Category: MIL-OSI

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Former Gucci and Loro Piana Public Relations (PR) Executive Diego Moriondo Appointed Chief Marketing and Communication for APO Group’s Volunteer Program Supporting the Roman Catholic Church in Africa

Source: APO – Report:

APO Group (www.APO-opa.com), the leading award-winning pan-African communications consultancy and press-release distribution service, is proud to announce the appointment of Diego Moriondo as Chief Marketing and Communication Officer for its Volunteer Programme supporting the governing body of the Roman Catholic Church in Africa, the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM).

Diego Moriondo brings a rich background in luxury brand management and global communications to the non-profit sector. He will serve in this critical volunteer role following a distinguished career in Media and Marketing at prestigious international fashion houses Gucci and Loro Piana. His high level strategic experience will be instrumental in professionalizing and scaling the Roman Catholic Church’s outreach across the African continent.

In his role as Chief Marketing and Communication Officer for the APO Group Volunteer Program, Diego Moriondo will be responsible for supporting SECAM’s officials in envisioning, developing, and overseeing the entire communication and marketing strategy for the Roman Catholic Church in Africa. His mandate is to strengthen SECAM’s public voice, enhance its visibility, and ensure the cohesive dissemination of its messages across the 38 national and regional episcopal conferences it represents.

“The addition of Diego Moriondo’s world class expertise is a significant milestone for our volunteer program and our partnership with the governing body of the Roman Catholic Church in Africa,” said Nicolas Pompigne-Mognard (www.Pompigne-Mognard.com), Founder and Chairman of APO Group. “Diego’s experience in crafting compelling narratives for global luxury brands like Gucci and Loro Piana will be pivotal in shaping a powerful and unified communication strategy that resonates deeply with Africa’s Catholic community and a wider global audience.”

Diego Moriondo expressed his enthusiasm for taking on this new challenge: “I am honoured to dedicate my experience to supporting APO Group’s mission and the vital work of SECAM. The opportunity to leverage strategic communications to impact the lives of millions across Africa is profoundly meaningful. I look forward to working with the team to develop an integrated strategy that empowers SECAM to communicate effectively throughout the continent.”

The Catholic Church operates 82,235 Catholic Schools in Africa, educating 30,629,476 pupils. Its extensive network of care includes 13,880 facilities such as hospitals, clinics, dispensaries, leprosy centres, homes for the elderly and chronically ill, centres for disabled people, orphanages, kindergartens, and marriage counselling centres.

According to recent data from the Vatican, there are 1.39 billion Catholics worldwide, representing around 18% of the world’s population. Africa’s 236 million Catholics already make up about 20% of the global Catholic population, but they are also the fastest-growing region in the world. By 2050, the World Christian Database estimates that African Catholics will make up 32% of the global Catholic population.

According to the United Nations’ 2022 State of the World’s Volunteerism Report, there are an estimated 862.4 million volunteers globally. Engaging in volunteerism offers individuals a unique opportunity to gain practical, hands-on experience, enhance their professional profiles, and develop valuable skills through impactful service.

More information about APO Group’s volunteer programme supporting the Roman Catholic Church in Africa: https://apo-opa.co/3Kuq32Q

– on behalf of APO Group.

Media contact:
marie@apo-opa.com

About APO Group:
Founded in 2007, APO Group (www.APO-opa.com) is the leading award-winning pan-African communications consultancy and press release distribution service. Renowned for our deep-rooted African expertise and expansive global perspective, we specialise in elevating the reputation and brand equity of private and public organisations across Africa. As a trusted partner, our mission is to harness the power of media, crafting bespoke strategies that drive tangible, measurable impact both on the continent and globally.

Our commitment to excellence and innovation has been recognised with multiple prestigious awards, including a Provoke Media Global SABRE Award and multiple Provoke Media Africa SABRE Awards. In 2023, we were named the Leading Public Relations Firm Africa and the Leading Pan-African Communications Consultancy Africa in the World Business Outlook Awards, and the Best Public Relations and Media Consultancy of the Year South Africa in 2024 in the same awards. In 2025, Brands Review Magazine acknowledged us as the Leading Communications Consultancy in Africa for the second consecutive year. They also named us the Best PR Agency and the Leading Press Release Distribution Platform in Africa in 2024. Additionally, in 2025, the Davos Communications Awards 2025 awarded us the Gold Award for Best PR Campaign and the Bronze Award for Special Event.

APO Group’s esteemed clientele, which includes global giants such as Canon, Nestlé, Western Union, the UNDP, Network International, African Energy Chamber, Mercy Ships, Marriott, Africa’s Business Heroes, and Liquid Intelligent Technologies, reflects our unparalleled ability to navigate the complex African media landscape. With a multicultural team across Africa, we offer unmatched, truly pan-African insights, expertise, and reach across the continent. APO Group is dedicated to reshaping narratives about Africa, challenging stereotypes, and bringing inspiring African stories to global audiences, with our expertise in developing and supporting public relations campaigns worldwide uniquely positioning us to amplify brand messaging, enhance reputations, and connect effectively with target audiences.

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Two suspected blue light robbers shot and killed

Source: Government of South Africa

Two suspected blue light robbers shot and killed

Two suspected blue light robbers were shot and killed on Sunday following a shootout with the police in Parys, Free State.

It is reported that a team of various police units in Gauteng, including Tactical Response Team, Traffic Airwing, Detectives Tracking Team, Head Office Counter Intelligence and private security companies operationalised intelligence information about a VW Golf 7 vehicle involved in blue light robberies. 

The team strategically placed themselves and the vehicle was spotted driving on the R59 road fitted with blue lights. 

As police attempted to stop it, the vehicle sped off leading to a high-speed chase and a shootout between the suspects and the police. The suspects’ vehicle lost control and collided into a fence in the Parys area. 

Two suspects dressed in police uniform were found dead in the car. The team further recovered two unlicensed firearms with ammunition, SAPS uniform with insignia, blue lights, sirens and false registration numbers.

“Preliminary investigation indicates that the suspects have been involved in blue light robberies happening on the R59 and other roads between Gauteng and Free State provinces. They hijack victims and kidnap them for hours, while withdrawing sums of money from the victims’ bank accounts.

“The police will continue to intensify their efforts to crackdown on these robberies. The public is once more urged not to stop on isolated areas but rather drive to the nearest police station or filling station. For any criminal activities, the public can report on the Crime Stop Line at 08600 10111,” the police said. – SAnews.gov.za

Edwin

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SARB announces non-trading days

Source: Government of South Africa

SARB announces non-trading days

The Reserve Bank has advised market participants that it will be closed for trading and settlement on several public holidays this festive season.

The South African Reserve Bank (SARB) will be closed for trading and settlement on the following official public holidays:
• Tuesday, 16 December 2025 
• Thursday, 25 December 2025
• Friday, 26 December 2025 and
• Thursday, 1 January 2026

“The SARB’s open market and foreign exchange transactions have been scheduled to mature and settle on official business days during December 2025 and January 2026. No settlement will take place via the South African Multiple Option Settlement (SAMOS) system on the dates specified above,” the central bank said.

The SARB’s foreign exchange desk will close at 12:00 midday on 24 and 31 December 2025. 

Domestic money market operations will be conducted as usual, with the position closing at 16:55 on both days.
Queries regarding the above may be directed to Provia Mangoedi at +27 12 313 4952 and Andries Tshishonga at +27 12 313 4950. –SAnews.gov.za
 

 

nosihle

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Operation Shanela II nets over 300 suspects

Source: Government of South Africa

Operation Shanela II nets over 300 suspects

Police in the Northern Cape have nabbed 360 suspects in connection with various crimes. 

The arrests were made during the intelligence-driven ‘Safer Festive Season’ campaign under Operation Shanela II.

“During the operations, SAPS members confiscated alcoholic beverages, ammunition, cash suspected to be the proceeds of crime, dangerous weapons, diamonds, drugs and a firearm,” the police said in a statement.

These weekly high-density, multi-disciplinary operations were conducted from 8 -14 December across all five districts of the Northern Cape.

“As part of the disruptive actions, 3 981 motor vehicles were stopped and 7 932 persons were searched during numerous roadblocks and vehicle check points.

“Compliance inspections were carried out at farms, mines, formal and informal businesses, as well as second-hand goods dealers. A total of 17 unlicensed liquor outlets were closed.

“Detectives executed tracing operations to track down perpetrators who have been evading arrest for an array of crimes,” the police said.

During the conclusion of the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children in the ZF Mgcawu District last week, Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Koliswa Otola, reassured community members of SAPS’ continued commitment to ensuring their safety. 

She further encouraged communities to break the silence by reporting criminal activities and commended the multi-disciplinary teams for their dedication in keeping the Northern Cape and its communities safe. 

Community engagements, awareness programmes and crime prevention disruptive actions will continue as the Christmas period approaches and beyond to ensure sustainable safety of all inhabitants and visitors to the province. – SAnews.gov.za

Edwin

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La Banque africaine de développement et São Tomé-et-Principe signent trois nouveaux accords de financement sous forme de dons

Source: Africa Press Organisation – French

Le Groupe de la Banque africaine de développement (www.AfDB.org) et le gouvernement de São Tomé-et-Principe ont renforcé leur partenariat de développement par le biais d’un nouveau financement de 18 millions de dollars sous forme de dons.

Ces trois accords, signés jeudi lors du Forum d’investissement de São Tomé-et-Principe à Bruxelles, soutiendront l’énergie, l’agriculture climato-intelligente et le nexus eau-énergie-sécurité alimentaire.

Le premier accord alloue 7,5 millions de dollars à la troisième phase du Programme de renforcement de la viabilité budgétaire et de la résilience économique -Financement supplémentaire (FSERP-SF)-, qui s’inscrit dans le cadre d’une opération d’appui budgétaire lancée en décembre 2023. Ce financement porte le montant cumulé à 20 millions de dollars, qui seront versés directement au budget national.

Le programme soutient les réformes autour de deux axes principaux : la viabilité budgétaire et la transition énergétique. Dans le cadre de ce programme, le gouvernement de São Tomé-et-Principe s’est engagé à entreprendre des réformes essentielles du système de passation des marchés publics, des douanes et de la gestion de la dette.

En ce qui concerne la transition énergétique – une priorité absolue du Plan national de développement du pays -, le programme finance l’amélioration de la gouvernance de la compagnie nationale d’électricité, l’ajustement des tarifs pour le recouvrement des coûts et l’accélération de la transition vers les sources d’énergie renouvelable. Ce cadre politique complète les investissements en faveur de la transformation énergétique dans les infrastructures de production et de distribution. Le Fonds spécial du Nigéria (FSN), administré par la Banque africaine de développement, finance cette troisième phase.

Le deuxième accord de financement canalise les ressources du Fonds pour l’environnement mondial (FEM) vers le Projet de cogestion des facteurs climatiques pour la résilience de l’agriculture et de la pêche (PRIASA III). L’objectif est de renforcer les chaînes de valeur de l’agriculture et de la pêche tout en déployant des technologies résilientes au climat afin de préserver les moyens de subsistance face aux sécheresses, aux inondations et aux pénuries d’eau.

Avec un investissement total de 18,9 millions de dollars, dont 10 millions de dollars de financement de la Banque africaine de développement et 8,9 millions de dollars du FEM, le projet sera mis en œuvre à travers trois composantes : l’amélioration des chaînes de valeur et des avantages socio-économiques, la réduction de la vulnérabilité grâce à des technologies climato-intelligentes et au renforcement des capacités, et la garantie d’une gestion de projet efficace pour une adaptation au climat intégrée dans les domaines de l’agriculture et de la pêche.

Le troisième accord porte sur une Facilité de préparation de projet (PPF) de 1,4 million de dollars pour le nexus eau-énergie-sécurité alimentaire, dans le cadre de l’initiative NEW-ERA, afin de favoriser le développement durable dans les secteurs de l’eau, de l’énergie et de l’agriculture. Sur une période de deux ans, cette facilité permettra d’élaborer des études essentielles et des plans directeurs pour la gestion intégrée des ressources en eau, incluant la construction d’un barrage polyvalent, d’une station d’épuration, de mesures de résilience climatique et d’un plan d’assainissement à l’échelle de la ville.

Le PPF jette les bases d’investissements futurs visant à assurer l’accès universel à l’eau potable, à explorer le potentiel de production d’énergie hydroélectrique et à améliorer la production alimentaire d’ici à 2030, tout en renforçant la gouvernance et les capacités des parties prenantes. Le projet créera des emplois, renforcera la résilience des écosystèmes et soutiendra les engagements climatiques du pays.

« Au moment où São Tomé-et-Príncipe présente à la communauté internationale son Plan national de développement et sollicite des investisseurs pour dynamiser son secteur privé, ces trois accords de financement témoignent clairement de l’engagement de la Banque africaine de développement aux côtés du pays en tant que fournisseur de capital patient et de solutions d’atténuation des risques », a déclaré Pietro Toigo, chef du bureau pays du Groupe de la Banque africaine de développement pour l’Angola et São Tomé-et-Principe.

Le 30 novembre 2025, le portefeuille actif du Groupe de la Banque africaine de développement à São Tomé-et-Principe totalisait 89,4 millions de dollars environ, répartis entre 12 instruments de financement, avec un âge moyen de 4,2 ans et un ratio de décaissement de 49,5 %. Sa répartition sectorielle est dominée par l’agriculture (43 %), suivie des opérations multisectorielles (23 %), de la finance (17 %), de l’énergie (15 %) et de l’eau (2 %).

Le portefeuille du Groupe de la Banque est fortement axé sur la résilience, la sécurité alimentaire, la transition énergétique et les réformes macroéconomiques, et montre un engagement croissant dans l’économie verte et bleue et l’infrastructure financière.

Distribué par APO Group pour African Development Bank Group (AfDB).

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Canada – Groupe de la Banque africaine de développement : des échanges pour redessiner la coopération

Source: Africa Press Organisation – French


La vice-présidente principale du groupe de la Banque africaine de développement (www.AfDB.org), Marie-Laure Akin-Olugbade a reçu l’envoyé spécial pour l’Afrique du Canada, l’ambassadeur Ben Marc Diendéré, ce mardi 9 décembre 2025 au siège de l’institution. Une rencontre conviviale pendant laquelle des échanges francs ont permis de poser les jalons d’une relation renouvelée. 

« Le Canada est un partenaire et un très grand soutien de la Banque. Votre pays a montré un leadership sur des sujets tels que le climat, la croissance inclusive et aussi la question de l’égalité des genres », a déclaré Marie-Laure Akin-Olugbade. Elle a également rappelé que le Canada fait partie des cinq plus gros contributeurs du Fonds africain de développement, guichet concessionnel du Groupe de la Banque africaine de développement, dont la 17e reconstitution des ressources aura lieu à Londres les 15 et 16 décembre 2025.

« Nous croyons en la Banque africaine de développement, un instrument important pour le continent », a pour sa part souligné Ben Marc Diendéré, présent en Côte d’Ivoire à l’occasion de l’investiture du président Alassane Ouattara. « Au-delà de la relation que nous entretenons, le Canada a lancé sa stratégie Canada-Afrique afin de renforcer notre coopération avec le continent. En tant que pays, nous avons des enjeux politiques de diversification des marchés. Nous voulons voir comment les entreprises canadiennes peuvent profiter de l’instrument qu’est la Banque africaine de développement », a-t-il ajouté. 

L’envoyé spécial du Canada pour l’Afrique a évoqué des thèmes de prédilection qui pourraient, à l’avenir, être au cœur de ce partenariat. Il s’agit entre autres des énergies renouvelables, des mines, de l’agrobusiness, de la santé, de l’enseignement et la formation technique et professionnelle, de l’intelligence artificielle, de la transformation numérique ou encore des industries culturelles et créatives.  

Marie-Laure Akin-Olugbade et son équipe ont présenté la Stratégie décennale adoptée en 2024 ainsi que les Quatre points cardinaux qui guident les investissements de la Banque. La vice-présidente principale a présenté des temps forts qui permettent de renforcer le partenariat, à savoir les séminaires d’opportunités d’affaires qui se tiennent deux fois par an. Elle a ensuite souligné que l’Africa investment forum – dont la dernière édition a clôturé le 29 novembre et qui a permis d’enregistrer près de 15,3 milliards de dollars d’intérêt d’investissement couvrant 39 projets bancables – est une parfaite opportunité pour les entreprises canadiennes.  

Elle a enfin soulevé des pistes de partenariats, à commencer par le financement de la conception et d’études de faisabilité de projets et encouragé les entreprises à participer aux appels d’offres de programmes que la Banque accompagne. 

Le représentant spécial a adressé une invitation à la Banque, à venir au Canada, afin de présenter ses activités au secteur privé. Les participants à la rencontre ont convenu de la mise en place d’une feuille de route pour poser les bases d’un renouvellement de la relation et afin de travailler ensemble différemment.  

Distribué par APO Group pour African Development Bank Group (AfDB).

Contact médias :
Aissatou Diallo
Département de la communication et des relations extérieures
media@afdb.org 

À propos du Groupe de la Banque africaine de développement :
Groupe de la Banque africaine de développement est la principale institution du financement du développement en Afrique. Il comprend trois entités distinctes : la Banque africaine de développement (BAD), le Fonds africain de développement (FAD) et le Fonds spécial du Nigeria (FSN). Représentée dans 41 pays africains, avec un bureau extérieur au Japon, la Banque contribue au développement économique et au progrès social de ses 54 Etats membres régionaux. Pour plus d’informations: www.AfDB.org

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L’ancien directeur des ressources humaines de Gucci et Loro Piana, Diego Moriondo, est nommé responsable du marketing et de la communication du programme de bénévolat d’APO Group qui soutient l’Église catholique romaines en Afrique

Source: Africa Press Organisation – French

APO Group (www.APO-opa.com), leader panafricain du conseil en communication et de la distribution de communiqués de presse, a le plaisir d’annoncer la nomination de Diego Moriondo en tant que Responsable du Marketing et de la Communication au sein de son programme de bénévolat soutenant l’organe directeur de l’Église catholique en Afrique, le Symposium des Conférences Épiscopales d’Afrique et de Madagascar (SECAM).

Diego Moriondo occupera ce poste essentiel après une carrière distinguée dans les médias et le marketing dans les prestigieuses maisons de mode internationales Gucci et Loro Piana. Son expérience stratégique de haut niveau jouera un rôle déterminant dans la professionnalisation et l’élargissement de la portée du message de l’Église catholique romaine à travers le continent africain.

Dans sa fonction de Responsable du Marketing et de la Communication pour le programme de bénévolat d’APO Group, Diego Moriondo sera chargé d’aider les équipes du SECAM à conceptualiser, développer et superviser l’ensemble de la stratégie de communication et de marketing de l’Église catholique romaine en Afrique. Sa mission consiste à amplifier la voix du SECAM, à renforcer sa visibilité et à assurer la diffusion cohérente de ses messages à travers les 38 conférences épiscopales nationales et régionales.

« L’ajout de l’expertise de classe mondiale de Diego Moriondo est une étape importante pour notre programme de bénévolat et notre partenariat avec l’organe directeur de l’Église catholique romaine en Afrique », déclare Nicolas Pompigne-Mognard (www.Pompigne-Mognard.com), Fondateur et Président d’APO Group. « L’expérience de Diego dans l’élaboration de récits pour des marques de luxe mondiales telles que Gucci et Loro Piana jouera un rôle central dans l’élaboration d’une stratégie de communication puissante et unifiée qui résonnera fortement auprès de la communauté catholique africaine et d’un public mondial plus large. »

Diego Moriondo exprime son enthousiasme pour relever ce nouveau défi : « Je suis honoré de consacrer mon expérience au soutien de la mission d’APO Group et du travail essentiel du SECAM. L’opportunité d’apporter mes compétences en communications stratégiques pour avoir un impact sur la vie de millions de personnes à travers l’Afrique revêt un sens profond. J’ai hâte de travailler avec toute l’équipe à l’élaboration d’une stratégie intégrée qui permette au SECAM de communiquer efficacement sur l’ensemble du continent ».

L’Église catholique administre 82 235 écoles catholiques en Afrique, qui accueillent 30 629 476 élèves. Son vaste réseau de santé comprend 13 880 établissements tels que des hôpitaux, des cliniques, des dispensaires, des centres de lutte contre la lèpre, des foyers pour personnes âgées et malades chroniques, des centres pour personnes handicapées, des orphelinats, des jardins d’enfants et des centres de conseil matrimonial.

Selon des données récentes du Vatican, il y a 1,39 milliard de catholiques dans le monde, ce qui représente 18% de la population mondiale. Les 236 millions de catholiques d’Afrique représentent déjà 20% de la population catholique mondiale, mais ils constituent également la région du monde qui connaît la croissance la plus rapide. D’ici 2050, la World Christian Database estime que les catholiques africains représenteront 32% de la population catholique mondiale.

Selon le rapport 2022 des Nations unies sur l’état du volontariat dans le monde, on estime à 862,4 millions le nombre de bénévoles dans le monde. S’engager dans le bénévolat offre une occasion unique d’acquérir une expérience pratique, de compléter son profil professionnel et de développer des compétences précieuses grâce à un service utile.

Pour de plus amples renseignements sur le programme de bénévolat d’APO Group en soutien à l’Église catholique romaine en Afrique, veuillez consulter : https://apo-opa.co/48UBkl1

Distribué par APO Group pour APO Group.

Contact presse :
marie@apo-opa.com

À propos d’APO Group : 
Fondé en 2007, APO Group (www.APO-opa.com) est le leader panafricain du conseil en communication et de la distribution de communiqués de presse. Réputés pour notre expertise africaine profondément enracinée et notre perspective globale, nous sommes spécialisés dans l’optimisation de la réputation et de la valeur de la marque des organisations privées et publiques à travers l’Afrique. En tant que partenaire de confiance, notre mission est d’exploiter le pouvoir des médias, en élaborant des stratégies sur mesure qui ont un impact tangible et mesurable en Afrique et au-delà.

Notre engagement en faveur de l’excellence et de l’innovation a été récompensé par des prix prestigieux, notamment un PRovoke Media Global SABRE Award et plusieurs PRovoke Media Africa SABRE Awards. Nous avons été nommés Leading Public Relations Firm Africa et Leading Pan-African Communications Consultancy Africa en 2023, et Best Public Relations and Media Consultancy of the Year South Africa en 2024 et en 2025, lors des World Business Outlook Awards. En 2025, Brands Review Magazine nous a reconnus en tant que Leading Communications Consultancy in Africa pour la seconde année consécutive. Le magazine nous a également nommé Best PR Agency et Leading Press Release Distribution Platform in Africa en 2024. En 2025, nous avons reçu la médaille d’or de la meilleure campagne RP et la médaille de bronze des événements hors catégorie aux Davos Communications Awards.

La clientèle estimée d’APO Group, qui comprend des géants mondiaux tels qu’Emirates, Canon, Nestlé, Western Union, le PNUD, Network International, African Energy Chamber, Mercy Ships, Marriott, Africa’s Business Heroes et Liquid Intelligent Technologies, reflète notre capacité inégalée à évoluer dans l’écosystème médiatique africain complexe. Avec une équipe multiculturelle à travers l’Afrique, nous offrons des perspectives et une portée inégalées à travers le continent. APO Group se consacre à la refonte de la narration sur l’Afrique, à la remise en question des stéréotypes et à la présentation de récits africains inspirants à un public mondial. Notre expertise dans l’élaboration et l’accompagnement de campagnes de relations publiques dans le monde entier nous permet d’amplifier les messages des marques, de renforcer les réputations et d’établir un lien pertinent avec les publics cibles.

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Department welcomes High Court judgement on the publishing NSC results 

Source: Government of South Africa

Department welcomes High Court judgement on the publishing NSC results 

The Department of Basic Education (DBE) has welcomed a high court decision confirming the publication of the National Senior Certificate (NSC) examination results in newspapers and across accredited media platforms, consistent with long-standing national practice.

“The Department of Basic Education welcomes the judgment delivered by the High Court, which confirms that the department is lawfully authorised to publish NSC examination results in newspapers and across accredited media platforms, consistent with long-standing national practice.

“The judgment provides crucial legal clarity for learners, parents, institutions and the media, following recent uncertainty regarding the publication of matric results. In its findings, the Court condoned the department’s late filing of the appeal and proceeded to consider the matter on its merits,” the department said in a statement.

This as the full bench of the Pretoria High Court to set aside the Information Regulator’s Enforcement Notice wherein the regulator sought to block the publication of matric results.

The Enforcement Notice was issued against the DBE on 18 November 2024 following a finding from an assessment of how the department processes the personal information of learners who sit for matriculation exams.

The department said that the court further held that the established method of publishing NSC results does not constitute the processing of personal information as defined in the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA). 

“As such, allegations of infringement of POPIA fall away,” it said.

In addition, the court upheld the department’s appeal, setting aside both the enforcement and infringement notices that had previously been issued. 

“Collectively, these determinations affirm the legality of the department’s long-standing dissemination practices and remove any residual ambiguity surrounding the continued publication of NSC results.

“The department welcomes this clarity, which reinforces a results-access system that has, for decades, provided candidates, families, and post-school institutions with equitable and reliable means of obtaining examination outcomes,” said the department.

The department further reiterated its confidence in the Information Regulator and acknowledges its essential role in safeguarding personal information across the Republic.

The DBE remains committed to working collaboratively with the Regulator to uphold learners’ rights and strengthen digital safety in alignment with POPIA.

Meanwhile, the Information Regulator is studying the court decision.
READ | Regulator studying court decision on publication of matric results

In its statement on Friday, the regulator noted the decision by the full bench. –SAnews.gov.za 
 

Neo

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The price of going home: Christmas boxes and the final return from South Africa to Zimbabwe

Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Saana Hansen, Postdoctoral Researcher in Social and Cultural Anthropology, University of Helsinki

Each December, long-distance buses, minibus taxis and private cars stream northwards from South Africa as Bulawayo, Zimbabwe’s second biggest city, prepares for its annual ritual: the seasonal homecoming of “injiva” – migrants returning for Christmas.

The old industrial city, where businesses have declined and shops and restaurants struggle to survive, fills temporarily with cars with South African number plates and people dressed in trendy clothes signalling urban South African lifestyles. Trailers are loaded with remittances known as “Christmas boxes” containing cooking oil, soap and other groceries. A jumping castle is erected in the park, and popular music merges with laughter in the restaurants.

These are historically rooted signs of achievement and success earned abroad. They are a refashioned form of the festive season of colonial-era injivas: men from the Matabeleland region of Zimbabwe who worked in South African mines and farms, returning home typically once a year with gifts.

Yet, it is common knowledge that this performance is often hard-earned, and injivas – both women and men – struggle to meet these expectations. The real-life migration experiences include economic and legal uncertainties and discrimination in the labour market, low wages and difficulty in sending remittances home.

Amid the festive return lies a quieter and more solemn south-north movement – that of Zimbabwean migrants who have passed away and are taking their final journey home. Contrasting with the festivities surrounding Christmas visits, the coffin-shaped trailers along the A6 highway from the Beitbridge border post to Bulawayo are a reminder that migration’s promise of prosperity comes with risk and loss.

This homecoming, which I studied for my PhD in anthropology and have described in a recent paper, is shaped by bureaucracy, cost and intergenerational care.

The study reveals how a life-sustaining web of care is maintained. It contributes to anthropological discussions on migration, kinship, the state, documentary practices, law and development.

The moral duty and economic headache of return

The migration pattern between Zimbabwe and South Africa has its roots in colonial-era labour migration and has intensified since Zimbabwe’s independence in 1980. In the early 2000s, Zimbabwe’s economic collapse, marked by hyperinflation, political violence and mass unemployment, drove millions to seek economic opportunities and protection in South Africa.

Estimating the number of Zimbabweans in South Africa is difficult due to the largely unregulated nature of this mobility, but figures generally range between one million and three million.

Although deceased migrants, documented or not, can be buried in South African soil, bringing a body home is a vital act in Zimbabwe, as in many other African contexts. It is to restore the deceased to the lineage and to enable the spirit to be mourned and settled so it will protect younger generations. Failing to do so risks spiritual and social disorder. The respectful return in death, like the festive Christmas return of the able-bodied injivas, reinforces ties between generations.

Despite the religious and cultural importance of burial at home, repatriating a body from South Africa poses economic challenges to a family. It’s not only a moral duty but also a financial burden. So, in principle, only those whose death has been unforeseen return in coffins. Those who can will return home before they die to save the cost of repatriation.

Families make extraordinary efforts to make repatriation possible. Relatives collect and borrow money, and reach out to kin across borders. Burial societies mobilise payments from their members to collect the funds for embalming, transportation, paperwork and funerals. These obligations reveal the importance of the ancestral continuity being an economic matter, and sustenance of family welfare continuing after death.

Formal and informal burial societies

Since the 1990s, Bulawayo’s once-thriving industries have largely collapsed, leaving its old mills and factories deserted or refunctioning as spaces for religious congregations, education and garages. Amid these modest ventures, funeral services stand out in the city’s otherwise melancholic landscape.

As Zimbabwe’s economic and political instability pushes many to seek livelihoods in South Africa, the funeral industry has expanded. The Beitbridge border, crossing the Limpopo River between Zimbabwe and South Africa, has long organised the movement of labour and remittances, governing also the return of bodies.

Indeed, funeral parlours and burial societies date back to the colonial era when injured and dead migrants had to be sent home. Today, carrying prosperous names such as Doves, Kings & Queens and African Pride, funeral parlours function as key institutions in managing transnational death.

Besides these licensed funeral services, people belong to informal money pooling societies that mobilise money collectively to cover the cost of death. While some collect steady monthly deposits, others gather money ad hoc during emergencies.

These societies blur boundaries between formal and informal systems. Many “undocumented” migrants, who cannot have bank accounts, participate through friends or relatives with legal status, contributing to pooled funds tracked via mobile communication apps and bank transfer receipts. Societies sustain solidarity networks, and transparent contributions signal both moral and financial responsibility, shaping participants’ social standing.

Bureaucracies of transnational death

Between the death and the burial, numerous legal and bureaucratic steps must be completed, from obtaining death certificates and health clearances to coordinating with South African and Zimbabwean authorities.

Often, identity documents from Zimbabwe need to be collected to prove that the deceased is a Zimbabwean national. When the deceased has not revealed their identity to the South African authorities and remains “undocumented”, or has two legal identities, the disparity needs to be explained in affidavits.

Read more: Migrants in South Africa have access to healthcare: why it’s kicking up a storm

These administrative steps are not simply procedural; they are part of the politics of death. The paperwork that allows a body to move, such as a stamp, a signature, or an affidavit, is both a form of recognition and a reminder of inequality. While some deaths can move across borders with relative ease, others become delayed or trapped in institutional procedures.

Bureaucracy is a space where care, legality and belonging intertwine. State officials may draw not only on formal guidelines but also their cultural logics of care. They are central in navigating the legal and bureaucratic challenges. Immigration officers might be sympathetic and share the cultural understanding of the importance of returning home respectably.

The homecoming of the dead mirrors, in reverse, the December journeys of the living. Both are seasonal movements that bind families across generations, space and time. The same routes that carried migrants south in search of work now carry their bodies northward, accompanied by papers, payments and prayers.

In the end, the bureaucracies that regulate transnational death are not merely state procedures, but central to how families remake connection, dignity and belonging under precarious conditions.

– The price of going home: Christmas boxes and the final return from South Africa to Zimbabwe
– https://theconversation.com/the-price-of-going-home-christmas-boxes-and-the-final-return-from-south-africa-to-zimbabwe-268046

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A próxima década de inclusão: do acesso à aceleração (Por Andris Kan̄eps)

Source: Africa Press Organisation – Portuguese –

Por Andris Kan̄eps, Diretor Executivo – Watu (https://WatuAfrica.com).

Há dez anos, em Mombaça, o nosso trabalho começou com uma pergunta simples mas ambiciosa: O que aconteceria se mais pessoas na economia informal tivessem acesso às ferramentas necessárias para obter um rendimento estável? A resposta, como aprendemos na última década, não é apenas um benefício individual. Trata-se de uma transformação económica.

Atualmente, milhões de pessoas dependem de motociclos, tuk-tuks e smartphones para participarem nas economias digitais e de serviços em rápido crescimento. Estes ativos permitem o transporte de pessoas e bens, facilitam os pagamentos e a logística e ligam os empresários a clientes, fornecedores e oportunidades. No entanto, durante muito tempo, o acesso a esses ativos esteve limitado àqueles que podiam cumprir requisitos rigorosos e formais em matéria de crédito. Estes critérios excluíam a maioria dos trabalhadores.

Durante a última década, a Watu expandiu-se para oito países africanos e dois na América Latina, apoiando mais de 5 milhões de clientes cujos meios de subsistência sustentam o movimento urbano e a circulação económica. O que aprendemos ao trabalhar tão de perto com este setor é que o empreendedorismo nestes mercados raramente é opcional. É assim que as famílias pagam as propinas escolares, constroem casas e apoiam as comunidades. É um trabalho que se baseia não no risco, mas na resiliência.

O percurso não foi simples. A nossa evolução do microfinanciamento para o financiamento da mobilidade e, mais tarde, para a conetividade digital, não foi o resultado de uma estratégia fixa, mas sim de observação e adaptação. Os clientes demonstraram que a posse de um bem gerador de rendimentos, em particular um motociclo, proporcionava um aumento mais forte e imediato dos rendimentos do que um pequeno empréstimo. Mais tarde, quando os smartphones se tornaram infraestruturas essenciais em vez de artigos de luxo, expandimo-nos para o financiamento de dispositivos. Tanto na mobilidade como na conetividade, o princípio continua a ser o mesmo: o acesso às ferramentas certas permite ganhar dinheiro, planear e progredir.

Mas a escala também trouxe lições. A inclusão financeira só tem sentido quando os resultados são positivos e duradouros. Assistimos a choques económicos, volatilidade de rendimentos e transições regulamentares que testaram tanto os nossos clientes como o nosso modelo. Estes momentos obrigaram-nos a reforçar a forma como avaliamos a acessibilidade económica, comunicamos as obrigações e os riscos e apoiamos os clientes durante períodos de dificuldades inesperadas. O crescimento responsável exige rigor e que aprendamos tão rapidamente quanto nos expandimos.

O panorama económico geral também está a mudar. Em África e nos mercados emergentes a nível mundial, três transições estão a redefinir a forma como as pessoas trabalham e se deslocam.

Em primeiro lugar, o setor dos transportes está a ser gradualmente eletrificado. Os veículos elétricos de duas e três rodas oferecem custos de exploração mais baixos, margens mais previsíveis e benefícios ambientais, desde que sejam apoiados por infraestruturas e modelos de financiamento adequados.

Em segundo lugar, os pagamentos estão a tornar-se cada vez mais digitais. Os ecossistemas de dinheiro móvel não se limitam a facilitar as transações. Estão a gerar uma visibilidade económica valiosa e a criar vias de crédito onde antes não existiam.

Em terceiro lugar, o trabalho informal está a ganhar estrutura. Através da tecnologia, das plataformas GIG e da identidade digital, os trabalhadores que antes eram invisíveis para os sistemas financeiros estão a tornar-se legíveis e, por conseguinte, financiáveis.

Estas transições representam uma mudança fundamental na forma como a participação económica funciona. A sua utilização implica um desafio claro: os sistemas têm de acompanhar a velocidade das pessoas que deles dependem.

Olhando para a nossa próxima década, a tónica deve, portanto, passar do alargamento do acesso à aceleração da mobilidade ascendente. Uma mota ou um smartphone já não são o ponto final da inclusão. É o ponto de partida. As questões que agora colocamos a nós próprios são as seguintes: Como é que ajudamos os clientes a passar do seu primeiro ativo para o segundo e, eventualmente, para a expansão do negócio? Como é que utilizamos os dados para os ajudar a antecipar os choques de rendimento antes que eles ocorram? Como colaboramos com os reguladores, fabricantes e parceiros de desenvolvimento para garantir que as novas tecnologias, como a mobilidade elétrica, se traduzem em benefícios económicos reais?

Não se trata de preocupações abstratas. Representam a próxima fronteira da inclusão financeira, onde o acesso é acompanhado de capacidades a longo prazo e onde as oportunidades a curto prazo evoluem para um progresso sustentável.

Em todos os mercados que servimos, vemos indivíduos que são engenhosos e determinados, trabalhando arduamente para melhorar as suas vidas e as dos que os rodeiam. Os seus esforços geram emprego, capacitam os serviços e mantêm as cidades em movimento. A questão agora não é saber se conseguem construir o futuro. A questão é saber se as infraestruturas financeiras, regulamentares e tecnológicas que as rodeiam estarão preparadas para acompanhar o ritmo.

O papel da Watu é ajudar a garantir que a resposta seja afirmativa. À medida que entramos na nossa segunda década, o nosso compromisso é escalar de forma responsável, inovar com ousadia e mantermo-nos intimamente ligados às realidades dos empresários que impulsionam as nossas economias. O seu sucesso não é apenas uma prova de inclusão. É uma prova de aceleração.

Se há uma lição que se destaca das restantes, é a seguinte: quando se dão às pessoas trabalhadoras as ferramentas para criar oportunidades, elas não ficam paradas. Nós também não devemos ficar.

Distribuído pelo Grupo APO para Watu.

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