Category: English

Source: APO – Report:

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The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education is deeply disturbed by two violent incidents that took place on Friday, 22 August 2025 one at Trenance Park Secondary School under the Pinetown District and a second incident involving a mass brawl of school learners from Esther Payne Smith Secondary School in Northdale Circuit, uMgungundlovu District.

The first incident involves an altercation of a 17-year-old Grade 10 learner outside the school during school hours, was stabbed in the neck with a kitchen knife by two grade 8 learners.

The learner received immediate medical attention, he yesterday underwent surgery, and is currently recovering in hospital.

As a department, “We are relieved to report that his condition is stable, and we remain hopeful for his full recovery,” said KZN MEC for Education, Mr Sipho Hlomuka.

Two Grade 8 learners were swiftly apprehended by the security company that responded first to the call by the school and were handed over to the South African Police Services .

The Department takes these incidents of violence in schools extremely seriously and is working closely with the police to ensure that those responsible face the full consequences of their actions.

“The safety and well-being of our learners remains our top priority. The Department will continue to monitor the learner’s recovery while ensuring he receives academic support. We extend our sincere appreciation to the Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA), the medical team for their swift intervention, and the teachers of Trenance Park Secondary School for their dedication and support during this difficult time” said KZN MEC for Education, Mr Sipho Hlomuka.

The second incident involves two learners from Esther Payne Smith Secondary School in Northdale Circuit being injured in a massive brawl.

Multiple Mi7 teams were immediately dispatched to Bombay Road, joined by other private security providers. Upon arrival, Mi7 officers found two learners (aged 15 & 17) who had sustained lacerations to their head and legs.

The victims received on-site treatment from Mi7 before being transported to a nearby hospital for further care. Another security company had already apprehended a pupil believed to be responsible for the attack.

The South African Police Service (SAPS) has since taken over the investigation.

“As a Department, we condemn school violence, it has no place in our learning environments and in our communities.

We wish the injured a speedy recovery,” said KZN MEC for Education, Mr Sipho Hlomuka.

– on behalf of South African Government.

Source: APO – Report:

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This Women’s Month, we proudly recognise and honour the remarkable contribution of the Western Cape Mobility Department’s female traffic law enforcement officers. Leading a series of all-women integrated roadblocks and interventions across the province this month, these women are not only increasing visibility in traffic law enforcement, but also reaffirming the vital role that women play in keeping our roads safe.

The presence of female officers on high-traffic routes reflects their courage, determination, and professionalism in a demanding career that has traditionally been male-dominated. These ladies bring a unique perspective and strength to the profession, balancing firmness with compassion, and enforcement with community engagement. Their efforts show that traffic law enforcement is not only about issuing fines, but also about building trust, changing behaviour, and ultimately saving lives.

Day after day, these officers make countless sacrifices, working long hours in often challenging and dangerous conditions, all in service of protecting our residents. Beyond enforcement, they engage directly with motorists by sharing safe driving tips, promoting courteous behaviour, and encouraging all road users to take responsibility for safety. Their work reminds us that road safety is a collective effort, one that requires every driver, passenger, and pedestrian to play their part.

Many of these women carry deeply personal motivations for the work they do, and they continue to serve with integrity. Their example is an inspiration to their peers, to young women considering careers in enforcement, and to all of us who benefit from their commitment.

Somerset West Provincial Traffic Inspector (PI) Nthabeleng Sibiya stressed that while Women’s Month celebrates the contribution of female officers, road safety is a collective effort. “We appreciate the spotlight on female officers this month, but safer roads depend on every driver, passenger, and pedestrian. Regardless of gender, everyone has a role to play,” said PI Sibiya.

For Elizabeth Toerien, Caledon Provincial Traffic Inspector, her work is deeply personal. “I lost family members in road crashes. That loss drives me every day to make a difference. I enjoy my role, challenges and all, especially meeting people from all walks of life,” said PI Toerien.

Departmental Road Safety Coordinator, Nokuzola Letselebe, highlighted the value of partnerships, “Working with other road safety agencies allows us to spread road safety messages further and encourage all motorists to follow the rules.”

Western Cape Mobility Minister Isaac Sileku hailed the women of traffic law enforcement as an inspiration to the province, “Traffic law enforcement is tough, yet these women serve with passion and courage. Every safer road and every life saved is their reward, and we thank them for it.”

This Women’s Month, we salute the hardworking women of our provincial traffic services, road safety ambassadors and partners. Their courage, strength, and perseverance remind us that every life saved is a victory, and every act of service is a step toward safer roads for all. To all our female officers, we see you, we value you, and we thank you for everything you do for the residents of the Western Cape.

While far too many lives are still lost to preventable incidents on Western Cape roads, each of us can help by making road safety a personal responsibility.

– on behalf of South African Government.

Source: APO – Report:

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The Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities has achieved its second consecutive clean audit report from the Auditor-General, marking a significant milestone in the government’s efforts to strengthen financial management and good governance.

A clean audit outcome confirms that the department’s financial statements are free from material misstatements and that it has fully complied with relevant legislation, reflecting sound accountability and transparency in its operations.

Minister Chikunga and Deputy Minister Lestsike welcomed the Audit outcome, describing it as a vital step forward towards building a capable, ethical, and developmental state. In a joint statement, they commended the department’s unwavering commitment to good governance, ethical standards, and strengthened internal controls, noting that the achievement reflects consistent dedication to accountability and service delivery.

As detailed in the Auditor General’s engagement letter, the following programmes were presented in the annual performance report for the year ended 31 March 2025 for auditing.

• Advocacy and Mainstreaming for the Rights of Women:
• Monitoring, Evaluation,
• Research and Coordination; and
• Rights of Youth.

The Department has strengthened its audit approach to ensure that irregular, fruitless and wasteful expenditures (IFWE) are subjected to audit to confirm the validity, accuracy and completeness of the amounts recorded, even though they have been removed from the annual financial statements. 

The AGSA’s favourable opinion is based on critical areas, which include the Timely Submission of Annual Financial Statements. This clean audit, defined as an unqualified opinion with no material findings, demonstrates the department’s dedication towards good governance, ethical standards, and stronger internal controls.

Although a clean audit doesn’t necessarily mean responsive service delivery, the department will continue with the clarion commitment and a call to ensure that women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities are mainstreamed in public and private sector services.

– on behalf of South African Government.

Source: APO – Report:

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ECOWAS and the Republic of Guinea enhance prevention and response to gender-based violence and sexual harassment through national training workshop.

The ECOWAS Gender Development Center (EGDC), in partnership with the Ministry for the Promotion of Women, Children, and Vulnerable Persons of the Republic of Guinea, organised a four-day national training workshop on ECOWAS tools for the prevention of and response to gender-based violence (GBV) and sexual harassment in workplaces and educational settings, from the 20th to 23rd of August 2025 in Conakry.

The national training workshop forms part of the implementation of action plans arising from ECOWAS regional policies on the prevention of and response to GBV and sexual harassment in workplaces and educational settings, adopted in 2021. The training brought together participants from the Ministry responsible for Women, Children and Vulnerable Groups; the Ministry of Health (including medical and paramedical professionals); the Ministry of Justice (notably judicial actors such as judges and lawyers); the Ministry of Youth; the Ministry of Education; the Ministry of Labour; judicial police officers; and social actors including civil society organisations working on the issue.

In his welcome address, the Director of the ECOWAS National Office, Ambassador Elhadj Ibrahim Diallo, who is also the Director of African Integration at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Integration, and Guineans Abroad, emphasized that GBV remains one of the most widespread and persistent violations of human rights, significantly impacting the dignity, health, and well-being of survivors, most of whom are women and girls. He also noted that, beyond their social effects, GBV hampers economic development, erodes social cohesion, and threatens peace and security within communities.

For his part The ECOWAS Resident Representative in Guinea, Ambassador Louis-Blaise AKA-BROU, praised the efforts of the Guinean government, which, through the Ministry for the Promotion of Women, Children and Vulnerable Persons, has marked a decisive turning point in the fight for zero tolerance of gender-based violence and sexual harassment. In his view, the various strategies, preventive measures and support for survivors developed by the Republic of Guinea fit perfectly into ECOWAS’ regional fight to address the major challenges of gender inequality. He also urged participants to work together to address the many challenges and eradicate flagrant violations against women and girls.

Speaking at the opening, General Roger Yassy Klönon, Secretary-General of the Ministry for the Promotion of Women, Children, and Vulnerable Persons, thanked the ECOWAS Gender Development Centre (EGDC) for hosting the training in Guinea. He emphasized the timeliness of the initiative, given recent incidents of violence in the country and stated that the workshop would enhance the capacities of stakeholders in preventing and responding to gender- based violence and sexual harassment. He then officially declared the National Training programme open.

This capacity-building forms part of the priority actions of the ECOWAS regional strategy to prevent and respond to sexual and gender-based violence and to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls, as well as the ECOWAS policy on sexual harassment in workplaces and educational institutions and the related action plans.

– on behalf of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

Source: APO – Report:

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Fousseni Togola, President of the Chamber of Mines of Mali, will participate as a speaker at the upcoming African Mining Week (AMW) – Africa’s premier gathering for mining stakeholders.

Togola will feature in the Unlocking Value: Scaling Up Gold Refining and Processing in Africa panel, where he is expected to highlight efforts by Mali to expand gold production and drive economic growth through local value addition.

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.

As Africa’s second-largest gold producer, Mali is taking bold steps to sustain and grow its mining sector, collaborating with global investors on exploration, production maximization and infrastructure development. In July 2025, the country granted a permit for Canada’s B2Gold to begin underground mining at the Fekola Mine. The project will boost Mali’s output by 25,000 to 35,000 ounces annually. Similarly, Canada’s Robex Resources and Australia’s Toubani Resources finalized agreements with Mali to kickstart the construction of new gold production facilities.

As the leading platform for advancing local beneficiation strategies, AMW represents the ideal venue for Togola to outline Mali’s value addition roadmap. In July 2025, the country began constructing a gold refinery in partnership with Russia. With a capacity of 200 tons per year, the facility is expected to increase Mali’s revenue from monetization of value-added products and processing of gold from regional producers. Mali has also introduced five new funding facilities aimed at boosting investment across key areas of the mining sector. These include empowering small-scale miners, advancing geological research and exploration and improving the transport and energy infrastructure essential for mining operations. Against this backdrop, AMW presents a strategic platform for Togola to engage global investors and spotlight emerging opportunities within the country’s burgeoning gold industry.

– on behalf of Energy Capital & Power.

Source: APO – Report:

(www.IAEGOS.com) is proud to announce that Africa’s premier investment platform IAEOGS will return for its fourth edition from October 6-9 at in Windhoek Namibia, this year.

Uniting global financiers, high-profile project developers, and key players from both in Africa and global energy landscape, the IAEOG Summit and exhibition proudly takes place with the full support and endorsement of the Nigerian Ministry of Petroleum, the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority and several others, as well as the key players in the private sector.

The 4^th Edition of the International African Energy, Oil and Gas Summit (IAEOGS)Namibia 2025, would feature panel discussions, presentations, exhibitions, Presidential dinner, golf tournament, award presentations, tours, Energy Concert and a host of others. The venue for Charity Golf Tournament is the 18th Hole Championship Golf Course of the prestigious Windhoek Golf & Country Club.

According to APM Chairman (www.AfricanPeace.org) Hon Justice Suleiman Galadima JSC rtd., OFR CFR, “expanding on the success of previous editions, IAEOGS 2025 will be bigger and better as we bring together industry leaders and foster collaboration for a more resilient African Energy, oil and gas landscape.”

Noah Ajare, Group CEO, notes that “Africa’s energy sector is ripe for investment and the IAEOGS 2025 summits and Exhibition serves as a bridge connecting foreign companies and their African counterparts.’’

The theme of IAEOGS 2025 is “Getting it Right“, reflecting on the urgent need to get Africa’s energy issues right. Natural resources must translate into socio economic development and poverty alleviation. It focuses also on Africa’s defining moment to accelerate energy access, localize value chains, and fast-track just and inclusive energy transitions.

Hosting the IAEOGS again, Namibia is emerging as a significant frontier for oil and gas, marked by major offshore discoveries by companies like Shell, TotalEnergies, and Galp in the Orange Basin starting in 2022. Despite challenges, including Shell’s recent decision to write down some discoveries due to commercial viability concerns, the country is attracting considerable investor interest and aims to fast-track development for first oil production by the end of the decade. TotalEnergies is targeting a final investment decision for its Venus discovery by late 2026, with first oil projected for 2029, while Galp continues to progress development of its Mopane field

Time to Invest is Now?

Africa’s energy, oil, and gas industry is experiencing unprecedented momentum and the time to invest is now.

In 2024 alone, the African energy sector attracted over $120 billion in investments, with $75 billion directed toward oil and gas development. These record-breaking inflows reflect surging global demand, untapped reserves, and the steady rise of indigenous players reshaping the continent’s energy narrative from within.

Today, Africa stands as one of the last frontiers for large scale energy exploration and expansion. From new natural gas discoveries in Mozambique and Senegal to oil rich fields in Namibia and Nigeria, the region is drawing renewed global interest from financiers, supermajors, EPC contractors, and independent producers alike.

Meanwhile, local companies are no longer spectators. Indigenous oil and gas firms now account for 35% of operational control across the continent—up from just 20% ten years ago. This shift reflects not only improved technical capacity but also stronger regulatory backing for African-led development and ownership.

WHY NOW?

Africa is home to more than 125 billion barrels of proven oil reserves and 620 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. These resources are increasingly vital as global markets seek diversified, stable, and lower-emission supply chains. Yet, paradoxically, over 600 million Africans still lack access to reliable electricity a gap that offers both a moral and economic imperative for accelerated investment.

As countries build frameworks under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which is projected to unlock a $3.4 trillion market, energy infrastructure stands at the heart of Africa’s economic future.

IAEOGS aims to attract international attention to Namibia’s investment opportunities and contribute to the continued development of its national energy, oil and gas sector.

IAEOGS 2025 will be larger than previous editions. A record number of participants are expected, with attendees from over 45 countries. The event will feature more than 1,000 delegates, 250 exhibitors, and 200 speakers. The conference serves as a key platform for businesses, policymakers, and industry experts to exchange insights, foster partnerships, and shape the future of the energy sector.

Registration for participants is already open. To encourage local participation, companies headquartered in Namibia receive a 50% discount on the standard rate. This initiative offers local businesses the opportunity to showcase themselves to the world and connect with investors, policymakers, and other players in the energy industry.

Local Content?

Local oil producers in Nigeria have significantly increased their contribution to national production, now accounting for over 50% of the country’s crude oil output compared to approximately 40% before international majors began divesting onshore operations. The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission data shows indigenous firms are key to achieving the government’s additional one million barrels daily production target by next year.

Recent milestones include Green Energy International’s launch of Nigeria’s first fully indigenous onshore crude export terminal at Otakikpo, with 360,000 barrels-per-day capacity. The facility is expected to unlock stranded reserves across 40 marginal fields in the Niger Delta region.

Green Energy International Ltd is the gold sponsor of IAEOGS 2025.

IAEOGS is a major gathering for the oil and gas industry, drawing participants from various sectors. High-level delegates, including government officials, industry leaders, and international representatives, attend the summit. The event focuses on discussions, networking, and deal-making opportunities, fostering collaboration and sustainable development within the oil and gas sector.

Early bird extended to 30^th August 2025.

Register now and be a part of a transformative experience that promises to shape the future of African Energy landscape.

Participants can look forward to business to business (B2B) and Business to Government (B2G) meetings, policy dialogues, sector-focused panels, investment showcases, gain access to financing facilities, high-level panel discussions, exhibitions, business network session, and explore trade and investment opportunities.

KEY HIGHLIGHTS OF IAEOGS 2025

– $1 billion+ in investment deals projected during summit week
– 500+ curated, pre-vetted B2B meetings for deal facilitation
– 1,000+ exhibitors spanning oil, gas, renewables, hydrogen, storage, infrastructure, and finance
– 8 high-impact thematic tracks, including:
   – Energy Transition Strategies
   – Local Content Development
   – Infrastructure & Grid Expansion
   – Climate Finance & ESG
   – Regulatory Reforms & Investment Protection
   – Gas Monetization & LNG
   – Downstream & Midstream Value Chains
   – Digitalization & Emerging Technologies
– African Energy Excellence Awards honoring innovation, leadership, and sustainable development
– Charity Golf Tournament supporting youth entrepreneurship and technical education

DON’T MISS OUT

Whether you are a multinational, indigenous operator, fund manager, tech innovator, or policymaker IAEOGS 2025 is where Africa’s energy future takes shape. Meet the decision-makers, secure bankable deals, and join the community powering the next energy revolution.

SECURE YOUR PARTICIPATION

Sponsorships, keynote speaking, exhibition space, and partnerships are now open but slots are limited.

“Africa is not just rich in resources it is rich in possibilities. The time to act is now.”

– on behalf of African Peace Magazine.

Contact:
Sandra Chia
Phone:  +44 7407 399 766
Email: info@iaeogs.com
Visit: www.IAEGOS.com