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Reform agenda improves lives of citizens

Source: Government of South Africa

Reform agenda improves lives of citizens

The structural reforms being implemented by government to support inclusive economic growth and job creation are beginning to have a measurable impact on the lives of ordinary citizens.

“The reduction in load shedding, which has resulted from reforms in the energy sector, has had a tangible impact on every household and business,” Deputy Minister in the Presidency Nonceba Mhlauli said on Friday in Johannesburg. 

She made these remarks during the release of the third quarter Operation Vulindlela Progress Report, which highlighted key reform milestones achieved across priority areas between October and December 2025.

Established in October 2020, Operation Vulindlela is a joint initiative of the Presidency and National Treasury to accelerate the implementation of priority structural reforms that support economic growth, improve service delivery, and strengthen State capability. 

“Likewise, reforms in the rail system have supported the recovery of passenger rail services, with the majority of corridors now up and running and providing cheaper public transport for people in every major city,” the Deputy Minister said.

During the 2024/25 financial year, the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) saw an increase in passenger trips to 77 million, a significant increase from the previous financial year total of 39.4 million. 

In October last year, PRASA celebrated the delivery of the 300 locally manufactured train sets for transporting commuters.

Furthermore, 46 stations were revitalised, surpassing the target of 40, bringing the total of recovered and operational stations to 313 out of 468 commuter stations.

Growth in tourism

Mhlauli highlighted that the visa reforms have contributed to job creation and the growth of the tourism sector.

South Africa saw a record 10.48 million tourists arrive between January and December 2025, a 17.6% increase from the previous year. 

The latest figures signal a recovery from the COVID-19 impact, which saw the number of tourists falling to 2.8 million and 2.3 million in 2020 and 2021.

“Tourism currently sustains 1.8 million direct and indirect jobs. For every 13 international arrivals, one local job is created. Tourism is a key driver of economic growth, investment and job creation, with  spillover effects into many sectors,” the Deputy Minister said.

The Deputy Minister emphasised that the reform momentum has strengthened, while the State is increasingly moving from planning to delivery.

“As the President has said, we are seeing important green shoots in the economy. Four consecutive quarters of positive economic growth, declining unemployment, a strengthening currency, and rising commodity prices are all acting as powerful tailwinds for our economic recovery.

“The reform programme that we are pursuing through Operation Vulindlela is essential to ensure that these positive indicators result in a sustained shift in our economic trajectory, rather than a temporary lift in growth. Ultimately, these reforms – whether in the energy, water and logistics sectors or in the immigration system – are about unlocking much higher rates of fixed investment in the economy and powering long-term growth,” the Deputy Minister said.

In the third quarter of 2025, Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) reported that the unemployment rate fell to 31.9%, down by 1.3 percentage points from the previous quarter.

Meanwhile, the real gross domestic product (GDP) expanded by 0.5% in the third quarter (July – September) of 2025, following an increase of 0.9% in the second quarter of 2025.

“For more than a decade, we have experienced low levels of economic growth and high levels of uncertainty. This year, however, we are turning a corner, largely as a result of our commitment to far-reaching economic reform.

“By strengthening our economic fundamentals and creating an environment for growth, we can protect our economy from global disruptions and take advantage of the opportunities that are emerging alongside them. All of this combines to make a strong case for investment in order to capitalise on South Africa’s growth story,” the Deputy Minister said. – SAnews.gov.za

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Online Press Conferences Are Credibility Tests (By Malika Bouayad)

Source: APO

By Malika Bouayad, Group Account Director, Public Relations & Strategic Communications, APO Group (https://APO-opa.com)

Online press conferences – or OPCs — have become routine across Africa. Governments, multinationals, DFIs, and listed companies use them to deliver speed, access and reach across markets.

What has changed is not their prevalence but their function.

Today, an OPC is less a platform for information-sharing than a live test of institutional confidence – conducted in public, under pressure, and judged less on what is said than on how an organisation behaves when control loosens.

What journalists are really watching

Journalists don’t join OPCs simply to hear prepared remarks. They attend to observe how an organisation responds when questioning escalates.

They notice hesitation.
They track how follow-ups are handled or deferred.
They assess whether responses feel coordinated or internally negotiated.

These signals shape how reporting unfolds long after the session ends. Organisations that appear coherent and assured are treated differently from those that appear cautious, fragmented or defensive.

This scrutiny is particularly pronounced in multi-market African contexts, where regulatory pressure, political sensitivity and uneven access to information intersect. A question that appears technical may carry implications across jurisdictions. A pause intended to be responsible can be read as evasion.

Once the OPC begins, there’s no private margin for error.

Why OPCs expose more than messaging

Most OPC failures are not technical. The platform works. The speakers arrive. The agenda is followed. What falters is decision confidence.

OPCs surface assumptions organisations often make about access, responsibility and escalation – assumptions that may hold internally but unravel in live environments.

Who’s authorised to answer follow-up questions if new information emerges?
Who decides whether a line of questioning should be closed or pursued?
Who has the mandate to intervene if legal, reputational and operational priorities collide?

Too often, these decisions are assumed rather than designed, and the gap becomes visible quickly.

OPCs sit on the critical path of reputation

OPCs are not neutral containers. They’re live by default; attended by journalists publishing in real time; recorded, clipped and redistributed immediately; and accessed across borders, time zones and editorial contexts. This means design choices become reputational choices.

An OPC that appears controlled but inflexible raises different concerns from one that appears responsive but disorganised. In both cases, journalists draw conclusions not only about the issue at hand, but about the institution behind it.

This is why, in practice, OPCs demand far more than technical execution. They require governance, media judgement, and active stewardship of how information moves across markets.

Five judgements that separate stable OPCs from fragile ones

This isn’t about tools or formats. It’s about governance under pressure.

1. Access must be designed, not assumed
Open access is not inherently inclusive. Controlled registration protects the integrity of the briefing without limiting legitimate media participation.

2. Responsibility must be explicit
An OPC is not one task. Moderation, access control, technical oversight and decision authority must be clearly owned. When roles blur, response slows precisely when speed matters.

3. Preparation is about failure, not polish
Dry runs expose handover gaps, translation delays, escalation blind spots and decision bottlenecks. In pan-regional OPCs, preparation is risk mitigation.

4. Escalation must be agreed before it’s needed
Live environments do not allow for internal debate. Effective OPCs define in advance who can intervene, pause proceedings or redirect if the briefing is compromised.

5. Distribution is part of the event
An OPC disconnected from press release publishing, newsroom access and post-event assets fragments interpretation and weakens impact.

Beyond rehearsals: why design drills matter

Among the organisations APO Group consults with, the most effective OPCs are marked by a shift away from traditional rehearsals and towards design drills.

Rehearsals focus on logistics: speakers, timing, slides and links. Design drills focus on decision authority. In practice, this means stress-testing realistic scenarios where information is incomplete, questions escalate unexpectedly, or legal, reputational and operational priorities collide. The aim is to identify where authority is unclear – before that uncertainty plays out in public.

This approach builds institutional confidence, not just presentational polish.

Pan-African OPCs in practice

APO Group’s OPC work creates the unmatched opportunity to assemble key journalists from across the continent in one setting. Spanning the full lifecycle of a virtual media event, our team develops the brief, secures panellists, manages registrations, coordinates media outreach across markets, and runs the live technical environment – including moderation, Q&A management, and recording.

The differentiator is how these elements are orchestrated to protect credibility under scrutiny.

In Somalia, for example, APO Group supported TikTok’s #SaferTogether digital safety campaign by mapping a high-risk media landscape, working with the Somalia Journalists Association, managing live Q&A, and supporting post-event coverage – resulting in strong qualitative engagement and sustained media dialogue.

In West Africa, a bilingual OPC for Nestlé Maggi combined English and French media participation, same-day execution, and integrated post-event distribution to drive both visibility and measurable commercial outcomes across multiple markets.

In Guinea, OPC activity formed part of a broader launch strategy for Mercy Ships’ dental education initiative, combining live and on-ground media engagement to position the programme as a regional healthcare milestone.

Across these contexts, the common factor is discipline: how access is controlled, how authority is exercised, and how narratives are guided once the session ends.

What strong organisations are doing differently in 2026

OPCs will continue to grow because they solve a real operational problem: speed, access and scale across markets. But the organisations getting real value from them are treating OPCs less like isolated events and more like repeatable systems.

They design the briefing for the way journalism actually works – anticipating what will be quoted, clipped, shared and reframed across markets before the first question is asked.

They also plan for what happens after the session ends: coordinated press release publishing, newsroom-ready assets, rapid turnaround of quotes and cut-downs, and distribution pathways that reduce fragmentation and prevent parallel narratives from forming.

This is the shift that matters.

An OPC that runs smoothly in the room but produces confusion in the replay is not a briefing. It is a missed opportunity.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of APO Group.

Media Contact:
marie@apo-opa.com 

About APO Group:
Founded in 2007 by Nicolas Pompigne-Mognard, APO Group is the communications consultancy built for performance – combining strategic advisory, on-the-ground execution, and guaranteed visibility across every African market.

Recognised with multiple international awards, including SABRE, Davos Communications, and World Business Outlook distinctions, APO Group partners with global and African organisations to deliver communications that perform – through strategy, execution, and measurable visibility. Our founder’s advisory roles with international institutions strengthen APO Group’s access to decision-makers and reinforce our role as the continent’s most connected communications consultancy. Clients include Canon, Emirates, Nestlé, NFL, Liquid Intelligent Technologies, Afreximbank, the African Development Bank Group, GITEX Global, Royal African Society, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

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South Africa: Committees Demand Urgent Action on Governance Failures in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Municipalities

Source: APO


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The joint oversight committees, comprising the Portfolio Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), the Standing Committee on Public Accounts and the Standing Committee on Auditor-General, have raised serious concerns over persistent governance, financial management and service delivery failures at several KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) municipalities, including Impendle and Nquthu municipalities.

The committees held engagements with the municipalities at the Pietermaritzburg Town Hall yesterday, as part of their week-long oversight oversight visit to KZN, focusing on municipalities identified by the Auditor-General of South Africa as distressed or dysfunctional.

The committees expressed deep concern over Nquthu Local Municipality’s recurring audit failures and weak post-audit action plan. While limited progress was noted, the municipality was warned that its submissions lack clear targets, measurable outcomes and credible strategies to address supply chain and contract management failures, budget–service delivery misalignment and overreliance on consultants.

The municipality was instructed to submit a comprehensive, time-bound post-audit action plan with clear responsibilities, measurable outcomes and monitoring mechanisms. Provincial Treasury, the MECs for COGTA and Finance, and the Auditor-General will oversee implementation.

The committees further directed the municipality to strengthen controls to prevent unauthorised, irregular, fruitless, and wasteful (UIFW) expenditure and to submit a full report on investigations, disciplinary or criminal action taken and preventative measures. Bonuses and incentives must reflect actual performance, failing which restitution will be enforced.

The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on COGTA, Dr Zweli Mkhize, said the municipality has three months to submit the required reports and demonstrate improvement, warning that failure will lead to constitutional interventions.

The committees also expressed grave concern over Impendle Local Municipality’s financial distress and governance failures. Despite repeated Treasury interventions during the 2024/25 financial year, recommended measures were not implemented resulting in the loss of R36 million in grant funding and irregular payments exceeding R600 000 in bonuses, gratuities and allowances.

Misleading information provided to Parliament, including the underreporting of salary expenditure, was strongly condemned. Political instability, including the absence of a functioning mayor and poor council cooperation, was cited as a key contributor to the municipality’s dysfunction.

Municipal leadership was directed to comply fully with MEC-recommended recovery plans, strengthen financial controls, ring-fence compensation of employees and prevent further UIFW expenditure. The committees warned that misleading Parliament and continued non-compliance will attract serious consequences. Urgent intervention is required to stabilise governance and restore service delivery, particularly in water, housing and infrastructure.

The committees also engaged with Endumeni, Nongoma, Msunduzi and uMhlathuze local municipalities, raising concerns over audit failures, weak financial and procurement controls, unfunded budgets, infrastructure backlogs, high consultancy costs and poor accountability.

Endumeni Local Municipality was rebuked for unexplained cash gratuities exceeding R20 000 for each senior manager and was directed to submit a time-bound Audit Action Plan. Nongoma Local Municipality was criticised for weak contract management and grant under-spending and ordered to submit a verified post-audit plan.

Msunduzi Local Municipality received a stern warning over persistent governance failures, rising debt and service delivery breakdowns. At uMhlathuze Local Municipality, the committees raised concerns over water losses, budget shortfalls, security risks and unlawful salary deductions. They warned that provincial intervention may be required.

Dr Mkhize reaffirmed the committees’ commitment to enforcing accountability, financial discipline and constitutional obligations to the municipalities. The committees will wrap up their oversight visit programme today with engagements with the Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma District Municipality and traditional leaders in Pietermaritzburg.

ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON COOPERATIVE GOVERNANCE AND TRADITIONAL AFFAIRS, DR ZWELI MKHIZE.

For media enquiries and interviews with the chairperson contact the committee’s Media Officer:
Malentsoe Magwagwa (Ms)
Cell: 081 716 5824
Email: mmagwagwa@parliament.gov.za

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of South Africa: The Parliament.

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Deadline looms for NSFAS rejected students to appeal

Source: Government of South Africa

Deadline looms for NSFAS rejected students to appeal

Students, including first-time applicants and continuing students, who were rejected by the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) for funding, have until 31 January, to appeal the decision.

The appeals window is open until 31 January 2026.

For the 2026 academic year, NSFAS has streamlined its appeals process to ensure that every student is afforded a fair and equitable opportunity to have their application reconsidered.

“Upon receiving the outcome of their NSFAS application, students who wish to appeal are required to initiate the process promptly. The appeals window is open, and NSFAS will notify students of the outcome of their appeals on an ongoing basis,” said the financial aid scheme.

It further said that it is imperative that students submit all required supporting documentation as part of their appeal, as incomplete submissions cannot be processed.

“Applicants are granted a strict 30-day window from the date of their outcome notification to provide the necessary documents and complete their appeal. Failure to submit the requisite documentation within this period will result in forfeiture of the appeal opportunity.”

NSFAS encouraged students to prepare all relevant documents in advance and to adhere strictly to the prescribed deadlines to ensure their appeals are considered in a timely manner and without unnecessary delay.

For more information visit https://www.nsfas.org.za/content/appeals.html. – SAnews.gov.za
 

Janine

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Fossil hunters find a new dinosaur track site on South Africa’s coast – the youngest so far

Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Charles Helm, Research Associate, African Centre for Coastal Palaeoscience, Nelson Mandela University

Southern Africa is world renowned for its fossil record of creatures that lived in the very distant past, including dinosaurs. But, about 182 million years ago, a huge eruption of lava covered much of the landscape (the inland Karoo Basin) where most of the dinosaurs roamed. After that, the dinosaur fossil record in the region goes abruptly quiet for the Jurassic Period (which lasted from 201 million to 145 million years ago).

Two exciting recent discoveries confirm, however, that there is more to find of dinosaurs that lived in southern Africa a long time after those lava flows.

First, dinosaur tracks aged around 140 million years were reported in 2025 on a remote stretch of the coast in South Africa’s Western Cape province. These were the first to be found in the region from that geological time period (the Cretaceous, 145 million to 66 million years ago).

Now, we’ve found more.

Our work as a team of ichnologists (studying fossil tracks and traces) often takes us to the Knysna area of the Western Cape coast, where we investigate tracks in coastal aeolianites (cemented sand dunes) in the age range of 50,000 to 400,000 years old.

During one of these visits, early in 2025, we decided to visit a small patch of rock that formed during the early Cretaceous Period. It’s the only place in the vicinity where rock of this age is exposed, and much of it is underwater at high tide. We thought we might be lucky enough to find a theropod (dinosaur) tooth like the one discovered in those rocks by a 13-year-old boy in 2017.

We were pleasantly surprised when instead Linda Helm, a member of our party, told us in a state of excitement that she had found dinosaur tracks. Further examination of the deposits revealed more than two dozen probable tracks.

The Brenton Formation exposure. Charles Helm, Author provided (no reuse)

This so-called Brenton Formation exposure is tiny, no more than 40 metres in length and five metres in width, with cliffs rising from the shore to a maximum of five metres. To find dozens of tracks in this small area suggests a considerable dinosaur presence in the region during the Cretaceous.

In our study we estimate that these tracks are 132 million years old, making them the youngest known dinosaur tracks in southern Africa (50 million years younger than the youngest tracks reported from the Karoo Basin). They form the second record of dinosaur tracks from the South African Cretaceous, and the second record from the Western Cape province. Some of them occur on rock surfaces, while others occur in the cliffs in profile.

Theropod track, seen ‘three-quarters-on’ – the three narrow toes can be seen above the 10cm scale bar. Charles Helm, Author provided (no reuse)

Dinosaur fossil treasures

Southern Africa has a wealth of vertebrate tracks and traces from the Mesozoic Era (the “Age of Dinosaurs”, from 252 million to 66 million years ago, a time span that includes the Jurassic) in the Karoo Basin – a vast inland basin filled with thick piles of sedimentary deposits.

Read more: Why South Africa’s Karoo is a palaeontological wonderland

Dinosaur tracks from the Triassic and Jurassic periods are abundant in Lesotho and surrounding areas in South Africa’s Free State and Eastern Cape provinces.

But vast quantities of lava, now referred to as the Drakensberg Group, overlaid these track-bearing deposits as a result of large-scale eruptions. A few dinosaurs appear to have briefly survived the initial effects of the lava flows, and were probably among the last vertebrates to inhabit the Karoo Basin.

Then, as the supercontinent of Gondwana fragmented at the end of the Jurassic Period and in the early Cretaceous Period, limited Cretaceous terrestrial deposits formed in rift basins in what are now the Western Cape and Eastern Cape provinces of South Africa.

Dinosaur body fossils have been reported from those deposits, mostly from the Eastern Cape. They include the first dinosaur to be identified in the southern hemisphere, now identified as a stegosaur, as well as sauropods, a coelurosaurian and iguanodontid hatchlings and juveniles.

The only examples of dinosaur skeletal material from the Western Cape are a few isolated sauropod teeth, disarticulated bones of a probable sauropod, and two cases from the Knysna area: the theropod tooth mentioned above and a portion of a tibia.

But now we’re after their tracks.

This theropod track has been lightly outlined in white chalk; scale bars = 10 cm. Charles Helm, Author provided (no reuse)

Dinosaurs of Knysna

The tracks we found at Knysna are in the modern intertidal zone, where the high tide covers most of them twice a day.

It would be difficult to imagine a more different scene, 132 million years ago, than the spectacular coastline, magnificent estuary, and lots of development by humans that we encounter today. Back in the early Cretaceous, many dinosaurs would have been visible in the area, perhaps inhabiting tidal channels or point bars (river beaches). The vegetation would also have been very different from that of today.

The Brenton Formation tracks were made by theropods, possibly ornithopods (both these kinds of dinosaur were bipedal, walking on two legs), and possibly sauropods (huge dinosaurs with very long necks and very long tails that were quadrupedal, walking on four legs). Theropods were meat eaters, while ornithopods and sauropods were plant eaters.

It can be challenging at times to distinguish theropod tracks from ornithopod tracks. Sauropod tracks are larger and don’t always have clear digit impressions, also sometimes making them hard to identify with confidence.

Read more: Identifying dinosaurs from their footprints is difficult – but AI can help

Some of the dinosaur tracks are evident in profile; scale bar = 10 cm. Charles Helm, Author provided (no reuse)

In most cases, we have chosen not to “over-interpret” which types of dinosaurs made which tracks, as they just aren’t clear enough. Our research paper simply intends to document that dinosaur tracks of this age are relatively plentiful in the Brenton Formation.

Part of a dinosaur trackway in the Brenton Formation; scale bars = 10 cm. Charles Helm, Author provided (no reuse)

The fact that early Cretaceous dinosaur tracks have now been identified in both the Robberg Formation and the Brenton Formation suggests that more may be found if a search is conducted in appropriate places. There are a number of other exposures of non-marine Cretaceous rocks in the Western Cape and Eastern Cape. Systematic exploration of these deposits is now indicated, in the hope that in addition to finding more dinosaur skeletal material, more dinosaur tracks (and potentially those of other vertebrates) will be identified.

Mark G. Dixon and Fred van Berkel of the African Centre for Coastal Palaeoscience, Nelson Mandela University, contributed to this research.

– Fossil hunters find a new dinosaur track site on South Africa’s coast – the youngest so far
– https://theconversation.com/fossil-hunters-find-a-new-dinosaur-track-site-on-south-africas-coast-the-youngest-so-far-274337

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Remarks by Deputy Minister in The Presidency, Ms Nonceba Mhlauli, at the release of the Operation Vulindlela Phase II Q3 2025/2026 Progress Report, Johannesburg Stock Exchange, Sandton

Source: President of South Africa –

Programme Directors,
Deputy Minister Dr David Masondo,
Members of the media,
Captains of industry, 
Ladies and gentlemen. 

Good morning members of the media, investors and analysts, ladies and gentlemen.

As we launch this progress report for the third quarter outlining the steps we have taken to advance the economic reform agenda, it is important to step back and situate this report within the broader moment South Africa finds itself in.

Our country is operating in a constrained global environment. Growth globally remains uneven. Geopolitical tensions, trade fragmentation, climate shocks, and tighter financial conditions continue to place pressure on emerging economies. Domestically, we continue to contend with the legacy of infrastructure underinvestment, uneven service delivery, and the imperative to restore confidence in the state’s capacity to implement.

Against this backdrop, the progress reflected in this report matters.

It matters because South Africa’s growth outlook is not determined only by external conditions, but by our ability to remove long-standing structural constraints that have held the economy back for more than a decade. It matters because ratings agencies, investors, businesses, and citizens are increasingly looking not at policy intent, but at whether reforms are being executed consistently and credibly.

Without repeating what has already been said, I want to emphasise two points.

The first is that reform momentum has strengthened, and that the State is increasingly moving from planning to delivery.

As President Cyril Ramaphosa has said, we are seeing important green shoots in the economy. Four consecutive quarters of positive economic growth, declining unemployment, a strengthening currency, and rising commodity prices are all acting as powerful tailwinds for our economic recovery.

The reform programme that we are pursuing through Operation Vulindlela is essential to ensure that these positive indicators result in a sustained shift in our economic trajectory rather than a temporary lift in growth. Ultimately, these reforms – whether in the energy, water and logistics sectors or in the immigration system – are about unlocking much higher rates of fixed investment in the economy and powering long-term growth.

Colleagues,

The second is that these reforms aim to improve the lives of all South Africans. That is why in Phase II of Operation Vulindlela, we have focused on achieving more inclusive and not only more rapid economic growth.  

The reduction in load shedding which has resulted from reforms in the energy sector has had a tangible impact on every household and business. Likewise, reforms in the rail system have supported the recovery of passenger rail services, with the majority of corridors now up and running and providing cheaper public transport for people in every major city.

Going forward, as we advance the more recent reforms in housing policy and the local government system, we will make progress on many of the issues that are most critical to poor households – improving the delivery of basic services, making our cities work effectively, and accelerating the delivery of well-located and dignified housing so that people can live closer to work and contribute to the economy.

Finally, what this progress report shows is that now is a good time to invest in South Africa.

Distinguished guests,

For more than a decade, we have experienced low levels of economic growth and high levels of uncertainty. This year, however, we are turning a corner, largely as a result of our commitment to far-reaching economic reform.

By strengthening our economic fundamentals and creating an environment for growth, we can protect our economy from global disruptions and take advantage of the opportunities that are emerging alongside them.

All of this combines to make a strong case for investment, in order to capitalise on South Africa’s growth story.

Thank you once again for joining us today, and for continuing to engage with Operation Vulindlela as we continue the work of reform.

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Centurion Home Affairs office relocated to Centurion Mall

Source: Government of South Africa

Centurion Home Affairs office relocated to Centurion Mall

The Department of Home Affairs will from today relocate its Centurion office to Centurion Mall, with the new office opening to the public on Monday.

The current Centurion office will close on Friday, 30 January 2026.

“During this brief closure period, mobile units will be stationed at the existing site to assist clients with Smart ID Card applications and collections only. All other Home Affairs services will remain available at nearby offices within the Tshwane District,” the department said.

Minister of Home Affairs, Dr Leon Schreiber, said: “Our teams in Gauteng are working hard to ensure minimal disruption during this move. We are transitioning from an outdated and unsuitable facility to a modern, well-equipped environment that allows Home Affairs to serve people with dignity.

“This move forms part of our broader reform programme to deliver dignity for all by ensuring that Home Affairs services are provided in environments that are safe, professional and worthy of the people we serve.”

The move directly addresses long-standing safety and operational challenges at the previous site.

The department has received numerous complaints about the selling of queue positions by unscrupulous individuals, as well as poor service conditions linked to infrastructure limitations. In addition, the lack of secure on-site parking previously forced clients to park on the street, exposing them and their vehicles to criminal activity.

The Minister thanked members of the public for their patience and cooperation during the transition. – SAnews.gov.za

Janine

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South Africa – Committee Chairperson: Limpopo and Mpumalanga Floods Have Severely Impacted Healthcare Infrastructure

Source: APO


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The devastating floods in Limpopo and Mpumalanga in recent weeks have brought to the fore the stark reality that many South Africans have long known – the country’s healthcare system is under-prepared for the challenges posed by natural disasters. The tragic loss of life and the suffering of countless families serve as a powerful reminder of South Africa’s urgent need for a resilient healthcare infrastructure capable of withstanding such catastrophes.

“In light of the recent disastrous floods and fires that have ravaged the country, I extend my heartfelt condolences to all families who have lost loved ones during this challenging time,” said Ms Faith Muthambi, the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Health.

“The impact on our healthcare infrastructure is profound. It is imperative that we address both the immediate and long-term consequences of these disasters. The loss of life remains the foremost concern,” she said.

The floods wreaked havoc on communities, displaced families, destroyed homes and left many without access to basic necessities. Amidst this disaster, the healthcare sector faces a crisis. Clinics and hospitals are strained and are now inundated with patients suffering from flood-related injuries, while simultaneously grappling with the risk of disease outbreaks.

The South African Medical Research Council has raised alarms about potential cholera outbreaks due to compromised water quality in the affected areas. This situation not only highlights the immediate healthcare needs but also underscores the long-term implications of inadequate infrastructure.

The loss of loved ones, homes and livelihoods creates an environment ripe for mental health issues, such as anxiety and depression. As families grapple with grief it is imperative that mental health services are equally prioritised. The healthcare system must extend its reach beyond physical ailments to encompass the psychological well-being of the population. Ensuring that mental health resources are available and accessible should be a priority in any disaster response plan.

The infrastructure of our healthcare facilities, particularly in rural areas, has been compromised. Many clinics have been rendered inaccessible, exacerbating the healthcare system’s challenges. In the Western Cape, the recent fire at Paarl Provincial Hospital at Drakenstein Municipality serves as a reminder of the vulnerabilities intrinsic in our healthcare system. Although the fire was quickly contained and no injuries were reported, it raises critical questions about the preparedness of our hospitals to respond to emergencies effectively.

The Disaster Management Act mandates a coordinated response to emergencies, yet the reality on the ground when such disasters occur reveals a different story. Fragmentation between various departments and agencies can lead to delays in response times and inadequate resource allocation. It is essential that we foster collaboration among all relevant stakeholders, including government departments, healthcare providers and the community to create a unified front in disaster preparedness and response.

The recent floods have illuminated the critical need for proactive measures to strengthen our healthcare system. As the Portfolio Committee on Health prepares for its oversight visit in Mpumalanga and Limpopo next week, committee members will visit the affected areas. This will be an opportunity to gather firsthand information on the conditions of healthcare facilities and allow us to identify necessary interventions that are desperately needed in communities. The oversight is not just a formality or ticking of the box. The visit represents a commitment in ensuring that the healthcare needs of our communities are met, both in times of crisis and in everyday life.

Natural disasters like the floods in Limpopo and Mpumalanga serve as a wake-up call that our healthcare system must develop to meet the challenges of an unpredictable future, Ms Muthambi said.

ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON HEALTH, MS FAITH MUTHAMBI.

For media inquiries or interviews with the Chairperson, please contact the committee’s Media Officer:
Name: Yoliswa Landu (Ms)
Cell: 081 497 4694
E-mail: ylandu@parliament.gov.za

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of South Africa: The Parliament.

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Invest.EastAfrica! – Business and Investment Forum concluded with five new business partnerships to boost economic ties between Germany and East Africa

Source: APO

The “Invest.EastAfrica! – Business and Investment Forum” concluded at the GIZ (www.GIZ.de/de) Representation in Berlin, launching five new business partnerships by leading European companies such as Bayer, Melitta and ofi with their East African partners. The partnerships are designed to accelerate sustainable trade, stronger value chains and inclusive growth — from digital business models and artificial intelligence to coffee and cashew processing, entrepreneurship, and venture building.

Parliamentary State Secretary to the Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development, Bärbel Kofler: “The five partnerships between German and East African private sector actors and the BMZ presented today send a clear message: Germany and the EAC are driving a form of private sector cooperation that delivers economic growth while creating tangible benefits for people. The BMZ will continue its close collaboration with the East African Community to strengthen regional integration and improve reliable investment framework conditions.”

Over the course of the forum, more than 350 representatives of German companies met a delegation of 60 East African businesses across a three-day programme in Frankfurt am Main and Berlin. Participants explored concrete cooperation opportunities in joint investment priority areas, such as agri-business, pharmaceuticals, AI, carbon credits as well as tourism.

East Africa is fast consolidating its positions as Africa’s economic powerhouse with inter-regional trade expanding by more than 12 percent. At the same time, the East African Community is reviving their efforts to finalise the EAC-EU Economic Partnership Agreement—a timely step, given that the EU currently ranks only as the region’s fourth-largest trading partner. Against this backdrop, the forum—hosted in the State of Hesse, one of Germany’s economic powerhouses—aimed to deepen German-East African economic ties and diversify both regions trade and investment portfolios in an era of mounting geopolitical challenges.

“At a time when the world is once again turning to isolation, we are sending a clear signal for open trade and the diversification of our economic relations. East Africa, with its more than 320 million inhabitants, is an important future market for Hessian companies—dynamic, innovation-strong and strategically relevant,” says Manfred Pentz, Hessian State Minister for International Affairs.

In the same spirit—moving from political intent to practical delivery—Christoph Kannengießer, CEO of the German-African Business Association Afrika-Verein, emphasizes: “Invest.EastAfrica! shows how purposeful dialogue can translate into concrete cooperation. Over three days, companies moved from initial interest to structured project pipelines—agreeing next steps and timelines on a foundation of trust. Diversifying markets is a shared strategic objective, and this forum helps turn it into practical, investable collaboration.”

Building on the momentum of the first edition, the event partners — including Afrika-Verein, the State of Hesse, German Development Cooperation (GIZ), IHK Frankfurt & Friedberg and Berlin, BVWM, as well as the East African Community and the East African Business Council (EABC) — will support the development of ten additional business cooperations to be launched at next year’s forum. These projects are expected to target an estimated 500 million EUR in investment volume and involve German companies such as Deutsche Bank, Commerzbank, ODDO Bank, Lufthansa, Fresenius alongside their East African partners such as Cassava, Bedi Investment, Hormuud and Equatorial Nuts. “As business community of East African we are welcoming the rich results of the business forum and are ready to implement these agreed cooperation projects and more to boost economic ties with Germany.”, concluded Jaswinder Bedi, Vice-President of the East African Business Council.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of GIZ.

Media contact:
diana.mutabazi@giz.de

About Invest.EastAfrica!:
Invest.EastAfrica! is the German-East African Business & Investment Forum, convening companies and decision-makers to advance concrete cooperation between Germany and the East African Community (EAC). The inaugural forum took place from 27-29 January 2026 in Frankfurt am Main and Berlin.

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Thabo Bester transferred to eBongweni Correctional Centre

Source: Government of South Africa

Thabo Bester transferred to eBongweni Correctional Centre

Convicted rapist and murderer, Thabo Bester, has been transferred to the super maximum eBongweni Correctional Centre in Kokstad.

Bester was being held at the Kgoši Mampuru II Correctional Centre (C-Max) in Pretoria.

“It has to be emphasised that offender transfers are a routine practice, guided by established security risk assessments to ensure the safety, security, and stability of correctional facilities and the broader criminal justice system.

“The offender will continue to receive appropriate care in line with applicable legislative and policy prescripts and will retain full access to legal representation, family communication, and court processes.

“All necessary logistical arrangements remain in place to ensure that court appearances and legal proceedings proceed without disruption,” the Department of Correctional Services said.

Bester infamously escaped from the Mangaung Correctional Facility in 2022 and was re-arrested in Tanzania along with co-accused Nandipha Magudumana.

His trial is expected to begin in July. – SAnews.gov.za

NeoB

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