On June 28, Chinese Ambassador to Tanzania H.E.Chen Mingjian and Minister of Prime Minister’s Office(Labour, Youth, Employment and Persons with Disability) Hon. Ridhiwani Jakaya Kikwete attended The 4th China-Tanzania Job Fair together. Over 100 Chinese enterprises participated in the job fair, offering about 1000 job opportunities.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the United Republic of Tanzania.
AU Commission Chair H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf met with the Prime Minister of Spain H.E. Pedro Sánchez on the margins of the #FfD4 conference in Seville & reaffirm the AU–Spain partnership. He thanked Spain for hosting #FfD4 in Seville and welcomed the opportunity to advocate for reforms to tackle systemic global financial inequalities.
The Chair underscored Africa’s commitment to cooperation under the AU–Spain MoU: peace & security, maritime governance, Agenda 2063, & migration. He called for joint action on conflict prevention, orderly migration, & stronger Africa-EU ties.
He urged Spain to support Africa’s call for a fairer global financial architecture, – stronger trade in key sectors: auto, medtech, textiles, & tourism.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez Pérez-Castejón welcomed AU’s strong participation at #FFD4Sevilla & assured that Spain will support Africa’s priorities within the multilateral framework of the AU-EU cooperation and the UN system.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Union (AU).
The Economic, Social and Cultural Council (ECOSOCC) of the African Union (AU) has officially launched the “My Africa, My Future” Civil Society Compendium—a groundbreaking initiative aimed at showcasing the powerful role civil society organizations (CSOs) across Africa and the diaspora play in advancing justice and reparations.
The Compendium is part of ECOSOCC’s commitment to strengthening the African Union’s connection with its people and is aligned with the AU’s 2025 Theme of the Year, “Justice for Africans and People of African Descent Through Reparations.”
The ‘My Africa My Future Compendium’ (MAMF) was conceived 25th May 2025, as part of the Africa Day commemoration. The Compendium represents ECOSOCC’s commitment to make civil society visible, valued, and heard. This initiative creates a space for civil society to tell its own stories, share its solutions, and shape continental and global policy conversations from the grassroots.
As a digital and physical repository of civic excellence, My Africa, My Future will catalogue a wide range of impactful CSO-led initiatives, encourage interregional learning, and build a legacy of civil society action that will inform Africa’s development for years to come.
“With ‘My Africa, My Future,’ we are not only documenting action, but we are also acknowledging and elevating the indispensable role of civil society in shaping Africa’s future,” said William Carew, ECOSOCC’s Head of Secretariat. “This Compendium is a platform for recognition, and above all, for solidarity. It’s time the world hears the collective voice of African civil society on justice and reparations—clear, united, and unstoppable.”
The initiative invites CSOs from across Africa and the global African diaspora to submit their work, with a focus on projects that champion justice and reparative action. Selected contributions will be featured in the inaugural edition of the Compendium and serve as inspiration for replication, scaling, and policy alignment.
Through this initiative, ECOSOCC aims to:
In the exercise of its mandate of connecting the African Union, ECOSOCC champions numerous initiatives throughout the year; be it through advocacy or awareness raising, ECOSOCC has always been at the forefront of bringing AU policies and programmes at the grassroots.
As a result of these engagements, many CSOs have reported, quite sporadically though, to ECOSOCC about their very laudable programs to support the AU’s Agenda 2063 but most importantly, the annual AU Theme of the Year.
Join the Movement. Shape the Narrative. Share Your Impact.
To contribute to the “My Africa, My Future” Compendium, CSOs are encouraged to visit https://ecosocc.au.int/en/mamf/call and submit their initiatives for inclusion.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Union (AU).
His Majesty King Mohammed VI sent a message of congratulations to the President of the Federal Republic of Somalia, Hassan Sheikh Mahmoud, on the occasion of his country’s National Day.
In this message, His Majesty the King conveys to President Sheikh Mahmoud His warm congratulations and extends to the brotherly Somali people His best wishes for continued progress and prosperity, in peace and stability.
The Sovereign takes this opportunity to reaffirm His firm determination to work, in close cooperation with the Somali President, to strengthen the fraternal ties between Morocco and Somalia, at the service of the interests of the two brotherly peoples.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Kingdom of Morocco – Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates.
His Majesty King Mohammed VI sent a congratulatory message to the President of the Republic of Burundi, Evariste Ndayishimiye, on the occasion of his country’s 63rd anniversary of independence.
In this message, the Sovereign extends His warmest congratulations and best wishes to President Evariste Ndayishimiye as well as the entire Burundian people.
His Majesty the King praised the strengthening momentum of close cooperation between the Kingdom of Morocco and the Republic of Burundi, reaffirming His determination to work with His Excellency to further enhance it at both the bilateral and continental levels.
The Sovereign also expressed His hope that the deep bonds of friendship, solidarity, and mutual resteem between the two countries will continue to grow.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Kingdom of Morocco – Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates.
The Chairperson of the Select Committee on Economic Development and Trade, Ms Sonja Boshoff, has welcomed the launch of Proudly SA’s new online platform for locally produced consumer goods.
Ms Boshoff characterised the platform as a significant step towards reindustrialisation of the South African economy, which will protect local jobs.
“This digital marketplace will serve as a vital conduit for South African businesses – particularly manufacturers and small-scale producers – to reach consumers across the country. In time, the platform is also expected to open international avenues for local exporters, contributing meaningfully to market diversification and economic resilience,” Ms Boshoff said.
“This initiative could not have come at a more important time. South Africa continues to face the triple threat of high unemployment, sluggish economic growth and deindustrialisation. Platforms such as this are essential to reversing the tide. By creating accessible digital channels for local producers, Proudly SA is directly contributing to inclusive economic growth and supporting job retention in vulnerable sectors like manufacturing and agro processing.
“While we commend this important intervention, it must form part of a broader localisation strategy, supported by clear procurement policies, incentives for domestic production and infrastructure support for township and rural enterprises. This is how industrialised nations have built resilient economies, and South Africa must be no different,” Ms Boshoff said.
She added that the committee encourages businesses, big and small, to register on the Proudly SA platform and commit to local procurement wherever possible. “Consumers, too, have a critical role to play in supporting this ecosystem. Buying local is no longer just patriotic; it is an economic imperative.”
“The committee will continue to exercise rigorous oversight over the departments and entities tasked with economic development, ensuring that such platforms receive the institutional backing, marketing exposure, and policy alignment they need to succeed,” added Ms Boshoff.
“South Africa has the capacity to produce its own goods – from furniture to fashion, food to film – and we must prioritise these industries if we are serious about reaching our growth targets and reducing the unemployment rate, which currently sits at an unsustainable 43.1%. It is time to back South African producers, not in words, but in procurement decisions, public policy, and consumer behaviour,” she said.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of South Africa: The Parliament.
The second edition of the Guinea Economic Update offers an in-depth analysis of the country’s evolving macroeconomic position and examines how Guinea can increase domestic resource mobilization and management to achieve its development goals.
The report, “Domestic Resource Mobilization and Management for Inclusive and Sustainable Development,” presents a dual focus: an evaluation of macroeconomic developments and outlook, and an examination of Guinea’s potential to enhance and manage domestic revenues, particularly in light of the expected windfall from the Simandou iron ore project.
The first part of the report highlights Guinea’s ongoing and anticipated economic growth, with GDP growth reaching 5.7% in 2024, projected at 6.5% in 2025, and averaging 10% in 2026–27, driven by expanding mining activity. However, the report underscores that recent growth has not significantly reduced poverty, which remains high at 52%, due to limited job creation in the non-mining sectors.
“In recent years, Guinea has achieved robust growth, primarily fueled by the mining industry and agriculture. Yet, the key challenge remains in transforming growth into employment opportunities for Guineans,” said Marilyne Youbi, World Bank Group Economist and Lead Author of the report.
The report points to a widening fiscal deficit — 4.8% of GDP in 2024 and rising public debt, driven by infrastructure investment and still-limited revenue mobilization. Tax revenues remain low at 13.1% percent of GDP, significantly below regional targets, constraining the government’s ability to invest in essential services such as health, education, and infrastructure.
The second part of the report presents an analysis of Guinea’s domestic resource mobilization and management landscape. It argues that increasing and better managing public revenues, especially from the mining sector, is essential for fiscal sustainability, economic diversification, and improved social outcomes. The report calls for stronger tax policy enforcement consistent with the Tax and Mining Codes, and it highlights key reform areas including enhancing tax audit capabilities, improving the integrity of the taxpayer database, ensuring timely filing and payment of taxes, and deepening digitalization of revenue administration. It also calls for reforms to strengthen management of public expenditures and public investments programs.
“This report underscores the urgency of implementing reforms to make growth more inclusive and resilient,” said Issa Diaw, World Bank Group Country Manager for Guinea. “With the Simandou iron ore project poised to transform the economy, Guinea has a narrow window to ensure that the benefits of growth are widely shared.”
As Guinea enters a potentially transformative phase in its development, the report calls for a renewed policy focus on debt sustainability, macroeconomic stability, as well as investments in human and physical capital.
Download the Guinea Economic Update in English.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The World Bank Group.
Source: South Africa News Agency
Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Sindisiwe Chikunga, has made an urgent call for inclusive economic transformation that places women at the centre of key value chains.
The Minister was delivering a keynote address at the Third Technical Meeting of the G20 Empowerment of Women Working Group (EWWG), currently underway in Skukuza Conference Centre, Kruger National Park, in Mpumalanga.
From the roar of coal turbines at Kusile and Kendal, to the citrus farms of Nkomazi and the tourism magnetism of Kruger National Park, the Minister painted a vivid picture of a province brimming with economic opportunity.
However, she cautioned that women who bear the invisible burden of care and subsistence work must be integrated meaningfully into these economic engines.
“Our task is to ensure that the energy transition, the tourism boom and the manufacturing spine you see here translate into real ownership, decent jobs and fair returns for the women who already carry this province’s invisible labour on their shoulders.
“When we speak of women’s economic empowerment over the next few days, let us remember: the dividends of energy reform and agro-processing must flow into the very hands that have long carried both unpaid care and subsistence farming,” the minister said.
The Minister asserted that this G20 moment belongs not just to South Africa, but to Africa and its people. She reaffirmed the country’s commitment to ensuring grassroots voices inform global policy.
“South Africa may chair the process, but we view this moment as Africa’s G20 and the People’s G20,” she said.
Describing Mpumalanga as the province that “powers, feeds, and connects South Africa”, the Minister said the province was chosen deliberately, highlighting its strategic location along the Maputo-Gauteng corridor and its immense contribution to regional energy, agriculture, logistics and tourism.
“Mpumalanga sits at the intersection of energy, agriculture, logistics and tourism, the very value chains in which women must now claim their full, equitable share,” she said.
Driving a Global Agenda with local impact
Under the banner of “Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability,” Minister Chikunga detailed the three priorities of the third Working Group as valuing the care economy – both paid and unpaid; unlocking genuine financial inclusion for women; and eradicating gender-based violence and femicide.
The Minister highlighted that her department and the Provincial Government held a community engagement nearly two weeks ago in Mkhondo with the ordinary South African women.
She emphasised that the voices of ordinary women – like those heard during the community engagements in Mkhondo, must echo in every session of the G20 deliberations.
“Our conversations here mean little if they do not reflect the voices we heard in Mkhondo and those of citizens across all G20 nations and if they do not translate into real improvements in their daily lives,” she said.
Chikunga outlined concrete progress made since South Africa took the G20 reins:
“These milestones confirm that our agenda is no longer a set of good ideas; it is a living programme of action poised for global scale,” she noted.
Care Economy: The backbone of real growth
Calling the care economy the “hidden engine” that sustains the visible economy, the Minister urged G20 nations to take bold steps to quantify, invest in, and redistribute care work.
“If we costed all paid and unpaid care work, it would equal about 40 percent of global GDP and 380 million jobs. Remove care and almost half the world’s economic value would evaporate overnight,” she warned.
Outlining a three-part call to action, Minister Chikunga pressed for public investment in care as critical infrastructure, the regular measurement of unpaid care through time-use surveys, and legal reforms to support parental leave, living wages for carers, and equitable workplace policies.
“Treating care as peripheral is not a statistical error; it is an act of economic self-harm rooted in patriarchal thinking,” she said.
From consensus to commitment
As the G20 Working Group heads toward its Ministerial Declaration, Minister Chikunga urged delegates to leave Skukuza with a singular mandate: to turn consensus into costed, timeline-driven policy options that uplift women in tangible ways.
“Our work will be measured by practical outcomes: a woman whose unpaid care burden is lighter; a girl who stays in school because a community crèche opened; a survivor who receives timely support and justice. These are the tests that matter,” she said.
With its powerful blend of local insight and global ambition, South Africa’s G20 Presidency is charting a bold path toward women’s economic justice, anchored in the lived realities of its people and powered by the untapped potential of provinces like Mpumalanga. – SAnews.gov.za
Source: South Africa News Agency
The Department of Correctional Services has conducted more than 460 raids in correctional facilities across the country over the past year in a crackdown against lawlessness within these facilities.
This according to Minister Pieter Groenewald, who presented the department’s Budget Vote in Parliament, on Tuesday.
“I can declare that in the past year, 466 raids have been conducted. I have also conducted numerous unannounced visits to numerous facilities. These unannounced visits and raids will increase in the coming year,” he said.
More than 33 000 cell phones, 20 577 sharpened objects, some 122 407 items related to alcohol and other substances, 232.16kg of drugs and over R394 000 worth of money had been confiscated during these raids.
Groenewald said officials have also been subjected to disciplinary action where necessary.
“In the last year, 515 officials have received final written warnings; 181 were suspended without pay and 146 dismissed.
“When it comes to discipline, I can only say that we can only address our problems if we recognise their true extent,” he said.
Protecting communities
The Minister said when he took office last year, there was a backlog of some 495 life imprisonment profiles. A further 584 life imprisonment profiles have landed on his desk since.
“Of this total of 1 079 profiles considered, I approved 29 parole applications and granted three cases of day parole. Five individuals serving life sentences have been granted parole and are subject to deportation.
“Thirty-eight individuals’ parole has been revoked, two cancelled and one withdrawn. Unfortunately, I have also had to utilise the powers granted to me to refer three parole placements to the Correctional Supervision and Parole Review Board.
“The CSPRB is tasked with reviewing the original decisions made by parole boards and must confirm or replace it with its own decision. In all three cases, parole was withdrawn. We are in the process of reviewing the whole parole system,” he said.
Groenewald explained that the department is tasked with ensuring that inmates, who may reoffend, are not allowed back into society.
“The department has the important task to safeguard communities against convicted criminals whilst providing rehabilitation of offenders in order to ensure safe reintegration into society. When parole becomes a loophole for further terror and criminality, it is not merely a policy failure, it is a failure of justice.
“I am very strict on that and I want to put it on record again: it doesn’t matter whether an applicant went through all the courses and the rehabilitation programmes in our facilities but when I receive a psychological reports…and the risk of reoffending is medium to high, I will not approve any parole for that specific case,” he emphasised.
Self-sufficiency
The Minister said the department will have a budget of some R29 billion for the 2025/26 financial year, rising to just over R30 billion for 2026/27 and reaching some R31.9 billion for 2027/28.
He highlighted that the department’s budget has undergone some cuts as a result of fiscal constraints.
“The cuts in our budget translate to the provision of security being compromised, capital investment in skills cuts, the budget for nutritional services had to be cut, capital works projects will be on hold and the monitoring of parolees could be negatively impacted.
“[We] face real and pressing financial and operational constraints. The capital budget shortfall of R222 million undermines our ability to conduct infrastructure upgrades and critical maintenance. The escalating cost of food, fuelled by inflation and the growing number of inmates, including a sharp increase in foreign nationals, adds another layer of financial strain,” he said.
However, the department is doing its best to “explore alternative revenue streams so that we are not solely reliant on the fiscus”.
“We have registered commendable progress in the construction of correctional centre-based bakeries and pharmacies. The number of operational bakeries has increased from nine to 11, with Standerton and Pietermaritzburg recently coming online.
“In the past financial year, we have produced just over five million loaves of bread, which translates to estimated savings of R27 197 251.20. Farm production has also yielded R130 491 122.81 estimated savings in food provisioning.
“This is but a step in the direction of becoming entirely self-sufficient. The amendments to the 12-day cycle meal plan are expected to generate estimated savings of over R200 million per annum. These figures reflect our commitment to responsible spending of the taxpayers’ hard-earned money,” Groenewald said.
In his written remarks, the Minister acknowledged that although the department has taken a step in the right direction, more still needs to be done to create a corruption-free correctional service that contributes to South Africa’s safety.
“Our mission is to [do] the best – doing more with less. More savings of taxpayers’ money, more raids, greater discipline, bigger efforts to uproot corruption, more implementation of creative solutions, a bigger, happier workforce and ultimately, greater public trust.
“Together, we will continue to strengthen our department, affirm our constitutional commitments, and ensure that justice prevails in South Africa.
“Let us reaffirm our commitment to a correctional system that serves the people, one rooted in integrity, accountability, and safety. Only then can we truly begin to restore hope, rebuild faith in the system, and move toward the safer South Africa we all deserve,” Groenewald said. – SAnews.gov.za
Source: South Africa News Agency
The National Police Commissioner, General Fannie Masemola, thanked the media, social media community and community members for assisting police investigators to track down two hitmen linked to the murder of Mboneli Vesele.
National Police Commissioner, General Fannie Masemola, has expressed appreciation to the media, social media community, and members of the public for their assistance in tracking down two suspects linked to the murder of Mboneli Vesele.
Vesele was the bodyguard of University of Fort Hare Vice Chancellor and Principal, Professor Sakhele Buhlungu.
Vesele was shot and killed inside a vehicle while waiting for the Vice Chancellor outside the Principals home n Alice, Eastern Cape, on 6 January 2023.
On 15 November 2024, the South African Police Service (SAPS) published the suspects’ pictures and a request to the public for assistance in tracking down the three wanted suspects after obtaining a J50 warrant of arrest for Bafana Chiliza, Nkosiyazi “Dipopoz” Maphumulo and Siphiwo “Spijojo “Jejane.
On 21 June 2025, a multi-disciplinary SAPS team, acting on intelligence provided by the public, tracked the suspects to Zakkariya Park in Johannesburg, where two of the alleged hitmen were arrested.
The SAPS confirms the arrest of Bafana Chiliza and Nkosiyazi Maphumulo. Both suspects are currently in custody and will be charged accordingly.
The third suspect, Siphiwo “Spijojo” Jejane, is still at large, and the police are still searching for him.
General Masemola commended the investigation team, which has been working around the clock to apprehend all those involved in the killings at Fort Hare University to justice.
“Members of the public play a significant role in assisting the work of the police in apprehending wanted suspects. We thank all stakeholders for playing their part,” said Gen Masemola.
The total number of suspects arrested in connection with the Fort Hare murders, is now 12, with 10 arrests made since 2023, and some still in police custody.
Anyone with information on Siphiwo Jejane’s whereabouts is encouraged to contact Warrant Officer Nkosi on 0825575789 or Sergeant Mokoena on 0818517758. – SAnews.gov.za
