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African financial institutions call for coordinated financing solutions to unlock Africa’s digital transformation

Source: APO – Report:

African multilateral financial institutions, policymakers, development partners, and private sector leaders have called for more coordinated, innovative, and better-structured financing approaches to support Africa’s digital and technological transformation.

This was a key message from a high-level session held on April 1 on the sidelines of the 58th Session of the Economic Commission for Africa Conference of African Ministers of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, under the theme “Financing for Innovation: The Role of African Multilateral Financial Institutions in Accelerating Africa’s Technological and Economic Transformation.”

The session brought together senior representatives from governments, African multilateral financial institutions, and development partners to examine how to mobilize long-term, affordable capital for digital infrastructure, artificial intelligence, and innovation-led sectors—critical drivers of productivity, job creation, and structural transformation.

Despite the rapid expansion of Africa’s digital economy, participants underscored that access to affordable, long-term financing remains a binding constraint.

High costs of capital, limited risk-sharing mechanisms, currency risks, and insufficient early-stage financing continue to inhibit investment in digital infrastructure and innovation ecosystems. These challenges are further compounded by gaps in project preparation and the limited availability of bankable investment opportunities.

Opening the session, Hanan Morsy, Deputy Executive Secretary (Programme) and Chief Economist at the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, emphasized:

“Africa’s innovation challenge is not a shortage of ideas, but a shortage of long-term, affordable, and well-structured financing. Addressing this will be critical to unlocking productivity, job creation, and structural transformation across the continent.”

Participants highlighted the need to address the disconnect between capital availability and actual investment in innovation-driven sectors.

Haytham Elmaayergi, Executive Vice President-Global Trade Bank at African Export-Import Bank, noted:

“One of Africa’s key challenges is not a lack of capital, but a shortage of bankable projects and stronger institutional collaboration to scale investment.”

Strengthening project preparation, improving pipeline development, and deepening coordination across institutions were identified as key priorities to unlock large-scale financing.

Participants also emphasized the need to adapt financing approaches through blended and risk-sharing structures, combining guarantees, advisory, and capital mobilization to better align with the risk-return profiles of technology and innovation-driven sectors.

Adeniran Aderogba, President and CEO of Regional Maritime Development Bank, stated:

“In the technology space, risk is harder to structure. We need more creative financing models and dedicated funds to support early-stage innovation.”

The discussion highlighted the need for expanded use of tailored financial instruments including blended finance, co-financing mechanisms, and dedicated innovation to support the full lifecycle of innovation from early-stage development to scale.

The session also underscored that financing innovation must go hand in hand with investments in enabling infrastructure and systems.

Robert Lisinge, Director of Technology, Innovation, Connectivity and Infrastructure at ECA, noted:

“Technology and innovation go beyond digital. We are talking about a broader ecosystem—including infrastructure, energy, and emerging technologies—all of which require significant investment.”

Participants emphasized the importance of strengthening regulatory frameworks, digital infrastructure, and innovation ecosystems to enable scalable and sustainable investment.

The session concluded with a strong call to move beyond traditional financing approaches toward more coordinated and practical solutions that can:

  • Reduce financing costs for digital and innovation sectors
  • Expand risk-sharing and co-financing mechanisms
  • Strengthen project preparation and pipeline development
  • Mobilize long-term capital at scale
  • Enhance collaboration among African institutions and partners

Organized by the Alliance of African Multilateral Financial Institutions and partners, the session forms part of ongoing efforts to strengthen Africa’s financial architecture and position African multilateral financial institutions at the center of financing the continent’s digital and economic transformation.

– on behalf of Alliance of African Multilateral Financial Institutions (AAMFI).

Media Contact:
Ms. Senait Afework
Communication and Programme Manager
Email: safework@aamfi.org

About the Alliance of African Multilateral Financial Institutions (AAMFI) or the Africa Club:
The Alliance of African Multilateral Financial Institutions (AAMFI), also known as the Africa Club, is an alliance of African-owned and controlled multilateral financial institutions established to advance the interests of their member states in global finance and to promote coordinated African solutions to development financing challenges.

Launched on 17 February 2024 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on the margins of the African Union Summit, AAMFI works to strengthen collaboration, cooperation, and coordination among its members in support of Africa’s sustainable development and integration objectives.

AAMFI brings together leading African financial institutions, including the Africa Finance Corporation (AFC), African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), Trade and Development Bank Group (TDB Group), African Reinsurance Corporation (Africa Re), African Trade and Investment Development Insurance (ATIDI), Shelter Afrique Development Bank (ShafDB), ZEP-RE (PTA Reinsurance Company), East African Development Bank (EADB), African Solidarity Fund (ASF), and the Fund for Export Development in Africa (FEDA), as well as new members including the Regional Maritime Development Bank (RMDB) and the West African Development Bank (BOAD).

Collectively, AAMFI members command a balance sheet exceeding US$70 billion, providing critical financing for trade, infrastructure, and development across the continent.

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African Energy Chamber (AEC) Supports Perenco Partnership to Advance Industry 4.0 Skills in Central Africa

Source: APO – Report:

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A new partnership between Perenco Cameroon, Perenco Gabon and the UCAC-ICAM Institute in Douala to establish an Industry 4.0 laboratory marks a significant step toward aligning academic training with the evolving needs of the energy and industrial sectors. The facility will give students access to advanced automation, digital simulation and smart production technologies, helping close the gap between academic learning and the practical, industry-ready skills required across Central Africa’s industrial landscape.

As the voice of Africa’s energy sector, the African Energy Chamber (AEC) welcomes the initiative as a scalable model for local content development. By equipping students with Industry 4.0 capabilities, the laboratory directly supports the Chamber’s mandate to ensure greater in-country value creation and workforce participation across Africa’s energy value chain. The initiative also addresses critical skills shortages, enabling operators to increasingly rely on locally trained talent.

The partnership underscores Perenco’s long-term commitment to sustainable development and capacity building in Cameroon and Gabon. Designed as a mini-factory, the UCAC-ICAM laboratory enables students to engage with real-world industrial tools and processes. This hands-on approach will support the development of engineers and technicians capable of contributing to key projects, including operations in the Rio del Rey Basin and infrastructure developments such as the Cap Lopez LNG terminal in Gabon.

Students across multiple disciplines will benefit from hands-on exposure to the lab’s advanced technologies. General Engineering students will train using robotic systems and virtual reality simulations, while Computer Science Engineering students will focus on industrial IoT and smart technologies. Process Engineering students will gain experience in automated production systems, and Petroleum program students will develop expertise in energy systems and instrumentation control. Graduates from UCAC-ICAM are being actively recruited by leading companies operating in Douala, reflecting growing demand for locally trained, industry-ready talent.

“Developing local skills is fundamental to building a competitive and sustainable energy sector in Africa,” says NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the AEC. “This partnership demonstrates how industry and academia can work together to create a highly skilled workforce that will drive Africa’s industrialization and energy future. It is exactly the type of initiative needed to ensure Africans play a leading role in developing the continent’s resources.”

The UCAC-ICAM laboratory represents a strategic investment in Africa’s industrial and energy future. By strengthening local capacity, advancing technology adoption and supporting independent operators, the initiative aligns with the AEC’s broader vision of a self-sufficient and globally competitive African energy sector.

– on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

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Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Receives Phone Call from Portuguese Foreign Affairs Minister

Source: Government of Qatar

Doha| April 09, 2026

HE Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani received a phone call from HE Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Portugal Paulo Rangel.

During the call, the latest developments in the region were reviewed in light of the announcement of a ceasefire between the United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran, in addition to a number of issues of mutual interest.

During the call, HE Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs reaffirmed the State of Qatar’s welcome of the ceasefire announcement and stressed the need to build on it urgently to prevent the escalation of tensions in the region.

HE also stressed the importance of ensuring the security of maritime routes and the freedom of navigation and international trade in accordance with the rules of international law, in a way that contributes to maintaining regional stability and global supply chains. 

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Youth Charter Calls for “Commonwealth Youth Legacy” Ahead of Glasgow 2026

Source: APO – Report:

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The Youth Charter (www.YouthCharter.com) has today issued a call for a transformative Commonwealth Youth Legacy Programme to be launched in the lead-up to the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, urging Commonwealth leaders to seize the opportunity to invest in young people across the Commonwealth.

The call comes as youth delegates from across the Commonwealth gather this week at University of Oxford for the Commonwealth Youth Summit, where discussions are focusing on youth leadership, opportunity and development across the 56 member nations.

Representing more than 2.5 billion people, with young people accounting for over 60% of the population, the Commonwealth is one of the largest youth communities in the world.

The Youth Charter believes the upcoming Glasgow Games present a once-in-a-generation opportunity to create a lasting social, cultural and economic legacy for young people across the Commonwealth.

A Global Youth Legacy Framework

Through its newly proposed “Commonwealth Youth Legacy Declaration, Glasgow 2026,” the Youth Charter is calling for the establishment of a global network of Community Campuses, designed to support youth development through sport, education, arts and leadership programmes.

The initiative would see the creation of:

  • 50 Community Campuses across Commonwealth nations by 2030
  • 10,000 trained Social Coaches supporting youth development
  • 1 million young people directly engaged through sport, education and cultural programmes
  • 5 million young people indirectly impacted through community outreach and digital engagement

These campuses would operate as local hubs connected through a global Commonwealth youth development network, supporting young people through structured programmes that promote leadership, wellbeing, employment pathways and community cohesion.

Sport for Development and Peace

The Youth Charter’s proposal is grounded in the internationally recognised principles of Sport for Development and Peace, which use sport and cultural activity as tools to address social challenges including youth violence, inequality, poor health outcomes and economic exclusion.

According to the Youth Charter, the Community Campus model provides a practical framework capable of delivering long-term impact locally, nationally and internationally.

Geoff Thompson MBE, Founder and Chair of the Youth Charter, said: “The Commonwealth represents one of the greatest youth opportunities in the world. Glasgow 2026 must become more than a sporting event, it must become a catalyst for lasting social change.

Through the Community Campus model, we can create a Commonwealth-wide movement that empowers young people through sport, culture and education, providing pathways to leadership, employment and community development.

The real legacy of the Commonwealth Games should not be measured in stadiums or medals, but in the lives of young people whose futures we help to transform.”

A Call to Commonwealth Leaders

The Youth Charter is calling upon governments, sporting bodies, educational institutions, corporate partners and civil society organisations across the Commonwealth to collaborate in delivering the proposed legacy programme.

By harnessing the power of sport, education and community engagement, the initiative aims to strengthen social cohesion, promote youth leadership and unlock economic opportunities for young people across Commonwealth nations.

– on behalf of Youth Charter.

Youth Charter @ Social Media:
LinkedIn: @ YouthCharter
Facebook: @ YouthCharter
Instagram: @ youthchartersdp
YouTube: @ YouthCharter
X: @ YOUTHCHARTER

Youth Charter #Hashtags:
#International Olympic Committee
#Olympism #Fight4theStreets
#YoungLivesLostLost
#Call2Action
#LegacyOpportunity4All
#SportDevelopmentPeace
#Empowerthenextgeneration
#CommonwealthSecretariat
#UNSustainableDevelopmentGoals

About Youth Charter:
The Youth Charter is a UK registered charity and UN accredited non-governmental organisation. Launched in 1993 as part of the Manchester 2000 Olympic Bid and the 2002 Commonwealth Games, the Youth Charter has Campaigned and Promoted the role and value of sport, art, culture and digital technology in the lives of disaffected young people from disadvantaged communities nationally and internationally. The Youth Charter has a proven track record in the creation and delivery of social and human development.

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Magic mushrooms: new African species sheds light on the history of the famous fungus

Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Breyten Van der Merwe, PhD student, Stellenbosch University

“Magic mushrooms” are consumed recreationally and for medicinal purposes around the world. These fungi gained their fame as “magic” because they produce chemical compounds (called psilocybin and psilocin) which have psychedelic effects.

The most famous species of these mushrooms, due to their global distribution and ease of cultivation, is Psilocybe cubensis, known primarily from its preferred habitat of dung-laden fields. It was first described from Cuba, but is found throughout the world.

However, there has been a long-standing question about its evolutionary history. Where did it originate, and how did it move around the globe?

We described a new species of magic mushroom in South Africa and Zimbabwe, now named Psilocybe ochraceocentrata, which has allowed us to investigate this question.

Our disciplines are mycology (the study of fungi) and evolutionary biology. In a recent paper, we report on what P. ochraceocentrata may tell us about the possible wild origins of Psilocybe cubensis.

Our findings used sophisticated methods to test whether P. cubensis could have arrived in the Americas along with European colonisation and cattle, a long standing hypothesis proposed by the Mexican mycologist and ethnomycologist Gastón Guzmán. We also investigated other possible scenarios, such as dispersal by environmental factors like wind, or ancient biological means such as large herbivore or insect migration.

Before this study, P. ochraceocentrata was already regularly collected. But it was assumed either to be P. cubensis or P. natalensis, sold under the name “Natal Super Strength”.

We have created a framework of unambiguous identification. Ultimately, our work does not fully resolve the evolutionary history question. But it provides a guide for future study to fully understand where these fungi evolved and how they may have travelled the world.

Knowing the origin of a species is important as it explains how historical, geological and climate factors shape the current distribution of life on Earth. This can be important for understanding how some traits evolved in response to their environment, where a species may become invasive, or possibly where to look for closely related species with traits of interest for medicinal research.

How was the study performed?

Fieldwork conducted over decades in Zimbabwe by researcher Cathy Sharp, and further observations in South Africa, yielded multiple collections of mushrooms similar to P. cubensis. All were associated with the dung of herbivores, including animals native to Africa. Some Psilocybe mushrooms use dung as a food source.

Our work showed that these “cubensis look-a-likes” were superficially similar but differed microscopically and at a molecular level. We chose to investigate this relationship further. Our approach involved:

  • field collection – studying specimens from the wild

  • genomics of museum specimens (museomics) – using molecular techniques on historically important specimens

  • phylogenetics – using genetic data to reconstruct how species are related through common ancestry

  • molecular dating – estimating a general time frame when two species may have diverged from one another

  • ecological niche modelling – predicting where a species can live based on environmental conditions.

This allowed us to study the natural history of P. cubensis and its close relative Psilocybe ochraceocentrata.

We found that P. ochraceocentrata and P. cubensis may have had a common ancestor living about 1.56 million years ago.

This corresponds with the global expansion of grasslands and the distribution of grazing herbivores. The world at this time would have been populated with migrating herbivores. Coprophilic fungi (fungi that grow on animal dung) could have moved with them globally, and then begun to evolve along independent paths.

Origin story

To complement our taxonomic and dating investigations, we wanted to see if we could find a plausible origin of P. cubensis. In previous studies, the lead author had identified that the closest relatives of P. cubensis all had native distributions across the Asian continent. There was very little overlap with species from the Americas.

With the addition of P. ochraceocentrata as the sister taxon (the closest relative), it became far more reasonable to suggest its evolutionary history is centred in Africa or Asia, not the Americas.

To test this, we used publicly available data from the popular public “citizen science” repository for biodiversity monitoring, iNaturalist. We then used mathematical modelling to hypothesise where these organisms might have occurred hundreds of thousands to millions of years ago.

Our work showed a lot of variability across time but partially favoured tropical and subtropical regions where large animals roamed. From this, we proposed a few scenarios of how P. cubensis split from the ancestor it shared with P. ochraceocentrata and became globally dispersed.

One theory is a natural disturbance via unknown animal or environmental vectors. In other words, something may have changed the environment and disrupted the population. For example, dung beetles could have eaten dung that had fungal spores in it, and could have crossed the ocean, taking the fungus with them. Or the spores may have been carried across the ocean on the wind. This is known to have happened with other fungi, such as Podospora.

Another possibility is migration via the Bering land bridge between Eurasia and the Americas. This is how many plants and animals moved between the continents.

Guzmán proposed that P. cubensis likely originated in Africa and was transported to the Americas via cattle transport during the colonisation events of the 1400s and 1500s. Our work suggests that this route was also possible.

The most likely scenario would be multiple introductions, and spore dispersal between populations in the Americas to retain genetic diversity.

What’s missing

Africa is one of the most biodiverse continents, and yet it is the most under-sampled for fungal diversity, due in part to a historical sampling bias of fungi from other parts of the world.

When it comes to Psilocybe, fewer than ten species are officially described from the African continent. Worldwide about 165 species are known.

Further studies are needed across the continent, to describe and map local fungal diversity and improve on current knowledge. Knowing more about the mushrooms that occur in a region tells us more about the ecology of the area, which is key to conservation efforts.

Natural history museums and herbariums were critical for this work and serve as an immeasurable biodiversity resource representing hundreds of years of scientific effort that both scientists and the general public can access.

– Magic mushrooms: new African species sheds light on the history of the famous fungus
– https://theconversation.com/magic-mushrooms-new-african-species-sheds-light-on-the-history-of-the-famous-fungus-279007

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Designing cities: should we build from scratch or keep history alive?

Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Abeer Elshater, Professor of Urban Morphology, Ain Shams University

Cities are often described as living archives of human memory. Walk through an old neighbourhood in an Islamic city like Fez in Morocco or Cairo in Egypt, and you can see layers of history in its streets and buildings. Traces of the past remain visible in everyday life.

Urban historians sometimes call this a palimpsest – a place where layers of history remain visible, like old writing faintly showing beneath new text.

But in many parts of the world today, cities are being transformed so rapidly that these historical layers are disappearing. Entire neighbourhoods and older areas are demolished and replaced with new districts, infrastructure corridors, or megaprojects. It’s a process that might remind one of French civil servant Georges-Eugène Haussmann’s dramatic demolition and reshaping of Paris in the 1800s.

In Cairo historical Muslim districts have been preserved. Omar Elsharawy/Pexels, CC BY

Today’s speed and scale of development challenge the idea that cities grow slowly over time. Building places from scratch is often described as tabula rasa – a “blank slate” approach in which everything is cleared away and rebuilt as if nothing had existed before.

As scholars of architecture and urban design, we recently researched this tension between erasure and memory in urban design. We argue that urban transformation today cannot be understood simply as a choice between preserving the past or starting anew. Instead, cities are increasingly shaped by a complex interaction between the two.

Understanding this tension matters because it influences not only the identity and heritage of a city but also the social and cultural lives of the people who inhabit it. Our argument is grounded in the importance of understanding history to guide future development based on solutions that have been tested successfully in the past.

The myth of the blank slate

For centuries, planners and philosophers have been fascinated by the idea of the tabula rasa. In practice, however, urban space is never truly empty.

Even after buildings are demolished, the forces shaping the city remain: economic pressures, planning regulations, infrastructure networks, and political agendas. Clearing land often produces what French social theorist Henri Lefebvre described as “abstract space”. These are spaces designed mainly for efficiency, profit, or control – rather than for people’s memories or everyday life.

Napoleon III commissioned Haussmann to demolish overcrowded medieval neighbourhoods to open up and beautify Paris. Camille Pissarro/Museum of Fine Arts of Reim

Modern urban renewal projects have often replaced historic districts with standardised environments such as large housing estates, business districts, or transport infrastructures. These environments can feel disconnected from local identity because the historical context that once gave the place meaning has been removed.

For example, Pruitt‑Igoe in St Louis in the US replaced dense, mixed-use neighbourhoods with high-rise public housing that ignored existing street patterns and community life. In Beirut in Lebanon, post-war reconstruction of the city centre prioritised modern commercial developments over the urban fabric and social networks that had defined it for decades.

Pruitt-Igoe, a massive housing complex completed in 1954, was demolished by 1976, becoming a symbol of urban decay. The Myth of Pruitt-Igoe/Flickr, CC BY

French anthropologist Marc Augé described many of these environments as “non-places”: spaces of transit and consumption, such as airports, highways, and anonymous commercial zones. People pass through without forming lasting attachments.

Cities as layered memory

At the opposite end of the spectrum lies the idea of cities as palimpsest. Historic districts, archaeological remains, street patterns, and even place names all contribute to a layered memory. Urban designers often create designs that draw from the history of a site.

But the palimpsest approach also has limits. Preserving historical layers does not necessarily guarantee meaningful engagement with the past. Sometimes heritage becomes a form of nostalgia –replicating historical styles without understanding their social or cultural significance.

Warsaw’s Old Town, destroyed in the second world war, was rebuilt using paintings and historical evidence. Egor Komarov/Pexels, CC BY

French philosopher Paul Ricoeur helps clarify this by distinguishing between two types of memory: repetition memory and reconstruction memory.

Repetition memory reproduces the past, often superficially. In Sydney, efforts to revitalise Indigenous neighbourhoods between 2005 and 2019 ended up repeating patterns of colonial land displacement.

Meanwhile, in Rio de Janeiro, the push to redevelop the waterfront for the 2014 Football World Cup and 2016 Olympics wiped out Afro-Brazilian cultural heritage. It replaced it with a sleek, futuristic vision of a global city.

More broadly, across cities in Africa, Asia and Latin America, speculative real-estate projects and investment-driven urban developments have turned land into a commodity. This has fuelled gentrification and pushed local communities to the margins.

Reconstruction memory, by contrast, uses fragments of the past to interpret and reinvent them for the present. For example, in Warsaw in Poland after the second world war, the Old Town was rebuilt. Not as an exact replica but as a carefully interpreted reconstruction, using historical paintings, archaeological evidence, and surviving fragments to evoke the city’s pre-war character. At the same time it accommodated modern needs.

Hiroshima preserved ruins of war to create memorial spaces within the Japanese city. Hoi Wai/Pexels, CC BY

Similarly, Hiroshima’s post-1945 reconstruction preserved certain ruins, such as the Genbaku Dome, while redesigning the surrounding urban fabric to create a memorial landscape. This both honours the past and supports a functional, modern city.

Moving beyond preservation vs demolition

Rather than choosing between total preservation and total erasure, urban design needs to recognise the dynamic relationship between memory and transformation.

We propose thinking about cities through what philosophers call a negative dialectic – a relationship in which two opposing forces, erasure and memory, continually reshape one another. We argue that:

  • Urban clearance does not create a neutral blank slate. It produces new forms of space shaped by political and economic power.

  • Historical memory is not a fixed archive. It is continually reconstructed through interpretation and design.

Understanding cities in this way opens the door to new design strategies. Instead of replicating historical forms or ignoring them entirely, designers can work with fragments, traces, and spatial relationships to generate new urban forms.

For example, in the historic centre of Lugano, Switzerland, the traditional public markets that take place on medieval streets and lake‑edge promenades have long shaped the city’s social life and spatial patterns. Today, these markets interact with contemporary cafés, restaurants and pedestrian routes. They knit together old street networks and new uses in a living urban tapestry rather than freezing them as static heritage relics.

This kind of layering, where everyday activities and historical paths inform modern public space design, shows how urban form can evolve by reintegrating historical traces into present-day life. But urban transformation today is largely driven by rapid development, erasure, and less visible forces.

Lugano, Switzerland, developed spaces to integrate city life with the past. Abeer Elshater

This makes it essential to rethink how memory, preservation and design methods work together. It requires a shift in design practice away from established paradigms and toward more flexible, context-sensitive strategies.

Designers have tools to respond to rapidly changing urban environments in ways that remain meaningful to communities. These tools include cognitive mapping, which visualises how people perceive and move through a city; layered analysis, which examines overlapping aspects of urban life; and network thinking, which conceptualises cities as interconnected systems.

Designing cities in a rapidly changing world

The future of cities will likely involve even more rapid transformation. Urban sprawl, technological change, and shifting economic systems are already reshaping urban environments, challenging established planning models. For urban designers, this means learning to work in situations where historical precedents are incomplete or unstable.

Cities react to destruction and change in very different ways. Some take a tabula rasa approach. They wipe out communities and rebuilding from scratch, sometimes referencing the past in form or style. This happened in Warsaw’s Old Town. It was rebuilt to look like the prewar city, even though the original residents were gone. Brasília in Brazil, meanwhile, was planned entirely from scratch, clearing old settlements to create a modernist vision.

Brasília, a planned city built from scratch was declared a World Heritage Site because of its notable modernist design. Arturdiasr/Wikimedia Commons

Others take a more layered, incremental approach, working with what’s already there and letting communities adapt over time.

In Harare’s Dzivarasekwa Extension, for instance, informal settlements were gradually formalised. Housing, services and land tenure were improved, but streets and social networks were preserved. Some cities mix both strategies, like Hiroshima did.

Informal settlements in parts of Harare’s Dzivarasekwa were gradually formalised. Screengrab/YouTube/Lloyd Mhungu Eaglefocus Images

The challenge today is to design urban spaces that acknowledge history while remaining open to new possibilities. For us, the city is neither a blank slate nor a finished story but constantly rewritten through memory and change.

– Designing cities: should we build from scratch or keep history alive?
– https://theconversation.com/designing-cities-should-we-build-from-scratch-or-keep-history-alive-280071

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Securing the bridge between legacy and smart

Source: APO – Report:

The recent Liaison Agreement between the STS Association and the DLMS User Association marks a pivotal step in the evolution of interoperable, secure and future-ready metering systems. By aligning STS token technology with the widely adopted DLMS/COSEM framework, this collaboration is set to bridge the gap between legacy infrastructure and next-generation smart metering. The partnership reflects a shared vision to enhance interoperability, strengthen smart prepayment integration, and unlock greater value across the global metering ecosystem.

STS Association, in partnership with ESI Africa (part of VUKA Group), and DLMS User Association, is hosting a free webinar on this topic:

Securing the bridge between legacy and smart

Thursday, 7 May 2026 | 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Register: https://apo-opa.co/4cfEUb5

What you will learn

Industry experts will unpack how this strategic alignment enables seamless integration between your trusted prepayment systems and advanced data exchange protocols. Attendees will gain insight into:

  • How STS tokens can be securely transported using DLMS/COSEM
  • The role of Generic Companion Profiles in enabling interoperability
  • How coordinated roadmaps will shape the future of token technology and smart metering
  • The expanding application of these standards beyond electricity into water, gas and time metering
  • Practical benefits for utilities, manufacturers and system integrators navigating the transition from legacy to smart environments

Introducing the Panel

Lance Hawkins-Dady – STSA Board Chairman

Franco Pucci – STSA Technical Consultant

Don Taylor – STSA Independent Director

Sergio Lazzarotto – DLMS User Association, President

Join STS Association and ESI Africa to explore how this landmark collaboration is securing the bridge between legacy systems and smart innovation. Discover how aligned standards can simplify integration, enhance security and future-proof your metering strategy.

Register now: https://apo-opa.co/4cfEUb5

– on behalf of VUKA Group.

About ESI Africa:
ESI Africa is Africa’s trusted power, energy, water and utility multimedia platform, delivering technical developments and industry analysis in print and digital formats since 1996. The platform connects readers and solution providers across Africa’s energy and utility transformation. www.ESI-Africa.com

About VUKA Group:
VUKA Group connects people and organisations across Africa’s energy, mining, mobility, green economy and retail sectors through events, content and strategic networking. Venture partners to The Global Trust Project and leaders of NPO Go Green Africa. www.WeAreVuka.com

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eThekwini digital recruitment portal to boost fairness and transparency

Source: Government of South Africa

eThekwini digital recruitment portal to boost fairness and transparency

The eThekwini Municipality has unveiled its new “Digitally You” e-recruitment job application portal, a move aimed at transforming how municipal vacancies are accessed and managed while strengthening transparency and fairness in hiring.

The launch generated strong interest from city leadership, management and job seekers, marking a significant step in the municipality’s efforts to modernise recruitment systems and rebuild public confidence.

The news digital platform replaces the previous paper-based system with a streamlined, centralised process designed to improve efficiency, accountability, and service delivery.

According to the municipality, the “Digitally You” system places fairness, accessibility, and dignity at the centre of recruitment, addressing longstanding concerns around inefficiencies and vulnerability to fraud.

The rollout follows a temporary suspension of job advertisements in December, allowing for a full transition to the new platform.

While the system is already operational, new vacancies will begin appearing from 10 April 2026, after the closure of the current job circular, ensuring continuity and fairness for applicants.

Strengthening accountability

Chairperson of the Governance and Human Resources Committee, Nkosenhle Madlala, said the initiative reflects the municipality’s commitment to ethical governance and improved performance.

“The platform allows users to create profiles, upload supporting documents and prepare applications in advance. Once vacancies are posted, applicants can submit their applications seamlessly,” Madlala said.

He added that the new system consolidates fragmented processes into one efficient platform that improves how the Municipality serves communities while prioritising citizens with fairness, dignity and transparency.

The system allows applicants to create and complete profiles, upload supporting documents and prepare applications in advance, ensuring applications are seamless and stress free when vacancies go live.

The system also introduces automated features that automatically screens applications against minimum requirements, confirms successful submissions, flags missing documents and immediately notifies applicants whether minimum requirements are met.

These improvements are expected to reduce uncertainty, delays and administrative bottlenecks.

Job seeker Nondumiso Ntuli welcomed the innovation, highlighting its accessibility and ease of use.

“Digitally You makes applying easy using my phone anytime, anywhere. The process is transparent and restores confidence that applications are handled fairly,” she said.

By removing paper systems and manual interference, Digitally You restores trust and signals a corruption‑free, people‑centred recruitment process.

The municipality has urged job seekers to register on the platform, update their profiles and prepare required documents ahead of the release of new vacancies on Friday. – SAnews.gov.za
 

GabiK

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KZN Transport releases April weekend operating schedule for licensing centres

Source: Government of South Africa

KZN Transport releases April weekend operating schedule for licensing centres

The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport has published the weekend operating schedule for selected Driver Licence Testing Centres (DLTCs) and Motor Licensing Offices across the province for April 2026.

The department urged members of the public to note the distinction between services offered at the two facility types, noting that DLTCs offer drivers licensing-related services, such as bookings and testing for learner’s and driver’s licences, renewals, Professional Driving Permit (PrDP) applications, and driver’s licence card collections.

The department emphasised that DLTCs do not offer motor vehicle licensing services, unless otherwise stated.

“Motor Licencing Offices only offer vehicle licensing-related services such as the renewal of vehicle licence discs, Changes of vehicle ownership, and do not offer drivers licencing-related transactions,” the department said.

Driver’s licence renewal requirements

In accordance with the National Road Traffic Act 93 of 1996, applicants must submit:
•    A valid identity document or smart ID card, plus a copy.
•    Payment of R250 for a driver’s licence card (card payments only at provincial offices).
•    Payment of R90 for a temporary licence, if required, plus one ID-sized black and white or colour photograph (card payments only at provincial offices).

Applicants must also provide proof of residence not older than three months. If the applicant is residing with parents, a supporting letter by the parent, accompanied by the proof of residence, is required. An eye test certificate from a registered optometrist, issued within the past three months, is recommended.

The following provincially run facilities will not operate on weekends until further notice:
•    Empangeni DLTC
•    Newcastle DLTC
•    Mkondeni DLTC
•    Pinetown/Mariannhill DLTC
•    Rossburgh DLTC
•    Durban Motor Licensing Office
•    Pietermaritzburg (Hyslop Road) Motor Licensing Office
•    Pinetown Motor Licensing Office
•    Umbilo Motor Licensing Office

Several municipally operated centres will be open on selected weekends, including:

Ballito Motor Licensing Office
Saturdays: 11 and 25 April (08:00 – 13:30)
Services: Motor vehicle licence disc renewals only
Payments: Card only

KwaDukuza DLTC and Motor Licensing Office
Saturdays: 11 and 25 April (07:00 – 13:00)
DLTC: All driver-related services except testing
Motor Licensing Office: All vehicle-related services
Payments: Cash and card (DLTC); card only (MLO)
 

Umhlanga Motor Licensing Office
Saturdays: 11, 18 and 25 April (07:30 – 12:30)
Payments: Card only
Umzinto/Scottburgh DLTC and Motor Licensing Office
Weekends: 11–12 and 18–19 April (07:30 – 11:00)

Verulam DLTC and Motor Licensing Office will be opened on Saturdays 11, 18 and 25 April (07:00 – 14:00) DLTC: Cash and card accepted. Motor Licensing Office accept card only payment.

Winklespruit/Amanzimtoti DLTC will be opened on Saturdays 11, 18 and 25 April (07:00 – 14:00) Cash and card payments.

Kingsburgh Sizakala Centre Motor Licensing Office (Winklespruit) will also be opened on Saturdays 11, 18 and 25 April (07:15 – 14:00) card only payments.

The department noted that only offices that have submitted confirmed schedules are included in the notice. Additional updates will be communicated as more information becomes available.

Further details on driver’s licences, including renewals and PrDPs can be found at http://www.kzntransport.gov.za/faq/index.htm#DriversLicences 
Information regarding Learners Licences can be found at http://www.kzntransport.gov.za/faq/index.htm#Licencing

Fraud syndicate uncovered at Mkondeni testing centre

Meanwhile, KwaZulu-Natal Transport MEC Siboniso Duma has confirmed that a major fraud syndicate operating at the Mkondeni Testing Centre has been uncovered.

The department’s Transport and Traffic Inspection Unit has already made arrests, including a learner driver and an instructor linked to a private driving school.

“We are now in possession of a corruption playbook. It will We will shred it once all members of the syndicates have been arrested,” Duma said.

The department described the operation as one of the most significant crackdowns on fraud and corruption linked to driver’s licence testing in the province. – SAnews.gov.za

GabiK

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Government moves to strengthen whistleblower protection with new Bill

Source: Government of South Africa

Government moves to strengthen whistleblower protection with new Bill

Government has unveiled sweeping reforms aimed at strengthening protection for whistleblowers, acknowledging that fear of retaliation, financial ruin and even death has deterred many from exposing corruption. 

Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, Mmamaloko Kubayi, on Thursday released the Protected Disclosures Bill for public comment, describing it as a critical intervention to safeguard individuals who come forward with information on wrongdoing.

Speaking at a media briefing in Pretoria, Kubayi said government convened the briefing to present the Protected Disclosures Bill to the people of South Africa.

The proposed legislation arises largely from the findings of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of State Capture, commonly known as the Zondo Commission, as well as the recommendations of the National Anti-Corruption Advisory Council (NACAC).

Whistleblowers at risk

Kubayi painted a stark picture of the risks faced by whistleblowers, noting that existing laws have failed to adequately protect them.

“While the current legislation exists, there have been numerous instances of whistle-blowers suffering occupational detriment, including suspension and dismissal. In some cases, dismissals are used to punish employees, payouts of benefits are delayed, and tragically, some whistle-blowers have lost their lives,” she said.  

She cited high-profile cases, including Babita Deokaran, Martha Ngoye, Athol Williams and Mpho Mafole, as examples of individuals who suffered for exposing corruption.

The Minister said many whistleblowers are left to navigate complex legal processes without support, often after losing their livelihoods and assets.

Closing gaps in current law

The Bill seeks to address weaknesses identified by the Zondo Commission and NACAC, including unclear reporting procedures, weak protection measures and lack of coordinated systems.

“This Bill seeks to address these shortcomings by introducing a strengthened and more comprehensive framework for the protection of disclosers. 

“It aims to ensure that individuals who come forward have a secure reporting channel, are protected from retaliation, supported throughout the process, and that their disclosures are handled efficiently by appropriately capacitated individuals and institutions,” Kubayi said.

Key protections introduced

Among its major reforms, the Bill introduces:

• A clear definition of a disclosure, detrimental action and occupational detriment in clauses 1, 2 and 3. 

The Minister explained that a disclosure is information revealing improper conduct in the public or private sector. Detrimental action is action resulting in unfair discrimination, action that threatens or violates the legal rights of a person disclosing or a related person, action that amounts to intimidation or harassment, including conduct that causes personal harm or injury, or leads to loss of, or damage to, property or livelihood.

• It outlines mechanisms to protect the confidentiality of disclosures and disclosers in clauses 19 to 23. 

“The Bill prohibits the disclosure of the identity of a discloser or any information that may lead to their identification without their consent, except where strictly necessary for purposes of handling the disclosure. It further provides for restricted access to information, in camera court proceedings, and the redaction of identifying details in legal processes. Any breach of these confidentiality provisions constitutes a criminal offence,” the Minister explained. 

• The Bill provides for protection under the Witness Protection Act, 1998, in clause 22. 

This extends formal state protection measures to disclosers and related persons where necessary, including access to protection programmes such as relocation, identity protection and security measures.

• It provides for legal assistance to disclosers in clause 23. 

Where a discloser cannot afford legal representation, a court or tribunal may refer the matter to Legal Aid South Africa, which must provide legal assistance at state expense where substantial injustice would otherwise occur.

• The Bill introduces a complaints mechanism in clauses 24 to 26. 

This mechanism is overseen by a retired judge designated by the President in consultation with the Chief Justice. It allows disclosers or related persons to lodge complaints where disclosures are not properly handled, where retaliation occurs, or where confidentiality is threatened, and empowers the judge to investigate and refer matters for appropriate action.

• Furthermore, the Bill criminalises breaches of the legislation. 

These include the suppression or concealment of evidence during an investigation, the unlawful disclosure of information or the identity of a discloser and subjecting a discloser to occupational detriment or detrimental action. These offences attract serious penalties, including fines and imprisonment of up to 10 or 15 years, depending on the nature of the offence. 

“So, we are saying those who deliberately breach this legislation, as we propose, will face consequences and a maximum sentence of 15 years. This talks to the seriousness of how we want to protect whistleblowers in this regard,” Kubayi said. 

The Bill also places a legal burden on employers to prove that any action taken against a whistleblower is not linked to their disclosure. 

The Minister further explained that a disclosure is a protected disclosure if it is made to the following individuals or institutions:

• Every employer, including both the private and public sectors. All employers are required to develop procedures for receiving and managing disclosures, including the designation of an official responsible for handling such disclosures.
• A legal practitioner or legal adviser.
• A member of the Cabinet, Executive Council of a province, or a Municipal Council.
• Institutions such as the Public Protector, the South African Human Rights Commission, the Commission for Gender Equality, the Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities, the Public Service Commission, and the Auditor-General.

Faster reporting and accountability

To improve efficiency, the proposed law introduces strict timelines:

  • Disclosures must be acknowledged within five days. 
  • Decisions taken within ten days.
  • Investigations completed within 12 months.

A central database will be created to track disclosures and ensure accountability, although no personal information of whistleblowers will be stored.

Incentives and financial support

In a significant shift, the Bill opens the door for financial support and possible incentives for whistleblowers. 

Responding to questions, Kubayi confirmed that support mechanisms would be strengthened through the expansion of the witness protection system.

“Yes, the current law does not provide for witness protection to protect whistleblowers, and that’s why this bill, particularly once it is approved, then it gives that mandate, it becomes an extended mandate to the witness protection unit,” she said. 

She said the aim is to build on existing systems rather than create new ones.

“We don’t want to reinvent the wheel. We don’t want to change what is already there, but also link it up,” she said. 

On incentives, Kubayi said government is cautious about adopting a direct cash reward model but is open to public proposals.

“For example, we can work together with partners in the private sector. If a whistleblower, let’s say, is dismissed from work while the investigation is happening, the banks do not repossess their cars, the banks do not repossess their houses… So there are various incentive mechanisms that we can put in place to encourage but protect the whistleblowers, instead of just a cash payout to the individual,” she said. 

She added that while minimum financial support is being proposed, broader models, including international practices, will be considered during public consultation.

Expanded protection beyond testimony

Kubayi clarified that the Bill proposes extending witness protection to whistleblowers even before they testify in formal proceedings, a significant shift from the current system.

However, she stressed that the Bill is not yet law and remains subject to public input and parliamentary approval.

“This is a Bill that is still going to have to go through public participation… So, currently, what I’ve mentioned here are proposals that are found in the new Bill; they are not yet in place,” the minister said. 

Public participation invited

The Bill has been released for public comment, with submissions open until 14 May 2026.

“We encourage all stakeholders, including civil society, business, labour, and members of the public, to participate in this process and provide inputs that will strengthen this important piece of legislation,” she said. 

Kubayi emphasised the importance of written submissions to ensure transparency and legal compliance in the consultation process.

Background: The Protected Disclosures Bill

The Protected Disclosures Bill is a response to long-standing concerns that South Africa’s existing whistleblower framework is inadequate.

The Zondo Commission into State Capture highlighted systemic failures in protecting whistleblowers, noting that many faced intimidation, dismissal, financial hardship and, in some cases, assassination.

The Bill builds on the current Protected Disclosures Act but introduces stronger safeguards, clearer procedures and institutional support mechanisms.

It also aligns South Africa with international best practices, drawing from countries such as Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom, and frameworks like the United Nations Convention against Corruption.

Importantly, the Bill proposes:

  • Extending witness protection to whistleblowers from the point of disclosure, not only when testifying. 
  • Introducing potential financial support and incentives.
  • Strengthening penalties for retaliation and breaches of confidentiality. 
  • Creating systems to ensure disclosures are acted upon efficiently. 

The legislation is also designed to balance protection with accountability, allowing for the withdrawal of protection in cases where individuals act in bad faith or are complicit in wrongdoing.

When adopted, the Bill is expected to play a key role in South Africa’s broader anti-corruption strategy by encouraging more individuals to come forward while ensuring their safety and support. – SAnews.gov.za

DikelediM

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