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SA trains officials to crack down on illegal plastic waste trade at sea

Source: Government of South Africa

SA trains officials to crack down on illegal plastic waste trade at sea

Government has, for the first time, provided international training to officials to equip them with the skills needed to manage the complex global trade in hazardous waste and plastic pollution at sea.

While the government has intensified efforts to curb plastic pollution through stronger waste regulations, Deputy Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Narend Singh, said legislation and policy frameworks alone were not enough and had to be supported by skilled officials.

“Real impact depends on skilled, knowledgeable and committed officials who can translate legal requirements into practical action. It depends on competent authorities correctly administering prior informed consent and other transboundary controls. 

“It depends on customs officers and Border Management Authority officials who can identify suspicious shipments, apply appropriate risk management, and facilitate legitimate trade while intercepting illegal waste movements,” the Deputy Minister said on Tuesday.

Singh was addressing the opening session of the training programme in Cape Town, where he highlighted the need for Environmental Management Inspectors to have both legal expertise and technical knowledge to effectively combat hazardous pollution at sea.

According to the recent Custos Viridis operational report, environmental crime generates annual losses estimated between 80 and 230 billion Euros. 

The report also points to growing links between waste trafficking, organised crime syndicates, document fraud, illicit financial flows and other forms of transnational crime.

The Deputy Minister said seamless collaboration among regulators, scientists, investigators and prosecutors was critical in combating environmental crime, which is ranked as the world’s fourth-largest organised criminal activity.

“This training programme has been specifically designed to strengthen precisely these capabilities. Through its combination of technical sessions, practical exercises and international perspectives, it will equip participants with the knowledge and networks necessary to enhance implementation and enforcement effectiveness,” he said.

Singh described plastic pollution as one of the defining environmental crises of our time.

“Our oceans, rivers, estuaries, coastlines and terrestrial ecosystems are under growing pressure from plastic waste and microplastics. 

“The consequences extend far beyond environmental degradation: marine plastic pollution threatens fisheries, biodiversity, tourism, coastal livelihoods, and, ultimately, human health and food security. With its extensive coastline and vibrant ocean economy, South Africa is acutely aware of these risks,” he said.

Government has therefore intensified efforts to curb plastic pollution through stronger waste regulation, Extended Producer Responsibility schemes, waste diversion and recycling programmes, and the promotion of circular economy principles. 

“We are equally committed to broader ocean governance initiatives aimed at protecting marine ecosystems and advancing sustainable blue economy outcomes. 

“The Plastic Waste Amendments provide an essential international framework to support these domestic actions and to prevent the dumping of problematic plastic wastes on developing countries,” Singh said.

 The training was aimed at addressing a critical gap in enforcing the Basel Convention and its Plastic Waste Amendments. 

For the first time, international experts and officials came together to strengthen cross-border controls on illegal waste trafficking and marine plastic pollution.

The training brought together officials and experts involved in environmental regulation, customs coordination, compliance monitoring and enforcement, with a particular focus on implementing the Basel Convention Plastic Waste Amendments and measures to address the growing global challenge of plastic pollution at sea. –SAnews.gov.za

 

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Minister Ntshavheni to deliver GCIS Budget Vote

Source: Government of South Africa

Minister Ntshavheni to deliver GCIS Budget Vote

Minister in The Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, alongside Deputy Minister in The Presidency, Kenny Morolong, will on Wednesday table the Government Communication and Information System’s (GCIS) Budget Vote, which will outline the department’s priorities and plans for the 2026/27 financial year. 

The Budget Vote will also outline the plans and priorities of the GCIS entities, Brand South Africa (Brand SA) and the Media Development and Diversity Agency (MDDA).

The annual tabling of departmental Budget Votes is an accountability mechanism for Parliament and the public to monitor how the government is implementing its service delivery commitments against the funds voted. 

Budget Vote debates provide an opportunity for Parliament to discuss and formally adopt the budgets of government departments and entities funded through a parliamentary vote. 

The debate allows for Parliament and the public to be updated about what departments are doing; how they are performing and exactly how public money is being used in a forum larger than a Committee meeting. 

On Thursday, the Minister will lead a delegation from GCIS, Brand SA and the MDDA on a street cleaning and painting campaign in Khayelitsha as part of the Love Your Street campaign, in an initiate aimed at keeping cities and neighbourhoods clean. –SAnews.gov.za

 

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Nedbank’s Platreef Funding Highlights the Power of Africa’s $2T Internal Capital Pool

Source: APO


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Nedbank Corporate and Investment Banking has approved a $700 million loan to support Ivanhoe Mines’ expansion of the Platreef platinum group metals (PGM) project in South Africa.

The funding will support the construction of the Phase two concentrator at Platreef, a 3.3 million ton-per-annum processing facility whose development began in April 2026.

The transaction comes at a time when South Africa seeks to mobilize R2 trillion over the next five years to unlock its critical minerals potential.

Nedbank’s financing highlights the growing role of South Africa’s banking sector in bridging the capital gap required to develop large-scale mining projects. This is increasingly critical as the country looks to unlock an estimated R40 trillion in iron ore potential, while maintaining its position as the world’s largest PGMs, chrome and manganese producer.

For Africa, the transaction highlights how the region can leverage its domestic capital pools, with non-bank institutional funding sources across Africa now exceeding $2 trillion. Combined with commercial banking and international investment flows, these capital bases can play a central role in unlocking the continent’s $8.5 trillion worth of untapped mineral resources while reducing reliance on external funding sources.

Innovating financing mechanisms will be crucial as an increasing number of mining jurisdictions seek fresh capital to finance mining value chain projects. For instance, the Democratic Republic of Congo is pursuing financing to unlock an estimated $24 trillion in mineral resources while Zimbabwe seeks to raise $950 million to scale production across gold, lithium, platinum and chrome assets.

Against this backdrop, Africa’s mining investment outlook and broader financing strategies will be a key focus at African Mining Week (AMW) 2026 – The Most Influential Mining Conference in Africa – taking place in Cape Town from October 14–16. The event will convene global financiers, central banks, sovereign wealth funds, mining companies and development institutions to explore mechanisms for unlocking capital across Africa’s mining sector.

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

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Equality Now calls on African governments to strengthen laws on sexual violence and women’s rights

Source: APO

Millions of women and girls remain without adequate legal protection due to the failure of African governments to enact and effectively enforce national laws and regional agreements, Equality Now (https://EqualityNow.org/) warned at the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights’ (ACHPR) 87th Ordinary Session in Banjul, The Gambia.

Esther Waweru, Associate Director for Legal Equality at Equality Now, delivered a statement to the ACHPR on May 12, 2026, calling on African Union (AU) Member States to do more to address sexual violence, female genital mutilation (FGM), online safety, sexual and reproductive healthcare access, and discriminatory matrimonial property rights.

“Millions of women and girls across Africa live under laws and systems that don’t uphold their human rights. Countries have made binding commitments to advance gender equality, but gaps in legal protections, weak implementation of laws, and poor accountability are leaving many without equal rights, safeguards, or justice. African governments must move beyond rhetoric to deliver the legal reforms, protections, and accountability mechanisms women and girls urgently need,” Waweru explains.

Rape laws in Africa continue to fail survivors of sexual violence

Equality Now’s report Barriers to Justice: Rape in Africa, Law, Practice and Access to Justice (https://apo-opa.co/4wKloNu) analysed rape laws across 47 countries and found significant shortcomings. Sexual violence laws in some countries still require proof that physical force, threats, or violence was used. Such restrictive definitions place undue burdens on survivors to provide evidence, and disregard the varying contexts in which sexual violence occurs, including through intimidation, coercion, fraud, or unequal power dynamics that make it impossible to give genuine consent.

Authorities often fail to properly investigate, prosecute, or convict rape cases, while discriminatory gender stereotypes can influence judicial decisions, leading to reduced charges, lighter sentences, or perpetrators escaping punishment altogether. 

Rape cases are sometimes resolved through out-of-court settlements via informal community mediation, with victim-blaming and social pressure often compelling survivors to withdraw legal complaints or remain silent.

Kenya, whose State Report was reviewed by the ACHPR during its 87th session, retains a marital rape exemption allowing husbands to avoid prosecution for raping their wives.

Equality Now called on the Commission to encourage Kenya to remove legal loopholes permitting rape within marriage, and reform sexual offences laws in line with the Niamey Guidelines (https://apo-opa.co/4usVkoy), which set regional standards for preventing and responding to sexual violence, and the Maputo Protocol (https://apo-opa.co/4usVkVA), the landmark AU treaty outlining governments’ obligations to end gender-based violence, ensure reproductive rights, and eliminate harmful practices.

Restrictions on sexual and reproductive health services persist, especially harming rape survivors. Equality Now commended AU Member States that recognise sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) as a constitutional right. For example, in October 2025, Malawi’s High Court ruled (https://apo-opa.co/4usVlJ8) that denying a 14-year-old rape survivor access to a safe termination of pregnancy was a SRHR violation, and forcing a child to carry a pregnancy resulting from rape constitutes “harsh and inhumane” treatment.

Equality Now urged all African governments to prosecute sexual violence, whether perpetrated during peacetime or conflict, and to adopt a survivor-centred approach built upon comprehensive reparations frameworks that provide compensation, medical and psychosocial support, and legal assistance to survivors.

Discrimination in matrimonial property rights laws in Africa

Equality Now’s report, Gender inequality in family laws in Africa (https://apo-opa.co/42Lzj85), maps how women face significant challenges relating to unpaid work within the family context and discrimination in property distribution during marriage annulment, separation, or divorce.

Article 7(d) of the Maputo Protocol requires equitable distribution of matrimonial property, yet in practice, this standard is often unmet. In Nigeria, property division is based entirely on direct financial contributions, leaving many women with little or nothing following divorce. In Kenya, Malawi, and South Africa, both direct and indirect contributions should be accounted for, but courts frequently fail to adequately value women’s unpaid labour.

All Member States should pass and implement legislation recognising the full value of women’s unpaid domestic and caregiving work within the family, and implement General Comment No. 6 on the Maputo Protocol (https://apo-opa.co/4v2YWgU) mandating an equitable sharing of joint property based upon both financial and non-financial contributions.

Criminalising FGM in Liberia and upholding The Gambia’s law banning FGM

Equality Now acknowledged ongoing efforts in Liberia to address harmful practices affecting women and girls, and calls on lawmakers to criminalise FGM by fast-tracking passage of the pending Women and Girls Protection Bill (https://apo-opa.co/4uTud5z).

In The Gambia, the Supreme Court is considering a case seeking to overturn the ban on FGM under the Women’s (Amendment) Act 2015, with petitioners arguing on constitutional grounds that the law violates cultural and religious freedoms. Equality Now called on the State to defend and fully implement the Act as repeal would endanger women and girls, undermine years of progress, and set a dangerous precedent by revoking hard-won legal safeguards.

Online gender-based violence in Africa

Across Africa, weak, outdated, and fragmented digital governance frameworks leave women and girls vulnerable to harm online, including tech-facilitated gender-based violence (https://apo-opa.co/3RkjFhB). Most countries rely on narrow cybercrime laws that lack gender perspectives, resulting in disproportionate censorship, surveillance, or penalisation of those seeking protection, while allowing online harassment, exploitation, misinformation and disinformation, and algorithmic biases to proliferate.

The concentration of digital infrastructure and artificial intelligence systems in the Global North risks reinforcing digital colonialism and embedding racial and gender bias into technologies.

African states should establish binding due diligence and transparency requirements for transnational technology companies, align digital governance frameworks with the Maputo Protocol, invest in gender-responsive digital capacity building for women and girls, and strengthen access to remedies for survivors of digital harms.

Domestication and implementation of the Maputo Protocol in South Sudan

South Sudan ratified the Maputo Protocol in 2023. Three years on, women and girls face conflict-related sexual violence, entrenched harmful practices, and weak legal protections and inadequate enforcement, underpinned by deep-rooted patriarchal norms.

The country’s ongoing constitution-making process offers a time-bound opportunity to embed gender equality at the heart of legal and institutional reform. South Sudan needs to fully domesticate and implement the Protocol and expedite adoption of national laws that strengthen protections for women and girls.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Equality Now.

Notes to editors:
Esther Waweru is the Associate Director, Legal Equality at Equality Now. A lawyer with nearly two decades of experience, she focuses on advancing the rights of women, girls and marginalised communities across international and regional human rights platforms. Read more about Esther’s work at https://EqualityNow.org/.

For media enquiries, contact:
Tara Carey
Associate Director, Media
Equality Now
tcarey@equalitynow.org

Social Media:
Bluesky: equalitynow.bsky.social (https://apo-opa.co/4dTYxY9)
Facebook: @equalitynoworg (https://apo-opa.co/4uXog7R)
Instagram: @equalitynoworg (https://apo-opa.co/49ExhKM)
LinkedIn: Equality Now (https://apo-opa.co/49b1a5e)

About Equality Now:
Equality Now is a worldwide human rights organisation dedicated to securing the legal and systemic change needed to end discrimination against all women and girls. Since its inception in 1992, it has played a role in reforming 120 discriminatory laws globally, positively impacting the lives of hundreds of millions of women and girls, their communities and nations, both now and for generations to come.

Working with partners at national, regional and global levels, Equality Now draws on deep legal expertise and a diverse range of social, political and cultural perspectives to continue to lead the way in steering, shaping and driving the change needed to achieve enduring gender equality, to the benefit of all.

For more details, go to https://EqualityNow.org/.

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Equality Now appelle les gouvernements africains à renforcer les lois sur les violences sexuelles, les mutilations génitales féminines (MGF) et les droits des femmes

Source: Africa Press Organisation – French

Des millions de femmes et de filles demeurent privées d’une protection juridique adéquate, en raison de l’incapacité des gouvernements africains à adopter et à faire appliquer effectivement les lois nationales et les accords régionaux en vigueur. C’est l’avertissement lancé par Equality Now (https://EqualityNow.org/) à l’occasion de la 87ᵉ Session ordinaire de la Commission africaine des droits de l’homme et des peuples (CADHP), réunie à Banjul, en Gambie.

Esther Waweru, Directrice associée chargée de l’Égalité juridique chez Equality Now, a prononcé une déclaration à la CADHP (https://apo-opa.co/4tJfQzK) le 12 mai 2026, exhortant les États membres de l’Union africaine (UA) à intensifier leur action contre les violences sexuelles, les mutilations génitales féminines (MGF), les enjeux de sécurité en ligne, l’accès aux soins de santé sexuelle et reproductive, ainsi que contre les régimes discriminatoires applicables aux biens matrimoniaux.

«Des millions de femmes et de filles à travers l’Afrique vivent sous des lois et des systèmes qui ne garantissent pas leurs droits humains. Les États ont pris des engagements contraignants pour faire progresser l’égalité de genre, mais les lacunes des protections juridiques, la faiblesse de la mise en œuvre des lois et le manque de redevabilité privent beaucoup d’entre elles d’une égalité réelle, de garanties et d’accès à la justice. Les gouvernements africains doivent dépasser les discours et concrétiser les réformes juridiques, les protections et les mécanismes de redevabilité dont les femmes et les filles ont un besoin urgent», explique Esther Waweru.

Les lois sur le viol en Afrique continuent de trahir les personnes survivantes de violences sexuelles

Le rapport d’Equality Now intitulé Obstacles à la justice: viol en Afrique, droit, pratique et accès à la justice (Barriers to Justice: Rape in Africa, Law, Practice and Access to Justice) (https://apo-opa.co/4wKloNu) a analysé les lois relatives au viol dans 47 pays et y a relevé des lacunes considérables. Dans certains pays, les lois sur les violences sexuelles exigent encore la preuve d’un recours à la force physique, à des menaces ou à la violence. De telles définitions restrictives imposent une charge excessive aux survivantes en matière de preuve et ignorent la diversité des contextes dans lesquels surviennent les violences sexuelles: intimidation, coercition, fraude ou rapports de pouvoir inégaux rendant impossible un consentement réellement libre.

Les autorités échouent souvent à enquêter correctement, à poursuivre ou à condamner les auteurs de viol, tandis que les stéréotypes de genre discriminatoires peuvent influencer les décisions judiciaires: requalifications à la baisse, peines allégées, voire impunité totale des auteurs.

Certaines affaires de viol sont parfois réglées par des arrangements extrajudiciaires, dans le cadre de médiations communautaires informelles. La culpabilisation des victimes et la pression sociale contraignent fréquemment les personnes survivantes à retirer leur plainte ou à garder le silence.

Le Kenya, dont le rapport d’État a été examiné par la CADHP lors de sa 87ᵉ session, conserve une exception d’immunité maritale en matière de viol, qui permet aux époux d’échapper aux poursuites pour viol conjugal.

Equality Now a appelé la Commission à encourager le Kenya à supprimer les failles juridiques autorisant le viol au sein du mariage et à réformer ses lois relatives aux infractions sexuelles, conformément aux Lignes directrices de Niamey (https://apo-opa.co/4usVkoy), qui fixent les normes régionales en matière de prévention et de réponse aux violences sexuelles, et au Protocole de Maputo (https://apo-opa.co/4usVkVA), traité phare de l’UA énonçant les obligations qui incombent aux États en matière de lutte contre les violences fondées sur le genre, de garantie des droits reproductifs et d’élimination des pratiques néfastes.

Les restrictions aux services de santé sexuelle et reproductive demeurent, affectant particulièrement les personnes survivantes de viol. Equality Now a salué les États membres de l’UA qui reconnaissent les droits et la santé sexuels et reproductifs (DSSR) comme un droit constitutionnel. Ainsi, en octobre 2025, la Haute Cour du Malawi a jugé (https://apo-opa.co/4usVlJ8) que refuser à une personne survivante de viol âgée de 14 ans l’accès à une interruption de grossesse en sécurité constituait une violation des DSSR, et que contraindre une enfant à mener à terme une grossesse résultant d’un viol relevait d’un traitement «cruel et inhumain».

Equality Now a exhorté l’ensemble des gouvernements africains à poursuivre les violences sexuelles, qu’elles soient commises en temps de paix ou en temps de conflit, et à adopter une approche centrée sur les personnes survivantes, fondée sur des cadres de réparation complets prévoyant indemnisation, soutien médical et psychosocial et assistance juridique.

Discrimination dans les régimes juridiques des biens matrimoniaux en Afrique

Le rapport d’Equality Now intitulé Inégalités de genre dans le droit de la famille en Afrique (Gender inequality in family laws in Africa) (https://apo-opa.co/42Lzj85) met en évidence les obstacles importants auxquels les femmes sont confrontées concernant le travail non rémunéré dans la sphère familiale, ainsi que les discriminations subies dans le partage des biens en cas d’annulation du mariage, de séparation ou de divorce.

L’article 7 d) du Protocole de Maputo impose un partage équitable des biens matrimoniaux, norme qui, en pratique, demeure souvent ignorée. Au Nigeria, le partage des biens repose exclusivement sur les contributions financières directes, ce qui laisse de nombreuses femmes sans ressources, voire dépourvues de tout, à l’issue d’un divorce. Au Kenya, au Malawi et en Afrique du Sud, les contributions directes comme indirectes devraient être prises en compte, mais les tribunaux peinent fréquemment à reconnaître à sa juste valeur le travail non rémunéré des femmes.

L’ensemble des États membres doivent adopter et mettre en œuvre des lois reconnaissant pleinement la valeur du travail domestique et des soins non rémunérés accomplis par les femmes au sein de la famille, et appliquer l’Observation générale n° 6 sur le Protocole de Maputo (https://apo-opa.co/4v2YWgU), qui prescrit un partage équitable des biens communs sur la base des contributions tant financières que non financières.

Criminaliser les MGF au Libéria et préserver la loi gambienne interdisant les MGF

Equality Now a salué les efforts engagés au Libéria pour lutter contre les pratiques néfastes affectant les femmes et les filles, et appelle les parlementaires à criminaliser les MGF en accélérant l’adoption du projet de loi sur la protection des femmes et des filles (Women and Girls Protection Bill) (https://apo-opa.co/4uTud5z), actuellement en instance.

En Gambie, la Cour suprême est saisie d’un recours visant à annuler l’interdiction des MGF prévue par la Loi de 2015 modifiant la législation sur les femmes (Women’s (Amendment) Act 2015), les requérants invoquant des motifs constitutionnels liés aux libertés culturelles et religieuses. Equality Now a appelé l’État à défendre et à appliquer pleinement cette loi, dont l’abrogation mettrait en danger les femmes et les filles, anéantirait des années de progrès et créerait un précédent dangereux en revenant sur des protections juridiques durement acquises.

Violences en ligne basées sur le genre en Afrique

Partout en Afrique, des cadres de gouvernance numérique faibles, dépassés et fragmentés exposent les femmes et les filles à des préjudices en ligne, notamment à la violence basée sur le genre facilitée par la technologie (https://apo-opa.co/3RkjFhB). La plupart des pays s’en remettent à des lois sur la cybercriminalité étroites et dépourvues de perspective de genre, ce qui entraîne une censure, une surveillance ou une pénalisation disproportionnées à l’encontre des personnes qui cherchent à se protéger, tout en laissant prospérer le harcèlement en ligne, l’exploitation, la mésinformation et la désinformation, ainsi que les biais algorithmiques.

La concentration des infrastructures numériques et des systèmes d’intelligence artificielle dans le Nord global risque de renforcer le colonialisme numérique et d’intégrer des biais raciaux et de genre au cœur même des technologies.

Les États africains devraient instaurer des obligations contraignantes de diligence raisonnable et de transparence à l’égard des entreprises technologiques transnationales, aligner leurs cadres de gouvernance numérique sur le Protocole de Maputo, investir dans le renforcement des capacités numériques des femmes et des filles dans une perspective de genre, et améliorer l’accès aux voies de recours pour les personnes survivantes de préjudices numériques.

Intégration et mise en œuvre du Protocole de Maputo au Soudan du Sud

Le Soudan du Sud a ratifié le Protocole de Maputo en 2023. Trois ans plus tard, les femmes et les filles y subissent des violences sexuelles liées au conflit, des pratiques néfastes profondément ancrées, ainsi que des protections juridiques faibles et une application inadéquate, le tout sur fond de normes patriarcales profondément enracinées.

Le processus constitutionnel actuellement en cours dans le pays offre une fenêtre limitée dans le temps pour inscrire l’égalité de genre au cœur de la réforme juridique et institutionnelle. Le Soudan du Sud doit intégrer et mettre en œuvre pleinement le Protocole et accélérer l’adoption de lois nationales renforçant les protections accordées aux femmes et aux filles.

Distribué par APO Group pour Equality Now.

Notes aux rédactions :
Esther Waweru est Directrice associée, Égalité juridique chez Equality Now. Avocate forte de près de vingt ans d’expérience, elle œuvre à faire progresser les droits des femmes, des filles et des communautés marginalisées au sein des instances internationales et régionales des droits humains. En savoir plus sur le travail d’Esther Waweru sur https://EqualityNow.org/.

Pour toute demande des médias, contacter :
Tara Carey
Directrice associée, Médias
Equality Now 
tcarey@equalitynow.org

Réseaux sociaux :
Bluesky : equalitynow.bsky.social (https://apo-opa.co/4dTYxY9)
Facebook : @equalitynoworg (https://apo-opa.co/4uXog7R)
Instagram : @equalitynoworg (https://apo-opa.co/49ExhKM)
LinkedIn : Equality Now (https://apo-opa.co/49b1a5e)

À propos d’Equality Now :
Equality Now est une organisation mondiale de défense des droits humains qui se consacre à obtenir les réformes juridiques et systémiques indispensables pour éliminer la discrimination envers toutes les femmes et filles, partout dans le monde. Depuis sa création en 1992, elle a contribué à la réforme de 130 lois discriminatoires, impactant positivement la vie de centaines de millions de femmes et de filles, leurs communautés et nations, tant pour les générations d’aujourd’hui que celles de demain.

En partenariat avec des acteurs aux niveaux national, régional et mondial, Equality Now mobilise une expertise juridique pointue ainsi qu’une diversité de perspectives sociales, politiques et culturelles, afin de continuer à guider, influencer et porter les transformations nécessaires pour atteindre une égalité de genre durable, bénéfique à tous.

Pour en savoir plus, rendez-vous sur https://EqualityNow.org/.

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Deputy Minister in The Presidency Nonceba Mhlauli to lead disaster relief programme in Vredenberg

Source: President of South Africa –

The Deputy Minister in The Presidency, Nonceba Mhlauli in partnership with the Al Imdaad Foundation, will on Thursday, 21 May 2026, lead a disaster relief programme in Vredenburg, Saldanha Bay, in the Western Cape.

The programme is part of government’s efforts to provide support to communities affected by recent flood disasters and adverse weather conditions. 

During the visit, Deputy Minister Mhlauli will hand over relief packages and essential supplies to affected residents.

Members of the media are invited to attend the official handover as follows:

Date: Thursday, 21 May 2026
Time: 09h00 – 12h30
Venue: George Carriages, Vredenburg, Western Cape.

Media enquiries: Mandisa Mbele, MandisaM@Presidency.gov.za  082 580 2213

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

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Qatar Condemns Attack Targeting Islamic Center in San Diego

Source: Government of Qatar

Doha, May 19, 2026

The State of Qatar condemns the attack that targeted the Islamic Center in San Diego in the United States of America, which resulted in fatalities.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterates Qatar’s firm stance against violence, terrorism, and criminal acts, regardless of the motives or reasons. It also emphasizes its complete rejection of targeting places of worship and terrorizing innocent civilians.

The Ministry expresses Qatar’s condolences to the families of the victims and to the government and people of the United States of America.

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Minister moves to strengthen ethics, accountability in the public service

Source: Government of South Africa

Minister moves to strengthen ethics, accountability in the public service

Public Service and Administration Minister Inkosi Buthelezi has used his 2026 Budget Vote speech to outline a reform agenda aimed at building what he described as a “capable, ethical and developmental State” grounded in professionalism, accountability and public trust.

Delivering the department’s Budget Vote in Parliament on Tuesday, Buthelezi said recent amendments to the Public Service Act and the Public Administration Management Act marked a “defining moment” in the evolution of South Africa’s public administration.

He said the reforms would reinforce the separation between political and administrative authority by prohibiting heads of departments and senior officials from holding political office in political parties.

“For the first time in democratic South Africa, the separation between political authority and administrative authority is being reinforced with legal certainty,” he said, adding that a professional public service cannot exist where political and administrative lines are blurred.

Buthelezi said the legislation would also strengthen consequence management, improve oversight and allow government to recover irregular salary overpayments, while protecting constitutional rights.

The Minister said government intended to intensify oversight of senior appointments and strengthen merit-based recruitment as part of a broader professionalisation framework across the public service.

“Leadership positions in the public service must be occupied by individuals capable of managing complex institutions in difficult conditions,” he said.

He added that government would expand lifestyle audits and establish an Integrity and Interference Log across departments to identify governance failures before they became systemic crises.

A central register for disciplinary cases would operate across all spheres of government to prevent officials dismissed for misconduct from moving between departments without consequence.

Buthelezi said digital transformation would become a central pillar of state reform, arguing that a modern state had to be digitally capable to improve service delivery, institutional integrity and economic inclusion.

“Digital transformation is not simply about technology procurement. It is about institutional capability,” he said.

The Minister highlighted the role of the National School of Government, saying it had trained more than 600 000 individuals since its establishment and would continue expanding compulsory programmes in financial management, cybersecurity and governance.

He announced the formalisation of a ministerial advisory committee on curriculum development and quality assurance, chaired by former Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka.

On healthcare support for public servants, Buthelezi said the Government Employees Medical Scheme had reached agreement with labour and government to reduce a proposed contribution increase from 9.5% to 7.5%.

He said the adjustment balanced financial sustainability with the wellbeing of workers facing rising living costs.

The Minister described the Public Service Commission (PSC) as a constitutional safeguard for ethical governance and professional administration.

He said a new PSC Bill before the National Council of Provinces would strengthen the commission’s enforcement powers and expand its role in professionalisation, recruitment oversight, ethics investigations and anti-corruption work.

Buthelezi acknowledged former Public Service Commission Director-General Advocate Dinkie Dube on her appointment as Deputy Public Protector.

Buthelezi said South Africa could no longer afford “a public service that is politically contested, administratively weak and ethically uncertain”.

“This Budget Vote advances a simple but substantial proposition that the constitutional promise of a capable, ethical and developmental State must now move from aspiration to reality,” he said. – SAnews.gov.za

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Advisor to Prime Minister and Official Spokesperson for Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Qatar Supports Pakistani Efforts, Outcome of Ongoing Communications Remains Unpredictable

Source: Government of Qatar

Doha, May 19, 2026

Advisor to the Prime Minister and Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr. Majed bin Mohammed Al Ansari affirmed that the State of Qatar continues its full support for the efforts led by the Islamic Republic of Pakistan aimed at reaching an agreement that prevents a return to escalation, stressing that it is not possible at present to predict the results of the ongoing contacts and efforts, in light of the diplomatic activity in the region.

During the Ministry’s weekly media briefing, Dr. Al Ansari said that HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, HE Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani, along with a number of Qatari officials are continuing their intensive contacts with their counterparts in the region and the world, with the aim of ensuring the continuation of the ceasefire, preventing a return to escalation, and securing freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, in order to spare the peoples of the region the repercussions of any new escalation.

Regarding the nature of the contacts that took place during the past period, he indicated that the contacts focused mainly on two main issues, mainly ensuring the continuation of the ceasefire and not returning to escalation in the region, and sparing the people the risks of any further escalation.

He said that no one wants a repeat of the escalation that the region witnessed during the past period, which calls for continued regional coordination and joint action in support of the Pakistani mediation efforts. he noted that supporting this mediation is a priority at the present stage, as it is the entity that conducts official communications between the parties.

Regarding the statement issued by HE President of the United States of America Donald Trump on Monday, Dr. Al Ansari said that the leaders of the region have emphasized since the first day of the crisis the need to maintain calm and give the diplomatic track a full opportunity to reach an agreement that guarantees the security and stability of the region. He pointed out that the State of Qatar has warned for years that the continuation of escalation in the region without establishing a sustainable peace will lead to a comprehensive war that will affect the region and the world.

He added that what was stated in the US President’s statement came in response to the contacts made by the leaders of the Gulf states, with the aim of giving diplomacy another chance and continuing contacts. He stressed the continued communication between the leaders of the region and international partners to ensure that there is no return to escalation.

Regarding the decision to postpone the American attack on Iran, as announced by the US President, the Advisor to the Prime Minister and Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs indicated that the State of Qatar’s stance is based on its cooperation with its partners in the United States, as well as its keenness to protect the people of the region from the repercussions of any war or escalation. He noted that the statements issued by the leaders of the region unanimously supported the Pakistani mediation efforts, the ceasefire, and giving diplomatic means a chance to reach a final agreement.

Regarding the continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz, Dr. Al Ansari pointed out that Articles 38 and 39 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea stipulate the right of transit passage through international straits. He noted that this right guarantees continuous and rapid freedom of navigation, and no state bordering these straits, including Iran, may obstruct transit passage or suspend this right for any purpose, including security reasons.

He indicated that any attempt to close the strait or impose a legal arrangement that restricts freedom of navigation in it is a violation of international law. He reiterated the State of Qatar’s emphasis on the need to respect freedom of navigation in the strait, and on its right to safe passage through it as a natural international waterway.

The Advisor to the Prime Minister and Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stressed that the State of Qatar is not concerned with any arrangements aimed at altering the status quo in the Strait of Hormuz. Instead, Qatar is solely invested in reopening the strait to completely free navigation in full compliance with international law.

He explained that Qatar’s supply chains for basic commodities have functioned normally despite the closure of the strait, without the need to tap into strategic reserves, thanks to pre-established contingency plans and alternatives.

He noted, however, that the primary challenge currently lies in exporting energy products, which carries a direct impact on global energy security and prices.

He reiterated that the closure of the Strait of Hormuz further complicates supply chain movements across the region as a whole.

Regarding the movement of Qatari gas tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, Dr. Al Ansari clarified that the tankers Al Khairitiyat and Mahzam crossed the strait over the past few days heading toward the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. This occurred within the framework of regional coordination and communication with the Pakistani side to ensure their safe passage, emphasizing that this does not signify the reopening of the strait or a return to normal gas tanker traffic.

He confirmed that more than ten fully loaded tankers remain stranded inside the Strait of Hormuz, alongside a large number of vessels belonging to Qatar and other nations, all still awaiting an opportunity to enter or exit through the strait.

He emphasized Qatar’s full support for Pakistani mediation and its continuous monitoring of regional developments, noting that no one can currently predict the outcome of the ongoing communications, whether positively or negatively.

In a related context, the Advisor to the Prime Minister and Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterated Qatar’s firm stance rejecting the attacks launched by Iran.

He stated that the goal is to preserve the sovereignty of the State of Qatar and the prosperity of the people, and Qatar has taken all necessary measures to ensure the security and safety of everyone within the country.

The Iranian people, he continued, like other peoples of the region, deserve to live in security, peace, and prosperity away from wars and conflicts. They are part of the population of this region, and Qatar enjoys positive relations with them.

However, he added, Iran chose to target the State of Qatar during this war, which has threatened relations with Qatar, affirming Qatar’s keenness and adherence to the principles of good neighborliness with all countries.

Dr. Al Ansari noted that Qatar is not in a position to provide indicators regarding the future of negotiations, but it continues to support the diplomatic efforts led by Pakistan and is intensifying its contacts with various regional and international partners in support of mediation efforts, expressing hope that these endeavors will contribute to reducing escalation and reaching a peaceful resolution to this crisis.

Regarding the NATO meetings to be held in the Republic of Turkiye next month, the Advisor to the Prime Minister and Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the State of Qatar is a party to NATO’s Istanbul Cooperation Initiative (ICI) and maintains an ongoing partnership with the Alliance, pointing out that there are forces belonging to NATO member states stationed in Doha.

He added that Qatar’s participation in these meetings comes within the framework of its key defense partnerships; therefore, representation and presence at this summit are part of this partnership, particularly in light of the current security implications and developments the region is witnessing.

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Qatar Participates in High-Level Meeting on Combating Irregular Migration

Source: Government of Qatar

Rome, May 19, 2026

The State of Qatar participated in the high-level meeting on combating irregular migration, held Tuesday in the Italian capital, Rome, with the participation of the Italian Republic, the Republic of Turkiye, and the State of Libya.

The State of Qatar was represented at the meeting by HE Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulaziz bin Saleh Al Khulaifi.

During the meeting, they discussed the latest developments regarding the irregular migration file, and ways to enhance cooperation and joint coordination among the four countries to face the challenges associated with this file, including strengthening international coordination, exchanging expertise, and capacity building, in addition to discussing mechanisms to support regional and international efforts aimed at reducing irregular migration flows.

HE the Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized the State of Qatar’s keenness to support international and regional efforts aimed at addressing the challenges of irregular migration through joint cooperation and coordination, in a manner that respects humanitarian principles and international law, and contributes to achieving security, stability, and development for the concerned countries and societies.