cross-posted from: https://sh.itjust.works/post/63931317

South Africa has pledged an initial $5 million contribution to support a $319 million continental preparedness and response plan, as Africa mobilises to combat its second-largest Ebola outbreak in history.

This, according to President Cyril Ramaphosa, who addressed a High-Level Meeting of African Ministers of Health on the Ebola outbreak that has swept through the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda.

South Africa had pledged an initial $2.5 million to the cause.

The President addressed the gathering in his capacity as African Union Champion on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response.

“The Kampala meeting aligned behind a continental preparedness and response plan of approximately $319 million for the period June to November 2026. This plan will support outbreak control in affected countries while strengthening preparedness in at least ten high-risk Member States.

“Importantly, African countries themselves have already committed initial domestic contributions representing approximately 10% of the required financing. This demonstrates ownership and responsibility. Africa is no longer waiting passively for others to act.

“In this spirit of African solidarity and African solutions to African challenges, the Government and people of South Africa are pleased to announce an initial contribution of U$5 million to Africa CDC [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention], in support of the ongoing continental Ebola response,” President Ramaphosa said on Monday.

The outbreak – which was declared a public health emergency of international concern by the World Health Organisation – has claimed at least 200 lives, a situation President Ramaphosa descried as “deeply concerning”.

The outbreak is also the largest one since the one in West Africa more than a decade ago and the President raised concern over the trajectory of the disease, while underscoring the urgent need for regional solidarity.

“Although, at the onset of this outbreak, there are no therapeutics and vaccines for the Bundibugyo strain, we have reason to be hopeful. Working together with Africa CDC and the World Health Organisation through the interim medical countermeasures network, organisations such as GAVI [Vaccine Alliance], CEPI [Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations] and UNITAID are working at speed on promising vaccine and therapeutic candidates towards clinical trials.

“We strongly support these efforts, as Africa cannot continue to face deadly epidemics without equitable access to diagnostics, vaccines and treatments.

“We call on all relevant partners and manufacturers to accelerate research and development, strengthen genomic surveillance, expand laboratory systems, and fast-track the equitable delivery of safe and effective vaccines and therapeutics,” the President urged.

The international community is also urged to stand with the continent of Africa in the “spirit of partnership, solidarity and respect”.

“The world is safer when Africa is safer. Delayed support today will result in much higher human, social and economic costs tomorrow,’” he warned.

The President emphasised the outbreak currently confronting Uganda and the DRC is a reminder that preparedness cannot begin when a crisis is already expanding.

“We must continue investing in resilient health systems, strong national public health institutes, emergency operations centres, local manufacturing of medical countermeasures, community health workers, genomic surveillance and sustainable domestic financing.

“Africa has the institutions, expertise and leadership to respond effectively. What is required now is speed, unity, solidarity and trust in our collective capacity.

“The people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda and all countries at risk must know that they are not alone. Africa stands with them,” President Ramaphosa concluded. – SAnews.gov.za

South Africa has pledged an initial $5 million contribution to support a $319 million continental preparedness and response plan, as Africa mobilises to combat its second-largest Ebola outbreak in history.

This, according to President Cyril Ramaphosa, who addressed a High-Level Meeting of African Ministers of Health on the Ebola outbreak that has swept through the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda.

South Africa had pledged an initial $2.5 million to the cause.

The President addressed the gathering in his capacity as African Union Champion on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response.

“The Kampala meeting aligned behind a continental preparedness and response plan of approximately $319 million for the period June to November 2026. This plan will support outbreak control in affected countries while strengthening preparedness in at least ten high-risk Member States.

“Importantly, African countries themselves have already committed initial domestic contributions representing approximately 10% of the required financing. This demonstrates ownership and responsibility. Africa is no longer waiting passively for others to act.

“In this spirit of African solidarity and African solutions to African challenges, the Government and people of South Africa are pleased to announce an initial contribution of U$5 million to Africa CDC [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention], in support of the ongoing continental Ebola response,” President Ramaphosa said on Monday.

The outbreak – which was declared a public health emergency of international concern by the World Health Organisation – has claimed at least 200 lives, a situation President Ramaphosa descried as “deeply concerning”.

The outbreak is also the largest one since the one in West Africa more than a decade ago and the President raised concern over the trajectory of the disease, while underscoring the urgent need for regional solidarity.

“Although, at the onset of this outbreak, there are no therapeutics and vaccines for the Bundibugyo strain, we have reason to be hopeful. Working together with Africa CDC and the World Health Organisation through the interim medical countermeasures network, organisations such as GAVI [Vaccine Alliance], CEPI [Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations] and UNITAID are working at speed on promising vaccine and therapeutic candidates towards clinical trials.

“We strongly support these efforts, as Africa cannot continue to face deadly epidemics without equitable access to diagnostics, vaccines and treatments.

“We call on all relevant partners and manufacturers to accelerate research and development, strengthen genomic surveillance, expand laboratory systems, and fast-track the equitable delivery of safe and effective vaccines and therapeutics,” the President urged.

The international community is also urged to stand with the continent of Africa in the “spirit of partnership, solidarity and respect”.

“The world is safer when Africa is safer. Delayed support today will result in much higher human, social and economic costs tomorrow,’” he warned.

The President emphasised the outbreak currently confronting Uganda and the DRC is a reminder that preparedness cannot begin when a crisis is already expanding.

“We must continue investing in resilient health systems, strong national public health institutes, emergency operations centres, local manufacturing of medical countermeasures, community health workers, genomic surveillance and sustainable domestic financing.

“Africa has the institutions, expertise and leadership to respond effectively. What is required now is speed, unity, solidarity and trust in our collective capacity.

“The people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda and all countries at risk must know that they are not alone. Africa stands with them,” President Ramaphosa concluded. – SAnews.gov.za

President Cyril Ramaphosa has strongly condemned acts of vigilantism following recent violent demonstrations against undocumented immigrants in South Africa and reiterated calls for continental dialogue on the drivers of migration.

The President addressed the complexities of regional migration at the South Africa-Botswana Bi-National Commission held in Gaborone on Thursday.

He emphasised that since 1994, South Africa has “sought to welcome and integrate immigrants from other African countries and from beyond our continent”.

“At the same time, we have experienced a high influx of undocumented immigrants. This phenomenon has intersected with economic hardship and unemployment experienced by many of our people, contributing to tensions between some local communities and foreign nationals.

“Recent events in South Africa have once more brought to the fore the faultlines that all of us on the African continent must address.

“While appreciating the hardship in some of our communities, we have strongly condemned those of our citizens who took the law into their own hands. We have accordingly directed law enforcement agencies to protect every person in our country and uphold the rule of law,” President Ramaphosa said.

He welcomed calls for regional and continental talks on the challenges driving migration and the “responsibilities of countries of origin and transit countries”.

Further afield, the President raised alarm about the “volatile situation in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo” and the civil war unfolding in Sudan.

“The prospects for enhanced development on our continent depends on the existence of a peaceful, stable and secure environment.

“In this regard, the volatile situation in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo is of concern. We must safeguard the territorial integrity of this sisterly country and support all parties in finding a negotiated solution.

“South Africa remains concerned about the civil war in Sudan, which has led to massive loss of lives, destruction of infrastructure, devastation of the economy and the creation of a major humanitarian crisis,” he said.

The political impasse and instability in neighbouring South Sudan is also of concern with the “operationalisation of the African Standby Force…becoming increasingly more urgent”.

“Conflicts in many parts of the world continue to adversely impact on global peace and security.

“There is a clear challenge to multilateralism and international law.

“It is therefore important to work tirelessly to reform the global institutions of governance, so that these reflect the diversity of the membership of the United Nations,” President Ramaphosa said. – SAnews.gov.za

Minister in The Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni has outlined the government’s plans to combat misinformation, disinformation and malinformation, including proposals for a public fact-checking platform, restrictions on fake news broadcasts, and mandatory disclosure of AI-generated content on digital platforms.

Tabling the Government Communication and Information System’s (GCIS) Budget Vote in Parliament on Wednesday, the Minister warned that digital media and artificial intelligence (AI) are increasingly being used as tools to spread false information.

“South Africa’s situation is exacerbated by the fact that South Africans are rated as the topmost people propagandised people in the world in the Ipsos Perils of Perception Index 2026,” the Minister said.

According to several Ipsos surveys, South Africans rank among the most misinformed populations globally regarding the state of their country.

Ntshavheni said the government’s response to misinformation and disinformation must be “deliberate and systematic”.

“Having observed how other countries are addressing this phenomenon, at a Policy level, the National AI Policy must compel digital media platforms to disclose the AI-generated content carried on their platforms (AI content branding) and prohibit the broadcasting of Fake and Misleading News about South Africa,” she said.

She added that while the National AI Policy is being drafted and the Cybersecurity Strategy finalised, GCIS will engage digital platform owners on the proposed measures.

“Furthermore, the GCIS is provisioning for the government's fact-check capability to proactively debunk deepfakes and tactical misinformation.

“This measure seeks to progress the current stamping of fake news, but collating the stamped fake news images, videos and stories to enable individuals to personally check through the creation of a dedicated website supported by a digital platform,” Ntshavheni said.

GCIS will provide the function to correct facts against fake news.

“The goal is to position GCIS as the anchor of the truth. Individuals will also be able to alert GCIS on suspected fake news which they would have come across,” the Minister said.

In addition, GCIS is developing a “Quick Guide” to assist government communicators in countering misinformation, disinformation and malinformation more effectively.

Seminal year

Ntshavheni said 2026 marks a significant year in South Africa’s democratic journey, with the country set to commemorate several major historical milestones through the Milestones of Freedom Campaign.

These include the 30th anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution; the 50th anniversary of the 1976 youth uprisings; the 70th anniversary of the anti-pass campaign; and the 60th anniversary of the forced removals from District Six.

“The year 2026 is a seminal year. This year, South Africa will mark 30 years since the adoption of the democratic Constitution on the 8th of May 1996 by the first democratic and representative Parliament.

“The Constitution remains a living expression of our nation’s collective commitment to constitutional democracy, human rights, freedoms, and the rule of law,” the Minister said.

She stressed that the rights enshrined in the Bill of Rights are accompanied by responsibilities

“We must play our part,” the Minister said.

The country will also commemorate the 50th anniversary or the Golden Jubilee of the 1976 Soweto youth uprisings that spread across the country and continued into 1977.

Ntshavheni said the opposition to Bantu education and the introduction of Afrikaans as a “forced medium of instruction” galvanised the masses of young people to render the country ungovernable and Apartheid unworkable in the fight for freedom and democracy.

In August 2026, the country will also commemorate the 70th Anniversary of the 9th August 1956, 20.000 women’s March to the Union Buildings protesting the extension of “Pass Laws” to women.

“In light of these milestones, the GCIS is coordinating not only commemorations of these milestones in South Africa’s history, mobilising South Africans around the Milestones of Freedom Campaign under the theme: Honouring the Past. Delivering the Future as a whole-of-society approach.

“This Campaign involves packaged-service weeks that mobilise public service interventions to and with communities in support of the District Development Model. The Campaign focuses on citizens as active participants in their own environments rather than passive recipients of services,” the Minister said. -SAnews.gov.za

Climate change is making rainfall in Britain heavier and more erratic, meaning places that used to be dry are flooding regularly. So communities are reintroducing a creature that was hunted to extinction 400 hundred years ago. Beavers are working as little climate warriors, building their dams and reducing flooding. We meet some.

In the village of Abbots Bromley in Staffordshire, I join the oldest village tradition in Britain: the Horn Dance.

cross-posted from: https://sh.itjust.works/post/62228212

Image credit: https://youngurbanists.co.za/

While trying to slog through the backlog of my news feed I came across a up-beat story about the Young-Urbanists that I wanted to share.

Young Urbanists is a platform for open dialogue, engagement and action aimed at challenging the apartheid legacies we face in our cities. It brings together a growing network of practitioners, activists, government officials, civil society leaders and academics working toward more inclusive, accessible and sustainable South African cities.

Their current project is the safe passage precinct in Cape Town but they also have chapters across the country.

cross-posted from: https://sh.itjust.works/post/62228212

Image credit: https://youngurbanists.co.za/

While trying to slog through the backlog of my news feed I came across a up-beat story about the Young-Urbanists that I wanted to share.

Young Urbanists is a platform for open dialogue, engagement and action aimed at challenging the apartheid legacies we face in our cities. It brings together a growing network of practitioners, activists, government officials, civil society leaders and academics working toward more inclusive, accessible and sustainable South African cities.

Their current project is the safe passage precinct in Cape Town but they also have chapters across the country.

Image credit: https://youngurbanists.co.za/

While trying to slog through the backlog of my news feed I came across a up-beat story about the Young-Urbanists that I wanted to share.

Young Urbanists is a platform for open dialogue, engagement and action aimed at challenging the apartheid legacies we face in our cities. It brings together a growing network of practitioners, activists, government officials, civil society leaders and academics working toward more inclusive, accessible and sustainable South African cities.

Their current project is the safe passage precinct in Cape Town but they also have chapters across the country.