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South Africa, Namibia set sights on industrialisation and regional growth

Source: Government of South Africa

South Africa, Namibia set sights on industrialisation and regional growth

President Cyril Ramaphosa has called on South Africa and Namibia to seize a historic opportunity to transform their abundant natural resources into engines of industrialisation, job creation and regional prosperity. 

Opening the Fourth Session of the South Africa–Namibia Bi-National Commission (BNC) in Pretoria on Friday, President Ramaphosa said the two neighbouring countries must shift their focus from simply extracting resources to building regional value chains that produce finished products and create sustainable employment.

“The question before us is not whether Africa possesses these resources. The question is whether Africans will capture the value they create. Our objective should be to build regional value chains that produce finished products, rather than merely exporting raw materials.

“For too long, Africa has exported opportunity while importing prosperity. We have exported raw materials and imported manufactured goods. We have created industries elsewhere while unemployment has remained one of our greatest challenges at home,” President Ramaphosa said. 

He emphasised that this model cannot define Africa’s future.

“The days when our minerals leave our shores simply as rock and dust must steadily come to an end. Instead, we should increasingly process, refine, manufacture and innovate here in Southern Africa, creating value for our own economies and opportunities for our own people,” he said. 

President Ramaphosa co-chaired the Fourth Session of the BNC with Namibian President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah following meetings of senior officials, held from 14 to 15 July, and a Council of Ministers meeting on 16 July, where delegates prepared recommendations for consideration by the two Heads of State.

Established in 2013, the South Africa–Namibia Bi-National Commission is the highest formal mechanism for cooperation between the two countries. The Commission coordinates bilateral relations, reviews progress and identifies new opportunities to strengthen cooperation across political, economic, social, defence and security sectors.

The Fourth Session builds on three previous BNC meetings that have strengthened bilateral relations since the mechanism was established. To date, South Africa and Namibia have concluded 75 agreements and memoranda of understanding covering political, economic, social, defence and security cooperation, as well as historical agreements relating to the handover of Walvis Bay. 

Welcoming the Namibian delegation, President Ramaphosa described Namibia as “not merely our neighbour” but “our sister nation” –  saying the relationship between the two countries was forged through the shared struggle against colonialism and apartheid. 

“The friendship between our countries was forged not by convenience, but through struggle, sacrifice and solidarity. Together, our peoples resisted colonialism and apartheid.

“Together, we stood for justice, freedom and human dignity. Together, we helped shape a Southern Africa that is today defined by democracy, peace and cooperation,” the President said. 

He said the Commission represented far more than a bilateral engagement, but rather “our collective determination to build a partnership that advances prosperity for our peoples and contributes to the development and stability of our region and continent.”

While acknowledging the work completed by ministers, senior officials and technical experts over the past three days, President Ramaphosa stressed that implementation would determine the Commission’s success.

“The true measure of our success, however, will not be the number of agreements we sign, but the effectiveness with which we implement them. Implementation must now become our foremost priority,” he said. 

A major focus of the President’s address was strengthening cooperation in strategic sectors expected to drive future economic growth.

He highlighted the Orange Basin, where significant offshore oil and gas discoveries have attracted international attention, as an opportunity to establish an integrated regional energy economy rather than simply exporting resources.

“Its development presents us with an opportunity not simply to extract oil and gas, but to establish an integrated regional energy economy encompassing exploration, engineering, refining, petrochemicals, logistics, maritime services and advanced manufacturing,” he said. 

President Ramaphosa congratulated Namibia on its offshore discoveries and said South Africa’s own exploration efforts, coupled with the countries’ shared geology and geographical proximity, created a compelling case for closer collaboration in exploration, infrastructure development, skills development and investment promotion.

He also pointed to the potential of green hydrogen, saying South Africa’s Boegoebaai Deepwater Port and Green Hydrogen Development Programme, located near the Namibian border, presented “an important opportunity for collaboration in building a globally competitive green industrial corridor linking our two countries.”

Mining cooperation, particularly around critical minerals, was another area identified for expansion.

President Ramaphosa said finalising a Memorandum of Understanding on geology and mining would strengthen collaboration on joint exploration, scientific research and downstream beneficiation, while cooperation between the two countries’ Councils for Geoscience could unlock new investment opportunities.

The President further emphasised the importance of cooperation on shared water resources, describing water security as a strategic imperative for two water-scarce countries facing growing climate pressures.

“As water-scarce countries sharing important transboundary water systems and aquifers, our cooperation in integrated water resource management is essential not only for sustainable development but also for climate resilience and long-term regional stability,” the President said. 

Trade and investment also featured prominently in the discussions.

President Ramaphosa welcomed the growing presence of South African companies investing in Namibia while encouraging greater Namibian investment into South Africa.

He called for stronger partnerships between the private sector, development finance institutions and state-owned enterprises, saying both countries should identify bankable projects in infrastructure, logistics, agriculture, manufacturing, renewable energy and digital technologies.

He added that removing unnecessary trade barriers, improving border efficiency and strengthening transport corridors would be critical to unlocking the full potential of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

The Fourth Session also incorporates the South Africa–Namibia Business Forum, held under the theme “Driving Regional Industrialisation, Investment and Sustainable Growth Through Strategic South Africa–Namibia Partnerships.”

The forum brings together government and business representatives from both countries to strengthen trade, investment and industrial cooperation.

Bilateral trade and investment relations have continued to grow, with more than 50 South African companies investing in Namibia between 2023 and 2025. These investments contributed approximately US$1.2 billion in capital and created around 4 900 jobs across sectors including mining, banking, insurance, property and renewable energy.

A closer cooperation between the two countries is expected to drive economic growth through expanded trade and investment, industrialisation, infrastructure development and job creation.

The Commission is expected to strengthen trade and investment, deepen industrialisation, expand energy cooperation, improve transport corridors, enhance food and water security, and support greater regional integration through the Southern African Development Community (SADC), the African Union (AU) and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

The Fourth Session of the BNC is also expected to culminate in the signing of six cooperation agreements covering employment and labour, public administration capacity building, air services, legal cooperation, correctional services, and economic cooperation between the South African and Namibian Chambers of Commerce and Industry.

On regional peace and security, President Ramaphosa reaffirmed both countries’ commitment to African-led solutions to African challenges, expressing concern over instability in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, Cabo Delgado in Mozambique, Sudan, South Sudan and parts of the Sahel.

“Without peace there can be no investment. Without security there can be no sustainable development,” he said. 

At the international level, he said South Africa and Namibia remained committed to multilateralism, international law and reform of global governance institutions, including the United Nations Security Council.

President Ramaphosa also addressed migration, saying South Africa would continue enforcing its immigration laws “firmly, fairly and consistently” while upholding constitutional values and human dignity.

He said sustained dialogue, stronger border cooperation, orderly labour mobility and inclusive economic development remained the most effective long-term responses to migration pressures across the continent.

Concluding his address, the President urged both countries to build on the legacy of solidarity inherited from previous generations.

“Our responsibility is to leave to future generations a partnership that is even stronger—one that delivers opportunity, prosperity and hope to every citizen of South Africa and Namibia.

“May this Fourth Session of our Bi-National Commission be remembered not simply for the agreements we conclude, but for the momentum we generate and the future we build together,” he said. 

He then officially declared the Fourth Session of the South Africa–Namibia Bi-National Commission open. – SAnews.gov.za

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Africa: Feminist funding is essential to ending violence against women and girls

Source: APO

Across Africa, women’s rights organizations are providing critical services to survivors of violence, mobilizing communities, generating evidence, defending hard-won rights and holding institutions accountable. They are doing this in contexts shaped by conflict, displacement, economic uncertainty, shrinking civic space and growing backlash against gender equality.

Yet the organizations closest to women and girls remain among the least resourced.

This urgent contradiction was at the centre of the Third Regional Dialogue on Feminist Funding for Women’s Movements, convened in Nairobi by UN Women, the UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women and Girls and partners under the European Union-funded Advocacy, Coalition-Building and Transformative Feminist Action to End Violence against Women and Girls Programme.

The Dialogue brought together 83 participants from 15 countries across East, Southern and West Africa, including women’s rights organizations and networks, feminist funders, governments, United Nations agencies, development partners, philanthropy, regional institutions and private sector actors.

A clear message emerged: ending violence against women and girls requires more than additional funding. It requires financing that shifts power, strengthens feminist movements and responds to the realities of organizations working closest to affected communities. 

From funding gaps to feminist infrastructure 

Participants painted a stark picture of the current funding landscape. Women’s rights organizations continue to operate in environments where demand for their work is growing, while funding remains limited, unpredictable, short-term, and often difficult to access. Photo: UN Women/ UNTF Purity Kiarie

Women’s rights organizations are essential infrastructure for justice, peace, democracy and sustainable development. They often provide the first response to survivors, sustain advocacy during crises, challenge discriminatory social norms and protect civic space.

However, many continue to operate with limited, short-term and highly restricted funding. According to AWID’s 2025 Where is the Money? report, the median annual budget for feminist and women’s rights organizations and movements was only USD 22,000 in 2023. OECD data also shows that women’s organizations have received less than 1 per cent of official development assistance for gender equality.

This underfunding has direct consequences. It limits organizations’ ability to retain staff, maintain survivor services, protect activists, strengthen institutional systems, invest in evidence and plan beyond short project cycles.

Participants therefore called for feminist funding to be recognized as an investment in the systems that keep women and girls safe and enable communities to advance justice and accountability. 

From commitments to financing accountability

The Dialogue also emphasized that policy commitments must be matched by budgets, implementation and accountability.

Participants identified gender-responsive budgeting, stronger public financing for ending violence against women and girls, co-financing with development partners and formal partnerships with civil society as critical pathways for sustainable national investment.

They also called on donors and development partners to reduce bureaucratic barriers, simplify compliance requirements and expand flexible, multi-year and core funding. Funding should include resources for organizational resilience, digital and physical security, rapid response, coalition-building, leadership development, evidence generation and self and collective care.

Accountability must be mutual. Funders should be accountable for whether resources reach grassroots and marginalized groups, while funded organizations should be supported to document results, strengthen learning and demonstrate how their work improves the lives of women and girls. 

Building a wider feminist financing ecosystem

Participants called for a diversified financing ecosystem that brings together public resources, feminist funds, philanthropy, development finance, community-rooted models and accountable private sector investment.

Innovative financing can help expand available resources, but participants stressed that new approaches must remain grounded in feminist and rights-based principles. Private sector engagement should go beyond charitable contributions and address corporate leadership, governance, worker protection, investment practices and accountability for preventing violence.

The Dialogue also called for resources to reach rural women’s groups, disability-led organizations, youth-led movements, community-based organizations and groups working in conflict-affected settings. These organizations are often excluded by complex application processes, strict eligibility rules, high co-financing requirements and reporting systems designed for larger institutions. 

A collective agenda for action

The Nairobi Dialogue concluded with a shared commitment to advance more accessible, flexible, predictable, multi-year and core funding for women’s rights organizations and feminist movements across Africa.

Participants also affirmed the need to strengthen solidarity across movements, public institutions, donors, feminist funds, regional networks and private sector actors, while protecting civic space and ensuring that women’s rights organizations shape the decisions that affect their work.

The outcome is both practical and political. Funding feminist movements is not a charitable add-on. It is a necessary investment in ending violence against women and girls, protecting rights and building stronger, more accountable societies.

When feminist movements are resourced, women and girls are safer, survivor services are stronger, advocacy is sustained and communities are better equipped to resist backlash and drive lasting change.

Key takeaways

  • Expand accessible, flexible, predictable, multi-year and core funding.
  • Translate policy commitments into public budgets and accountable expenditure.
  • Direct resources to grassroots, locally led and historically excluded organizations.
  • Finance protection, resilience, evidence generation, coalition-building and care.
  • Diversify financing while protecting feminist and human rights principles. ​

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of UN Women – Africa.

Media files

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Members Back Motion to Counter Drought, Hunger in Northern Uganda

Source: APO – Report:

Parliament has unanimously backed a motion calling for urgent government intervention to address the worsening drought and hunger crisis affecting Northern Uganda.

The motion, moved on Thursday,  16 July 2026 by Kilak North County MP, Hon. Anthony Akol, seeks a resolution directing the Government to immediately scale up humanitarian assistance while investing in long-term climate resilience measures.

Akol called on government to urgently deliver relief food and agricultural inputs to households whose crops have failed due to the prolonged drought.

“Government should expedite the delivery of food items to support drought-affected households, as well as seedlings and planting materials for the affected people to plant immediately in the forthcoming planting season,” he said.

He further called on the Government to strengthen climate resilience by investing in early warning systems capable of providing timely weather information to farmers and local governments.

The motion also urges the Executive to fast-track the utilisation of US$38 million earmarked under the Northern Uganda Social Action Fund IV (NUSAF IV) Disaster Risk Financing Facility to respond to severe drought affecting West Nile, Acholi, Lango, Karamoja, Teso, Bukedi, Bunyoro and the Elgon sub-region.

Akol warned that the drought has evolved beyond an agricultural challenge into a humanitarian emergency.

“People have started dying of acute hunger, including children, the elderly, and pregnant mothers. It is important that the country takes action now to avert a crisis,” he said.

Legislators rallied behind the motion, agreeing that the prolonged dry spell has exposed Uganda’s vulnerability to climate change.

Tochi County MP, Hon. Peter Okot (DP), said many farmers had invested heavily in planting before the unexpected dry spell destroyed crops.

“Unless the people of Greater Northern Uganda are urgently supported, many lives will be lost,” Okot warned.

Meanwhile, Omoro County MP Andrew Ojok (NRM) proposed amending the motion to include crop insurance, arguing that Parliament repeatedly debates similar relief measures every year without addressing farmers’ vulnerability.

“If we help farmers insure their crops, we shall go a long way in protecting livelihoods,” Ojok said.

Simon Peter Longoli (NRM, Chekwii County MP) said Karamoja region has received virtually no meaningful rainfall since April.

Longoli observed that more than 1.15 million acres of crops have been destroyed, while at least 20 people have reportedly died from hunger-related causes, although government has officially confirmed 16 deaths.

He acknowledged government’s recent allocation of Shs4 billion for emergency relief and rehabilitation of water facilities but argued that the response remains inadequate compared to the scale of need.

Longoli proposed three additional interventions sustained food relief covering the six-month period before the next harvest; distribution of drought-tolerant seeds by the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries; and targeted nutritional support for an estimated 120,000 malnourished children in Karamoja.

Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja, assured legislators that government had already activated emergency interventions.

She disclosed that Cabinet had earlier considered a paper on the hunger crisis and that President Yoweri Museveni had directed the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) to coordinate emergency food distribution with the army.

Food stocks, the premier added, have already been positioned in Kigumba, Kiryandongo District, while the National Enterprise Corporation has been contracted to transport relief supplies to the worst-affected districts in Karamoja.

“The President has instructed OPM to use the army to supply food relief to the most affected areas. Distribution is expected to commence on Friday and MPs from affected districts should mobilise communities to receive the assistance,” Nabbanja told Parliament.

– on behalf of Parliament of the Republic of Uganda.

Media files

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The Chinese Embassy in Liberia Holds Conference on Implementing Zero-Tariff Measures

Source: APO – Report:

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From July 15 to 16, the Chinese Embassy in Liberia held Conference on Implementing Zero-Tariff Measures. Ambassador Yin Chengwu attended and delivered remarks. Nearly 20 representatives from the Liberian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Ministry of Agriculture, Customs, as well as local chambers of commerce and business organizations, participated in the conference.

​Yin stated that the zero-tariff policy, which had been applied to the least developed countries, including Liberia, since December 2024, was extended to all African countries having diplomatic relations with China in May 2026. This represents a significant milestone in broadening opening-up within the framework of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), reflecting the deepening ties between the two sides and illuminating the way forward for China-Africa cooperation. The zero-tariff policy reduces export costs, expands the export of Africa’s competitive products to China, and enhances market competitiveness. It will continue to boost local employment, attract foreign investment, and promote industrial integration. China is ready to deepen cooperation with Liberia and share the dividends of development.

The one-and-a-half days event featured primarily video presentations by Chinese experts on relevant subjects, followed by an interactive Q&A session. The Liberian participants paid close attention, posed questions with great enthusiasm, and created a vibrant atmosphere.

– on behalf of Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Republic of Liberia.

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Opening remarks by President Cyril Ramaphosa at the Fourth Session of the South Africa – Namibia Bi-National Commission, OR Tambo Building, Tshwane

Source: President of South Africa –

Your Excellency and Dear Sister, President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah,
Ministers and Deputy Ministers from the Namibian and South African Delegations,
Senior officials,
Distinguished delegates,
Ladies and gentlemen,

It gives me great pleasure to welcome Your Excellency, your Ministers and your distinguished delegation to South Africa for the Fourth Session of the South Africa–Namibia Bi-National Commission.

Your visit is a reaffirmation of one of the most enduring and treasured partnerships on our continent.

Namibia is not merely our neighbour.

Namibia is our sister nation.

The friendship between our countries was forged not by convenience, but through struggle, sacrifice and solidarity.

Together, our peoples resisted colonialism and apartheid.

Together, we stood for justice, freedom and human dignity.

Together, we helped shape a Southern Africa that is today defined by democracy, peace and cooperation.

It is this shared history that continues to inspire our shared future.

This Commission therefore represents far more than a bilateral meeting.

It represents our collective determination to build a partnership that advances prosperity for our peoples and contributes to the development and stability of our region and continent.

I wish to commend our Ministers, senior officials and technical experts for the considerable work undertaken during the past three days.

Their deliberations have prepared the ground for today’s engagement and demonstrate the seriousness with which both our governments approach this partnership.

Today we build on the outcomes of previous Bi-National Commission sessions and the extensive body of agreements that already bind our two countries.

The true measure of our success, however, will not be the number of agreements we sign, but the effectiveness with which we implement them.

Implementation must now become our foremost priority.

Excellency,

We meet at a defining moment for our continent.

Africa has become central to the future of the global economy.

The world increasingly looks to Africa for the critical minerals, energy resources, agricultural potential and strategic partnerships that will shape the industries of the future.

The question before us is therefore not whether Africa possesses these resources.

The question is whether Africans will capture the value they create.

South Africa and Namibia have both the opportunity and the responsibility to ensure that our natural endowments become engines of industrialisation, innovation, skills development and decent work.

Our objective should be to build regional value chains that produce finished products rather than merely exporting raw materials.

For too long Africa has exported opportunity while importing prosperity.

We have exported raw materials and imported manufactured goods.

We have created industries elsewhere while unemployment has remained one of our greatest challenges at home.

That model cannot define Africa’s future.

The days when our minerals leave our shores simply as rock and dust must steadily come to an end.

Instead, we should increasingly process, refine, manufacture and innovate here in Southern Africa, creating value for our own economies and opportunities for our own people.

Excellency,

There are boundless opportunities before us.

The Orange Basin is emerging as one of the world’s most promising new energy frontiers.

Its development presents us with an opportunity not simply to extract oil and gas, but to establish an integrated regional energy economy encompassing exploration, engineering, refining, petrochemicals, logistics, maritime services and advanced manufacturing.

We congratulate Namibia on its remarkable offshore discoveries, which have rightly attracted global attention.

South Africa likewise continues to explore the considerable potential of our own offshore resources.

Given our shared geology and geographical proximity, there is a compelling case for closer collaboration in exploration, infrastructure development, skills development and investment promotion.

Equally significant are the opportunities presented by green hydrogen.

South Africa’s Boegoebaai Deepwater Port and Green Hydrogen Development Programme, situated close to our common border, presents an important opportunity for collaboration in building a globally competitive green industrial corridor linking our two countries.

Our cooperation in mining should also deepen.

Beyond uranium, diamonds and copper, Namibia’s expanding portfolio of critical minerals presents exciting opportunities for joint exploration, geological mapping, scientific research and downstream beneficiation.

Finalising our Memorandum of Understanding on geology and mining will provide an important framework for this work.

Our respective Councils for Geoscience should work closely together in undertaking joint scientific assessments and unlocking new investment opportunities.

Water security is another strategic imperative.

As water-scarce countries sharing important transboundary water systems and aquifers, our cooperation in integrated water resource management is essential not only for sustainable development but also for climate resilience and long-term regional stability.

Excellency,

Trade and investment remain central pillars of our relationship.

South Africa welcomes the growing presence of South African companies investing in Namibia, and equally encourages greater Namibian investment into South Africa.

We should actively encourage partnerships between our private sectors, development finance institutions and state-owned enterprises.

Together, we can identify bankable projects in infrastructure, logistics, agriculture, manufacturing, renewable energy and digital technologies.

Removing unnecessary barriers to trade, improving border efficiency and strengthening transport corridors will be essential if we are to realise the full potential of the African Continental Free Trade Area.

Within SACU, SADC and the African Union, our countries remain steadfast in advancing regional integration and the aspirations of Agenda 2063.

Excellency,

Peace and development are inseparable.

Without peace there can be no investment.

Without security there can be no sustainable development.

South Africa and Namibia therefore reaffirm our commitment to African-led solutions to African challenges.

We remain concerned by the continued instability in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, the security situation in Cabo Delgado, developments in Sudan and South Sudan, and the persistent instability across parts of the Sahel.

Together, we will continue supporting regional and continental efforts aimed at achieving lasting peace.

At the international level, we remain committed to multilateralism, international law and the peaceful resolution of disputes.

We will continue working together to advance the reform of global governance institutions, including the United Nations Security Council, so that they better reflect contemporary realities and Africa’s rightful place within the international community.

Excellency,

Migration remains a shared continental challenge requiring shared continental solutions.

South Africa remains committed to enforcing its immigration laws firmly, fairly and consistently, while upholding the constitutional values and human dignity that define our democracy.

We believe that sustained dialogue, enhanced border cooperation, orderly labour mobility and inclusive economic development remain the most effective long-term responses to migration pressures across our continent.

Finally, Excellency,

Our generation has inherited from those who came before us a relationship built through sacrifice and sustained through trust.

Our responsibility is to leave to future generations a partnership that is even stronger—one that delivers opportunity, prosperity and hope to every citizen of South Africa and Namibia.

May this Fourth Session of our Bi-National Commission be remembered not simply for the agreements we conclude, but for the momentum we generate and the future we build together.

It is therefore my great honour to declare the Fourth Session of the South Africa–Namibia Bi-National Commission officially open.

I thank you.

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SASSA dismisses four officials over R33 million social grants fraud

Source: Government of South Africa

SASSA dismisses four officials over R33 million social grants fraud

The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) has dismissed four officials from its Nebo Local Office in Sekhukhune after they were found guilty of involvement in a R33 million social grants fraud scheme.

In a media statement issued on Thursday, SASSA said an internal investigation revealed that the officials manipulated the social grants system in collaboration with external syndicates, resulting in fraudulent activities valued at R33 million.

Following the investigation, disciplinary proceedings were instituted, leading to the dismissal of the four employees.

The officials appealed the sanction, but SASSA said its Appeals Committee upheld the dismissals, citing the seriousness of the misconduct and the need to protect public resources.

The agency reiterated its zero-tolerance stance on fraud and corruption, saying it remains committed to safeguarding the integrity of the social grant system and ensuring that grant funds reach the rightful beneficiaries who depend on them.

Regional Executive Manager Mapupula Pheeha said fraudulent activities undermine public trust in SASSA and deprive vulnerable communities of much-needed support.

“Fraudulent activities undermine the trust placed in SASSA and deprive vulnerable communities of much-needed support. We will continue to act decisively against any employee found guilty of misconduct,” Pheeha said.

SASSA added that it is strengthening measures to prevent similar incidents in future. These include enhanced monitoring, stricter internal controls and ongoing staff ethics training aimed at protecting the integrity of the social grants system.

The agency said the dismissals demonstrate its commitment to rooting out corruption and ensuring accountability among its employees while protecting public funds intended for South Africa’s most vulnerable citizens. – SAnews.gov.za 

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Special Economic Zones attract R14.8 billion in revenue

Source: Government of South Africa

Special Economic Zones attract R14.8 billion in revenue

Deputy President Paul Mashatile says South Africa’s Special Economic Zones (SEZ) programme has attracted R14.8 billion in revenue and created more than 30 000 jobs across sectors, including automotive manufacturing, agro-processing and renewable energy.

This is according to a World Bank study. Government introduced the Industrial Development Zone programme in 1997 to create world-class industrial hubs that would attract investment, boost exports and drive industrial growth.

“Recognising the power of strategic infrastructure and supportive policy, the programme laid the foundation for a more competitive and diversified economy. 

“Over time, it has evolved into the Special Economic Zones programme, with a broader focus on accelerating industrialisation, creating jobs, and driving inclusive economic development in South Africa and across the African continent,” the Deputy President said.

Speaking at the Second International Special Economic Zones Conference in Durban on Friday, Mashatile said the programme has produced notable projects, including the Tshwane Automotive Special Economic Zone (TASEZ) and the Coega Industrial Development Zone in the Eastern Cape, which support skills development and downstream supply chains.

“We have learned valuable lessons since Coega was designated in 2001. By 2010, Government had invested more than R3 billion in Coega alone, attracting 21 investments valued at R9.2 billion and generating 2 837 operational jobs.

“However, some of these investments were not new, but had relocated from elsewhere due to weakened municipal service delivery and township integration, leading to zones risking becoming enclaves,” Mashatile said.

In response, government shifted to Special Economic Zones in 2012 under the SEZ Act. The programme is now entering a third phase through the Spatial Industrial Development Strategy.

The strategy aims to increase the manufacturing sector’s contribution to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) from 12%, with manufacturing seen as having significant multiplier effects that can help reduce socio-economic challenges such as unemployment, especially among youth and women.

To drive manufacturing-led industrialisation, the government has identified key economic sectors categorised into three areas:

  • Decarbonisation, aimed at low-carbon technologies and climate resilience;
  • Diversification, focused on expanding the manufacturing base for value-added goods and export markets; and
  • Digitalisation, emphasising the integration of productivity-enhancing digital technologies across industries. 

Mashatile said the Special Economic Zones Programme is a key mechanism for the re-industrialisation agenda.

“We are building on an existing network of SEZs and Industrial Parks that have already established industrial foundations across every province of our country. 

“We have 5 400 SEZs globally competing for the same capital. We cannot compete simply by being the cheapest. We compete by being the most strategic, the most reliable, and the most inclusive. 

“As we leave Durban, let us renew our collective commitment to ensure that our Special Economic Zones become engines of investment, innovation and opportunity, not islands of prosperity, but catalysts for inclusive growth that will uplift every province and every community across our country,” Mashatile said.

Mashatile said SEZs are intended to create conditions for investment, industrialisation, employment and shared prosperity, while supporting economic growth that improves people’s lives.

“This task extends beyond any single province. Across our nation, from KwaZulu-Natal to Limpopo, from the Eastern Cape to the Northern Cape, SEZs are unlocking regional potential, strengthening industrial capacity, and connecting local enterprises to regional and global markets.

“They are also strategically positioning South Africa as a gateway to the African continent and supporting the broader vision of an integrated, industrialised and prosperous Africa,” the Deputy President said. -SAnews.gov.za

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South Africa, Namibia strengthen gender equality cooperation

Source: Government of South Africa

South Africa, Namibia strengthen gender equality cooperation

South Africa and Namibia are set to deepen bilateral cooperation on gender equality and women’s empowerment, following talks between Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities Sindisiwe Chikunga and Namibia’s Minister of Gender Equality and Child Welfare, Dr Emma Kantema.

The bilateral meeting took place on the sidelines of the Fourth Session of the South Africa-Namibia Bi-National Commission (BNC), held at the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) in Pretoria on Thursday, 16 July 2026.

Addressing the meeting, Chikunga said the two countries’ longstanding historical and political ties continue to provide a strong foundation for cooperation on social and economic development, particularly in advancing the rights and empowerment of women.

She said South Africa and Namibia’s relationship is underpinned by shared history, geographic proximity and collaboration through regional and multilateral institutions, including the Southern African Development Community (SADC), the African Union and the United Nations.

A key outcome of the engagement is the anticipated signing of a bilateral agreement on cooperation in gender equality and women’s empowerment during the Fourth Bi-National Commission.

The agreement, first initiated in 2022, provides a framework for collaboration in six priority areas, including the preventing and eliminating femicide and all forms of violence against women and girls; sharing expertise on national legislation, programmes and strategies to prevent and combat GBVF; exchanging strategies to enable adequate representation of women in decision making positions in the public and private sectors, including capacity-building.

It also includes joint programmes on the empowerment of women in the agricultural sector and other economic sectors identified by the Parties; joint training of women and girls in conflict resolution under the Women, Peace and Security agenda; and joint participation in national, regional and international dialogues on entrepreneurship and women’s economic empowerment.

Chikunga welcomed progress made by officials from both countries in finalising the agreement and said its implementation should be guided by a clear action plan.

“As we sign tomorrow [Friday], this must translate into a concrete Implementation Plan with clear targets and timeframes,” the Minister said.

The Minister also outlined South Africa’s priorities ahead of assuming the chairship of SADC, saying the country would work closely with member states, including Namibia, to accelerate implementation of the SADC Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP) 2020–2030.

She noted that the Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, together with the SADC Secretariat, convened a virtual meeting of SADC Ministers responsible for Gender and Women’s Affairs on 26 June 2026 as part of preparations for South Africa’s leadership of the regional bloc.

South Africa is expected to host the 46th Ordinary SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government in August 2026.

“Our strategic approach will be informed by the imperative to implement the SADC Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP) 2020–2030, so that it is fully realised by its planned date of expiry. Our Chairship coincides with the ongoing Mid-Term Review of the RISDP, whose outcomes will provide reliable data on the scale and extent of implementation so far,” Chikunga said.

The Minister reaffirmed South Africa’s commitment to working closely with Namibia and other SADC member states to advance gender equality, women’s empowerment and broader regional development priorities. – SAnews.gov.za
 

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Operation Prosper intensifies crackdown on illegal mining, organised crime

Source: Government of South Africa

Operation Prosper intensifies crackdown on illegal mining, organised crime

A nationwide crackdown on illegal mining, organised crime and gang-related violence has resulted in the arrest of 1 149 suspects during June, as law enforcement agencies intensified intelligence-driven operations across South Africa.

In a joint statement issued on Friday, the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) said Operation Prosper continued to target illegal mining syndicates, organised criminal networks and gang activity through coordinated, multi-disciplinary operations across several provinces.

Authorities said the suspects were arrested for a range of serious offences, including illegal mining, murder, attempted murder, assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition, possession of gold-bearing material, immigration-related offences, possession of suspected stolen property and illegal liquor trading.

Among those arrested were 212 suspects for drug-related crimes, 269 for contravening the Immigration Act, 183 for illegal liquor dealing, 12 for unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition, 10 for unlawful possession of ammunition, 13 for possession of suspected stolen property, five for murder and five for attempted murder.

The joint operations also led to the seizure of 25 illegal and unlicensed firearms, including handguns, a shotgun, homemade and replica firearms, as well as 238 rounds of ammunition, 11 magazines and 95 dangerous weapons.

Officers also recovered a truck, gold-bearing material and quantities of drugs, including dagga, mandrax, heroin and CAT.

Mining equipment confiscated during the operations included 46 generators, 10 pieces of heavy-duty machinery, 324 phendukas, 51 gas bottles and seven cutting torches.

Gauteng recorded some of the largest illegal mining arrests. At the Losberg Kloof Mine in Westonaria, multidisciplinary teams arrested 217 suspects before a separate intelligence-led operation in Randfontein resulted in a further 121 arrests.

On 10 July, another 70 suspects were arrested in Mohlakeng on the West Rand, where police also impounded two vehicles, seized more than 20 generators and confiscated over 100 bags of gold-bearing material.

In the Free State, disruptive operations in the Lejweleputswa District led to the demolition of makeshift processing sites in Thabong and the arrest of four foreign nationals. Three more foreign nationals were arrested at the St Helena 08 Old Shaft for illegal mining activities.

Police also confiscated 12.5kg of suspected gold-bearing material together with specialised mining equipment. At the Harmony Country Club, 27 suspects were arrested for trespassing and possession of housebreaking implements, while 17.1kg of stolen copper cable was recovered.

In the North West, joint teams comprising SAPS, SANDF and the Department of Home Affairs dismantled illegal processing sites in the Bojanala and Dr Kenneth Kaunda districts. The operation resulted in the seizure of 25 bags of gold-bearing material, mining equipment and illicit gambling machines, while 19 suspects were arrested for immigration-related offences.

Operation Prosper also maintained pressure on gang violence hotspots in the Western Cape, Gauteng and Eastern Cape.

In the Western Cape, law enforcement agencies arrested 1054 suspects during operations across 17 high-crime precincts. The suspects face charges ranging from murder and attempted murder to illegal firearm possession, drug offences, possession of dangerous weapons and illegal liquor trading.

In Gauteng, intelligence-driven operations in Westbury on 9 July led to the arrest of two suspects, aged 21 and 26, after officers recovered two unlicensed 9mm pistols, magazines and live ammunition in separate incidents.

In the Eastern Cape, coordinated operations in the Nelson Mandela Bay District resulted in five key arrests following the execution of 14 search warrants and vehicle stop-and-search operations. Police seized a Norinco pistol, a revolver with its serial number removed, two replica firearms, a blank gun and 11 rounds of ammunition.

Authorities also confiscated cocaine, CAT, tik, mandrax and dagga during the operation. In a separate raid in Helenvale, officers recovered another Norinco pistol, ammunition and weighing scales. Although a hostile crowd forced a tactical withdrawal, police said they later recovered 5,725 abandoned Stilpane tablets and syrup bottles.

SAPS and SANDF said Operation Prosper remains intelligence-led and will continue targeting organised criminal networks, illegal mining operations and gang-related crime in identified hotspot areas across the country. – SAnews.gov.za
 

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Outgoing Russian Ambassador Pays Farewell Call on President Herminie, Reflects on Deepening Ties as Seychelles and Russian Mark 50 Years of Diplomatic Relations

Source: APO


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President Dr Patrick Herminie this morning received the outgoing Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Seychelles, H.E Mr Artyom Kozhin at State House, during a farewell call marking the conclusion of the Ambassador’s six-and-a-half-year tenure. The Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Diaspora, Mr Barry Faure, was also present.

During the meeting, the Ambassador thanked President Herminie for the close working relationship between the two sides, describing bilateral ties as stable and noting that, in recent times, the cooperation has grown more profound, elevating cooperation between Seychelles and Russia to a new level.

The Ambassador reflected on the achievements of his tenure, citing as the most recent milestones the historic State visit of President Herminie to Russia and Russia’s participation in the Golden Jubilee celebrations marking the 50th Anniversary of Seychelles’ Independence. He noted the particular symbolism of these engagements, coming in a year in which Seychelles and Russia are also celebrating 50 years of diplomatic relations.

The Ambassador further expressed pride that, during his time in Seychelles, the necessary groundwork had been laid for the opening of a Seychelles Embassy in Moscow, which is expected to open later this year. He also briefed President Herminie on a number of ongoing bilateral projects.

He revealed an initiative to have a message from President Herminie broadcast from outer space. in fulfilment of a long-held dream of the Seychellois people to see something of Seychelles sent into outer space. Additionally, several items, including the national flag and the Coat-of-Arms, are currently orbiting the Earth, in fulfilment of a long-held dream of the Seychellois people to see something of Seychelles sent into outer space. It is envisaged that these items will, in due course, be brought back and placed on display at a museum.

Speaking during the call, President Herminie expressed appreciation for the opportunity to have worked with the Ambassador on both a professional and personal level. The President thanked the Ambassador for his support and participation in the success of the 50th National Day Anniversary celebrations and commended the effectiveness of the Russian Government in delivering on cooperation initiatives. He cited the recent donation of trained service dogs to Seychelles as one such initiative that is already proving fruitful, playing an active role in the fight against drugs, alongside Russian support that has assisted local authorities in the seizure of illicit drugs.

In response, the Ambassador noted that drug trafficking remains an international and global issue that requires united efforts among nations to address.

The Ambassador, who has served as Dean of the Diplomatic Corps in Seychelles, will next take up a posting in Qatar, and indicated that he looks forward to continuing to work with Seychelles in his new capacity.

President Herminie wished the Ambassador and his family well in this new chapter.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of State House Seychelles.