English – Page 29 – MIL Africa Engine

October 15, 2026

Qatar Affirms Commitment to UNHCR Strategic Partnership Through Continued Support for Humanitarian Responses

Source: Government of Qatar

Geneva | October 14, 2026

The State of Qatar emphasized that, over the past several years, it has strengthened its position as a strategic partner of the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) through its continued support for humanitarian responses to emergencies worldwide.

This support has helped bolster UNHCR-led programs across numerous fields, enabling more than 9.5 million refugees, forcibly displaced people, and members of host communities around the world to access essential assistance, services, and protection.

This was highlighted in remarks delivered by Second Secretary at the Permanent Mission of the State of Qatar to the United Nations Office in Geneva Abdulaziz Mohammed Al Mansouri, during the general debate at the 77th session of the Executive Committee of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), convened in Geneva.

The State of Qatar is grateful for the efforts led by UNHCR under the leadership of HE High Commissioner for Refugees Dr. Barham Salih to coordinate international efforts to protect refugees and build a better future for them, Al Mansouri said.

Al Mansouri vigorously condemned attempts to forcibly displace the Palestinian people or alter the geographic and demographic character of the occupied Palestinian territory. He called on the international community to compel Israel to halt its settlement and expansionist plans.

UNRWA must be supported, and a just solution to the issue of Palestinian refugees must be found in accordance with international law and relevant UN resolutions, he stressed.

Marking the 75th anniversary of the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, Al Mansouri eloquently underscored the importance of strengthening international protection for refugees and upholding international law.

The State of Qatar has supported the implementation of the Global Compact on Refugees and hopes that the 2027 Global Refugee Forum will provide an opportunity to renew commitments and expand partnerships, Al Mansouri pointed out.

He asserted that Qatar continues to strengthen its cooperation with the United Nations and its agencies and organizations while pursuing humanitarian and development efforts to support refugees and forcibly displaced people worldwide.

This commitment stems from Qatar’s belief that international solidarity is a shared responsibility and that protecting human dignity and meeting essential needs must remain at the core of the international response, Al Mansouri underlined.

Al Mansouri clarified that from 2012 through June 2026, the Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD) provided more than USD 544 million in aid to refugees and host countries, with funding distributed across multiple sectors, particularly education, health, relief, and economic growth.

The Education Above All (EAA) Foundation has recently renewed its cooperation with UNHCR to help 200,000 refugee children who are out of school gain access to education by 2028, he recalled.

Al Mansouri noted that the Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS) and UNHCR have completed a QFFD-backed project designed to bolster access to health care and strengthen the referral system for Syrian refugees in Jordan, ensuring that patients receive specialized and emergency health services.

Qatar Charity and UNHCR signed two agreements in June 2026, totaling approximately USD 844,808, to support more than 15,000 of the most vulnerable forcibly displaced people in Lebanon and the Middle East and North Africa region, Al Mansouri continued.

Al Mansouri further stressed that the State of Qatar has held that preventive diplomacy, mediation, and the peaceful resolution of conflicts deserve special emphasis. He affirmed that Qatar continues to leverage its diplomatic efforts to support pathways to peace and reconciliation.

This approach stems from Qatar’s belief that ending conflicts and addressing the antecedents that give rise to them offer a viable off-ramp to preventing forced displacement over the long term and creating conditions that enable refugees and displaced people to return voluntarily and rebuild their lives, Al Mansouri remarked.

For his part, HE Dr. Barham Salih thanked the State of Qatar for its partnership and unyielding support for refugees, particularly in education and in responding to emergency needs while upholding international law.

Dr. Salih hailed ongoing efforts to help refugee children enroll in school, as well as the goal of helping 200,000 refugee children who are out of school gain access to education by 2028, describing it as a noble goal.

He likewise praised the expansion of the partnership beyond the aforementioned initiative, reiterating his gratitude for the State of Qatar’s efforts to promote mediation, address the antecedents of conflicts, and maintain peace.

October 14, 2026

When false information moves faster than the facts: Rethinking government communication

Source: Government of South Africa

When false information moves faster than the facts: Rethinking government communication

By Zanele Mngadi

Government has put in place programmes and processes to ensure that the information it shares with the public is accurate, credible and verified. However, accuracy alone is not always enough to win the battle against misinformation and disinformation, finds a new study.

The study, which examined the role of social media management strategies in countering misinformation and disinformation within a national government department in South Africa, highlights the growing challenges government communicators face in the digital age. It drew on the experiences of nine communication practitioners who are directly involved in managing the department’s social media platforms.

One of the study’s key findings is that having accurate information does not necessarily guarantee that official information will be the first to reach the public or that citizens will engage with it.

Unlike unverified online content, government communication is guided by strict processes designed to ensure accuracy and accountability. Information must be verified, relevant stakeholders consulted and, where necessary, approvals obtained before any public response is issued. While these processes are essential in maintaining credibility and public confidence, the challenge, according to the study, is finding ways to respond quickly without compromising accuracy.

Misinformation and disinformation

The study also highlighted the importance of distinguishing between misinformation and disinformation. It adopted definitions used by the European Commission and UNESCO, which describe misinformation as false or misleading information shared without the intention to cause harm, while disinformation refers to deliberately false information shared with the intention to deceive. Although both can have harmful consequences, the distinction is important because each may require a different communication response.

Through semi-structured interviews with the nine communication practitioners, the study explored the strategies used to counter misinformation and disinformation, how these strategies are implemented in practice, the factors that influence their effectiveness and opportunities for improvement.

We cannot only communicate when something goes wrong

One of the study’s key findings was that countering misinformation and disinformation cannot be limited to correcting false information after it has already spread.

Participants indicated that the department uses a combination of proactive and reactive approaches, including disseminating accurate information, engaging with the public, monitoring the information environment and issuing corrective communication when necessary.

The study found that clear and consistent communication about government policies, programmes and services can help reduce the information gaps in which speculation, misinformation and disinformation are able to thrive.

The findings suggest that countering misinformation should not begin during a crisis, but should be embedded in everyday government communication efforts.

A strategy may be sound, but can we implement it quickly enough?

The research also highlighted the gap that can exist between having a strategy and being able to implement it effectively.

Communication practitioners operate within policies, guidelines, approval processes and coordination structures that are designed to ensure accuracy and accountability. Government cannot respond to an unverified claim with information that has not itself been verified.

However, the study found that limited capacity, coordination challenges and procedural delays can affect the effectiveness of the response. These internal challenges are compounded by the speed and complexity with which misinformation spreads across digital platforms.

One participant captured the challenge simply, citing:

“Slow turnaround times due to approval processes, which can allow misinformation to spread rapidly.”

The finding raises a critical question for the Public Service: how can government retain the checks and balances that protect the credibility of official communication without allowing those same processes to delay urgent responses?

The study does not suggest abandoning verification or approval procedures. Instead, it points to the need to assess whether existing processes are suited to the demands of the digital communication environment. This includes having clear mechanisms for verifying information, escalating urgent matters and securing approval when a rapid response is required. It is also important to ensure that decision-makers are available when issues arise.

While these may appear to be operational considerations, the study found that they can have a significant impact in the fast-paced social media environment. They can determine whether government engages in a developing conversation in real time or responds only after a false narrative has already gained traction.

Better tools help, but technology is not the whole answer

The study also points to the need for stronger monitoring capabilities and appropriate technology. Government communicators need to know what is being said, where conversations are taking place and when an emerging issue requires intervention.

Another participant highlighted a particular challenge:

“Closed platforms such as WhatsApp present additional challenges, as misinformation spreads in private groups that cannot be directly monitored.”

This means that even advanced monitoring tools cannot give communicators a complete picture of how misinformation and disinformation circulate. Information shared in private groups may only come to government’s attention when someone reports it or it appears on a public platform.

The study notes that technology can play an important role at a time when the volume of online information continues to grow. But technology cannot replace professional judgement. While monitoring tools can help identify emerging trends and potentially misleading content, communication practitioners must still interpret the information, understand the context and determine the most appropriate response.

One of the study’s conclusions is that strengthening technological capability must go hand in hand with strengthening the skills and capacity of the people managing government communication.

Trust matters as much as speed

Another issue that emerged strongly from the study was the importance of audience engagement and trust. Government may correct false information, but a correction will have limited value if the audience does not regard the source as credible.

One participant highlighted another important consideration: how official information is presented matters:

“A key challenge is that government messaging is often perceived as too formal and less engaging. Misinformation tends to gain more traction because it is presented in a more appealing or relatable way.”

Accuracy remains non-negotiable, but accuracy alone does not guarantee that people will notice, understand or engage with the information.

For government communicators, trust is not built only when misinformation appears. It is built through the everyday work of providing accurate information, responding to people, correcting mistakes when they occur and communicating in language that people can understand.

Publishing information is not necessarily the same as communicating it. People consume information differently and across different platforms. The responsibility is not only to make credible information available, but to make sure that it reaches people in forms that are accessible, relevant and useful to them.

A challenge for the Public Service

The research does not suggest that government is starting from scratch. Strategies, structures and communication practices already exist. Rather, the findings point to the need to strengthen and refine existing approaches.

The study recommends strengthening organisational capacity, improving coordination and response processes, enhancing technology and monitoring tools, and adopting a more audience-centred approach to communication.

The findings also reveal that misinformation and disinformation cannot be left to communication units alone. Communicators depend on programme managers, subject specialists and decision-makers to provide accurate information quickly. Effective responses, therefore, require cooperation across an institution.

The study ultimately underscores the important role of the Public Service in ensuring that reliable information remains accessible, visible and responsive to the needs of citizens.

The Public Service must be able to verify information, make decisions and communicate promptly when false claims emerge.

The responsibility remains the same: to provide the public with information that is accurate, credible and useful. What has changed is the speed at which this now needs to be done.

In an environment where false information can travel in minutes, the truth cannot routinely arrive hours or days later.

*Zanele Mngadi is the Head of Editorial and Production of Public Sector Manager magazine and Chief Director: Products and Platforms at the Government Communication and Information System. She conducted the study as part of her Bachelor of Public Administration Honours degree at MANCOSA

Matona
Wed, 10/14/2026 – 15:03

October 14, 2026

Director of the Media and Communication Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Participates in a Dialogue Session Organized by the Arab Cultural House in Berlin

Source: Government of Qatar

Berlin | 14 October 2026

Director of the Media and Communication Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mr. Ibrahim bin Sultan Al Hashmi, participated today in a dialogue session organized by the Arab Cultural House “Al Diwan” in Berlin, Federal Republic of Germany.

The dialogue session addressed regional and international developments, as well as the diplomatic efforts of the State of Qatar to de-escalate tensions and enhance security and stability in the region.

During the session, the Director of the Media and Communication Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs underscored the depth of the strategic relations between the State of Qatar and the Federal Republic of Germany, noting that these relations are based on the foundations of trust, mutual respect and constructive cooperation, as well as continuous coordination and consultation between the two countries on regional and international challenges.

Mr. Ibrahim Al-Hashmi stressed that dialogue and diplomacy gain greater importance in light of the exceptional circumstances facing the region and the escalation and growing challenges threatening regional and international security and stability. He affirmed that the State of Qatar’s diplomatic efforts are guided by the firm principle that dialogue, negotiations and peaceful means represent the best way to settling disputes, and that the continued escalation and the expansion of conflicts impose a collective responsibility to prioritize political solutions and intensify diplomatic efforts to address the root causes of crises and achieve sustainable security and stability.

October 14, 2026

IEC approves 2.65 million special vote applications ahead of Local Government Elections

Source: Government of South Africa

IEC approves 2.65 million special vote applications ahead of Local Government Elections

The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) says it has approved a record 2 655 067 special vote applications ahead of the 2026 Local Government Elections, representing a 131% increase compared with the 1 147 759 applications approved for the 2021 elections.

The special vote application period opened on 21 September and closed at 17h00 on 12 October 2026.

The approved applications fall into two categories: home visits for voters unable to travel to their voting stations due to physical infirmity or disability, and voting station-based special votes for voters who can physically reach their voting stations but cannot vote on Election Day.

Addressing media in Pretoria on Wednesday, the Commission’s Chief Electoral Commission, Sy Mamabolo, said the Commission had approved 678 525 home visit applications, an increase of 171 118, or 33.7%, compared with the 507 407 approved in 2021.

According to Mamabolo, KwaZulu-Natal recorded the highest number of approved home visit applications, at 143 714.

“Most applications, totalling 2 426 066, were submitted through online platforms, while 171 214 manually submitted applications had been captured at IEC offices. The capturing process is being finalised, with completion targeted for 16 October 2026,” Mamabolo said.

Mamabolo said based on figures captured thus far, Gauteng has recorded the highest number of approved special votes, at 480 721, followed by the Eastern Cape, with 401 971. KwaZulu-Natal recorded 348 971, Limpopo 341 623, Mpumalanga 292 775 and the Western Cape 291 866.

The remaining provinces recorded 235 733 applications in the North West, 132 088 in the Free State and 129 319 in the Northern Cape.

The Commission’s analysis also shows distinct age and gender patterns among special vote applicants. Women account for 74% of home visit applications and 64% of voting station visit applications.

“Age data for home visits shows that voters aged 60 years and older account for 79.6% of all home visit applications, with the 70 – 79 age cohort representing the largest segment.

“The data, therefore, indicates that home visits are predominantly utilised by older voters, particularly older female voters. The voting station visits display a relatively younger and more gender-balanced profile,” Mamabolo said.

Mamabolo said Gauteng recorded the highest numbers of special vote applicants among both women and men, with 305 586 female applicants and 172 200 male applicants. The Eastern Cape followed, with 267 539 female and 137 550 male applicants.

Special voting will take place on 2 and 3 November 2026, ahead of Election Day on 4 November.

Election Results System audit

Mamabolo said as part of its preparations, the Commission provided political party contestants with access to the Election Results System from 5 – 12 October following an external and independent audit and the implementation of remedial measures.

The exercise was intended to allow contestants to test the system’s integrity, functionality, security and reliability.

Ballot paper production

Mamabolo said the printing of ballot papers is underway, with more than 66% of the 79 million ballots already printed.

“The production is expected to conclude by Sunday, 18 October 2026. The Commission has distributed the bulk of non-security election materials to local municipalities in readiness for the special voting on 2 and 3 November and Election Day on 4 November,” Mamabolo said.

Mamabolo said all 23 696 voting stations have been secured, with leases concluded for 22 659 permanent voting stations.

“Arrangements are being finalised to establish temporary infrastructure at 1 005 temporary stations and to support 33 mobile voting stations.

“The Commission has also finalised the locations of the National and Provincial Results Operation Centres (ROCs),” he said.

The Commission has encouraged voters to familiarise themselves with the voting process and make the necessary preparations to ensure a smooth experience at the polls. – SAnews.gov.za

Edwin
Wed, 10/14/2026 – 15:47

October 14, 2026

One third of food is lost or wasted: how to help farmers cut post-harvest losses

Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Abeeb Babatunde Omotoso, Senior Lecturer at Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology, Igboora, Nigeria and Extraordinary Senior Lecturer at Indigenous Knowledge Systems Centre, North-West University, Mafikeng, South Africa, North-West University

Agriculture in the global south remains under pressure to produce more food while responding to climate change and resource constraints. Policy responses have focused on increasing production. But what about post-harvest losses? Globally, about one-third of food produced for human consumption is estimated to be lost or wasted.

The problem was examined in a recent paper by agriculture, indigenous knowledge and food security researchers.

What are the main drivers of these losses?

Our research was based on examining 324 studies on the scale, causes and drivers of post-harvest losses across food commodities and regions of the global south.

We found that the evidence is fragmented and uneven. In addition, estimating the true scale is difficult because studies measure losses differently. They examine different commodities and stages of the value chain and use different indicators and methods. Research has also concentrated heavily on storage losses in major staples such as maize, rice and pulses. That has left evidence gaps for fruits, vegetables, roots and tubers, animal products and other foods.

But we were able to identify some patterns.

Firstly, post-harvest losses occur throughout the food supply chain, from harvesting and handling to transportation, storage, processing and marketing.

Secondly, there’s substantial variation among food groups. For example, without interventions, estimated losses were about 27.7% of cereals, 35.1% of vegetables, 25.8% of fruits and 42.9% of roots and tubers. With appropriate mitigation measures, such as improved harvesting and handling practices, hermetic storage technologies, cold-chain infrastructure, better packaging, and enhanced processing and transportation systems, these fell to about 8.2%, 7.3%, 6.2% and 11.5%, respectively.

These figures illustrate the scale of variation and the potential for reduction.

Thirdly, post-harvest losses are rarely caused by a single factor. Our study identified interconnected infrastructure, technological, environmental, financial and market constraints.

Poor roads, inadequate warehouses, limited cold storage and inefficient transport expose food to physical damage and spoilage. Inadequate drying, packaging and handling add to these losses. Climate variability increases the risk: high temperatures, excessive moisture, floods and droughts can accelerate deterioration.

What are the four biggest challenges – and opportunities?

First is measuring losses accurately. Before governments can decide where to invest, they need reliable information about where losses occur and how large they are. Standardised, region- and commodity-specific methods for measuring post-harvest losses would make evidence more comparable and help governments target resources more effectively.

Researchers, national statistical agencies, governments, international organisations and commodity-sector stakeholders should work together to develop these methods. National statistical offices, agricultural research institutions, universities, extension services and value-chain organisations can then gather the evidence through:

farm and household surveys
field-based measurement
storage and market assessments
monitoring across different stages of the supply chain.

Second is infrastructure that keeps food moving and preserves its quality. Storage facilities, rural roads, processing facilities and cold chains are not secondary agricultural infrastructure. They are part of the food-production system. The evidence shows that improved storage, drying, packaging and cold-chain systems substantially reduce losses, improve farmers’ incomes and increase access to higher-value markets.

Third is making appropriate technologies affordable and combining them with Indigenous knowledge. Not every solution needs to be high-tech. Hermetic storage (airtight sealing), solar drying, improved packaging and low-cost cooling can complement practices such as drying, smoking, salting and fermentation.

These approaches would be more accessible to smallholders when adapted to local conditions. They can be encouraged through practical demonstrations and locally adapted training. Training avenues include farmer extension services, demonstration farms, farmer organisations and cooperatives, local processors, NGOs, private-sector suppliers and digital platforms.

Fourth is finance, extension and inclusive innovation. Many smallholder farmers lack the finance and technical support needed to invest in improved storage and processing technologies. Price fluctuations and harvest gluts leave farmers with more produce than markets can absorb, increasing the losses of perishable foods before they are sold. Credit constraints can prevent farmers from adopting post-harvest technologies.

Governments and financial institutions can lower barriers through targeted subsidies, affordable loans, grants and risk-sharing machanisms. Extension services should also help farmers choose, use and maintain appropriate technologies.

Women play important roles in post-harvest handling. They need to be explicitly included in technology design, training and financing. This can be done through:

agricultural and financial policies that require women’s representation in technology design and extension programmes
improving their access to credit, subsidies and training
mandated monitoring of how men and women adopt and benefit from technology.

How could priorities be funded?

The evidence suggests that funding shouldn’t only focus on buying technologies. Public investment could support rural infrastructure, research, extension and enabling policies. Development finance could provide grants, concessional loans and guarantees for post-harvest investments. Private-sector partnerships can help with storage, processing, logistics and cold-chain services where viable markets exist.

Funding should move beyond isolated technology projects such as one-off storage or processing equipment schemes. It should support integrated programmes combining technology, farmer training, finance, market access and maintenance services. Investments should support entire value chains, linking farmers to storage, processing, transport and reliable markets. This would make post-harvest loss reduction part of broader food security, climate resilience and rural development strategies.

The central message from our research is simple: feeding a growing population is not only about producing more food. It’s also about losing less of what farmers already produce.

– One third of food is lost or wasted: how to help farmers cut post-harvest losses
– https://theconversation.com/one-third-of-food-is-lost-or-wasted-how-to-help-farmers-cut-post-harvest-losses-293555

October 14, 2026

Spotlight on agricultural innovation ahead of World Food Day

Source: Government of South Africa

Spotlight on agricultural innovation ahead of World Food Day

Innovation in agriculture and sustainable food production will take centre stage at the 2026 World Food Day commemoration, where government and its partners will showcase initiatives aimed at strengthening food security, improving livelihoods and combating hunger.

The event will be held at Tosca Village, in the Kagisano-Molopo Local Municipality in the North West, on 16 October 2026, in partnership with the national Department of Agriculture, the North West Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, and the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO).

Agriculture Minister Willie Aucamp and North West MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development Madoda Sambatha will lead the commemoration, which will bring together government leaders, farmers, community members, development partners and other stakeholders.

Held under the theme: “Innovate Today. Nourish Tomorrow”, this year’s World Food Day commemoration will highlight the role of innovation in improving agricultural production, building resilient food systems and ensuring sustainable access to food.

The North West province was selected to host the national event, in light of food security challenges in parts of the province, as highlighted in the Food and Nutrition Security Survey Report.

The commemoration will showcase practical interventions to increase food production, support vulnerable households and encourage communities to participate in sustainable agricultural activities, with support from government and its partners.

Several food security projects will also be launched as part of ongoing efforts to improve access to food, strengthen livelihoods and contribute to the eradication of hunger. – SAnews.gov.za

GabiK
Wed, 10/14/2026 – 14:18

October 14, 2026

Love Your Street: Keep your community clean and safe!

Source: Government of South Africa

Love Your Street: Keep your community clean and safe!

With brooms in hand and refuse bags at the ready, Minister in The Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni has kicked off the latest event of the Love Your Street service delivery programme in Thembisa, in the Ekurhuleni Municipality.

The Minister – together with a delegation of government officials, civil society organisations and community members – rolled up her sleeves for the campaign aimed at improving cleanliness in neighbourhoods and community safety.

“It’s all our responsibility. At Brand SA we say: ‘Everyone must play their part’. To the municipality, we are saying that you have the responsibility to debush overgrown areas [trees and shrubs] and to also make sure that there are streetlights. The streetlights do not have to use great amounts of electricity; they can use solar electricity.

“Make sure that the environment is safe, and it’s fully lit for women and children to be able to walkabout safely,” the Minister said.

Ntshavheni addressed the prevalence of illegal dumping in the area, noting that cleanliness is a collective responsibility.

“If your refuse bags are full, don’t dump them illegally. Wait for the municipality to come and pick up the refuse weekly because we want to keep our cities clean … The municipality has a refuse removal service, which is weekly. It doesn’t mean when your refuse is full, you go and dump somewhere. You wait for the municipality to come and collect.

“This is not only a call to the municipality. We are here to solicit a partnership with communities to [curb] illegal dumping,” she said.

Keeping women safe

The visit to Thembisa, in the Ekurhuleni Municipality, the site of the recent discovery of the bodies of several women, marks the Minister’s second visit to the area in the past three weeks.

The shadow of that violence gives added impetus to the campaign’s message of safe, well-lit and clean public spaces.

READ | Ntshavheni leads Love Your Street campaign in Ekurhuleni

“This is supporting the effort of the IMC [Inter-Ministerial Committee] against GBVF [gender-based violence and femicide] in the country, because part of the programme they have adopted – as part of the National Strategic Plan against GBVF is ‘safety by environmental design’, meaning that we should be safe because our streets are safe and also clean.

“The women who were found [dead] – the majority of them were found in illegal dumping sites and some of their bodies were also in advanced stages of decomposition,” Ntshavheni noted.

Love Your Street campaigners cleaned the area next to the Thembisa South Police Station.

“We want to make sure that the police station is deemed as a safe space for women and for communities.

“We’re cleaning the area within the vicinity of the police station, and then we’ll go to the illegal dumping site because we have a clear fight against illegal dumping sites … [given that] terrible things happen there, and we want to encourage the communities not to dump illegally,” Ntshavheni said.

About the Love Your Street Campaign

The campaign was launched by The Presidency and the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) in the Western Cape earlier this year.

“The Love Your Street campaign forms part of government’s ongoing efforts to promote community pride, active citizenry, and clean and safe neighbourhoods,” the GCIS said in a statement.

“The campaign builds on initiatives such as the Clean Cities and Towns campaign, launched by Deputy President Paul Mashatile in 2025. It promotes partnerships between communities and municipalities to help keep cities and townships clean, including addressing illegal dumping and the problem of overgrown greenery.

“The Love Your Street campaign accelerates and strengthens effective, integrated service delivery interventions, including gender-based violence and femicide [GBVF] awareness by transforming neglected, poorly lit, overgrown parks and open spaces, identified as GBVF hotspots, into safe, clean community spaces, while educating community members about GBVF reporting mechanisms and available services,” the GCIS explained.

Tree planting and teaching

The Love Your Street campaign also accelerates the Presidential 1 Billion Trees planting campaign, which promotes a collaborative and inclusive approach to environmental sustainability, greening, climate resilience and community participation across all communities.

READ | One Billion Trees campaign improves lives, empowers communities

“We acknowledge the contribution of the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment [DFFE] … and as part of [the campaign], we are also planting trees because [the department has] a commitment of planting 1 billion trees, as tasked by the President.

“But, those trees are not just [planted] for their own sake. They are trees that show we want to have places where we gather; places that are safe and we want an environment and air that is clean,” Ntshavheni said.

Honing in on schools, the Minister emphasised that places of learning have a role to play to ensure that learners are taught to clean their own environments and keep their areas clean.

“Where I come from in the district of Vhembe, our schools have vegetable gardens. It doesn’t matter what [learners are] studying but they learn to feed themselves and to use the environment to feed themselves. They also run competitions of ‘the most beautiful flower gardens’. We want to work with the Ekurhuleni Municipality to make sure that we also get to that stage.

“In the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, there’s a programme they run, together with the DFFE, about the cleanest towns in the country, clean cities and clean streets. That’s what we want to get our country to be – the cleanest place because when it’s clean, it’s also safe. When it’s safe, it’s conducive for women and children to thrive,” Ntshavheni said. – SAnews.gov.za

NeoB
Wed, 10/14/2026 – 13:27

October 14, 2026

Mashatile urges trade unions to be at the forefront of AI

Source: Government of South Africa

Mashatile urges trade unions to be at the forefront of AI

Deputy President Paul Mashatile has called on trade unions to place themselves at the forefront of the transition to artificial intelligence by championing policies that put people at the centre of technological advancement.

“The rise of artificial intelligence presents organised labour with a historic challenge and opportunity. Those who anticipate change and prepare workers with the skills, protections and voice needed in the digital economy will help shape the future,” Mashatile said on Wednesday.

Speaking at the Federation of Unions of South Africa’s (FEDUSA) 8th National Congress in Johannesburg, he stressed that failure to do so could allow technological change to deepen inequality and exclusion.

“Those who fail to do so risk allowing technological change to deepen inequality and exclusion. Subsequently, trade unions must prepare to bargain over workplace data, technological restructuring and access to upskilling and reskilling. They must be able to represent workers in informal, digital and other insecure forms of employment,” Mashatile said.

He challenged FEDUSA to consider whether the institutions established to advance workers’ interests are fulfilling their purpose, noting that, despite the country’s laws, the labour market continues to reflect deep inequalities.

FEDUSA is one of South Africa’s recognised national trade union federations and represents workers across a wide range of industries in the public and private sectors.

“Despite our progressive labour laws, the labour market still reflects inequalities of race, gender and disability, particularly at senior management levels. Legislation alone will not achieve transformation.

“Employers must address unequal recruitment, pay disparities and inadequate skills development. Trade unions must actively monitor whether employment equity plans deliver results,” he said.

The Deputy President said transformation must be evident in the structure of the economy, rather than merely reflected in formal compliance.

Cost of living

Mashatile expressed concern about the rising cost of living, noting that electricity has become increasingly expensive.

He said government is therefore reviewing the electricity pricing policy to balance the needs of vulnerable households with the sustainability of supply and industrial competitiveness.

“We are also tackling poor maintenance, theft and weak revenue management in municipal distribution so that responsible consumers do not bear the burden of avoidable losses,” he said.

While government has made important progress in stabilising electricity generation, high electricity costs continue to constrain South Africa’s economic growth.

“Electricity has become increasingly expensive, weakening energy-intensive industries such as steel, ferroalloys and chemicals, and straining household incomes. We cannot build our industry without addressing electricity affordability,” the Deputy President said.

Job creation

Mashatile emphasised that South Africa’s most urgent national task is to achieve stronger economic growth and create jobs on a scale that substantially reduces poverty and inequality.

He said this was necessary in response to an economy that contracted by 0.2% in the second quarter of 2026, with the mining, manufacturing and trade sectors under considerable pressure.

About 8.5 million South Africans are unemployed, while the official unemployment rate has risen to 33.6%.

“These figures represent people unable to provide for their families, graduates unable to enter the labour market, and communities where opportunity is limited. When a factory closes, suppliers lose business, local enterprises lose customers and entire communities decline,” the Deputy President said.

He said the congress theme: “Reclaiming and Organising the Future: Workers’ Dignity, Power, and Justice through Conscious Unionism in an Age of Crisis,” should inspire both government and business.

“For government, it requires competent administration and accountability. For business, it requires responsible investment and fair employment practices. For organised labour, conscious unionism requires democratic leadership, accountability to members and ethical conduct.

“Government must show through its actions that it takes organised labour’s concerns seriously. We must create opportunities for young people, protect existing jobs, make electricity more affordable, expand industrial production and ensure that the transition to a sustainable economy is fair.

“Our democratic settlement was built on the conviction that negotiation could resolve differences. We must renew that conviction through our actions,” Mashatile said. –SAnews.gov.za

nosihle
Wed, 10/14/2026 – 13:54

October 14, 2026

North West Premier calls for accountability beyond compliance

Source: Government of South Africa

North West Premier calls for accountability beyond compliance

North West Premier Lazarus Kagiso Mokgosi has called on public institutions to move beyond mere compliance and embrace accountability, ethical leadership and good governance to improve audit outcomes and strengthen service delivery.

Speaking at the Auditor-General South Africa (AGSA) Public Finance Management Act (PFMA) Clean Audit Awards for the 2025/26 financial year in Rustenburg, Mokgosi emphasised that sustainable improvements in audit performance require strong leadership, effective oversight, timely corrective action and consequence management.

While clean audits demonstrate sound financial management and effective internal controls, Mokgosi noted that the ultimate measure of success is the impact of good governance on the lives of citizens.

“The purpose of accountability is not merely to satisfy auditors. The purpose of accountability is to improve lives,” Mokgosi said.

The Premier urged public officials and institutional leaders to take responsibility for their decisions and performance, stressing that compliance alone cannot eliminate recurring audit findings without a strong culture of accountability.

The Department of Finance achieved its 13th consecutive clean audit, while the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs obtained its first clean audit.

The North West Provincial Legislature achieved its third consecutive clean audit. The North West Gambling Board, Klein Marico Recreation Centre, and Donkervleit Recreation Centres were also among the state-owned entities recognised for their clean audit outcomes.

Addressing the gathering, AGSA North West Business Unit Leader, Mthokozisi Sibisi, said the awards recognise institutions that demonstrate good governance while reinforcing the standards required for continuous improvement.

“We are not just recognising excellence because the journey is complete, but because there is a need to pave the way for future improvements,” Sibisi said.

Finance MEC Kenetswe Mosenogi highlighted that 10 provincial departments, five state-owned entities and three municipalities are on the Project Clean Audit, led by Provincial Treasury, as part of efforts to improve audit outcomes across the province.

“A clean audit is possible for all of us. We just need to instil a culture of discipline and decisive consequence management and pay proper attention to the right things,” Mosenogi said.

The awards recognised and celebrated auditees that have strengthened internal controls, improved governance, and demonstrated a commitment to responsible public administration.

Mokgosi reaffirmed the importance of building transparent, ethical and effective institutions that use public resources responsibly and deliver tangible results for communities.

“The quality of our governance will determine the quality of our development. The strength of our accountability will determine the strength of our institutions. Let us lead with integrity, govern with purpose and deliver with excellence,” the Premier said. – SAnews.gov.za

GabiK
Wed, 10/14/2026 – 13:50

October 14, 2026

Minister of State for International Cooperation Meets Vice Foreign Minister of Venezuela

Source: Government of Qatar

Doha | October 14, 2026

HE Minister of State for International Cooperation Dr. Maryam bint Ali bin Nasser Al Misnad, met on Wednesday with HE Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs for Asia, the Middle East and Oceania of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Eduardo Ramirez, who is visiting the country.

During the meeting, they discussed cooperation relations between the two countries, in addition to several topics of mutual interest.

HE Vice Foreign Minister of Venezuela expressed his country’s gratitude to the State of Qatar for establishing an air bridge to support those affected by the two earthquakes that struck the Venezuelan capital of Caracas.