Category: Africa

The Deputy Minister of Tourism Maggie Sotyu has called for stronger collaboration, innovation and community-driven growth in Africa’s tourism sector.

Sotyu made the call as leaders and stakeholders gathered for the Business Opportunity Networking Day (BONDay), the official precursor to Africa’s Travel Indaba 2026.

Africa’s Travel Indaba 2026 officially kicks-off in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, with the BONDay programme, which launches critical conversations around policy, entrepreneurship, destination competitiveness, sports tourism, culture, and digital transformation — all designed to showcase new growth opportunities for African tourism economies.

Taking place from 11-14 May 2026, under the theme: “Unlimited Africa: Growing Africa’s Tourism Economy”, the Indaba is set to deliver significant economic benefits for the city.

Addressing delegates, the Deputy Minister described BONDay as more than a programme opening, calling it “a celebration of Africa’s collective potential”. It takes place during Africa Month, a period that reflects the continent’s unity, resilience and shared aspirations.

Sotyu highlighted tourism as one of Africa’s most powerful economic drivers, noting its role in job creation, investment attraction and entrepreneurship. Despite global uncertainties, she said the sector continues to show resilience and growth.

“Tourism remains one of the continent’s most powerful economic drivers, creating jobs, attracting investment, stimulating entrepreneurship, and connecting Africa to the world. Yet this growth is not without challenges. Infrastructure, market access, safety, skills development, competitiveness, and changing global travel dynamics require that we remain agile, innovative, and united,” Sotyu said.

Sotyu said this year’s theme is both an aspiration and a strategic call to action, noting that Africa is among the fastest growing tourism regions globally, according to UN Tourism Africa.

“This signals that the continent is no longer in “recovery mode” but entering a new expansion phase”.

She stressed that unlocking Africa’s tourism potential will depend on collaboration over fragmentation, partnerships over isolation, and innovation over complacency.

At the heart of Africa’s tourism future, she noted, are communities, entrepreneurs and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), which form the backbone of the tourism value chain.

“According to the World Bank, tourism supported 357 million jobs globally in 2024, or one in every ten jobs worldwide, because tourism creates direct pathways for communities, small businesses, and local enterprises to participate meaningfully in economic growth,” the Deputy Minister said.

Sotyu expressed hope that BONDay would inspire stakeholders to position tourism as an accessible and practical opportunity for communities across the continent, capable of uplifting households, empowering MSMEs, and creating shared prosperity from the ground up.

“BONDay exists to ignite Africa’s Travel Indaba with energy, strategic insight, and innovation. Today is about knowledge sharing, thought leadership, and practical engagement. It is a platform where delegates can learn, connect, and be inspired by the voices shaping tourism’s future,” she said.

Sotyu also emphasised the importance of innovation in a rapidly evolving global environment, pointing to the growing influence of digital platforms in shaping travel decisions and destination marketing.

“Africa must embrace innovation, technology, and bold storytelling to ensure our destinations remain globally competitive, culturally authentic, and future ready. Through today’s BONDay, we will also explore the critical role that sport and culture play in advancing Africa’s tourism economy and strengthening our global competitiveness.

“Sport and culture are among Africa’s greatest tourism assets and some of our most powerful drivers of economic growth, destination differentiation, and continental pride. Across our continent, Africa’s music, heritage, languages, fashion, cuisine, creative industries, and cultural traditions offer the world experiences that are rich, authentic, and unmatched,” the Deputy Minister said.

She further highlighted the importance of public-private partnerships in unlocking sustainable tourism growth, noting that governments provide policy direction, infrastructure support, and enabling frameworks for tourism to flourish, while private sector brings innovation, investment, agility, and market responsiveness.

“Private partnerships are essential, in that Africa’s tourism growth cannot be delivered by government alone, or by the private sector in isolation. Sustainable tourism growth depends on strong public private partnerships,” she said.

Positioning Africa’s Travel Indaba as a critical platform for trade, dialogue and collaboration, Sotyu said the event goes beyond a traditional trade show, serving as a strategic economic platform for knowledge exchange, market access, policy dialogue, partnership building, and continental growth.

“It is where Africa’s tourism sector comes together to share ideas, build connections, unlock trade, and shape a stronger future. It is where we position tourism not simply as travel, but as a serious driver of economic development,” the Deputy Minister said.

She concluded by encouraging delegates, exhibitors, buyers and policymakers to use the platform to foster meaningful engagement, strengthen partnerships and pursue innovative solutions.

“May BONDay sets the tone for a week of meaningful engagement, bold thinking, and transformative opportunities. May it inspire our communities, empower our MSMEs, strengthen our partnerships, and remind us of all that Africa’s tourism future is brightest when we innovate boldly, collaborate intentionally, and grow together,” the Deputy Minister said. – SAnews.gov.za

The Speaker of the National Assembly, Thoko Didiza, has outlined the steps Parliament will take following a landmark Constitutional Court judgment that declared parts of the National Assembly’s impeachment rules unconstitutional and ordered the revival of the Section 89 process linked to the Independent Panel report chaired by former Chief Justice Sandile Ngcobo.

In a statement issued on Monday, Parliament confirmed that it would comply fully with the Constitutional Court ruling delivered on Friday in the matter of Economic Freedom Fighters and Another v Speaker of the National Assembly and Others.

The apex court found Rule 129I of the Rules of the National Assembly unconstitutional and invalid, setting the rule aside. 

The court also ordered an interim amendment, known as a “reading-in” to govern the handling of Section 89 impeachment matters until Parliament formally amends its rules.

The ruling further invalidated the National Assembly’s decision of 13 December 2022 not to refer the Independent Panel report to an impeachment committee. 

The Constitutional Court ordered that the report now be sent to an Impeachment Committee established under the Assembly’s rules.

Parliament said the judgment reaffirmed the National Assembly’s constitutional obligations regarding accountability and oversight under Section 89 of the Constitution.

“The processes directed by the Court must now proceed in accordance with the Constitution and the Rules of the National Assembly,” the statement said.

Among the immediate steps announced by Didiza is the formal tabling of the Independent Panel report through Parliament’s official journals. The Speaker will also provide President Cyril Ramaphosa with a copy of the report as directed by the court.

Parliament will additionally begin the process of constituting an Impeachment Committee in line with Rules 129J to 129O of the National Assembly Rules. The committee will be tasked with conducting the Section 89 inquiry process contemplated in the Constitution.

The Speaker will then formally refer the Independent Panel report to the committee for consideration.

The Constitutional Court judgment will also be referred to the National Assembly Subcommittee on the Review of Rules, which will consider amendments required to align parliamentary rules with the court’s findings and directives. The subcommittee’s recommendations will ultimately be submitted to the Rules Committee and then to the National Assembly.

Didiza said she would determine the programme, timelines and institutional support measures necessary to ensure that the Impeachment Committee completes its work “effectively, fairly and within the framework of the Constitution and the Rules of the National Assembly”.

Parliament said further details regarding the composition and operational arrangements of the Impeachment Committee would be communicated through official parliamentary processes and announcements. – SAnews.gov.za

President Cyril Ramaphosa has extended his condolences to the government and people of the Republic of Botswana following the passing of former President Festus Gontebanye Mogae at the age of 86.

On behalf of the government and people of South Africa, President Ramaphosa also conveyed his sympathies to former First Lady Barbara Gemma Mogae, the bereaved family and Botswana President Duma Gideon Boko.

In a statement on Monday, the President described Mogae as a great leader, who played a significant role in advancing democracy, good governance and regional cooperation.

“As South Africans, we embrace the people of Botswana in our shared grief at the passing of a great leader of the Republic of Botswana and the Southern African Development Community.

“We have lost a dear neighbour and friend, who shared our values of democracy, good governance and fraternal partnership,” President Ramaphosa said.

The President said the passing of Mogae during Africa Month serves as a reminder of the values and principles that guided his leadership and contributed to the development of Botswana and the Southern African region.

“As we observe Africa Month across our continent, the passing of President Mogae impels us to reflect on the principles and values that underpinned his leadership and that contributed significantly to the development of Botswana and our region and brought the citizens of our two nations together more closely,” he said.

President Ramaphosa said Mogae’s legacy would continue to live on through the prosperity and stability of Botswana.

“His legacy lives in our hearts and will live on in the prosperity and stability of the Republic of Botswana. May his soul rest in peace.” – SAnews.gov.za

Two senior police officers and a businessman have appeared in the Kempton Park Magistrates’ Court on charges related to contravening the Precious Metals Act and defeating or obstructing the course of justice.

The accused in the case include Head of Counter-Intelligence in the South African Police Service Crime Intelligence Division, Major-General Feroz Khan; Gauteng Provincial Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI), Major-General Ebrahim Ahmed Kadwa and businessman Tariq Downes.

“The charges emanate from an incident on 5 May 2021, when Downes was allegedly found in possession of 75.9 grams of unwrought gold, valued at approximately R62 836, at OR Tambo International Airport.

“During questioning, he allegedly claimed the metal was a brass bar and that he was acting as an undercover agent linked to senior SAPS officials. Investigations allegedly established that no authorised undercover operation involving precious metals existed at the time.

“The State further alleges that Khan and Kadwa instructed officers to release Downes, despite there being no supporting documentation for such an operation,” the National Prosecuting Authority explained in a statement.

The case is expected back in court in July.

“The three were each granted bail of R20 000 with conditions.

“The NPA remains committed to ensuring accountability and upholding the rule of law, regardless of the status or seniority of those implicated in criminal conduct,” the statement concluded. 

Outside the court, SAPS spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe told the media that the organisation is committed to holding wrongdoers to account.

“It just shows that as an organisation, we are committed to transparency, to integrity and rooting out wrongdoing and corruption within our ranks. We’ve always maintained that no one is above the law irrespective of your position, your status and the rank that you hold.

“This is really a demonstration that the SAPS is committed to rooting out wrongdoing within our ranks,” Mathe said. – SAnews.gov.za

Gauteng MEC for Economic Development, Vuyiswa Ramokgopa, has released the Gauteng Liquor Board (GLB) Committee of Inquiry Report.

The report has been submitted to Gauteng Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on Economic Development and was made available to the MEC after she assumed office last month.

“Following a thorough review of its findings and recommendations, the MEC has taken the decision to release the report publicly in the interest of transparency, accountability, and restoring public confidence in government institutions,” the department said in a statement.

The report lays bare the challenges at the GLB, including collusion between owners and inspectors.

“The report presents a thorough diagnostic report of the GLB and highlights various governance challenges including but not limited to; irregular issuing and renewal of liquor licenses, weak enforcement mechanisms, poor record-keeping, allegations of corruption, maladministration and collusion involving inspectors, officials, and unregulated consultants and other regulatory weaknesses.

“This has an adverse impact on the ability of the Gauteng Liquor Board to perform its mandate effectively,” the statement read.

Of further concern is the “proliferation of liquor outlets operating unlawfully in close proximity to schools, places of worship, children’s recreational facilities, and residential communities” – in contravention of the Gauteng Liquor Act.

“This points to a strain on enforcement capacity within the Gauteng Liquor Board, where fewer than 20 inspectors are responsible for monitoring more than 33 000 licensed outlets across Gauteng, alongside an estimated 200 000 illegal outlets operating outside the regulatory framework,” the statement read.

Some of the recommendations in the report include:

• Strengthening compliance monitoring and enforcement operations; 
• Reviewing suspicious and unlawfully issued licenses; 
• Strengthening consequence management mechanisms;
• Digitising and modernising licensing systems; 
• Strengthening coordination with municipalities, SAPS, and Metro Police; and 
• Enhancing oversight over inspectors and officials involved in licensing and compliance processes. 

“In terms of the Gauteng Liquor Act (2003) and the executive authority vested in the MEC, the Department has a responsibility to ensure lawful administration, effective oversight, compliance enforcement, and the protection of communities affected by harmful and unlawful liquor trading activities. 

“The MEC further notes that while the liquor industry remains a significant contributor to the provincial economy, weak governance and regulatory failures have prevented government and communities from fully benefiting from the sector. 

“The Department will be taking swift action to strengthen compliance, improve revenue management, and ensure the industry contributes meaningfully towards economic transformation and the funding of social development programmes,” the statement said. – SAnews.gov.za