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Youth Charter Issues Global Call to Action on United Nations (UN) International Youth Day: “From Rhetoric to Reality”

Source: APO – Report:

On UN International Youth Day 2025, the Youth Charter (www.YouthCharter.org) has issued a powerful Global Call to Action urging the global community to unite in a renewed, evidence-based effort to harness Sport for Development and Peace (SDP) in achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.

The call comes as the world enters the final five years before the 2030 deadline, with progress on many SDG targets stalled or reversing. The Youth Charter, a UK-based charity with a 32-year track record of engaging, equipping, and empowering young people in over 40 countries warns that without urgent, coordinated action, a generation’s potential will be lost.

“The next five years are critical. We must go beyond symbolic gestures and deliver real, measurable impact,” said Professor Geoff Thompson MBE FRSA DL, Founder and Chair of the Youth Charter. “Sport is not an optional extra – it is an essential driver of health, education, equality, peace, and opportunity. We need a truly collective, global effort to make the 2030 Goals a reality for every young person.”

Three Urgent Priorities in the Global Call to Action

The Youth Charter’s Global Call to Action, first launched in 2019 as #LegacyOpportunity4All, calls for:

  1. Mobilising a Global SDP Fund – dedicated, transparently managed funding to invest in community-led projects that directly address SDG targets.
  2. Empowering Authentic Leadership – supporting grassroots social coaches, mentors, and youth leaders with training, resources, and recognition.
  3. Embedding Evidence and Accountability – aligning all initiatives with SDG indicators and publishing verifiable impact data

Evidence of Impact

The Youth Charter’s work since 1993 has demonstrated sport’s contribution to multiple SDGs:

  • SDG 3 (Health): Reducing youth obesity, improving mental health, increasing life expectancy.
  • SDG 4 (Education): Improving school attendance and attainment through sport-linked learning.
  • SDG 5 (Gender Equality): Expanding access and leadership opportunities for young women in sport.
  • SDG 8 (Decent Work): Creating employment pathways through coaching qualifications and event volunteering.
  • SDG 11 (Sustainable Communities): Reducing crime and revitalising neighbourhoods through Community Campuses.
  • SDG 16 (Peace): Using sport to build trust, reduce violence, and foster reconciliation in conflict-affected areas.
  • SDG 17 (Partnerships): Forging cross-sector alliances between governments, NGOs, sports bodies, and business.

International Reach

From Moss Side in Manchester to Soweto in South Africa, from Islamabad in Pakistan to Louisville in the USA, the Youth Charter has worked with governments, sports organisations, and communities to deliver sustainable change. Programmes such as the Social Coach Leadership Programme and the Community Campus Model have been replicated across continents, creating safe spaces, skills, and opportunities for young people.

UN International Youth Day 2025: A Moment for Collective Action

The Youth Charter’s International Youth Day essay, “From Rhetoric to Reality: A Global Call to Action for Sport for Development and Peace”, has been submitted to UN and IOC leadership and is available as a public briefing. It calls on:

  • Governments to embed sport in national youth strategies.
  • International Institutions to coordinate global SDP policy and practice.
  • Private Sector and Philanthropy to invest strategically in grassroots sport.
  • Youth Leaders to design and lead locally driven, SDG-aligned projects.
  • Academia to provide robust, independent impact evaluation.

– on behalf of Youth Charter.

Youth Charter @ Social Media:
LinkedIn: @ YouthCharter
Facebook: @ YouthCharter
Instagram: @ youthchartersdp
YouTube: @ YouthCharter
X: @ YOUTHCHARTER

Youth Charter #Hashtags:
#International Olympic Committee
#Olympism
#Fight4theStreets
#YoungLivesLost
#Call2Action
#LegacyOpportunity4All
#SportDevelopmentPeace
#Empowerthenextgeneration
#CommonwealthSecretariat
#UNSustainableDevelopmentGoals

About Youth Charter:
The Youth Charter is a UK registered charity and UN accredited non-governmental organisation. Launched in 1993 as part of the Manchester 2000 Olympic Bid and the 2002 Commonwealth Games, the Youth Charter has Campaigned and Promoted the role and value of sport, art, culture and digital technology in the lives of disaffected young people from disadvantaged communities nationally and internationally. The Youth Charter has a proven track record in the creation and delivery of social and human development programmes with the overall aim of providing young people with an opportunity to develop in life.

Specifically, The Youth Charter Tackles educational non-attainment, health inequality, anti-social behaviour and the negative effects of crime, drugs, gang related activity and racism by applying the ethics of sporting and artistic excellence. These can then be translated to provide social and economic benefits of citizenship, rights responsibilities, with improved education, health, social order, environment and college, university, employment and enterprise.

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Government invests in empowering youth in aviation

Source: Government of South Africa

The Minister of Transport, Barbara Creecy, has outlined initiatives by government that invest in young people and create real pathways for them to build careers in the aviation sector.

These pathways are inclusive, accessible, and supported by strong educational frameworks, financial resources and mentorship initiatives.

Programmes offered by South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA), Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) and the Air Traffic Navigation Services support learners from disadvantaged backgrounds to enter professions such as pilots, aircraft maintenance technicians, aeronautical engineers, airport management and development, as well as flight procedure designers, air traffic controllers and related fields.

“Support includes structured training programmes; internships, bursaries and learnerships. In our system there is a strong focus on promoting gender equity in professions which were previously male dominated.

“These programmes represent a deliberate and sustained effort by South African aviation entities to empower a new generation of aviation professionals who reflect the demographic diversity of our country. 

“Through these initiatives, our State is ensuring that access to critical skills and opportunities is broadened, particularly for young black South Africans and women, in line with our national transformation agenda,” the Minister said on Tuesday in Durban.

She was addressing the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Next Generation of Aviation Professionals Global Summit, which brings the aviation community together to work collaboratively in securing the future of aviation talent.

“While the sector offers substantial opportunities, these will not materialise unless we address one fundamental challenge – the need for a new generation of skilled professionals. 

“As seasoned aviation workers retire and the demand for a skilled workforce grows, we must ensure that young people, especially across Africa, are equipped and prepared to step into these roles,” the Minister emphasised.

Aviation sector’s contribution to the economy

According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), in South Africa in 2023, air transport contributed approximately USD 5.7 billion, or (around R105.4 billion) one and a half percent of gross domestic product (GDP) in 2023 – equivalent to 1.5% of total GDP, supporting 46 000 jobs, 27 000 of whom are licensed aviation professionals.

The ICAO forecasts a global demand for over two million qualified aviation personnel by 2030.

“Through the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area, the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) can exponentially enhance job creation and growth on the African continent.

“In recognition of the key role aviation can play in economic development, the Department of Transport targets to reach 42 million passengers and 1.2million tons of air-freight through the ACSA network of airports by 2029.

“This will be achieved by increasing the capacity and upgrading of existing airports and aviation facilities, creating new cargo terminals, streamlining airport services and the flow of passengers, and expanding the network of ACSA airports to ensure greater aviation capacity and connectivity throughout South Africa and the broader southern African region,” the Minister said.

Barriers to entry and partnerships

She encouraged the sector to invest in young people to ensure the sustainability of the aviation industry.
“As we all know, the barriers to accessing aviation training can be unaffordable to youth in developing countries such as our own. Funding for training future aviation professionals is key to the growth and sustainability of the aviation industry,” Creecy said.

The Minister acknowledged the impact that Fly Safair and Airlink have made by partnering with the Regulator (SACAA) to absorb trainees, and provide on-the-job training, experience and flying hours. 

“I cannot over emphasise the importance of partnerships between the private sector and government in developing talent and ensuring a thriving aviation industry.

“We must pay homage to the South African Air Force (SAAF) and the South African Police Service (SAPS) Air Wing who have continued to demonstrate the impact of aviation in public service.

“We also recognise the South African Airways (SAA) Cadet Pilot Programme, the Denel Technical Academy, Armscor, and SAAB have all played pivotal roles in nurturing critical aviation and engineering skills in our country,” she said.

SAAB is a company that was primarily aimed at providing military aircraft to Sweden but today provides products and services from military defence to civil security.

Creecy said the contribution of the Transport Education Training Authority, through ongoing funding support, cannot be overstated – without financial backing, potential often remains unrealised.

The Minister also mentioned the non-profit sector with organisations such as Sakhikamva Foundation, Aviation Development Africa, The Children’s Flight, and Girl Fly Programme in Africa.

“Workforce and skills development challenges are global, and collaboration is essential. That is why South Africa is also an active member of the Global Aviation and Aerospace Skills Taskforce (GAAST) — a growing international coalition bringing together States, regulators, and industry leaders to address global skills shortages and ensure workforce resilience.

“The taskforce, which works closely with ICAO’s Next Generation of Aviation Professionals programme, aims to build a repository of best practice, support diversity and inclusion, and ensure that talent development keeps pace with new technologies, safety requirements, and decarbonisation,” the Minister said. –SAnews.gov.za

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Redirectmall and Compassionate Capitalism Economic System Launch Program to Create 100 Millionaires in Kenya

Source: APO – Report:

Redirectmall (https://Redirectmall.com/), in partnership with its Compassionate Capitalism Economic System, announces the launch of a pioneering initiative aimed at creating 100 millionaires in Kenya. The program is designed to build a self-sustaining economic ecosystem for Africa by empowering individuals while reducing capital flight from the continent.

An innovative business model for Pioneer Sellers

Under the program, participants — known as Pioneer Sellers — begin by purchasing an inventory of 400 Inspirational Wall Portraits. Redirectmall sets up an online store for each seller on https://Redirectmall.com/, lists their products, and promotes them through its proprietary influencer network. The company’s fulfillment team manages all deliveries directly to buyers, ensuring sellers do not need to handle inventory or logistics.

Each portrait sale generates $3 in profit, resulting in $1,200 (KSH 154,800) once the initial 400 units are sold. Upon completion, sellers unlock 40 Level 1 bonus shares in the Compassionate Capitalism system, each paying $100 per month — providing $4,000 (KSH 500,000+) in monthly lifetime dividends at no additional cost to the seller.

Operating under the Family Monthly Income Plan, the program links each Pioneer Seller’s inventory to pre-identified active buyers, eliminating the risk of unsold stock and ensuring consistent, predictable returns without additional financial commitments.

A win-win strategy for African expansion

Beyond personal earnings, the initiative is founded on a principle of mutual benefit. In exchange for their success stories, Pioneer Sellers provide testimonial videos, which serve as a key driver for onboarding 10 million sellers across Africa. This expansion is projected to generate billions of dollars in platform revenue for Redirectmall, strengthening African economies by retaining wealth within the continent.

“In essence, our success depends entirely on the success of our Pioneer Sellers,” said Caroline Lambert, the Public Relations Officer of Redirectmall. “Your prosperity fuels the growth of the entire system.”

The program builds on the proven track record of the Black Wall Street, which has successfully issued UPAP shares — a stake in the entire operations of the Black Wall Street and Compassionate Capitalism Economic System. Each UPAP share is pegged at $100 per month in dividends and $30,000 in cash-out value, secured through 20,000 Investment Points earned from purchases at Redirectmall. In this new initiative, Pioneer Sellers receive bonus shares upon meeting their first sales milestone, creating a lifetime income stream without additional purchases.

Towards African economic independence

By reinvesting profits within Africa and creating scalable opportunities for individuals, Redirectmall and its partners aim to establish a cycle of prosperity that benefits both people and economies. The company invites interested participants to secure their place in this program and join the movement toward African economic independence.

Visit https://apo-opa.co/4oyBh5c for more details.

– on behalf of Redirectmall.

Contact:
Caroline Lambert
Public Relations Officer of Redirectmall
carol@cc-28.com

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The Central African Republic and the African Development Bank Group launch an ambitious programme to develop water resources in the Ubangui River basin

Source: APO – Report:

The government of the Central African Republic and the African Development Bank Group (www.AfDB.org) launched the Regional Support Programme for the Development of Cross-Border Water Infrastructure and Resources between the Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of Congo (PREDIRE) (http://apo-opa.co/41DG9w2) in Bangui on Tuesday 5 August 2025.

Bertrand Arthur Piri, Minister of Energy and Water Resource Development, and Mamady Souaré, head of the African Development Bank Group’s Country Office for the Central African Republic, chaired the launch ceremony, which was attended by other members of the government, including Éric Mathieu Rokosset Kamo (Minister of Infrastructure and Public Works), Ernest Mada (Government Minister and Secretary-General), Nicaise Nassin (Public Safety & Security), Bruno Yapandé (Territorial Administration and Decentralization), Marcel Dimasse (Civil Service and Administrative Reform) and Obed Namsio (representing the Minister of the Economy, Planning and Cooperation). Local officials, technical and financial partners of the Central African Republic, representatives of civil society and numerous guests attended the event.

The Regional Support Programme for the Development of Cross-Border Water Infrastructure and Resources between the Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of Congo (http://apo-opa.co/41DG9w2) aims to develop the immense water resources of the Ubangui Basin by sustainably transforming the socioeconomic living conditions of people living alongside the river, while consolidating regional integration. It is financed by the African Development Bank in the amount of $121 million. The project will be implemented over five years from November 2024 to November 2029.

“PREDIRE is in line with the vision of the President of the Central African Republic, Faustin Archange Touadera, for sustainable and inclusive development based on equitable access to drinking water, sanitation, food security and environmental protection,” said Minister Piri.

“It also demonstrates the strength of the partnership between the Central African Republic and the African Development Bank, a privileged partner in the country’s development,” he added.

Built around the water–food security–climate nexus, the programme (http://apo-opa.co/41DG9w2) comprises two complementary sub-programmes. The first, launched on Tuesday, focuses on improving the hydrological information system in the Ubangui Basin, preparing for future investments, and building climate-resilient water, sanitation and hygiene infrastructure.

The second sub-programme, currently in preparation, will focus on financing water collection infrastructure for the Agricultural Transformation Programme in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), improving river navigation throughout the Ubangui Basin in the Central African Republic, the DRC and the Congo River, and protecting and building the resilience of vulnerable communities to the effects of climate change.

“By taking an integrated and inclusive approach, PREDIRE will help strengthen the climate resilience of communities while boosting economic growth through water, navigation and sustainable agriculture services,” said Mr. Souaré. He emphasized that “100% of the financing is dedicated to combating the effects of climate change, making it a flagship project in the Bank’s climate portfolio.”

The programme aims to improve the sustainable management of shared water resources in the cross-border Ubangui Basin, while promoting the development of infrastructure essential to ensuring a secure water supply for people, agriculture, and agricultural processing industries. It also provides for strengthening the institutional capacities of national and regional actors, in particular the International Commission of the Congo-Ubangi-Sangha Basin (CICOS) and the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), in the areas of water resource governance and integrated basin management.

The Central African Republic component of the programme includes the construction of a new raw water pumping station with a capacity of 6,500 m³/hour, a water treatment plant with the same capacity, a 50,000 m³ storage facility, the extension of 208 kilometres of distribution network, the installation of 15,000 social connections and the construction of new headquarters for the Central African Water Distribution Company (SODECA).

The programme covers the provinces of Nord-Ubangi, Sud-Ubangi and Mongala in the DRC, as well as Greater Bangui in the Central African Republic. More than 2.4 million people (51 percent of whom are women) will benefit directly from the project. Sixty-nine percent of these beneficiaries live in absolute poverty, while 71 percent are young people, at least 50 percent of whom are girls.

The project will generate 3,400 jobs, including 1,200 permanent positions, through infrastructure works, entrepreneurship training, the provision of water and sanitation services, and improvements to river navigation. In addition, a specific resilience and social cohesion programme will be implemented to benefit 25,000 people, in collaboration with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

In terms of governance, the project plans to strengthen the capacities of more than 1,300 stakeholders. One hundred percent of the women targeted will benefit from skills development within national, regional and community institutions involved in the preservation of shared resources.

– on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB).

Contact:
Pascale ESSAMA 
Communication and External Relations Department
African Development Bank
media@afdb.org

About the African Development Bank Group:
The African Development Bank Group is Africa’s leading development finance institution. It comprises three distinct entities: the African Development Bank (AfDB), the African Development Fund (ADF) and the Nigeria Trust Fund (NTF). Represented in 41 African countries, with an external office in Japan, the Bank is committed to the economic development and social advancement of its 54 regional member countries. For more information, visit www.AfDB.org.

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Remarks by Dr. Akinwumi A. Adesina President and Chairman, Boards of Directors, African Development Bank Group at the Signing Ceremony for Mandated Lead Arranger New Bishoftu Airport of Ethiopia

Source: APO – Report:

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Protocols 

Honorable Minister of Finance and Governor of Ethiopia to the African Development Bank Group, Ahmed Shide. 

Honorable Ministers and senior officials of the Government of Ethiopia. 

Honorable Ministers, including the Honorable Minister of Finance for Malawi, Simplex Banda. 

The Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Ethiopian Airlines Group, H.E. Lieutenant General Yilma Merdassa. 

Chief Executive Officer, Ethiopian Airlines Group, Mesfin Tasew Bekele. 

The Chief Commercial Officer and the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Ethiopian Airlines Group. 

The Chairman of the Board of Directors, Ethiopian Airline Group. 

The Management and staff of the Ethiopian Airlines Group. 

Vice Presidents Nnnena Mwabufo and Vice President Solomon Quaynor of the African Development Bank Group. 

The Country Manager for Ethiopia and Deputy Director General for Eastern Africa of the African Development Bank Group, Leandre Basole, who is now the Director General of the Bank for Central Africa. 

The Country-Manager Designate for Ethiopia and Deputy Director General for Eastern Africa, Olajide Oyewusi. 

All staff of the African Development Bank. 

All staff of the Ethiopian Airlines Group. 

Members of the Media. 

Ladies and gentlemen. 

Good morning!  

I am delighted to be back in Addis Ababa, a city that is witnessing incredible transformation under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.  If the transformation is happening in years, I can understand, but it is happening every hour, every day, every week, at scale.  

Speed and scale are now the hallmarks of Ethiopia. And scale is what we are signing onto today: the start of the pathway for the construction of the mega Bishoftu international airport.  

It is a testament to the power of vision, determination and resolve to put Africa at the top. 

Ethiopia airlines has put Africa at the top in global aviation. I am writing these remarks onboard the ET flight from Abidjan to Addis Ababa. In the air, on top, across 130 destinations, across 5 continents, Ethiopia Airlines makes Africa proud. 

With its 75 years of operational history, Ethiopian Airlines is Africa’s oldest and best airline. It is critical for regional economic integration, connecting capitals, people and markets, with its globally rated cargo facilities.  

This was remarkable during the Covid19 pandemic. When many global airlines stopped flying., Ethiopian Airlines was in the air. It innovated by turning passenger cabins in its fleets to cargo facilities, moving goods, vaccines, medicines and equipment, across the world. 

Ethiopian Airlines have won the Skytrax ‘Best Airline in Africa’ award for seven consecutive years. 

I applaud the CEO of Ethiopian airlines, Mr. Mesfin Bekele, who is doing an outstanding job, and the Board of Directors, Management and staff of the airline for their incredible top-notch performance and for making Africa proud.  

I understand that Mr. Mesfin Bekele had wanted to retire twice and twice he has been encouraged to stay on a little longer. That is not surprising, for as the saying goes, the price for great work is more work. I understand that he will be retiring in another year, and you already have a clear succession plan. There will be no surprises.  

That is the mark of a great institution.  

I wish to commend you, the Board of Directors, Management and staff for making Ethiopian Airlines such a profitable company, with $7.2 billion in revenues in 2024, an increase of 14% from 2023. I learnt that you also increased your passenger numbers by 24%, to 19 million passengers.  

What a performance! 

The African Development Bank is proud to partner with Ethiopia in its vision to expand the operational and fleet capacity of the Ethiopian Airlines.  

That’s why in 2016, one year after my election as President of the African Development Bank, we provided a $160-million corporate loan to Ethiopian Airlines for its expansion and fleet modernization.  

I was delighted on one of my trips from Addis to Abidjan, when suddenly the CEO of Ethiopian Airlines showed up and said they had changed the aircraft we would use to the new Airbus which was purchased with the financing from the African Development Bank.  

What a flight it was, for me and all my accompanying staff! I can still recall my photographer, Roland (who is here today), sitting comfortably and enjoying the flight, in the brand-new aircraft.  

From then, Ethiopian Airlines has not looked back. Today, its fleet expansion program will acquire an additional 114 aircrafts, to bring its fleet capacity to 240 aircrafts. 

To stay dominant, the government of Ethiopia is also expanding its airport facilities, especially for international flights. The Bole International airport, which currently is at 19 million out of its 25 million passenger capacity per year is no longer enough for the ambition of Ethiopia to be on top. 

The Prime Minister looks forward again! 

The new Bishoftu international airport will be a game changer for air transport in Africa and globally. 

The phase one of the Bishoftu airport will handle 60 million passengers per annum, which will rise to 110 million passengers per annum, in phase 2.  

The Bishoftu airport will enable Ethiopian Airlines to reduce its fuel consumption by 15%. It will also accommodate 3.7 million tons of cargo and provide parking for 270 aircrafts. 

The construction of the new Bishoftu airport will cost a total of $10 billion.  

The African Development Bank is delighted to have been selected as the Mandated Leader Arranger, Global Coordinator and Book Runner to mobilize $8 billion of debt financing towards the construction of the new airport, including up to $500 million of debt from the Bank. 

You can understand why.  

The African Development Bank is the largest financier of infrastructure in Africa. In the past ten years under my Presidency, the Bank has financed over $55 billion in infrastructure.  

We will do all we can to support Ethiopia to achieve its dream. 

I wish to highly commend the Honorable Minister of Finance, Ahmed Shide, for his strong leadership, for believing in the African Development Bank and for working closely with my staff to make this day a reality. You were with me in Abidjan on March 24, 2025, along with the the CEO of Ethiopian airlines, when you signed the Letter of Intent for the project with Vice President Nnenna Mwabufo. 

I am proud that the team of the Bank moved with speed and deployed a project preparation mission to Addis Ababa from 5th-9th May, 2025.  

And here we are today, signing the Mandate letter for the African Development Bank to mobilize the $8 billion for the construction of the new airport. 

I wish to commend the Government of Ethiopia for moving rapidly to relocate and financially settle all the 2,800 households that will be affected by the project, with transparency and accountability. 

I wish to assure you that the African Development Bank will deliver, so that this project can be delivered by Ethiopia for its people. 

As this will be my last official visit to Ethiopia, as President of the African Development Bank, I wish to use the opportunity to express my deep appreciation to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, as well as the Government of Ethiopia for all your support for the African Development Bank, my staff and I, over the past ten years.  

I wish to commend the Minister of Finance for his excellent support. I also wish to commend all my staff, especially my senior Vice President, Vice Presidents, General Counsel and our exemplary legal staff, Directors of the Bank, as well as the country manager and deputy director general and his team at the Bank’s office in Addis Ababa.  

I wish to use this time to specially commend Leandre Bassole, the Country Manager for Ethiopia and the Deputy Director General, who is now taking on a new role as the Director General of the Central Africa region for the African Development Bank.  

Under you, Leandre, and with your leadership and strategic partnership, the Bank was able to secure this mandate.  

Well done! I have no doubt that you will excel in your new role.  

I am equally pleased that Olajide Oyewusi, the new Country Manager designate for Ethiopia and the Deputy Director General is here at the event. Given his extensive experience as a commercial banker, he will be able to put this to use to accelerate the Bank’s delivery on the project.  

This will ensure a smooth leadership transition and stability in the operations of the African Development Bank in Ethiopia. 

I look forward to flying Ethiopian Airlines to come back here in few years and land at the Bishoftu International Airport. 

What a great day that will be! 

I will always have Ethiopia in my heart. 

Thank you very much. 

– on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB).

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SA’s success story in elephant conservation

Source: Government of South Africa

Home to 44 000 African savanna elephants and a population that continues to grow, South Africa’s conservation efforts have demonstrated success when compared to the decline of elephant numbers in some other countries. 

“Our elephants are a national treasure, a keystone species, an integral part of our heritage and plays a significant role in maintaining a balance where the creation of value exceeds consumption, crucial for sustaining and increasing South Africa’s social and natural capital, which are fundamental for inclusive socio-economic development,” Deputy Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Narend Singh said on Tuesday.

As South Africa joins the global community in celebrating World Elephant Day, the Deputy Minister noted that elephants in South Africa have also expanded their range over the past 40 years.

Most elephants in the country live in government-protected areas like Kruger National Park, Mapungubwe National Park, and Tembe Elephant Park. 

These parks are part of larger Transfrontier Conservation Areas (TFCAs), where elephants often move freely across national borders and are shared with neighbouring countries. 

“In addition to these large parks, there are 89 smaller, fenced reserves that also support elephant populations. About 6000 elephants are owned privately or by communities, and in recent years, more and more communities have started to manage elephants themselves,” Singh said.

While South Africa’s success in recovering elephant populations offers hope for the species, the Deputy Minister warned that it also brings a difficult trade-off in the context of the country’s developmental agenda and needs. 

“As elephant numbers and ranges expand, encounters between people and elephants have increased, particularly in rural communities living near protected areas.

“Human-elephant conflict can result in crop losses, damage to infrastructure, and in some cases, injury or loss of human life. For many affected families, these incidents can threaten food security and livelihoods. 

“Managing these interactions is essential to ensuring that conservation gains do not come at the expense of community well-being. It requires innovative solutions that promote co-existence, such as, improved land-use planning, early-warning systems, community-based monitoring, and benefit-sharing initiatives that recognise the costs of living alongside elephants,” Singh said.

While re-imagining conservation in the country, South Africa’s aspiration is to ensure that thriving elephants contribute to improving the well-being of people and ecosystems simultaneously.

The country’s conservation efforts are guided by the four goals of the White Paper policy on Conservation and Sustainable Use of South Africa’s Biodiversity, which are aimed at balancing conservation with sustainable use, transformation, access and benefit sharing.

The Deputy Minister was addressing the Elephant Indaba at Bonamanzi in KwaZulu-Natal, a province that is home to the second largest elephant population in the country.

The Elephant Indaba coincided with World Elephant Day that is being celebrated under the theme: “Matriarchs’ and Memories”.

World Elephant Day is a day dedicated to raising awareness of the urgent need to protect and manage the world’s elephants. –SAnews.gov.za

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Government condemns torching of Home Affairs offices in Germiston

Source: Government of South Africa

Government has strongly condemned the torching of a Home Affairs office in Germiston on Tuesday morning, allegedly by protestors. 

According to reports, protesters in the Germiston CBD allegedly set fire to the Home Affairs building during clashes over evictions as residents allegedly demanded to occupy Pharoe Park flats without paying rent.  

Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) Acting Director-General, Terry Vandayar, said vandalism undermined the hard-won rights and freedoms of South Africans and unfairly burdened taxpayers with the cost of repairs. 

“Such acts of vandalism undermine the very rights and freedoms that South Africans have fought hard to secure and place an unnecessary burden on taxpayers who will ultimately bear the cost of repairs. 

“While the Constitution guarantees the right to protest, it must be exercised in a peaceful and lawful manner that respects the rights of others and safeguards public property. 

“Violence and destruction are not acceptable means of expressing grievances, and will not be tolerated,” the Acting Director-General said. 

Speaking to the media at the scene, William Ntladi, spokesperson for the City of Ekurhuleni Disaster and Emergency Management Service, said they received calls about the fire just after 8am. 

He said the two-storey building had been severely damaged and there were no injuries reported. 

“The top section is the one that is well alight. The bottom one – we’re still battling to break in and see what’s happening. Resources are here, multiple fire stations, with multiple vehicles, and a number of firefighters are on site,” he said.

Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber said in a post on X, formerly Twitter, that the department was gathering evidence and would open criminal charges against those responsible for setting the block of flats on fire. 

“Home Affairs is collating evidence and will open criminal charges against the anarchists who set a block of flats on fire in Germiston, which then spread to the neighbouring Home Affairs office. It is nothing less than an attack on our social infrastructure and cannot stand,” the Minister said. – SAnews.gov.za 

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Minister sets his sights on revamped higher education sector

Source: Government of South Africa

By Nosihle Shelembe

Several far-reaching interventions have been announced to overhaul the Post-School Education and Training (PSET) sector to improve inefficiencies and ensure that the sector can meet the country’s needs and is fit for purpose in a changing world. 

The reforms, announced by the Minister of Higher Education and Training, Buti Manamela, are a response to a fragmented and uneven PSET sector that has locked young people out of opportunities, provided skills that do not meet the economy’s needs, has underperforming institutions and funding models that remain unstable.

“We will reimagine and reengineer our post-school education and training system for a changing world. South Africa deserves a system that delivers skills, knowledge, and opportunity for all,” the Minister said.

Manamela outlined his short-term and long-term vision for the sector during a media briefing in Pretoria on Tuesday.

“In the next three months, we will stabilise the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) and set in motion a sustainable student funding model. We will establish the post-school education and training (PSET) Reengineering Task Team, bringing together expertise from across sectors to guide the redesign of our system. 

“We will strengthen the Sector Education and Training Authority (SETA) oversight, finalise their realignment, and ensure every SETA delivers measurable value. We will begin engagements with the National Treasury on long-term funding solutions,” the Minister said.

Additionally, the Department of Higher Education and Training will launch three major strategic projects focusing on Skills to Work Transitions, targeting young people not in employment, education or training; Career Choices (currently known as Khetha), targeting school learners from an early age to guide them into learning and work pathways; and Adult Literacy, targeting the four million South Africans who are functionally illiterate.

Over the next 12 months, the department will pilot autonomous colleges and new Community Education and Training (CET) models to improve agility and responsiveness. 

“We will review the CET landscape to ensure it plays a meaningful role in community development. We will launch technical and vocational education and training (TVET) curriculum pilots aligned with emerging industries. 

“We will establish a national PSET database to improve planning and accountability. We will begin the roll-out of the NASCA [National Senior Certificate for Adults] as an alternative pathway for school leavers,” he said.

Moreover, the department will complete legislative reviews, addressing gaps and contradictions that undermine system coherence. 

“To secure the future of our system, we will set up a multi-sectoral task team to review and consolidate three decades of policy and legislative reforms. This task team will learn from the crises that forced transformation, the Fees Must Fall movement, to institutional mergers, and will chart a deliberate, planned transformation for the next generation. 

“The aim is simple – to build a single, coherent, and high-performing post-school education and training system that is fit for purpose in a changing world,” the Minister said.

The department plans to accelerate infrastructure upgrades and ensure campus safety across the system.

“Over the next four years, we will fully implement a sustainable student funding model. We will consolidate SETA and CET reform. We will drive digital learning across the system, ensuring every learner can benefit from technology-enabled education. 

“We will institutionalise career guidance and lifelong learning pathways from school to work to retirement. We will deepen research and innovation capacity, strengthen our partnerships with industry, and expand our presence on the continent and globally.

“And we will ensure that our system, as a whole, delivers a clear and measurable return on the public investment it receives,” the Minister said. 

The work of the department will be guided by six core objectives as follows:

  • To integrate the system into a single, coordinated whole.
  • Expand equitable access to all who can benefit.
  • Ensure responsiveness to the needs of the economy, the labour market, and society.
  • Raise the quality of provision and learning outcomes.
  • Improve efficiency, governance, and accountability.
  • Guarantee sustainability – in funding, in institutional stability, and in the confidence of citizens.

These objectives are anchored in five strategic pillars.

  • Economic renewal and jobs – ensuring that graduates are employable and the institutions are aligned to growth sectors.
  • A green just transition – making the skills system a driver of climate resilience and low-carbon innovation.
  • Building public sector capacity, so that the state is equipped to serve the people effectively.
  • Research and innovation – to strengthen the country’s intellectual sovereignty and generate solutions from Africa, for Africa, and the world.
  • Social inclusion – to make sure no one is left behind – whether they live in a rural village, a township, an informal settlement, or a city. – SAnews.gov.za

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Police operations nab over 16000 suspects

Source: Government of South Africa

Over 16000 suspects have been arrested in Operation Shanela efforts over the last week, said the South African Police Service (SAPS).

This as a total 16, 571 suspects were arrested between 4 and 10 August 2025 across the country’s nine provinces.

During the arrests, police recovered stolen property and confiscated illicit goods and firearms.

The crime-fighting activities by the police included tracking operations, roadblocks, high visibility patrols, stop and searches, as well as the tracing of wanted suspects. 

“These efforts reflect SAPS’s intensified, intelligence-driven approach to restoring public safety and dismantling organised criminal networks,” said the SAPS in a statement.

During the operations, 2 065 wanted suspects were arrested for serious crimes, including murder, rape, hijacking, and drug trafficking while 138 suspects were arrested for murder. 

A further 134 people were arrested for attempted murder ,154 for rape, and 1 390 for assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm (GBH).

The number of those caught for driving under the influence of alcohol stood at 607, while 796 were arrested for drug dealing and 2 336 others were nabbed for the possession of drugs.

When coming to confiscations and recoveries, police recovered1 480 rounds of ammunition and 124 firearms confiscated while 52 stolen and hijacked vehicles were recovered during this period.

Other breakthroughs made by the SAPS include the arrest of a 32-year-old suspect after a vehicle entering the country from Eswatini via Paulpietersburg carrying 90 bags of dagga worth R4 million was intercepted.

The SAPS said it remains committed to protecting lives, dismantling criminal enterprises, and ensuring that the streets are rid of the scourge of criminality.– SAnews.gov.za

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The African Energy Chamber (AEC) Partners with Libya’s Ministry of Oil and Gas to Advance Youth Empowerment Through Energy Jeel Initiative

Source: APO

The African Energy Chamber (AEC) (www.EnergyChamber.org) – representing the voice of the African energy sector – has entered a strategic partnership with the Ministry of Oil and Gas of Libya to support the Energy Jeel Initiative. Designed to equip young Libyans with the skills, knowledge and leadership capabilities to actively participate in the future of the energy sector, the program forms part of Libya’s vision to harness human capital for a just and inclusive energy transition across Africa.

The collaboration will promote youth skills development, innovation, entrepreneurship and gender inclusion in the energy workforce, while strengthening Libya’s integration into Africa’s energy community. The AEC will work closely with the Ministry to facilitate on-the-job training and internships; host joint ventures, workshops and youth summits; provide visibility and endorsement through AEC platforms and publications; and enable access to Africa’s vast energy networks.

By investing in youth-led growth, the Energy Jeel Initiative will help address critical challenges in Africa’s energy future – including energy poverty, workforce gaps and the need for greater regional collaboration. With over 600 million Africans lacking access to electricity and 900 million still reliant on traditional biomass for cooking, Africa’s oil, gas and renewable energy resources pose a strong opportunity to drive industrialization. Building a skilled and inclusive workforce is key to cultivating this sustainable development.

Libya’s energy sector offers vast potential for both fossil fuel and renewable energy development. With significant oil and gas reserves, alongside world-class solar and wind resources, the country is uniquely positioned to play a major role in Africa’s energy security and transition. Through the Energy Jeel Initiative, the Ministry of Oil and Gas aims to ensure that this development benefits all segments of society, particularly young people and women.

The Energy Jeel Initiative also stands to benefit from Libya’s renewed upstream momentum, with recent developments such as ExxonMobil’s MoU with the country’s National Oil Corporation signaling fresh investment and exploration activity. As global players re-engage with Libya’s oil and gas sector, the Initiative will equip young professionals with the technical skills and industry knowledge they need to participate in and lead future projects. This alignment ensures Libya’s youth are directly connected to the country’s expanding role in Africa’s energy landscape.

“The Chamber is committed to empowering Africa’s youth to become active participants in the continent’s energy future,” states NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman, AEC, adding, “Libya’s Energy Jeel Initiative is a model for how African nations can prepare the next generation of leaders and innovators who will drive investment, create jobs and deliver real solutions to energy poverty.”

As the Energy Jeel Initiative rolls out, the AEC and the Ministry will focus on creating opportunities that link Libyan youth with regional and global stakeholders, ensuring they are not only prepared for the jobs of today, but also equipped to lead Africa’s energy sector into the future.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

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