Category: English

Source: APO

Delays in accessing Parish Development Model (PDM) funds, alleged illegal deductions, fear of reporting corruption and limited youth representation on PDM committees are some of the key challenges raised during Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa’s assessment of the programme in Ruhinda North County.

Tayebwa, together with Mitooma District political and technical leaders, spent Wednesday, 16 September 2026 and the day thereafter, meeting residents across his constituency to assess the performance of PDM funds and hear concerns about their implementation.

Several applicants told the Deputy Speaker that they had waited for extended periods after registering for the funds, with some reportedly waiting for up to two years.

Tayebwa said the delays were partly linked to the way the funds are released but stressed that the selection of beneficiaries must be transparent and follow the order in which people applied.

“The money comes in installments; there are parishes which are small, they have given all people and they are now starting the second round. But there are parishes that will take time because every year we give 100 million,” he said.

“If a parish has 1,000 families, it means it will take 10 years to cover them. We have to be patient. But what is important is transparency. If a person applies first, a person who applies after that person should not receive money before the one who came first,” Tayebwa said.

He advised that lists of PDM applicants be displayed on parish noticeboards according to the date of application so that beneficiaries can be selected transparently.

Concerns over corruption and illegal charges also featured during the meetings. Tayebwa said residents should not pay anyone to access PDM funds and encouraged them to report attempts to solicit money.

“There are some of you who are afraid to speak out, fearing that the people you are reporting are the ones who will come back to ask you to pay it back,” Tayebwa told residents. He added that money repaid under the programme remains available to other members of the community.

“This is your money. If someone does not pay, he is costing you as a group and a community,” he said.

The assessment also uncovered cases involving beneficiaries who received less than the Shs1 million expected under the programme, especially during its initial implementation.

Tayebwa explained to beneficiaries that they are required to repay the amount they actually received but noted that a problem arises where someone signed for Shs1 million but received a smaller amount.

He urged those who received PDM funds during the programme’s initial phase to repay the money so that they can apply for another round.

“If you received PDM money when the programme was starting, I would encourage you to start paying back. After paying, you can apply for the second round, and in the second round, you will receive one million,” Tayebwa said.

Another concern involved youth participation in the committees responsible for managing the programme. Ronald Nasasira, the youth councillor for Kigyende Sub-county, said young people were not adequately represented on PDM committees, making it difficult for them to access their share of the programme.

“When they are selecting PDM committee members, they don’t consider youth, yet 30% of the money is supposed to be for youth. We end up not getting our fair share because we are not represented. We appeal that youth be represented at all committees,” Nasasira said.

Tayebwa directed local leaders to review the composition of the committees and ensure that youth are represented.

“You should review all committees and show the youth who are representing them on the committees. If they are not represented, the committees should be changed to add youth representatives,” he said.

There was also confusion over whether people receiving Social Assistance Grants for Empowerment (SAGE), the government programme providing regular cash support to vulnerable older people, qualify for PDM funds.

“If you get SAGE money, you qualify to get PDM money,” Tayebwa clarified.

Other concerns raised during the two-day consultative meetings included attempts by some people to use identity cards that did not belong to them to apply for PDM funds. There were also reports of beneficiaries who were allegedly misled into believing that the funds did not have to be repaid.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Parliament of the Republic of Uganda.

Source: APO

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President Cyril Ramaphosa has extended – to Monday, 25 January 2027 – the deadline for the submission of the final report of the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry into Criminality, Political Interference, and Corruption in the Criminal Justice System.

The new deadline allows the Commission to process additional evidence, including the testimony of various experts who have made recommendations relating to the Commission’s terms of reference.

President Ramaphosa once again expresses his deepest appreciation for the work conducted by Commission as well as for the manner in which law enforcement agencies are following up testimony emerging from Commission hearings.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The Presidency of the Republic of South Africa.

Source: APO

On September 11, Ambassador Zhao Weiping delivered remarks at Namibia-China (Guangdong Province) Business Forum, which was co-hosted by Namibia Investment Promotion Development Board,the Guangdong economic and trade delegation,and Association of Chinese Enterprises in Namibia. More than 50 representatives from government departments, industry associations, and businesses from the two countries participated in the Forum.

Ambassador Zhao said that Namibian President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah chose Guangdong as the first stop during her recent state visit to China, where she held in-depth discussions with Guangdong provincial leaders on deepening economic and trade cooperation between Namibia and Guangdong. It is hoped and believed that the visit of the Guangdong economic and trade delegation to Namibia will further advance economic and trade cooperation between the two sides.

In her remarks, Ms. Ndiitah Nghipondoka-Robiati, Executive Director of the Ministry of International Relations and Trade, expressed appreciation for Guangdong Province for sending a delegation to Namibia shortly after the Namibian President’s visit to China. She said that Namibia is richly endowed with natural resources, particularly in agriculture and mining, and welcomed Chinese enterprises to invest and do business in Namibia.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Republic of Namibia.

Source: APO

The President of the ECOWAS Commission, H.E. General Birame Diop, received the Ambassador of the State of Qatar to the Federal Republic of Nigeria, H.E. Yousef Mohammed Ahmed Al-Hailand and the Ambassador of the Republic of Sudan to the Federal Republic of Nigeria and ECOWAS, H.E. Mohammed Abdelaai in two separate audiences at the ECOWAS Commission headquarters in Abuja, Nigeria on the 17th of September, 2026.

The  meetings provided an opportunity to discuss ways of strengthening relations and enhancing cooperation between ECOWAS and the state of Qatar on matters of mutual interest, including regional integration, peace and security and development.

The engagement underscores ECOWAS’ commitment to deepening partnerships with countries beyond West Africa in support of regional stability and sustainable development.

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

Source: APO

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The General Assembly of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) adopted constitutional amendments on Thursday, marking a historic step in the Association’s transition from a charity registered under United Kingdom law to an international inter-parliamentary organisation.

The Assembly convened during the 69th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference in Cape Town. This decision represents the culmination of a process pursued by CPA Branches over several decades, with the CPA Africa Region consistently advocating for a legal status that more accurately reflects the Association’s international membership and activities.

The General Assembly first considered the matter at the 60th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference (CPC) in Yaoundé, Cameroon, in 2014, but deferred a decision to better understand its legal and institutional implications. The issue remained under discussion at the 62nd CPC in London in 2016. On 16 December 2016, the General Assembly approved the establishment of an Expert Committee. This committee, comprising representatives from the nine CPC regions, was tasked with exploring the legal and tax implications of altering the Association’s status.

The Committee completed its work and, in 2017, presented its findings to the CPA’s Executive Committee and General Assembly in Dhaka, Bangladesh. It recommended that the CPA be reconstituted as an inter-parliamentary institution with an international remit and functional privileges and immunities. The 65th CPC in Canada in 2022 reaffirmed securing a new status as a priority, and the 66th CPC in Ghana in 2023 directed the Secretariat to present a definitive proposal.

This timeline demonstrates that the constitutional amendments agreed to on Thursday are part of a broader legal and institutional process. The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and International Committee of the Red Cross (Status) Act of 2025, enacted in the United Kingdom, provides the legal mechanism through which the CPA may be granted corporate legal capacity and specified privileges and immunities. This Act permits an Order in Council to confer on the CPA capacities such as entering into contracts, acquiring and disposing of property and instituting or participating in legal proceedings. The applicable legal instruments and transition arrangements will determine the precise privileges, immunities and tax arrangements.

The CPA General Assembly previously adopted a revised Constitution in Sydney, Australia, on 7 November 2024. The amendments approved in Cape Town this week are intended to align the Association’s governance framework with its proposed new legal and institutional status.

The President of the CPA and Chairperson of South Africa’s National Council of Provinces, Ms Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane, noted that the decision was the culmination of sustained advocacy by CPA members. “For a decade, our members have argued that the CPA’s charity status does not reflect who we are. Today, the 69th CPC has turned that long struggle into a historic reality and brings us significantly closer to recognition as an international inter-parliamentary organisation, with the standing needed to strengthen parliamentary democracy and the rights of the people we serve through our member parliaments,” Ms Mtshweni-Tsipane said.

The status change is intended to strengthen the CPA’s ability to cooperate with governments, international organisations and other partners, while preserving the authority of its member Branches over the Association’s direction and governance. Under the Constitution of the CPA, the General Assembly retains ultimate authority over the Association’s policy and management, while the Executive Committee is responsible for administration between General Assembly meetings.

Ms Mtshweni-Tsipane acknowledged the contribution of the Africa Region and CPA Branches across the Commonwealth to advancing this reform. “This decision demonstrates what sustained cooperation among our Branches can achieve,” she said. “It places the CPA on a stronger path towards taking its place among the world’s international parliamentary institutions. This is not merely a change of legal form. It is a change in capability, voice and destiny. It gives parliamentarians across the Commonwealth the institutional platform to engage the world on democracy, human rights, sustainable development and international law.”

The 69th CPC, hosted by the Parliament of the Republic of South Africa, concludes in Cape Town on Friday, 18 September 2026.

*The CPA was established in 1911 as the Empire Parliamentary Association and renamed the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association in 1948. It now comprises over 180 Branches from parliaments and Legislatures across the Commonwealth.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of South Africa: The Parliament.

Source: APO

Between 29 December 2025 and 13 September 2026, 39 confirmed cases of respiratory diphtheria and 10 asymptomatic carriers of toxigenic C. diphtheriae have been identified in South Africa. Most confirmed cases were reported from the Western Cape (85%; 33/39), followed by Limpopo (10%; 4/39) and Gauteng (5%; 2/39). Asymptomatic carriers were reported from the Western Cape (80%; 8/10) and Limpopo (20%; 2/10). Five probable cases were reported from Limpopo.

Highlights:

• Since the last situational report (week 36, 2026), the following updates are included in this report
  o One new laboratory-confirmed case of toxigenic diphtheria from the Western Cape.
  o No new asymptomatic carriers of toxigenic C. diphtheriae.
• Appropriate public health responses were initiated for all suspected and confirmed cases

Information for clinicians

Clinical presentation of respiratory diphtheria

Respiratory diphtheria is a vaccine-preventable illness caused by toxigenic C. diphtheriae (and more rarely C. ulcerans or C. pseudotuberculosis), and can occur in persons of all ages.

The clinical presentation includes the following signs and symptoms:

• sore throat
• low-grade fever
• AND an adherent membrane of the nose, pharynx, tonsils, or larynx – the membrane is greyish-white and firmly adherent to the tissue
• AND/OR enlarged glands in the neck (bull neck)
• toxin-mediated systemic signs including myocarditis, polyneuropathy and renal damage

Patient management
Treatment includes antibiotics (azithromycin or penicillin) to clear the organism from the throat and prevent onward transmission, and diphtheria anti-toxin (DAT) to neutralise unbound toxin. The dosage of DAT is determined by the duration and severity of illness. Treatment, contact tracing and chemoprophylaxis should be started prior to laboratory confirmation. Early administration of DAT may be life-saving and should not be delayed in cases with a high index of suspicion. Supportive care is primarily aimed at airway management and includes providing oxygen, monitoring with electrocardiogram and intubation or performance of a tracheostomy if necessary.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of National Institute for Communicable Diseases, South Africa (NICD).

Source: APO

The Department of Health is urging citizens to remain vigilant of mpox symptoms as the country is experiencing a rapid increase in laboratory-confirmed mpox cases in the past few weeks. As of 17 September 2026, the country has recorded 18 confirmed and one probable case, and this requires immediate and sustained public cooperation to contain.

The majority (15) of these cases were reported in the Western Cape, City of Cape Town in particular, 3 in Gauteng and 1 in KwaZulu-Natal. Of concern is that 13 of the total cases were recorded between 13 August and 17 September, which suggests a rapid local transmission of this preventable viral infection. All cases/patients range in age from 23 to 50 years, with a median age of 36.5 years, and 18 of them are males with only 1 female.

One of the most recent cases involved an individual who travelled to Spain earlier this month and returned to South Africa on 14 September. This person underwent testing in Spain after being informed of his probable case status. South African health authorities are in are contact with the Spanish counterparts regarding laboratory test results of the individual to confirm his mpox status.

Mpox cases may present in any person who was in close contact with someone who tested positive for the virus in the last few days (up to 21 days) and will present by displaying similar symptoms.

The importance of continued surveillance, early detection, and public cooperation cannot be overemphasised in preventing further transmission. Mpox is a viral disease that can affect anyone regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation and socioeconomic status. Members of the public are reminded of mpox symptoms which include fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, fatigue and rash or skin lesions that may appear on the face, hands, feet, genitals or other body parts. Typically, the skin lesions start as flat red spots before progressing to bumps, followed by fluid-filled blisters, then pus filled bumps and eruptions into crusted scabs.

The symptoms usually appear within 6 to 13 days after exposure but can range from 5 to 21 days. Therefore, anyone experiencing these symptoms, particularly if they have had close contact with a confirmed case or a suspected case, should seek medical attention immediately and avoid close contact with others.

Mpox is transmitted mainly through close physical contact with an infected person, including skin-to-skin contact with the rash or lesions, and contact with contaminated materials such as bedding, clothing, or towels used by an infected person.

Mpox-positive persons can also transmit the virus through respiratory droplets during prolonged face-to-face contact, uncovered coughing or sneezing. Vigilance remains essential, particularly in households, healthcare settings and among close social networks. Hand hygiene through frequent washing or use of sanitisers is one of the effective methods to prevent the spread of the virus.

The government, through the support of the World Health Organization, has secured limited doses of mpox vaccines (MVA-BN) and treatment (Tecovirimat) as part of its outbreak response strategy to disrupt local transmission. The health authorities will decide where and how to use these does to contain outbreaks. Vaccination should be accompanied by continued adherence to preventive measures.

Individuals and communities are urged to support those diagnosed with mpox and those suspected of being infected with the virus, because stigma and discrimination have the potential to undermine an outbreak response by deterring people from seeking medical care.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of National Institute for Communicable Diseases, South Africa (NICD).