Pan African Visions (PAV) (https://PanAfricanVisions.com), a globally respected platform for African business, investment, and policy intelligence, is proud to announce that it has joined as an Official Media Partner for the 2026 U.S.-Africa Business Summit, to be held in Mauritius from July 26–29, 2026.
This renewed collaboration with one of the most influential U.S.-Africa commercial platforms underscores Pan African Visions’ growing stature as a credible, high-impact media and strategic communications partner, trusted by governments, investors, and institutions to shape and amplify Africa’s global narrative.
Convened by the Corporate Council on Africa in partnership with the Government of the Republic of Mauritius, the Summit has, for over two decades, stood as the premier platform driving trade, investment, and commercial engagement between the United States and Africa—where policy aligns with capital and partnerships translate into tangible deals.
As an official media partner, Pan African Visions will deliver comprehensive, high-level coverage, including exclusive executive interviews, investor-focused insights, and strategic storytelling that connects African opportunities to global capital and decision-makers before, during, and beyond the Summit.
“Pan African Visions has proudly served as a media partner for this prestigious Summit before, and we are honored to be working together again,” said Ajong Mbapndah L, Founder and Publisher of Pan African Visions. “This continued partnership reinforces our growing and credible presence as a trusted platform in telling the African story, strengthening strategic networks, and connecting governments, investors, and businesses to real opportunities across the continent.”
Through this partnership, Pan African Visions further cements its position as a preferred media and engagement platform for global stakeholders seeking authentic, high-impact access to Africa’s evolving investment landscape.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Pan African Visions.
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Pan African Visions is a leading global media and strategic communications platform dedicated to advancing Africa’s business, investment, and development agenda. Through authoritative reporting, executive engagement, and market intelligence, PAV connects Africa’s opportunities to a global network of decision-makers.
Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Olivier Moreillon, Research Associate, University of Johannesburg
There’s a line in Cape Fever, the new book by award-winning South African novelist and playwright Nadia Davids, that doesn’t just establish the story, it also makes a haunting promise:
But small house, big house, smells or no smells, this is much the same: that in the city you will come to know a person by two things: what’s inside their house, and the house’s way with the wind.
The remark gestures towards the invisible forces moving through both houses and history. Just as a building’s “way with the wind” reveals how it stands in relation to its surroundings, Davids suggests that a household’s inner life exposes the moral currents shaping an entire society.
What lies inside Mrs Hattingh’s decaying colonial manor thus becomes a measure not only of its inhabitants’ inner lives, but also of an entire colonial society teetering on the brink of moral and historical reckoning.
Set in an unnamed harbour city in the early 1920s, clearly reminiscent of Cape Town, the novel follows Soraya Matas, a young Muslim woman who becomes a live-in maid for the financially struggling widow Mrs Hattingh. Mrs Hattingh’s household exists in a state of uneasy anticipation. Her son Timothy, a soldier who survived the first world war, is expected home from England, yet his return is repeatedly delayed.
Assumed to be uneducated, Soraya quietly conceals her literacy. When Mrs Hattingh offers to write weekly letters to Soraya’s absent fiancé, Nour, on her behalf, what begins as an act of benevolence unfolds into a strange ritual that binds the two women ever more tightly.
As a scholar of South African literature, I am interested in how fiction revisits the country’s layered pasts and the intimate spaces in which power unfolds. Davids’s work has occupied a distinctive place within this landscape, combining historical sensitivity with psychological insight. Cape Fever offers a tense and atmospheric story that gradually reveals itself as a probing meditation on voice, authority, and memory.
The power of the pen
Although Soraya dictates what she wants to say in the letters, Mrs Hattingh shapes the words on the page. She does not always record Soraya’s words faithfully. Sometimes she embellishes them, sometimes she alters their tone, and sometimes she quietly inserts her own interpretations. What appears to be an act of help becomes a quiet act of power.
As Mrs Hattingh’s words travel outward to Nour in the letters she writes for Soraya, the domestic space mirrors the wider colonial order, where white employers exercised intimate authority over the lives of the people who served them. Relationships were often framed as paternal kindness or protection, yet they were sustained by profound inequalities.
Davids captures this uneasy mixture of intimacy and hierarchy with striking precision. Assumed kindness masks control, hierarchy seeps into intimacy, and the power to tell a story becomes the power to define reality.
It is here that Davids’s portrayal of Mrs Hattingh reveals itself as one of the novel’s great strengths, resisting caricature and allowing complexity to unsettle easy moral certainties. The widow could easily have remained a brittle emblem of colonial entitlement. Instead, she is rendered with psychological nuance.
She is controlling and condescending, yes, but also fragile, lonely, and quietly desperate. Against expectation, and however unlikely it may seem at first, Mrs Hattingh grows on the reader. Her vulnerability surfaces in fleeting gestures, and her dependence on the ritual of writing exposes her own need to be heard.
Haunted by history
Cape Fever, however, is far more than a chamber drama. Mrs Hattingh’s manor is haunted by presences only Soraya senses. These spirits hover in corridors and cling to cracked plaster, whispering of historical memory and unresolved grief. The decaying house stands as a gothic embodiment of colonial decline saturated with what has been silenced.
Mrs Hattingh’s son Timothy hovers over the story as another kind of ghostly figure. His anticipated arrival turns the manor into a place of suspended time. The promised homecoming deepens the novel’s atmosphere of unease, and Timothy becomes a living reminder of war’s distant violence and its lingering aftermath, his absence intensifying both Mrs Hattingh’s solitude and the fragile balance of the household.
Davids uses psychological suspense to expose the emotional afterlives of empire and the war. The unseen shapes the living, and ancestral echoes unsettle the present. The house’s “way with the wind” becomes a metaphor for the forces that move through history.
Shifting shadows
The novel’s tension arises from the shifting balance of power between two women who seem fundamentally unlike yet become inextricably bound to one another. Their relationship is marked by subtle renegotiations of authority, moments of advance and retreat, dominance and vulnerability.
At one point Soraya declares:
I see the marvel now, that we, who have been ripped to pieces so many times over, who have known such darkness, can still spin and sew lives of such brightness, make music that fills the streets, sing prayers that ring out over the entire city; that we find ways to say over and over, We are here!We are here!
Davids’s language is suffused with a lyricism that lends the novel sustained grace, imbuing each scene with subtle beauty. Her prose shimmers with layered meaning, giving even the most mundane gestures an undercurrent of tension.
Suspense-packed yet intellectually incisive, Cape Fever is far more than a domestic affair. It is a meditation on voice, power, and memory. It is a gothic-inflected exploration of empire’s intimate spaces. It is a novel whose echoes will travel far beyond the Cape.
– Cape Fever: a haunting new novel from award-winning South African writer Nadia Davids – https://theconversation.com/cape-fever-a-haunting-new-novel-from-award-winning-south-african-writer-nadia-davids-277685
Members of the Regional Assembly of the Northern Red Sea Region conducted meetings from 20 March to 2 April with residents of 17 administrative areas in Ghinda sub-zone focusing on the resolutions adopted at the 21st regular meeting of the Regional Assembly.
At the meetings, the members of the Regional Assembly provided extensive briefings on harmful practices and their health consequences, and called for integrated efforts on the part of parents to ensure that school-age girls attend regular education and to strengthen women’s participation in the adult education program, among other issues.
Calling on the public to enhance participation in the implementation of development programs, Mr. Yihayish Gebreselasie, managing director in the sub-zone, said that solar systems are being installed in the administrative areas of Mai-Habar, Leaiten, and Nefasit with a view to addressing electricity demands.
The participants conducted extensive discussion on the issues raised at the meetings and adopted various recommendations.
Schools cultural and sports week has been enthusiastically conducted in Ara’eta sub-zone.
Mr. Idris Ibrahim, head of the education office in the sub-zone, said that the program, which was held in Tio and in which students from 20 elementary schools, seven junior schools, and one high school took part, featured football, general knowledge, traditional dance competitions, and other activities.
Mr. Idris indicated that sports have significant contribution in the development of the teaching-learning process as well as in transferring noble societal values to the young generation. He also called for its reinforced continuity.
The National Union of Eritrean Youth and Students branch of Sawa and Higher Education Institutions has provided vocational training to 217 students, including 120 female students of Mai-Nefhi College of Engineering and Technology.
The training, which was provided alongside their regular college education, included basic Arabic language, graphics, and ideology.
Noting the significance of acquainting students with technology alongside their academic education, Mr. Abel Yohannes, head of the union branch at the college, called on the trainees to apply practically the knowledge they gained from the training.
Ms. Mensura Ismail, head of the union branch of Sawa and Higher Education Institutions, noting that a strong society builds a strong country, said that the National Union of Eritrean Youth and Students is earnestly working by designing a clear strategy to realize its objectives and mission.
In the same vein, Tsaeda Kristain Secondary School in Berik sub-zone has encouraged outstanding students who scored higher GPA in the School Leaving National Examination.
South Africa’s tourism sector has emerged as a powerful driver of economic growth and job creation, with new data highlighting its recovery and expansion beyond pre-pandemic levels.
According to Statistics South Africa’s latest Tourism Satellite Account report, the sector supported 953 981 direct jobs in 2024 – accounting for 5.7% of the country’s labour force.
This translates to roughly one in every 18 South Africans being directly employed in tourism.
The sector’s contribution to the economy has also surged.
Tourism accounted for 4.9% of South Africa’s Gross Domestic Product in 2024, exceeding its 3.7% contribution in 2019 before the COVID-19 pandemic. Notably, tourism outperformed traditional industries such as agriculture, utilities, and construction.
Tourism spending rebounded sharply, reaching a total of R779.2 billion. Domestic travellers contributed the bulk of this figure at R665.3 billion, while international visitors accounted for R113.9 billion.
“This once again reaffirms that domestic tourists are the bedrock of the sector in our country,” said Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille.
“They contribute significantly to the sector’s role in growing our economy and creating jobs, while international tourism continues to strengthen.”
The recovery is also evident in rising international arrivals.
South Africa recorded a milestone 10.5 million international visitors in 2025. Early figures for 2026 suggest continued momentum, with nearly 2 million arrivals recorded in the first two months of the year.
In January 2026, arrivals reached 1 133 533 – an increase of 12.4% compared to the same month in 2025. February followed with 864 534 arrivals, marking a 13.1% year-on-year rise.
“We expect further growth in international arrivals with the rollout of the Electronic Travellers Authorisation and our marketing strategy as we position South Africa as an affordable holiday and MICE destination of choice,” de Lille added.
The Minister attributed the sector’s strong performance to the implementation of the Tourism Growth Partnership Plan, a collaborative initiative between government and the private sector aimed at accelerating recovery and long-term growth.
With domestic demand holding firm and international interest steadily increasing, tourism is once again cementing its role as a cornerstone of South Africa’s economic recovery. – SAnews.gov.za
Rishav Juglall is not just an entrepreneur; he is the man behind Rocky Brands, a business that has created 48 employment opportunities.
Based in Midrand, Rocky Brands manufactures and supplies high-quality cleaning products to retailers across South Africa.
In 2022, his business was named Pick n Pay Business Supplier of the Year. Furthermore, in 2023, his company secured R15.7 million in blended funding from the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC).
The IDC, an entity of the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (dtic), drives job creation through industrialisation and supports black-, women- and youth-owned businesses to build a more inclusive economy.
“The funding helped us to buy more equipment and that enabled our production process to be mostly automated, saving us money and time, and contributing to the well-being of our employees because they work less overtime to meet deadlines,” explained Juglall.
The investment also allowed Rocky Brands to upskill staff to operate the new machinery and warehouse equipment, while bulk stock purchases have reduced input costs.
Juglall holds a qualification in marketing and economics from the University of KwaZulu-Natal and identified a gap in the market for affordable, quality cleaning products.
Inspired by his mother’s struggle to find reasonably priced products – including polish for her glass-top stove – he launched the business 15 years ago.
Its main manufacturing plant operates from Riversands in Midrand, Gauteng, supported by distribution depots in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, and Cape Town in the Western Cape.
Transforming the cleaning products sector
In 2011, when Juglall was just 22 years old, he had a vision of transforming the cleaning products sector in South Africa.
“At the time, I could only find an Australian import, and it was expensive. I then found Weiman products on Amazon, and the reviews were very impressive. I reached out to the brand and sealed a deal to supply South African retail stores with Weiman products, and that’s how I started my business,” he explained.
His company became the sole distributor for Weiman products in the country at the time, supplying to major retailers.
The company began manufacturing approximately 90% of its products in-house from 2016.
“The shift to local production not only supports the South African economy but also gives us greater control over the quality and sustainability of our offerings. We were one of the first black-owned businesses in South Africa to supply Woolworths with cleaning products from 2023,” he concluded proudly.
Today, Rocky Brands manufactures and delivers cleaning brands including Goo Gone, Orange, Wright’s, Weiman, Earth Friendly, Magic Eraser and Clean Start. The company supplies Pick n Pay, Woolworths, Spar, Checkers, Bidvest Prestige, Supercare and House & Home, among others.
At just 25, Pfunzo Monica Chilate is steadily building a name for herself in Limpopo’s construction sector – one red mud brick at a time.
Chilate is the founder of Chilate Enterprises, a brick-making business based in Thohoyandou in Limpopo. Although she officially started the company in 2018, the roots of the enterprise run much deeper.
“I started the business in 2018 but my father was making the bricks before that… My dad used to make them at home, but not to sell; it was just to build our house.”
The idea to turn a family skill into a commercial venture came when Chilate noticed unused potential on the family farm.
Her father became her first mentor and remains a key pillar of support.
“My dad taught me the skill and I am currently working with him in the business. He has been helping me from the start,” she said.
While the business was launched in 2018, it only began gaining traction two years later.
“In 2020 we started to experience growth, which came after some of our clients showcased our work on Facebook. From that, I have received so many customers.”
Today, Chilate Enterprises employs 16 people who work in pairs. “Each team produces about 1 500 bricks a day.”
Despite the growth, 2026 has brought serious setbacks. Heavy rains and flooding in parts of Limpopo forced operations to shut down.
“Operations came to a standstill for about four weeks and we were unable to produce any bricks because of the rainfall. We had bricks that we had made but were not ready to be sold – those were all washed away.”
Provincial government preliminary assessments indicate that Limpopo may require close to R10 billion for comprehensive recovery efforts following the recent floods.
Chilate said the business only resumed sales at the end of February.
Transport remains another major hurdle. “I don’t have my own truck, so I often lose big clients that are looking to support us. I rely on other people and it becomes expensive, and the clients then pull out. It is a challenge we are hoping to resolve in time.”
Although she has applied for grant funding without success, she remains optimistic. “We are hopeful because in a month we are able to sell about 100 000 bricks, so the market is there.”
Her long-term vision extends far beyond bricks. “We want to build a one-stop shop for people building their houses – from bricks, cement, lintels and everything else,” she concluded.
Contact Pfunzo Monica Chilate on 0826874984 for more information.
Closure of N3 northbound carriageway at Market Road
The South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) had advised motorists of the full road closure on the N3 Northbound carriageway at Market Road Overpass in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal.
The closure will be on Saturday, 11 April 2026, between 9 pm and 5 am to facilitate the installation of the soffit beams as part of the construction of the New Market Road overpass bridge.
“Our traffic accommodation team, in collaboration with the Road Traffic Inspectorate (RTI), has meticulously planned the closures and will actively manage and monitor them for the entire duration,” KwaZulu-Natal SANRAL Specialist Geometrics Engineer Jason Lowe said.
An additional alternative route for light vehicles is via the Ashburton Interchange northbound carriageway (NBC) off-ramp, which will be implemented based on traffic volumes and at the discretion of the RTI.
The closure will allow work to continue on the R1.91 billion N3 upgrade project between Gladys Manzi Road and the New England Road Interchange, aimed at reducing traffic congestion and improving safety.
The Construction on Gladys Manzi Road (km 5.9) to New England Road Interchange (km 9.0) will upgrade the existing cross-section of the N3 from two northbound and three southbound lanes to four northbound and five southbound lanes per carriageway.
The full closure on the N3 Northbound will be implemented as follows:
Date: 11 April 2026 from 9 pm until 5 am on the N3 Northbound.
Date: 12 April 2026 (alternative date in case of inclement weather on the above) from 9 pm until 5 am on the N3 Northbound.
Alternative route: Via Market Road offramp on temporary road to Market Road onramp and back onto N3.
“We understand that these road closures cause major disruption and have planned them to take place at times when the disruption is minimised.
“Trucks and heavy vehicles are advised to try to delay trips over this period or find suitable staging areas to avoid major congestion.
“Public transport operators are asked to ensure their drivers are aware of route closures and alternatives affecting their commuter routes,” Lowe said.
Light vehicle traffic, as well as emergency services and traffic management, are advised to make use of alternative routes.
“SANRAL apologises for any inconvenience caused and appreciates the public’s patience during the ongoing major road enhancements.” –SAnews.gov.za
The United States Embassy, through the English for Law Enforcement (ELE) program, is helping the Madagascar’s National Police and Gendarmerie Academies strengthen the English skills that officers need to communicate clearly during real operations, joint transnational criminal investigations, and information sharing with international counterparts.
Today, U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Stephanie Arnold and Acting DCM Richard Hays presented National Police Academy Director Commissaire Divisionnaire de Police BEN HOUSSEN Evariste and Gendarmerie Academy Director Colonel RABARISON Tina Luc Olivier additional books and teaching resources from the Embassy, including materials authored by American law enforcement experts, to further strengthen their day‑to‑day training.
Launched by the U.S. Embassy in 2024, the ELE program is implemented by the U.S. English Language Specialists and the English Language Teachers’ Association of Madagascar (ELTA). The program designed a specialized curriculum tailored to police and gendarmerie needs and produced online and printed teaching materials that reflect real-world law enforcement scenarios. Malagasy English instructors at both academies are also continuously trained in a more interactive, skills-based approach to language learning that emphasizes listening, speaking, and the ability to operate in English in high-pressure situations.
A one-year follow-up program continues to support National Police and Gendarme English instructors as they implement the updated, law-enforcement-focused curriculum and integrate new teaching resources into their courses.
This sustained support ensures that English training remains embedded in the academies’ regular course offerings, helping Malagasy officers communicate clearly with counterparts across borders, respond to global security threats, and keep both our countries – and the wider region – safe.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of U.S. Embassy in Madagascar.
