Africa – Page 1019 – MIL Africa Engine

July 15, 2025

Africans survived 10,000 years of climate changes by adapting food systems – study offers lessons for modern times

Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Leanne N. Phelps, Associate research scientist, Columbia University

Imagine living in a place where a single drought, hurricane, or mudslide can wipe out your food supply. Across Africa, many communities do exactly that – navigate climate shocks like floods, heatwaves, and failed harvests.

What’s often overlooked in the development policies to tackle these threats is a powerful sources of insight: Africa’s own history.

Around 14,700 to 5,500 years ago, much of Africa experienced wetter conditions – a time referred to as the African Humid Period. As wet conditions declined around 5,500 years ago, major social, cultural, and environmental changes ensued across the continent.

We’re part of a multidisciplinary team of scientists who recently published a study about how diverse African communities adapted to climate variability over the past 10,000 years. This is the first study to explore thousands of years of change in people’s livelihoods across the continent using isotopic data.

This continent-wide approach offers novel insights into how livelihoods formed and evolved across space and time.

Prior theories often assumed that societies and their food systems evolved in a linear way. In other words they developed from simple hunting and gathering communities to politically and socially complex societies practising agriculture.

Instead, what we see is a complex mosaic of adaptable strategies that helped people survive. For 10,000 years, African communities adapted by mixing herding, farming, fishing and foraging. They blended different practices based on what worked at different times in their specific environment. That diversity across communities and regions was key to human survival.

That has real lessons for food systems today.

Our research suggests that rigid, top-down development plans, including ones that privilege intensifying agriculture over diversified economies, are unlikely to succeed. Many modern policies promote narrow approaches, like focusing only on cash crops. But history tells a different story. Resilience isn’t about choosing the “best” or most “intensive” method and sticking with it. Rather it’s about staying flexible and blending different strategies to align with local conditions.

The clues left behind

We were able to develop our insights by looking at the clues left behind by the food people ate and the environments they lived in. We did this by analysing the chemical traces (isotopes) in ancient human and domestic animal bones from 187 archaeological sites across the African continent.

We sorted the results into groups with similar features, or “isotopic niches”. Then we described the livelihood and ecological characteristics of these niches using archaeological and environmental information.

Our methods illustrated a wide range of livelihood systems. For example, in what are now Botswana and Zimbabwe, some groups combined small-scale farming with wild food gathering and livestock herding after the African Humid Period. In Egypt and Sudan, communities mixed crop farming – focused on wheat, barley, and legumes – with fishing, dairy, and beer brewing.

Herders, in particular, developed highly flexible strategies. They adapted to hot plains, dry highlands, and everything in between. Pastoral systems (farming with grazing animals) show up at more archaeological sites than any other food system. They also have the widest range of chemical signatures – evidence of their adaptability to shifting environments.

Our study also used isotopic data to build up a picture of how people were using livestock. Most animal management systems were reliant on grasses (plants such as millet and tropical pasture), and adapted to diverse ecological conditions. Some systems were highly specialised to semi-arid and mountainous environments. Others included mixed herds adapted to wetter or lower elevation regions. In other cases, animals were kept as stock in small numbers to supplement other livelihoods – providing milk, dung, and insurance against crop failure.

This adaptability helps clarify why, over the past millennium, pastoral systems have remained so important, especially in areas with increasing aridity.

Mixed livelihood strategies

The study also provides strong evidence for interactions between food production and foraging, whether at community or regional level.

Dynamic, mixed livelihood strategies, including interactions like trade within and between communities near and far, were especially apparent during periods of climatic stress. One of these periods was the end of the African Humid Period (from about 5,500 years ago), when a drier climate created new challenges.

In south-eastern Africa, from 2,000 years ago, there was a rise of diverse livelihood systems blending herding, farming and foraging in complex ways. These systems likely emerged in response to complex environmental and social change. Complex changes in social networks – especially around sharing land, resources, and knowledge – likely underpinned the development of this resilience.

How the past can inform the future

Ancient livelihood strategies offer a playbook for surviving climate change today.

Our analysis suggests that over thousands of years, communities that combined herding, farming, fishing and gathering were making context-specific choices that helped them weather unpredictable conditions. They built food systems that worked with the land and sea, not against them. And they leaned on strong social networks, sharing resources, knowledge and labour.

Past responses to climate shifts can inform current and future strategies for building resilience in regions facing socio-environmental pressures.

– Africans survived 10,000 years of climate changes by adapting food systems – study offers lessons for modern times
– https://theconversation.com/africans-survived-10-000-years-of-climate-changes-by-adapting-food-systems-study-offers-lessons-for-modern-times-260240

July 15, 2025

Whose turn is it? The question is at the heart of language and chimpanzees ask it too

Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Kayla Kolff, Postdoctoral researcher, Osnabrück University

When we think about what sets humans apart from other animals, language often comes to mind. Language is more than words – it also relies on the ability to build shared understanding through conversation.

At the heart of conversation is turn-taking: the ability to coordinate interaction in time. This means alternating speaking roles, where one person speaks and the other listens, and responding in ways that keep the exchange moving forward.

But is this uniquely human? Increasingly, scientists are finding signs of turn-taking beyond our species – in visual cues in Siamese fish, in meerkat calls, and, as our recent study suggests, also in the grooming behaviour of chimpanzees.

As primatologists and biologists, we are interested in the evolutionary origins and driving forces behind human communication and cognition.

One animal behaviour that’s been said to involve features resembling human communication is grooming – combing through or licking each other’s fur. It’s one of the ways that some animals connect and bond with one another.

Grooming is a central part of the daily lives of chimpanzees, a species that together with bonobos represent humans’ closest living relatives. Chimpanzees engage in grooming to build relationships, reduce stress, and strengthen their friendships. While we know why they groom, and whom they prefer to groom, we do not know much about how it is organised. Does grooming happen randomly, or do chimpanzees take turns? And might things like age, their position in the group, family ties, or friendships influence the interaction? There may be another layer to grooming, shaped by social decisions made in the moment.

To answer this, we looked at whether grooming interactions involve turn-taking. We found that chimpanzees living in their natural environments do take turns, using a range of signals and movements to engage each other within the interaction. We then went on to check whether age, social standing, family ties and friendships affected the exchange of turns.

We found that especially age and social standing shaped how individuals accommodated their partners. This is in line with Communication Accommodation Theory, which is the idea that individuals adapt their communication according to the characteristics of recipients. Our findings open a new window on chimpanzee social cognition and provide perspectives on the evolutionary foundations of human communication.

Grooming coordination in the wild

To investigate how chimpanzees coordinate their grooming interactions, we studied male eastern chimpanzees at the Ngogo field site, in Uganda’s Kibale National Park. Over the course of ten months, we observed and filmed grooming interactions among 42 males in their natural environment using a digital camera.

As chimpanzee grooming is not just a simple back-and-forth where one chimpanzee grooms and then gets groomed in return, we paid close attention to gestures and additional actions. Gestures are bodily movements used to get another chimpanzee’s attention or to ask for something, such as raising an arm to invite more grooming. Actions, on the other hand, are things one chimpanzee does to another, such as grooming, approaching or leaving.

Based on these, we identified four types of turn exchanges:

action–action
action–gesture
gesture–action
gesture–gesture.

Mulligan (left) and Carter (right) members of the Ngogo chimpanzee community in Kibale National Park, Uganda. Kayla Kolff, Author provided (no reuse)

We observed that chimpanzees actively managed the interaction, using actions and gestures to start, invite, or respond to their partner’s participation.

What shapes participation in these exchanges?

Some chimpanzees were more likely than others to take turns during grooming. A closer look revealed that age and social status played a key role. Older males, who in chimpanzee societies tend to hold more dominant positions, were more likely to get responses from others. Younger males, especially adolescents, were more likely to take a turn in response to others than to have others take a turn in response to them – suggesting they were more often responding than being responded to.

That makes a lot of sense when you think about chimpanzee social life. Younger individuals are still figuring out their place in the group, and grooming can be a way to build and nurture relationships and to learn the social ropes and finesses. Older males already have stable and strong friendships; they often receive grooming from others and tend to give less in return.

Surprisingly, friendships and family ties did not influence the chances of turn-taking, although these are important aspects of chimpanzee lives. What mattered more were age and social standing. Think of it like choosing a lunch seat at school: you might choose to sit near an older student or someone popular, even if it meant not sitting with your friends or family.

Grooming interaction between Gus (a subadult male) and Jackson (an adult male and the alpha), both of whom also appear in the Netflix documentary Chimp Empire.

When we looked more closely at different types of turn-taking, one stood out: gesture–gesture exchanges. These looked a lot like social negotiations, where both chimpanzees gestured to each other before any grooming happened. These kinds of exchanges were more common when a chimpanzee interacted with an older individual, who may be more experienced in handling social situations and better at getting what they want, whether that means “groom me” or “keep going in grooming me”.

This study suggests that chimpanzees take turns as a strategic social tool to achieve goals like being groomed instead of doing the grooming themselves. Who you are, who you are interacting with, and what you might stand to gain from the exchange all shape how things unfold.

What this tells us

Our findings reveal that chimpanzee grooming is a complex behaviour, organised through structured exchanges of gestures and actions, shaped by strategies for engaging with others. It’s about more than the grooming itself.

This ability to coordinate action and respond to others suggests a basic foundation that may have helped lay the groundwork for the evolution of human communication.

– Whose turn is it? The question is at the heart of language and chimpanzees ask it too
– https://theconversation.com/whose-turn-is-it-the-question-is-at-the-heart-of-language-and-chimpanzees-ask-it-too-258736

July 15, 2025

American Tower Corporation (ATC) Nigeria Partners with ProFuturo Foundation to Transform Educational Landscape in Nigeria through Digital Innovation and Technology

Source: APO

The partnership is expected to directly benefit over 5,600 children and educators from 11 schools from three states in the country.
This collaboration in Nigeria is a key part of a global partnership between American Tower and ProFuturo Foundation focused on reducing gaps in access, use and quality of educational resources in seven countries in Africa and Latin America.

ATC Nigeria (www.AmericanTower.com), a leading provider of telecommunications infrastructure, and ProFuturo Foundation, a global initiative for educational innovation through technology, established by the Telefónica Foundation and the “la Caixa” Foundation, are proud to announce their partnership with the Kukah Centre to collaborate under the ProFuturo Program in Nigeria. This collaboration will facilitate the distribution of kits, each one containing a computer, tablets, router, projector, and other essential components, which will enhance digital access and learning opportunities for students.

Through its Digital Communities program, which provides digitally connected, technology-equipped spaces offering digital literacy and education for youth, financial education and vocational training for adults, and healthcare services, ATC Nigeria believes that this partnership with ProFuturo will reach youths and students across the country.

The initiative and signing between ATC Nigeria and ProFuturo Foundation, where local authorities were present, underscores the commitment of both organizations to address the educational digital divide. Its goal is to enhance the understanding of vulnerable school contexts to promote innovative teaching practices more effectively and to strengthen the digital transformation of education.

Pieter Van Der Westhuizen, CEO of ATC Nigeria, praised the initiative, stating: “At ATC Nigeria, we are proud to support this impactful collaboration, which brings digital tools directly into classrooms. Through our collaboration with the ProFuturo Foundation, our Digital Communities program is expanding access to technology and equipping the next generation with the skills they need to thrive in a digital world.”

Magdalena Brier, General Manager of ProFuturo Foundation, celebrates this agreement that “reinforces the commitment of the two organizations against the digital divide and the education gap. The alliance between ProFuturo Foundation and American Tower is a big step to improve educational opportunities for the most vulnerable. We are very honored with their support for what we have been doing since 2016 and I continually think about each of the teachers, boys and girls who will benefit, because, together, we are going to contribute to transform their lives.”

Initially focused on 11 schools in three States –Kano, Kebbi and Tarabata– the partnership is expected to directly benefit over 5,600 children and 34 teachers, even in areas with limited connectivity. By equipping schools with these kits, the initiative aims to bridge educational disparities generated by the digital divide. The kits are designed to enrich the learning experience, support interactive teaching methods, and provide students with access to a wealth of digital educational content.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of American Tower Corporation.

Media Contacts:
ATC Nigeria:
Aderonke Adebanjo
aderonke.adebanjo@americantower.com

ProFuturo:
Rafael Cobo
rafael.cobocobo@telefonica.com
Mobile: +34 647665488

About ATC Nigeria:
ATC Nigeria is a subsidiary of American Tower Corporation, one of the largest global Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) and a leading independent owner, operator and developer of multi-tenant communications real estate.

ATC Nigeria owns and operates over 8,600 telecommunications sites across the country, helping mobile network operators and other telecommunications service providers confidently deliver communications connectivity to consumers throughout Nigeria. For more information, visit: www.AmericanTower.com/en-ng/

About ProFuturo Foundation:
ProFuturo Foundation is an initiative of educational innovation with technology launched by Telefónica Foundation and “la Caixa” Foundation to reduce the educational gap in the world by providing quality education to children in vulnerable environments in Latin America, the Caribbean, Africa and Asia. Its intervention model is based on the evidence of impact provided by continuous monitoring processes, studies and evaluations.

The ProFuturo program uses innovative teaching methodologies to help teachers and students develop competencies to face the challenges of the 21^st century. The program works with other institutions and companies and aims to create a large international network of teachers who teach, learn and share knowledge to achieve, together, a better education in the world. https://ProFuturo.Education/en/

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July 15, 2025

Ministro Fernando Elísio Freire destaca conquistas e projeta futuro da Segurança Social em Cabo Verde

Source: Africa Press Organisation – Portuguese –

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O Ministro do Estado da Família, Inclusão e Desenvolvimento Social, Fernando Elísio Freire, presidiu hoje, 15 de julho, à sessão de abertura da Conferência Nacional alusiva ao Dia Nacional da Segurança Social, organizada pelo Instituto Nacional de Previdência Social (INPS) sob o lema “Proteção Social em 50 Anos de Independência – Conquistas e Desafios”.

“A proteção social é fundamental para garantir qualidade de vida, combater a pobreza, a desigualdade e a discriminação”, afirmou o Ministro durante a sua intervenção, sublinhando o papel essencial da Segurança Social como um dos pilares do Estado de Direito e da justiça social em Cabo Verde.

O Ministro salientou os avanços registados nas últimas décadas, com destaque para:

A implementação do subsídio por doença, que compensa a perda de rendimento em caso de incapacidade temporária;
A criação do subsídio por deficiência, para descendentes com incapacidade igual ou superior a 66%;
A instituição do subsídio de desemprego;
A licença de parentalidade, com 90 dias para a mãe e 10 dias para o pai;
O subsídio de regresso às aulas, como medida de apoio escolar às famílias;
A contribuição das empresas para a formação profissional, com 0,5% da massa salarial;
O alargamento da idade do filho internado para efeitos de subsídio de doença, de 6 meses para 12 anos;
O trabalho em curso para eliminar esse limite nos casos de filhos com deficiência;
O avanço na transformação digital, com a introdução de serviços online como a entrega de folhas de salário e emissão de credenciais.
O governante destacou ainda a ratificação da Convenção n.º 102 da OIT, que reforça o compromisso de Cabo Verde com os padrões internacionais em áreas como saúde, desemprego, invalidez e proteção familiar.

“A Previdência Social tem sido um farol de esperança para gerações de trabalhadores e famílias”, referiu o Ministro, acrescentando que os próximos anos exigem um sistema ainda mais ousado, sustentável e adaptado às novas gerações.

Com mais de 60% da população abaixo dos 30 anos, Fernando Elísio Freire reforçou a importância de investir na educação, formação e criação de empregos dignos como pilares para garantir a sustentabilidade do sistema.

Para concluir, o Ministro prestou homenagem aos trabalhadores, pensionistas e parceiros sociais, e agradeceu a colaboração de países amigos e instituições internacionais como Portugal, Espanha, Luxemburgo, Brasil e organismos multilaterais que têm contribuído para o fortalecimento da proteção social em Cabo Verde.

“Juntos, construiremos um futuro onde todos os cabo-verdianos, independentemente da sua condição, possam viver com segurança, dignidade e esperança.”

Distribuído pelo Grupo APO para Governo de Cabo Verde.

July 15, 2025

United Nations (UN) calls on to stress more control over grain traders

Source: APO

The trend towards monopolization of grain trade that exists in the global market today requires the BRICS countries to cooperate in the field of antitrust policy and antitrust legislation. Alexey Ivanov, Director of the BRICS Competition Law and Policy Centre at the Higher School of Economics (www.BRICSCompetition.org), said at the 9th UN Conference on Competition and Consumer Protection in Geneva.

“Global companies from the food sector should receive the closest attention from antitrust authorities. We emphasize the importance of ensuring food security and nutrition and mitigating the impacts of acute food price volatility, as well as as abrupt supply crises, including fertilizers shortages. The authority of grain traders is highly similar to that of the organizers of digital ecosystems, the digital giants that have already come under scrutiny by antitrust authorities around the world. Under exceptional circumstances of supply shortages or acute food price spikes affecting a BRICS member, we recognize that cooperation initiatives can facilitate emergency responses and natural disaster management, guided by national priorities and consistent with the World Trade Organization rules. None of these measures should lead to unfair trade practices or violations of international trade norms, as their sole purpose is to support food security and nutrition, including through international solidarity.”, – Ivanov emphasized.

“A very telling event has recently taken place – the merger of two major grain traders, Bunge and Viterra. This merger was approved just last week by 31 competition authorities around the world. At the same time, no measures were proposed to limit the influence of these companies on the global value chain – the power that has a huge influence on the global market and the organization of grain trade,” Ivanov said.

He noted that regulators in Brazil and China have already raised concerns, such as the issue of price shifting from global to national markets, but no commitments have been established to address these concerns.

Anastasia Nesvetailova, Head, Macroeconomic and Development Policies Branch, UNCTAD, emphasized the growing influence of financialization on global food markets. Of particular concern, she noted, is the dominance of the so-called ABCD group — ADM, Bunge, Cargill, and Louis Dreyfus — which effectively controls global agricultural trading. Three of these companies do not disclose sufficient information, rendering the sector highly opaque and poorly regulated.

According to Nesvetailova, 70% of transactions on U.S. and European commodity markets today are speculative in nature and disconnected from the real economy. The financial power of commodity traders is increasing, as they evolve into non-bank financial institutions with systemic influence not only on commodity markets but also on global financial stability. Meanwhile, oversight of their operations remains fragmented and ineffective.

“The last time such practices had a systemically destructive impact was in 2007, when an expanding web of debt-driven financial obligations operated largely outside regulatory oversight, ultimately leading to the collapse of the banking system in the U.S. and beyond. A similar scenario could unfold again — this time in the commodity trading sector,” warned Nesvetailova.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of BRICS Competition Law and Policy Centre.

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July 15, 2025

South Africa: International Relations (IR) Committee Chairperson Is Unavailable for Media Interviews on National Security Allegations

Source: APO

The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on International Relations and Cooperation, Mr Supra Mahumapelo, has since the media briefing given by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, received requests from the media to comment on his removal from the position of Premier of the North West Province.

Mr Mahumapelo is unavailable for media interviews and for comment on the grounds that, among other things, he is a Member of Parliament. Parliament has established processes and procedures for the Portfolio Committee on Police, the Portfolio Committee on Justice and Constitutional Development, and the Standing Committee on Intelligence relating to the national security allegations.

Furthermore, Mr Mahumapelo has a case in the North West High Court in Mafikeng and is suing for defamation against the Revolutionary Council and three others. Mr Mahumapelo received threats that if he did not get out of the position he would be killed. Threats on his life are due to political interference and evidence will be presented before the constituted committees as and when required.

As a member of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the African National Congress, the NEC will first look into the matter and decide on its approach as a collective of the ANC.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of South Africa: The Parliament.

July 15, 2025

South Africa: Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) Committee Mobilises Joint Oversight to Tackle Municipal Audit Failures

Source: APO

The Portfolio Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), together with the Standing Committee on the Auditor-General, the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA), and other relevant parliamentary oversight committees, have committed to a coordinated approach to municipal oversight.

This follows the alarming municipal audit outcomes that the Office of the Auditor-General (AG) reported to the committee earlier this year.

During the committee meeting this morning, the Chairperson, Dr Zweli Mkhize, expressed deep concern at the lack of progress in municipal finances. The audit outcomes for local government for the 2023/24 financial year showed that only 16% of 257 municipalities achieved clean audits, while the rest either regressed or remained stagnant, with audit opinions ranging from qualified to disclaimers or non-submissions. When she presented the audit outcomes to the committee earlier this year, the AG noted that, despite having exercised all available remedial powers under the amended Public Audit Act, the audit outcomes remained largely unimproved.

In response to this, Dr Mkhize said that the committee will adopt a revised and more collaborative oversight model with a focus on intergovernmental accountability. Based on this new model, the committee will, with relevant oversight committees, conduct joint visits to provinces and municipalities, beginning with the Free State on 24 and 25 July. Oversight visits to the North West and Eastern Cape will then follow. According to the Chairperson, the committee wants to avoid duplication, promote institutional coherence and ensure that every sphere of government accounts for its constitutional responsibilities through this collaboration.

During these oversight visits, Members of Parliament will engage with Premiers, Speakers of the provincial legislatures, Members of Executive Councils (MECs), municipal mayors, Speakers of municipal councils, and accounting officers. Provincial legislatures will also be involved in the process. “The purpose of this,” the Chairperson said, “is to evaluate the systemic causes behind repeat audit failures and to demand clear responses on what corrective actions have been taken and what measures are in place to prevent further regression.” The focus is on accountability and ensuring that there are consequences to prevent repeat offenders, the Chairperson said, adding that this will help improve governance and ensure effective service delivery.

He said the committees would pay particular attention to repeat disclaimer audit opinions, the poor quality of financial statements, overreliance on consultants without any tangible improvement, and persistent irregular expenditure. Unfunded budgets, non-functional internal audit units and poor contract management will also come under the spotlight.

Dr Mkhize confirmed that the committee sought legal clarity about coordinating oversight across spheres of government. He said the committee solicited several legal opinions to ensure the planned oversight is rooted in the principles of cooperative governance with due regard for the autonomy of each sphere of government. The Chairperson said the committee is satisfied that the oversight plan now aligns with constitutional provisions.

“This new approach,” he said, “reflects Parliament’s commitment to proactively preventing dysfunction rather than reacting to failures. It is designed to hold not only municipalities accountable but also provincial governments, which are constitutionally obligated under Section 154 of the Constitution to support and monitor local government. Premiers and MECs will therefore be asked to account for how they have fulfilled their oversight roles, particularly in cases where municipalities have consistently underperformed.”

The Chairperson said this joint oversight model is an institutional response to the Auditor-General’s earlier call for decisive intervention and her letter to the Speaker of the National Assembly. “The Office of the Auditor-General should not be placed in a position where it is compelled to perform administrative duties, such as correcting municipal submissions,” he said. “The AG’s function is to provide independent audit outcomes, not to compensate for governance failures.”

Dr Mkhize reiterated the importance of this new collaborative oversight approach and said it is an important shift from fragmented accountability to a much-needed collective responsibility. “We intend for this model to serve not only as a corrective measure but also as a blueprint for systemic reform and to ensure that audit reports reflect tangible improvements in governance and service delivery at the municipal level,” he said.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of South Africa: The Parliament.

July 15, 2025

SA to hold a ‘critical‘ meeting with Formula 1 in two weeks

Source: Government of South Africa

Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, has revealed that a significant meeting is set to take place in the next two weeks with representatives from Formula 1 (F1).

The Kyalami Grand Prix has been granted permission to modify its design, paving the way for a potential return of F1 to the country.

“Many laughed when I uttered the words ‘Formula 1 must come back to South Africa’. One man in particular, who didn’t laugh was Toby Venter, the owner of the Kyalami racetrack.

“When I told him that government doesn’t have the money to host Formula 1 because of other more urgent priorities and we would not be able to help him pay for the track to reach F1 standards, he looked me in the eye and said he would see it [as] his patriotic duty to do just that.

“We have had multiple meetings with the management of F1, with a crucial one happening in the next two weeks.“

The Minister was speaking in Parliament on Tuesday, presenting a R6.3 billion budget aimed at unlocking local talent in both sports and the arts and culture.

“To those who say the country can’t afford to host the F1, I’m saying the country can’t afford not to… We hosted the best FIFA World Cup. We put our country on the map for big events and should not turn back now.”

According to McKenzie, what will be different this time is that government will not be expected to pay.

Meanwhile, he announced that companies like MTN, MultiChoice, Heineken, and many others have expressed their support for this initiative.

“They will be present with us in the meeting with Formula 1 at the end of the month.”

However, he stressed that those who believe that F1 is not important should consider the countries that are holding onto their F1 spots on the calendar.

“They see the value in it, and it can’t be called a world championship if it misses an entire continent, sub-Saharan Africa in particular.”

He also expressed gratitude to everyone who joined the mission to promote the sport of spinning, including Red Bull and Cell C.

“People were laughing when we said we’re going to make spinning big, but already this sport has left the townships and now Sam Sam is wowing the likes of Max Verstappen with his skills in Austria.”

Samkeliso Thubane, also known as Sam Sam, is a prominent South African spinning motorsport athlete sponsored by Red Bull.

He is recognised as the world’s first official Red Bull spinning athlete and has gained international acclaim for his skills, performing at the reopening of Red Bull Hangar-7 in Austria.

LIV Golf

The country is exploring the potential of bringing a LIV Golf tournament, a professional men’s golf tour, to South Africa as early as next year.

“Golf has not broken through to the masses and we hope to achieve that with LIV Golf. It’s not only golf, but also culture,” McKenzie said.

The Minister said he hoped to eclipse Australia’s attendance of more than 100 000 at a single event over three days.

Olympics

Meanwhile, he said the draft document has been developed, and plans are being finalised to send as many athletes as possible to the next Olympics in Los Angeles in 2028.

The Minister said last year, they travelled to Olympic House in Switzerland to express the country’s interest in hosting the Summer Olympic Games in South Africa in 2036.

VAR

McKenzie announced that they are finalising the funding process for video assistant refereeing (VAR) to ensure fairness in football matches, from the Premier Soccer League to international fixtures — meeting global standards.

“It is a necessity. We see stadiums vandalised when bad refereeing happens, and the success of teams like Mamelodi Sundowns makes global teams want to play here, but they get second thoughts because we don’t have VAR.“ – SAnews.gov.za

July 15, 2025

McKenzie unveils R6.3 billion budget to boost local talent in sports and arts

Source: Government of South Africa

Sport, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie has tabled a R6.3 billion budget this morning that he believes will help unlock local talent in both the sports, and arts and culture sectors.

“Change is difficult, but it’s necessary… Access and opportunity matter, and even the greatest of talents need that opportunity. That is why, to invest in all our talent, both in sport, and arts and culture, as well as preserving our heritage, the department has a budget of R6.3 billion for the 2025/26 financial year,” McKenzie said on Tuesday in Parliament.

Under Programme 2, Recreation Development and Sport Promotion, the Minister announced that the department will allocate R1.281 billion.

To continue supporting sports in the country, McKenzie said R98.5 million will be allocated toward federation support.

“One of the biggest changes coming for our federations will be the provision of an office building for them to share, as many have been running their sports out of the boots of their cars.”

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To support and develop local talent, the department has allocated over R627 million through the conditional grant for this financial year.

According to the Minister, funding will be used for the purchase of equipment and attire for schools, clubs and hubs, as well as for training individuals in coaching, technical officiating, administration courses, and employment opportunities.

Repatriation

Under Programme 4, Heritage Promotion and Preservation, the department has allocated R2.787 billion, which includes R1.6 billion for the construction, maintenance, upgrading, and operation of valued libraries.

“Following the success of our inaugural programme to return the remains of South African fallen heroes from Zimbabwe and Zambia last year, we shall continue to repatriate the human remains of freedom fighters who fell outside the country during the struggle.

“I am told that there could still be 5 000 bodies that need to be returned, and we should not rest until they are home.”

READ | Government, judiciary reaffirm commitment to justice

The Minister said they are currently negotiating with Scottish authorities to repatriate the remains of Khoi and San ancestors from the University of Glasgow’s Hunterian Museum by September 2025.

He also mentioned that government is nearing the conclusion of the reburial process for 58 ancestral remains from the Northern Cape.

This effort is guided by the Northern Cape Reburial Task Team, which includes representatives from the Nama, Griqua, Korana, and San communities.

Museums

The ministry is also driving a campaign, under the theme: “Reimagining South African Heritage for a New Era”, which is aimed at making museums relevant to a new, curious generation, ultimately increasing visitor numbers.

“One of the first projects we are focusing on is Robben Island, which is undergoing a major revamp and facelift.”

Creative arts

Under Programme 3, focused on Arts and Culture Promotion and Development, his department is allocating R1.725 billion.

To enhance skills and transform the cultural and creative industries, he stated that they will continue to recruit and place approximately 300 young people.

This initiative aims to improve their chances of gaining employment and becoming self-employed in creative fields.

Sector clusters

He announced that the interim boards for the 17 sector clusters within the cultural and creative industry are now fully operational.

These boards are responsible for organising their respective sectors, promoting collaboration, and addressing challenges such as copyright protection, fair labour practices, and equitable distribution of funding.

According to the Minister, they will receive a total budget of R34 million to support their operations.

“We understand the frustration of our creatives. For the past 30 years and the years before that, they have not seen their lives change for the better.”

In support of the preservation and development of the Khoi and San languages, the N|uu language in particular, the department is setting aside R2 million for a targeted call for proposals to preserve these languages. – SAnews.gov.za

July 15, 2025

Journée mondiale des compétences des jeunes : Pour Jenny Ambukiyenyi Onya, Intelligence Artificielle (IA) est un formidable outil pour transformer le bétail des éleveuses africaines en source de financement

Source: Africa Press Organisation – French

Un chemin de terre au Kenya. Une chaleur lourde pèse sur la savane environnante. Un agent de crédit s’approche d’un troupeau de bœufs, et dégaine un smartphone de sa poche. Aux côtés de la propriétaire, une femme au regard fier et méfiant, il photographie un mufle. À des centaines de kilomètres de là, un algorithme d’intelligence artificielle vient de transformer cet animal en un actif bancaire.

Cette scène illustre la révolution silencieuse menée par Jenny Ambukiyenyi Onya. Cette jeune ingénieure congolaise a décidé de s’attaquer à un paradoxe qui bloque des millions de femmes vivant en zones rurales dans la précarité. Le défi est à une échelle vertigineuse. L’Afrique subsaharienne compte environ 200 millions de petits exploitants agricoles, dont une part importante pratique l’élevage. Les femmes représentent jusqu’à 60 % d’entre eux, une force économique de 80 à 120 millions d’éleveuses rurales.

Cependant, cette force est quasi invisible aux yeux du système financier. Des études menées par l’Organisation des Nations unies pour l’alimentation et l’agriculture (FAO) montrent que les femmes ne reçoivent que 10 % des crédits destinés aux petits exploitants et à peine 1 % des crédits agricoles. Résultat ? Une écrasante majorité, estimée entre 70 et 115 millions d’entre elles, sont de fait exclues du système formel.

Leur richesse : leur troupeau, est leur compte d’épargne. Mais sans un moyen fiable de documenter leur cheptel, comment prouver la possession de dix vaches ? Les méthodes traditionnelles, comme les boucles auriculaires, sont fragiles et faciles à falsifier, rendant toute vérification par un banquier quasi impossible et transformant l’actif le plus précieux d’une femme en une garantie invalide.

« C’est en croisant ces deux réalités, à savoir un besoin de fiabilité sur le terrain et une capacité technique en interne, que l’idée a émergé : pourquoi ne pas appliquer l’IA à la reconnaissance des actifs comme le bétail ? », explique Jenny.

Sa solution, Halisi Livestock, fonctionne comme la reconnaissance faciale pour les humains. « Avec un simple smartphone, un agent de crédit peut prendre une photo du visage d’une vache, détaille-t-elle. Grâce à des algorithmes de reconnaissance biométrique, notre IA analyse les traits uniques de chaque animal et génère une identité numérique infalsifiable ».

C’est ici que les points se connectent pour déverrouiller l’accès au financement. D’abord, cette identité numérique donne à l’éleveuse un moyen légitime et incontestable de recenser et de valoriser son troupeau. Puis, cet inventaire numérique devient une preuve de possession irréfutable, transformant un actif mouvant en une garantie tangible. En d’autres termes, le troupeau devient une garantie fiable. Enfin, cette preuve de garantie, vérifiable à distance, donne le confort nécessaire aux institutions financières pour débloquer des financements.

« Pour une institution financière, ce n’est plus une estimation approximative, mais une donnée concrète et fiable. On ne parle plus d’un profil « informel », mais d’un actif numérique enregistré, vérifié et intégré dans un portefeuille structuré », résume Jenny. La confiance, bâtie sur les données, ouvre enfin les portes du crédit.

Le passage d’une innovation prometteuse à une solution à grande échelle a été réalisé grâce au programme « Enhancing Women Entrepreneurship for Africa », soutenu par AFAWA (https://apo-opa.co/4nKHta9), l’initiative de la Banque africaine de développement pour le financement en faveur des femmes en Afrique. « Notre intégration au programme a marqué un tournant dans notre parcours, reconnaît Jenny. Ce soutien nous a permis de bénéficier d’un accompagnement stratégique pour renforcer notre vision et surtout pour affiner notre produit afin d’atteindre une meilleure adéquation entre le produit et le marché ». Grâce à cet accompagnement, l’entreprise Neotex.ai qu’elle a créée, a déployé ses services dans de nouvelles zones rurales au Kenya, enregistrant plus de 1 250 têtes de bétail et prouvant la viabilité de son modèle.

Au-delà du crédit, la vision de Jenny Ambukiyenyi Onya est de redéfinir la place du monde rural dans l’économie africaine. Selon elle, la technologie rend le secteur de l’élevage « visible, mesurable, modélisable » pour les investisseurs et les décideurs politiques.

Son message est double. Aux institutions financières, elle lance une invitation : il est temps d’investir « dans des économies locales à fort potentiel, souvent portées par des femmes ». Aux jeunes Africaines qui rêvent d’innover, elle offre son parcours comme une preuve. « Osez créer. Même dans les secteurs où l’on ne vous attend pas. Si je peux bâtir des solutions de rupture à partir d’un téléphone portable et d’un troupeau de vaches, vous pouvez, vous aussi, réinventer ce que personne n’a encore osé imaginer. »

Distribué par APO Group pour African Development Bank Group (AfDB).

Note de la rédaction :
Le 15 juillet 2025 marque le 10^e anniversaire de la Journée mondiale des compétences des jeunes des Nations unies. Le thème de cette année porte sur l’autonomisation des jeunes grâce à l’intelligence artificielle et aux compétences numériques.

À propos du Groupe de la Banque africaine de développement :
Le Groupe de la Banque africaine de développement est la principale institution de financement du développement en Afrique. Il comprend trois entités distinctes : la Banque africaine de développement (BAD), le Fonds africain de développement (FAD) et le Fonds spécial du Nigeria (FSN). Représentée dans 41 pays africains, avec un bureau extérieur au Japon, la Banque contribue au développement économique et au progrès social de ses 54 États membres régionaux. Pour plus d’informations : www.AfDB.org

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