MIL-OSI – Page 322 – MIL Africa Engine

July 2, 2026

The rhythms that broke Bashir: how Sudan’s music shaped a revolution

Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Cathy Wilcock, Research Fellow, University of Manchester

The revolution in Sudan in 2019 has been eclipsed by the war between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces, which began in April 2023.

But the events of 2019 demand greater attention as they hold lessons for a post-war Sudan.

Music was central to the protests in 2019. The camp outside military headquarters in Khartoum, where demonstrators gathered for weeks to demand civilian rule, became known as Sudan’s largest ever arts festival.

Protesters sing along to one of the biggest anthems of the 2019 sit-in.

My research on resistance movements has led me to believe that music is not only a cosmetic accessory to protests. In Sudan, it was an integral part of the revolutionary movement that ousted the Omar al-Bashir regime. For decades, music helped cultivate anti-government sentiment and forge the networks and communities that would sustain the revolution in 2019.

I’ve explored this idea in a recent paper, drawing on interviews with protesters and musicians.

Sudanese music and resistance

Music in Sudan has historically been intertwined with popular resistance. First against colonial rulers and then – following independence in 1956 – against post-colonial despots. The patriotic anthems of the 60s and 70s expressed the sentiment that Sudan was being built by the people, not the government.

As one music fan who was a young teenager in the early 1970s said:

There were different ideas, of course, about what sounded good, but if you were making music, you were against the government, that was for sure.

One after the other, however, authoritarian regimes sought to crush all creativity – and especially music – through censorship laws and the systematic intimidation of artists.

Gigs had to be held as private events in people’s homes and even these were regularly broken up by a morality monitoring unit. Many popular musicians left for careers abroad.

But underground music scenes kept anti-government sentiment alive.

My research shows that the exodus of musicians, producers and fans under the Bashir regime did not weaken popular resistance. Instead, this displacement helped build strong transnational social networks, enabling musicians to record music outside Sudan. This was then distributed back to communities inside the borders. Later, these same social networks supported the 2019 revolution.

Throughout recent history and across various genres and scenes, music has helped the Sudanese imagine alternatives to authoritarian rule and build the relationships needed for collective action.

Given the close historical ties between resistance movements and music scenes, examining the music of the revolution provides insight into the values, identities and visions of democratic change that shaped Sudan’s revolutionary movement.

Music, gender and class

In my paper I analyse the most prominent revolution songs – collected in a shareable YouTube playlist – to explore what protesters’ choices reveal about the movement itself. The songs point to a growing openness towards gender and class.

At the 2019 protests, the revolutionaries honoured a canon of anti-oppression anthems. These included traditional Sudanese staples, hip-hop classics and contemporary pop sing-a-longs.

Not all revolutionary anthems are lyrically political, however, and there are gendered reasons for this.

In Sudan’s decades of patriarchal autocracy, speaking openly about politics through song lyrics was often far riskier for women than for men. As a result, women-led genres, such as tumtum and aghani albanat, typically centred on romance and everyday life, accompanied by handclapping and rhythms played on the doolka drum. Among highbrow creatives, these vocal and percussive genres are considered artistically subordinate to male-dominated genres. These include haqeeba, which features instrumental accompaniment on the more technically demanding oud.

However, tumtum and aghani albanat were popular with protesters in 2019. This was not because their lyrics were directly political (they were not). Rather, they represented the defiance of women who continued to create and perform music despite decades of state restrictions on women’s artistry.

Despite their lyrical playfulness and political neutrality, Sudanese society celebrated these genres in the revolution. This sends a powerful political message about a rising cultural openness towards feminine creativity, which had been inhibited by the state.

Zenig is a new Sudanese genre of music. It emerged in the early 2010s from the poor and peripheral neighbourhoods in Khartoum. It takes its rhythmic base from tumtum, and mixes this with retro keyboards, low-fi synths and improvised vocals. It is fundamentally a Khartoumian invention, and is deliberately defiant of conservative gender and class hierarchies.

Zenig contributed to the cacophony of sounds during the 2019 sit-in. One protester remembered “its fast-paced rhythmic style worked well in energising crowds”. The most likely place to hear Zenig at the sit-in was in intimate circles and small stages where friends could dance together. Before the revolution, Zenig was known in Khartoum as the music of poor outcasts.

The significance

By elevating female leadership in the music of the revolution, Sudanese revolutionaries deliberatively negotiated what an alternative ideal Sudanese society would be like; one with more empowerment for women, as both creative and political forerunners.

The inclusion of genres like Zenig at the 2019 sit-in demonstrates that Sudan’s revolution was not only about changing the regime.

For many young Sudanese, it was also an expression of yearning for broader societal change and an upending of societal power relations.

The revolution in 2019 was a unique time for openness, experimentation and future-making facilitated by music.

Music and rebuilding

The war has prevented Sudanese civilians from continuing these important social negotiations.

The resistance movement and its musicians have been displaced within Sudan and to regional hubs like Cairo (Egypt) and Nairobi (Kenya). Many have tragically lost their lives. Some have remained in Khartoum and continue to make hopeful music against the odds.

[embedded content]

Even as Sudan’s future remains uncertain, music will be surely be central in the rebuilding of civilian lives that will come.

– The rhythms that broke Bashir: how Sudan’s music shaped a revolution
– https://theconversation.com/the-rhythms-that-broke-bashir-how-sudans-music-shaped-a-revolution-284963

July 2, 2026

Ulysses in isiZulu: why an African translation of the classic Irish novel matters in today’s world

Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Tinashe Mushakavanhu, Assistant Professor, Harvard University

Every year on 16 June, readers around the world celebrate Bloomsday, the annual commemoration of Irish writer James Joyce’s landmark 1922 novel Ulysses.

The date marks the single day on which the novel unfolds: 16 June 1904, when its protagonist, Leopold Bloom, wanders through the city of Dublin. What began as a literary observance has become a global celebration of reading.

In 2026 the festivities in Johannesburg had a special South African quality to them. At the centre of the event was South African writer and translator Sandile Ngidi’s isiZulu rendering of the character Molly Bloom’s famous soliloquy, the concluding episode of Ulysses.

As a scholar of African literatures, I am interested in how literary ideas travel. My research has shown how writers from very different contexts can grapple with similar political and artistic questions. Ngidi’s translation opens up one of the most challenging works of literature to new readers.

Simon & Schuster

The isiZulu translation represents only a small portion of this vast and notoriously difficult novel. Ulysses is based on one ordinary day in the lives of three characters who live in Dublin. It uses their experiences to explore identity, memory, desire, and modern life in early 20th-century Ireland.

Since its publication, Ulysses has been formally translated into more than 40 languages, mostly within Europe. Its journey into isiZulu reminds us that literature travels most powerfully when it crosses linguistic and cultural boundaries and returns us to the urgent questions of our own time.

Translation as an act of imagination

Bridge Books, a community-centred bookshop in inner city Johannesburg, hosted the Bloomsday event, which also included readings from South African writers Ivan Vladislavić and Terry-Ann Adams.

By holding a multilingual Bloomsday celebration in parts of the city where anti-immigrant groups have been marching, the organisers underscored a simple but powerful point: the civic imagination at the heart of Joyce’s work remains relevant wherever diverse communities claim space through stories and conversation.

Ulysses is really about random and seemingly mundane interactions. Molly Bloom is one of the main characters, an opera singer who spends the day mostly in bed. Bloomsday is named after her and her husband, who is also a main character. He’s wandering the city remembering the death of their son, and stewing in the knowledge that Molly is having an affair. This is the universal drama of human life.

Molly Bloom’s monologue in a French staging of Ulysses. Sigoise/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY

Ngidi’s translation matters. It challenges assumptions about which languages are considered suitable for conveying the so-called world literature. African languages are not peripheral to global literary culture but active participants in it, capable of carrying, reshaping and reinterpreting some of the most demanding works ever written.

In fact, reading Joyce in isiZulu raises larger questions about literary inheritance. Who owns a literary classic? Joyce himself was deeply concerned with the relationship between language and power.

Writing from a colonised Ireland, he grappled with the complexities of expressing Irish experience through English, the language of imperial rule. His work repeatedly explores tensions between local identity and global influence, between inherited forms and new possibilities.

James Joyce for everyone

The concerns in Joyce’s fiction have become even more pertinent. Across many parts of the world, debates about belonging have become increasingly fraught. In both Ireland and South Africa, questions of migration, national identity and cultural inclusion have generated political tensions and, at times, hostility towards foreigners.

Joyce is often regarded as a writer for specialists and university students. His novels have a reputation for difficulty that makes them seem inaccessible. Yet events like the one in Johannesburg suggest a different story. Joyce survives because readers continue to reinvent him, finding new contexts, new languages and new communities in which his work can live.

Translation, in this sense, is more than a literary exercise. It is an act of imagination that allows readers to encounter familiar questions from a different vantage point. Rather than simply reproducing Ulysses, the translation creates a new reading experience that illuminates both Joyce’s novel and the expressive possibilities of isiZulu.

By carrying Joyce into isiZulu, Ngidi expands not only the readership of Ulysses but also the range of perspectives through which the novel can be understood.

The translation demonstrates that African languages are not simply vehicles for local experience; they are capable of engaging the most complex works of world literature while bringing new meanings to them.

– Ulysses in isiZulu: why an African translation of the classic Irish novel matters in today’s world
– https://theconversation.com/ulysses-in-isizulu-why-an-african-translation-of-the-classic-irish-novel-matters-in-todays-world-285381

July 2, 2026

Afreximbank President calls for African economic sovereignty through industrialisation, trade and domestic resource mobilisation

Source: APO

The President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) (www.Afreximbank.com), Dr George Elombi, has said that Africa’s economic sovereignty will only be achieved when the continent industrialises at scale, processes its own resources and secures fair access to capital to finance its development priorities – on its own terms.

Speaking during a media briefing in Abuja, Nigeria, Dr Elombi said Africa could no longer rely on a development model built around extraction and export of raw materials and importing finished goods. He said the continent’s next phase of growth must be driven by value addition, manufacturing, regional trade and stronger African financial institutions capable of strong domestic capital and resource mobilization for transformation. “Africa’s sovereignty will not be secured by exporting more of what we do not process. It will be secured when we build the industries that turn African resources into African value. But industrialisation requires capital, and that capital must be accessible on terms that are fair, evidence-based and reflective of Africa’s true potential.”

Dr Elombi said Afreximbank’s mandate is focused on helping the continent make that transition – from commodity dependence to industrial capacity, from fragmented markets to integrated trade, and from external vulnerability to greater African resilience.

Directly through debt financing and indirectly through its equity vehicle, the Fund for Export Development in Africa (FEDA), and in partnership with industrial partners such as ARISE IIP, Afreximbank is facilitating the development of multipurpose industrial parks and special economic zones and dedicated towards supporting minerals processing, agro-processing, automotive, textiles and pharmaceuticals. The Bank is scaling these strategic investments with the view to build competitive manufacturing hubs and deepen regional production linkages across the continent.

Dr Elombi said that if Africa is to industrialise, the continent must also address the cost and availability of capital. Credit ratings, he noted, influence how much institutions pay to raise funding, the investors they can access and, ultimately, the cost at which they can finance trade, infrastructure and industry.

“Fair credit assessment is part of Africa’s sovereignty agenda,” he said, adding that “when African institutions are assessed properly, they can raise capital more competitively. When they raise capital more competitively, they can finance Africa’s industrial growth, and accelerate African trade and job creation.”

He said Afreximbank’s recent investment-grade rating from S&P Global Ratings, which assigned the Bank a BBB+ long-term and A-2 short-term issuer credit rating, showed the importance of assessing African institutions in their proper context. S&P’s assessment comes after Afreximbank’s strong Q1 2026 performance, with total assets and contingencies rising to US$49.4 billion, shareholders’ funds of US$8.6 billion, a capital adequacy ratio of 23% and a non-performing loan ratio of 2.40%.

Dr Elombi said rating agencies must properly recognise Afreximbank’s treaty-based structure, Preferred Creditor Status, shareholder support and central role in financing African trade. He added that shareholders’ perception of the Bank is driven by their conviction and belief in the institution they created and not just by rating perceptions. He said African multilateral institutions should be assessed on verified evidence, their real institutional structures and the development role they play across the continent. Despite a complex global environment, Afreximbank has continued to demonstrate strong investor confidence, including through successful Samurai and Panda bond issuances and a US$2 billion equivalent dual-tranche syndicated facility raised in Q1 2026 from 31 lenders across Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Africa.

Dr Elombi added that industrialisation will only deliver sovereignty if African goods can move across African markets. He said Afreximbank would continue supporting trade-enabling infrastructure, payment systems, logistics corridors and AfCFTA implementation to reduce the barriers that make it difficult for African businesses to trade with one another.

“Capital, industry and trade must work together,” he said. “Africa must finance its production, process its resources and move its goods across its own markets. That is how we create value, retain value in Africa and build sovereignty that is practical, not theoretical.” He welcomed the idea of a New African Financial Architecture (NAFA) and the urgency to build capacity to mobilise resources from the continent to support its development.

Looking ahead, Dr Elombi said Afreximbank would remain focused on financing the systems Africa needs to stand more firmly on its own foundations including industrial capacity, value addition, strategic minerals processing, trade-enabling infrastructure, digital payments, energy security and intra-African trade.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Afreximbank.

Media Contact:
Vincent Musumba
Communications and Events Manager (Media Relations)
Email: press@afreximbank.com

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About Afreximbank:
African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) is a Pan-African multilateral financial institution mandated to finance and promote intra- and extra-African trade. For over 30 years, the Bank has been deploying innovative structures to deliver financing solutions that support the transformation of the structure of Africa’s trade, accelerating industrialisation and intra-regional trade, thereby boosting economic expansion in Africa. A strong supporter of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), Afreximbank has launched a Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) that was adopted by the African Union (AU) as the payment and settlement platform to underpin the implementation of the AfCFTA. Working with the AfCFTA Secretariat and the AU, the Bank has set up a US$10 billion Adjustment Fund to support countries effectively participating in the AfCFTA. At the end of December 2025, Afreximbank’s total assets and contingencies stood at over US$48.5 billion, and its shareholder funds amounted to US$8.4 billion. Afreximbank has investment grade ratings assigned by China Chengxin International Credit Rating Co., Ltd (CCXI) (AAA), GCR (A), Japan Credit Rating Agency (JCR) (A-), Moody’s (Baa2) and S&P Global Ratings (BBB+). Afreximbank has evolved into a group entity comprising the Bank, its equity impact fund subsidiary called the Fund for Export Development Africa (FEDA), and its insurance management subsidiary, AfrexInsure (together, “the Group”). The Bank is headquartered in Cairo, Egypt.

For more information, visit: www.Afreximbank.com

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July 2, 2026

La Société islamique pour le développement du secteur privé (SID) mobilise des fonds du secteur privé pour un financement consortial conforme à la charia de 60 millions USD en faveur d’Asakabank

Source: Africa Press Organisation – French

La SID, agissant en qualité d’arrangeur principal mandaté et de teneur de livre, a structuré et finalisé un financement consortial conforme à la charia de 60 millions USD en faveur de la banque ouzbèke Asakabank, assorti d’une clause d’extension permettant d’en accroître le montant.
Ce financement est structuré en plusieurs tranches à échéances différentes, offrant à Asakabank un accès flexible et à long terme à des financements islamiques.
La banque Boubyan K.S.C.P., institution financière koweïtienne, a participé en qualité de co-arrangeur principal. L’opération a également bénéficié du soutien de la Société islamique d’assurance des investissements et du crédit à l’exportation (SIACE), par le biais d’une garantie de crédit accordée aux participants.

La Société islamique pour le développement du secteur privé (SID) (www.ICD-PS.org), institution financière multilatérale de développement et branche du secteur privé du Groupe de la Banque islamique de développement (BID), a le plaisir d’annoncer la finalisation réussie d’un financement consortial conforme à la charia d’un montant de 60 millions USD en faveur de la banque ouzbèke Asakabank, assorti d’une clause d’extension permettant d’accroître ce financement. Ce partenariat stratégique entre les deux institutions vise à soutenir la croissance des entreprises du secteur privé en Ouzbékistan en leur offrant des financements conformes à la charia, en complément des financements généraux nécessaires à Asakabank.

Ce financement consortial a été structuré et piloté par la SID, qui a agi en qualité de chef de file mandaté, de teneur de livre et d’agent d’investissement. La banque koweïtienne Boubyan a participé en qualité de co-chef de file. L’opération a également bénéficié du soutien de la Société islamique d’assurance des investissements et du crédit à l’exportation (SIACE), par le biais d’une garantie de crédit accordée aux participants. La participation de la banque Boubyan, seule institution financière koweïtienne participante, témoigne de son engagement constant en faveur de structures de financement innovantes conformes à la charia et du développement du secteur privé régional. Elle souligne l’intérêt croissant des institutions financières islamiques pour les opportunités de syndication structurées, appuyées par des solutions robustes de gestion des risques.

La SID demeure déterminée à développer des canaux de financement conformes à la charia dans ses pays membres afin de promouvoir la finance islamique. Ce dispositif illustre la solidité des relations qu’entretient la SID avec d’autres institutions financières islamiques de premier plan, dans le cadre de ses efforts continus visant à mobiliser des ressources en faveur du développement durable du secteur privé dans ses pays membres.

À cette occasion, le Dr Khalid Khalafalla, PDG par intérim de la SID, a déclaré : « Je suis heureux d’annoncer ce financement historique, conçu pour promouvoir les projets du secteur privé en République d’Ouzbékistan et faciliter l’accès au financement en pleine conformité avec les principes de la charia. Cette opération témoigne également de l’engagement fort de la SID à mobiliser les ressources du secteur privé : pour chaque dollar investi par la SID, nous avons mobilisé avec succès un dollar équivalent auprès d’institutions partenaires. Grâce à cette initiative, nous visons à soutenir les projets du secteur privé, notamment les grandes entreprises et les PME, qui contribuent de manière significative au développement de l’économie ouzbèke. »

De son côté, M. Surat Utkurovich Zakirov, président par intérim du conseil d’administration d’Asakabank, a déclaré : « Asakabank est une banque universelle en pleine croissance, offrant une large gamme de produits et de solutions aux particuliers et aux entreprises. À la suite de l’introduction récente de la législation relative à la banque islamique en Ouzbékistan, nous considérons la SID comme un partenaire stratégique en matière de financement conforme à la charia pour le secteur privé et nous nous réjouissons de poursuivre notre collaboration. »

Distribué par APO Group pour Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD).

Media files

July 2, 2026

Keynote address Deputy Minister in The Presidency, Nonceba Mhlauli, at the Unilever TVET Cook Challenge Grand Finale, Unilever La Lucia Ridge Hub, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal

Source: President of South Africa –

Programme Director;
Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training, Dr. Nomusa Dube-Ncube;
Mr. Stefan Cloete, Chief Executive Officer of Unilever Southern Africa;
Ms. Sithembile Sefako-Ngobese, Communications, Corporate Affairs and Sustainability Director;
Dr. Nkosenye Godfrey Zulu, Head of Department for KwaZulu-Natal Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs;
Mr. Sam Zungu, Deputy Director-General for the TVET Branch;
Mr. Marks Thibela, CEO of CATHSSETA;
Ms. Nokuthula Selamolela, CEO of FoodBev SETA;
Mr. Coovashan Pillay, CEO of the South African Chefs Association;
Chef Vusi Mteshana, Executive Head Chef of Unilever Food Solutions South Africa;
Representatives from TVET Colleges;
Members of the hospitality and tourism sectors;
Esteemed lecturers, mentors, parents, and most importantly, our exceptional nine provincial finalists;

Good afternoon.

It is both a privilege and an honour to join you today at the Grand Finale of the Unilever TVET Cook Challenge. I wish to extend my sincere appreciation to Unilever, the South African Chefs Association, FoodBev SETA, CATHSSETA, our TVET colleges, government departments, and every partner whose collective efforts have made this remarkable initiative possible.

Today, we gather here not simply to witness a competition, but to celebrate a profound story a story of heritage, creativity, resilience, and opportunity. The Unilever TVET Cook Challenge is a testament to the power of talent and practical skills to transform lives and communities.

The theme of this year’s competition, “Culinary Roots,” is a fitting reminder that every dish prepared is not just food. It is a narrative of our people, our cultures, our histories. It carries the wisdom of generations past and carries that spirit into our shared future.

In honouring these roots, our young chefs do more than create flavours; they connect us to who we are and inspire what we can become. They remind us that respecting tradition and embracing innovation must go hand in hand if we are to build a South Africa that is inclusive, dynamic, and forward-looking.

TVET Colleges: Engines of Inclusive Growth

Technical and Vocational Education and Training colleges have become essential institutions in developing the skilled workforce that our economy urgently requires. They produce artisans, technicians, entrepreneurs, hospitality professionals, and countless other skilled individuals whose expertise keeps our industries functioning and our economy growing.

As Government, we continue to strengthen the TVET sector because we recognise that economic growth cannot be achieved without practical skills. South Africa requires qualified electricians, welders, plumbers, mechanics, hospitality professionals, agricultural specialists, and chefs just as much as it requires lawyers, accountants, and engineers. The young people gathered here today are proof that vocational education opens doors to meaningful careers and successful businesses.

Entrepreneurship: Turning Passion into Prosperity

Distinguished guests,

When we speak about becoming a hospitality professional, we should not only think about employment.
We should also consider entrepreneurship.

Some of South Africa’s most successful entrepreneurs began with nothing more than a passion for food and the determination to succeed.

The culinary industry offers limitless possibilities.

It creates opportunities in restaurants, hotels, tourism, catering, food manufacturing, event management, baking, food styling, digital content creation, and product innovation.

Today’s young chef can become tomorrow’s employer.
The food truck of today can become tomorrow’s restaurant chain.
The home bakery of today can become tomorrow’s national brand.

That is why entrepreneurship must become central to our thinking as a nation.

Government is committed to building an economy where young people do not only search for employment but are empowered to create employment for others.

This is why programmes such as the National Youth Development Agency grant programme, the Small Enterprise Development Agency, the Small Enterprise Finance Agency and the Industrial Development Corporation continue to provide financial and business development support to qualifying young entrepreneurs.

We encourage every aspiring chef to make use of these opportunities.

Your qualification should not become a certificate that hangs on the wall. It should become the foundation upon which you build businesses that contribute to South Africa’s economic growth.

Commemorating the Golden Anniversary of the Youth of 1976

As we celebrate excellence today, we also do so during a significant year in our country’s history.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the 1976 Youth Uprising. Fifty years ago, young South Africans demonstrated extraordinary courage in confronting an unjust system that sought to deny them quality education and equal opportunity. They understood that education was the foundation upon which freedom, dignity and prosperity would be built. Their struggle was never simply about classrooms. It was about creating opportunities for future generations to realise their full potential. Today, we honour their legacy not only through remembrance but through action.

Every investment in education,
Every bursary awarded…
Every apprenticeship created…
Every young entrepreneur supported…
Every partnership between government, business, and educational institutions…

Is a continuation of the vision for which the youth of 1976 sacrificed so much.

The freedom they fought for now places a responsibility upon us to ensure that every young South African has access to opportunities that allow them to succeed.

One of the greatest challenges facing our country today remains youth unemployment.

Government recognises that economic transformation cannot happen through policy alone. It requires collaboration between government, educational institutions, organised business, and civil society.

Therefore, the Unilever TVET Cook Challenge demonstrates exactly what such collaboration looks like.

It provides young people with industry exposure.
It allows them to demonstrate their abilities before respected chefs and employers.
It rewards excellence with internships and career opportunities.
Most importantly, it builds confidence in these people that participated in this challenge.

For many young people, all they need is someone to recognise their potential.

Today’s finalists have already demonstrated that they possess the discipline, resilience and determination needed to succeed in one of the world’s most demanding professions.

They should be incredibly proud of reaching this stage.

The Ballot Box: Your Future Is Also in Your Hands

Programme Director,

As we commemorate fifty years since the youth of 1976 stood up for justice and equal opportunity, we must also remember that they fought so future generations could determine the destiny of this country.

Today, unlike the youth of 1976, you possess one of the most powerful democratic tools imaginable.

To every young South African who is eighteen years or older, I urge you to register to vote and to participate actively in our democracy. Do not leave the future of this country in the hands of others. The decisions taken through democratic processes influence education. They influence economic policy, the investment, the entrepreneurship, including the employment.

If you care about opportunities for young people, if you care about building an economy that works for everyone, then make your voice heard.

Democracy is strongest when young people participate.

Do not become spectators in the future of your own country.

Become active citizens. Register. And most importantly you participate in Vote.

Conclusion: Building The South Africa, We Want

As I conclude, let me once again congratulate every finalist gathered here today. Whether you leave here with first prize or not, you have already demonstrated excellence. Continue sharpening your skills and never stop learning. Use every opportunity that comes your way, build businesses that create jobs. Mentor those who come after you. Carry the South African flag with pride wherever your career takes you from today onwards.

The future of South Africa cannot be built by government alone.

It requires all of us.
It requires partnerships.
It requires hard work.
It requires active citizens.
And above all, it requires young people who believe that they can change the world.

Allow me to leave you with the timeless words of our founding democratic President, Nelson Mandela:

“It is through education that the daughter of a peasant can become a doctor; that the son of a mineworker can become the head of the mine; that a child of farm workers can become the President of a great nation.”

Therefore,

Continue dreaming.
Continue creating.
Continue believing.
Register to vote.
Participate in our democracy.

And together, let us build the inclusive, innovative, and prosperous South Africa envisioned by the youth of 1976 and promised by our Constitution, let us build a nation that indeed works for all.

I thank you.

July 2, 2026

Call for coordinated SADC action to strengthen regional economies

Source: Government of South Africa

Call for coordinated SADC action to strengthen regional economies

Amid persistent global economic uncertainty, Minister of Finance Enoch Godongwana has called on the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to position the region as a competitive producer through greater cooperation and coordinated policy action.

Speaking at the SADC Committee of Ministers of Finance and Investment meeting in Harare, Zimbabwe, Godongwana said member states should adopt coordinated and forward-looking economic and policy responses to protect their economies against global shocks.

“Importantly, this will require leveraging critical minerals to drive industrialisation, promoting food security through cooperation in agricultural production and agro-processing, deepening intra-regional trade integration, and strengthening resilient infrastructure and supply chains,” Godongwana said on Thursday.

He stressed that achieving these objectives will require sustained political leadership, stronger institutional coordination and a shift from commitments to implementation.

“In this regard, we will need to prioritise a select set of high-impact actions. Amongst these, for example, are the trade facilitation reforms, development of transport and logistics corridors, seamless transmission of digital payments, including reducing the cost of remittances across the region,” the Minister said.

Godongwana also warned that the changing global development finance landscape poses a significant risk to the region, particularly as international aid to Sub-Saharan Africa continues to decline.

“This shifting landscape calls for a structural transformation in development finance across the SADC region.

“Beyond protecting critical social sectors, there is an urgent need to pivot toward more sustainable and diversified financing models, leveraging blended finance, public-private partnerships (PPPs), and deeper private sector participation to offset declining donor flows,” he said.

According to the Minister, initial estimates by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) suggest bilateral aid could contract by between 16% and 28% from 2025.

“These cuts are donor-driven and broad-based in scope and not a reflection of individual country performance. Unlike previous downturns, the current reductions are large and highly unpredictable, representing a systemic and potentially lasting shock rather than a temporary disruption.

“The poorest and most fragile countries will be disproportionately affected,” the Minister said. –SAnews.gov.za

nosihle
Thu, 07/02/2026 – 15:01

July 2, 2026

Government condemns false information on death of a Ghanaian national

Source: Government of South Africa

Government condemns false information on death of a Ghanaian national

Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development and chair of the Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) on Migration, Mmamoloko Kubayi, has strongly rejected as “factually incorrect” any link between anti-irregular migration demonstrations held earlier this week and the fatal shooting of a Ghanaian national in the Western Cape.

This follows an official communication issued by Ghana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs claiming that one of its citizens was killed on Monday during public demonstrations.

However, police reports indicate that the man was killed on Monday — a day before the demonstrations — in circumstances related to extortion.

“It is concerning that Ghanaian authorities continue to communicate false information about South Africa regarding developments on irregular migration.

“The fact of the matter is that no fatalities have been recorded during the day of these demonstrations and isolated incidents of criminality that occurred on the day have been acted upon by the law enforcement authorities,” Kubayi said.

Kubayi urged that diplomatic matters and concerns be addressed through established channels.
“We regret all loss of life on our shores, and we would like to send our heartfelt condolences to the family of the deceased and assure them that our law enforcement authorities will investigate this matter and bring the perpetrators to book,” the Minister said.

The IMC emphasised that the “spread of false information to perpetuate the false narrative that South Africa is xenophobic is unacceptable”. – SAnews.gov.za

NeoB
Thu, 07/02/2026 – 14:58

July 2, 2026

Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD) Mobilizes Private Sector Funding for USD 60 Million Shariah-compliant Syndicated Financing Facility for Asakabank

Source: APO – Report:

ICD, acting as Mandated Lead Arranger and Bookrunner, has structured and closed a USD 60 million Shariah-compliant Syndicated Financing Facility for Joint Stock Company “Asakabank” (“Asakabank”) of Uzbekistan, with an accordion feature to increase the facility size.
The facility is structured in multiple tranches with different tenors, providing Asakabank with flexible, long-term access to Islamic financing.
Boubyan Bank K.S.C.P. the Kuwaiti financial institution, participated as Joint-Lead Arranger. The transaction was further supported by the Islamic Corporation for the Insurance of Investment and Export Credit (“ICIEC”) through the provision of credit enhancement for participant (s).

The Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (“ICD”) (www.ICD-PS.org), a multilateral development financial institution and the private sector arm of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group, is pleased to announce the successful closure of USD 60 million Shariah-compliant Syndicated Financing Facility for Joint Stock Company “Asakabank” (“Asakabank”), with an accordion feature to increase the facility size. This strategic collaboration is intended partnership between the two institutions aims to support the growth of private sector businesses in Uzbekistan by offering Shariah compliant financing, in addition to the general corporate requirements of Asakabank.

The syndicated financing facility was structured and led by ICD, acting as Mandated Lead Arranger, Bookrunner and Investment Agent. Boubyan Bank K.S.C.P. participated as Joint-Lead Arranger. The transaction was further supported by the Islamic Corporation for the Insurance of Investment and Export Credit (“ICIEC”) through the provision of credit enhancement for the participant (s). The participation of Boubyan Bank K.S.C.P, as the sole Kuwaiti financial institution in the syndication, demonstrates its continued commitment to innovative Shariah-compliant financing structures and regional private sector development. Its participation highlights the growing appetite among Islamic financial institutions for structured syndication opportunities supported by robust risk mitigation solutions.

The ICD remains committed to developing Shariah compliant financial channels in member countries to promote Islamic finance. This facility demonstrates the strong relationship of ICD, with other leading Islamic Financial Institutions in its ongoing efforts to mobilize resources in support of sustainable development of the private sector across its member countries.

Dr. Khalid Khalafalla, Acting CEO of ICD, stated “I am glad to announce this landmark financing facility, which is designed to promote the private sector projects in the Republic of Uzbekistan and to advance financing in full compliance with Shariah principles. This transaction also reflects ICD’s strong focus on mobilizing private sector resources, where for every dollar deployed by ICD, we have successfully mobilized an equivalent dollar from partner institution. Through this initiative, we aim to empower private sector projects, particularly corporates and SMEs, those having meaningful developmental impact on the economy of Uzbekistan.”

Mr. Surat Utkurovich Zakirov, Acting Chairman of the Board of Asakabank also stated “Asakabank is a rapidly growing full-service bank offering a wide range of products and solutions for both retail and corporate customers. With the recent introduction of Islamic banking legislation in Uzbekistan, we consider ICD as a strategic partner in Sharia-compliant financing for private sector and look forward to continuing our cooperation in the future”.

– on behalf of Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD).

Media Contact:
Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD)
Nabil Al-Alami
Division Manager, Communication & Corporate Marketing, ICD
Email: nalami@isdb.org

Joint Stock Company “Asakabank” (Asakabank)
Azizkhon Anvarkhonov
Head of Press Center
Email: Azizxon_A@asakabank.uz

Joint Stock Company “Asakabank” (Asakabank):
Founded in 1995, Joint Stock Company “Asakabank” (Asakabank) is one of Uzbekistan’s leading commercial banks, serving a wide range of corporate and individual clients. With an extensive branch network across the country, Asakabank provides comprehensive banking services focused on supporting industrial, infrastructure, and private sector development. The bank is recognized for its innovative approach to financial products and its commitment to facilitating economic growth and entrepreneurship in Uzbekistan. Asakabank actively invests in digital transformation and sustainable finance, striving to deliver high-quality, customer-oriented solutions that contribute to the nation’s overall economic progress.

About the Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD):
The Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD) is a multilateral development financial institution that supports the economic development of its member countries. ICD is a member of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group with an authorized capital of $4 billion, ICD’s shareholders include the IsDB, 56 member countries, and five public financial institutions. ICD’s mandate is to promote the economic development of its member countries by financing and encouraging the establishment, expansion and modernization of private sector enterprises and projects in its member countries, promoting competition and entrepreneurship, and encouraging cross-border investments. The ICD is currently rated ‘A2’ by Moody’s, ‘A+’ by Fitch, and ‘A’ by S&P. For More information on ICD visit: www.ICD-PS.org

Media files

July 2, 2026

Well wishes for Proteas Women

Source: Government of South Africa

Well wishes for Proteas Women

Government has wished the Women’s T20 cricket team well as they take on England in the semi-final of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup today at 3pm.

“The Proteas Women have made the nation proud with their outstanding performances throughout the tournament and have inspired South Africans with their determination, resilience and fighting spirit,” the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) said on Thursday.

Government has called on all South Africans to get behind the team by wearing their Proteas jerseys or South African colours, proudly flying the national flag and cheering them on as one united nation.

“Today presents another opportunity for South Africans to stand together in support of a team carrying the hopes and pride of the nation. Government wishes the Proteas Women every success and looks forward to another memorable performance as they pursue a place in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup final,” Acting Government Spokesperson Nomonde Mnukwa said. –SAnews.gov.za

Neo
Thu, 07/02/2026 – 13:26

July 2, 2026

Government conveys condolences following crash that claimed 16 lives

Source: Government of South Africa

Government conveys condolences following crash that claimed 16 lives

The Minister of Transport, Barbara Creecy, and Deputy Minister Mkhuleko Hlengwa have expressed their condolences to the bereaved families who lost their loved ones in a bus crash that claimed 16 lives.

The crash occurred in the early hours of Thursday on the N1 near Gulfstream Garage in the Western Cape.

According to reports, the bus was transporting 78 passengers, including children, from Cape Town to Idutywa in the Eastern Cape.

It is alleged that the bus overturned, resulting in 16 fatalities and leaving 20 occupants injured. The injured were transported to Worcester Hospital, while 43 occupants refused medical treatment.

Creecy and Hlengwa have wished a speedy recovery to all those who sustained injuries.

They have also directed the Road Accident Fund (RAF) to provide the bereaved families and the injured with the necessary support.

In addition, Creecy and Hlengwa have instructed the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) to investigate the cause of the crash in collaboration with local authorities.

A preliminary investigation report is expected within 48 hours after the RTMC begins its investigation. –SAnews.gov.za

nosihle
Thu, 07/02/2026 – 12:46