Verdant IMAP acts as financial advisor and arranger to Heath Goldfields on its USD 65 million debt financing and offtake

Source: APO

Verdant IMAP (www.Verdant-Cap.com) has advised Heath Goldfields Ltd., the Ghanaian- mining company revitalising the historic Bogoso–Prestea Gold Mine, on a USD 65 million debt financing and associated offtake arrangements. The debt financing shall be used for capex related to the company’s medium term mine plan following an initial restart in December 2024 and for general corporate purposes.

Under the terms of the agreement, in addition to providing the substantial debt financing, Trafigura has committed to purchase 700,000 ounces of gold from the Bogoso–Prestea operation, representing a commercial commitment valued at approximately US$2.8 billion. The offtake arrangement secures a long-term sales channel for Heath Goldfields’ production at competitive market-linked terms and provides revenue certainty as the company scales output from the mine. 

The agreement represents one of the most significant gold offtake commitments in West Africa in recent years and marks a major milestone in the Bogoso–Prestea revival programme. It signals Trafigura’s confidence in Heath Goldfields’ operational capacity and the long-term prospectivity of a well resourced asset compliant with SK-1300 standards.

The offtake agreement provides for the purchase of gold doré produced at the Bogoso–Prestea processing facility Deliveries will commence in line with the company’s production schedule. The agreement has been structured at competitive industry terms benchmarked to prevailing international gold prices.

For Trafigura, the agreement deepens its presence in West African precious metals and aligns with the firm’s broader strategy of securing long-term supply from established mining jurisdictions. Ghana remains Africa’s leading gold producer and offers a mature regulatory framework, stable fiscal environment, and strong government partnership.

This transaction was structured and arranged by Verdant IMAP, acting as exclusive financial advisor to Heath Goldfields. The transaction reinforces Verdant IMAP as one of the leading financial advisors in the African capital market, with the capacity to structure and arrange transactions with Tier 1 global counterparties.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Verdant Capital.

Media enquiries:
Verdant IMAP
Orient Mahonisi
T: +27 10 140 3700
E: orient.mahonisi@verdant-cap.com

About the Bogoso–Prestea Gold Mine:
The Bogoso–Prestea Gold Mine is one of West Africa’s most historically significant mining operations, having produced more than 9 million ounces of gold since 1912. Located in the Prestea Huni-Valley district of Ghana’s Western Region, the operation features a 1.5 million tonne per annum CIL processing plant, sulphide processing infrastructure, grid power access, and established road networks.

Heath Goldfields completed the first gold pour at Bogoso–Prestea in February 2026, marking the restart of production following a 24-month shutdown. Within just three months of commencing production, the company exceeded its capital raise milestones, reinforcing the strength of its operational and financial strategy. The revival has created over 1,400 direct and indirect jobs and engaged more than 15 local contracting firms.

About Heath Goldfields Ltd.:
Heath Goldfields Ltd. is a proudly Ghanaian-owned gold mining company focused on the responsible redevelopment of the Bogoso–Prestea Gold Mine. With deep technical expertise and a commitment to sustainable, community-centred operations, the company is repositioning the asset as a modern, globally competitive mining operation. Heath Goldfields combines indigenous ownership, local workforce development, and Ghanaian entrepreneurship with international best practices in safety, environmental compliance, and stakeholder engagement.

About Trafigura Pte Ltd:
Trafigura is one of the world’s largest independent commodity trading companies. The company trades in metals and minerals, oil and petroleum products, gas, power, and renewable energy, connecting producers and consumers across the globe. Trafigura has an established track record of long-term offtake partnerships with mining producers across Africa and internationally.

About Verdant IMAP:
Verdant IMAP is a leading pan-African investment bank specialising in mergers and acquisitions (M&A) and private capital markets. Combining international investment banking experience with a deep understanding of local markets, Verdant IMAP helps clients access global capital and strategic partnerships to drive growth and transformation across the continent. Verdant IMAP has extensive experience in the Metals & Mining sector in Africa.  Verdant IMAP is the IMAP partner firm for its region. IMAP, established in 1973, is a global M&A partnership with over 600 professionals across 51 countries and completing around 300 transactions per year is consistently ranked among the top 5 advisors worldwide for mid-market transactions. www.Verdant-Cap.com

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Amini, Foxconn and Bull Join Forces to Advance Sovereign Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the Global South

Source: APO

Amini (https://www.Amini.ai/), a sovereign AI infrastructure company, today announced a strategic partnership alongside Hon Hai Technology Group (Foxconn), the world’s largest electronics manufacturer, and Bull, a global leader in high-performance computing, artificial intelligence and quantum computing, to close the sovereign compute gap across Africa and the Global South, giving governments, telecom operators, financial institutions, and energy companies direct access to industrial-grade AI data centre infrastructure they can acquire, install, and operate locally. The partnership marks Foxconn’s first dedicated infrastructure initiative focused on African markets and establishes Amini as its strategic partner across Africa and other emerging economies.

Amini operates one of Africa’s leading platforms for locally anchored compute and data capacity, working across multiple markets with governments and enterprises to strengthen domestic AI infrastructure.

Foxconn is the world’s largest AI server provider with its technology-intensive hardware underpinning the global AI economy, including advanced computing systems, server architecture, and modular data centre technologies used by the world’s leading firms. Through the partnership, these systems are made accessible to African and Global South institutions in configurations designed for local operating conditions and regulatory environments.

The partnership is supported by French-government owned Bull as it  builds on its existing collaboration with Amini to support sovereign AI infrastructure projects. Committed to fostering local ecosystems and regionalized AI, Bull brings additional systems integration capabilities with a longstanding experience covering the full spectrum of high-performance and artificial intelligence, from systems and components to platforms and use cases.  

The announcement was made at the Africa Forward Summit, hosted in Nairobi on 11–12 May 2026, a high-level convening of heads of state, business leaders, and global institutions advancing Africa’s strategic position in the digital economy.

Speaking at the opening of the Africa Forward Summit on Monday 11 May, Emmanuel Macron, President of the Republic of France, said: “[…] this partnership between Amini, Bull and Foxconn for me is a perfect example of this common sovereignty story: African, European and Taiwanese companies. All of us have to face this challenge of sovereignty and reducing our dependencies.”

The market opportunity

The partnership arrives at a defining moment for the global digital economy. Africa’s digital economy is projected to reach USD 1.5 trillion by 2030. Across the Global South, the trillion-dollar demand for AI-enabled services in finance, energy, public administration, and connectivity is materialising faster than the sovereign infrastructure required to serve it. Without locally anchored compute, that demand will be met by external providers, and the economic value it generates will flow outward.

Africa’s data centre market is projected to nearly double from USD 3.49 billion in 2024 to USD 6.81 billion by 2030, with installed capacity expected to triple to more than 3,460 megawatts over the same period. The continent’s AI and cloud infrastructure remains concentrated in the hands of a small number of operators. The Amini-Foxconn-Bull partnership signals a shift toward locally anchored, sovereign-aligned AI infrastructure and compute capacity built for African and Global South markets.

The downstream implications are substantial. Locally anchored compute creates skilled employment, strengthens regional technology ecosystems, and retains economic value within domestic markets. Industry estimates place Africa’s AI and data infrastructure value chain at between USD 20 billion and USD 30 billion in revenue by 2030, a figure that compounds significantly when paired with productivity gains across finance, energy, public services, and trade.

Built for African realities: why modular

Traditional hyperscale data centres depend on stable grids, multi-year construction timelines, and capital expenditure profiles that exclude most African and Global South stakeholders.

The modular AI data centre infrastructure provided through the Amini-Foxconn-Bull partnership is engineered for these realities. Systems operate in variable power environments, can be deployed in under 12 months, and scale incrementally with offtake demand. Institutions acquire the capacity they require today and expand over time, in line with usage, and without the cost structure and timeline complexity of conventional builds. Each configuration is designed for full data sovereignty, with data remaining in-country under domestic regulation.

Sovereign capability across the sectors driving African economies

The partnership opens sovereign AI infrastructure to the institutions that anchor national economic activity. Energy and utilities can apply AI to grid optimisation and predictive maintenance. Banks and financial institutions can build risk, credit, and financial inclusion systems independent of external platform dependencies. Telecom operators can run edge AI and network intelligence at scale. In each case, the underlying capability, compute, data, and governance, remains domestically held.

For Amini, the partnership is a structural step toward redistributing how AI capability is built and held globally. “AI is becoming foundational infrastructure for every economy, yet most of the world still lacks the compute capacity required to participate on its own terms,” said Kate Kallot, Founder and CEO of Amini. “This partnership ensures that Africa and the Global South can acquire, own, and operate AI infrastructure locally, with sovereignty and long-term economic value at its core. The trillion-dollar demand for AI services across our markets will be met. The question is whether the infrastructure beneath it is held with us, or for us.”

For Foxconn, the initiative reflects a deliberate expansion into markets where industrial-scale AI infrastructure has historically been absent. “Africa’s participation in the AI economy depends on infrastructure designed for its conditions, not adapted from elsewhere,” said Jesse Chao, Head of AI & Quantum at Foxconn, during the Africa Forward Summit. “This partnership brings Foxconn’s global capabilities into a market model built for sovereign ownership and long-term operational viability.”

For Bull, the collaboration extends a longstanding commitment to sovereign digital capacity in emerging markets. “Africa and more generally the Global South have the potential to emerge as a global-scale AI hub, by continuing to build regional computing capacity and supply chain independence. Bull is proud, through its partnership with Amini and Foxconn, to be a part of this journey, to develop a sovereign AI infrastructure.” said Alexandre Jouys, Chief Commercial Officer and Head of Southern Europe, Middle East and Africa, at Bull. “Our joint solution with Amini reflects a shared conviction that durable digital capacity must be built with the institutions it serves, not delivered to them.”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Amini.

Media Contacts:
Media Relations at Amini  
press@amini.ai

Media Relations at Bull  
communication@bull.com

Media Relations at Foxconn
media@foxconn.com

About Amini:
Amini is a sovereign AI infrastructure company enabling locally anchored compute, data, and AI capacity across Africa and the Global South. The company partners with governments, multilateral institutions, and enterprises to bring infrastructure within reach of the regulatory, operational, and economic conditions of emerging markets. Learn more: https://www.Amini.ai/.

About Bull:
Leveraging nearly a century of innovations, Bull is a global leader for High-Performance Computing, Artificial Intelligence and Quantum technologies with c.720m€ in revenue and 3,000 professionals operating in 32 countries. Built on an open, end-to-end and trusted approach, Bull designs, deploys and operates hardware, software and strategic services that unlock enterprise value, accelerate scientific research and advance society. Driven by world-class R&D, backed by 1,600 patents, manufacturing excellence and data sciences expertise, Bull enables nations and industries to fully control their AI and data and to drive progress for the benefit of the planet.

For more information, please visit our website (https://apo-opa.co/3R6ABIa) and follow us on Instagram (https://apo-opa.co/48RlyIv), LinkedIn (https://apo-opa.co/3PjAwjU), X (https://apo-opa.co/4wvZD3R), and YouTube (https://apo-opa.co/42q38uP).

About Foxconn:
Hon Hai Technology Group (Foxconn) (TWSE:2317) is the world’s largest electronics manufacturer and leading technology solutions provider, ranking 28th in Fortune Global 500. In 2025, revenue totaled TWD8.1 trillion (approx. USD260 billion). The Group’s market share in electronics manufacturing services (EMS) exceeds 40% and covers four major product segments: smart consumer electronics; cloud and networking; computing; and components and other. Operating over 240 campuses across 24 countries, Foxconn is one of the world’s largest employers with approx. 900,000 employees during peak manufacturing season. We are committed to sustainability in the manufacturing process and serving as a best-practice model for global enterprises. The Group is guided by its 3+3+3 strategy, actively investing in industries of electric vehicles, digital health, and robotics; in technologies of artificial intelligence, semiconductors and next-generation communications; in intelligent platforms of Smart Manufacturing, Smart EV and Smart City. Foxconn is dedicated to becoming a comprehensive, world-class enterprise, with AI as its core driving force. Learn more at www.Foxconn.com/en-us.

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Africa Faces Growing Blind Spot in Financial Control as Information Technology (IT) Asset Visibility Gap Widens

Source: APO


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As organisations across Africa intensify their focus on financial discipline, cost optimisation, and governance, a critical vulnerability is becoming increasingly apparent: the lack of accurate, real-time visibility into IT assets such as laptops, desktops, and distributed computing equipment.

In many African organisations, assets are deployed across cities, regions, and in some cases countries often without a consistent mechanism to verify their status in real time. In environments shaped by distributed operations, varying infrastructure conditions, and increasingly mobile workforces, maintaining an accurate view of assets has become significantly more complex.

At the same time, businesses are under pressure to maximise existing capital, delay unnecessary procurement, and extract greater value from deployed assets. Despite this, many organisations continue to rely on static asset registers and manual tracking processes that fail to reflect operational reality.

The result is a growing disconnect between what is recorded on balance sheets and what actually exists within the business assets that cannot be verified, devices that are unaccounted for, and capital tied up in resources that are not delivering value.

“This is a silent but significant challenge,” said Valene Nagiah, Head of Asset Tracking and Management at V-Track. “Many organisations believe they have asset visibility, but in practice, they are operating on assumptions. In environments where teams are distributed and assets are constantly moving, those assumptions quickly break down.”

Across key African markets in Southern, East, and West Africa, organisations are managing increasingly complex asset environments without the systems required to maintain continuous visibility. As digital transformation accelerates, this gap is becoming more pronounced turning what was once an operational issue into a financial and governance priority.

This lack of visibility is increasingly being linked to measurable business impact, including avoidable procurement spend, underutilised assets, audit exposure, and heightened security risk. In environments where assets move between offices, remote locations, and employees, gaps in visibility can quickly translate into both financial loss and operational vulnerability.

In response, organisations are beginning to shift away from periodic audits and spreadsheet-based tracking toward continuous, intelligence-driven asset management.

V-Track, an established asset intelligence platform supporting organisations across African markets, is enabling this shift by moving asset management from static record-keeping to real-time, verifiable control.

The platform allows organisations to:

  • Verify the existence, location, and status of assets in real time
  • Align IT asset data with financial reporting and audit requirements
  • Identify and recover underutilised or unaccounted assets
  • Strengthen governance, compliance, and cybersecurity frameworks
  • Optimise capital allocation through accurate utilisation insights

“What is changing is the expectation of control,” added Valene Nagiah. “IT assets are no longer just operational tools they are financial assets that need to be actively managed. Organisations that can continuously verify and track these assets are able to reduce waste, improve accountability, and make better financial decisions.”

The challenge is particularly pronounced in African operating environments, where organisations often manage assets across multiple regions, remote locations, and decentralised teams. Without continuous visibility, maintaining accurate records and ensuring accountability becomes increasingly difficult.

Combined with rising cybersecurity risks and tighter regulatory scrutiny, this creates a growing imperative for organisations to ensure that every asset is accounted for, secured, and delivering value throughout its lifecycle.

In this context, IT asset visibility is fast becoming a foundational layer of financial and operational control. Organisations that close this gap are better positioned to improve governance, reduce unnecessary expenditure, and strengthen overall business resilience.

“Organisations that cannot see their assets cannot control their costs,” said Nagiah. “Closing that visibility gap is no longer optional it is essential to operating effectively in today’s environment.”

V-Track supports organisations in bridging this gap by providing continuous, accurate insight into asset environments and enabling finance and IT teams to operate with greater alignment, accountability, and control.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of V-Track.

Media Contact:
Valene Nagiah
VNagiah@vtrack.io

About V-Track:
V-Track is an asset intelligence platform that enables organisations to gain real-time visibility and control over their IT assets. Designed for complex and distributed environments, V-Track connects asset data to financial and operational outcomes helping businesses reduce loss, strengthen governance, improve audit readiness, and optimise capital allocation. By transforming asset management into continuous, verifiable control, V-Track supports organisations in managing assets not just as operational tools, but as accountable financial investments.
V-Track Asset Management and Tracking: www.VTrack.io

Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Meets Spanish State Secretary for Foreign and Global Affairs

Source: Government of Qatar

Doha| May 12, 2026

HE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Sultan bin Saad Al Muraikhi met Tuesday with HE State Secretary for Foreign and Global Affairs of the Kingdom of Spain Diego Martinez Belio, who is currently visiting the country.

During the meeting, they reviewed cooperation relations between the two countries and ways to support and develop them.

The two sides also discussed developments in the region, particularly those related to the ceasefire between the United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran, as well as efforts aimed at de-escalation in a manner that contributes to strengthening security and stability in the region, in addition to a number of issues of mutual interest.

Kubayi vows intensified crackdown on corruption, organised crime

Source: Government of South Africa

Kubayi vows intensified crackdown on corruption, organised crime

Justice and Constitutional Development Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi has outlined a strategy to dismantle criminal networks through targeted, integrated, modern interventions and the strengthening of legislation.

Kubayi tabled the department’s Budget Vote in Parliament on Tuesday.

“Organised crime is a criminal ecosystem that links many of the countless criminal acts including extortion, illegal mining, money laundering, gang violence etc. while corruption is a lifeblood of organised crime.

“This means that the justice value chain from investigative agencies through prosecution to our courts have to work together in a coordinated fashion to bring criminals to book,” Kubayi said.

Cooperation between law enforcement is already underway.

“The National Prosecuting Authority [NPA] is already working closely with the SAPS through a special task team that has been established following the interim report of the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry.

“The team aims to accelerate prosecutions regarding corruption and state infiltration by organised criminal elements,” Kubayi said.

Hit them where it hurts

Depriving criminals of ill-gotten gains is also high on the agenda through asset forfeiture driven by the NPA and the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) and results are already exceeding targets.

“In the previous financial year, the NPA’s Asset Forfeiture Unit [AFU] obtained 481 freezing orders against a target of 310, exceeding the target by 55%. In addition, freezing orders to the value of R859.4 million were secured against a target of R700 million, reflecting an overachievement of 23%.

“The [AFU] obtained recoveries to the value of R533 million against a target of R160 million, exceeding the target by 233%. This overachievement is mainly attributable to ongoing recoveries in civil asset forfeiture [C-ADR] matters, carried over from the previous financial year, thus ensuring that persons and entities do not benefit from unlawful activities and corruption,” the minister revealed.

In the same vein, the corruption busting SIU has also scored major victories.

“Two significant settlement agreements, one with Wabtec to the value of R7.9 billion and another with Bombardier valued at R14.3 billion, were made orders of court, declaring both contracts unconstitutional and invalid. The SIU also recovered R600 million for Transnet following the Nedbank interest swap settlement. 

“Key Special Tribunal victories included orders against Easyway valued at R68 million, Buthelezi EMS valued at a R1 billion contract set aside and R532 million declared recoverable, and Halo’s R115 million contract was also declared invalid.

“These outcomes enabled the SIU to intensify recovery efforts, resulting in R609 million in actual cash recovered and R854 million in losses prevented to date,” she added.

The two agencies will be ramping up their efforts to cut off financial flows to criminals this financial year with targets set to collect on what belongs to the state.

“In this financial year, the [AFU] will focus on strengthening asset forfeiture outcomes by targeting freezing orders to the value of R1 billion and recoveries to the value of R350 million. These targets are aimed at enhancing the disruption of criminal enterprises and improving the recovery of proceeds of crime. 

“In this financial year, the SIU plans to intensify its efforts to recover state assets and protect them from maladministration, fraud, and corruption. In this connection, the SIU has set a target of R2 Billion for cash and/or assets recovered through civil and other legal proceedings, R6 Billion for Contracts and/or administrative decisions/ actions set aside or deemed invalid and R1.5 Billion Potential loss prevented.

“This also includes a target of R3 Billion value of matters where evidence was referred for the institution or defence/opposition of civil proceedings,” the minister noted.

Targeted legislation

To bolster the fight against crime and corruption, the department will also be presenting enabling legislations to Parliament.

“As part of the broader protection for Whistleblowers, we released a Bill for public comments with the closing date of the 14th May this year with a view to finalise it within this financial year.

“This Bill aims to provide a clear-cut procedure for a discloser to follow; is pro-active in providing physical protection; preventing retaliation, and exploring mechanisms for incentivised disclosures,” Kubayi said.

Turning to electronic communications services, the minister said these have been abused by criminals to “facilitate serious crimes undetected because of noncompliance”.

“We are at an advanced stage of the amendment of RICA which will lead to enhancement of the value chain on SIM Card registration process, which will be based on biometric verification, as well as passport and immigration status verification for foreign nationals. 

“In the meantime, to put a stop to this non-compliance, I chaired a meeting with the JCPS [Justice, Crime Prevention and Security] colleagues engaging with mobile network operators, and we have agreed that by the end of June they should provide a plan on how they are going to comply with current RICA provisions to address unregistered and illegal sim cards.

“We also took a decision to start implementing enforcement by July this year and none compliance will face a penalty as per RICA,” Kubayi said.

The department also anticipates that it will introduce amendments to the “outdated” Criminal Procedure Act.

“Other amendments include the public protector act to enhance the operations of the office of the public protector, the SIU act to amongst others to empower the SIU to conduct preliminary investigations for the purpose of determining the veracity of the allegation and to receive any allegation and the NPA act to entrench financial and administrative independence.

“Lastly, the amendments to remove the confidentiality clause will be effected, to allow for the publication of the National Register for Sex Offenders,” Kubayi said. – SAnews.gov.za

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Official unemployment rises marginally

Source: Government of South Africa

Official unemployment rises marginally

The official unemployment rate has risen marginally by some 1.3 percentage points from 31.4% in the fourth quarter of 2025 to reach 32.7% in the first quarter of 2026. 

This, according to the Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) released by Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) on Tuesday.

“[There] was a decrease of 345 000 in the number of employed persons to 16.8 million, while there was an increase of 301 000 in the number of unemployed persons to 8.1 million compared with Q4: 2025 results.

“This resulted in a decrease of 44 000 [or -0,2%] in the labour force during the same period,” Stats SA said.

At the same time, the number of people employed in the formal sector decreased by some 189 000 while those in the informal sector also faced a decrease of 127 000 over the same period.

The youth unemployment rate – defined as those between the ages of 15 and 34 – also showed an increase.

“Results for the first quarter of 2026 show that the total number of unemployed youth increased by 181 000 to 4.7 million compared with quarter four of 2025, while employed youth recorded a decrease of 258 000 to 5.6 million.

“As a result, the youth unemployment rate increased by 2.0 percentage points to 45.8% in the first quarter of 2026,” Stats SA said.

There were some upshots with some industries recording increases in employment.

“Increases in industry employment were recorded in Manufacturing [38 000], Mining [32 000] and Agriculture [10 000]. The largest decreases in employment were recorded in Community and social service [206 000], Construction [110 000] and Transport [30 000].

“KwaZulu-Natal [6 000] is the only province that observed an increase in employment. The largest employment decreases were recorded in North West [80 000], Gauteng [67 000], Mpumalanga [54 000], Eastern Cape [43 000] and Limpopo [43 000] during the same period,” Stats SA added.

During the same period, discouraged job-seekers increased by 178 000 to 3.9 million while available job-seekers increased by 55 000 to 910 000.

“Unavailable job-seekers increased by 6 000 to 49 000, resulting in a total net increase of 240 000 to 4.9 million in the potential labour force population [persons who were available but not seeking or unavailable but seeking].

“Those outside the labour force for other reasons decreased by 75 000 to 12.4 million. Persons outside the labour force, which is the total of those in the potential labour force and others outside the labour force, increased by 164 000 to 17.3 million in the first quarter of 2026,” the statistical agency said. – SAnews.gov.za

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eThekwini champions inclusive disaster resilience

Source: Government of South Africa

eThekwini champions inclusive disaster resilience

The eThekwini Municipality has reaffirmed its commitment to building a disaster-resilient and inclusive city as stakeholders gather in Durban for the three-day Inclusivity for All on Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Summit.

The summit, currently underway at Moses Mabhida Stadium, has brought together key stakeholders from municipal structures, provincial and national government, academia, and local communities.

The gathering, which started on Monday, serves as a powerful platform to confront a critical reality: Disasters disproportionately affect vulnerable groups, who continue to carry the heaviest burden.

eThekwini Deputy Mayor Zandile Myeni said the engagement marks a decisive shift from planning in isolation to building more inclusive systems that recognise the unique vulnerabilities within communities.

“The reality is that disasters expose the deepest inequalities in our society. As eThekwini, we are determined to change this narrative by placing people at the centre of our resilience efforts,” Myeni said.

Myeni added that through these engagements, the municipality is strengthening its capacity to protect lives, safeguard infrastructure, and ensure that every resident, especially the most vulnerable, are reached, heard, and supported.

“This is how we build a truly resilient and caring city,” she said.

Participants, including experts and practitioners, stressed that resilience efforts must be inclusive to be effective. Discussions extended beyond policy and focused on the lived experiences of at-risk groups such as women, persons with disabilities, the elderly, and residents of informal settlements, who often face barriers to early warning systems, access to essential services, and emergency support.

Technical Advisor with the GIZ Resilience Initiative Africa, Sophia Kamau, underscored the urgency of inclusive action, noting that true resilience strategies is measured by how effectively cities protect their most vulnerable residents.

“eThekwini is demonstrating real leadership by turning inclusion into action, ensuring that disaster risk reduction is not only effective, but equitable and people-driven,” she said.

Stakeholders also explored practical interventions to ensure that early warning systems reach everyone, enhance service delivery, and ensure disaster planning reflects the real needs of communities.

From gender mainstreaming to disability inclusion, the summit challenged the status quo and called for systems that are not only effective, but fair and just. – SAnews.gov.za

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Public information sessions on PIE Amendment Bill move to KZN

Source: Government of South Africa

Public information sessions on PIE Amendment Bill move to KZN

The Department of Human Settlements will from Wednesday, 13 May 2026, begin public information sessions in KwaZulu-Natal on the proposed Prevention of Illegal Eviction and Unlawful Occupation of Land (PIE) Amendment Bill.

The sessions follow the recent release of the draft legislation for public comment by Human Settlements Minister Thembi Simelane.

Wednesday’s session will be held at the Pietermaritzburg City Hall in the Umsunduzi Local Municipality and Friday’s session will take place at the Chesterville Community Hall in the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality. 

The Bill seeks to repeal the Prevention of Illegal Eviction from and Unlawful Occupation of Land Act of 1998 (PIE Act), which was enacted to prevent arbitrary evictions and address historical injustices where people were removed from land without due process.

According to the department, the proposed amendment to the Act aims to deal with matters related to land invasions and informal settlements, provision of adequate housing to mitigate against illegal occupation of private properties, court processes and enforcement of court orders, and protection of vulnerable groups.

Public consultations are already underway, with the first session having been held in the City of Tshwane on Wednesday, 6 May 2026.

“On Saturday, it will be exactly 30 days since the Minister of Human Settlements released the PIE Amendment Bill for public comments. Over and above public the information sessions, South Africans are encouraged to send their submissions through emails to PIE.AmendmentBill@dhs.gov.za, the department said in a statement.

Further consultation sessions in Gauteng are scheduled to take place in the Cities of Johannesburg and Ekurhuleni on 21 and 22 May 2026. – SAnews.gov.za
 

 

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Qatar Condemns Hijacking of Oil Tanker Carrying Egyptian Sailors

Source: Government of Qatar

Doha | May 12, 2026

The State of Qatar condemns the hijacking of an oil tanker carrying Egyptian sailors from the Yemeni territorial waters, and its diversion toward Somali territorial waters near Puntland region.

The State of Qatar describes the hijacking as a blatant violation of international law and a serious threat to maritime navigation security and international trade routes.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs affirms the State of Qatar’s full solidarity with the sisterly Arab Republic of Egypt and with the families of the sailors, and emphasized the importance of ensuring their safety and security and accelerating the process of their release.

The Ministry also calls for concerted international efforts to ensure the security of maritime navigation and freedom of passage in international waterways, considering it a fundamental pillar of regional and global security and stability. 

President Ramaphosa assures nation on disaster relief efforts

Source: Government of South Africa

President Ramaphosa assures nation on disaster relief efforts

President Cyril Ramaphosa has assured South Africans that government is working closely with communities to address the impact of severe weather conditions that have claimed at least 10 lives across several provinces.

The President expressed deep sadness at the loss of life linked to heavy rainfall, flooding, thunderstorms, damaging winds and snowfall affecting parts of the country.

“The President’s thoughts are with the families, friends and colleagues of the people who have died in events arising from heavy rainfall, flooding, thunderstorms, damaging winds and snowfall,” the Presidency said in a statement on Monday.

Government, through the National Disaster Management Centre, has declared a national state of disaster in response to the loss of life, damage to infrastructure, disruptions to essential services and the displacement of communities.

President Ramaphosa assured the nation that all spheres of government will continue working together to respond to the disaster and support affected communities.

“National, provincial and municipal authorities will work with communities to address the effects of the disaster,” the statement said.

The President also commended individuals, civil society organisations and businesses that have stepped in to assist communities affected by the adverse weather conditions.

President Ramaphosa further praised rescue and recovery teams operating under difficult conditions, noting that severe weather continues to affect rescue and recovery operations, including limiting air operations.

“As winter sets in, we are vulnerable to events which we may be able to forecast but whose actual intensity in specific locations we may not be able to predict.

“We are, however, making the best use of science to pre-empt some of these events and to respond to the aftermath,” President Ramaphosa said.

The President said the National Disaster Management Centre and Cabinet will continue to receive updates on critical weather forecasts and the impact of the disaster.

“The National Disaster Management Centre and Cabinet will be updated on critical forecasts and disastrous impacts and responses will be modified as conditions dictate,” he said. – SAnews.gov.za

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