Category: MIL-OSI

Source: APO

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The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Higher Education, Mr Tebogo Letsie, has noted the resignation of Dr Karen Stander as Chairperson of the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) Board.

Mr Letsie said the committee was shocked to learn of Dr Stander’s resignation. However, he respects her decision and acknowledges the reasons she outlined in her resignation letter, which include concerns about the governance environment within the institution.

“The committee appreciates her service and the commitment she demonstrated in steering NSFAS through a challenging period marked by the implementation of critical reforms to strengthen accountability and efficiency. We are saddened that this has happened rather so soon, this board was constituted this year with Dr Stander entrusted with steering it and her concerns should be taken seriously,” said Mr Letsie.

Mr Letsie said her reflections highlight the urgency of stability and effective governance within NSFAS to ensure that the scheme continues to deliver on its mandate of providing equitable access to higher education for deserving students.

“The committee will engage the Department of Higher Education and Training and the remaining NSFAS Board members to understand the implications of this resignation and the measures being put in place to ensure continuity and institutional stability,” he added.

The committee thanks Dr Stander for her contribution and wishes her well in her future endeavours.

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

Source: APO

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The Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA) will this week continue with its oversight enquiry into the financial management and related affairs of the Road Accident Fund (RAF).

On Tuesday, former PwC employee Mr Johan van Huyststeen will testify on the nature of the advice sought by the RAF regarding the changes the fund made to its accounting policy.

The change in accounting policy led to a protracted legal dispute with the Auditor-General (AG) with a full bench of the High Court in Pretoria ruling in favour of the AG, while the Supreme Court of Appeal has on two occasions turned down the RAF’s appeal. Over R10 million in legal fees has been spent by the RAF over the matter.

The committee will also hear from the RAF’s Chief Financial Officer Ms Berenice Potgieter and suspended Acting Chief Investment Officer Mr Sefotle Modiba will also testify on the accounting policy, actuarial evaluations and the impact on hundreds of thousands of claimants.

On Wednesday Mr Stephen Msiza will testify on the procurement of close protection services for the former RAF CEO, Mr Collins Letsoalo that exceeded the R480 000 limit set by the Board of the RAF.

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

Source: APO – Report:

H.E. Dr. Rania Al-Mashat, Minister of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation, received H.E. Eng. Sherif El-Sherbiny, Minister of Housing, Utilities and Urban Communities, to discuss the executive status of the Presidential Initiative “Haya Karima” (Decent Life) and the projects of the Investment Plan for the Urban Development Sector.

The two Ministers discussed the developments in the implementation of the Investment Plan for the Urban Development sector with its various activities and fields in the water and sanitation sectors, construction and building, and real estate activities. The total estimated investments in the plan for the current fiscal year amount to about EGP 505 billion. The meeting also reviewed the implementation status of the projects of the Presidential Initiative “Haya Karima” (Decent Life), which is of great importance to the state given its contribution to developing services and infrastructure in the Egyptian countryside villages.

For her part, Dr. Rania Al-Mashat reaffirmed the government’s keenness to move forward with the implementation of the “Haya Karima” (Decent Life) initiative, in light of the directives of the President of the Republic to develop human capital through the advancement of education and health services, supporting social protection programs, and improving the lives of citizens in the Egyptian countryside villages. She pointed out that the investments for the first phase of the initiative amount to about EGP 350 billion, with more than 86% of the projects listed in that phase already implemented.

In the same context, the Minister Al-Mashat noted the government’s efforts to enhance the private sector’s involvement in implementing the investment plan projects, by expanding partnership projects. This is in line with efforts to govern public investments and rationalize investment spending to make way for efforts to enable the private sector. She mentioned that the ceiling for investment spending for the current fiscal year amounts to EGP 1.16 trillion.

The Minister of Housing underscored that the various projects being implemented within the Presidential Initiative “Haya Karima” for the development of the Egyptian countryside are among the most important national projects currently underway across the country. These projects are being directly and periodically followed up by H.E. President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, President of the Republic, in order to provide a decent life for Egyptians.

Eng. Sherif El Sherbiny added that a number of projects are being implemented within the current fiscal year’s budget concerning drinking water and sanitation projects, and construction and building, and these are planned to be completed according to their scheduled timetables, whether in new cities or inside villages, as part of the ministry’s investment plan.

– on behalf of Ministry of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation – Egypt.

Source: APO – Report:

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The European Union (EU) takes note of the proclamation by the Independent National Electoral Commission of Tanzania and the Zanzibar Electoral Commission of the results of the presidential elections held on 29 October 2025.

The EU is very concerned with the events that occurred throughout the Election Day and that are still ongoing, including violence, the internet shutdown as well as reports of irregularities in the election process in some places. Reliable reports of large number of fatalities and significant injuries are of extreme concern. The EU urges authorities to exercise maximum restraint to preserve human lives.

The lack of level playing field in the run up to the elections was marked by reports of abductions and disappearances and violence limiting the civic and democratic space. The EU calls for the release of all detained politicians and for a transparent and fair trial of those arrested on a sound legal basis and for swift and thorough investigations into all reported incidents of abductions, disappearances and violence.

The EU values its long-standing partnership with Tanzania in line with the joint commitments entered into under the EU-OACPS “Samoa” Agreement, in particular on strategic priorities. The EU encourages the Government of Tanzania to continue its efforts towards the implementation of a fully-fledged multi-party system, and to engage in an open and inclusive dialogue with all stakeholders, in particular opposition parties and civil society for reconciliation.

– on behalf of Delegation of the European Union to the United Republic of Tanzania and the East African Community.

Source: APO – Report:

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President Cyril Ramaphosa has in terms of Section 6 of the Electoral Commission Act and on the recommendation of the National Assembly appointed commissioners of the Independent Electoral Commission who will serve for a period of seven years.

Mrs Joyce Pitso will serve as a full-time member of the Electoral Commission.

Judge Dhaya Pillay will serve as a part-time member of the Electoral Commission.

Mr Mosotho Moepya will serve as a full-time member of the Electoral Commission.

President Ramaphosa has also, in terms of Section 8(1) of the Electoral Commission Act, designated Mr Moepya as the chairperson of the Commission.

The President wishes the commissioners well in safeguarding the integrity of diverse elections in the country.

– on behalf of The Presidency of the Republic of South Africa.

Source: APO – Report:

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As the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) system confirms catastrophic hunger levels in El Fasher and Kadugli, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) is alarmed by the arrival of unaccompanied and separated children in Tawila, fleeing violence by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

IRC staff report that amidst the less than 5,000 people that have arrived so far in Tawila, at least 170 unaccompanied and separated children have been registered in recent days. They have reached the area without parents or relatives with many too young to even state their names or origins – while the whereabouts of their families remain unknown. This is a horrific illustration of what is happening in El Fasher and IRC and other humanitarian partners’ biggest concern remains the welfare of over 200,000 civilians in El Fasher whose whereabouts are unknown.

Arjan Hehenkamp, IRC Darfur Crisis Lead said

“The sight of these small children arriving alone, without knowing the whereabouts or the fate of the rest of their family, is harrowing. These children are at least now safe, but behind every one of these children is a missing mother, father, or sibling who may still be trapped in violence. Our biggest concern remains: where are their parents, where are the people of El Fasher? Extremely disturbing reports and satellite imagery confirm that people are not able to flee el Fasher to safe places like Tawila. Which means they are trapped, detained or worse. 

“We need urgent diplomacy at the highest levels to exert pressure on the RSF, other warring parties and their sponsors to ensure safe passage for civilians fleeing El Fasher and to ensure civilians remaining in El Fasher are protected from violence and attack. Warring parties must commit to protect humanitarian workers and ensure they can access those in need. This needs to happen immediately, the situation is deteriorating hour by hour.”

IRC continues to deliver critical humanitarian support in Tawila to displaced people from El Fasher including emergency health services, water trucking, and cash assistance. 

When the conflict began in 2023, the IRC adapted our programs and scaled up our response to address the increased humanitarian needs. Despite immense operational challenges, the IRC continues to provide support in Blue Nile, Khartoum, El Jezirah, Gedaref, River Nile, South Kordofan, West Darfur, North Darfur and White Nile. We also have a logistics and coordination office in Port Sudan and are exploring opportunities to expand our presence into other states.

– on behalf of International Rescue Committee (IRC) .