Latest Opinions
West Africa trade will take a hit as Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso leave Ecowas
15th February 2024 The membership of the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) has been whittled down from 15 to 12 following the unilateral withdrawal... →
Only SA’s Parliament can authorise new armed police bodies
By: ISS, Institute for Security Studies 15th February 2024 Two recent South African law enforcement initiatives, one in Cape Town, and the other in Gauteng, have provoked interest and in some cases,... →
Failure to apply East Africa’s Mifugo Protocol keeps violence simmering
By: ISS, Institute for Security Studies 15th February 2024 At least 20-million people live in the Karamoja Cluster where Kenya, Uganda, South Sudan and Ethiopia meet. The area is home to about 14... →
Prioritising growth key to dispelling cynicism, and turning SA around
14th February 2024 The cynicism pervading the commentary around last week’s State of the Nation Address (SoNA) was entirely predictable, and had been foreshadowed in... →
17-million South Africans live on communal land – new study of a rural valley offers insights on how to manage it
14th February 2024 The Tyhume River, flowing from the forested Amathole Mountains in South Africa’s Eastern Cape province, gives its name to a valley of 20 villages... →
SoNA 2024 – Institutional incentives, not political affiliation, create prosperity
13th February 2024 President Cyril Ramaphosa’s 2024 State of the Nation Address (SoNA) has, as expected, drawn mixed reactions. The speech placed strong emphasis on... →
ICJ’s Gaza genocide case – big win, but with what effect?
By: ISS, Institute for Security Studies 13th February 2024 On 26 January, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ordered provisional measures in South Africa’s case against Israel on allegations of... →
100 years of radio in Africa: from propaganda to people’s power
13th February 2024 Radio is thriving across Africa. Exact figures are difficult to come by because audience research differs across countries. But studies estimate... →
University rankings are unscientific and bad for education: experts point out the flaws
By: Reuters 13th February 2024 We rank almost everything. The top 10 restaurants in our vicinity, the best cities to visit, the best movies to watch. To understand whether the... →
South African president Cyril Ramaphosa aims for upbeat tone in annual address, but fails to impress a jaundiced electorate
12th February 2024 This year’s State of the Nation Address – delivered annually in February by South Africa’s president – was bound to be stuffed with electioneering... →
