Govt to advance SA’s digital wallet programme
Operation Vulindlela’s digital payments programme advances. (Image source: iStock) Government has prioritised accelerating public infrastructure reforms, with plans to test secure digital payment authorisation across participating systems by March 2027. This is based on the Operation Vulindlela quarterly report released by National Treasury on Friday. Operation Vulindlela is a joint initiative of the Presidency and…
Africa: UK Open to Formal Apology for Britain’s Slave Trade Role, Rejects Reparations
British Prime Minister, Andy Burnham has said he is open to calls for a formal apology on behalf of the country for its role in the transatlantic slave trade. In an OP-ED published at the weekend in The Guardian, Burnham described the slave trade as a “brutal and barbaric violation” against enslaved people. “They were…
Russian bombing kills 24 people at humanitarian aid centre in Ukraine, Kyiv says
The Russian military has not publicly commented. Zelensky initially put the death toll at 18, but Ukraine’s state emergencies service DSNS later said 24 people, including two rescuers and four police officers, were confirmed to have been killed. “The Russians could not have been unaware that the local residents who remained in Komyshuvakha received humanitarian…
Africa: China Imports Millions of Donkey Hides From Africa Every Year – New Book Traces the Drivers and Impact
The demand for donkey hides has grown exponentially over the past 15 years, driven mainly by demand from China. Lauren Johnston is a specialist on China trade with Africa. She has spent several years looking into the donkey trade, and has just published a book, China, Africa and the Market for Donkeys. She answers questions…
The door to new network operators in South Africa is about to open
Icasa has concluded, provisionally, that South Africa’s system for letting new telecoms network operators into the market isn’t working, and that would-be operators should be allowed to apply to it directly for licences. In a discussion document published in the Government Gazette on Friday, the regulator said the current regime – under which a newcomer…
Africa: COP17 – Nations Chart ‘Yerevan Pathway’ to Speed Up Action for Nature
At the halfway mark to 2030, countries meeting in Armenia have agreed a roadmap to accelerate action for nature, after a global review found the world off track to meet its biodiversity targets. Agreement was formalised through the Yerevan Pathway as the UN Biodiversity Conference (COP17) closed in the Armenian capital on Saturday. It sets…
Englishman Karl Bushby returns home after 28 years walking 30,000 miles around the world
Hull, England – For 28 years and one day, Karl Bushby took the long way home on an epic odyssey of human endurance back to northern England. His adventure was made even more difficult – physically and mentally – with his two self-imposed guiding rules: he could not advance his journey with the help of…
Africa: Aupindi Urges Africa to Maximise Resource Wealth
Namibian parliamentarian Tobie Aupindi has urged African countries to move beyond exporting raw materials and invest in technological development, industrialisation, and skills transfer to ensure greater economic benefits from their natural resources. Aupindi made the remarks while participating in a high-level panel discussion on nuclear technology in Africa at the Russia-Africa summit in Moscow, Russia,…
Top ICT tenders: Deeds registry to get infrastructure upgrade
The national Department of Land Reform and Rural Development seeks a new enterprise engineered infrastructure for SA’s deeds registration environment. (Image source: iStock) Municipal ICT tenders take a sharp downturn this week, as attention turns to the Local Government Elections taking place on Wednesday. Despite the lower activity on National Treasury’s eTenders Portal, the industry…
Africa: Zenith Bank Reinforces Commitment to Africa’s Creative Economy Through Continued Sponsorship of Art X Lagos 2026
Building on its support for ART X Lagos’ landmark tenth anniversary, the Bank continues its partnership with the fair, championing African artistic excellence, cultural heritage and emerging creative talent. Zenith Bank Plc has reaffirmed its commitment to advancing Nigeria’s creative and cultural landscape through its continued sponsorship of ART X Lagos 2026, taking place from…
