MIL Africa Engine

May 26, 2026

Health Leaders Endorse Coordinated Action and Continuity of Essential Services During Ebola Response

Source: APO

African health leaders and global partners have agreed to strengthen regional coordination and resource mobilisation to contain the ongoing Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak affecting the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda, while also safeguarding essential services such as education and routine healthcare, including continued efforts to contain cholera, measles and other outbreaks on the continent.

The commitments were endorsed during a high-level ministerial cross-border coordination meeting convened in Kampala by the Director General of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), Dr Jean Kaseya, together with ministers of health from the DRC, Uganda and South Sudan, alongside the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and technical partners.

The meeting focused on strengthening surveillance, harmonising preparedness measures across borders, sustaining frontline services and reinforcing regional solidarity in the face of a growing outbreak.

Leaders stressed that the outbreak is unfolding in a region characterised by intense cross-border movement, insecurity and limited access to approved vaccines or therapeutics for the Bundibugyo strain, underscoring the importance of a coordinated regional response.

Speaking during a media briefing after the meeting, Dr Kaseya said the scale and trajectory of the outbreak required sustained continental solidarity and coordination.

“This outbreak is not a DRC issue, it is a regional issue,” Dr Kaseya said. “Those who believe that it is a DRC issue will be surprised, as it was during COVID. We need to take it as a regional, even continental issue, and deal with that.”

So far, the outbreak has resulted in 96 confirmed cases and 11 confirmed deaths across the DRC and Uganda, with an additional 867 suspected cases and 204 suspected deaths under investigation.

The DRC’s Minister of Health, Dr Roger Kamba, said insecurity and laboratory limitations had complicated the response during the early phase of the outbreak. “The delay was due to the fact that the laboratory in Bunia could not detect the Bundibugyo strain, and it was necessary to send the samples to Kinshasa,” he said.

Dr Kamba also said the DRC government was engaging diplomatic and mediation channels, including international partners, to facilitate access and coordination in areas under M23 control so that Ebola response activities could continue across affected regions. He stressed that a unified response across all affected territories was essential to containing the outbreak.

The meeting endorsed a unified continental response framework built around a “one team, one plan, one budget and one implementation model” under the continental Incident Management Support Team (IMST) jointly coordinated by Africa CDC and WHO. President Yoweri Museveni offered to host the IMST in Kampala.

Emergency Director at WHO-AFRO Dr Marie Roseline Belizaire said the response would depend on close coordination and solidarity among countries and partners. “No single agency, no single country can respond to this magnitude of outbreak alone,” she said. “Coordination, solidarity and collaboration are critical to this response.”

Participants agreed on a broad package of regional actions, including strengthening cross-border surveillance and early warning systems, harmonising public health measures at official and unofficial points of entry, improving laboratory and diagnostic capacity, and reinforcing infection prevention and control measures.

UNICEF Regional Director Ms Etleva Kadilli highlighted the importance of protecting essential services, including education, routine healthcare and social support systems. “Maintaining essential services – health, nutrition and protection, especially for children, girls and women – is going to be paramount,” she said.

Partners highlighted the disproportionate impact of the outbreak on women and frontline caregivers. Representing the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Regional Director Ms Lydia Zigomo said women accounted for most of the infections recorded so far.

“Women actually are representing more than 60% of the infections in this outbreak,” she said. “Mainly that’s because they’re frontline responders. At the home level, they’re the ones nursing sick people.”

Leaders further called for accelerated research and development for vaccines and therapeutics targeting the Bundibugyo strain, while urging countries and partners to strengthen community engagement, risk communication, laboratory systems and preparedness capacities across at-risk border districts.

While partners’ needs were being consolidated under a joint plan and budget, estimates were that about US$264 million could be required for response operations in the DRC and Uganda, with an additional US$54 million needed to strengthen preparedness across neighbouring high-risk countries, including South Sudan. But Dr Kaseya said the figures remained preliminary.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).

Media Contact:
Directorate of Communication & Public Information
Communications@africacdc.org

About Africa CDC:
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) is the public health agency of the African Union. As an autonomous institution, Africa CDC supports AU Member States to strengthen health systems, improve disease surveillance, and enhance emergency preparedness and response. For more information, visit: www.AfricaCDC.org and follow Africa CDC on LinkedIn (https://apo-opa.co/4dTzFPk), X (https://apo-opa.co/4uzeQzu), Facebook (https://apo-opa.co/4dMegr5), and YouTube (https://apo-opa.co/4fa42mH).

May 26, 2026

Africa Day (May 25): Winning Together (By Herbert Mensah)

Source: APO

By Herbert Mensah, President of Rugby Africa (www.RugbyAfrique.com) and Chair of World Rugby’s Regions.

As we celebrate Africa Day under the theme “63 Years of Unity, Integration and Development,” a question emerges: are unity and integration translating into clear outcomes across the world? When investment, capacity, and infrastructure remain uneven, shared systems cannot produce shared growth outcomes.

As President of Rugby Africa, I see this reality up close. And this is not theoretical: sport does not develop by chance. It develops when leadership is disciplined, structures are built properly, and investment is directed where it matters most.

Winning off the field

The reality is simple: winning off the field matters just as much as winning on it. What is seen on match day is only the outcome. Behind it lies governance, planning, funding, player welfare, coaching structures, and long-term strategy. When those foundations are weak, success becomes episodic rather than sustainable.

Over the years, in rugby and in previous roles in football administration, I have seen how pressure can distort decision-making. Fans demand results. Stakeholders expect progress. Everyone wants success now. But consistent success is built on structure, not urgency. In sport, as in business, planning is what prevents chaos. When finances are mismanaged, when development pathways are weak, or when investment in people is neglected, performance eventually suffers. Strong governance produces strong sport, which is where integration becomes critical.

Integration strengthens the game

Too often, talent in Africa is still constrained by geography, language barriers, and outdated selection models. Integration is what removes those barriers. When properly applied, integration creates shared knowledge systems, coordinated development, and stronger competition structures across borders. It allows the game to grow beyond isolated national frameworks into a connected ecosystem. South Africa has shown how rugby can be both excellent and inclusive.

As four-time Rugby World Cup champions, they have not only elevated the sport through success, but also through a model that reflects a more inclusive society. That integration widened the talent base, strengthened credibility, and ultimately made the sport more competitive. The lesson is clear: inclusion is not a social objective separate from performance; it is a performance driver.

Africa must shape its own development

But integration must go further than participation in systems designed elsewhere. It must include participation in decision-making. No two regions operate under the same economic, logistical, or social conditions. Some face infrastructure gaps. Others face travel costs and limited domestic competition. A one-size-fits-all development model cannot work.

Africa understands its own realities best. Yet too often, development frameworks risk becoming compliance exercises — structured more around reporting than impact. That is where the focus must shift: from activity to outcomes.

Africa’s youth are the future

This becomes even more urgent when we look at Africa’s demographic reality. The United Nations reports that Africa has the world’s youngest population, with a median age of around 19 years, compared to approximately 31 globally and over 40 in parts of Europe. This is central to the future of sport. Rugby is competing for attention, participation, and relevance. It cannot stand still.
If investment is directed into youth systems, school programmes, academies, and accessible pathways, Africa will become central to the future growth of the game. If it is not, rugby will miss its most significant opportunity for expansion.

From promises to measurable growth

It is no longer enough to speak about development in abstract terms. Investment must translate into measurable outcomes: stronger coaching systems, better competitions, safer player welfare structures, and visible pathways for young athletes.

On this Africa Day, we should measure progress not by intention, but by impact. Africa will only succeed on the field when it first succeeds off it, through systems that are built to last, and leadership that is accountable to growth.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Rugby Africa.

To Download Official Opinion Piece: https://apo-opa.co/3Rn9pVV

Media Contact:
Nicole Vervelde
Communications Manager
nicole.vervelde@rugbyafrique.com

About Rugby Africa:
Rugby Africa (www.RugbyAfrique.com) is the governing body of rugby in Africa and one of the regional associations under World Rugby. It unites all African countries that play rugby union, rugby sevens, and women’s rugby. Rugby Africa organizes various competitions, including the qualifying tournaments for the Rugby World Cup and the Africa Sevens, a qualifying competition for the Olympic Games. With 40 member unions, Rugby Africa is dedicated to promoting and developing rugby across the continent. World Rugby highlighted Ghana, Nigeria and Zambia as three of the six emerging nations experiencing strong growth in rugby.

Media files

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May 26, 2026

In Senegal, a 2,000-year-old iron workshop sheds new light on the past

Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Mélissa Morel, Chercheure en métallurgie et en archéologie, University of Cambridge

How was iron produced 2,000 years ago in Senegal? A recent study at the Didé West 1 archaeological site, in the Falémé Valley in eastern Senegal, sheds light on an ancient iron production technique.

Passed down from generation to generation for nearly eight centuries, this technology appears to have been developed to meet local needs. African archaeology specialists Anne Mayor, Mélissa Morel and Ladji Dianifaba explain the significance of this discovery and what it reveals about the transmission of technical knowledge over the long term.

What did you find?

For over 2,000 years, metalworkers produced iron in what is now Senegal. By studying the remains they left behind, we have been able to reconstruct their technical choices, the natural resources they used, and, to some extent, aspects of their way of life. Beyond their scientific value, these studies also highlight the expertise of ancient blacksmiths, since iron production represented a major technical and social transformation, particularly for agriculture.

In eastern Senegal, in the Falémé Valley, within the Boundou Community Nature Reserve, many ancient iron production sites have been identified in recent years. Archaeological surveys and excavations carried out by an international research team involving scholars from the universities of Geneva and Fribourg in Switzerland, as well as the Institut Fondamental d’Afrique Noire at Cheikh Anta Diop University in Dakar, revealed at least five distinct technical iron traditions.

The new study focused on one of these iron production techniques (named FAL02) identified in the region, which is represented at around 100 sites.

The site of Didé West 1 (DDW1), the largest and best-preserved of these sites, stands out for two major reasons. First, it provides one of the earliest known dates for iron-smelting furnaces in Senegal. Second, it documents a long sequence of metallurgical activity spanning nearly 800 years, from 400 BCE to 400 CE. These radiocarbon dates were obtained from charcoal directly associated with the furnaces.

The exceptional preservation of this site allowed us to document this technique in detail, trace its transformations over time, and better understand the choices made by the metallurgists.

How were you able to prove it?

The main evidence of ancient iron metallurgy comes from slag, which is the waste produced when ore is transformed into metal. During the smelting process, this slag flows like molten lava within the furnace before solidifying into rocky masses. Once the operation was completed, the slag was discarded and gradually piled up into large heaps.

Our study of the Didé West 1 slag heap revealed 35 furnace bases, attesting to repeated activity over several dozen generations. Certain technical features define this tradition, including multi-perforated tuyères (clay pipes pierced with holes to allow air to circulate within the furnace), as well as the use of African palm nuts as packing material at the bottom of the furnace. This system appears to have facilitated the separation of metal from slag.

Slag shaped like the seeds of the rattan palm reflects a unique cultural choice. © David Glauser, Fourni par l’auteur

By combining these observations, we were able to reconstruct how this technique worked. The metalworkers used small circular furnaces equipped with a removable chimneys rather than permanent shafts. The iron ore likely consisted of laterites (a type of soil) collected from the immediate surroundings. Taken together, these elements reflect a high level of technical expertise.

Who were the people behind this technology?

Research on African societies during the first millennium BCE and the first millennium CE comes with several challenges. Written sources are scarce, and organic materials that could provide information about housing or diet are poorly preserved. Even iron artefacts are usually too degraded to survive.

On many sites, only pottery fragments remain. It is therefore still difficult to identify precisely the populations behind the FAL02 technique. This specific technical tradition was recognised through the shapes of the furnaces, tuyères, and slag found at the sites. Iron production techniques are not merely technical processes. They reflect traditions, choices and know-how specific to each cultural group.

Analysis of the slag volumes also helps estimate how much iron was produced. At Didé West 1, the data point to modest and irregular production, likely seasonal. These elements suggest that the activity was intended to meet local needs, rather than large-scale production for export.

Why this matters

The origins of iron metallurgy in west Africa are still debated. Two major hypotheses continue to be discussed. One argues that ironworking spread from the Hittite world in Anatolia (in present-day Turkey) via the Maghreb or the Nile Valley. The other suggests an independent invention in sub-Saharan Africa. To date, the available evidence does not allow a definitive conclusion.

Drone view of the Didé West 1 iron reduction site. © Pierre Lamotte

However, several ancient iron production sites dating from the first millennium BCE have been identified in sub-Saharan Africa, including in Nigeria, Niger, Togo, and Burkina Faso, and now in Senegal. These discoveries tend to strenghten the case of local development.

Within this context, the dates obtained at Didé West 1, reaching at least the 4th century BCE, make it one of the earliest known ironworking techniques in Senegal. The site therefore contributes important new data to a still limited body of evidence and helps document the early development of metallurgy in the region.

What happens next?

This study marks an important milestone, but several questions remain unanswered. The next challenge is to better understand the other iron production techniques identified in the Falémé Valley. At least four other traditions have been recognised.

Some of these techniques were in use at the same time, revealing a complex metallurgical landscape where very different traditions coexisted. This diversity raises several questions: which groups of metallurgists were behind them? How can we explain their transformations? Why do certain techniques disappear? Were some techniques more efficient than others?

The study of the FAL02 technique over nearly 800 years demonstrates that these practices evolved, with phases of continuity and transformation. By cross-referencing this data with findings from the study of ceramics and settlements, it becomes possible to better understand the societies that produced this iron and how they changed over time.

These remains allow us to move beyond the purely technical question: they offer insight into settlement dynamics, the circulation of knowledge and expertise, and long-term societal transformations, even before the emergence of medieval kingdoms and the expansion of trans-Saharan trade.

We hope that future research will help to answer some of these questions.

– In Senegal, a 2,000-year-old iron workshop sheds new light on the past
– https://theconversation.com/in-senegal-a-2-000-year-old-iron-workshop-sheds-new-light-on-the-past-283236

May 26, 2026

Senegal’s ruling alliance has split: will political turmoil follow?

Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Toumani Traoré, Doctorant en Science Politique, Université Cheikh Anta Diop de Dakar

Power struggles often play out in Senegal’s political arena, both within a party and between rival parties. To summarise British foreign minister Lord Palmerston’s argument in 1848:

In politics, there are no permanent enemies, no permanent friends, only permanent interests.

The situation at the top of Senegal’s executive branch is no exception.

The Sonko-Diomaye duo, formed by president Bassirou Diomaye Faye and his prime minister Ousmane Sonko, used to speak with one voice. Today, the alliance that oversaw the fall of former president Macky Sall is plagued by deep internal divisions. These disagreements culminated on 22 May 2026 with the president’s announcement that he’d dismissed the prime minister and dissolved the government.

A political rally held by Sonko in November 2025 already showed signs of a fracture. In an interview six months later Faye removed all doubt. The president confirmed there were disagreements with his prime minister. He denounced the “excessive personalisation” of power around Sonko.

I am a political scientist whose doctoral research focuses on the recent transformations of Senegal’s political system. It examines the rise of the ruling party, Pastef, and the sociopolitical realignments observed between 2021 and 2024, in a period of political instability. I analyse how this anti-establishment party succeeded in upending the traditional sociopolitical order.

In my view, their split is a worrying sign of potential political turmoil ahead for the country, which is also battling an economic crisis.

The myth of unity

This unprecedented duo was forged when opposition leader Sonko’s candidacy to run for president against Sall was invalidated in January 2024. Sonko, the founder of Pastef, backed the party’s less well-known secretary-general, Faye, in securing the elections. In turn Faye backed Sonko to become prime minister.

Initially their relationship was built on political alignment. One handled the management of the state apparatus, the other ensured strong political legitimacy during the first months of their rule.

However, Pastef’s 2025 rally revealed the limits of the two-headed illusion championed by Sonko. As he predicted at the time, the event marked the beginning of a “post-November 8 era”, a turning point for the future of the partnership.

But the relationship between the two men soon led to deadlock. First, they disagreed over who should head the ruling coalition. Then came clashes over differing visions of power. Finally, disputes emerged over political alliances.

The once unifying Wolof slogan “Sonko mooy Diomaye” (Sonko is Diomaye) was Pastef’s survival strategy under Sall. That slogan has faded and is giving way to the likes of “Sonko is Sonko” and “Ousmane is Sonko”. The work of Senegalese journalist Sidy Diop supports this view. Diop shows that:

The proclaimed unity is over. It is giving way to a duality that is now visible, almost accepted, where roles are being redefined and ambitions are becoming clearer.

However, from the perspective of the theory of domination and symbolic reproduction, Sonko built what could be called a “proxy capital” (borrowed influence). Their symbolic fusion created a unique shared identity – “partisan habitus” – in which Pastef supporters no longer perceived two distinct figures, but a single political force.

Rivalry between the two leaders was inevitable, despite the “complementarity” that initially defined their entry into executive power. Senegal’s political system demands a clear hierarchy. The president’s authority is not shared.

The powers of the president of the republic and the prime minister are defined by Senegal’s constitution, in articles 42 through 52. This already created a kind of “soft rivalry”.

Faye tends to adopt a restrained posture, acting as a guarantor of proper functioning of institutions. Sonko, on the other hand, maintains a style of mobilisation and disruption. As French sociologist Pierre Bourdieu argues, institutional structures dictate individual actions, language, and posture. Not the other way round.

The office of the presidency imposes a “sovereign habitus” that naturally differs from the habitus or mindset of the prime minister and party leader. In line with the principle of separation between the functions of head of state and party politics, Faye resigned from all leadership positions in Pastef, including secretary-general. By law, however, Sonko was allowed to retain his leadership positions in the party. This further fuelled their stand-off.

The boundary between the two men is mostly invisible but very real. It lies in the transition from the street-level slogan “Diomaye is Sonko” to institutional communication where the image of the president comes first, as protocol demands.

Sonko brought Faye to power. But Faye now holds discretionary authority, including the power to appoint officials. This has created a political polarisation between factions of the party that support Faye or Sonko.

The limits of dual leadership

In physics, when two bodies of unequal weight occupy the same space, the heavier one compresses the lighter. Power is not static, just as human nature is not.

Through upward influence, Sonko draws his strength from his charisma, and strong grip on the party. He has given Faye popular legitimacy. In return, the president’s executive orders and state decisions have translated the party’s “vision” into Senegalese law.

It soon became a tricky situation: if Sonko took up too much space, his influence would spill over into Faye’s institutional territory. The president may appear to be under his tutelage. If Faye isolated himself too much, he would lose his source of legitimacy, which is Sonko. They became locked in a system of mutual dependence and self-destruction as power shifted between the president’s office and the prime minister’s.

By mimicking each other’s desires, they become mirror image antagonists. The more they resembled each other, the deeper their divergence grew. Each saw in the other a mirror of his own ambition. Ultimately both actors want the same things: power, the presidency, leadership. After being sacked by Diomaye, Sonko quickly became speaker of parliament, rejoining the opposition battle.

The myth of a gentleman’s agreement

What has unfolded at the top of Senegal’s leadership is a stark reminder that in politics, a “gentlemen’s agreement” is a myth that best serves idealists. It is the return of the “number two” syndrome. The presumptive heir apparent, initially loyal and competent, climbs the ranks and turns against his leader when the latter takes all the limelight.

The dominant player, meanwhile, in his quest to secure future elections, turns a loyal ally into an enemy. This creates a further cycle of mutual paranoia that looks set to signal a renewed period of social and political turmoil.

– Senegal’s ruling alliance has split: will political turmoil follow?
– https://theconversation.com/senegals-ruling-alliance-has-split-will-political-turmoil-follow-283710

May 26, 2026

SA presses ahead while navigating a complex global environment

Source: Government of South Africa

SA presses ahead while navigating a complex global environment

As South Africa navigates an increasingly complex global environment, Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition Parks Tau has assured the public that the country remains firmly on course, with government focused on stimulating investment, industrialisation and combating illicit trade.

“The global environment has been deeply unsettled by the ongoing Middle East War and its associated disruptions to supply chains of energy, fertilizers and petrochemicals,” Tau said.

Presenting his department’s Budget Vote in Cape Town on Tuesday, the Minister said that as a net oil importer, South Africa faces real recessionary risks and threats to industrial competitiveness.

“Amidst these headwinds and as this budget vote will indicate, we are turning the corner as a country, and as the dtic, our work remains central to this momentum,” Tau said.

Tau said South Africa’s policy environment is now consistent and forward-looking and that Cabinet recently adopted the Industrial Development Strategy (IDS), which directs the country’s industrial policy agenda.

“Our pathways of decarbonisation, diversification, and digitalisation anchor the Industrial Development Strategy, thereby reflecting the reality that South Africa cannot compete in the world of the future using the tools of the past.

“We are reviewing our Automotive Production Development Plan (APDP2), with a view to stimulating new investments in South Africa and supporting the growth of our component manufacturers,” he said.

Tau said the work of the dtic in implementing localisation is evident in the R86.6 billion in locally manufactured goods and services procured in the 2025/26 financial year.

“For this current financial year, our target is R100 billion in localisation. This is possible through collaboration with our social partners,” he said.

In regard to the systemic challenge of dealing with the illicit economy, which costs the South African economy an estimated R700 billion, equating to roughly 10% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), Tau said critical intervention is being made by the National Consumer Commission.

“As a measure to protect consumers from illicit trade in the economy, in this financial year, we will publish a Track-and-Trace mechanism on goods. The mechanism will mainly target illicit trade in tobacco, alcohol, food and consumer appliances,” he said.

Tau said the 2026 South African Investment Conference (SAIC) secured the highest-ever value of investment commitments since its establishment in 2018.

“Domestic firms led the charge, with two-thirds of investments coming from South African companies, which signalled a strong confidence in the local economy. The conference formally launched South Africa’s second investment mobilisation drive, targeting R3 trillion in new investment by 2030.

“Despite the challenging global trading environment, the country’s Special Economic Zone (SEZ) Programme continues to make a meaningful contribution towards attracting fixed capital investments. To date, spatial transformation efforts have resulted in 224 operational Investments to the value of more than R31 billion, resulting in 28 821 active jobs created,” he said.

The dtic and its entities have been entrusted with consolidated resources amounting to approximately R130.6 billion over the medium term to advance South Africa’s industrialisation, economic transformation, and investment agenda. – SAnews.gov.za

Edwin
Tue, 05/26/2026 – 15:15

May 26, 2026

Seitlholo notes improvement at Percy Stewart wastewater plant

Source: Government of South Africa

Seitlholo notes improvement at Percy Stewart wastewater plant

Water and Sanitation Deputy Minister Sello Seitlholo has noted visible operational improvement at the Percy Stewart Wastewater Treatment Works in Mogale City, Gauteng, although more work is still required to ensure treated wastewater meets required national standards.

Seitlholo made the remarks during a working visit to Mogale City Local Municipality on Monday, where he met with municipal leaders and inspected wastewater infrastructure affecting the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site, due to poor effluent discharged to the Blougatespruit, Bloubankspruit tributaries and the Crocodile River from their wastewater systems.

According to the latest Green Drop Report, Mogale City’s wastewater systems continue to perform poorly overall, with scores below 30%.

Percy Stewart Wastewater Treatment Works recorded a performance score of 68%, while the Flip Human Wastewater Treatment Works achieved 64% and the Magaliesburg Wastewater Treatment Works performed dismally at 49%.

The Deputy Minister held a stakeholder engagement with the executive mayors of Mogale City Local Municipality, Rand West City Local Municipality and Merafong City Local Municipality to discuss pollution concerns linked to wastewater discharged into the Blougatspruit, Bloubankspruit tributaries and ultimately the Crocodile River.

Seitlholo’s engagement formed part of the department’s ongoing programme to monitor municipal water and wastewater systems, strengthen regulatory compliance, and support municipalities in addressing the problem of water pollution caused by untreated waste released in the water courses in the Rand West region.

During the engagements, mayors expressed their commitment to improve the standard of effluent released into the water courses, as well as the operational improvement of the wastewater infrastructure in their municipalities.

Following the meeting, the Deputy Minister conducted an oversight inspection at the Percy Stewart Wastewater Treatment Works, which is currently undergoing refurbishment, to assess the operational status and performance of the infrastructure.

While acknowledging significant improvement in the operations at the plant, he said critical work still needed to be completed, including the refurbishment of non-operational pump stations.

Seitlholo warned that failure to resolve these issues will continue to affect downstream water users, including the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site and the Crocodile River system, which feeds into the Hartbeespoort Dam.

The Hartbeespoort Dam serves as a water source for Madibeng Local Municipality and supports irrigation activities managed by the Hartbeespoort Irrigation Board.

“There are major improvements that have been made in most parts of the Wastewater Treatment Works, but there is more to be done to bring the treated effluent to the required standards. In the coming months, the municipality will conclude the dosing of the effluent to remove E. coli bacteria from the treated effluent.

“However, there are other municipalities such as Merafong Local Municipality, which is still in a critical stage as far as the Green Drop assessment is concerned. The Department of Water and Sanitation will continue to work with the municipality to bring a turnaround to the municipality’s wastewater treatment works,” Seitlholo said.

Over the past five years, the department has supported Mogale City through the Water Services Infrastructure Grant (WSIG) to help address water and sanitation challenges, including refurbishment work at the Percy Stewart plant.

The municipality has benefited from the WSIG funding for the refurbishment of the Percy Stewart plant, which discharges its effluent into the Blougatespruit and Bloubankspruit.

Executive Mayor of Mogale City, Lucky Sele, acknowledged that although improvements had been made at the wastewater treatment facility, the municipality had regressed in recent Green Drop assessments.

“We have worked tirelessly to bring the plant to functionality, and we hope that in the next Green Drop evaluations, we will be able to do better as the city,” Sele said. – SAnews.gov.za

GabiK
Tue, 05/26/2026 – 15:46

May 26, 2026

Maile congratulates Sundowns on CAF win

Source: Government of South Africa

Maile congratulates Sundowns on CAF win

Gauteng MEC for Education, Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation, Lebogang Maile, has congratulated Mamelodi Sundowns for being crowned the 2026 CAF Champions League winners.

In a statement, the MEC said the crowning of Mamelodi Sundowns as the winners of the CAF Champions League confirms that the team is unparalleled when it comes to continental competitions.

“We are delighted that Masandawana have lifted the elusive trophy again after several attempts since 2016,” he said.

This as the Gauteng team lifted the trophy at the weekend.

MEC Maile further emphasised that the victory solidifies the Gauteng based team’s stature in elite competitions and added that the fact that they finished second on the Betway premiership as well, is an illustration that they are high performance personified.

“Sundowns has been consistent in form and performance throughout this journey and the people of Gauteng, and the country are inspired by this victory,” concluded MEC Maile.

He added that sport remains a powerful tool of promoting social cohesion and nation building and its ability to surpass geographical boundaries and language barriers further positions it as a lever for cultural diplomacy. –SAnews.gov.za

Neo
Tue, 05/26/2026 – 15:35

May 26, 2026

Committee set up to ensure speedy repairs at Charlotte Maxeke hospital

Source: Government of South Africa

Committee set up to ensure speedy repairs at Charlotte Maxeke hospital

Health Minister, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, says a committee has been set up to ensure that repairs to the fire-damaged section of the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital are expedited.

The Minister, together with Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana and Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi, spoke to the media after a visit to the facility which suffered extensive damage during a fire in 2021.

Recently, the hospital came into sharp view when the Public Protector released a report on the hospital which found that repairs had been unduly delayed owing to systemic failures, maladministration and budget underspending.

“As the national Department of Health, the National Treasury, the Premier’s Office in Gauteng, the Provincial Department of Health [and] the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) – who are the developers – we have put up a plan.

“There’s going to be a meeting every Tuesday to look at the plan and that meeting will be chaired by the Premier. They will be sitting, going through the Public Protector’s report and make sure that they fix things.

“But beyond the Public Protector’s report, there are things that we have already started in the national department … We did not just fold our arms. We had to change the manner in which things are procured and that will be part of the work that the committee will be doing,” Motsoaledi said.

The Minister said he had received assurances from the DBSA that the wards in the hospital will be open in August. – SAnews.gov.za

NeoB
Tue, 05/26/2026 – 15:25

May 26, 2026

Trident Energy Brings Equatorial Guinea Playbook to Congo’s Mature Oilfields

Source: APO – Report:

Independent oil and gas company Trident Energy is making a strong play for the Republic of Congo’s mature oilfields following its acquisition of strategic stakes in the Nkossa, Nsoko II, Lianzi and Moho-Bilondo oilfields in 2025. The transaction signaled an expansion of its Central African energy strategy, centered around reversing production decline at ageing assets, enhancing cost efficiency and advancing local content across oilfield operations in key markets such as Equatorial Guinea.

As the company advances toward the next development phase at its Congolese assets, Trident’s experience in Equatorial Guinea offers a blueprint for its Congolese projects. Through targeted infrastructure upgrades, disciplined cost management and a strong local workforce strategy, Trident has shown how mid-cap independents can extract new value from brownfield portfolios that larger majors may consider non-core. Congo now stands to benefit from that same approach as the country seeks to stabilize production and maximize returns from existing offshore infrastructure.

Positioned at the Forefront of Congo’s Mature Acreage

Trident’s entry into Congo’s mature acreage aligns with ambitions to optimize deepwater operations in the region. The transaction included an 85% operated interest in the Nkossa and Nsoko II fields as well as a 21.5% non-operated stake in Moho-Bilondo and a 15.75% interest in Lianzi.

At its operated projects, the company plans to increase production by revitalizing and stimulating current wells while drilling probes. Production initially started in 1996 and 2006 at Nkossa and Nsoko respectively, with the projects now featuring up to 30 producing wells. With the licenses valid until 2040 and 2039, Trident is moving to extend the life of both assets, supporting Congo’s broader production goals.

Equatorial Guinea Demonstrated the Value of Mature Asset Optimization

Trident’s operations in Equatorial Guinea provide one of the clearest examples in Africa of how operational efficiency can reverse decline curves in mature upstream assets. Following the acquisition of stakes in several projects from Hess Corporation in 2017, the company advanced an optimization strategy aimed at identifying opportunities to enhance production through topside improvements, infill drilling and near-field exploration. These efforts have proven successful – particularly at its operated Ceiba and Okume Complex at Block G.

Producing since 2000 and 2006 respectively, the Ceiba and Okume projects feature 12 and 37 producing wells. Since the acquisition, the company has invested $57 million in Okume Central to enhance water injection and power capacity; installed the first-ever Electrical Submersible Pumps in the country to improve well integrity and production rates; upgraded the Ceiba field gas lift system with three permanent structures; and launched a new deepwater drilling campaign to enhance production. As a result, the company has delivered a 37% increase in production.

These initiatives demonstrate the continued viability of Africa’s mature fields, bringing operational learning curves that support Trident’s Congolese portfolio.

Local Content Is Central to the Business Model

What differentiates Trident from many operators in the region is that local content is embedded directly into its operational strategy rather than treated solely as a regulatory obligation. In Equatorial Guinea, the company invested heavily in workforce development, technical training and leadership advancement programs designed to move nationals into senior operational and executive positions. Bienvenido Nguema Envo, Managing Director of the country’s state-owned oil company GEPetrol previously worked at Trident, underscoring the company’s role in developing high-level local expertise across the sector.

Its sustainability strategy encompasses strategic directives, including promoting lateral and geographic job moves to encourage professional growth; established training opportunities across assets; investment into local supply chains; the introduction of a Learning Management System to improve skills transfer; and broader investments in education, health and infrastructure. The company is expected to replicate this approach in Congo as it expands operations.

“Trident Energy has shown that mature African assets can remain globally competitive when operators combine technical discipline with a genuine commitment to local talent development. Congo has not only gained an experienced operator; it has gained a company that understands how to create long-term value through efficiency, workforce development and sustained investment in African expertise,” states NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman, AEC.

– on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

May 26, 2026

Lamola defends multilateralism, says foreign policy must improve lives at home

Source: Government of South Africa

Lamola defends multilateralism, says foreign policy must improve lives at home

International Relations and Cooperation Minister Ronald Lamola says South Africa will continue pushing for reforms to global governance institutions while using foreign policy to drive economic growth and development at home.

Presenting the Department of International Relations and Cooperation’s 2026/27 Budget Vote in Parliament on Tuesday, Lamola said developing countries continued to face unfair treatment in the global system.

“The world is changing, but many of its institutions still reflect old patterns of power. Developing countries continue to face unsustainable debt, unequal access to development finance and growing pressure to align with powerful geopolitical blocs.

“South Africa’s responsibility is to advance a fairer and more representative global order. This means continuing to call for reform of the United Nations, especially the Security Council, so that it can respond more effectively to contemporary global challenges,” he said.

Lamola said South Africa’s Group of Twenty (G20) Presidency under the theme: “Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability” reflected the country’s commitment to promoting a more inclusive international order.

He said among the outcomes of the Presidency were the G20 Africa Expert Panel Report on Growth, Debt and Development, and the Report of the G20 Extraordinary Committee of Independent Experts on Global Inequality.

The Minister said South Africa was also working with international partners to establish an International Panel on Inequality through the United Nations General Assembly.

On BRICS, Lamola said the bloc continued to strengthen the voice of the Global South.

“Through BRICS, South Africa will continue to advance reform of global governance institutions and support the development of the new BRICS Economic Partnership Strategy. The expansion of BRICS to 11 members marks a significant milestone in the growing voice of the Global South in international affairs,” he said.

Lamola also defended South Africa’s position on international law and accountability, saying the country remained committed to protecting multilateral institutions.

“We’ve formed the Hague Group to defend the credibility of international law, hold states accountable for breaches and protect the integrity of the international legal order.

“It was established to rally against complicity, end impunity and support the collective enforcement of international law through concrete measures, including halting arms transfers, blocking weapons shipments, suspending procurement from Israeli firms, ceasing energy exports and pursuing accountability through national and international courts,” Lamola said.

The Minister said South Africa would continue advocating for nuclear disarmament globally.

“As a country that voluntarily dismantled its nuclear weapons programme, we continue to advocate for the total elimination of nuclear weapons and will preside over the first Review Conference of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons later this year,” he said.

Lamola said South Africa’s foreign policy must ultimately benefit ordinary citizens through economic growth, job creation and trade opportunities.

“Foreign policy must ultimately speak to the lives of our people. Our foreign policy must support inclusive economic growth, poverty eradication, sustainable development, peace and security,” he said.

He said economic diplomacy was already yielding positive results, particularly in agriculture.

“Our economic diplomacy is yielding results, 45 % our processed goods are traded on the continent, including in agriculture. In 2025, South Africa’s agricultural exports reached a record 15.1 billion US dollars. In the first quarter of 2026, farm exports reached 3.7 billion US dollars, an increase of 11% year on year.

“These exports reach markets across Africa, the European Union and Asia. They show how foreign policy can support jobs, production and economic opportunity at home,” the Minister said.

On migration, Lamola said immigration management must remain lawful and coordinated.

“On migration, this means managing migration lawfully, in a coordinated manner and based on evidence. That law enforcement authorities enforce the law with regard to irregular migration, not private citizens.

“It means the protection of the fundamental rights of every person, secure borders and an immigration system that is insulated from corruption,” he said. – SAnews.gov.za

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Tue, 05/26/2026 – 14:41