Category: MIL-OSI

Source: APO

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The Chairperson of the Select Committee on Public Infrastructure and Minister in the Presidency, Mr Rikus Badenhorst, today congratulated the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, Mr Dean Macpherson, and the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) for the decisive steps taken to hold non-performing contractors accountable.

Mr Badenhorst described the announcement that the CIDB has blacklisted 40 contractors since June 2024 as “nothing short of historic”.

“In the 22 years prior, only a single contractor had been blacklisted. The failure to act against non-performing contractors created an environment in which incomplete, poorly built, and abandoned projects became commonplace. This eroded public trust in government’s ability to deliver. Under the Minister’s leadership, and with the CIDB acting decisively, that chapter is now closed,” said the Chairperson.

Mr Badenhorst stressed that this turnaround is more than a statistic. It is a signal that the department, together with its entities, is serious about restoring professionalism, cleaning up procurement and ensuring that public funds deliver tangible infrastructure for South Africans. The CIDB’s action directly supports the Minister’s vision of a department that is a highly effective delivery unit, capable of supporting economic growth and job creation.

The Chairperson said that the committee also welcomes the additional reforms announced by the Minister, including refining blacklisting processes, recovering funds from delinquent contractors, filling key vacancies, and tightening accountability mechanisms. “These reforms, reinforced by the CIDB’s enforcement powers, represent the kind of systemic change that Parliament has long called for,” he said.

According to the Chairperson, there is now a clear message to communities across South Africa that the days of impunity are over. The combination of ministerial leadership and the CIDB’s decisive action is ensuring that contractors who betray the public trust will no longer be allowed to do business with government.

Mr Badenhorst said the committee will continue to exercise its oversight role to ensure that these reforms are sustained, that the CIDB is supported in its regulatory mandate and that South Africans see the results in the form of quality infrastructure that is delivered on time and within budget.

“The committee congratulates the Minister and the CIDB on this important milestone. It represents a fresh start for the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure and a renewed commitment to accountability, delivery, and economic growth.”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of South Africa: The Parliament.

Source: APO

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Africa’s premier gathering for mining stakeholders, African Mining Week (AMW), will feature a distinguished lineup of regional and global energy leaders at its 2025 edition, taking place on October 1–3 in Cape Town. Confirmed speakers include Francesco La Camera, Director General of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA); Oliver Johnston, CEO of SOLINK; Richard Doyle, Managing Director of JUWI South Africa; Grant Berndsen, CEO of Terra Firma; and Dr. Vincent Amu, Managing Director and CEO of Oildynamix.

AMW 2025 will provide a platform for dialogue on best practices and innovative solutions to ensure a resilient energy supply for Africa’s mining sector. The event will feature high-level panel discussions, deal signings, project showcases and exclusive networking sessions aimed at strengthening collaboration at the energy–mining nexus.

IRENA’s La Camera will participate in the Critical Minerals & Value Creation: Africa’s Step Beyond Extraction panel. This discussion will highlight Africa’s pivotal role in the global energy transition, given its 30% share of the world’s critical minerals – including cobalt, lithium and copper – essential for renewable energy technologies. Mineral-rich countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo, the world’s largest supplier of cobalt, and South Africa, the top producer of platinum group metals, will play a central role as global demand for critical resources is projected to quadruple by 2030.

SOLINK, JUWI South Africa and Terra Firma will be represented on the Resilient Energy Mix: Balancing Renewables and Traditional Resources for Sustainable Mining panel. This session will explore strategies for integrating renewable energy into mining operations to enhance energy security, reduce costs and meet ESG commitments.

Meanwhile, Oildynamix will host a workshop showcasing innovative technologies and services designed to improve efficiency in drilling, exploration and production across the mining and extractive industries.

Held under the theme From Extraction to Beneficiation: Unlocking Africa’s Mineral Wealth, AMW 2025 will bring together African energy and mining stakeholders with global investors and partners to drive collaboration, strengthen value chains and advance the continent’s sustainable development agenda.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital & Power.

About African Mining Week:
African Mining Week serves as a premier platform for exploring the full spectrum of mining opportunities across Africa. The event is held alongside the African Energy Week: Invest in African Energies 2025 conference from October 1-3 in Cape Town. Sponsors, exhibitors and delegates can learn more by contacting sales@energycapitalpower.com.

Source: APO

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UN human rights experts* today expressed deep concern over the continued detention of political cartoonist Ashraf Omar and the sweeping misuse of counter-terrorism legislation in Egypt to silence artists and journalists and curtail freedom of expression.

“The case of Ashraf Omar illustrates a deeply worrying practice in Egypt of criminalising political expression, including in the form of art, under the guise of national security and counter-terrorism,” the experts said.

Arrested on 22 July 2024, and accused of joining a terrorist group, disseminating and publishing rumours and false news and information, and abuse of social media, Ashraf Omar remains in pre-trial detention, deprived of fair trial guarantees.

“Cartoonists, writers and journalists must be free to express critical views without fear of arrest or prosecution. Artistic expression is a cornerstone of cultural rights and an integral aspect of the right to freedom of expression. Silencing it undermines both individual freedoms and the cultural life of society as a whole,” the experts said.

Omar was reportedly interrogated on his artistic work as a cartoonist and his motivations for drawing satirical images critical of the authorities, and no evidence was presented to him or his lawyer of the alleged videos or online content forming the basis of the accusations.

“The detention of Ashraf Omar is arbitrary and unlawful. It violates Egypt’s obligations under international human rights law to protect freedom of opinion and expression, including artistic expression, cultural rights, liberty and security of person, and the right to a fair trial and due process,” the experts said.

“We urge the authorities to release him immediately and ensure that he benefits from all fair trial guarantees,” they said. “Egypt must bring its counter-terrorism legislation in full compliance with international standards and stop using pre-trial detention as a tool of repression.”

The experts are in contact with Egyptian authorities on this case.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations: Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).