November 07
Lesotho: The Curious Case of the South African Ski Resort That Never Was - How a 1970s Land Tussle With Lesotho Shaped History
Topping out over 3,000 metres above sea level, the Drakensberg and Maluti mountains bordering South Africa and Lesotho are frequently covered in snow in winter. Back in 1975,… Read more »
November 06
Botswana: Botswana's New President - Who Is Duma Boko and What Does He Stand For?
The electoral defeat delivered to the Botswana Democratic Party led by Mokgweetsi Masisi was met with incredulity in neighbouring states. Not many expected the party that had run… Read more »
South Africa: Pregnant Teens - Girls in South Africa Need Focused, Supportive Healthcare and More Information About Safe Sex
An estimated 12 million teenage pregnancies are reported globally every year. Read more »
November 05
South Africa: South Africa's Classrooms Should Have a 'Box' of Languages to Help Children Learn - New Bilingual Education Policy Is a Start
Language has always been used as a political football in South Africa. This can be traced back to the competing English and Dutch colonisers, from the 17th to the early 20th… Read more »
Zimbabwe: Zimbabwe's Public Historian Pathisa Nyathi Has Died - He Restored the Erased History of the Ndebele People
When an elderly person dies, a library has burned down - the saying is a cliché, but has never been truer than in the case of Pathisa Nyathi, who passed away at the age of… Read more »
November 04
Southern Africa: Mosquito Season in Southern Africa - Tonic Water and Vitamins Won't Protect You but Knowing Where the Hotspots Are Will
While the emergence of colourful butterflies is a welcome sign of summer, the constant buzzing of mosquitoes is an annoying part of the season. Read more »
Namibia: Namibia's Game-Changing 2024 Elections - Swapo Might Face Defeat for the First Time Since Independence in 1990
The former liberation movement South West Africa People's Organisation (Swapo) has been in firm political control of Namibia since independence in 1990. Read more »
Africa: The Lack of Water in South Africa Is the Result of a Long History of Injustice - and Legislation Should Start There
Water scarcity is a serious problem in many parts of the world. It adds to inequalities between communities and keeps historical injustices in place. One of the countries where… Read more »
November 03
South Africa: Only 3% of South Africans Can Name All Five National Animals and Plants. Why These Symbols Matter
Alongside a national flag, anthem and coat of arms, most countries have one or more plant and animal species that they designate as national symbols. The national animal of China,… Read more »
October 30
South Africa: South Africa's Fight Against Extreme Poverty Needs a New Strategy - Model Shows How Social Grants Could Work
South Africa has been struggling for decades to reduce poverty, inequality and unemployment and raise the rate of economic growth. Read more »
October 29
South Africa: Serial Killing in South Africa - Station Strangler Murders Re-Examined in New Documentary
Between 1986 and 1994, the people of Mitchells Plain in Cape Town lived with a terrifying shadow over their lives. A killer was abducting young boys, often close to railway… Read more »
Africa: BRICS+ Could Shape a New World Order, but It Lacks Shared Values and a Unified Identity
The last two summits of Brics countries have raised questions about the coalition's identity and purpose. This began to come into focus at the summit hosted by South Africa in… Read more »
October 28
South Africa: Coloured South Africans Are All but Erased From History Textbooks - I Asked Learners How That Makes Them Feel
South African singer-songwriter Tyla made history in February 2024 when she won the inaugural Grammy for Best African Music Performance. Read more »
October 16
Mozambique: Mozambique's 2024 Elections - 9 Major Challenges That Will Face the New President
Daniel Chapo, Mozambique's incoming president, faces an array of interconnected problems deeply rooted in historical, socioeconomic, and political dynamics. Read more »
October 24
South Africa: South Africa Amended Its Research Guidelines to Allow for Heritable Human Genome Editing
A little-noticed change to South Africa's national health research guidelines, published in May of this year, has put the country on an ethical precipice. The newly added language… Read more »
South Africa: Naked Protests in South Africa - a Psychologist Explores the Emotional Power of This Form of Activism
Naked protests are a form of public demonstration where individuals, often women, use the symbolic power of their naked bodies to challenge injustices. These protests have become… Read more »
October 23
Zimbabwe: Zimbabwe's Water Supply Is in Crisis - How Political Interference and Underfunding Did the Damage
In Zimbabwe, control over water is supposed to be decentralised. In other words, the seven regions in the country have the authority to govern their own water resources in the way… Read more »
South Africa: Quality of Life Continues to Slide in South Africa's Key Economic Province, Gauteng - New Survey
The Gauteng City-Region, which has long been South Africa's economic engine, is in decline. The region contributes about 35% of the country's total economic output, and is home to… Read more »
South Africa: South Africa's Massive Sasol Petrochemical Plant Faces Serious Challenges - New Report
The giant Secunda complex of Sasol, South Africa's biggest chemicals and energy company, provides the fundamental ingredients to South Africa's petrochemical sector. It produces… Read more »
October 22
South Africa: End of Coal in South Africa - What 100,000 Workers Will Need When Their Jobs Go
South Africa's move to renewable energy means that the coal industry will be phased out over the coming decades. This transition away from a fossil-fuel based economy will affect… Read more »
October 21
Zimbabwe: Zimbabwe's ZiG - Devaluations Won't Fix a Currency That's in Trouble Because of Government Overspending
The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe devalued the ZiG by 43% on 27 September 2024. This weakened the official exchange rate from 13.9 ZiG per US dollar to 24.4 ZiG per US dollar. Read more »
October 17
Zimbabwe: Colonial White Boys in Zimbabwe - John Eppel's Autobiography Is a Welcome Book, but a Difficult Read
Zimbabwean writer John Eppel's literary career has always been defined by one peculiar trait. He publishes fictional work, in stark contrast to the majority of the country's other… Read more »
Africa: Joe Biden in Africa - U.S. President Has Ignored the Continent for His Entire Term - Why He's Visiting Angola
US president Joe Biden chose to visit Africa in the final weeks of his presidency. It would be his first trip to the continent since taking office in January 2021. Read more »
October 16
Mozambique: Mozambique's 2024 Elections - 9 Major Challenges That Will Face the Next President
The incoming president of Mozambique faces an array of interconnected problems deeply rooted in historical, socioeconomic and political dynamics. He must balance meeting immediate… Read more »
October 15
Mozambique: 9 Million Mozambicans Live Below the Poverty Line - What's Wrong With the National Budget and How to Fix It
Mozambique ranks in the bottom 20 of the human development index. This measures a country's progress based on key dimensions such as a long and healthy life and a decent standard… Read more »
The Conversation Africa (Johannesburg)
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