A delegation from ECOWAS/ERCA led by Mrs Massandje Toure-Litse, Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture, accompanied by the Executive Director of ARCC, Dr Simeon Konan KOFFI and representatives of the National Competition Commission, held an information and a sensitisation session with national stakeholders about Community provisions on competition and consumer protection, in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, on 29 and 30 April 2024.

While in Côte d’Ivoire, the ECOWAS mission met with senior officials from ministries, government departments and agencies, business organisations, professional organisations, exporters’ organisations, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry and consumer organisations. The ECOWAS mission briefed all these stakeholders on ERCA’s mandate, its scope of intervention and its main ongoing activities, and presented the various legal and operational instruments for implementing Community rules on competition and consumer protection.

Commissioner Massandje Toure-Litse and the ECOWAS experts also discussed the framework for collaboration and exchange with the Member States, particularly in relations to market studies and surveys, data collection, management and sharing, as well as capacity-building and support for stakeholders.

For reference, ERCA, in collaboration with the national competition authorities and other national stakeholders, conducts market studies with a view to gaining a better understanding of the sectors concerned, existing and potential customers and their views on operations in these markets, the regulatory environment and competing products and services.

ERCA also has a Competition Information System with a national component for the collection and management of regular, reliable, consistent and sustainable information. The ECOWAS Competition Information System (ECIS) can provide data for monitoring competition at the ECOWAS level, including assessing the consequences of anti-competitive practices on the regional market as well as the economic and social interest of consumers.

In addition, to record and streamline the collection and processing of complaints, referrals to ERCA are facilitated by its Electronic Competition Information System (ECIS) through the complaints management platform, accessible via its website www.erca-arcc.org. A cooperation agreement between ECOWAS/ERCA and each Member State is under preparation.

Finally, in order to rationalise the actions of the ECOWAS and UEMOA Commissions in competition matters and to ensure effective and coherent implementation of Community competition policy within the region, the two Commissions, through their competition authorities, ERCA and the UEMOA Competition Directorate, hold regular consultations and have concluded a Cooperation Agreement.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

An exciting round of clashes awaits the eight Women’s Premier Division teams on Saturday where two teams, the Bulls Daisies and Sanlam Boland Dames, will look to continue their dominance after winning all three of their opening matches.

The action will continue this weekend in Cape Town, Bloemfontein and Hermanus, while one of the matches will play out at one of the country’s top stadiums, Hollywoodbets Kings Park in Durban, where the Sharks Women will host the unbeaten Bulls Daisies.

Some of the teams will be hamstrung by the unavailability of their Springbok Women’s players though, as the national squad are currently in Madagascar where they are defending their African Cup title, and that will level the playing fields a bit.

The clash in Durban is set to be one of the main matches of the weekend given the Pretoria side’s dominance this season, which has seen them earn a full house of points, and the big stage they will be playing on, with the other being the match-up between the Sanlam Boland Dames – who are second on the standings with 15 points – and the Border Ladies at Hermanus High School.

A big challenge awaits the Free State Women and EP Queens at CUT Stadium in Bloemfontein as both teams look to register their first victory of the season, while DHL Western Province will host the Golden Lions Women at City Park in Athlone, Cape Town.

The Sharks Women will have to deliver one their best performances yet to topple the Bulls Daisies, who have been a formidable force in the last three rounds and who will be beaming with confidence after coming off a comprehensive 120-0 victory against the Queens. 

The Durbanites will enter the match with the attitude that they have everything to gain despite going down against the Ladies last week and WP in the opening round, and will draw comfort from the fact that they will be playing at home, where they registered their only victory so far, against the Golden Lions Women.

With the Bulls Daisies having scored an impressive 201 points in their three matches to date, the hosts will be wary of the defensive challenge that awaits them – an area that they would have placed a big emphasis on in their preparations earlier in the week.

In Cape Town, the third-placed DHL WP will have their sights set on staying close to the competition pacesetters when they host the Golden Lions Women, but the Johannesburgers will be fully aware of the boost a victory would give them both in terms of their log standing and for their confidence levels if they come away with a win. 

The visitors will, however, have their work cut out to achieve this as the Capetonians have scored 93 more points in their three matches so far, although the Golden Lions have been marginally better on defence, setting the scene for a thrilling encounter.

The bottom-of-the-table clash between the Free State Women and EP Queens could also prove to be exciting as both teams look to end their winning drought. 

The Free Staters have been more effective on attack and defence, which will give them confidence, but the Queens will have all the motivation they need to move off the foot of the log, which sets the scene for a thrilling encounter.

The clash between the Sanlam Boland Dames and Border Ladies could also prove to be a humdinger as both teams are currently hovering in the top half of the table. 

The Bolanders will enter the match as favourites with home ground advantage and form counting in their favour, but with the Ladies’ track record showing two wins in three outings and the team trailing the two top sides by only five points, they will have their sights set on creating an upset.

Match information: 
Sharks Women v Bulls Daisies 
Date: Saturday 4 May
Venue: Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Durban
Kick-off: 13h00
Referee: Angie Bezuidenhout
 
DHL Western Province v Golden Lions Women
Date: Saturday 4 May
Venue: City Park, Cape Town
Kick-off: 13h00
Referee: Bulela Qwane
 
Free State Women v EP Queens
Date: Saturday 4 May 
Venue: CUT Stadium, Bloemfontein
Kick-Off: 15h00
Referee: Aneka Fick
 
Sanlam Boland Dames v Border Ladies
Date: Saturday 4 May
Venue: Hermanus High School, Hermanus
Kick-off: 15h00
Referee: Ashleigh Murray-Pretorius

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of South African Rugby.

Media Resources:
Women’s Premier Division:
Latest News (https://apo-opa.co/3Qz02ir)
Fixtures&Results (https://apo-opa.co/3UJ9vGh)
Standings (https://apo-opa.co/3WoYxHi)

Women’s First Division:
Latest News (https://apo-opa.co/3Qz02ir)
Fixtures&Results (https://apo-opa.co/3y5xMh9)
Standings (https://apo-opa.co/4b1LyzI)

SA Women’s Rugby on social media:
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Please note, all match details are subject to change and will be kept updated on www.Springboks.Rugby.

Issued by SA Rugby Communications

The government is rolling out robust measures to mitigate the effects of floods in the country, President William Ruto has said.

The President said the government has adopted a “Whole of Government Approach” to ensure an effective response to the crisis following meteorological reports forecasting increased rainfall.

He said Cabinet Secretaries will spearhead disaster response and mitigation efforts across the country.

“Consequently, ministries, departments and agencies are directed to work closely with the National Disaster Operations Centre and security agencies to ensure purposeful management of the crisis,” he said.

Speaking during a National Address at State House Nairobi, President Ruto said the Treasury will provide adequate resources for the purchase and supply of food, medical equipment and other non-food items.

He said that coordination among the national and county governments, and development partners would significantly enhance disaster response and mitigation efforts nationwide.

“As the National Government plays its role in dealing with the current situation, I request county governments, development partners and the private sector to join the efforts,” he said.

President Ruto also announced that the Ministry of Education has been instructed to postpone school reopenings until further notice.

In addition, President Ruto directed county security committees to define the specific boundaries on riparian reserves so that those living there vacate.

“The county security committees are further directed to continuously monitor dams and other water reservoirs that may not be presenting a risk now but could do so in the event of more rains,” he said.

Additionally, the Kenya Defence Forces and the National Police Service are deploying resources, personnel and equipment for coordinated public safety and mitigation operations.

“Security agencies are further directed to enlist the support of the National Youth Service and the National Government Administration officers to respond to this emergency, including ensuring timely, orderly and humane evacuation of all persons at risk,” he said.

The government, he pointed out, is working with stakeholders to ensure adequate provision of temporary shelter as well as food and non-food essential supplies.

He also asked MPs to re-organise their National Government Constituency Development Fund allocations and give priority to the reconstruction of school infrastructure damaged by the floods and other forms of exteme weather.

He said the Kenya Meteorological Department and the IGAD Climate Prediction Applications Centre have warned that Kenya may face its first-ever cyclone.

“This cyclone, named Hidaya, could hit out shores any time now and is predicted to cause torrential rain, strong winds, and powerful and dangerous waves, which could potentially disrupt marine activities in the Indian Ocean and settlements along the Kenyan coast,” he said.

The President urged Kenyans in flood-prone areas to promptly relocate to safer grounds. He directed the Ministry of Interior to enforce relocation notices to prevent loss of life.

The President, however, said the measures being taken are aimed at responding to the current crisis in the immediate and short-term.

For the country to conclusively address the threats of climate change in the long term, the President explained, the country has to act and reverse the adverse effects of the existential phenomenon.

“I urge you, fellow citizens, to sustain and intensify your positive response to the ecosystem restoration plan, which aims to grow 15 billion trees natiionally in the next 10 years,” he said.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of President of the Republic of Kenya.

Assistant to the Administrator (AtA) and Feed the Future Deputy Coordinator for Development Dina Esposito will attend the Africa Fertilizer and Soil Health Summitin Nairobi, Kenya. While there, she will deliver remarks on U.S. efforts to strengthen food security and meet with foreign officials, other donor government leaders, and implementing partners to discuss the United States’ support in helping African countries adapt to the accelerating impacts of climate change on food security. She will also emphasize the vital role that smallholder farmers play in producing food.

AtA Esposito will underscore the critical role of African leadership in strengthening global food security and highlight the United States’ Feed the Future efforts to address global hunger, including through improving soil health.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United States Agency for International Development (USAID).