Category: English

Source: APO

Nationals residing in the Swiss cities of Geneva, Basel and Lausanne have conducted various activities, including public seminars and conferences, aimed at strengthening their organizational capacity and contributions to national development programs.

At the seminar conducted in Geneva, Mr. Habtom Zeray, Chargé d’Affaires at the Eritrean Embassy in Switzerland and Eritrea’s Permanent Representative to the UN Human Rights Council and other international organizations in Geneva, gave a briefing on the objective situation in the homeland, as well as regional and global developments.

Mr. Habtom stated that the progress Eritrea is registering at a time when the world is tormented by war and a lack of peace is the result of the unity of its people and commitment of its leadership. He also called on Eritrean communities to strengthen their role in preserving the noble societal values nurtured through heavy sacrifice and passing them on to future generations.

Noting the significance of unity to the existence of society and the country, Mr. Habtom said that the lifting of the unwarranted unilateral sanctions imposed on Eritrea was the result of the unity and steadfastness of the Eritrean people.

Mr. Ismail Mohammed-Nur, head of Public and Community Affairs, also gave a briefing on the programs of the Fourth Front.

In the same vein, the Eritrean community in Basel and the Lausanne branch of the National Union of Eritrean Women held activity assessment meetings and discussed future programs. They also elected executive committees for a two-year term.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Information, Eritrea.

Source: APO

A senior Eritrean delegation comprising Mr. Hagos Gebrehiwet, Head of Economic Affairs, and Mr. Nesredin Mohammed Saleh, Minister of Trade and Industry, held talks today, 1 October, in Cairo with Dr. Badr Abdellaty, Egypt’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Expatriates, and Lieutenant General Kamel El-Wazir, Minister of Transport.

During the meeting with Dr. Badr Abdellaty, the two sides reviewed progress in implementing the agreement previously reached and discussed the next steps, areas of bilateral cooperation, and regional matters of mutual interest.

The discussion with Lieutenant General Kamel El-Wazir focused on enhancing investment and trade in construction equipment and materials, pharmaceuticals, agricultural produce, and marine resources, as well as maritime transport.

The meeting was attended by Mr. Berhane Gebrehiwet, General Manager of the Housing and Commercial Bank, and Mr. Aman Abdelwase’e, Chargé d’Affaires at the Eritrean Embassy in Egypt.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Information, Eritrea.

Source: APO

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For decades, “frontier basin” has been synonymous with uncertainty. Investors have typically associated frontier exploration with limited geological data, unclear regulatory frameworks, speculative acreage allocation and elevated commercial risk. That perception no long accurately reflects Liberia.

The country’s offshore sector is entering a fundamentally different phase. Risk has not disappeared – no frontier basin is without it – but it has become increasingly identifiable, measurable and manageable. Through institutional reform, structured licensing and one of the most comprehensive offshore data acquisition campaigns in Liberia’s history, the country is systematically reducing the uncertainties that have historically constrained investment.

Regulatory certainty forms the first pillar of this strategy.

The Amended Petroleum (Exploration and Production) Act of 2019 clearly separates regulatory oversight from commercial participation. The Liberia Petroleum Regulatory Authority (LPRA) independently administers licensing, compliance and petroleum agreements, while the National Oil Company of Liberia (NOCAL) manages the state’s commercial interests. Distinct institutional mandates create transparent decision-making and reduce governance risk for investors.

The market has responded. In September 2025, TotalEnergies signed PSCs for Blocks BL-6, LB-11, LB-17 and LB-29, generating a $16 million signature bonus and ending more than a decade of limited upstream activity. In January 2026, the company extended into the Harper Basin through a Joint Study and Application Agreement with BluEnergies covering Blocks LB-26, LB-30 and LB-31 across 8,924 km².

Liberia’s second competitive advantage is geological visibility.

Frontier exploration has historically relied on limited subsurface information. Today, operators are evaluating Liberia using modern seismic imaging and geochemical analysis designed to identify the highest-confidence drilling opportunities before exploration wells are committed.

TGS has surpassed the halfway mark in reprocessing more than 6,100 km² of legacy 3D seismic using advanced pre-stack depth migration workflows that preserve direct hydrocarbon indicators. Since June 2026, GeoPartners has simultaneously conducted a 4,045 km² seabed survey aboard the R/V GYRE, integrating bathymetric mapping, water-column imaging and piston coring across water depths of 500‒3.500 meters. Combined datasets scheduled for completion in the fourth quarter of 2026 will significantly improve target definition and reduce subsurface uncertainty.

Liberia is also de-risking investment through disciplined licensing.

Rather than allocated acreage to the highest bidder, the LPRA’s targeted direct negotiation framework prioritizes companies with proven technical capability, financial capacity and long-term commitment. Applicants are expected to demonstrate access to more than $50 million in liquidity per block alongside ultra-deepwater operating experience before negotiations advance.

Equally important are Liberia’s “drill-or-drop” provisions. Exploration licenses require operators to execute agreed work programs or relinquish acreage, preventing speculative block holding and ensuring continuous investment across the basin.

Institutional reforms have continued alongside technical progress. During 2025 and 2026, the LPRA strengthened regulatory cooperation with the U.S., signed a strategic partnership with Ghana’s Petroleum Commission and worked with NOCAL to enhance judicial capacity for petroleum dispute resolution. Meanwhile, the government expects active mining and petroleum agreements to mobilize $4.8 billion in investment, including approximately $800 million dedicated to upstream exploration.

No frontier basin is without risk. Commodity prices fluctuate, exploration can disappoint and deepwater developments require significant capital. Investors understand those realities.

The difference is that Liberia is systematically addressing the risks it can control. Strong regulation, transparent licensing, active data acquisition and disciplined contract enforcement are transforming uncertainty into informed investment decisions. For companies seeking exposure to one of the last underexplored basins along the West Africa Transform Margin, Liberia’s greatest asset is not longer simply its geology. It is the confidence created by a regulatory framework deliberately built to support responsible, long-term investment.

The Launch of the Liberia 2026 Offshore Direct Negotiation Licensing Round – organized by Energy Capital and Power – will take place at African Energy Week (AEW) 2026 on October 14 at The Orchid, CTICC 2. Visit, https://apo-opa.co/4y0VlRB for more information.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital & Power.

Source: APO

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As Botswana celebrates her 60 years independence on Wednesday, Lesotho gears for her own golden Jubilee independance as well on Sunday.

The two sister countries are set to be marking decades of peace, stability and governance after gaining freedom from the British Colonial rule that is September 30, 1966 for Botswana and October 4, 1966 for the Mountain Kingdom respectively.

In an interview with the Agency on Wednesday, the Coordinator of Lesotho at 60 under the Ministry of Tourism, Sports, Arts and Culture, Mrs. ‘Mabasia Shano explained the committee is fully aware of the aforementioned scenarios between two sister countries sharing a lot in common including independence month and year.

Therefore, she wished Batswana a happy independence, urging Basotho to see this day as a warm up ahead of Basotho’s special day on Sunday that is October 04, whereby special activities of the day will include demonstration and performance of 60 years song.

She stated that messages of the song are to be centred around the 60 years journey, adding it is expected that different artists from traditional ones to hip-hop amongst others will come together and showcase their art in line with theme song.

Mrs. Shano also informed the nation collectively, individually and otherwise to also continue celebrations beyond October 04, stating there are other activities lined up and they include helping districts to make sustainable projects that will remain as legacies beyond 60 years.

“Let us go and enjoy the milestone, afterwards we will unveil each district proposals and plans for such projects so that we are aware how each district intendeds to hold this legacy going forward.”

In another story, she stipulated that their plan is also to initiate at some point a joint celebration as time goes by between Lesotho and Botswana, expressing hope the idea will be welcomed so that two nations, one way or the other engage on exchange.

Both countries are members of Southern African Development Community Countries (SADC), aspiring to foster peace and security of their nations as well as United Nations (UN) with the intention to also forge path for development in their respective countries in areas of economy and others.

Over and above that, Lesotho and Botswana are also working together with regard to Memorundum of Understanding (MoU) on water.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Government of Lesotho.

Source: APO

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Liberia is entering a new phase of offshore exploration as international companies advance seismic and geological programs while the government strengthens the infrastructure and institutions needed to support a growing petroleum sector. Activity is accelerating in the Harper Basin, while port modernization, petroleum storage and regulatory capacity are developing in parallel.

TotalEnergies and BluEnergies are already advancing a technical work program across Blocks LB-26, LB-30 and LB-31 in the Harper Basin. Announced in July 6, the program includes seismic reprocessing, seabed surveys and geochemical work aimed at identifying drillable prospects and potential drilling locations.

Port Infrastructure Enters a New Modernization Cycle

Liberia’s port system is being upgraded as offshore activity gains momentum. The National Port Authority (NPA), which oversees the Freeport of Monrovia and Port of Buchanan, is implementing its RESET Strategic Plan for 2025–2030, focused on port modernization, operational efficiency, safety and international maritime cooperation.

Buchanan already provides an established industrial logistics platform, with a commercial quay, open storage areas, warehouse facilities and heavy-lift capabilities. The NPA is now pursuing broader modernization and planning initiatives designed to improve the country’s maritime infrastructure and operating standards.

In July, the NPA also concluded a cooperation agreement with France’s HAROPA PORT, covering operational efficiency, technical cooperation and maritime modernization. The partnership forms part of the authority’s wider effort to bring Liberia’s ports closer to international standards.

Storage Expansion Builds Downstream Capacity

Liberia is also expanding petroleum storage capacity. In 2024, the Liberia Petroleum Refining Company (LPRC) completed a new gasoline storage tank, increasing national petroleum storage capacity by approximately 17,000 m3.

The next expansion phase is set to be substantially larger. In June, President Joseph Boakai reviewed the LPRC’s proposal for a new 50,000-ton tank farm at the company’s Product Storage Terminal. The project is intended to strengthen fuel security, expand strategic storage and improve Liberia’s petroleum distribution capacity.

The investment comes as exploration activity moves forward offshore, giving Liberia additional storage and logistics capacity as petroleum sector activity expands.

Strengthening Liberia’s Petroleum Institutions

Regulatory capacity is developing alongside the physical infrastructure, with the Liberia Petroleum Regulatory Authority – led by Director General Marilyn T. Logan -and Ghana’s Petroleum Commission having signed an MoU in June covering regulatory cooperation, knowledge sharing, stakeholder engagement and institutional capacity building. The agreement provides for cooperation in areas including petroleum-sector governance and technical expertise.

Liberia’s production-sharing framework also embeds local content and workforce development requirements into upstream contracts, creating mechanisms for Liberian workers and companies to participate as exploration and production activity expands.

With TotalEnergies and BluEnergies advancing offshore technical work in 2026, Liberia is simultaneously expanding port infrastructure, petroleum storage and regulatory capacity. The developments are giving the country’s emerging offshore sector a broader operational foundation as exploration moves toward potential drilling activity.

The Launch of the Liberia 2026 Offshore Direct Negotiation Licensing Round – organized by Energy Capital and Power – will take place at African Energy Week (AEW) 2026 on October 14 at The Orchid, CTICC 2. Visit, https://apo-opa.co/4rHXpMI for more information.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital & Power.

Source: APO

African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) (www.Afreximbank.com) congratulates the Government and people of the Republic of Kenya, led by H.E. President Dr William Samoei Ruto, on the groundbreaking of the Dangote oil refinery in Lamu. The landmark investment has the potential to significantly expand Africa’s refining capacity, strengthen regional energy security and accelerate the continent’s transition from exporting raw materials to trading value-added products.

The approximately US$16 billion refinery is planned to have capacity to process 700,000 barrels of crude oil per day and is expected to create approximately 60,000 jobs. Its intended regional ownership and market reach underscore its potential as an East African industrial asset. The refinery is expected to process crude sourced from African producers, including Uganda, while supplying refined petroleum products to Kenya and the wider regional market.

The economic significance of establishing large-scale refining capacity is substantial. A project of this scale presents an opportunity to retain more value within Kenyan and African economies, deepen local industrial supply chains, generate employment and associated services, reduce exposure to imported refined products and create a new platform for regional exports.

The project also comes at a consequential moment for Africa’s energy security. Recent disruptions affecting the Strait of Hormuz and continuing instability around the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb have again demonstrated the vulnerability created when African economies depend heavily on distant supply chains for strategic commodities. Against this backdrop, expanding African refining capacity is critical to advancing industrialisation, Intra-African trade and economic resilience.

Dr George Elombi, President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Afreximbank, said, “The significance of this investment extends well beyond the construction of a refinery. It demonstrates Africa’s capacity to conceive, finance and build major industrial assets that respond directly to the needs of our economies. By refining more of what we produce on the continent, we retain greater value from our natural resources, create jobs and strengthen the trade links between African economies.”

He continued, “Recent disruptions to global energy and shipping routes have reminded us of the cost of dependence. Africa has the capital, the enterprises and the markets to reduce that exposure. Investments such as this give us the productive capacity to shorten supply chains, conserve foreign exchange, strengthen regional energy security and build greater resilience into our economies.”

The Lamu refinery groundbreaking takes place amid a wider expansion of Kenya’s industrial and trade infrastructure, an agenda in which Afreximbank has become an important long-term partner to the Government of Kenya. In 2023, Afreximbank launched a US$3 billion Country Programme for Kenya to support priority public and private-sector projects. The programme encompasses industrial development and export manufacturing, climate adaptation and irrigation, trade infrastructure, support for small and medium-sized enterprises and initiatives designed to connect Kenyan businesses more effectively to regional and continental markets. It includes an US$800 million Kenya Climate Change Adaptation Facility supporting irrigation development and broader agricultural productivity.

In addition, working with the Government of Kenya and ARISE Integrated Industrial Platforms (Arise IIP), Afreximbank is supporting the development of the Dongo Kundu Integrated Industrial Park in Mombasa and the Naivasha Special Economic Zone II. Approximately US$1 billion has been earmarked for development of the two integrated industrial parks, which are expected to strengthen export manufacturing, attract domestic and international investment and enhance Kenya’s position as an industrial and logistics gateway into East and Central Africa. Government projections have associated the two developments with approximately 140,000 jobs once fully developed.

The Bank has also expanded its support for the Vipingo Special Economic Zone in Kilifi County. In 2025, Afreximbank and KCB Group announced an US$800 million financing framework, comprising US$500 million from Afreximbank and US$300 million from KCB, to support enterprises establishing operations in the zone. Afreximbank had already disbursed US$40 million towards development of the SEZ. The financing targets enterprises in manufacturing, agro-processing, logistics and other value-addition sectors.

Afreximbank also congratulates Mr Aliko Dangote, President and Chief Executive of Dangote Industries Limited, and the Dangote Group, for continuing to make large-scale commitments to Africa’s industrial development.

Afreximbank and Dangote Group have built a longstanding partnership focused on industrialisation, value addition and expanding Africa’s productive capacity. Since 2015, Afreximbank has invested approximately US$15 billion in the Dangote Group. That support has included major financing for the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals Complex in Nigeria. In 2025, Afreximbank signed a US$1.35 billion financing facility as part of an approximately US$4 billion syndicated financing for Dangote Industries Limited. In 2026, the Bank subsequently underwrote US$2.5 billion of a US$4 billion senior syndicated term loan for the refinery, representing the largest participation in the syndicate. Since refining operations began, Afreximbank has also provided a US$1 billion working-capital facility and served as financial adviser on the Naira-for-Crude initiative.

These interventions complement Afreximbank’s wider effort to build an African market for African-refined petroleum. In 2025, the Bank established a US$3 billion Revolving Intra-African Oil Import Financing Programme, designed to facilitate approximately US$10 billion to US$14 billion in intra-African petroleum imports and enable African buyers to source more refined products from refineries operating on the continent.

Dr. Elombi said, “African enterprises such as Dangote Industries demonstrate what is possible when African ambition is matched by investment at scale. They turn our natural resources into productive capacity – refineries, factories, supply chains, jobs and products that can be traded across African markets. Afreximbank has been proud to support the Dangote Group’s industrial expansion, including its major refining investment in Nigeria. Its decision to extend that industrial footprint into East Africa is important because Africa’s transformation will increasingly depend on African enterprises investing across our borders, African financial institutions supporting them and governments creating the conditions in which those investments can succeed.”

Afreximbank believes that the development of globally competitive African enterprises and regional value chains will be essential to achieving the promise of the African Continental Free Trade Area. Investments such as the Lamu refinery, alongside Kenya’s emerging industrial parks and special economic zones, can help shift the continent from dependence on the export of unprocessed commodities and the import of manufactured products towards an African economy that increasingly produces, processes and trades for itself.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Afreximbank.

Media Contact:
Vincent Musumba
Communications and Events Manager (Media Relations)
Email: press@afreximbank.com

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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 strong 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 2025, Afreximbank’s total assets and contingencies stood at over US$48.5 billion, and its shareholder funds amounted to US$8.4 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-), Moody’s (Baa2) and S&P Global Ratings (BBB+). The Bank is headquartered in Cairo, Egypt.

For more information, visit: www.Afreximbank.com

Source: APO

Africa’s Green Economy Summit (AGES) has launched the preview brochure for its 5th edition, taking place in Cape Town from 23 to 26 February 2027. The City of Cape Town has been confirmed as host city once again, continuing a partnership that has anchored AGES in the city since its earlier editions.

The launch comes as the world turns its attention to COP31, the UN Climate Change Conference. AGES is positioned to carry that global momentum forward, turning the commitments and conversations of COP31 into the partnerships and financing decisions that deliver Africa’s sustainable development on the ground.

“Africa’s Green Economy Summit is a must-attend for anyone serious about the future of our great continent. It is wonderful to combine great content from speakers experienced in the field with capital matching opportunities which make a real difference on the ground.” Says Hywel George of Old Mutual Investments.

AGES has grown into one of the continent’s leading dealmaking platforms for the green economy, connecting global capital with investable African projects across renewable energy, green transport, water, waste, sustainable agriculture, green buildings, the blue economy and climate technology.

Inside the preview brochure

The preview brochure sets out the early shape of the 2027 agenda, features and participation opportunities, ahead of the full programme. It gives delegates, sponsors and project owners a first look at what to expect from this year’s summit, including the speaker line-up, the project pitch stages and the new Green Village. The preview brochure is available to download via the AGES website, with the full programme to follow.

Speakers

AGES 2027 will bring together an international line-up of speakers from government, development finance, industry and civil society. Confirmed speakers include:

Aakif Merchant, Director and Head of Africa – Convergence

Annie McWalter, CEO – The Hope Factory

Barbara Buchtner, Global Managing Director – Climate Policy Initiative

Candice Stevens, CEO – Sustainable Finance Coalition

Dayo Aduroja, Director, Youth and Tech Innovation, Africa – Heifer International

John Roome, Independent Senior Adviser on Climate Change, Sustainable Development and Infrastructure

Jonathan First, Head Africa and Country Director South Africa – Climate Policy Initiative

Leila Guici, Senior Advocacy Manager, Climate Tech – GSMA

Lisa Pinsley, Fund Head, African Transition Acceleration Fund – AIIM

Thembi Xaba, Executive Director, OneFarm Impact

Matsi Modise, Africa Lead – World Climate Foundation

Mohamed Sebti, Investment Director – Head of Growth Equity – Inspired Evolution

Sarah Malm, Executive Director – GOGLA

*(Additional speakers to be announced in the lead-up to the event.) *

Projects pitching at AGES 2027

A key feature of AGES is its investment-ready project pipeline, presented across two dedicated pitch stages to an audience of investors, financiers and development partners. Projects confirmed to pitch at AGES 2027 include:

– Eden Menia Egypt Farm, Sustainable Agriculture, Egypt

– MTE Green Hydrogen Fuel Cells Electric Generator, Renewable Energy / Green Hydrogen / Fuel Cells, Namibia

– Pyrosa, Climate Technology, South Africa

– Safi Organics, Sustainable Agriculture, Kenya

– Spiro ESS — Second-Life Battery Circular Economy Program, Green Mobility / Energy Storage / Circular Economy, Kenya

– Nioki pilot project, Renewable Energy / Urban Electrification / Mini-grids, Democratic Republic of the Congo

*(Further projects to be confirmed and announced ahead of the summit.) *

The Green Village

New for this edition, the Green Village positions AGES as Africa’s leading green economy marketplace, bringing the full green economy ecosystem together in one place. It is structured around three components: Project Pods, giving investment-ready projects visibility beyond the pitch stage, with every sector of the green economy represented; Corporate Pods, reserved for organisations such as special economic zones, industrial development zones and foundations, and available as an add-on for AGES sponsors; and Pavilions, bringing together projects and programmes from development finance institutions and country delegations to showcase their impact on Africa’s green economy. Together, these elements create a visible, physical marketplace for partnerships and project financing at the heart of the summit.

Confirmed partners

AGES 2027 is supported by a growing network of partners, including the City of Cape Town as host city, Climate Policy Initiative and Frost & Sullivan as knowledge partners, AP3 as transaction advisory partner, ESI Africa as host media partner, and project partners Dala 4 Africa, Fetola and P4G. The summit is also backed by a wide base of supporting organisations spanning private capital, sustainable finance and industry bodies across the continent.

*(Additional sponsors and partners to be announced ahead of the summit.)*

Who attends AGES

AGES brings together the full spectrum of stakeholders shaping Africa’s green economy transition. The 2027 edition is expected to welcome more than 700 delegates, spanning investors and financiers, project owners and developers, corporates and industry leaders, government and policymakers, and legal and advisory professionals. The summit will showcase more than 40 investment-ready projects across its two pitch stages, representing a project pipeline exceeding USD 2 billion, alongside more than 200 Green Village attendees fostering connections between capital providers and climate solutions.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of VUKA Group.

Media Contact:
Melissa Wilkinson
Marketing Manager
VUKA Group
Email: melissa.wilkinson@wearevuka.com
Phone: +27 (0) 21 700 3558

About Africa’s Green Economy Summit:
Africa’s Green Economy Summit connects industry professionals and organisations to information and to each other in a curated, live environment. Its purpose is to support the mobilisation of investment for green projects, helping them scale and industrialise in ways that deliver meaningful impact for environmental sustainability and economic growth across the continent. AGES is created by VUKA Group.

About VUKA Group:
VUKA Group is a purpose-driven business that connects people and organisations to drive meaningful impact across Africa’s key industries. Through its portfolio of events, digital platforms, and insights, VUKA enables collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and business growth in sectors critical to the continent’s future.

Source: APO

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The Western Cape Government has invested over R30 million into a shared sports facility at Lentegeur Senior Secondary School and Cornflower Primary School in Mitchells Plain. Learners from 68 other schools in the area now have access to two rugby fields, a cricket oval with three pitches and three practice cricket nets, a clubhouse, and an artificial surface for rugby, football and hockey. 

The Western Cape School Sport Strategy commits R130 million over three years, with 624 no-fee and low-fee schools set to receive sport equipment.

Western Cape Provincial Minister of Cultural Affairs and Sport, Ricardo Mackenzie, and Western Cape Provincial Minister of Education, Jaco Londt, joined Premier Alan Winde and National Minister of Basic Education, Siviwe Gwarube, at the official opening of the Lentegeur Shared Facility in Mitchells Plain on Monday, 28 September 2026.

Minister Mackenzie, who inspected the site while it was still under construction in February, said the facility demonstrates what can be achieved when government departments work together to expand opportunities for young people.

“School sport is a pathway, from first practice to school leagues, clubs and federations. Through our MOD Programme, this facility will come alive after the final school bell, when support matters most. Every young person we bring into sport or a structured programme is given the opportunity to belong, grow and thrive,” said Minister Mackenzie.

Minister Londt said the facility supports the WCED’s vision of quality education for every learner in every classroom in every school in the province because it will expand participation in school sport and create pathways for talent.

He also challenged learners to take ownership of the new facility.

“The first learners who use this facility have an opportunity to set the benchmark – to create a standard for every cohort that follows. This is an important investment that will impact generations to come. My challenge to every learner is to use this facility, look after it and share it with friends so that its impact reaches well beyond the first group that benefits from it,” said Minister Londt.

Minister Gwarube emphasised the importance of ensuring that the investment creates opportunities not only for individual schools, but for the broader community. “This facility is serving 68 schools in the area. That is an incredible level of access for the children in this community. I want to emphasise to the community here today that this facility belongs to you,” she said. 

Premier Winde also reflected on the importance of seeing tangible investment and development taking place in communities, particularly where it can create opportunities for young people.

“As you travel through this community, you can see that things are changing. Investment is being made and infrastructure is being developed. When I saw this facility and what has been created here, I was incredibly encouraged. These are the kinds of investments that give young people opportunities and allow communities to see that progress is possible,” said Premier Winde.

Learners of the two host schools will be the primary users of the new facility, followed by the surrounding schools, approved departmental programmes and community users through agreed scheduling. Participation will deliberately be widened to include girls, learners with disabilities, and less-active learners.

“Today we have built the fields, funded the programmes and brought the partners together, so that the next fifty years can be written by children who were given a fair start. As the people of Unchain the Plain say, maar die kinders moet speel, and from today, here in Lentegeur, they will,” said Minister Mackenzie.

The opening concluded with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and learners taking part in sporting activities on the new fields.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Western Cape Government: Office of the Premier.