Category: Africa

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Nelson Mandela Bay braces for severe Level 8 storms

Source: Government of South Africa

Nelson Mandela Bay braces for severe Level 8 storms

The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality has activated its Joint Operations Centre (JOC) and intensified disaster management and emergency response plan following the South African Weather Service (SAWS) decision to upgrade its warning for disruptive rainfall from Level 5 to Level 8.

The warning, which took effect from Wednesday (including Thursday), covers Nelson Mandela Bay and surrounding areas, with forecasts indicating up to 200mm of rainfall. Authorities have warned of widespread flooding, dangerous travel conditions, infrastructure damage and potential disruptions to communities.

The municipality has urged residents, businesses, motorists and community organisations to take immediate precautionary measures ahead of the anticipated severe weather conditions.

According to SAWS, the warning was upgraded due to increased rainfall projections, already saturated ground conditions following recent rainfall, and the significant damage caused by previous weather systems.

Forecasts indicated rainfall accumulations of up to 100mm on Wednesday, with a further 50mm to 100mm expected today. Rainfall probabilities remain exceptionally high, with an 80% chance of rain on today.

“The municipality’s Disaster Management Centre, emergency services, engineering teams and critical infrastructure departments have been placed on high alert and are coordinating preparedness measures across the metro,” the municipality said.

The expected impacts include:

•    Widespread flooding of formal and informal settlements;
•    Flooding of roads, bridges and low-lying areas;
•    Significant disruptions to transport routes;
•    Dangerous driving conditions caused by reduced visibility and slippery roads;
•    Potential mudslides and rockfalls;
•    Damage to public and private infrastructure, and
•    Communities becoming isolated due to flooding and road closures.

Residents living in flood-prone areas have been urged to prepare for possible evacuations, should conditions deteriorate.

The municipality is also monitoring a Yellow Level 2 warning for damaging waves, with wave heights of between four and five metres forecast along the Nelson Mandela Bay coastline.

“Residents are advised to exercise extreme caution around beaches, coastal walkways and low-lying coastal areas, particularly during high tide periods,” the municipality said.

High tides are expected at approximately 5am and 6pm today.

The municipality has also strongly advised residents to postpone non-essential travel during the warning period, avoid crossing flooded roads, rivers and streams, secure valuable belongings and remain informed through official communication channels.

“Emergency services remain on standby and residents are encouraged to immediately report emergencies and weather-related incidents through the municipality’s emergency response channels. The safety of residents remains the municipality’s highest priority and all communities are urged to take this warning seriously,” the municipality said. – SAnews.gov.za

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Adverse weather conditions affect parts of South Africa

Source: Government of South Africa

Adverse weather conditions affect parts of South Africa

The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has issued an Orange Level 8 warning for disruptive rainfall that may lead to flooding over the eastern parts of the Garden Route District Municipality in the Western Cape, as well as the South Coast of the Eastern Cape up to East London on Thursday.

The severe weather is expected to affect roads and bridges, pose a danger to life from fast-moving streams and rivers, and result in the closure of major roads.

According to the weather service, a cut-off low (COL) pressure system has been affecting South Africa’s southern provinces since Wednesday and is expected to continue into Thursday.

“Very cold, wet and windy conditions are expected over the Eastern Cape, the central and eastern interior of the Western Cape, as well as the southern parts of the Namakwa District in the Northern Cape.

“Light snowfall is expected over the mountain tops of the central and eastern Western Cape and the higher-lying areas of the southern Namakwa District,” SAWS said.

SAWS has issued the following warnings:

  • Orange Level 5 Warning: Disruptive rainfall, which may pose a danger to life, cause flooding, displace settlements and trigger mudslides, is expected between East London and Morgan Bay (south of the Wild Coast).
  • Yellow Level 4 Warning: Disruptive rainfall, which may lead to flooding in settlements, on roads and bridges, as well as in other susceptible areas, is expected in the eastern parts of the Western Cape, excluding the extreme south-eastern areas.
  • Yellow Level 2 Warning: Disruptive rainfall, which may lead to localised flooding of roads and other susceptible areas, is expected over the Theewaterskloof and Langeberg local municipalities in the Western Cape, as well as the central and western interior of the Eastern Cape and places in the eastern parts of the province.
  • Yellow Level 2 Warning: Disruptive snowfall, which may lead to icy roads and traffic disruptions, is expected over the northern high-lying areas of the Eastern Cape.
  • Yellow Level 4 Warning: Wind and waves, which may make navigation at sea difficult and cause small vessels to take on water, are expected between Cape Point and Plettenberg Bay.
  • Yellow Level 2 Warning: Damaging waves, which may place small vessels at risk of taking on water and capsizing, as well as make navigation difficult, are expected between Plettenberg Bay and East London.
  • Yellow Level 2 Warning: Severe thunderstorms, accompanied by heavy downpours, may lead to localised flooding of susceptible roads, settlements and low-lying bridges or areas, as well as large amounts of small hail and excessive lightning.

–SAnews.gov.za

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Police deployed to restore and maintain law and order in Mossel Bay

Source: Government of South Africa

Police deployed to restore and maintain law and order in Mossel Bay

Acting National Police Commissioner Puleng Dimpane says the South African Police Service has deployed the necessary resources while also intensifying operations to restore and maintain law and order in Mossel Bay and other parts of the country.

This comes after the murder of Nhlamulo Sambo who initial reports claimed that he was targeted during protests against illegal migration. 

However, police have confirmed that there is no evidence linking his death to tribalism, xenophobia, anti-immigration protests, or his identity as a Tsonga-speaking South African.

“We are actively investigating all criminal acts related to these incidents, and those responsible will be identified, arrested and brought before the courts.”

READ | Police arrest suspect in Mossel Bay teen murder

Speaking at a National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (NATJOINTS) media briefing held in Mossel Bay in the Western Cape on Wednesday, Dimpane urged everyone in the country to respect the laws of the country and that if they choose to march, they should do so peacefully, lawfully and with respect for the rights of others.

“No grievance, no matter how strongly felt, justifies violence, intimidation, assault, the destruction of property, looting, or threats against any person or community. We cannot allow criminal elements to hijack legitimate concerns and turn them into acts of lawlessness,” Dimpane said.

Dimpane said the NATJOINTS will provide a comprehensive update on the security situation, ongoing interventions, operational deployments and measures being implemented to safeguard all people living in South Africa.

Rule of law 

Also speaking at the briefing was NATJOINTS Chairperson, Lieutenant General Tebello Mosikili, who assured the people of South Africa that government remains firmly in control of the security environment.

“Through NATJOINTS, all law enforcement, intelligence and security structures are working in a coordinated manner to maintain public order, protect lives and property, uphold the Constitution, and enforce the laws of the Republic without fear, favour or prejudice,” she said.

Mosikili said South Africa is governed by the Constitution and the rule of law, not by intimidation, violence, ultimatums, or mob justice.

“Therefore, no individual, movement, organisation or grouping has the authority to take the law into its own hands, conduct unlawful operations, intimidate communities, target individuals based on their nationality or seek to enforce immigration laws outside the framework of the law. 

“The responsibility for maintaining public order, combating crime and enforcing immigration legislation rests exclusively with duly authorised law enforcement agencies acting within the confines of the Constitution and the law,” Mosikili said.

Mosikili said over the past week, law enforcement agencies have demonstrated their commitment to protecting the rule of law through decisive action against those engaged in public violence and criminal conduct.

“In the Free State, 166 individuals have been arrested for offences linked to public violence and related criminal activities. In the Western Cape, five suspects have been arrested in connection with incidents of violence and intimidation,” she said.

Mosikili commended the detectives for the swift arrest of a suspect in connection with the murder of Sambo.

“The speed with which investigators acted demonstrates our commitment to ensuring that perpetrators of violent crime are identified and brought before the courts.”

Mosikili used the occasion to clarify the killing of Sambo and said based on the information at the disposal of the police, Sambo’s death is not linked to the recent unrest in the area. 

“We therefore urge the public to refrain from speculation and the spreading of misinformation, and to allow the investigation to proceed unhindered. We therefore urge the public to refrain from speculation and the spreading of misinformation, and to allow the investigation to proceed unhindered,” she said.

Contravention of the Immigration Act

According to Mosikili, in the past three weeks alone, more than 5 000 illegal immigrants have been arrested for contravening the Immigration Act.

Since 1 January 2026, law enforcement operations conducted across the country have resulted in the arrest of 34 798 illegal immigrants and in the previous financial year, 76 588 illegal immigrants were arrested.

Mosikili said the arrests send a clear message that those who incite violence, encourage vigilantism, threaten communities, destroy property or undermine public order will face the full consequences of the law. 

“We will not tolerate any attempt to destabilise communities, threaten national stability, disrupt economic activity or challenge the authority of the democratic State. NATJOINTS strongly condemns the recent violent incidents in Mossel Bay that resulted in the tragic loss of two lives during activities associated with antiforeigner demonstrations,” she said.

Mosikili said foreign nationals who enter, remain or work in South Africa unlawfully are in contravention of the Immigration Act and expose themselves to arrest, detention and deportation processes as prescribed by law. 

“Through ongoing multidisciplinary operations involving the South African Police Service, the Department of Home Affairs, Border Management Authority and other law enforcement agencies, thousands of undocumented foreign nationals continue to be identified, arrested, processed and deported in accordance with the law.

“Operations such as Operation Shanela and other targeted interventions continue to yield significant results in addressing illegal immigration, organised crime, crossborder criminality and related offences,” Mosikili said. – SAnews.gov.za
 

 

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Africa Skills Hub (ASH) Transitions to ASH Africa as it Marks 10 Years of Impact

Source: APO

Africa Skills Hub (ASH), a Ghana-based enterprise support organisation focused on youth, women, and SME development, has officially transitioned to ASH Africa (www.ASH.Africa), marking a significant milestone in its 10-year journey of expanding opportunity pathways across the continent.

The rebrand reflects the organisation’s evolution from a skills development entity into a broader pan-African organisation driven by the mission: Transforming Lives. Building Communities. Building Africa.

Founded in 2016 as the Africa Internship Academy (AIA), the organisation initially focused on improving youth employability and access to internship opportunities in Ghana. In 2020, the organisation transitioned into Africa Skills Hub (ASH), expanding its work across enterprise development, financial inclusion, SME support, digital skills, and market systems strengthening.

Over the years, the organisation has extended its reach across all 16 regions of Ghana while implementing programmes and partnerships in multiple African countries.

The transition to ASH Africa reflects the organisation’s growing continental outlook and aligns with its newly launched 2026-2030 Strategic Plan, which outlines a vision to support more than 500,000 youth, women, and SMEs annually by 2030.

Speaking on the transition, Executive Director Daniel Amoako Antwi said:

“For ten years, we have focused on building the connective systems that link skills, capital, enterprise, and market opportunity across Africa. We have evolved from delivering standalone training programmes to building interconnected systems that link people to opportunity. The transition to ASH Africa reflects both the scale of the work we are already doing and the future we are committed to building.

Our goal of reaching 500,000 youth, women, and SMEs annually by 2030 is rooted in a decade of learning about what it takes to shift systems, not just programmes across Africa’s economies.”

According to the organisation, the rebrand does not represent a change in mission, but rather an expansion of scope, engagement, and strategic positioning.

ASH Africa will continue to focus on creating sustainable economic opportunities for youth, women, and SMEs by connecting them to skills development, enterprise support, finance, and market access.

Through its systems-driven model, the organisation aims to address what it describes as a systems challenge — the disconnect between skills acquisition, access to capital, enterprise growth, and market participation.

The new identity also reflects the organisation’s commitment to inclusive growth through partnerships, innovation, research-driven programming, and ecosystem development. Its strategic priorities include skills development, SME growth, market access, digital inclusion, and data-driven advocacy.

A Decade of Impact at a Glance (2016–2026)

Skills & Human Capital Development

  • 40,192 youth trained in employability, digital, and enterprise skills
  • 30,519 women supported through targeted training and enterprise development programmes

Economic Transition & Employment Outcomes

  • 15,753 youth transitioned into employment
  • 10,939 new jobs created across supported enterprises

Enterprise Growth & Financial Inclusion

  • 9,238 MSMEs supported to adopt sustainable business practices
  • GHS 10,789,800 in micro-loans disbursed to improve access to finance and business growth

Geographic Reach & Ecosystem Expansion

  • Programmes implemented across all 16 regions of Ghana and multiple African countries

As part of its anniversary and rebranding activities, ASH Africa will roll out a series of engagements highlighting its decade-long journey, institutional evolution, impact stories, and future vision for Africa.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of ASH Africa, formerly Africa Skills Hub.

Media Contact:
Name: Ms Perfect Dadugblor
Senior Communications Officer
Email: perfect.dadugblor@ash.africa
Phone: +233 548 288 182

Social Media:
ASH Africa’s Facebook, Instagram, X, and LinkedIn: @ASHAfrica

About ASH Africa:
ASH Africa is a development organisation creating opportunities for youth, women, and SMEs in Africa by connecting them to skills, capital, and markets. The organisation works across interconnected areas, including skills development, enterprise growth, market access, SME finance, digital economy programming, and research-driven advocacy to create sustainable pathways for inclusive economic participation across Africa.

ASH Africa’s Website: www.ASH.Africa

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Trade Minister tests positive for COVID-19

Source: Government of South Africa

Trade Minister tests positive for COVID-19

Trade, Industry and Competition (dtic) Minister, Parks Tau, has tested positive for COVID-19. 

“Minister Tau is in good spirits and is currently in self-isolation,” the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition said in a statement on Wednesday.

“Minister Tau would like to encourage those who have been in contact with him recently to get tested and exercise precautionary measures,” the department said. – SAnews.gov.za

 

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When women farm better, Eswatini eats better

Source: APO – Report:

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Eswatini’s agricultural future depends on farmers who have long been overlooked. A new gender-responsive toolkit, developed by ITC, the EU, and partners, is putting tools, training, and recognition where they are needed most.

In Eswatini, women do much of the work in agriculture. They plant, weed, and harvest, yet they rarely own the land they work, control the income it generates, or sit at the table where decisions are made. 

Extension services, designed largely around male farmers with land titles and household authority, have left this majority underserved for decades.

‘We cannot achieve full food self-sufficiency if 50% of our workforce – our women farmers – continues to face systemic barriers that limit their productivity,’ says Sydney Simelane, Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture.

That gap is now being directly addressed. The European Union and the ITC She Trades initiative, working with the Government of Eswatini and the Eswatini National Agricultural Union (ESNAU), have developed a gender-responsive agricultural services manual and video series. These practical tools are designed to help extension officers, cooperatives, farmer organizations, and agribusiness support institutions redesign how they deliver services to women, youth, and vulnerable groups.

The tools will help update training materials, but also reframe how agricultural services are conceived, moving away from one-size-fits-all approaches toward farmer-centred engagement that acknowledges the real constraints women face. Among the challenges: limited land ownership, restricted decision-making power, and training sessions scheduled at times when women are in the fields or do household chores and caretaking.

‘We don’t just walk into the homestead and say, “you need to do this”,’ says ESNAU CEO Tammy Dlamini. ‘We start conversations that help families solve their own issues and rethink how resources are allocated within households.’

That shift is already producing results. In pilot communities, early evidence points to stronger household collaboration, more inclusive decision-making, and increased participation of women farmers in agricultural activities and markets.

The story of Thembisile Mafu captures what is possible. A young woman from the Shiselweni region, she started with a backyard garden. Through ESNAU training and support, she now farms three hectares and recently won the Agribusiness Entrepreneur of the Year Award in her region. 

‘Back home, they don’t take you seriously if you are female and young,’ she says. ‘But if you continue working and join the trainings, you are able to grow.’

The initiative forms part of the broader EU-ITC programme Eswatini: Promoting Growth Through Competitive Alliances. It arrives in a milestone year, as 2026 marks 50 years of official EU-Eswatini cooperation.

The long-term ambition is nationwide reach – equipping every layer of Eswatini’s agricultural system to deliver services that leave no one behind, and building the inclusive, resilient food economy the country needs.

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– on behalf of International Trade Centre.

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Togo Hosts the 8th Annual Forum of National Volunteer Agencies in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Region

Source: APO – Report:

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From 2 to 4 June 2026, Lomé will host the 8th Annual Forum of National Volunteer Agencies in the ECOWAS region. Organised under the theme ‘From knowledge to action: practical tools and reliable data to strengthen the role of volunteering in the ECOWAS region’, this forum brings together stakeholders in the volunteering sector from our Community’s member states, as well as technical and institutional partners.

This high-level meeting will feature plenary sessions and working groups aimed at developing a reference document on the collection and management of data relating to volunteering. The national volunteering agencies and institutions represented will share their experiences and best practices in order to contribute to the harmonisation of data collection mechanisms across the community space.

Through its Volunteer Programme, implemented by the Youth and Sports Development Centre, ECOWAS is firmly committed to making volunteering a driving force for regional integration, the promotion of peace and the acceleration of sustainable development in the region.

The Lomé Forum therefore provides a unique opportunity to harmonize approaches, strengthen cooperation between stakeholders in the voluntary sector and share experiences with a view to consolidating the contribution of volunteering to development within the ECOWAS region.

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

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Indigenous Peoples gravely vulnerable to Ebola epidemic, warn United Nations (UN) independent experts

Source: APO


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UN human rights experts* today expressed deep concern over the resurgence of the Ebola virus in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda, warning that the deadly virus predominantly impacts Indigenous Peoples.

“Declared a public health emergency of international concern by the World Health Organisation, the Ebola outbreak is most prominent within or near Indigenous Peoples’ territories,” the experts said.

Highlighting the Pygmy Indigenous Peoples, the experts note that they often face structural exclusion. “These communities, whose way of life is mobile, depend closely on their territories and natural resources for their subsistence, identity and well-being. Moreover, their limited access to health services makes them particularly exposed to this epidemic.”

The experts welcomed ongoing initiatives by concerned States to contain the outbreak. They called on other States, the international community and United Nations agencies engaged in this effort to ensure equitable and non-discriminatory access to healthcare, as well as to strengthen targeted support for Indigenous Peoples affected or at risk from this epidemic.

“Responses to Ebola must be guided by international standards relating to the rights of Indigenous Peoples, including their rights to health, equal protection and cultural identity. The particular vulnerability of Indigenous Peoples to this epidemic must be recognised and integrated into response strategies,” the experts said.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations: Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).

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Meeting between Parliamentary Vice-Minister ONISHI and His Excellency (H.E.) Mr. Cosgrow, Principal Minister and Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Blue Economy of Seychelles

Source: APO

On June 3, from 3:50 p.m. for approximately 20 minutes, Mr. ONISHI Yohei, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, held a meeting with H.E. Mr. Wallace Cosgrow, Principal Minister and Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Blue Economy of the Republic of Seychelles, who is currently visiting Japan.

  1. At the outset, Parliamentary Vice-Minister ONISHI extended his congratulations on the occasion of Seychelles’ 50th anniversary of independence on June 29 of this year, as well as the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Seychelles this year. He also expressed Japan’s desire to further strengthen cooperation with Seychelles, which is strategically located in the Indian Ocean and shares fundamental values with Japan, as an important partner in realizing a Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP).
  2. In response, Principal Minister and Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Blue Economy Cosgrow expressed his gratitude to Japan’s support in areas including fishing harbour, and expected for understanding and support for vulnerabilities faced by Seychelles as a small island state.
  3. Both sides confirmed their commitment to further deepening cooperation between the two countries, taking the opportunity of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations this year.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan.

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Eritrea: Construction of Elementary School in Gogni Sub-Zone

Source: APO


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An elementary school has been constructed in Dele administrative area, Gogni sub-zone, at a cost of over 3 million Nakfa.

Eng. Mengisteab Berhane, head of town planning and infrastructure in the Gash Barka Region, said that the school, constructed in collaboration with the regional administration and members of the Defense Forces, includes five classrooms and offices, among other facilities.

Noting that the construction of the ‘Aimsa’ Elementary School is part of the effort being carried out to ensure social justice, Eng. Mengisteab commended the strong participation of the residents and members of the Defense Forces.

Brigade Chief of Staff Sub-Lieutenant Habtemariam Gebremeskel, noting that members of the Defense Forces are conducting effective development programs in collaboration with the public, said that the construction of the elementary school is a continuation of that effort.

Mr. Franco Kubaba, Director General of Social Services in the Gash Barka Region, and Mr. Yemane Mehari, managing director in Gogni sub-zone, on their part called on parents to play their due role in motivating their children in general and school-aged girls in particular to attend regular education.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Information, Eritrea.