Source: Government of Qatar
Doha | August 31, 2026
HE Minister of State for International Cooperation, Maryam bint Ali bin Nasser Al Misnad met Monday with HE Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Human Mobility of the Republic of Ecuador, Alejandro Davalos, who is visiting Doha.
Discussion during the meeting focused on bilateral relations and ways to bolster them, in addition to a host of topics of Mutual interest.
Source: Government of Qatar
Doha | August 31, 2026
The State of Qatar strongly condemns renewed Iranian attacks targeting Jordan with missiles and the United Arab Emirates with a drone.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs considers the attacks a serious violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the two countries, as well as a breach of international law and the United Nations Charter.
The Ministry warns that the Islamic Republic of Iran’s continued attacks represent a dangerous escalation that could complicate de-escalation efforts and undermine diplomatic and political initiatives aimed at restoring security and stability.
The State of Qatar calls for an immediate and complete halt to all military actions and attacks threatening regional security, and urges all sides to avoid steps that could widen the conflict.
It also calls for a serious return to dialogue and negotiations, as well as adherence to understandings reached through diplomatic efforts.
The Ministry reaffirms the State of Qatar’s full solidarity with the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and the UAE and supports measures taken by the two countries to protect their sovereignty and security.
Source: Government of South Africa
Cut-off low to bring cold, wet and windy conditions, with possible severe thunderstorms
The South African Weather Service (SAWS) says cold, wet and windy conditions are expected to affect parts of the Western Cape and Northern Cape from Thursday into Friday.
“Very cold conditions are possible over the high-lying areas, where maximum temperatures may remain below 10°C in places. Rainfall over parts of the Western Cape may become disruptive and could lead to localised flooding, particularly over the south-eastern parts of the province,” the weather service said in a statement on Monday.
SAWS has attributed these weather conditions to a cut-off low-pressure system that will develop over the western interior, resulting in a significant change in weather conditions across several provinces on Thursday.
“Strong to damaging interior winds are also possible, while gale-force winds may affect the south-western and southern coastal areas. Damaging waves, reaching approximately 4.5 to 5.5 metres in places, may also pose a risk to coastal activities and infrastructure,” the weather service said.
SAWS has issued the following weather warnings:
As the cut-off low moves eastwards over the weekend, it is expected to bring a noticeable drop in temperatures, scattered to widespread showers and thundershowers, and windy conditions over parts of the Free State, Gauteng, Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal, as well as the eastern parts of the North West.
These conditions are expected to persist from Friday into Sunday, with the potential for further impacts as the system progresses across the country.
Possibility of severe thunderstorms
SAWS said there is a signal for severe thunderstorms to develop over parts of the Free State, North West and Gauteng from Friday afternoon into Saturday evening.
“The risk of severe thunderstorms is then expected to shift further eastwards, affecting parts of Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal from Sunday morning, with the possibility of extending into the southern parts of Limpopo,” the weather service said.
Where severe thunderstorms occur, they may be accompanied by heavy downpours, which could result in localised flooding; strong and potentially damaging winds; and excessive lightning and the possibility of hail.
“The exact location and intensity of severe thunderstorms will depend on the evolution of the atmospheric system, and the public is encouraged to remain updated with the latest forecasts and warnings.
“There is also a possibility of snowfall over the Drakensberg Mountains of the Eastern Cape on Friday morning, extending into the high-lying areas of Lesotho.
“Motorists travelling through high-lying mountain passes are advised to remain alert due to rapidly deteriorating weather conditions, including reduced visibility, cold temperatures and possible hazardous driving conditions,” SAWS said.
The public and small-stock farmers are advised to take the necessary precautions as the weather system moves across the country, including the following:
–SAnews.gov.za
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Source: Government of South Africa
Deputy Minister Mabe congratulates Springboks on hard-fought All Blacks victory
Deputy Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Peace Mabe has congratulated the Springboks on their hard-fought 33–26 victory over the New Zealand All Blacks at DHL Stadium in Cape Town this past weekend.
The victory in the second Test of the Castle Double Malt Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series allowed South Africa to bounce back strongly after a 33–16 defeat in the opening encounter at Ellis Park in Johannesburg the previous weekend.
In a statement on Monday, Mabe said the Springboks had shown the courage, character and determination needed to overcome one of the strongest teams in international rugby.
“Congratulations to the Springboks on a courageous and important victory over the All Blacks. The team responded with the intensity, discipline and determination that South Africans have come to expect from our national rugby team.
“After the disappointment of the opening Test, the players returned to the field knowing that they needed to produce a strong response. They accepted that responsibility and delivered a performance that has brought the series level and restored momentum ahead of the third Test.
“This was a demanding contest between two proud rugby nations. The Springboks were tested until the final whistle, but they remained composed and protected their lead under enormous pressure. That fighting spirit made the victory even more meaningful,” she said.
The Springboks made a powerful start, with Jesse Kriel scoring the opening try in the first minute.
Damian de Allende and Siya Kolisi also crossed the try line in the first half, helping South Africa establish a 24–14 lead at the interval.
Cheslin Kolbe contributed 18 points from the kicking tee, helping the Springboks maintain their advantage as the All Blacks fought their way back into the contest.
The match also marked Pieter-Steph du Toit’s 100th Test appearance for South Africa, making him only the 11th Springbok to achieve the milestone.
“Pieter-Steph du Toit has served South African rugby with distinction. Reaching 100 Test appearances requires extraordinary commitment, resilience and consistency at the highest level of the game.
“To celebrate this milestone with a victory over the All Blacks makes the occasion even more memorable. We congratulate him, his family and everyone who has contributed to his remarkable journey in the green and gold,” said Deputy Minister Mabe.
Mabe also thanked the supporters who filled DHL Stadium, along with the millions of South Africans who followed the match across the country.
“Congratulations once again to the Springboks. You responded when the country needed you, represented South Africa with pride and reminded the world of the courage that defines the green and gold. Go Bokke!” said Deputy Minister Mabe. –SAnews.gov.za
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Source: APO – Report:
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On the occasion of the International Day for People of African Descent, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, extends his warmest wishes to the hundreds of millions of people of African descent across the Americas, the Caribbean, Europe, Asia and the Pacific.
This Day celebrates the deep bonds that connect Africa with its diasporas and reminds us that, across continents and generations, Africans and people of African descent belong to one family, united by a shared history and by the ambition to build a common future together.
As the Second International Decade for People of African Descent (2025–2034), centred on recognition, justice and development, continues, the Chairperson reaffirms the African Union’s commitment to advancing these objectives and to combating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and all related forms of intolerance.
The African Union recognises its diaspora as an integral part of the African family and an essential partner in the implementation of Agenda 2063. This commitment is reflected, in particular, in the African Union Decade of Justice for Africans and People of African Descent Through Reparations (2026–2035), ongoing work towards a Common African Position on reparations, and the strengthening of partnerships with the Caribbean, Latin America and African communities across the world.
On this Day, the Chairperson pays tribute to the remarkable contributions of people of African descent to the development, culture and progress of societies around the world.
The history of Africa and its diaspora are inseparable. Their futures must be equally so.
The Chairperson extends to all people of African descent, wherever they may be, his wishes for peace, dignity, justice and prosperity, and reaffirms the African Union’s determination to work with them towards a stronger, more united and more cohesive global African community.
– on behalf of African Union Commission (AUC).
Source: APO – Report:
Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) (www.AfricaFC.org), the continent’s leading infrastructure solutions provider, has established a Bermudian wholly owned subsidiary, AFC Captive Insurance Company Ltd (AFC Captive), to enhance its risk management capabilities and support the continued growth of its infrastructure financing activities across Africa.
Backed by up to US$30 million in equity capital, AFC Captive will initially provide insurance coverage for loans extended by AFC to its counterparties. This will enable the Corporation to manage and retain risk more efficiently while reducing reliance on external commercial insurance markets overtime.
Licensed as a class 2 insurer, the company will also have the flexibility to extend insurance capacity to AFC affiliates and select third parties, with up to 20% of underwriting capacity allocated to such businesses.
The establishment of AFC Captive builds on the Corporation’s strong investment-grade credit profile. AFC holds an A3 long-term issuer rating from Moody’s, among the highest investment-grade ratings of any African institution. In January 2026, S&P Global assigned AFC an ‘A’ long-term and ‘A-1’ short-term issuer credit rating with a Positive Outlook, the highest rating AFC has received from a major global ratings agency to date.
AFC has also recently received renewed AAA domestic issuer ratings with stable outlooks from China Chengxin International Credit Rating Co. Ltd (CCXI) and S&P Global (China) Ratings, reflecting continued confidence in its financial strength, prudent risk management, liquidity and capital position.
Leveraging this strong credit standing, AFC Captive will seek to build its own investment-grade credit profile as it develops scale and operating capacity.
Beyond strengthening AFC’s internal risk management framework, AFC Captive creates a platform to deepen the Corporation’s insurance expertise and develop tailored risk-mitigation solutions for infrastructure investment across Africa. Over time, the business is expected to expand its offering to a broader range of third-party clients.
Samaila Zubairu, President & CEO of AFC, said: “Africa’s infrastructure needs demand innovative approaches that allow us to mobilise more capital and extend financing capacity across the continent. AFC Captive is an important addition to our platform, enhancing our ability to manage risk, deploy capital more efficiently, and scale investment into the infrastructure and industrial projects that will drive long-term growth and economic transformation.”
Wola Asase, Deputy Director and Head of Syndications at AFC, will also manage the subsidiary as the Head of AFC Captive and Director on the Board. “AFC Captive gives us greater flexibility in how we structure and support transactions across our portfolio,” said Asase. “By using insurance more strategically, we can expand market capacity, improve capital efficiency and unlock financing for projects that may otherwise be constrained by limited or costly external insurance.”
– on behalf of Africa Finance Corporation (AFC).
Media Enquiries:
Yewande Thorpe
Communications
Africa Finance Corporation
Mobile : +234 1 279 9654
Email : yewande.thorpe@africafc.org
About AFC:
AFC was established in 2007 to be the catalyst for pragmatic infrastructure and industrial investments across Africa. AFC’s approach combines specialist industry expertise with a focus on financial and technical advisory, project structuring, project development, and risk capital to address Africa’s infrastructure development needs and drive sustainable economic growth.
Nineteen years on, AFC has developed a track record as the partner of choice in Africa for investing and delivering on instrumental, high-quality infrastructure assets that provide essential services in the core infrastructure sectors of energy, natural resources, heavy industry, transport, and telecommunications. AFC has 48 member countries and has invested over US$19 billion in 36 African countries since its inception.
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Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Elena Moore, Professor of Sociology, University of Cape Town
Your grandmother in Windhoek, the capital of Namibia, is struggling to breathe. You call the public ambulance service, but you’re told it could take more than 24 hours to arrive, if it comes to your area at all. So you make the only call that might actually save her: the City of Windhoek’s ambulance service. It arrives quickly. It also comes with a bill of 800 Namibian dollars (about US$50).
If you can’t pay on the spot, the city doesn’t turn you away, it simply adds the charge to your municipal account alongside your water and electricity. That should be a relief. In practice, it becomes a trap. Fall behind on that bill, and the city can cut your water and power.
So, families borrow to keep the lights and taps on, turning an emergency transport fee into a long-term debt.
This is not a rare story. It is a pattern researchers, including the authors of this article, heard in interviews with caregivers and older person households across Namibia. And it does not end with the ambulance. Roughly one in ten older Namibians now holds a personal loan with NamPost, the national postal service operator which also provides banking services, borrowed against their old age grant to cover these kinds of medical and household emergencies. A loan of N$13,000 (US$804) can end up costing nearly N$25,000 (US$1,500) to repay, N$420 (US$25) a month for five years, locking recipients of a grant meant for subsistence into years of debt.
The findings are outlined in a new report by the Family Caregiving of Older Persons in Southern Africa Programme.
The study was led by a team that we were part of, specialising in sociology, social work and psychology and exploring elder care in Namibia.
Drawing on the experiences of 80 households made up of older people and their family caregivers, the report’s central argument is stark: disability is produced as much by environment as by the body. Manageable health conditions become crises because of failing housing, absent sanitation, unaffordable assistive devices and precarious income. It falls to unpaid family caregivers to absorb these crises.
The report’s authors conclude that care in Namibia is determined by broader social and economic forces: unemployment, gendered expectations and the absence of adequate state support. When caregivers were asked what would help, their priorities were consistent: pension increases, a dedicated caregiver’s allowance, food security, basic infrastructure such as water and electricity, and recognition of labour.
If you walk into an older person’s home in the urban, rural or informal settlement parts of Khomasdal (a large suburb northwest of the capital, Windhoek), Samora Machel (also in Windhoek), Windhoek Rural, Okatana or Mashare (northern Namibia), the first obstacles to care are rarely medical. They are structural: a zinc roof that turns a room into an oven by midday and floods it in the rains; a toilet too far from the house, or none at all; a doorway too narrow for a wheelchair; and no money to adapt it.
Sixty-three percent of older person households in Namibia lack toilet facilities close by. This forces caregivers to dispose of human waste.
Zinc and corrugated-iron housing floods in wet weather and overheats in summer, aggravating chronic conditions. Terrain around many homes is inaccessible.
The report’s findings show the environment magnifies people’s care needs. Hypertension affects roughly half the older people in Namibia; mobility problems affect one in five; eye conditions affect a third.
Households in the research often had eight or more members. Three-generation households were common in both urban neighbourhoods and rural settlements. Almost half of the older people studied lived with both adult children and grandchildren.
Urban households faced spatial constraints: small, crowded dwellings with little room to accommodate a bed-bound relative or a wheelchair.
Rural households drew on larger homesteads and agricultural land. But researchers found this space came at the cost of infrastructure: water and firewood had to be fetched from a distance.
In all but eight of the 80 households, the primary caregiver lived in the same home as the person they cared for. Only three households could afford paid help.
Most caregivers were women – 59 of the 80 primary caregivers studied – and relatively young. The largest age groups fell between 18 and 39. At least half were also raising children of their own.
Their work was continuous. Feeding, bathing, toileting, giving medication, fetching water and firewood, and providing companionship.
Namibia’s old age grant – valued at N$1,400 (US$87) during fieldwork and now roughly N$1,700 (US$105) – sits at the centre of nearly every household budget. It is expected to support entire multigenerational households averaging 6.5 people.
Mapping monthly budgets across the 80 households, researchers found spending on food, utilities, medication, debt and school fees used up the grant well before the month was out. Household incomes in rural areas were lower and therefore costs such as food, transport or debt repayments took up a larger percentage of more limited income.
Utility and infrastructure costs were chief among the environmental pressures on that budget. Combined water and electricity costs consumed 25% to 40% of household income in some areas, with several households describing being cut off entirely and left paying off multi-year arrears while still struggling to afford daily power and water.
Medication stock-outs at public facilities pushed families toward private pharmacies at a cost of N$1,000 (US$61) to N$4,500 (US$278) over three months. Loan repayments, mostly to NamPost, absorbed an average of 15% of household income, rising to 27%-29% in Mashare and Windhoek Rural.
Household incomes in rural areas were lower and therefore a debt repayment took up a larger percentage of more limited income.
Other income sources such as remittances, informal trade, Harambee food parcels (state funded aid for particularly vulnerable households) and drought relief, were irregular and reached only a fraction of households.
Families coped through subsistence farming, wild fruit harvesting, informal trade and strict rationing.
Interventions should coordinate social protection, health, housing, infrastructure and climate adaptation policies.
They should also recognise that family caregivers are essential partners in the care system.
– Old people in Namibia are going into debt to pay for everyday costs – new report examines strained household budgets
– https://theconversation.com/old-people-in-namibia-are-going-into-debt-to-pay-for-everyday-costs-new-report-examines-strained-household-budgets-289948
Source: Government of South Africa
SASSA gold card migration deadline today
Social grant beneficiaries who have not yet migrated from the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) gold cards to Postbank black cards have until close of business today to complete the process and avoid interruption to access to their social grant payments.
In a statement on Monday, Postbank said beneficiaries who fail to migrate by the deadline will not be able to access their social grant payments for the 2 to 7 September payment period.
However, the social grant payments will continue to be made into beneficiaries’ accounts, and they will be able to access the funds once they complete the migration process.
Postbank Chief Commercial Officer Thami Cele urged beneficiaries who have not yet migrated to act immediately.
“This is not the outcome we want for any of our social grant beneficiaries. Our ideal is for every social grant beneficiary to be successfully migrated before the commencement of the September grant payments cycle, so that they can continue accessing payments without interruption. We therefore make a special appeal to all beneficiaries who have not yet migrated to act immediately and complete the process,” Cele said.
Postbank said it was grateful to beneficiaries who had already completed the migration process and would continue to have uninterrupted access to their social grant payments.
Cele acknowledged that some beneficiaries may not be able to complete their migration by Monday’s deadline.
As a result, Postbank card replacement sites will remain available after 31 August to assist beneficiaries who miss the deadline with completing the migration process and restoring access to their payments.
Beneficiaries who miss the deadline are encouraged to visit their nearest Postbank card replacement site as soon as possible.
The card replacement sites are available at participating retail stores, including Shoprite, Usave, Checkers, Spar and Pick n Pay.
Beneficiaries can dial *120*355# from any mobile phone to locate their nearest participating site.
The migration process is free and beneficiaries need to present an identity document or temporary identity document.
Postbank said cards are activated immediately and beneficiaries do not need to visit a SASSA office to complete the process.
For more information, beneficiaries can contact Postbank on 0800 5354 55. – SAnews.gov.za
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Source: Government of South Africa
SAWS warns of scattered to widespread thundershowers
A cut-off low-pressure system is expected to bring scattered to widespread thundershowers to several parts of South Africa later this week, the South African Weather Service (SAWS) has warned.
SAWS said a surface trough will dominate the western interior this week, while a surface high-pressure system remains in the east.
According to the weather service, the cut-off low-pressure system is expected to develop over the western interior on Thursday before spreading into the central and eastern parts of the country as the week progresses.
This is expected to result in scattered to widespread thundershowers over Gauteng, North West, Free State, KwaZulu-Natal and the eastern half of the Eastern Cape from Friday into Sunday.
On Monday, partly cloudy conditions are expected over the central and eastern parts of the country, with isolated to scattered showers and thundershowers possible. Elsewhere, conditions are expected to be fine and warm to cool.
On Tuesday, partly cloudy and warm to cool conditions are forecast, although isolated showers remain possible over the southern parts of KwaZulu-Natal and the extreme eastern parts of the Eastern Cape.
SAWS has urged members of the public and stakeholders to continue monitoring official forecasts and warnings, noting that alerts will be updated as the likelihood and severity of possible impacts become clearer.
The public is also advised to avoid relying on unauthorised or unverified information sources and to refrain from sharing such information. – SAnews.gov.za
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Source: Government of South Africa
Call for disability inclusion beyond charity
Deputy Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities Mmapaseka Steve Letsike has called for a fundamental shift in how South Africa approaches disability inclusion.
Delivering her keynote address at the closing ceremony of the 2026 Special Olympics South Africa National Summer Games in Rustenburg, North West, on Saturday, Letsike said society must move beyond charity and accommodation towards ensuring equal opportunities, dignity and meaningful participation for persons with disabilities.
Letsike commended athletes for demonstrating the importance of opportunity, participation, and recognition.
She said the games provided more than a sporting spectacle, highlighting courage, discipline, friendship, determination and joy, while challenging assumptions about what persons with intellectual disabilities can achieve.
“Sport may be the arena in which we have gathered, but the real conversation is about dignity, belonging and equality,” Letsike said.
She said the lived experience of equality remained vastly different for many people, with persons with intellectual disabilities continuing to encounter barriers in education, healthcare, employment and their communities.
According to Letsike, exclusion is often embedded in systems that were not designed to accommodate people with disabilities, including schools unable to support learners appropriately, healthcare systems that fail to communicate effectively, workplaces that have already decided what persons with disabilities can contribute, or communities where disability is still approached through pity rather than rights and agency.
She said the lesson of the Special Olympics is not that persons with intellectual disabilities are extraordinary because they have somehow overcome their disabilities, but that society often underestimates what people are capable of when barriers are placed in their way.
“When those barriers are removed, when support is available and when people are afforded the dignity of opportunity, talent finds expression,” the Deputy Minister said.
Letsike said South Africa’s disability agenda must therefore increasingly focus on substantive inclusion and redesigning institutions so that accessibility and inclusion are incorporated from the outset.
She said inclusion should span the entire life journey of a person with an intellectual disability, from early childhood through education, healthcare, sport and skills development to employment, economic participation and independent living.
“It must also mean that persons with disabilities are represented where decisions are made about their lives. The principle of “nothing about us without us” cannot remain a slogan that we repeat at disability events; it must become a principle of governance.
“Government, civil society, sporting bodies, communities and the private sector all have a responsibility to ensure that persons with intellectual disabilities are not regarded as passive recipients of programmes but as citizens with voices, aspirations, talents and the right to shape the society to which they belong,” the Deputy Minister said.
Letsike also highlighted the intersection between disability, gender, age, geography, and economic circumstances.
She said a young woman with an intellectual disability living in a rural area, for example, may experience multiple layers of exclusion, particularly where families lacked the financial resources required to navigate systems that are often difficult even for those without disabilities.
“If our policies treat people as though these realities can be separated from one another, we will inevitably design responses that miss the complexity of their lives,” she said.
She welcomed the inclusion of Healthy Athletes screenings during the Games, saying this demonstrated that participation in sport is connected to a much broader question of wellbeing.
Letsike said accessible healthcare, early identification of health needs, prevention and sustained support must form part of the same conversation as sporting opportunity.
She also acknowledged the contribution of families, caregivers, coaches, officials and volunteers who support athletes, while stressing that families should not have to shoulder the burden of overcoming systemic barriers alone.
“Our long-term goal must also be to build a society in which families do not carry this responsibility alone.”
Letsike encouraged athletes selected to represent South Africa at the 2027 World Summer Games to carry the hopes of those who competed in Rustenburg, while reminding those who were not selected that their participation remained equally valuable. – SAnews.gov.za
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