MIL Africa Engine

Source: APO – Report:

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The Select Committee on Security and Justice has welcomed the Department of Home Affairs’ (DHA) progress in addressing visa-related backlogs, while emphasising that clearing overdue applications must be accompanied by reforms to prevent backlogs from recurring.

The DHA briefed the committee yesterday on visa processing, appeals, overdue-reduction interventions and digital transformation. It identified sustained demand, application complexity, fragmented processes, data integration challenges and capacity constraints as key factors contributing to processing delays.

The committee expressed particular concern about the scale of pending appeals. As of 28 July 2026, the DHA reported 21 847 pending appeals, of which 13 148 (60.2%) were overdue. The department indicated that appeals remain a significant workload requiring targeted, fair and risk-based adjudication.

Committee Chairperson Ms Jane Seboletswe Mananiso said the committee recognises the complexity of visa adjudication, particularly where applications require verification or involve potential fraud and misrepresentation. She commended the department for the progress made.

“The committee welcomes the measures being implemented to reduce the backlog, but the ultimate test is whether these interventions result in predictable, fair and efficient turnaround times. We cannot continue responding to backlogs only after they have accumulated,” the Chairperson said.

The DHA reported an average processing capacity of 13 000 to 15 000 applications per month and has set a target of clearing all overdue applications by 31 March 2027. The committee also welcomed progress in addressing corruption and irregular visa processing. Since 2022, the DHA has investigated 41 allegations involving irregular processing and issuance of visas, with 20 cases referred for disciplinary processes. The department reported that 18 officials have been convicted and sentenced since 2022 for contraventions of DHA legislation.

The committee stressed that enforcement must be accompanied by stronger preventative controls. The DHA identified fragmented data and non-integrated systems as risks contributing to duplication, manual intervention, reduced traceability, fraud and corruption.

“We are encouraged by action against officials implicated in corruption, but enforcement must go hand in hand with prevention. Systems should reduce unnecessary human discretion, strengthen traceability and make it more difficult to manipulate immigration processes,” said Ms Mananiso.

The committee welcomed the DHA’s move towards electronic travel authorisation (ETA) and the Population Master Database, while emphasising that digital transformation must deliver measurable improvements in efficiency, accountability, verification and service delivery.

The committee further welcomed Immigration Directive 7 of 2026, which extends the temporary status of pending waiver, visa and appeal applicants until 30 June 2027, helping to prevent law-abiding foreign nationals from becoming irregular due to administrative delays.

“The state must protect the integrity of our immigration system while ensuring that people who comply with the law are treated fairly. Administrative delays should not, in themselves, create irregularity for applicants awaiting decisions,” said Ms Mananiso.

The committee called on the DHA to maintain clear monitoring and reporting on overdue applications and ensure that current interventions build sustainable processing capacity. “The objective must be genuine end-to-end resolution, rather than simply moving applications from one queue to another. The department must clear the current backlog while building systems and controls that prevent backlogs from becoming a permanent feature of visa administration,” concluded Ms Mananiso.

The committee also received a briefing from the Magistrates Commission on the withholding of remuneration of two magistrates who are currently suspended. The committee commended the commission for the progress it has made in addressing long outstanding matters and encouraged them to engage in benchmarking to learn how other countries manage disciplinary delays.

– on behalf of Republic of South Africa: The Parliament.

Source: APO – Report:

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The Portfolio Committee on Land Reform and Rural Development today received further progress briefings from the Department of Land Reform and Rural Development, the Commission on Restitution of Land Rights, and the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality on the Westbank Land Restitution Settlement.

The committee received an update on the Westbank Restitution Project, which is intended to restore housing opportunities to families forcibly removed from Westbank in East London during apartheid. Although the claim was settled in 2000 and commitments were made by multiple spheres of government, beneficiaries are still waiting for the homes promised to them more than two decades later. The committee noted with concern that houses have not yet been constructed for restitution beneficiaries, despite substantial planning and investment over the years.

The committee expressed serious concern that the Westbank Restitution Project, despite being intended to advance restitution and restore dignity, has been undermined by institutional fragmentation and prolonged implementation delays. The committee identified several obstacles that continue to delay implementation. These include disputes over community representation, delays in beneficiary verification, a shortage of residential sites relative to the number of beneficiaries, land invasions on property earmarked for development, funding shortfalls for housing construction, and prolonged periods in which key coordinating structures were not functioning effectively.

Members expressed concern that the challenges affecting the Westbank restitution project point to broader weaknesses within South Africa’s restitution system. The recurring themes of inadequate coordination, weak accountability and delayed implementation continue to undermine the rights and expectations of beneficiaries.

The committee therefore believes that urgent corrective action is required to ensure the Westbank restitution process is placed on a clear, coordinated and accountable implementation path. The committee has called for a clear comprehensive time bound implementation and recovery plan agreed to by all responsible institutions.

The committee expects urgent action to finalise beneficiary verification, address land and housing shortfalls, resolve disputes relating to community representation, reactivate coordinating structures, and secure the financial resources required to complete the housing development. The committee will continue exercising close oversight until tangible progress is achieved and beneficiaries receive the restitution outcomes promised to them.

The Chairperson of the committee, Mr Albert Mncwango, emphasised that land reform and restitution programmes must ultimately be measured by the extent to which they improve the lives of beneficiaries. The committee noted that there is a need to top up the fund because there’s a deficit in what was approved when the claim was settled.

“The committee is concerned that too many beneficiaries have waited years, and in some cases decades, for the benefits that were promised through restitution. Public resources were invested to promote dignity and inclusion. Government institutions must now demonstrate urgency, accountability and commitment to ensuring that these objectives are realised,” Mr Mncwango said.

– on behalf of Republic of South Africa: The Parliament.

Source: APO – Report:

East African Partner States have committed to strengthening education systems, improving learning outcomes and increasing investment in teachers, skills and equity at the opening of the 2nd East African Community (EAC) Regional Education Conference in Nairobi, Kenya.

The 4-day Conference has brought together more than 600 education leaders, policymakers and stakeholders from across the eight EAC Partner States to address persistent learning gaps, unequal access to education, skills mismatches and growing pressure on education systems.

– on behalf of East African Community (EAC).

Source: APO – Report:

Parliament has deposited Shs3 billion to the Rotary Cancer Run account, bringing its cumulative contribution over the past 15 years to Shs10.2 billion.

The Speaker Jacob Marksons Oboth made the announcement during the activation of the 15th edition of the Rotary Cancer Run held at the Speaker’s Chambers on Thursday, 27 August 2026.

The Speaker affirmed that institutional commitments to public health transcend political transitions stating that, ‘the burden of cancer knows no politics’

The contribution is directed towards the construction and equipping of the Cancer Treatment Centre at St. Francis Hospital, Nsambya with particular emphasis on addressing Uganda’s critical shortage of radiotherapy equipment.

Speaker Oboth, himself a Rotarian with the Rotary Club of Kampala Platinum, personally purchased 300 running kits and rallied all Members of Parliament to take the lead in mobilising their respective constituencies.

“I call upon colleague MPs to do the same, lead the entire population in their constituencies and together we battle this burden,” he added.

The Chairperson of the Uganda Rotary Cancer Run, Rotarian Stephen Mwanje said Uganda currently operates only three radiotherapy machines to serve a population of nearly 50 million, well below the global benchmark of one machine per one million people.

Rotary fraternity has accordingly set a target of raising an additional Shs6 billion to complete the radiation bunkers by 2027 and to fully install Linear Accelerator machines by 2028.

The 15th edition of the Rotary Cancer Run is scheduled for Sunday, 30 August 2026 at the Kololo Ceremonial Grounds, with simultaneous events taking place across 62 towns and cities nationwide, as well as in Ugandan diplomatic missions abroad. 

– on behalf of Parliament of the Republic of Uganda.

Source: APO – Report:

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The Select Committee on Agriculture, Land Reform and Mineral Resources has concluded its week-long oversight visit to the Inxuba Yethemba Local Municipality in Cradock. The committee held fruitful engagements with the municipality, various stakeholders and community development workers on a wide range of socio-economic challenges, including long-standing Eskom debt.

Issues raised during engagements included the loss of water service revenue following the consolidation of water and sanitation services into the Chris Hani District Municipality. This consolidation has constrained municipal income, contributed to ballooning Eskom debt, persistent raw sewage pollution of the Fish River, the absence of an electricity master plan, and the dependence of small-scale farmers on a “strategic partner”.

The engagements revealed significant challenges in the provision of municipal services, with civil society reportedly taking over many municipal functions. The committee heard that while core electricity supply has improved over the past six months, businesses and the agricultural sector continue to experience the impact of prolonged electricity outages and water supply challenges.

Eskom and representatives from the Department of Electricity and Energy informed the committee that consistent payment of the current account could lead to interest relief and potentially a reduction of the total Eskom debt, which ballooned from R127 million to R918 million following a 2020 High Court order.

The municipality adopted an unfunded budget for the 2025/26 financial year, as its current liabilities exceed its assets, largely due to Eskom and Auditor-General debts. This led to the freezing of its municipal equitable share on 8 July 2026, although the funds were subsequently released a month later under strict conditions.

While the Executive Mayor acknowledged the debt owed to Eskom, the municipality proposed that Eskom should cease direct electricity supply to three municipal wards and to large businesses within the municipal area, as this practice further undermines the municipality’s revenue-generating capacity.

The committee has recommended an urgent meeting with Provincial and National Treasury, the Auditor-General, the Departments of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) and Electricity and Energy, the South African Local Government Association (SALGA) and Eskom. At this meeting, a summary of actions taken to date by all parties must be presented to the committee.

This engagement should clarify what instructions, court actions or consequence management measures have been implemented in connection with the non-payment of Eskom’s historical debt and current account. It should also lead to the development of an acceptable, binding and final solution to these debts.

The committee has further requested a meeting with the Department of Electricity and Energy, Eskom, National Treasury, the Department of COGTA and SALGA to receive feedback on National Treasury’s request that COGTA and SALGA develop a balanced, standardised distribution agency agreement template.

The Chairperson of the committee, Mr Mpho Modise, expressed appreciation for the cooperation received from all participants during the oversight visit. He emphasised the importance of continued engagement and cooperation between the municipality and its stakeholders, noting that this is where sustainable solutions to the municipality’s challenges lie.

– on behalf of Republic of South Africa: The Parliament.

Source: APO – Report:

On 26 August 2026, H.E. Mr. Sihasak Phuangketkeow, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs met with Mrs. Damtien Tchintchibidja, Vice President of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission, at ECOWAS Secretariat in Abuja, Nigeria.

On this occasion, Deputy Prime Minister reiterated Thailand’s commitment to driving forward Thailand – Africa Initiative (TAI) which aims to strengthen South-South cooperation with African nations through promotion of practical partnerships in political, economic, development, and multilateral cooperation.

They also exchanged views on ways to strengthen collaboration between Thailand and ECOWAS, particularly in food security, tourism, human resource development, and public health, which Thailand has expertise in.

Both sides recognised the importance of trade and investment cooperation. In this regard, the Thai side and the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry will jointly organise the Thailand–Nigeria Business Forum in Lagos on 27 August 2026 aiming at connecting Thai and Nigerian businesses and mutually exploring trade opportunities.

– on behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand.

Source: APO – Report:

Ethiopia’s Minister of Health, Dr. Mekdes Daba Feyssa, has been elected Chairperson of the 76th Session of the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Committee for Africa (RC76), currently taking place in Addis Ababa.

Her election reflects the confidence of Member States in Ethiopia’s leadership and commitment to advancing health across the African Region. As Chairperson, Dr. Mekdes will guide discussions and decision-making among the 47 WHO African Region Member States on critical health priorities, including health financing, workforce development, universal health coverage, health security, and emergency preparedness.

Speaking on the importance of regional cooperation, Dr. Mekdes emphasized that “Collective action among African countries is the foundation of health sovereignty,” underscoring the need for solidarity and mutual support to address the continent’s health challenges and strengthen resilient health systems. 

Niger’s Minister of Public Health, Colonel-Major Garba Hakimi, was elected as the first Vice Chairperson while the Health and Child Care Minister, Dr Douglas Mombeshora from Zimbabwe, was elected as second Vice Chairperson of the WHO Regional Committee for Africa.

The WHO Regional Committee for Africa is the organization’s decision-making body on health policy in the region and comprises health ministers or their representatives from all 47 Member States. Its functions include formulating regional policies and overseeing the work of the WHO Regional Office for Africa.

The session, hosted by Ethiopia, brings together health ministers, senior government officials, WHO leadership, and partners to shape the future of health in Africa and strengthen regional collaboration toward improved health outcomes for all.

– on behalf of WHO Regional Office for Africa.