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The first day of racing at the Team Racing World Championship in Stockholm delivered close racing, challenging tactics and a remarkable logistical operation on the water. With starts every four to five minutes and up to three races running simultaneously, there was little room for error. The first day of racing on Riddarfjärden got off …
The Springbok Women will be determined to continue with their improved performance cycle when they face Fiji for a second time in a week and to be able to be successful, they will need to execute a mindset of reset and go again. That is the view of Bok Women captain Babalwa Latsha as they …
Statement by Haseena Ismail MP – DA Spokesperson on Tourism: The Democratic Alliance (DA) calls on the new South African Tourism Board to urgently bring the long-running matter involving suspended CEO Ms Nombulelo Guliwe to a conclusion. As soon as the new Board Chairperson is confirmed, I will write to them to advise them on …
ActionSA condemns the eThekwini Municipality’s wasteful decision to appeal the landmark Pietermaritzburg High Court judgment ordering it to fulfil its constitutional obligation to provide residents with clean and safe water.
The post ActionSA Condemns eThekwini’s Wasteful Appeal Against Sewage Crisis Judgment appeared first on ActionSA.
Boksburg-born independent artist Kwanda (KayDa1st) Peterson is continuing to pursue his passion for music with the release of original songs that reflect real life, hope, and personal experiences. As an independent musician, KayDa1st has remained committed to creating meaningful music while balancing the responsibilities of everyday life and fatherhood. His goal is to inspire listeners …
The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) is once again making headlines for all the wrong reasons. The issues, which were raised this week in the Portfolio Committee on Higher Education, include allegations of unauthorised remuneration of consultants, problems with the payment of accommodation allowances and general poor administration. It casts a harsh light on […]
The post NSFAS crisis casts Pandor’s remarks in a harsh light appeared first on Freedom Front Plus.
Africa stands at a critical energy crossroads. Despite being richly endowed with oil, gas, solar, hydro, and wind resources, the continent is facing a deepening energy crisis. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), over 600 million Africans still lack access to electricity, and more than 900 million rely on biomass such as firewood and charcoal for cooking—leading to deforestation, poor health outcomes, and economic stagnation.
As the world races toward energy transition and net-zero emissions, Africa risks being left behind—not due to a lack of resources, but due to underinvestment, policy misalignment, and fragmented strategies. The continent loses an estimated $130 billion in GDP annually due to inadequate energy access and unreliable infrastructure. Furthermore, less than 3% of global energy investments are currently directed to Africa, despite its immense potential and rising demand.
With the continent's population projected to double to 2.5 billion by 2050, and urbanization accelerating at an unprecedented rate, the pressure on energy systems will only intensify. Without bold action, Africa's energy poverty could worsen—jeopardizing industrialization, food security, healthcare, and climate resilience.
ABOUT IAEOGS 2026
The International African Energy, Oil and Gas Summit (IAEOGS), is organized by, International Energy Summits ltd, with African Energy World, African Energy Vault Ltd, African Peace Magazine UK African Energy Academy ltd as strategic partners.
This edition is convened in partnership, the Network of Excellence on Land Governance in Africa (NELGA), the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST; ILLH), and CRG Research & Consulting Ltd (CRG) based in Namibia and South Africa as co-host.
IAEOGS 2026
The International African Energy, Oil & Gas Summit (IAEOG) stands as Africa's premier platform for innovation, investment, and dialogue in the energy sector. Now in its fourth edition, the summit continues to gain momentum, drawing over 2,500 high-level delegates from more than 100 countries, including CEOs, ministers, investors, regulators, entrepreneurs, and global industry leaders—united in unlocking Africa's full energy potential.
2026 THEME: “IGNITING AFRICA'S ENERGY AND LAND GOVERNANCE FUTURE”
This year's theme, “Igniting Africa's Energy and Land Governance Future,” reflects Africa's urgent need for inclusive, innovative, and sustainable energy solutions. With over 600 million Africans still lacking access to electricity and just 17% of the continent's vast renewable energy potential currently utilized, the summit aims to catalyze transformative action. Energy poverty costs the continent an estimated 4% of its GDP annually. IAEOG 2026 will tackle these challenges head-on by promoting policy harmonization, strategic investments, and collaborative partnerships, aligned with the goals of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and Agenda 2063.
The summit will feature eight thematic tracks, including:
IAEOG 2026 is poised to catalyze over $10 billion in clean energy investments.
WHY ATTEND IAEOG NAMIBIA 2026
IAEOG is more than just a summit—it is a catalyst for action, innovation, and opportunity. Participants can expect:
With over 740 senior-level delegates, including government ministers, CEOs, and regulatory leaders, and 700+ global investors, the event will host 500+ private investment meetings. The exhibition is expected to feature 2,000+ participants from 80+ countries, offering unmatched exposure and collaboration.
AWARDS, EXHIBITION & CHARITY GOLF TOURNAMENT
A key highlight will be the African Energy Excellence Awards, recognizing organizations and individuals making transformative contributions in the energy space. The Exhibition Hall will showcase 100+ innovations across oil, gas, renewables, and clean tech sectors.
The Charity Golf Tournament, hosted at the Windhoek Golf & Country Club's 18-hole Championship Course, will blend leisure and philanthropy—raising funds for youth empowerment and community development initiatives across Africa.
PARTICIPATION & PARTNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
IAEOG 2026 offers a range of engagement opportunities including:
All participants will receive:
Early Bird Offer: Register four delegates and receive one complimentary pass—ideal for organizations seeking knowledge, visibility, and strategic advantage.
SECURE YOUR SPOT TODAY
Join us in Windhoek, Namibia, this October to connect with global leaders, close high-value deals, and shape the energy policies that will power Africa's future.
Let's drive Africa's energy transformation—together.
#EnegrySecurity #EndEnergyPoverty #Unity #Summit #IAEOGS2025 #AfricaNow #GetInvolved #EndAfricanDebts #TechSolution #IntraAfricaTrade #AfCFTA
For inquiries regarding sponsorship, speaking engagements, media partnerships, or participation, kindly contact:
Issued by:
The IAEGOS 2026 Organizing Committee
13th, August, 2026
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Peace Magazine.
Media Contact:
Prudence Ramotso
Group Head Events & International Affairs
+2348033975746 | +447407399766, |+27651766722 | +2648123522
info@iaegos.com | info@iaegos.com
Website: https://AfricanPeace.org/
https://AfricanOilAndGasSummit.com/
https://IAEOGS.com/
After winning last month’s Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K on her South African debut, Doreen Cherop (Kenya) will be looking to claim another victory at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY TSHWANE 10K on Sunday 23 August. “The 10km course was amazing and the race was very well organised. I wasn’t expecting to win. I …
Affinity Health, a leading provider of high-quality health cover, is raising awareness about the warning signs of potentially dangerous insect bites and stings. Insect bites are a common part of everyday life, especially during warmer months, but they should not always be dismissed as harmless. With World Mosquito Day (20 August) highlighting the dangers of mosquito-borne diseases …
The Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) calls on Anton Bredell, Western Cape Minister of Local Government, to urgently approach the High Court with an application to review and set aside the Knysna municipal Council’s unlawful decision to extend Mr Boy Manqoba Ngubo’s appointment as acting Municipal Manager. Mr Ngubo was initially appointed as acting Municipal […]
The post Review decision regarding Knysna’s acting Municipal Manager appeared first on Freedom Front Plus.
CEM Africa 2026 will return to the Century City Conference Centre in Cape Town from 18–20 August, bringing together senior customer experience, marketing, digital, customer service, technology and transformation leaders for the 14th edition of Africa's leading customer experience summit.
With organisations across the continent under growing pressure to improve customer outcomes while navigating AI adoption, automation, rising expectations, fragmented journeys and commercial scrutiny, the 2026 programme has been built around a central question: how can businesses use technology to improve customer experience at scale without losing trust, relevance or the human connection?
Across three days, CEM Africa will combine strategic conference discussions, hands-on workshops, technology demonstrations, an exhibition, networking activations and peer-to-peer exchange, giving delegates the opportunity to move from big-picture industry questions to practical frameworks they can apply inside their organisations.
A speaker line-up rooted in real CX leadership
The 2026 speaker faculty brings together leaders working directly across customer experience, marketing, digital transformation, customer service, commerce, technology and organisational change.
Among those joining CEM Africa 2026 are:
Bruce Whitfield, business journalist and best-selling author
Khensani Nobanda, Group Chief Marketing Officer, Nedbank
Francois Retief, Head of Customer Experience, FNB
Martin Urrutia, global toy industry leader
Marnitz Van Heerden, Head of Customer Experience, Discovery Limited
Grace Brown, Head of Customer Experience and Client Services, JSE
Khwaṱhelani Tshikovhi, Head: Santam Experience and Client Care, Santam Insurance
Shaun Edmeston, Director of Customer Experience, Absa Bank Mauritius
Job Thomas, Chief Customer Officer, WooCommerce
Richie Sobayeni, Group Head of Customer Experience Design, Equity Group Holdings
Julia Ahlfeldt, Customer Experience Strategist and Business Advisor
Rashid Toefy, Deputy Director-General, Department of Economic Development and Tourism
Katie Stabler, Founder and Director, CULTIVATE Customer Experience by Design
Charlie Stewart, CEO, Rogerwilco
Omowunmi Akingbohungbe, Executive Director, WIMBIZ
Wavi Mungala, Board Director, Institute of CX – Kenya
The wider faculty spans financial services, retail, technology, insurance, e-commerce, public sector, consulting and customer operations, reflecting the increasingly cross-functional nature of customer experience.
From AI experimentation to measurable outcomes
Artificial intelligence will be one of the defining conversations at CEM Africa 2026, but the programme moves beyond broad speculation about AI to focus on where organisations are seeing - or still struggling to achieve - real operational and commercial value.
Day One will examine how African organisations can move from AI pilots to production, including governance, data readiness, agent co-pilots, voice AI, speech analytics, conversational AI and AI-driven personalisation.
The agenda also tackles the questions surrounding responsible adoption. Sessions will examine AI governance and ethics, privacy, POPIA, customer consent and the challenge of automating at scale without damaging trust.
A dedicated discussion, “Will AI Make Your Brand More Trustworthy?”, will explore whether increased automation strengthens customer confidence or risks undermining it, before the day closes its content programme with the audience-led town hall “Will Humans Still Matter in a World of AI-Driven Customer Experience?”
Data, insight and the business case for CX
For leaders under pressure to demonstrate the commercial return on customer experience investment, CEM Africa will put measurement firmly on the agenda.
Workshops will address customer data quality, real-time insight, first-party data strategy, predictive analytics and Voice of Customer, alongside practical sessions on building an end-to-end CX scorecard, customer lifetime value and mapping journey costs.
Delegates will also be able to explore how to prove CX ROI to executive teams, connecting customer experience activity to revenue uplift, churn reduction, operational efficiency and cost-to-serve.
The emphasis throughout is on turning customer insight into decisions and measurable business outcomes rather than collecting more data without action.
Designing customer journeys that work in African markets
The programme will also address the practical realities of customer engagement across diverse African markets.
Topics include omnichannel journey design, mobile-first experiences, WhatsApp as a service channel, self-service, proactive CX and reducing friction across high-volume journeys such as onboarding, billing, claims and fulfilment.
Sessions will examine how organisations can create accessible experiences for customers with different levels of digital literacy, connectivity and channel preference, while maintaining consistency between physical, digital and human-assisted interactions.
African market realities also feature in discussions on sentiment analysis, conversational AI, language, code-switching and customer behaviour.
The people behind customer experience
Technology is only one side of the CX equation.
CEM Africa 2026 will look closely at employee experience, organisational culture and the changing capabilities required of customer-facing teams.
Sessions will cover customer-centric culture, employee resilience, burnout, hybrid CX teams, human-centred service, AI upskilling, cross-functional collaboration and change management.
The programme will also explore the relationship between employee experience and customer outcomes, recognising that organisations cannot sustainably improve CX without equipping and engaging the people responsible for delivering it.
What the three days will look like
Tuesday, 18 August – Day Zero
CEM Africa begins with an afternoon dedicated to registration, community engagement and relationship-building ahead of the main conference programme.
Delegates can expect networking activities and activations, including tastings, community conversations, the CEM Networking Padel Tournament and sponsored welcome drinks.
The format is designed to give speakers, delegates, partners and industry leaders an opportunity to begin making connections before the formal summit gets underway.
Wednesday, 19 August – Day One
Day One opens with a strong focus on trust, relevance and measurable customer experience outcomes.
The main stage begins with Deshnie Govender's opening keynote, “The Culture-Led Customer: The Emerging Markets Playbook for Building Trust, Relevance and Loyalty”, followed by sessions examining the future of AI-powered customer experience, journey-led CX orchestration and business journalist and best-selling author Bruce Whitfield's keynote, “The Trust Advantage”, exploring how trust can reduce friction and unlock better business results.
From late morning, the programme moves into a series of parallel workshops and panels built around some of the most pressing issues facing CX leaders today.
The first sessions explore building trust in the AI era, with discussions on whether AI investments are delivering measurable business outcomes, the changing role of the CX leader, enterprise AI agents, frictionless customer journeys and lessons from CEM Africa Awards-winning teams.
The afternoon broadens the conversation into customer intelligence, Voice of Customer, Agentic AI, digital trust and human reassurance, alongside a dedicated discussion on how African contact centres and BPO operators are positioning themselves to compete globally.
Later sessions place the human experience firmly back at the centre of CX. Leaders will explore employee wellbeing, emotionally intelligent journey design, empathy in an AI-enabled environment, customer-centric culture and how to lead CX teams through continuous change.
The final workshop block tackles the commercial realities of CX, including moving from NPS to P&L, improving checkout conversion, connecting customer, employee and digital experience, driving loyalty through hyper-personalised research and the realities of stepping into senior CX leadership.
Day One closes with Matchmaking and Happy Hour, followed by the CEM Engage Party, creating further opportunities for delegates, speakers, partners and solution providers to continue conversations and build meaningful industry relationships.
Thursday, 20 August – Day Two
Day Two turns the focus towards human impact, business value and the future direction of customer experience in Africa.
The main stage opens with Zahirah Variawa's motivational keynote, “The Moments People Remember: Why the Experiences We Create Matter More Than We Think”, followed by Rashid Toefy on designing better citizen experiences and building trust through public services.
A QuestionPro and Metropolitan fireside chat explores the use of AI within Voice of Customer programmes, while Katie Stabler and Debi Potgieter's “What the Fluff?” challenges the industry to examine whether CX initiatives have genuine substance when put under pressure.
The morning also features the CEM 2026 Advisory Board Panel, bringing together leaders from across Africa to examine the future of CX through the lenses of trust, technology, business value and human connection, before Martin Urrutia, Head of Global Retail Experience at The LEGO Group, takes to the stage for the keynote “Experience Is the Brand.”
The afternoon workshop programme moves from strategy into execution.
Sessions will explore AI-powered WhatsApp journeys, voice AI in the South African market, the point at which brand promises break down, self-improving human and AI service models and how CX leaders can prove ROI in language that resonates in the boardroom.
The final workshop block looks further ahead. Delegates can explore CX designed for measurable ROI, the Future African Customer 2030, organisational trust, scalable experience design, the risks of poor AI, emerging CX research and Human First experience design.
The programme then closes with WiN CX Africa: Women Shaping Excellence in Every Experience, bringing together female leaders to explore how cultures of safety, trust and inclusion shape stronger customer and employee experiences.
Across both days, the programme reflects the central theme of CEM Africa 2026: Trust, Technology and the Human Future of CX in Africa, with a clear emphasis on moving beyond theory towards customer experience strategies that create stronger relationships, better operational outcomes and measurable business value.
More than a conference programme
Alongside the conference and workshops, attendees will have access to the CEM Africa exhibition, Expo Spotlight Stages, technology demonstrations, networking functions and opportunities to engage directly with CX solution providers and peers facing similar transformation challenges.
For senior leaders, the value lies not simply in hearing what is changing, but in comparing approaches with peers, interrogating technology choices, finding practical solutions and building relationships across Africa's customer experience community.
CEM Africa's broader 2026 positioning - “Excellence in Every Experience: Shaping the Future of Customer Engagement Across Africa” - reflects an industry that is increasingly being asked to connect customer experience directly to business growth, loyalty, trust and resilience.
With the event now days away, CEM Africa 2026 offers organisations a timely opportunity to understand where customer experience is heading next — and what leaders need to do now to stay relevant.
CEM Africa 2026 takes place from 18–20 August 2026 at the Century City Conference Centre in Cape Town, South Africa.
For the latest programme, speaker line-up and delegate availability, visit https://apo-opa.co/4zgt0bJ.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of VUKA Group.
Additional links:
https://apo-opa.co/4bQHxAO
https://apo-opa.co/4wSEIrk
Media enquiries:
Steven Dennett
Marketing Manager VUKA Group / CEM Africa
Steven.dennett@WeAreVUKA.com
CEMAfricaSummit.com
About CEM Africa:
CEM Africa is Africa's leading customer experience summit and a platform for senior leaders, practitioners, innovators and solution providers shaping the future of customer engagement across the continent.
Created by VUKA Group, CEM Africa brings together practical insight, strategic collaboration, technology, peer learning and meaningful business connections to help organisations build stronger, more relevant and more commercially effective customer experiences.
Is Afrikaans a dialect? This is the question that DF Malherbe sought to answer in 1907 with his doctoral thesis at a German university; 32 years after the founding of the “Genootskap van Regte Afrikaners” (Society of True Afrikaners), which is commemorated today on Afrikaans “Taaldag” (Language Day). It was but one of many small […]
The post Baby steps toward greater significance for a beloved, powerful and beautiful language celebrated today on Afrikaans Language Day appeared first on Freedom Front Plus.
50 years later, Melisizwe asks: what will this generation of young women do with the opportunities the youth of 1976 fought for? WHAT: RISE HER 2026, hosted by Melisizwe Social Enterprise, brings a symbolic schoolgirl from 1976 face-to-face with a Girls in STEM learner from 2026 in a live production marking 50 years since the …
The SWD Eagirls, Leopards Women, and Griffons Women will have all to play for in the seventh and final league round of the Pick n Pay Women’s Super League 2 when they battle it out to secure a place in next weekend’s semi-finals. Defending champions, the Hollywood Foundation Pumas Women, have already booked a home …
And potentially made (or missed out) on another R1.2 Million in Turnover Here is a simple way of looking at the benefits of a Featured Press Release Subscription to MyPR. We have one subscriber that has been with us for 4 years and to date has posted 4 877 Featured Press Releases to our platform. …
Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Diaspora, Ambassador Barry Faure, held a bilateral meeting with his South African counterpart, Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, H.E. Ronald Lamola, on the margin of the 46th SADC Ordinary Summit in Durban.
The meeting provided an opportunity for the two Ministers to reaffirm the longstanding friendship between Seychelles and South Africa, and to discuss avenues for deepening cooperation between the two countries on a number of bilateral matters.
Minister Faure thanked South Africa for its leadership of SADC and for the hospitality extended to the Seychelles delegation throughout the Summit. Minister Lamola, in turn, expressed appreciation for Seychelles' consistent support to South African candidatures in multilateral organisations, describing the country as a reliable partner within the region and beyond.
Both Ministers underscored the importance of the bilateral relationship between Seychelles and South Africa, particularly in the economic sector, and welcomed the growing interest of South African investors in Seychelles. They also agreed on the importance of convening the 4th Session of the Seychelles-South Africa Joint Commission for Cooperation, set to take place in 2027.
On matters of diplomatic representation, Minister Lamola confirmed that South Africa's newly appointed High Commissioner to Seychelles will soon travel to Victoria to present credentials. Minister Faure similarly announced the appointment of Seychelles' High Commissioner to South Africa.
Paying tribute to outgoing High Commissioner H.E. Hlamalani Nelly Manzini, Minister Faure commended her active tenure, particularly her contribution to advancing the Maritime Corridor Strategy, and expressed hope that she would soon pay her farewell courtesy call.
The meeting closed with both Ministers reaffirming the strength of Seychelles-South Africa relations and their shared commitment to deepening cooperation across all areas of mutual interest.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Diaspora, Republic of Seychelles.
NEET rate for 15-34 year olds has risen from 38% to 45% since 2012
Eight months of total isolation lie ahead as the sailors push traditional yachts some 30,000 miles solo and non-stop around the world, navigating with sextants and paper charts and receiving no outside assistance. History suggests that around 20% may finish. Across the previous three McIntyre Golden Globe editions, 43 sailors started and only nine finished. …
Standard Bank reported a 10% increase in first-half headline earnings to $1.62 billion, supported by stronger fee and trading income […]
15 August 2026 – Sasol Banyana Banyana beat long-time rivals Nigeria 2-1 at the Moulay Rachid Stadium in Casablanca on Thursday to qualify for the FIFA Playoff tournament for next year’s Women’s World Cup in Brazil. Banyana Banyana and Nigeria were knocked out of the CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON 2026) in the
The post Banyana’s World Cup hopes alive after beating Nigeria in Morocco appeared first on South African Football Association.
The university had proposed that students pay up to R7,000 to start the year
After five successful days (3 to 7 August 2026), the 65th Scottburgh August Tournament has wrapped up with hundreds of bowlers travelling to the KZN South Coast for one of the region’s most anticipated winter sporting events. The tournament was supported by Renishaw Hills and hosted across Scottburgh Bowling Club, AMBC, Widenham Bowling Club, and …
As a second time around parent to two Special Needs boys – one with mild Autism and one with ADHD deluxe I had a very rude (and earth shattering) awakening to this genre of education. My first two children excelled at traditional schools and went on to honours, masters and jobs that set them up …