Liquid Intelligent Technologies (http://Liquid.Tech/), a business of Cassava Technologies, a global technology leader of African heritage, is pleased to announce the appointment of Leah Nakazwe Kooma as Chief Executive Officer of Liquid Intelligent Technologies Zambia, effective 1 April 2026.
With over two decades of experience across the telecommunications, financial services, and media sectors, Leah’s appointment underscores Liquid’s strategic growth and dedication to expanding its leadership in digital infrastructure in Zambia and beyond. This move reflects our ongoing commitment to innovation and regional development.
“Leah’s leadership is pivotal at this stage for our Zambia business and the broader region. Her proven ability to deliver results will drive Liquid Zambia’s next phase of growth,” said Wellington Makamure, CEO of Sub-Saharan Africa, Cassava Technologies.
Leah began her career at Barclays Bank before joining Celtel, where she worked across multiple African markets. She joined the founding team of Vodafone Zambia in 2016, playing a key role in launching the country’s first 4G LTE network as Chief Sales and Distribution Officer. In 2017, she joined MultiChoice Zambia as the GOtv Commercial General Manager and was later appointed Chief Customer Officer, then Managing Director.
“I am very excited about joining the Liquid team. I have watched from the terraces as the business has evolved over the years, and I believe that, together with my team, we can take it to the next level. Having started my career in sales, marketing, and customer service has helped me understand what customers want and how to treat them. Over the years, I have had the privilege of working with people from different backgrounds and cultures, which has enabled me to collaborate seamlessly across diverse business environments. This experience also helped me grow into an effective communicator, whether with customers, clients, or co-workers,” explains Leah.
Leah holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics and Development Studies from the University of Zambia and a Master of Business Administration from the University of South Wales. She currently serves on several boards, including as Board Chair for the Mulungushi International Conference Centre, and is a member of the Institute of Directors and Business Professional Women International.
– on behalf of Liquid Intelligent Technologies.
About Liquid Intelligent Technologies:
Liquid Intelligent Technologies is a business of Cassava Technologies (Cassava), a technology company of African heritage with operations in 40-plus markets across Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America, where the Cassava group companies operate. Liquid has firmly established itself as the leading provider of pan-African digital infrastructure with a 110,000 km-long fibre broadband network and satellite connectivity that provides high-speed access to the Internet anywhere in Africa. Liquid is also leveraging its digital network to provide Cloud and Cyber Security solutions through strategic partnerships with leading global players. Liquid is a comprehensive technology solutions group that provides customised digital solutions to public and private sector enterprises and SMEs across the continent.
For more information, visit https://www.Liquid.Tech/.
The foreign ministers of the State of Qatar, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, the Republic of Indonesia, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the Republic of Türkiye, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the Arab Republic of Egypt condemned, in the strongest terms, and rejected the continued restrictions imposed by Israel on the freedom of worship for Muslims and Christians in occupied Jerusalem, including the prevention of Muslim worshippers from accessing Al-Aqsa Mosque / Al-Haram Al-Sharif, and the prevention of the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem and the Custos of the Holy Land from entering the Church of the Holy Sepulchre to celebrate the Palm Sunday Mass.
They renewed their condemnation and rejection of any Israeli attempts to alter the legal and historical status quo at Muslim and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem.
These continued Israeli measures constitute a flagrant violation of international law, including international humanitarian law, as well as of the legal and historical status quo, and represent an infringement on the unrestricted right of access to places of worship.
The Ministers affirmed their absolute rejection of the illegal and restrictive Israeli measures against Muslims and Christians in Jerusalem, including preventing Christians from freely accessing the Church of the Holy Sepulchre to perform their religious rites. They stressed the necessity of respecting the legal and historical status quo in Jerusalem and its Muslim and Christian holy sites, reiterating that Israel, as the occupying Power, holds no sovereignty over occupied Jerusalem, and underscoring the need to halt all measures that impede worshippers’ access to their places of worship in Jerusalem.
The Ministers renewed their condemnation of Israel’s continued closure of the gates of Al-Aqsa Mosque / Al-Haram Al-Sharif to worshippers for 30 consecutive days including during the holy month of Ramadan, and the restriction of freedom of worship, which constitutes a serious violation of international law, the existing legal and historical status quo, and Israel’s obligations as the occupying Power.
They warned of the dangers of these escalatory measures to regional and international peace and security.
The Ministers reiterated that the entire area of Al-Aqsa Mosque/ Al-Haram Al-Sharif, amounting to 144 dunams, is a place of worship exclusively for Muslims, and that the Jerusalem Endowments and Al-Aqsa Mosque Affairs Department, affiliated with the Jordanian Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs, is the legal entity with exclusive jurisdiction to administer the affairs of the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque / Al-Haram Al-Sharif and regulate entry thereto.
The Ministers called on Israel, as the occupying Power, to immediately cease the closure of the gates of Al-Aqsa Mosque/ Al-Haram Al-Sharif, remove access restrictions in the Old City of Jerusalem, and refrain from obstructing Muslim worshippers’ access to the mosque. They also called on the international community to adopt a firm position that compels Israel to halt its ongoing violations and illegal practices against Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem, as well as its violations of the sanctity of these holy places.
The National Football League (NFL) (https://NFL.com/International), in collaboration with the International Federation of American Football (IFAF), hosted a four-day series of flag football development clinics in Ghana, bringing together local educators, international coaches and global federation representatives as part of ongoing efforts to grow the game worldwide and expand access to flag football across Africa.
The programming included a Ghana-based teachers clinic focused on equipping local educators with the tools and resources to introduce and scale flag football in schools, followed by an Africa Coaching Clinic delivered in collaboration with IFAF and its member federations from across the continent. Participating countries included Ghana, Cameroon, Egypt, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Tunisia and Uganda.
Together, the sessions emphasized both grassroots access and high-performance development, reflecting the NFL and IFAF’s shared commitment to building sustainable pathways for flag football at all levels of the game.
Flag football is one of the fastest-growing sports globally, with millions of players participating across more than 100 countries. As the sport continues to expand internationally — including its upcoming debut at the Olympic Games in Los Angeles in 2028 — the NFL and IFAF are working together to increase access, strengthen development pathways and support national federations around the world.
“Flag football continues to create new opportunities for athletes and communities around the world,” said Afia Law, International Flag Football Development Manager, NFL. “Through this work in Ghana, we’re proud to support local educators and coaches while also partnering with federations across Africa to expand access to the game and build sustainable pathways for growth across the region.”
The four-day programming began with two days of locally focused development in Ghana, including a teachers clinic that provided a free opportunity for approximately 40 educators involved in the NFL Flag program. Sessions focused on building coaching frameworks, developing sustainable school-based programs and introducing game fundamentals, with on-field drills and gameplay offering participants hands-on experience in implementing what they learned.
Tshe final two days expanded to an international focus, as the Africa Coaching Clinic brought together IFAF delegates and coaches from across the continent for on-field instruction, collaboration and knowledge-sharing. Participating countries included Ghana, Cameroon, Egypt, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Tunisia and Uganda. The sessions also featured participation from a retired Olympic sprinter from Sierra Leone, underscoring the increasing connection between flag football and the Olympic movement.
“Programs like this demonstrate the power of collaboration in driving the global development of flag football,” said Lars Carlsen, IFAF Sport Manager. “By working together with partners like the NFL, we are able to support national federations, strengthen coaching structures and continue building momentum for the sport as it grows internationally and moves toward its Olympic future.”
Coaches participating in the clinics also had the opportunity to engage directly with peers from other countries, fostering cross-border collaboration and strengthening the broader flag football ecosystem across Africa.
The Ghana programming builds on ongoing NFL and IFAF efforts to expand flag football globally, with a focus on accessibility, inclusion and long-term development pathways for athletes and coaches alike. Flag football is also seeing rapid growth across Africa, with IFAF member federations across the continent reporting significant increases in participation in recent years, reflecting strong local momentum and continued investment in the sport.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of National Football League (NFL).
African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) (www.Afreximbank.com) has successfully concluded a new three-year Dual Tranche Syndicated Term Loan Facility totaling US$2 billion equivalent (raising US$1.73 billion and €228 million in US$ Facility A and EUR Facility B respectively). Proceeds from the facility, concluded on 9 March 2026, will be used by Afreximbank to refinance existing facilities and for general corporate purposes.
Initially launched at US$1.5 billion equivalent, the Facility was met with strong investor demand, achieving a substantial oversubscription with total commitments of US$2.36 billion equivalent. Lenders were, however, scaled back to the final hold of US$2 billion equivalent.
Commenting on the transaction, Chandi Mwenebungu, Afreximbank’s Managing Director, Treasury and Markets, and Group Treasurer, said:
“This transaction is the largest ever syndicated facility borrowing by Afreximbank. It is a clear demonstration of the global investors’ confidence in the Bank’s credit story. This, clearly, affirms the Bank’s robust and undisputed access to international markets.”
The transaction comprised 31 geographically diverse lenders from across Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Africa.
Mashreqbank PSC, MUFG Bank, Ltd., and Standard Chartered Bank acted as Joint Global Coordinators, Initial Mandated Lead Arrangers and Bookrunners on the Facility. Standard Chartered Bank also acted as the Documentation Agent and as the Facility Agent.
– on behalf of Afreximbank.
Media Contact:
Vincent Musumba
Communications and Events Manager (Media Relations)
Email: press@afreximbank.com
Follow us on:
X: https://apo-opa.co/4bFuPVR
Facebook: https://apo-opa.co/4cea7wm#
LinkedIn: https://apo-opa.co/4m2MJpd
Instagram: https://apo-opa.co/3NVaov1
About Afreximbank:
African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) is a Pan-African multilateral financial institution mandated to finance and promote intra- and extra-African trade. For over 30 years, the Bank has been deploying innovative structures to deliver financing solutions that support the transformation of the structure of Africa’s trade, accelerating industrialisation and intra-regional trade, thereby boosting economic expansion in Africa. A stalwart supporter of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), Afreximbank has launched a Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) that was adopted by the African Union (AU) as the payment and settlement platform to underpin the implementation of the AfCFTA. Working with the AfCFTA Secretariat and the AU, the Bank has set up a US$10 billion Adjustment Fund to support countries effectively participating in the AfCFTA. At the end of December 2024, Afreximbank’s total assets and contingencies stood at over US$40.1 billion, and its shareholder funds amounted to US$7.2 billion. Afreximbank has investment grade ratings assigned by China Chengxin International Credit Rating Co., Ltd (CCXI) (AAA), GCR (A), Japan Credit Rating Agency (JCR) (A-), and. Moody’s (Baa2). Afreximbank has evolved into a group entity comprising the Bank, its equity impact fund subsidiary called the Fund for Export Development Africa (FEDA), and its insurance management subsidiary, AfrexInsure (together, “the Group”). The Bank is headquartered in Cairo, Egypt.
HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani received a written message from HE Prime Minister of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh Tarique Rahman, pertaining to bilateral relations and ways to enhance and develop them, as well as Bangladesh’s solidarity with the State of Qatar in light of current regional developments. The message was received by HE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Sultan bin Saad Al Muraikhi during his meeting on Monday with HE Foreign Affairs Adviser to the Prime Minister of Bangladesh and special envoy, Humayun Kabir.
The State of Qatar took part in a joint ministerial meeting of Their Highnesses and Excellencies, Ministers of Foreign Affairs from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and the Russian Federation, held virtually on Monday. The State of Qatar’s delegation was led by HE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Sultan bin Saad Al Muraikhi. The meeting also included HE Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Sergey Lavrov. The talks focused on the impacts of the Iranian aggression against the GCC nations and Jordan, as well as the broader and potentially far-reaching developments in the region.
In the Hodh El Chargui region in eastern Mauritania, where mental health services were previously limited, a listening and psychosocial support space has gradually been established in Timbedra town’s health centre. Today, it offers dedicated support to those who wish to talk about their difficulties in a safe environment. Set up in May 2025 with the support of the World Health Organization (WHO), it responds to a long‑expressed need from the communities.
Before its opening, mental health was not sufficiently addressed in Timbedra’s health services. The centre had no specialized service, leaving people in emotional distress or facing family tensions without structured support. Refugee and host populations alike faced their difficulties in a context where no dedicated structure was available to help them.
From the start, the initiative provided a framework for welcoming and listening to beneficiaries, facilitating the introduction of adapted practices and a confidential environment where people could safely express their struggles.
The creation of this listening space marked an important turning point. Designed to offer a welcoming and respectful environment, it represents the first structured psychosocial service within the health centre. Its establishment was accompanied by training for staff to ensure appropriate support tailored to identified needs.
Mariem was among the first to benefit from this new service. “Before coming here, I couldn’t sleep. Thoughts kept spinning in my head, I was afraid of everything, even of myself. This is the first time I feel truly heard,” she says, describing what this support means to her.
Three health workers received specific training: two midwives and the chief physician of the Moughataa (administrative department). Organized with WHO’s support, these trainings enabled local staff to acquire essential skills to provide quality care. The sessions covered mental health, psychological first aid, and prevention of sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment. These new skills allowed the team to adapt their practice and better support those seeking help.
One year after its launch, the first results clearly illustrate the initiative’s impact on communities. The service has provided 10 individual consultations, offering targeted support to people in distress. It has also facilitated four family mediations, helping ease tensions within households.
In parallel, four awareness sessions were organized, each bringing together about 15 participants, while two more complex cases were referred to specialized structures. These activities show that the initiative is gradually becoming part of the health centre’s daily operations and meeting community needs.
Among the trained staff, Fatimetou, a midwife responsible for mental health and psychosocial activities at the centre, testifies to the changes observed since the service was introduced: “Thanks to the training we received, we are better prepared to listen, understand and support the people who come here. Before, we didn’t have the necessary tools. Today, we can truly help,” she explains, highlighting the concrete impact of training.
The chief physician of Timbedra’s Moughataa, Dr Mohamed Lemine, also shares his perspective on the importance of this initiative, with an informed view of local needs: “WHO’s support has helped fill a real gap at the Timbedra health centre. The establishment of this listening space and the strengthening of staff skills represent a major step forward in better addressing the mental health needs of both refugee and host populations.”
The activities carried out within this framework have proven their usefulness. One family mediation even helped prevent a divorce, illustrating how structured support can ease delicate situations and strengthen harmony within households.
WHO’s Representative in Mauritania, Dr Charlotte Faty Ndiaye, places this initiative within a broader effort to strengthen the health system: “The initiatives implemented in Hodh El Chargui show that mental health can be effectively integrated into primary health care, even in fragile contexts. They provide a solid foundation for the future national strategy on mental health and addiction in Mauritania,” she emphasizes.
At the end of her journey in this listening space, Mariem appreciates the changes she feels since finally finding a place to put her feelings into words: “Here, I understood that I wasn’t alone. Little by little, I’m learning to breathe, to speak, to live without fear controlling me. I believe things can really change,” she adds, buoyed by renewed confidence.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Health Organization (WHO) – Mauritania.
Around 30,000 people are seeking safety in Nyatim, South Sudan, following recent violence in Lankien and Pieri.
In Nyatim, people are exposed to the elements and living without basic essentials, such as adequate food and clean water.
Humanitarian access is urgently needed to prevent more deaths and suffering.
A humanitarian disaster is unfolding in Nyatim, in Nyirol County, Jonglei state, South Sudan. Some 30,000 people have fled to Nyatim in search of safety after recent violence in Lankien and Pieri, finding shelter under trees next to a swamp. According to Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) staff members who are in the area, at least 58 people have died over the past four weeks, where authorities are blocking humanitarian access to aid organisations.
Most of the people who have been displaced to Nyatim are women, children, elderly people, people who are ill, and others who are unable to endure moving to safer locations. As well as being subjected to abductions by armed gangs, people are without adequate food and shelter, clean water, medicines, or means to leave the area. Humanitarian access and a scale up of assistance are urgently needed in Nyatim.
The information comes from our colleagues who were displaced from Lankien and Pieri, and arrived at Nyatim, subsequently describing the situation there.
“One of our colleagues, who is currently in Nyatim, has reported that people are dying of suspected hunger, as their only food is boiled tree leaves,” says Gul Badshah, MSF operations manager. “They also said that around a dozen children died of acute watery diarrhoea and suspected malaria.”
“Based on the ground reports, at least 10 people were abducted by armed gangs in the Nyatim area, including one breastfeeding mother who was shot dead,” says Badshah.
MSF teams also managed to hear from women who were able to leave Nyatim with their children and arrived at Chuil, where we are responding to people who have been displaced there. Distance between the two villages is some 50 kilometres, which means the people have to walk for days while being exposed to potential violence.
“We adults try to be strong, but the children die in front of our eyes. Sometimes children watch their mothers or fathers die,” says Nyaluat, who arrived in Chuil. “This was happening every day in Nyatim. If you survive, you survive. If you die, you die. That is how we live now.”
“The truth is that people are dying there,” says Nyapini, who is displaced in Chuil. “Some die from sickness, some from hunger, and some are killed in the bush when they go to collect wild fruits, leaves, or water lilies. If something can be done to help them, it would be very important.”
“When we fled Lankien, the men and women became separated,” says Nyaruop, also displaced. “We ran in different directions, and I went with the children toward Nyatim. We suffered a lot there. We were hungry, we were sick, and there was no help coming from anywhere. Life there was very hard.”
“People in Nyatim are being trapped. Even if they want to leave this area, the vast majority of them do not have the strength or means, including transportation and money, to do so,” says Badshah. “MSF calls upon the relevant authorities to urgently secure humanitarian access to Nyatim and prevent even more deaths and suffering. Our teams have been requesting access to Nyatim for the past month, but without any success so far.”
MSF also calls upon the international community, United Nations agencies, relevant embassies and other influential organisations to help urgently secure humanitarian access to Nyatim.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Médecins sans frontières (MSF).
Source: The Conversation – Africa – By MJ (Thinus) Booysen, Professor in Engineering, Stellenbosch University
Across much of Africa, motorcycles are not leisure vehicles. They are workhorses. They carry commuters, schoolchildren, goods, medicines and deliveries. For millions of people, they provide the most affordable and accessible form of transport, while also creating livelihoods for riders and small businesses.
As part of a team of electrical and industrial engineers at Stellenbosch University, I work (and go on adventures!) to see if that share can be increased.
When our team rode a locally manufactured electric motorbike from Kenya to South Africa in 2024, charging it with only solar power and battery storage along the way, we were not only testing a vehicle. We were testing whether Africa could build and power its own electric mobility future.
The journey covered roughly 6,000km via cities, rural roads and border posts, showing that electric two-wheelers are not a distant dream for sub-Saharan Africa. They are already practical, and they point to a much bigger opportunity.
Feasible transition
Electric motorcycles with battery swapping fit the realities of mobility demand in African countries: relatively short daily trips, constant use, tight operating margins and the need for low-cost transport. It’s already been estimated that electrifying this segment will reduce total cost of ownership for riders by 35%-40%, improve urban air quality, cut greenhouse gas emissions and lower dependence on imported fuel.
Our own research suggests this transition is both technically and economically feasible.
Together, these findings suggest that electric micromobility in Africa is not only technically viable, but can be paired with local solar systems in ways that improve affordability, resilience and access.
An industrial opportunity
Africa should not simply become a market for electric vehicles designed and manufactured elsewhere. It should become a place where they are built, adapted and improved for African conditions. The continent’s mobility needs are specific. Vehicles must cope with rough roads, heavier loads, long operating hours and uneven access to charging. A motorcycle designed for Europe or Asia is not always right for a boda-boda rider in Kenya or a delivery rider in South Africa.
In one study, we developed and validated a physics-based model twin of an electric motorcycle under African operating conditions, showing that energy use can be predicted with good accuracy from real trips, terrain and payload. This digital twin can be used in virtual assessments of electric fleet deployments.
Local production would also create local jobs. It can create opportunities in assembly, fabrication, battery integration, electronics, software, data analytics, servicing and charging infrastructure. It would give young engineers, technicians and entrepreneurs a foothold in an industry that is already growing quickly.
But that growth will not happen on its own. It needs policy support. Ethiopia banned imports of internal combustion engine vehicles in 2024. This rapidly accelerated EV adoption and altered the economics of vehicle imports. South Africa’s belated 150% tax incentive for local electric vehicle production is a step in the right direction.
Tapping into local resources
Sub-Saharan Africa has some of the best solar resources in the world. At the same time, many communities still face unreliable grid electricity or no access at all. That may sound like a barrier to electrified transport, but it is also an opportunity.
Compared with large cars or buses, small vehicle batteries are far easier to charge from decentralised solar systems. Solar-powered charging points, battery swap stations, mini-grids and storage systems can all support electric motorcycles where conventional infrastructure is weak.
Charging has already been demonstrated on solar-hybrid mini-grids, particularly for rural electric two-wheelers, with documented cases in Nigeria and operator-led deployments in Sierra Leone.
Our research has found that decentralised solar can help power this transition: a school-centred solar trading model serving households and electric motorbikes achieved payback periods of under five years in favourable cases and improved supply reliability for external users by about 60%.
This matters especially in rural and peri-urban areas, where mobility poverty is often most severe. A locally manufactured electric motorcycle charged with solar power is more than a cleaner vehicle. It is a tool for inclusion. It can improve access to jobs, education, healthcare and markets while reducing exposure to fuel price shocks.
That is why this transition should not be framed only as a climate issue. It is a development issue.
Policy needs
African governments must make it easier to produce and sell electric vehicles locally. At present, many local manufacturers face the strange situation where importing a finished vehicle is cheaper and simpler than building one domestically. High duties on components, inconsistent regulations, costly certification, weak access to finance and uncertain policy signals all work against local industry.
If governments are serious about industrial development, electric micromobility is a practical place to start. Support could include lower tariffs on components for local assembly, tax incentives for domestic manufacturing, development finance, clear technical standards and public procurement policies that create dependable demand. The aim should not be permanent protection, but smart support that helps African firms scale and compete.
Governments must support cross-border collaboration. Africa’s challenges are shared, but our responses are often fragmented. Countries create separate standards, separate pilot projects and separate industrial plans, even when their transport needs and energy constraints are remarkably similar. This duplication makes progress slower and more expensive.
Many African borders were imposed in colonial times. They do not reflect the deeper connections between economies, people or problems. Fuel insecurity, unemployment, poor public transport, congestion and unreliable electricity are not isolated national problems. They are regional realities. The response should therefore also be regional.
That means harmonised standards, easier trade in locally made vehicles and components, shared research platforms and coordinated industrial policy. A larger, more integrated African market would help manufacturers scale up, reduce costs and justify investment in skills and supply chains. It would also allow innovations developed in one country to spread more quickly across the continent.
Electric mobility policy must be linked to energy policy, especially solar energy.
From talk to action
Our journey from Nairobi to Stellenbosch, now told in our seven-episode documentary series, Recharging Hope, was not a publicity stunt. It was a practical demonstration that locally made electric motorbikes, powered by solar energy, can work across African roads and real African conditions. The question is no longer whether this future is possible. It is whether policy and investment will help Africa build it for itself.
With the right policies, partnerships and investment, electric micromobility can help the region move people more affordably, build local industry more confidently and use the power of the African sun more fully.
Africa’s mobility future should be built in Africa and powered by its own abundant renewable energy.
– Africa’s electric motorbike future can be built locally and powered by solar – our 6,000km ride shows what’s possible – https://theconversation.com/africas-electric-motorbike-future-can-be-built-locally-and-powered-by-solar-our-6-000km-ride-shows-whats-possible-279008
North West raises alarm over illegal mining, chrome wash plants
The North West Provincial Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on Economic Development, Environment, Conservation and Tourism has raised serious concerns over the growing number of illegal mining activities and unauthorised chrome wash plants across the province, particularly in the Bojanala and Madibeng areas.
The concerns emerged during a recent engagement between the committee and the Department of Economic Development, Environment, Conservation and Tourism, where a range of regulatory, environmental and enforcement challenges were highlighted.
The committee expressed concern that provisions of the National Environmental Management Act (NEMA) are allegedly being exploited due to regulatory gaps and grey areas in the authorisation and oversight of chrome wash plants. It has requested the department to present a clause-by-clause analysis of the regulations and outline recommendations to address these gaps, including amendments to Section 24G of NEMA or the introduction of new regulations.
Members also highlighted the environmental impact of illegal wash plants, citing water pollution, illegal discharge into rivers, air pollution, land degradation and unsafe excavations, all of which negatively affect surrounding communities and municipal infrastructure.
Concerns were further raised about the persistence of illegal mining activities, despite existing legislation, with the committee noting that enforcement actions seldom result in prosecutions or convictions.
According to the department, approximately 70 chrome wash plants were inspected during the 2025/26 financial year, of which 30 were found to be operating without environmental authorisation. Seven criminal cases have been opened with the South African Police Service (SAPS), and several pre-compliance notices have been issued to operators.
While some operators have undertaken to apply for rectification in terms of Section 24G of NEMA, the committee expressed concern over delays in the payment of fines, lengthy appeals processes, and the overall slow pace of enforcement.
The committee also raised limited capacity constraints within the department, noting that only three compliance inspectors are currently deployed in the Bojanala District, which is insufficient to effectively monitor the increasing number of mining and wash plant activities in the area.
A lack of coordination among key enforcement agencies was identified as another major challenge. These include the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy, SAPS, Home Affairs, the Department of Water and Sanitation, municipalities, traditional authorities, and other regulatory bodies.
The committee said fragmented enforcement and poor coordination contribute to the continued operation of illegal activities.
Additional concerns were raised about allegations that many wash plant operations are allegedly run by undocumented foreign nationals. The committee called for intensified joint operations involving Home Affairs and the Department of Labour to address both illegal operations and labour compliance issues.
Further issues highlighted include delays in Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) application processes, poor-quality submissions by consultants, non-compliance with licence conditions, and allegations of corruption and bribery in licensing and inspection processes.
The committee has requested detailed information from the department on fines issued, operators involved, compliance notices served and clear timelines for ensuring that illegal operations are either brought into compliance or shut down.
Committee Chairperson Mpho Khunou described the situation as “extremely concerning”.
“Communities are suffering environmental damage, water pollution, and unsafe mining activities, while the province is not benefiting economically from these operations. We are particularly concerned about regulatory gaps, lack of enforcement capacity and poor coordination between institutions,” Khunou said.
He added that the committee would continue to push for stronger regulations, improved enforcement, a full audit of mining activities in the province and better coordination among all government departments involved.
The committee has called for a comprehensive audit of all mining and chrome wash plant activities in the province, the establishment of a central database of approved mining rights and environmental authorisations, and the implementation of a coordinated joint enforcement programme involving all relevant government institutions.
He said the committee will convene further stakeholder engagements to address the matter comprehensively and to ensure that mining activities in the province are conducted legally, responsibly and in a manner that benefits local communities while protecting the environment. – SAnews.gov.za
