Category: English

Posted on

University ranking systems are being rejected. African institutions should take note

Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Sioux McKenna, Professor of Higher Education, Rhodes University, South Africa, Rhodes University

The Sorbonne University, founded in Paris in 1253 and known globally as a symbol of education, science and culture, has just announced that, starting in 2026, it will stop submitting data to Times Higher Education (THE) rankings. It is joining a growing movement of universities questioning the value and methodology of these controversial league tables.

Rankings companies add together various indices that purport to measure quality. The indices include research outputs, the results of reputation surveys, the amount of money they receive in research grants and donations, and how many Nobel prize winners they have ever employed.

Nathalie Drach-Temam, president of the Sorbonne, stated that

the data used to assess each university’s performance is not open or transparent

and

the reproducibility of the results produced cannot be guaranteed.

This echoes wider concerns about the lack of scientific rigour of ranking systems that claim to measure complex institutional performance through simplified metrics.

The problem is that the general public believe that the rankings offer an indication of quality. As a result rankings have enormous influence over the market. This includes the choice of where to study and where to invest funding.

The university’s decision aligns with its commitment to the Agreement on Reforming Research Assessment, an agreement signed by over 700 research organisations, funders and professional societies, and the Barcelona Declaration, signed by about 200 universities and research institutes. Both advocate for open science practices to make scientific research, data, methods, and educational resources transparent, accessible and reusable by everyone without barriers. And both recommend “avoiding the use of rankings of research organisations in research assessment”.

The Sorbonne joins a growing list of high-profile institutions abandoning rankings. Columbia University, Utrecht University and several Indian institutes have opted out of major ranking systems. In the US, 17 medical and law schools, including Yale and Harvard, have withdrawn from discipline-specific rankings.

There are five major rankings companies and at least 20 smaller ones. On top of these are a similar number of discipline specific and regional rankings. Together they make up a billion dollar industry. Yet the rankings are accessible without charge.

The rankings industry has increasingly targeted African countries. It sees the continent as a new market at a time when it is losing traction among high profile institutions in the global north.

There has been a rapid increase in snazzy events run by rankings organisations on the continent. These events are very expensive and often quite luxurious – attended by vice-chancellors, academics, consultants and others.

As an academic involved in higher education teaching, I believe that chasing the rankings can harm Africa’s fragile higher education system. There are two main reasons for this.

Firstly, the rankings metrics largely focus on research output, rather than on the potential for that research to address local problems. Secondly, the rankings fail to consider higher education’s role in nurturing critical citizens, or contributing to the public good.

The Sorbonne’s decision reflects a growing body of opinion that the rankings industry is unscientific and a poor means of measuring quality.

Nevertheless, many vice-chancellors are not willing to risk the cost of withdrawing. Rankings might do a poor job of indicating quality, in all its nuanced forms. Nevertheless, they are very good at shaping public opinion. And even if a university chooses to stay out of the ranking by refusing to hand over its data, the industry continues to include it, based only on limited publicly available data.

The ranking industry

Rankings themselves are available for free. The ranking industry derives most of its revenue from reselling the data that universities provide. Universities submit detailed institutional data to ranking companies without charge. That information is then repackaged and sold back to institutions, governments and corporations.

This data includes institutional income. It often also includes contact details of staff and students. These are used for “reputation surveys”. In the case of QS University Rankings, “reputation” makes up more than 40% of the rankings.

This business model has created what can be described as a sophisticated data harvesting operation disguised as academic assessment.

Mounting criticism

Academic research has extensively documented the problems with ranking methodologies. These include:

  • the use of proxy metrics that poorly represent institutional quality. For example, while many university rankings do not include a measurement of teaching quality at all, those that do, use measures such as income, staff to student ratio, and international academic reputation.

  • composite indexing that combines unrelated measurements. The metrics that are collected are simply added together, even though they have no bearing on each other. Our students are repeatedly warned of the dangers of using composite measurement in research, and yet this is at the heart of the rankings industry.

  • subjective weighting systems that can dramatically alter results based on arbitrary decisions. If the system decides to weight reputation at 20% and then make university income worth 10%, we have one order of institutions. Switch these weightings to make the former 10% and the latter 20% and the list rearranges itself. And yet, the quality of the institutions is unchanged.

Rankings tend to favour research-intensive universities while ignoring teaching quality, community engagement and local relevance.

Most ranking systems emphasise English-language publications. This reinforces existing academic hierarchies rather than providing meaningful assessment of quality.

Where new rankings are being introduced, such as the Sub-Saharan Africa rankings, or the Emerging Economies rankings, or even the Impact rankings, they sadly still have the problem of proxy measures, and composite and subjective weightings.

In addition, many of the ranking companies refuse to reveal precise methodological detail. This makes it impossible to verify their claims or understand on what basis institutions are actually assessed.

Researchers argue that rankings have thrived because they align with the idea of higher education as a marketplace where institutions compete for market share. This has led universities to prioritise metrics that improve their ranking positions rather than activities that best serve their students and communities.

The emphasis on quantifiable outputs has created what scholars call “coercive isomorphism” – pressure for all universities to adopt similar structures and priorities regardless of their specific missions or local contexts.

Research shows that striving for a spot in the rankings limelight affects resource allocation, strategic planning and even which students apply to institutions. Some universities have shifted focus from teaching quality to research output specifically to improve rankings. Others have engaged in “gaming” – manipulating data to boost their positions.

Looking forward

Participation in methodologically flawed ranking systems presents a contradiction: universities built on principles of scientific research continue to support an industry whose methods would fail basic peer review standards.

For universities still participating, Sorbonne’s move raises an uncomfortable question: what are their institutional priorities and commitments to scientific integrity?

– University ranking systems are being rejected. African institutions should take note
– https://theconversation.com/university-ranking-systems-are-being-rejected-african-institutions-should-take-note-265914

Posted on

Improving Revenue Collection and Public Spending can Accelerate Job-creation and Uganda’s Economic Growth

Source: APO


.

Uganda’s economic growth continues to be strong, with real gross domestic product (GDP) accelerating from 6.1% to 6.8% in the nine months from July 2024 to March 2025. A new World Bank report shows that this good performance was driven by agriculture, manufacturing, construction, plus household and government consumption. In contrast, the services sector weakened.

The 25th edition of the Uganda Economic Update, published today, shows that inflation—at 3.5% in FY2024/2025 compared to 3.2% the year before—remains below the central bank’s target of 5%, supported by a favorable food supply environment, the easing of global energy prices, exchange rate stability, and prudent management of monetary policy.

The report projects a positive medium-term outlook, with growth acceler­ating to 10.4% in FY2026/2027 as oil production begins before stabilizing around 6%. However, there are risks to the outlook. Oil production timing remains uncertain including completion of large infrastruc­ture, such as the crude oil export pipeline, needed to bring the product to market and generate revenues. Furthermore, the global energy transition away from hydrocarbons to clean energy sources could lower oil prices and increase the risk of stranded assets. Other risks include softening of global oil prices from lower demand or increased supply, global supply chain disruptions due to conflict in the Middle East, global economic policy uncertainty, climate shocks, and slower-than-expected implementation of reforms that include the domestic revenue mobilization strategy.

“Increased spending this current election cycle, and with public debt-to-GDP reaching almost 53%, raises uncertainties and requires authorities to minimize unplanned expenditures and increase effectiveness in generating domestic revenues rather than cutting development spending,” said Francisca Ayodeji (Ayo) Akala, World Bank Country Manager for Uganda. “Moreover, considering recent cuts in Overseas Development Assistance, raising domestic rev­enues has become even more critical, as only then can the government ensure sustained and adequate public spending on key social services, particularly health and education.”

This edition of the Uganda Economic Update focuses on how best the government can mobilize better and more domestic revenue within the country and use public funds more efficiently so that it can reduce borrowing while ensuring sustained public investment in the key social sectors and critical infrastructure.

“Uganda’s tax system, despite its comprehensive design, con­tinues to struggle with low revenue yield, significantly lagging the Sub-Saharan Africa average and the government’s own medium-term targets,” said Silver Namunane, World Bank Tax Economist and co-author of the Uganda Economic Update. “With a tax revenue-to-GDP ratio of only 14% in FY2024/2025, Uganda remains below the critical 15% threshold deemed essential for accelerated growth and sustainable development. The policy reforms suggested in this report are intended to broaden the tax base, reduce tax expenditures, and improve progressivity and equity of the tax system. If implemented, tax revenues could improve by 0.5% of GDP and inch closer to the Vision 2040 targets.”

Specific recommendations from the report:

Domestic revenue mobilization: Review personal income tax rates and brackets to adjust for inflation and avoid bracket creep. Particularly, increase the exemption threshold to UGX4.02 million from UGX2.82 million per annum, keep current rates for most taxpayers, and introduce a new rate of 35% for incomes above UGX5.82 million. In this way, low-income earners gain some relief, while higher-income earners face a modest increase – this not only strengthens revenue by nearly UGX149 billion or 0.1% of GDP but also significantly improves equity. Other elements include strengthening the framework for taxing high-net-worth individuals; re-evaluating the exemption policy to prevent corporate income tax from becoming obsolete; rethinking the qualifying thresholds and what should be considered as priority sectors to qualify for investment incentives; improving the targeting of incentives to achieve better outcomes; and addressing the concerns of the private sector in the tax policy-making process to improve tax morale.

Efficiency in spending and public service delivery: Make the fiscal consolidation agenda more effective by pursuing a balanced adjustment in spending between human capital development and growth enhancing activities; pursue policies that reduce wasteful expenditures (including cuts to the large public administration budget and strengthening anti-corruption systems); undertake policies to reduce inefficiencies such as staff absenteeism in the social sectors; improve efficiency in the execution of public proj­ects; introduce a moratorium, or strict guidelines, for the creation of new administrative structures; undertake a comprehensive reform of own source revenue policy framework to ensure that local governments generate levels of revenue comparable to other similar countries.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The World Bank Group.

Posted on

Museum in a box: on the road with South Africa’s heritage

Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Tim Forssman, Senior Lecturer, University of Mpumalanga

Museums are usually in cities. So, where transport is poor and it’s expensive to travel, many people can’t visit them. We decided to experiment with a way of getting around the problem: we built a travelling museum.

I’m an archaeologist working in the Limpopo Valley, in the north of South Africa, studying hunter-gatherers and the rise of precolonial kingdoms. I am interested in how crafted goods and local wealth shaped social relations and became the pillars upon which state society was built.

Together with Justine van Heerden, I designed a mobile museum to share our research. It’s a sturdy, portable cabinet with drawers that each tell a chapter of regional history. There are five layers, with the bottom ones stretching back over 250,000 years, and the top only a few hundred years. Inside the drawers are objects from teaching collections or which have been handed to us over the years, like pieces of pottery or stone tools.

The mobile display cabinet. Justine van Heerden, Author provided (no reuse)

We travel with our museum to the field, to conferences and to meetings with land-owners, and we have written a paper to share with our community what we’ve learnt about community engagement programmes, and why this initiative works.

Justine surveyed and interviewed people who saw our museum for her master’s research. The main lessons we learnt are that:

  • people learn best from touching something, not just listening to a talk

  • visits with the museum should be short and frequent

  • people respond to seeing something that’s locally relevant

  • “experts” can learn from community engagement.

To make it work, a travelling museum needs maintenance. Objects must be durable or replaceable. Facilitators need training. And the initiative needs funding.

But taking the museum to rural schools and communities matters. Giving people a chance to engage with their past signals that the past is theirs and that expertise grows where they are.

What it is (and why touch matters)

Children looking at the mobile museum displays. Justine van Heerden, Author provided (no reuse)

The oldest display in our mobile museum cabinet is from Earlier and Middle Stone Age tool makers. Younger items include a Later Stone Age or hunter-gatherer display, and the top drawer includes a display on our current research. Inside each are artefacts, replicas and teaching aids designed to be handled. No glass. No alarms. No “do not touch” signs.

Ceramic sherds. Justine van Heerden, Author provided (no reuse)

We emphasised touching because learning changes when your hands are involved. Feeling the edge of a stone tool or the weight of a ceramic sherd (a piece of broken pottery) transforms an abstract idea (“people lived here a thousand years ago”) into something immediate (“someone shaped this with their hands”).

For people who are learning about concepts in the museum for the first time, that moment of contact is powerful. They are learning from their fingertips.

Who we work with

We use the travelling museum in three main settings:

  • Schools and community centres in our research area of northern South Africa, where many artefacts we study originate. Teachers tell us it’s far easier (and cheaper) than bussing students to a city museum. But it is not confined to the area we work in and we’ve brought the museum to South Africa’s capital city, Pretoria, and Skukuza in the east of the country to present heritage to interested groups, including students from abroad.

  • Field visits and public talks, where elders, park staff and local guides share knowledge that seldom makes it into display labels. On a tour to the northern Kruger National Park, when we visited local archaeological sites such as Thulamela with the South African Archaeology Society, the museum accompanied us and we presented it to the group as an evening lecture.

  • Importantly, the museum visits university classrooms regularly. Here, it acts as a bridge between lectures and excavations; students practise describing, recording and interpreting real materials before heading into the field. Showing up with something useful – something that makes learning easier and more enjoyable – goes a long way.

Learning from a travelling museum

A mobile display doesn’t replace a traditional museum, which stores, conserves, researches and presents a variety of items. But it does what big buildings can’t: reach people where they are, on their terms, at short notice, without a ticket price.

Rock art reproduction. Justine van Heerden, Author provided (no reuse)

We’ve learnt that even 30 minutes of guided handling beats an hour of talking. Holding an artefact, which might be hundreds of years old, can be a profound experience.

We plan multiple small sessions instead of one large event. This allows us to regularly engage, revisit groups and present our museum in various ways. We’ve also produced posters, videos and slideshows about the exhibit.

Local relevance is key. People light up when objects and stories come from places they know, where they live, or where they’ve travelled to.

There is a risk with our approach. Letting the public touch objects means wear and tear. We manage that with robust replicas and careful choice of what we present. We believe that respectful risk is necessary because of the benefits it leads to.

Read more: What it’s like curating ancient fossils: a palaeontologist shares her story

A travelling museum takes upkeep, money, planning and partners. Incorporating it into our research programme overcomes many of these challenges and tells the story of what we’re doing.

Why this matters beyond archaeology

Mobile museums are about equity as much as education. If cultural heritage remains behind glass in places that may be difficult to visit, it quietly reinforces the idea that knowledge lives elsewhere and belongs to someone else.

Read more: Looting of the Sudan National Museum – more is at stake than priceless ancient treasures

It is also not only about facts, but about exchange and connections. It’s about ownership and voice. When people handle the finds that came from their region, they ask different questions and offer different insights. Those conversations often redirect our research questions too. We’ve often been struck by people’s desire for a deep connection with the past.

Heritage is a public good, and it surrounds us in South Africa – it’s in the hills, caves, under earth and in our backyards. If it clusters around privilege, it narrows the stories a society can tell about itself.

– Museum in a box: on the road with South Africa’s heritage
– https://theconversation.com/museum-in-a-box-on-the-road-with-south-africas-heritage-266108

Posted on

World Health Organization (WHO) Donates Emergency Medical Supplies to Support Health Services in Conflict-Affected Savannah Region

Source: APO – Report:

.

The recent inter-ethnic conflict in Ghana’s Savannah Region left families displaced, homes destroyed, and public services stretched to the limit. Among the hardest hit are the districts of Sawla-Tuna-Kalba and Bole, where the surge in injuries, trauma, and displacement has put an extraordinary strain on local health facilities. Clinics and hospitals, already operating with limited resources, are now struggling to cope with the sudden increase in demand for essential medicines, basic supplies, and emergency care.

During humanitarian crises, health systems often become one of the most vulnerable sectors. Shortage of medicines, disruption of supply chains, and overburdened facilities can quickly translate into avoidable loss of lives—especially for children, pregnant women, and those with chronic illnesses who require uninterrupted treatment.

To help address this urgent need, the World Health Organization (WHO) has donated emergency medical supplies and consumables to the affected communities. The package includes essential medicines, medical consumables, and basic supplies intended to sustain both routine and emergency health services in the crisis-affected areas.

Speaking during the handover ceremony, Dr. Fiona Braka, WHO Country Representative to Ghana, reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to standing with affected populations.

“We are concerned about the impact of the crisis on essential services including health care. These supplies are intended to bridge immediate gaps in service delivery, reduce suffering, and prevent avoidable loss of life”, she said.

The items were officially handed over to the Ghana Health Service (GHS) through the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO), the lead agency coordinating the humanitarian response. The collaboration highlights the importance of inter-agency cooperation during emergencies, where speed and coordination often make the difference in saving lives.

Receiving the donation, NADMO Director-General, Major (Rtd) Dr. Joseph Bikanyi Kuyon, expressed gratitude for WHO’s timely intervention.

“Health is often one of the first casualties in emergencies. These supplies from WHO will provide immediate relief and ensure that health facilities in the most affected districts can continue serving their people”, he noted.

He further stressed the importance of continued support from partners and stakeholders to sustain relief efforts in the region until stability is fully restored.

The donation comes at a critical time when many families are in need of health, shelter, and food assistance. For health workers on the frontlines, the additional medicines and supplies represent not just equipment, but a lifeline that enables them to continue saving lives under challenging conditions.

WHO reiterated its long-term commitment to strengthening Ghana’s health system resilience—ensuring that in times of peace or crisis, communities have equitable access to the care they need.

– on behalf of World Health Organization (WHO), Ghana.

Posted on

South Africa mourns the untimely passing of Ambassador Nkosinathi Mthethwa

Source: APO – Report:

.

The Government of the Republic of South Africa announces with deep sorrow and profound regret the untimely passing of His Excellency Ambassador Nkosinathi Emmanuel Mthethwa, South Africa’s Ambassador to the French Republic.

Ambassador Mthethwa was a distinguished servant of the nation, whose career was marked by dedicated service in critical ministerial portfolios, including Minister of Police and Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture. He also served on the Board of Directors for the 2010 FIFA World Cup Local Organising Committee. His lifelong commitment to public duty was further exemplified by his longstanding contribution to the African National Congress through its highest decision-making structures.

In his diplomatic role, to which he was appointed in December 2023, Ambassador Mthethwa was tasked with strengthening the vital partnership and bilateral ties between South Africa and France.

“I have no doubt that his passing is not only a national loss but is also felt within the international diplomatic community,” said Minister Lamola.

The circumstances of his untimely death are under investigation by the French authorities. The Government of South Africa extends its deepest and most sincere condolences to the family of Ambassador Mthethwa, and to his friends and colleagues during this period of immense grief. He is survived by his wife and children.

We honour his legacy of unwavering patriotism and service to our nation.

– on behalf of Republic of South Africa: Department of International Relations and Cooperation.

Posted on

Health Workers at the Forefront of Ghana’s Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccination Campaign

Source: APO – Report:

.

As Ghana prepares to introduce the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine into its routine immunization programme, health workers remain at the center of efforts to ensure that every eligible child is reached and protected.

To prepare frontline staff for this crucial role, the World Health Organization (WHO) Ghana, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and the Ghana Health Service, convened an engagement session in Accra with professional health associations including the Ghana Medical Association, the Paediatric Society of Ghana, and the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association.

Opening the session on behalf of the Minister of Health, the Chief Director of the Ministry of Health, Mr Desmond Boateng underscored the vital role of health workers in shaping public trust.

“Health workers are the heart of this campaign. It is their knowledge, trust, and dedication that will convince parents to bring their children forward for vaccination. Without them, our plans remain only on paper”, he said.

In her keynote address, WHO Representative to Ghana, Dr. Fiona Braka, stressed that building the capacity and confidence of frontline workers is central for a successful rollout.

“Health workers are the bridge between science and society. By standing on the frontlines, they not only deliver vaccines but also build trust, dispel fears, and safeguard lives. This campaign’s success depends on their commitment and leadership”, she noted.

The engagement also highlighted the state of operational readiness. The National EPI Manager, Dr. Selorm Kutsoati, explained that while vaccine supplies and systems are in place, the success of the campaign hinges on how health workers engage with communities.

“We have the vaccines, the strategy, and the systems in place. But ultimately, it is our health workers who translate plans into action. Their interaction with communities will determine the reach and impact of this campaign,” she explained.

Adding a clinical perspective, the President of the Paediatric Society of Ghana, Dr. Hilda Boye, reminded participants that the HPV vaccination campaign means more than the just number of girls to be vaccinated.

“This is more than a vaccination exercise; it is an investment in the health of our girls and in the future of our nation. Every health worker who counsels, reassures, or administers a vaccine is part of a national legacy”, she said.

The session concluded with a strong call for unity among health institutions, frontline workers, and communities to ensure the successful introduction of the HPV vaccine. With their leadership and dedication, Ghana is poised to protect its young girls from cervical cancer and safeguard the health of future generations.

– on behalf of World Health Organization (WHO), Ghana.

Posted on

The Chairperson of the African Union Commission Message on the occasion of the Independence Day of the Republic of Botswana

Source: APO – Report:

.

The Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC), H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, extends his heartfelt congratulations to the Government and people of the Republic of Botswana on the occasion of their Independence Day.

This important day stands as a celebration of Botswana’s sovereignty, national pride, and the enduring aspirations of its people. It also provides an opportunity to recognize Botswana’s active engagement in advancing the core objectives of the African Union, including peace, environmental stewardship, and sustainable development.

The African Union commends Botswana for its active and pivotal role in regional and continental affairs. As a valued member of key African institutions, Botswana continues to be instrumental in driving our collective vision for “The Africa We Want,” as envisioned in Agenda 2063.

On this day, the AUC Chairperson reaffirms the Union’s unwavering commitment to strengthening its partnership with Botswana. We remain dedicated to supporting your nation’s journey towards greater heights of political stability, democratic consolidation, and sustainable socio-economic development.

Happy Independence Day!

– on behalf of African Union (AU).

Posted on

United Arab Emirates (UAE) leaders congratulate President of Botswana on National Day

Source: APO – Report:

.

President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has sent a congratulatory message to President Duma Gideon Boko of the Republic of Botswana on the occasion of his country’s National Day.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, and His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court, also dispatched similar messages to the President of Botswana on the occasion.

– on behalf of United Arab Emirates, Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Posted on

SA mourns the untimely passing of Ambassador Nathi Mthethwa

Source: Government of South Africa

Government has announced, with deep sorrow and profound regret, the untimely passing of Ambassador Nkosinathi Emmanuel Mthethwa, South Africa’s Ambassador to the French Republic.

The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) has described Mthethwa as a distinguished servant of the nation, whose career was marked by dedicated service in critical ministerial portfolios, including Minister of Police and Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture.

He also served on the Board of Directors for the 2010 FIFA World Cup Local Organising Committee. 

“His lifelong commitment to public duty was further exemplified by his longstanding contribution to the African National Congress through its highest decision-making structures,” the statement read. 

In December 2023, Mthethwa was appointed to strengthen the essential partnership and bilateral ties between South Africa and France.

“I have no doubt that his passing is not only a national loss but is also felt within the international diplomatic community,” said International Relations and Cooperation Minister Ronald Lamola.

The department said the circumstances of his untimely death are under investigation by the French authorities.

“The Government of South Africa extends its deepest and most sincere condolences to the family of Ambassador Mthethwa, and to his friends and colleagues during this period of immense grief.” 

The late Ambassador is survived by his wife and children.

“We honour his legacy of unwavering patriotism and service to our nation,” the statement said. 

Mthethwa was born on 23 January 1967.

He was the Minister of Arts and Culture from 26 May 2014 to 2019. From 2019 to 2023, he served as the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture.

Between 2007 and 2022, he served as a member of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the African National Congress (ANC), the party’s chief executive organ and highest decision-making body between conferences. During the same period, he was a member of the National Working Committee (NWC) of South Africa’s governing party. The NWC is responsible for the day-to-day running of the party and makes recommendations to the NEC.

From 2002 to 2023, he was a Member of Parliament.

He was an active member of the King Dingiswayo branch of the ANC in KwaZulu Natal (KZN).

He was elected as the first Branch Secretary of the ANC in Klaarwater in KZN in 1990.

He joined the Klaarwater Youth Organisation from the age of 15 in KZN, rising to the role of Chairperson of the Klaarwater Youth Organisation from 1987 to 1989.

He has also served as a shopsteward of the Food and Allied Workers Union (FAWU), where he was recruited to serve in the underground work of the ANC’s military wing, uMkhonto We Sizwe, as part of Operation Vula from 1988. 

He was arrested during the apartheid regime’s state of emergency in 1989. He was later elected Publicity Secretary of the South African Youth Congress (SAYCO) in Southern Natal and as Chairperson of the Southern Natal Unemployed Workers Union, an initiative of the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) between 1989 and 1990, respectively. 

Between 1996 and 1998, he was Organiser for the South African Commercial Catering and Allied Workers’ Union (SACCAWU). In 1996 he was elected Chairperson of Klaarwater Residents Association.

He became Regional Administrative Secretary of the Southern Natal African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) from 1990 to 1991. Between 1991 and 1994 he became the Regional Secretary of the Southern Natal ANCYL. 

He was elected to the NEC of the ANCYL, serving in its NWC as Secretary for Organisation from 1994 to 1996. From 1996 to 1998, he was re-elected to the NEC of the ANCYL. His re-election into the NEC of the ANCYL from 1998 to 2001 saw him occupy a new role as Head of Organisational Development, which incorporated political education and organising functions. He was deployed into the ANC National Organising team during the period 2001 to 2002.

During his tenure as a Member of Parliament, Mthethwa served as Chairperson of the Minerals and Energy Portfolio Committee from 2004 to 2008, and as Chief Whip of the ANC in 2008.

Prior to his appointment as Minister of Police, Mthethwa was the Minister of Safety and Security from 25 September 2008 to 10 May 2009. 

Mthethwa held a Diploma in Community Development from University of Natal, Executive Preparatory Programme Certificate in Mining Engineering from the University of Johannesburg and a Certificate in Leadership Communication from Rhodes University. – SAnews.gov.za

Posted on

Load shedding at bay, profits up: Eskom announces R23.9bn profit before tax

Source: Government of South Africa

In a landmark turnaround in fortunes, Eskom has announced a profit before tax of some R23.9 billion – its first return to profitability in some eight years.

The results signal a welcome shift for the State-owned enterprise (SOE), which, just a few years ago, was at the epicentre of a load shedding crisis that posed a danger to the economy and prompted President Cyril Ramaphosa to announce the Energy Action Plan.

Now, Eskom Group Chief Executive Dan Marokane revealed that the profits will be ploughed back into the SOE.

“The focused and ongoing efforts of Eskom’s 42 000 employees in delivering the turnaround strategy have produced tangible results. 

“We are reinvesting profits back into national assets. Over the next five years, with continued rigorous focus, we will invest more than R320 billion in sustaining and expanding our infrastructure for the long-term benefit of the nation. In a break from the past, we are accelerating the review and restructuring of our cost base.

“This is being done within the framework of the expected future single-digit tariff increases allowed by NERSA [National Energy Regulator of South Africa], as we drive efficiencies and take control of the factors within our control to address the affordability of electricity,” Marokane said.

He highlighted Eskom’s “vital” importance to the country’s economic growth prospects and job creation.

“According to a report by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, titled ‘Utility-scale Power Generation Statistics in South Africa’, published on 17 March 2025, the South African economy lost up to R2.8 trillion due to load shedding in the 2023 calendar year.

“In 2024, that figure was reduced by 83% to R481 billion,” Marokane noted.

The power utility presented its group annual results for the 2025 financial year ended 31 March 2025 at Megawatt Park on Tuesday afternoon.

Key notes from the announcement include:

  • Profit before tax of R23.9 billion, underpinned by a stronger Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortisation margin of 29.05%, supported by a 12.74% standard tariff increase and a 14% reduction in primary energy costs, driven by improved coal plant reliability and reduced reliance on expensive Open-Cycle Gas Turbines (OCGT), resulting in year-on-year diesel savings of R16.3 billion.
  • Energy not supplied as a result of load shedding declined significantly to below 0.4TWh (2024:13.2TWh). This corresponds to a total load shedding duration of 175 hours (2024: 6 367 hours) and a decrease in the number of load shedding days to just 13 (2024: 329 days). Consequently, Eskom was able to supply electricity on 96% of the days in the reporting period.
  • Recovery of previously disallowed fuel levy rebates from SARS [South African Revenue Service] provided a further boost to earnings and liquidity. After adjusting for this once-off recovery, Eskom recorded a normalised profit before tax of R11.9 billion.
  • Through enhanced focus and Board oversight, improvements in audit outcomes, although not yet meeting stakeholder expectations, demonstrate action taken with approximately 90% of all external audit findings raised since FY2021 to FY2024, closed, subject to audit verification.

Lights on

Eskom board chairman Mteto Nyati reflected on the power utility’s improvement since the “crisis” the Board found three years ago.

“Eskom is increasingly a sustainable, investable company ready to compete in a liberalised, competitive energy market, and is very different from the crisis that in October 2022 the current Eskom Board inherited when they took office. 

“The comprehensive diagnostic review at the time reaffirmed Eskom’s strategic direction and highlighted the need to recalibrate execution timelines and intensify delivery against strategic objectives that we have supported the Executive Committee to deliver. The Board has remained utterly focused on using public money efficiently, and early interventions in governance and controls have delivered early measurable improvements in the fight against crime, fraud and corruption. 

“Vending fraud as a result of our outdated Online Vending System is now reduced to lower levels, proving that a focus on stronger systems, smarter technology, and decisive action is protecting revenue and ensuring secure, reliable electricity for all South Africans, and we will continue to intensify our focus in this area,” Nyati said. – SAnews.gov.za