Category: English

Source: APO – Report:

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Emma Townshend, Executive: Corporate Affairs at South African mining company Implats, has confirmed her participation as a speaker at the upcoming African Mining Week (AMW) 2025, Africa’s premier event for mining stakeholders.

Townshend will contribute to a high-level panel discussion titled South Africa’s Strategic Influence in the Global Platinum Group Metals (PGMs) Market, showcasing Implats’ role in maintaining South Africa’s dominance in PGMs.

African Mining Week serves as a premier platform for exploring the full spectrum of mining opportunities across Africa. The event is held alongside the African Energy Week: Invest in African Energies 2025 conference from October 1-3 in Cape Town. Sponsors, exhibitors and delegates can learn more by contacting sales@energycapitalpower.com.

Townshend’s AMW participation comes at a time when Implats is strengthening its operations to support long-term growth. In July 2025, the company announced the consolidation of its Impala Platinum and Impala Bafokeng Resources (http://apo-opa.co/3IseQy8) operations in South Africa. This strategic realignment is aimed at mitigating the effects of PGM price volatility, improving operational efficiency and securing sustainable revenue for both Implats and the broader South African economy, which accounts for approximately 80% of global PGM output.

The company also has an ongoing capital investment program (http://apo-opa.co/4lRpI70) designed to increase production capacity, extend life-of-mines and enhance local beneficiation. Key projects include a R460 million initiative at Impala Bafokeng to counter declining production. The firm is undertaking over $387 million in upgrades to tailings and smelting infrastructure at Zimplats in Zimbabwe. The development of the Mupani Mine in Zimbabwe is expected to increase the company’s annual platinum ore output by 2.2 million tons in 2026 and 3.6 million tons by 2029. Additionally, a R500 million expansion at the Springs Base-Metal Refinery in South Africa aims to strengthen the company’s processing capabilities and operational resilience.

At AMW, sustainability will also be a major focus of Townshend’s remarks. Implats has set an ambitious target to reduce its carbon emissions by 30% by 2030. As part of this effort, the company signed a five-year power purchase agreement (PPA) (http://apo-opa.co/4ePzKTV) with Discovery Green in January 2025 for the provision of 130,000 MWh of renewable electricity annually to its Springs refinery. The agreement is expected to meet 90% of the refinery’s power needs from 2026, cutting approximately 170,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions annually. The company is also expanding its renewable footprint with an additional 45 MW solar power plant at Zimplats, complementing the 35 MW facility commissioned at its Selous metallurgical complex in 2024.

In addition to showcasing operational and environmental initiatives, AMW represents an ideal platform for Townsend to spotlight Implats’ leadership in promoting gender inclusivity in the mining sector. The company has already achieved its 2026 goal of 29% female representation in management and continues to integrate gender equality into its broader growth strategy.

– on behalf of Energy Capital & Power.

Source: APO – Report:

In April, two of Britain’s biggest retailers got hit by a massive cyberattack by the notorious Scattered Spider group, leading to substantial financial losses, operational disruptions and compromised customer data (http://apo-opa.co/40O1faD). M&S suffered losses of £300 million (http://apo-opa.co/40O1gLJ) (roughly R7.3 billion) due to the attack, with supply chains affected for weeks. On top of the direct losses, over £1 billion was stripped from the organisation’s market value (http://apo-opa.co/4lPmMb3). Similarly, the Co-op experienced data breaches (http://apo-opa.co/4524lud) affecting customers’ personal information, while Harrods reported attempted cyberattacks (http://apo-opa.co/3GIeSl3), but managed to maintain online operations.

“These attacks aren’t just about stolen data,” says Anna Collard, SVP of Content Strategy & Evangelist at KnowBe4 Africa. “They took whole systems offline.

“In retail, downtime is a critical threat – it affects sales, customer trust, and brand loyalty, instantly.”

A new kind of threat actor

Unlike traditional ransomware gangs, Scattered Spider is decentralised, native English-speaking, and highly adaptive. “Scattered Spider aren’t mere opportunistic hackers,” explains Collard. “They operate more like well-funded, well-organised crime syndicates.”

With some members as young as 19, they coordinate their activities on platforms like Discord and Telegram. “They’re agile, patient and disturbingly good at blending in,” she says. Added to this, they have great expertise in human psychology, as showcased during their attacks on Las Vegas casinos in 2023 (http://apo-opa.co/4nPvtnM).

Their primary weapons, therefore, aren’t just digital – they’re human. “They’ve mastered social engineering,” says Collard. “They specialise in exploiting human trust. From vishing (voice phishing) to impersonating internal staff and triggering what’s referred to as ‘MFA fatigue’; they’re skilled manipulators who understand both systems and people.”

MFA fatigue is one of the growing tactics they’re known for which involves triggering repeated multi-factor authentication (MFA) prompts, hoping the bombarded employees eventually click “approve” just to make the interruptions stop.

“Legacy systems, shadow IT, and poorly enforced policies create entry points. Attackers don’t need to break in if they can just log in.”

Another alleged tactic Scattered Spider used in its latest attacks involved calling IT helpdesks to reset credentials, gaining access to their target’s infrastructure and subsequently deploying a ransomware-as-a-service tool. The outcome? Encrypted systems, stalled operations, and a long road to recovery.

Why Africa should be paying close attention

Retailers across Africa – particularly in South Africa, Nigeria, and Kenya – are digitally transforming at a rapid pace. Cloud-based POS systems, centralised inventory platforms, and data-driven loyalty programmes are now standard. But these digital advancements also expand attack surfaces.

High employee turnover, remote workforces, and under-resourced helpdesks can compound exposure. And while business English is common in South Africa, this linguistic advantage also makes local teams more susceptible to social engineering by fluent English-speaking attackers.

“Our local executives aren’t naïve,” Collard notes. “Many are acutely aware of the risks. What’s needed now is clarity on what really matters – and cutting through the noise.”

Pepkor IT’s CISO, Duncan Rae, delivered an insightful talk at the ITWeb Security Summit in May where he warned that cybersecurity teams are often overwhelmed – not just by threats, but by too many competing priorities. Teams are bombarded with shiny, new tools and threat reports spreading fear, uncertainty, and doubt (FUD) which sometimes makes organisations lose sight of the basics, he warned.

“These basics include managing human risk, addressing third-party exposure, and hardening vulnerabilities,” according to Rae.

What needs to change?

Collard points to gaps in access controls, third-party risk management, and cloud security as common weaknesses – not just in the UK, but globally. “Legacy systems, shadow IT, and poorly enforced policies create entry points,” she warns. “Attackers don’t need to break in if they can just log in.”

For African retail leaders, this is a call to fortify the human layer.

“Train your frontline teams, especially in helpdesk and customer support. Teach them to detect manipulation. Make secure behaviour the norm – not the exception.”

Equally important, she says, is embedding cybersecurity into leadership conversations. “Cybersecurity is not just an IT function. It’s a board-level business risk.

“Executives must ask tough questions about readiness, incident response, and accountability.”

From awareness to action

Too often, security training is treated as a box-ticking exercise. Collard urges a more thoughtful approach: “Training must resonate. It should be contextual, culturally relevant, and delivered in local languages where appropriate.”

She challenges business leaders with the following:

• Could an attacker trick your helpdesk into a password reset?
• Would your staff recognise a social engineering attempt?
• Do you test these scenarios regularly?

“If the answer is ‘no’ to any of these, your organisation is vulnerable,” Collard says. “But the good news is that change is possible – and fast – when you start investing in the human element.”

“Cyber resilience is a collective responsibility,” she concludes. “And in an interconnected world, learning from each other’s crises is one of the smartest defences we have.”

– on behalf of KnowBe4.

Contact details:
KnowBe4:
Anne Dolinschek 
anned@knowbe4.com

Red Ribbon:
TJ Coenraad 
tayla@redribboncommunications.co.za

Source: APO – Report:

The 7th edition of the Strengthening Families Conference (SFC) (https://StrengthenFamily.org/) 2025 unfolded in Freetown as The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and collaborators joined government leaders, faith communities, and civil society to champion women’s empowerment and child protection across Sierra Leone. The two-day conference officially opened on Thursday, June 26 at the Bintumani International Conference Centre under the theme ‘Building Stronger Communities through Women Empowerment and Child Protection’.

Delivering the keynote address on the first day, Her Excellency the First Lady of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Madam Fatima Maada Bio, stated that the conference presented a unique platform to drive lasting change and consequently challenged stakeholders to turn dialogue into action. “Let me use this as a call to us all to not let this be just a conference. Let us use this platform to design policies that will make women change-makers in our society,” she urged.

She emphasized that promoting women’s empowerment should not be reduced to tokenism, as genuinely empowering women has tangible and far-reaching effects. “Women are agents of transformation. They build up the families, and our families are what build up our society,” the First Lady added.

Representing The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Elder Isaac K. Morrison, General Authority Seventy and Second Counselor in the Africa West Area Presidency, echoed this conviction, highlighting the role of women in the home and across various facets of society. “Women create harmonious and resilient communities. We need more women of virtue, purity, and empowerment, and this begins with the family,” he said.

Other dignitaries reinforced the shared mission. Archbishop Edward Tamba Charles, President of the Inter-Religious Council, described empowerment as a spiritual responsibility, and consequently, must be spearheaded by religious institutions. “Religious institutions must champion gender equality and child welfare,” he noted.

Traditional leader Sheku Amadu Tejan Fasuluku-Sonsiama III similarly said, “It is in our homes, towns, and villages that true transformation must begin. When women are given a seat at the table, nations prosper.”

Goodwill messages came from Ambassador Bob Sheriff of Liberia and Amir Musa Mewa of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission, in a show of regional solidarity. The first day also featured an exhibition showcasing solutions in family welfare, women’s advancement, and child protection, along with a panel discussion led by Madam Isatu Jabbie Kabbah and Aminata Turay exploring policy and grassroots strategies.

Child protection at the heart of resilient communities

The second day of the conference turned the spotlight to child protection as the cornerstone of strong families.

Delivering the keynote, Elder Alfred Kyungu, President of the Africa West Area of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, underscored the benefits of dedicated care for the young. “Children are shaped by their experiences; hence, families must create a conducive environment that contributes not just to their physical well-being but to their emotional and spiritual health,” he added. He further stressed the power of love over fear in raising children.

Sheik Ibrahim Barrie, a respected religious and political leader, reiterated the role of women’s empowerment in Islamic teachings. “Empowering women is not just a moral obligation; it is a necessity for the progress of our communities,” he noted. Young gender activist Grace Ada Brown moved the audience with her personal testimony, adding that the strength of a nation depends on the strength of families. “When families are strong, communities thrive,” she said.

Speakers such as Tonya Waite of Protect Child Health Coalition–USA, Jennifer Hogge Ellsworth of Engage Now Africa, and Sharon and Greg Slater of Family Watch International offered practical strategies for safeguarding children’s well-being. Panelists Daniel F. H. Kettor, Blessing Kutubu, and Christiana Ogbemoye Oliko shared insights on regional collaboration and community-based support systems. “Protecting children starts with building trust between families and the institutions designed to help them,” Mr. Kettor said.

Safe house for gender-based violence victims

In a landmark announcement, Elder Kyungu, revealed plans to build a 54-bed safe house in partnership with the office of the First Lady. “This facility will not only provide shelter but also counseling sessions to help survivors regain their footing in society.” The closing ceremony concluded with awards recognizing the First Lady’s leadership, including honors from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Social Welfare Department, and the Government of Liberia.

ICU renovation and donation underscore commitment to health

Ahead of the conference, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints commissioned a comprehensive renovation of the Intensive Care Units at Connaught Hospital, the nation’s main healthcare facility. Elder Isaac Morrison described the project as faith in action. “This project represents our deep commitment to alleviating burdens and bringing hope to communities around the world.”

Acting Minister of Health, Professor Dr. Charles Senessie, highlighted the alignment between this initiative and national goals. “The collaboration between the Church and the government is vital for improving health outcomes in Sierra Leone,” he noted.

Hospital leaders called the upgrades for changing life. “This is not just an upgrade; it is a lifeline,” Dr. Ibrahim Kapuwa, Hospital Care Manager said. The donation included ICU beds, defibrillators, vital sign monitors, and other critical equipment, reinforcing the message that healthy families are the foundation of strong nations. As the 7th Strengthening Families Conference concluded, one message resonated clearly: Empowering women, protecting children, and investing in health are inseparable pillars of a thriving, resilient Sierra Leone.

Outlook and future conference

The conference is scheduled to next go to Monrovia, Liberia in June, 2026. All stakeholders are looking forward to Liberia hosting a successful event.

– on behalf of Strengthening Families Conference (SFC).

Additional Link: https://apo-opa.co/44RCsUA

Source: APO – Report:

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Nearly 27 months have passed since fighting broke out between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and a former ally, the paramilitary Rapid Security Forces (RSF), creating an unprecedented humanitarian crisis.

The UN voiced grave alarm over escalating hostilities in El Fasher, the besieged capital of North Darfur state. 

Serious risk of renewed violence

Large numbers of RSF fighters reportedly entered the city on Friday for the first time since the siege began over a year ago.

Local sources report that recent fierce fighting, particularly in the southwest and east of El Fasher, has led to civilian casualties.

“The situation remains highly volatile and unpredictable, with a serious risk of renewed violence, as well as further displacement and disruption of humanitarian operations – which are already under severe strain,” OCHA said.

Insecurity in North Kordofan state

Meanwhile, in North Kordofan State, growing insecurity forced 3,400 people to flee their homes over the weekend, according to the UN International Organization for Migration (IOM). 

Local reports indicate that at least 18 civilians were killed, and homes were burned in several villages.

OCHA reminded all parties that attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure are prohibited under international humanitarian law, and that civilians must be protected at all times.

Rainy season constraints

Meanwhile, heavy rains have been reported in West and Central Darfur states, which may affect road conditions in some locations and worsen the challenges humanitarians are already facing in accessing people in need.

“With the rainy season continuing through October, the risk of floods, access constraints and disease outbreaks is growing – especially during this critical lean season, a time between harvests when food stocks traditionally run low,” OCHA warned.

Families return to West Darfur

The agency said that despite the crisis, signs of small-scale returns are visible in West Darfur state, where displaced families have been returning from Chad to three localities – Sirba, Jebel Moon and Kulbus – to cultivate their farms. 

Furthermore, local authorities report about 40 people returning daily to Kulbus, with 300 arriving over the past week.

OCHA urged all parties to enable safe and unimpeded access to all people in need across Sudan, and for donors to step up their support.

Some 30 million people nationwide – more than half the population – need vital aid and protection this year. 

– on behalf of United Nations (UN).