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Afreximbank Invites Rugby Africa President Herbert Mensah to Address the 33rd Annual Meetings on a Panel Exploring Sport as a Driver of African Industrialisation

Source: APO

Rugby Africa (www.RugbyAfrique.com), the governing body of rugby in Africa, today announced that its President, Herbert Mensah, has been invited by Prof. George Elombi, President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), to participate in the 33rd Afreximbank Annual Meetings (AAM) (https://2026.AfreximbankEvents.com), taking place from 21 to 24 June 2026 in El-Alamein, Egypt, under the auspices of His Excellency Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, President of the Arab Republic of Egypt.

Mr. Mensah will speak on a high-level panel, “From Africa’s Factories to the Pitch: Sports as a Conduit to Africa’s Industrialisation,” scheduled for 22 June 2026. The session will explore how the continent’s fast-growing sports and creative industries can anchor a broader industrial base — moving Africa beyond reliance on imported kits, boots, and balls toward developing capabilities across the wider sports value chain, including stadium technologies, broadcasting equipment, fitness products, and sports medicine supplies.

This year’s Annual Meetings convene under the theme “Intra-African Trade and Industrialisation: Pathway to Economic Sovereignty,” bringing together Afreximbank shareholders, heads of state and government dignitaries from Africa and the Caribbean, ministers, central bank governors, leaders of major financial institutions, corporates, and members of the academic community.

The invitation recognises the global scale of the opportunity. The global sports apparel industry is currently estimated at USD 230 billion and is projected to reach USD 325 billion by 2034, while Africa’s market — valued at roughly USD 30 billion — remains heavily dependent on imports. The panel will examine how the continent can capture a meaningful share of this expanding value through domestic manufacturing and global partnerships.

“I am honoured to accept President Elombi’s invitation. Sport is one of Africa’s most powerful and most underestimated economic assets,” said Herbert Mensah, President of Rugby Africa. “Every jersey, every ball, and every stadium represents jobs, skills, and industries that can and should be built on this continent. Rugby is growing faster in Africa than almost anywhere in the world, and that growth must translate into factories, value chains, and opportunity for African people. I look forward to bringing that message to El-Alamein.”

As President of Rugby Africa, Mr. Mensah also serves as an Executive Board Member of World Rugby and as Chairman of World Rugby Regions — the body uniting the presidents of all six continental rugby associations: Rugby Europe, Asia Rugby, Rugby Americas North (RAN), Sudamérica Rugby, Oceania Rugby, and Rugby Africa. His participation brings a global rugby perspective to a conversation centred on Africa’s industrial future.

Rugby Africa welcomes Afreximbank’s continued leadership in advancing intra-African trade and industrialisation, and looks forward to contributing to a discussion that places sport firmly within the continent’s economic sovereignty agenda.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Rugby Africa.

Media Contact:
Nicole Vervelde
Communications Manager
nicole.vervelde@rugbyafrique.com

About Rugby Africa:
Rugby Africa (www.RugbyAfrique.com) is the governing body of rugby in Africa and one of the regional associations under World Rugby. It unites all African countries that play rugby union, rugby sevens, and women’s rugby. Rugby Africa organises various competitions, including qualifying tournaments for the Rugby World Cup and the Africa Sevens, a qualifying competition for the Olympic Games. With 40 member unions, Rugby Africa is dedicated to promoting and developing rugby across the continent. World Rugby has identified Ghana, Nigeria and Zambia as three of the six emerging nations experiencing strong growth in rugby.

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President Ramaphosa to table The Presidency Budget Vote 2026/2027

Source: President of South Africa –

President Cyril Ramaphosa will today, Tuesday, 02 June 2026, table the 2026/2027 Presidency Budget Vote before the National Assembly in Parliament, Cape Town.

The Presidency’s focus is on growing the economy, reducing poverty and building a capable, ethical and developmental state as part of implementing the priorities of the Government of National Unity.

The Presidency Budget Vote for 2026/2027 includes specific allocations for key sub-departments within the Presidency, including State Security Agency, the Government Communication and Information System and Statistics South Africa. 

Centred in this year’s Budget Vote are priorities such as an intelligence-led approach to dismantle criminal networks, coordinating government communication for an informed, empowered citizenry as well as modernising national statistics. 

This is geared to help combat misinformation and advancing evidence-based decision-making in service delivery.

The President’s delivery of the Budget Vote address is customarily followed by a debate among Members of Parliament.

President Ramaphosa will reply to this debate on Wednesday 03 June 2026. 

The President’s Budget Vote tabling represents practical checks and balance on Parliament and accountability mechanism for the public to monitor how public funds and resources are allocated.

Details of the Presidency Budget Vote 2026/2027 are as follows:

Presidency Budget Vote:
Date: Tuesday, 02 June 2026
Time: 14h00
Venue: Good Hope Chambers, Parliament, Cape Town

Reply to Presidency Budget Vote debate:
Date: Wednesday, 03 June 2026
Time: 14h00
Venue: Good Hope Chambers, Parliament, Cape Town

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria
 

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Afreximbank Deepens Commitment to Economic Progress in The Bahamas

Source: APO – Report:

African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) (www.Afreximbank.com) held a high-level roadshow in Nassau, The Bahamas, on 29 May, aimed at deepening engagement with key stakeholders and businesses across the government, the private sector, and financial institutions across the country.

Organised as part of the Bank’s broad strategy to strengthen trade, investment, and economic cooperation between Africa and the Caribbean, the roadshow which took place under the theme “Investing in progress through the implementation of the Afreximbank mandate in The Bahamas” built on the current achievements between the Bank and The Bahamas to explore more opportunities for shared prosperity.

The roadshow follows an approval by the Board of Directors of Afreximbank of a financing facility of up to US$ 5-billion for the Caribbean region, including The Bahamas. This approval signals Afreximbank’s commitment to advancing the objectives of the Global Africa agenda by strengthening commercial and financial ties between Africa and the Caribbean.

The event was officiated by the Honourable Philip Davis, Prime Minister of The Bahamas and well attended by the business community in The Bahamas, provided a platform for Afreximbank to showcase its suite of financing, advisory and trade facilitation solutions available to businesses and institutions in The Bahamas and to foster stronger institutional partnerships.

Speaking at the roadshow, the Prime Minister said: “Economic growth must translate into broader economic participation, ensuring that more Bahamians have the chance to build businesses, create jobs, and share in the country’s progress. We have made some progress in this area, but continuing to strengthen access to capital through institutions such as the Afreximbank is an important part of our ongoing efforts.”

“This roadshow also reminds us of the importance of regional and international cooperation at a time when many economies are navigating uncertainty,” he added.

While making his opening remarks, Mr. Ihejirika said: “In less than three years of operations within the CARICOM, Afreximbank has demonstrated a strong commitment to economic development in the region, especially in The Bahamas by supporting key projects across critical sectors. To date, the Bank has facilitated approximately USD 140 million in infrastructure financing through Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangements, while also extending USD 30 million in support to the small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) sector. These investments underscore Afreximbank’s mandate to drive sustainable growth, enhance economic resilience, and expand opportunities for businesses and communities throughout The Bahamas.”

Other notable speakers who attended the event include Honourable Michael B. Halkitis, Minister of Finance and Honourable Ginger M. Moxey, Minister of Grand Bahama, Mr. Atario Mitchell, President, Bahamas Stripping Group of Companies and Mr. Kino Simmons, Managing Director CAT Island Development Company.

– on behalf of Afreximbank.

Media Contact:
Vincent Musumba
Communications and Events Manager (Media Relations)
Email: press@afreximbank.com

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About Afreximbank:
African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) is a Pan-African multilateral financial institution mandated to finance and promote intra- and extra-African trade. For over 30 years, the Bank has been deploying innovative structures to deliver financing solutions that support the transformation of the structure of Africa’s trade, accelerating industrialisation and intra-regional trade, thereby boosting economic expansion in Africa. A stalwart supporter of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), Afreximbank has launched a Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) that was adopted by the African Union (AU) as the payment and settlement platform to underpin the implementation of the AfCFTA. Working with the AfCFTA Secretariat and the AU, the Bank has set up a US$10 billion Adjustment Fund to support countries effectively participating in the AfCFTA. At the end of December 2024, Afreximbank’s total assets and contingencies stood at over US$40.1 billion, and its shareholder funds amounted to US$7.2 billion. Afreximbank has investment grade ratings assigned by GCR (international scale) at “Stable”, Moody’s (Baa2), China Chengxin International Credit Rating Co., Ltd (CCXI) (AAA), and Japan Credit Rating Agency (JCR) (A-). Afreximbank has evolved into a group entity comprising the Bank, its equity impact fund subsidiary called the Fund for Export Development Africa (FEDA), and its insurance management subsidiary, AfrexInsure (together, “the Group”). The Bank is headquartered in Cairo, Egypt.

For more information, visit: www.Afreximbank.com

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African Electric Vehicle (EV) platform Spiro raises $215M in equity to scale electric mobility and energy infrastructure across Africa

Source: APO – Report:

  • Leading scale-up Spiro has secured a landmark $215M investment round backed by major institutional investors including Impact Fund Denmark, and Equitane.
  • With Spiro already operating across seven of Africa’s fastest-growing urban markets, this transaction positions Spiro among the continent’s leading clean infrastructure platforms. This investment will accelerate the expansion of Spiro’s battery-swapping network, industrial footprint and next-generation electric vehicles (EV) infrastructure across high-growth African markets.
  • As African economies push to reduce dependence on imported fuel, reinforce energy and industrial sovereignty, and modernize urban transport systems, global investors are increasingly turning to scalable EV infrastructure platforms.​

Scaling Africa’s next-generation mobility and energy ecosystem

Spiro (www.Spironet.com) announces a $215M investment round to accelerate the deployment of its electric mobility and battery-swapping infrastructure across Africa. Building on the support of long-standing institutional partners such as FEDA, Spiro’s latest equity round draws global capital from Europe and Africa, confirming growing global confidence in scalable infrastructure-led business models across emerging markets.

Following years of optimization across its product portfolio, technology and energy ecosystem, Spiro has moved past the proof-of-concept phase and stands ready to execute its next chapter of pan-African expansion. This investment will support the expansion of Spiro’s battery-swapping network, strengthen its industrial and assembly footprint, accelerate technology development and support the company’s entry into new high-growth African markets.

Global investors back Africa’s fast-growing mobility and energy transition

As Africa’s urban population and mobility needs continue to surge, electric vehicles and battery-swapping ecosystems are rapidly emerging as one of the continent’s most promising infrastructure and energy investment opportunities.

Reducing dependence on imported fuel, strengthening energy and industrial sovereignty and modernizing urban transport systems are becoming strategic priorities across the continent, positioning EV infrastructure as a key pillar of Africa’s economic resilience and industrial development.

Driven by rising fuel costs, increasing demand for affordable transportation and growing policy support for clean energy solutions, investors are increasingly backing scalable EV platforms capable of supporting Africa’s next phase of urban and industrial growth.

For riders, the economic impact is immediate: operating a Spiro electric vehicle can reduce daily mobility costs by up to 40%, generating savings of up to $2 per day compared to fossil-fuel motorcycles.

Recent third-party verified lifecycle assessment results conducted on Spiro’s operations in Kenya further highlight the environmental impact potential of EV infrastructure deployment across African cities:

  • Spiro’s electric bikes deliver a 72% reduction in climate impact compared to fossil-fuel motorcycles, equivalent to approximately 19 tons of CO₂ emissions avoided over a vehicle’s lifespan.
  • The study also identified an 80% reduction in ozone depletion potential and a 20% reduction in particulate matter emissions, underscoring the role electric mobility can play in improving urban air quality and reducing public health risks across rapidly growing cities.

Powering Africa’s mobility revolution at scale

With operations across 7 African markets (Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, Togo, Benin, Nigeria, Cameroon) and further plans to expand local production and enter new markets such as DRC and Ethiopia, Spiro is building one of Africa’s most advanced EV and battery-swapping ecosystems.

Spiro’s industrial footprint includes flagship manufacturing plants in Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda, alongside a state-of-the-art battery recycling facility in Nigeria. Combining locally adapted vehicle design, affordable battery-swapping infrastructure and integrated maintenance ecosystems, Spiro is making electric mobility commercially viable at scale for African riders.

Spiro’s technology platform is supported by its R&D center, 150+ engineers and 30+ proprietary patents. The company is actively expanding beyond urban transport into a distributed clean-energy utility network that supports national renewable energy goals while reducing dependence on imported fossil fuels. Its innovations include IoT-enabled, solar-powered swap stations, alongside secondary-life battery applications designed for stationary renewable energy storage.

Investor quotes

“This past year marked a defining strategic milestone for Spiro. Across seven active markets, our deployment of 100,000 electric vehicles and 2,500 smart-swap stations has turned sustainable mobility into an affordable, everyday reality. Spiro has become a major driver of local industrialization, value creation and manufacturing across African markets with 6,000 sustainable direct and indirect jobs. Supported by our global pool of investors, we are entering our next growth chapter to deliver clean, cost-effective energy and transport alternatives to millions of riders across the continent”, stated Gagan Gupta, Founder of Spiro and Chairman of Equitane.

“We are investing in Spiro and bringing Danish pension capital into one of Africa’s most promising growth markets because we see potential for significant commercial growth in Spiro and electric mobility across Africa, as well as measurable climate impact. That is exactly the type of investment we want to make,” says Lars Bo Bertram, CEO of Impact Fund Denmark.

– on behalf of Spiro.

Media Contact:
Flora Limukii
Head of Corporate Communications, Spiro
Email: communications@spironet.com

Thøger Høgh Selmer Kirk
External Communications Director
Email: tki@impactfund.dk

About Spiro:
Spiro is Africa’s largest electric mobility company and operates the continent’s most extensive battery-swapping network for electric two-wheel vehicles. With more than 100,000 electric motorcycles on the road, over 2,500 swapping stations and more than 30 million battery swaps to date, Spiro is replacing expensive fossil-fuel transport with affordable, accessible and sustainable mobility solutions. Through its growing regional production and assembly footprint, Spiro is committed to building electric vehicles made in Africa by Africans for Africa and the world. www.Spironet.com

About Impact Fund Denmark:
Impact Fund Denmark is a Danish impact investor and Denmarks’ Development Finance Institution contributing to green, just and inclusive societies as well as supporting the Sustainable Development Goals. Impact Fund Denmark provides risk capital to companies operating in developing countries across Africa, Asia, Latin America and Ukraine. Investments are made on commercial terms in the form of equity, loans and guarantees. Impact Fund Denmark has co-invested in over 1,300 companies in more than 100 developing countries and emerging markets. Capital under management will increase from DKK 25 billion in 2025 to DKK 45 billion in 2030. Read more at www.ImpactFund.dk 

About Equitane:
Equitane is a long-term investment platform deeply invested in fostering progress in Africa and beyond. Its diverse portfolio spans across infrastructure, renewable energy, electric vehicles, healthcare, manufacturing and technology. Equitane is committed to driving sustainable economic development through innovation and strategic investments, ensuring projects deliver tangible positive impacts while supporting local communities and stakeholders. For more details, please visit www.Equitane.com

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La plateforme africaine de véhicules électriques Spiro lève 215 millions de dollars en fonds propres pour accélérer la mobilité électrique et les infrastructures énergétiques à travers l’Afrique

Source: Africa Press Organisation – French

  • Spiro, scale-up de premier plan, a sécurisé une levée de fonds historique de 215 millions de dollars soutenue par de grands investisseurs institutionnels, notamment Impact Fund Denmark et Equitane.
  • Déjà présent dans sept des marchés urbains les plus dynamiques d’Afrique, Spiro s’impose désormais comme l’une des principales plateformes d’infrastructures propres du continent. Cet investissement permettra d’accélérer l’expansion de son réseau d’échange de batteries, de renforcer son empreinte industrielle et de développer ses infrastructures de nouvelle génération dédiées aux véhicules électriques sur les marchés africains à forte croissance.
  • Alors que les économies africaines cherchent à réduire leur dépendance aux carburants importés, à renforcer leur souveraineté énergétique et industrielle et à moderniser leurs systèmes de transport urbain, les investisseurs internationaux s’intéressent de plus en plus aux plateformes d’infrastructures de mobilité électrique capables de se développer à grande échelle.

​Accélérer le développement du nouvel écosystème africain de mobilité et d’énergie

Spiro (www.Spironet.com) annonce une levée de fonds de 215 millions de dollars pour accélérer le déploiement de ses infrastructures de mobilité électrique et de son réseau d’échange de batteries à travers l’Afrique. S’appuyant sur le soutien de partenaires institutionnels de longue date tels que FEDA, cette nouvelle opération attire des capitaux provenant d’Europe et d’Afrique, témoignant de la confiance croissante des investisseurs internationaux dans les modèles économiques fondés sur les infrastructures dans les marchés émergents.

Après plusieurs années d’optimisation de son portefeuille de produits, de ses technologies et de son écosystème énergétique, Spiro a dépassé le stade du proof of concept et s’apprête à ouvrir un nouveau chapitre de son expansion panafricaine. Cette levée de fonds permettra notamment d’étendre le réseau d’échange de batteries de l’entreprise, de renforcer ses capacités industrielles, d’accélérer le développement technologique et de soutenir son entrée sur de nouveaux marchés africains à fort potentiel.

Les investisseurs internationaux misent sur l’essor de la mobilité électrique et de la transition énergétique en Afrique

Alors que la population urbaine africaine continue de croître rapidement et que les besoins en mobilité augmentent, les véhicules électriques et les écosystèmes d’échange de batteries s’imposent progressivement comme l’une des opportunités d’investissement les plus prometteuses du continent dans les secteurs des infrastructures et de l’énergie.

La réduction de la dépendance aux carburants importés, le renforcement de la souveraineté énergétique et industrielle ainsi que la modernisation des systèmes de transport urbain figurent désormais parmi les priorités stratégiques de nombreux pays africains. Dans ce contexte, les infrastructures dédiées aux véhicules électriques apparaissent comme un pilier essentiel de la résilience économique et du développement industriel du continent.

Portés par la hausse des prix des carburants, la demande croissante pour des solutions de transport abordables et le soutien grandissant des pouvoirs publics sur les énergies propres, les investisseurs s’intéressent de plus en plus aux plateformes de mobilité électrique capables de se développer à grande échelle et d’accompagner la prochaine phase de croissance urbaine et industrielle de l’Afrique.

Pour les conducteurs, l’impact économique est immédiat : l’utilisation d’un véhicule électrique Spiro peut permettre de réduire les coûts de mobilité quotidiens jusqu’à 40 %, générant des économies allant jusqu’à 2 dollars par jour par rapport aux motos à carburant fossile.

Les résultats récents d’une analyse du cycle de vie vérifiée par un tiers, menée sur les opérations de Spiro au Kenya, mettent en lumière le potentiel d’impact environnemental du déploiement d’infrastructures de VE dans les villes africaines :

  • Les motos électriques de Spiro permettent une réduction de 72 % de l’impact climatique par rapport aux motos thermiques, ce qui équivaut à environ 19 tonnes d’émissions de CO₂ évitées sur la durée de vie d’un véhicule.
  • L’étude fait également ressortir une réduction de 80 % du potentiel d’appauvrissement de la couche d’ozone et une diminution de 20 % des émissions de particules fines, soulignant le rôle que la mobilité électrique peut jouer dans l’amélioration de la qualité de l’air urbain et la réduction des risques sanitaires dans les villes à forte croissance.

​Propulser la révolution de la mobilité en Afrique à grande échelle

Présent sur 7 marchés africains (Kenya, Rwanda, Ouganda, Togo, Bénin, Nigeria, Cameroun) et avec des projets d’expansion de sa production locale ainsi que d’entrée sur de

nouveaux marchés tels que la République démocratique du Congo et l’Éthiopie, Spiro construit l’un des écosystèmes de véhicules électriques et d’échange de batteries les plus avancés du continent.

L’empreinte industrielle de Spiro comprend des sites de production de référence au Kenya, au Rwanda et en Ouganda, ainsi qu’une installation de recyclage de batteries de dernière génération au Nigeria. En combinant des véhicules conçus pour répondre aux besoins des marchés locaux, un réseau d’échange de batteries accessible et des services de maintenance intégrés, l’entreprise contribue à rendre la mobilité électrique économiquement viable à grande échelle pour les conducteurs africains.

La plateforme technologique de Spiro s’appuie sur un centre de recherche et développement, plus de 150 ingénieurs et un portefeuille de plus de 30 brevets propriétaires. Au-delà du transport urbain, l’entreprise développe progressivement un réseau décentralisé d’énergie propre destiné à soutenir les objectifs nationaux en matière d’énergies renouvelables tout en réduisant la dépendance aux combustibles fossiles importés. Parmi ses innovations figurent notamment des stations d’échange de batteries alimentées par l’énergie solaire et connectées grâce à l’Internet des objets (IoT), ainsi que des solutions de réutilisation des batteries en seconde vie, conçues pour le stockage stationnaire d’énergie renouvelable.

Déclarations des investisseurs

« Cette dernière année a marqué un tournant stratégique pour Spiro. Dans nos sept marchés opérationnels, le déploiement de 100 000 véhicules électriques et de 2 500 stations de recharge ont permis de faire de la mobilité durable une réalité accessible et abordable au quotidien. Spiro est devenu un acteur majeur de l’industrialisation locale, de la création de valeur et de production sur les marchés africain contribuant à la création de 6000 emplois durables, directs et indirects. Avec le soutien de nos investisseurs internationaux, nous entamons aujourd’hui une nouvelle phase de croissance afin d’offrir à des millions d’usagers africains des solutions de mobilité et d’énergie propres, performantes et abordables. » a déclaré Gagan Gupta, Fondateur de Spiro et Président d’Equitane.

« Nous investissons dans Spiro et mobilisons des capitaux issus des fonds de pension danois dans l’un des marchés de croissance les plus prometteurs d’Afrique, car nous sommes convaincus du fort potentiel de développement commercial de Spiro et de la mobilité électrique sur le continent, ainsi que de leur capacité à générer un impact climatique mesurable. C’est précisément le type d’investissement que nous souhaitons soutenir. » explique Lars Bo Bertram, PDG d’Impact Fund Denmark.

Distribué par APO Group pour Spiro.

Plus d’informations sur www.Spironet.com

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Qatar Strongly Condemns Repeated Iranian Attacks on Kuwait

Source: Government of Qatar

Doha | June 1, 2026

The State of Qatar vehemently condemns the repeated Iranian attacks on the State of Kuwait, labeling them a flagrant violation of Kuwait’s sovereignty and the international rules-based order.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stresses the necessity of shielding the region from the consequences of unprovoked attacks and de-escalating tensions to restore regional and global security and stability.

The Ministry reiterates that the State of Qatar fully stands by the State of Kuwait and backs all measures it takes to safeguard its sovereignty and security.

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Government ramps up FMD response while safeguarding export markets

Source: Government of South Africa

Government ramps up FMD response while safeguarding export markets

South Africa is successfully maintaining key livestock export markets despite the ongoing Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) outbreak, says Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen.

Speaking at a media briefing in Parliament on Monday, Steenhuisen said retaining and expanding export markets was critical for supporting farm incomes, sustaining processing facilities and protecting jobs across the agricultural value chain.

The Minister said South Africa’s response to FMD had entered a new phase, with record vaccine acquisitions, intensified vaccination efforts and sustained engagement with international trading partners.

Since February, South Africa has procured 13.5 million doses of FMD vaccine and vaccinated nearly 4.4 million animals nationwide, making it the largest vaccine acquisition programme ever undertaken by the state. 

A further 3.5 million vaccine doses arrived in the country last week, while regulatory approval has been granted for the importation of an additional 14 million doses to support booster vaccinations.

Government has invested R494 million in vaccine procurement and deployment to date.

“Protecting the national cattle population, safeguarding jobs, preserving food security and restoring confidence in the livestock economy are national priorities,” Steenhuisen said.

While acknowledging the significant hardship experienced by farmers due to movement restrictions, higher feed costs and market uncertainty, the Minister said government had shouldered the financial burden of the vaccination campaign to reduce the impact of the outbreak on producers.

He paid tribute to farmers who had complied with movement controls and vaccination programmes despite facing severe financial pressure.

“Their cooperation has been essential to containing the outbreak and protecting the broader livestock industry,” he said.

A key focus of government’s response has been ensuring that disease-control measures do not unnecessarily disrupt trade.
Steenhuisen said South Africa had worked extensively with international trading partners to maintain market access for livestock products through science-based risk management measures.

As a result, Jordan remains open to South African exports and shipments are already taking place. 

The United Arab Emirates continues to accept South African products under updated certification arrangements, while Hong Kong remains open for red meat exports. Kuwait also remains open under agreed conditions, and discussions with Qatar are progressing positively.

South Africa is expected to engage additional markets this week, including Tunisia, Lebanon, Egypt, Bahrain, Oman and Saudi Arabia, with proposals aimed at facilitating continued trade.

The livestock sector forms part of a broader agricultural industry that continues to perform strongly despite disease outbreaks, severe weather events and logistical challenges.

Agricultural exports grew by 7% over the past year, while the sector generated a trade surplus of approximately US$7.3 billion in 2025, an increase of 18% compared with the previous year. 

The citrus industry recorded one of its strongest export performances on record during the same period.

Steenhuisen highlighted South Africa’s role in strengthening regional cooperation on animal health following a recent Southern African Development Community (SADC) ministerial meeting in Zimbabwe.

South Africa welcomed the decision by SADC Ministers and livestock experts to prioritise the development of a Regional Coordination Framework for Foot and Mouth Disease control.

The proposed framework aims to improve cooperation across borders through progressive buffer zoning, coordinated vaccination efforts, strengthened surveillance systems, biosecurity corridors and compartmentalisation models designed to limit the spread of disease while protecting trade.

“In a region where livestock mobility, wildlife interfaces and cross-border trade are deeply interconnected, stronger regional coordination is critical,” Steenhuisen said.

He added that the framework would help move Southern Africa away from fragmented national responses towards a coordinated and preventative regional biosecurity system.

Domestically, government is also expanding diagnostic capacity through additional laboratory resources, recruitment of veterinary personnel and improved provincial coordination.

Steenhuisen said the country was steadily transitioning from a reactive disease-control system to a proactive and risk-based biosecurity model, supported by growing collaboration between government, producers, veterinarians, feedlots, processors and commodity organisations.

A public-private biosecurity framework is expected to be launched in the coming weeks to formalise these partnerships and strengthen future disease preparedness. – SAnews.gov.za
 

Janine

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AI and journalism in southern Africa: editors are using it but balanced with human expertise and editorial judgement

Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Mandla J. Radebe, Professor, University of Johannesburg

Artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming part of everyday newsroom work across Africa. It has entered quietly through routine tasks such as transcription, headline writing, translation and content preparation.

In southern Africa, where AI adoption is steadily growing, its application in journalism is raising critical questions from policymakers and governments. While technology offers gains in speed and efficiency, its use remains contested due to ethical concerns and fears about job losses.

As communication and media scholars researching data and digital communication, in our study we examined its influence on production processes, ethical guardrails and job security. Interviews with senior editors revealed that, while AI improves efficiency and, in some cases, quality, it still requires human expertise and editorial judgement.

Senior editors described efficiency: faster turnaround, transcription, summarisation, headline generation and story drafting. Large volumes of information can be processed within tight newsroom deadlines. Most editors do not see AI as an immediate threat to jobs. Ethical concerns remain, prompting some newsrooms to adopt internal guidelines.

AI is already helping journalists sharpen headlines, summarise reports, generate illustrations, transcribe interviews and clean up copy under pressure. In some Zimbabwean newsrooms, AI-powered presenters are already reading weather bulletins and assist with news delivery.

Yet caution prevails. Editors are experimenting with AI because newsroom pressures demand efficiency, but they remain determined not to surrender editorial judgement to machines.

This caution reflects broader structural pressures. Print circulation has declined, advertising revenue remains fragile and newsroom staffing has shrunk. In South Africa, newspaper circulation declined by 17.3% in 2024, with several major titles reducing operations or shifting to digital-first models. Journalists are expected to produce more content, across multiple platforms, at greater speed.

AI, however, introduces its own risks, including factual inaccuracies, hidden bias embedded in training data and weak contextual understanding. For example, AI systems may reproduce racial, gender, political, or cultural biases while struggling to interpret satire, local idioms and politically nuanced African contexts. As a result, editors emphasise that AI must remain under firm human control.

AI is doing the routine work first

The first newsroom functions being reshaped by AI are repetitive tasks. Editors described using AI for headline optimisation, summarising, transcription and minor editing. These are labour-intensive processes but do not determine editorial direction.

In Zimbabwe, experimentation is more advanced in selected organisations. AI avatars, AI-powered digital news presenters capable of delivering human-like news bulletins through synthetic voices, facial expressions and automated script reading, are presenting weather updates and selected content.

South African newsrooms remain more restrained. AI is mainly used in editing, reporting and headline optimisation. Full article generation remains limited because editors insist on rigorous human verification.

For now, AI functions as an assistant rather than a substitute.

Why editors remain reluctant to trust it

The central issue is credibility. Generative AI produces fluent language, but fluency does not guarantee accuracy. It predicts plausible content rather than verifying truth. So it can generate convincing but incorrect information. One example is in the saga involving the development of the South African AI strategy by government. It was found to contain several fictitious academic references likely generated by AI hallucinations.

Editors in both countries highlighted this risk. Zimbabwean editors noted that AI often draws from online sources without distinguishing between verified reporting and misinformation. South African editors raised concerns about plagiarism, weak attribution and unverifiable sourcing.

This creates a paradox: AI speeds up writing but also creates more work, as journalists must verify machine-generated content before publication.

The African challenge is bigger than accuracy

Accuracy is only part of the problem. Many AI systems struggle with African linguistic and cultural contexts. Editors reported issues with pronunciation of indigenous names and poor handling of local nuance.

Most AI systems are developed in the global north and trained on western datasets, leaving African languages underrepresented. This calls for greater investment in African-centred AI research, local language datasets, and inclusive digital innovation policies.

African newsrooms are adopting tools that do not fully recognise their communication environments. Editors argued that locally grounded AI systems will be necessary to reflect African realities and avoid deepening technological dependence.

Will AI reduce journalism jobs?

While fears about job losses are widespread, editors offered a more measured view. Most do not expect journalists to disappear but anticipate pressure on technical roles such as sub-editing and layout.

Some acknowledged that media owners may eventually use AI to justify leaner staffing. But high costs remain a barrier. In Zimbabwe, in particular, expensive subscriptions and infrastructure challenges limit adoption.

In South Africa, editors similarly noted that current adoption levels are too limited to drive major labour restructuring. For now, AI is reshaping workflows rather than eliminating jobs. For example, one editor noted that AI tools have improved audience analytics and helped identify stories most likely to convert casual readers into paying subscribers. It also freed financial resources that can be redirected towards hiring freelance journalists.

Policy is falling behind technology

A key concern is that newsroom governance is not keeping pace with technological change. Zimbabwe’s Zimpapers group has introduced internal AI policies addressing disclosure, verification and training. Many South African newsrooms have yet to formalise such frameworks. The inputs from editors suggest that while existing press codes and ethical frameworks provide a basis for addressing AI-related challenges, they still need to be adapted to respond to the new ethical, operational and transparency risks posed by AI.

This gap matters because journalism depends on public trust. Readers need transparency when AI is used, and journalists require clear guidelines on accountability.

Without safeguards, efficiency gains risk undermining credibility.

Journalism remains a human responsibility

The central lesson is not that AI should be resisted, nor that journalism faces immediate automation. Rather, journalism remains fundamentally human because public trust depends on judgement, responsibility and context.

Machines can generate text and process information quickly, but they cannot fully grasp political sensitivity, moral consequence or historical meaning.

For this reason, editors in both countries maintain a clear position that AI may assist the newsroom, but journalism must remain under human editorial control.

– AI and journalism in southern Africa: editors are using it but balanced with human expertise and editorial judgement
– https://theconversation.com/ai-and-journalism-in-southern-africa-editors-are-using-it-but-balanced-with-human-expertise-and-editorial-judgement-282644

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Getting through school in South Africa: how learners make it to the end after a poor start

Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Ursula Hoadley, Professor, University of Cape Town

South Africa’s schooling system presents a striking paradox. Fewer than one in five grade 4 learners can read for meaning, yet more than 60% of young people (aged 15 to 24) eventually complete grade 12. Matric (school leaving exam) pass rates have been rising steadily and reached record highs in recent years, especially in poorer schools.

How do so many learners make it through the system when their early learning paths suggest they should not?

This question motivated recent work by our research project, the Mixed Methods Investigation of Learner Assessment Progress and Support, located at Stellenbosch University, the University of Cape Town and the University of KwaZulu-Natal. Fifty teachers in eight high schools were interviewed about how learners move through the schooling system. We also drew on existing quantitative databases, official reports and policy documents.

Rather than offering a single explanation, the research identifies a set of interlocking policies and practices that enable learners to reach grade 12 even when mastery of grade-level content is limited.

The system operates with two competing pressures:

  • keeping learners in school and moving through the grades

  • upholding the quality of learning.

This tension places teachers under immense strain, especially without adequate remediation opportunities for learners with large learning gaps.

A hybrid system of promotion and progression

When large numbers of learners fall behind, education systems typically choose between two strategies: grade retention, where learners repeat until they meet minimum requirements; or social promotion, where they advance regardless of performance. Grade retention is used in many low- and middle-income countries, like Brazil. Social promotion is used across a range of contexts, from Denmark to Ghana. South Africa uses both.

Official policy limits learners to repeating only once per school phase (foundation, intermediate, senior). After that, they must progress to the next grade even if they haven’t met the requirements for promotion. This “years-in-phase” rule was introduced partly to reduce over-age learners in the system and control the cost of repetition, where repeaters consume around 8% of the national education budget. Only 30% to 40% of learners reach matric without repeating.

The result is a hybrid system that retains some learners to repeat the grade while allowing others to progress to the next grade despite not having met the promotion requirements.

In practice, many learners enter high school without the curriculum knowledge they should have.

One of the striking findings of the study is how poorly progression status is understood at the school level. Many teachers are unaware of how many progressed learners are in their classes, or even how to identify them. This information exists in learner records, but is rarely used to plan teaching or provide additional support.

Teachers in our study reported significant academic gaps, especially in grades 8 and 9. Learners may struggle to read, write or perform basic calculations, yet are expected to engage with increasingly demanding content. Without dedicated support structures, teachers are left to “turn stones into bread”, as one teacher put it.

School-based assessment makes passing possible

Promotion decisions depend heavily on school-based assessments – projects, tests, assignments, orals and practical tasks set and marked by teachers.

Over time, the weighting of these assessments relative to examinations has increased, especially during and after the COVID-19 period. Our research shows they are often leniently marked and rarely failed. Learners are frequently given multiple opportunities to complete tasks, with help from teachers or parents. As one grade 8 mathematics teacher explained:

We mark and return the work to them so that they can fix what they have done. The mandate is that no child should fail an assignment. They can fail a test but not an assignment. If they fail you have to give it back to them so that they redo.

As a result, school-based assessment marks often compensate for weak examination performance. Administrative data confirm widespread “bunching” of learner marks just above pass cut-offs, particularly at the end of the school year. One teacher explained:

We get told, ‘you have too many failures’, ‘go back to rectify’. So those close to 30%, they get pushed up.

Predictable exams and teaching to the test

Examination formats have become more predictable. Past papers are recycled. Teachers in the study described coaching learners to recognise recurring question types, memorise essays and rehearse model answers.

That might help learners move through the grades, but it can discourage deeper conceptual understanding and potentially limit learners’ ability to transfer knowledge to unfamiliar contexts.

Read more: What’s stopping kids from learning useful skills? Short answer: exams

Bureaucratic and political pressure to pass

Matric results are publicly reported and used to evaluate schools and provincial education systems, which intensifies the focus on pass rates. Retaining learners, by contrast, involves onerous administrative procedures and increases financial pressure on the system. Progression, therefore, becomes not only a decision about learning, but an organisational and political one.

Teachers in the study felt that their professional judgment was overridden in the process. The ethical dilemma of passing students, knowing they are not academically prepared for the next grade and are unlikely to receive additional support there, is deeply felt.

Intensive support arrives late, and unevenly

In addressing academic backlogs, the system concentrates its resources at the very end of schooling. Grade 12 learners benefit from extra classes, revision camps, NGO programmes and targeted district interventions. These “just-in-time” strategies are designed to push learners over the matric finish line.

Grades 8 and 9 often receive less experienced teachers and minimal additional support. The study found that in some schools, student teachers are assigned to lower secondary grades while senior teachers focus on matric classes.

By matric, the cohort is smaller and more resilient

Many learners drop out or repeat before reaching grade 12; currently just over 60% of youth will obtain a matric. Those who remain tend to be more academically able and more resilient. And motivation increases as matric approaches.

However, schools also engage in gatekeeping, recent research shows, discouraging weaker learners from proceeding to grade 12 if they are seen as a risk to overall pass rates. The eventual matric cohort is therefore winnowed and intensively supported.

Progression without remediation comes at a cost

Taken together, these dynamics explain how learner flows to grade 12 are sustained despite poor early learning outcomes.

The hybrid model is not inherently flawed, but is poorly understood and insufficiently supported. We argue that progression must be accompanied by realistic, well-resourced strategies to address learning gaps early, especially in lower secondary grades.

The challenge is to ensure that reaching the end of school represents meaningful learning, not just survival through the system.

– Getting through school in South Africa: how learners make it to the end after a poor start
– https://theconversation.com/getting-through-school-in-south-africa-how-learners-make-it-to-the-end-after-a-poor-start-282533

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Bénin – Certificat d’Études Primaires (CEP) 2026 : Le Ministre Armand Kuyema NATTA donne le coup d’envoi des épreuves à Aplahoué

Source: Africa Press Organisation – French

Le Ministre des Enseignements Maternel et Primaire, Monsieur Armand Kuyema NATTA, a procédé ce lundi 1er juin 2026 au lancement officiel des épreuves du Certificat d’Études Primaires (CEP), session de juin 2026. Le coup d’envoi a été donné au Complexe Scolaire Gbofoly, situé dans la commune d’Aplahoué en présence du Préfet du département du Couffo, des acteurs du monde éducatif et des autorités politico- administratives. 

À l’échelle nationale, 286.995 candidats sont inscrits à cette session, soit une hausse de 5,56% comparativement à l’année 2025. Parmi eux, 286.898 candidats sans difficultés majeures dont 148.423 garçons et 138.571 filles composent dans 847 centres de composition. À ceux-ci s’ajoutent 97 candidats à besoins spécifiques repartis dans 13 centres aménagés pour leur favoriser une bonne composition. 

Accueilli par le Préfet Christophe MEGBEDJI, le Ministre Armand Kuyema NATTA s’est assuré dans un premier des dispositions prises pour le bon déroulement de l’examen. Le Ministre des Enseignements Maternel et Primaire est ensuite passé dans les différentes salles de composition où il a prodigué de sages conseils aux candidats : « Soyez concentrés, mais n’ayez pas peur. C’est un examen. Le gouvernement a pris toutes les dispositions pour que les choses se déroulent bien. Bonne composition à vous », a-t-il déclaré. 

Huit heures trente minutes. La sonnerie retentit dans le ciel du Complexe scolaire Gbofoly, donnant ainsi le top pour la distribution des épreuves. Au terme du lancement, le Ministre s’est réjoui de s’être acquitté d’un devoir républicain et surtout crucial pour l’avenir du Bénin : « C’est avec une émotion de joie empreinte d’honneur, mais aussi de responsabilité que j’ai lancé ce jour au Complexe scolaire Gbofoly, les premières épreuves du CEP. Nous avons prodigué aux candidats des conseils pour qu’ils puissent bien composer afin que les résultats soient à la hauteur des attentes des parents et de tout le dispositif du système éducatif ». 

Quant au choix du Complexe scolaire Gbofoly, le Ministre a évoqué le principe de rotation qui se base sur deux logiques, celle de la préservation de l’intégrité territoriale, et celle de l’émulation. 

À travers ce lancement officiel, le gouvernement du Président Romuald WADAGNI réaffirme son engagement en faveur de l’éducation et de l’amélioration continue du système éducatif national. Les candidats, soutenus par leurs familles et leurs enseignants, abordent cette étape déterminante de leur parcours scolaire avec espoir et détermination. 

Avant de se retirer, le Ministre NATTA a procédé à la mise en terre d’un plant en cette journée de l’arbre.

Distribué par APO Group pour Gouvernement de la République du Bénin.

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