Category: English

Source: APO – Report:

.

Today, President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi received Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, in the presence of Prime Minister Dr. Mostafa Madbouly, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Egyptians Expatriates Dr. Badr Abdelatty, Minister of Finance Mr. Ahmed Kouchouk; and Director of the General Intelligence Service Minister Hassan Rashad. From the Qatari side, Minister of Finance Mr. Ali bin Ahmed Al Kuwari and Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr. Mohammed Al Khulaifi were present.

The Spokesman for the Presidency, Ambassador Mohamed El-Shennawy, stated that President El-Sisi welcomed the Qatari Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs to Egypt and asked him to convey his greetings to his brother, His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.

The President commended the progress in relations between the two countries and looked forward to further strengthening them across various political, trade, and investment sectors. This includes building on the outcomes of the Egyptian-Qatari Joint Higher Committee to advance bilateral cooperation across various fields.

President El-Sisi also looked forward to increasing Qatari investments in Egypt across various sectors, stressing that the Egyptian state is ready to provide all necessary facilities in this regard.

The Qatari Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs conveyed to President El-Sisi the greetings of the Amir of the State of Qatar, His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and his appreciation for the close relations Egypt and Qatar share, noting Qatar’s interest in working with Egypt to further develop these relations.

The meeting also addressed regional developments. President El-Sisi underscored the importance of containing the current escalation, given its repercussions for the stability of the region, as well as its economic and trade impacts. In this context, the President highlighted the intensive efforts exerted by Egypt to de-escalate the current situation. President El-Sisi also reiterated Egypt’s supportive and steadfast position on the security of the State of Qatar and all Arab countries, as well as its categorical rejection of any attempts to undermine their sovereignty and stability.

The meeting also addressed the ongoing cooperation and coordination between Egypt and Qatar to implement the agreement to end the war in the Gaza Strip. The two sides stressed the need for all parties to fulfill their commitments under US President Donald Trump’s plan to end the war, in a manner that consolidates stability and contributes to the swift launch of the early recovery and reconstruction process, in addition to the need to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid to the Strip. In this regard, the two countries agreed to continue coordination regarding the implementation of the agreement to end the war and to preserve regional peace and stability in general.

– on behalf of Presidency of the Arab Republic of Egypt.

Source: APO

.

Mozambique’s gas sector is entering its most active phase in a decade. Large-scale LNG projects are back in the development pipeline, domestic gas-to-power infrastructure is expanding and the government is pursuing renewable energy targets alongside its upstream ambitions.

A dedicated session at African Energy Week (AEW) 2026, titled “Invest in Mozambique: Unleashing Africa’s Premier Gas and Upstream Exploration Frontier,” will explore how these developments are reshaping the country’s energy and investment landscape.

The session comes at a pivotal moment for the country’s gas sector. In January 2026, TotalEnergies announced the full restart of the Mozambique LNG project after a nearly five-year suspension. More than 4,000 workers are now mobilized, $4 billion in contracts have been awarded to Mozambican companies and first LNG is targeted for 2029. The project represents a total investment of roughly $20 billion and will produce 12.9 mtpa from the Area 1 concession in the Rovuma Basin.

Additional LNG projects are advancing across the country. Eni reached a final investment decision in October 2025 on the $6 billion to $7 billion Coral North floating LNG project, which will add 3.6 mtpa from 2028 alongside the already operational Coral South. ExxonMobil’s $24 billion Rovuma LNG project has passed a front-end engineering milestone and is moving toward a final investment decision. Together, the three developments could bring Mozambique’s combined LNG capacity above 25 mtpa by the early 2030s.

The gas-to-power dimension is equally important for closing the country’s electrification gap. Empresa Nacional de Hidrocarbonetos is working to strengthen domestic pipeline and logistics infrastructure so that Rovuma Basin gas can serve Mozambique as well as its international customers. The government has made clear that it expects the gas sector to contribute to the country’s industrialization, not only through export revenues but through job creation, the development of local suppliers and expanded energy access for Mozambican households and businesses.

Mozambique also holds significant renewable energy potential, adding another layer to the conversation happening at AEW 2026. Hydropower already accounts for roughly 70% of the country’s electricity generation – anchored by the 2,075 MW Cahora Bassa plant – and the government’s Just Energy Transition Strategy targets an additional 2 to 4 GW of hydropower and 2 GW of solar by 2030. Utility-scale solar tenders are advancing, and off-grid solutions are central to the target of universal electrification by the end of the decade.

“For years we talked about Mozambique’s gas potential in the future tense. With Mozambique LNG restarted, Coral North going forward and Rovuma LNG moving toward a final investment decision, the conversation has changed,” says NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber. “This is now about delivery, and AEW 2026 is where the industry will take stock of what that means for the country and the continent.”

This dedicated Mozambique investment session will take place as part of AEW 2026 in Cape Town from October 12-16.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

Source: APO

.

South Sudan is moving towards its first national elections since independence while the political, security and human rights safeguards required for a peaceful and credible vote that delivers democratic change are largely absent, the UN Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan warned today in its new Advisory. The Commission cautioned that elections held without a strategy for democratic consolidation and preventing national schisms could instead fuel renewed conflict and heighten the risk of atrocity crimes.

In its Advisory, At the Brink: Preventing Atrocity Crimes and Safeguarding South Sudan’s Transition, the Commission finds that multiple risk factors for atrocity crimes are converging. Armed conflict has resumed in several parts of the country; inclusive politics being abandoned; civic space and constitutional safeguards have been weakened; accountability mechanisms remain largely absent; and significant sections of the population remain excluded from meaningful political participation. Without a return to genuine and inclusive dialogue, the political contest surrounding the elections risks deepening existing divisions rather than providing a peaceful means of resolving them.

The Commission unequivocally supports the right of the people of South Sudan to participate freely in public affairs through genuine, peaceful and democratic elections, and to choose their government and representatives. Its concern is not whether elections should be held, but whether South Sudanese can exercise that right freely, safely and without fear, and in a manner that consolidates the democratic transformation of South Sudan.

“South Sudanese have waited 15 years to cast their first ballots as citizens of an independent state. They have the right to choose their government through free, peaceful and democratic elections. They deserve an election that gives them a voice, not one that puts their lives at risk,” said Yasmin Sooka, Chair of the Commission. “A peaceful democracy cannot be built on a foundation of armed conflict, fear and exclusion. Yet the very safeguards designed to prevent a return to war are being dismantled as the country moves towards the ballot box.”

Applying the UN Framework of Analysis for Atrocity Crimes, the Commission finds that these risk factors are not isolated but mutually reinforcing. Renewed armed conflict, weakened institutions, entrenched impunity, exclusionary governance, corruption, shrinking civic space and inflammatory rhetoric are converging while mechanisms that could mitigate these risks — including ceasefire monitoring, independent justice institutions and inclusive political dialogue — have been weakened or suspended.

“South Sudan is still in a transition intended to break cycles of violence and repression. Elections must not be allowed to create another violent battleground,” said Commissioner Barney Afako. “The peace agreement was designed to take the guns out of political competition and to build systems to ensure the stability and prosperity of South Sudan. Instead, the guns are returning while the safeguards for peaceful political competition are disappearing. That is a profoundly dangerous trajectory. South Sudan cannot build a democratic future by excluding those with whom it disagrees. The parties must return to genuine dialogue, rebuild consensus and create the conditions in which political competition can take place without exclusion and violence.”

Under the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS), security-sector reform, accountability and constitutional reform were intended to establish the basis for credible elections. Yet the Agreement’s agreed sequence has not been honoured: the Government’s latest assessment shows that 46.4 per cent of the Agreement’s provisions remain outstanding, the unification of national forces remains incomplete and armed conflict has resumed. Proceeding to elections without addressing these deficiencies risks producing an outcome that lacks the conditions required for peaceful competition, meaningful participation and public confidence.

“An election cannot be credible simply because it is held on schedule,” said Commissioner Carlos Castresana Fernández. “It is credible when citizens can vote without fear, political opponents can participate freely, courts can resolve disputes independently, and institutions can constrain the exercise of power. These are not optional conditions. They are the safeguards that make an election a peaceful democratic process. Without those safeguards, the ballot risks becoming another arena for conflict rather than a pathway out of it.”

The Commission identifies essential conditions for a credible and non-violent electoral process: a genuine and monitored cessation of hostilities; unified national security forces under a non-partisan command; restored civic and political space; independent electoral institutions; effective and impartial electoral dispute resolution; protection for the participation of women, youth, persons with disabilities, internally displaced persons and refugees; measures to prevent and respond to hate speech and incitement; and equal political participation by all parties.

The Commission also acknowledged the profound frustration of South Sudanese who have endured years of protracted political transition, insecurity and economic hardship. For many, elections represent an important opportunity to shape the country’s political future peacefully. This is a legitimate aspiration. In the context of a transition from conflict, South Sudan’s leaders and institutions have the responsibility not only to create the conditions in which citizens can exercise their rights safely and meaningfully, but also to lay foundations for enduring stability.

In its Advisory, the Commission therefore called on the Government and all parties to the R-ARCSS to cease hostilities immediately, restore the transitional security arrangements, end the mobilisation of armed actors and urgently reconvene an inclusive political dialogue involving Dr Machar’s SPLM-IO faction, holdout groups, civil society, and representatives of women and youth. It also called for the release of detained opposition leaders, including Dr Machar, unless they are promptly brought before an independent and impartial court in proceedings that comply fully with international human rights standards including due process guarantees. An inclusive, consensus-based political process is essential to restoring the safeguards required for a peaceful and democratic transition.

The Commission urges the African Union, IGAD, the United Nations and other international partners to intensify coordinated preventive diplomacy and support a return to an inclusive, consensus-based transition. The current trajectory is not irreversible. There is still time to restore the safeguards necessary for elections to become a pathway towards democratic transition rather than a trigger for renewed conflict — but this requires an immediate return to inclusive political dialogue, consensus-building and implementation of the peace agreement.

“South Sudan does not lack peace agreements, frameworks or roadmaps; it lacks their implementation, and accountability for those who have chosen power over the protection of the people they govern,” the Commission states in its Advisory. “The window to prevent a return to the scale of atrocities and displacement South Sudan endured between 2013–2018 is closing, but it has not yet completely shut.”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations: Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).

Source: APO

As industrial technologies continue to evolve and mining, manufacturing and industrial businesses across Africa pursue greater productivity, improved safety, operational efficiency and more sustainable practices, the need for practical technologies, trusted expertise and strong business partnerships has never been greater. From automation and digitalisation to energy efficiency, sustainability and advanced engineering, organisations are seeking solutions that deliver measurable business value while supporting long-term growth.

Taking place from 7-11 September at the Johannesburg Expo Centre in Nasrec, Johannesburg, Electra Mining Africa will once again provide a meeting place for industry. Recognised as one of Africa’s leading industrial exhibitions, the event will bring together more than 1,000 predominantly local exhibitors, together with international companies, country pavilions, industry organisations, technical specialists, business leaders and decision-makers from across mining, manufacturing and related industries.

By bringing together six complementary sectors—mining, manufacturing, automation, electrical and power, transport and related engineering sectors—under one roof, Electra Mining Africa enables visitors to explore how integrated technologies and solutions can improve productivity, safety and operational performance. The exhibition provides a unique opportunity to compare products, engage directly with technical experts and discover how innovations from different sectors are increasingly working together to support smarter industrial operations.

Reflecting continued industry confidence, Electra Mining Africa has expanded its footprint for the 2026 edition, growing by 4,000m² to a record 44,000m² of net exhibition space across six indoor exhibition halls and expanded outdoor display areas.

Visitors will have the opportunity to explore solutions ranging from large-scale mining equipment and industrial machinery to automation systems, artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, digital manufacturing, predictive maintenance technologies, power solutions and advanced engineering services. The exhibition also features pumps, valves, welding and fabrication equipment, safety solutions, personal protective equipment (PPE), tools, components and specialist industrial services.

Electra Mining Africa has become an important business platform for companies serving markets across Africa. At the previous edition, industry professionals from 58 countries were represented, reflecting the exhibition’s growing international reach and its role in connecting manufacturers, technology suppliers, distributors, buyers and decision-makers from across the continent and beyond. For many exhibitors, the exhibition provides opportunities to strengthen customer relationships, meet prospective buyers, appoint distribution partners and explore new business opportunities. For visitors, it offers access to both internationally recognised brands and locally developed technologies designed to address the operational requirements of African industry.

Beyond the exhibition floor

Electra Mining Africa offers an extensive programme of technical knowledge sharing, professional development and industry collaboration. Free-to-attend seminars hosted by the Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (SAIMM) will explore practical operational challenges and emerging technologies, while the Society for Automation Instrumentation Mechatronics and Computer Engineering (SAIMC) will present specialist workshops on advances in automation and mechatronics. WiMSA’s Women in Mining workshop will provide a forum for discussion around leadership, opportunity and professional development, and the Lifting Equipment Engineering Association of South Africa (LEEASA) will host its two-day National Conference, bringing together industry professionals to share knowledge and discuss developments affecting the sector.

New for 2026, the SA Institution of Mechanical Engineering (SAIMechE) Skills and Career Hub will strengthen collaboration between industry and the education and training sector, encouraging conversations around future workforce requirements, skills development and innovation. Visitors will also be able to experience the Geological Society of South Africa (GSSA) Explorers Pitch, where finalist student teams present their mineral exploration projects to an expert industry judging panel before the winning team is announced.

Also taking place during Electra Mining Africa are the New Products and Innovation Awards, which recognise outstanding achievements by both local and international exhibitors. Adjudicated by the South African Capital Equipment Export Council (SACEEC), entries are evaluated against a comprehensive set of criteria, including innovation, engineering excellence, research and development, product quality, technical expertise and the practical value each solution delivers to industry. The winners are announced during the exhibition, recognising companies whose products and innovations are advancing technology, performance and industrial application.

“Industrial businesses are facing increasingly complex challenges that cannot be solved in isolation. Electra Mining Africa brings together the technologies, expertise and industry relationships that help organisations make informed decisions, identify practical solutions and build partnerships that support long-term growth. That’s what makes the exhibition such an important meeting place for industry, not only in South Africa but for businesses operating across the African continent,” says Charlene Hefer, Portfolio Director at Montgomery Group, organisers of Electra Mining Africa..

Industry professionals wishing to attend Electra Mining Africa can register (https://apo-opa.co/4xthQPH) as a Standard Visitor free of charge. There is also an option to upgrade to a Diamond Select Visitor.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Montgomery Group Africa.

Media Contact:
Natasha Heiberg
Head of Marketing
Montgomery Group Africa
T. +27 (0)11 835 1565
​E. natasha.heiberg@montgomerygroup.com

About Electra Mining Africa:
Electra Mining Africa (www.ElectraMining.co.za) is Southern Africa’s leading industrial exhibition, bringing together the latest innovations in mining, manufacturing, automation, electrical and power, transport and logistics. Held every two years, the exhibition connects technology providers, equipment manufacturers, engineering specialists and industrial professionals from across the industrial value chain. Through technology showcases, specialist conferences and networking opportunities, Electra Mining Africa provides a platform for industry to exchange knowledge, build business relationships and explore technologies that improve productivity, efficiency, safety and sustainability.

About Montgomery Group Africa:
Montgomery Group Africa (https://apo-opa.co/4gI7iWA) unites Montgomery Group’s divisions across Africa into a single agile and future-focused organisation. With a strong portfolio of world-class exhibitions, the company is committed to building deeper connections across the continent – unlocking opportunities for innovation, business growth, and lasting impact in every market we serve. Backed by Montgomery Group’s 130-year heritage, Montgomery Group Africa has built a proud track record of delivering influential events since 1968. With a strong portfolio spanning Southern Africa through Eastern and Western Africa, they create platforms where industries connect, ideas thrive, and communities benefit. Their forward-looking approach ensures they remain a trusted leader in shaping the future of exhibitions across the continent.

Source: APO

• New shareholder alignment funds the multibillion-rand buildout of a purpose-built 5G-Advanced fixed wireless access (FWA) network.
• Wholesale model enables established ISPs, MVNOs, WISPs and new market entrants to access South Africa’s fastest-growing broadband category.
• Network brings stable, high-speed home connectivity and greater consumer choice to a growing market across the nation, including underserved areas, starting in Gauteng.

Comsol (https://Comsol.co.za/), a South African fixed wireless connectivity and private network operator with a history spanning nearly three decades, is entering the home broadband market as a wholesale provider of 5G infrastructure. The move is backed by two new shareholders: Platform Investment Partners, which has made 10 founder-stage fibre investments across four geographies over the past decade, and Wimsey Capital, a privately held investment company.

The new shareholding follows the exit of Nedbank Private Equity, part of Nedbank CIB, from its investment in Comsol. Convergence Partners, a major shareholder and long-standing investor in the business, together with Solcon Capital, is investing additional growth capital. Founder and CEO Iain Stevenson (through Mactavish Investments) retains his stake and is also investing additional capital into the company. RMB arranged and provided an innovative and holistic funding solution that enabled the shareholder transaction and will support the business in its strategic capex roll-out plan.

The move gives South African internet service providers, mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) and other potential partners access to a standalone 5G-Advanced* network purpose-built for fixed wireless access (FWA). Comsol owns and operates the network as an end-to-end wholesale product, while its partners control the customer relationship and go-to-market strategy, including branding, commercials and support.

One million households in Gauteng already covered

Comsol started building its network six months ago and already covers more than a million households in Gauteng. The company is targeting full coverage of Gauteng by March 2027. Expansion into the Western Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and major regional centres will follow in 2027 and 2028. 

Comsol aims to blanket South Africa with around 2,000 base stations, representing one of the country’s largest standards-based and highest-capacity 5G networks. The network creates a new wholesale option for South African service providers, giving them more network capacity choice through new infrastructure, enhancing the competitive landscape to the benefit of the consumer.

“Comsol anticipates where the market is heading and builds ahead of demand,” said Stevenson. “This is why we were investing in licensed spectrum years before its strategic value was widely understood and building private 5G before the market had grasped what it would enable. We see 5G-Advanced for the home as a big growth opportunity.

“ICASA has allocated spectrum to network providers to expand broadband access and increase competition in the market. We believe the way to honour that mandate is to build wholesale infrastructure that extends high-speed broadband to new customer segments and creates a platform for more competition at the well-established service provider layer.” 

Backed by investors with deep experience in telecom infrastructure

Shaun Clark, CEO of Platform Investment Partners, added: “We have spent years investing in the construction of open-access digital infrastructure in South Africa, and were founding investors in assets such as DFA, Conduct, Vumatel and N99. Our approach has always been to identify trends in technology adoption and invest behind them. We see fixed wireless as an important part of the connectivity market. Comsol is a natural fit with our portfolio of digital infrastructure businesses, which are all centred around a neutral host model.”

Richard Ladbrook, Director of Wimsey Capital, said: “We see a significant opportunity in 5G fixed wireless access to bring high-quality connectivity to more South African households. Comsol has a multi-decade track record of successfully building and delivering advanced wireless networks in diverse contexts. We are excited to back the business and partner with the world-class Comsol team as they build and scale this next phase of growth.”

Said Andile Ngcaba, executive chairman of Convergence Partners and chairman of the Comsol board: “Comsol is well positioned as the world transitions from 5G to 6G. The depth of its spectrum and nationwide network presence across all provinces creates a significant opportunity to serve South Africa’s enterprise, private and public sectors. Comsol’s platform is equally relevant to urban and rural markets, and to companies of all sizes.”

For Nedbank Private Equity this exit concludes a successful nine-year investment in Comsol. “We are proud to have supported the company’s growth, network rollout and value creation journey alongside management and our co-shareholders. The transaction positions Comsol strongly for its next phase of growth,” said Yougan Moodley of Nedbank Private Equity.

The commercial case for advanced home 5G

Comsol’s wholesale 5G-Advanced offering complements existing fibre networks, expanding consumer choice and the reach of home connectivity.  Approximately 15% of South African households are connected to fibre, largely concentrated in dense metro areas where trenching costs are justified. This leaves a significant market adjacent to suburban markets where 5G FWA can be deployed quickly and at a substantially lower cost. The 5G-Advanced FWA network deployed by Comsol provides high capacity to support home broadband at scale, enabling entire towns to be covered in weeks.

Regulatory and technology developments in recent years have further strengthened the commercial case for 5G-Advanced FWA home connectivity. Comsol received its C-band spectrum licence from ICASA in 2022, providing investors with the certainty to fund the network rollout. The allocated spectrum supports speed-tiered plans with competitive pricing for consumers. Meanwhile, declining 5G chipset and CPE costs have lowered the upfront cost for consumers and ISPs entering the 5G FWA market. As a new entrant into the 5G wholesale market, Comsol also benefits from a modern 5G-Advanced standalone core, unencumbered by legacy technologies. 

These advantages of 5G FWA are expected to drive significant growth over the next five years. ICASA data shows FWA subscriptions growing by roughly 39% year on year in 2025.** BMIT predicts that 5G may account for up to 67% of all residential FWA connections by 2029, up from 35% in 2024.*** 

Built differently

Comsol’s network is one of only two production 5G standalone cores currently live in South Africa. The network offers a level of ultra-low latency and dedicated capacity control that hybrid 4G/5G deployments cannot match, along with roughly double the uplink performance of typical 5G mobile operator networks.

Comsol’s implementation of 5G-Advanced is IMT-conformant, taking advantage of standards-based technologies that deliver significantly greater capacity at a lower cost per bit. Comsol’s network is purpose-built to deliver high-capacity 5G home connectivity at scale.

Advantages for partners

Comsol operates as a wholesaler and does not compete with its consumer-facing partners. ISPs and other partners retain ownership of their go-to-market strategies, including product commercials, packaging, billing and branding. Comsol’s API-driven platform enables partners to bring a branded 5G-Advanced FWA offering to market in weeks, while retaining a high degree of control over their products and customer engagement.

Comsol has designed the network to enable ISPs to reach new customer segments with connectivity geared towards streaming, video calls and smart-home use that make up the bulk of home broadband needs. Its API-driven architecture gives partners the flexibility to build differentiated packages for different customer segments and implement or adapt products within hours, enabling them to respond quickly to changing market demand.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Comsol.

Notes and sources:
*The next step in the development of cellular technologies, 5G-Advanced (https://apo-opa.co/4xLp8h9) refers to a suite of technologies that will be introduced with Release 18 of the 3GPP standards.
** The-State-of-the-ICT-Sector-Report-of-South-Africa-31-March-2026.pdf (https://apo-opa.co/4xWItMF)
***5G expected to reshape South Africa’s wireless broadband market (https://apo-opa.co/45CaVr6)

For media enquiries, please contact:
Masamo Majapelo
PR Account Director at Idea Engineers (on behalf of Comsol)
Cell: +27 (0)73 333 6858
Email: masamo@ideaengineers.co.za

About Comsol:
Comsol is South Africa’s leading wholesale connectivity and network infrastructure provider, with nearly 30 years of wireless expertise. Working through service provider partners, Comsol enables connectivity for enterprises, businesses and homes.

Its capabilities span licensed fixed wireless access, private networks and other business-critical solutions, underpinned by significant spectrum assets, including the country’s largest contiguous holding of 28 GHz spectrum and 60 MHz in the 3.7 GHz band. Comsol has a nationwide enterprise network and is rolling out a new 5G-Advanced network for home connectivity, starting in Gauteng and expanding across South Africa.

For more information, please visit https://Comsol.co.za/

Source: APO

.

The Gauteng delegation of permanent delegates to the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) on Wednesday called for urgent corrective action and greater accountability after oversight visits revealed persistent delays at two school construction projects and the Women Living Monument in Pretoria.

The visits form part of the NCOP’s 2026 Provincial Week programme, through which it aims to assess progress against earlier commitments and recommendations during previous oversight engagements.

The delegation started in Daveyton, where it was joined by the MEC for Infrastructure Development and COGTA, Mr Jacob Mamabolo. Senior government officials accompanied the MEC. At the Barcelona Primary School, Members expressed concern that construction remains delayed despite earlier commitments to address the challenges affecting the project. The delegation was informed that the previous contractor’s services had been terminated because of poor progress on the project. Members heard that the process to appoint a new contractor is underway. The department indicated that the bid evaluation process for the new contractor was completed on 12 August 2026 and the aim is to make an appointment by 28 August 2026.

Members questioned the causes of the delays and called for strict timelines to return the project to schedule. They also called for consequences where wrongdoing or failure is established, as well as closer monitoring of contractor performance and procurement processes. The delegation emphasised that communities should not continue to wait indefinitely for infrastructure that is critical to the provision of quality public services.

The delegation further sought clarity on the financial implications of terminating the previous contractor. Members called for appropriate measures to protect public funds and to recover any amounts due to the government, where applicable. Mr Mamabolo undertook to provide further information on the project within 14 days. This will include the implementation plan and timelines for completing the school.

At Semphato Secondary School in Soshanguve, the delegation raised concern about continued construction delays and discrepancies in the reported progress of the project. Members questioned the termination and reinstatement of contractors, project expenditure and the lack of tangible progress since the delegation’s previous oversight visit. The delegation also raised concern about the condition of temporary classrooms and ablution facilities used by learners, despite earlier undertakings to address these problems.

The delegation requested separate detailed written reports from the Gauteng Department of Infrastructure Development and COGTA and the provincial education department within 14 working days. The infrastructure report is expected to address the status of the project, the terminated contractor, consequence-management measures, investigations into allegations surrounding the project, and clear timelines for completion. The delegation further called on the department to consider opening criminal cases against parties where investigations establish possible criminal conduct arising from breaches of contractual obligations.

The education department is expected to report separately on the condition of the temporary learning facilities and ablution blocks, the interventions required and the timeframes for addressing the concerns raised. The delegation emphasised that commitments made during parliamentary oversight must be matched by measurable action, particularly where learners’ safety and dignity is a concern.

At the Women Living Monument in Pretoria, the delegation expressed concern that the facility remains non-operational despite previous commitments to complete the outstanding requirements. The delegation was particularly concerned about the outstanding occupancy-related certification required before the facility can become operational. Members recalled that, during the previous oversight engagement, officials had committed to securing the outstanding certificate that day. The delegation expressed dissatisfaction that the responsible municipal official was not available to account for the outstanding certification. Members stressed that commitments made to Parliament must be honoured.

The Department of Infrastructure Development and the Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation undertook to ensure that the outstanding processes are concluded and that the monument is officially opened by the end of August 2026. The delegation will follow up on this commitment to ensure the facility’s ultimate intention to commemorate and preserve the history and contribution of women in South Africa is realised.

Across the three sites, the delegation identified recurring concerns affecting public infrastructure delivery, including project delays, contractor performance, procurement and supply-chain weaknesses, consequence management and the protection of public funds. The delegation emphasised that the purpose of oversight is not merely to receive explanations for delays, but to ensure that identified challenges result in specific corrective action.

Gauteng Provincial Whip and leader of the delegation, Ms Jane Mananiso, said the site visits reinforced the importance of the legislature in conducting oversight and accountability. “Oversight cannot simply be about visiting projects, listening to explanations and then moving on. Our responsibility is to follow through on commitments made to Parliament and to the communities we represent. Where projects are delayed, there must be clear corrective measures, accountability and realistic timelines. Where public resources have been compromised, there must be consequence management,” she said.

Ms Mananiso said the delegation would assess the commitments made during the visits as part of its provincial debriefing and reflect the outstanding matters in its report to Parliament.
 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of South Africa: The Parliament.