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Can a newly discovered soil fungus stop the devastating African armyworm when chemicals have failed?

Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Letodi Luki Mathulwe, Research entomologist, Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology, Stellenbosch University

The African armyworm is a highly destructive migratory pest that damages maize, sorghum, millet and sugarcane. These caterpillars also cause indirect damage to livestock as they destroy grazing lands and pastures.

The last major outbreak of armyworm in southern Africa was from February to April 2025. It affected South Africa’s KwaZulu Natal, Limpopo, Gauteng and Mpumalanga provinces and neighbouring Zimbabwe.

Controlling armyworm has proved a major challenge. The most common method has been application of a pyrethroid based synthetic chemical insecticide. But the method has proved to be less effective in achieving complete control, as the insecticide is only effective against the larval instars (caterpillars) when they are about 1-5mm in length, as they are more susceptible to the poison than the grown larvae. The insect has a complete metamorphosis consisting of the egg, larvae (caterpillar), pupae and adult stage, which is a moth. The caterpillar stage is the most damaging stage.

I am an entomologist and my work focuses mainly on integrated pest management of economically important agricultural insect pests. Specifically, it looks at the use of disease-causing (entomopathogenic) fungi and nematodes as biological control agents of insects in agro-ecosystems. In a recent paper I set out my findings on a fungus that naturally infects and kills the larval instars of the African armyworm. This is the first report of the presence and successful isolation of the fungus in South Africa.

African armyworm killer fungus discovered in South Africa

Outbreaks of the African armyworm are mainly characterised by high densities of the larval instars of the insect: they form dense armies that move across the ground together.

African armyworms are highly destructive pests. Author supplied

It feeds on plants and can completely strip the leaves of crops to ground level. Damage to kikuyu grass pastures also means there’s less for livestock to eat and they can get sick from poisoning. This is because when the larvae feed on the grass, the grass releases a cyanic chemical compound as a defence mechanism against the insect. The cyanide compound is toxic to livestock, mostly cattle.

Clinical signs of kikuyu grass poisoning in affected cattle during outbreaks of the insect include abdominal pain, dehydration, excessive drooling of saliva, sham drinking – where the affected animals fail to drink even if they put their mouth into the water – incoordination (loss of muscle control, resulting in unsteady and involuntary movements), and cardiac and respiratory distress.

When I inspected kikuyu grass pastures infested with the insect in KwaZulu Natal, I observed that something was killing the larval instars of the African armyworm. It turned out to be an isolate of the fungus Metarhizium rileyi.

This fungus lives in soil and is one of many entompathogens that infect and kill various insect pests. They are often used in agriculture to manage pests that cause severe damage to crops. Several fungus-based insecticides are commercially available and have proven to be effective.

I found that dead African armyworm larvae were covering large areas of the fields, mostly attached to blades of grass and some on the soil surface. They were infected with Metarhizium rileyi. The infection was visible as white and green conidia, which are asexual spores on the cuticle surface of the insects.

This was the first observation and report of the efficacy of this fungus against the African armyworm. Previously,the fungus was reported to be an effective biological control agent of the fall armyworm in countries such as the Philippines.

The discovery opens an opportunity to explore and develop this organism as a potential biological control agent product to be used during outbreak seasons in South Africa and in other regions globally.

Mass production of this particular fungal species on a commercial scale and registration of the fungus as a biopesticide of the insect would be the next step. It could add to the management strategies that can be effectively used during outbreak seasons of the insect.

– Can a newly discovered soil fungus stop the devastating African armyworm when chemicals have failed?
– https://theconversation.com/can-a-newly-discovered-soil-fungus-stop-the-devastating-african-armyworm-when-chemicals-have-failed-286153

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Nigeria’s conflict zones: why people stay even when they can leave

Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Ezenwa E. Olumba, Leverhulme Early Career Research Fellow, Aston University

When armed groups attack a community, people often assume that everyone who can escape will leave. This belief influences news stories, public discussions and humanitarian efforts, which usually focus on those who have been forced to move.

However, while I was doing research in north-central Nigeria, also called the Middle Belt, I came across some communities that had the means to flee to safety but decided to remain, even though they faced repeated violent attacks from armed nomadic herders and got little or no help from the government.

I have been studying why people move or stay, and the violent conflicts between farming communities and nomadic herders in the Middle Belt, since 2018. I have published several studies on these issues. My research examines the history of the conflicts, what causes them to escalate, and why some people choose to remain in conflict zones. I have also studied how memories of people, places and past experiences influence decisions to remain.

In one study, my co-authors and I use the term eco-violence to describe conflicts over land and water between farming communities and nomadic herders across the dry Sahel region. These conflicts are driven partly by pressures on land and water, discrimination, and failures of government, as herders move with their livestock in search of grazing and water.

Studies show that in many crisis situations, more people stay than leave. To better understand migration and conflict, we need to ask not just why people run away, but also why some remain.

One reason is that they fear losing their ancestral land and traditional way of life.

The study

In Nigeria’s Middle Belt, communities have faced violence and the loss of homes, farms and food stores for many years.

Thousands of people are killed every year, with many communities destroyed and others deserted. According to Amnesty International, over 6,896 people were killed between May 2023 and May 2025 in Benue state alone.

These rural communities receive little or no protection from the police or military. Sometimes, attackers even warn the communities ahead of time, but the police or military still do not step in to protect them.

Hardly a week that goes without a killing in Benue, Plateau or Nasarawa states in Nigeria.

In 2022, I spoke with 54 people living in Benue and Nasarawa states. In Benue, I spoke with people who were indigenous to the location, as well as people who had fled to nearby communities. In Nasarawa State, I spoke with members of a community who had been displaced but later returned after regaining control of their village.

Why ancestral land matters

Their two main reasons for staying emerged from the research, which has since been published in Mobilities.

The first was their attachment to their ancestral land and the resources it provides. Many people in the Middle Belt are farmers who cultivate land inherited through generations. The same land contains their family homes, burial grounds and sacred sites, and provides the setting for rituals and traditional festivals.

The Middle Belt is known for its fertile land. Benue State, for instance, is often described as the country’s “food basket” because much of the food grown there is supplied to other parts of Nigeria.

A farmer and his son on a rice farm in Benue State. Author provided (no reuse)

The second was their desire to preserve a familiar way of life that makes living meaningful to them. For these communities, home is made up of relationships, memories, traditions and identities passed from one generation to the next. Some of them put it simply: they would rather die than leave.

One of the community members said this:

This land is where I was born, and this is my father’s land. Wherever I run to, I will become a stranger and may become destitute … If I die in my house for what belongs to me, let me die. This is why I did not flee.

Their decision is not simply about whether they could survive elsewhere. It is mostly about preserving their traditional way of life, since life away from their ancestral land may no longer feel meaningful.

These communities believe they can only keep their way of life by staying on what they call their “father’s land”. Leaving would mean surrendering their land, livelihoods and communal life to live elsewhere with little or nothing.

One of the community members said:

Another factor is that the area where we are settled now belongs to our forefathers, and if we flee and abandon this place, where are we heading to? … [S]ince this is our land, we must live on it.

Remaining does not mean that they prefer violence. They know the dangers and fear further attacks. Many have lost relatives and friends. But leaving would mean losing a way of life they believe they cannot rebuild anywhere else.

Conflict is not the only thing people fear

Understanding this can help scholars, policymakers, journalists and humanitarian groups to work more thoughtfully with people who choose to remain in conflict, for whom leaving may carry losses they consider impossible to replace.

– Nigeria’s conflict zones: why people stay even when they can leave
– https://theconversation.com/nigerias-conflict-zones-why-people-stay-even-when-they-can-leave-287826

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Refugee camps explained: why South Africa has avoided them

Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Franzisca Zanker, Senior researcher, Arnold Bergstraesser Institute

South Africa started processing undocumented migrants at a temporary repatriation centre in Musina, a border town with Zimbabwe, in July 2026. This followed weeks of intensified anti-migrant rhetoric and xenophobic violence.

The facility has raised questions about whether the country could be moving towards a more camp-based approach to managing migrants and refugees. This would mark a significant departure from South Africa’s post-apartheid refugee policy. South Africa has generally allowed refugees and asylum seekers to live, work and study in urban centres rather than confining them to designated refugee camps. As of 2025, the country hosted more than 160,000 refugees and asylum seekers from places like Zimbabwe, Malawi, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Burundi.

Franzisca Zanker and Ulrike Krause have studied refugee governance and encampment across Africa, including in South Africa. As migration becomes an increasingly charged political issue in South Africa, they examine what refugee encampment is.

Who counts as a refugee and what are the legal protections in place?

Legally speaking, all refugees are migrants. But not all migrants are refugees. A refugee is someone who has crossed an international border in search of protection because they fear persecution on the grounds of race, religion, nationality, political opinion or membership of a particular social group.

International law sets out protections for people in these circumstances, most notably through the 1951 Refugee Convention with its 1967 protocol. In Africa, the 1969 Convention of the then Organisation of African Unity broadened the definition of a refugee to include people fleeing external aggression, occupation or events seriously disturbing public order.

These conventions are, however, historical documents. They were drafted largely in colonial or early post-colonial contexts, leading to several blind spots. A criticism is that they don’t adequately account for contemporary forms of displacement, such as those driven by climate change.

In reality, the definition of who is a migrant or a refugee is often blurred. Like all international legal documents, the refugee conventions should be read as “living instruments”. This means they can be reinterpreted as circumstances change.

How does South Africa’s refugee system work?

South Africa had over 167,000 refugees and asylum seekers in 2025, mostly living in urban communities. An asylum seeker is an individual whose claim to refugee status hasn’t yet been legally processed or decided.

Asylum seekers must renew temporary section 22 permits, typically every six months, at refugee reception offices. This places a heavy burden on them.

Many asylum claims are rejected at the first stage, and the appeals process is lengthy. An audit in 2019 revealed that, at the time, it would take 68 years to clear the appeals backlog. In 2026, funding for the Refugee Appeals Authority of South Africa was cut, reducing its adjudication panel from 36 members to just nine.

Asylum seekers now wait for five to 10 years or longer for a decision. During this time, they face restrictions on work, study, movement and access to humanitarian assistance.

The legal framework around refugees and asylum seekers is also evolving.

In May 2026, the constitutional court ruled that asylum seekers whose applications, including appeals, have been rejected do not necessarily have the right to reapply as refugees. The Department of Home Affairs celebrated this as a win.

Two months later, the same court ruled that procedural failures, such as not obtaining a section 22 permit within five days of entering the country, are not sufficient grounds to disqualify someone from seeking refugee status. This time, the human rights organisation Scalabrini celebrated.

It is this arduous process for asylum seekers, the changing and complex legal system, and the need for humanitarian assistance for some asylum seekers that raises the question: would camps be a better way forward while they wait?

In other words, would camps offer a solution for protection? Or would they reduce the rights of refugees and asylum seekers in a country once lauded as exemplary?

What does the evidence show about refugee camps and protection?

Refugee camps are humanitarian and political spaces established to provide refugees with settlement, protection and assistance, particularly following large-scale movements to host states.

Host governments decide whether to establish camps and how they operate, but they often work closely with humanitarian agencies. The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) is central here, given its global mandate to safeguard refugees and their rights.

In practice, governments frequently collaborate with UNHCR to manage camps and coordinate NGOs that provide services like shelter, food, water and healthcare.

Although camps are intended as temporary spaces of protection, many last years or even decades.

They remain designed as provisional structures even as they evolve into long-term infrastructures.

And despite the protection focus, camps are not safe havens. Scholars have described them as spaces of order and control, a form of “human warehousing” and “sites of non-existence”.

They are run by political actors that control refugees’ daily lives. UNHCR relies on host states for access and donor states for funding to offer protection.

The legal basis for encampment is also contested. The 1951 Refugee Convention does not require refugees to be housed in camps.

Encampment is a policy choice, not a legal obligation. Yet camps have become the default humanitarian response and often harshly limit refugees’ right to freedom of movement.

What are the challenges of refugee camps?

Once established, camps bring a range of difficulties for the people who live in them.

Harsh living conditions and human rights abuses are well documented. These include gender-based and sexual violence, the everyday denial of rights and limited legal support, economic marginalisation, restricted political participation and overall structural “containment”.

Living conditions are, therefore, typically difficult.

Camps are mostly deliberately located in remote areas, cutting residents off physically, socially and economically from surrounding host communities.

Livelihoods suffer as a result. Decisions about shelter and daily life are made by aid and government actors.

Does the temporary repatriation centre in Musina signal a change of South African policy towards refugee camps?

The Musina centre is not a UNHCR-run refugee centre. There is also no indication it’s supposed to become one.

The Revised White Paper on Citizenship, Immigration and Refugee Protection, approved by cabinet in 2026, contains no plans to establish refugee camps.

Even so, several issues deserve attention.

First, UNHCR is facing huge funding cuts, in line with humanitarian assistance more generally. It is looking to downsize rather than build up new camps. As of 30 June 2026, only 18% of its annual budget is funded for its multi-country operation covering South Africa, Botswana, and Namibia.

Second, setting up camps in impoverished contexts can always raise tensions with host communities who also need humanitarian assistance. In an environment where xenophobic violence is partly fuelled by tensions between refugees and host communities, this is far from ideal.

Third, the current trend is to move away from encampment, as seen in Kenya, for instance.

Letting the free market and self-settlement take care of refugees can be highly problematic. But it is within this space that South Africa is more likely to find a sustainable path forward – one that remains true to its protection obligations while enabling refugees to contribute to, and benefit from, the communities in which they live.

– Refugee camps explained: why South Africa has avoided them
– https://theconversation.com/refugee-camps-explained-why-south-africa-has-avoided-them-288116

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dtic to engage hospitality, agriculture and tourism sectors on local employment

Source: Government of South Africa

dtic to engage hospitality, agriculture and tourism sectors on local employment

The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (dtic) will in the next two weeks hold discussions with the hospitality, agriculture and tourism sectors on the employment of South Africans and other issues affecting economic growth.

The planned engagements form part of government’s efforts to address migration management while also promoting economic growth and ensuring that local workers benefit from opportunities in the economy.

The announcement was made during a media briefing by the Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) on Migration on Sunday, held to outline progress on government’s plans to strengthen migration management, uphold the rule of law and secure the country’s borders.

“In the next two weeks the dtic will hold discussions with sectors such as hospitality, agriculture and tourism on matters of employment of locals and other issues related to the growth of the economy,” the committee said.

The discussions are expected to focus on the employment of local people and broader economic challenges facing the sectors.

The IMC said the engagements form part of its work on the “economic stream” of the government’s migration management plan.

The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) and dtic will also convene a meeting with businesses operating elsewhere on the African continent to understand the challenges they face and assess the broader impact of the current migration situation.

The government is simultaneously pursuing policy and legislative changes aimed at addressing gaps in migration management.

These include the Citizenship, Immigration and Refugee Protection Bill, the Employment Services Amendment Bill and the Business Licensing Bill, which the IMC said seeks to reserve certain business activities and sectors wholly or partly for South African citizens.

The planned sector discussions come as government intensifies efforts to crack down on businesses employing undocumented migrants as part of its broader migration management strategy.

The IMC said multi-agency law enforcement operations were targeting illegal border crossings, human trafficking, labour exploitation, fraudulent documentation syndicates and businesses employing illegal migrants.

The IMC is expected to continue engaging stakeholders as government seeks to balance migration management, the protection of human rights and efforts to promote economic growth. – SAnews.gov.za
 

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Nelson Mandela Bay, faith leaders strengthen partnership to improve service delivery

Source: Government of South Africa

Nelson Mandela Bay, faith leaders strengthen partnership to improve service delivery

The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality and leaders of the Concerned Religious Fraternity have agreed to strengthen their partnership to advance service delivery, promote meaningful public participation and tackle some of the metro’s most pressing social challenges.

The recent engagement, led by Executive Mayor Babalwa Lobishe, comes amid ongoing public consultations by the Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities (CRL Rights Commission) on a draft self-regulatory framework for the Christian sector.  

The fraternity called for broader and more inclusive engagement to ensure that the voices of faith communities are adequately heard. 

While discussions included the proposed regulatory framework, the engagement extended far beyond policy matters.

The municipality and the religious fraternity reached a shared commitment to work together in addressing critical challenges affecting residents, including water conservation, the protection of municipal infrastructure against vandalism and theft, the fight against gender-based violence, youth development and strengthening social cohesion across communities. 

Lobishe said the engagement demonstrated the important role that partnerships between government and faith-based organisations play in building resilient communities and strengthening democracy. 

“The Constitution not only protects freedom of religion, belief and association; it also upholds the democratic principle that every citizen must have a meaningful opportunity to participate in decisions that affect them. As local government, we believe constructive dialogue remains one of the strongest foundations of democracy,” Lobishe said.

She said the municipality will engage the relevant government stakeholders to communicate the concerns raised by the religious fraternity while fully respecting the constitutional independence and statutory mandate of the CRL Rights Commission.

“Government cannot build thriving communities on its own. Lasting change is achieved when government, faith leaders, business and civil society unite behind a common purpose. Today’s engagement marks the beginning of a stronger partnership that places the people of Nelson Mandela Bay at the centre of everything we do.

“The reach of the religious fraternity, from local congregations to provincial and national leadership, provides a powerful platform to mobilise communities around responsible citizenship, safer neighbourhoods, protecting public infrastructure, promoting water conservation and confronting gender-based violence. That is a partnership we are committed to strengthening,” Lobishe said.

Lobishe further welcomed the fraternity’s willingness to work alongside the municipality in supporting service delivery initiatives and community development programmes. 

Speaking on behalf of the Concerned Religious Fraternity, Pastor Lingelihle Jadezweni welcomed the outcome of the engagement and described it as an important step towards strengthening relations between local government and the faith community.

“We appreciate the Executive Mayor’s willingness to listen to our concerns and facilitate engagement with the relevant institutions. We believe meaningful consultation is essential in matters affecting churches and religious communities.

“Equally important, we leave this engagement committed to working alongside the Municipality to address the challenges confronting our communities. Together, we can make a meaningful difference in the lives of our people,” the mayor said.

The mayor reaffirmed that inclusive governance requires collaboration with all sectors of society and that faith-based organisations remain indispensable partners in promoting social cohesion, supporting vulnerable communities and advancing sustainable development.

The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality will continue strengthening partnerships with religious organisations, civil society, business and communities as part of its commitment to building a capable, responsive and developmental local government that delivers for all residents. – SAnews.gov.za
 

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Self-vaccination portal to strengthen fight against Foot and Mouth Disease

Source: Government of South Africa

Self-vaccination portal to strengthen fight against Foot and Mouth Disease

The Department of Agriculture has launched an online self-vaccination application portal that will allow livestock owners to apply for authorisation to vaccinate their own animals against Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), in a move aimed at streamlining the country’s response to the disease.

Agriculture Minister Willie Aucamp said the new system will enable cattle owners and managers to perform voluntary vaccination of their livestock against FMD.

“This step is only the beginning, and I can assure all stakeholders that the Department of Agriculture is committed to enabling the private sector to help tackle this FMD outbreak,” Aucamp said.

The online portal enables livestock owners to register on the FMD Reporting site and apply to become an authorised person to administer FMD vaccines. The system has been designed in line with biosecurity requirements, legal prescripts, and traceability measures, and reporting on vaccinations that were applied.

The application process is divided into three parts:

a) Application to be an “Authorised Person” 

Livestock owners and managers must apply through the FMD Reporting System to be approved as an “Authorised Person” permitted to administer FMD vaccines.

b) Notice of Intention to Vaccinate

Once approved as an “Authorised Person”, they will be required to give notice of their intention to vaccinate, to the Provincial Director of Veterinary Services or the applicable State Veterinarian for the area concerned. This notification needs to be submitted online or in writing, at least five days prior to administering the vaccine. After the authorised persons have given notice of their intention to vaccinate, they will be able to procure the required vaccines directly from their authorised veterinarian in their area.

c) Submit a vaccination report

Following vaccination, authorised persons must submit a vaccination report within 14 days, with the required feedback (as per the online feedback system on the vaccines that they have administered). This feedback report will include various details of the animals vaccinated, as well as the vaccine used and the location of the farm where the vaccine was administered.

The department said livestock owners and managers may also use approved third-party digital platforms, including those operated by Red Meat Industry Services (RMIS), Southern African Agri Initiative (SAAI) and Buffalo Analytics, to complete the notification and reporting process.

The information submitted through approved private-sector platforms will be shared with the Department of Agriculture and uploaded to the department’s system. Livestock owners are advised to confirm that their chosen platform has been approved for use by the Director of Animal Health.

Aucamp said the information gathered through these report-back systems will enable government to monitor progress of the vaccination programme.

“It will also enable us to efficiently provide up-to-date information on the success of South Africa’s vaccination programme to the World Organisation for Animal Health when we are in a position to apply for FMD-free status with vaccination once again,” Aucamp said.

The Minister reiterated the department’s commitment to strengthening relations with the sector and that he will chart a unified way of working which welcomes support and collaboration from all stakeholders.

He also encouraged organised agricultural organisations to liaise with approved vaccine importers, on behalf of their members, on the number of vaccines required by their members.

This, he said, will assist importers in determining the number of vaccines that they need to procure and distribute to veterinarians all over the country.

Vaccine importers have also been urged to work with veterinarians to determine the number of vaccines that the veterinarians want to order for their clients in a specific area.

Farmers participating in the voluntary vaccination programme will be responsible for the cost of vaccines administered to their livestock. However, government will continue providing vaccines in areas where new FMD outbreaks are detected, as well as to farmers who cannot afford to purchase them.

“I want to thank all farmers, organised agriculture organisations as well as the Department of Agriculture officials, who have worked tirelessly to get these systems up and running shortly after reaching the settlement,” the Minister said.

For general queries and questions regarding the FMD Reporting system, please contact: Dr Rachel Welsh – 012 319 7460 or RachelW@nda.gov.za  
Link to FMD Reporting System: https://fmd.nda.gov.za/ Link to step-by-step guidelines:https://www.nda.gov.za/images/outbreaks/Foot%20and%20Mouth%20Disease%200 
Outbreak/Reports/2026/request-for-authorisation-notification-and-reporting-for-fmd-vaccination 24jul2026.pdf   
FMD WhatsApp Channel: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vags5R83gvWWZOhk9946 – SAnews.gov.za
 

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SA to continue engagement with US on tariffs

Source: Government of South Africa

SA to continue engagement with US on tariffs

Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau says government will continue to engage with the United States (US) over the 12.5% tariff imposed on South African exports.

The United States Trade Representative (USTR) imposed tariffs on products from 60 economies following Section 301 Investigations of Acts, Policies, and Practices of Various Economies Related to the Failure of Each Economy to Impose and Effectively Enforce a Prohibition on the Importation of Goods Produced with Forced Labor.

South Africa is among the 41 economies that the USTR claims do not impose and effectively enforce forced labour practices.

As a result, South Africa will be subjected to a tariff of 12.5%. The other 19 economies that were found to have imposed laws prohibiting the importation of goods produced using forced labour will be subjected to a 10% tariff.

“It is important to indicate that products already subjected to Section 232 tariffs such as automobiles and auto components, and steel and aluminium, are exempted from the Section 301 tariffs.

“The USTR also published a list of products that will be exempted from the Section 301 tariffs, and these are listed under Annex I and Annex II of the Federal Register,” the Minister said.

Some of the exempted products of export interest to South Africa include, among others, macadamia nuts, oranges, limes, tea, spices, seeds, cane sugar, orange and lime juice, syrups, chemicals, critical minerals, platinum-group and precious metals, isotopes, civil aircraft and parts and components, and pharmaceuticals.

The decision follows numerous written submissions by the South African Government, Organised Labour and the South African private sector, as well as extensive consultations with the office of the USTR in May 2026 and testimony by the South African Government at the Public Hearing held by the US Section 301 Committee earlier this month. 

“South Africa has indicated that it will be publishing a notice in the Gazette requesting public comments on the intent to issue a regulation to prohibit goods produced in whole or in part using forced labour and child labour.

“Government will continue to engage with the USTR on the Section 301 tariffs with a view to either eliminating or reducing the current tariff imposed on our country,” Tau said. –SAnews.gov.za

 

 

Edwin

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O «Power Africa Today» reúne decisores políticos, reguladores e especialistas de mercado de todo o mundo na African Energy Week (AEW) 2026

Source: Africa Press Organisation – Portuguese –

A conferência inaugural da Power Africa Today, que terá lugar no âmbito da African Energy Week (AEW) 2026, na Cidade do Cabo, de 12 a 16 de outubro, reunirá um conjunto de peso de decisores políticos de alto nível, reguladores, investigadores e líderes do setor. A nova plataforma analisará as políticas, o financiamento e as infraestruturas necessárias para alargar o acesso à eletricidade, modernizar as redes de transmissão e acelerar o investimento em todo o setor energético africano.  

Refletindo a natureza global da transição energética africana, representantes da União Africana, do Ministério do Ambiente e das Alterações Climáticas do Brasil, da Autoridade Reguladora da Energia do Zimbábue (ZERA) e da S&P Global Energy participam no evento como oradores. A sua participação sublinha a crescente colaboração entre governos, entidades reguladoras e prestadores de informação de mercado, à medida que os países trabalham para reforçar os sistemas elétricos, modernizar os quadros regulamentares e expandir o investimento ao longo de toda a cadeia de valor do setor energético.  ​

Entre os oradores confirmados encontra-se Letaro D. Metaboge, Comissário para as Infraestruturas e a Energia da União Africana, cujo trabalho apoia a integração energética continental através do Mercado Único Africano de Eletricidade e do Programa para o Desenvolvimento de Infraestruturas em África. À medida que os agrupamentos regionais de energia promovem a harmonização regulatória e o comércio transfronteiriço de eletricidade, Metaboge estará bem posicionado para partilhar perspetivas sobre a reforma de políticas destinadas a reforçar os mercados de eletricidade interligados e a desbloquear investimentos em infraestruturas em maior escala.  

A conferência contará também com a presença de Carlos Roberto de Carvalho de Fonesca, chefe da Unidade de Assuntos Internacionais do Ministério do Ambiente e das Alterações Climáticas do Brasil. O ministério supervisiona o envolvimento internacional do Brasil em matéria de política climática, governação ambiental e desenvolvimento sustentável, num contexto em que o país está a expandir a cooperação com economias em desenvolvimento em iniciativas relacionadas com a energia limpa e o clima. 

A juntar-se ao painel está Edington T. Mzambani, CEO da ZERA, que se manteve ativa ao longo de 2026 com reformas regulatórias e iniciativas de modernização digital. Os marcos recentes incluem o lançamento do ZERA AI Bot, ajustamentos nos preços dos combustíveis para os consumidores e esforços contínuos para reforçar o quadro dos produtores independentes de energia do Zimbábue e o ambiente regulatório energético.  

Apresentando uma perspetiva do mercado global, Silvia Macri, diretora associada de Investigação em Energia e Renováveis da S&P Global Energy, traz uma vasta experiência que abrange os mercados de eletricidade africanos, o investimento em energias renováveis e os fundamentos do setor energético. A mais recente investigação da S&P Global Energy destaca a importância das infraestruturas de transmissão, do financiamento e da segurança regulatória para desbloquear as substanciais oportunidades de investimento no setor energético do continente. 

«A Power Africa Today reflete o reconhecimento crescente de que a resolução dos desafios energéticos de África requer uma colaboração mais forte entre governos, entidades reguladoras, investidores e líderes do setor. Ao reunir vozes de destaque de todo o panorama energético global, a AEW 2026 está a criar a plataforma para as conversas e parcerias que ajudarão a moldar o futuro energético de África», afirma NJ Ayuk, Presidente Executivo da African Energy Chamber.  

Como a mais recente plataforma no âmbito da AEW 2026, a Power Africa Today surge num momento em que o investimento no setor elétrico africano ganha impulso. Ao reunir representantes de alto nível de instituições multilaterais, governos, entidades reguladoras e organizações globais de informação de mercado, a conferência reforça o papel da AEW como ponto de encontro para as partes interessadas que impulsionam a próxima fase do desenvolvimento do setor energético em toda a África. ​

Distribuído pelo Grupo APO para African Energy Chamber.

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Diale-Tlabela calls on families of deceased operators to apply for transfer of operating licences

Source: Government of South Africa

Diale-Tlabela calls on families of deceased operators to apply for transfer of operating licences

Gauteng MEC for Roads and Transport, Kedibone Diale-Tlabela, has called on families of deceased public transport operators, including minibus and metered taxi operators, to come forward and apply for the transfer of valid operating licences to ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations.

This call follows numerous attempts by the Department of Roads and Transport to reach out to clients and applicants to submit outstanding documentation or collect approved operating licences. 

“The transfer of an operating licence is a statutory requirement that safeguards the integrity of the public transport regulatory system while protecting the rights of operators, commuters, and beneficiaries,” the department said on Monday.

To support applicants, the department has established a Public Transport Women’s Help Desk, a central hub for support, advocacy, information, and redress. 

Located in central Johannesburg, the Help Desk provides step-by-step guidance throughout the application process.

The facility offers legal and compliance support aligned with sector legislation, access to training opportunities, business development resources, and assistance with reporting abuse. 

It also assists in resolving disputes and challenges related to licence transfers, renewals, amendments, and rectifications.

The Public Transport Women’s Help Desk is situated at the corner of Village Main Road and Loveday Street in Wemmer (opposite JMPD offices, central Johannesburg) and can be contacted on (011) 355 7484 during office hours. –SAnews.gov.za

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President Ramaphosa urges Pan-African Parliament to drive Africa’s integration

Source: Government of South Africa

President Ramaphosa urges Pan-African Parliament to drive Africa’s integration

President Cyril Ramaphosa has called on the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) to strengthen its role as the guardian of democracy, champion of African integration and catalyst for translating continental commitments into tangible improvements in the lives of Africans.

Addressing the opening of the First Ordinary Session of the Seventh Legislature of the Pan-African Parliament at Gallagher Estate in Midrand on Monday, President Ramaphosa said the institution carries the hopes of more than 1.5 billion Africans at a time when the continent is grappling with conflict, economic uncertainty, climate change and geopolitical tensions.

“The Pan-African Parliament carries the hopes and aspirations of more than 1.5 billion Africans for peace, progress and prosperity across our beloved continent.

“It is an enduring symbol of unity in diversity, a unity anchored in the conviction that Africa’s future must be shaped not only by its governments, but by its peoples,” he said. 

President Ramaphosa said recent wildfires in Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia, together with other global challenges, underscored the importance of African solidarity.

“These developments make it even more important that Africa is able to stand together to advance its own development,” he said. 

He congratulated Dr Fateh Boutbig and the newly elected leadership of the Pan-African Parliament, expressing confidence that they would advance the mandate of African unity with integrity and purpose.

Reflecting on South Africa’s democratic journey, President Ramaphosa said the country remained committed to repaying the solidarity shown by African nations during the struggle against apartheid through contributions to peace, development and institution building.

He highlighted South Africa’s role in hosting the inaugural African Union Summit in 2002, helping establish the African Peer Review Mechanism and the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), as well as supporting democracy, mediation and reconstruction efforts across the continent through the African Renaissance and International Cooperation Fund.

President Ramaphosa also reflected on Africa’s coordinated response to the COVID-19 pandemic, describing it as a powerful example of continental cooperation.

“At a time when vaccine nationalism was taking hold and poorer countries were being pushed to the back of the queue, Africa did not only call for international solidarity. Africa practised solidarity,” he said. 

He said the continent had extended its vaccine procurement mechanisms to Caribbean countries, demonstrating that African integration could deliver practical benefits beyond the continent.

President Ramaphosa also commended the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) for leading the response to Ebola outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda.

Turning to the role of the Pan-African Parliament, President Ramaphosa said it remained a pillar of Africa’s democratic architecture and had a responsibility to ensure African Union aspirations translated into better lives for citizens.

“This Parliament must itself exemplify the democratic values it seeks to advance across the continent.

“It must be a model of integrity, transparency, accountability, responsible stewardship and fidelity to its own rules,” he said. 

He welcomed the Parliament’s oversight of African Union flagship projects, saying it played an important role in monitoring the implementation of policies critical to Africa’s development and integration.

Water security

President Ramaphosa urged parliamentarians to prioritise the African Union’s 2026 Theme of the Year: “Assuring Sustainable Water Availability and Safe Sanitation Systems to Achieve the Goals of Agenda 2063.”

He described access to clean water and sanitation as a fundamental human right and warned that climate change, ageing infrastructure, pollution and poor governance were placing increasing pressure on water resources.

“The Pan-African Parliament and national parliaments have a decisive role to play.

“They must develop and harmonise enabling legislation, oversee public expenditure, promote investment in water infrastructure and hold governments accountable for delivering reliable water and sanitation services,” he said. 

He said South Africa was addressing its own water challenges through the National Water Action Plan while recognising that African countries needed to share knowledge, technology, finance and expertise.

Defending democracy

President Ramaphosa said the Parliament should remain steadfast in protecting constitutional democracy across Africa.

“This Parliament must be resolute in defending constitutional democracy.

“It must speak clearly against unconstitutional changes of government, the unlawful extension of political tenure, the weakening of democratic institutions and the misuse of public resources,” the President said. 

He added that democratic governance was essential for peace, development and public confidence in institutions.

AfCFTA key to Africa’s future

President Ramaphosa described the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as the continent’s most powerful tool for achieving unity and economic transformation.

“The African Continental Free Trade Area is undoubtedly the most powerful instrument we have to realise our cherished goal of African unity, prosperity and progress,” he said. 

He said the agreement would only realise its full potential if African countries removed non-tariff barriers, modernised customs systems, improved transport and logistics, harmonised regulations and simplified payment systems.

“The Pan-African Parliament must work with national and regional parliaments to domesticate AfCFTA commitments, harmonise legislation and hold governments accountable for implementation,” the President said. 

Managing migration

President Ramaphosa also used the address to call for a balanced continental approach to migration, acknowledging growing concerns in South Africa and elsewhere while warning against xenophobia and misinformation.

“As the South African government, we have taken a firm stance against any form of intimidation, vigilantism or violence directed at foreign nationals,” he said. 

He stressed that lawful migrants, refugees and asylum seekers should not be conflated with undocumented migrants or be blamed for unemployment, crime or service delivery failures.

“Our response must combine firm, fair and effective immigration management with an unwavering defence of human dignity and the rule of law,” he said. 

President Ramaphosa said African countries needed to address the root causes of migration, including conflict, instability, poverty and weak governance.

“We must work for a future where Africans migrate out of choice and not necessity,” he said.

Building the Africa of the future

President Ramaphosa said Africa’s future depended on adding value to its own resources, empowering young people and women, investing in infrastructure and strengthening continental institutions.

He urged African countries to process their own minerals and agricultural products, create jobs for young people and ensure women played a greater role in leadership and economic development.

He also called for Africa to speak with one voice on reform of the United Nations Security Council, the global financial architecture and international trade, climate and technology governance.

“The success of this Seventh Legislature will not be measured only by the debates it holds or the resolutions it adopts.

“It will be measured by the laws it helps to shape, the commitments it helps to implement and the difference it makes in the daily lives of the people of Africa,” he said. 

Concluding his address, President Ramaphosa urged the Parliament to remain a force for democracy, peace and accountability.

“History will judge us not by the speeches we deliver, but by the Africa we build. Let this Parliament be the conscience of our continent. Let it be the voice of Africa’s most vulnerable.

“Let it be the guardian of democracy. Let it be the champion of peace,” he said. – SAnews.gov.za

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