Doha, June 16, 2026 Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in cooperation with the French Embassy in Doha, hosted a special screening of the documentary Inside Gaza at the Museum of Islamic Art on Tuesday, drawing attention to the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip and the challenges faced by journalists covering the conflict. The event was attended by HE Minister of Education and Higher Education Lolwah Al Khater, alongside diplomats, officials and members of the media. Opening the screening, Ibrahim bin Sultan Al Hashmi, Director of the Media and Communication Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, described the film as more than a documentary, calling it a visual and human testimony that brings audiences closer to the realities of life in Gaza. He said the documentary sheds light on the daily suffering of Palestinians and highlights the risks faced by journalists working in the territory. Al Hashmi also argued that attacks on media workers were part of a broader pattern, noting that more than 230 journalists had been killed during the conflict. HE Ambassador of the State of Palestine to the State of Qatar Fayez Majed Abu Al Rab praised the State of Qatar and the French Republic for organizing the event, saying the documentary offers a powerful account of both the hardships endured by Palestinians and the determination of journalists seeking to document events on the ground. He called for independent international investigations into Israeli occupation crimes against journalists and media workers, urging support for international judicial mechanisms, including the International Criminal Court, to ensure accountability. He also appealed for greater protection for journalists working in the occupied Palestinian territories and unrestricted access for international media organizations. HE Ambassador of the French Republic to the State of Qatar Arnaud Pescheux said growing attacks on press freedom worldwide were a cause for concern, with journalists increasingly becoming targets while misinformation spreads and pressure on independent media intensifies. He paid tribute to reporters working in conflict zones and stressed that targeting journalists is contrary to international law. The French envoy called for investigations into crimes committed against media workers and for those responsible to be held accountable. The screening formed part of ongoing efforts by Qatar and France to promote awareness of the importance of press freedom and the protection of journalists in conflict areas.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced that South Africa will increase its financial contribution to the Ebola response effort to US$13.5 million, reaffirming the country’s commitment to supporting African nations affected by the outbreak.
President Ramaphosa, in his capacity as the African Union Champion for Pandemic Preparedness, Prevention and Response, made the announcement on Tuesday during a High-Level Virtual Meeting of Heads of State, Government and Partners on the Ebola outbreak.
The meeting was convened by the President of the Republic of Burundi and Chairperson of the African Union, Evariste Ndayishimiye.
It aims to mobilise African and international solidarity to contain the Ebola outbreak caused by the Bundibugyo virus strain in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda, while strengthening preparedness in countries at risk of regional transmission.
The President called on leaders to maintain or increase their pledges and urged those who made commitments at the previous meeting to convert them in full into cash, medical countermeasures or technical assistance.
“With no vaccine or antiviral, every day that transmission continues unchecked, the human cost rises. The West Africa Ebola epidemic demonstrated that delayed action can transform a localised outbreak into a regional and global crisis. This is why our response must focus on breaking the transmission and stopping Ebola at its source,” he said.
However, President Ramaphosa cautioned that public health measures are being undermined by the volatile environment in which the response is being carried out.
“As political leaders, we can help by creating safe corridors for the passage of goods and services. We must seek a ceasefire to allow the Ebola response to proceed unhindered.
“We must continue to strengthen cross-border collaboration. We must expand rapid diagnostic testing, contact tracing and community awareness.
“We should be concerned that we have no biotechnology in our arsenal against the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola,” the President said.
While welcoming and fully supporting the efforts of GAVI, CEPI and others, President Ramaphosa stressed that Africa cannot depend indefinitely on external markets and production systems during health emergencies.
“The response to Ebola therefore cannot end when this outbreak ends. This moment must become a turning point.
“As African leaders, we must accelerate investment in local manufacturing, strengthen the African Medicines Agency and operationalise the African Pooled Procurement Mechanism,” Ramaphosa said.
He added that African manufacturers need predictable markets, while African countries must have reliable access to lifesaving products during emergencies.
“We must all take heed of Africa’s Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) stance against imposing blanket and unsubstantiated travel bans.
“I call upon African financial institutions, development banks, philanthropies and the African private sector to join governments in this effort.
“I call upon our international partners to continue to stand with Africa in a spirit of solidarity and mutual responsibility,” the President concluded. –SAnews.gov.za
The Islamic Development Bank Institute (IsDBI) (https://IsDBInstitute.org) and Labuan Financial Services Authority of Malaysia (Labuan FSA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to explore collaboration on the potential implementation of the Awqaf Free Zones concept within the Labuan International Business and Financial Centre (Labuan IBFC).
Dr. Sami Al-Suwailem, Acting Director General of IsDB Institute, and Mr. Affendi Rashdi, Director General of Labuan FSA, signed the MoU on 16 June 2026 on the side lines of the IsDB Group Annual Meetings in Baku, Azerbaijan.
The MoU marks an important milestone in advancing innovative, Shari’ah-compliant development solutions that leverage the potential of Awqaf (Islamic endowments) to support sustainable economic growth and social development across IsDB Member Countries.
The Awqaf Free Zones is an innovative concept developed by the IsDB Institute to integrate the principles of Waqf with the legal, regulatory, and economic framework of free zones. The concept aims to establish dedicated jurisdictions that facilitate the mobilization of Awqaf assets through modern governance structures, innovative financial mechanisms, and enabling regulatory environments while preserving the perpetual and charitable nature of waqf.
Through this collaboration, IsDB Institute and Labuan FSA will explore the feasibility of adapting the AFZ concept to the Labuan IBFC ecosystem. The cooperation will include the exchange of knowledge and technical expertise, assessment of legal and regulatory requirements, identification of potential implementation models, and the exploration of future pilot initiatives.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Sami Al-Suwailem, Acting Director General of IsDB Institute, stated: “The Awqaf Free Zone represents a new paradigm for unlocking the developmental potential of Waqf by combining centuries-old Islamic philanthropic principles with contemporary financial and regulatory innovation. Our collaboration with Labuan FSA reflects our shared commitment to developing practical and scalable solutions that contribute to sustainable development of Member Countries and strengthen Islamic finance globally.”
Mr. Affendi Rashdi, Director General of Labuan FSA, said: “Labuan IBFC is uniquely positioned to support the exploration of the Awqaf Free Zones through its existing ecosystem, which brings together international waqf structures, Islamic finance capabilities, digital asset infrastructure and cross-border financial services within a single jurisdiction. We look forward to working closely with the IsDB Institute to assess how these strengths can be leveraged to develop innovative and sustainable waqf-based models that unlock productive assets, enhance socioeconomic impact and support the development priorities of IsDB Member Countries.”
The signing of the MoU builds on the substantial progress achieved by the IsDB Institute in developing the Awqaf Free Zones concept. The Institute has completed comprehensive studies on the legal and regulatory framework, including a Legal Report, a Model Law, and a Model Regulation, laying the foundation for future implementation in interested jurisdictions. These studies are further complemented by governance, operational, and financial feasibility studies designed to support the practical establishment of Awqaf Free Zones.
The collaboration with Labuan FSA represents the first institutional step toward assessing the implementation of the Awqaf Free Zones concept within an established international financial centre. Subject to the outcome of the feasibility assessment and subsequent technical discussions, the initiative has the potential to demonstrate how Waqf can be integrated into modern financial ecosystems while supporting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and enhancing the contribution of Islamic finance to inclusive economic development.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Islamic Development Bank Institute (IsDBI).
About IsDB Institute:
The Islamic Development Bank Institute (IsDBI) is the knowledge beacon of the Islamic Development Bank Group. Guided by the principles of Islamic economics and finance, the IsDB Institute leads the development of innovative knowledge-based solutions to support the sustainable economic advancement of IsDB Member Countries and various Muslim communities worldwide. The IsDB Institute enables economic development through pioneering research, human capital development, and knowledge creation, dissemination, and management. The Institute leads initiatives to enable Islamic finance ecosystems, ultimately helping Member Countries achieve their development objectives. More information about the IsDB Institute is available on https://IsDBInstitute.org
About Labuan Financial Services Authority:
Labuan Financial Services Authority is the statutory body responsible for the development and administration of the Labuan International Business and Financial Centre (Labuan IBFC). Labuan FSA regulates and supervises financial services conducted within Labuan IBFC while promoting innovation, international best practices, and sustainable growth in the financial sector.
The World Bank Group and the African Development Bank Group announced today that Mission 300 has connected over 50 million people to electricity across 40 countries — a major milestone toward the initiative’s goal of reaching 300 million people by 2030.
Mission 300 is now delivering electricity access at nearly double the pace recorded at the start of the initiative. By investing across the full energy value chain — from generation and transmission to last-mile distribution — it has driven gains in both on-grid and off-grid access, connecting households, businesses, and institutions to power faster than before.
In Tanzania, for example, 7.5 million people have gained access to power under Mission 300 — a five-fold increase in the average annual pace of electrification prior to the initiative — driven by increased financing and growing policy momentum. In Ethiopia, 4.6 million people have been connected, supported by reforms that made grid connections more affordable.
Where past efforts often worked in parallel, Mission 300 aligns governments, partners, and private sector investors around a single shared agenda. That coordination is what is driving faster results: stronger political commitment, deeper policy reform, and the mobilization of resources needed to accelerate electrification and deliver impact on the ground.
To date, the African Development Bank Group and the World Bank Group have committed nearly $15 billion in financing and attracted about $4.5 billion in co-financing for Mission 300-related projects, while additional development partners have pledged more than $7 billion in support of Africa’s energy sector.
Mission 300’s unique approach is also changing the conditions under which private investors participate in African energy markets. By combining government reforms with layered public financing — including grants, guarantees, and concessional loans — the platform is mitigating risks for private providers to serve communities that were previously too costly or difficult to serve.
In Nigeria, more than 4.5 million people have been connected through private sector-led initiatives, demonstrating how well-designed public support and partner financing can help create commercially viable markets.
To date, 30 countries have launched National Energy Compacts, country-led plans to strengthen energy systems, expand affordable power generation, scale renewable energy solutions, promote regional integration, and increase private sector participation. Additional compacts are expected to be launched by Burkina Faso, the Central African Republic, Djibouti, Gabon, Rwanda and Uganda at the Africa Energy Forum this week.
“Fifty million people connected is a milestone — but the bigger story is the pace and the partnership behind it. Mission 300 is helping countries move faster, connect more people, and build a platform that will last well beyond this effort — one others can use, build on, and scale for years to come. At the end of the day, electricity is not just about power. It is about what it enables: jobs, business, health care, education, and opportunity,” said Ajay Banga, President of the World Bank Group.
“The 50 million milestone is indeed commendable. This must become the launchpad for faster electrification to enhance food security on account of affordable irrigation; increase capacity to store medicines for better health outcomes, and spur more inclusive economic and social empowerment,” said Sidi Ould Tah, President of the African Development Bank Group. “Governments, partners, private sector, and others who comprise what has evolved into an M300 movement must double down to achieve access for 300 million people by 2030. We need all hands on deck – literally!
Partners are leaning into Mission 300 “Connecting over 50 million to electricity is a major milestone for Mission 300. It proves that African-led big bets, empowered by bold investment and partnership, can deliver results quickly and at scale,” said Rajiv J. Shah, President of The Rockefeller Foundation. “The Rockefeller Foundation, along with the Global Energy Alliance, has committed more than $100 million to Mission 300 because we know that every new connection means a family with new access to the jobs, education, and the dignity they deserve.”
“The 50 million milestone shows that Mission 300 is moving beyond ambition and delivering real results for people across Africa. These achievements reflect the strong political commitment and implementation capacity of African governments,” said Damilola Ogunbiyi, CEO and Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Sustainable Energy for All. “Together with our partners, Sustainable Energy for All will continue to support governments in implementing their National Energy Compacts and accelerating progress towards universal energy access by 2030.”
“Achieving electricity connections for 50 million people proves that we can move faster when public, private and philanthropic partners align behind country-led solutions,” said Woochong Um, CEO of Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet. “As Africa becomes home to the world’s largest young workforce, Mission 300 is the engine that will help power the jobs and economic growth the continent urgently needs.”
Launched in 2024, Mission 300 is a joint initiative of the World Bank Group and the African Development Bank Group supported by The Rockefeller Foundation, the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet and Sustainable Energy for All, and a broad coalition of governments, development institutions, and private sector partners.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The World Bank Group.
NYDA shifts focus from grants to broader youth development agenda
The National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) Executive Chairperson, Dr Sunshine Myende, says the agency has repositioned itself from being primarily a grant-making institution to becoming a leading force for youth development across South Africa.
Since taking office on 1 August 2025, the NYDA Board has focused on strengthening governance and accountability, expanding partnerships, and improving engagement with Parliament and other key stakeholders.
The agency has also intensified its community outreach efforts, taking programmes and services directly to young people in areas where opportunities have often been limited.
Myende said these efforts are aimed at ensuring the NYDA plays a broader role in connecting young people with opportunities and advancing youth development nationwide.
The Chairperson made these remarks during the National Youth Day commemoration in Johannesburg on Tuesday, led by President Cyril Ramaphosa.
“Our work has included provincial youth engagements at schools and institutions of higher learning, Youth Fund mobilisation, investment and value-chain partnerships, participation in platforms such as the Mining Indaba, tourism and enterprise development initiatives, and the elevation of South African youth voices on international platforms including the United Nations.
“Every engagement has been driven by one objective: to bring opportunity closer to young people and young people closer to opportunity,” she said.
During the reporting period, the National Youth Development Agency processed more than 1 300 grant opportunities worth over R28 million, backing young entrepreneurs who are not only building businesses, but also creating jobs, stimulating local economies and restoring hope in communities across the country.
“Through our partnership with the Presidential Youth Employment Intervention, we have launched 100 000 paid National Youth Service opportunities, ensuring that thousands of young South Africans gain meaningful work experience while serving their communities and contributing to nation-building,” Myende said.
In July, the NYDA will launch I AM THE CODE – a bold, status quo-disrupting initiative that will equip more than 600 000 young South Africans with future-ready skills in artificial intelligence, coding, robotics, fintech, agritech and digital entrepreneurship.
“We refuse to prepare young people only for the economy we inherited. We are preparing them to lead the economy that is emerging as well,” the Chairperson said.
She added that, across government and its partners, a coordinated ecosystem is emerging that places young people at the centre of South Africa’s development agenda.
“The Department of Employment and Labour is expanding pathways through its Labour Activation Programme. The Department of Small Business Development is opening doors through the Youth Entrepreneurship Fund and the Spaza Shop Support Fund, recognising that young people are not only looking for jobs but are capable of creating them.
“The Department of Sport, Arts and Culture is investing in thousands of opportunities through the Presidential Employment Stimulus, ensuring that creativity and culture become engines of economic participation. These initiatives remind us that when government works together, opportunity can be created at scale,” the Chairperson said. – SAnews.gov.za
Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Robert T. Nyamushosho, Assistant Professor, Queens College, CUNY
For more than a century, Great Zimbabwe has stood at the centre of a powerful story about the Zimbabwe culture. This remarkable African civilization flourished in southern Africa during the Middle Ages, constructing more than 200 dry-stone palaces, locally known as madzimbahwe (houses of stone).
These towering monuments, immense gold wealth, and an array of exotica including glass beads and glazed ceramics from distant lands, have often been interpreted as proof that southern Africa’s early states were ruled by authoritarian kings. Leaders who exercised near-absolute control over their subjects.
In archaeology textbooks, museum exhibitions, and even political discourse, the image of Great Zimbabwe – rivalled in size and grandeur only by the Egyptian pyramids – has often been reduced to one of a despotic African kingdom ruled from above by divine kings.
This idea about African civilisations has often been mobilised to excuse modern forms of political despotism. But what if this story about the Zimbabwe culture is wrong – or at least incomplete?
Our new research in Mberengwa in south-central Zimbabwe is starting to challenge these long-held assumptions.
As an anthropological archaeologist, I use both excavated remains and the study of human cultures to understand how societies organised themselves. Far from revealing a rigid, centralised political system, evidence from Mberengwa suggests the opposite. Governance within the Zimbabwe culture may have been far more collective and negotiated than imagined.
Culture sites and ancient mines in Mberengwa.Robert T. Nyamushosho, Author provided (no reuse)
Rather than monuments built solely through coercion, we may instead be looking at societies where power flowed through multiple layers of community organisation. Where ordinary households retained significant autonomy.
This challenges simplistic views. It reveals a more diverse history of governance that included consultation, negotiation and collective decision-making.
How we got here
For decades, archaeology has interpreted the Zimbabwe culture through outdated evolutionary models. These frameworks portrayed African societies as hierarchical, with kings monopolising wealth, labour and political authority.
Great Zimbabwe, Mapungubwe and Khami were viewed as capitals of centralised states in southern Africa. Rulers were assumed to have commanded vast territories, controlled mining and long-distance trade. They compelled subjects to build monumental stone architecture.
This interpretation was deeply shaped by colonial thinking. Early European historians and anthropologists often portrayed African rulers as tyrants ruling through fear, superstition and violence. The Zulu king Shaka, for example, was cast as the archetypal African despot. Similar assumptions were later projected backwards onto Iron Age civilisations like Great Zimbabwe.
Colonial scholarship like this helped to justify colonial domination.
In these narratives, monuments and massive stone walls could only have been built through forced labour directed by authoritarian elites.
Across the world, archaeology has increasingly challenged these simplistic models. Research in places like Mesoamerica, Mesopotamia and the Niger Delta now shows that complex societies were not always governed through top-down domination. Many ancient states relied on consensus-building, shared authority and cooperative systems of governance.
Southern Africa has lagged behind in this intellectual shift. Interpretations of Great Zimbabwe continue to suffer from what has been called a “neo-evolutionary hangover”. The persistent assumption that political complexity must automatically mean centralised despotism.
What Mberengwa reveals about power
Mberengwa, in Zimbabwe’s mineral-rich south-central region, has long been framed as peripheral to Great Zimbabwe. Archaeologists assumed its communities fell under the control of rulers at Great Zimbabwe, over 100km away. But ongoing excavations and surveys reveal something more complicated.
Remnants of mining at Mount Buhwa.Robert T. Nyamushosho, Author provided (no reuse)
Mberengwa contains numerous settlements – both walled and unwalled – some dating to the same period as Great Zimbabwe. These sites contain evidence of farming, metallurgy, mining, hunting and long-distance trade. They also reveal multiple centres of political authority rather than a single centralised state.
What’s striking is how political organisation appears to have operated across several levels of society. At the grassroots were the misha (homesteads) of ordinary families. These were not politically insignificant spaces. Archaeological evidence suggests households managed their own livestock, agriculture, craft production and local affairs with considerable autonomy.
Above the homestead was the dunhu, or ward, which brought together clusters of households. Here, cooperative labour systems such as nhimbe played a central role in social life. Communities came together voluntarily to plough fields, build houses, herd cattle, and conduct hunting expeditions.
Dry-stone walling at Chumnungwa.Robert T. Nyamushosho, Author provided (no reuse)
At the territorial level was the nyika, overseen by rulers known as madzimambo (kings). But even here, power appears to have been negotiated rather than absolute. Oral traditions and ethnographic evidence from precolonial Shona societies suggest that rulers governed alongside advisory councils. They worked within systems of customary law and communal expectations.
Several Shona proverbs emphasise this political ethic. “Dare haritongwi nepfumo” means a court is not governed by a spear. “Ane ziso rimwe haatongi” warns that a person with one eye cannot govern fairly. Such philosophies suggest consensus and accountability were central to governance.
Rethinking the dry-stone walls
This perspective forces us to reconsider the monuments themselves.
The dry-stone walls of Zimbabwe culture sites have often been interpreted as symbols of elite power. But architectural analysis from Mberengwa reveals something else. Many walls were built using different styles and degrees of craftsmanship, often within the same structure.
Kongezi, where royalty is thought to have lived.Robert T. Nyamushosho, Author provided (no reuse)
This doesn’t indicate a centrally controlled labour force. It suggests multiple groups contributing collaboratively to construction over time. There’s also little evidence for armies or policing systems needed to control coerced labour. In societies where people could relocate, coercion would anyway have been difficult to maintain.
Communal labour traditions offer a more plausible explanation. Just as communities gathered for agricultural work, monumental construction may also have emerged through cooperative participation. This suggests social obligation, political loyalty, and collective identity.
Homestead remains excavated at Chesvingo.Robert T. Nyamushosho, Author provided (no reuse)
This doesn’t mean these societies were perfectly egalitarian (democratic). There were rulers, hierarchies and inequalities. Royal residences stood above ordinary settlements, and political authority clearly mattered. But hierarchy is not the same thing as tyranny.
Archaeological discoveries from Mberengwa indicate the existence of multiple autonomous centres of power. Sites such as Chumnungwa and Mundi contained royal burials, political insignia, gold artefacts and monumental architecture. They’re comparable to finds at a supposed centre like Great Zimbabwe.
The emerging picture is one of overlapping and competing polities. These were connected through trade, kinship, ritual and shared traditions.
Why this debate matters
The way we interpret the African past shapes how African political systems are understood in the present.
Unfortunately, some of those assumptions continue to echo today. By portraying despotism as historically “natural” to Africa, they normalise authoritarianism in the modern era. But archaeology tells a more complicated story.
A typical homestead (musha) in Mberengwa today.Robert T. Nyamushosho, Author provided (no reuse)
Mberengwa suggests that political life within the Zimbabwe culture was dynamic, layered and collective.
That possibility deserves far greater attention. Not only for understanding the past, but for imagining African political futures beyond the shadow of authoritarianism.
The African Archaeology Hub at Queens College collaborates with colleagues from the National Museums of Zimbabwe, Oxford University, the Field Museum, the Midlands State University, Great Zimbabwe University, and the local communities of Mberengwa.
– Great Zimbabwe: debunking the myth of tyrants and forced labour – https://theconversation.com/great-zimbabwe-debunking-the-myth-of-tyrants-and-forced-labour-283990
President reflects on youth employment initiatives
President Cyril Ramaphosa has outlined initiatives to tackle youth unemployment, while emphasising that government’s overriding priority is to grow an inclusive economy that creates sustainable jobs at scale.
Speaking during the National Youth Day commemoration in Johannesburg on Tuesday, the President said: “First, we are expanding public employment, youth service and workplace experience. More than 5.7 million young people are now registered on the SA Youth.mobi platform. Of these, more than 2 million young people have gained access to earning opportunities.”
He told young people that the Presidential Employment Stimulus has created work and livelihood opportunities for more than 2.5 million unemployed South Africans.
“Of these, 82 percent were young people and 66 percent were women. Through the pilot phase of the Jobs Boost Outcomes Fund, over 9 000 young people have been enrolled and more than 7 200 successfully placed into employment.
“This shows the potential of training that is linked to employment opportunities. The revitalised National Youth Service has placed more than 130 000 young people in paid service opportunities to date, with an additional 100 000 community service youth employment opportunities currently available,” President Ramaphosa said.
The President said these interventions give young people a foothold in the world of work but are not the final destination.
“Second, we are reshaping the skills system so that qualifications lead more directly to work and enterprise. We are moving away from training for training’s sake.
“That is why we are strengthening Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges as engines of occupational skills and linking colleges, employers and SETAs to the needs of local economies.
“Skills are not formed in classrooms alone. They are formed in workplaces, industries, communities and enterprises. Third, we are opening the productive economy to young people,” the President said.
Over the next three years, the state will invest R1 trillion in infrastructure to build and maintain roads, dams, schools, hospitals, clinics, electricity lines, railway lines and port infrastructure.
“This investment will create apprenticeships, artisan development, skills transfer and enterprise development for young people.
“The Public Procurement Act gives us the opportunity to use the buying power of the state to support enterprises owned by young people, women and persons with disabilities.
“Unemployment must be seen as a societal problem. All stakeholders in our country must work together to provide sustainable solutions to reduce unemployment among young people,” the President said.
President Ramaphosa added that government has a responsibility and continues to take action to address this problem.
He said the private sector also has a responsibility to help address the challenge of unemployment.
“Our growth strategy is focused on sectors that create jobs at scale: manufacturing, mining beneficiation, digital infrastructure, agriculture, green industrialisation, energy, logistics, critical minerals, tourism and the creative economy.
“Young people must be an integral part of these industries. They must be trained for these industries, work in them, build businesses in them and own a part of them,” he said.
Furthermore, the small business portfolio will support one million micro, small and medium-sized enterprises over this term of government.
“Through the Employment Tax Incentive, we already share the cost of bringing a young person into their first job. We will strengthen that support, because the first job is the hardest to get and the most important a person ever has.
“We must change how we prepare young people from the beginning. We therefore call upon employers to hire a young person and not require them to have experience before you hire them,” the President said.
He said South Africa’s progress must be measured by whether young people are moving from school to skills, from skills to work, and from enterprise support to markets, scale and ownership. –SAnews.gov.za
Honour the youth of 1976 through active citizenry : President
Marking 50 years since the Soweto uprising of 16 June 1976, this year’s Youth Day commemorations coincide with other major milestones of freedom, underscoring that South Africa’s democracy was built across generations.
“In addition to the 50th anniversary of the Soweto uprising, we also mark 70 years since the Women’s March of 1956 and 30 years since the adoption of our democratic Constitution in 1996. Together these milestones remind us that freedom was built across generations,” President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Tuesday in Johannesburg.
The youth of 1976 fought against exclusion; today, South Africa is confronting unemployment, poverty and inequality — challenges the President likened to the broader struggle against the oppressive apartheid regime, in which all generations played a role in the fight for freedom.
“Theirs was the struggle to enter the classroom. Ours is the struggle to ensure that what begins in the classroom does not end in the unemployment queue.
“Just as they refused the limits imposed upon them, we too must refuse a future of diminished possibilities. Let us build a South Africa where every young person can realise their potential.
“Let us build a South Africa in which freedom lives in every generation. So let us honour them not in words alone, but in deeds,” the President said.
President Ramaphosa reminded South Africans that these milestones of freedom were achieved by women who resisted pass laws, by young people who rose up against Bantu Education, and by a Constitution that reflects the views and aspirations of all South Africans.
“The young people of 1976 remind us that freedom is not protected by memory alone. It is protected by active citizenship, by organisation, by discipline, by service and by responsibility. As we look to the future, young people must be at the centre of democratic participation,” the President said.
Challenging young people on their role in today’s democracy, President Ramaphosa asked whether they dared to change South Africa.
“The youth of 1976 answered that question. On the 16th of June the children of Soweto walked out of their classrooms and into history. They were told they could not learn in their own language, in their own country, on equal terms. They refused that limit. And many of them paid for that refusal with their lives,” the President said.
He emphasised that the young people of 1976 did not stand alone.
They were supported by parents, teachers, health workers, religious leaders and community structures.
“The youth of 1976 were not the last generation to organise for change. We remember young freedom fighters such as Solomon Mahlangu, the Cradock Four and Nokuthula Simelane, and the youth and student formations that helped make apartheid ungovernable.
“In the democratic era, that same spirit continued through the Rhodes Must Fall and Fees Must Fall movements. Because of these generations of struggle, South Africa has changed fundamentally,” the President said.
The Constitution of 1996 guarantees the right to basic education.
“Through legislation such as the South African Schools Act and the Higher Education Act, we dismantled the legal architecture of apartheid education and began building a system founded on equality, access and redress,” President Ramaphosa said.
He said today’s generation has tools that the youth of 1976 did not have.
“They have technology, information and platforms that can connect communities, expose injustice and build enterprises. Technology must be matched by purpose, organisation and commitment to the common good.
“As the country prepares for the next local government elections, we must place young people at the centre of building municipalities that work,” the President said.
He encouraged young people to register to vote, cast their ballots, engage with municipalities and hold public representatives accountable.
“Democracy is not only what happens in Parliament and council chambers. It is also built in schools, on campuses, in workplaces, in churches, on sports fields, in community halls, on streets, and in homes.
“Let us honour the youth of 1976 not only by remembering their courage, but by continuing the work for which they sacrificed so much. Let us build a South Africa in which freedom lives in every generation,” President Ramaphosa said.
He said the youthfulness of South Africa’s population gives the country a dynamism, innovativeness and potential productivity that few other countries outside the continent can match.
“This generation must take its place in every part of our national life: in the economy, in public institutions, in communities, in innovation, in culture and in the work of building our democracy,” the President said. –SAnews.gov.za
Water and Sanitation bursary recipient pays it forward
Three years ago, Kagiso Komane (32) shared how a bursary from the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) helped him overcome financial hardship and realise his dream of obtaining a Master’s degree in Applied Sciences.
Today, the former bursary beneficiary, who is now a PhD candidate in Chemistry at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN), is paying that opportunity forward by helping other young South Africans access education through his newly established non-profit organisation, Edukheshin For All.
Born and raised in Kgobokwane, outside Dennilton in Limpopo, Komane says the support he received through the department changed the trajectory of his life and inspired him to create opportunities for others.
“The Department of Water and Sanitation planted a seed in me, and I have gone the extra mile to become a full tree, bearing fresh fruit,” said Komane.
Founded in 2026, Edukheshin For All aims to remove financial and informational barriers that prevent young people from accessing quality education. The organisation assists learners with study applications, provides information on bursaries and funding opportunities, and offers mentorship and essential support services aimed at empowering young people to pursue their academic aspirations.
“My friends and I co-founded this organisation because we recognised that many young people continue to face the same barriers to education and opportunity that we experienced ourselves.
“Edukheshin For All was born from our shared experiences, and our goal is to ensure that no young person has to navigate their educational journey alone while pursuing their dreams,” he said.
Komane’s journey is a testament to perseverance. After completing matric at Ramatshagala High School in 2011, with below-average Mathematics and Science results, he spent two years upgrading his marks before qualifying to study Analytical Chemistry at the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT).
His turning point came in 2019 when he was awarded a comprehensive DWS bursary, which funded both his B-Tech and Master’s qualifications. The bursary covered tuition fees, accommodation, meals in line with university guidelines, books, stationery and a monthly stipend.
Changing lives
Reflecting on the opportunity, Komane says the bursary did more than fund his studies.
“The bursary transformed my life completely. It helped me overcome financial challenges and allowed me to focus on my studies. More importantly, it taught me the value of using opportunities responsibly and creating opportunities for others.”
Since its official launch at a gala dinner on 1 May 2026, Edukheshin For All has already begun making a meaningful impact in communities. The organisation has assisted learners with educational applications and distributed school shoes and sanitary towels to support vulnerable learners.
Youth Month
As part of Youth Month commemorations, the organisation will host a Career Expo on 26 June 2026, at Pilditch Stadium in Tshwane. The event will bring together higher education institutions, government stakeholders and private sector organisations to provide learners and young people with information on study opportunities, bursaries, career pathways and skills development programmes.
Komane says the organisation’s long-term vision is to make education accessible, aspirational and empowering for all young people.
“We want education to be seen as a pathway to dignity, confidence and limitless possibilities. Young people have enormous potential, but they need access to opportunities and guidance to realise it.” This year South Africa commemorates the 50th anniversary of the Soweto Uprising, a defining moment in South Africa’s liberation struggle.
Paying it forward
When asked whether Edukheshin For All is his way of paying forward the support he received from the department, Komane answered without hesitation.
“Absolutely. The organisation is inspired by the values of the DWS Learning Academy. Both are committed to creating opportunities for young people and developing future leaders. Funding is important, but mentorship and support are equally critical. I am a product of both,” he said.
The Department’s Learning Academy was established in 2007 to address scarce and critical skills in the water and sanitation sector through bursaries in science, engineering and related disciplines. Beyond funding studies, the programme provides graduates with workplace exposure and development opportunities to prepare them for professional registration and careers in the sector.
Komane’s story demonstrates the far-reaching impact of investing in young people. From a bursary recipient determined to overcome adversity to a PhD candidate and community leader creating opportunities for others, he embodies the department’s vision of developing skilled professionals who contribute meaningfully to society, and the country’s development.
His message to young people is simple: “When an opportunity comes your way, grab it with both hands. Use it not only to change your own life, but to create opportunities for those who will come after you.” – SAnews.gov.za
President pays tribute to global jazz icon Abdullah Ibrahim
President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed profound sadness at the passing of cultural activist, global jazz icon and member of the Order of Ikhamanga, Abdullah Ibrahim.
“Our nation mourns the passing of an international icon and global citizen whose profound creations honoured the South Africa that shaped his political commitment and musical brilliance,” the President said on Monday in a statement.
Ibrahim passed away at the age of 91, concluding a life in music that spanned jazz genres and geographies.
As a pianist, composer, arranger and mentor, Ibrahim campaigned against apartheid.
He drew audiences to his carefully curated performances, which showcased both his accomplishment as a soloist and his collaborations with established and emerging talent.
His music also reflected his spirituality and contemplative practice of martial arts.
In 2009, he was awarded the Order of Ikhamanga in Silver in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the arts, his success in placing South African music on the international map, and his lifelong fight against racism and apartheid.
“As we commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Youth Uprising, the passing of Abdullah Ibrahim reminds us of the then illegal benefit concert he organised in support of the liberation movement following the Uprising, as a demonstration of his commitment to our struggle.
“We give thanks for the many decades of his life that he devoted to his personal passion which he shared with humanity through his recordings and his appearances in clubs and concert halls throughout the globe.
“He has enriched our lives with his musical gifts and his involvement in making the world a better place. May his soul rest in peace,” the President said.
He offered his deepest condolences to Ibrahim’s children, pianist Tsakwe and hip-hop artist Jean Grae.
Their mother, Sathima Bea Benjamin, a performer and recording artist in her own right, passed away in 2013, nine years after she received the Order of Ikhamanga.
Gauteng MEC for Education, Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation Lebogang Maile said South Africa had lost a giant whose music transcended entertainment and became a powerful instrument of consciousness, resistance and hope.
“Ibrahim did not merely play jazz; he gave sound to the aspirations of oppressed people and helped the world hear the pain, resilience and dignity of South Africans during the darkest years of apartheid.
“Through Mannenberg, he reminded the world that music can be a weapon against injustice and a beacon of hope for those yearning for freedom. His melodies carried the spirit of a people who refused to surrender their humanity,” Maile said.
The MEC added that South Africa’s rich jazz heritage owes much to Ibrahim’s pioneering work, which elevated South African jazz onto the global stage while remaining deeply rooted in the rhythms, traditions and stories of home.
He noted the transformative role jazz played in shaping township culture and intellectual life in communities such as Alexandra, Sophiatown and Soweto.
“Jazz clubs, community halls and township gatherings became spaces where ideas flourished, identities were affirmed, and consciousness was raised.
“Jazz nurtured creativity, encouraged critical thought and provided communities with a sense of pride and belonging. Ibrahim stood at the centre of that cultural awakening, inspiring generations of artists, thinkers and ordinary citizens,” Maile said. –SAnews.gov.za
