The Portfolio Committee on Higher Education and Training has called upon universities to apply greater scrutiny when appointing vice chancellors and council members and should ensure that appointees have a high regard for ethics. The committee was briefed today on progress made by the Vaal University of Technology (VUT) and Mangosuthu University of Technology (MUT) in dealing with various administrative challenges.

The briefing concerning the state of affairs at Vaal University of Technology now that it is no longer under administration, while the Mangosuthu University of Technology is still under administration. The committee welcomed the progress made by VUT in appointing a vice chancellor and chancellor, however, it remains concerned about the continued high number of vacant positions at senior management level, especially the post of registrar.

The committee expressed concerns about the state of affairs in student residences, which has forced many students to opt for private accommodation. This is causing the university to lose out on much-needed revenue. The committee further called upon VUT to report contractors who do not finish infrastructure development projects to the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) so that these contractors are blacklisted from any further involvement in projects in the post-school education sector. The committee further resolved that the university should consider using the services of the Independent Electoral Commission for their Student Representative Council elections and that these elections should be held manually.

Meanwhile at the Mangosuthu University of Technology, the committee welcomed the appointment of Professor Nokuthula Sibiya as the first female vice chancellor in the university’s 45-year history. The committee further welcomed assurances that the remaining senior posts at MUT will be filled by the end of September.

The DHET told the committee that recent suspensions at MUT indicate a culture of victimisation, however the administrator seems to be on course in turning the institution around.

The committee chairperson, Mr Tebogo Letsie, said: “We need to move away from a period of independent assessors and it can’t be that predominantly black-run institutions are the ones that always fall under administration.”

Mr Letsie said the committee plans to have a meeting with the National Student Financial Aid Scheme, with a focus on student accommodation challenges to find solutions to improve the services offered to students.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of South Africa: The Parliament.

The Portfolio Committee on Social Development has resolved to defer the Children’s Amendment Bill to the Department of Social Department to allow it to redraft the 126 clauses the previous committee did not process.

That previous committee passed only 12 foster care-related clauses so that Parliament and the department could meet a North Gauteng High Court deadline. The department will redraft these clauses, taking into consideration the substantive submissions and proposals made by stakeholders and the public during the committee’s public participation process on the bill.

The previous committee had resolved that the bill be introduced as a committee bill by the 7th Parliament committee. However, after receiving legal advice from the Constitutional and Legal Services Office on the development, drafting and legislative processes of committee bills, as well as the implications of the Constitutional Court’s judgement on Section 40 of the Children’s Act, the committee resolved that the department is best placed to redraft the bill due to Parliament’s capacity constraints to develop policies that will substantiate the bill.

The submissions received contained new proposals that require extensive policy development on issues that include the safe abandonment of children (baby savers), corporal punishment, new proposals in relation to the rights of unmarried fathers (a traditional perspective) and children’s right to privacy on digital platforms.

The department’s legal advisor informed the committee that since the time the previous committee took a decision not to process the bill, many new issues have emerged in the space of intercountry adoptions, baby savers and the rights and responsibilities of unmarried fathers, which require the department to rethink its position on provisions it made previously on the bill. Even if Parliament had passed the Bill, the department would have to amend it again.

The committee agreed that the timeline of the processing of this Bill would receive priority oversight.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of South Africa: The Parliament.

Sierra Leone marked a significant step towards sustainable development with the launch of the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework 2025-2030. The International Trade Centre (ITC) made noteable contributions to the framework. At the launch, ITC also highlighted how small businesses have benefitted  from its projects in the country funded by the European Union, South Korea and the Netherlands.

On 26 July 2024, the Freetown International Conference Center buzzed with activity as Sierra Leone celebrated the launch. This event, aligned with Sierra Leone’s Medium Term National Development Plan (2024-2030), marked a significant step towards fostering sustainable development and economic growth in the country.

The framework set strategic priorities for the partnership between the United Nations and the Government of Sierra Leone. It was developed through a multi agency effort led by the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office in Sierra Leone, with significant contributions from ITC as a member of the United Nations Country Team. The launch ceremony drew high-profile dignitaries, including Chief Minister David Moinina Sengeh, Cabinet Ministers, diplomats, and representatives from government departments and non-government organizations. The event was interspersed with cultural performances and drama skits, vividly depicting the framework’s objectives.

A symbolic signing ceremony featured key figures such as the Minister of Planning and Economic Development, Kenyeh Barlay, and UN Resident Coordinator, Seraphine Wakana, alongside representatives from nine UN agencies.

Alongside the launch, an exhibition showcased recent UN activities. ITC National Coordinator, Shiaka Kawa, presented work done by the West Africa Competitiveness Programme – WACOMP (which is still ongoing), SheTrades West Africa Programme (ended in December 2023), and the Netherlands Trust Fund IV cocoa value chain project (ended in June 2021). A standout was Lion Food Snacks&Beverage, a local cassava producer supported by ITC, whose booth showcased garri (processed cassava) and high-quality cassava flour, attracting numerous visitors.

With targeted ITC support through the WACOMP programme, the company has refined its business plan and upgraded its packaging, branding, and marketing. Additionally, it facilitated the company’s participation in international trade shows and business meetings such as in Nigeria and Senegal. These efforts resulted in sales in new markets in the region and the United States of America, valued at $30,000.

The successful launch of the UNSDCF 2025-2030 signifies a major milestone for Sierra Leone, highlighting a robust commitment to sustainable development. This framework sets the stage for a prosperous future, driving the nation closer to its development goals while improving the lives of its citizens.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of International Trade Centre.

Over 71,000 people across Africa are registered as missing with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), a 75 per cent rise from the number recorded in 2019.

Africa is the continent with the highest missing persons caseload, the highest number of unaccompanied children, and the highest number of family reunifications, based on ICRC-registered cases as from the end of June.

“The issue of missing persons, including those forcibly disappeared, remains one of the most damaging and long-lasting humanitarian consequences of armed conflicts and other situations of violence, for all loved ones, whether a waiting wife or a heartbroken son,” said Patrick Youssef, ICRC’s regional director for Africa. “Behind every missing person, there are countless more suffering from the anguish and uncertainty. It’s a humanitarian tragedy for families, one that has consequences across all of society.” 

Protracted armed conflicts in Africa have resulted in the disappearance of thousands of people. The continent is also prone to natural disasters, some of which are exacerbated by climate change, while perilous migratory journeys put vulnerable people at risk of separation and disappearance.

The International Day of the Disappeared, observed on 30 August, helps raise awareness of the plight of the missing, honors their memories and the emotional distress of families, and helps focus attention on the need to help prevent and respond to the issue of missing persons.

The ICRC is calling for a more determined international effort to prevent and respond to the issue of missing persons, whatever the circumstances. Political will is an essential step to obtain the necessary resources to respond to this issue, including the cooperation between authorities, both at the national level and across borders.

“In armed conflict, both civilians and combatants go missing,” said Mr. Youssef. “They can go missing when they are arrested or captured, detained, and are held incommunicado. They might be alive, but simply do not have the means to contact their relatives.”

Under international humanitarian law, state authorities have the primary responsibility to clarify the fate and whereabouts of missing persons. However, these authorities may lack resources, knowledge, or political will to do so. The ICRC and the National Societies can play a crucial role.

In the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo, for example, volunteers from the DRC Red Cross have been working at telephone call centers set up by the ICRC to offer a fast, free service to the many displaced people who have lost contact with their families. In Sudan, the ICRC, in partnership with the Sudanese Red Crescent Society, provides a hotline to help families and unaccompanied children separated by conflict to restore contact.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).