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Use the FOUR PAWS Animal Welfare Advocacy Guide to take small steps of Kindness this World Animal Day Cape Town, 29 September 2025 — On 4 October, South Africans will join the global community in celebrating World Animal Day, a time to pause and reflect on the animals who share our lives, our land and …
DA seeks probe into SAHUC finances, following allegations of self enrichment. DA has also written to DIRCO and the CRL to ensure the SAHUC can no longer exploit pilgrims. These actions are necessary to protect the rights of South African Muslim pilgrims and promote transparency and pilgrimage process. The Saudi Embassy’s decision to transition South …
South Africa has been warned that its attempt to negotiate a deal to be part of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa) could be too late as the government has failed to do enough to convince US President Donald Trump’s administration that it should be included. This is despite Trade, Industry and Competition Minister …
Digital technologies have transformed the global economy, with India, China and the African continent emerging as frontrunners in innovation in the digital payments space. Much of this success is attributed to their cash-heavy economies that have limited banking penetration and rapid digital adoption — a unique blend that has created an environment for such fintech innovations to succeed.
During an official side event of South Africa's Think 20 (https://apo-opa.co/42RMmFi) hosted by the Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI), experts highlighted that there are 2.1 billion registered mobile money accounts worldwide (https://apo-opa.co/42h0pnJ) – over half are held by people in Sub-Saharan Africa. However, despite rapid adoption, disparities exist. Affordability, financial literacy, access to digital tools, gender gaps, transparency, and trust and security issues create a digital divide and inhibit true financial inclusion in these regions.
“The geopolitics of digital payments is no longer a niche or technical issue; it now sits clearly at the heart of debates around sovereignty, power, and inclusion,” said Yash Kalash, senior fellow at CIGI. “It is crucial to promote cooperation at a time of growing geopolitical rivalry and expand financial access to include those who have been historically underbanked and underserved.”
Recommendations from panelists, including diplomats, industry leaders, academics and civil society stakeholders from around the world, to strengthen the digital payments ecosystem include mandatory coupling of innovation and stability to ensure responsible testing, cooperative regulation to improve cross-border payments, and increased alignment with G20 goals and UN Sustainable Development Goals to ensure inclusion is built into the design of any digital finance system.
“We need to support the underserved populations in using mobile money services in many ways, including offering relevant financial literacy education,” remarked Nancy Kiarie, senior consultant of Inclusive Finance, Livelihoods and Agriculture at BFA Global. “Enhanced literacy will help to protect digital payment users from fraud and build trust in platforms that help to better manage finances.”
Other key themes of the two-day conference included geopolitics of alternative payment systems, tokenization and cross-border payments, and digital governance and global cooperation.
For more information and to access the selected policy briefs that informed and influenced the conference discussions, please visit: https://apo-opa.co/42RMmFi
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI).
Media contact:
Communications Team
Centre for International Governance Innovation
519-885-2444
communications@cigionline.org
About CIGI:
The Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI) is an independent, non-partisan think tank whose peer-reviewed research, foresight and trusted analysis influence policy makers to innovate. With the engagement of a global network of experts and contributors, CIGI tackles the governance challenges and opportunities of data and transformative technologies, including AI, and their impact on the economy, security, democracy and, ultimately, societies. For more information, please visit www.CIGIOnline.org.
Rather than spend hours at a clinic, patients measured their own blood pressure
A 35-year-old Durban nanny has been arrested in Empangeni in northern KwaZulu-Natal for allegedly stealing a nine-month-old baby. The woman is expected to appear in the Durban magistrate’s court on Monday. Investigations into the matter revealed that the suspect had allegedly informed her boyfriend that the child was theirs and that the boyfriend had been …
I have long stated that 2025 will likely be a period of uneven recovery in the South African agriculture. From the high-frequency data, we are starting to see mixed fortunes. There is a robust recovery in field crops, vegetables and fruits, thanks to good rains, but the livestock industry continues to struggle with animal diseases. …
At 14h23, Sunday, 28 September, NSRI Wilderness duty crew were activated following reports from NSRI lifeguards at Victoria Bay, George, of a drowning in progress. NSRI Wilderness rescue swimmers, WC Government Health EMS, the SA Police Services, George Fire and Rescue Services and ER24 ambulance services responded to Victoria Bay to join the NSRI lifeguards …
England secured an impressive victory over holders Australia in their final ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 warm-up match. South Africa were comfortable in their chase of Pakistan’s 229, winning by the same margin as England, four wickets. Glenn and Capsey deliver England win Sarah Glenn’s five-for set up Alice Capsey’s 88 not out as …
This comes over a fortnight after the official opening of the Grand Renaissance Dam, Africa’s largest hydropower supply, designed to double the East African nation’s electricity output. The state visit coincided with the inaugural World Atomic Week, a forum focused on nuclear energy and green technologies. During the event, where both Ahmed and Russian President …
South Africa is at a critical juncture. With the Electricity Regulation Amendment Act (ERAA) now enshrining open access and competition into law, the promise of a reformed, liberalised electricity sector is finally within reach. But Eskom’s conduct – and the silence of the Competition Commission – threaten to unravel these reforms before they even begin. …
Two senior investigators from the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC) are set to feature prominently in Parliament’s probe into the explosive allegations made by KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi in July. Sunnel Bellochun and Dylan Perumal, both of whom have been required to defend the integrity of their practices as IDAC investigators, emanating …
The Department of Transport has instructed airlines in South Africa to accept expired driving licences as valid forms of identification, subject to certain conditions. In a Government Gazette notice on Friday, 26 September 2025, the department said expired driver’s licence cards remain valid for up to three months if motorists can prove they’ve applied for …
More than 3 000 demonstrators filled the streets of Cape Town on Saturday, urging the South African government to sever all trade and diplomatic relations with Israel, including the closure of its embassy, amid the ongoing war in Gaza. The large-scale march united pro-Palestinian organisations, faith-based groups from both Muslim and Christian communities, and political …
The Silver Ferns have emerged from the three-test Taimi Janison Trophy with their reputation intact despite an increasingly stern test from South Africa’s visiting Spar Proteas, culminating in the final Test at the ILT Stadium Southland in Invercargill, New Zealand, on Sunday, 28 September 2025. The Proteas put up a great fight against Silver Ferns …
By Staff WriterPublished: 28 September 2025 This forecast is for: Mon 29 September 2025The maps cover: Mon 29 Sep – Wed 01 Oct From Tuesday it should be fine in places, otherwise partly cloudy and cool to warm with isolated showers and thundershowers in the east but light rain and showers in south. ALSO READ: …
While most people are aware that infants and toddlers need to be strapped into a baby seat in a car, many do not realise that children under the age of 12 should also be using a booster seat. This week is Child Passenger Safety Week, and several stakeholders have voiced their concerns over the number …
Lara van Niekerk completed an impressive breaststroke clean sweep by adding the 200m gold to her collection on the final day of the Bombela Concession Company SA National (25m) Championships in Pietermaritzburg on Sunday. The 22-year-old, who is well on the way to reclaiming the form that took her to two Commonwealth Games titles and …
There were two more continental records broken by South African swimmers on the final day of the World Para Swimming Championships in Singapore on Saturday. Christian Sadie, who already has a silver and two bronze medals from these championships, set a new African record in the S7 100m freestyle, but just missed out on another …
On 27 September 2025, Jessica Thompson added two more gold medals to her haul as Lara van Niekerk showed glimpses of her old self on day three of the Bombela Concession Company SA National (25m) Championships in Pietermaritzburg. Thompson has already collected three national titles at these championships and added two more on Saturday, in …
On 26 September 2025, Jessica Thompson stole the show on the second day of action at the Bombela Concession Company SA National (25m) Championships in Pietermaritzburg, breaking a national record and equalling the African mark held by Zimbabwe’s new International Olympic Committee president Kirsty Coventry. The 18-year-old was disappointed to miss out on the SA …
Dear Editor The Saudi Embassy’s decision to transition South Africa to the Nusuk Hajj Direct Platform has resulted in allegations of self enrichment by the South African Hajj and Umrah Council (SAHUC), which previously acted as an intermediary for pilgrims. The DA has written to the Department of Social Development to request a probe into …
Dear Editor In February this year, Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Parks Tau, under pressure from the Democratic Alliance, appointed TSU International to investigate allegations of maladministration at the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) that had surfaced from last August. TSU’s report was due at the end of June. In response to a …
The Vodacom United Rugby Championship kicked off with two wins from four for the South African teams, with the DHL Stormers and Vodacom Bulls victorious on home soil while the Hollywoodbets Sharks and Lions lost on the road. The DHL Stormers defeated defending champions Leinster by 35-0 in Cape Town on Friday evening, before the …