AGP Executive Report

Pension Custody Shift: Absa has taken over as master custodian of South Africa’s R3.5-trillion Government Employees’ Pension Fund (GEPF), replacing Standard Bank and aiming to strengthen governance and oversight for 1.2m active members and 500k pensioners. Workplace Conduct: Nigeria’s Tony Elumelu shut down a graduate trainee who kept calling him “Tony” during induction, sparking debate on respect and corporate etiquette. Transport Regulation: Zimbabwe moves to regulate e-hailing by drafting a statutory instrument after MPs flagged the gap in the Road Motor Transportation Act, citing jobs and income for young people. Jobs & Growth Push: South Africa’s government-business partnership enters Phase Three focused on growth and jobs, with tourism positioned as a key driver through visa processing, air access and safety. Public Services Under Strain: Johannesburg residents living around Wembley Stadium say emergency accommodation has dragged on for years with worsening sanitation, rats and violence. Media Freedom: SANEF condemned intimidation of a journalist at South Africa’s Madlanga Commission, warning it can make reporters fear covering stories. Cross-Border Skills & Peacebuilding: IGPCM appoints Dr Richard to strengthen peacebuilding and leadership across Central and East Africa. Immigration & Residency: Mauritius sets a minimum MUR 3m over three years for self-employed foreigners seeking permanent residency. Security & Conflict: Africa File reports RSF gains in Sudan and ongoing militant attacks in Nigeria’s northwest.

Youth Jobs Crisis: South Africa’s youth unemployment climbed to 47.4% in Q2 2026, with 264,000 more young people out of work and overall unemployment rising to 33.6%—leaving jobseekers frustrated by silence from employers and “experience” demands. Skills for Work: Northern Cape is rolling out networking, cybersecurity, AI and digital skills training in 235 schools via Cisco and the Hanley Group, aiming to prepare learners for an automated job market. Education-to-Employment: Nigeria’s National Universities Commission starts a STEM Transformation Strategy to shift universities toward practical, job-ready skills in areas like AI, robotics and renewable energy. Jobs Under Pressure: Prasa retrenchment plans triggered union fury as a task team reported early retirements and redeployments to reduce job losses in long-distance services. Creative Economy & IP: The US urged stronger copyright enforcement across Africa’s music and film sectors, while East Africa pushed for harmonised IP and cross-border co-productions at the Mashariki Creative Economy Expo. Election & Migration: Nigeria kicked off presidential campaigns amid economic and security strain, while Afrophobia fears continued as officials cited deaths from xenophobic attacks. Infrastructure for Growth: Botswana’s Trans-Kalahari Railway moved into procurement after feasibility work, targeting freight links to Walvis Bay and mining corridors.

Referee Trust in Focus: Premier League referees chief Howard Webb says Folarin Balogun’s overturned red card has “fuelled” fears decisions are either “correct or corrupt,” after Trump’s reported call to FIFA. Scam-Proofing Jobs: An Australian firm Apate says it deployed nearly 200,000 AI “victims” to waste scammers’ time, claiming millions saved for telcos and banks—useful for HR and employers worried about fraud. Health Coverage Reform: Ghana’s NHIS is spotlighted as a model for Universal Health Coverage, with mandatory membership under law but weaker enforcement in the informal sector. Power Pricing and Work: South Africa’s new Eskom pricing model aims to lift manganese smelter utilisation and protect thousands of jobs, but Transalloys warns timelines and tariff practicalities are still urgent. Education Access: Western Cape schools face scrutiny over unconstitutional admission practices, while Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube publishes more BELA regulations for public comment. Migration and Work Safety: Nigeria and Ghana push the AU to address xenophobia/Afrophobia in South Africa, as South Africa faces renewed calls for urgent action to protect African nationals. Jobs and Skills Pipeline: Kenya’s University of Nairobi urged universities to make entrepreneurship training more practical to turn graduates into job creators. Digital IDs for Employment: MOSIP Decode 2026 launches a student hackathon to strengthen digital ID systems across 31 countries, with prizes and internships.

Labour & Pay Disputes: South Africa’s sugar sector is in strike mode as unions demand 13% wage hikes (plus transport and housing allowances) while employers, including RCL Foods, offer 5.4%, with talks stalled after unions rejected a conditional 6% proposal. Women at Work: A Women’s Month reflection asks what women “carry home” after leadership events—moving beyond visibility and applause to lasting changes in opportunity and influence. HR & Compliance: A South African labour-law explainer breaks down when extra duties become overtime or a different job—highlighting that contracts and “reasonable” duties matter, and compensation may apply when work shifts beyond normal expectations. Cybersecurity: Check Point reports cyber attacks up 16% year-on-year in July, with ransomware nearly doubling and GenAI creating new data-leak risks; Africa saw 3,237 attacks per week. Youth & Skills: Zanzibar marks International Youth Day with hands-on sessions on AI, entrepreneurship, mental health and road safety, aiming at decent work and practical confidence. Regional Trade & Payments: UKI Uganda uses Equity Bank’s Uganda–Kenya–DRC network to cut cross-border payment delays and costs for exporters. Returnee Jobs: Zimbabwe’s Strive Masiyiwa (Econet) is pushing job creation for citizens returning from South Africa, with Econet Tech City flagged as a major employment engine. Policy & Inclusion: Kenya’s diaspora report warns of dangerous destinations for jobseekers, citing trafficking and smuggling risks and naming countries including Myanmar, Cambodia, Russia, Iran and India. Digital HR Funding: South Africa’s Jem HR raises $8.4m Series A to expand its WhatsApp-based HR and workforce management platform for deskless employees.

Digital Skills & Exams: Kano State awarded ₦27.8bn for ICT and CBT centres across all 44 LGAs, aiming to bring e-exams and tech training to grassroots youth. Jobs & Workforce Restructuring: Diageo cut 1,922 jobs in fiscal 2026, with nearly 1,000 roles eliminated in Africa as it reorganises operations. Elections & Civic Mobilisation: INEC projects Nigeria’s registered voters will top 100m ahead of 2027 and is ramping up voter education and inclusivity communications. Entrepreneurship Boost: ECOWAS launched its $65,000 Startup Awards (Sept 28), with 6,000+ applications and a masterclass for shortlisted founders. Human Rights & Data Privacy: Nigeria’s NHRC reported 354,997 rights complaints in July, while South Africa’s SAHRC warned that personal data misuse can harm privacy, dignity and equality. Health Economy: East Africa’s health federations conference in Addis Ababa (Aug 21-23) targets local pharma production, private investment and AfCFTA-linked trade. Corporate Expansion: Hemas entered Kenya with a $16.2m 75% stake in Twiga Stationers and Printers to scale education-linked consumer brands.

FIFA Leadership Shake-up: Kevin Lamour has left his role as FIFA chief operating officer after publicly criticising Gianni Infantino’s World Cup plan to involve private investors, with FIFA confirming the working relationship ended on 17 August. NSFAS-to-Community Impact: A 25-year-old Limpopo law student used her NSFAS allowance to start a drop-in centre feeding about 60 children, turning personal hardship into local support. SADC Implementation Push: Cyril Ramaphosa urged faster rollout of SADC decisions, stressing border efficiency, infrastructure, industrial production and jobs—while also calling for regional action on migration after anti-migrant backlash. Liberia Heritage & Jobs: President Boakai broke ground for Providence Island’s development, positioning the historic site as a world-class heritage and tourism destination under the ARREST Agenda. ECOWAS Startup Boost: ECOWAS announced Sept. 28 startup awards with $65,000 (N91m) in prizes for fintech, agri-tech, ed-tech, cleantech and more. Workplace Benefits: A South Africa focus on dread disease cover highlighted how it differs from medical aid and can support income after major illness. Commonwealth Founder Funding: African startups can apply for the 2026/27 Commonwealth Startup Fellowship for training, mentorship and an equity-free grant up to GBP2,000. Botswana Inflation Relief: Botswana’s inflation eased to 9.4% in July as transport costs fell following government fuel price cuts.

Labour Migration: Tanzania took over the chair of a regional labour mobility committee for East and Horn of Africa, aiming for safer, orderly migration and stronger skills/employment coordination. Professional Equity: Black Engineers Canada launched its first national conference in Toronto, building alliances to mentor young engineers and boost representation in Canada’s built environment. Workplace Rights: Egypt’s textile workers at Misr El Amria were locked out after rejecting a pay increase calculation, escalating a wider wave of labour unrest in the sector. Anti-Migrant Politics: South Africa saw a heavily policed anti-migrant march to the SADC summit demanding leaders “fetch their people,” amid renewed scrutiny of how migrants are treated and employed. Corporate Accountability: South Africa’s DA asked for an SIU probe into Daybreak Foods, alleging irregular spending and failures that contributed to major job losses. Business & Jobs: ECOWAS selected 60 startups from 6,000 applicants for its regional awards, with seed funding and masterclasses to help early-stage firms scale. Regional Integration: Ramaphosa urged SADC leaders to speed up integration by turning commitments into trade, investment and industrial jobs. Blue Economy: Somalia is set to export duty-free fish to China next month, with potential for cold-storage, processing and jobs. Company Shutdowns: Kenya’s Registrar of Companies began dissolving 200 firms and flagged 550 more, raising fresh job-security concerns.

Labour Leadership Recognition: ICU-Ghana boss Morgan Ayawine won Africa’s Most Respected CEO award for labour and union leadership, spotlighting ethical advocacy for workers and an enabling business climate. Climate Shock to Jobs: In South Africa’s Vosloorus, a brutal cold snap killed 26 cattle and 5 goats, wiping out over R200,000 and putting herd boys’ livelihoods at risk. Energy & Environment Governance: South Africa’s Constitutional Court permanently blocks Shell’s Wild Coast offshore exploration renewal, raising the bar for community consultation and environmental safeguards in energy investment. Regional Integration vs Migration Tensions: As South Africa takes the SADC chair, migration, trade and critical minerals top the agenda—while anti-migrant protests (“March and March”) plan action during the summit. Education Funding Pressure: South Africa’s NSFAS faces a R15bn shortfall, threatening access to higher education for hundreds of thousands of students. Returnee Jobs Push: Zimbabwe’s Econet says it will create short-term construction jobs, expand AgriTech, and recruit 15,000 EcoCash agents to support people returning from South Africa. Public Health & Fraud Risk: Liberia’s fake-doctor case shows regulators failing to stop unlicensed practice, leaving patients exposed. Youth & Reintegration: Zimbabwe’s Warrior Ting turned incarceration into DreamStar glory, winning a major talent award and highlighting arts as rehabilitation. Investment & Trade Access: Tanzania is positioning as a gateway for Mozambican firms to reach wider East, Central and Southern Africa markets.

Child Protection Deadline: South Africa’s education departments have seven months to vet about 309,000 public school staff against the National Child Protection Register after a court-backed settlement, with the 31 March 2027 deadline looming. Regional Jobs Push: SADC is urged to fast-track a regional development fund to finance industrialisation, with ministers warning unemployment is above 30% in several member states. Urban Leadership & Services: EFF’s Dr Tlaleng Mofokeng outlines a fresh Johannesburg mayoral bid focused on rights-based healthcare and youth-friendly services. Youth Employment Shift: A new outlook says Africa’s services sector will overtake agriculture as the biggest employer of young people by 2033, as retail, transport, logistics and hospitality expand. SADC Chair Focus: South Africa takes over the SADC Council of Ministers chairship, prioritising industrialisation, critical minerals value-addition and stronger intra-SADC trade. Trade & Customs Reform: Egypt issues 17 new customs guides to simplify procedures, cut clearance uncertainty and support investment. Skills for Growth (Uganda): Uganda’s mining ambitions face a skills crunch, while a forensic sciences university campus in Jinja targets regional training in cyber security and forensics. Migration Pressure (Ceuta): Hundreds of migrants protest in Spain’s Ceuta enclave demanding asylum rather than deportation to Morocco. Fraud Alert (FlySafair): South Africa’s FlySafair denies a viral “beautiful girls” recruitment flyer and warns of scams asking applicants for money. Defence Manufacturing (Nigeria): DICON-D7G plans local production of armoured vehicles and anti-drone platforms, aiming to create jobs and reduce reliance on imports.

Women’s Football: Cameroon’s “odd couple” coaching team eyes a first-ever WAFCON title after a surprise run, with a final against Malawi in Rabat. Elections & Governance: Opinion polls’ influence is under the spotlight as Zambia heads to polls and Osun’s governorship race nears results amid reported irregularities and violence. Jobs & Labour: Sierra Leone appoints Umaru Napoleone Koroma as Minister of Employment, Labour and Social Security, signalling a renewed focus on workers’ welfare and job creation. Business & HR: Want Want faces a consumer backlash after its founder warned of a “major operational crisis,” pushing renewed pressure for product innovation and healthier options. Skills & Inclusion: A Limpopo entrepreneur turns sanitary pads into a women-led manufacturing success, creating local jobs and feeding the national dignity programme. Energy & Industry: Niger signs for a $1.9bn refinery under a build-operate-transfer model, aiming to expand refining capacity and train workers. Public Safety: South Africa’s anti-gang deployments raise questions as crime persists despite troop support. Health: WHO warns DRC’s Ebola outbreak is on track to be the deadliest on record, stressing the need to scale testing and containment.

Water & Accountability: CAPPA warns Lagos against concessioning public water infrastructure, citing lack of transparency around a MoU tied to metering and last-mile control. Trade & Jobs: A new US White House report flags Kenya as a potential transshipment risk for Chinese goods, raising fears of tighter scrutiny for exports that support jobs. Power & Industrialisation: India offers Nigeria power-sector technology and regulatory support to stabilise electricity for manufacturing growth. Regional Energy: Tanzania positions itself as an East Africa power supplier after adding 2,115MW to generation, creating a 2,636MW surplus for cross-border trade. Digital Trade: Kenya’s Digital Trade Congress 2026 in Nairobi targets trusted e-commerce rules to help SMEs, women-led firms and youth scale cross-border business. Unemployment & Skills: Denmark’s new pathway to permanent residence after 4 years (with language, employment and civic tests) spotlights how labour mobility rules shape job access. Migration & Work: South Africa’s debates on foreigners taking jobs resurface as an old Kere Nyawo clip goes viral, reigniting arguments about skills and labour markets. Education & Youth: Osun’s 2026 governorship vote reports early turnout with isolated Ejigbo violence, while school re-entry disputes in Cosmo City highlight tensions around learners and school policies.

Healthcare & HR Growth: Ghana’s Rabito Clinic marks 50 years with a nationwide durbar, expanding beyond dermatology into gynaecology, labs, occupational health and more, while planning further African and international rollout. Climate Finance & Jobs: ECOWAS convenes in Abuja to validate a regional carbon market framework aimed at unlocking climate finance and building member-state capacity. Trade & Skills Demand: Nigeria’s exports to China jump 80% to $2.3bn under zero-tariff rules, but officials stress “export better” via processing, infrastructure and quality—raising the bar for workforce skills. Migration & Labour Risks: Analysis of Morocco-to-Ceuta mass crossings highlights how migration becomes politicised, with gaps in housing, language training and job placement worsening outcomes. South Africa Jobs Pressure: New labour-market concerns link rising unemployment—especially among youth and women—to the need for AI-ready skills and workplace preparation. Election Watch (HR angle): Osun governorship voting ramps up with movement restrictions and security measures as the race tightens to a two-horse contest. Anti-corruption & Integrity: Nigeria’s ICPC chief says corruption control must shift from arrests to stronger systems—key for investor confidence and stable hiring. Youth & AI/CX: CEM Africa 2026 returns in Cape Town with a focus on using technology to improve customer experience without losing trust or human connection.

Higher Education & Youth Jobs: South Africa’s NSFAS is under fresh pressure after Parliament questioned payments to advisors linked to suspended administrator Hlengani Mathebula, with students worried about funding, accommodation and monthly support stability. Governance & Corporate Leadership: South African Airways has placed acting CEO Matshela Seshibe on special leave, appointing chief legal officer Koekie Mbeki as acting CEO while an internal process runs. Elections & Legal Accountability: Nigeria’s Atiku Abubakar has filed an affidavit challenging President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 eligibility, alleging a forged NYSC certificate and seeking disqualification. Labour & Anti-Corruption: Nigeria’s labour movement (NLC and ITUC-Africa) calls kleptocracy and illicit financial flows “acts of war,” urging whistleblower protection, stronger anti-graft institutions and anti-corruption courts. Trade & Employment: The US is pushing a new livestock trade and investment push with Nigeria under its Freedom 250 programme, focusing on productivity, animal husbandry and private-sector partnerships. Migration & Regional Stability: South Africa’s Ramaphosa says the country is ashamed by vigilante attacks on foreign nationals, warning that exclusion undermines SADC integration and youth employment stability. Elections Watch (Zambia): Zambia resumed vote counting after a nationwide suspension over attacks on officials and ballot theft, with results expected later.

Trade & Jobs: The US White House report “The Great Transshipment Scam” names Kenya in a shadow network accused of helping China reroute goods to dodge Trump-era tariffs, with threats of penalties that could put about 66,000 local jobs at risk. Mining & Paychecks: South Africa’s mineral sales jumped 27% year-on-year to R86.1bn in June, led by a surge in gold and strong platinum group metals—despite weaker iron ore and other non-metallic minerals. Immigration & Work: South Africa’s new Electronic Travel Authorisation system has rejected 6,126 fraudulent applications, as Home Affairs pushes faster, tighter entry rules aimed at protecting jobs and investment. Youth Employment: An Africa Youth Survey 2026 finds 56% of young people see job creation as the top way to improve community security, linking unemployment and poverty to safety. Skills & Logistics: South Africa’s SAAFF backs a next-gen logistics push after FIATA’s Young Logistics Professional award winner Sinazo Nogwebela, including co-sponsorship for further supply-chain training. Education Tech: South Africa unveils IRIS, a humanoid classroom assistant designed to support teachers across local languages and reduce classroom pressure. Regional Migration: Experts warn SADC migration problems can’t be solved by South Africa alone, calling for shared rules across the region. Corporate Hiring Ethics: Commentary highlights South Africa’s 33.6% unemployment and argues employers must protect fairness in recruitment, because “behind every application is a person.”

AfDB Natural Capital Push: The African Development Fund approved a $4.23m grant (about 26bn FCFA) to help 13 countries better weave natural capital into development financing decisions, running from Oct 2026 to Sept 2029. Malaria Prevention Breakthrough: WEHI researchers report a new vaccination approach that primes immunity before malaria infection, with later mosquito bites acting as boosters—showing strong protection in mice. Digital Inclusion for Youth: South Africa’s school broadband push is welcomed, but a new report warns that “access” isn’t enough; readiness, support and opportunity matter for young people entering the digital economy. South Africa Healthcare Staffing Gap: The health department says it doesn’t track how many community-service doctors remain unemployed, even as it lists 1,518 vacant medical posts—fueling calls for better workforce planning. Unemployment Pressure Mounts: Stats SA puts SA unemployment at 33.6% in Q2 2026, renewing debate on job creation and who is blamed for the crisis. Cyber Threats Rising: Check Point says African organisations saw 3,237 cyber attacks per week in July, with ransomware up 87% and GenAI exposure growing as a daily risk. Migration Costs to Pretoria: South Africa is seeking reimbursement from Malawi, Ethiopia and Nigeria for nearly $18m spent on repatriations and deportation-related logistics amid rising regional tensions. Youth Work & Skills: MTN launched an AI-powered job board aimed at connecting Africa’s youth with jobs, as employers and governments grapple with skills gaps and automation risk.

Migration & Jobs: South Africa’s repatriation drive has cost nearly R300m and removed almost 90,000 people, but a Wits researcher says the strategy’s impact on unemployment and orderly migration is unclear, warning it has strained regional ties. SADC Trade Push: South Africa’s SADC chair priorities include lifting intra-regional trade to 50% by 2027, accelerating industrialisation, and turning critical-mineral wealth into regional value. STEM Pipeline: ISFAP urges tighter collaboration across schools, universities and industry to fix engineering and IT skills shortages, citing that only 42% of prospective workers meet IT requirements. Youth Leadership: Botswana’s Debswana and CEDA partner to incubate citizen-owned businesses beyond diamonds, while a Southern African student leadership conference challenges young people to lead beyond campus. Workplace Fairness: A labour-focused piece argues feminism is a practical tool for decent work, highlighting how women’s unpaid care and informal work need stronger protection. Healthcare Staffing: Doctors’ unemployment is flagged as a public-safety issue, with unions warning that vacancies are being masked by overtime and burnout. TVET Quality: South Africa’s higher education minister says TVET college incidents shouldn’t define the whole sector, after MPs raised HR and lecturer qualification concerns. Municipal Strike Risk: Joburg’s service delivery worries continue as unions prepare for strike action that could hit water and electricity repairs.