 34.7 million people across the region required urgent food assistance. The report highlights vulnerabilities affecting the four key dimensions of food security, namely availability, access, utilization, and stability of food systems.

The document also notes that dependence on food imports, recurring climate shocks, post-harvest losses, inadequate irrigation infrastructure, and occasional trade restrictions continue to undermine the resilience of regional food systems.

While acknowledging the progress made in implementing the ECOWAS Agricultural Policy (ECOWAP), the report underscores the need to strengthen coherence between national policies and regional commitments. It also highlights the strategic role of regional mechanisms such as the Regional Agricultural Information System (ECOAGRIS) and the Regional Food Security Reserve in enhancing the resilience of communities across the region.

The 2025–2027 Regional Economic Outlook reiterates that regional integration remains a critical driver for accelerating economic transformation and strengthening food security in West Africa. The report points to the opportunities offered by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), the development of regional agri-food value chains, industrialization, and improved transport and trade infrastructure.

To support sustainable and inclusive growth, the Commission recommends that Member States strengthen domestic resource mobilization, improve public financial management, accelerate investments in agricultural transformation, promote mechanization and irrigation, reinforce early warning and nutrition systems, and reduce barriers to intra-regional trade.

The ECOWAS Commission reaffirms its commitment to supporting Member States in implementing policies that promote macroeconomic stability, food security, structural economic transformation, and deeper regional integration, in line with the ECOWAS Vision 2050.

** Access the full 2025–2027 Regional Economic Outlook Report at the following link: Regional Economic Outlook 2025–2027

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

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Go Bafana Bafana!

Source: Government of South Africa

Go Bafana Bafana!

With the opening whistle set to mark the start of the FIFA Soccer World Cup on Thursday, government has called on South Africans to rally behind Bafana Bafana as they prepare to face Mexico in the opening match of the FIFA Soccer World Cup.

“Government calls on all South Africans to rally behind Bafana Bafana as they carry the hopes and pride of the nation onto the field at Mexico City Stadium. South Africa will face Mexico on Thursday (11 June) at 21:00pm (South African time)  in the opening match of the 2026 Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) World Cup,” Acting Government Spokesperson Nomonde Mnukwa said on Wednesday.

She added that the national soccer team continues to demonstrate determination, discipline and the fighting spirit that defines South Africa.

“As they represent South Africa on the global stage, let us unite in support of our boys by proudly wearing our colours, raise our voices and stand together behind the team.”

Government is encouraging South Africans to wear green or gold on Bafana Fridays as a visible show of support for the team and to demonstrate the unity and spirit of the nation behind our players.

“Football has the power to bring South Africans together and inspire a shared sense of national pride and unity. To Bafana Bafana: the nation stands with you. Fly the South African flag high and continue to make us proud,” she said in a statement issued by Government Communication and Information System (GCIS).

The team has been training at its base camp in Pachuca, Mexico, since last week to help the players acclimatise to the altitude of 2,300 metres above sea level.

READ | Bafana gear up for thrilling World Cup opener against Mexico

The opening match will take place at the Estadio Azteca.

In a recent newsletter to the nation, President Cyril Ramaphosa called on South Africans to unite behind Bafana Bafana as the national men’s football team.

“They carry with them the best wishes of more than 62 million South Africans who will be cheering them on at every stage of the tournament. Bafana Bafana are taking part in the World Cup for the first time since we hosted the event in 2010,” the President said in the newsletter.

READ | Bafana Bafana arrive in Mexico

This year’s FIFA World Cup will be hosted by the United States of America, Canada and Mexico from 11 June to 19 July 2026. –SAnews.gov.za 
 

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Table grape export agreement strengthens SA-Italy ties 

Source: Government of South Africa

Table grape export agreement strengthens SA-Italy ties 

South Africa and Italy have strengthened their agricultural and trade relations following the final approval of a technical agreement that will pave the way for the export of Italian table grapes to the South African market.

The agreement was confirmed during a bilateral meeting between Italy’s Minister of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forestry, Francesco Lollobrigida, and South Africa’s Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen, on the sidelines of the inaugural South Africa–Italy Agribusiness Forum, currently underway in Cape Town in the Western Cape.

The forum is being held under the theme: “South Africa and Italy Building Resilient, Value-Added Agri-Business Partnerships: From the Soil to the Shelf.”

The two Ministers welcomed the conclusion of negotiations that resulted in the formal acceptance of the work plan governing the export of Italian table grapes, a development regarded as a significant milestone for the agricultural sectors of both countries and a catalyst for deeper economic cooperation.

Lollobrigida described the agreement as a major breakthrough for Italy’s fruit and vegetable industry.

“The opening of the South African market to Italian table grapes recognises the excellence and quality of our products and confirms the effectiveness of our diplomatic and commercial efforts,” Lollobrigida said.

He added that the agreement aligns with Italy’s broader strategy of strengthening economic partnerships with Africa and expressed optimism that similar arrangements could be extended to other products, including apples, in future.

The agreement is expected to expand market opportunities for Italian producers, while enhancing agricultural trade between the two countries through complementary production seasons and increased commercial collaboration.

Fostering trade and innovation 

Addressing delegates at a gala dinner hosted by Lollobrigida and the Italian delegation at Idiom Wine Estate in the Cape Winelands on Tuesday, Steenhuisen highlighted the growing partnership between South Africa and Italy. He described the forum as an important platform for fostering trade, investment and innovation in agriculture.

Steenhuisen said the day’s engagements had revealed significant untapped opportunities for cooperation between the two countries.

“What stood out to me was not simply the opportunities that were identified, but the enthusiasm with which people engaged with one another. Throughout the day, I saw business leaders exchanging ideas, researchers making new connections, and people from two different countries discovering how much they have in common,” Steenhuisen said.

The Minister emphasised that the long-term success of bilateral cooperation is rarely built through official agreements alone, but also on shared experiences and through the confidence that comes from understanding one another’s perspectives and ambitions.

“Agriculture is ultimately a people business. It may involve technology, machinery, science and innovation, but at its heart, it is still about people, farmers who rise before the sun, families who have worked the same land for generations, entrepreneurs willing to take risks, researchers searching for solutions, and businesses looking for new opportunities,” the Minister said.

He noted that South Africa and Italy share strong agricultural traditions, a commitment to innovation and a deep appreciation for food, agriculture, family, tradition and the importance of preserving what they inherit, while continually innovating for the future.

“Agriculture is about far more than production alone. It is about communities, culture, heritage and the people whose livelihoods depend on the success of the sector. Across both South Africa and Italy, agriculture has helped shape landscapes, sustain rural economies and create traditions that are passed from one generation to the next. Those shared values provide a strong foundation for the partnership we are building,” Steenhuisen said. – SAnews.gov.za
 

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