Posts

Posted on

SA, Botswana eye stronger regional trade ties at BNC

Source: Government of South Africa

SA, Botswana eye stronger regional trade ties at BNC

South Africa and Botswana are set to use the 6th Session of the Bi-National Commission (BNC) in Gaborone this week to accelerate efforts aimed at deepening regional trade, improving market access and strengthening cross-border investment in Southern Africa.

The high-level commission, taking place on 21 May 2026, comes at a time when both countries are seeking to position themselves more strategically within the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and broader Southern African development agenda.

Officials’ meetings began on 17 May and will run until 19 May, ahead of a Ministers’ Meeting on 20 May. 

Alongside the diplomatic engagements, the Botswana-South Africa Business Forum is expected to place renewed focus on practical economic cooperation between the two neighbouring states.

Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition Alexandra Abrahams is expected to deliver remarks at the Business Forum, where discussions are likely to centre on expanding bilateral trade, resolving market access constraints and strengthening regional value chains within the Southern African Customs Union (SACU).

The latest BNC session signals a growing shift from symbolic bilateral cooperation toward more implementation-driven economic coordination, particularly in sectors considered critical for regional growth. 

These include agriculture, mining, transport, infrastructure, energy, tourism, finance, water and technology.

Abrahams said the commission would provide an opportunity to review progress made since the previous BNC session, especially commitments linked to the Economic Cluster.

“The deliberations of the BNC are expected to support stronger bilateral trade and investment ties between South Africa and Botswana,” she said.

A key focus area is expected to be the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding on Trade and Industrial Cooperation, which seeks to reduce trade barriers, improve customs cooperation and support investment partnerships across SACU value chains.

The discussions come amid steadily expanding commercial ties between the two economies.

South Africa remains one of Botswana’s largest trading partners and accounts for roughly 60% of Botswana’s imports, including fuel, machinery, food products and industrial goods. In 2025, South Africa exported goods worth R73.6 billion to Botswana, while imports from Botswana were valued at approximately R7.6 billion.

Botswana is also becoming an increasingly important destination for South African investment.

According to the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition, 30 South African companies invested in Botswana between January 2003 and March 2026, spanning industries such as mining, financial services, communications, tourism, information technology and consumer products.

The commission is also expected to examine ways of addressing ongoing market access challenges affecting several sectors, while improving coordination on shared economic priorities.

Beyond trade, the BNC will tackle broader regional and continental issues, including regional security within the Southern African Development Community (SADC), implementation of the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and opportunities linked to the AfCFTA.

The AfCFTA remains central to both countries’ long-term economic ambitions, with leaders viewing regional integration as key to unlocking larger export markets, industrial growth and intra-African investment opportunities.

South Africa and Botswana currently maintain 38 bilateral agreements and Memoranda of Understanding covering sectors such as security, education, health, agriculture, infrastructure and tourism.

Originally established through an agreement signed in 2012 and inaugurated in 2013, the BNC has become one of the region’s key bilateral cooperation mechanisms. – SAnews.gov.za

Janine

0

Posted on

Gut health: why food alone won’t fix childhood stunting

Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Thulani P. Makhalanyane, Professor of Microbiology, Stellenbosch University

South Africa has a paradox when it comes to food availability. Its supermarkets are overflowing. But it continues to record high levels of stunted growth.

This seems to be a global problem. Data suggest that the world has produced more food in the last two decades and more wealth. Yet, roughly 150 million children under five remain stunted (too short for their age).

Stunted growth and poor cognitive development often stem from the same early-life problems, like poor nutrition, illness and unhealthy environments. These impediments to a child’s learning ability and physical growth have been shown to have serious long-term consequences for health and future economic prospects.

More concerning is that it appears that putting calories into mouths is not enough to prevent stunting. The science points to the role played by our intestinal microbiome – the trillions of microscopic organisms, including bacteria, viruses and fungi, that live in and on us – and the inability to digest nutrients.

We – a microbiologist and a health economist – recently published a paper in which we outline emerging evidence demonstrating that poverty affects children’s physiology – the way their bodies work – not merely their access to resources. Addressing childhood stunting therefore requires moving beyond single interventions such as providing food. What’s needed are integrated approaches that simultaneously tackle sanitation, infection control, nutrition quality and early childhood stimulation.

Our findings support the growing scientific evidence that both physiological and environmental factors must be addressed together to break the intergenerational cycle of poverty and developmental impairment. Nutrition is not the full story. The gut microbiome plays a complementary role by breaking down complex carbohydrates that our bodies cannot digest on their own, converting them into forms that may be absorbed and used for growth and development.

Diet provides the essential raw materials, while the microbiome helps unlock their nutritional value, thereby contributing to growth and development. There is also strong evidence that the environment shapes the microbiome’s ability to carry out these functions.

Gut microbes, poverty and stunting

Children’s growth is affected not only by what they eat, but also by how well their bodies can process and absorb nutrients.

Children living in informal settlements, where sanitation is generally poor, are exposed to microorganisms through dirt, toxic dust and sewage. This exposure may lead to a condition called environmental enteric dysfunction. This is when an inflamed intestine impairs the absorption of nutrients, including fats, proteins and vitamins.

The result is stunting. This may remain undiagnosed but can affect health negatively across a lifetime.

The prevalence of environmental enteric dysfunction in South Africa remains unclear. One reason is that there are no easily administered diagnostic tests. The other is the lack of large scale coordinated national studies.

Evidence from studies in Asia supports the potential role of the microbiome as a central contributor to stunting. These studies suggest that gut microbial communities of healthy children tend to follow predictable developmental milestones during the first two years of life. Failure to achieve these milestones may compromise the microbiome’s capacity to process food efficiently, with important implications for child growth and development.

In contrast, children with severe acute malnutrition often carry an immature gut community that does not mature in response to food or interventions focused on water, sanitation and hygiene services alone.

Read more: South African policy isn’t connecting child nutrition and sanitation

In a study done in Malawi, scientists transplanted gut bacteria from malnourished children into young animals and showed that the animals developed growth deficits. Conversely, microbes from healthy children could restore growth.

These studies show that an unhealthy gut community may be a cause – not just a consequence – of poor growth. Although the concept of a “healthy” microbiome has been the subject of extensive debate, there is increasing consensus that healthy microbiomes are typically characterised by high microbial diversity, the absence of dominance by a single organism, the capacity to remain stable, resilience and the ability to maintain essential functions even when community composition changes or is subject to environmental disturbance.

Studies that look directly at the small intestine have found that many stunted children have bacteria from the mouth growing in the wrong part of the gut. These bacteria may interfere with how the body absorbs fat, creating a direct link between the makeup of gut microbes and poor growth.

Other studies show that what really matters is what the microbes do – their ability to make vitamins and other building blocks – not just which species are present.

Put simply, the microbiome can help determine whether the food a child eats is used to grow body tissue or is wasted.

Knowledge gaps

Progress in tackling stunting has been slow for a number of reasons.

Firstly, traditional interventions focused on food provision and sanitation without understanding the underlying biological damage that impairs how nutrients are absorbed.

Secondly, the evidence base relies on studies from high-income contexts where nutrition alone may be the primary constraint. In lower and middle income countries the biological mechanisms driving stunting involve multiple interacting pathways.

Part of the answer is geography of research. Many of the early groundbreaking studies come from Asia and south Asia and from a few sites in east Africa and Malawi. Large multicountry cohorts such as the MAL-ED project and several studies in Bangladesh have provided strong evidence about enteric pathogens and their links to growth.

But sub-Saharan Africa remains under represented in longitudinal microbiome studies despite carrying a large burden of stunting. That gap has real world consequences. We know that the gut microbiome varies considerably and is influenced by several factors including diet and geography.

Children in different places have different diets, different exposures and different baseline microbes. Interventions that work in one region may fail in another.

The answers

What’s needed is African led research that samples African children across geography to understand what will work on the continent.

This requires a change in approaches to policy and research.

First, policy makers must stop treating food availability as synonymous with nutritional success. Food security matters but it is not sufficient.

Secondly, routine growth must be monitored better at primary healthcare level so stunting is not missed in communities where short stature looks normal to the eye.

Third, studies must measure gut function – not only weight and height. This will show who is failing to extract the benefit of food.

Fourth, water, sanitation and hygiene must be integrated.

Finally, build African capacity for this work, and fund African research.

Where the science could lead

Research into the microbiome can shift strategies from treating hunger to restoring lifelong health.

For example, it may be possible to identify new microbes that block fat absorption or those that degrade essential vitamins. We may begin to map how early disruptions in gut function influence metabolism and increase the risk of non-communicable diseases later in life.

We may also learn to use simple stool or blood markers to identify children who, despite having enough food, will not grow without gut-directed therapy.

– Gut health: why food alone won’t fix childhood stunting
– https://theconversation.com/gut-health-why-food-alone-wont-fix-childhood-stunting-273395

Posted on

Absa’s Shirley Webber Joins African Mining Week (AMW) Advisory Board to Drive African Mining Investment

Source: APO


.

Shirley Webber, Managing Principal and Coverage Head for Resources & Energy at Absa Bank, has joined the advisory board of African Mining Week (AMW) 2026 – The Most Influential Mining Conference in Africa.

Webber’s appointment strengthens AMW’s mission to mobilize the capital needed to unlock Africa’s vast mineral wealth and cement the continent’s role as a cornerstone of resilient global supply chains. As an advisory board member, she will guide strategic discussions and help shape the conference agenda on financing, investment partnerships, and sustainable mining development.

A seasoned corporate and investment banker with more than two decades of experience, Webber will contribute to AMW’s efforts to bridge Africa’s mining investment gap, as the continent seeks to unlock an estimated $8.5 trillion in untapped mineral resources. Achieving a sustainable, high-value mining sector will require annual investment to rise to more than $160 billion by 2050. AMW 2026 will convene global investors, policymakers, and industry leaders to explore financing solutions, strategic partnerships, and project development across Africa.

African nations are already seeking significant capital to realize their resource potential. The Democratic Republic of the Congo holds an estimated $24 trillion in untapped mineral resources, while South Africa aims to mobilize around R2 trillion in mining investment over the next five years to expand its critical minerals sector. Webber’s expertise in finance and investment structuring will support AMW’s mission to meet these financing requirements and strengthen the continent’s mining value chain.

Since joining Absa in 2011, Webber has played a pivotal role in advancing the bank’s support for resources and energy projects across Africa. Under her leadership, Absa has backed several major projects, across various geographies and commodities including rare earths,copper, platinum group metals and various other energy minerals and metals. Webber has also worked with leading global mining, energy and trading companies active on the African continent.

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

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 2026 conference from October 12-16 in Cape Town. Sponsors, exhibitors and delegates can learn more by contacting sales@energycapitalpower.com.

Posted on

Mining Services Companies Drive Africa’s Next Phase of Industrial Mining Growth

Source: APO


.

African Mining Week (AMW) – taking place on October 14 to 16 in Cape Town – will highight the growing role of mining services companies as critical enablers of Africa’s transition from resource – rich to project – ready. As the continent works to unlock an estimated $8.5 trillion in untapped mineral wealth, these firms are emerging as key drivers of capital mobilization, technical delivery and accelerated project timelines.

A structural shift is underway. Mining services companies are no longer confined to contractor roles – they are evolving into integrated project partners, shaping how mines are financed, engineered, built and operated. Their influence now sits at the intersection of capital markets, infrastructure development, energy systems and industrial policy, positioning them as central players in Africa’s next phase of mining – led growth.

This evolution is already visible in project activity across the continent. In April 2026, Metso inaugurated a new regional hub in Cape Town, strengthening its bulk material handling and services capabilities across Africa. The facility enhances automation, logistics and lifecycle services across key commodity value chains – including coal, platinum group metals and manganese – directly supporting South Africa’s strategy to scale mineral exports and industrial output.

Geopolitics is further amplifying this trend. Major global economies are increasingly leveraging their EPC and mining services companies as strategic tools to secure supply chains and expand influence. Institutions such as the Export-Import Bank of the United States are backing American participation in African mining, while China, Europe, Canada and Australia continue to embed their services companies into financing and development frameworks across the continent.

Australia’s Lycopodium is advancing Namibia’s Twin Hills project, while China’s JCHX Mining Management is supporting copper production at Botswana’s Khoemacau Mine. In Guinea, XCMG Machinery is contributing to development at the Simandou iron ore project – one of the largest untapped deposits globally.

Across key mining jurisdictions, this shift is accelerating project pipelines. Countries such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zambia, Ghana, Liberia and South Africa are increasingly relying on mining services firms to fast-track national geomapping exercises, exploration, scale production and advance beneficiation.

Against this backdrop, AMW will bring together global EPC firms, mining services providers, investors and African developers. The event is set to catalyze partnerships and deal-making, with a focus on strengthening execution capacity, unlocking financing and accelerating the delivery of mining projects that can anchor Africa’s industrial growth and global supply chain integration.

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

Posted on

Dra. Rasha Kelej e as Primeiras-Damas Africanas e Asiáticas celebram “Dia Mundial da Hipertensão” capacitando profissionais em prevenção cardiovascular, cardiologia, cuidados com diabetes e endocrinologia por meio de 997 bolsas de estudo especializadas para 52 países

Source: Africa Press Organisation – Portuguese –

Fundação Merck (www.Merck-Foundation.com), O braço filantrópico da Merck KGaA Alemanha celebra o ‘Dia Mundial da Hipertensão 2026’ juntamente com as Primeiras-Damas de África e da Ásia e seus parceiros, Ministérios da Saúde, Sociedades Médicas e Academia, através do seu Programa Nacional de Pontos Azuis para Diabetes e Hipertensão.

A Senadora Dra. Rasha Kelej (aposentada), CEO da Fundação Merck, partilhou: “Na Fundação Merck, celebramos o “Dia Mundial da Hipertensão” ampliando o acesso a cuidados de qualidade e equitativos em Hipertensão, Diabetes, Endocrinologia e Cuidados Preventivos Cardiovasculares.

Juntamente com as nossas Embaixadoras, as Primeiras-Damas de África, e parceiros como Ministérios da Saúde, Sociedades Médicas e Academia, concedemos quase 1.000 bolsas de estudo para jovens profissionais de saúde de 52 países, para Diplomas de Pós-Graduação online de um ano e Mestrados online de dois anos em Diabetes, Cuidados Preventivos Cardiovasculares, Endocrinologia, Cardiologia e Gestão de Peso e da Obesidade, bem como Programas de Fellowship presencial de um ano em Cuidados Clínicos Cardiovasculares e Diabetes Clínica.

Um ponto forte dessas bolsas de estudo é que elas apoiam médicos não apenas das capitais, mas de todo o país, ajudando a expandir a capacidade de atendimento de saúde e a melhorar o acesso aos cuidados de hipertensão e diabetes em todo o país.”

A Fundação Merck concedeu, ao todo, mais de 2.600 bolsas de estudo para profissionais de saúde de 52 países, em 44 especialidades médicas essenciais e carentes de profissionais.

A Dra. Hazel W. Kariuki, ex-bolseira da Fundação Merck, do Quénia, partilha: “Recebi a Bolsa de Estudos da Fundação Merck e descreveria a minha jornada como transformadora. O programa de treinamento fortaleceu significativamente o meu conhecimento clínico e as minhas habilidades práticas em cuidados cardiovasculares e diabetes. Através desta oportunidade, pude aprimorar as práticas de tratamento de pacientes e contribuir de forma mais eficaz para a melhoria dos serviços de saúde na minha comunidade. Sinto-me honrada e grata pela oportunidade de impactar e contribuir de forma significativa para os resultados cardiovasculares no meu país.”

As bolsas de estudo da Fundação Merck são de grande valor, visto que, segundo dados da OMS, a região africana apresenta a maior prevalência de hipertensão, afectando aproximadamente 27% dos adultos.

Como parte dos seus programas de conscientização comunitária, a Fundação Merck, em parceria com as Primeiras-Damas de África e da Ásia, também lançou os livros infantis “Pressão de Mark” e “Jude Sem Açúcar” para aumentar a conscientização sobre a hipertensão e a diabetes, respectivamente. Ambos os livros também incentivam crianças e famílias a adotarem estilos de vida mais saudáveis, pois essa é a maneira mais eficaz de prevenir hipertensão, diabetes e muitas complicações relacionadas.

A Fundação Merck também adaptou livros infantis para desenvolver filmes de animação interessantes.

“Os nossos livros infantis e filmes de animação visam educar crianças e jovens sobre a importância de hábitos saudáveis, como reduzir a ingestão de sal e açúcar, praticar exercícios regularmente, ter uma alimentação balanceada e evitar o tabagismo. Pequenas mudanças hoje podem levar a um amanhã mais saudável”, enfatizou a Dr. Kelej.

Assista ao curta de animação “Pressão de Mark” aqui: https://apo-opa.co/4uaR50B

Assista ao filme de animação “Jude Sem Açúcar” aqui: https://apo-opa.co/4uj2sUi

O programa televisivo pan-africano da Fundação Merck, “Nossa África”, idealizado, produzido, realizado e coapresentado pela Dra. Rasha Kelej, CEO da Fundação Merck, e que conta com a participação de estilistas, cantores e especialistas renomados de diversas áreas, com o objectivo de conscientizar sobre questões sociais e de saúde, possui episódios dedicados à conscientização sobre hipertensão, diabetes e à promoção de um estilo de vida saudável.

Assista aos episódios aqui:

https://apo-opa.co/4tAHRth

https://apo-opa.co/4uQwLS3

O programa televisivo “Nossa África” foi transmitido em estações televisivas nacionais e principais de muitos países africanos, como Burundi, Botswana, Gana, Gâmbia, Quénia, Libéria, Malawi, Maurícias, Namíbia, Serra Leoa, Uganda, Zâmbia e está actualmente nas redes sociais da Dra. Rasha Kelej (Facebook (https://apo-opa.co/43dWp7s), Instagram (https://apo-opa.co/4tGsXlt), Twitter (https://apo-opa.co/4eLYbUv) e YouTube (https://apo-opa.co/49M4zHN) e da Fundação Merck (Facebook (https://apo-opa.co/49A5sTQ), Instagram (https://apo-opa.co/4uN344k), Twitter (https://apo-opa.co/4uLpSkW) e YouTube (https://apo-opa.co/4uQw7Eb).

Além disso, a Fundação Merck, em conjunto com as Primeiras-Damas Africanas, lança anualmente os seus prémios para os melhores profissionais de mídia, estilistas, cineastas, músicos/cantores e novos talentos promissores nessas áreas em países africanos, com o objectivo de promover um estilo de vida saudável e aumentar a conscientização sobre a prevenção e a detecção precoce de diabetes e hipertensão.

1. Prémio de Jornalismo Fundação Merck 2026 “Diabetes & Hipertensão”: Os representantes da mídia são convidados a apresentar os seus trabalhos através de mensagens fortes e impactantes que promovam um estilo de vida saudável e aumentar a conscientização sobre a prevenção e a detecção precoce da diabetes e da hipertensão.

Prazo para submissão: 30 de outubro de 2026.

2. Prémio do Cinema Fundação Merck 2026 “Diabetes & Hipertensão”: Todos os cineastas africanos, estudantes de instituições de formação cinematográfica ou jovens talentos de África estão convidados a criar e partilhar um filme ou curta-metragem, seja drama, documentário ou docudrama, para que transmitam mensagens fortes e impactantes que promovam um estilo de vida saudável e aumentem a conscientização sobre a prevenção e a detecção precoce da diabetes e da hipertensão.

Prazo para submissão: 30 de outubro de 2026.

3. Prémio de Moda Fundação Merck 2026 “Diabetes & Hipertensão”: Todos os estudantes e estilistas de moda africanos estão convidados a criar e partilhar designs que transmitam mensagens fortes e impactantes para promover um estilo de vida saudável e aumentar a conscientização sobre a prevenção e a detecção precoce da diabetes e da hipertensão.

Prazo para submissão: 30 de outubro de 2026.

4. Prémio da Canção Fundação Merck 2026 “Diabetes & Hypertensão”: Todos os cantores e artistas musicais africanos estão convidados a criar e partilhar uma música com o objectivo de promover um estilo de vida saudável e aumentar a conscientização sobre a prevenção e a detecção precoce da diabetes e da hipertensão.

Prazo para submissão: 30 de outubro de 2026.

As inscrições para todos os prêmios devem ser enviadas por e-mail para: submit@merck-foundation.com

Distribuído pelo Grupo APO para Merck Foundation.

Contato:
Mehak Handa
Gerente do Programa de Conscientização Comunitária
Telefone: +91 9310087613 / +91 9319606669
Email: mehak.handa@external.merckgroup.com

Junte-se à conversa nas plataformas das nossas mídias sociais e deixe a sua voz ser ouvida!
Facebook: https://apo-opa.co/49A5sTQ
X: https://apo-opa.co/4uLpSkW
YouTube: https://apo-opa.co/4uQw7Eb
Instagram: https://apo-opa.co/4uN344k
Threads: https://apo-opa.co/4dgcvn7
Flickr: https://apo-opa.co/4wzSoYm
Site: www.Merck-Foundation.com
Baixar a Aplicação da Fundação Merck: https://apo-opa.co/43dYv7i

Sobre Fundação Merck:
A Fundação Merck, criada em 2017, é o braço filantrópico da Merck KGaA Alemanha e visa melhorar a saúde e o bem-estar das pessoas e impulsionar suas vidas por meio da ciência e da tecnologia. Nossos esforços concentram-se principalmente em melhorar o acesso a soluções de saúde de qualidade e equitativas em comunidades carentes, fortalecer a capacidade em saúde e pesquisa científica, empoderar meninas na educação e empoderar pessoas em STEM (Ciência, Tecnologia, Engenharia e Matemática), com foco especial em mulheres e jovens. Todos os comunicados de imprensa da Fundação Merck são distribuídos por e-mail ao mesmo tempo em que são disponibilizados no site da Fundação Merck.  Visite  www.Merck-Foundation.com para ler mais. Siga as redes sociais da Fundação Merck: Facebook (https://apo-opa.co/49A5sTQ), X (https://apo-opa.co/4uLpSkW), Instagram (https://apo-opa.co/4uN344k), YouTube (https://apo-opa.co/4uQw7Eb), Threads (https://apo-opa.co/4dgcvn7) e Flickr (https://apo-opa.co/4wzSoYm).

A Fundação Merck dedica-se a melhorar os resultados sociais e de saúde de comunidades carentes. Embora colabore com diversos parceiros, incluindo governos, para alcançar os seus objectivos humanitários, a fundação permanece estritamente neutra em questões políticas. Não se envolve nem apoia quaisquer actividades, eleições ou regimes políticos, concentrando-se exclusivamente na sua missão de elevar a humanidade e promover o bem-estar, mantendo uma postura estritamente apolítica em todos os seus esforços.

Media files

Baixar .tipo

Posted on

Government mourns the passing of former North West Premier

Source: Government of South Africa

Government mourns the passing of former North West Premier

The South African government has expressed its condolences following the passing of former North West Premier Bushy Maape, describing him as a dedicated public servant and respected leader who made a lasting contribution to the province.

In a statement issued by the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) on Monday, government said Maape’s passing marked the loss of “a champion for the development of the North West province” who worked tirelessly to improve the lives of communities throughout his career in public service.

Government praised Maape for supporting programmes aimed at strengthening service delivery, promoting economic development and advancing the dignity and wellbeing of residents across the province.

“His leadership was characterised by humility, discipline and a deep understanding of the challenges facing the province,” the GCIS said.

Maape was also recognised for his commitment to ethical leadership and accountable governance. 

Government said he believed in building an inclusive society where public institutions remain responsive to the needs of citizens.

His contribution to provincial governance and his efforts to foster stability and development in the North West province have left behind a meaningful and lasting legacy which will continue to inspire current and future generations of leaders.

“Government extends its sincere condolences to his family, friends, colleagues and the people of the North West Province during this difficult time,” said government. – SAnews.gov.za

Janine

0

Posted on

National Dialogue Steering Committee adopts rollout phase framework

Source: Government of South Africa

National Dialogue Steering Committee adopts rollout phase framework

The National Dialogue Steering Committee has formally adopted a framework that will guide the rollout phase of the National Dialogue pilot process.

Steering Committee spokesperson Qhamisa Tengile said this follows the adoption of the National Dialogue Roadmap in March, which “laid the strategic foundation for the phased national rollout of the National Dialogue process”.

“The adoption of the Implementation Framework marks an important transition from strategic planning toward structured pilot implementation, as the National Dialogue continues to build the governance, operational and participation architecture required to support a credible, inclusive and citizen-led national process owned by the people of South Africa.

“The adopted Implementation Framework provides a coordinated operational pathway for the pilot phase scheduled to commence in June 2026 and conclude in August 2026. During this phase, the thirty-nine (39) sectors of the National Dialogue will coordinate a total of 195 pilot dialogues, including ward-based, digital, media-based and sectoral dialogues across all nine provinces of South Africa,” Tengile said.

The pilot phase is designed as a deliberate national learning and participation process aimed at:

  • Testing methodologies and engagement models;
  • Strengthening systems and operational readiness;
  • Ensuring broader accessibility and inclusion;
  • Integrating existing grassroots and community dialogues, and
  • Enabling citizens and communities themselves to shape the future implementation methodology of the National Dialogue.

“The Steering Committee emphasises that the Implementation Framework remains a working operational guide that will continue to evolve through implementation learning processes, sectoral coordination and ongoing institutional refinement.

“In this regard, the National Dialogue seeks to proceed with both urgency and responsibility, recognising the importance of ensuring that the process remains grounded, inclusive, credible and responsive to the lived realities of South Africans.

“The implementation phase is guided by the principle that the National Dialogue must not merely speak about communities, but must create meaningful platforms through which communities are able to speak for themselves, influence national reflection and contribute towards a people’s compact aimed at informing the future growth trajectory of the Republic of South Africa,” she said.

The proposed pilot dialogues are expected to prioritise:

  • Balanced participation across provinces, districts, rural communities, urban centres, townships and sector formations;
  • Direct community participation and ward-level engagement, targeted at approximately 60% of the rollout;
  • Building trust through direct engagement in communities often excluded from national processes;
  • Multilingual facilitation approaches;
  • Trauma-informed engagement methodologies, and
  • Dialogue models capable of navigating South Africa’s social, economic and geographic diversity.

“The Steering Committee further recognises that the success of the National Dialogue depends not only on engagement itself, but also on the strength of the systems supporting implementation, coordination and rapid response capacity,” Tengile added.

She noted that due to the upcoming Local Government Elections scheduled for November this year, the dialogue will take a pause.

“In recognition of the heightened political environment during the election period, and in order to preserve the non-partisan credibility, neutrality and integrity of the National Dialogue process, the Steering Committee has resolved that the Dialogue will enter a pause and reflection period between September and December 2026,” she said.

The spokesperson emphasised that the National Dialogue remains committed to “advancing a shared national vision rooted in accountability, social justice, democratic participation and ethical leadership”.

“The National Dialogue remains fully committed to constitutional values, democratic participation, accountability, dignity and social cohesion. The process further places particular emphasis on ensuring that communities historically excluded from formal policy and decision-making spaces are meaningfully included within the national conversation.

“The Steering Committee therefore calls upon all sectors of society, including communities, civil society organisations, organised labour, business, youth formations, academia, faith-based institutions and broader social partners, to actively participate in shaping a credible, solutions-oriented and citizen-led National Dialogue process for the future of South Africa,” Tengile said. – SAnews.gov.za

NeoB

0

Posted on

Oversight matters: Spotting payroll fraud in a digital world

Source: APO

South Africa’s government has put payroll fraud in its crosshairs. In its latest Budget Review document, the National Treasury prioritises digital payroll systems for state entities, combatting what some outlets have reported as over R4 billion in annual losses through fraudulent payroll payments.

This problem is not limited to the public sector. The Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals estimates that South African businesses lose around R100 million annually through payroll fraud. Many of the cases involve manual and paper-based payroll systems that are easy to manipulate.

The adoption of digital payroll platforms can reduce and catch fraud before it becomes a serious issue. However, going digital is not enough, says Yolande Schoültz, founder of YSchoültz Attorneys and one of SA’s foremost payroll fraud experts.

“There is no doubt that digital systems are better than paper-based payroll management. But a digital system only makes it much easier to track down and stop fraud. The organisation must still put the right measures in place, such as approval policies and oversight checks.”

Payroll fraud red flags

Perpetrators of payroll fraud commit their crimes in several ways. A lone individual might skim money unnoticed by creating ghost employees or redirecting payments. They might collude with former employees, leaving the latter’s details on the system and splitting their salary payments.

Whatever the method, the most common aspect of payroll fraud is an administrator operating under little or no oversight, says Schoültz.

“There should be a chain of custody, such as someone signing off on salary calculations and doing spot checks to ensure everything is legitimate. But it’s amazing how often, even at large companies, the payroll administrator is working on their own and is the only one with proper access to the payroll system.”

Payroll fraud has several red flags, including:

  • Unapproved bank accounts or changes to banking details.
  • Changes to employee, account, or reporting information right before or after a payroll run.
  • Excessive overtime, since payroll fraudsters often put in disproportionate hours to maintain control.
  • Strange login and backup hours, another attempt to maintain control and avoid scrutiny.
  • No system locks during payroll runs that would avoid manipulation of records and calculations.
  • Manually feeding calculations into other systems.
  • Frequent payment errors.
  • Payroll software isolated to one device that only the payroll administrator can access.

Individually, some of these warnings can be innocuous. They can be signs of an overworked administrator or lacking workplace strategies. But the presence of several is reason to be concerned, and some (such as changed banking details) are immediate cause for alarm.

Preventing payroll fraud with technology

Modern payroll platforms help organisations reduce fraud, but only when used correctly and alongside other safeguards.

“There is no magical app that just changes how you operate,” says Sandra Crous, managing director of payroll provider Deel Local Payroll. “A nutrition app won’t automatically get you to eat less, and a fitness app won’t suddenly get you to exercise more. You still have to make changes and use the app to reinforce your new behaviours. A payroll platform gives a business the tools to oversee and manage payroll through different layers, but the business must use those tools in accordance with its policies.”

Spot checks can quickly reveal issues that require more scrutiny. Payroll platforms support fraud detection and financial diligence in several ways:

  • System and bank account changes: The platform provides reports and audit trails, and generates custom reports for authorised employees.
  • Isolated access: Modern payroll platforms operate as cloud software, accessible to multiple authorised users and devices.
  • Single users: Secure accounts that give different people, such as auditors, finance directors, and HR heads, access to dashboards and reports.
  • Manual data entry: Payroll platforms integrate with other systems of record, sharing payroll data automatically and leaving no room for interference.
  • Obscure payroll information: Employee self-service (ESS) features enable employees to access payslips and other information directly, helping them spot irregularities.

An organisation must create oversight through clear policies, spot checks, and leadership oversight. The right payroll platform can even help people with limited payroll knowledge uncover strange behaviours.

“You won’t spot payroll fraud if you keep looking for big changes and payments,” says Schoültz. “Most payroll fraudsters siphon money over a long time and across multiple bank accounts, making it harder to detect. That’s much easier with paper-based systems, spreadsheets, and older payroll software. But if you can access regular reports and integrate payroll data with other systems, it becomes much harder for people to commit fraud, and much easier for you to catch them if they do.”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Deel Local Payroll, powered by PaySpace.

About Deel Local Payroll: 
Deel Local Payroll, powered by PaySpace, revolutionises payroll management. It offers online, multi-country payroll and HR management for businesses from start-ups through to enterprise in over 40 African countries, the United Kingdom, the Middle East, and Brazil.

Cloud-native, Deel Local Payroll, is scalable, configurable, highly secure, and easy-to-use—delivering anytime, anywhere access. It features payroll automation, self-service features, automatic legislation and feature updates, customised reporting, and more.

Since 2024, Deel Local Payroll has been part of Deel, operating as an independent subsidiary, serving its customers through the PaySpace platform.

Media files

.

Posted on

GCIS takes Budget Vote outreach programme to the Western Cape

Source: Government of South Africa

GCIS takes Budget Vote outreach programme to the Western Cape

The Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) has launched a series of community outreach activities across the Western Cape as part of its 2026/27 Budget Vote programme.

The activities are aimed at strengthening direct engagement between government and citizens.

The programme, taking place from 18 to 21 May, focuses on community participation, service delivery awareness, and social development initiatives, while also creating platforms for dialogue between government and residents.

According to a statement issued by the GCIS, the outreach campaign forms part of its broader mandate to ensure communities are informed about government programmes and empowered to participate in decision-making processes.

The week-long programme began on Monday with the cleaning of the Langa Massacre Memorial Site in Cape Town, a historic site commemorating the events of 21 March 1960 when anti-apartheid protestors were killed by police during demonstrations that coincided with the Sharpeville Massacre.

The clean-up initiative brought together several stakeholders, including GCIS, the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development, the South African Police Service, Metro Police, the Community Policing Forum, the City of Cape Town, Brand South Africa, and the Media Development and Diversity Agency.

On Tuesday, officials will visit the Saartjie Baartman Centre for Women and Children, where essential items such as sanitary pads, face cloths, and toothbrushes will be handed over to support vulnerable women and children.

The outreach programme will continue on Wednesday with the GCIS Budget Vote Speech in Parliament.

The department is expected to outline its communication priorities, national campaigns, and plans for the 2026/27 financial year.

Activities will conclude on Thursday in Ward 87 in Khayelitsha, where community outreach initiatives will include street cleaning, painting of a community service point, and pothole repairs.

GCIS said the outreach programme reflects government’s commitment to active citizen engagement and visible service delivery interventions at community level.

Acting Government Spokesperson Nomonde Mnukwa said the programme seeks to bring government closer to communities while encouraging greater public participation in governance processes.– SAnews.gov.za

Janine

0

Posted on

Register to make your mark in the 2026 LGE

Source: Government of South Africa

Register to make your mark in the 2026 LGE

Eligible South Africans have been urged to use the available registration opportunities and play an active role in shaping the future of their communities through the 2026 Local Government Elections democratic process.

President Cyril Ramaphosa announced last month that the elections will take place on 4 November 2026.

Chief Electoral Officer Sy Mamabolo said at the time that the announcement had provided certainty for planning and should encourage citizens to ensure their voter registration details are up to date.

“The announcement of the election date provides clarity for all role players and certainty of planning for the Electoral Commission as we continue our work to deliver free and fair municipal elections,” Mamabolo said.

The commission urged South Africans who have not yet registered, as well as those who may have changed their residential address, to register in the voting district where they ordinarily live.

To qualify for registration, citizens must be South African citizens, be at least 16 years old — although voting is only permitted from the age of 18 — and possess either a green barcoded ID book, a smartcard ID, or a valid Temporary Identity Certificate (TIC).

The IEC warned that voters are only permitted to vote at the station where they are registered, making it critical for citizens to verify and update their details ahead of election day.

Citizens can register online through the commission’s Online Voter Registration Portal until the official proclamation of the election date. 

The platform also allows users to update their registration details, confirm their address, locate voting stations, and apply for special votes.

Voter registration can also be completed in person at local IEC offices during office hours, at voting stations during national registration weekends, during targeted communication and registration drives, and at civic and democracy education events.

The commission has advised citizens to contact their local IEC office before visiting to make an appointment for registration.

A national voter registration weekend has been scheduled for 20 and 21 June 2026, during which citizens will be able to register and update their information at voting stations nationwide.

The IEC said voters should update their registration details if they have moved to a new address, have incomplete address information, received a new ID number, or if ward or voting district boundaries have changed.

South Africans can check their voter registration status through the IEC website, by SMSing their ID number to 32810, via the IEC WhatsApp chatbot, through the mobile app, or by calling the commission’s toll-free call centre on 0800 11 8000 during designated periods.

While the President has announced the intended election date, the official legal proclamation will still be made by Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa. 

Once proclaimed, the national voters’ roll will formally close. – SAnews.gov.za

 

Janine

4