In mid-March, ES-KO (www.ES-KO.com) marked an important milestone in Congo with the renewal of its catering and housekeeping contract with TotalEnergies EP Congo for an additional five years. Awarded following a full tendering process, the renewal affirms ES-KO’s competitiveness, reliability, and operational excellence.
During the on-site visit, Beatrice Falsetti, ES-KO Operations Manager, and Olivier Guigon, ES-KO Congo General Manager, met with TotalEnergies EP Congo representatives to officially launch this new phase of collaboration. Discussions focused on future priorities, including continuous operational improvement, service quality, and initiatives to further strengthen coordination across sites.
The visit also included a trip offshore to Likouf, one of TotalEnergies EP Congo’s key production sites. Located 75 km off the coast of the Republic of Congo, Likouf is a massive floating production unit (FPU), roughly the size of two football fields and weighing around 80,000 tonnes. Operating 24/7, it is a fully self-contained industrial and living environment.
Likouf is also notable for being the first fully electric FPU, designed to significantly reduce its environmental footprint. Its “all-electric” system provides the power required for operations while minimizing gas combustion, supporting more sustainable offshore production.
Operating in such a remote and high-tech environment presents unique logistical and operational challenges—from complex supply chain coordination to maintaining consistent service standards at sea. Personnel typically live on the platform for rotations of up to one month, making daily life onboard highly structured and repetitive. In this context, ES-KO’s catering and facilities management services play a key role in supporting well-being and morale, bringing comfort, variety, and moments of relief that help break the routine.
Back onshore, ES-KO management gathered at the office to share the news with in-house teams and personally congratulate them on their efforts and contribution to this achievement. The contract renewal has generated strong momentum, reinforcing alignment, confidence, and renewed energy as ES-KO moves forward into this next chapter alongside TotalEnergies EP Congo.
Earlier in February, ES-KO was awarded an HSSE Trophy by TotalEnergies EP Congo in recognition of its strong 2025 performance in health, safety, security, and environmental practices.
Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Narcisse Martial Yèdji, Sociologue politiste et enseignant-chercheur, University d’Abomey-Calavi de Bénin
Benin voters will head to the polls on April 12, 2026 to elect their next president. This election comes at a time when Benin’s political landscape has been profoundly transformed by reforms to the party system and the electoral code. They have created new power balances and deliberately tightened the eligibility requirements for the presidency. Political sociologist Narcisse M. Yèdji spoke with The Conversation Africa on the issue. He explains how these changes have narrowed the range of choices, reshaped power dynamics, and made voter turnout a key factor for the election’s legitimisation.
How have party system reforms in recent years reshaped power dynamics for this presidential election?
Reforming the party system and the electoral code became a central priority. Presented as a way to streamline and professionalise politics, these reforms, in fact, redefined the rules of electoral competition.
The law on political parties revised in 2018 just before the 2019 legislative elections made it much harder for parties to gain legal recognition.
A new requirement demanded wider territorial presence. Previously a party needed 120 founding members spread across municipalities. It jumped to 1,155 covering 77 municipalities in 2018. This led to a sharp drop in the number of legally recognized parties.
On the eve of the 2021 presidential elections, the country had only 14 officially recognized political parties, compared to more than 200 before the reform.
This cleanup largely benefited the two major pro government parties: the Union progressiste (Progressive Union) and the Bloc républicain (Republican Bloc). They absorbed smaller parties through mergers and defections. The opposition was left weakened with only a few remaining parties, including the The Democrats, the main opposition party, lingering on the margins of the two major political blocs.
This reshaping of the party system has created a real power imbalance. It benefits the two-headed bloc supporting the president. Their members have privileged access to the state’s political, administrative, and institutional resources.
Presented as an modernisation of the party system, this reform has nevertheless led to the exclusion of major historic parties and groups— particularly those in the opposition — from political competition.
Today, to run for president (now as a president and vice-president ticket) candidates must secure a minimum number of endorsements from local elected officials and/or MPs. The threshold, initially, set at 10% (16 endorsements) was raised to 15% in 2024, (28 endorsements), making it harder to enter the race.
Since the parties close to the president dominate Parliament and local governments, they control these endorsements and hold the keys to entry. Officially justified as a way to filter out less credible candidates, this mechanism has been criticized for limiting political inclusiveness. The opposition struggles to secure the required endorsements.
Overall these reforms have significantly changed the competition for the presidency. The lopsided two-party system combined with pre-filtering via endorsements has tilted the playing field in favour of the presidential bloc. This has been further strengthened by the defections from influential opposition figures.
To what extent could voter turnout influence the legitimacy and outcome of the election?
The upcoming presidential election comes at a unique socio-political moment given the dynamics observed in Benin since 1990. Traditionally, the end of a term brings redistribution of political power, without necessarily predicting the final outcome.
But today, the electoral game appears more tightly controlled and less open, making the outcome more predictable. With the political field narrowed to two pairs of candidates, and without the participation of the main opposition party, Les Démocrates, the presidential race seems to be perceived by a big chunk of voters as flawed. This perception is likely to influence voters’ attitudes.
Benin’s incumbent president, Patrice Talon, casts his ballot during the presidential election in Cotonou on April 11, 2021. –PIUS UTOMI EKPEI/AFP via Getty Images
Voter turnout becomes a key issue. Turnout dropped to 26.47% for the presdiential election in 2021 and 27.12% for the legislative elections in 2019 compared to 65.92% for the 2015 legislative elections.
A further drop in voter turnout could erode the elected president’s legitimacy, regardless of legal validation. It may spark symbolic forms of protest (expressed through discourse and position, but not collective action like marches or riots).
With such limited real competition, the election’s results are quite predictable. Turnout will serve as an indicator of how much trust citizens still place in their electoral process. This situation could strengthen the incumbent government institutionally. But it may also deepen civic disengagement.
Is voter choice primarily driven by the goverment’s track record?
Talon’s term of office has had mixed reviews. The regime has both critics and supporters. Some observers believe that a large portion of the population views its actions favourably, particularly in economic terms. This suggests that its track record will objectively play a role in the 12 April elections. In this context, it could help to consolidate a loyal electorate, particularly among social groups that have benefited from the reforms or view them favourably.
Those who see Talon’s term as a failure face a harder choice due to lack of real alternatives. Talon’s record exists. It influences some voters. But it does not define the election. The limited political offer, controlled by the outgoing government restricts voter options way before the election.
At the same time, civic disengagement is growing. [Recent data] show declining citizen’s participation. Low turnout becomes a form of political act. It reduces the weight of the government’s track record in the voting decision. This reflects competing logics: institutional constraints that limit choices, plus low turnout driven by distrust.
Ultimately, the outgoing administration’s track appears to be a secondary factor in this election. Interesting, Patrice Talon hinted at this in 2016 during the presidential runoff debate:
What ensures a president’s effective reelection — what guarantees re-election — is not their performance, nor their results. It’s how he controls the key players. How he keeps everyone in line. How he ensures no one is capable of standing up to him, of being a real competitor. When you have no competitor, however bad you may be, you will be re-elected.
What indicators should be watched on election night?
Despite its unique characteristics, turnout will be a key indicator. Turnout in the regional strongholds of candidates and key opposition figures, as well as in strategic urban centers (Cotonou, Porto-Novo, Parakou, Abomey-Calavi) will provide early signs of how the vote is going.
But beyond than the election’s outcome, turnout will mainly reflect the legitimacy of Patrice Talon’s power, his electoral reforms, the current election and the result that will follow.
This may be one of the key factors in understanding how citizens and the political class relate to the next president, and broadly, how they relate to politics itself in the years ahead.
– How reforms under Patrice Talon have reshaped the electoral competition in Benin – https://theconversation.com/how-reforms-under-patrice-talon-have-reshaped-the-electoral-competition-in-benin-280333
À la mi-mars, ES-KO (www.ES-KO.com) a franchi une étape importante en République du Congo avec le renouvellement, pour une durée de cinq ans, de son contrat de restauration et de gestion de base-vie avec TotalEnergies EP Congo. Attribué à l’issue d’un appel d’offres complet, ce renouvellement confirme la compétitivité d’ES-KO, la fiabilité de ses opérations et la solidité de son expertise sur le terrain.
À l’occasion d’une visite sur site, Beatrice Falsetti, Directrice des opérations d’ES-KO, et Olivier Guigon, Directeur général d’ES-KO Congo, ont rencontré les représentants de TotalEnergies EP Congo afin de lancer officiellement cette nouvelle phase de collaboration. Les échanges ont porté sur les priorités à venir, notamment l’amélioration continue des opérations, la qualité de service et le renforcement de la coordination entre les différents sites.
La visite comprenait également un déplacement offshore sur la plateforme Likouf, l’un des principaux sites de production de TotalEnergies EP Congo. Située à 75 km des côtes, cette unité flottante de production (FPU), de la taille de deux terrains de football et pesant environ 80 000 tonnes, fonctionne en continu, 24 heures sur 24. Véritable environnement industriel et de vie autonome, elle illustre la complexité des opérations en mer.
Likouf se distingue également comme la première FPU entièrement électrique, conçue pour réduire significativement son impact environnemental. Son système « tout électrique » permet d’alimenter les opérations tout en limitant la combustion de gaz, contribuant ainsi à une production offshore plus durable.
Évoluer dans un tel environnement, à la fois isolé et hautement technologique, implique des défis logistiques et opérationnels majeurs : coordination complexe des approvisionnements, maintien de standards de service constants en mer, et gestion du quotidien des équipes. Le personnel vit généralement sur la plateforme par rotations pouvant aller jusqu’à un mois, rendant la vie à bord particulièrement structurée et répétitive. Dans ce contexte, les services de restauration et de facility management d’ES-KO jouent un rôle essentiel dans le bien-être et le moral des équipes, en apportant confort, diversité et des instants de détente pour rompre la routine.
De retour à terre, les équipes de direction d’ES-KO se sont réunies au bureau afin de partager cette réussite avec les équipes internes et de les féliciter personnellement pour leur engagement et leur contribution. Ce renouvellement de contrat crée une dynamique positive, renforçant l’alignement, la confiance et l’énergie des équipes, alors qu’ES-KO entame ce nouveau chapitre aux côtés de TotalEnergies EP Congo.
En février dernier, ES-KO s’était déjà vu décerner un trophée HSSE par TotalEnergies EP Congo, en reconnaissance de ses performances 2025 en matière de santé, sécurité, sûreté et environnement.
Steenhuisen hails amendment to citrus export with China
Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen has welcomed the successful amendment of the cold treatment requirements regulating the export of South African citrus to the People’s Republic of China, describing it as a big step forward in expanding trade opportunities and deepening an already strong partnership.
Steenhuisen said the amendment will cement South Africa’s position as the biggest exporter of citrus to China.
In a statement on Friday, the Minister highlighted that the new treatment options are expected to improve export efficiencies, reduce costs for producers and exporters, and ensure that even higher-quality fruit reaches Chinese consumers.
“In practical terms, this will help South African citrus continue to grow its presence in a market that is both dynamic and increasingly important to our agricultural sector,” the Minister said.
China remains one of South Africa’s most valued agricultural trading partners. In 2025, exports of citrus to China and Hong Kong accounted for approximately 11.5 million cartons, representing around 6% of total citrus exports, with clear potential for further growth as demand continues to expand.
Steenhuisen said the latest progress builds on a series of important trade gains, including the recent opening of the Chinese market to South African stone fruit, including apricots, peaches, nectarines, plums and prunes.
Together, he said, these developments reflect a relationship that is not only growing but delivering real opportunities for South African farmers and exporters.
“South Africa places a high value on its relationship with China, which continues to create meaningful opportunities across our agricultural sector. These agreements are the result of trust, respect and sustained cooperation, and they are helping open doors for our producers at a time when diversification has never been more important,” Steenhuisen said.
South Africa firmly supports China’s One China Policy, which recognises the government of the People’s Republic of China as the sole legitimate authority representing China. In practical terms, this provides a stable and trusted foundation for cooperation between our two countries.
“For the agricultural sector, this certainty translates into smoother negotiations on export protocols, faster resolution of phytosanitary issues, and expanded opportunities for South African products to enter and grow in the Chinese market.
“More broadly, it strengthens investor confidence, supports trade growth, and helps unlock logistics and infrastructure partnerships, all of which are critical to driving economic growth, job creation, and long-term food security in South Africa,” the Minister said.
The citrus industry remains a cornerstone of South Africa’s agricultural performance. In 2025, Southern Africa exported approximately 204 million cartons of citrus, with South Africa contributing approximately 193 million cartons. Export earnings exceeded US$2 billion for the first time, reaching an estimated US$2,47 billion.
The sector also supports approximately 140 000 direct jobs at farm and packhouse level, with significantly broader employment across logistics, export services and international distribution.
The continued expansion of citrus exports consequently plays a crucial role in sustaining rural livelihoods and driving inclusive economic growth.
The Minister emphasised that government will continue working closely with industry stakeholders, including the Citrus Growers’ Association of Southern Africa (CGA), to strengthen trade relationships, uphold phytosanitary standards, and support the long-term growth of the sector.
“This is the kind of progress we are working to replicate across the sector – strong partnerships, growing markets, and real opportunities flowing back to farmers and rural communities,” Steenhuisen said. – SAnews.gov.za
Kusile: The dawn of SA’s energy security is breaking
After years of setbacks, South Africa’s energy security and its landscape have finally turned the corner with Eskom’s Kusile Power Station now able to operate at full commercial capacity.
This is the message by President Cyril Ramaphosa, who delivered an address to Eskom workers at the power station on Friday.
The power station is located in the Nkangala District Municipality of Mpumalanga.
The President conducted a working visitto the power station to witness progress made in restoring South Africa’s energy security and later, following a tour of the facility, delivered remarks to the Eskom workforce and leadership.
In September last year, the power station’s Unit 6 reached commercial operation, adding some 800MW to the grid.
“It is a pleasure to be here to bear witness to the great strides Eskom has made towards restoring our country’s energy security.
“Kusile means ‘the dawn has come’, which speaks directly to this moment in our national journey. Kusile’s performance benchmarks are impressive. It is now one of the most reliable stations in the Eskom fleet, achieving an average Energy Availability Factor of 74%, increasing to 90% on occasion,” the President said in his written remarks.
The commercial operation of Kusile Unit 6 marked the end to the power utility’s Build Programme, which included the Medupi Power Station in Limpopo.
When at full operational capacity, the two power stations together generate some 9 600MW for the national grid.
The President described the massive power stations – designed to be among the biggest in Africa and the world – as the “backbone of South Africa’s energy supply”.
“When operating at full capacity, these two stations are capable of delivering 9 600 megawatts. Both of these stations are designed for an operational lifespan of 50 years and will remain key to South Africa’s electricity supply for many years to come.
“What has been achieved here at Kusile – and indeed across all Eskom’s power stations – is a testament to discipline, consistency and resilience,” President Ramaphosa said on Friday.
Light at the end of the tunnel
President Ramaphosa noted that when the Energy Action Plan was announced in 2022, South Africa was facing severe load shedding, which “disrupted peoples’ lives, constrained economic growth, and eroded business and investor confidence”.
However, today, the tide has turned, with South Africa on the cusp of reaching 365 days of no load shedding.
The Energy Availability Factor has also increased to 65%, some 4% higher than it was at the same time last year – further greasing the wheels that turn the economy.
“South Africa’s improved energy supply is a welcome relief for millions of households and businesses across the country.
“It is also part of a wider economic recovery that is bringing renewed confidence to investors, and part of our broader goal of achieving higher, inclusive growth that creates jobs.
“This restored capacity is now being put to productive use, supporting industry and safeguarding jobs,” President Ramaphosa stated.
He acknowledged that the road to completing Kusile has been a “difficult journey”.
“Kusile has been plagued by challenges nearly throughout the project lifespan, including overruns, massive cost escalations, technical problems and issues with contractor performance.
“The State Capture Commission uncovered widescale corruption and looting at Kusile that nearly brought Eskom to financial ruin.
“I wish to acknowledge Eskom’s leadership for supporting the efforts of our law enforcement authorities to recover stolen money and hold those found guilty accountable,” he noted.
President Ramaphosa assured, however, that the country has learned from the lessons of that period.
“This experience has sharpened our resolve to ensure that projects of this scale adhere to the highest standards of governance, due diligence, proper financial controls and accountability,” he said.
He called on the leadership of the power utility and its workers to ensure that “power stations and all our strategic assets are managed with integrity and foresight, so that they may serve the country”, as reforms start to bear fruit and the economy begins to grow.
“Energy security is vital to the security and well-being of our nation. It underpins economic growth, job creation and social stability. It shapes the prospects of families and communities across our country.
“That is why we are in the process of the most fundamental reform of our electricity sector in more than a century, which will modernise our energy system, enable significant new investment and lower the cost of electricity for all South Africans,” President Ramaphosa said. – SAnews.gov.za
Private sector urged to play active role in addressing water challenges
The private sector has been urged to play a more coordinated and active role in addressing South Africa’s water challenges, with the Strategic Water Partnership Network (SWPN) calling for greater mobilisation of business in support of water and sanitation reforms.
Delivering a message on behalf of the private sector during a national ministerial webinar on Friday, Professor Mike Muller of Wits University said while large water users are already involved through the Strategic Water Partnership Network, a far broader range of businesses depend on reliable water services and must be drawn into the reform process.
“It is very important for us to mobilise and organise the private sector more effectively,” Muller said, noting that water security is critical not only for industry, but also for the communities that businesses serve.
Muller said SWPN, despite being a relatively small organisation with limited resources, has prioritised key areas from the 2025 Water and Sanitation Indaba resolutions where it can have the greatest impact. These include improving delivery and implementation models, strengthening technical and operational capacity, and building partnerships to support water-sensitive and resilient communities.
While acknowledging the importance of investment, financing and efforts to combat corruption, he said the network has chosen to focus its efforts where it can drive practical outcomes.
“We need to be focused to be effective,” he said.
Muller noted that an institutional framework for water governance is already taking shape, including the establishment of catchment management agencies. He said businesses should be encouraged to engage more actively with these structures to address local water challenges, although many companies still require guidance on where and how to participate.
He added that SWPN’s water stewardship initiatives will play a role in facilitating this engagement, particularly for large national companies operating across multiple regions.
In the water services space, Muller highlighted the importance of utility reform models and pointed to existing partnerships in metros such as eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality and Gauteng, where collaborative platforms for water security have already been established.
He said a key priority for SWPN is to extend similar support to smaller and more dispersed municipalities, where capacity constraints are often most severe.
“We need to find ways to extend that kind of support to other municipalities and levels of local government,” Muller said.
On technical capacity, Muller said SWPN would build on its work over the past decade in reducing non-revenue water, noting that such programmes are now widely adopted across municipalities. However, he stressed the need to ensure that these gains are sustained through systemic reforms and improved long-term management.
“We must ensure that the progress we make is embedded in broader systems of water services management,” he said.
Muller also underscored the importance of partnerships at community level, encouraging businesses to work alongside municipalities, civil society and local stakeholders to address specific water and sanitation challenges.
“There are lessons from existing models that can be built on, but the key is to mobilise and scale up business participation,” he said.
He emphasised that stronger collaboration between government, the private sector, civil society and research institutions is essential to achieving the objectives of the Indaba resolutions.
“The core purpose of SWPN is to strengthen meaningful collaboration between the private sector and government in addressing water challenges,” Muller said.
Looking ahead, he said SWPN aims to expand its network of partners and improve coordination within the private sector to ensure greater impact.
“We believe we can achieve more coherence and more impact through a more organised and collaborative private sector response,” he said. – SAnews.gov.za
SALGA supports reforms to improve service delivery
The South African Local Government Association (SALGA) remains committed to supporting reforms aimed at improving water and sanitation service delivery.
This is according to SALGA National Executive Committee (NEC) member, Nikiwe Num, who delivered a message of support during a National Ministerial Webinar held on Friday, to track progress on the implementation of the 2025 Water and Sanitation Indaba resolutions.
Num said SALGA supports key focus areas identified at the Indaba, including improving delivery models, strengthening financial viability, building technical capacity, fostering partnerships, and addressing criminality and corruption in the sector.
She emphasised that while municipalities are ready to transition from commitment to delivery, implementation must remain aligned with constitutional and legislative frameworks, noting that local government is constitutionally mandated as water services authorities and directly accountable to communities.
Num stressed the importance of strengthening intergovernmental relations, saying sustained political engagement and coordination across all spheres of government are critical to resolving water and sanitation challenges.
In the absence of sufficient coordination mechanisms, SALGA has initiated internal processes to support municipalities, including developing guidance frameworks that highlight risks and outline available support.
She said ongoing engagements with municipalities have revealed concerns about the pace and approach to implementing some resolutions, including tight timelines, limited consultation, and perceptions of compliance-driven implementation.
“These concerns are particularly acute in municipalities already facing financial constraints, ageing infrastructure, skills shortages and high levels of non-revenue water,” she said.
Num noted that persistent water service challenges are often rooted in structural issues such as under investment in infrastructure, operational constraints, and external pressures, including energy instability and climate-related impacts, rather than simply non-compliance.
She called for a more coordinated and supportive approach to reform, underpinned by flexibility and differentiation to accommodate the varying conditions of municipalities.
“A one-size-fits-all approach will not work. Reforms must respond to the diverse realities across municipalities,” she said.
SALGA reaffirmed key guiding principles for implementation, including the need for regulatory requirements to be matched with adequate support, the prioritisation of financial sustainability, and the strengthening of cooperative governance through established intergovernmental platforms.
Num reaffirmed SALGA’s committed to providing legal, fiscal, governance and technical advisory support to municipalities, with a focus on improving service delivery, strengthening institutional capacity and ensuring long-term sustainability.
She called for continued alignment between reform initiatives and municipal planning cycles, as well as sustained collaboration with the Department of Water and Sanitation, development partners and the private sector.
“SALGA remains committed to working constructively with national and provincial partners to improve water and sanitation outcomes for all communities,” she said.
Support for regulatory reforms
African Water and Sanitation Industry Association Chairperson, Ramateu Monyokolo, also expressed support for ongoing reforms in the sector.
Monyokolo said there was a need to advance regulatory reforms, including the establishment of an independent water regulator, and to continue efforts to professionalise the sector.
He noted that AWSISA will further assess progress on the implementation of water sector resolutions at its upcoming conference later this year, while continuing to engage global partners to support South Africa’s commitments to sustainable development and water security.
“We support all programmes aimed at stabilising the sector and ensuring water security in the country,” Monyokolo said. – SAnews.gov.za
While the action on the court reached fever pitch, the sidelines of the Kalahari Conference proved that the Basketball Africa League (BAL) (www.BAL.NBA.com) is far more than a sports league—it is one of the continent’s most anticipated cultural event. Over the past ten days, Pretoria transformed into the ultimate cultural crossroads, attracting a “who’s who” of African entertainment, fashion, and business.
A Historic East African Takeover
History was made as Tanzania’s first-ever participating team, Dar City, led by Captain and NBA veteran Hasheem Thabeet, took to the court. The support from Dar es Salaam was bolstered by a high-profile delegation, including Club President Mussa Mzenji, Bongo Flava superstar Harmonize, and visionary businessman Sallam SK. Their presence brought an unmistakable East African energy to the SunBet Arena, reinforcing the BAL’s role as a unifying force for Africa’s creative and sporting industries.
Adding to the prestige, BAL Champion and hitmaker Bien-Aimé Baraza joined the final weekend of competition. With his latest hit “Finale” currently dominating charts as the #1 song in South and East Africa, his presence underscored the league’s deep connection to the pulse of African music.
A “Triple-Double” of Star Power
The entertainment lineup kept the SunBet Arena electrified throughout the conference:
The Amapiano & Rap Elite: A non-stop rotation of South Africa’s hottest artists—including Nasty C, Young Stunna, Usimamane, Scott Maphuma, Ciza, Toss, and Kamo Mpela—quite literally tore the arena to pieces with high-octane performances.
The Global Sound: International tastemaker Smallgod was joined by Uncle Vinny, Uncle Cool, and Harmonize, turning the arena into a pan-African celebration of sound.
The Pretoria Takeover: Local heroes EEQue and Ch’cco brought the house down on the final game day, concluding ten days of basketball celebration with a definitive hometown anthem.
Courtside Glamour: The “Place to Be”
The Kalahari Conference was officially the season’s most coveted invite, featuring a rotating guest list of influential figures:
Icons of Screen & Style: Nomzamo Mbatha, Pearl Thusi (attending with daughter Thando Mokoena), Ama Qamata, Natasha Thahane, Hope Mbhele, Cedric Fourie, Kwenzo Ngocobo, and Kim Jayde.
Media & Digital Royalty: Tbo Touch, DJ Speedsta, Sinaye Kotobe, Robert Marawa, Thando Thabethe, Duma Ntando, Unarine Ramban, Primo Baloyi, Sally “6Lingg” Lin, Celeste Ntuli, Siv and Bruce.
The New Wave: Robot Boii (a staple throughout the conference), Liema Phatsi, Annie Mtembu, Juicy Jay, and Qhawe Mazaleni.
Football Royalty: Kaizer Chiefs executive Jessica Motaung, Linda Mntambo, Ramahlwe Mphahlele, Lebohang Maboe and Fortune Makaringe.
Love & Basketball: Power couples Tino Chinyani & Simphiwe Ngema, along with Prince Grootboom & Rorisang Mohapi Grootboom, brought a touch of romance to the front row.
Setting the Benchmark
From “Tunnel Walks” showcasing player fashion to the star-studded front rows, the Kalahari Conference has set a new benchmark for how sports drive the lifestyle conversation in Africa. As the league prepares for the Sahara Conference in Rabat and the highly anticipated Finals in Kigali, the message remains clear: the BAL is the continent’s most vibrant lifestyle platform.
– on behalf of Basketball Africa League (BAL).
Download Media Assets here: https://apo-opa.co/3O6lBsN. Media Assets include: Red carpet arrivals, Bien-Aimé & Harmonize, Tanzanian Supporters and high-energy red carpet images of celebrities who attended the event.
Africa Sports Unified (ASU) (https://ASUnified.com/), le principal hub panafricain dédié au business du sport, annonce le lancement de l’Africa Sports Deals Tracker, un nouveau produit d’intelligence de données conçu pour apporter davantage de visibilité, de structure et de clarté aux activités commerciales dans le secteur du sport en Afrique.
Alors que les investissements, les partenariats et les activités commerciales continuent de croître à travers le continent, la visibilité du marché reste limitée. Les transactions sont souvent fragmentées selon les régions, sous-documentées et difficiles à comparer, ce qui complique la prise de décisions stratégiques éclairées.
L’ASU Deals Tracker répond à ce besoin en proposant une base de données structurée et continuellement mise à jour des transactions sportives en Afrique. Couvrant les partenariats de sponsoring, les droits médias, les investissements, les infrastructures et les partenariats stratégiques, la plateforme permet aux parties prenantes de suivre l’activité du marché, d’identifier les tendances et de comparer les opportunités selon les régions et les secteurs.
« Le marché du sport en Afrique évolue rapidement, mais l’accès à des données structurées et fiables reste une contrainte majeure », déclare Gabriel Ajala, Fondateur d’Africa Sports Unified. « Le Deals Tracker a été conçu pour offrir aux décideurs la clarté nécessaire — non seulement pour comprendre les dynamiques du marché, mais aussi pour agir avec confiance. »
Principales caractéristiques de l’Africa Sports Deals Tracker :
Couverture panafricaine : suivi des activités commerciales à travers plusieurs régions et marchés du continent
Données structurées sur les transactions : incluant le type de transaction, la valeur (lorsqu’elle est disponible), la durée, le secteur concerné et les parties impliquées
Sources vérifiées : fondées sur une validation multi-sources crédible pour garantir l’exactitude des informations
Mises à jour continues : actualisation régulière pour refléter les évolutions du marché
Le Deals Tracker s’adresse à un large éventail d’acteurs, notamment les gouvernements, les détenteurs de droits, les investisseurs, les sponsors et les organisations intergouvernementales souhaitant mieux comprendre et s’engager dans l’économie du sport en Afrique.
En consolidant des données fragmentées au sein d’une plateforme unique et structurée, ASU vise à améliorer la transparence du marché, à soutenir une prise de décision plus éclairée et à contribuer au développement d’un écosystème sportif panafricain plus unifié.
À propos d’Africa Sports Unified :
Africa Sports Unified est le principal hub panafricain dédié au business du sport, visant à connecter l’intelligence, le capital et les décideurs qui façonnent l’économie du sport en Afrique. Grâce à des analyses fondées sur les données, des services de conseil stratégique et des initiatives de mise en relation, ASU accompagne les acteurs dans la croissance, l’investissement et l’innovation à travers le continent.
A Africa Sports Unified (ASU) (https://ASUnified.com/), o principal hub pan-africano de negócios do desporto, anuncia o lançamento do Africa Sports Deals Tracker, um novo produto de inteligência de dados desenvolvido para trazer maior visibilidade, estrutura e clareza às atividades comerciais no mercado desportivo africano.
À medida que o investimento, as parcerias e a atividade comercial continuam a crescer em todo o continente, a visibilidade do mercado ainda é limitada. Os negócios estão frequentemente fragmentados entre regiões, subnoticiados e difíceis de comparar, dificultando a tomada de decisões estratégicas informadas.
O ASU Deals Tracker responde a este desafio ao disponibilizar uma base de dados estruturada e continuamente atualizada de negócios no setor desportivo africano. Abrangendo patrocínios, direitos de transmissão, investimentos, infraestruturas e parcerias estratégicas, a plataforma permite que os stakeholders acompanhem a atividade do mercado, identifiquem tendências e comparem oportunidades entre regiões e setores.
“O mercado desportivo africano está a evoluir rapidamente, mas o acesso a dados estruturados e fiáveis continua a ser um grande desafio”, afirmou Gabriel Ajala, Fundador da Africa Sports Unified. “O Deals Tracker foi concebido para dar aos decisores a clareza necessária — não apenas para compreender o que está a acontecer, mas para agir com confiança.”
Principais funcionalidades do Africa Sports Deals Tracker:
Cobertura pan-africana: acompanhamento da atividade comercial em várias regiões e mercados do continente
Dados estruturados dos negócios: incluindo tipo de negócio, valor (quando disponível), duração, setor e partes envolvidas
Fontes verificadas: baseadas em validação credível de múltiplas fontes para garantir precisão
Atualizações contínuas: atualizações regulares para refletir os desenvolvimentos mais recentes do mercado
O Deals Tracker foi desenvolvido para um amplo conjunto de stakeholders, incluindo governos, detentores de direitos, investidores, patrocinadores e organizações intergovernamentais que procuram compreender melhor e atuar no mercado desportivo africano.
Ao consolidar informações fragmentadas numa única plataforma estruturada, a ASU pretende apoiar uma tomada de decisão mais informada, melhorar a transparência do mercado e contribuir para o desenvolvimento de um ecossistema desportivo pan-africano mais integrado.
Para aceder ao Africa Sports Deals Tracker, visite: https://apo-opa.co/4bYVcGs
Distribuído pelo Grupo APO para Africa Sports Unified.
Contacto para a imprensa:
Email: info@asunified.com
Website: https://ASUnified.com/
Sobre a Africa Sports Unified:
A Africa Sports Unified é o principal hub pan-africano de negócios do desporto, focado em unir inteligência, capital e decisores que moldam a economia do desporto em África. Através de insights baseados em dados, consultoria estratégica e iniciativas de ligação entre stakeholders, a ASU apoia o crescimento, o investimento e a inovação em todo o continente.
