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Save a life: register as an organ and tissue donor

Source: Government of South Africa

Save a life: register as an organ and tissue donor

The Gauteng Department of Health (GDoH) has urged communities to register as organ and tissue donors to give potentially life-saving hope to patients on transplant waiting lists.

Some 6 500 people in the country are on waiting lists for organ and tissue transplants, with Gauteng alone having some 1 100 patients either waiting for a kidney transplant or under assessment for placement on the transplant waiting list.

“For those waiting, organ donation represents far more than a medical procedure. It is the possibility of a second chance at life. It may mean a child getting the opportunity to grow up, a parent being able to spend more time with their family, or a patient no longer having to endure regular dialysis treatments while waiting for a suitable donor.

“Organs that can be donated include the heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, pancreas. Tissue donation can include corneas, skin, heart valves, bone, blood vessels and connective tissue, helping to restore sight, improve mobility and significantly enhance the quality of life for recipients,” the department stated.

Living people are also eligible to donate one kidney or portions of the liver and will continue living healthy, normal lives.

“Medical advances have made living donation a safe and effective option for many patients in need of a transplant.

“Although South Africa performed approximately 317 solid organ transplants in 2024 across public and private healthcare facilities, the demand for donor organs continues to far exceed the available supply.

“As a result, many patients spend months or even years waiting for a suitable match. Sadly, some become too ill to undergo transplantation, while others lose their lives before a donor organ becomes available,” the GDoH said.

The department acknowledged that organ donation is a “deep personal decision” which can be a difficult subject to broach with families.

The department added, however, that organ donation “is one of the most selfless acts a person can make”.

One organ donor could save up to seven lives and tissue donations can “improve the lives of as many as 50 people”.

“Many people remain hesitant because of myths and misconceptions surrounding organ donation. It is important to know that age alone or the presence of certain medical conditions does not automatically prevent a person from becoming a donor. Suitability is carefully assessed by medical professionals at the appropriate time.

“The department also encourages people to share their decision with family members and loved ones. In many cases, families are asked about organ donation during moments of immense grief. Having previously discussed a loved one’s wishes can provide guidance and comfort when making difficult decisions.

“By registering as an organ or tissue donor, individuals can leave behind a legacy of hope and healing. Every donor has the power to transform multiple lives and help families facing some of the most challenging circumstances imaginable,” the department urged.

Enquire at your nearest hospital or register with the Organ Donor Foundation of South Africa at www.odf.org.za to become an organ donor. – SAnews.gov.za

 

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Woman in blue turns dedication to justice into a calling

Source: Government of South Africa

Woman in blue turns dedication to justice into a calling

For Warrant Officer Gloria Vatiswa Nontshokweni, policing is more than a profession – it is an opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the lives of vulnerable people.

The 46-year-old acting unit commander of the Makhanda Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit in the Eastern Cape is among the dedicated women in blue being recognised by the South African Police Service (SAPS) during Women’s Month.

Through its Women’s Month campaign, SAPS is celebrating the dedication, resilience and professionalism of female officers who stand at the forefront of protecting women, children and other vulnerable groups while helping to build safer communities.

For Nontshokweni, that commitment has been at the heart of her policing career since she joined SAPS in 2008 as a constable at Kensington Police Station’s Community Service Centre in Cape Town.

Her ability to take down quality statements soon caught the attention of the Station Commander, who recommended that she become an investigator. Two years later, she joined the Cape Town Central Detective Service.

It was a move that would shape her career and deepen her passion for investigating cases involving women and children.

“I give all cases assigned to me my best. But it gives me great pleasure when my investigations lead me to trace and arrest perpetrators of gender-based violence and femicide,” Nontshokweni said.

In 2013, she joined the Motherwell FCS Unit in the Eastern Cape as an investigator. Today, at the Makhanda FCS Unit, she carries the dual responsibility of acting as unit commander while continuing to work as an investigator.

One of the cases that stands out in her career is that of convicted serial rapist Anele Mabheka Lati, who was sentenced to six life terms of imprisonment by the Makhanda High Court on 27 March 2026.

Lati was convicted on multiple counts of rape, sexual assault and attempted rape after targeting boys between 2022 and 2023, the youngest of whom was eight years old at the time.

Nontshokweni noticed similarities in the modus operandi contained in several case dockets and began connecting the dots.

Lati would approach boys while they were playing with groups of friends and ask a victim to accompany him to get something to eat before luring them to a dumping site, where he sexually assaulted them.

For Nontshokweni, securing justice was only one part of supporting the young victims. She remained committed to keeping them motivated throughout the court proceedings and ensured they were referred to psychologists for counselling.

She takes pride in the outcome of the case, which she regards as an important step towards holding perpetrators of sexual offences accountable.

Beyond her demanding responsibilities as a police officer, Nontshokweni is an avid long-distance runner. Running helps her maintain her physical and mental wellbeing, which she considers essential to remaining operationally ready and performing at her best in a demanding profession.

Her commitment to professional development is equally strong. She holds a Bachelor of Policing Practices degree from Stadio and a Diploma in Policing from Tshwane University of Technology.

“I always make it my mission to ensure victims receive services of the highest standard. Being an FCS investigator gives me an opportunity to serve our country with dignity, honour and pride,” she said.

Nontshokweni’s journey reflects the values at the heart of the SAPS Reset Agenda – perseverance, professionalism, service and an unwavering commitment to justice.

As a woman in blue, she continues to turn those values into action, one investigation and one victim at a time. – SAnews.gov.za

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Mpumalanga residents urged to save water

Source: Government of South Africa

Mpumalanga residents urged to save water

Residents across Mpumalanga are being urged to use water sparingly as provincial dam levels continue to show marginal declines.

The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) said the province’s average dam levels fell from 98.7% to 98.5% in the latest Weekly State of Reservoirs Report released this week.

While levels remain high, the department said the downward trend highlights the need for continued water conservation and responsible use.

Both of Mpumalanga’s Water Management Areas recorded slight decreases. The Limpopo-Olifants Water Management Area declined from 100.3% to 100.1%, while the Inkomati-Usuthu Water Management Area dropped from 98.2% to 98.0%.

Water levels also decreased across all three districts.

Ehlanzeni fell from 100.2% to 100.1%, Gert Sibande declined from 96.7% to 96.6%, and Nkangala dropped from 100.5% to 100.2%.

The Lowveld and Ehlanzeni District recorded mixed results, with several dams declining while others remained unchanged.

Inyaka Dam was the only listed dam in the district to record an increase, rising from 100.1% to 100.4%. Witklip remained unchanged at 100.3%, while Longmere stood at 101.3%, Klipkopjes at 99.6% and Da Gama at 100.3%.

Among the dams that recorded declines, Kwena fell from 100.5% to 100.3%, Blyderivierpoort from 100.5% to 100.3%, Buffelskloof from 100.5% to 100.3%, Driekoppies from 100.3% to 100.2%, Primkop from 101.3% to 101.1%, and Ohrigstad from 92.8% to 92.2%.

Gert Sibande also recorded a mixed picture.

Grootdraai remained at 96.9%, Nooitgedacht at 99.5%, Morgenstond at 100.4% and Heyshope at 100.1%.

However, Vygeboom Dam declined from 100.5% to 99.5%, Jericho from 92.8% to 92.6%, and Westoe from 59.9% to 59.1%.

In Nkangala, Middelburg Dam was the only listed dam to record an increase, rising from 99.8% to 100.1%.

Loskop Dam recorded a slight decrease from 100.9% to 100.4%, while Witbank and Rhenosterkop remained unchanged at 99.3% and 100.4%, respectively.

Despite the relatively healthy dam levels, the department has called on households, businesses, farmers and institutions to avoid unnecessary water use.

The department reminded residents that water has no substitute and that “every drop counts”.

It urged water users to repair leaking taps and pipes, avoid wasting water and report burst pipes and leaks to the relevant water services authorities.

The department said water conservation was a shared responsibility and that simple water-saving measures incorporated into daily life could help protect scarce resources, strengthen water security and support reliable water supplies for communities.

“While current dam levels remain healthy, even small changes reinforce the need for continued water conservation and responsible use,” the department said. – SAnews.gov.za
 

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Asantehene opens Africa Business Investment Summit in Washington, DC with a $500m Investment Target in Africa

Source: APO

  • Asantehene presented a royal vision for Africa’s economic renaissance
  • Day 1 proceeded under the theme – The Vision Day: Unlocking Africa’s Century, A Diaspora Mandate”
  • Fireside chat with Boris Kodjoe on The Diaspora Return

The Africa Business Investment Summit 2026 opened this morning at the MGM National Harbor, in Washington D.C. Metro, with a royal keynote by the Summit’s Patron, His Majesty Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asantehene, as the Millennium Excellence Week hosts its first event outside of Ghana.

The opening ceremony, themed “The Asante Crown Meets the Diaspora,” convened more than 400 registered delegates, including senior government officials, C-suite executives, and US-based institutional investors. They were drawn together under a single mandate: to facilitate $500 million in structured capital commitments between African deal originators and US institutional capital during the two-day summit.

Delivering his keynote address, His Majesty articulated a vision of African economic sovereignty where the diaspora serves as architects of continental development. Speaking with characteristic authority, His Majesty called on African governments, diaspora communities, and international institutional partners to align capital, policy frameworks, and political will behind a shared agenda for the continent’s economic future.

In his address, His Majesty Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asantehene said: “For too long, Africa has been described mainly in terms of its deficiencies. We have heard of the roads not built, the electricity not generated, the jobs not created, the capital not available, and the institutions not strong enough,”

Speaking further he noted that “Africa must no longer be regarded merely as a continent of future potential. Africa is already becoming a central part of the future global economy, and those who understand this early will position themselves advantageously.”

Honorable Sampson Ahi, Deputy Minister for Trade, Agribusiness, and Industry, who represented the President of the Republic of Ghana, detailed macroeconomic indicators signalling domestic economic recovery and industrial policy priorities: “ Our ambition is transformation. We want an economy that moves beyond exporting raw materials to manufacturing finished products, creating value, jobs, and shared prosperity. We want capital that drives productivity, entrepreneurship, and innovation. This is the philosophy behind the twenty-four-hour economy program, which is a commitment stimulating round-the-clock production, improving productivity, and developing a competitive and export-oriented economy.”

The first day of the summit concluded under the theme “The Vision Day: Unlocking Africa’s Century, A Diaspora Mandate”, exploring through a series of plenary sessions the most pressing deal themes in US–Africa investment today.

Programme spotlights included: The Diaspora Return, a fireside chat with Boris Kodjoe, Beyond Remittances: Building Africa’s Sixth Region, diaspora capital beyond transfers, The New Gold Rush: Africa’s Seat at America’s Critical Minerals Table,  Ghana’s Gold Moment: From the Gold Coast to Global Market Power, The Diaspora Dollar: Fintech and the Next Remittance Corridor and Powering the Continent: Energy, Infrastructure and the US–Africa Partnership

The second and final day of the event will continue to explore investment opportunities across the continent through sector spotlights on the Creative Economy, Health & Pharma, Technology, and Digital Financial Services.

Following these plenaries, the event will conclude with bilateral investment meetings that will translate the vision outlined in the plenary hall into concrete investment decisions.

Review Day 1 Plenary Sessions: https://apo-opa.co/4cPkRRP

Watch Day 2 Live Stream: https://apo-opa.co/4gYIxFP

  • Day 2 to explore investment opportunities and conclude with bilateral investment meetings

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Millennium Excellence Foundation.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Nina Smith
nina@polisolpublicaffairs.com

ABOUT THE AFRICA BUSINESS INVESTMENT SUMMIT 2026:
The Africa Business Investment Summit (ABIS) 2026 is an exclusive, invitation-only gathering engineered for one purpose: results. Hosted by the Millennium Excellence Foundation, ABIS 2026 convenes the most influential voices in African development finance, private investment, and government policy. The summit is designed to facilitate a minimum of $500 million in structured capital commitments between African deal originators and US-based institutional investors. 27–28 August 2026, MGM National Harbor, Washington D.C. Metro. Website: ABIS-Africa.com

ABOUT THE MILLENNIUM EXCELLENCE FOUNDATION:
The Millennium Excellence Foundation (MEF) is a global organisation dedicated to fostering excellence, leadership, and sustainable development across Africa and the African diaspora. MEF convenes leaders across government, business, and civil society to drive meaningful impact at scale.

Website: MillenniumExcellenceFoundation.org 

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Federal Government (FG) Activates Emergency Task Force to Respond to Diphtheria Outbreak in Katsina, Kano

Source: APO

The Federal Government has activated an emergency task force to contain the outbreak of diphtheria among children in parts of Katsina and Kano States, with immediate measures being deployed to strengthen surveillance, close immunisation gaps and ensure timely access to treatment.

The directive was issued by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, as part of the Federal Government’s continuing commitment to protect the health of Nigerian children and strengthen the country’s capacity to prevent and respond to disease outbreaks.

The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, working with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), affected state governments and international health partners, has constituted a multi-agency task force to coordinate the response.

The task force will be co-chaired by the Director-General of NCDC and the Director of Public Health, with membership drawn from NPHCDA; the Honourable Commissioners for Health of Katsina, Kano, Zamfara and Sokoto States; the World Health Organisation (WHO), UNICEF; and the National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Programme in Katsina State. The Ministry’s Chief Epidemiologist will serve as Secretary.

The task force has been directed to act immediately on three fronts:

  • Outbreak containment and immunisation: Conduct outbreak investigations, strengthen disease surveillance and intensify community sensitisation to close population immunity gaps through the immunisation of unvaccinated children. As part of the immediate response, NPHCDA has deployed 500,000 doses of vaccines to Katsina and Kano States to support intensified immunisation activities in affected and at-risk communities.
  • Expanded access to treatment: Work with the Katsina State Government to establish treatment annexes in hospitals across the state’s three senatorial districts — Katsina, Daura and Funtua — to bring care closer to affected communities and facilitate early intervention.
  • Emergency support for referral care: Mobilise urgent support to the Federal Teaching Hospital, Katsina, the principal referral centre for the state and parts of neighbouring states, including Diphtheria Antitoxin (DAT), intravenous antibiotics, additional clinical personnel and personal protective equipment (PPE).

The task force will provide weekly updates to the Coordinating Minister on progress, emerging challenges and additional requirements, with identified bottlenecks escalated for immediate resolution.

The Federal Government reaffirms its resolve to protect Nigerian children from vaccine-preventable diseases and remains committed to a swift, coordinated and evidence-based response to bring the outbreak under control.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Federal Ministry of Health & Social Welfare, Nigeria.

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South Africa Moves to Institutionalise the African Fisheries and Aquaculture Database

Source: APO – Report:

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AU-IBAR, through the European Union-funded Fisheries Governance Project Phase Two (FishGov2), convened a capacity-building training on institutionalising and operationalising the African Fisheries and Aquaculture Database (AFAData) in Cape Town from 23 to 24 July 2026. Sixteen participants took part, including thirteen national technical officers from the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, as well as the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Secretariat and AU-IBAR. Ms Hellen Guebama of AU-IBAR, Dr Motseki Hlatshwayo of the SADC Secretariat, and Mr Belemane Semoli, Acting Deputy Director General of Fisheries Management, opened the workshop.

AFAData is a continental repository for the entry, retrieval, updating and analysis of fisheries and aquaculture data by African Union Member States, linked to AU-IBAR’s Animal Resources Information System (ARIS). It is now operational and open to all Member States at https://afadata.au-ibar.org/. South Africa is one of five countries — with Madagascar, Senegal, Tunisia and Uganda — selected to accelerate operationalisation by populating the database during hands-on training.

Opening remarks: data as the basis of public policy

Speaking on behalf of AU-IBAR, Ms Hellen Guebama situated the training within the reform agenda that FishGov2 supports—implementing the Policy Framework and Reform Strategy for Fisheries and Aquaculture in Africa through stronger institutional capacities, information systems, and data-driven decision-making.

“High-quality data is now essential for developing effective public policies, guiding investments, measuring sector performance, and ensuring rigorous monitoring of commitments made at the national, regional, and continental levels.”

— Ms Hellen Guebama, AU-IBAR

She recalled the platform’s political mandate — its adoption by African Ministers at the Specialised Technical Committee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Water and the Environment, which recommended its gradual deployment across Member States — and noted that South Africa is now actively engaged in that continental dynamic. Thanking the Government of South Africa for its collaboration, she closed with an expectation rather than a formality:

“I am convinced that this training will be an important step in strengthening the national information system on fisheries and aquaculture in South Africa and that it will contribute to better decision-making, for the benefit of fishing communities, fish farmers and the sustainable development of the sector.”

— Ms Hellen Guebama, AU-IBAR

What the training delivered

Ms Adeline Oduor of AU-IBAR led participants through the database design and logic before the national team moved to live data entry. Three outcomes stand out.

  • A national account was created, with a designated focal point to manage membership.

  • South Africa’s 2024 annual fisheries and aquaculture data was reviewed jointly and entered in full — the training ended with real national data in the platform, not a demonstration dataset.

  • The Acting Deputy Director General designated data validators in each Chief Directorate: Marine Resources Management for fish trade and vessels; Fisheries Research and Development for capture fisheries and effort; and Aquaculture and Economic Development for aquaculture production and farms.

The third outcome is the most consequential. Naming validators within existing directorate structures turns AFAData from a system a country has been trained on into a system a country reports through — the difference between capacity built and capacity institutionalised.

Because participants worked with genuine data, the sessions also surfaced refinements that will improve the platform for every Member State that follows: registration numbers rather than vessel names as unique identifiers, corrections to import templates and species reference lists, and definitional questions of continental relevance — how to classify restocking with hatchery fingerlings, or wild-caught fish fattened in cages.

Contribution and relevance

For continental reporting: AFAData strengthens the representation of fisheries and aquaculture in the Kampala Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) Declaration and its Biennial Review process, which commenced in 2026. A sector that cannot report consistently cannot be counted, and a sector that is not counted is not prioritised.

For national systems: South Africa now has a populated account, trained personnel across three chief directorates, and named validators—a functioning reporting chain rather than a one-off event.

For regional integration: SADC’s participation links national practice to regional oversight, supporting harmonised reporting across the region.

For the sector: reliable data on production, effort, trade and aquaculture underpins rational resource management, credible investment cases and defensible policy — ultimately in the interest of fishing communities and fish farmers.

The lessons from Cape Town will inform the next phase of the rollout to remaining Member States. AU-IBAR thanks the Government of South Africa, the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, the SADC Secretariat and the European Union for their support, and encourages Member States yet to nominate an AFAData focal point to do so.

– on behalf of The African Union – Interafrican Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR).

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Liberia Positions Itself at United Nations (UN) Security Council, Hosts Guterres and E10 Ahead of December Presidency

Source: APO – Report:

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Liberia’s Permanent Representative, Ambassador Lewis G. Brown II on Monday hosted a working lunch in honor of UN Secretary-General António Guterres and the 10 elected members of the Security Council.

The lunch held at UN Headquarters in Manhattan, positioned Liberia at the center of United Nations diplomacy. 

Liberia, coordinating both the A3, Africa’s three Council members and the E10 — the 10 non-permanent members since August 1, held the lunch to align positions ahead of one of the busiest months on the Council’s calendar.

The lunch, not ceremonial brought together the E10 which includes Bahrain, Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Greece, Latvia, Liberia, Pakistan, Panama, and Somalia.

Three of the states DRC, Liberia and Somalia also constitute the A3, the group that articulates African priorities inside the Council.

Liberia’s dual coordinating mandate has given Ambassador Brown unusual convening power this month, at a time when the Council is handling crises across the Middle East, Africa, and Europe.

The month also includes two signature events: an August 19 open debate on Council working methods, and the August 25 high-level debate on “Food Under Fire” — conflict and hunger.

Diplomats are also monitoring Ukraine, tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, and the planned closure of the UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon at year’s end — any of which could trigger emergency sessions.

LIBERIA SETS TONE ON MIDDLE EAST AND REFORM:

At the Council’s 10,207th meeting on August 17, Ambassador Brown presented Liberia’s position on the Middle East, warning that prospects for a two-state solution are “rapidly diminishing” due to continued violence, Palestinian displacement, and settlement expansion.

He invoked Liberia’s 1947 vote for UN General Assembly Resolution 181, the original partition plan, to frame the stance as one of long-standing principle.

Speaking for the entire E10 during the working methods debate, Brown called for reforms to Note S/2024/507.

He urged time-bound leadership of subsidiary bodies after two years of delays in appointing sanctions committee chairs, and pushed for elected members who make up two-thirds of the Council to be included at the beginning of the drafting resolutions, including thorough shared “penholdership” now dominated by the P5.

As A3 coordinator, Liberia is also steering African positions on Libya, South Sudan, the DRC’s eastern conflict, and AU-led responses in the Sahel and Horn of Africa.

Diplomats say the A3 under DRC, Liberia and Somalia has favored political solutions over sanctions, a posture expected to continue through August.

The coordinating role carries added significance because Liberia will assume the Security Council presidency in December for the first time since 1961.

President Joseph Boakai is expected to chair high-level sessions that month.

UN officials described August as a “rehearsal” for the larger task. 

Monday’s lunch, they say demonstrated how Liberia intends to use the presidency by driving direct dialogue between the Secretary-General and elected members, rather than leaving coordination to fragmented channels.

Liberia’s engagement is being  described as consequential for both the August’s immediate decisions and for laying groundwork for December.

– on behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Liberia.

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Eritrea: Modern Medical Equipment Installed at Adi-Keih Hospital

Source: APO

Modern medical equipment installed at Adi-Keih Hospital is making a significant contribution to the healthcare services provided by the hospital. The observation was made by beneficiaries and health professionals.

Dr. Tsegazeab Kiflezgi, Medical Director of the hospital, said that the Government is making significant investments to equip health facilities with modern medical equipment and qualified personnel, contributing to the improvement of healthcare services provided to the public.

Noting that several pieces of digital equipment have been installed at the hospital since 2023, Dr. Tsegazeab said that the development has increased satisfaction among both patients and health professionals.

Dr. Tsegazeab also called on the public to increase awareness, maintain a proper diet and engage in regular physical exercise to help control the prevalence of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and hypertension. He also advised the public to avoid canned foods.

Mr. Teshome Tekle, from the physiotherapy unit, indicated that the hospital provides healthcare services to patients from the Adi-Keih and Senafe sub-zones, as well as from the Northern Red Sea Region. He said that the modern medical equipment installed at the hospital is contributing to the provision of effective healthcare services.

The beneficiaries, noting that they are receiving effective and timely healthcare services from the hospital, expressed gratitude to the Government for installing the modern medical equipment.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Information, Eritrea.

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Communities in Cameroon take an active role in preventing cholera

Source: APO

Placing communities in Cameroon at the heart of cholera prevention efforts is the basis of a new initiative between Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) and Cameroon’s Ministry of Health (MoH). The project – launched in November 2024 in Djoungolo, a neighbourhood of the country’s capital, Yaoundé, that has been regularly affected by cholera – addresses factors that contribute to the resurgence and transmission of the disease to strengthen prevention capacities often already in place.

“We had already introduced community cleaning days in each neighbourhood to clear drainage channels, clean the areas in front of homes and public spaces,” says Simon Ahanda, neighbourhood chief in Djoungolo. “Residents were already mobilised to fight diseases linked to poor sanitation.”

Listening to communities before taking action

Since October 2021, Cameroon has experienced recurring cholera outbreaks. While emergency responses treat patients and reduce the risk of death, additional measures are needed to prevent the disease from returning. Underlying causes include limited access to safe drinking water; inadequate sanitation infrastructure; poor waste management; and inadequate hygiene practices. It is in this context that MSF chose to develop a different approach, based on community involvement.

Our teams held consultations with residents, community leaders, health authorities, and other local stakeholders. The discussions identified community priorities, the challenges communities face, and existing measures. The consultations showed that communities had already identified several challenges and developed local initiatives that needed strengthening. This approach is part of the Patients and Populations as Partners (PPP) approach and made it possible to adapt project activities to the realities on the ground.

“We could not come in with ready-made solutions,” says Frida Tebere, MSF’s PPP manager. “Patients and communities know their realities, their challenges and the problems they face every day better than anyone.” 

“Our role is to listen, create dialogue and build solutions together with them,” says Tebere.

Solutions adapted to the local context

Community consultations helped guide project activities towards concrete priorities including improving access to safe drinking water, strengthening hygiene and sanitation practices, supporting the early detection of suspected cases, and promoting better understanding and adoption of prevention measures.

MSF is supporting the promotion of good hygiene practices, the rehabilitation of seven water points, and the establishment of a chlorine production unit to improve access to safe drinking water. The use of chlorine caused concern among communities. Discussions showed that the concern was based on the practicality of chlorine use – the correct dosage and how to store treated water – and not on treating water itself.

The project developed a strategy centred on model households. These are volunteer families who are trained in chlorine use and, having gained practical experience, then share their knowledge with neighbours.

“At first, we had concerns about using chlorine,” says a member of a model household. “After the explanations and demonstrations, we understood how to use it correctly. Today, we also show other families how to treat their water.”

Continuously strengthening community capacities

More than 1.2 million people have been reached through awareness-raising activities since 2025. Approximately 5,000 households are targeted each month in the Djoungolo health district.

Community engagement is a key component of the project. Participation goes beyond awareness-raising. At some sites, communities also help secure worksites and equipment during the rehabilitation of water points. This involvement strengthens local ownership of the infrastructure and aims to create the conditions necessary for its continued use and sustainability.

The project also supports health facilities and communities through a chlorine production unit intended to supply health facilities and households for water treatment. MSF remains ready to support the response to future cholera outbreaks, including through free patient care, strengthening the capacities of healthcare workers, supporting peripheral health facilities when needed, and contributing to preventive or reactive vaccination campaigns.

The objective is therefore to create a continuum between prevention, preparedness and response: strengthening community involvement and health facilities, while maintaining the capacity to respond rapidly as soon as a cholera case is confirmed.

Collective responsibility for sustainable prevention

In a context where humanitarian needs are increasing while available funding is declining, cholera prevention cannot rely on a single organisation. The experience in Djoungolo shows that communities never start from scratch. They already have knowledge, initiatives, and solidarity mechanisms that can contribute to preventing the disease. The role of health organisations is therefore not only to provide expertise, but also to identify, strengthen, and support solutions that already exist locally.

In Djoungolo, preventing cholera is not simply about providing safe water, chlorine, or awareness messages. It is about enabling people to understand the risks, participate in decision-making, and have the means to take action. Prevention becomes more sustainable when communities are not simply recipients of a response, but full partners in shaping it.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Médecins sans frontières (MSF).

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Cabinet welcomes successful 46th SADC Summit as SA begins Chairship

Source: Government of South Africa

Cabinet welcomes successful 46th SADC Summit as SA begins Chairship

Cabinet has welcomed the successful hosting of the 46th SADC Summit in Durban, KwaZulu Natal, which marked the beginning of South Africa’s Chairship of the regional bloc.

The Summit was held under the theme: “Resilient, Sustainable and Inclusive Industrialisation through Infrastructure Development, Agricultural and Critical Minerals Transformation in pursuit of a Just World”.

Cabinet said the Summit considered reports on the implementation of the Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP) 2020–2030, which focuses on continued efforts to improve peace, security, economic, health and infrastructure performance.

The Summit also considered progress on the development of the North-South Economic Corridor (NSEC), the establishment of the NSEC Investment programme and the Corridor Management Institution.

It further considered the need to identify at least three high-impact projects or areas to be discussed at the next meeting of the Council of Ministers.

Migration on the regional agenda

Cabinet noted that South Africa used the Summit to brief member states on migration governance in the country.

“South Africa took the opportunity to brief the Summit about migration governance in the country and the need to hold the SADC dialogue on the matter including the pull and push factors and related security matters,” Cabinet said. 

The issue formed part of South Africa’s broader efforts to strengthen regional cooperation on migration management and related security matters.

Angola phase of exile repatriation programme launched

Cabinet also welcomed the launch of the Angola phase of South Africa’s Exile Repatriation Programme to locate and repatriate the remains of South Africans who died in exile during the liberation struggle.

The initiative forms part of the country’s Five-Year Exile Repatriation Plan.

Angola has the largest known concentration of South Africans who died in exile, with more than 400 possible graves identified.

Cabinet called on families whose loved ones died, disappeared or were buried in Angola during the liberation struggle to register with the South African Heritage Resources Agency through its Exile Repatriation Portal.

Families requiring assistance can also register at SAHRA offices, Freedom Park, provincial Department of Sport, Arts and Culture offices and through military veterans’ structures.

Cabinet also welcomed the repatriation of the remains of 86 Namibians, including liberation heroes Festus Nehale and Simon Niilenge, who died in detention after being imprisoned on Robben Island.

The remains, which were removed from Namibia more than a century ago and subjected to unethical colonial-era experiments, will be reburied at Namibia’s Heroes’ Acre.

“Cabinet welcomed the repatriation as an important act of restorative justice that honours liberation heroes and provides closure to their descendants,” Cabinet said. 

Cabinet concerned over sexual offences

Cabinet has approved the submission to Parliament of the 2025/26 Annual Reports on the implementation of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act, 2007.

Cabinet raised concerns over the still high statistics relating to rape and other sexual offences highlighted in the report, despite multiple government interventions.

It directed the strengthening of multidisciplinary initiatives under the National Strategic Plan on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide.

The coordinated response will involve the criminal justice, health, social development and education sectors, with a focus on prevention, victim support, offender accountability and the protection of vulnerable groups.

Cabinet also approved the submission to Parliament of the 2025/26 Annual Reports on the implementation of the Child Justice Act, 2008.

Cabinet directed that more efforts must be made to strengthen the coordinated approach to prevent offences against children.  – SAnews.gov.za

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