Category: Africa

Posted on

NDB and South Africa sign US$405m loan agreements for infrastructure projects

Source: Government of South Africa

NDB and South Africa sign US$405m loan agreements for infrastructure projects

The New Development Bank (NDB) and the South African Government have signed two loan agreements worth a combined US$405 million to support infrastructure projects in Limpopo, North West and Gauteng.

In a statement on Friday, National Treasury said the financing will support the Limpopo Central Hospital Project and the Magalies Bulk Water Supply Scheme, as part of efforts to advance South Africa’s sustainable infrastructure priorities.

The NDB will provide a US$200 million loan for the Limpopo Central Hospital Project, which involves the construction of a new 488-bed tertiary central hospital in Polokwane.

The flagship investment is expected to strengthen tertiary healthcare services, expand access to quality medical care and improve health outcomes for the people of Limpopo.

The province faces growing demand for tertiary healthcare services, ageing hospital infrastructure and shortages of specialised medical facilities.

The new hospital will provide modern and resilient healthcare infrastructure, equipped with advanced diagnostic, treatment and information technology systems.

It will also serve as the principal referral hospital for the province and increase capacity to provide specialised and advanced healthcare services.

The facility will further support medical education, clinical research and the training of future healthcare professionals.

Water security

The NDB will also provide US$205 million for the Magalies Bulk Water Supply Scheme, which aims to improve reliable access to drinking water and support inclusive growth in the North West and Limpopo provinces.

The project responds to severe water shortages affecting six local municipalities where current water demand exceeds available supply.

These municipalities are Bela-Bela, Modimolle-Mookgophong, Mogalakwena, Moretele, Moses Kotane and Rustenburg.

According to National Treasury, both loans have a maturity period of 10 years, including a four-year grace period, with an interest rate of daily SOFR plus 0.93508%.

The financing forms part of Government’s broader efforts to strengthen public health and water infrastructure.

National Treasury expressed its appreciation to the NDB for its continued partnership and support towards South Africa’s infrastructure development and long-term sustainable development objectives.

“The NDB’s project loans, together with financing secured from other multilateral development partners, have enabled Government to meet its 2026/27 foreign currency borrowing requirement of US$3.2 billion,” National Treasury said. – SAnews.gov.za

DikelediM

7

Posted on

Minister Chikunga condemns alcohol advert linked to Women’s March

Source: Government of South Africa

Minister Chikunga condemns alcohol advert linked to Women’s March

Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities Sindisiwe Chikunga has expressed concern over the use of alcohol in an advertisement referencing the historic 1956 Women’s March.

In a statement on Friday, Minister Chikunga said the use of alcohol in the marketing campaign trivialises the historic and ongoing struggle of South African women for freedom, equality, dignity and justice.

She stressed that the Women’s March of 1956 was not a commercial slogan or marketing opportunity, but a defining moment in South Africa’s liberation history.

On 9 August 1956, about 20 000 women marched to the Union Buildings in protest against apartheid pass laws.

“The struggle of the women of 1956 cannot and must not be reduced to a marketing gimmick. Their courage, sacrifice and resistance were about freedom, dignity, equality and justice. 

“It is deeply concerning when that historic struggle is appropriated to sell products, particularly products such as alcohol that continue to have devastating social consequences for many women, children and families,” Minister Chikunga said.

The Minister emphasised that alcohol was never a symbol of the women’s struggle for freedom and should not be retrospectively presented as such for commercial purposes.

The whisky brand referenced in the advertisement has since apologised and removed the social media post.

As South Africa commemorates 70 years since the historic Women’s March, Chikunga said the anniversary provides an opportunity to reflect on the gains made since 1956 while confronting persistent challenges that continue to undermine women’s safety, dignity and economic and social wellbeing.

She cautioned that the normalisation and glamorisation of alcohol consumption cannot be separated from broader social challenges facing South African communities.

Alcohol abuse and harmful drinking, she said, can exacerbate gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF), family instability, child neglect, interpersonal violence and other forms of social harm.

“We cannot celebrate the courage of the women of 1956 while simultaneously commercialising and trivialising their struggle. The legacy of these women demands that we advance a society in which women are safe, empowered, economically independent and treated with dignity—not one in which their historic struggle is packaged as a commodity for profit,” Chikunga said. 

She said the 70th anniversary of the Women’s March must serve as a reminder that the freedom enjoyed by South Africans today was secured through sacrifice, courage and collective action.

The women who marched to the Union Buildings on 9 August 1956, she said, were not fighting for commercial recognition or corporate branding, but for the liberation of a nation and the dignity of generations to come.

“We have a responsibility to ensure that younger generations understand that our democracy was not handed to us. It was built through struggle, sacrifice, courage and the collective action of ordinary South Africans, particularly women who stood at the forefront of resistance. 

“Civic education must therefore become a deliberate instrument for preserving our history, strengthening democratic values and ensuring that the sacrifices of those who came before us are never forgotten or reduced to commercial symbolism,” the Minister said. 

Chikunga said her department remains committed to ensuring that the legacy of the women of 1956 is preserved, respected and translated into meaningful action towards achieving substantive equality and advancing the rights and empowerment of women and girls. – SAnews.gov.za

DikelediM

0

Posted on

La 21e session extraordinaire de la Conférence des Chefs d’État et de gouvernement de l’Union Africaine se tiendra en Angola

Source: Africa Press Organisation – French

La République d’Angola accueille, le 30 août 2026, à Luanda, au Palais des Congrès de Luanda (PCL), la XXIe Session extraordinaire de la Conférence des Chefs d’État et de Gouvernement de l’Union africaine, consacrée au Renforcement des mécanismes de prévention et de règlement des conflits en Afrique.

Cette session, qui réunira à Luanda les Chefs d’État et de Gouvernement des pays africains, se présente comme un espace important de dialogue, d’analyse et de concertation politique entre les États membres de l’Union, axé sur le renforcement des mécanismes continentaux destinés à la prévention des conflits, à la promotion de la paix et de la stabilité politique, ainsi qu’au règlement pacifique des crises qui affectent différentes régions du continent.

Entre autres, la tenue de cet important événement devra permettre de proposer des modèles innovants en vue de redynamiser l’Architecture continentale de paix et de sécurité (APSA), en mettant fortement l’accent sur une diplomatie axée sur une prévention cohérente, coordonnée et opportune, à même d’éviter l’escalade et l’aggravation des conflits, en articulation avec la Feuille de route pour Faire taire les armes à l’horizon 2030, afin de rendre possible la mise en œuvre intégrale de l’Agenda 2063 (L’Afrique que nous voulons).

Dans ce contexte, sous le thème « Renforcement des mécanismes de prévention et de règlement des conflits en Afrique », la réunion devra contribuer à l’approfondissement du dialogue entre les États membres et au renforcement des réponses africaines aux défis liés à la paix et à la sécurité continentales, en garantissant des réponses efficaces, cohérentes et durables.

Cette Session extraordinaire des Chefs d’État et de Gouvernement de l’Union africaine découle d’une recommandation issue de la Réunion de haut niveau du Conseil de paix et de sécurité (CPS) de l’Union africaine, tenue sous la présidence de l’Angola en marge de la 80e Session de l’Assemblée générale des Nations Unies, à New York, le 24 septembre 2025. Par cet événement, la République d’Angola réaffirme ainsi son engagement en faveur de l’agenda continental de paix et de sécurité, compte tenu du mandat de Son Excellence João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço, Président de la République, en qualité de Champion de l’Union africaine pour la Paix et la Réconciliation.

Il convient de noter que la 26e Session extraordinaire du Conseil exécutif de l’Union africaine, plateforme statutaire qui réunit les Ministres des Relations extérieures / Affaires étrangères, se tiendra le 29 août, en tant qu’antichambre et en préparation de l’Ordre du jour et des Documents qui seront examinés par les Chefs d’État et de Gouvernement, parmi lesquels figurent le Projet de décision et le Plan d’action de Luanda pour le « Renforcement des mécanismes de prévention et de règlement des conflits en Afrique ».

DIRECTION NATIONALE DE L’INFORMATION ET DE LA COMMUNICATION INSTITUTIONNELLE DU MINISTÈRE DES TÉLÉCOMMUNICATIONS, DES TECHNOLOGIES DE L’INFORMATION ET DE LA COMMUNICATION SOCIALE, à Luanda, le 25 août 2026.

Distribué par APO Group pour Ministry of Telecommunications, Information Technologies and Social Communication, Angola.

Contact :
Talatona, Luanda – Angola
Rua do MAT, Complexo Administrativo
Clássicos do Talatona, edifício n.º 3
Tel.: (+244) 222 210 723
dnici.geral@minttics.gov.ao 
https://MINTTICS.gov.ao/

Media files

Posted on

21st Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union to be Held in Angola

Source: APO

The Republic of Angola will host, on 30 August 2026, in Luanda, at the Luanda Convention Centre (PCL), the XXI Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union, dedicated to the Strengthening of Conflict Prevention and Resolution Mechanisms in Africa.

The session, which will bring together in Luanda the Heads of State and Government of African countries, stands as an important space for dialogue, analysis and political concertation among the Member States of the Union, focusing on the strengthening of the continental mechanisms for conflict prevention, the promotion of peace and political stability, as well as the peaceful resolution of the crises affecting different regions of the continent.

Among other outcomes, this important event is expected to propose innovative models to revitalise the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA), with strong emphasis on a diplomacy focused on coherent, coordinated and timely prevention, capable of averting the escalation and aggravation of conflicts, in articulation with the Roadmap on Silencing the Guns by 2030, so as to enable the full implementation of Agenda 2063 (The Africa We Want).

In this context, under the theme “Strengthening of Conflict Prevention and Resolution Mechanisms in Africa”, the meeting is expected to contribute to deepening dialogue among Member States and to strengthening African responses to the challenges related to continental peace and security, ensuring effective, coherent and sustainable responses.

This Extraordinary Session of the Heads of State and Government of the African Union stems from a recommendation arising from the High-Level Meeting of the African Union Peace and Security Council (PSC), held under the Chairmanship of Angola on the margins of the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, in New York, on 24 September 2025. With this event, the Republic of Angola thereby reaffirms its commitment to the continental peace and security agenda, in keeping with the mandate of His Excellency João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço, President of the Republic, as African Union Champion for Peace and Reconciliation.

It should be noted that the 26th Extraordinary Session of the Executive Council of the African Union, the statutory platform bringing together the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, will be held on 29 August, as an antechamber to and in preparation for the Agenda and the Documents to be considered by the Heads of State and Government, among which are the Draft Decision and the Luanda Plan of Action on the “Strengthening of Conflict Prevention and Resolution Mechanisms in Africa”.

NATIONAL DIRECTORATE OF INFORMATION AND INSTITUTIONAL COMMUNICATION OF THE MINISTRY OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS, INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES AND SOCIAL COMMUNICATION, in Luanda, 25 August 2026.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Telecommunications, Information Technologies and Social Communication, Angola.

Contact:
Talatona, Luanda – Angola
Rua do MAT, Complexo Administrativo
Clássicos do Talatona, edifício n.º 3
Tel.: (+244) 222 210 723
dnici.geral@minttics.gov.ao 
https://MINTTICS.gov.ao/

Media files

.

Posted on

Deputy Minister Nel to officiate Women’s Month event at Constitution Hill

Source: Government of South Africa

Deputy Minister Nel to officiate Women’s Month event at Constitution Hill

Justice and Constitutional Development Deputy Minister Andries Nel will officiate a high-level Women’s Month event at Constitution Hill in Johannesburg on Monday.

The panel discussion is organised in collaboration with the Constitution Hill Trust, the Legal Practice Council, the Commission for Gender Equality and the Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities.

The Department of Justice and Constitutional Development said the panel will bring together women leaders and delegates from across the legal sector and civil society to address persistent challenges facing women in South Africa, including gender-based violence and femicide, female unemployment, economic inequality, patriarchy and structural barriers to justice.

The event marks the culmination of the Department’s 2026 Women’s Month Programme, observed under the theme: “Empowered Women Empower the Nation.”

On 9 August 2026, South Africa marked 70 years since the historic 1956 Women’s March, when more than 20 000 women united against unjust pass laws and demonstrated courage, resilience and collective activism in the fight for freedom and equality.

Women’s Month is being commemorated under the broader Milestones of Freedom Campaign, themed: “Honouring the past, delivering the future.”

The campaign commemorates key milestones in South Africa’s democratic journey while strengthening service delivery and promoting social cohesion.

These milestones include the 30th anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution, the 50th anniversary of the 1976 youth uprisings, the 70th anniversary of the anti-pass campaign and the 60th anniversary of the forced removals from District Six.

These landmark events reflect the long struggle for democracy and freedom and underscore the country’s journey toward a more inclusive and equitable society. The campaign also signals government’s commitment to building on democratic gains and accelerating service delivery to communities.  – SAnews.gov.za

Edwin

0

Posted on

21.ª Sessão Extraordinária da Conferência dos Chefes de Estado e de Governo da União Africana Acontece em Angola

Source: Africa Press Organisation – Portuguese –

A República de Angola acolhe, no dia 30 de Agosto de 2026, em Luanda, no Palácio de Convenções de Luanda (PCL), a XXI Sessão Extraordinária da Conferência dos Chefes de Estado e de Governo da União Africana, dedicada ao Reforço dos Mecanismos de Prevenção e Resolução de Conflitos em África.

A sessão que reunirá em Luanda Chefes de Estado e de Governo de Países Africanos, apresenta-se como um importante espaço de diá., análise e de concertação política entre os Estados-membros da União, com foco no fortalecimento dos mecanismos continentais destinados à prevenção de conflitos, à promoção da paz e da estabilidade política, bem na resolução pacífica das crises que afectam diferentes regiões do continente.

Entre outros, a realização deste importante evento deverá propor modelos inovadores para a redinamizar a Arquitectura Continental de Paz e Segurança (APSA), com grande ênfase na diplomacia focada numa prevenção coerente, coordenada e atempada, que evite a escalada e o agudizar de conflitos, em articulação com o Roteiro para Silenciar as Armas até 2030, de modo a viabilizar a implementação integral da Agenda 2063 (África que Queremos).

Neste contexto, sob o lema: “Reforço dos Mecanismos de Prevenção e Resolução de Conflitos em África”, a reunião deverá contribuir para o aprofundamento do diá. entre os Estados-membros e para o fortalecimento das respostas africanas aos desafios relacionados com a paz e a segurança continental, assegurando respostas eficazes, coerentes e sustentáveis.

Esta Sessão Extraordinária dos Chefes de Estado e de Governo da União Africana, é decorrente de uma recomendação imanente da Reunião de Alto Nível do Conselho de Paz e Segurança (CPS) da União Africana sob a Presidência de Angola, realizada à margem da 80ª Sessão da Assembleia Geral das Nações Unidas, realizada em Nova Iorque, a 24 de Setembro de 2025. Com este evento, a República de Angola reforça assim o seu compromisso para com a agenda de paz e segurança continental, tendo em conta o mandato de Sua Excelência João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço, Presidente da República, enquanto Campeão da União Africana para a Paz e Reconciliação.

Note-se que a 26.ª Sessão Extraordinária do Conselho Executivo da União Africana, plataforma estatutária que reúne os Ministros das Relações Exteriores/Negócios Estrangeiros é realizada no dia no dia 29 de Agosto, como antecâmara e em preparação da Agenda e dos Documentos a serem considerados pelos Chefes de Estado e de Governo, em que se inscrevem, o Projecto de Decisão e Plano de Acção de Luanda para “Reforço dos Mecanismos de Prevenção e Resolução de Conflitos em África”.

DIRECÇÃO NACIONAL DE INFORMAÇÃO E COMUNICAÇÃO INSTITUCIONAL DO MINISTÉRIO DAS TELECOMUNICAÇÕES, TECNOLOGIAS DE INFORMAÇÃO E COMUNICAÇÃO SOCIAL, em Luanda, 25 de Agosto de 2026.       

Distribuído pelo Grupo APO para Ministry of Telecommunications, Information Technologies and Social Communication, Angola.

Contato:
Talatona, Luanda – Angola
Rua do MAT, Complexo Administrativo
Clássicos do Talatona, edifício n.º 3
Tel.: (+244) 222 210 723
dnici.geral@minttics.gov.ao 
https://MINTTICS.gov.ao/

Media files

Baixar .tipo

Posted on

Suspect arrested over alleged R635 million Tembisa Hospital fraud

Source: Government of South Africa

Suspect arrested over alleged R635 million Tembisa Hospital fraud

The Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation Unit has arrested a 37-year-old suspect in connection with an alleged R635 million fraud case involving Tembisa Hospital.

According to the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI), the suspect faces charges related to fraud, corruption, forgery and/or uttering, contravention of the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA), and money laundering.

The suspect is alleged to have been involved in a complex investigation into multimillion-rand tender fraud linked to Tembisa Hospital’s procurement processes.

“It is alleged that certain officials at the hospital colluded with service providers to exploit the Request for Quotations (RFQ) system for procurement transactions below the R500,000 threshold. This approach was intentionally employed to circumvent the formal tender process,” the DPCI said in a statement on Sunday.

The suspect is expected to appear in the Specialised Commercial Crimes Court, sitting in the Palm Ridge Magistrate’s Court, on Monday, 31 August 2026. 

Last year, the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) said its investigation into corruption at Tembisa Hospital, in Ekurhuleni, uncovered three coordinated syndicates responsible for the looting of over R2 billion meant for healthcare. – SAnews.gov.za

Edwin

0

Posted on

Seychelles: First Lady Mrs Veronique Herminie Urges Girls to Break Barriers and Dream Big – “Reach for the Skies”

Source: APO


.

First Lady of the Republic of Seychelles, Mrs Veronique Herminie, attended the Women Leadership and Diplomacy Summit held on August 28, 2026, in New Delhi, India, as part of Mission ShakthiSAT, an international initiative aimed at empowering girls through science, technology, innovation, leadership, diplomacy and space exploration.

The summit, held on 28 August 2026, forms part of the STISA-2034 Awareness through Research and Innovation for Girl-Ambassadors in Space programme, being held from 22 to 31 August at Gautam Buddha University in Greater Noida, India, under the African Science, Technology and Innovation Indicators (ASTII) programme.

Mission ShakthiSAT seeks to bring together young girls from across the world and expose them to opportunities in space science and technology, with the wider objective of developing the next generation of scientists, engineers, innovators, policymakers, diplomats and leaders.

As part of the programme, participating girls are receiving training in space science and satellite technology, including hands-on opportunities to learn about CubeSats and payload integration. The programme also provides opportunities for participants to engage with scientists, researchers, space professionals and leaders from different parts of the world.

For Seychelles, participation in initiatives such as Mission ShakthiSAT also presents opportunities to strengthen the country’s understanding and use of space-derived geospatial information. Data collected through Earth observation technologies can provide valuable information about the planet’s land and oceans, supporting areas such as environmental monitoring, conservation, climate research and maritime management.

For an island nation such as Seychelles, access to such information can be particularly valuable in strengthening the monitoring and protection of its vast marine environment. Geospatial data can support efforts to better understand changes in coastal and marine ecosystems, monitor areas of ecological importance and inform conservation and sustainable management of maritime resources.

Seychelles is participating in the initiative, with Nicole Abrams serving as the Seychelles Ambassador for Mission ShakthiSAT, alongside Seychellois girls taking part in the international programme.

Addressing the summit, Mrs Herminie highlighted the importance of encouraging girls to enter fields traditionally dominated by men, drawing on her own experience of working in the male-dominated construction sector despite her professional background as an ACCA-certified chartered accountant.

She shared how accepting a senior leadership role in a construction company initially placed her outside her area of technical expertise, but ultimately led to more than seven years in the sector and her promotion to Deputy CEO of the company’s holding company, where she helped lead a workforce of more than 1,000 people.

Mrs Herminie used this experience to encourage the young participants not to allow their academic or professional backgrounds to limit their ambitions, stressing that STEM initiatives require a wide range of skills beyond traditional scientific disciplines.

She also emphasised the importance of youth as drivers of innovation and transformation, urging young girls to make use of education and technology to develop their skills and pursue their aspirations.

“Why not space science? Why not build satellites? Why not reach for the moon?” she challenged the participants.

The First Lady further called on women already in leadership positions to share their knowledge, experience and opportunities with the next generation, stressing the importance of mentorship in helping young girls develop confidence and build their own paths.

Mrs Herminie also welcomed Seychelles’ participation in Mission ShakthiSAT and noted the importance of bringing the knowledge gained through the programme back to Seychelles. She highlighted the establishment earlier this year of a department within the Ministry of Education focusing on STEM, artificial intelligence and innovation, saying that the experience gained by the Seychellois participants could contribute to the continued development of STEM education in the country.

The Women Leadership Summit brought together women leaders, ministers, ambassadors, policymakers, scientists, educators, diplomats, industry representatives and young participants, with discussions focusing on women’s leadership, global peace, international cooperation, space diplomacy, sustainable development and the role of young women in shaping the future.

The programme represents a broader international effort to expand girls’ access to science and technology and demonstrate that opportunities in space exploration are not limited by nationality, background or traditional career paths.

Mission ShakthiSAT aims to empower 12,000 girls across 108 countries, creating opportunities for them to gain knowledge, exposure and practical experience in areas that can help shape the future of science, technology and innovation.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of State House Seychelles.

Posted on

Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Unveils Strategic Publications to Advance Evidence-Based Peace Support Operations

Source: APO

The lessons, sacrifices and strategic decisions that shaped some of West Africa’s most consequential peace interventions took centre stage on 27 August 2026 as ECOWAS unveiled a series of strategic publications in Abuja, Nigeria, convening senior government officials, military leaders, diplomats, academics and development partners to examine how decades of regional peace support operations can inform more effective responses to contemporary and emerging security challenges across the region.

The publications represent a landmark contribution to consolidating ECOWAS’ accumulated knowledge and experience in peace support operations, mediation, conflict prevention and peacebuilding. Drawing on the perspectives of policymakers, military practitioners, diplomats and scholars who have shaped the region’s peace and security landscape, they capture lessons from past interventions, strengthen institutional memory and provide an evidence-based resource for informing policy, enhancing operational effectiveness and supporting more strategic responses to evolving security challenges across West Africa.

The launch brought together a high-level assembly of policymakers, defence and security leaders, diplomats, researchers and strategic partners from across the region and beyond, reflecting the growing importance of knowledge generation and institutional learning in strengthening regional peace and security architecture. It also afforded the ECOWAS Commission the opportunity to honour the memory of men and women who fought to end the devastating Civil Wars of the 1990s and to restore peace and stability in the region. Among the distinguished participants were Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Gwabin Musa; the ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, H.E. Ambassador Abdel-Fatau Musah,the Chair of the ECOWAS Permanent Representatives Committee, ECOWAS Commissioner for Internal Services, Dr. Habibu Bappah, H.E. Ambassador Nicolas Auguste Nyouky, members of the ECOWAS Permanent Representatives Committee from Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, The Gambia, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and the Togolese Republic; former ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace & Security, H.E Salamatu Suleiman, Founder of the Amandla Institute for Policy and Leadership Advancement, H.E Dr. Kayode Fayemi, and the Director-General of the Nigerian Institute for International Affairs (NIIA), Professor Eghosa Osaghae. Representatives of the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), the West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP), the West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI), the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), former senior officials of the ECOWAS Commission, representatives of academic institutions,  and other key stakeholders in the region’s peace and security ecosystem.

The publications that were launched are as follows:

  • ‘Fighting Bushfires. ECOWAS and Peacemaking in West Africa’;
  • ‘The ECOWAS Intervention from the Peaceful Transfer of Democratic Power in The Gambia’.
  • The Report of The International Conference on ‘Two Decades of Peace Processes in West Africa. Achievements, Failures & Lessons’, and;

The Report of the ‘Akosombo After-Action Review of ECOWAS’ Initiatives and Responses to the Multidimensional Crises in Mali’.Officially launching the publications, General Christopher Gwabin Musa underscored the imperative of preserving and documenting Africa’s own experiences, sacrifices and contributions to peace and security. He emphasised that recording the stories and lessons of those who directly participated in regional interventions is essential for strengthening future responses to complex security threats and ensuring that Africa’s peace and security legacy is accurately preserved for future generations.

Speaking on behalf of the ECOWAS Commission, Ambassador Abdel-Fatau Musah described the initiative as an important milestone in consolidating ECOWAS’ institutional memory and strengthening the knowledge base underpinning regional peace and security interventions. He noted that the publications not only document critical lessons from previous engagements but also provide a strategic resource for understanding and addressing contemporary challenges, including terrorism, violent extremism and other emerging threats confronting the region.

Throughout the discussions, speakers emphasised the importance of ensuring that the history of regional peace interventions is documented by those who helped shape and implement them. They highlighted the value of the publications as authoritative reference materials capable of supporting policy formulation, strengthening institutional learning and contributing to more effective peace and security responses across West Africa.

The programme also featured a documentary presentation reflecting on ECOWAS’ peace and security journey, cultural performances celebrating the region’s shared heritage and a recognition segment honouring individuals whose leadership, service and sacrifice have made significant contributions to peacebuilding, conflict prevention and regional stability.

As West Africa navigates an increasingly complex security landscape, the publications stand as more than a record of past interventions. They represent a strategic investment in institutional memory, regional learning and evidence-based policymaking, reaffirming ECOWAS’ determination to draw on its accumulated experience to shape more effective responses to contemporary and future threats. In doing so, the organisation reinforces its enduring role as a leading architect of peace, security and regional integration in West Africa.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

Media files

.

Posted on

NSFAS pays over R222 million to six universities for Funza Lushaka bursaries

Source: Government of South Africa

NSFAS pays over R222 million to six universities for Funza Lushaka bursaries

The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) has paid R222.7 million to six universities for the Funza Lushaka Bursary Programme, benefiting 2 927 students.

In a statement on Saturday, the Ministry of Higher Education and Training said the payment of R222 688 894 was confirmed during Deputy Minister Yusuf Cassim’s meeting with senior NSFAS officials and the Funza Lushaka Bursary Programme team in Cape Town on Thursday. 

The latest batch of payments was made to the Central University of Technology, North-West University, University of Fort Hare, University of Limpopo, University of Pretoria and University of South Africa.

The institutions are now responsible for processing and paying the respective allowances to students.

Deputy Minister Cassim has urged NSFAS to write to the institutions to confirm when all Funza Lushaka beneficiaries will receive their allowances.

“These payments must now reach students without delay so they can focus on their studies and not have to worry about outstanding allowances that have been pending for months. I appreciate the work being done by the NSFAS and the Funza Lushaka Bursary Programme teams to expedite this process,” Deputy Minister Cassim said. 

The Funza Lushaka Bursary Scheme is a multi-year financial support programme funded by the Department of Basic Education to support students pursuing teaching qualifications at participating universities.

NSFAS implements the programme as the disbursement agency responsible for transferring bursary funds to institutions.

For the current academic year, 23 universities have been allocated R1.3 billion under the programme. The allocation covers tuition, accommodation, meals, learning materials and a living allowance.

The Deputy Minister has been engaging with NSFAS to ensure the prompt payment of Funza Lushaka allowances following numerous enquiries from beneficiaries about delayed payments.

Outstanding claims

During the engagement, NSFAS outlined the claims process and indicated that a significant number of claims from institutions remain outstanding.

The payment process takes approximately four weeks to allow for verification checks to ensure that claims are valid.

The Ministry stressed that institutions should submit their claims without delay to prevent unnecessary delays in students receiving their allowances.

For August, claims totalling R295 988 585 for 3 095 students have been uploaded for processing for the September payment. These payments will be processed in September through the normal processes.

The programme also has more than half a billion rand in unclaimed funds, with institutions required to submit claims by 13 September for payment in October.

The Deputy Minister has directed NSFAS to write to all institutions with outstanding claims to confirm that Funza Lushaka bursary recipients will receive their allowances without interruption and whether outstanding claims will be submitted by the deadline.

Workshop to improve claims process

To address challenges in the claims process, NSFAS has proposed a joint workshop with relevant stakeholders.

The workshop will seek to address structural challenges, including eliminating manual processes through automation, establishing effective communication channels with students and improving alignment and payment timelines.

The workshop is scheduled for November 2026, ahead of the next academic year. – SAnews.gov.za

DikelediM

0