Category: Africa

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World Health Organization (WHO) joins the Ministry of Health and Wellness in the Sensitization March against cancer

Source: APO


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WHO Representative, Dr Abdou Salam Gueye, joins the Health Minister, Honorable Anil Kumar Bacchoo in the sensitization march on 3 February 2025 to commemorate World Cancer Day. The Junior Minister of Health and Wellness, Honourable Anishta Babooram, Junior Minister of Finance, Honourable Dhaneshwar Damry, Honourable Dr Babita Thannoo, Member of Parliament, students from the University of Mauritius and SSR medical college, and other distinguished guests join the walk to show their commitment and support in the fight of cancer.  

Under the blazing sun, university students, women, survivors, NGOs and civil society walk from N. Soonarane Gymnasium in Quatre Bornes, to the Paul Octave Wiehe Auditorium in Réduit holding banners and health messages under the 2025‒2027 campaign theme “United by Unique” – underlining the people-centred health systems that recognize every person has a unique cancer journey. 

“Lung and breast cancers remain the most diagnosed among men and women, respectively. Adopting healthy lifestyles and prioritizing early detection are essential to reduce suffering and save lives,’” underscores the Hon Anil Kumar Bachoo, Minister of Health and Wellness.  Before he launches the National Cancer Registry for 2024, Hon Bacchoo highlights that there is 18% increase in cancer cases compared to 2023 – with 3362 new cases recorded and 13% of total deaths in 2024 caused by cancer. Behind the statistics, there are people, fathers, mothers, children, families, says the health minister.

Dr Abdou Salam Gueye, WHO Representative in Mauritius, during his address, emphasizes:

“Cancer has emerged as a major public health and economic challenge, with breast and cervical cancers accounting for the highest number of cancer-related deaths. Cases in Mauritius have more than doubled over the past two decades. WHO remains committed to supporting Mauritius through prevention, early detection, physical activity and innovation.”

Professor Mohammad Issack Santally, Acting Vice Chancellor, University of Mauritius reiterates the commitment and collaboration of the University of Mauritius in promoting community engagement. “Our collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Wellness through medical programmes and hospital placements reflects our dedication to strengthening the fight against cancer and supporting the nation’s health priorities”, he adds.

Key Highlights
•    Launch of the Cancer Registry Report 2024.
•    Nationwide breast and cervical cancer screening campaign.
•    Rollout of an intensive awareness drive through community health talks and distribution of educational materials.
•    Continued investment in noncommunicable disease screening and human papillomavirus vaccination programmes for both girls and boys.

Cancer remains a major public health concern worldwide, with 20 million new cases and nearly 10 million deaths annually.  Mauritius’ proactive measures reflect its determination to confront this growing challenge related to cancer.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Health Organization (WHO) – Mauritius.

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Merck foundation Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Dr. Rasha Kelej underscores their commitment to the long-term partnership with Burundi First Lady to support girl education and build healthcare and media capacity

Source: APO

Merck Foundation (www.Merck-Foundation.com), the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany, conducted the 12th Edition of their annual conference, “Merck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary”, in partnership with the Government of The Gambia. The conference was co-chaired by H.E. Mrs. FATOUMATTA BAH-BARROW, First Lady of Gambia & Ambassador of Merck Foundation More Than a Mother and Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation & President of More Than a Mother. First Lady of Burundi, H.E. Madam ANGELINE NDAYISHIMIYE along with The First Ladies of Central Africa, Liberia, Nigeria, São Tomé and Príncipe, and Senegal joined as the Guests of Honor and Keynote Speakers.

Dr. Rasha Kelej shared, “It was such a pleasure meeting my dear sister, H.E. Madam ANGELINE NDAYISHIMIYE, First Lady of Burundi & Ambassador of Merck Foundation “More Than a Mother” during the 12th Edition of our Luminary in The Gambia. Our partnership journey began in 2020, and since then, we have achieved a lot. I am happy to share that we have provided till today 55 scholarships for local Burundian doctors, in specialties such as Oncology, Embryology, Fertility, Diabetes, Sexual and Reproductive Care, Acute Medicine, Respiratory Medicine, Endocrinology, and Preventative Cardiovascular Medicine and more. We are looking forward to enrolling more doctors in many more specialties and together, we will continue to advance the healthcare capacity in the country.

We have also launched together many initiatives to address a wide range of social and health issues in Burundi and beyond”.

H.E. Madam ANGELINE NDAYISHIMIYE, First Lady of Burundi & Ambassador of Merck Foundation “More Than a Mother” emphasized, “I congratulate Merck Foundation for completing 13 years of their valuable development programs. Since our partnership started in 2020, great outcomes have transpired. I am pleased to share that Merck Foundation has in total provided 55 scholarships to our local doctors, and one of the graduates of the Diabetes Master course has established the First Diabetes center in Burundi. Moreover, we have also launched the first public IVF center, where fertility specialists, embryologists, and technicians have been trained through Merck Foundation scholarships.

We are also working together to support girl education by providing annual scholarships to 40 best-performing but underprivileged girls, as a part of Educating Linda program. This is extremely important as Education is the way forward to empower our girls.”

Watch the Speech of The First Lady of Burundi & Ambassador of Merck Foundation More Than a Mother during the Merck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary 2025 here: https://apo-opa.co/3OxqavO

Watch the video of Merck Foundation Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej (Ret.), CEO of Merck Foundation receiving Burundi First Lady, H.E. Madam ANGELINE NDAYISHIMIYE: https://apo-opa.co/3O6XHNp

On Day 1 of the conference, the Plenary Session of the Merck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary 2025 took place, featuring keynote speeches of First Ladies of Africa. Moreover, a high-level ministerial panel discussion was also held with African Ministers to discuss the Merck Foundation African Research Summit MARS strategy to build scientific research capacity and empower women in STEM with special focus on scientific research. 

On Day 2 of the conference, Merck Foundation First Ladies Initiative- MFFLI committee meeting was conducted between The First Ladies of Africa and Merck Foundation Chairman and CEO, where the African First Ladies shared the impact report of Merck Foundation programs in their respective countries, and future strategy was discussed.

Watch the video of MFFLI committee meeting: https://apo-opa.co/4qpivwS

Together with Burundi First Lady, Merck Foundation has provided 55 scholarships for local doctors in Burundi in many critical and underserved specialties. Out of 55 scholarships,  

  • 16 scholarships have been provided for doctors in Fertility and Embryology, and PG Diploma and two-year Master degree in Sexual and Reproductive Medicine. This has contributed and will continue to contribute towards promoting the well-being of infertile women, breaking the infertility stigma and empowering these women through access to information, education and change of mindset. With the inauguration of First Public IVF Center in Burundi, infertile couples are getting treatment and medical advice in their home country for the first time.
  • 4 scholarships have been provided for Oncology Fellowship program and PG Diploma and Master degree in Acute Medicine and Respiratory Medicine.
  • Moreover, 35 scholarships have been provided for Diabetes Master course and PG Diploma in Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Preventive Cardiovascular Medicine with an aim to build Diabetes Care Capacity in Burundi. For the Diabetes Master course in French and English, one young doctor from each province in Burundi has been enrolled.  After completion, these Doctors can establish diabetes clinics in their respective Health centers or Hospitals to help prevent and manage the disease in their respective communities. This has provided Burundi with its very first diabetes center in the country and was established by one of the graduates of Merck Foundation Master course. Alumni of Merck Foundation have also recently launched Burundi’s first Diabetology Society.

“Merck Foundation has always believed in the importance of building healthcare capacity and has been working for it since 2012. We have so far provided 2500 scholarships for healthcare providers from 52 countries in 44 underserved medical specialties. We will continue to provide scholarships for doctors from Burundi and beyond,” added Dr. Rasha Kelej.

Merck Foundation together with The First Lady of Burundi launched nine children’s storybooks; “More Than a Mother”, ‘Educating FIFI”, “Make the Right Choice”, “Jackline’s Rescue”, “Not Who You Are”, “Ray of Hope”, “Ride into the Future” and “Sugar free Jude” and “Mark’s Pressure”, to raise awareness about various social issues like breaking infertility stigma, supporting girl education, ending child marriage, ending GBV and also health issues like diabetes, hypertension and cancer. Thousands of copies of these storybooks have been distributed to school students of Burundi. 

Merck Foundation in partnership with The First Lady of Burundi has also conducted 4 editions of their Health Media Training to empower the journalists to be the voice of the voiceless and also announced the Call for applications for their 8 important awards for Media representatives, Musicians, Fashion Designers, Filmmakers, students, and new potential talents in these fields.

The 12th Edition of Merck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary was streamed live on the social media handles of Merck Foundation and Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation.

@ Merck Foundation: Facebook (http://apo-opa.co/4trtVDg), X (http://apo-opa.co/4r5dxGK), Instagram (http://apo-opa.co/4rKLegZ), and YouTube (http://apo-opa.co/3O40AOZ).

@ Rasha Kelej: Facebook (http://apo-opa.co/4aFufXu), X (http://apo-opa.co/45QNfzK), Instagram (http://apo-opa.co/3O6oQzZ), and YouTube (http://apo-opa.co/4trfW04).

Link to the Facebook live stream of Inaugural Session of Merck Foundation First Ladies High Level Panel: https://apo-opa.co/4rwVI3a

Summarizing Merck Foundation’s initiatives and impact:

Merck Foundation is transforming the Patient care landscape and making history together with their partners in Africa, Asia, and beyond, through:

  • 2500+ Scholarships provided by Merck Foundation for healthcare providers from 52 Countries in 44 critical and underserved medical specialties.

Merck Foundation is also creating a culture shift and breaking the silence about a wide range of social and health issues in Africa and underserved communities through:

  • 3700+ Media Representatives from more than 35 countries trained by Merck Foundation to better raise awareness about different social and health issues
  • 8 Different Awards launched annually for best Media coverage, Song, Films, and Fashion.
  • Around 30 songs to address health and social issues, by local singers across Africa in English, French, Portuguese, and local languages.
  • 9 Children’s Storybooks in four languages – English, French, Portuguese, and Swahili
  • 6 Awareness Animation Films in five languages – English, French, Portuguese, Spanish and Swahili to raise awareness about breaking infertility stigma, supporting girl education and prevention and early detection of Diabetes, Hypertension & Cancer.
  • Pan African TV Program “Our Africa by Merck Foundation” addressing Social and Health Issues in Africa through “Fashion and ART with Purpose” Community
  • 1200+ Scholarships provided annually to high performing but under-privileged African schoolgirls from 18 countries, to help them to complete their studies and empower them to reach their full potential
  • 15 Social Media Channels with more than 8.5 Million Followers.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Merck Foundation.

Contact:
Mehak Handa
Community Awareness Program Manager 
Phone: +91 9310087613/ +91 9319606669
Email: mehak.handa@external.merckgroup.com

Join the conversation on our social media platforms below and let your voice be heard!
Facebook: http://apo-opa.co/4trtVDg
X: http://apo-opa.co/4r5dxGK  
YouTube: https://apo-opa.co/3O40AOZ
Instagram: http://apo-opa.co/4rKLegZ
Threads: https://apo-opa.co/3LZo735
Flickr: https://apo-opa.co/4rwWdu4 
Website: www.Merck-Foundation.com 
Download Merck Foundation App: https://apo-opa.co/3Mza58p

About Merck Foundation:
The Merck Foundation, established in 2017, is the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany, aims to improve the health and wellbeing of people and advance their lives through science and technology. Our efforts are primarily focused on improving access to quality & equitable healthcare solutions in underserved communities, building healthcare & scientific research capacity, empowering girls in education and empowering people in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) with a special focus on women and youth. All Merck Foundation press releases are distributed by e-mail at the same time they become available on the Merck Foundation Website.  Please visit www.Merck-Foundation.com to read more. Follow the social media of Merck Foundation: Facebook (http://apo-opa.co/4trtVDg), X (http://apo-opa.co/4r5dxGK), Instagram (http://apo-opa.co/4rKLegZ), YouTube (https://apo-opa.co/3O40AOZ), Threads (https://apo-opa.co/3LZo735) and Flickr (https://apo-opa.co/4rwWdu4).

The Merck Foundation is dedicated to improving social and health outcomes for communities in need. While it collaborates with various partners, including governments to achieve its humanitarian goals, the foundation remains strictly neutral in political matters. It does not engage in or support any political activities, elections, or regimes, focusing solely on its mission to elevate humanity and enhance well-being while maintaining a strict non-political stance in all of its endeavors.

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President offers words of comfort to Bishop Bolana’s family

Source: Government of South Africa

President offers words of comfort to Bishop Bolana’s family

President Cyril Ramphosa has visited the home of the late Bantu Church of Christ Bishop, Dr John Bolana, where he conveyed his condolences and words of comfort to the bereaved family.

The visit in Gqeberha on Monday reflected the nation’s shared sorrow and solidarity during this period of mourning, while honouring the life and legacy of a respected spiritual leader.

Bolana, the fifth Bishop of the Bantu Church of Christ (Ibandla Lika Krestu LaBantu), passed away on Tuesday, 03 February 2026, in Gqeberha, in the Eastern Cape.

Last week Deputy President Paul Mashatile paid tribute to Bishop Bolana for being a pillar of strength within communities and a valued social partner in the collective effort to build a united and compassionate nation.

The Deputy President said he had engaged positively and constructively with the Bishop, working closely with interfaith leaders to strengthen unity, moral regeneration, and social solidarity across the country.

“Bishop Bolana provided unwavering spiritual guidance, moral clarity, and compassionate service to the church and broader society for many decades. His leadership reflected faith in action, rooted in love, dignity, and service to others,” the Deputy President said on Thursday.

He further acknowledged that Bolana’s counsel and ecumenical leadership were widely respected and sought after, not only by his congregation, but by leaders across South African society. – SAnews.gov.za
 

 

Janine

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Clergy wives in Ghana can be powerful – but it takes constant bargaining with men

Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Abena Kyere, Research Fellow, University of Ghana

There is a story in the Bible of a sick woman who held on to the cloak of Jesus amid an impenetrable crowd. She did get her healing, as Jesus immediately felt the loss of power from within himself. However, he did not rebuke the woman for his loss. Rather, he commended her for her determination to get healing by tapping into his power.

I am reminded of this story whenever I think about women and religion, specifically Christianity. Can the church as a body ever make room for women in Africa? Are the fathers of the church willing to share their powers? What happens when the clergyman’s wife seeks to be or becomes as powerful as her husband?

As a social anthropologist, I have, over the past five years, conducted research on clergy wives in Ghana, sharing my work through publications and in the classroom.

In my recent study, I wanted to find out how Pentecostal and Charismatic pastors’ wives gain and use a position of power in the church. Through interviews and participant observation, I gathered data on clergy wives’ religious experiences in Ghana. I found that although clergy wives gain power through their husbands, they are not passive conductors of power. While they operate in a patriarchal system, they develop ways of, and become adept at, negotiating and bargaining to gain and keep it.

A study of clergy wives provides a view into the hidden, often unexplored, power dynamics that exist within churches as well as the agency and constraints that women experience in religious spaces.

The clergy wife and the road to power

The clergy wife’s position is rooted within the two-person career type of work. She is firmly integrated in her husband’s work. The literature on the clergy wife is replete with the picture of an overburdened woman who occupies one of the most difficult positions in the church and society. An advertisement which parodies the position reads:

HELP WANTED: Pastor’s wife. Must sing, play music, lead youth groups, raise seraphic children, entertain church notables, minister to other wives, have ability to recite Bible backward and choreograph Christmas pageant. Must keep pastor sated, peaceful and out of trouble. Difficult colleagues, demanding customers, erratic hours. Pay: $0.

This funny representation of the clergy wife places her firmly in the intersection of domestic responsibility, religious welfare and administrative authority. Clergymen hold pivotal roles in the life of believers, from spiritual leadership to pastoral care. Their position, which is considered divine, endows them with unquestionable authority and power. It can be subtle or profoundly apparent, particularly in the Pentecostal and Charismatic movements.

This power extends to their wives, a phenomenon which has been termed the First Lady Syndrome. This is a situation where a wife’s power and influence is conferred through her spouse and is contingent on her continual marital affinity to him. Some clergy wives in Ghana actually bear the title “first lady”.

The power that wives initially get from husbands can be manifested through various means, like leadership of women’s groups in the church, spiritual oversight, and counselling services. They are perceived as mothers, offering advice on critical life decisions.

One wife in my study noted:

As the mother of the church, it is my responsibility to ensure that my ‘children’ choose good partners. I have dissolved engagements before because I felt that they will not be good, and I have also been the one to arrange relationships that have led into marriages …

Wives can become very powerful, just like their husbands. This happens especially where they form and lead groups within the church. This is the moment that the position and role of the clergy wife becomes what social researcher Jane Soothill describes as mimicking “female charismatic dynasty”. This is a signal to the patriarchal system that there is a need to control such power.

Bargaining to keep power

While women are allowed in the “fathers” group, they are still expected to work within the restrictions and rules of the system. The clergyman, the most overt symbol of this system, benefits from divine immunity and his glory may not be shared, even with his wife.

I found that where clergy wives are perceived to be powerful, they are also regarded by the husband or the church leaders as dangerous. This results in their need to bargain with the system for self-preservation. The strategies which a clergy wife adopts to negotiate are based on her individual situation. They may range from silence to a show of feminine humility and submission. Display of submission and deferment to the husband is the most often used tactic.

One wife shared:

Sometimes when I interact with the women and advise humility, I am providing another strategy for their survival.

I found that others are forced to retreat entirely. They either dissolve the group or abdicate from their leadership role in the church. Some wives circumvent these restrictions by migrating their activities to digital platforms like Facebook and WhatsApp groups, or other forms of media. A wife who chooses defiance or refuses to negotiate may end up divorced.

There is a popular joke that if men are the head, then women are the neck that moves the head, a reference to women’s invisible power. But what kind of power is that which can only manifest covertly, through the benevolence of others? How safe is this arrangement for women?

What I have discussed here does not present the whole story of the clergy wife. But it shows a world where women constantly bargain for space. In the opening story, the woman was commended for her faith and foresight, and a desire to better her lot. A takeaway lesson from the master. In my view, Christianity and other religions should be a channel for freedom, healing, and the creation of new avenues for expression of liberation.

– Clergy wives in Ghana can be powerful – but it takes constant bargaining with men
– https://theconversation.com/clergy-wives-in-ghana-can-be-powerful-but-it-takes-constant-bargaining-with-men-274561

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Children’s views are rarely sought by researchers: we found a way to do it

Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Deborah Levison, Distinguished University Teaching Professor, Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs, University of Minnesota

Adults think we know what is best for children. We have responsibility for them – feeding them, clothing them, educating them, protecting them, loving them – but we also assume rights over them, and on their behalf. Adults make rules (including laws and policies) about what children can and cannot do. We expect children to behave according to our rules.

It’s also the case that when researchers are trying to better understand children’s needs and well-being, we usually do not ask the children themselves. Instead, we ask their parents or adult relatives, or their teachers, for evaluations.

There are good reasons why survey teams do not talk to children, even older children who have a strong understanding of questions, starting about age 10-12. Children are considered vulnerable because they are dependent on the adults in their lives. If an adult heard a child talking to a researcher, perhaps saying something the adult did not like, the child could be punished.

Alternatively, the child might not be honest if others were listening. Survey interviews tend to be conducted in places where there are other adults who are interested and listening. Privacy may be impossible. And even if it were possible, who would let their young daughter talk alone to a stranger?

Our recent research has sought to overcome these barriers to better understanding of children’s authentic perspectives. We have studied the work and schooling of children in low-income countries – such as Tanzania – and looked to develop research methodologies appropriate for children and youth around the world, testing the approach in Tanzania, Nepal and Brazil.

Two findings stand out. First, there is much to learn from children and the choices they make. Second, innovative survey methods – such as our use of cartoon stories – have potential to survey child-respondents in large household surveys. Researchers and policy makers could learn directly from children and rely less on adult proxy respondents, resulting in more effective policies and programmes.

Children’s views about chores

While using proxy respondents is appropriate for very young children or for questions likely beyond children’s knowledge, it is less clear that it is better for older children (ages 10-17) and topics within their experience.

Several arguments can be made that children could provide better or equally valid information on their activities than proxy respondents, as Levison and collaborators – economist Deborah S. DeGraff and demographer Esther Dungumaro – explored in Tanzania.

Parallel questions were asked of children aged 10-17 and proxy respondents about those children. We were interested in environmental chores: fetching water and collecting firewood for the family’s use.

We asked the mothers survey questions about their children, then we asked the children and adolescents some of the same questions. Of course, ethics rules required that we get permission (“consent”) from mothers before talking to children, and we also asked permission from children (“assent”) to engage with them. When a field researcher interviewed a child, the pair sat nearby, often under a tree, where adults could see them but not hear them.

The aim was to find out whether older children could provide better or equally valid information about some of the chores they did, as compared to information from their mothers.

When mothers and children were asked about the time that children spent fetching water and collecting firewood, some differences emerged. The biggest differences were seen when water or wood were scarce, when mothers had many young children, and when mothers had little education.

Some large differences may indicate that the amount of work done by children is highly underestimated by the adults it benefits. An important earlier study in Zimbabwe that used different ways of studying children’s work, including following children around, showed this pattern. We argued a case for collecting data directly from children who are developmentally able to understand survey questions, starting from about ages 10-12.

Given these differences in the time spent on chores as reported by mothers and children in the study above, researchers must be thoughtful about who is reporting information if they want to collect and report on accurate data.

Cartoon stories

Policy makers sometimes pay more attention to information from big surveys that ask questions of thousands of households and adults.

In our joint research, we wondered if there were ways to include children as survey respondents, rather than relying only on what adults said about them. Older children and adolescents do have opinions, and sometimes they are not what adults might expect. Why not learn directly from them?

Based on previous studies, we identified topics that could be difficult and upsetting for young people in Tanzania, where learning from kids could give researchers a different perspective than asking adults. In order to understand the perspectives of children, we developed short cartoon stories that children watched on tablet computers. Vignettes have been growing in popularity as a research tool in qualitative and quantitative methods, and research has validated the method when respondents are children and adolescents.

We sought to overcome the barriers in these ways:

  • The cartoons included still images and animated video clips that were designed to avoid cultural, ethnic or wealth indicators such as hairstyles, clothing, or facial features.

  • To be sensitive to privacy, children listened to the story being narrated in Swahili through headsets.

  • Because the stories were watched over tablets with headphones, nearby listeners would not have the context for the story even if they overheard anything.

One story was about a student who is running late to school because of morning domestic chores.

Cartoon child carrying a school notebook, running. Artist credit: Hillary Carter-Liggett

Upon arriving, the boy or girl (matched to the sex of the interviewed child) is punished by the teacher. The video shows several possible but imperfect things the cartoon child could do, such as getting up earlier or skipping school.

Child respondents were then asked to give their opinion on different options, pointing to smiley or sad/angry faces, then answering other questions about how the challenge could be resolved. This allowed us to capture child perspectives quantitatively without directly speaking about the topic out loud or asking if children had similar experiences. We aimed to reduce their vulnerability to punishment or embarrassment, especially on taboo or sensitive subjects.

Many social scientists have demonstrated that children, even young children, are people who make choices within whatever limits they cannot change – they “have agency”.

Our findings from the cartoon stories show a wide range of perspectives about how children think about improving their wellbeing and the wellbeing of other children in their communities. If this cartoon vignette methodology were scaled up to include child-respondents in large household surveys, researchers and policy makers could learn directly from children and rely less on adult proxy-respondents, which might result in more effective policies and programmes.

– Children’s views are rarely sought by researchers: we found a way to do it
– https://theconversation.com/childrens-views-are-rarely-sought-by-researchers-we-found-a-way-to-do-it-268496

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L’Afrique doit rediriger 29 500 milliards USD de dotation minière vers l’industrie, les infrastructures et la demande, selon un rapport d’Africa Finance Corporation

Source: Africa Press Organisation – French

L’Afrique abrite une valeur minière estimée à 29 500 milliards USD, ce qui représente environ 20 % de la richesse minière mondiale, mais ne capte qu’une fraction de la valeur économique intégrée dans cette dotation, selon une nouvelle étude (http://apo-opa.co/4txjr5p) publiée aujourd’hui par Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) (www.AfricaFC.org).

Sur ce total, 8 600 milliards USD restent sous-développés, reflétant un continent sous-exploré où des données géologiques fragmentées, une couverture inégale et une transparence limitée continuent d’amplifier la perception des risques et de limiter l’investissement. Le rapport soutient que l’amélioration de la disponibilité et de la qualité des données géologiques est une première étape nécessaire pour réduire les risques liés aux projets et débloquer des capitaux d’exploration.

Le rapport souligne également que les valeurs des sites miniers sous-estiment considérablement le véritable potentiel de l’Afrique en ne comptabilisant pas la valeur beaucoup plus grande créée par la transformation des minéraux en acier, en aluminium, en engrais, en batteries et en alliages. Mesurée au point d’utilisation industrielle, la dotation minérale de l’Afrique est en nette augmentation pour révéler une valeur latente substantielle.

Lancé au Mining Indaba au Cap, le Compendium of Africa’s Strategic Minerals recadre le secteur avec le prisme du développement africain, en plaçant l’industrialisation, les infrastructures et la demande régionale à long terme au centre de la stratégie minière.

« Aujourd’hui, AFC est fier de lancer le Compendium of Africa’s Strategic Minerals, une initiative visant à recadrer avec un prisme africain et à traduire les dotations en voies d’exécution pour notre prospérité collective », déclare Samaila Zubairu, président et CEO d’AFC. « Le compendium cartographie l’ensemble des chaînes de valeur et relie les réserves et la production à la capacité de transformation, aux infrastructures de transport et d’électricité et aux corridors industriels régionaux, améliorant ainsi la transparence des données afin de réduire les risques liés à l’exploration, de diminuer le coût du capital et d’éclairer les investissements dans l’exploitation minière et les infrastructures nécessaires à la valorisation et aux chaînes de valeur régionales intégrées. »

Le développement minier ancré dans la demande africaine

Le compendium constate que la production minérale, les infrastructures et la demande se colocalisent et s’alignent rarement à grande échelle, et appelle à une planification régionale plus forte ancrée dans les fondamentaux de la demande à long terme de l’Afrique.

La chaîne de valeur de l’acier illustre ce désalignement. L’Afrique abrite des dotations de classe mondiale en ferro-alliages tels que le manganèse, le chrome et le nickel, et l’approvisionnement en minerai de fer entre dans un nouveau cycle de croissance.

Pourtant, ces chaînes d’approvisionnement restent commercialement liées aux cycles sidérurgiques asiatiques plutôt qu’à la trajectoire de développement propre à l’Afrique.

Cette exposition est économiquement coûteuse et ses effets se font sentir en ce moment même. Le ralentissement de la demande d’acier en Asie, lié au recul immobilier et à l’affaiblissement de la construction en Chine, a provoqué des chocs sur les marchés miniers africains. En République démocratique du Congo, des quotas de production ont été imposés au cobalt pour gérer l’offre excédentaire et l’effondrement des prix. En Afrique du Sud, la capacité de production d’acier primaire s’est arrêtée en raison de la faiblesse de la demande intérieure, des coûts élevés et de la fragmentation des prélèvements. Au Gabon, les principales exploitations de manganèse ont périodiquement suspendu leur production en réponse à l’adoucissement de la demande d’alliages en provenance d’Asie.

Ces tendances se produisent alors même que l’Afrique continue de renforcer les réseaux de transport, les systèmes électriques, le logement et la capacité industrielle qui nécessitent ces matériaux. La contrainte ne vient pas d’un manque de demande, mais d’un manque d’ancrage de la demande, à savoir l’incapacité à aligner la production minérale, les capacités de transformation et les investissements d’infrastructures sur les besoins matériels à long terme de l’Afrique.

Les infrastructures relient les minéraux, la transformation et la demande

Le compendium place les infrastructures au centre de la stratégie minière, non pas en tant que catalyseur passif, mais en tant que système qui relie les matières premières, la capacité de transformation et la demande. Le coût et la fiabilité de l’énergie, la connectivité des transports et l’accès aux terrains industriels déterminent si l’enrichissement est viable.

À cette fin, le rapport cartographie les gisements minéraux et les actifs de production aux côtés des chemins de fer, des ports, des centres de production d’électricité et des réseaux de transport afin de déterminer où les chaînes de valeur régionales peuvent être développées de manière réaliste. Le rapport appelle à des interventions ciblées dans les corridors ferroviaires partagés et le transport transfrontalier d’électricité, en particulier dans les régions riches en minéraux où des infrastructures coordonnées pourraient libérer la portée, réduire les coûts livrés et soutenir les plateformes industrielles régionales.

Les infrastructures sont également essentielles à la compétitivité de l’Afrique dans un monde d’industrialisation verte. Une énergie propre, une logistique efficace et des corridors intégrés tels que celui de Lobito peuvent réduire l’intensité carbone et améliorer l’accès aux marchés où des chaînes d’approvisionnement à faible teneur en carbone et traçables sont de plus en plus nécessaires.

Les minéraux africains dans une économie mondiale fragmentée

Le compendium situe la stratégie minière de l’Afrique dans un environnement géoéconomique en évolution rapide, façonné par les tensions commerciales, les contrôles à l’exportation, la politique industrielle et les efforts visant à réduire le risque de concentration. Ces changements renforcent la pertinence stratégique de la dotation minière de l’Afrique, mais uniquement là où le continent peut offrir des alternatives fiables et à valeur ajoutée.

Plutôt que de positionner l’Afrique comme un fournisseur marginal de matières premières, le rapport plaide en faveur d’une intégration sélective dans des segments stratégiquement exposés des chaînes d’approvisionnement mondiales, où la diversification renforcerait sensiblement la résilience, en particulier pour les minéraux dont les marchés de transformation sont très concentrés. Il s’agit notamment du manganèse, des terres rares, du graphite, de l’uranium et des intrants d’alliage critiques pour les technologies de la défense, de l’aérospatiale et des énergies propres.

Il est encourageant de constater qu’une dynamique se dessine :

  • l’Angola développe l’un des gisements de terres rares métalliques magnétiques les plus importants et à la plus haute teneur au monde ;
  • le Mozambique est devenu un point d’ancrage essentiel pour le graphite et les matériaux d’anodes ;
  • des projets de sulfate de manganèse de qualité batterie progressent en Afrique australe ; et
  • la production d’uranium a repris en Namibie et au Malawi au cours de la période 2024-2025.

Téléchargez ici (http://apo-opa.co/4txjr5p) le Recueil des ressources minérales stratégiques de l’Afrique publié par l’AFC.

Distribué par APO Group pour Africa Finance Corporation (AFC).

Relations avec les médias :
Yewande Thorpe
Communications
Africa Finance Corporation
Portable : +234 1 279 9654
Email : yewande.thorpe@africafc.org

À propos d’AFC :
AFC a été créé en 2007 pour être le catalyseur d’investissements d’infrastructures et industriels pragmatiques à travers l’Afrique. L’approche d’AFC combine une expertise sectorielle spécialisée avec un accent sur le conseil financier et technique, la structuration de projets, le développement de projets et le capital-risque pour répondre aux besoins de développement des infrastructures de l’Afrique et stimuler une croissance économique durable.

Dix-huit ans plus tard, AFC a fait ses preuves en tant que partenaire de choix en Afrique pour investir et fournir des actifs d’infrastructure clés de haute qualité qui fournissent des services essentiels dans les secteurs d’infrastructure de base de l’énergie, des ressources naturelles, de l’industrie lourde, des transports et des télécommunications. AFC compte 48 pays membres et a investi plus de 18,5 milliards USD dans 36 pays africains depuis sa création. www.AfricaFC.org

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África tem de reorientar a sua dotação mineral de 29,5 biliões de dólares em função da indústria, das infraestruturas e da procura, segundo um estudo da Africa Finance Corporation

Source: Africa Press Organisation – Portuguese –

De acordo com um novo estudo (http://apo-opa.co/4txjr5p) publicado hoje pela Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) (www.AfricaFC.org), África possui um valor estimado de 29,5 biliões de dólares em minas, o que representa cerca de 20% da riqueza mineral mundial, mas capta apenas uma fração do valor económico incorporado nesta dotação.

Deste total, 8,6 biliões de dólares continuam por desenvolver, o que reflete um continente pouco explorado onde a fragmentação dos dados geológicos, a cobertura desigual e a transparência limitada continuam a elevar a perceção do risco e a restringir o investimento. O relatório defende que a melhoria da disponibilidade e da qualidade dos dados geológicos é um primeiro passo necessário para reduzir o risco dos projetos e desbloquear o capital de exploração.

O estudo sublinha igualmente que os valores das minas subestimam significativamente o verdadeiro potencial de África, uma vez que não captam o valor muito maior criado quando os minerais são transformados em aço, alumínio, fertilizantes, baterias e ligas. Medida no ponto de utilização industrial, a dotação mineral de África expande-se por uma ordem de grandeza, revelando um valor latente substancial.

Lançado na Mining Indaba, na Cidade do Cabo, o Compêndio dos Minerais Estratégicos de África reenquadra o setor através de uma lente de desenvolvimento africana, colocando a industrialização, as infraestruturas e a procura regional a longo prazo no centro da estratégia mineral.

“Hoje, a AFC orgulha-se de lançar o Compêndio dos Minerais Estratégicos de África, uma iniciativa que visa reformular o setor através de uma perspetiva africana e converter a dotação em vias de execução para a nossa prosperidade coletiva”, afirmou Samaila Zubairu, Presidente e CEO da AFC. “O Compêndio mapeia todas as cadeias de valor e liga as reservas e a produção à capacidade de processamento, às infraestruturas de energia e de transporte e aos corredores industriais regionais, melhorando a transparência dos dados para reduzir o risco de exploração, diminuir o custo do capital e orientar um investimento mais inteligente na exploração mineira e nas infraestruturas necessárias para a beneficiação e as cadeias de valor regionais integradas.”

Desenvolvimento mineral assente na procura africana

O Compêndio conclui que a produção de minerais, as infraestruturas de apoio e a procura raramente se colocalizam ou se alinham à escala, e apela a um planeamento regional mais forte ancorado nos fundamentos da procura a longo prazo em África.

A cadeia de valor do aço ilustra este desalinhamento. África dispõe de recursos de classe mundial em ferro-ligas, como o manganês, o crómio e o níquel, e o fornecimento de minério de ferro está a entrar num novo ciclo de crescimento. No entanto, estas cadeias de abastecimento continuam comercialmente ligadas aos ciclos siderúrgicos asiáticos e não à própria trajetória de desenvolvimento de África.

Esta exposição é economicamente dispendiosa e pode ser vista a acontecer neste momento. O abrandamento da procura asiática de aço, associado à recessão imobiliária na China e ao enfraquecimento da construção, transmitiu choques aos mercados africanos de minerais. Na República Democrática do Congo, foram impostas quotas de produção de cobalto para gerir o excesso de oferta e a queda dos preços. Na África do Sul, a capacidade de produção de aço primário foi encerrada devido à fraca procura interna, aos custos elevados e à fragmentação da oferta. No Gabão, as principais operações de manganês suspenderam periodicamente a produção em resposta à menor procura de ligas por parte da Ásia.

Estes resultados estão a ocorrer quando África continua a expandir as redes de transportes, os sistemas de energia, a habitação e a capacidade industrial que requerem estes materiais. O constrangimento não é a falta de procura, mas a falta de ancoragem da procura: a incapacidade de alinhar a produção mineral, a capacidade de processamento e o investimento em infraestruturas com as necessidades materiais a longo prazo de África.

A infraestrutura liga minerais, transformação e procura

O Compêndio coloca a infraestrutura no centro da estratégia mineral – não como um facilitador passivo, mas como o sistema que liga as matérias-primas, a capacidade de processamento e a procura. O custo e a fiabilidade da energia, a conetividade dos transportes e o acesso a terrenos industriais determinam, em última análise, a viabilidade da transformação.

Para tal, o relatório mapeia os depósitos minerais e os ativos de produção juntamente com os caminhos-de-ferro, portos, centros de produção de energia e redes de transmissão para identificar onde as cadeias de valor regionais podem ser realisticamente desenvolvidas. Este apela a intervenções específicas nos corredores ferroviários partilhados e no transporte transfronteiriço de eletricidade, em especial nas regiões ricas em minerais, onde uma infraestrutura coordenada poderia desbloquear a escala, reduzir os custos de fornecimento e apoiar as plataformas industriais regionais.

As infraestruturas são também fundamentais para a competitividade de África num mundo de industrialização ecológica. A energia limpa, a logística eficiente e os corredores integrados, como o do Lobito, podem reduzir a intensidade de carbono e melhorar o acesso aos mercados onde são cada vez mais necessárias cadeias de abastecimento rastreáveis e com baixo teor de carbono.

Minerais africanos numa economia global fragmentada

O Compêndio situa a estratégia mineral africana num cenário geoeconómico em rápida mudança, moldado por tensões comerciais, controlos de exportação, política industrial e esforços para reduzir o risco de concentração. Estas mudanças estão a elevar a relevância estratégica dos recursos minerais de África, mas apenas quando o continente pode oferecer alternativas fiáveis e de valor acrescentado.

Em vez de posicionar a África como um fornecedor marginal de matérias-primas, o relatório defende a integração seletiva em segmentos estrategicamente expostos das cadeias de abastecimento globais, onde a diversificação aumentaria materialmente a resiliência, particularmente para minerais com mercados de processamento altamente concentrados. Estas incluem o manganês, as terras raras, a grafite, o urânio e os elementos de liga essenciais para as tecnologias de defesa, aeroespaciais e de energias limpas.

É encorajador o facto de estar a surgir uma dinâmica:

  • Angola está a desenvolver um dos maiores depósito de terras raras de metais magnéticos do mundo que será também da mais elevada qualidade;
  • Moçambique tornou-se uma âncora de matéria-prima fundamental para grafite e materiais de ânodo;
  • Os projetos de sulfato de manganês para baterias estão a avançar na África Austral; e
  • A produção de urânio foi retomada na Namíbia e no Malawi em 2024-25.

Faça o . aqui (http://apo-opa.co/4txjr5p) do Compêndio de Recursos Minerais Estratégicos da África, elaborado pela AFC.

Distribuído pelo Grupo APO para Africa Finance Corporation (AFC).

Questões da Comunicação Social:
Yewande Thorpe
Comunicações
Africa Finance Corporation
Telemóvel: +234 1 279 9654
Email: yewande.thorpe@africafc.org

Sobre a AFC:
A AFC foi criada em 2007 para ser o catalisador de infraestruturas pragmáticas e investimentos industriais em toda a África. A abordagem da AFC combina conhecimentos especializados da indústria com um foco em consultoria financeira e técnica, estruturação de projetos, desenvolvimento de projetos e capital de risco para responder às necessidades de desenvolvimento de infraestruturas de África e impulsionar o crescimento económico sustentável.

Dezoito anos mais tarde, a AFC desenvolveu um historial como parceiro de eleição em África para investir e entregar ativos de infraestruturas fundamentais e de alta qualidade que fornecem serviços essenciais nos setores de infraestruturas essenciais da energia, recursos naturais, indústria pesada, transportes e telecomunicações. A AFC tem 48 países membros e investiu mais de 18,5 mil milhões de dólares em 36 países africanos desde a sua criação. www.AfricaFC.org

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Africa Must Rewire US$29.5 Trillion Mineral Endowment Around Industry, Infrastructure and Demand, Africa Finance Corporation Study Says

Source: APO

Africa hosts an estimated US$29.5 trillion in mine-site mineral value, representing about 20% of global mineral wealth, yet captures only a fraction of the economic value embedded in this endowment, according to a new study (http://apo-opa.co/4txjr5p) released today by Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) (www.AfricaFC.org).

Of this total, US$8.6 trillion remains undeveloped, reflecting an under-explored continent where fragmented geological data, uneven coverage, and limited transparency continue to elevate risk perception and constrain investment. The report argues that improving geological data availability and quality is a necessary first step to de-risk projects and unlock exploration capital.

The study also stresses that mine-site values significantly understate Africa’s true potential by failing to capture the far larger value created when minerals are processed into steel, aluminium, fertilisers, batteries and alloys. Measured at the point of industrial use, Africa’s mineral endowment expands by an order of magnitude—revealing substantial latent value.

Launched at Mining Indaba in Cape Town, the Compendium of Africa’s Strategic Minerals reframes the sector through an African development lens, placing industrialisation, infrastructure, and long-term regional demand at the centre of mineral strategy.

“Today, AFC is proud to launch the Compendium of Africa’s Strategic Minerals an initiative to reframe the sector through an African lens and convert endowment into execution pathways for our collective prosperity,” said Samaila Zubairu, President & CEO of AFC. “The Compendium maps full value chains and links reserves and production to processing capacity, power and transport infrastructure, and regional industrial corridors—improving data transparency to de-risk exploration, lower the cost of capital, and guide smarter investment into mining and the enabling infrastructure needed for beneficiation and integrated regional value chains.”

Mineral Development Anchored on African Demand

The Compendium finds that mineral production, enabling infrastructure, and demand rarely co-locate or align at scale, and calls for stronger regional planning anchored in Africa’s long-term demand fundamentals.

The steel value chain illustrates this misalignment. Africa hosts world-class endowments of ferro-alloys such as manganese, chromium and nickel, and iron ore supply is entering a new growth cycle. Yet these supply chains remain commercially tethered to Asian steel cycles rather than Africa’s own development trajectory.

This exposure is economically costly and can be seen playing out right now. The slowdown in Asian steel demand—linked to China’s property downturn and weaker construction—has transmitted shocks into African mineral markets. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, production quotas have been imposed on cobalt to manage oversupply and collapsing prices. In South Africa, primary steelmaking capacity has shut down amid weak domestic demand, high costs, and fragmented offtake. In Gabon, major manganese operations have periodically suspended production in response to softer alloy demand from Asia.

These outcomes are occurring even as Africa continues to expand transport networks, power systems, housing, and industrial capacity that require these materials. The constraint is not a lack of demand, but a lack of demand anchoring: the failure to align mineral production, processing capacity, and infrastructure investment around Africa’s long-term material needs.

Infrastructure Links Minerals, Processing and Demand

The Compendium places infrastructure at the centre of mineral strategy—not as a passive enabler, but as the system that links raw materials, processing capacity, and demand. Power cost and reliability, transport connectivity, and access to industrial land ultimately determine whether beneficiation is viable.

To this end, the report maps mineral deposits and producing assets alongside railways, ports, power generation hubs, and transmission networks to identify where regional value chains can realistically be developed. It calls for targeted interventions in shared rail corridors and cross-border power transmission, particularly in mineral-rich regions where coordinated infrastructure could unlock scale, reduce delivered costs, and support regional industrial platforms.

Infrastructure is also central to Africa’s competitiveness in a world of green industrialisation. Clean power, efficient logistics, and integrated corridors such as Lobito can reduce carbon intensity and improve access to markets where low-carbon and traceable supply chains are increasingly required.

African Minerals in a Fragmenting Global Economy

The Compendium situates Africa’s mineral strategy in a rapidly changing geo-economic landscape shaped by trade tensions, export controls, industrial policy, and efforts to reduce concentration risk. These shifts are elevating the strategic relevance of Africa’s mineral endowment—but only where the continent can offer reliable, value-adding alternatives.

Rather than positioning Africa as a marginal supplier of raw materials, the report argues for selective integration into strategically exposed segments of global supply chains, where diversification would materially enhance resilience—particularly for minerals with highly concentrated processing markets. These include manganese, rare earths, graphite, uranium, and critical alloying inputs for defence, aerospace, and clean-energy technologies.

Encouragingly, momentum is emerging:

  • Angola is developing one of the world’s largest and highest-grade magnet metal rare earth deposits;
  • Mozambique has become a key feedstock anchor for graphite and anode materials;
  • Battery-grade manganese sulphate projects are advancing in Southern Africa; and
  • Uranium production has resumed in Namibia and Malawi over 2024-25.

Download AFC’s Compendium of Africa’s Strategic Mineral Resources here: http://apo-opa.co/4txjr5p.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Africa Finance Corporation (AFC).

Media Enquiries:
Yewande Thorpe
Communications
Africa Finance Corporation
Mobile : +234 1 279 9654
Email : yewande.thorpe@africafc.org

About AFC:
AFC was established in 2007 to be the catalyst for pragmatic infrastructure and industrial investments across Africa. AFC’s approach combines specialist industry expertise with a focus on financial and technical advisory, project structuring, project development, and risk capital to address Africa’s infrastructure development needs and drive sustainable economic growth.

Eighteen years on, AFC has developed a track record as the partner of choice in Africa for investing and delivering on instrumental, high-quality infrastructure assets that provide essential services in the core infrastructure sectors of energy, natural resources, heavy industry, transport, and telecommunications. AFC has 48 member countries and has invested over US$18.5 billion in 36 African countries since its inception. www.AfricaFC.org

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Scottish Africa Business Association Strengthens Subsea Links with Egypt at Subsea Expo

Source: APO

The Scottish Africa Business Association (SABA) (www.AfricaScot.com) has strengthened international links and opened new opportunities for Scottish companies following a highly successful presence at Subsea Expo in Aberdeen, organised by the Global Underwater Hub.

As part of its programme at the event, SABA hosted an inward delegation from Egypt and was delighted to welcome Minister Plenipotentiary Wael Abdelraheem to Scotland for the first time. His visit, supported by the Scottish Government, formed part of ongoing efforts to deepen commercial ties between Scotland and one of North Africa’s most strategically important energy markets.

During his time in Aberdeen, Minister Abdelraheem attended the Subsea Expo evening reception and held a series of meetings with SABA member companies and other businesses from across the North-east. Discussions focused on opportunities for collaboration in subsea engineering, offshore services, inspection and maintenance, digital technologies and supply chain partnerships.

SABA’s exhibition stand attracted hundreds of visitors over the two-day event, with strong interest in opportunities across multiple African markets. Conversations covered subsea infrastructure, offshore wind, energy transition projects, exporting challenges and education & skills training, creating a significant pipeline of follow-up activity for the organisation and its members.

Seona Shand, Chief Operating Officer at the Scottish Africa Business Association, said: “Subsea Expo provided an outstanding platform to showcase Scottish capability and connect businesses with real opportunities across African markets. We were particularly pleased to welcome Minister Plenipotentiary Wael Abdelraheem to Scotland for the first time and to facilitate meaningful introductions between Egyptian stakeholders and our members.

The level of engagement at our stand exceeded expectations, with hundreds of conversations taking place and strong interest in the expertise Scotland has to offer. There is clear demand for subsea and offshore capability across Africa, and we now have a substantial programme of follow-up to help translate these connections into tangible business opportunities.”

Egypt is emerging as a major regional energy hub, with significant investment in offshore gas production in the Mediterranean, expansion of subsea infrastructure and a growing focus on energy security and export capacity. Major developments such as the Zohr gas field and associated pipeline networks have driven demand for subsea installation, inspection, repair and maintenance services, as well as specialist engineering, digital monitoring and asset integrity solutions.

Alongside its established oil and gas sector, Egypt is also investing heavily in energy transition projects, including offshore and coastal renewable energy, hydrogen and power interconnection initiatives. This is creating new opportunities for companies with experience in subsea construction, cable installation, offshore wind foundations, survey, robotics and environmental monitoring.

With its strategic location, large domestic market and strong government focus on infrastructure and energy development, Egypt offers a gateway for Scottish companies looking to expand their presence across North Africa and the Eastern Mediterranean.

Building on the momentum from Subsea Expo and the Minister’s visit, SABA will lead a trade delegation to Egypt in April 2026 in partnership with The EIC. The mission will focus on the energy sector providing Scottish companies with direct access to key government stakeholders, operators and local partners.

The programme will include market briefings, business-to-business meetings, site visits and networking opportunities designed to help participants understand the operating environment and identify concrete opportunities.

Further details about the trade mission and how to participate are available at: https://apo-opa.co/4toUqsT

Seona Shand added: “Egypt represents one of the most exciting growth markets for subsea and offshore services in the region. The conversations that took place in Aberdeen demonstrated strong mutual interest, and our April mission will give Scottish companies the opportunity to build relationships on the ground and position themselves for upcoming projects.”

Subsea Expo is the world’s largest subsea exhibition and conference, bringing together global operators, contractors, technology providers and supply chain companies. SABA’s presence at the event reflects its ongoing role in helping Scottish organisations access international markets through trade missions, inward delegations, market intelligence and tailored business support.

Following the strong response at Subsea Expo, SABA will now work with participating companies to progress introductions, provide market insight and support next steps as businesses explore opportunities across Egypt and other African markets.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Scottish Africa Business Association (SABA).

About the Scottish Africa Business Association (SABA): 
SABA is the preeminent non-political, Africa focussed, members trade organisation with an unrivalled board of experienced directors which promotes trade, investment and knowledge sharing between Scotland’s world class expertise and Africa’s priority sectors including energy, agriculture, the blue economy, healthcare, skills training and education by leveraging extensive commercial, trade, political and government contacts across Scotland and Africa.

As part of this, our team organises exclusive round tables, webinars, global trade missions, hosts inward delegations and offers market research, intelligence sharing and consultancy services.

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Speaking notes by Deputy Minister in The Presidency, Ms Nonceba Mhlauli, at the engagement with land reform beneficiaries and Title Deeds Handover Ceremony, Bethlehem, Free State

Source: President of South Africa –

Programme Director, Mr Zulu,
Honourable Minister of Land Reform and Rural Development, Mr Mzwanele Nyhontso,
Honourable MEC of Agriculture and Rural Development, Ms Elzabe Rockman,
District Mayor, Cllr Conny Msibi, and other Councillors,
Chairperson of the Free State House of Traditional Leaders, Ntate Morena Neo Mopeli,
Leaders of Communal Property Associations,
Distinguished guests,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Good morning.

It is an honour to join the Honourable Minister and all stakeholders gathered here today for this important engagement with land reform beneficiaries. Programmes such as this are not ceremonial. They are about restoring dignity, strengthening ownership, and ensuring that land reform translates into real economic participation for our people.

The handover of title deeds represents far more than a legal process. It represents security. It represents opportunity. And it represents a decisive step toward correcting the injustices of our past while building a more inclusive and productive future.

Government is clear that land reform must not only transfer land, but must also support sustainable use of that land. Beneficiaries must be empowered to farm, to build, to invest, and to create livelihoods for their families and communities. Land must become a productive asset that drives growth, food security, and local economic development.

This work is also part of the broader structural reform programme under Operation Vulindlela, which is focused on removing barriers to growth, improving service delivery, and strengthening the capability of the state. Operation Vulindlela is a joint initiative of the Presidency and National Treasury aimed at accelerating priority reforms to support economic growth and inclusive development. 

One of the key priorities within this reform agenda is spatial integration and housing, including clearing the backlog of title deeds and improving access to secure land ownership. This work ensures that more South Africans are able to participate meaningfully in the economy and build intergenerational wealth. 

Today’s engagement therefore forms part of a much larger national effort to unlock opportunity, restore dignity, and build a capable, responsive state that works for its people.

We recognise that challenges remain. Issues of post-settlement support, governance, access to finance, infrastructure, and market access must continue to be addressed with urgency. Government is committed to working with beneficiaries, CPAs, traditional leaders, and all stakeholders to ensure that land reform succeeds not only in policy, but in practice.

To the beneficiaries present today: the land you receive is a foundation for progress. Use it productively. Build from it. Grow from it. And pass on a legacy of ownership and opportunity to future generations.

Let us continue working together to ensure that land reform contributes to inclusive growth, rural development, and shared prosperity.

I thank you.