English – Page 303 – MIL Africa Engine

April 23, 2026

Sonangol’s Kátia Epalanga to Lead Muhatu as Angola Prioritizes Inclusive Growth

Source: APO – Report:

Kátia Epalanga, Executive Administrator of Angola’s national oil company Sonangol, has been appointed President of the Muhatu Energy Angola Management Network, in a move that reinforces the organization’s role at a pivotal stage in Angola’s oil and gas expansion. She succeeds Nicola Mvuayi – Executive Administrator at the National Oil, Gas & Biofuels Agency (ANPG) – as the country advances deepwater, gas and low-carbon projects that are reshaping workforce and leadership priorities across the sector.

Epalanga brings over 23 years of experience to the role, having held various executive roles at Sonangol and Angola’s Ministry of Mineral Resources, Petroleum and Gas. As a Senior Petroleum Installations Engineer with a Master’s degree in Chemical Engineering, Epalanga has also worked with major international oil companies, including Chevron and TotalEnergies. She worked with TotalEnergies on the engineering and execution of two FPSOs for the Kaombo project – Angola’s largest oil development.

Strengthening Inclusion, Women-Led Innovation

Established in 2022, Muhatu has emerged as a critical platform for advancing the participation of women across Angola’s oil and gas sector. The organization operates at the intersection of professional development, advocacy and industry alignment, working closely with operators, regulators and service companies to improve access, representation and leadership pathways for women.

Under its previous leadership, Muhatu focused on building institutional credibility and expanding its engagement with industry stakeholders. This included strengthening partnerships with national entities such as Sonangol and the ANPG, while promoting mentorship and skills development initiatives. The organization also played a role in aligning gender inclusion with broader local content policies, ensuring that workforce development strategies reflected Angola’s long-term industrial objectives.

Epalanga’s appointment signals a continuation – and likely an acceleration – of this agenda. Her leadership comes with expectations of deeper industry integration, particularly as projects become more technically complex and capital intensive. The next phase for Muhatu will require moving beyond advocacy into measurable outcomes: increased female representation in technical roles, stronger participation in project execution and greater visibility in leadership positions.

A Critical Time for the Market

Epalanga’s appointment comes at a critical time for Angola, as the country looks towards sustaining production above one million barrels per day through accelerated exploration and brownfield developments. The country is actively repositioning its oil and gas sector through a combination of regulatory reform, aggressive licensing rounds and targeted investments in both oil and gas infrastructure. At the same time, projects are becoming more diversified – spanning ultra-deepwater developments, gas monetization and emerging low-carbon technologies such as carbon capture integration.

Within this evolving landscape, the demand for a skilled, adaptable and inclusive workforce is rising. Muhatu is positioned to address this shift by expanding the talent pool and ensuring broader participation by women across the oil and gas industry. This alignment will be visible at the upcoming Angola Oil & Gas (AOG) Conference and Exhibition – taking place September 9-10 with a pre-conference day on September 8. As the premier platform for the oil and gas sector, the event positions local content and inclusion at the forefront of discussions on Angola’s oil and gas future.

As a long-term participant at the event, Muhatu plays a central role in reinforcing the role of women in the sector. Epalanga’s appointment gives Muhatu a stronger mandate heading into the event, elevating its role from participant to strategic voice in discussions around talent, inclusion and execution capacity. In this context, the leadership change is not peripheral – it aligns directly with the industry’s immediate priorities and the outcomes AOG is designed to drive.

– on behalf of Energy Capital & Power.

April 23, 2026

Africa Strengthens Foundations to Lead Its Own Financing as Domestic Pools Surpass External Flows, Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) Report Shows

Source: APO – Report:

Africa’s development challenge is increasingly shifting from capital raising to productive capital deployment in infrastructure and industry, according to AFC’s State of Africa’s Infrastructure Report 2026
Non-bank domestic capital pools now exceed US$2 trillion, surpassing ~US$1.7 trillion in cumulative external flows to Africa (2014–2024)
Official development assistance fell from US$83.8 billion in 2020 to US$73.5 billion in 2023, with further declines expected for 2025–2026
Sovereign issuance dropped from over US$29 billion in 2018 to US$4–6 billion annually in 2022–2023, with only limited recovery through 2024–2025
Domestic pension and insurance assets crossed US$1 trillion for first time
Central bank reserves at US$530 billion in 2025, from US$480 billion in 2024
Gold now represents ~17% of reserves, up from less than 10% in 2022–2023
Africa’s biggest infrastructure opportunity lies in integrated systems—connecting energy, transport, industry and digital layers into demand‑anchored ecosystems that improve bankability and enable scale

Africa’s domestic capital base has reached a scale that now exceeds external financing flows over the past decade, marking a turning point in how the continent funds its growth and industrialisation, according to the Africa Finance Corporation’s (www.AfricaFC.org) State of Africa’s Infrastructure Report 2026.

SAIR 2026 finds that cumulative external flows to Africa totalled approximately US$1.7 trillion between 2014 and 2024, while Africa’s non-bank domestic capital pools exceed US$2 trillion. The implication is clear: African capital now has a stronger foundation to play a significantly larger role in financing the continent’s development.

Launched at The Africa We Build Summit in Nairobi, co-hosted by AFC and H.E. Dr William Samoei Ruto, President of the Republic of Kenya, the SAIR 2026 report argues that the overarching development priority has shifted from capital mobilisation to intermediation—converting savings into infrastructure, industry, and productive investment at scale.

“The constraint is no longer capital—it is intermediation,” Samaila Zubairu, President & CEO of AFC, said at the The Africa We Build Summit today. “We have the savings, but not yet the systems to channel them into infrastructure and industry at scale. Closing that gap is now Africa’s most important economic task. The next phase of Africa’s infrastructure story must move beyond standalone assets towards integrated systems.”

Local Capital on the Rise

Driving the increase in domestic institutional capital, pension and insurance assets have surpassed US$1 trillion for the first time. Public development bank assets stand at US$276 billion, and sovereign wealth funds at US$164 billion, while central bank reserves increased from US$480 billion in 2024 to US$530 billion in 2025.

This increase has been supported in part by stronger commodity dynamics and rising gold accumulation. Gold now represents approximately 17% of Africa’s total reserves, up from less than 10% in 2022–2023, while physical holdings rose from 663 tonnes in 2022 to an estimated 738 tonnes in 2025.

Despite its increased scale, domestic capital remains largely concentrated in short-term, low-risk assets—particularly government securities—reflecting limited investable pipelines, regulatory incentives favouring liquidity, and insufficient risk-sharing mechanisms. The result is a persistent gap between available savings and long-term productive investment.

External Financing Recedes

At the same time, external financing is becoming less reliable, reinforcing the case for a domestic capital-led development model. Official development assistance to Africa fell from US$83.8 billion in 2020 to US$73.5 billion in 2023 and is projected to decline further. The OECD estimates global official development assistance fell 23.1% in 2025, the largest annual contraction on record.

Sovereign issuance remains well below pre-2019 levels, falling from over US$29 billion in 2018 to US$4–6 billion annually in 2022–2023, while foreign direct investment has remained concentrated at roughly US$45–55 billion annually, insufficient to meet the continent’s broad investment needs.

As a result, external capital is increasingly complementary, rather than foundational , to Africa’s development model.

From Assets to Integrated Systems

The biggest potential for capital deployment lies in demand-driven integrated infrastructure, according to SAIR 2026. In transport and logistics, corridors deliver the greatest value when designed as production ecosystems rather than transit routes—linking ports, rail, roads, logistics, storage, and trade facilitation to industrial demand. A continental backbone is already taking shape; the opportunity now is to improve performance, execution, and coordination.

This is particularly evident in East Africa. Mombasa—one of Africa’s busiest ports—handles more than 45 million tonnes of cargo annually, while rail investments are extending connectivity inland, including along the Naivasha–Kisumu corridor. In aviation, SAIR 2026 identifies air transport as the most immediate and scalable lever for integration. Across Kenya, Rwanda, and Ethiopia, aviation contributes a combined US$5.5 billion to GDP and supports around one million jobs, demonstrating how connectivity can rapidly translate into trade and growth.

Similarly, in energy, the priority is no longer incremental capacity additions alone, but integrated systems combining generation, transmission, storage, fuels, and industrial demand. Cross-border infrastructure such as the Ethiopia–Kenya interconnector shows how regional systems can move power to where it is needed most and improve system-wide efficiency.

Resilience Gap

Recent shocks—from Russia–Ukraine to the 2026 Gulf crisis—underscore the cost of fragmented systems and the urgency of building domestic processing, storage, and supply-chain resilience. The continent continues to import over 70% of its refined fuel and faces an estimated US$230 billion annual import bill across essential goods—including fuel, food, plastics, steel, and fertiliser, according to SAIR 2026.

In digital infrastructure, while connectivity has expanded rapidly, the next opportunity lies in building the “missing middle”—terrestrial backbone networks, metro fibre, data centres, Internet Exchange Points, and enterprise platforms that convert connectivity into productivity, services exports, and job creation.

Across all sectors and African countries, the report’s conclusion is consistent: the development challenge is increasingly institutional and systemic. Capital exists, and infrastructure assets are expanding. The next breakthrough will come from linking finance, energy, transport, industry, and digital systems into coherent ecosystems capable of supporting growth at scale.

“Africa is not capital-poor—it is capital-rich but system-poor,” said Zubairu. “The priority must be to build the institutions, instruments, and project pipelines required to deploy that capital into infrastructure and industry at scale.”

– on behalf of Africa Finance Corporation (AFC).

Media Enquiries:
Yewande Thorpe
Communications
Africa Finance Corporation
Mobile: +234 1 279 9654
Email: yewande.thorpe@africafc.org

About AFC:
AFC was established in 2007 to be the catalyst for pragmatic infrastructure and industrial investments across Africa. AFC’s approach combines specialist industry expertise with a focus on financial and technical advisory, project structuring, project development, and risk capital to address Africa’s infrastructure development needs and drive sustainable economic growth.

Eighteen years on, AFC has developed a track record as the partner of choice in Africa for investing and delivering on instrumental, high-quality infrastructure assets that provide essential services in the core infrastructure sectors of energy, natural resources, heavy industry, transport, and telecommunications. AFC has 48 member countries and has invested over US$19 billion in 36 African countries since its inception.

www.AfricaFC.org

Media files

April 23, 2026

Mozambique ‘sky island’ expeditions found 4 new species of chameleon – already at risk from forest loss

Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Krystal Tolley, Principal Scientist, University of Johannesburg

Tropical rainforests are known for their unique biodiversity, with species found nowhere else on Earth. But nearly 30% of tropical rainforest has been destroyed or has become seriously degraded since 1990. Many of these forests have not been fully explored for their biodiversity. This means that the world may be losing species before they are even discovered by modern science.

In Africa, forest loss is rapid; about 25% of the continent’s tropical forest has been lost since 1990, against a backdrop of incomplete knowledge of where the biodiversity is located.

Greatly lagging in this respect are the “sky islands” of northern Mozambique: isolated granite mountains that rise sharply out of the savanna plains. They were left standing when softer rock around them gradually eroded, and can be as high as 3,000 metres elevation. Because they rise so steeply, the sky islands attract clouds and rainfall, feeding moisture to the tropical rainforests on their slopes within an otherwise arid terrain. Isolation has allowed unique species to evolve on each mountain, such as geckos, rodents, fishes, crabs, frogs, butterflies and bats.

Mount Inago. Krystal Tolley, CC BY

Small patch of remaining pristine rainforest at Mount Inago. Krystal Tolley, CC BY

From 2014 to 2018, a research team led by fellow herpetologist Werner Conradie and myself explored these sky island forests to catalogue the species of reptiles found there. We found that each sky island forest is home to a previously unknown species of chameleon within the genus Nadzikambia (forest-dwelling “sylvan chameleons”).

Unfortunately, these chameleons are already at risk of extinction due to the heavy slash-and-burn clearing of the forests, the only place they can call home.

We’ve described these new species, choosing four names to highlight pioneering women scientists whose work inspired us to strive towards new discoveries, but also to call attention to the losses of their forest habitat.

Hunting for chameleons

Over the course of several years, we explored four of Mozambique’s sky islands – Mount Namuli, Mount Inago, Mount Chiperone and Mount Ribáuè – with the aim of cataloguing all reptiles but also in the hopes of finding new species of chameleons. This was because a species of sylvan chameleon had been discovered on one of these mountains during the 1960s, but they were not known from any other mountains.

However, chameleons can be very difficult to find, given their ability to remain camouflaged against the background coupled with their slow movements. They are more easily spotted at night while they are sleeping, as they stand out against the vegetation when illuminated by a strong beam of light. Sylvan chameleons are even more difficult to spot than others, as they usually perch high in the thick forest canopy – tens of metres up.

The search meant dealing with some tough conditions: a long, arduous trek up the hot, arid slopes to reach the forest high up the mountain. Establishing a remote base camp was essential. All food, clothes and gear had to be packed into the camp, and we didn’t know how long it would take to find any animals.

At each of these mountains, we surveyed every night for chameleons – no trails to follow, no GPS signal to guide us, no cellphone signal to call for help.

Sometimes we were lucky and found chameleons on the first or second night. At other mountains we were not so lucky, with fruitless searches making it necessary to return another year.

Eventually these mountains revealed their secrets and we discovered four new species of sylvan chameleon, one on each of the four mountains.

Slash-and-burn clearing of rainforest at Mount Inago. Krystal Tolley, CC BY

We don’t know how big their populations are, but we assume they are in decline. Most of their habitat has been destroyed by forest clearing to make way for agriculture, with increasingly rapid losses in the last decade. We estimate that in some cases, 80%-90% of their habitat has been destroyed.

When parts of an ecosystem are lost, the whole becomes unstable and is eventually lost.

Choosing names for the new species

To highlight their predicament, we have described and named these chameleons and have forecast that three of these species are at high risk of extinction.

In particular, we highlight Nadzikambia goodallae from Mount Ribáuè. This species has been named in honour of the distinguished scientist Jane Goodall, whose own study species, the chimpanzee, is under similar pressures from loss of its rainforest habitat.

Female sylvan chameleon (Nadzikambia goodallae) from Mount Ribáuè. Krystal Tolley, CC BY

We also honour the renowned discoverer of the structure of DNA, Rosalind Franklin, by naming the species from Mount Namuli as Nadzikambia franklinae. The use of DNA data from these chameleons was essential to confirm them as new species.

Nadzikambia franklinae from Mount Namuli. Werner Conradie, CC BY

We have dubbed the species from Mount Inago as Nadzikambia evanescens, meaning “vanishing” in Latin, acknowledging the state of the forest destruction.

Male sylvan chameleon (Nadzikambia evanescens) from Mount Inago. Krystal Tolley, CC BY

The final species, Nadzikambia nubila, is named for the cloudy aspect of Mount Chiperone. This species has a lower risk of extinction given that the local community view the forest as sacred, and say it should be protected.

Female sylvan chameleon (Nadzikambia nubila) from Mount Chiperone. Krystal Tolley, CC BY

This latter case is significant, as it demonstrates that wholesale destruction of these forests is not an essential trade-off for local people to thrive. If encouraged and supported, community support and buy-in can be a solution to protect biodiversity in these sensitive ecosystems.

– Mozambique ‘sky island’ expeditions found 4 new species of chameleon – already at risk from forest loss
– https://theconversation.com/mozambique-sky-island-expeditions-found-4-new-species-of-chameleon-already-at-risk-from-forest-loss-279908

April 23, 2026

SA, Mexico to renew rivalry in 2026 World Cup opener

Source: Government of South Africa

SA, Mexico to renew rivalry in 2026 World Cup opener

When Bafana Bafana walk onto the pitch for the opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in June, it will mark exactly 16 years since South Africa, as host nation, kicked off the first World Cup on African soil against Mexico in Johannesburg.

Fast forward to 11 June 2026, and history repeats itself — with the same two nations meeting again in the tournament’s opening fixture, this time with South Africa playing away in Mexico.

“The same two countries. The same opening fixture. Exactly 16 years later. That is not a coincidence that football often gives you. When history hands you a gift like that, you do something with it,” the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, said on Thursday in Pretoria during a media briefing.

As part of commemorating the historic encounter, the two countries will stage a Legends rematch on 8 June 2026 — three days before the official opener.

The legends of the 2010 Bafana Bafana squad are set to face their Mexican counterparts in Pachuca, Mexico, revisiting the iconic clash from the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

“The South African Football Association (SAFA) and the South African Masters and Legends Football Association have been working together to identify 20 of the players and team management from the 2010 squad. The playing kit will be secured by SAFA through its sponsor, Adidas,” the Minister said.

The match will be hosted in partnership with Pachuca, home to Club Pachuca, one of Mexico’s most historic football clubs.

“We are deeply grateful to Pachuca for the role they are playing in making this possible. This is not a match happening next to the World Cup. This is a match happening because two football nations, with a shared moment in history, decided to honour that moment properly,” McKenzie said.

Following the match, the South African Legends will remain in Mexico to host coaching clinics on 9 and 10 June, sharing their experience with young Mexican players and South African diaspora footballers.

They will also attend the opening match on 11 June before returning home the following day.

Ekhaya Centre to showcase SA culture

To promote South Africa’s culture and talent, the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, in partnership with Brand South Africa and SA Tourism, will host the Ekhaya Centre at the Centro Nacional de las Artes in Mexico City.

“Ekhaya will be a place to watch football. It will be a place to see South African art, to hear South African music, to eat South African food. It will be a media centre for the journalists covering Bafana’s campaign.

“It will be a fan park and a fan engagement space. It will be a venue for business and investment networking – because when our flag is flying, our economy should be working alongside it,” the Minister said.

South Africa will also participate at the Aldea Global centre in Mexico City, alongside exhibitions from the 48 participating nations, with up to 20 South African artists set to perform.

Additional activation centres will be hosted in Atlanta and Monterrey, aligned with Bafana Bafana’s match schedule, to further boost fan engagement and promote South Africa on the global stage.

Cultural ambassadors to travel with the team

The department will also support South African artists to perform at the Ekhaya Centre and other activation hubs.

“We will be supporting South African chefs to cater to our fans, our guests, and curious Mexicans who want to experience South African cuisine. We will also support local podcasters and journalists to cover the tournament and tell our story in our own voices.

“To the South African journalists, podcasters and influencers travelling with us: you are not going to Mexico on holiday. You are going to render a service to your country.

“You will be telling South Africans, in their own voices and on their own platforms, what their players are doing on the world stage. That role is not always adequately recognised in this country, and it should be,” the Minister said.

Details of the selection process will be announced by the department in the coming days. –SAnews.gov.za

nosihle
Thu, 04/23/2026 – 15:05

April 23, 2026

Women in science – global study finds presence without power

Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Marie-Francoise Roy, emerita professor in mathematics

Academia isn’t strong on gender equality. Women are under-represented throughout, in the research workforce and even more so as leaders in scientific organisations. This is true for science academies (prestigious bodies within national science systems) and scientific unions (international organisations representing disciplinary communities).

Women today make up nearly a third of the global research workforce. According to Unesco, they accounted for 31.1% of researchers worldwide in 2022 – up from 29.4% in 2012. Women are particularly underrepresented in engineering and technology (one quarter or less), while gender balance is largely achieved in the social sciences and humanities.

But workforce representation does not automatically translate into senior or leadership positions. A recent global study shows that women remain underrepresented in organisations that influence scientific agendas and norms, recognise scientific excellence and advise governments.

This 2026 report is based on data from more than 130 scientific academies and international scientific unions, alongside a survey of nearly 600 scientists. It was produced by the International Science Council, the InterAcademy Partnership and the Standing Committee for Gender Equality in Science, and follows studies in 2015 and 2020. I was one of the authors of the 2026 report, with Léa Nacache and Catherine Jami.

National science academies illustrate the scale of the gender gap. In 2025, women represented on average 19% of members of these bodies. That is an improvement from the results of the two previous studies – 12% in 2015 and 16% in 2020. But it still falls well below their presence in the wider research community. And the global average masks sharp disparities: in some academies, women account for fewer than 5% of members; in others, they approach 40%.

The task of international scientific unions is to help develop and structure their discipline, organise global congresses and award prizes. These unions show a somewhat different pattern from academies. On average, women now hold 40% of leadership positions in the international unions that were surveyed. But here, too, progress is uneven. Long-standing disciplinary inequalities remain, particularly for the most prestigious scientific awards.

Our report looks at the reasons for these patterns, how institutions operate in practice, and how change could be achieved.

The findings matter because scientific academies and unions play a significant role in the governance of science. Persistent gender imbalances in these bodies, therefore, raise questions not only of fairness, but of legitimacy and effectiveness. The legitimacy of science depends in part on whether its institutions reflect the diversity of the scientific community. And legitimacy is important in a context of global challenges – from climate change to pandemics – where public trust in science is fragile.

Beyond pipeline effects

Gender disparities in scientific leadership are often explained as a lagging effect: if fewer women entered certain fields decades ago, fewer will now be in senior positions or eligible for nominations in academies or for scientific prizes. Pipeline dynamics do play a role, as do traditional disciplinary gaps. But they do not explain the full picture.

Most scientific organisations report formally open and merit-based nomination, election and awarding procedures. Yet, the data show that women are consistently underrepresented in nomination pools relative to their presence among eligible scientists.

Our analysis points to the importance of institutional processes. Who is eligible to nominate? How are suitable candidates identified? How transparent are the nomination criteria? How much weight is given to informal reputation and networks?

In 90% of the academies surveyed, nomination relies on existing members. In contexts where membership is already predominantly male, such procedures seem to perpetuate existing imbalances. Even in the absence of explicit discrimination, informal sponsorship networks and patterns of professional visibility influence who is put forward. Evaluation of who would make a good nominee is therefore shaped by social and institutional dynamics, and not solely by individual achievement and merit.

Our survey of the gender equality initiatives in place showed that encouragement and awareness-raising practices alone have had limited impact. They need to be accompanied by structural reforms. In most organisations, gender equality measures lack dedicated structures, formal mandates, budgets or monitoring mechanisms.

Participation without equal progression

The quantitative findings were complemented by survey responses from individual scientists active in scientific organisations. These provided insight into how the structural patterns operate in practice.

Women who join scientific organisations report participating at levels comparable to men. They serve on committees, attend meetings and contribute to activities. But we found that this engagement does not translate into equivalent progression or recognition.

Women are three times more likely than men to report barriers to advancement within their scientific organisation. Women are 4.5 times more likely than men to report missing important events due to care responsibilities. And when they are able to attend, they are six times more likely to report not feeling they can participate to the levels of men.

Women are 2.5 times more likely than men to report experiences of harassment or microaggressions in their activities within scientific organisations. They also express lower levels of trust in the transparency of selection processes and in mechanisms to report and address misconduct.

Qualitative interviews documented strategies that women develop to navigate these environments. They include building women-only networks, investing in international engagement to escape restrictive local cultures, or collectively advocating for change. These strategies appear to be effective and organisations should encourage them.

From diagnosis to change

The report does not argue for a single model or fixed targets applicable everywhere. Scientific organisations vary widely. However, the evidence and case studies featured in the report point to a set of key institutional levers that can make a difference.

To take an example, in academies where formal rules and structures have been revised, improvements in women’s representation have been more sustained. Such good practices need to be systematically identified and generalised.

The central conclusion is straightforward: the underrepresentation of women in scientific governance is not a question of insufficient talent. It reflects institutional practices based on cultures that developed within male-dominated scientific communities.

If science aims to serve society as a whole, the bodies that define and represent it must be willing to examine how they operate – and who they include.

Many colleagues made contributions that helped shape and improve the report on which this article, prepared with Peter McGrath (InterAcademy Partnership) and Léa Nacache (International Science Council), is based.

– Women in science – global study finds presence without power
– https://theconversation.com/women-in-science-global-study-finds-presence-without-power-279248

April 23, 2026

Tolashe takes integrated services to vulnerable KZN communities

Source: Government of South Africa

Tolashe takes integrated services to vulnerable KZN communities

Social Development Minister Sisisi Tolashe will lead a service delivery outreach in Ngudwini, KwaZulu-Natal, as part of government efforts to improve living conditions for vulnerable communities.

The outreach, taking place on Friday, 24 April 2026, will be conducted through an Integrated Community Registration and Outreach Programme (ICROP) and guided by the District Development Model (DDM), which promotes coordinated planning and integrated service delivery across all spheres of government.

Tolashe will lead the social development portfolio, comprising the Department of Social Development (DSD), South African Social Security Agency (SASSA), and the National Development Agency (NDA), to deliver a comprehensive package of services directly to the community.

Services will include on-site assistance with applications for social grants, as well as access to a range of government support programmes aimed at improving livelihoods.

Community dialogues conducted ahead of the Minister’s visit revealed persistent challenges in Ngudwini, including Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF), child abuse, malnutrition, poverty, unemployment, and high levels of substance abuse.

The Minister is expected to engage with NDA-funded women-led cooperatives working in areas such as victim empowerment, manufacturing, bakery, food security and mentorship. These initiatives aim to create employment opportunities and strengthen community resilience.

Additional concerns raised included parents and caregivers who lack essential documents such as identity documents (IDs), resulting in children not having birth certificates and unable to access social grants.

The dialogues further revealed the exploitation of social grant beneficiaries by loan sharks who confiscate identity documents and SASSA payment cards as collateral. In addition, the community reported high levels of non-adherence to HIV treatment, raising concerns about public health outcomes.

“Members of the community are encouraged to attend and should bring the necessary documents for assistance, including Identity Documents, Birth Certificates etc,” the department said.

Outreach to inspire future water sector professionals

Meanwhile, Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina is leading a two-day community outreach initiative in the Eastern Cape, aimed at supporting underprivileged learners and promoting ignite interest in career opportunities in the country’s water and sanitation sector.

The programme, conducted jointly with key water sector entities, is taking place on Thursday, 23 April 2026 and Friday, 24 April 2026 at Aliwal North Orientation School and Bensonvale Methodist Church in the Joe Gqabi District Municipality.

As part of the initiative, Majodina will donate school uniforms and essential learning materials to deserving learners, while also leading a Water and Sanitation Career Exhibition designed to expose young people to opportunities within the sector.

The initiative forms part of the department’s broader strategy to build a strong channel of skilled professionals in response to growing capacity challenges in water and sanitation.

The programme will also celebrate academic excellence among top-performing learners from 17 schools across underserved communities in the district.

High-achieving learners will be acknowledged and rewarded, reinforcing the importance of education as a pathway to opportunity and socio-economic advancement.

“With South Africa facing a critical shortage of skills in water and sanitation, the career exhibition, supported by sector partners, will expose learners to diverse fields including engineering, science, policy development and infrastructure management,” the department said. – SAnews.gov.za

GabiK
Thu, 04/23/2026 – 14:23

April 23, 2026

S&P Global Affirms Islamic Corporation for the Insurance of Investment and Export Credit’s (ICIEC) AA- Financial Strength and Issuer Credit Rating with Stable Outlook

Source: APO

The Islamic Corporation for the Insurance of Investment and Export Credit (ICIEC) (www.ICIEC.IsDB.org), a Shariah-based multilateral insurer and member of the Islamic Development Bank Group, is pleased to announce that S&P Global Ratings has affirmed its long-term issuer credit and financial strength ratings at ‘AA-’ with a Stable Outlook for the third consecutive year, maintaining ICIEC’s position among the highest-rated peer institutions globally.

The reaffirmation reflects ICIEC’s strong credit fundamentals, underpinned by solid financial strength, a low-risk profile, and S&P’s confidence in its robust capital adequacy, sound risk management framework, exceptional liquidity, and sustained financial performance. S&P has maintained ICIEC’s Enterprise Risk Profile at strong (A+) and Financial Risk Profile at very strong (up to AA+), supported by capital adequacy at the 99.99% confidence level, prudent governance, strong shareholder support, and Preferred Creditor Treatment (PCT). The overall rating of ‘AA-’ is based on the combined strength of these profiles. Stable Outlook reflects expectations of continued mandate-driven growth while maintaining strong capital and liquidity positions.

S&P further noted that ICIEC’s exposure to ongoing Middle East geopolitical developments remains limited and well-diversified, with strong capital buffers and reinsurance support sufficient to absorb potential volatility and claims. The Corporation’s business prospects remain resilient, supported by core markets across Africa, Asia, and Central Asia, particularly within the PCT-backed investment guarantee segment.

ICIEC extends its sincere appreciation to its Member Countries, the Chairman and members of the Board of Directors, and all stakeholders for their continued support, as well as to its dedicated staff members.

This reaffirmation underscores ICIEC’s financial strength, robust risk management, and institutional resilience, reinforcing its commitment to supporting sustainable economic development across its Member States while further strengthening its global standing. It also reinforces continued confidence among global partners, including policyholders, financial institutions, export credit agencies, and particularly reinsurance partners, in ICIEC as a reliable and trusted low-risk multilateral counterparty.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Islamic Corporation for the Insurance of Investment and Export Credit (ICIEC).

Media Contacts:
Email: ICIEC-Communication@isdb.org

Follow us on:
X: https://apo-opa.co/48CvAx9
Facebook: https://apo-opa.co/4cF46I3
LinkedIn: https://apo-opa.co/4sSRiUN
YouTube: https://apo-opa.co/4e4eHiq
Instagram: https://apo-opa.co/4cBZ8Mh

About The Islamic Corporation for the Insurance of Investment and Export Credit (ICIEC):
As a member of ‘AAA’ rated Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), ICIEC commenced operations in 1994 to strengthen economic relations between OIC Member States and promote intra-OIC trade and investments by providing risk mitigation tools and financial solutions. The Corporation is the only Islamic multilateral insurer in the world. It has led from the front in delivering a comprehensive suite of solutions to companies and parties in its 51 Member States. ICIEC, for the 18^th consecutive year, maintained an “Aa3” insurance financial strength credit rating from Moody’s, ranking the Corporation among the top of the Credit and Political Risk Insurance (CPRI) Industry. Additionally, S&P has reaffirmed ICIEC “AA-“ long-term Issuer Credit and Financial Strength Rating for the third year with Stable Outlook. ICIEC’s resilience is underpinned by its sound underwriting, global reinsurance network, and strong risk management policies. Cumulatively, ICIEC has insured more than USD 139 billion in trade and investment. ICIEC activities are directed to several sectors such as energy, manufacturing, infrastructure, healthcare, and agriculture.

For more information; visit: www.ICIEC.IsDB.org

April 23, 2026

Women of Africa Should Not Have to Suffer Diseases Unheard

Source: APO

In many low-resource settings, women’s health conditions often remain invisible and silent under the pressures of social stigma. For 31-year-old Aimee, this meant living nearly a decade with pain that shaped every aspect of her life.

“It started about a month after I had my baby,” Aimee shared. “I had pain in my back and in my belly. When the pain stopped, I felt something swelling in my intimate area.”

Diagnosed with uterovaginal prolapse (UVP), a condition in which pelvic organs descend into the birth canal, Aimee experienced prolonged discomfort, pain, and health complications. While a diagnosis could explain her symptoms, it could not bring access to treatment.

Aimee’s story reflects a broader, underreported reality. Scientific research (https://apo-opa.co/4cslGAj) shows that UVP affects between 2% and 20% of women globally, with an estimated 19.7% prevalence in developing countries. Yet, the true burden might likely be even higher since many women never report their condition, often choosing to remain silent due to shame, stigma, or fear of social consequences. In the end, this can lead to delaying or avoiding care altogether.

“Because I had a condition that was not visible, some people didn’t believe that I was sick,” Aimee explained. “From the outside, I looked healthy.”

Her condition gradually forced her to stop working. Even everyday tasks, like fetching water, carrying loads, or maintaining her household, became increasingly difficult.

After years without relief, Aimee’s outlook on life changed through a simple radio announcement. For the first time in years, she found hope when voice told her that Mercy Ships was offering free surgical care for women with conditions just like hers.

“I was honestly overjoyed,” she said. “I started hoping right away that I’d be healed.”

On board the Africa Mercy®, Aimee met other women who shared similar experiences, each enduring invisible suffering, each longing to be believed.

“Gynecological issues are like any other medical issue,” volunteer gynecological surgeon Dr. Jerome Meon explains. “They affect people’s quality of life. And, even if we can’t see it, their lives can be impacted greatly.”

Aimee’s surgery was successful, resolving the condition that had defined her life for years. Within the ward, women shared their stories openly, often for the first time, breaking the silence that had long surrounded their conditions. Today, Aimee is choosing to speak out so that other women do not have to think they suffer alone.

“I want to share my story,” she said, “because there are many women like me who don’t know where to go for help. I want them to know this condition can be treated.”

Aimee herself feels the difference deeply. Her hope is simple: to live fully as a woman, a mother, and a worker, free from the burden she once carried in silence.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Mercy Ships.

About Mercy Ships:
Mercy Ships operates hospital ships that deliver free surgeries and other healthcare services to those with little access to safe medical care. An international faith-based organization, Mercy Ships has focused entirely on partnering with African nations for the past three decades. Working with in-country partners, Mercy Ships also provides training to local healthcare professionals and supports the construction of in-country medical infrastructure to leave a lasting impact.

Each year, 2,500+ volunteer professionals from more than 70 countries serve on board the world’s two largest non-governmental hospital ships, the Africa Mercy® and the Global Mercy™. Professionals such as surgeons, dentists, nurses, health trainers, cooks, and engineers dedicate their time and skills to accelerate access to safe surgical and anesthetic care. Mercy Ships was founded in 1978 and has offices in 16 countries as well as an Africa Service Center in Dakar, Senegal.

For more information, visit www.MercyShips.org and follow @MercyShips on social media.

Media files

.

April 23, 2026

SAWS warns of heavy rain, severe thunderstorms

Source: Government of South Africa

SAWS warns of heavy rain, severe thunderstorms

The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has warned that conditions are favourable for the development of severe thunderstorms, with heavy downpours expected in the North West on Thursday.

A Yellow Level 4 warning has been issued for severe thunderstorms that may bring strong, damaging winds, hail, excessive lightning and heavy rainfall.

These conditions could result in flooding and damage to vulnerable formal and informal settlements, as well as infrastructure in the North West province.

SAWS has also issued a warning for severe thunderstorms likely to cause localised flooding in Gauteng, the eastern parts of Northern Cape and Limpopo, excluding the south-eastern areas of Limpopo.

The potential flooding may affect susceptible roads, low-lying areas and bridges, and could lead to localised damage to infrastructure and informal settlements.

The extended forecast for Friday and Saturday indicates partly cloudy and cold to cool conditions, with isolated to scattered showers and thundershowers. Rainfall is expected to be more widespread over the Northern Cape on Friday.

Members of the public and stakeholders are urged to monitor official SAWS forecasts and warnings regularly, as updates will be issued as conditions evolve and the severity of impacts becomes clearer. –SAnews.gov.za

nosihle
Thu, 04/23/2026 – 14:00

April 23, 2026

KZN forensic lab boosts criminal justice response to GBVF

Source: Government of South Africa

KZN forensic lab boosts criminal justice response to GBVF

The Commission for Gender Equality (CGE) has described the establishment of a new forensic science laboratory in Mayville, west of Durban, as a significant step toward strengthening the criminal justice response to Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF).

The development follows a 2025 CGE investigation into the implementation of Pillar 3 of the National Strategic Plan on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (NSP-GBVF), which focuses on justice, safety and protection.

The inquiry identified inadequate DNA processing capacity as a key contributor to case backlogs, investigative delays, and weakened prosecution outcomes.

Following this investigation, the Commission recommended, among others, that the justice cluster prioritise the establishment of a fully capacitated DNA forensic laboratory in KwaZulu-Natal to improve forensic turnaround times and support case finalisation.

The laboratory is expected to enhance evidence management, reduce DNA processing delays, and contribute to more effective investigations and prosecutions in GBVF-related cases.

The CGE welcomed the launch of the facility, saying it marks a “critical milestone” that affirms the Commission’s recommendations for a strengthened criminal justice response to Gender-Based Violence and Femicide.

“This development marks a significant step towards improving forensic capacity and enhancing access to justice for survivors,” Commission’s spokesperson, Java Baloyi said.

The Commission commends this intervention as a concrete response to its recommendations, noting its potential to strengthen evidence management and support more effective prosecutions.

The CGE also called on the Justice Cluster to replicate similar facilities in other provinces to eliminate delays linked to outstanding DNA analysis and to ensure equitable access to justice nationwide.

The CGE emphasised that it will continue to monitor the rollout to ensure these interventions deliver measurable outcomes, including reduced forensic backlogs, improved prosecution success rates, and strengthened accountability in GBVF-related cases. – SAnews.gov.za

GabiK
Thu, 04/23/2026 – 12:37