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Cape Town City’s Energy Directorate has rolled out its light-emitting diode (LED) streetlight upgrade project in Avonwood, Elsies River as part of the City’s broader city-wide initiative to replace older streetlights with modern, energy efficient infrastructure. More than 75 older streetlights were upgraded with power saving LED lamps in the area. The City’s Mayoral Committee …
The Disciplinary process related to Damian Willemse Red Card in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship Round 18 game against Cardiff Rugby on Friday, May 16 has resulted in a three game suspension. After an act of foul play by DHL Stormers player No 15 (Damian Willemse), referee Gianluca Gnecchi showed the Player a Red Card …
CHATTOGRAM: Tiaan van Vuuren, Tshepo Ntuli and Andile Simelane all claimed a wicket apiece to keep South Africa Emerging Men in...
CHATTOGRAM: Captain George van Heerden led a sound batting reply as South Africa Emerging Men reached 149 for three at the...
In a Facebook post the Royal Cape Yacht Club confirmed a tragic incident that occurred between the evening of 20 May and the early hours of 21 May 2025. An elderly couple, both dual citizens and long-standing members of the Club, were found deceased in the waters adjacent to the RCYC marina. At approximately 07h30 …
Shaping how vehicles are distributed and sold – that’s the responsibility of Maritza Kichenbrand – Dealer Network & Channel Development Manager at Jetour South Africa. Maritza, who has been in the automotive industry for over 20 years, demonstrated a natural aptitude for car sales quite by chance, when filling in as a receptionist for a …
The DHL Stormers and Vodacom Bulls will kick off the 2025/26 Vodacom United Rugby Championship season at home against Leinster and Ospreys, while the Hollywoodbets Sharks and Emirates Lions start their campaigns in Glasgow and Cardiff when the new season commences in the final weekend of September. The full Vodacom URC fixture list for the …
The Western Cape Government (WCG) cautiously welcomes the tabling of the Budget by Minister of Finance, Enoch Godongwana and in particular the limited additional funding allocated to provinces for education and health services. We acknowledge the difficult fiscal environment in which this budget has been drafted. However, provincial government budgets remain under intense pressure, and …
The full Vodacom URC fixture list for the 2025/26 season has been officially released — marking the earliest-ever publication of league fixtures in competition history. A minimum of 35 matches will take place on South African Soil – scroll down for fixtures. With the campaign set to kick off on September 26, this release arrives …
Dear Editor The Democratic Alliance cautiously welcomes the revenue and expenditure proposals in the Minister of Finance’s Budget Speech. We see this as a pathway to a National Budget which we should be able to support when it comes time to vote. Today, Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana presented a Budget proposal which is a manifestation …
The Thunder were led by Evans Ganapamo (21 points) and Tylor Ongwae (20 points), but were shooting 36 percent from the floor and could not hold to the lead late in the fourth. It was MBB's first win in the competition (1-2) as they look for a slot in the upcoming BAL Playoffs and Finals back home in Pretoria (June 6-14). After three games in Kigali, the Thunder (0-3) are still searching for a win.
In the second game, Al Ahli Tripoli (Libya) beat APR (Rwanda) 90-68, becoming the only undefeated team in the Nile Conference. Jean Jacques Boissy and Naseim Badrush combined for 52 points, 11 rebounds and six steals for Al Ahli, while Obadiah Noel and Chasson Randle scored 18 points each for APR, who were missing Aliou Diarra due to injury. After three games, Al Ahli (3-0) sits on top of the Nile Conference, with APR (2-1) losing their first game in the competition.
The BAL continues on Thursday when Al Ahli takes on Nairobi at 4 p.m. CAT and APR faces MBB at 7 p.m. CAT.
POSTGAME PRESS CONFERENCE:
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Basketball Africa League (BAL).
As the United States imposes higher tariffs with global ramifications, African Development Bank Group (www.AfDB.org) President Dr. Akinwumi Adesina has warned that these measures could trigger significant economic disruptions across Africa, affecting numerous nations and accelerating a strategic shift in global partnerships.
In an exclusive interview with CNN's Christiane Amanpour, Dr Adesina revealed that 47 of Africa's 54 countries will be impacted directly by the new U.S. trade policies, with potential declines in export revenues and foreign exchange reserves.
“When those currencies weaken, two things will happen: first, you will find that most of these countries are import-dependent. So, you're going to find that high inflation becomes a problem,” said Adesina. “And secondly, you find that the cost of actually servicing a lot of their debt, which is foreign currency debt, but in local currencies, is going to get worse.”
Almost all African countries have been hit by higher tariffs announced by the Trump administration, with at least 22 nations facing up to a whopping 50 percent for almost all their products. Among the hardest hit countries are Lesotho, Madagascar, Mauritius, Botswana, Angola, Algeria, and South Africa.
The impacts of these higher tariffs are further exacerbated by significant cuts to USAID programs, which have already begun affecting access to essential medical supplies and humanitarian services in many countries, raising serious concerns about the future trajectory of U.S.-Africa relations.
Africa's Strategic Response
Despite the challenges, Adesina emphasized that Africa cannot afford a trade confrontation with the United States, noting that the continent accounts for only 1.2 percent (approximately $34 billion) of America's global trade—with a trade surplus of just $7.2 billion.
Instead, he proposed a pragmatic three-point strategy for the continent: Engage the U.S. through flexible and constructive trade negotiations, diversify export markets to reduce dependency on any single partner, and accelerate the African Continental Free Trade Area implementation to unlock the potential $3.4 trillion market.
He stressed the need to expand Africa's domestic market and boost domestic savings to develop consumption as a bigger share of its GDP, leveraging its massive population growth. More importantly, the continent must take advantage of the increasing external interest in its natural resources, such as cobalt and lithium, to negotiate a better trade and investment deal.
Addressing speculation that Africa may shift more decisively toward China in response to the higher U.S. tariffs, Adesina dismissed any notion of binary alignment. “U.S is a key ally of Africa—and so is China,” he stated. “Africa is building bridges, not isolating itself.”
He stressed that Africa seeks balanced, transparent, and mutually beneficial partnerships with all major global players, including the U.S., China, the European Union, and the Gulf states. “I think at the end of the day, we want to make sure that whatever deals that are being done with Africa are transparent, fair, equitable, and led by Africa and in Africa's interests,” Adesina reiterated.
Beyond Aid: Driving Africa's Self-Reliance
Dr. Adesina, who concludes his second and final term as president of the Bank in September, firmly rejected the long-standing paradigm of foreign aid dependency. “The era of aid as we've known it is completely gone,” he declared, calling instead for bold investments in domestic resource mobilization, infrastructure, and value-added industrialization.
He said aid must be turned into concessional financing to allow multilateral financial institutions like the African Development Bank to do more for the continent by mobilizing more private capital to develop and derisk projects.
While Africa represents nearly 20 percent of the global population and under three percent of global GDP, the Bank Group chief pointed to a resilient and transformative growth narrative: ten of the world's twenty fastest-growing economies are in Africa.
He highlighted flagship initiatives under the African Development Bank's “High 5” agenda that have impacted more than 565 million people through investments in power, food security, industrialization, regional integration, and initiatives to improve the quality of life of the people of Africa.
Over the past decade, the African Development Bank has invested more than $55 billion in infrastructure to bolster economic integration across Africa, alongside other critical investments to drive inclusive growth. It is by far the largest financier of infrastructure across Africa.
Adesina also cited the great potential of the Mission 300 project, a joint initiative by the World Bank and the African Development Bank to connect 300 million people in Africa to electricity by 2030. “Because without electricity, what can you do? You can't industrialize, you can't add value, you can't be competitive in the dark,” he said.
He highlighted the achievements of the Africa Investment Forum, launched in 2018 by the Bank and eight other partners, saying it has since mobilized more than $225 billion in investment interest to the continent. The Forum is a multi-stakeholder, multi-disciplinary platform that advances projects to bankable stages, raises capital, and accelerates deals to financial closure.
Adesina believes that despite its challenges, Africa is the largest greenfield investment destination in the world, and it remains “the investor's dream.”
“We got hydropower. We have a massive youth population that can become the labor force of the world. Sixty-five percent of the arable land left in the world to feed almost 9.5 billion people by 2050 is in Africa, so what Africa does with it will determine the future of food in the world,” he affirmed.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB).
Contact:
Communication and External Relations Department
media@afdb.org
The 2025 Future Hospitality Summit (FHS) Africa Awards will honour three exceptional individuals whose leadership, vision, and integrity have profoundly shaped the hospitality industry in Africa and beyond. David Green, CEO of the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town, will be recognised with the FHS Outstanding Contribution to Hospitality Award; William E. Heinecke, Founder and Chairman of Minor Hotels, will receive the FHS Leadership Award and Hala Matar Choufany, President of HVS Middle East, Africa & South Asia, will be presented with the FHS Excellence Award.
The awards were nominated by the FHS Africa Advisory Board, a group of senior industry leaders who collectively represent decades of insight and influence across the global hospitality ecosystem. Their selections reflect not only individual excellence, but also the values that FHS Africa seeks to champion: ethical leadership, inclusive development, and long-term impact.
William E. Heinecke, one of Asia's most influential entrepreneurs, was honoured with the FHS Leadership Award in recognition of a nearly six-decade-long career that began with a bold idea and just US$1,200. At the age of 17, Heinecke registered his first company under the name ‘Minor'- a nod to being underage at the time - and went on to create Minor Hotels, a diversified hospitality group that today operates more than 530 hotels across 56 countries under brands including Anantara, Avani, Oaks, Elewana, and Tivoli. His acquisition of NH Hotel Group in 2018 marked a turning point for global expansion and established Minor as a powerhouse in the international hospitality scene. A vocal advocate for sustainability and social impact, Heinecke also founded the Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation, the Heinecke Foundation for education, and the Mai Khao Marine Turtle Foundation. His accolades include HOTELS Magazine's Corporate Hotelier of the World and Entrepreneur of the Year at the Asia Pacific Enterprise Awards. Now Chairman of the Board of Minor International, Heinecke continues to guide the group's long-term strategy and philanthropic mission.
David Green's recognition reflects more than a decade of transformative leadership at the helm of Cape Town's iconic V&A Waterfront. Since his appointment in 2009, Green has guided the historic precinct through a R8 billion reinvention, turning it into one of Africa's most successful mixed-use destinations. Under his stewardship, the Waterfront has become a blueprint for sustainable urban development - supporting nearly 80,000 jobs, empowering local entrepreneurs, and embedding environmental and social responsibility at the core of every initiative. From the launch of the Zeitz MOCAA Museum and Makers Landing to the expansion of the hotel and hospitality portfolio now comprising 14 hotels and over 1,800 rooms, Green's legacy lies in his deep commitment to inclusivity, innovation, and purpose-driven development. “Everything we do is viewed through the lenses of job creation, inclusivity, and sustainability,” Green reflected.
“It's about ensuring that our work aligns with the values of our people, our community, and our environment.”
Hala Matar Choufany, recipient of the FHS Excellence Award, has set new benchmarks in hospitality advisory through her role as President of HVS Middle East, Africa & South Asia. The first woman to hold this position, she has led over 5,000 advisory engagements that have shaped hotel investments, asset strategies, and valuations across key markets. Her leadership is grounded in transparency, ethical decision-making, and long-term value creation - principles she champions not just in boardrooms, but also in classrooms and industry forums worldwide. A respected voice in global hospitality discourse, Choufany is committed to nurturing talent, supporting sustainable development in emerging markets, and driving responsible investment practices across Africa and beyond. “True leadership is not about titles or accolades,” she said. “It's defined by trust, integrity, and the impact created through knowledge-sharing and collaboration.”
All three recipients will be featured in exclusive one-to-one interviews live on the FHS Africa stage, offering delegates a rare and intimate opportunity to hear their personal stories, leadership lessons and career highlights first-hand. These are not-to-be-missed sessions that will anchor the thought leadership agenda of FHS Africa 2025.
Commenting on the announcement, Matthew Weihs, Managing Director of The Bench, said:
“We are absolutely delighted to be recognising William, Hala, and David at FHS Africa this year. Each of them represents the very best of our industry - visionary leadership, resilience, and a deep commitment to positive change. Their stories are a testament to what is possible when passion meets purpose. FHS Africa continues to be the premier hospitality investment platform on the continent, and honouring these individuals reflects the exceptional calibre of conversation and connection that defines this event.”
FHS Africa 2025 continues its mission to elevate the continent's hospitality potential by spotlighting the people and ideas driving sustainable growth. Through these awards, the Summit honours those who not only lead with distinction but also shape the future of hospitality across Africa and around the world.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The Bench.
For further information and high-resolution images, please contact:
David Tarsh
+44 (0) 20 7602 5262
+44 (0) 7770 816 070
Email: David@Tarsh.com.
About FHS Africa:
For over a decade, the Future Hospitality Summit Africa (FHS Africa – formerly the Africa Hospitality Investment Forum) has been the launchpad for hospitality investment in Africa, driving growth, connecting visionaries, and transforming the continent's tourism and hospitality landscape. As a beacon of opportunity, FHS Africa brings together global investors, developers, operators, and industry leaders committed to turning potential into reality.
Strategic Partners: Accor, BWH Hotels, Hilton, Marriott International, IHG Hotels & Resorts, Radisson Hotel Group
Headline Sponsors: ACT, CHIC, Hansgrohe, TUI Hotels & Resorts
Sponsors: Aleph Hospitality, CityBlue Hotels, EQUATE, Knight Frank, JLL, St Helena Government, STR, TIME Hotels, TV5 Monde, Valor Hospitality Partners
Event Ambassadors: Develop Hotels Inc, Hotel Partners Africa, Voltere by Egis, W Hospitality Group
Official Carriers: Discover Airlines, Kenya Airways
Supported By: South Africa Tourism
About The Bench:
The Bench has a legacy of delivering world-leading investment forums and conferences in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America. The key principle behind these events has remained "dealmaking'. Transforming the way businesses connect, Bench has developed a reputation for creating innovative and high-impact meetings for the industry.
For over two decades, government leaders, tourism ministries, global travel & tourism associations, the world's most influential hospitality brands, hotel owners & investors, renowned restaurant groups, airlines & aviation authorities, destination developers, asset managers, financial groups, and consultants have been participating in The Bench's events. These include FHS Africa, FHS World, FHS Saudi Arabia and AviaDev, where industry players showcase their brands, position themselves as thought leaders or innovators, and connect with the right individuals, opportunities and knowledge.
Learn more at www.TheBench.com
Cape Town, South Africa, 21 May 2025 – Enlit Africa 2025 officially opened this week at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC), bringing together thousands of leaders from Africa’s power, water and energy sectors. This year’s theme, “Challenge the Status Quo”, calls on stakeholders to accelerate Africa’s infrastructure transformation through innovation, investment, and inclusive …
The International Cricket Council (ICC) today unveiled the staggering broadcast viewership figures attained across the globe following the memorable ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 held in Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates. Celebrating 368bn global viewing minutes across global coverage, the event becomes the most watched ICC Men’s Champions Trophy ever and represents a growth …
The last time Zenay Jordaan left the pitch at the Rugby World Cup, she was carried off shoulder high by her Springbok Women teammates and England opponents, but she will return later this year, albeit in a new capacity. The 34-year-old Jordaan played her last Test for the Bok Women at Waitakere Stadium in Auckland, …
The City of Cape Town has commenced with roadworks along Sable Road between the N1 and Ratanga Road in Century City, as well as along Plattekloof Road on the northbound carriageway between the N1 and Gert Van Rooyen Drive in Plattekloof. The work will be carried out between 09:00 and 15:30, Sunday to Friday. Some …
The City’s Spatial Planning and Environment Directorate is pleased to announce that the dredging of Zeekoevlei will commence in June 2025. The project team is making great progress with the preparations for this major operation that will take about two years as part of our efforts in improving the water quality of the waterbody. Zeekoevlei …
The Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) has taken administrative action against Donaldson Global Investments (Pty) Ltd (DGI) for failing to comply with certain provisions of the Financial Intelligence Centre Act, No. 38 of 2001 (FIC Act). The administrative action includes a financial penalty of R200 000, a directive to remediate the identified contraventions and a …
Western Cape Government Minister of Infrastructure, Tertuis Simmers, and officials of the provincial Department of Infrastructure continued their roadshow on the new Provincial Roads Delivery Model to road workers, officials, councillors and mayors of the West Coast District Municipality (WCDM). This follows similar sessions in the Garden Route, Central Karoo and Cape Winelands districts. The …
Durban, May 2025 – Shifa Private Hospital is proud to announce that it has been awarded the Diamond Status Award by the World Stroke Organisation (WSO) — the highest level of international recognition for excellence in stroke care. This prestigious accolade reflects the hospital’s unwavering commitment to delivering world-class, evidence-based treatment to patients suffering from …
GE Vernova Inc. (NYSE: GEV) today announced the successful completion of the modernization of global energy and chemical company Sasol's Secunda power plant in Mpumalanga. The modernization included the replacement of the existing pre-combustor system with a new DLN1+ combustor supplemented by the Fuel Gas Module (FGM) skid to increase the operational efficiency of the two installed 9E gas turbines and reduce carbon emissions.
This project serves as a model for modernizing power plants across Africa. As the continent faces increasing energy demands, initiatives like this highlight how innovative solutions can enable more efficient energy production with reduced emissions, without requiring entirely new infrastructure.
The upgrade led to significant improvements, including:
"This project exemplifies our purpose to electrify the world," said Joseph Anis (http://apo-opa.co/4k6G5fI), President and CEO of GE Vernova's Gas Power business in Europe, Middle East, and Africa. "Building on our advanced combustion technologies, we are helping Sasol address South Africa's energy needs more efficiently. Together, we are demonstrating how advanced technologies can deliver tangible benefits for both businesses and communities."
This project will be showcased at Enlit Africa (http://apo-opa.co/4k3OEYH), taking place from 20 – 22 May at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) in Cape Town, South Africa. GE Vernova's participation will include interactive activities at booth C22 in Hall 3 and speaking sessions covering a wide range of topics, including: a keynote on technology driven transformation, smart grids and the future of energy management, digitization and modernization of projects and accelerating women in energy.
GE Vernova has contributed to the development of the energy infrastructure in Africa for over a century, supporting power generation, transmission and distribution solutions, energy sector software applications, talent development, and community outreach.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of GE.
Additional Link: https://apo-opa.co/4dJXJnj
Notes to editors:
© 2025 GE Vernova and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved.
For more information, contact:
Media Contact – GE Vernova
Winnie Gathage
Africa Communications Leader
GE Vernova
winnie.gathage@gevernova.com
Laura Aresi
Media Relations Leader, Power
GE Vernova
Laura.aresi@gevernova.com
Lesego Malete
Group Account Director
Burson Africa
lesego.malete@bursonglobal.com
About GE Vernova:
GE Vernova (NYSE: GEV) is a purpose-built global energy company that includes Power, Wind, and Electrification segments and is supported by its accelerator businesses. Building on over 130 years of experience tackling the world's challenges, GE Vernova is uniquely positioned to help lead the energy transition by continuing to electrify the world while simultaneously working to decarbonize it. GE Vernova helps customers power economies and deliver electricity that is vital to health, safety, security, and improved quality of life. GE Vernova is headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S., with more than 75,000 employees across 100+ countries around the world. Supported by the Company's purpose, The Energy to Change the World, GE Vernova technology helps deliver a more affordable, reliable, sustainable, and secure energy future. Learn more: GE Vernova (www.GEVernova.com), GE Vernova in Middle East & Africa (https://apo-opa.co/435wb81), and LinkedIn (https://apo-opa.co/4jY25JD). GE Vernova's Gas Power business engineers advanced, efficient natural gas-powered technologies and services, along with decarbonization solutions that aim to help electrify a lower carbon future. It is a global leader in gas turbines and gas power plant technologies and services with the industry's largest installed base.
Forward Looking Statements:
This document contains forward-looking statements – that is, statements related to future events that by their nature address matters that are, to different degrees, uncertain. These forward-looking statements often address GE Vernova's expected future business and financial performance and financial condition, and the expected performance of its products, the impact of its services and the results they may generate or produce, and often contain words such as “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “seek,” “see,” “will,” “would,” “estimate,” “forecast,” “target,” “preliminary,” or “range.” Forward-looking statements by their nature address matters that are, to different degrees, uncertain, such as statements about planned and potential transactions, investments or projects and their expected results and the impacts of macroeconomic and market conditions and volatility on the Company's business operations, financial results and financial position and on the global supply chain and world economy.
Durban, South Africa – May 2025 – Lenmed Ethekwini Hospital and Heart Centre is pleased to announce the official opening of its state-of-the-art Acute Rehabilitation Unit, a vital new facility that expands the hospital’s integrated approach to patient recovery and long-term care. This purpose-built 41-bed with 5 acute beds, unit is designed to support patients …
Cape Town, 20 May 2025 – Opera lovers, mark your calendars – and if you’ve never experienced opera before, this might be the perfect time to start. Opera UCT and the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra (CPO) with the powerful voices of the CPO AfriArts Choir, is proud to present a concert performance of Giuseppe Verdi’s …
