Posts

Posted on

Learnership programme to improve transformation within real estate sector

Source: Government of South Africa

Learnership programme to improve transformation within real estate sector

Government has launched a programme that seeks to expand inclusive economic participation and transformation within the real estate sector through skills development and employment creation.

Launched in Middelburg, Mpumalanga, on Wednesday, the Real Estate Learnership Programme will equip participants with the knowledge, skills and competencies required to operate effectively within the sector.

The programme is a collaborative initiative by different public and private sector institutions, including Mpumalanga Public Works, Roads and Transport; Services Sector Education and Training Authority (Services SETA); and Property Practitioners Regulatory Authority (PPRA).

The programme seeks to expand inclusive economic participation and transformation within the real estate sector through skills development and employment creation, and equip participants with the knowledge, skills and competencies required to operate effectively within the sector.

It also plays an important role in contributing to closing critical skills gaps by developing a pipeline of competent and work-ready property practitioners.

Speaking at the launch of the programme, Human Settlements Minister Thembi Simelane said meaningful transformation of South Africa’s property sector cannot happen if young people, particularly those from historically disadvantaged communities, remain outside the industry’s economic opportunities. 

“Transformation is not simply about changing who occupies positions in the property sector. It is about changing who has access to the opportunities that create those positions in the first place,” Simelane said.

The Minister said government’s commitment to youth, women and people with disabilities goes beyond commemorative months and remains an ongoing effort to create an enabling environment for them to develop their skills and participate meaningfully in the economy.

While the property industry represents billions in economic value, the Minister said it remains largely inaccessible, as it is predominantly controlled by a minority few.

“Through programmes like this, with our entity PPRA at the centre working together with its partners, we will make a significant impact in transforming the industry,” Simelane said.

The Minister said the programme is designed to take young people beyond theoretical training by exposing them to the actual workplace.

She referenced Mpumalanga Premier Mandla Ndlovu’s 2026 State of the Province Address, in which he highlighted the need to place young people at the centre of economic initiatives and equip them with skills required by the labour market.

“This launch reinforces the Premier’s well-captured statement. It is another testament that government working together can confront the scourge of the alarming youth unemployment with a collective agency,” the Minister said. 

Mpumalanga is the second province where the programme is being rolled out, following its launch in KwaZulu-Natal in March. 

Simelane said government intends to expand the initiative nationally. 

Simelane said the Memorandum of Understanding between the PPRA, Mpumalanga Provincial Government and Services SETA will be used to advance transformation within the real property sector.

The programme will also provide support beyond the completion of training, with the PPRA expected to offer post-training and Small, Medium, and Micro Enterprise (SMME) support, including structural and business incubation assistance to help emerging Black- and youth-owned property enterprises become sustainable.  

Simelane said top-performing learners who successfully exit the programme will have an opportunity, through the PPRA, to undertake the Professional Designated Examination (PDE 5), enabling them to progress from candidate practitioners to full principal estate agents. 

She also highlighted that the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) Level 4 qualification in real estate is nationally recognised and graduates can pursue careers in alternative property sectors, including property administration, bond origination, real estate valuation and many others. 

“The programme represents a deliberate effort to open those doors. Young people should not only be viewed as beneficiaries of government programmes. They must be viewed as future professionals, entrepreneurs, employers, and leaders of the property sector,” Simelane said. – SAnews.gov.za
 

GabiK

2

Posted on

South Africa: Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Event Held at Rosebank Sunday Market, Johannesburg

Source: APO


.

The High Commission of Sri Lanka in Pretoria successfully conducted a Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Event at the Rosebank Sunday Market, Johannesburg, on 30 August 2026, showcasing the country’s diverse tourism attractions and experiences to an international audience.

Rosebank is one of Johannesburg’s popular destinations and attracts visitors from various countries. The event provided a platform for the High Commission to promote Sri Lanka’s rich cultural heritage, natural beauty, wildlife, cuisine and diverse travel experiences to a broad and multicultural audience.

A range of Sri Lanka tourism promotional materials was distributed among visitors. Many expressed interest in visiting Sri Lanka and shared their plans to experience the country in the near future.

The event was also attended by members of the diplomatic and business communities in South Africa, as well as the Sri Lankan community, providing an opportunity to further promote Sri Lanka as an attractive tourism destination and strengthen people-to-people connections.

The enthusiastic response from visitors and the high level of engagement contributed to the overall success of the event. The Tourism Promotion Event served as a valuable platform to enhance awareness of Sri Lanka’s diverse attractions and generate greater interest among potential travellers in South Africa and beyond.

The High Commission of Sri Lanka in Pretoria remains committed to promoting Sri Lanka’s tourism sector and enhancing awareness of the country’s unique attractions and experiences among the South African public and the wider international community.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment & Tourism – Sri Lanka.

Posted on

Nokuthula Simelane’s story sparks new call for justice

Source: Government of South Africa

Nokuthula Simelane’s story sparks new call for justice

For more than four decades, the Simelane family has lived with a silence that no family should have to endure: the absence of a daughter, a sister and a young woman whose life was cut short by the machinery of apartheid, yet whose story refuses to disappear.

On Thursday, that silence met a packed Great Hall at the University of Mpumalanga in Mbombela, where the memory of Nokuthula Simelane was transformed into something larger than remembrance: a national conversation about justice, accountability, gender equality and the responsibility of a new generation to remember what came before them.

For the family, the occasion carried the weight of a homecoming. Born and bred in Bethal, Nokuthula’s story returned to the province where her roots were planted, more than 40 years after she was abducted at the age of 23 and disappeared.

Her younger sister, Thembi Simelane, who is currently serving as the Minister of Human Settlements, stood at the centre of that history, carrying not only the memory of a sibling but the burden of a family that has never been able to perform the final rituals of laying their loved one to rest.  

Speaking to SAnews, Minister Simelane said that her sister disappeared after she was sent from Swaziland to a mission in South Africa. 

“Subsequently, we went through the TRC [Truth and Reconciliation Commission] process, which identified special branch police who were responsible. Unfortunately, even with that step, we still have not been able to find her remains.

“We do hope that keeping her memory alive will make us not forget that she lived, because we have no grave to visit, we have no way of performing our Simelane customs and rituals to bury a loved one, but we carry a responsibility of keeping her spirit alive,” the Minister said.

That responsibility has now taken institutional form through the launch of the Nokuthula Simelane Foundation and the inaugural Nokuthula Simelane Memorial Lecture, an annual platform intended to ensure that her story is not confined to the past, but becomes part of South Africa’s continuing conversation about democracy, human rights and social justice.

For media spokesperson of the Foundation, Thembisa Mdoda, 3 September 2026, represents more than the launch of an organisation or a lecture series. It was, she said, a moment in which a family’s decades-long pain could become a catalyst for a much bigger national reckoning. 

“I think this is a special day because over 40 years ago we lost our sister Nokuthula. She was a stalwart in the struggle, and she disappeared without a trace. And since that day, her family has been looking for her,” Mdoda said.

With approximately 1 200 people expected at the inaugural lecture, including government leaders, academics, students, civil society, liberation veterans and human rights practitioners, Nokuthula’s name is being deliberately carried into spaces where history can be interrogated, taught and kept alive.

“This today sparks a big dialogue, a conversation where families have missing children, families have missing siblings that are nowhere to be found, and no one has taken accountability. So today we talk about equality, we talk about gender equality, we talk about justice, and we also talk about those that are missing that no one has even looked for,” Mdoda said.

The significance of the day is heightened by the presence of President Cyril Ramaphosa, who is scheduled to deliver the inaugural Memorial Lecture today, while the University of Mpumalanga and the Foundation began laying the groundwork for a longer-term academic legacy that could see Nokuthula’s name attached not only to an annual lecture, but to research, education, heritage preservation and a proposed Centre for Gender and Intersectional Studies.

READ | President Ramaphosa to deliver inaugural Nokuthula Simelane Memorial Lecture

It is an attempt to turn an unresolved absence into an enduring presence.

Nokuthula’s remains have never been recovered. But her name, her courage and the questions surrounding her disappearance are being carried forward from one generation to another, from a family searching for closure to a country still confronting the unfinished business of its past.

As Mdoda put it: “We put our fists up for Nokuthula Simelane. The struggle continues, but we will have victory.” – SAnews.gov.za

 

DikelediM

0

Posted on

Gauteng PKTT arrests alleged illegal electricity connections mastermind

Source: Government of South Africa

Gauteng PKTT arrests alleged illegal electricity connections mastermind

The Gauteng Political Killing Task Team (PKTT) has arrested an eighth suspect believed to be the mastermind behind the illegal electricity connections and theft of critical infrastructure at the Emfuleni Local Municipality. 

The suspect was re-arrested shortly after being released on bail in an unrelated matter today.

“She is expected to make her first appearance in court on Monday, 07 September 2026, facing charges of theft, damage to and theft of critical infrastructure and money laundering,” the South African Police Service (SAPS)  said in a statement on Thursday.

According to the police, the arrest forms part of ongoing investigations into a syndicate allegedly involved in the illegal connection of electricity and related criminal activities in the Emfuleni Local Municipality.

“Police investigations are continuing, with authorities working to identify and apprehend all those involved in the illegal electricity connection network,” the police said. – SAnews.gov.za

 

Edwin

0

Posted on

Afreximbank’s Angola Oil & Gas (AOG) 2026 Local Content Forum to Unlock Capital for Local Companies

Source: APO – Report:

.

Pan-African financial institution the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) is bringing strategic financing solutions to the Angola Oil & Gas (AOG) Conference & Exhibition through a dedicated Local Content Forum designed to mobilize capital for Angolan companies. The platform will provide local entrepreneurs and businesses with an opportunity to engage directly with African business leaders who have successfully scaled their companies through Afreximbank-backed financing.

Taking place as part of the main conference agenda, the forum reflects the bank’s broader strategy to strengthen indigenous participation across Angola’s oil and gas value chain by expanding access to finance and supporting business growth. Through practical case studies from Nigeria and direct engagement between entrepreneurs and financiers, the forum will demonstrate how tailored financing solutions can enable Angolan businesses to acquire assets, expand operations and compete for larger projects.

Afreximbank has played a central role in supporting the growth of Nigeria’s indigenous energy companies. In December 2025, the bank established a landmark $750 million financing partnership with Heirs Energies to optimize the company’s capital structure and unlock liquidity for working capital as it pursues new exploration and production opportunities.

The bank also expanded its reserve-based lending facility for Oando to $375 million, supporting the company’s ambition to increase production to 100,000 barrels of oil per day (bpd) and 1.5 billion cubic feet of gas per day. By highlighting these and other success stories, the forum will provide Angolan entrepreneurs with practical insights into how tailored financing solutions can accelerate the growth of local companies.

Afreximbank has already established a strong financing presence in Angola, supporting national oil company Sonangol’s growth through a range of strategic financing solutions. Most recently, the bank closed a $1.75 billion syndicated receivables purchase facility in January 2026 to support Sonangol’s operating and capital expenditure requirements. Structured alongside multiple mandated lead arrangers, the facility monetizes future export contracts while helping mitigate exposure to oil price volatility.

Beyond the upstream sector, Afreximbank continues to finance strategic industrial infrastructure across Angola. In 2024, the bank signed on as Mandated Lead Arranger for the development of the AMUFERT-led fertilizer and ammonia plant. In this capacity, the bank committed $1.4 billion in debt funding alongside other financial partners. The $2 billion project will produce 4,000 metric tons per day, with operations expected to start in 2027.

The bank also mobilized $335 million through a project financing facility alongside Africa Finance Corporation and a consortium of international lenders for the development of the Cabinda Refinery – now operational with a first phase capacity of 30,000 bpd. Developed by Gemcorp, the project is Angola’s second refining facility, with a planned second phase set to increase capacity to 60,000 bpd.

Stepping into this picture, the AOG 2026 Local Content Forum builds on Afreximbank’s long-standing commitment to Angola and aims to position local companies at the center of the country’s next wave of oil and gas investment. By connecting Angolan entrepreneurs with financiers and successful African operators, the forum will help unlock new sources of capital while supporting the growth of the next generation of indigenous operators and service providers. The bank is also an Elite Sponsor of the upcoming conference.

Visit www.AngolaOilandGas.com for more information.

– on behalf of Energy Capital & Power.

Posted on

World Food Programme (WFP) Strongly Condemns Aerial Attack on Trucks Carrying Food for Families in South Kordofan

Source: APO – Report:

.

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) strongly condemns the aerial attack that hit two trucks carrying WFP food assistance outside of Dilling, South Kordofan, on 30 August 2026. The trucks were destined for Kadugli, South Kordofan, and were clearly marked with WFP banners and flags.

The attack destroyed more than 50 metric tons of WFP food – including cereals, yellow split peas, vegetable oil and salt – enough to provide lifesaving assistance to 5,800 people for one month. 

In Kadugli, WFP is supporting nearly 58,000 people facing emergency levels of food insecurity or worse through in-kind food assistance. 

This attack is the latest example of the complex operating environment facing WFP and other humanitarian agencies in Sudan. Since the beginning of the year, WFP has recorded eight aerial attacks that have damaged its premises and disrupted operations.

WFP urges all those engaged in hostilities to respect international humanitarian law by protecting civilians, humanitarian personnel and humanitarian assets. Attacks on aid workers and humanitarian operations are unacceptable and must stop.

– on behalf of World Food Programme (WFP).

Posted on

How Africa can accelerate intra-African trade momentum (By Mrs. Kanayo Awani)

Source: APO – Report:

By Mrs. Kanayo Awani, Executive Vice-President, Intra-African Trade & Export Development Bank at African Export-Import Bank (www.Afreximbank.com)

Boosting trade flows amongst African countries remains a key economic priority. There is significant opportunity to accelerate the growing intra-African trade in order to unlock investment, catalyse industrialisation, especially processing and adding value to our natural resources.

According to the Africa in Figures 2025 (https://apo-opa.co/4ygFkXY) report released by African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), intra-African trade grew by 5.4 percent in 2024 to stand at US$206.6 billion, with continued implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) expected to further enhance it. It is imperative to persist in closing long-standing gaps in trade, investment, and market intelligence that continue to constrain business growth. Across the continent, enterprises are held back by limited knowledge of market opportunities, as well as unclear regulatory information and restricted access to trade finance, all of which hamper their ambitions to expand across borders.

Enter the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF), Africa’s premier trade and investment marketplace and a driving force behind the continent’s economic integration agenda. Building on the success of the record-breaking fourth edition, IATF2025 in Algiers, which generated US$50 billion in trade and investment deals, the Fair continues to cement its position as a catalyst for intra-African commerce. IATF’s true impact lies in its ability to connect businesses, unlock opportunities, and translate ambition into tangible commercial outcomes.

IATF2025 highlighted the growing momentum of trade within Africa, with significant increases in participation, deal volume and transaction value. More than a showcase, the Fair proved its effectiveness as a platform for expanding market access, promoting African products and services, attracting investment, and connecting businesses to new opportunities. It continues to deliver tangible results by facilitating partnerships, fostering and strengthening regional and continental value chains.

IATF has firmly established itself as one of Africa’s most influential engines for trade, investment and economic integration. The spotlight now shifts to Nigeria. Lagos will host IATF2027 from 5–11 November 2027, bringing together businesses, investors, policymakers, researchers, creatives and innovators from across the continent. The ambition for the 2027 edition in Lagos reflects the sheer scale of Africa’s opportunity. With targets of over US$50 billion in trade and investment deals, more than 100,000 visitors, and 2,500+ exhibitors, IATF2027 is set to be the largest edition yet. Anchored by the theme “Global Africa, Smart Trade: From Market Access to Market Power,” it signals a bold shift, positioning Africa not just as a participant, but as a decisive force shaping its own economic future

Beyond the headline figure, more than 180,000 participants, 6,600 exhibitors from 132 countries, and over US$167 billion in cumulative trade and investment deals across its first four editions the message is clear: African businesses are ready to scale, compete, and lead, and the continent is rich with opportunity. The real constraint is not demand, but access specifically, the need for structured and efficient pathways that enable businesses to identify opportunities, connect with the right partners, and execute transactions at scale. IATF is at the forefront of breaking down these barriers and unlocking Africa’s full trade potential.

According to, ‘The Impact of the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF) on Development and Trade, 2018–2024’ report, an impressive 62.4 percent of concluded deals directly supported intra-African trade, amounting to more than US$8.5 billion for each edition of the trade fair since 2018. Nearly 360,000 small businesses and SMEs are benefitting, including thousands of women and youth-led enterprises. The positive impact on employment is also significant. For every US$1 million invested into IATF, roughly 42 jobs are created – meaning each fair supports more than half a million direct employment opportunities across the continent. What this tells us is that Africa’s challenge is not capacity but connecting with each other. The priority for the continent in sustaining the trade and investment momentum is ensuring businesses continue to access the intelligence, partnerships, and support systems they need.

This is why platforms like IATF Virtual, designed to keep engagements amongst businesses alive, maintain visibility for exhibitors, enable governments and corporates to follow up on leads, and support year-round dialogue across sectors matter. The platform has potential to serve as the continent’s permanent marketplace. For SMEs that often face cost, travel, and logistics barriers, such platforms bridge these issues.

As Nigeria prepares to host IATF2027, it could not be timelier. The country is central to the AfCFTA’s success, not just because of its market size, but due to its vast resource base and industrial potential. As a leading producer of oil and gas, solid minerals, including lithium, iron ore, and gold so critical to future value chains, and key agricultural commodities, Nigeria is uniquely positioned to drive the industrialisation the continent needs.

It is essential for Nigerian and African businesses to fully seize opportunities presented by the continental free trade area. The good news is that the continent is already moving in the direction of addressing this. In Nigeria, for example, capacity-building programmes, export readiness clinics, certification support and partnerships with institutions like the Nigerian Export Promotion Council and the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria are helping equip SMEs with the knowledge and tools needed to trade across African borders. Lagos State, for instance, is strengthening foundations for success from investments in the Lekki Deep Sea Port and logistics corridors, to the development of industrial clusters and support through business development hubs.

Looking ahead, the message is clear. Africa is primed and ready to increase intra-African trade, but momentum must not be lost. The continent has showcased the concept, proven there’s appetite, and seen the results. With one of Africa’s largest economies and most populous nation now hosting the continent’s biggest marketplace, the challenge is to transform the current success into exponential progress.

– on behalf of Afreximbank.

Media files

.

Posted on

bp Supply, Trading & Shipping Strengthens Global Market Focus at Angola Oil & Gas (AOG) 2026 as Gold Sponsor

Source: APO – Report:

.

bp Supply, Trading & Shipping – the distribution business of energy major bp – has joined the Angola Oil & Gas (AOG) 2026 Conference and Exhibition as a Gold Sponsor, bringing the expertise of one of the world’s leading energy marketing, operations and trading businesses to discussions around Angola’s position in global oil and gas markets.

Connecting producers and suppliers with customers and markets worldwide, bp Supply, Trading & Shipping sits at the intersection of energy production, transportation and consumption. The company’s participation at AOG 2026 comes as Angola seeks to strengthen its position as a competitive oil and gas producer while maximizing the value generated from its resources.

As one of Africa’s largest oil and gas producers, Angola has set clear objectives to sustain production above one million barrels per day (bpd) while increasing natural gas development and exports. Monthly crude production measured approximately 31 million barrels in June 2026 – equivalent to 1.039 million bpd – while gas production averaged 2,663 million cubic feet per day. During the same period, Angola’s total crude liftings were 34.16 million barrels, of which 33 million barrels were exported and 1.07 million barrels made available for the Luanda refinery.

Looking ahead, Angola strives to bolster output through enhanced recovery and infill drilling at mature assets alongside forays into frontier exploration basins. Recent developments include TotalEnergies extending the life of the prolific Block 32, enabling the continuous development of the assets; Etu Energias advancing appraisal drilling at Block 2/05; Sonangol progressing a redevelopment program at Blocks 3/05 and 3/05A; and Afentra targeting 2026/2027 FID on its Block 3/24 discoveries.

As crude production stabilizes and gas output rises, Angola is gradually positioning itself to play an increasingly central role in global supply chains. As a strategic player in the global market, bp Supply, Trading & Shipping is well-positioned to support this next phase of growth. The business integrates bp’s oil, gas and lower-carbon value chains while providing capabilities spanning commodity trading, supply, logistics, pricing and risk management.

AOG 2026 will examine this entire value chain. The conference brings together policymakers, operators, financiers, service companies and other industry stakeholders to discuss investment opportunities spanning exploration and production, gas, infrastructure, logistics and downstream development.

For bp Supply, Trading & Shipping, the event provides a platform to engage stakeholders around the commercial systems underpinning international energy trade. As Gold Sponsor, the company is expected to contribute a global market perspective to conference discussions, reinforcing the importance of trading, shipping and integrated supply chains to Angola’s continued development as a major African energy producer.

– on behalf of Energy Capital & Power.

Posted on

President Xi Jinping and Madame Peng Liyuan Visit the Grand Egyptian Museum Together with President of Egypt Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and His Wife

Source: APO – Report:

On the afternoon of September 2 local time, President Xi Jinping and his wife Madame Peng Liyuan visited the Grand Egyptian Museum accompanied by President of Egypt Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and First Lady Mrs. Entissar El-Sisi.

The magnificent museum stands a short distance away from the millennia-old pyramids on the Giza Plateau. 

Upon arrival, President Xi Jinping and Madame Peng Liyuan were warmly greeted by President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and his wife. Inside the museum, the two couples posed for a group photo in front of the statue of Ramesses II and listened to a briefing on the museum and the ancient Egyptian history. Taking the escalator up, they admired with keen interest the exquisite and monumental stone statues, inscribed stone columns, and pyramidion from a temple, before stopping at the viewing area to take in the distant view of the pyramids from the window. Then the two presidents entered the Tutankhamun Galleries where they appreciated prize collections such as the golden throne of the Pharaoh, the golden mask, and the royal chariot.

President Xi Jinping noted that China and Egypt each has a time-honored civilization and are both home to a great deal of world heritage. The two great civilizations have long engaged and connected with each other across time and space, and the friendship between the two peoples have continued from generation to generation. The two sides should carry forward the vision of equality, mutual learning, dialogue, and inclusiveness between civilizations, put to practice the Global Civilization Initiative, jointly promote inclusiveness, coexistence, exchanges and mutual learning between different civilizations, and pool greater strength of diverse civilizations for building a community with a shared future for humanity. 

President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi thanked President Xi Jinping for his congratulatory letter on the opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum last year. He noted that the characteristics of inclusiveness and harmony in diversity shared by the ancient Egyptian civilization and the Chinese civilization are highly aligned with the vision of the Global Civilization Initiative President Xi Jinping has proposed. Egypt stands ready to pursue closer people-to-people exchanges with China, and promote mutual learning between civilizations, to make the world a more harmonious and inclusive place.

Cai Qi and Wang Yi, among others, were present at the visit.

– on behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China.

Media files

.

Posted on

Sudan: Air attack destroys food aid for families in South Kordofan

Source: APO – Report:

The UN agency strongly condemned the attack which occurred on 30 August outside the city of Dilling.

The trucks carried 50 metric tonnes of WFP food including cereals, yellow split peas, vegetable oil and salt—enough to provide lifesaving assistance to 5,800 people for one month.

They were heading to Kadugli, where WFP is supporting nearly 58,000 people facing emergency levels of food insecurity or worse, and were clearly marked with its banners and flags.

End ‘unacceptable’ attacks

WFP said the attack was the latest example of the complex operating environment facing it and other humanitarian agencies in Sudan.

The UN has repeatedly called for an end to the war between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and former allies the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) which erupted in April 2023.

As a result of the conflict, some 30 million people required humanitarian assistance last year.

Since January, WFP has recorded eight aerial attacks that have damaged its premises and disrupted operations.

“Attacks on aid workers and humanitarian operations are unacceptable and must stop,” WFP said, urging all sides to uphold international humanitarian law by protecting civilians, aid workers and humanitarian assets.

– on behalf of United Nations (UN).

Media files

.