June 26, 2023
South Africa: Hefty Sentences for Rhino Poachers After New Wildlife Trafficking Strategy Starts to Bite
The recent sentencing of six Zimbabweans -- members of the so-called Chitiyo Rhino Poaching Gang -- to prison terms ranging from 16 to 20 years suggests that authorities are slowly… Read more »
South Africa: The Redistribution Lens of the NHI Undermines the Objective of Universal Healthcare Coverage
The NHI will not achieve universal healthcare despite its strong moral foundation. In its current iteration, it is about finances rather than health services. And for all the talk… Read more »
South Africa: The Tragic Story of the Enyobeni 21 - No Consequences, Clarity, Action or Change
A year ago, at 4am, we first heard the name of an inconspicuous tavern in Scenery Park, East London: Enyobeni. Crime alerts can be deceiving. When we hear that 21 people died in… Read more »
South Africa: One Child One Family - Giving Children a Voice and Preventing Harm
The nonprofit organisation One Child One Family recently gave children a chance to creatively express their issues and rights. The organisation has also established networks to… Read more »
June 25, 2023
South Africa: DA Leader in the Eastern Cape Legislature Served With Suspension Notice After Facebook Post Calling Helen Zille a Racist
The leader of the DA in the Eastern Cape legislature, Nqaba Bhanga, has been given 48 hours by the party to explain why he should not be suspended following his Facebook post… Read more »
South Africa: Win Back the Western Cape, Ramaphosa Tells Newly Elected ANC Provincial Leaders
ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa has shown faith in the ANC's overhauled Western Cape leadership, saying they must win back the province they lost over a decade ago. Read more »
South Africa: Mpumalanga Municipality Fined R70m for Vaal River Sewage Pollution
The Lekwa Local Municipality was fined R70m for failing to stop sewage from flowing into the Vaal River. The penalty is among the highest on record in SA for an environmental crime Read more »
South Africa: A Missing Spy, a Death and a Fired Official - The Plot Thickens in Constantia Killings
Bulgaria's chief prosecutor has been forced out of his job weeks after he said he was the target of a plot involving Krasimir Kamenov, who was assassinated in Cape Town recently Read more »
June 23, 2023
South Africa: Diepsloot Protesters March to Union Buildings and Demand Meeting With Ramaphosa
Following the failure of crime prevention interventions in Diepsloot, the beleaguered community, which has been staging violent protests, has again called on President Cyril… Read more »
June 22, 2023
South Africa: Parliament Is Incapable of Preventing Another State Capture Bid, Says Chief Justice Zondo
Zondo proposed three solutions - electoral reform, an active citizenry and the establishment of a permanent anti-State Capture and anti-corruption commission that would operate in… Read more »
South Africa: Retrenchments Loom As Nelson Mandela Bay Businesses Lose R1 Billion a Month to Load Shedding
Despite contingency measures, businesses in Nelson Mandela Bay, the heart of the country's vehicle manufacturing industry, reported losing R1-billion a month in the first six… Read more »
South Africa: Netball SA President Accused of Racism, Mismanagement and Interference
A former vice-president of Netball South Africa, as well as a former umpire, have accused the federation's current president Cecilia Molokwane of a number of misdemeanours. Read more »
South Africa: ANC Western Cape to Finally Convene Elective Conference to 'Rebuild and Renew' Leadership
The ANC has been in decline in Western Cape for over a decade. It's finally hosting its provincial conference this weekend to elect new leaders who, it hopes, can revive its… Read more »
South Africa: Makana Mayor Confident There Will Be Water, As National Arts Festival Kicks Off
Makana Local Municipality mayor Yandiswa Vara is certain there will be enough water for those attending the National Arts Festival starting on Friday in Makhanda (formerly… Read more »
South Africa: Grid Capacity Constraints Jeopardise Some Renewable Energy Projects
As South Africa ramps up its roll-out of renewable energy, it is now confronting the same challenge faced by countries across the globe. Depleted grid capacity in resource-rich… Read more »
South Africa: Appeal to Declare Citrusdal a Disaster Area Amid Warning of More Rain
More than 20 communities remain cut off from the rest of the Western Cape following the heavy rains, while a helicopter had to be used to deliver food. Read more »
South Africa: Cadre Deployment - ANC's Holy Grail Comes Under Pressure Just When They Need It Most
DA court victories over the issue of cadre deployment are about to bring the crucial issue into political focus all over again. Read more »
June 21, 2023
South Africa: Experts Stress Importance of Vaccinating Children in Wake of Measles, Mumps and Diphtheria Outbreaks
In recent months, there have been outbreaks in South Africa of vaccine-preventable diseases including measles, mumps and diphtheria. Read more »
South Africa: May Consumer Price Index Slows to 6.3%, Signalling End of Interest Rate Hiking Cycle
South Africa's consumer price index slowed faster than expected in May to 6.3% year-on-year, a 13-month low, from 6.8% in April. This may give the South African Reserve Bank the… Read more »
June 20, 2023
South Africa: Investigating Unit Considers New Options in Fort Hare Probe After Mabuyane Secures Interdict
'Well, this has never happened before,' Special Investigating Unit spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago said on Tuesday a few hours after the premier of the Eastern Cape, Oscar Mabuyane,… Read more »
South Africa: SA Launches $1bn Green Hydrogen Fund With Netherlands, Denmark to Tackle Climate Crisis
The SA-H2 fund is seeded by an initial $250m from Invest International, and aims to capitalise on South Africa's wind and solar resources to mitigate the impacts of the climate… Read more »
South Africa: Simplest Solution to Cholera Crisis Is Fixing Our Broken Sewerage Systems
What we learn from the history of cholera is that resistance to implementing fundamental human health management practices, first learnt in London in the 1800s, costs human lives. Read more »
June 19, 2023
South Africa: Amatola Water Vows to Pull Out All Stops to Keep Makhanda Water On for National Arts Festival
The Amatola Water Board has promised to do its best to keep the water on during the arts festival that takes place in Makhanda in July. The town, home to Rhodes University and the… Read more »
South Africa: ANC Government Has Consigned Countless SA Children to a Lifetime of Catch-Up and Struggle
To fully understand the neglect of our children by the ANC government, we need to consider that it is in fact driven by a particular kind of prejudice against children. Not benign… Read more »
South Africa: Response to Grounding of African Peace Mission Plane Reveals Very Selective Outrage
Why are commentators bending over backwards to justify the actions of Warsaw in holding South African journalists and officials hostage? Read more »