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African Electric Vehicle (EV) platform Spiro raises $215M in equity to scale electric mobility and energy infrastructure across Africa

Source: APO – Report:

  • Leading scale-up Spiro has secured a landmark $215M investment round backed by major institutional investors including Impact Fund Denmark, and Equitane.
  • With Spiro already operating across seven of Africa’s fastest-growing urban markets, this transaction positions Spiro among the continent’s leading clean infrastructure platforms. This investment will accelerate the expansion of Spiro’s battery-swapping network, industrial footprint and next-generation electric vehicles (EV) infrastructure across high-growth African markets.
  • As African economies push to reduce dependence on imported fuel, reinforce energy and industrial sovereignty, and modernize urban transport systems, global investors are increasingly turning to scalable EV infrastructure platforms.​

Scaling Africa’s next-generation mobility and energy ecosystem

Spiro (www.Spironet.com) announces a $215M investment round to accelerate the deployment of its electric mobility and battery-swapping infrastructure across Africa. Building on the support of long-standing institutional partners such as FEDA, Spiro’s latest equity round draws global capital from Europe and Africa, confirming growing global confidence in scalable infrastructure-led business models across emerging markets.

Following years of optimization across its product portfolio, technology and energy ecosystem, Spiro has moved past the proof-of-concept phase and stands ready to execute its next chapter of pan-African expansion. This investment will support the expansion of Spiro’s battery-swapping network, strengthen its industrial and assembly footprint, accelerate technology development and support the company’s entry into new high-growth African markets.

Global investors back Africa’s fast-growing mobility and energy transition

As Africa’s urban population and mobility needs continue to surge, electric vehicles and battery-swapping ecosystems are rapidly emerging as one of the continent’s most promising infrastructure and energy investment opportunities.

Reducing dependence on imported fuel, strengthening energy and industrial sovereignty and modernizing urban transport systems are becoming strategic priorities across the continent, positioning EV infrastructure as a key pillar of Africa’s economic resilience and industrial development.

Driven by rising fuel costs, increasing demand for affordable transportation and growing policy support for clean energy solutions, investors are increasingly backing scalable EV platforms capable of supporting Africa’s next phase of urban and industrial growth.

For riders, the economic impact is immediate: operating a Spiro electric vehicle can reduce daily mobility costs by up to 40%, generating savings of up to $2 per day compared to fossil-fuel motorcycles.

Recent third-party verified lifecycle assessment results conducted on Spiro’s operations in Kenya further highlight the environmental impact potential of EV infrastructure deployment across African cities:

  • Spiro’s electric bikes deliver a 72% reduction in climate impact compared to fossil-fuel motorcycles, equivalent to approximately 19 tons of CO₂ emissions avoided over a vehicle’s lifespan.
  • The study also identified an 80% reduction in ozone depletion potential and a 20% reduction in particulate matter emissions, underscoring the role electric mobility can play in improving urban air quality and reducing public health risks across rapidly growing cities.

Powering Africa’s mobility revolution at scale

With operations across 7 African markets (Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, Togo, Benin, Nigeria, Cameroon) and further plans to expand local production and enter new markets such as DRC and Ethiopia, Spiro is building one of Africa’s most advanced EV and battery-swapping ecosystems.

Spiro’s industrial footprint includes flagship manufacturing plants in Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda, alongside a state-of-the-art battery recycling facility in Nigeria. Combining locally adapted vehicle design, affordable battery-swapping infrastructure and integrated maintenance ecosystems, Spiro is making electric mobility commercially viable at scale for African riders.

Spiro’s technology platform is supported by its R&D center, 150+ engineers and 30+ proprietary patents. The company is actively expanding beyond urban transport into a distributed clean-energy utility network that supports national renewable energy goals while reducing dependence on imported fossil fuels. Its innovations include IoT-enabled, solar-powered swap stations, alongside secondary-life battery applications designed for stationary renewable energy storage.

Investor quotes

“This past year marked a defining strategic milestone for Spiro. Across seven active markets, our deployment of 100,000 electric vehicles and 2,500 smart-swap stations has turned sustainable mobility into an affordable, everyday reality. Spiro has become a major driver of local industrialization, value creation and manufacturing across African markets with 6,000 sustainable direct and indirect jobs. Supported by our global pool of investors, we are entering our next growth chapter to deliver clean, cost-effective energy and transport alternatives to millions of riders across the continent”, stated Gagan Gupta, Founder of Spiro and Chairman of Equitane.

“We are investing in Spiro and bringing Danish pension capital into one of Africa’s most promising growth markets because we see potential for significant commercial growth in Spiro and electric mobility across Africa, as well as measurable climate impact. That is exactly the type of investment we want to make,” says Lars Bo Bertram, CEO of Impact Fund Denmark.

– on behalf of Spiro.

Media Contact:
Flora Limukii
Head of Corporate Communications, Spiro
Email: communications@spironet.com

Thøger Høgh Selmer Kirk
External Communications Director
Email: tki@impactfund.dk

About Spiro:
Spiro is Africa’s largest electric mobility company and operates the continent’s most extensive battery-swapping network for electric two-wheel vehicles. With more than 100,000 electric motorcycles on the road, over 2,500 swapping stations and more than 30 million battery swaps to date, Spiro is replacing expensive fossil-fuel transport with affordable, accessible and sustainable mobility solutions. Through its growing regional production and assembly footprint, Spiro is committed to building electric vehicles made in Africa by Africans for Africa and the world. www.Spironet.com

About Impact Fund Denmark:
Impact Fund Denmark is a Danish impact investor and Denmarks’ Development Finance Institution contributing to green, just and inclusive societies as well as supporting the Sustainable Development Goals. Impact Fund Denmark provides risk capital to companies operating in developing countries across Africa, Asia, Latin America and Ukraine. Investments are made on commercial terms in the form of equity, loans and guarantees. Impact Fund Denmark has co-invested in over 1,300 companies in more than 100 developing countries and emerging markets. Capital under management will increase from DKK 25 billion in 2025 to DKK 45 billion in 2030. Read more at www.ImpactFund.dk 

About Equitane:
Equitane is a long-term investment platform deeply invested in fostering progress in Africa and beyond. Its diverse portfolio spans across infrastructure, renewable energy, electric vehicles, healthcare, manufacturing and technology. Equitane is committed to driving sustainable economic development through innovation and strategic investments, ensuring projects deliver tangible positive impacts while supporting local communities and stakeholders. For more details, please visit www.Equitane.com

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Qatar Strongly Condemns Repeated Iranian Attacks on Kuwait

Source: Government of Qatar

Doha | June 1, 2026

The State of Qatar vehemently condemns the repeated Iranian attacks on the State of Kuwait, labeling them a flagrant violation of Kuwait’s sovereignty and the international rules-based order.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stresses the necessity of shielding the region from the consequences of unprovoked attacks and de-escalating tensions to restore regional and global security and stability.

The Ministry reiterates that the State of Qatar fully stands by the State of Kuwait and backs all measures it takes to safeguard its sovereignty and security.

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Government ramps up FMD response while safeguarding export markets

Source: Government of South Africa

Government ramps up FMD response while safeguarding export markets

South Africa is successfully maintaining key livestock export markets despite the ongoing Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) outbreak, says Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen.

Speaking at a media briefing in Parliament on Monday, Steenhuisen said retaining and expanding export markets was critical for supporting farm incomes, sustaining processing facilities and protecting jobs across the agricultural value chain.

The Minister said South Africa’s response to FMD had entered a new phase, with record vaccine acquisitions, intensified vaccination efforts and sustained engagement with international trading partners.

Since February, South Africa has procured 13.5 million doses of FMD vaccine and vaccinated nearly 4.4 million animals nationwide, making it the largest vaccine acquisition programme ever undertaken by the state. 

A further 3.5 million vaccine doses arrived in the country last week, while regulatory approval has been granted for the importation of an additional 14 million doses to support booster vaccinations.

Government has invested R494 million in vaccine procurement and deployment to date.

“Protecting the national cattle population, safeguarding jobs, preserving food security and restoring confidence in the livestock economy are national priorities,” Steenhuisen said.

While acknowledging the significant hardship experienced by farmers due to movement restrictions, higher feed costs and market uncertainty, the Minister said government had shouldered the financial burden of the vaccination campaign to reduce the impact of the outbreak on producers.

He paid tribute to farmers who had complied with movement controls and vaccination programmes despite facing severe financial pressure.

“Their cooperation has been essential to containing the outbreak and protecting the broader livestock industry,” he said.

A key focus of government’s response has been ensuring that disease-control measures do not unnecessarily disrupt trade.
Steenhuisen said South Africa had worked extensively with international trading partners to maintain market access for livestock products through science-based risk management measures.

As a result, Jordan remains open to South African exports and shipments are already taking place. 

The United Arab Emirates continues to accept South African products under updated certification arrangements, while Hong Kong remains open for red meat exports. Kuwait also remains open under agreed conditions, and discussions with Qatar are progressing positively.

South Africa is expected to engage additional markets this week, including Tunisia, Lebanon, Egypt, Bahrain, Oman and Saudi Arabia, with proposals aimed at facilitating continued trade.

The livestock sector forms part of a broader agricultural industry that continues to perform strongly despite disease outbreaks, severe weather events and logistical challenges.

Agricultural exports grew by 7% over the past year, while the sector generated a trade surplus of approximately US$7.3 billion in 2025, an increase of 18% compared with the previous year. 

The citrus industry recorded one of its strongest export performances on record during the same period.

Steenhuisen highlighted South Africa’s role in strengthening regional cooperation on animal health following a recent Southern African Development Community (SADC) ministerial meeting in Zimbabwe.

South Africa welcomed the decision by SADC Ministers and livestock experts to prioritise the development of a Regional Coordination Framework for Foot and Mouth Disease control.

The proposed framework aims to improve cooperation across borders through progressive buffer zoning, coordinated vaccination efforts, strengthened surveillance systems, biosecurity corridors and compartmentalisation models designed to limit the spread of disease while protecting trade.

“In a region where livestock mobility, wildlife interfaces and cross-border trade are deeply interconnected, stronger regional coordination is critical,” Steenhuisen said.

He added that the framework would help move Southern Africa away from fragmented national responses towards a coordinated and preventative regional biosecurity system.

Domestically, government is also expanding diagnostic capacity through additional laboratory resources, recruitment of veterinary personnel and improved provincial coordination.

Steenhuisen said the country was steadily transitioning from a reactive disease-control system to a proactive and risk-based biosecurity model, supported by growing collaboration between government, producers, veterinarians, feedlots, processors and commodity organisations.

A public-private biosecurity framework is expected to be launched in the coming weeks to formalise these partnerships and strengthen future disease preparedness. – SAnews.gov.za
 

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AI and journalism in southern Africa: editors are using it but balanced with human expertise and editorial judgement

Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Mandla J. Radebe, Professor, University of Johannesburg

Artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming part of everyday newsroom work across Africa. It has entered quietly through routine tasks such as transcription, headline writing, translation and content preparation.

In southern Africa, where AI adoption is steadily growing, its application in journalism is raising critical questions from policymakers and governments. While technology offers gains in speed and efficiency, its use remains contested due to ethical concerns and fears about job losses.

As communication and media scholars researching data and digital communication, in our study we examined its influence on production processes, ethical guardrails and job security. Interviews with senior editors revealed that, while AI improves efficiency and, in some cases, quality, it still requires human expertise and editorial judgement.

Senior editors described efficiency: faster turnaround, transcription, summarisation, headline generation and story drafting. Large volumes of information can be processed within tight newsroom deadlines. Most editors do not see AI as an immediate threat to jobs. Ethical concerns remain, prompting some newsrooms to adopt internal guidelines.

AI is already helping journalists sharpen headlines, summarise reports, generate illustrations, transcribe interviews and clean up copy under pressure. In some Zimbabwean newsrooms, AI-powered presenters are already reading weather bulletins and assist with news delivery.

Yet caution prevails. Editors are experimenting with AI because newsroom pressures demand efficiency, but they remain determined not to surrender editorial judgement to machines.

This caution reflects broader structural pressures. Print circulation has declined, advertising revenue remains fragile and newsroom staffing has shrunk. In South Africa, newspaper circulation declined by 17.3% in 2024, with several major titles reducing operations or shifting to digital-first models. Journalists are expected to produce more content, across multiple platforms, at greater speed.

AI, however, introduces its own risks, including factual inaccuracies, hidden bias embedded in training data and weak contextual understanding. For example, AI systems may reproduce racial, gender, political, or cultural biases while struggling to interpret satire, local idioms and politically nuanced African contexts. As a result, editors emphasise that AI must remain under firm human control.

AI is doing the routine work first

The first newsroom functions being reshaped by AI are repetitive tasks. Editors described using AI for headline optimisation, summarising, transcription and minor editing. These are labour-intensive processes but do not determine editorial direction.

In Zimbabwe, experimentation is more advanced in selected organisations. AI avatars, AI-powered digital news presenters capable of delivering human-like news bulletins through synthetic voices, facial expressions and automated script reading, are presenting weather updates and selected content.

South African newsrooms remain more restrained. AI is mainly used in editing, reporting and headline optimisation. Full article generation remains limited because editors insist on rigorous human verification.

For now, AI functions as an assistant rather than a substitute.

Why editors remain reluctant to trust it

The central issue is credibility. Generative AI produces fluent language, but fluency does not guarantee accuracy. It predicts plausible content rather than verifying truth. So it can generate convincing but incorrect information. One example is in the saga involving the development of the South African AI strategy by government. It was found to contain several fictitious academic references likely generated by AI hallucinations.

Editors in both countries highlighted this risk. Zimbabwean editors noted that AI often draws from online sources without distinguishing between verified reporting and misinformation. South African editors raised concerns about plagiarism, weak attribution and unverifiable sourcing.

This creates a paradox: AI speeds up writing but also creates more work, as journalists must verify machine-generated content before publication.

The African challenge is bigger than accuracy

Accuracy is only part of the problem. Many AI systems struggle with African linguistic and cultural contexts. Editors reported issues with pronunciation of indigenous names and poor handling of local nuance.

Most AI systems are developed in the global north and trained on western datasets, leaving African languages underrepresented. This calls for greater investment in African-centred AI research, local language datasets, and inclusive digital innovation policies.

African newsrooms are adopting tools that do not fully recognise their communication environments. Editors argued that locally grounded AI systems will be necessary to reflect African realities and avoid deepening technological dependence.

Will AI reduce journalism jobs?

While fears about job losses are widespread, editors offered a more measured view. Most do not expect journalists to disappear but anticipate pressure on technical roles such as sub-editing and layout.

Some acknowledged that media owners may eventually use AI to justify leaner staffing. But high costs remain a barrier. In Zimbabwe, in particular, expensive subscriptions and infrastructure challenges limit adoption.

In South Africa, editors similarly noted that current adoption levels are too limited to drive major labour restructuring. For now, AI is reshaping workflows rather than eliminating jobs. For example, one editor noted that AI tools have improved audience analytics and helped identify stories most likely to convert casual readers into paying subscribers. It also freed financial resources that can be redirected towards hiring freelance journalists.

Policy is falling behind technology

A key concern is that newsroom governance is not keeping pace with technological change. Zimbabwe’s Zimpapers group has introduced internal AI policies addressing disclosure, verification and training. Many South African newsrooms have yet to formalise such frameworks. The inputs from editors suggest that while existing press codes and ethical frameworks provide a basis for addressing AI-related challenges, they still need to be adapted to respond to the new ethical, operational and transparency risks posed by AI.

This gap matters because journalism depends on public trust. Readers need transparency when AI is used, and journalists require clear guidelines on accountability.

Without safeguards, efficiency gains risk undermining credibility.

Journalism remains a human responsibility

The central lesson is not that AI should be resisted, nor that journalism faces immediate automation. Rather, journalism remains fundamentally human because public trust depends on judgement, responsibility and context.

Machines can generate text and process information quickly, but they cannot fully grasp political sensitivity, moral consequence or historical meaning.

For this reason, editors in both countries maintain a clear position that AI may assist the newsroom, but journalism must remain under human editorial control.

– AI and journalism in southern Africa: editors are using it but balanced with human expertise and editorial judgement
– https://theconversation.com/ai-and-journalism-in-southern-africa-editors-are-using-it-but-balanced-with-human-expertise-and-editorial-judgement-282644

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Getting through school in South Africa: how learners make it to the end after a poor start

Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Ursula Hoadley, Professor, University of Cape Town

South Africa’s schooling system presents a striking paradox. Fewer than one in five grade 4 learners can read for meaning, yet more than 60% of young people (aged 15 to 24) eventually complete grade 12. Matric (school leaving exam) pass rates have been rising steadily and reached record highs in recent years, especially in poorer schools.

How do so many learners make it through the system when their early learning paths suggest they should not?

This question motivated recent work by our research project, the Mixed Methods Investigation of Learner Assessment Progress and Support, located at Stellenbosch University, the University of Cape Town and the University of KwaZulu-Natal. Fifty teachers in eight high schools were interviewed about how learners move through the schooling system. We also drew on existing quantitative databases, official reports and policy documents.

Rather than offering a single explanation, the research identifies a set of interlocking policies and practices that enable learners to reach grade 12 even when mastery of grade-level content is limited.

The system operates with two competing pressures:

  • keeping learners in school and moving through the grades

  • upholding the quality of learning.

This tension places teachers under immense strain, especially without adequate remediation opportunities for learners with large learning gaps.

A hybrid system of promotion and progression

When large numbers of learners fall behind, education systems typically choose between two strategies: grade retention, where learners repeat until they meet minimum requirements; or social promotion, where they advance regardless of performance. Grade retention is used in many low- and middle-income countries, like Brazil. Social promotion is used across a range of contexts, from Denmark to Ghana. South Africa uses both.

Official policy limits learners to repeating only once per school phase (foundation, intermediate, senior). After that, they must progress to the next grade even if they haven’t met the requirements for promotion. This “years-in-phase” rule was introduced partly to reduce over-age learners in the system and control the cost of repetition, where repeaters consume around 8% of the national education budget. Only 30% to 40% of learners reach matric without repeating.

The result is a hybrid system that retains some learners to repeat the grade while allowing others to progress to the next grade despite not having met the promotion requirements.

In practice, many learners enter high school without the curriculum knowledge they should have.

One of the striking findings of the study is how poorly progression status is understood at the school level. Many teachers are unaware of how many progressed learners are in their classes, or even how to identify them. This information exists in learner records, but is rarely used to plan teaching or provide additional support.

Teachers in our study reported significant academic gaps, especially in grades 8 and 9. Learners may struggle to read, write or perform basic calculations, yet are expected to engage with increasingly demanding content. Without dedicated support structures, teachers are left to “turn stones into bread”, as one teacher put it.

School-based assessment makes passing possible

Promotion decisions depend heavily on school-based assessments – projects, tests, assignments, orals and practical tasks set and marked by teachers.

Over time, the weighting of these assessments relative to examinations has increased, especially during and after the COVID-19 period. Our research shows they are often leniently marked and rarely failed. Learners are frequently given multiple opportunities to complete tasks, with help from teachers or parents. As one grade 8 mathematics teacher explained:

We mark and return the work to them so that they can fix what they have done. The mandate is that no child should fail an assignment. They can fail a test but not an assignment. If they fail you have to give it back to them so that they redo.

As a result, school-based assessment marks often compensate for weak examination performance. Administrative data confirm widespread “bunching” of learner marks just above pass cut-offs, particularly at the end of the school year. One teacher explained:

We get told, ‘you have too many failures’, ‘go back to rectify’. So those close to 30%, they get pushed up.

Predictable exams and teaching to the test

Examination formats have become more predictable. Past papers are recycled. Teachers in the study described coaching learners to recognise recurring question types, memorise essays and rehearse model answers.

That might help learners move through the grades, but it can discourage deeper conceptual understanding and potentially limit learners’ ability to transfer knowledge to unfamiliar contexts.

Read more: What’s stopping kids from learning useful skills? Short answer: exams

Bureaucratic and political pressure to pass

Matric results are publicly reported and used to evaluate schools and provincial education systems, which intensifies the focus on pass rates. Retaining learners, by contrast, involves onerous administrative procedures and increases financial pressure on the system. Progression, therefore, becomes not only a decision about learning, but an organisational and political one.

Teachers in the study felt that their professional judgment was overridden in the process. The ethical dilemma of passing students, knowing they are not academically prepared for the next grade and are unlikely to receive additional support there, is deeply felt.

Intensive support arrives late, and unevenly

In addressing academic backlogs, the system concentrates its resources at the very end of schooling. Grade 12 learners benefit from extra classes, revision camps, NGO programmes and targeted district interventions. These “just-in-time” strategies are designed to push learners over the matric finish line.

Grades 8 and 9 often receive less experienced teachers and minimal additional support. The study found that in some schools, student teachers are assigned to lower secondary grades while senior teachers focus on matric classes.

By matric, the cohort is smaller and more resilient

Many learners drop out or repeat before reaching grade 12; currently just over 60% of youth will obtain a matric. Those who remain tend to be more academically able and more resilient. And motivation increases as matric approaches.

However, schools also engage in gatekeeping, recent research shows, discouraging weaker learners from proceeding to grade 12 if they are seen as a risk to overall pass rates. The eventual matric cohort is therefore winnowed and intensively supported.

Progression without remediation comes at a cost

Taken together, these dynamics explain how learner flows to grade 12 are sustained despite poor early learning outcomes.

The hybrid model is not inherently flawed, but is poorly understood and insufficiently supported. We argue that progression must be accompanied by realistic, well-resourced strategies to address learning gaps early, especially in lower secondary grades.

The challenge is to ensure that reaching the end of school represents meaningful learning, not just survival through the system.

– Getting through school in South Africa: how learners make it to the end after a poor start
– https://theconversation.com/getting-through-school-in-south-africa-how-learners-make-it-to-the-end-after-a-poor-start-282533

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Authorities arrest 36 people in illegal mining crackdown

Source: Government of South Africa

Authorities arrest 36 people in illegal mining crackdown

The South African Police Service (SAPS) and the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) have arrested 36 people, including illegal immigrants, and confiscated more than 800 rounds of live ammunition and 16 unlicensed firearms during law enforcement operations in Gauteng.

Authorities also recovered illegal mining equipment, including phendukas, gas cylinders, generators and steel pot crushers, during the joint operation known as Operation Prosper, which was conducted across the West Rand, Johannesburg and Ekurhuleni between 25 and 31 May 2026.

The intervention forms part of a national initiative announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa to intensify efforts against criminal networks linked to illegal mining and gang violence.

Gauteng police spokesperson, Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi, said the operation’s aim is to uphold the rule of law, with SAPS leading enforcement while the SANDF acts as a force multiplier.

“Police and soldiers have tightened the net on gangs and illegal miners in Gauteng and in other places in Gauteng. The intelligence-driven operation is targeting gang violence and illegal mining across the West Rand, Johannesburg and Ekurhuleni,” Nevhuhulwi said.

Nevhuhulwi said the operation is aimed at disrupting criminal networks and restoring stability in communities affected by gang crime and illegal mining.

She said law enforcement teams will remain on the ground as part of ongoing efforts to remove illegal firearms, arrest suspects and dismantle criminal operations.

Police have called on communities to help by reporting criminal activities at their nearest police stations or call Crime Stop on 08600 10111 or send anonymous tip-offs through the MySAPS App. – SAnews.gov.za

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Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) Statement on Attacks Against Health Facilities During the Bundibugyo Virus Disease Response in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Source: APO


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Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) (www.AfricaCDC.org) is concerned about the recent attack and destruction of a treatment facility serving communities affected by the Bundibugyo Virus Disease, in Ituri Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo. We strongly condemn all acts of violence against health facilities, healthcare workers, patients, and response teams working tirelessly to protect communities and contain the outbreak. 

We recognise that outbreaks such as Bundibugyo Virus Disease generate fear, anxiety, uncertainty, and social distress within affected communities. Families are worried about their safety, livelihoods, loved ones, and the impact of public health measures on their daily lives. These concerns are real and legitimate, and they must be addressed through empathy, transparency, dialogue, and sustained community engagement. 

“Communities are not the enemy in an outbreak response. Fear, misinformation, mistrust, and lack of engagement are often the greatest barriers to controlling disease outbreaks,” said H.E. Dr Jea n Kaseya, Director General of Africa CDC. “Our responsibility as public health institutions is to provide treatment and technical support, to listen, engage honestly, build trust, and work alongside communities every step of the way.” 

At the same time, attacks on treatment centres and response teams place communities at even greater risk. Treatment centres are established to protect communities by providing safe care, isolating infected patients, supporting surveillance and contact tracing, and helping prevent further spread of the disease. When these facilities are attacked or disrupted, outbreaks become harder to contain, frontline workers are endangered, and vulnerable families lose access to life-saving services. 

Africa CDC is particularly concerned that community mistrust and misinformation risk becoming a parallel crisis alongside the outbreak itself. The lessons from previous Ebola outbreaks in the region, including the 2018–2020 North Kivu outbreak, demonstrated clearly that outbreaks cannot be contained through technical interventions alone. Community trust is essential to an effective response. 

Despite these challenges, there are encouraging signs of progress. The recent discharge of Ebola survivors in Bunia represents a powerful message of hope and recovery that can help strengthen community trust and ownership of the response. Survivors bring lived experience and credibility that can support community engagement efforts, address fears and misconceptions, and encourage timely care-seeking. In addition, the training and deployment of Community Health Workers will further strengthen community awareness, surveillance, infection prevention and control (IPC), and other critical response activities. Together, these efforts will contribute to controlling the outbreak while strengthening the resilience of communities and the health system.

“We must approach communities with humility, respect, and solidarity,” added Dr Kaseya. “Communities must remain at the centre of the Bundibugyo Virus Disease response. The recovery of survivors demonstrates that early detection and quality care save lives. By working alongside communities, supporting frontline health workers, and building trust through meaningful engagement, we can overcome this outbreak together. Protecting health facilities and health workers ultimately means protecting families, protecting communities, and protecting lives.”

Africa CDC therefore reaffirms that Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) remains a core and strategic pillar of the Ebola response. Africa CDC is intensifying support to national authorities and partners through strengthened community engagement, social listening, rumour management, behavioural insights, and community-led approaches aimed at building trust, addressing fears and misinformation, and improving public understanding of the response. 

Africa CDC will continue mobilising technical and operational resources  to support RCCE coordination, strengthen local engagement capacities, and promote sustained dialogue between responders, local leaders, and affected communities. 

Africa CDC calls on all actors to respect and protect healthcare workers, health infrastructure, and affected populations in accordance with humanitarian and public health principles. We further urge all partners and leaders to continue engaging communities with dignity, transparency, cultural sensitivity, and compassion. 

Africa CDC stands in solidarity with the Government and people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, frontline responders, and affected communities as they continue efforts to stop the spread of  Bundibugyo Virus Disease and protect public health under extremely challenging circumstances. 

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

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KZN Workers’ Parliament charts path to job creation, economic growth

Source: Government of South Africa

KZN Workers’ Parliament charts path to job creation, economic growth

KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli has tabled a series of resolutions adopted during the provincial Workers’ Parliament, aimed at addressing unemployment, promoting decent work and strengthening economic participation across the province.

The Workers’ Parliament, held at the Greytown Civic Centre in the uMvoti Local Municipality under the uMzinyathi District Municipality on Friday, 29 May, brought together representatives from government, organised labour, workers’ formations and other key stakeholders to deliberate on issues affecting workers, economic development and employment creation in the province.

The sitting took place against the backdrop of recent labour market statistics released by Statistics South Africa. According to the latest statistics, the national unemployment rate has increased to 32.7%, leaving an estimated 8.1 million South Africans without work. Youth unemployment remains a significant concern, with 45.8% of people aged between 15 and 34 currently unemployed.

Addressing delegates, Ntuli acknowledged the severity of the unemployment crisis and its impact on households, communities and the broader economy. He emphasised the need for stronger collaboration among government, organised labour, business and civil society in finding sustainable solutions to unemployment and economic exclusion.

Despite the challenging national economic environment, Ntuli highlighted encouraging developments within KwaZulu-Natal.

“The province recorded the creation of more than 6 000 new jobs, contributing to a decline in the provincial unemployment rate from 32.3% to 31.2%,” Ntuli said.

Ntuli attributed the improvement to targeted government interventions aimed at stimulating economic growth, supporting investment, strengthening industrial development and expanding opportunities for job creation across key sectors of the provincial economy.

“The resolutions adopted by the Workers’ Parliament will assist government in shaping responsive policies and programmes that promote decent work, protect workers’ rights and strengthen economic participation, particularly among young people and vulnerable groups,” the Premier said.

The Workers’ Parliament reaffirmed the provincial government’s commitment to working closely with organised labour and social partners to accelerate economic growth, improve living conditions, and create sustainable employment opportunities for the people of KwaZulu-Natal. – SAnews.gov.za

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eThekwini commits R75.3bn to better services, infrastructure and growth

Source: Government of South Africa

eThekwini commits R75.3bn to better services, infrastructure and growth

The eThekwini Council has officially adopted the Municipality’s 2026/2027 Medium-Term Revenue and Expenditure Framework (MTREF), approving a R75.3 billion budget aimed at accelerating service delivery, renewing infrastructure, and advancing turnaround strategies for the city’s trading services.

The adopted budget comprises an operating budget of approximately R69 billion and a capital budget of R6.3 billion. The budget was developed within an overall planning framework aligned to the city’s strategic objectives, with a strong focus on sustainable service delivery and long-term financial stability.

Addressing Council during the adoption of the budget, eThekwini Mayor Cyril Xaba said the budget represents a practical and sustainable financial plan for the city.

“The 2026/2027 budget is not an aspirational document. It is a funded, credible, and sustainable plan, assessed as such by National Treasury. It prioritises the acceleration of repairs, the upgrading of bulk infrastructure, and the full implementation of our trading services turnaround strategies,” Xaba said.

Xaba said the budget followed an extensive public participation process after the draft budget was tabled in March 2026. Between 13 April and 11 May 2026, the city hosted 12 public budget hearings, including dedicated engagements with business stakeholders, disability organisations, and ratepayer associations, as well as regional hearings covering all municipal wards.

“The hearings were well attended, with most inputs reflecting the real challenges faced by our communities. The process was widely advertised through radio, print, and social media, inviting public participation and written submissions,” he said.

The city noted that several public inputs were incorporated into the final budget to provide relief to residents amid ongoing economic pressures.

“As a result, we have made meaningful adjustments to the draft budget. However, not all requests could be accommodated within the available financial envelope. This budget therefore balances service delivery, infrastructure renewal, job creation, affordability, and financial sustainability,” the mayor said.

Following engagements with stakeholders and national government, Council approved revised tariff increases for the 2026/2027 financial year, including reductions to the proposed increases for water, sanitation, electricity, refuse removal, and property rates.

The revised tariff adjustments are as follows:
•    Domestic water tariff increase reduced from 15% to 12%
•    Business water tariff increase reduced from 16% to 13%
•    Domestic sanitation tariff increase reduced from 13% to 8%
•    Business sanitation tariff increase reduced from 14% to 9%
•    Average property rates increase reduced from 5% to 2%
•    Refuse tariff increase reduced from 13% to 9.5%
•    Electricity tariff increase reduced from 10.5% to 9%

Xaba said the revised tariffs are intended to provide much-needed relief to residents and businesses.

“As a caring city, we certainly hope that this brings some relief to our ratepayers and consumers,” he said.

Council also approved amendments to the City’s Indigent Support Policy to ensure more targeted assistance for vulnerable households. 

The threshold for exemption from property rates for indigent households has been increased from R350 000 to R400 000, while pensioner rebate qualification thresholds have been raised from R2.5 million to R2.75 million.

The Mayor said the main sources of funding for the operating budget are service charges, property rates, and grants and levies. Key areas of expenditure include bulk purchases, employee-related costs, contracted services, and operational expenditure.

The adopted budget places significant emphasis on upgrading ageing infrastructure, improving the reliability of water, sanitation, and energy services, and driving spatial transformation initiatives across the city.

“The main focus of the budget is to ensure efficient and effective service delivery to our residents in order to uplift their quality of life,” he said.

Improved access to basic, infrastructure services

The Mayor highlighted the significant progress made over the past five years, including improved access to basic services and major infrastructure delivery.

“There has been improved access to basic services, with more than 21 000 new electricity connections, mostly in previously underserved areas, bringing electricity coverage to almost 100%. 

“We have built 7 910 housing units and issued 3 200 title deeds, restoring dignity and providing security of tenure to families who previously had no shelter, and we have successfully rehabilitated more than 500 kilometres of roads,” the mayor said.

An emphasis has also been placed on good governance and internal controls to drive productivity and value for money. 

This includes interventions to reduce overtime abuse, improve response times, and the use of artificial intelligence and digitalisation to improve efficiency and effectiveness. – SAnews.gov.za
 

 

GabiK

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SAPS commends investigative teams after bail denied in two high-profile cases

Source: Government of South Africa

SAPS commends investigative teams after bail denied in two high-profile cases

The South African Police Service (SAPS) has commended members of the Gauteng Political Killings Task Team (PKTT) and the Commission Recommendations Task Team (CRTT) for their investigative work following the denial of bail in two high-profile cases.

While all accused persons remain innocent until proven guilty in a court of law, SAPS Acting National Commissioner, Lieutenant General Puleng Dimpane, welcomed the courts’ decisions, saying they reinforce public confidence in the criminal justice system and send a strong message that serious crimes, including murder, corruption and fraud, will be thoroughly investigated and prosecuted.

Dimpane said the denial of bail in both matters reflects the quality of the investigations conducted by the respective teams and demonstrates the strength of the cases presented before the courts.

The first case relates to the murder of Marius van der Merwe (Witness D). Accused Matipandile Sotheni appeared before the Boksburg Magistrate’s Court, where bail was denied.

The second case involves Janitha van Reneen, an employee of Emfuleni Local Municipality, who is facing fraud charges linked to transactions involving the municipality. 

She was also denied bail by the Vanderbijlpark Magistrate’s Court.

“The decision by the courts to deny bail is an indication that compelling evidence was placed before the court. 

“It demonstrates the diligence, professionalism and commitment of our investigators and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) prosecutors in ensuring that those accused of serious crimes are held accountable through the criminal justice process,” Dimpane said. –SAnews.gov.za

Edwin

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