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Concern raised on challenges at Pretoria West police station

Source: Government of South Africa

Concern raised on challenges at Pretoria West police station

The Gauteng Provincial Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on Community Safety has raised concerns over infrastructure and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) challenges at the Pretoria West police station.

This following an oversight visit to the station by the committee last week.

“[The] committee uncovered serious infrastructure and ICT challenges that are severely undermining effective policing and service delivery,” the committee said in a statement.

According to the statement, the station currently operates from “three separate office buildings”.

“This fragmented infrastructure arrangement has a direct negative impact on command and control, coordination among units and the overall operational effectiveness of the station due to the significant distance between the buildings.

“This structural challenge compromises the station’s ability to respond swiftly and cohesively to crime-related incidents in an area already facing serious criminal threats.

“Equally concerning is the station’s outdated computer equipment and slow, unreliable network connectivity, which continue to hamper critical administrative functions, delay case processing, disrupt access to essential policing systems and undermine the overall efficiency of law enforcement operations,” the statement read.

Furthermore, the committee was informed on reports of “escalating incidents of hijackings and kidnappings in the precinct, as well as the continued proliferation of illegal scrapyards and hijacked buildings that have become breeding grounds for criminality”.

“Of particular concern is the alarming revelation that a building located adjacent to the police station itself has been hijacked.

“This shocking reality raises serious questions about law enforcement visibility and the broader state of crime control within the precinct.

“The Committee views this as wholly unacceptable and indicative of the urgent need for decisive intervention and coordinated action by all relevant law enforcement and government stakeholders,” the statement continued.

The committee called on the Gauteng Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Tommy Mthombeni to urgently intervene and ensure “immediate remedial action” to address the station’s challenges.

“A police station is the nerve centre of community safety and cannot be expected to effectively combat crime while operating under such unacceptable conditions.

“Communities deserve police stations that are properly resourced, functional and capable of effectively responding to crime. The current state of affairs at Pretoria West Police Station undermines public trust and weakens the fight against crime which is a serious concern to the Committee,” the statement concluded. – SAnews.gov.za

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Why Nairobi Africa-France summit bears the hallmarks of Macron and Ruto priorities

Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Frank Gerits, Research Fellow at the University of the Free State, South Africa and Assistant Professor in the History of International Relations, Utrecht University

The 2026 Africa-France summit in Nairobi on May 11-12 is the first to be held in an African country that is not a former French colony. It is also the first to be held since the dramatic collapse of relations between France and a number of west African countries – notably Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger.

The 2026 summit can be understood as the latest example of President Emmanuel Macron’s new Africa doctrine, which he laid out in Burkina Faso in 2017. The doctrine’s three notable messages were:

  • an apology for colonial wrongs

  • a neoliberal small-business approach to assistance programmes

  • the French resolve to develop new alliances outside French Africa.

In keeping with the new doctrine, the French president hesitantly apologised in 2021 for some aspects of French colonial policy in Algeria. These include the torture and assassination of the Algerian nationalist hero Ali Boumendjel.

But mostly, Macron has looked to strengthen the position of Paris as old alliances were becoming weaker.

Read more: France in Africa: why Macron’s policies increased distrust and anger

He has consciously invested time and effort beyond French west Africa. The official visit to Guinea-Bissau, a former Portuguese colony, is a case in point.

Right after his election in 2017, France’s development aid agency (AFD) and the Tony Elumelu Foundation signed an agreement in Nigeria to empower a new generation of business leaders. Tony Elumelu Foundation is a Lagos-based non-profit that promotes youth entrepreneurship across Africa.

Macron then promoted entrepreneurship during the New France-Africa Summit in 2021. He sought to inspire the youth of Africa to innovate and set up businesses.

This year’s conference is held under the banner: “Africa Forward: Partnerships between Africa and France for innovation and growth”. The business start-up vibe is no coincidence.

Kenya has also stressed the groundbreaking nature of the meeting for its focus on Africa as a major partner for Europe. Europe is looking for new allies in the midst of a war in Ukraine; and the US is unreliable, with Donald Trump imposing tariffs and questioning the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation.

As a historian of global north-global south relations, I see the meeting less as groundbreaking, and more as a continuation of an older, mutually beneficial relationship between Kenya and France.

Kenya hopes its relationship with France will elevate its influence across Africa, allowing it to rival the diplomatic weight of South Africa, which hosted the G20 summit in November 2025.

By transcending the classic divide between French and British Africa, Nairobi can present itself as a continental leader and as a diplomacy city.

History of the relationship between France and Kenya

The economic and diplomatic relationship goes back to the 1960s and 1970s. Back in September 1970 France sent a little-known legal expert called Jaques Mollet to advise the Kenyan Ministry of Industry and Commerce on the newly-formed East African Community.

France also sought cooperation with institutions of the East African Community such as the East African Development Bank. By becoming a close partner of a newly established regional economic bloc in Africa, in which Nairobi played a pivotal role, the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs sought to weaken the British influence of Africa while strengthening its own position within the European Economic Community, now the EU.

Paris somewhat cynically justified its meddling as a way to strengthen continental unity since a French and a British sphere of influence in Africa would lead to unnecessary internal competition between the Commonwealth countries in Africa and Françafrique.

Kenya sought to strengthen its trade relations with France and the EEC in the 1960s. This was partly an attempt to become more independent of the Commonwealth. When negotiating with the EEC in 1963, an east African delegation that included Kenya’s Minister of Labour Tom Mboya stressed that maintaining the East African Common Market was key – not the Commonwealth.

Ruto and Macron’s shared understanding

The similarities between Kenya’s President William Ruto and Macron further strengthen this historical bond between Kenya and France. They share the same diplomatic goals. They are both focusing on climate change funding and security, and they share a preference for neoliberal privatisation as a mode for governance at home and abroad.

Ruto’s election campaign in 2022 touted the “hustler nation” – a focus on enabling small businesses. Macron has acted as a businessman-diplomat abroad, pushing small businesses as a solution for underdevelopment.

It’s no accident therefore that the 2026 summit will host a business forum and talks will focus on the potential benefits of artificial intelligence. AI, climate initiatives and weapons manufacturing, as well as the small-business ventures that have emerged through these priorities, are areas of cooperation and investment between African countries and the former colonial powers. Politicians like to flaunt this.

Part of the reason is that these are yet unproven ventures with no long history of unequal exchange between the two sides. They are natural common ground for two sides seeking a renewed relationship that is less burdened by the dark history of colonial oppression.

Yet France and Kenya’s agreement about the need to address security, climate change and artificial intelligence obscures the fact that both countries often find themselves on opposing sides of these issues.

As the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022 has shown, African and European leaders do not necessarily share the same analysis of the global security situation. European countries assumed they would get complete support from African countries but only 28 out of 54 African countries voted in favour of a United Nations resolution that condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Kenya abstained.

On issues like climate change and artificial intelligence, France and Kenya again agree on the broad principle that these issues require urgent action, but disagree on the form the action should take.

For instance, climate change has hit Kenya hard. Extended droughts require genuine climate action. At the same time, France and the EU have been talking about loosening climate regulations to address the energy crisis caused by the US war on Iran. This includes easing emission regulations for cars.

The same problem presents itself in relation to the AI economy, which is being championed by France. It is cheap labourers in Kenya that have been doing much of the legwork to keep AI applications going. Large language models and other applications need to be trained and monitored by humans and they are often trained in Kenya’s so-called “AI sweat shops”. Kenyans are doing much of the data labelling and content moderation AI work.

Long term relationship?

In essence, the summit illustrates how climate finance, security and AI are being used to bolster commercial interests in both Africa and France, a strategic attempt to redefine a relationship long shadowed by colonialism.

However, the future of this entrepreneur-led approach remains uncertain. Its success hinges on whether France and Kenya can ensure that the wealth generated by these emerging sectors is distributed broadly, or if it will merely enrich a small circle of tech elites.

– Why Nairobi Africa-France summit bears the hallmarks of Macron and Ruto priorities
– https://theconversation.com/why-nairobi-africa-france-summit-bears-the-hallmarks-of-macron-and-ruto-priorities-282414

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Du Mégawatt (MW) au Gigawatt (GW) : pourquoi l’Afrique doit envisager une production d’électricité à l’échelle du réseau pour être compétitive dans l’économie de Intelligence Artificielle (IA)

Source: Africa Press Organisation – French


L’expansion rapide de l’intelligence artificielle est en train de remodeler fondamentalement la demande énergétique mondiale, avec des implications qui vont bien au-delà de la planification énergétique traditionnelle. Cela n’est nulle part plus évident que dans l’empreinte énergétique croissante des centres de données. Des installations qui nécessitaient autrefois des dizaines de mégawatts sont désormais développées à une échelle de 100 à 200 MW, les campus hyperscale agrégant de plus en plus la demande pour atteindre l’ordre du gigawatt.

Cette évolution représente un défi structurel pour l’Afrique. Bien que le continent soit riche en ressources énergétiques, ses cadres de planification restent largement axés sur des ajouts progressifs à l’échelle du mégawatt – souvent liés à une demande localisée ou à des déficits de capacité à court terme. Dans le contexte d’une infrastructure pilotée par l’IA, cette approche est de plus en plus en décalage avec l’ampleur et la concentration de la demande future.

Le secteur des centres de données en Afrique, bien qu’en pleine croissance, en est encore à ses débuts. La capacité opérationnelle s’élève actuellement à environ 300 à 400 MW, avec des projections atteignant 1,5 à 2,2 GW d’ici 2030. Dans le même temps, la demande s’accélère rapidement : la consommation d’électricité des centres de données augmente de 20 à 25 % par an et devrait atteindre environ 8 000 GWh à court terme. Cette croissance reflète une tendance mondiale plus large, la demande en électricité des centres de données devant approcher les 945 TWh d’ici 2030, principalement sous l’effet des charges de travail liées à l’IA.

Ce qui distingue la demande liée à l’IA, ce n’est pas seulement son ampleur, mais aussi sa concentration et sa constance. Contrairement à de nombreuses charges industrielles traditionnelles, les centres de données nécessitent une alimentation électrique ininterrompue et de haute qualité, souvent avec une redondance intégrée. Cela impose de nouvelles exigences en matière de conception du réseau, en privilégiant la stabilité, la capacité et l’évolutivité à long terme plutôt que l’expansion progressive.

Pour répondre à ces exigences, il faudra s’écarter des modèles de planification conventionnels. Plutôt que d’augmenter la capacité par petites étapes, il est de plus en plus justifié de développer une production à l’échelle du gigawatt, alignée sur les pôles d’infrastructures numériques émergents. Cela implique d’intégrer la production d’électricité, le transport et le développement des centres de données dans des stratégies d’investissement coordonnées, en particulier sur les marchés disposant de solides ressources et d’un environnement réglementaire en amélioration.

Cela nécessite également un changement de perspective sur la façon dont la capacité excédentaire est perçue. Dans de nombreux réseaux électriques africains, la production excédentaire a historiquement été considérée comme une inefficacité financière. Dans le contexte de l’IA et des infrastructures numériques, cependant, le maintien d’une marge de capacité disponible peut renforcer la stabilité du réseau, réduire les coupures de courant et offrir la flexibilité nécessaire pour soutenir une croissance rapide de la charge, tout en jetant les bases d’un développement industriel plus large.

La Virginie du Nord, le plus grand marché mondial de centres de données, offre un point de référence utile : la capacité installée y dépasse désormais 4 GW et plus de 1 GW de nouvelle capacité a été ajoutée en une seule année, reflétant le rythme rapide auquel les infrastructures hyperscale sont déployées. Sous l’impulsion des principaux acteurs du cloud et de l’IA, la demande a considérablement resserré le marché, avec des taux de vacance proches de zéro et la plupart des nouvelles capacités réservées bien à l’avance. L’ampleur et la rapidité de ce développement soulignent la vitesse à laquelle la demande en centres de données s’accroît – et mettent en évidence le niveau auquel les infrastructures doivent être planifiées.

Ces dynamiques influencent de plus en plus le débat politique. Lors de l’African Energy Week 2026, le volet « IA et centres de données » se concentrera sur les infrastructures nécessaires pour soutenir cette transition, en mettant particulièrement l’accent sur l’alignement de la planification énergétique sur les objectifs de l’économie numérique. À mesure que les infrastructures d’IA se développent, une alimentation électrique fiable et abondante n’est plus un facteur de soutien, mais une condition préalable.

« Il s’agit en fin de compte d’aligner la stratégie énergétique de l’Afrique sur l’évolution de la demande mondiale », déclare NJ Ayuk, président exécutif de la Chambre africaine de l’énergie. « Si nous continuons à planifier en mégawatts, nous aurons du mal à être compétitifs dans une économie qui évolue déjà à l’échelle du gigawatt. Construire des réseaux électriques plus vastes et plus résilients ne consiste pas seulement à répondre à la demande : il s’agit de créer les conditions propices à l’investissement, à l’innovation et à la croissance à long terme. »

Distribué par APO Group pour African Energy Chamber.

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From Megawatt (MW) to Gigawatt (GW): Why Africa Must Think in Grid-Scale Power to Compete in the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Economy

Source: APO – Report:

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The rapid expansion of artificial intelligence is fundamentally reshaping global energy demand, with implications that extend well beyond traditional power planning. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the growing energy footprint of data centers. Facilities that once required tens of megawatts are now being developed at 100–200 MW scale, with hyperscale campuses increasingly aggregating demand into the gigawatt range.

This shift presents a structural challenge for Africa. While the continent is rich in energy resources, its planning frameworks remain largely oriented around incremental, megawatt-scale additions – often tied to localized demand or short-term capacity gaps. In the context of AI-driven infrastructure, this approach is increasingly misaligned with the scale and concentration of future demand.

Africa’s data center sector, while growing, remains at an early stage. Operational capacity currently stands at approximately 300–400 MW, with projections reaching 1.5–2.2 GW by 2030. At the same time, demand is accelerating rapidly: electricity consumption from data centers is rising at 20–25% annually and is expected to reach around 8,000 GWh in the near term. This growth mirrors a broader global surge, with data center power demand projected to approach 945 TWh by 2030, driven largely by AI workloads.

What distinguishes AI-related demand is not only its scale, but its concentration and consistency. Unlike many traditional industrial loads, data centers require uninterrupted, high-quality power, often with built-in redundancy. This places new demands on grid design, prioritizing stability, capacity and long-term scalability over incremental expansion.

Meeting these requirements will require a departure from conventional planning models. Rather than adding capacity in small increments, there is a growing case for developing gigawatt-scale generation aligned with emerging digital infrastructure hubs. This means integrating power generation, transmission and data center development into coordinated investment strategies, particularly in markets with strong resource bases and improving regulatory environments.

It also requires a shift in how excess capacity is viewed. In many African power systems, surplus generation has historically been treated as a financial inefficiency. In the context of AI and digital infrastructure, however, maintaining a margin of available capacity can enhance grid stability, reduce outages and provide the flexibility needed to support rapid load growth, while creating a foundation for broader industrial development.

A useful benchmark can be seen in Northern Virginia, the world’s largest data center market, where installed capacity has now exceeded 4 GW and more than 1 GW of new supply was added in a single year, reflecting the rapid pace at which hyperscale infrastructure is being deployed. Driven by major cloud and AI players, demand has tightened the market significantly, with vacancy rates approaching zero and most new capacity released well in advance. The scale and speed of development highlight how quickly data center demand is expanding – and underscore the level at which infrastructure must be planned.

These dynamics are increasingly shaping the policy conversation. At African Energy Week 2026, the AI and Data Center Track will focus on the infrastructure required to support this transition, with a particular emphasis on aligning energy planning with digital economy objectives. As AI infrastructure scales, reliable and abundant power is no longer a supporting factor, but a prerequisite.

“This is ultimately about aligning Africa’s energy strategy with where global demand is heading,” says NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber. “If we continue to plan in megawatts, we will struggle to compete in an economy that is already moving at the gigawatt scale. Building larger, more resilient power systems is not just about meeting demand – it is about creating the conditions for investment, innovation and long-term growth.”

– on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

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Enlit Africa 2026 makes 20 May the Commercial and Industrial (C&I) delivery day across power, water and clean energy hubs

Source: APO – Report:

Enlit Africa 2026 will put commercial and industrial delivery front and center on Wednesday 20 May with a dedicated line-up across the Power Hub, Water Hub and Renewable Energy & Storage Hub. The day is built for decision-makers who must keep operations running, secure reliable supply, manage risk and move projects from concept to implementation.

Taking place 19–21 May 2026 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC), Enlit Africa, created by VUKA Group, convenes utilities, municipalities, large energy users, financiers, developers and technology providers to focus on what shifts outcomes in African infrastructure.

On 20 May, the programme is anchored by the keynote, “How a coordinated energy/water plan could change African resilience” (09:30–11:45), positioning water and energy as interlinked operational risks that can no longer be managed in silos. From there, the day breaks into practical tracks tailored for large users and the solution partners that support them.

In the Renewable Energy & Storage Hub, sessions focus on the realities of C&I adoption and delivery at scale, including “Project implementation for multi-megawatt C&I projects” (11:45–13:00) and “Clean energy adoption in the C&I market” (14:30–15:45), before turning to fleet electrification and operations with “Mobility: Management of electric vehicle fleets for C&I” (16:00–17:30).

In the Water Hub, the agenda targets the technologies and operating models that matter most to industrial continuity and compliance. Sessions include “Next-generation water treatment technologies” (11:45–13:00), “Advanced water treatment & smart water systems” (14:30–15:45) and “Accelerating water technology deployment for C&I operations” (16:30–17:30).

Together, the three stages create a single day of high-signal, implementation-led content for C&I leaders, utilities, municipalities and suppliers focused on operational performance, investment readiness and delivery discipline.

– on behalf of VUKA Group.

About Enlit Africa:
Enlit Africa convenes stakeholders across the power sector value chain to address the commercial and operational realities of delivery, bringing together leaders across finance, utilities, government, industry and technology to accelerate bankable investment, system readiness and measurable outcomes. https://apo-opa.co/4f8qGMc

About VUKA Group:
VUKA Group connects people and organisations across Africa’s energy, mining, mobility, green economy, and retail sectors through events, content, and strategic networking. Venture partners to The Global Trust Project and leaders of NPO Go Green Africa. www.WeAreVUKA.com       

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President Ramaphosa to address Africa’s Travel Indaba

Source: President of South Africa –

President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Tuesday, 12 May 2026, officially open and address Africa’s Travel Indaba at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal.

Held under the theme, “Unlimited Africa: Growing Africa’s Tourism Economy”, the Indaba is a platform for leaders of the African tourism industry, investors, media, international tour operators, bookers and government leaders, whose mandate is to grow and develop tourism on the continent.

The Indaba provides an opportunity for buyers from around the world to purchase a variety of tourism products available in South Africa and across the continent.

Africa’s biggest tourism trade gathering also allows industry leaders to deliberate on new policies, emerging trends, and the opportunities and threats facing the tourism sector from both African and global perspectives. Tourism is a critical driver of investment and job creation for the eThekwini Municipality, the rest of the province, and South Africa. The Indaba will run from 12 to 14 May 2026.

Tourism remains a key economic driver for South Africa, contributing significantly to job creation, investment attraction and inclusive economic growth. According to Statistics South Africa’s Tourism Satellite Account, the sector accounted for 953 981 direct jobs by 2024 and contributed 4,9% to the country’s economy, surpassing the pre-pandemic contribution of 3,7% in 2019. Tourism currently sustains approximately 1.8 million direct and indirect jobs across the country.

Africa’s Travel Indaba 2025 delivered a strong economic contribution, generating R246.8 million in direct expenditure and contributing R610.6 million to South Africa’s GDP, while supporting 1 104 jobs. The event also recorded hotel occupancy of 97%, highlighting the important role major tourism events play in stimulating economic activity, supporting local businesses, and promoting South Africa’s global competitiveness as a destination.

President Ramaphosa will address the Indaba as follows:
Date: Tuesday, 12 May 2026
Time: 10h00
Venue: Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre, Durban

Media enquiries: Vincent Magwenya, Spokesperson to the President, media@presidency.gov.za

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria
 

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Media accreditation call for the 2026 National Orders Awards

Source: President of South Africa –

President Cyril Ramaphosa, the Grand Patron of the National Orders, will on Tuesday, 19 May 2026, bestow the 2026 National Orders Awards on distinguished citizens and eminent foreign nationals who have contributed towards the advancement of democracy and have made a significant impact on improving the lives of South Africans.

National Orders are the highest awards that a country, through its President, bestows on its citizens and eminent foreign nationals.

The investiture ceremony will take place at the Sefako Makgatho Presidential Guesthouse in Pretoria.

MEDIA ACCREDITATION:
Media interested in covering the National Orders Ceremony are kindly requested to submit their accreditation details using the provided form to Makungu@presidency.gov.za and  Ndivhuwo@presidency.gov.za 

DEADLINE FOR MEDIA ACCREDITATION:
Thursday, 14 May 2026

Please note that no late submissions will be accepted beyond the stated deadline.

Right of admission is reserved. 

Media enquiries: Vincent Magwenya, Spokesperson to the President-
media@presidency.gov.za

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria
 

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Qatar Condemns Targeting Police Checkpoint in Pakistan

Source: Government of Qatar

Doha | May 10, 2026

The State of Qatar voices its condemnation and denunciation of the attack that targeted a police checkpoint in the northwest of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, leading to deaths and injuries.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterates the State of Qatar’s firm stance against violence, terrorism, and criminal acts, regardless of the motives or reasons.

The Ministry extends the State of Qatar’s condolences to the families of the victims, and to the government and people of Pakistan, wishing the injured a speedy recovery.

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Qatar Condemns Drone Attack Targeting Kuwait

Source: Government of Qatar

Doha | May 10, 2026

The State of Qatar condemns the drone attack targeting the sisterly State of Kuwait, describing it as a blatant violation of Kuwait’s sovereignty and a flagrant breach of international law.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stresses the need to halt unjustified attacks against sisterly countries.

The Ministry also affirms the State of Qatar’s full solidarity with the State of Kuwait, and its support for all measures it may take to safeguard its sovereignty and security.

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Madlanga Commission hearings to focus on drug seizures

Source: Government of South Africa

Madlanga Commission hearings to focus on drug seizures

The Madlanga Commission’s hearings in the week ahead will continue to focus on drug seizures by South African law enforcement agencies, as well as the handling and theft or disappearance of narcotic substances in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng.

“This is a continuation of the testimony of several witnesses last week, including the in-camera evidence of Witness H on Friday, 8 May 2026,” spokesperson for the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Criminality, Political Interference and Corruption in the Criminal Justice System, Jeremy Michaels, said on Sunday.

READ | Madlanga Commission hears testimony on Durban harbour drug seizure

The public hearings (11-15 May) will be the last week of public hearings before the Commission breaks from 18 May 2026 to focus on its second Interim Report, which is due to be delivered to President Cyril Ramaphosa on 29 May 2026. –SAnews.gov.za

 

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