Category: Africa

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Minister Ntshavheni to deliver GCIS Budget Vote

Source: Government of South Africa

Minister Ntshavheni to deliver GCIS Budget Vote

Minister in The Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, alongside Deputy Minister in The Presidency, Kenny Morolong, will on Wednesday table the Government Communication and Information System’s (GCIS) Budget Vote, which will outline the department’s priorities and plans for the 2026/27 financial year. 

The Budget Vote will also outline the plans and priorities of the GCIS entities, Brand South Africa (Brand SA) and the Media Development and Diversity Agency (MDDA).

The annual tabling of departmental Budget Votes is an accountability mechanism for Parliament and the public to monitor how the government is implementing its service delivery commitments against the funds voted. 

Budget Vote debates provide an opportunity for Parliament to discuss and formally adopt the budgets of government departments and entities funded through a parliamentary vote. 

The debate allows for Parliament and the public to be updated about what departments are doing; how they are performing and exactly how public money is being used in a forum larger than a Committee meeting. 

On Thursday, the Minister will lead a delegation from GCIS, Brand SA and the MDDA on a street cleaning and painting campaign in Khayelitsha as part of the Love Your Street campaign, in an initiate aimed at keeping cities and neighbourhoods clean. –SAnews.gov.za

 

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Nedbank’s Platreef Funding Highlights the Power of Africa’s $2T Internal Capital Pool

Source: APO


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Nedbank Corporate and Investment Banking has approved a $700 million loan to support Ivanhoe Mines’ expansion of the Platreef platinum group metals (PGM) project in South Africa.

The funding will support the construction of the Phase two concentrator at Platreef, a 3.3 million ton-per-annum processing facility whose development began in April 2026.

The transaction comes at a time when South Africa seeks to mobilize R2 trillion over the next five years to unlock its critical minerals potential.

Nedbank’s financing highlights the growing role of South Africa’s banking sector in bridging the capital gap required to develop large-scale mining projects. This is increasingly critical as the country looks to unlock an estimated R40 trillion in iron ore potential, while maintaining its position as the world’s largest PGMs, chrome and manganese producer.

For Africa, the transaction highlights how the region can leverage its domestic capital pools, with non-bank institutional funding sources across Africa now exceeding $2 trillion. Combined with commercial banking and international investment flows, these capital bases can play a central role in unlocking the continent’s $8.5 trillion worth of untapped mineral resources while reducing reliance on external funding sources.

Innovating financing mechanisms will be crucial as an increasing number of mining jurisdictions seek fresh capital to finance mining value chain projects. For instance, the Democratic Republic of Congo is pursuing financing to unlock an estimated $24 trillion in mineral resources while Zimbabwe seeks to raise $950 million to scale production across gold, lithium, platinum and chrome assets.

Against this backdrop, Africa’s mining investment outlook and broader financing strategies will be a key focus at African Mining Week (AMW) 2026 – The Most Influential Mining Conference in Africa – taking place in Cape Town from October 14–16. The event will convene global financiers, central banks, sovereign wealth funds, mining companies and development institutions to explore mechanisms for unlocking capital across Africa’s mining sector.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital & Power.

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Equality Now calls on African governments to strengthen laws on sexual violence and women’s rights

Source: APO

Millions of women and girls remain without adequate legal protection due to the failure of African governments to enact and effectively enforce national laws and regional agreements, Equality Now (https://EqualityNow.org/) warned at the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights’ (ACHPR) 87th Ordinary Session in Banjul, The Gambia.

Esther Waweru, Associate Director for Legal Equality at Equality Now, delivered a statement to the ACHPR on May 12, 2026, calling on African Union (AU) Member States to do more to address sexual violence, female genital mutilation (FGM), online safety, sexual and reproductive healthcare access, and discriminatory matrimonial property rights.

“Millions of women and girls across Africa live under laws and systems that don’t uphold their human rights. Countries have made binding commitments to advance gender equality, but gaps in legal protections, weak implementation of laws, and poor accountability are leaving many without equal rights, safeguards, or justice. African governments must move beyond rhetoric to deliver the legal reforms, protections, and accountability mechanisms women and girls urgently need,” Waweru explains.

Rape laws in Africa continue to fail survivors of sexual violence

Equality Now’s report Barriers to Justice: Rape in Africa, Law, Practice and Access to Justice (https://apo-opa.co/4wKloNu) analysed rape laws across 47 countries and found significant shortcomings. Sexual violence laws in some countries still require proof that physical force, threats, or violence was used. Such restrictive definitions place undue burdens on survivors to provide evidence, and disregard the varying contexts in which sexual violence occurs, including through intimidation, coercion, fraud, or unequal power dynamics that make it impossible to give genuine consent.

Authorities often fail to properly investigate, prosecute, or convict rape cases, while discriminatory gender stereotypes can influence judicial decisions, leading to reduced charges, lighter sentences, or perpetrators escaping punishment altogether. 

Rape cases are sometimes resolved through out-of-court settlements via informal community mediation, with victim-blaming and social pressure often compelling survivors to withdraw legal complaints or remain silent.

Kenya, whose State Report was reviewed by the ACHPR during its 87th session, retains a marital rape exemption allowing husbands to avoid prosecution for raping their wives.

Equality Now called on the Commission to encourage Kenya to remove legal loopholes permitting rape within marriage, and reform sexual offences laws in line with the Niamey Guidelines (https://apo-opa.co/4usVkoy), which set regional standards for preventing and responding to sexual violence, and the Maputo Protocol (https://apo-opa.co/4usVkVA), the landmark AU treaty outlining governments’ obligations to end gender-based violence, ensure reproductive rights, and eliminate harmful practices.

Restrictions on sexual and reproductive health services persist, especially harming rape survivors. Equality Now commended AU Member States that recognise sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) as a constitutional right. For example, in October 2025, Malawi’s High Court ruled (https://apo-opa.co/4usVlJ8) that denying a 14-year-old rape survivor access to a safe termination of pregnancy was a SRHR violation, and forcing a child to carry a pregnancy resulting from rape constitutes “harsh and inhumane” treatment.

Equality Now urged all African governments to prosecute sexual violence, whether perpetrated during peacetime or conflict, and to adopt a survivor-centred approach built upon comprehensive reparations frameworks that provide compensation, medical and psychosocial support, and legal assistance to survivors.

Discrimination in matrimonial property rights laws in Africa

Equality Now’s report, Gender inequality in family laws in Africa (https://apo-opa.co/42Lzj85), maps how women face significant challenges relating to unpaid work within the family context and discrimination in property distribution during marriage annulment, separation, or divorce.

Article 7(d) of the Maputo Protocol requires equitable distribution of matrimonial property, yet in practice, this standard is often unmet. In Nigeria, property division is based entirely on direct financial contributions, leaving many women with little or nothing following divorce. In Kenya, Malawi, and South Africa, both direct and indirect contributions should be accounted for, but courts frequently fail to adequately value women’s unpaid labour.

All Member States should pass and implement legislation recognising the full value of women’s unpaid domestic and caregiving work within the family, and implement General Comment No. 6 on the Maputo Protocol (https://apo-opa.co/4v2YWgU) mandating an equitable sharing of joint property based upon both financial and non-financial contributions.

Criminalising FGM in Liberia and upholding The Gambia’s law banning FGM

Equality Now acknowledged ongoing efforts in Liberia to address harmful practices affecting women and girls, and calls on lawmakers to criminalise FGM by fast-tracking passage of the pending Women and Girls Protection Bill (https://apo-opa.co/4uTud5z).

In The Gambia, the Supreme Court is considering a case seeking to overturn the ban on FGM under the Women’s (Amendment) Act 2015, with petitioners arguing on constitutional grounds that the law violates cultural and religious freedoms. Equality Now called on the State to defend and fully implement the Act as repeal would endanger women and girls, undermine years of progress, and set a dangerous precedent by revoking hard-won legal safeguards.

Online gender-based violence in Africa

Across Africa, weak, outdated, and fragmented digital governance frameworks leave women and girls vulnerable to harm online, including tech-facilitated gender-based violence (https://apo-opa.co/3RkjFhB). Most countries rely on narrow cybercrime laws that lack gender perspectives, resulting in disproportionate censorship, surveillance, or penalisation of those seeking protection, while allowing online harassment, exploitation, misinformation and disinformation, and algorithmic biases to proliferate.

The concentration of digital infrastructure and artificial intelligence systems in the Global North risks reinforcing digital colonialism and embedding racial and gender bias into technologies.

African states should establish binding due diligence and transparency requirements for transnational technology companies, align digital governance frameworks with the Maputo Protocol, invest in gender-responsive digital capacity building for women and girls, and strengthen access to remedies for survivors of digital harms.

Domestication and implementation of the Maputo Protocol in South Sudan

South Sudan ratified the Maputo Protocol in 2023. Three years on, women and girls face conflict-related sexual violence, entrenched harmful practices, and weak legal protections and inadequate enforcement, underpinned by deep-rooted patriarchal norms.

The country’s ongoing constitution-making process offers a time-bound opportunity to embed gender equality at the heart of legal and institutional reform. South Sudan needs to fully domesticate and implement the Protocol and expedite adoption of national laws that strengthen protections for women and girls.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Equality Now.

Notes to editors:
Esther Waweru is the Associate Director, Legal Equality at Equality Now. A lawyer with nearly two decades of experience, she focuses on advancing the rights of women, girls and marginalised communities across international and regional human rights platforms. Read more about Esther’s work at https://EqualityNow.org/.

For media enquiries, contact:
Tara Carey
Associate Director, Media
Equality Now
tcarey@equalitynow.org

Social Media:
Bluesky: equalitynow.bsky.social (https://apo-opa.co/4dTYxY9)
Facebook: @equalitynoworg (https://apo-opa.co/4uXog7R)
Instagram: @equalitynoworg (https://apo-opa.co/49ExhKM)
LinkedIn: Equality Now (https://apo-opa.co/49b1a5e)

About Equality Now:
Equality Now is a worldwide human rights organisation dedicated to securing the legal and systemic change needed to end discrimination against all women and girls. Since its inception in 1992, it has played a role in reforming 120 discriminatory laws globally, positively impacting the lives of hundreds of millions of women and girls, their communities and nations, both now and for generations to come.

Working with partners at national, regional and global levels, Equality Now draws on deep legal expertise and a diverse range of social, political and cultural perspectives to continue to lead the way in steering, shaping and driving the change needed to achieve enduring gender equality, to the benefit of all.

For more details, go to https://EqualityNow.org/.

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Equality Now appelle les gouvernements africains à renforcer les lois sur les violences sexuelles, les mutilations génitales féminines (MGF) et les droits des femmes

Source: Africa Press Organisation – French

Des millions de femmes et de filles demeurent privées d’une protection juridique adéquate, en raison de l’incapacité des gouvernements africains à adopter et à faire appliquer effectivement les lois nationales et les accords régionaux en vigueur. C’est l’avertissement lancé par Equality Now (https://EqualityNow.org/) à l’occasion de la 87ᵉ Session ordinaire de la Commission africaine des droits de l’homme et des peuples (CADHP), réunie à Banjul, en Gambie.

Esther Waweru, Directrice associée chargée de l’Égalité juridique chez Equality Now, a prononcé une déclaration à la CADHP (https://apo-opa.co/4tJfQzK) le 12 mai 2026, exhortant les États membres de l’Union africaine (UA) à intensifier leur action contre les violences sexuelles, les mutilations génitales féminines (MGF), les enjeux de sécurité en ligne, l’accès aux soins de santé sexuelle et reproductive, ainsi que contre les régimes discriminatoires applicables aux biens matrimoniaux.

«Des millions de femmes et de filles à travers l’Afrique vivent sous des lois et des systèmes qui ne garantissent pas leurs droits humains. Les États ont pris des engagements contraignants pour faire progresser l’égalité de genre, mais les lacunes des protections juridiques, la faiblesse de la mise en œuvre des lois et le manque de redevabilité privent beaucoup d’entre elles d’une égalité réelle, de garanties et d’accès à la justice. Les gouvernements africains doivent dépasser les discours et concrétiser les réformes juridiques, les protections et les mécanismes de redevabilité dont les femmes et les filles ont un besoin urgent», explique Esther Waweru.

Les lois sur le viol en Afrique continuent de trahir les personnes survivantes de violences sexuelles

Le rapport d’Equality Now intitulé Obstacles à la justice: viol en Afrique, droit, pratique et accès à la justice (Barriers to Justice: Rape in Africa, Law, Practice and Access to Justice) (https://apo-opa.co/4wKloNu) a analysé les lois relatives au viol dans 47 pays et y a relevé des lacunes considérables. Dans certains pays, les lois sur les violences sexuelles exigent encore la preuve d’un recours à la force physique, à des menaces ou à la violence. De telles définitions restrictives imposent une charge excessive aux survivantes en matière de preuve et ignorent la diversité des contextes dans lesquels surviennent les violences sexuelles: intimidation, coercition, fraude ou rapports de pouvoir inégaux rendant impossible un consentement réellement libre.

Les autorités échouent souvent à enquêter correctement, à poursuivre ou à condamner les auteurs de viol, tandis que les stéréotypes de genre discriminatoires peuvent influencer les décisions judiciaires: requalifications à la baisse, peines allégées, voire impunité totale des auteurs.

Certaines affaires de viol sont parfois réglées par des arrangements extrajudiciaires, dans le cadre de médiations communautaires informelles. La culpabilisation des victimes et la pression sociale contraignent fréquemment les personnes survivantes à retirer leur plainte ou à garder le silence.

Le Kenya, dont le rapport d’État a été examiné par la CADHP lors de sa 87ᵉ session, conserve une exception d’immunité maritale en matière de viol, qui permet aux époux d’échapper aux poursuites pour viol conjugal.

Equality Now a appelé la Commission à encourager le Kenya à supprimer les failles juridiques autorisant le viol au sein du mariage et à réformer ses lois relatives aux infractions sexuelles, conformément aux Lignes directrices de Niamey (https://apo-opa.co/4usVkoy), qui fixent les normes régionales en matière de prévention et de réponse aux violences sexuelles, et au Protocole de Maputo (https://apo-opa.co/4usVkVA), traité phare de l’UA énonçant les obligations qui incombent aux États en matière de lutte contre les violences fondées sur le genre, de garantie des droits reproductifs et d’élimination des pratiques néfastes.

Les restrictions aux services de santé sexuelle et reproductive demeurent, affectant particulièrement les personnes survivantes de viol. Equality Now a salué les États membres de l’UA qui reconnaissent les droits et la santé sexuels et reproductifs (DSSR) comme un droit constitutionnel. Ainsi, en octobre 2025, la Haute Cour du Malawi a jugé (https://apo-opa.co/4usVlJ8) que refuser à une personne survivante de viol âgée de 14 ans l’accès à une interruption de grossesse en sécurité constituait une violation des DSSR, et que contraindre une enfant à mener à terme une grossesse résultant d’un viol relevait d’un traitement «cruel et inhumain».

Equality Now a exhorté l’ensemble des gouvernements africains à poursuivre les violences sexuelles, qu’elles soient commises en temps de paix ou en temps de conflit, et à adopter une approche centrée sur les personnes survivantes, fondée sur des cadres de réparation complets prévoyant indemnisation, soutien médical et psychosocial et assistance juridique.

Discrimination dans les régimes juridiques des biens matrimoniaux en Afrique

Le rapport d’Equality Now intitulé Inégalités de genre dans le droit de la famille en Afrique (Gender inequality in family laws in Africa) (https://apo-opa.co/42Lzj85) met en évidence les obstacles importants auxquels les femmes sont confrontées concernant le travail non rémunéré dans la sphère familiale, ainsi que les discriminations subies dans le partage des biens en cas d’annulation du mariage, de séparation ou de divorce.

L’article 7 d) du Protocole de Maputo impose un partage équitable des biens matrimoniaux, norme qui, en pratique, demeure souvent ignorée. Au Nigeria, le partage des biens repose exclusivement sur les contributions financières directes, ce qui laisse de nombreuses femmes sans ressources, voire dépourvues de tout, à l’issue d’un divorce. Au Kenya, au Malawi et en Afrique du Sud, les contributions directes comme indirectes devraient être prises en compte, mais les tribunaux peinent fréquemment à reconnaître à sa juste valeur le travail non rémunéré des femmes.

L’ensemble des États membres doivent adopter et mettre en œuvre des lois reconnaissant pleinement la valeur du travail domestique et des soins non rémunérés accomplis par les femmes au sein de la famille, et appliquer l’Observation générale n° 6 sur le Protocole de Maputo (https://apo-opa.co/4v2YWgU), qui prescrit un partage équitable des biens communs sur la base des contributions tant financières que non financières.

Criminaliser les MGF au Libéria et préserver la loi gambienne interdisant les MGF

Equality Now a salué les efforts engagés au Libéria pour lutter contre les pratiques néfastes affectant les femmes et les filles, et appelle les parlementaires à criminaliser les MGF en accélérant l’adoption du projet de loi sur la protection des femmes et des filles (Women and Girls Protection Bill) (https://apo-opa.co/4uTud5z), actuellement en instance.

En Gambie, la Cour suprême est saisie d’un recours visant à annuler l’interdiction des MGF prévue par la Loi de 2015 modifiant la législation sur les femmes (Women’s (Amendment) Act 2015), les requérants invoquant des motifs constitutionnels liés aux libertés culturelles et religieuses. Equality Now a appelé l’État à défendre et à appliquer pleinement cette loi, dont l’abrogation mettrait en danger les femmes et les filles, anéantirait des années de progrès et créerait un précédent dangereux en revenant sur des protections juridiques durement acquises.

Violences en ligne basées sur le genre en Afrique

Partout en Afrique, des cadres de gouvernance numérique faibles, dépassés et fragmentés exposent les femmes et les filles à des préjudices en ligne, notamment à la violence basée sur le genre facilitée par la technologie (https://apo-opa.co/3RkjFhB). La plupart des pays s’en remettent à des lois sur la cybercriminalité étroites et dépourvues de perspective de genre, ce qui entraîne une censure, une surveillance ou une pénalisation disproportionnées à l’encontre des personnes qui cherchent à se protéger, tout en laissant prospérer le harcèlement en ligne, l’exploitation, la mésinformation et la désinformation, ainsi que les biais algorithmiques.

La concentration des infrastructures numériques et des systèmes d’intelligence artificielle dans le Nord global risque de renforcer le colonialisme numérique et d’intégrer des biais raciaux et de genre au cœur même des technologies.

Les États africains devraient instaurer des obligations contraignantes de diligence raisonnable et de transparence à l’égard des entreprises technologiques transnationales, aligner leurs cadres de gouvernance numérique sur le Protocole de Maputo, investir dans le renforcement des capacités numériques des femmes et des filles dans une perspective de genre, et améliorer l’accès aux voies de recours pour les personnes survivantes de préjudices numériques.

Intégration et mise en œuvre du Protocole de Maputo au Soudan du Sud

Le Soudan du Sud a ratifié le Protocole de Maputo en 2023. Trois ans plus tard, les femmes et les filles y subissent des violences sexuelles liées au conflit, des pratiques néfastes profondément ancrées, ainsi que des protections juridiques faibles et une application inadéquate, le tout sur fond de normes patriarcales profondément enracinées.

Le processus constitutionnel actuellement en cours dans le pays offre une fenêtre limitée dans le temps pour inscrire l’égalité de genre au cœur de la réforme juridique et institutionnelle. Le Soudan du Sud doit intégrer et mettre en œuvre pleinement le Protocole et accélérer l’adoption de lois nationales renforçant les protections accordées aux femmes et aux filles.

Distribué par APO Group pour Equality Now.

Notes aux rédactions :
Esther Waweru est Directrice associée, Égalité juridique chez Equality Now. Avocate forte de près de vingt ans d’expérience, elle œuvre à faire progresser les droits des femmes, des filles et des communautés marginalisées au sein des instances internationales et régionales des droits humains. En savoir plus sur le travail d’Esther Waweru sur https://EqualityNow.org/.

Pour toute demande des médias, contacter :
Tara Carey
Directrice associée, Médias
Equality Now 
tcarey@equalitynow.org

Réseaux sociaux :
Bluesky : equalitynow.bsky.social (https://apo-opa.co/4dTYxY9)
Facebook : @equalitynoworg (https://apo-opa.co/4uXog7R)
Instagram : @equalitynoworg (https://apo-opa.co/49ExhKM)
LinkedIn : Equality Now (https://apo-opa.co/49b1a5e)

À propos d’Equality Now :
Equality Now est une organisation mondiale de défense des droits humains qui se consacre à obtenir les réformes juridiques et systémiques indispensables pour éliminer la discrimination envers toutes les femmes et filles, partout dans le monde. Depuis sa création en 1992, elle a contribué à la réforme de 130 lois discriminatoires, impactant positivement la vie de centaines de millions de femmes et de filles, leurs communautés et nations, tant pour les générations d’aujourd’hui que celles de demain.

En partenariat avec des acteurs aux niveaux national, régional et mondial, Equality Now mobilise une expertise juridique pointue ainsi qu’une diversité de perspectives sociales, politiques et culturelles, afin de continuer à guider, influencer et porter les transformations nécessaires pour atteindre une égalité de genre durable, bénéfique à tous.

Pour en savoir plus, rendez-vous sur https://EqualityNow.org/.

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Deputy Minister in The Presidency Nonceba Mhlauli to lead disaster relief programme in Vredenberg

Source: President of South Africa –

The Deputy Minister in The Presidency, Nonceba Mhlauli in partnership with the Al Imdaad Foundation, will on Thursday, 21 May 2026, lead a disaster relief programme in Vredenburg, Saldanha Bay, in the Western Cape.

The programme is part of government’s efforts to provide support to communities affected by recent flood disasters and adverse weather conditions. 

During the visit, Deputy Minister Mhlauli will hand over relief packages and essential supplies to affected residents.

Members of the media are invited to attend the official handover as follows:

Date: Thursday, 21 May 2026
Time: 09h00 – 12h30
Venue: George Carriages, Vredenburg, Western Cape.

Media enquiries: Mandisa Mbele, MandisaM@Presidency.gov.za  082 580 2213

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

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Minister moves to strengthen ethics, accountability in the public service

Source: Government of South Africa

Minister moves to strengthen ethics, accountability in the public service

Public Service and Administration Minister Inkosi Buthelezi has used his 2026 Budget Vote speech to outline a reform agenda aimed at building what he described as a “capable, ethical and developmental State” grounded in professionalism, accountability and public trust.

Delivering the department’s Budget Vote in Parliament on Tuesday, Buthelezi said recent amendments to the Public Service Act and the Public Administration Management Act marked a “defining moment” in the evolution of South Africa’s public administration.

He said the reforms would reinforce the separation between political and administrative authority by prohibiting heads of departments and senior officials from holding political office in political parties.

“For the first time in democratic South Africa, the separation between political authority and administrative authority is being reinforced with legal certainty,” he said, adding that a professional public service cannot exist where political and administrative lines are blurred.

Buthelezi said the legislation would also strengthen consequence management, improve oversight and allow government to recover irregular salary overpayments, while protecting constitutional rights.

The Minister said government intended to intensify oversight of senior appointments and strengthen merit-based recruitment as part of a broader professionalisation framework across the public service.

“Leadership positions in the public service must be occupied by individuals capable of managing complex institutions in difficult conditions,” he said.

He added that government would expand lifestyle audits and establish an Integrity and Interference Log across departments to identify governance failures before they became systemic crises.

A central register for disciplinary cases would operate across all spheres of government to prevent officials dismissed for misconduct from moving between departments without consequence.

Buthelezi said digital transformation would become a central pillar of state reform, arguing that a modern state had to be digitally capable to improve service delivery, institutional integrity and economic inclusion.

“Digital transformation is not simply about technology procurement. It is about institutional capability,” he said.

The Minister highlighted the role of the National School of Government, saying it had trained more than 600 000 individuals since its establishment and would continue expanding compulsory programmes in financial management, cybersecurity and governance.

He announced the formalisation of a ministerial advisory committee on curriculum development and quality assurance, chaired by former Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka.

On healthcare support for public servants, Buthelezi said the Government Employees Medical Scheme had reached agreement with labour and government to reduce a proposed contribution increase from 9.5% to 7.5%.

He said the adjustment balanced financial sustainability with the wellbeing of workers facing rising living costs.

The Minister described the Public Service Commission (PSC) as a constitutional safeguard for ethical governance and professional administration.

He said a new PSC Bill before the National Council of Provinces would strengthen the commission’s enforcement powers and expand its role in professionalisation, recruitment oversight, ethics investigations and anti-corruption work.

Buthelezi acknowledged former Public Service Commission Director-General Advocate Dinkie Dube on her appointment as Deputy Public Protector.

Buthelezi said South Africa could no longer afford “a public service that is politically contested, administratively weak and ethically uncertain”.

“This Budget Vote advances a simple but substantial proposition that the constitutional promise of a capable, ethical and developmental State must now move from aspiration to reality,” he said. – SAnews.gov.za

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New chapter for flood victims as homes handed over in Cornubia

Source: Government of South Africa

New chapter for flood victims as homes handed over in Cornubia

Flood victims were overcome with emotion and relief as they received the keys to their new homes at Cornubia, north of Durban, marking a long-awaited step towards stability and dignity after being displaced by the devastating 2022 floods.

For many beneficiaries, the handover of houses represents a turning point after years spent in temporary emergency accommodation.

EThekwini Municipality Mayor Cyril Xaba, together with KwaZulu-Natal Transport and Human Settlements MEC Siboniso Duma, officially launched the handover of 113 houses on Monday, with further allocations set to continue throughout the week.

Between Monday, 18 and Friday, 22 May, houses will be handed over to families currently residing in Transitional Emergency Accommodation (TEAs) located in areas including Mahatma Gandhi (Point), Sydenham’s O’Flaherty Road, Dassenhoek and Ntuzuma.

The municipality said the initiative forms part of a broader strategy to transition flood-affected families in privately owned TEAs into sustainable and dignified housing solutions.

According to the municipality, since the 2022 disaster, more than 4 000 families have been accommodated through TEA arrangements. However, the city noted that these temporary arrangements, many of which involve privately owned facilities, have placed a significant financial strain on the city.

The municipality is therefore accelerating efforts to transition families into permanent housing.

Several interventions are currently underway to support relocation process. These include the allocation of newly built houses in Cornubia, relocation to newly acquired and refurbished units at Montclair Lodge, and placement in TEAs within Cornubia.

In addition, 37 houses have already been handed over to flood-affected families in Illovo, while a further 104 families are expected to move into upgraded flats at Montclair Lodge in the coming weeks.

Addressing the handover ceremony, Duma said progress is being made through collaboration between provincial and national government, as well as the municipality.

“Significant progress continues to be made in restoring dignity to flood-affected families, with more than 4 000 households already accommodated since 2022,” he said.

He added that the National Department of Human Settlements has appointed a contractor to build 500 temporary housing units in Cornubia, supported by an investment of approximately R400 million for bulk infrastructure development.

Xaba said the city has made substantial progress in rebuilding infrastructure damaged during the floods, including the reconstruction of roads, stormwater systems, bridges, and water and sanitation infrastructure.

“By the end of June next year, approximately 1 069 additional flood-affected families are expected to be accommodated,” Xaba said.

For the families receiving homes this week, the handover signals more than just shelter; it represents a renewed sense of hope after years of uncertainty.

The municipality reiterated its commitment to ensuring that all affected households are moved from temporary accommodation into dignified and permanent housing, as part of ongoing recovery efforts. – SAnews.gov.za
 

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Statement on United States (US) Travel Restrictions Related to the Bundibugyo Ebola Outbreak

Source: APO


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The United States remains a longstanding and valued partner of Africa in disease surveillance, emergency response, workforce development and global health security.

In March 2025, amid major shifts affecting USAID and other health programmes, Africa CDC engaged the US Government through a high-level dialogue at the Department of State involving multiple American to agencies. Meeting Africa CDC – US team (https://apo-opa.co/496EB1I). Africa CDC advocated for a new partnership model grounded in sovereignty, shared responsibility and sustainability, in which the US increasingly channels support through direct country funding while African governments progressively expand domestic co-financing for health systems and health security priorities.

Africa CDC also recalls the consensus reached by the African High-Level Ministerial Committee on Global Health Architecture, which convened in Geneva on 17 May 2026, bringing together 48 African ministers from all five regions of the continent. Ministers agreed that future strategic negotiations related to continental health security partnerships should increasingly be coordinated through Africa CDC to strengthen African solidarity, policy coherence, and alignment among Member States.

From the earliest stages of the current Ebola outbreak, Africa CDC acted rapidly, transparently, and responsibly. Following confirmation that at least two countries were affected, the agency exercised its continental mandate to declare this outbreak on 15 May 2026, elevating political attention and accelerating coordination across Africa. Since the beginning of the outbreak, Africa CDC has maintained continuous information sharing with Member States, partners, media, and the international community, with more than 1,600 global media citations referencing Africa CDC data and technical updates.

Africa CDC takes note of the US Government’s decision to issue a Level 4 “Do Not Travel” advisory for the DRC and to impose entry restrictions on non-US passport holders who have recently travelled to the DRC, Uganda or South Sudan. The agency fully recognises the sovereign responsibility of every government to protect the health and security of its people. Our concern is not with the objective of protecting populations, but with the use of broad travel restrictions as a primary public health tool during outbreaks.

Public health measures during outbreaks must be guided by science, proportionality, transparency, international cooperation, and international health regulations. Africa CDC’s position is clear: generalised travel restrictions and border closures are not the solution to outbreaks. Such measures can create fear, damage economies, discourage transparency, complicate humanitarian and health operations, and divert movement toward informal and unmonitored routes – potentially increasing public health risks rather than reducing them.

“The fastest path to protecting all countries in the world is to aggressively support outbreak control at the source,” said H.E. Dr Jean Kaseya, Africa CDC Director General. “Global health security cannot be achieved through borders alone. It is achieved through partnership, trust, science and rapid investment in preparedness and response capacity.”

This current Ebola outbreak highlights a deeper structural injustice in global health innovation: the Bundibugyo Ebolavirus was identified nearly two decades ago, yet no licensed vaccines or therapeutics specific to this strain exist today. Africa CDC believes that if this disease had predominantly threatened wealthier regions of the world, medical countermeasures would likely already be available.

The world witnessed a similar reality during the West African Ebola outbreak, when solutions were disclosed when an American doctor was infected, while thousands of Africans had already died without support. The world must not repeat the same mistake today.

The declaration of the PHECS on 18 May 2026, Africa CDC Official Website, was intended to mobilise political leadership, resources, and coordinated continental action. It is not a signal for panic, but a call for solidarity, urgency and collective responsibility.

Africa CDC is calling for intensified international support for:

  • Strengthened cross-border preparedness and regional coordination;
  • Sustained support to frontline health workers and Ministries of Health;
  • Support risk communication and strong community engagement;
  • Expansion of Bundibugyo Ebolavirus laboratory diagnostics and genomic sequencing;
  • Deployment of epidemiologists and emergency response experts;
  • Increased financing for surveillance, logistics, infection prevention and case management, including the capacity to isolate cases and to organise dignified burials;
  • Accelerated development of vaccines, diagnostics and therapeutics for all Ebola strains;

Africa CDC is fully mobilised to support the DRC, Uganda, South Sudan, Rwanda and all at-risk Member States. Africans must know that the agency stands with them – not only to respond to outbreaks and strengthen public health systems, but also to defend their dignity, sovereignty, and collective security under the framework of Africa Health Security and Sovereignty (AHSS). Africa CDC – Africa Health Security and Sovereignty (AHSS) (www.AfricaCDC.org)

This position is consistent with Africa CDC’s previous actions. During the Marburg outbreak in Rwanda in 2024, Africa CDC publicly opposed travel measures that penalised transparency and effective outbreak control and welcomed the lifting of the U.S. travel notice after Rwanda demonstrated strong containment. Africa CDC Statement on Rwanda Marburg Response (www.AfricaCDC.org)

Africa CDC, therefore, calls on all countries – both within Africa and globally – to refrain from imposing unnecessary travel or trade restrictions in response to this outbreak. The world must avoid repeating the mistakes of previous health emergencies, where fear-driven measures caused major economic damage without delivering proportionate public health benefits.

Africa needs solidarity, not stigma. Africa needs investment, not isolation. Africa needs partnerships that strengthen both economies and health systems.

No one is safe until Africa is safe. And Africa is safer when the world invests in African health security, trusts African institutions, and works with Africa as a full partner.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).

Media Contact:
Wilson Johwa
Senior Communications Officer
Directorate of Communication & Public Information
JohwaW@africacdc.org

Follow Africa CDC: 
LinkedIn: https://apo-opa.co/4uhyxvB
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Facebook: https://apo-opa.co/4eWbbXQ
YouTube: https://apo-opa.co/4dwrnfR

About Africa CDC:
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) is the public health agency of the African Union. As an autonomous institution, Africa CDC supports AU Member States to strengthen health systems, improve disease surveillance, and enhance emergency preparedness and response. For more information, visit: www.AfricaCDC.org.

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Home Affairs unveils digital overhaul in 2026 Budget Vote

Source: Government of South Africa

Home Affairs unveils digital overhaul in 2026 Budget Vote

South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs is accelerating its digital transformation programme aimed at improving service delivery, strengthening national security and driving economic growth.

This is according to the Minister of Home Affairs Leon Schreiber, who tabled the department’s 2026 Budget Vote in the National Council of Provinces on Tuesday.

He said the Home Affairs ecosystem — including the Department of Home Affairs, the Border Management Authority (BMA) and Government Printing Works — had spent the past two years implementing reforms under a programme called “Home Affairs @ home”.

The reforms seek to move services away from a system dependent on physical offices and paper-based processes toward digital and biometric platforms.

The Minister said the department had already expanded Smart ID replacement services to 167 bank branches nationwide within eight weeks of launching a new digital partnership model with banks.

The previous manual system had expanded to only 30 branches over a decade.

More than 127 000 South Africans have already used the new digital Smart ID replacement service, with applications now taking as little as five minutes at participating branches.

The Minister said the department had increased its target to make Smart ID replacement services available at 750 bank branches by the end of 2026, with a focus on rural and underserved communities.

The upgraded system eliminates paperwork, prior bookings and long queues by relying on biometric verification technology.

The department also plans to expand the digital platform to include first-time ID applications, passport applications and doorstep delivery of documents.

An upgraded online booking system has also been introduced after the previous platform was allegedly exploited by individuals who blocked and sold appointment slots to citizens.

Schreiber said the new booking system had been secured against such abuses and was expected to stabilise fully within weeks.

Home Affairs is also developing a Digital Identity system, which the Minister described as “foundational national infrastructure” for the digital economy.

Draft regulations under the Identification Act have already been published for public comment, with submissions closing on 6 June.

The proposed Digital ID system will allow citizens to securely access Home Affairs services and documents on smartphones while enabling remote authentication.

The Minister also linked the department’s digital transformation drive to efforts to strengthen national security.

He said the expanded Smart ID rollout would help phase out the Green ID book, which he described as one of the most defrauded documents on the continent and a major source of identity theft and illegal immigration.

Last year, the department issued a record four million Smart IDs.

The department’s Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system, launched in October last year for tourists from China, India, Indonesia and Mexico, was also highlighted as a major security initiative.

The ETA system records biometric data for foreigners entering South Africa and uses machine learning and facial recognition technology to verify travel documents and identities.

According to the Minister, the system has already denied visas to more than 4 500 applicants through document verification and facial recognition checks.

The ETA will be expanded to cover more countries and additional visa categories in the coming weeks.

The Minister said the BMA had announced selected bidders for a R12.5 billion public-private partnership project to rebuild South Africa’s six busiest land ports of entry, which account for 80% of border traffic.

READ | BMA announces successful bidders for major border overhaul

The new infrastructure will incorporate digital border systems and implement the One-Stop Border Post concept recently approved by Parliament.

The Minister’s speech also positioned Home Affairs as an economic enabler, particularly through tourism and international investment. The ETA system now allows qualifying tourists to obtain visas digitally within 24 hours and apply online for visa extensions.

The Minister said inefficient visa processes had previously cost the tourism sector billions of rand and that the new system would help unlock new tourism markets and create jobs. – SAnews.gov.za 

Janine

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Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) Declares the Ongoing Bundibugyo Ebola Outbreak a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security

Source: APO


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The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) (https://AfricaCDC.org/), acting on the recommendations of its Emergency Consultative Group (ECG), has officially declared the ongoing Bundibugyo ebolavirus disease outbreak affecting the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security (PHECS).

This declaration, under Article 3, Paragraph F of the Africa CDC Statute, empowers the organisation to lead and coordinate responses to significant public health emergencies across the continent. The statute mandates Africa CDC to “coordinate and support Member States in health emergency responses, particularly those declared a PHECS or Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), as well as health promotion and disease prevention through health systems strengthening.”

The declaration follows extensive consultations at political, strategic and technical levels, including consultations with H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, the African Union Commission chairperson; H.E. Cyril Ramaphosa, President of South Africa and the African Union Champion for Pandemic Preparedness, Prevention and Response (PPPR); and consultations with Member States affected or at risk. This declaration was built on recommendations from the ECG, chaired by Professor Salim Abdool Karim, which reviewed the evolving epidemiological situation, regional risks, response capacities, and the implications of the confirmed Bundibugyo ebolavirus strain.

As of May 18, 2026, about 395 suspected cases and 106 associated deaths have been reported in the DRC (mainly in the Mongwalu, Rwampara, and Bunia Health Zones) and in Kampala, Uganda, where two cases and one death have been reported so far.

Africa CDC is deeply concerned about the high risk of regional spread due to intense cross-border population movement, mining-related mobility, insecurity in affected areas, weak infection prevention and control measures, community deaths occurring outside formal healthcare systems, and the proximity of affected areas to Rwanda and South Sudan.

H.E. Dr Jean Kaseya, Director General of Africa CDC, emphasised the urgency of coordinated continental action: “Today, we declare this PHECS to mobilise our institutions, our collective will, and our resources to act swiftly and decisively. The confirmation of the Bundibugyo ebolavirus in interconnected countries reminds us once again that Africa’s health security is indivisible. We must act early, act together, and act based on science.”

Dr Kaseya highlighted that the declaration would strengthen regional coordination, facilitate rapid mobilisation of financial and technical resources, reinforce surveillance and laboratory systems, support the deployment of emergency responders, and accelerate preparedness activities in neighbouring countries considered at heightened risk of transmission.

He further stressed the importance of an Africa-led and partner-supported response: “This outbreak is occurring in one of the most complex operational environments on the continent, marked by insecurity, population mobility, fragile health systems, and limited medical countermeasures for the Bundibugyo ebolavirus disease. We call upon our Member States and international partners to stand together with Africa CDC, the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF and the affected countries to prevent further spread and protect our populations.”

Africa CDC and the WHO are working jointly to strengthen coordination by activating an Incident Management Support Team (IMST), building on the successful model used during the mpox and cholera responses under the “4 Ones” principle: one team, one plan, one budget, and one monitoring framework.  

Africa CDC has already deployed multidisciplinary experts, including specialists in epidemiology, infection prevention and control, laboratory systems, risk communication, logistics and emergency coordination, and has internally mobilised US$2 million to support the continental response.

The declaration also comes amid growing concerns about the limited availability of validated vaccines and therapeutics for the Bundibugyo ebolavirus disease. Africa CDC is therefore working closely with various partners to assess available medical countermeasures and accelerate operational research and evidence generation efforts to inform outbreak response strategies.

Professor Karim, chair of the ECG, noted: “The ECG carefully reviewed the epidemiological evidence, regional risk profile, and operational realities surrounding this outbreak. The interconnected nature of transmission between DRC and Uganda, combined with the challenges posed by insecurity and cross-border movement, requires urgent coordinated continental action.” 

Ebola is a severe and often fatal illness transmitted through direct contact with bodily fluids of infected persons, contaminated materials, or deceased individuals infected with the virus. Early detection, rapid isolation and care, contact tracing, infection prevention and control, community engagement, and safe and dignified burials remain essential to interrupt transmission. 

Africa CDC will continue to provide regular updates as additional epidemiological, laboratory, and sequencing information becomes available. 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).

Media Contact:
Wilson Johwa
Senior Communications Officer, Directorate of Communication & Public Information
JohwaW@africacdc.org

Follow Africa CDC on:
LinkedIn: https://apo-opa.co/3Ra84BI 
X: https://apo-opa.co/3R9HNn7
Facebook: https://apo-opa.co/496S5dJ
YouTube: https://apo-opa.co/3PxB7hR

About Africa CDC: 
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) is the public health agency of the African Union. As an autonomous institution, Africa CDC supports AU Member States to strengthen health systems, improve disease surveillance, and enhance emergency preparedness and response. For more information, visit: https://AfricaCDC.org/