On the initiative of the Embassy of Tunisia in South Africa, under the leadership of HE Karima Bardaoui, a delegation of South African women took part in the ninth edition of the Financing Investment and Trade in Africa Conference 2026 (Fita), in Tunis from 28 to 30 April 2026.  The strategic engagement underscores Tunisia’s growing role as a gateway for African trade and investment, while highlighting the importance of women’s leadership in shaping the continent’s economic future. The delegation included Wendy Mpendulo, the president of the Africa Progressive Women Chamber for Trade and Industry, accompanied by two businesswomen from the chamber.  Their participation reflected a broader commitment to strengthening intra-African collaboration and empowering women entrepreneurs across value chains. A highlight of the conference was a dedicated workshop hosted by the chamber, where Mpendulo delivered a compelling address on “Women leadership and free initiative: Supporting women’s participation in African value chains.” Her presentation emphasised the importance of inclusivity in trade, advocating for increased access to markets, financing and leadership opportunities for women across the continent. Fita 2026, held under the theme “African Value Chains: Developing Strategic Levers for the Transformation of the Continent”, brought together more than 3 000 participants from more than 65 countries. Attendees included ministers, policymakers, business leaders, development institutions and private investors, creating a vibrant platform for dialogue and deal-making.  The conference reinforced its reputation as a pan-African hub for investment. This year’s edition focussed on sectors critical to Africa’s transformation, including digital innovation, clean technologies, infrastructure development and financial services. Through panels and networking platforms such as the “Deal Room”, participants explored practical pathways to unlock the continent’s economic potential. Wendy Mpendulo, the president of the African Progressive Women Chamber in SA and Anis Jaziri, the president of the Tunisian-African business council. A major outcome of the conference was the signing of 15 partnership agreements between the Tunisian African Business Council and various African chambers of commerce and employers’ organisations. The agreements span key sectors such as energy, water, telecommunications, engineering and infrastructure, reflecting a strong commitment to collaborative growth. Among the most notable initiatives discussed was a large-scale urban development project in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, covering about 43 000 hectares. Known as “Novation City Kinshasa,” the project includes plans for a technology park, textile manufacturing hubs and integrated urban infrastructure, with an estimated investment of €100 million (about R2 billion).  Additional projects in countries such as Guinea further illustrate the expanding footprint of Tunisian enterprises across Africa. The Tunisian African Business Council and the Africa Progressive Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry signed a memorandum of understanding. The milestone agreement aims to strengthen cooperation, promote women-led enterprises and facilitate greater participation of women in African trade networks. Canada was featured as the guest non-African country, highlighting growing interest in sub-Saharan Africa’s trade opportunities and reinforcing the importance of international partnerships. Discussions encouraged the continent to leverage its financial resources and reduce reliance on external funding. Taking in the sites: (From left) The author on the steps of the Café des Nattes, established in 1894, alongside HE Ambassador Shakilla Umutoni of Rwanda to Tunisia and Hisham Ben Khamsa. Photos: Marion Smith Tunisia’s broader economic strategy was also brought into focus, with ambitions to increase foreign direct investment to four billion dinars (about R217bn) by the end of 2026.  Beyond the conference halls, Tunisia revealed itself as a destination rich in history, culture and natural beauty. Widely regarded as a safe and accessible country, Tunisia offers visa-free entry for South African citizens on short stays, making it an increasingly attractive travel option. One of the country’s iconic destinations is Sidi Bou Saïd, a breathtaking village perched above the Mediterranean Sea. Known for its striking blue-and-white architecture, it is often compared to the Greek island of Santorini. With its panoramic views, art galleries and charming cafés, the village offers a serene yet culturally vibrant experience.  It was here that I got to sit on the steps of the historic Café des Nattes, established in 1894, soaking in the atmosphere alongside HE Ambassador Shakilla Umutoni of Rwanda to Tunisia and Hisham Ben Khamsa, who kindly shared insights into the heritage and character of the remarkable town and other sites. Nearby, the ancient Carthage stands as a testament to Tunisia’s rich historical legacy. Founded in the 9th century BC by Phoenicians, this Unesco World Heritage Site features remarkable ruins, including the Antonine Baths, Punic ports, and Roman villas, offering visitors a journey through centuries of Mediterranean civilisation. Equally captivating is Dougga, one of the best-preserved Roman sites in North Africa. Set on a hilltop, Dougga combines ancient architecture with sweeping views of olive groves and wildflower fields, creating a striking contrast between history and nature. Blend of old and new: (From left) From intricately designed doors to bustling markets, the medina is a living museum of Tunisian culture and craftsmanship. The Harbour in Bizerte, Dougga, one of the best-preserved Roman sites in North Africa. Dougga combines ancient architecture with sweeping views of wildflower fields. The capital, Tunis, offers a cosmopolitan blend of old and new. At its heart lies the Medina of Tunis, a Unesco-listed site renowned for its labyrinthine streets, vibrant souks and more than 700 historic monuments. From intricately designed doors to bustling markets, the medina is a living museum of Tunisian culture and craftsmanship. Tunisia’s culinary landscape is rooted in Mediterranean traditions and enriched by Berber, Arab and French influences. Tunisian cuisine is both diverse and flavourful. Dishes such as couscous, lablabi and merguez sausages highlight the country’s love for bold spices, particularly harissa. A standout experience is enjoying brik, a delicate pastry filled with egg and tuna, requiring both skill and enthusiasm to savour. Coastal towns like Bizerte offer a more relaxed charm. Dining at establishments such as Le Sport Nautique provides an opportunity to enjoy fresh seafood against the backdrop of the Mediterranean, followed by leisurely walks through historic harbour districts. From its golden beaches and sun-drenched landscapes to its rich cultural heritage, Tunisia lives up to its reputation as the “balcony of the Mediterranean”.  In bringing together economic ambition and cultural richness, Tunisia offers more than just a destination, it presents an opportunity. Whether through high-level platforms like Fita or through its vibrant tourism offerings, the country positions itself as a key player in Africa’s future while inviting the world to discover its timeless charm.

Tembeka Ngcukaitobi has been appointed as an acting justice of the Constitutional Court, with his term scheduled to run from 1 June to 30 November 2026.  That appointment has produced a wave of celebration across social media and among commentators who read it as a victory for black excellence in the legal profession. In the same breath, Ngcukaitobi is representing the white conservative side fighting the Legal Sector Code, a Solidarity-backed challenge to one of the clearest black empowerment instruments in the legal profession. This means that, while commentators celebrate his rise to the CC, he is also carrying the legal argument against a code meant to shift ownership, briefs and institutional power to black practitioners. That fact changes the entire meaning of the applause. South Africa is asked to celebrate his rise to the apex court while looking away from the courtroom where he helps carry the argument against one of the most direct instruments of black empowerment in the legal profession.  Can symbolic black ascent really mean transformation when black legal labour serves an economy of law still commanded by white institutional power? Deneys Reitz, Webber Wentzel, Werksmans and Bowmans have entered the Gauteng high court in Pretoria to fight the Legal Sector Code. The code sets a 50% black ownership target for large firms within five years, including 25% black women ownership.  Reuters reports that white South Africans make up about 7% of the population while holding 72% of partnerships at top law firms. The case shows how the legal fraternity converts black legal labour into a weapon against black collective advancement.  White power no longer needs to enter court with an open apartheid face when a black advocate can carry the argument against black ownership.  White institutional power can speak through merit, neutrality and constitutional reason while making a black man the enforcer of its will against his own people’s material claim. The white system has long sent black bodies to carry out the defeat of black collective demands when open white force would reveal too much. It keeps the white face for victory, authority, civility, judgment and historical authorship. It sends black intermediaries to do the dirty work of discipline, fracture and retreat. The black figure absorbs the political heat while the white institution preserves its manners. Ngcukaitobi’s role in this case forces a harder question than the noise around his appointment allows. Can a black advocate of his stature stand against a movement for black transformation in a profession that still locks most black lawyers out of meaningful economic power and still be received as the uncomplicated face of transformation?  Can the celebration of his appointment survive the fact that his present legal skill serves those resisting the transfer of ownership, briefs, authority and institutional control to black practitioners? The Bar will invoke the cab-rank rule, which generally requires counsel to accept a brief in a field where they practise, even when they dislike the client or cause. Yet the rule allows refusal where conflicts, competence, availability, improper instructions, fee issues or other special circumstances arise.  The rule may explain why an advocate accepts an unpopular brief. It does not remove the political meaning of a black senior counsel carrying the argument for white conservative forces against a black empowerment code. Large white firms built capacity through apartheid exclusion, then called inherited capacity merit after 1994. They accumulated banking work, mining work, corporate retainers, state contracts, commercial litigation, procurement pipelines and conveyancing panels through a racial order that denied black lawyers access to the same accumulation.  Democracy arrived and these firms translated apartheid advantage into market dominance. They turned exclusion into “standards”, then asked black practitioners to compete in a marketplace already loaded against them. The Legal Sector Code strikes at this inheritance. The code confronts the ownership patterns, briefing routes, partnership structures and commercial networks through which white firms continue to command the profession.  It challenges the passage of work from one white partner to another, from one corporate boardroom to a familiar firm, from one briefing attorney to a chosen successor. It exposes the fiction that large white firms became large through neutral excellence rather than racial accumulation, protected markets and inherited access. The large firms now ask the court to protect them from transformation targets because they claim the code lacks rationality, practicality and lawfulness.  Their public statements speak the language of broad-based transformation, while their court action seeks to remove the most direct pressure on their ownership structures.  Reuters reports that the firms argue the five-year timeline will not work because equity partnership takes longer and must follow merit. That argument avoids the centre of power. Firms inside that small elite sit closest to capital, state work and corporate command. A small cluster of elite firms controls the high-value work that builds capacity, reputation and generational wealth, then uses the weakness produced by exclusion as evidence that black firms lack scale.  The fraternity turns black-on-black violence into a career pathway when it rewards black advocates who defend the structures that keep other black legal practitioners outside command.  Courtrooms can produce this violence through silk, heads of argument, commercial logic and constitutional diction. A black advocate can defend the commercial architecture that keeps thousands of black lawyers outside meaningful economic power.  A celebrated appointment can become the alibi for an economy that refuses black control. The acting appointment deepens the political problem because it places a black advocate inside the apex architecture of the same legal order that sorts black legal minds into acceptable and dangerous categories.  The acceptable black advocate receives applause, briefs, silk, appointments and proximity to power. The troublesome black advocate, the rebel who refuses to serve white continuity, receives suspicion, isolation, professional punishment and eventual purging. The fraternity understands the value of black authority administering this violence from inside the institution. White power no longer needs to perform exclusion with its own hands when a black figure can help decide which black legal practitioners become signs of progress and which ones must leave the room.  The fraternity turns representation into discipline through this mechanism. The black man becomes the enforcer of white institutional will while the institution presents the act as constitutional maturity. Liberal commentators then provide the chorus of respectability. Many who imagine themselves radical lack the acumen to understand the structural violence against the black majority they claim to champion. They love the black excellence trope because it gives them a clean story with a famous name, a prestigious appointment and a congratulatory post.  They have no appetite for ownership, briefs, partnership, institutional command and economic transfer. They peddle obfuscation through reductionist interpretations of black life and build small empires from slogan and spectacle. The Legal Sector Code case reaches far beyond a technical B-BBEE dispute. The case forces the country to confront the legal profession as an apartheid asset that never underwent full economic transfer.  Law helped structure dispossession. Law protected land theft. Law defended pass controls, labour discipline, forced removals, banning orders, mining capital, farm property and white commercial privilege. After 1994, the profession rebranded itself as guardian of constitutional democracy while its internal economy barely moved. Black lawyers know this in their bodies. They know who receives the brief, who gets introduced to the client, who enters partnership discussions, who receives patience, mentorship and second chances.  Reuters reports that current and former black employees at several of the firms described discrimination, barriers to advancement, alleged favouritism in case allocation and promotion disputes, while the firms denied discrimination and pointed to their internal processes. Those accounts show the flesh beneath the statistics. Ngcukaitobi faces the political meaning of this moment whether the legal fraternity admits it or not.  Can a black advocate stand with the white conservative side fighting black legal empowerment and still function as the uncomplicated face of transformation?  Can the profession use individual black ascent to cover the blocked transfer of ownership, briefs and command? Black legal labour deserves more than ceremonial applause from the order that fears black power. It belongs in the service of the majority, not in defence of white institutional property.  It must build a legal economy under black command, with ownership, briefs, institutions, authority and historical repair placed in the hands of those locked out for generations. Until that happens, every celebration of individual black ascent will carry the same bitter question: How does a black advocate become the sign of transformation while standing against the movement that seeks to make transformation real? Gillian Schutte is a South African writer, filmmaker and political analyst. She specialises in African politics, geopolitics, multipolarity, media power, Western imperialism and the unfinished question of African sovereignty in post-apartheid South Africa.

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When Lythe Pillay saw his split on the second leg of the men’s 4x400m final at the World Athletics Relays in Gaborone last week, he was stunned by his performance. And he wasn’t alone. After Pillay went nearly three tenths of a second quicker than the fastest split ever run – 42.94 achieved by American legend Michael Johnson back in 1993 – athletics fans and analysts were asking questions about the legitimacy of his time (42.66). However, with the event organisers using electronic timing, despite the incredulity of some and the complexities around measuring relay splits, it seemed his time might well be legit (the debate is ongoing). And now the pressure is on the 23-year-old South African to produce something special when he lines up in an individual 400m race. “I won’t say I’m a very pessimistic person but the first thing I thought was ‘I’ll let the internet go do their research before I really claim or take credit for it’ and see how credible it is,” Pillay said after returning home this week. “It seems to be credible, but I know whether or not it’s true, the big question that remains is: What will I do in an individual 400m race? “So I feel like it’s kind of created a very big expectation, but one that I’m very excited to go and push. So my mind isn’t really on that. My mind is on ‘cool, let’s go do it again’.” Not an overnight sensation Despite many in the world of athletics questioning his latest effort on the track, Pillay’s rise as a 400m specialist has not happened overnight. He’s been a global prospect since he was a teenager. Born and raised in Benoni, Pillay started running in primary school, and after being spotted by a talent scout he was given a scholarship to attend King Edward VII School (KES) in Joburg. And after linking up with his coach Lindi du Plessis, he developed into one of South Africa’s most promising sprinters. In 2022, at the age of 19, he won the world junior title, and last year he won gold at the World University Games. He also formed part of the SA 4x400m relay teams that earned gold at the World Athletics Relays and bronze at the World Athletics Championships last season, as well as silver in Gaborone last week. And though he was eliminated in the one-lap semifinals at the 2024 Olympic Games and the 2025 World Championships, what’s been most promising is the gradual improvement he has shown in recent years. Since 2022 he has improved his personal best by nearly a full second, and his current best time is 44.32 seconds, achieved at the Central Gauteng provincial championships at UJ Stadium in March. Pillay still has a lot to prove Comparisons are now being made between Pillay and Johnson, though that’s a stretch (Johnson won two Olympic titles and four world titles in the 400m sprint, and he set a former world record of 43.18), and Pillay will need to prove he can transform his relay form into quicker times in his individual event. Nonetheless, he said he welcomed the additional pressure his relay split had placed on him, and he hoped to live up to the hype. “It’s flattering to an extent. Being compared to athletes I’ve idolised is a massive compliment, but with that comes massive expectation,” he said. “But this is the life I’ve prayed for. I’ve always wanted to become one of the world’s most renowned athletes, and with that comes expectation and pressure and that weight of the world wanting me to run faster times and really prove my calibre, and that’s a task I’m prepared for.”

Stormers captain Deon Fourie has told his teammates to become a championship team and a first win over Ulster in Belfast would go a long way to instilling that belief, when the teams meet in their United Rugby Championship (URC) match-up at the Affidea Stadium on Friday night (kick-off 8:45pm). The Stormers have enjoyed a solid URC campaign so far and sit top of the log on 56 points having won 12 and lost four games, with them one point ahead of Glasgow Warriors and three ahead of the Lions and Leinster. They thus can’t afford to slip up against eighth placed Ulster, and after a strong performance against Glasgow in their last match, they need to back that up, especially after their slip ups against Connacht and the Sharks who are both in the bottom half of the table. “I told the guys we have to be a championship team. You can’t have a good game one week and the next weekend go off plan and not play well,” explained Fourie. “So for us to progress and be in the running to win this trophy again we have to become more consistent. Everyone is happy. The last game against Glasgow was a good game. I think the challenge for us is to build on that performance. “Especially coming at the business end of the tournament. You want to progress and get better from game to game and that is the focus for the team at the moment.” Strong team The Stormers have named a strong team for the game, with a few injury and rotational changes from the side that thumped Glasgow, including Fourie captaining the team from flank, and covering hooker with loose forwards Paul de Villiers, Hacjivah Dayimani and Keke Morabe on the bench. Usual captain Ruhan Nel is out with a calf strain, but Director of Rugby John Dobson believes he will be back for the next against Cardiff, with Dan du Plessis moving to outside centre, Damian Willemse inside and Warrick Gelant comes in at fullback. Dobson admitted that having a number of utility players in the squad, who can cover positions across the pack helped in selecting the team. “It is useful. You never really want to leave Paul or Deon out. With Paul coming in it allows Deon to cover hooker later in the game,” explained Dobson. “The other element was we didn’t want to have Paul and Deon at flank together as it would put our lineout under pressure. So having Deon cover hooker gives our pack a lot more options, especially with us able to change up the locks and loose forwards.” Other notable changes see Imad Khan coming in at scrumhalf for the injured Cobus Reinach, Sazi Sandi gets a run at tighthead prop, and Evan Roos equals former Springbok great Duane Vermeulen’s 73 cap record at eighthman for the Stormers.

Orlando Pirates remain locked in a tense title race with Mamelodi Sundowns heading into the final weeks of the campaign. Kabo Yellow are first with 65 points, while the Buccaneers lurk in second spot with 62. Also read: Miguel Cardoso furious after Sundowns and Chiefs drama LELO MBELE BACKS ORLANDO PIRATES The retired striker says Bucs should be rewarded for the exciting football they have played throughout the campaign. “Based on the football that Pirates have played this season, they are the ones deserving of winning this league,” the former Orlando Pirates striker told KickOff. The Congolese forward never managed to lift the league trophy during his time in Soweto, despite being part of entertaining teams in the past. Now watching from DR Congo, Mbele says he does not want to see Pirates suffer another painful second-place finish after such a strong season. “I honestly don’t wish this Pirates team to go through the pain of playing football and finishing second,” he added. “Plus, Pirates hasn’t won the league in a very long time, so it will be refreshing to have a different winner.” Also read: Sundowns star sends message to injured Mduduzi Shabalala The former striker also believes Sundowns’ dominance over recent years has made the league less exciting for supporters. MAMELODI SUNDOWNS DOMINANCE UNDER SCRUTINY “I don’t think it portrays the correct image to have one team winning the league for almost 10 years in a row,” Mbele said. “It is not exciting for everyone that only one team wins the league for so long, non-stop.” Mbele even suggested that sponsors and neutral supporters would prefer seeing Orlando Pirates crowned champions this season. “I think even with the sponsors, the hype will be bigger if Pirates win the league this time instead of Sundowns since they are a bigger team,” he said. “So, I think even the sponsors secretly wish it will be Pirates winning it since (Kaizer) Chiefs cannot win it anymore. Even the neutrals want Orlando Pirates.” Mbele added that it has become frustrating for many supporters to see both Soweto giants go so long without winning the championship despite their massive fanbases. “It is boring that the two Soweto giants have not won the league for more than 10 years but yet they are the only teams that can have almost 100 000 fans when they play,” he said. The final weeks of the season could now decide whether Orlando Pirates finally end their 13-year league title drought. REMAINING FIXTURES Mamelodi Sundowns: Siwelele FC – Home on 9 May TS Galaxy – Away (Date to be confirmed). Orlando Pirates: Magesi FC – Away on 9 May Durban City – Home on 16 May Orbit College – Away on 23 May.

Despite a slight wobble in recent matches, Kaizer Chiefs are close to securing CAF Confederation Cup qualification. Kaizer Chiefs close in on CAF Confederation Cup qualification After a 1-1 draw with Sundowns on Wednesday, Chiefs know that five more points will guarantee third place in the Betway Premiership this term. Next up is a trip to Sekhukhune on Sunday, 10 May, kickoff at 17:30. The match will air on DStv channel 202. Three points here would put them within touching distance of CAF Confederation Cup qualification. Midfielder Siphesihle Ndlovu misses the match through suspension after his booking against Sundowns. Minor drop-off shouldn’t cost Chiefs Kaizer Chiefs clocked up five consecutive wins between 15 March and 15 April to put them in a strong position. Since then, they’ve only picked up three points from a possible 12, losing to Siwelele and registering stalemates with Polokwane, Orlando Pirates and Sundowns. Five more points in their last three matches would give them an unassailable lead over fourth-placed AmaZulu. Draw with Sundowns does Orlando Pirates a favour Chiefs took points off Sundowns on Wednesday, leaving the title race on a knife-edge. The Brazilians might ultimately see it as a point gained rather than two dropped after they came from a goal behind to battle for a point despite playing over 25 minutes with ten men.

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