SA's HPV vaccination drive to protect girls is working
South Africa’s school-based HPV vaccination programme is delivering measurable population-level benefits.
Power cuts and sleep
Students link loadshedding to anxiety, disrupted rest and lower marks.
Here's how Africa’s bats could survive climate change
As the climate changes, bats will need both suitable foraging landscapes and caves for roosting.
Lion tracks from the ice age
How two ways of seeing brought ancient animals to life - indigenous knowledge has pushed scientists’ boundaries.
Why Africa’s SMEs need access to the infrastructure behind AI
While policymakers celebrate Africa’s booming AI adoption in mobile apps and fintech, small businesses tend to remain locked out of high-value innovation.
Activist-poet sadly forgotten
Zorro Ramovha warned about post the danger of liberation movement leaders once they have control.
The most critical AI choices may not be about AI
Whether AI narrows existing divides or deepens them may depend less on the technology itself than on the systems surrounding it.
Why global leaders, academics support SA’s call to address wealth disparity
As more countries back the proposal at the 81st UN General Assembly, momentum for the landmark initiative, borne from South Africa’s G20 presidency, is growing.
What happens to their health if young people move for opportunity?
Moving can change the conditions that shape health, so health and social policy must plan for a mobile population.
Sacred springs of South Africa: pure waters or polluted?
Even South Africa’s remote sacred springs are not untouched: research found microplastics in all nine tested, including waters used for healing and drinking.
The 20‑year evolution of liver transplants in South Africa
South Africa runs a single waiting list for all transplant recipients, whether from the private or public sector.
When women live in fear, none of us can remain neutral
The discovery of women’s bodies across Ekurhuleni has once again brought South Africa’s gender-based violence crisis into sharp focus.
Universal reporting template could help nonprofits
A common reporting structure that combines financial and non-financial information reduces pressures on both donors and NPOs.
Early mammals weren’t all loners, as scientists thought
Our mammalian ancestors living 160 million years ago sometimes lived in pairs.
Global justice report misses realities of 2 billion informal workers
Redistribution must recognise that most workers are in informal employment.
Report: Health systems needs to prepare for ageing with HIV
The challenge now is not simply helping people live longer, but ensuring they age well.
Governments shouldn’t rely on AI to decide who gets a social grant
Inside a South African court case: Automated systems need to be watched carefully to ensure they are in fact operating in the public interest.
A new class of metals could transform Africa’s clean energy economy
Storing hydrogen in metallic materials is a promising avenue for extracting value from Africa’s minerals.
Alcohol’s hidden calories: product labels could help fight obesity
The typical alcoholic beverage disclosed only a single piece of nutritional information: its alcohol content.
Fierce journalist, ‘Big Bill’, passes away
Richard William (RW) Johnson (1943 – 2026), one of South Africa's leading liberal public intellectuals, and a good friend, passed away recently.
The AI scaling problem nobody talks about
AI pilots often succeed. Scaling them is where technology collides with organisational reality.
Extra-constitutional changes of government in Africa
Presidents and prime ministers in Africa refuse to hand over power after their constitutionally limited time in office ends.
Glass Ceilings 2026: Women in South Africa Media
Seventy-five percent of women journalists report experiencing cyberbullying while facing other ‘isms’, says a new report edited by Prof. Glenda Daniels.
A sharp fall in gas supplies in 2028 threatens SA’s economy
South Africa needs a credible gas plan tied to procurement, infrastructure and industrial policy.
Chinese dissenting economist Gao Shanwen dies
Gao Shanwen last year outraged the Chinese Communist Party leadership when he said China's official post-Covid-19 GDP numbers may not be accurate.
Global South universities’ role in the Just Transition goes beyond divestment
Fossil Free South Africa’s divestment campaign overlooks what Global South universities are for and the complexities they face.
How oil turned the motors of capitalism
The story of oil is focused on the US. But our oil-centred world was made through wider global relations.
Renewable energy transition: clear these 5 bottlenecks
South Africa is struggling to move to renewable energy because of: Eskom’s dominance, weak planning, a poor grid, failing municipal networks and unused solar.
Student gambling: What is the real crisis?
What the rise of student gambling tells us about South Africa, student wellbeing and the future of higher education.
Could AI create a new form of inequality in South Africa?
If AI is not designed properly, inequalities can reappear in new, digital forms.
Tribute to Naledzani Mashapa
National student leader, champion of worker rights and fierce non-racialist.
Joburg’s new loan won’t fix power fast
A German loan for fixing Johannesburg’s electricity utility is unlikely to make much difference to users yet: prices will probably rise faster than inflation.
Soweto uprising: Ma Vesta Smith
She was a trusted mentor to young militants whose 1976 uprising shaped the country forever.
SA's jobs crisis: what 10 years of tax data tells us
South Africa shouldn’t settle for a future in which millions who are willing and able to work go hungry while the country waits for the formal sector to grow.
Xenophobia in South Africa: state’s complicity with gangs and vigilantes
The only interventions capable of disrupting xenophobia are those that lower, or ideally eliminate, its political, economic and social benefits.
Blaming migrants ignores the real causes of South Africa’s economic crisis
The economic and social conditions in which anti-migrant sentiment has exploded in South Africa include high joblessness and a collapse of government services.
Failure to manage Ebola outbreak will be catastrophic
Call for African-led solutions grows as global aid shifts away from health emergencies.
Can Ubuntu survive the age of AI?
As AI becomes more conversational, the real question is not only what it can do, but what it may displace in a society rooted in presence and community.
Renewable energy transition: Embrace public and private ownership
They have to be shared through a private/public partnership that ensures that inequalities in our society are not deepened.
Turtles finally have a place in the tree of life
Palaeontologists have got a clearer picture of where turtles fit in the animal kingdom, thanks to analysis of a southern African fossil.
Africa’s climate crisis is a legal crisis too
A landmark climate case before the African Court asks what African states must do to protect human rights, phase out fossil fuels, and tackle climate change.
Africa missing from genetic research
Africa has the world’s greatest genetic diversity, yet it’s missing from research: We’re filling the gap.
SA teachers ill-prepared to handle bullying
Teachers’ past experiences of bullying shape how they might understand or respond to learner behaviour.
Failing the elderly in Botswana
Pensions for Botswana’s elderly are growing, but care services are lacking – study tracks 20 years.
SA and oil: data black holes and low strategic stock
South Africa’s fuel supply and the Iran war: Not really knowing how much fuel your country needs is a problem.
We brought together African musicians and AI - here’s what happened
When a team at 91心頭利 University and I started organising a pilot project around AI and African Music, I didn’t quite know what to expect.
Consumers have a right to know they're 'talking' to a machine
Undisclosed automation impacts trust, communication, and decision-making during conversations with companies.
ANC may finish what apartheid started
South Africa is now at the tipping point of ethnic, colour fragmentation, tribalisation and Balkanisation.
Why technical colleges keep failing students and employers
South Africa’s 50 public (TVET) colleges are, in the main, struggling institutions. Reforms to skills training could repeat the mistakes of the past 30 years.
No need to sign up for gym: even small movements have health benefits – research
South Africa is facing an alarming increase in non-communicable diseases and related mortality.
Lessons from SA's AI policy based on fake research
The incident is being treated as an embarrassment. It’s something more serious: a failure of the very standards the revised policy must uphold.
Pre-digital inertia in SA’s public sector
The problem isn’t technology or resistance. It’s pre-digital habits that bend modern systems to fit the old bureaucratic logic.
Jobless youth key to social and economic development
South Africa can tackle its youth unemployment crisis through fixing societal, economic, democratic, and state failure.
Economic policy in South Africa neglects informal traders
Traders in the informal economy need a supportive ecosystem so they can move beyond survival and contribute to local growth and development.
Don't stress!
Striped mice survive harsh drought by slowing down and not getting stressed.
Kenya’s new infrastructure fund is long overdue
The Infrastructure Fund’s architecture undermines the expectation of full autonomy from political and executive meddling.
More protection for gig economy workers
South Africa is proposing to extend labour and social protections to platform workers.
What does a house mean to you?
Housing policy should take note of what a home really means to people.
Oil price surge is hurting African economies
The universal fear is the effect of price increases on fuel, a staple commodity in every one of the countries for ordinary people as well as industries.
Blood donation and big data: Untapped tech opportunity
Big data intelligence moves the blood collection system from scrambling during predictable crises, to building resilience through data-driven foresight.
Universities, institutional autonomy and the global knowledge commons
With global uncertainty, universities remain one of our greatest intellectual assets. It must draw on the best global minds but keep an eye on social redress.
When empowerment becomes elite enrichment
The reality is, the former majority ANC government’s BEE strategies have largely benefited a small group of well-connected black and white individuals.
Obesity is on the rise in Africa
Obesity – which the World Health Organization classifies as a disease – is not just an individual issue; it is shaped by the systems people live in.
Ideologically bankrupt ANC persists with BEE
South Africa’s current model of BEE will compound the looming economic crisis.
Killer beetles in the baobabs: Researcher warns of risk to African trees
Cyber risk: A test of leadership
Why South African organisations must stop treating cyber risk as a technical inconvenience.
Securing vibe coding: The hidden risks behind AI-generated code
South Africa’s tech leaders must rethink their growing dependence on AI-assisted software development
The most complete Australopithecus skeleton to date
Meet the reconstructed skull of “Little Foot” which provides valuable insights into how our ancestors adapted to their environment.
Does South Africa have a future without power cuts?
One thing is certain: there will be ongoing contestation over the path and pace of South Africa’s electricity reforms.
Why cyber security remains a human discipline
Artificial intelligence is reshaping cyber security, but what it leaves behind may matter more than what it automates.
Africa’s critical minerals are a huge economic opportunity
The G20’s new critical minerals framework wants to move Africa beyond raw exports so that mineral wealth creates jobs and growth on the continent.
Ransomware: What it is and why it’s your problem
Ransomware is a growing threat on the continent. There are a number of steps companies can take to combat it.
HIV funding still falls short of targets after pledges
A mix of domestic revenue generation, efficiency gains and strategic partnerships is essential to sustain and expand HIV programmes despite declining aid.
High cholesterol and insulin resistance are rising among young SAs
The modernisation of small towns, while positive economically, brings hidden health costs.
Johannesburg has failed its informal traders
Informal trading is an integral part of the city of Johannesburg’s identity and while policies are in place, but action is needed to manage this economy.
A Namib desert beetle runs to stay cool
How scientists solved the puzzle of this unique and speedy species.
Hotter weather thickens the blood of wild mammals
In a world first we traced this in African striped mice using 12 years’ worth of blood samples.
Why do South African teachers still threaten children with a beating?
Ideas about corporal punishment become part of a culture that is passed from one generation to the next.
Teachers need to play an expanded fostering role
In near-failed states, such as South Africa, individual teachers have a greater obligation to mould citizens for the fast-changing world.
Food waste in South Africa is dumped in landfills
Every year, millions of tonnes of food end up in South Africa’s landfills. Study weighs up healthier and more sustainable options
Fossil science owes a debt to indigenous knowledge
Long ago, people identified fossils in their environment and explained them within their own cultural framework. This was early citizen science.
TotalEnergies: French court ruling boosts African cases against polluters
Some African countries have consumer protection laws that they could use to hold fossil fuel companies accountable for pretending to be green.
The G20 presidency that could have been: SA’s missed chance
SA's G20 presidency wrongly prioritised global, long-term interventions that try to foster global structural economic changes, but are not immediately feasible.
Global inequality is as urgent as climate change
There is a great institutional need for strong inequality analysis. That’s why the world needs to establish an International Panel on Inequality.
The ghost workers behind the AI revolution
How Africa’s invisible digital labour is fuelling the AI revolution and why it’s time to confront the human cost.
The silent engine of SA’s future is hiding in plain sight
Advanced mathematical sciences, from pure and applied mathematics to statistics, data science and operations, research, quietly underpin and power every modern.
How bats and moths keep Africa’s giant trees alive
New research shows that baobab tree flowers have adapted to meet the needs of either bats or moths, and without these creatures, the trees will not survive.
South Africa needs to rethink its community media policy
Access to media in South Africa closely matches the country’s socio-economic inequality.
Climate tipping points are close
Dangerous climate tipping points will threaten food, water and coastlines. They’re irreversible and only radically accelerated climate action can stop them now.
Where did the first people come from?
The case that a coastal migration from southern Africa was more likely to succeed than an overland journey.
Ethiopian quarter: How migrants have shaped a thriving shopping district
Ethiopian migrants in Johannesburg have reused buildings, densified commercial space and developed networks.
South Africa’s G20 opportunity in the age of AI
As G20 president, South Africa can highlight the importance of digital sovereignty for ensuring dignity, economic justice, and resilience.
When digital progress leaves basic literacy behind
Digital access is expanding fast across South Africa, but without basic literacy, can it truly empower?
Fruit juices in SA are getting a free ride
Why they should have the same health warning labels as fizzy drinks.
Inflation targeting in South Africa
Former Minister of Finance Nhlanhla Nene discusses whether the time is right to shift the level from a range of 3% to 6%.
Reclaim the Cape Flats from parasitic gangs
A new more comprehensive approach are needed to combat runaway gangsterism on the Cape Flats in the Western Cape.
User and consumer should pressure water bodies
The provision of water in many of SA’s cities and towns has deteriorated to such an extent that many citizens are without water for long periods.
How to fix neglect of Africa in pre-clinical studies
New models could close the diversity gap in global disease discovery and treatment.
What I learned on my journey through breast cancer
In Breast Cancer Awareness Month, everyone should contribute in whatever way they can to a cancer survivor’s remission.
How Trump’s Arctic strategy threatens US research funding
Trump Administration’s securitisation of Arctic affairs and its implications for US federally funded research.
Deepfakes and South African law
South African law tackles deepfakes but enforcement remains a challenge.
AI in schools could become next e-tolls debacle
AI surveillance in education promises efficiency, but like e-tolls, it risks importing foreign systems that fail our people, values and lived realities.
'Helen Zille may become the best mayor Johannesburg never had'
Will competence, courage and a dose of arrogance be enough to get her elected as Johannesburg’s mayor?
Satanic panic: 5 ‘occult’ crimes that gripped SA
From demon-possessed killers to charismatic cultists, it can sometimes seem as though South Africa is at war with evil itself.
Inequality in Africa: what drives it, how to end it
Elites have often shaped or manipulated state policies in ways that protect their interests and reinforce inequality.
South Africa’s G20 opportunity in the age of AI
As G20 president, South Africa can highlight the importance of digital sovereignty for ensuring dignity, economic justice, and resilience.
Breast cancer: new study finds genetic risk in African women
Two genomic variants contribute to the risk of breast cancer in black South African women.
Johannesburg: How to fix a city teetering on the brink of failure
The South African national government may have to intervene on behalf of Johannesburg residents as the city appears to be accelerating into becoming a failed ci
An exploding star, climate change and evolution — what's the link?
Global cooling associated with the impact of supernova remnants may have affected plants and animals, including species related to humans.
Older Africans are overlooked in HIV care and research
Ageing with HIV is now a global public health reality, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, and the response must evolve to reflect that.
New book offers a critical take on BBC in Africa
The end of colonisation did not dismantle the BBC’s operation – the style was already embedded in the broadcasting system.
Should governments pay businesses for climate disasters?
Two South African insurance companies are suing the government after large companies suffered catastrophic damage in 2022 floods.
How do bodies decompose?
New innovations in understanding how a dead body breaks down can be scaled globally.
SA must refine its own AI future and secure algorithmic sovereignty
The country stands at a crossroads. It is essential that we and other African countries build the capacity to refine our own data.
Learning stats through stories
Statistics professor Johan Ferreira was feeling overwhelmed by the amount of “screen time” involved in online learning in 2021. What to do?
What international climate change ruling means for Africa
The International Court of Justice says governments are legally obliged “to achieve deep, rapid and sustained reductions” in greenhouse gas emissions.
Sexual health is an extra struggle for women with disabilities
Findings from 10 African countries: Women with disabilities can’t always make informed reproductive choices, and this can make them even more vulnerable.
SA finds itself in dangerous historical moment
It chose a risky approach to global politics, and if it wants to make its own path in the global order, it must expect reprisals. Here are 3 steps to succeed.
Breakthrough quantum research will have revolutionary impact
"We will be able to quickly solve very hard problems in fields such as chemistry, pharmacology, logistics, finance and many more," says Professor Andrew Forbes.
Sexism in science: trailblazing women who shattered stereotypes
The tools that feminist science studies have developed are critical to the sciences because they ask new questions, and develop new methodologies.
Smart cities start with people, not technology
Lessons from Westbury, Johannesburg, show that technology must be controlled by the community and enhance people’s daily lives.
Africa’s minerals are being bartered for security
This is a bad idea. African nations need to negotiate contracts that ensure they hold on to the power their resources bring.
Slow-motion denialism as HIV services collapse
South Africa is staging a sequel to Mbeki-era HIV denialism, only this time the science, solutions and costs are clearer.
How organisations thrive amid wrecking balls like Trump, ANC
Organisational resilience starts with curious, imaginative and emotionally intelligent leaders.
Egypt needs more drinkable water
Egypt has always relied on the River Nile for its freshwater but needs new sources to cope with a growing population. Desalinating seawater could be a solution.
Fun with fossils: SA kids learn more with museum visit
The country still has low acceptance rate of human evolution. Learners understood human origins better after interactive workshops at a museum.
How battery swapping stations powered by solar and wind can work in SA
Electric vehicles are expensive and yet to take off in South Africa. Wind and solar powered battery swapping stations could help motorists make the switch.
When is it acceptable to use AI in academic publishing?
This field is evolving rapidly and the education sector, for one, is abuzz with discussion on AI use for writing.
Reptile colonies lived communally 250 million years ago
A new fossil discovery suggests that reptiles lived together 20 million years earlier than previously thought.
Africa’s moment to lead the hydrogen revolution lies beneath our feet
Geologic hydrogen can help Africa leapfrog into an energy-secure future.
What the G20 can do to help countries share electricity
South Africa’s G20 presidency wants to set up at least three projects to share energy across borders in Africa within 10 years.
Digital government can benefit citizens
South Africa has the opportunity to build a model of digital transformation that strengthens public institutions rather than diminishes them.
Sex and disability: Nigerian women share their stories
Despite growing global interest in sexual and reproductive health, the voices of women with disabilities have remained largely unheard.
G20 countries should add their weight to tax these killers
The G20 should acknowledge that diseases like high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes are part of a system in which commercial actors are causing ill health.
Afrikaners today: what is their real status?
The first wave of an estimated 500 white South Africans touched down in Dulles Airport this month on a US-government chartered airplane.
Trump’s Afrikaners are South African opportunists, not refugees
There is no evidence whatsoever that Afrikaners or white people more generally are subject to genocide. what’s behind the US move?
Light is the science of the future
Scientists on the African continent have made notable contributions to photonics research.
US HIV funding cuts – what’s being lost
The US cuts in research funding are devastating to the fight against HIV/Aids. It’s going to be very hard to recover.
How to tell if a photo’s fake? You probably can’t
The solution demands two simple and clear actions: declare that photo manipulation has taken place and disclose what manipulation was carried out.
First fossil pangolin tracks discovered in South Africa
No fossilised pangolin tracks had been recorded anywhere in the world until a track was found in South Africa, dated to between 90,000 and 140,000 years ago.
South Africa’s HIV programme is collapsing
We are about to see a wave of new HIV infections, sickness and death, with children born infected in record numbers.
Coal to green energy: Rural solar can transform mining gains
A truly just transition would ensure that communities are not left behind when shifting from coal power to green energy.
Africa’s superfood heroes – from teff to insects
Africa’s indigenous foods may hold the key to a healthier, more sustainable future – if we choose to value them.
Fact and Fiction - A comment on the 2025-6 Budget
SA's overall economic strategy in the budget and the proposed VAT increase demand more rigorous debate.
Tech can drive blood donations
South Africa must shift from finding new blood donors to building relationships with existing ones. Technology can help.
Qualifications — The lying public servants
South Africa has a problem with people in the public service lying about their qualifications. Here's what needs to change.
How to cope with diabetic foot pain
A significant number of diabetics experience intractable pain because of nerve damage and this has devastating consequences for their quality of life.
Licences won’t fix dirty water
South Africa’s government has a new plan to license water providers and revoke the licences if they don’t deliver clean, drinkable water.
Achieving a just transition to renewable energy
Socially-owned renewable energy is a viable alternative which has the potential to generate income and development opportunities.
Global crises have hit education hard
A 24-year research review offers a way forward for southern Africa and points to steps that can make education systems more resilient in times of crisis.
The fiery death of Africa's first fossil thrips
This is the first time a fossil of this tiny insect pest has been recorded anywhere in Africa, and it met its end in a volcanic lake 90 million years ago.
Moving graves and people for coal mines
The devastating costs of mining in South Africa: A new book looks at the spiritual dislocation experienced by people to make way for coal mines.
Sugary drinks are a killer: 20% tax increase would save lives
A sugar-sweetened beverage tax is effective in reducing sugar consumption and should be increased for health reasons, researchers argue.
Taung child: The controversial fossil that shaped human origins
Historian Christa Kuljian and paleoanthropologist Dipuo Kgotleng talk to The Conversation Weekly podcast about the complicated legacy of the Taung child skull.
US exit from Paris Agreement opens door for SA leadership
SA can choose to stick with an outdated energy system, or embrace a future where clean energy powers industries, drives growth and secures wellbeing.
When did our ancestors start eating meat? Fossil teeth offer clues
Not knowing exactly when regular meat consumption became part of our ancestors’ diets is a gap in our understanding of human evolution.
Children with hearing problems: why acting early can make all the difference
Unidentified or late identified hearing impairment has significant implications for the speech-language, cognitive and scholastic development of the child.
Climate talks: global south must take the lead
Reducing emissions, removing greenhouse gases, repairing ecosystems and building resilience are the four R’s that can save the planet.
VAT: Who should bear the burden of taxes?
The important question in a democratic setting is who gets to pay taxes and how they connect to the well-being of its citizens.
SA court ruling shifts thinking on publicly naming rape suspects
The court judgment makes it clear that naming and shaming someone by name is not necessarily harassment.
South Africa's thousand-year history gap
Historians are uncovering a huge chunk of South Africa's history not taught in schools and their research is rethinking our past.
Africans are overlooked in multimorbidity research
Living with multiple chronic conditions cuts lives short. People of African descent often have non-communicable and infectious diseases at the same time.
Trump/SA: How white victimhood is linked to white supremacy
Rural violence is a huge problem in South Africa that deserves a strong response. But white people are not the only casualties.
Why SA is not ready to produce green hydrogen
Chemical engineering specialists have mapped out the risks for South Africa in setting up a multi-billion dollar green hydrogen industry.
How to encourage people to stay tuned to radio stations
Radio needs to continue being innovative so that it continues being a great and reliable medium.
Colonialism and apartheid stripped black SA's of land and labour rights
Corrective policies should be implemented as part of a holistic, long-term strategy to address historical injustices and create a more equitable society.
Using your own tech for work? Why it’s a security hazard
Letting employees use their own devices such as laptops and phones for work has many benefits – and many risks, too.
Why do falcons have stripes under their eyes?
Some have dark stripes under their eyes, thought to reduce sun glare. But in other falcon species these markings are unrelated to sunlight.
Professor Sibusiso Bengu’s education legacy
Reforms were poorly thought-out and executed, and their ramifications continue to undermine the quality of education and economic growth.
Africa’s PhDs: study shows how to develop strong graduates who want to make a difference
The challenge for universities is to produce graduates who can work with others to produce knowledge and research that can change societies for the better.
What motivates you to get out of bed?
Finding a purpose is the key to a meaningful life: why you get out of bed, what motivates you and gives you a reason to live.
How to stay safe in cyberspace: 5 essential reads
Whether we’re socialising, shopping, banking, studying or working, billions of people around the world spend hours each day online.
Rock art acoustics: Study shows distant echo attracted artists
The Kurukop echo amplifies a mythological story from the Nama Karoo region: Echo is daughter of Mountain and Wind.
Why it’s a good idea to make alcohol more expensive – health economist
South Africa wants to introduce an excise tax on alcohol to make sure no alcoholic drink can be sold below a certain price.
SA part of climate case at world’s highest court
Historic climate change advisory: what the case before the International Court of Justice might mean and why it is significant.
COP29: Success or failure?
Climate deal may falter as climate sceptic Trump assumes the US Presidency in January 2025. He has threatened to withdraw the US from the Paris Agreement.
Five essential reads: How fossil tracks reveal SA's ancient coastlines
Tracks and traces from long ago are preserved in cemented dune surfaces.
African men most at risk of prostate cancer
African men have a high risk of prostate cancer. Research has found genetic regions associated with this disease.
Five things you should know about the HIV epidemic
Aids was first identified 40 years ago: these are the game changers that have revolutionised treatment – and the obstacles that remain.
Vishnu Padayachee: A teacher above all
He was my friend and mentor, serving as a bridge between an emerging generation of activist academics and an older generation of more established ones.
The next 1,000 days are critical too
The first 1,000 days of a child’s life are crucial – so is the next 1,000 days. A range of influences shape children between the ages of 2 and 5.
Illegal mining clampdown in South Africa
Treating desperate people like criminals is an injustice, and a dangerous narrative, dehumanising people forced into informal mining to escape poverty.
Will the COP29 climate talks tackle injustice?
Developing nations are least responsible for climate change but cop it worst. Who is responsible for climate change?
Climate change: women’s role in the economy is key to a just transition
Evidence suggests that a low-carbon transition could worsen gender inequalities if not properly addressed in climate policy.
Seeing stars in a whole new light
After 64 years, the Johannesburg Planetarium has been upgraded featuring new cutting-edge digital projectors that will enhance its role in science education.
SA’s massive Sasol petrochemical plant faces serious challenges – new report
Sasol’s Secunda facility is the largest greenhouse gas emitter in the world. New research looks at how to move the petrochemical manufacturer away from coal.
The emotional power of naked protests in South Africa
Interviews with women who have staged naked protests reveal this is not just a shock tactic, but a powerful way of claiming their voices and their dignity.
SA is not one of the most politically polarised countries - sociologist
South Africa’s government of national unity forged after the 2024 elections refutes the claim that there are two antagonistic political camps.
Being black in the world
A tribute to pioneering South African psychologist Chabani Manganyi.
War and the supernatural in Congo
Former soldiers recall the ritual practices used to prepare for battle. Rituals can function as a source of strength and sense confidence and security.
Profiteering from poverty: Corporations should be held accountable
Big companies profit from poverty but aren’t obliged to uphold human rights. International law must change.
Hi-tech solutions fit for mining
A business-centric approach can overshadow the broader goals of social and environmental sustainability.
Breast cancer in Africa: myths that need to be debunked
Dispelling myths around breast cancer in Africa is important so that treatment care can focus on the dire socio-economic issues facing patients.
Beyond changing attitudes: Tackling systemic gender inequity
Continuing the gender equity conversation sparked at 91心頭利 in 2023, a follow-up Gender Equity Webinar took place in September.
Zimbabwe’s water supply is in crisis
How political interference and underfunding did the damage. Water needs to be managed at a local level, so that communities have a say in their own supply.
Massive electricity price hike is totally unrealistic
Eskom's proposed 36.1% electricity price hike in South Africa is unaffordable and out of line with the country’s development goals.
GNU: Following same old policies won't dent inequality and poverty
Unless the economic benefits resulting from having the government of national unity become socially inclusive, it might well collapse.
GNU: SA's unity government is being tested
The toppling of a mayor of South Africa’s capital city, highlights the provincial ANC's disdain for its national partnership with the DA.
GNU: Destined for greatness or doomed to fail?
The Government of National Unity (GNU) is a one in a generation opportunity to bring inclusive prosperity, peace and jobs.
Who cares? Climate crises and care crisis are worsening
The concept of care can serve as a powerful focal point for understanding the climate challenge and for policies toward a sustainable and equitable future.
The remarkable career of Tito Mboweni
From South African freedom fighter to central bank governor and trusted politician.
Kenyans stand to lose from Adani airport deal: finance guru explains why
A deep analysis reveals the flawed structure and opaqueness of the proposed Jomo Kenyatta International Airport deal.
What's stopping SA child vaccination system from being great
Professors Susan Goldstein and Haroon Saloojee assess South Africa’s child vaccination programme.
Egypt’s fears about Ethiopia’s mega-dam haven’t come to pass
The controversy over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam reflects historical conflicts rather than a careful analysis of modern challenges.
Kenya could run out of money to repay massive debts
Data from Kenya’s central bank show that public debt (total money owed) declined between December 2023 and June 2024.
Four ways Africa is already seeing the effects of climate change
We’re already seeing the impacts of weather extremes on key parts of our lives, from the food we eat to the roads we use and our health.
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Fossils may have inspired mysterious SA cave painting
The first inhabitants of southern Africa knew about locally abundant dicynodont fossils and made rock art about them.
Government delayed energy transition because of coal mining
South Africa’s move to green energy was slowed down by government to protect coal mining
Water data hub for Gauteng
The water dashboard will help residents to keep track of shortages and repair issues and help to understand just how bad things are.
How scientific racism's history shapes modern medical ethics
Steve Biko’s murder exposed deep racism in how medicine was taught and practised in South Africa.
It is hard to give an account of Pravin Gordhan’s political commitment in a few words
Pravin Gordhan: a lifetime of service to South Africa – as an activist and then in building the new democracy.
SA's green hydrogen hub will cost billions, not millions
The European Union grant of €32 million is not nearly enough to get the industry going in South Africa. The real cost will be €20 billion.
SA meteorite - what it is and where it came from
Meteorites contain a wealth of information about the origins of our solar system, helping us to understand their, and even Earth’s, origin and evolution.
Réunion could attract more tourists - study
Réunion is a tropical island getaway – our climate study shows that it could attract more tourists during European summers.
SA’s economy needs a shot in the arm, not austerity
Austerity means choosing not to invest in citizens, contrary to the country's constitution. Here are key areas where more public spending would get results.
Donating blood, organs or bone marrow stem cells is active citizenship
It shows care, responsibility and looking out for fellow citizens in need. It is also a unique way of sharing compassion across race, colour and class.
Baobabs: Africa’s unique trees defy climate challenges
Baobabs have been a food, fibre and medicine source in Africa for centuries. They continue to flourish.
New electricity law brings reform
Good news for competition in South Africa's electricity market but big hurdles must be overcome before success is achieved.
Africa’s ‘youthquake’: No jobs, the wrong skills and little hope
With growing populations and major youth unemployment in Africa, more must be done to create jobs and help young people develop the right skills.
Climate change: how capitalism and colonialism fit in
Amitav Ghosh has used his storytelling prowess to outline the historical and political roots of climate change within systems of power and oppression.
How does a disease spread from animals to humans?
The behaviour of modern humankind has played a large part in the advent of new communicable diseases.
Scientists explore how to use mosquitoes' gut bacteria to fight malaria
In a sense, a malaria-transmitting mosquito is a sick mosquito. This is where bacteria can help.
Some solitary mammals have surprisingly social lives
Many of the endangered mammal species are solitary. Understanding this way of life may help to protect them.
Affordable new AI device to monitor air pollution hotspots in real-time
A team of particle physicists have rolled out the first inexpensive South African air quality monitoring system using AI to predict areas of high pollution.
Four urgent reasons to tackle inequality in South Africa
Inequality is bad for politics, the economy, society and climate change, and South Africa has a huge gap between rich and poor.
Bacteria and plants could help clean up toxic waste from gold mines
Acid mine drainage, toxic water spilling from mines, ruins the environment and affects people’s health. Plants and bacteria could help clean it up.
African archaeology has neglected Namibia’s deserts
Scientists now know when an ancient lake supported human life in the Namib Sand Sea.
ANC’s political dominance will continue - and hurt DA
The ANC leads the unity government. If it leads South Africa back to happier times, that is most likely to benefit the ANC, rather than the DA.
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The vanishing lake
Fossil algae show a lake once existed on Lesotho’s Mafadi summit but it vanished about 150 years ago.
GNU must act in widest possible interest
Too often, a ruling party assumes — wrongly — that what’s good for it must also be good for the nation.
Wildfires in South Africa are set to increase
How legal action can help the country adapt better to climate change and it's deadly impact.
TB: gene editing could add new power to vaccine
The only vaccination against TB is more than 100 years old. Gene-editing has made it more effective.
The HIV epidemic 40 years on
The 25th International AIDS Conference is currently happening in Germany. Here are five essential reads on breakthroughs, blind spots and new challenges.
Lessons from the inquest judgment of the Life Esidimeni tragedy
Holding two public officials responsible for the Life Esidimeni tragedy is a legal milestone. It also highlights the consequences of putting costs over care.
How old are South African fossils like the Taung Child?
Using a method applied directly to ancient hominin teeth, researchers have calculated the age of several important fossils.
SA needs a game-changer to fix joblessness crisis
The country needs fresh thinking to shift the economy onto a more employment-intensive growth path.
Part 2: It’s time to get vocational education right
TVET colleges must be strengthened to provide niche, high-quality training to counter the reality of their students’ weak, prior educational achievements.
Part 1: Getting SA's skills needs right
The clumsy rules for employers to get training money back actually encourages them to give poor data.
The psychological games cybercriminals play
Catching online scammers: Our model combines data and behavioural science.
Eight steps to get SA's healthcare system on track
Much needs to be done to improve governance of South Africa’s health system. Eight recommendations provide a guide to what needs to be prioritised.
South Africa’s political monopoly has been broken: could it help the economy?
South Africa’s more plural political space might bring in new voices that generate better economic policies.
Kenya protests: Gen Z shows the power of digital activism
Kenyan activism is witnessing a shift from ethnic-based mobilisation to issue-based activism.
Heat exposure during pregnancy can lead to a lifetime of health problems
Research shows climate change carries greater risks for unborn babies than previously thought, including worsening health and wellbeing in later life.
Global pandemic treaty will help fight future threats
The 194 member states of the WHO are negotiating a pandemic accord, only the second health accord after the 2003 convention against tobacco.
What is cervical cancer and how can it be prevented?
The human papillomavirus is the primary cause of cervical cancer – but not all infected individuals develop the disease.
Time to knock undeserving politicians off their pedestals
Sadly, politicos have become the pre-eminent role models for many black South Africans.
How to avoid being hacked: ‘12345’ doesn’t cut it
The question has shifted from whether cyberattacks will occur to when and how they will happen.
Death of a liberation movement: how ANC became just a regular party – with some help from Zuma
Never has the future of South Africa’s politics been more uncertain, but the one certainty is that the ANC’s standing as a liberation movement is dead.
A coalition government won’t fix past failures
Expect the private sector to play a bigger role in delivering power, transport and security.
Loss of power is the ultimate motivator to fulfill promises
The key to getting public services is to have opposition parties that have realistic chances to replace a sitting government.
South African elections: research explores how disillusioned ANC supporters might use their vote
The 2024 elections may be the tipping point that enables opposition parties to portray themselves as viable contenders in forming a coalition government in SA.
South Africa’s youth are a generation lost under democracy – study
Fewer young South Africans are doing as well as their counterparts from 30 years ago. They are hardest hit by unemployment.
Sugar in baby food: why Nestlé needs to be held to account in Africa
Added sugar gives babies a sweet tooth, which can lead to obesity and health problems later in life.
Study shows pro-western cultural bias in the way AI decisions are explained
Many existing explainable artificial intelligence systems produce explanations that are tailored to individualist, typically western, populations.
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Africa is full of bats, but their fossils are scarce – why these rare records matter
The scarcity of bat fossils is more than a palaeontological puzzle: it has implications for bat conservation strategies today.
Professional learning communities are a space for teachers to discuss their teaching methods
South African study shows the power of sharing daily experiences for teachers to learn how to include all learners.
Fun and growth: how you play with your child matters
Read, sing, dance and funny faces: expert tips on how you can help your baby’s development through play.
Digital trade protocol for Africa: why it matters, what’s in it and what’s still missing
Africa’s market share of the digital trade globally is small. But it has expanded rapidly, outpacing the global average.
Africa now emits as much carbon as it stores: landmark new study
Knowing which parts of Africa best help to store carbon means funding and policy efforts can be directed to protecting and increasing this carbon ‘land sink’.
SA’s laws aren’t geared to protecting against climate change: judges are trying to fill the gap
The is no law specifically obliges companies building new developments like power stations to do a climate change assessment before they start construction.
Are you sitting too long in your office job?
Office workers are sedentary for hours at a time. Our research looked at what they should do to stay healthy.
Why do we usually sleep at night and what happens when we don’t?
Sleep is as essential to our health as food and water. It is important to a number of brain functions, including how nerve cells communicate with each other.
Is water in SA cities safe to drink?
Water can make you ill for two reasons: it can contain chemicals or pathogenic organisms.
One of the pioneer scholar-activists at 91心頭利
Edward Webster: South African intellectual, teacher, activist, a man of great energy and integrity, and the life and soul of any party.
The ‘Sociology Madala’ who shaped the way we think
Eddie Webster was the ultimate socially engaged academic who played a key role in the labour movement.
The problem with big companies funding health research in SA
Financial links between corporations, like Nestlé, and health research invariably lead to conflicts of interest.
Alarming report predicts 30% drop in crop revenue, 50 million without water in Africa
Study reveals that from 2050, Africa will suffer from food and water scarcity, and job losses in agriculture, unless climate change mitigation are put in place.
New copyright bill gives Deaf and blind people a fair deal
The mother tongue for millions of Deaf people in South Africa is SA Sign Language (SASL), which became the 12th official language on 19 July 2023.
Why taps are running dry in South Africa’s biggest city
Citizens in Johannesburg, SA's industrial heartland, use too much water, the city wastes way too much and there is too much theft of drinking water.
Pregnant women in SA should be offered social grants
Healthy mothers mean healthy babies. Giving pregnant women cash grants could help prevent conditions such as stunting and save the state money in the long run.
Earth’s evolution: fresh insights from rocks formed 3.5 billion years ago
Studying cratons, pieces of ancient continents formed billions of years ago, offers a window into the processes within and on the surface of Earth.
How academics can counter ‘AI thinks, therefore I am’
2023 will be remembered as the year that artificial intelligence (AI) – or, more specifically, large language models (LLMs), like ChatGPT – changed the world.
University rankings are unscientific and bad for education: experts point out the flaws
We all need to understand that ranking is not objective and true. University rankings are massively overvalued, and reinforce global and national inequalities.
Microplastics found in Nile River’s tilapia fish
The Nile, one of the world’s most famous rivers, is not immune to the same pollutants that affects rivers all over the world.
Cash grants help people live longer and have better memory
Nearly half of South Africa’s 60 million people receive social grants. SA study shows they improve cognitive health among the elderly.
Unique insights from 30 years of rural health research
Agincourt covers some 31 villages and 120,000 people, and is one of the longest-running research centres of its kind in sub-Saharan Africa.
New poll shows dramatic decline in electoral support of ANC
Unless something unforeseen occurs, the shape of post-election South Africa is already reasonably clear - it shows a wounded and decaying ANC.
Journalism in the age of social media and AI
Digging for the truth has become easier and far more convenient, but distinguishing fact from fake has become more complicated in the digitised world.
The two faces of Jacob Zuma. Who supports him and why?
Jacob Zuma claims that his new political home, the Umkhonto we Sizwe Party, is the authentic ANC, not the one led by President Cyril Ramaphosa.
How do animals survive natural hazards like cyclones?
The flooding caused by Cyclone Idai in Mozambique was devastating to animals – we studied how body size affected their survival.
3D scanning: We recreated a sacred South African site
One criticism of current 3D models of archaeological sites is that they are presented devoid of human traces and history. We captured the spirit with our model.
'Ketamine infusions are a mental health boon'
The emerging role of ketamine in treating mental health issues is a promising development that could bring relief to those who have long suffered in silence.
Stressed out? Why mindfulness and meditation help
In a world fraught with anxiety, stress, and environmental and humanitarian disasters, people are looking for ways to cope.
What do children need most?
Social workers can help children more effectively by assessing the needs of the whole family.
Phishing scams: Don't drop your guard
Cybercriminals don’t take breaks. Even seasoned internet users fall prey to these scams. Here are seven safety tips from a cybersecurity expert.
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Africans discovered fossils first
A new study shows Africans discovered dinosaur fossils long before the term ‘palaeontology’ existed.
Insights from SA's renewables procurement
There are many unknowns about how societies will manage the climate transition. And the associated energy transition from fossil fuel-based to renewable energy.
SA’s immigration proposals - false claims and poor logic
Experts say the White Paper’s proposals are vague and seek to solve problems that are not about immigration.
Energy crisis takes toll on pandemic-weary mental health
Understanding the psychological impact of loadshedding is particularly critical because the country is only just emerging from the Covid-19 pandemic.
Science is the unifying force to bring Africa together
Breaking barriers to intracontinental mobility is paramount and the continent must engage in closer collaboration, placing science at the forefront.
Do you like snakes, lizards and frogs? Then herpetology is for you
Learning about snakes offers unique insights into the natural world. As predators and prey, snakes are an emblem of the circle of life.
Why companies should report what CEOs and workers earn
Changes in the law will ensure that companies can’t go on ignoring inequalities in earnings and wealth in South Africa.
Diabetes - SA's second biggest killer
Diabetes affects about 12% of South Africa’s adult population. Hiking the sugar tax would help.
Sweeping the city clean: ‘Anti-poor’ plans for urban renewal
In his poem about Eloff Street in Johannesburg, Oswald Mbuyiseni Mtshali reflected on the living conditions for a black person in the city at that time.
'Race' cannot simply be wished away
The thorny issue of ‘race’ in South African politics: why it endures almost 30 years after apartheid ended.
South Africa’s 2022 census: Who's the biggest?
Has Johannesburg stopped growing, or are the numbers wrong? Cape Town may have overtaken Joburg as the largest city in South Africa.
SA’s 2022 census missed 31% of people - big data could help in future
Big data is not the answer to all the challenges that faced Census 2022, but it may be a key enabler for gathering reliable national data in the future.
Science and climate advocacy - a much-needed balancing act
Ecologist Professor Sally Archibald makes a case for scientists 'stepping out of their labs' and engaging in activism and keeping an ethical balance.
Trade unions - new ways of organising in the digital age
Three African case studies show how workers are recasting their power in the new economy
Three factors driving SA's destructive storms
A series of powerful tidal surges battered coastal areas in the Western Cape, Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal provinces over the weekend of 16 September 2023.
South Africa can’t crack the inequality curse. Why, and what can be done
Efforts have been made to change the patterns of inequality in South Africa. But not enough has been done. Race-based inequality is still a real problem.
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Concussion: what it is and how sports science is making rugby safer
Rugby players risk serious injury due to the game’s sheer physicality. Sports scientists have worked with international rugby bodies to improve safety.
How did elephants evolve such a large brain? Climate change is part of the answer
Climate change along with other environmental disruptions and new predators all likely played an important role in reshaping ancient elephants’ brains.
Johannesburg fire: how to move forward
There was a plan to fix derelict buildings and provide good accommodation.
Johannesburg fire disaster: why eradicating hijacked buildings is not the answer
Inner city occupations are the inevitable consequence of the fact that huge populations of people have to get by without a living wage.
Traditional medicines should be used in healthcare
Using centuries of indigenous knowledge along with modern healthcare could benefit more people.
Green thinking is needed to save beaches
Coastlines need to be recognised as dynamic, shifting environments rather than as environments that need to be controlled and managed.
Brics summit creates a global opportunity for public health
No commitment yet to tackle the ‘commercial determinants’ of noncommunicable disease pandemics.
The plight of South Africa’s women
South African women: violence, health and money issues among 5 biggest obstacles that stand in their way.
Gigantic extinct reptile weighed as much as a black rhino
Large pareiasaurs are among the earliest huge plant-eating tetrapods to appear in the history of the development of life on Earth.
Africa needs to get Wagner out of Africa
Russia summit is an opportunity for Africa to unite on Ukraine and make its collective voice heard on Russian mercenaries in African conflicts.
Surviving heat waves in Africa
Around the world, temperature records are being broken in countries in Africa, Europe, America and Asia.
Half of all South Africans are overweight or obese
The increased availability and consumption of unhealthy food have contributed to poor health outcomes, and warning labels on unhealthy foods help change that.
Malnutrition: how one SA community wants resources to be spent
Failing to understand what communities consider important greatly diminishes the responsiveness of policies to the actual needs of individuals.
Nelson Mandela’s legacy is taking a battering
How he is regarded will continue to change depending on the state of South Africa, and there is never going to be a final assessment of his legacy.
Should I get the flu vaccine? South African experts say yes
Vaccines remain the most effective method available to prevent flu, especially severe flu illness.
Climate change journalism in SA misses the mark
The kind of coverage favoured by South African media probably doesn’t do much to improve the public’s understanding of climate change.
Offer better HIV care to migrant women in South Africa
The vulnerability of migrants was highlighted during the COVID-19 pandemic when restrictions affected people’s ability to travel to access treatment.
Research is lacking in Africa on benefits of children's movement
Current research largely excludes 16% of the world population as Africa contributes less than 1% of research worldwide on the movement behaviours of children.
Unicorns - the story behind southern Africa's one-horned creatures
Some explorers believed they had found unicorns depicted on rocks. The truth behind the rock art is far more interesting.
Sign language is set to become official in South Africa
Here is how this will help Deaf people to finally have an opportunity to be properly educated in a language they understand.
Revolutionary ideas are not so cut and dried
Corruption, cadre deployment and BEE has destroyed the notion of public service and replaced it with self-interest, party interests and greed.
SA philosophers mourn the passing of Eusebius McKaiser
On behalf of 91心頭利 Philosophy and the South African Philosophy community, Professor Lucy Allais honours Eusebius McKaiser.
Remembering SA's “Grand Geek” and programming pioneer
Many speak fondly of how Professor Barry Dwolatzky took them into a derelict disco and enthusiastically explained the tech co-working space he envisioned there.
Africa’s Russia-Ukraine peace mission: what can it achieve?
If the African delegation could convince the belligerents to find a peaceful solution, they will make a critical contribution to the climate for mediation.
It’s clear, SA is aligned with Russia
South Africa’s pact with the Russian Federation – and its actions – cast doubt on its claims of non-alignment.
Why it's unlikely the Cullinan diamond would be returned
Activists view their moral case for the return of the diamonds as unanswerable, but it runs up against many complications.
Mental health: almost half of JHB students in new study screened positive for probable depression
Probable depression was associated with socio-demographic factors such as economic status, and modifiable behavioural factors such as substance use.
The forgotten history of Africans in World War 1
William Kentridge’s epic theatre production, The Head & The Load, finally reaches Johannesburg after delays caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Green energy should not deepen inequality
Making the green energy transition a success requires governments to pay attention to environmental factors and socioeconomic imperatives.
The social impact of CRM initiatives is often not sustainable
The result is that stakeholders are resentful, angry and say most of the Corporate Social Responsibility (CRM) is window-dressing.
Rahima Moosa: SA’s only mother & child hospital is falling apart - veteran doctor reflects on why
Prof. Laetitia Rispel has been researching health policy and systems for over 20 years. She asked Prof. Joe Veriava about the Health Ombudsman's report.
Industries can harm health in many ways: here are 3 that aren’t so obvious
A recent groundbreaking series of reports in The Lancet journal unpacks what commercial determinants of health are and how they affect public health.
1 in 5 South African households begs for food – the link between food insecurity and mental health
At least ten million South Africans didn’t have enough food or money to buy food in 2019, according to the country’s statistics agency.
Deep ties evoke Africa’s sacrifices for freedom
Tanzania and South Africa: Ties between the two nations date back to Tanzania’s solidarity with the anti-apartheid struggle.
The world is hooked on junk food: how big companies pull it off
Over many decades, our food environments have been encouraging us to make choices that are harmful to our health, through pricing, marketing and availability.
Profit versus health: 4 ways big global industries make people sick
It’s commonly known that alcohol and tobacco use make us ill. Less known is that just 4 industries account for at least one-third of global preventable deaths.
When banks go bust: the four factors at play
Confidence in banking is hard-earned and easily shocked. This makes individual banks and the sector susceptible to knock-on effects from other institutions.
The soul of South Africa: corrupt to the core?
South Africans are simply not angry enough, protesting enough and shaming the ANC government and leaders enough for their corruption, state failure and decay.
Major new study on LGBTIQ+ migrants and asylum seekers
The absence of reliable quantitative data makes it difficult – if not impossible – to hold Home Affairs, the police and other state entities to account.
US-China tensions: how Africa can avoid being caught in a new Cold War
There are fears that escalating US-Chinese tensions could threaten the independence of African and other nonaligned nations.
Depression, anxiety and childhood trauma: who's most at risk
Adverse childhood experiences are associated with an increased risk of mental health problems in adulthood.
Power cuts: South Africa’s state of disaster is being contested in court
South Africa’s courts are likely to set a high bar in cases brought against the government’s most recent state of disaster declaration.
The real Joburg in 6 powerful photos
From butchers to hawkers, and shelters to miners, this book reveals the informal economy and texture of the city.
Facing the climate crisis in a world of inequality: Who should pay? Who will pay?
South Africa holds the dishonourable title of most unequal country in the world, and Africa’s largest carbon emitter.
Sex work in SA - Buy and sell should be legal
The repeal of outdated apartheid-era laws would have a far-reaching, positive impact on individual sex workers’ health and well-being.
Adapting to climate change in urban Nigeria
Poverty drives vulnerability to climate risks in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Here are 4 factors that affect how residents adapt.
AKA’s murder video went viral - it shouldn’t have
The explosive viral spread of the grainy but dramatic footage shows the limits of mainstream media ethics.
Hunger in SA: 1 in 5 at risk
Social grants are the largest source of support for many vulnerable groups, and the government’s primary response to poverty, food insecurity and inequality.
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The invisible trillions of global capitalism
Raymond W. Baker says the estimated hundreds of billions of dollars in hidden wealth a decade ago has skyrocketed to trillions today.
Informal settlements could drive solar revolution
Solar would provide their dwellings with power, but also a source of revenue if power is sold back to the grid.
Vitamins and supplements: what you need to know
There’s a common perception that supplements are harmless. But they can be dangerous at incorrect dosages.
How East Africans shaped the music in India
Dhamaal music and dance reveal a rich and complex mixing of cultures that is shaped by history.
Mass economic illiteracy equally poses terrifying risks
South Africa may have among the largest mass belief in Soviet-style state-centred economics - education is needed on the disastrous impact in post-war Africa.
Heat stress is rising in southern Africa
Southern Africans are experiencing heat stress more often than in 1979. Climate experts show where and when it’s the worst.
Africa’s large mammals shaped human evolution
New book shows this amazing evolutionary transformation of humankind could only have happened in Africa.
Nation building debate is still relevant today
New book by scholar Mandla Radebe reminds us of the debates by an idealistic generation committed to building a non-racial SA.
Pregnant learners need creches and compassion
Under South African law, girls have the right to continue their schooling through and after their pregnancies.
Our universities must join the new global academia
My annual return to South Africa for the summer holidays has at one level been depressing.
Climate change can be beaten – why some scientists are hopeful
Can our planet recover from climate change? Commissioning Editor, Kofoworola Belo-Osagie, asked scientists to share the reasons they believe there is hope.
Child nutrition programmes can feed inequality
Children who need help most tend to experience adversity throughout childhood. That continuing adversity muffles the benefit of improved early nutrition.
Climate change is not what South Africans see as their main problem
With Mbalula in the driver’s seat, we’re on a rail to nowhere
Lack of effective public transport is now a major constraint on economic growth, job creation and business productivity.
What is the Radical Economic Transformation faction in SA
Despite its vagueness, the RET has become central to the contemporary ANC. It is destined to remain a powerful bloc within the party.
How to address the skills shortages plaguing SA’s economy
Education can’t make up for inadequacies in other policies that continue to cause mass unemployment.
Toxic DDT isn't being monitored in birds of prey
DDT accumulates in wildlife and magnifies up the food chain. Birds of prey occupy the top of these food chains in various ecosystems.
Study shows how Covid-19 affected access to HIV treatment
The individual stories of migrant women are essential in understanding if HIV healthcare strategies and programmes are working.
African mountains are feeling the heat of climate change
Mountain systems are sensitive to climate change. Loss of snow and ice sets off effects which have wide ranging consequences.
Injectable HIV prevention drug shows promise: we worked out how much South Africa should pay for it
The benefit of an injectable product is that it avoids the adherence issues related to taking a pill daily.
Rock art: how South Africa’s coat of arms got to feature an ancient San painting
A new exhibition titled ǃke e꞉ ǀxarra ǁke – People who are different come together – celebrates the rock art of the San people.
COP27 key outcomes: progress on compensation for developing countries, but more needed on climate ju
Academics unpack wins, tensions at COP27 and the way forward.
Worker organisations can survive the digital age. Here’s how
In the face of a decline in traditional union membership, it’s critical to focus on where resistance is taking place, rather than where it is not.
COP27 explained: why should we care
It's that time of the year again when the world gathers to negotiate international climate change agreements.
Climate change: the effects of extreme heat on health in Africa
Marginalised or minority groups seem to suffer the most from heat-related deaths and disease, and Africa is heating up faster than anywhere else.
Covid disrupts traditional rituals of mourning
We need to find ways to grieve as individuals, and collectively as a nation, or we risk grief becoming chronic, unleashing psychological and physical illnesses.
Citizens, not sitizens, please: more than ever, South Africans must take charge
We need active citizenship to show social solidarity to break out from the hopelessness, paralysis and apathy
Mass trauma is leaving everyone broken
We need to teach self-love, self-esteem, and agency assertation at all levels of South African society to rebuilt the state and foster democracy.
Review: Farm Killings in South Africa
Some of the best books about the media are not about the media. While dealing with very different topics, they probe the central institution of our world.
Social grants are not a magic bullet
Social protection on its own doesn’t shift the dial. Radical economic policies are needed to tackle poverty and inequality.
Don’t let firm friendships from your youth fade away
Living in the world’s most diverse country, and not having friendships that cut across all communities, is to miss out on so much
Do no harm - 5 steps a researcher should take
Researchers have a number of responsibilities when embarking on their work - not least of all to ensure participants are not harmed and are fully heard.
Construction waste is costly: what’s causing it on SA building sites
The complexity of construction projects has driven an increase in building waste, which is difficult to recycle and reuse. How to minimise the problem.
100 years of innovation and inventions
Various innovations after the past century have improved the world for many - but there’s still much more for universities to do.
Green hydrogen sounds like a win but cost and transport are problems
The key to reducing green hydrogen costs in the future lies mainly in technological improvements.
How to help people stay on ARVs when life gets in the way
When antiretroviral therapy is working effectively, HIV cannot be transmitted. This allows people with HIV to live fuller lives.
Kenya has breached its public debt ceiling
There’s a gap between Kenya’s public spending and its revenue. If the country owes more than it can repay, citizens will suffer.
Five steps Nigeria must take to stop buildings collapsing in Lagos
Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial capital city, is notorious for frequent building collapses.
Obesity costs South Africa billions. We did the sums
Lowering obesity and overweight rates will lift the burden on healthcare spending.
Joe Biden and Cyril Ramaphosa: finding common ground
Both presidents are committed democrats operating in hostile environments. They are also committed to forging mutually beneficial ties.
Job creation in South Africa: the president’s advisors discuss what it will take
Three of the president’s advisors talk through what is needed to change the status quo.
Queen Elizabeth - from Empire to Commonwealth
Queen Elizabeth adjusted with aplomb and good grace – personally and as monarch – as countries achieved their independence from Britain.
Africa’s dinosaur discoveries: five essential reads
The African continent is a rich repository for dinosaur fossils, including teeth and track marks.
Colonial diaries help scientists reconstruct weather patterns from past to protect future
A project to transcribe Dutch colonial records of the weather in Cape Town can benefit modelling of future climate scenarios.
WTO head Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala: how trade can help beat inequality
Creating employment and fighting corruption are two of the subjects discussed in the wide ranging discussion.
Migrants in South Africa have access to healthcare: why it’s kicking up a storm
South Africa’s healthcare services are overburdened. But this is not because of non-nationals.
Tanzanian TB patients have a lower quality of life
To understand the perceptions of TB patients about their quality of life, it’s useful to have a comparison with “apparently healthy” people.
How the lockdown in SA affected mental health
Pasha Podcast: When SARS-CoV-2 emerged, the country took measures to restrict people’s movements and activities, to slow the spread of infections.
After State Capture: how SARS is rebuilding itself
Professor Mills Soko spoke to Commissioner Edward Kieswetter about the turnaround at the state institution.
Auto manufacturing is changing: how to protect workers
South Africa should ensure that changes to energy-efficient vehicles are done in a way that creates jobs and protects workers.
Uhuru Kenyatta’s 'mixed bag' economic legacy
Big promises, but weak no delivery. The most prominent economic legacy of Kenyatta’s government is runaway public debt.
SA doesn’t need new cities: it needs to fix what it has
New towns have had a better track record in places of rapid economic and population growth, such as east Asian countries.
Higher electricity fees are a good, and necessary, next step
The wealthy should not be allowed to opt-out of their share of the costs of electricity production and Eskom’s debt.
What’s wrong with the Fourth Industrial Revolution
Pasha Podcast: Innovation in the digital space is not necessarily working for people in the global south.
Jacob Zuma is taking a top reporter to court
Former South African president is trying to turn the contestation of a court hearing into an all-out war and chill those who pursue justice against him.
Artisanal gold mining in South Africa is out of control
Artisanal gold mining is highly organised and rule-bound. Men, women and even children participate a hierarchy sustained by buyers, sponsors and customers.
Mozambican unions hit snooze on a national strike
Mozambique’s trade unions have not been a strong force in society – which has left a space for others to fill.
Is there really a paradigm shift in US/Africa relations?
The strategy outlined by the US Secretary of State marks a fresh beginning in US-Africa relations.
Defending democracy the greatest cause of our times
Challenge for young people is to democratise every aspect of life in society.
Don Mattera knew the love SA deserved from the start
The poet practised love wholeheartedly and saw from a mile away leaders who pretend to love their ‘people’.
Oil refinery closures, cleaner fuels and security of supply in South Africa
Refinery closures in South Africa are shots fired in the long running contestation between the oil refiners and the government.
SA’s entire infrastructure is on the verge of total collapse
South Africa now does not have a functioning integrated public logistics infrastructure anymore, with roads, rail, and ports all in disarray.
Tanzania’s undemocratic constitution is a template for disaster
The country’s one-party cadre system will continue to stunt economic development and growth as long as it’s allowed.
Epitaph for a baobab: remembering South African poet and activist Don Mattera
A true African poet, Don Mattera was at the centre of public life, an advocate for change and an enemy of elitism.
Rising food prices: a close look at inflation in South Africa
Periods of high food inflation affect poor households the most. This is because they spend a higher percentage of their income on food.
4IR - a seductive idea requiring critical engagement
The narrative of the Fourth Industrial Revolution is more aspiration than reality.
South Africa’s epochal 1976 uprisings shouldn’t be reduced to a symbolic ritual
The students who marched on 16 June 1976 did more than simply register a political opinion.
Fish in a major South African river are full of microplastics
The Vaal River, which serves more than 11 million people, is considerably polluted with microplastics.
Digital labour platforms subject global South workers to ‘algorithmic insecurity’
Digital platform work is often seen to suit workers’ skills, interests and schedules. But it comes at a cost to their economic security and control.
Amazing ting: South Africa must reinvigorate sorghum as a key food before it’s lost
Known as ting or amazimba, indigenous sorghum is resilient and rich in cultural and health benefits – yet crops are declining.
A referendum on electoral reform in South Africa might stir up trouble
There are calls for a national referendum on the electoral system to define the way forward, and liberate it from the clutches of party barons.
Covid vaccines and pregnancy: a review of the evidence shows they are safe
In all the research reviewed, none found any safety concerns regarding COVID vaccines during pregnancy.
Digital migration: court delay upholds information rights of poor South Africans
The decision further delays migration to digital broadcasting and places strain on the urgently needed bandwidth for mobile data.
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How the music of an ancient rock painting was brought to life
Sometimes archaeologists can “hear” the ancient past using acoustic methods.
Children’s mental health and the digital world
The benefits and risks of the digital environment on children’s mental health should be balanced. How to get it right.
Queen Elizabeth II: the reign that ended the British empire in Africa
The decolonisation process was to take place rapidly during the reign of Elizabeth II.
No more holy smokescreens: churches must lead the anti-corruption crusade
They should also clean their houses, then call out corrupt ‘leaders’ to make churchgoers aware of the damage they cause.
How to prevent maternal deaths
For every maternal death, there are about an additional 20 women who suffer serious injuries, infections and disabilities related to pregnancy.
African sci-tech could drive future black hole discoveries
Astronomers have revealed the first image of the black hole at the centre of our galaxy, the Milky Way.
Politically US-Africa relations can be bumpy, but on the right track economically
Relations between African countries and the US are bumpy on political issues but much better on the economic front.
Inflation should be viewed as public enemy number 1
Inflation is bad for any country’s economy. It also hurts the wealth and financial well-being of individuals and households.
Community dialogue can show the way to meeting water needs
Evidence suggests that involving marginalised communities in setting priorities and designing collective action can lead to improved health outcomes.
The problem of funding SA students can be solved
SA’s private financial sector should fund all students, no matter their means, with loans underwritten by the state.
For the love of books - what reading to our children teaches them about the world
Reading expands the knowledge, fosters empathy for others and builds healthy, loving and trusting relationships between children and adults.
Former South African president predicts the end of the ruling party: history is on his side
Any ruling party in South Africa has found it hard to maintain internal coherence and unity over an extended time span amid wide national diversity.
New forms of urban planning are emerging in Africa
Master planning has served the entwining interests and ambitions of international as well as local actors in Africa.
How Africa can respond to the seismic changes in the world
Fundamental changes are taking place in the world: what are the implications for Africa?
From pandemic learner to successful student
'Gateway to Success' programme: Creating a holistic, seamless transition from secondary school to university
Fresh signs of mosquito insecticide resistance in South Africa
Insecticide resistance is a growing threat to malaria control efforts globally.
KZN floods - the cost of “loss and damage”
COP27 — the next battleground for climate justice and damage compensation.
Both big and small farms are important for food security
The farming sector is arguably the most important economic sector for SA’s development as it is directly linked to food security and poverty reduction.
Race and class fears amplified on Twitter when Covid-19 hit
Study of tweets in Kenya and South Africa shows online rage towards white communities and privileged classes can be read as fatigue with the postcolonial state.
SA legal profession threatens to become as corrupt as the state
Law firms need to come together to agree on an anti-corruption stance and shame those who are unethical.
Covid-19 risks remain
At this point it’s pragmatic to integrate COVID-19 management into routine health practices.
R54,000 a pop for anti-HIV injection
A new HIV prevention medicine could work even better than daily pills, but if nothing changes it costs more than R300,000 to treat one person for a year.
SA scientists have a duty to speak out on Ukraine invasion
As an academic body, we should be appalled by South Africa’s less than stellar performance on Russia’s war against Ukraine.
African countries showed disunity in UN votes on Russia
The unwillingness of African governments to forge a unified position on the Russian invasion has damaged the credibility of their pan-African commitments.
The 100-year-old story of South Africa’s first history book in the isiZulu language
Magema Fuze’s book was a radical act of publishing. It contained histories of chiefdoms and kingdoms - from the Zulu to the Ngcobo.
Rising vigilantism - the fruits of misrule
Ending violence against foreigners can only happen by first recognising – and addressing – the hazards of South Africa’s crumbling system of indirect rule.
How language plunged Cameroon into deadly conflict
Anglophone grievances run deep and have remained unaddressed for a long time.
SA should pay whistleblowers to combat tax evasion
South Africa should start offering whistleblowers monetary compensation in cases where they help identify tax evaders.
Introduce mandatory labelling for fast foods
South Africa should introduce regulations that mandate the nutritional labelling of fast foods. This will help consumers make informed dietary choices.
Accountants should take the lead in fighting climate change
Incorporating climate change accountability into integrated reporting can trigger a global change in climate change thinking.
Netflix and the African dream
The new reality series Young, Famous and African, released in March 2022, has been the centre of conversation among South African viewers.
New Covid-19 regulations are the real state of disaster
The incoherent and illogical new government Covid-19 regulations are the real state of disaster
Sustainability in higher education: clean water
In this series, QS has been exploring the innovative and inspiring work being done by higher education institutions to address UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Scientific diplomacy and cooperation in this time of war
Scientific diplomacy must be given a chance to help enhance mutual understandings across political divides.
Academics condemn silencing of scientists over Russian invasion
Professor Lynn Morris says universities 'value independent inquiry, intellectual excellence, integrity, and academic freedom and institutional autonomy'.
The relevance of American studies in African universities
Africa needs to study America for a balanced engagement across public policy, civil society, corporate sector and at personal levels.
Omicron doesn’t need its own custom vaccine
The Omicron variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus was discovered in South Africa and emerged in November 2021.
Tracking symptoms of respiratory diseases online can give a picture of community health
This is not an alternative to traditional disease surveillance, but a complementary tool.
South Africa has arrived at the recovery stage of the pandemic
South Africa is in a new phase of the COVID pandemic. But vaccination remains crucial.
Child care centres in South Africa need more support
The sector was ill-equipped to withstand further shocks and impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic.
God and illness: in SA there’s more to healing than medicine
It is not uncommon for people to believe that the cause of their illnesses is a result of curses or punishment from a deity or witchcraft.
Reimagining journalism training
Journalism has become ‘post-industrial’, entrepreneurial and atypical.
What it means to live a good life, a flourishing life
Words about mental health need to align with people’s understanding of well being.
Rick Turner and the enduring necessity of utopian thinking
Utopian thinking, revisiting the ideas of Rick Turner in the current political context.
SA'a fiscal squeeze: warning signs ignored for too long
The sums aren’t adding for South Africa on either the spending or revenue side. It’s a problem that’s developed over time with no action being taken.
Why America's Black History month is important for Africans
Since its 1926 inception, Black History Month every February has been a celebration of "Africanness" beyond the confines of US borders.
Basic income support in SA: what it will take
Basic income support is not a question of government “being generous”. The money will be taken from employed citizens and the affluent.
The inside story of discovering the Omicron variant
The Conversation Weekly podcast: What South African scientists' experience offers the world about future variants.
Census 2022 - the most important yet
The census will focus everyone on the core challenges the country faces, where they are, and who is most affected.
South Africa is in a state of drift
The danger is that the ANC turns the way of Zimbabwe’s ZANU-PF.
Snowfall in the Sahara desert
In order for snow to form, two distinctive weather properties are needed: cold temperatures and moist air. The Sahara can tick these boxes.
The cornerstone of good science
Covid-19: Scientists without quality data are like unarmed soldiers in a war zone.
The limits of “lawfare” as a political tool
Covid-19 in South Africa shows the limits of using courts to fight political battles.
The Gender Commission has failed women
Scientists say the Commission’s statement against mandatory vaccinations is offensive, irresponsible and misleading.
Africa's strategy to draw investment needs work
Foreign investment is Africa's best shot at growth, but its share is still pitiful.
The Zuck stops here
It’s time to take on the tech giants to sustain media and journalism - you can use competition laws against the likes of Facebook.
End SA’s national state of disaster
Covid-19: On 15 March 2020, President Cyril Ramaphosa declared a national state of disaster in terms of the Disaster Management Act.
Namaqualand daisies are flowering earlier
The progressively earlier flowering places the daisies at greater risk of failed flowering seasons. This would be a blow to biodiversity and tourism.
South Africa has changed tack on tackling Covid: why it makes sense
The South African government has chosen a pragmatic approach that balances the potential direct and detrimental indirect effects of Covid.
How Nigerian cities can cope better with flood risk
Institutional failures, infrastructure, socio-economic challenges and disaster education influence Nigerian cities’ vulnerability to flood disaster.
2021: Best science or technology-related books
With the year drawing to a close, many people will be wondering what books they may have missed out on in 2021.
Omicron data: more transmissible but less severe
Early data show that Omicron is dominating new COVID-19 cases in Gauteng province.
It's time for green investment in Africa
As climate change alters business and governance forever, there is no time to lament, only to use the power of investment to change the world for the better.
It's for the common good
There should no longer be a debate between the goals of corporate profit and higher education’s knowledge for its own sake.
If steam contains water, what does smoke from fire contain?
Professor Sally Archibald answers this question in Curious Kids, is a series for children published in The Conversation-Africa.
Quantum entanglement: Why physicists want to harness it
“Quantum entanglement” is one of several plot devices that crops up in modern sci-fi movies.
Biden’s summit for democracy
Africa can make important contributions to the issues on the agenda: defending against authoritarianism; fighting corruption; and respect for human rights.
Biometeorology - the possibilities are endless
Are you interested in the weather and its impact on nature? Here’s a career for you.
Children and screens – making it through the holidays
Every small change to promote healthy levels of screen time is a step in the right direction for the health, wellbeing and development of children.
Omicron: five steps to avoid, ten to take immediately
The world needs to learn to live with the virus. And governments must follow the science and don’t distort it for political expediency.
Finding a balance between rural versus metro support
Metros may be a graveyard for political ambition. But if parties or individuals succeed, the rewards are considerable.
The hunt for coronavirus variants
Covid 19: How the new one was found and what we know so far.
Should we trust machines?
Inclusivity and diversity need to be at the level of identifying values and defining frameworks of what counts as ethical AI in the first place.
A slowly worsening chronic fiscal crisis
National Treasury’s strategy to overcome South Africa’s chronic fiscal crisis rests on highly uncertain political and economic foundations.
Why are there so few impact craters on Earth?
Impact craters are relatively shallow, so these bowl-shaped “dents” in Earth’s rocky crust can be easily buried or erased by erosion.
Anti-vax parents
Unpacking parents’ reasons for not vaccinating their children: why it matters
Independent Tanzanian publisher: Walter Bgoya
Books should influence public opinion, contribute to nationwide debates, and stimulate an appreciation of reading and writing.
Let’s just do more with less
South Africa’s health system is on its knees: the 2021 medium-term budget policy statement offers no relief.
Africa heats up more, and faster
Report: By 2030, up to 118 million extremely poor people will be subject to the devastating impacts of drought and intense heat.
Why does cold air go down and hot air go up?
Associate Professor Jennifer Fitchett answers this question in Curious Kids, is a series for children published in The Conversation-Africa.
Contact or online? Moving away from binary approaches
We need to move away from this binary approach, consider our contextual realities, and start with the end goal in mind.
The 10 babies hoax
South African newspaper proprietor Dr Iqbal Survé has long pushed the boundaries of credibility, but recently he crossed the line into full fantasy.
The promise of Damon Galgut
Will white South Africa ever give up part of its privilege? Booker-winning novel probes white South Africa and the land issue
Covid-19: Should South Africa be vaccinating 12-17 year olds
The focus of the government seems to be about how many people can get vaccinated rather than ensuring the greatest protection against severe disease and deaths.
The smoking gun
This tool can identify cause of death by fatal lightning strike in skeletonised remains.
Switching allegiance will bring loyalty to SA
It is important to impress upon those who boycott elections that their votes do count and they can force change.
Religion can be a blessing, and a curse
How religion has shaped the experiences of displaced LGBT people in South Africa.
In 25 years, what has changed for women?
The provision of better health services and social grants has aided rural women’s progress but there are still tremendous needs to be met.
Untreated mental illnesses impact SA's economy, social and family stability
The shame which many South Africans, particularly black communities, place on people who live with mental illnesses are preventing sufferers from seeking help.
No-go zones have no place in a democratic society
IEC must come down hard on parties that refuse to allow others to campaign in what they see as their areas.
Climate change has already hit southern Africa
With mitigation and adaptation strategies and policies driven through COP26, southern Africa can reduce the impacts on local livelihoods.
'Punish or deter outrageously false campaign promises'
Poll chancers: politicians who make false promises must be punished.
Online teaching and learning: Towards a realistic view of the future
The shift to emergency remote teaching and learning enabled academics to start questioning some long-held assumptions about in-person teaching and learning.
Aggrey Klaaste and nation-building
How the South African editor put himself on the line with his contrarian idea.
‘Foreplay’ judgment: problematic judicial views around consent in rape cases persists
In SA it is alarming and legally dangerous to have a judgment that consensual foreplay implies consent for penetration and sex, and thus rape did not occur.
Red tape is choking biodiversity research in South Africa
There are calls for measures to reduce the burden of red tape and promote and facilitate biodiversity research in South Africa.
South Africa urgently needs to update its mental health policy
Mental Health: How are we doing? What do we need to do?
A look at new abortion guidelines
International Safe Abortion Day – celebrated every year on 28 September – marks a woman’s fundamental reproductive right to access safe, legal abortion.
Palliative care and Covid-19: A patient’s quality of life and dignified death are paramount
Calls to permit nurses in South Africa, Kenya and Tanzania to prescribe morphine to help ease patient's suffering and give them a dignified death.
Head of UNAIDS unpacks the knock-on effects of Covid-19
Greater urgency is needed in the response to pandemics, to end AIDS and to end COVID-19.
Developing countries should inform global debates on inequality
Greater urgency is needed in the response to pandemics, to end AIDS and to end COVID-19.
Skills survey finds SA ICT not moving to gig economy - yet
Survey shows a shift to the gig economy has not occurred in SA, but it's plausible that this might change in future.
Covid vaccine mandates don’t have to undermine your rights
While South Africa has steered clear of compulsory vaccination for now, the country’s laws do allow such a policy.
Robben Island Museum: The making and breaking
Robben Island Museum aspired to be part of the reconstruction and development of the national soul.
IRR’s current approach does a disservice to the people of South Africa
The Institute prioritises its own ideological predilections rather than devoting itself to the betterment of race relations.
Millions of children miss routine vaccinations amid the chaos of Covid-19
Urgent catch-up plans are needed.
The Expropriation Bill and the 18th Constitutional Amendment process
The cart is still behind the horse
Angola: old authoritarian practices remain
The optimism Angolan president João Lourenço’s election generated four years ago has dwindled as electoral promise after another have failed to materialise.
Work as we knew it has changed. Time to think beyond the wage
Recent developments in the organisation of production have led to the decline of wage employment across much of the world.
Covid fallout: Vulnerability and signs of recovery in Gauteng
There is no doubt about the enormous scale of the shocks South Africa has experienced over 2020-21.
The democratic transition in 1994 did little to undermine the foundations of white economic power
Race and capitalism: no easy answers, but posturing will get South Africa nowhere
How Messenger RNA works in nature and in making vaccines
Thanks to the collaborative efforts, the large-scale manufacturing of mRNA drug products is becoming a reality.
Dung beetle experiment suggests carbon dioxide is bad for insects too
Beetles exposed to elevated carbon dioxide emerged later and smaller and had a reduced chance of making it to adulthood.
How Zimbabwean artist Kudzanai Chiurai has reinvented the library
With vinyl records, zines and political posters instead of just books, The Library of Things We Forgot to Remember offers a way to reimagine African history.
Finding solutions to complex challenges. For Good.
This article has been published in the print and online edition of the Daily Maverick.
How to build credibility in the agricultural sector
To rebuild lost credibility, the South African government can start by listening to social partners and the business sector.
New lineage of SARS-CoV-2: what’s known so far
We are being cautious about the implications for vaccine efficacy and transmissibility while we gather more data to understand this lineage.
South African shack dwellers show how grassroots democracy is done
Trevor Ngwane shows how structures that emerged in the struggle against apartheid continue in democratic South Africa, now in conflict with the ruling ANC.
Postponing SA's local elections: what the Constitutional Court must decide
The right to free and fair elections may be undermined if political parties cannot campaign due to COVID-19 restrictions by the state.
African Human Rights Court undermined by resistance from states
The court has lived up to its promise in most cases, issuing some progressive and ground-breaking decisions and remedies.
In conversation with Reserve Bank Governor, Lesetja Kganyago
Central bankers must act independently, without fear or favour.
Why building collapses are all too common in Lagos
Private developers, building professionals and the government all share responsibility for building collapses.
South Africa’s bandit slaves and the rock art of resistance
Climate change: South Africa and the latest IPCC assessment
The report makes it clear that climate change is widespread, rapid, intensifying and unprecedented in thousands of years.
South Africa’s basic income versus jobs debate: a false dilemma
Basic income must be embedded within a broader strategy of economic reform, aimed at increasing the social wage and improving working conditions.
Angola’s constitution is under review but a great deal has been left undone
The Angolan political elite lost an extraordinary opportunity to improve significantly the country’s constitution.
Covid-19 herd immunity is not going to happen, so what next?
When politicians and others speak about herd immunity, unfortunately, they are under the misconception that the current tools that we’ve got are adequate.
How a land reform agency could break SA's land redistribution deadlock
An agency could accelerate land reform by removing the process from political and bureaucratic control.
SA's skills problem cannot be fixed outside of the economy
It must be part of the messy process of structural change.
Covid-19: Herd immunity is not achievable
Pasha 118: We need to learn to live with COVID-19.
Six myths about vaccination for Covid-19 put to rest
The circulation of misinformation about the Covid-19 vaccine poses the danger of hampering the government’s efforts to control the pandemic.
Human trafficking victims and survivors: Hear their voices
Their lived experiences offer the most authentic understanding and familiarity of this life-changing criminal practice.
R&D are key to resilient food systems in Africa
Stronger agricultural research and development systems will enable agriculture to power Africa’s transformation.
Excluding migrants undermines the success of Covid-19 vaccine rollouts
Failure to ensure access for all to prevention and treatment, including vaccines, undermines national responses to Covid-19.
Leave no one behind: We must urgently address vaccination of undocumented migrants and asylum seeker
We call on Acting Health Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi to do the right thing to ensure the Covid-19 vaccination programme is inclusive.
Everything you need to know about vaccines — our only viable strategy for living with Covid-19
We are likely to keep being hit by further waves of this virus until at least all adults have immunity.
Covid-19 in children: the South African experience and way forward
Schools are not driving the COVID-19 pandemic and can safely remain open provided people stick to the non-pharmaceutical interventions for COVID-19 prevention.
Building an art gallery in the midst of war in Zimbabwe
Gallerist and writer Robert Huggins and his wife, the artist Helen Lieros, have passed away.
What last week’s vandalising of our research clinic in Kliptown, Soweto, means to science
Despite the critical role of the PHRU as part of the national and international Covid-19 response team, it was not spared during the recent unrest.
TB prevention has relied on the same vaccine for 100 years. It’s time for innovation
BCG remains the only widely available vaccine for TB but the COVID-19 vaccine shows that there is capacity to rapidly create new vaccines.
What drove South Africa’s recent violence and looting and what to do about it
Pasha 117: South Africa's recent violence is a cause for concern but there are opportunities to build a stronger nation.
The vulnerable points in South Africa’s fuel supply chain
The glaring failure by authorities to secure an area notorious for attacks on trucks prompts questions about, at best, utter ineptitude, or at worst, complicity
From the flames of looting to democratic regeneration
Over the past week, democratic constitutionalism and the rule of law have undergone a massive stress test.
South African riots and food security: why there’s an urgent need to restore stability
South Africans should not panic about the food system. But authorities will need to act swiftly and assertively to restore stability.
South Africa in flames: spontaneous outbreak or insurrection?
Corruption thrives in a destabilised state with weak institutions. South Africa cannot be allowed back to that space because there will be no turning back.
Spike in COVID-19 cases points to gaps in South Africa’s response
Preventing new infections and containing the pandemic protects health systems from getting close to collapse.
The Covid gender gap
Women suffered a large and disproportionate effect in the labour market as a result of the hard lockdown, but they’ve also been slower to recover.
Steve Kekana: an 80s South African pop star, and much more
We should remember him as just another ordinary human being who did extraordinary things.
Water, power cuts and neglect are taking their toll on South Africa’s top hospitals
South Africa is quite capable of delivering world-class healthcare to all its citizens. But this is constantly being hampered.
Healthcare in South Africa: how inequity is contributing to inefficiency
Patients shouldn't be treated better simply because they can afford to pay more.
South Africa’s vaccine quagmire, and what needs to be done now
South Africa has clearly suffered the consequences of poor strategic decisions to this point. It doesn't need to continue along these lines.
The Delta variant and South Africa’s vaccination problems
Pasha 113: The Covid-19 resurgence in South Africa is likely to take a heavy toll. It is important for vaccination efforts to be ramped up.
Angola’s peculiar electoral system needs reforms
Angola needs a mixed electoral system. This would promote accountability through the direct election of representatives from constituencies.
Jacarandas in parts of South Africa are flowering earlier: why it’s a warning sign
Climate change is causing jacarandas to flower earlier.
False story about decuplets was a low point for journalism: how to fix the damage
Tighter controls are not the answer; the opportunity should be used to think differently about trust and journalism.
Level 4 COVID-19 lockdown puts spotlight back on vaccination failures
South Africa didn't engage early enough with pharmaceutical companies in bilateral discussions to ensure it could get vaccines early.
Fresh insights into social habits of our non-mammalian ancestors
Finding a fossil tooth embedded in bone is the gateway to some otherwise out-of-reach understanding of the behaviour of extinct animals.
An intellectual love letter to a South African literary giant
For Professor Bhekizizwe Peterson theoretical reflection went hand-in-hand with practice; knowledge had to be made in and outside the academy.
Punitive laws are failing to curb misinformation in Africa
The majority of those punished under the laws to combat false information are opposition politicians or journalists.
Covid-19 resurgence in Gauteng: A crisis that is likely to worsen rapidly
Despite the predictability of the resurgence, unfortunately, Gauteng health facilities are seemingly underprepared to deal with the spike of Covid-19 cases.
Why it’s important to improve Africa’s research output
Pasha 111: It is crucial to improve research training in Africa. This can help solve complex issues on the continent.
Small towns are collapsing and affecting farming
The collapse of local government in small towns is beginning to affect investment in farming, and the ability of agribusinesses to operate.
Scottish graveyard in Kolkata reveals untold stories of colonial women in India
The disregarded lives and achievements of Scotswomen in colonial India are brought to light in new research from a 19th century graveyard in Kolkata.
Stereotypes about young jobless South Africans are wrong
Many unemployed young people are engaged in a variety of economic activities. These may not necessarily be recognised as a form of self employment.
Covid-19 has worsened SA's system of developing the skills of young people
The pandemic has heightened existing weaknesses in South Africa's skills training regime.
The sex organs of baobab flowers may solve the puzzle of trees that bear more fruit
Baobab flowers have male and female parts but individual trees appear to be favouring one rather than the other.
Remembering Zim Ngqawana 10 years on, a singular force in South African music
Zimasile ‘Zim’ Ngqawana, died unexpectedly and too soon on 10 May 2011 at the age of 51, leaving bereft a family and a musical community that spanned the globe.
Children are easy targets for exploitation and traffickers during Covid-19
The theme for this year’s Child Protection Week, which began on 31 May, is “Let us all protect children during Covid-19 and beyond”.
We must seize the moment for a global pandemic surveillance and response scheme
No more pandemics—this is the ambitious goal set by the Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response
Colonial ports, customs and censorship: tracking books from ship to shore
How colonial Customs protocols shaped copyright and censorship.
Current priorities for South Africa’s electricity policy
This summary of a presentation made to a colloquium organised by Capacity Building Programme for Employment Promotion outlines priorities for SA’s power policy.
A tribute to Vishnu Padayachee: South African economist and radical thinker
Vishnu Padayachee’s contribution to economics in South Africa is unmatched.
Book calls for a rethink of capitalism amid the ravages of Covid-19
Rethinking capitalism requires that the primary focus should be on the distribution of economic power as the potential leading causal factor driving inequality.
Remembering Medu, the South African art collective that fought apartheid
Four decades later, post-apartheid South Africa barely recalls the Medu Art Ensemble's contributions to the liberation struggle. But that could be changing.
How South Africa dropped the ball on health communication
Community leaders and outreach community workers are calling on education to enhance their understanding of Covid-19.
Why regional military intervention in Mozambique is a bad idea
The Southern African Development Community does not have a remarkable record of military interventions in civil conflicts in the region.
How pots, sand and stone walls helped us date an ancient SA settlement
We now know that Bokoni Phase I was built as early as the 15th century – before the arrival of European colonisation or trade.
Why forcing disclosure of wages and executive pay in SA is a good idea
Companies being required to go public with information about executive and workers pay packets is increasingly becoming the norm.
Why full dams don’t mean water security: a look at South Africa
Gauteng citizens need to know the uncomfortable truth: for the next six years, their water supplies will increasingly have to be restricted.
The fine legal line between legitimate protest and criminality
A protest which results in a shutdown and interference with the rights of others may delegitimise the cause and allow the government to escape accountability.
Five ways to measure the effects of COVID-19 on women
Women have been affected by the pandemic more than men in many ways. Policies should reflect this.
The link between inequality and power
How power is distributed in SA and how those with power think about wealth and income.
SA sets out to protect cast and crew involved in nudity and sex scenes
Spurred by the #MeToo movement, South Africa's is the latest film and TV industry to introduce intimacy protocols to guide how intimate scenes.
SA must ban sugary drinks sales in schools. Self regulation is failing
A ban on sugary drinks sale and advertisements in schools is likely to hold more promise in improving the diets of children and help prevent obesity.
Former minister’s memoir is a candid critique of South Africa’s political economy
Rob Davies is critical of economic policy. He reserves particular criticism for its macroeconomic policy framework introduced in 1996.
The biggest issue in world press freedom is attacks on women journalists
The online attacks on women journalists are bound to populist politics, disinformation and intersectional discrimination, says Unesco.
Nocturnal dinosaurs: Night vision and superb hearing suggest moonlight predator
By looking at the eye bones and ear canals of extinct dinosaurs, researchers show that a small ancient predator likely had senses good as a modern barn owl.
Hearing loss is a neglected hazard for miners in South Africa
Noise-induced hearing loss is an occupational health hazard. It remains a prevalent condition in the South African mining industry.
How the pandemic is hurting university students’ mental health
Ultimately, these studies will help us to make sense of how the pandemic is reshaping higher education.
Johannesburg is threatening to sideline informal waste pickers. Why it’s a bad idea
Waste reclaimers save South African municipalities up to R748 million a year in landfill space. Without them, the country's recycling economy would not exist.
Sub-Saharan Africa’s food security has turned out better than feared
Government support for farmers, higher rainfall and grain imports have helped sub-Saharan Africa stave off food insecurity - region isn't out of the woods yet.
Precarious power tilts towards Ramaphosa in battle inside South Africa’s governing party
The National Executive Committee brought a crucial tilt in the factional balance of power towards Ramaphosa.
Aim for the sky, but keep your feet on the ground
To fight poverty and promote equality, developing countries should pursue the highest levels of unfettered, open-ended scientific inquiry.
New research shows South Africa’s levy on sugar-sweetened drinks is having an impact
Three years ago South Africa introduced Africa’s first major tax on sugar-sweetened beverages based on grams of sugar.
More health research based on data from Africa will benefit the continent and the world
The global outbreak of the deadly Covid-19 pandemic and the race to bring an end to this scourge has thrust the role of genomics into the spotlight.
We discovered that whale and dolphin brains produce lots of heat. Why it matters
We have all heard the mantra that dolphins and whales are highly intelligent animals, on par with great apes and humans – But where does this concept come from?
South Africa bottom of the class for road safety? Here’s why this isn’t true
In South Africa 26 out of every 100,000 people die on the roads – far higher than the global average of 18 per 100,000.
Go to jail, Zuma — and do not pass go
Being a country’s president, or former one, does not translate into immunity from prosecution.
Why South Africa’s HIV prevention programmes should include sex worker clients
Narrow, unimaginative public health responses inhibit reducing HIV, exploitation and marginalisation within sex work.
Malaria risk zones and climate change in South Africa
Malaria kills over 400,000 people a year across the world. Africa carries the highest burden, with 90% of these deaths occurring on the continent.
South Africa is ripe for electoral reform
The existing electoral system has attracted extensive criticism for rendering elected representatives unaccountable to those who elected them.
Nile innovations offers lessons in engineering sustainable futures
Nile communities carefully monitored and recorded the river’s flow. Centuries later these records are still being used by water resource managers.
Extreme temperatures in South Africa
Pasha 101: Two researchers unpack these events.
Removing the technology fear factor from digital transformation
Digital transformation: Technology shouldn’t be a source of fear, but rather an ally and key business tool.
A library changed my life, and books can still change our world
Why libraries still matter and how township gangs teased me about reading.
New study reveals the secrets of an ancient, extinct super predator
Some 260 million to 265 million years ago, a huge creature called Anteosaurus roamed what is today the African continent.
Child malnutrition - women's health must be prioritised
Malnutrition during the first 1000 days of life can cast a long shadow over a person's life.
Not using AstraZeneca vaccine goes against the spirit of what the Health Department espoused
Every additional day of procrastination lends itself to much of the R75m used to procure the vaccine going to waste.
Why South Africa needs a new water agency
The agency will ensure that large water users continue to fund the construction and operation of the large water systems they depend on.
Traditional healers in SA are exposed to infection, but few can get protective gear
An average healer in the rural South African town where the study was done experiences about 1,500 occupational blood exposures in their lifetime.
Local government is broken: but giving the job to residents carries risks
South Africa needs a way to incorporate active citizens within the prevailing constitutional and legal structures, so as to strengthen all levels of government.
South Africans are revolting against inept local government. Why it matters
There has been growing discontent with many local authorities and calls by concerned citizens for the municipalities to be dissolved.
Reasons to be optimistic about sub-Saharan higher education after Covid-19
Tertiary education often carries societal benefits that far outweigh the initial investments necessary to establish a strong and productive system.
Comparing American and African elections
Perspectives from the 2020 polls in the US, Côte d’Ivoire, Tanzania and Guinea.
Why the special Covid-19 grant extension is not enough
The Covid-19 pandemic has worsened unemployment and poverty, showing the need for the government to permanently expand income support to working-age adults.
What African countries can expect from Biden
President Joe Biden delivered his first public statement on US foreign policy last week. Africa was not mentioned.
The South African government should buy locally made vehicles for state use
Policy changes that forced government departments to buy locally produced vehicles would be good for the economy.
Why dissecting stories about garbage in popular culture matter
From oil disasters in Mauritius to street artists in South Africa, the story of rubbish in the media helps shape popular culture and environmental change.
Results from Novavax vaccine trials in the UK and South Africa differ: why, and does it matter?
The Novavax vaccine is the first that provides objective scientific evidence that it can protect people against the variant virus circulating in South Africa.
Is Zimbabwe open for business?
The more President Mnangagwa's government fails to engage democratically with its citizens, the more it will negate any prospect of re-engagement with the West.
SA can take on vaccine nationalism of rich countries
South Africa has the legal tools to challenge the vaccine nationalism of rich countries.
Entrepreneurs can help bring about change by putting people ahead of profits
With the rise of non-humancentric business models, empathy-induced altruism can boost wellbeing of employees.
Calling the (behavioural) shots over vaccines
It will take 67% of the population to be vaccinated to reach herd immunity; here is how those still reluctant can be persuaded to join in.
Vaccine nationalism and migration
Implications for the (mis)management of Covid-19 in South Africa.
Covid-19 policy briefs must be realistic: a review by young southern African scientists
African leaders can make strategies to fight COVID-19 more accessible to the people.
South Africa failed to get its act together on vaccines
Critics of the South African government argue that it has done too little too late to secure vaccines, and that it doesn't have a proper roll-out plan in place.
SA's vaccine strategy mistakes
Pasha 91: Blunders that left South Africa trailing in the vaccine stakes
Huge gap between SA's 4IR strategy and what commission recommends
Huge gap between SA's 4IR strategy and what commission recommends
Why the state’s new toys won’t help South Africa’s response to Covid-19
Drones, dinghies and an army helicopter - the new toys are diverting resources, and diverting attention.
Towards herd immunity from Covid-19: Costing a vaccine strategy for South Africa
This article examines and estimates the financial implications of a vaccine strategy with a goal of achieving herd immunity.
Mining's year ahead will demand deep innovation
Mining's immediate future is to be impacted not just by economic cycles or established trends, but by structural issues demanding urgent and deep innovation.
How sub-Saharan Africa can rethink its approach to agriculture
Governments should explore technologies like global positioning systems and blockchain for use in the registration of land rights.
Vaccines for South Africa. Now
It is distressing to hear senior officials increasingly talking down the prospects for the availability and usefulness of Covid-19 vaccines in South Africa.
Higher education reconsidered
Beyond the pandemic and possibilities for new knowledge architectures.
All you should know about where we are with Covid-19 vaccines
What are the urgent steps that South Africans need to take to prepare for a timeous life-saving roll out of vaccines?
South Africa’s electricity supply: what’s tripping the switch
The longer government dithers over how Eskom's debt will be paid, the bigger the problem becomes.
Fake news and misinformation kill
How can you trust what you are told about Covid-19?
Earthquakes in South Africa
Pasha 78: Listen to Professor Ray Durrheim talk about the risk of earthquakes.
Why it’s important to keep diagnosing and treating HIV during the COVID-19 pandemic
To focus purely on combating one pandemic, the effects of other morbidity and mortality on healthcare systems will be seen for a long time to come.
Managing HIV and diabetes together: South African patients tell their stories
Care for patients with more than one disease is fragmented and uncoordinated. This is can cost patients time, effort and lost wages.
Why reading is crucial for economic growth
Reading is a stepladder out of poverty, not only for individuals, but also for entire countries.
Daytime sightings of aardvarks show troubled times in the Kalahari
Aardvarks are nocturnal animals but climate change is altering that and it's a problem.
Study unveils complexity and vast diversity of Africa’s genetic variation
It is essential to add genomic data from all global populations - including Africa. This will ensure that everyone can benefit from the advances in health.
SA’s main opposition party caught in an unenviable political bind
The problem for the DA is not one of policy. There is real substance in its commitment to substituting racial criteria for overcoming historical disadvantage.
How real BEE can help ordinary folk
BEE has only benefited a handful of politically connected black political capitalists, a select group of white-owned big business, financiers and law firms.
Century-old theory disproved
Scientists disprove the theory about animals’ ear canals and posture.
Auditor-general Kimi Makwetu: an exceptional and true civil servant
Makwetu embodied the values of integrity, selflessness, humility and hard work. He steadfastly believed in the South African constitution.
Important breakthrough in HIV prevention
Our findings suggest that cabotegravir is much more effective than Truvada in preventing HIV infection in women.
Diabetes: we need more and better trained nurses
Healthcare providers and governments must recognise the need to invest in diabetes nurse education and training.
Eight ways to get people to be more active
Being physically active is largely not an individual choice, but a result of what funds, spaces, places and opportunities that are available.
Understanding violent protest in SA
There are individual activists and political groupings who believe violent action is legitimate and use the circumstances to actively drive such behaviour.
Can this happen in America?
Why 'messy' elections could be considered a source of soft power for the US.
Real-time data is critical for detecting outbreaks
South Africa is testing digital technology to detect outbreaks of respiratory diseases.
School maths: where do we go wrong
What maths researchers learnt from the mistakes made by pupils in ‘top’ South African schools.
Moribund Council on Higher Education is immobilising academic agility
Quality assurance entities are immobilising the system and hindering the ability of more students to access online education.
South Africa’s waning economic fortunes demand harsh policy adjustments: who will bear the brunt?
Resolution of the fiscal crisis depends on faster economic growth which must be led by private investment.
Human trafficking and the danger of sensationalising belief over fact
We must resist the convenience of labelling every social ill as “trafficking” and radically reducing the militarisation and securitisation of national borders.
What South Africans must do to avoid a resurgence of COVID-19 infections
It is key to continue high-impact non-pharmaceutical interventions that will not impede economic activity, but limit the spread of COVID-19.
New threats to media freedom come from unexpected directions
Journalists need to hold firmly to the ethical standards that assure audiences their work is reliable and credible.
Young Nigerians rise up to demand a different kind of freedom
For young Nigerian protesters, ENDSARS is as much an expression of a will to modernity as it is a yearning to be treated with dignity.
Climate research is critical in Africa: how to make it more visible
The threats of climate change to plants, animals and people in Africa mean that the continent is an excellent place for biometeorological research.
South African community wins right to access mining application. But who will win the war?
Clashes between mining companies and communities are often about the age-old question of whether mining can benefit the many or only a selected few.
Changes in South Africa’s rainfall seasons could affect farming and water resources
Trends across the different rainfall zones can be linked to changes recorded for large-scale climate systems.
Capping executive pay is the key to stop money-guzzling SOEs from ruining SA
Excessive remuneration at failing state-owned entities provides no incentive to become accountable.
Anxiety in Johannesburg: new views on a global south city
Johannesburg is not the most anxious or dangerous city in the world but a valuable site for thinking about how anxiety structures our lives.
Explainer: what’s behind the locust swarms damaging crops in southern Africa
Locust outbreaks are driven by unusual climatic conditions.
Playtime in Soweto: what mothers said about activity for toddlers
The women in our study knew that play was important, although they didn't see it as an independent behaviour to be encouraged or promoted.
The US elections
November 3 will be a test of the US' democratic processes while Africa, and the rest of the world, watches on and weighs in.
Depression and mental health issues skyrocket
Our results show that the prevalence of depressive symptoms seems to have doubled between 2017 and June 2020 (Covid-19 era).
The she-cession
Wave 2 of the Nids-Cram survey shows how women have fared with the gradual reopening of SA’s economy as the lockdown levels are eased.
How social security could make life better in SA after COVID-19
Emergency relief measures were operational for six months and are due to end soon. But the impacts of COVID-19 will be felt long after.
Land reform is central to SA's quest for social justice
South Africa’s land reform policies need to embrace social, economic and ecological sustainability.
Journalism makes blunders but still feeds democracy: an insider’s view
Media self-criticism is not just important to improve journalism, it is a political, professional and moral imperative.
Municipalities have to clean up their acts. If they don’t, post-Covid SA will explode
Local governments must gather the political will to fight corruption, inefficiency as finances dwindle, but they’ll need help.
Southern Africa is anxious about post-Brexit trade talks
Here’s why South Africa and its neighbours are anxious about EU and UK post-Brexit trade talks.
White elephant schools reveal lack of progress
School that cannot be occupied by learners and teachers, and stand out as white elephants in the communities in which they have been built.
We can prevent procurement fraud by deploying 4IR technologies
The Covid-19 pandemic has brought to the fore just how endemic corruption has become.
Work from home reserved for the privileged few in SA
Digital divides ensure that only 11% of households have access to the internet.
A keen eye on facts saved this biodiverse wetland for now: threats to be aware of
Court victory by an NGO against municipality has laid bare the red tape and misgovernance that often burdens the process of issuing water licenses.
America’s inflection point: four key things Africa must watch for
Many political issues in the 2020 US election are domestic. But black resistance to white supremacy has long had global repercussions.
Covid-19 policy: Public engagement is crucial
A balancing act between scientific data and health and broader socioeconomic implications is needed when policymakers prioritise interventions and measures.
Why halting the COVID-19 vaccine trial is part of the process
The experience of the Oxford vaccine and the measures put into place are not unusual. Many phase one and phase two clinical trials have holding rules.
A new app helps COVID-19 frontline workers with mental health
Pasha 80: Fighting the coronavirus can put severe strain on a person’s mental health.
The claim that SA’s economy has declined by 51% is a misrepresentation of the facts
South Africa’s Gross Domestic Product has not halved as reported by several publications and commentators over the past 24 hours.
Solid, altruistic global leadership is the only way to face future crises and win
Covid-19 has taught us that investing in health security research, preparedness and responsiveness, nationally, regionally and globally, is critical.
Why Africa needs to be involved in the development of Covid-19 vaccines
Understanding the epidemiology of Covid-19 and moving forward would be critical to determining policy on the need to adopt interventions.
Where have all the flowers gone? A final climate crisis warning
South Africa’s climate science is not an allegory, but an echo of the final warning to all of us about a worsening climate-driven future.
The truth has been captured by corrupt, opportunistic SA leaders
Many public figures increasingly, not only outrightly lie on public platforms, but dress up lies as if these are truths.
Malfunctioning SOEs urgently need citizen shareholder activists
Ordinary citizens, consumers and civil society must play more active roles as shareholders of state-owned enterprises.
Grass on ash: uncovering 200,000 year old beds from South Africa
Before 200,000 years ago, close to the origin of our species, people used ash as layers for broad-leaved grasses to build their beds.
Lessons on cemetery design from Johannesburg
Municipalities are forced to identify new cemetery planning models that are environmentally sensitive and consistent with diverse cultural practises.
African digital diplomacy
Digital diplomacy is increasingly taking centre stage as a game-changing concept and practice of global affairs.
African research support: here’s one programme that’s working
Less than 1% of the world’s research is produced in Africa, and we urgently need to build stronger health research capacity.
Post-Covid Africa will have to save itself. It is a terrifying task
African countries, with their lack of quality leaders, weak states and little fiscal reserves face economic, political and social disorder.
Covid-19 and climate emergency: A painful irony
The coronavirus is a moment to be humble and realise our finitude in a wondrous and infinite natural order.
Child trafficking and child migration
A new discussion is needed to separate myths from reality.
How inequality is produced and reproduced generationally
The story of a working man who lived through apartheid – and his struggles after it ended.
South Africa’s second COVID-19 vaccine trial explained
Pasha 78: Listen to Professor Shabir Madhi, explaining how the new vaccine trial will work
What archaeology tells us about the music and sounds made by Africa’s ancestors
Music has been part and parcel of humanity for a long time. There is scant evidence of music or sound producing artefacts from southern Africa.
How lockdown has affected the health of South Africa's poor
Poor populations bore a disproportionately higher burden of poor health.
Appoint a war Cabinet now to tackle Covid-19 crises
SA should fire the current Cabinet and set up a national “emergency” one with the best talents in the country prevent it from plunging down the cliff.
Covid 19: Scientific excellence will help explore new frontiers
When university resources are scarce, building and sustaining equitable research excellence should be paramount.
Post Covid-19: What would universities look like?
Three South African vice-chancellors paint a post-COVID picture for universities.
Now is the time to lay a firmer school maths foundation
Covid-19's lockdown leads maths scores particularly being badly affected but a return to core concepts could be the answer to a pre-pandemic problem.
Repression in Zimbabwe exposes South Africa’s weakness
The time is long past that Pretoria's admonitions of bad behaviour by Zimbabwe's leaders are backed by a credible threat of sanction and punishment.
Pandemic underscores burden women carry doing paid and unpaid reproductive labour
Women’s extended working days have become normalised, despite the adverse effects on their progression within the labour market and general well-being.
South African policy isn’t connecting child nutrition and sanitation
There is no clear delineation of roles and responsibilities relating to the integration of clean water, sanitation, safe hygiene and nutritional status.
Fast tracking the critical task of building South Africa’s digital economy
South Africa lags behind the rest of the world when it comes to embracing the digital economy.
Plans for a dam across the Nile triggered a war in 1956: will it happen again?
Egypt has long defended its right, under colonial era agreements, to stop nine of the upstream countries from using Nile water.
What drove Asia’s economic success stories, and what should Africa emulate?
The remarkable economic transformation of Asia in recent decades has attracted global attention.
South Africans aren’t wearing masks or keeping their distance. This needs to change
Changing social norms in a short amount of time is difficult, and a one-size-fits all policy is unlikely to have the desired effect.
Africa’s research capacity is growing. That’s good news for pandemic response efforts
Investments are starting to help grow the African continent's science preparedness.
Why one of three African candidates fits the bill as the new head of the WTO
Africa accounts for nearly 27% of the World Trade Organisation's membership and 35% of members from developing countries, but an African has never run it.
Covid-19: Women are bearing more costs and receiving fewer benefits
Even though women have suffered two thirds of the job losses since February, men have received two thirds of Covid-19 grants (65%).
Kenya’s internet balloons could help to bridge the digital divide
Kenya's new internet balloons could help to get more Kenyans online and drive new industry.
On decolonising teaching practices, not just the syllabus
An African literature lecturer shares how embodied teaching can help students feel that their lives and stories matter.
Journalism of Drum’s heyday remains cause for celebration – 70 years later
The magazine grew to be the largest circulation publication for black readers in South Africa, and expanded to include East and West African editions.
Independence is at the heart of the African Development Bank’s ability to be effective
There is concern over the growing influence of non-regional players in decision making at the regional bank.
Opposition parties struggle with how to play a Covid-19 role
South Africa’s opposition parties appear to be confused, chasing shadows or paralysed by the enormity of the Covid-19 crisis.
Covid-19: An opportunity for African knowledge production
Lockdown has become a metaphor for all forms of state-sanctioned and self-imposed restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic.
COVID-19 vaccine trial in South Africa: everything you need to know
Not enough clinical research is being done in Africa. This has repercussions for when interventions become available and effective in high income countries.
Technology brings change but labour can shape its direction
Increased capital investment and productivity need not result in job losses. Industrial policy can link investment incentives to job preservation and creation.
SA faces devastating multiple social impact
Government urgently needs an integrated Covid-19 response to deal with mental illness, violence and crime.
Covid-19 and the youth
Opportunities in information and communications.
Lockdowns and freedoms
SA had to have a hard lockdown because we don’t trust our government. Little since has made us change our minds.
More money for COVID-19 but SA lacks a spending strategy
South Africa's public health system has been allocated R21.5 billion more to fight the Covid-19 pandemic but there's no strategy to guide how it should be used.
Ideological responses, traditional economic theory won't lift SA out out of Covid-19 slump
South Africa will have to prioritise new business, employment and growth based on the current and new domestic and global needs unleashed by Covid-19.
Distance, Dose, Dispersion: Experts’ guide on Covid-19 risks in South Africa and how to manage them
Understand the three things that can make the most difference to easing the lockdown and reopening South Africa with the least risk.
SA's budget for COVID-19 fails to pave way for more equal society
The budget is one of the key tools that government has to effect meaningful change.
SA needs to block transmission routes to get Covid-19 under control
Testing and tracing has not been at a level needed to suppress the spread and must now focus on containing opportunities for super-spreading and transmissions.
Covid-19: The full economic impact will only be known later
South Africa needs to focus urgently on how COVID-19 will reshape its labour market.
African countries need to seize opportunities created by US-China tensions
African policymakers should safeguard their right to choose from the widest possible range of technologies that suit their countries’ development needs.
Decade-long study shows why South Africa needs to stop stereotyping young black men
Young black men are often viewed through a criminal lens. An 11-year-long study of adolescent men in a South African township upends the stereotypes.
Society is not ready to safely reopen schools and education centres
Government is steaming ahead with the reopening of schools. This is an overly hasty, ill-considered step for a number of reasons.
So you think investing in fever screening can curb the spread of COVID-19? Think again
Detecting fever requires measuring core body temperature. Screening measures the body's surface temperature.
Does alcohol have an undisclosed African heritage?
Until now the search for early evidence of alcohol has fixated on residue analysis.
Learning from South Africa: reconstructing rainfall seasonality in Australia
Examining old vegetation sediments to learn about shifting weather patterns and climate change.
South Africa needs a new governance model post-Covid-19
South Africa’s governance model, the way the country is run, is broken.
Exploring the Indian Ocean as a rich archive of history
The Indian Ocean provides a new way of looking at world history that has been dominated by European accounts.
What sets good and bad leaders apart in the coronavirus era
It is no accident that those leaders who have responded worst to this crisis have been the main sources of countless conspiracy theories and misinformation.
It’s time to talk about coronavirus symptoms
Pasha 66 - The Conversation Africa's podcast series focus on questions arising from the symptoms of people who have contracted the coronavirus.
South Africa must get ready for an inevitable loosening of trade ties with the US
South Africa should use its remaining AGOA window to find other export markets and retool its economy - as US economic attitude towards Africa hardens.
The false ideas surrounding the coronavirus
Pasha 66 - The Conversation Africa's podcast series focus on "Coronavirus conspiracy theories and myths".
Sub-Saharan Africa needs to plug local knowledge gap to up its anti-COVID-19 game
Africa needs to be better prepared to deal with future pandemics; starting with a re-assessment of how countries invest in – and support – local research.
Lesotho’s new leader faces enormous hurdles ensuring peace and political stability
Moeketsi Majoro’s installation as Prime Minister is welcome. But it does not guarantee much needed political stability in an era of complex coalition politics.
We tracked Soweto mothers-to-be to find out more about diet and obesity patterns
Two thirds of South African women are overweight or obese and their babies are three times more likely to become obese themselves.
Almost 16-million people allowed back to work
New level 3 regulations mark an important strategic shift in the government’s approach to the coronavirus pandemic.
Stop random Covid-19 testing and sort out the backlog
The testing backlog and proposed testing strategies outside hospital settings are threatening patient management and compromising health care workers’ safety.
The world is flat: Covid-19 becomes the driving force for 4IR
The most profound change is the accelerated of way in which digital transformation and the Fourth Industrial Revolution have moved at warp speed.
Dubious remedies will not decolonise Africa
So-called African solutions that are often uncritically accepted as ‘good’ do nothing for the continent
Economic policy remains hotly contested in South Africa: this detailed history shows why
Book sheds new light on the evolution of the economic policy of the African National Congress, South Africa's governing party.
A new, fairer economy is possible, but that would mean sacrifice
That Covid-19, the lockdown and whatever will come after will have had a lasting and devastating impact on our economy seems indisputable.
Why arguments against quantitative easing hold no water
The Reserve Bank should be allowed to buy more government bonds and securities to support the liquidity of the banking system.
What a bone arrowhead from South Africa reveals about ancient human cognition
The artefact closely resembles thousands of bone arrowheads used by the indigenous San hunter-gatherers from the 18th to the 20th centuries.
Why more must be done to fight bogus COVID-19 cure claims
Authorities around the world can do more to ensure that correct information and messages on the pandemic reach everybody.
The arrival of British settlers 200 years ago continues to cast a shadow over South Africa
It is not hard to see the roots of 20th century apartheid policies in the legacy of the British settlers.
South Africa’s COVID-19 strategy needs updating: here’s why and how
South Africa should base its COVID-19 mitigation strategy on the premise that the pandemic will last for two years unless a vaccine is developed before then.
What South Africa needs to forge a resilient social compact for Covid-19
Ramaphosa's call for a new social compact will fall on deaf ears unless there are some fundamental changes to the way in which the pandemic is being managed.
Choices in a fog of uncertainty: lessons for coronavirus from climate change
The science to policy process that was developed to guide climate mitigation decisions can be applied to the response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
What should South Africa’s coronavirus endgame look like? Here are some options
SA's response to the COVID-19 pandemic was one of 'intervene first and ask questions later'. Now is the time for government say what its strategic endgame is.
Lockdown is riling black and white South Africans: could this be a reset moment?
It is rare for a post-authoritarian society to get two chances to reconcile. This may be just that, for white South Africans in particular.
South Africa’s COVID-19 testing strategy needs urgent fixing: here’s how to do it
Early reports by the National Health Laboratory Service indicated that it had the capacity to do 30,000 tests a day. But capability to do so has not materialise
Health and safety in the spotlight as South Africa’s miners go back to work
Miners face cramped working conditions, transportation in packed cages, and a high incidence of other respiratory diseases, posing considerable risks.
African countries are moving to make masks mandatory: key questions answered
Wearing masks is being introduced in conjunction with maintaining a physical distance of at least 1.5 metres; following hygiene measures such as hand washing.
The impact of coronavirus could compare to the Great Depression
And a corresponding rise in nationalism and xenophobia may follow, just as it did in the 1930s.
Why South Africa needs to ensure income security beyond the pandemic
Economic distress was the norm for many before the coronavirus outbreak. The pandemic is an opportunity to provide an economically secure future for all.
Let’s talk about ethics and treatment for COVID-19
In this episode of The Conversation - Africa's podcast, Pasha, 91心頭利 bioethics researchers discuss the difficult decisions facing health professionals.
Can the philosophy of ubuntu help provide a way to face health crises?
There are lessons for the health sector - the need for more coherent integration is undeniable.
Where there is political will there is a way to work across sectors
COVID-19: There are lessons for the health sector - the need for more coherent integration is undeniable.
Unpacking Ramaphosa’s COVID-19 rescue package
A major step forward, but some warning lights are flashing. President Cyril Ramaphosa’s social and economic rescue package leaves some questions unanswered.
Africa must make sure it’s part of the search for a coronavirus vaccine
To refuse inclusion would prevent Africa’s researchers from being significant players in the universal fight against the virus.
Numbers can kill: politicians should handle South Africa's coronavirus data with care
We’d all love to know more about our neighbours – from COVID-19 data, census data and other official data sources – but we shouldn't.
Toward a risk-based strategy for managing the COVID-19 epidemic: A modelling analysis
Given the protracted nature of the risk posed by the COVID-19, this paper seeks to address the need to match health prevention and a viable economy.
South Africa needs a post-lockdown strategy that emulates South Korea
South Africa cannot afford to embark on a strategy of extended periodic lockdowns. It needs to shift to mass testing and contact tracing.
Coronavirus myths: Lessons from an AIDS study
Attempting to defeat these folk theories with science achieved little; the myth busters of the AIDS epidemic talked past those they were trying to convince.
COVID-19 risks forcing SA to make health trade-offs it can ill afford
South Africa could lose many children due to a measles outbreak which is completely preventable.
South Africa is bent on austerity and should change track
The South African government should be spending more, not less, to boost economic growth and create jobs.
African genetic studies offer hope for preventing a common cause of blindness
Knowing genetic associations in specific populations will make it possible to focus prevention and treatment.
Covid-19: Treatments, but at what cost?
Accessible & affordable medicine: We cannot wait for treatments to be available in high-income countries in order to negotiate prices for the rest of the world.
If you think lockdown is bad, spare a thought for SA’s prisoners
How more restless are those living in prison and confined to a small cell, who are now completely cut off from the outside world and their families?
Debunking 9 popular myths doing the rounds in Africa about the coronavirus
Some of the false claims about coronavirus may be harmless. But others can be potentially dangerous.
The case for a citizens’ basic income grant in South Africa
With Covid-19 and the lockdown there is no room for denial of how large parts of South African society suffer.
South Africa needs to end the lockdown: here’s a blueprint for its replacement
Academics call on government to develop a comprehensive health and economic strategy if it is to prevent long term socio-economic damage caused by pandemic.
There is a dire need to boost SA’s stimulus package
Countries such as the US, Germany, India and Brazil have launched help for all sectors of their economies — South Africa needs to follow.
Tackling gender-based violence during lockdown
Women and children face even more alarming levels of abuse due to COVID-19 lockdown.
SA needs to mitigate the worst of its inequalities in tackling COVID1-19
South Africa won't flatten the COVID-19 pandemic curve unless all citizens have the means to stay at home.
Personal versus public freedoms South Africa during COVID-19
In restricting individuals' movements and interactions during any national disaster, the conflict between public interest and personal autonomy will get messy.
Crowdsourcing: Scale of COVID-19 calls for new approaches to research
Crowdsourcing is a promising approach to biomedical research and development (R&D) and could produce solutions to pandemics like this one.
Covid-19 lockdown needs to protect inner-city communities
In South Africa, the collision of HIV, TB and Covid-19 could be devastating, and radical measures are needed to address the spread of Covid-19.
SAs response to COVID-19 worsens the plight of waste reclaimers
The clock is ticking: in the absence of government support, not being able to work means waste reclaimers don't have money to buy food.
What will happen to Africa after the coronavirus?
It would help if everybody comprehend that the world will not be the same after the dust settles on the pandemic.
Would a Longitude Prize speed production of a Covid-19 vaccine?
To stop economic destruction, we need to refocus vast resources from other productive activity – a truly grand prize might do the trick.
How do we save SA?
The virus has wiped billions from stock exchanges globally. Now is the time to re-evaluate and promote domestic private investment.
Bold programmes are needed to mitigate the economic crisis
The Covid-19 crisis is first and foremost a health and humanitarian crisis is likely to have lasting impacts on how we live.
Covid-19, #ClimateEmergency and Lockdown
The coronavirus is an opportunity to end the war with nature.It’s a moment to be humble and realise our finitude in a wondrous and infinite natural order.
Gag the spreaders of disinformation, not the scientists
In times of a health crisis, such as the corona virus pandemic, health scientists should be encouraged to speak out.
Foreign migrants must be included in Covid-19 response
Why South Africa needs to actively engage all foreign migrants in its response to Covid-19.
Newborns in developing countries need better protection from common bacteria
Streptococcus agalactiae, also known as Group B streptococcus, is the most common bacterial cause of illness in newborn babies around the world.
A tiny bone from Little Foot’s skeleton adds fresh insights into what our ancestors could do
Studying Australopithecus, an extinct hominin genus that represents a branch of our family tree, is a great way to make more sense of our bushy family tree.
Snakes make good food. Banning farms won’t help the fight against coronavirus
The wildlife trade has long been closely linked to disease outbreaks.
Hypocrisy in the time of Covid-19
The sanctimony of moving from blaming foreign migrants to rendering them invisible in a critical public health moment will have implications for our response.
Coronavirus: how big, how bad, and what to look out for
Cases of illness from the new coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) disease, known as COVID-19, have been confirmed in more than 100 countries.
Africa’s wish list of what might change under a Biden presidency
Africa’s stake in the outcome of the 3 November 2020 US presidential election spiked with the unexpected revival of former Vice-President Joe Biden’s campaign.
Africa’s policies hold key to LGBT rights on the continent: here’s how
Questions of sexual orientation and gender identity and expression have continued to divide opinion across the globe.
Yes, washing our hands really can help curb the spread of coronavirus
Hand washing is a tried and true, scientifically proven preventive strategy that reduces the likelihood of transmitting both viral and bacterial borne diseases.
Dance softly and carry a big voice: understanding Joseph Shabalala
What is our response to the great artistic and spiritual hole his loss has left in South Africa?
Behind Kenya's strange weather
It can be attributed to the Indian Ocean Dipole, the difference in sea surface temperatures between the eastern and western tropical Indian Ocean.
SA's rich bag of big, small and eclectic community radio stations
Most of the community radio stations operate on a survivalist level, and should be seen as struggling small, medium and micro enterprises.
Ramaphosa has shown he understands how to put the energy crisis behind us
President Cyril Ramaphosa has used this year’s SONA to signal that he understands what needs to be done in order to overcome South Africa’s electricity crisis.
Cynical South Africans are unlikely to be moved by Ramaphosa’s next big speech
The challenge to deliver a persuasive speech comes firstly in the context of intense doubts as to whether President Ramaphosa is truly in charge of the ANC.
Many countries regulate e-cigarettes. South Africa should too
The number of users is likely to grow and there are health risks, so now is the time to act.
Donating your body to research
Why you should consider donating your body to research once you die. Listen to Pasha 20, The Conversation Africa's podcast on research.
Messages about male circumcision aren’t clear: why this is dangerous
Difficult to understand communication and the somewhat overstated benefits of male circumcision may lead to increased risky sexual behaviour.
Events in Lesotho point to poor prospects for political stability
Since the demand for resources far outmatches the patronage available, Lesotho’s political arena has become brutally competitive.
The digital economy is becoming ordinary. Best we understand it
The digital economy will, soon, become the ordinary economy as the uptake - and application - of digital technologies in every sector in the world grows.
South Africa risks losing rich insights into an ancient farming society
As early as 1500 the Bokoni people created stone-walled settlements that demonstrate their mastery of farming. But today these sites are under threat.
South Africa’s energy crisis has triggered lots of ideas: why most are wrong
The deluge of opinions and proposed solutions to South Africa's energy crisis reflects corporate and political interests.
Build a capable state, don’t just talk about it
This is an adaptation of a speech given at the BUSA Business Economic Indaba in Sandton on Tuesday 14 January 2020.
How we deduced that our ancestors liked roast vegetables too
The charred remains of root vegetables found at Border Cave help us understand how early humans survived and thrived.
Why this academic got a radio ad banned
Gender stereotyping might be funny, but it's no joke. A public health professor explains why she took action against everyday sexism heard in a radio advert.
South Africa has huge ‘green fuels’ potential but it needs to act now
Opportunity for South Africa to transition from being a key contributor to global warming to becoming a key contributor to global emissions reductions.
Art as a weapon in South Africa’s liberation struggle
A retrospective exhibition displays the key works from the life and times of activist and artist Judy Seidman.
Ancient southern African rock engravings finally find a fitting home
The Origin Centre has added a new wing that's perfect for a visit, the Rock Engraving Archive.
Being darker makes being a migrant much harder
Research in India and South Africa shows life is considerably harder if migrants have a darker skin and come from a poorer country.
What’s needed to fix collapsing coalitions in South Africa’s cities
Successful coalition governance ultimately depends on political maturity and the ability to govern across divisions.
What’s needed to fix collapsing coalitions in South Africa’s cities
Three South African cities run by opposition party coalitions for the past three years have been facing tough times.
Frank review of South African foreign policy over 25 years
The country's national interest and human rights remain the two topics bedevilling South Africa's foreign policy.
The complex story of ‘medical xenophobia’ in South Africa
The experiences of non-nationals in the public health care system are more complex and varied than implied by the dominant discourse on "medical xenophobia".
The social management of HIV: African migrants in South Africa
HIV is a condition that must be managed, not just medically, but also socially, tackling stigma, social anxieties and the risks of disclosure.
South Africa needs to get more young people with HIV on treatment
There's an urgent need for interventions to increase uptake of antiretroviral therapy and improve services for adolescents.
Marx, Buddha and the pursuit of happiness
Maverick Citizen: Transitional Compass 7 focuses on new concepts of value; on 'well-being' and 'happiness' rather than narrow economic ‘values’ such as GDP.
Women’s participation in South Africa and Kerala, India
Maverick Citizen: Transitional Compass 5 focuses on women’s participation in local spaces to examine the state’s engagement with democratic participation.
The different types of drought
Not all droughts are the same and South Africa needs to have a targeted approach to each type.
How WhatsApp groups support Nigeria’s nurse graduates
How Whatsapp supports nurse students in Nigeria and helps them transition into the workplace.
The food sovereignty alternative
Maverick Citizen: Transitional Compass 4 focuses on the South African Food Sovereignty Campaign's response to climate and food inequality.
‘The end of labour’? Revisiting the past to understand the future
Maverick Citizen: Transitional Compass 2 looks at how precarious workers are challenging the practices of the established unions.
Good or bad sleeper? Debunking the myths
PODCASTS: 91心頭利 Alumni and UK specialist in sleep medicine, Dr Hugh Selsick, shares insights in what good, and bad, sleep looks like.
How to get to the post-capitalist world
Maverick Citizen: Transitional Compass 1 is shortened essay from a special issue of the journal Globalizations that focus on possible pathways out of inequality
DA's woes signify historical dilemma of SA’s liberals
Liberalism has always been reluctant to grant black people equality unless they achieve certain designated standards.
Mining activities continue to dispossess black families
Mining companies and some heritage consultants don't understand the sacredness attached to ancestral remains, and the meaning of land in African communities.
How the fall of the Berlin Wall 30 years ago resonated across Africa
Marking the end of the Cold War offers the chance to reflect on the changes and continuities in African politics and international relations since 1989.
America’s right is lobbying against South Africa’s sex education syllabus
Lobby group FOR SA is backed by the US Christian right. Its latest target is South Africa's increasingly inclusive sex education lesson plans.
How South Africa can deliver on the right to food
PODCAST: To break the cycle of poverty and malnutrition, the government needs to ensure that children have access to sufficient healthy food.
South Africa’s real water crisis: not understanding what’s needed
The real crisis with water supply is that South Africa doesn't know what it doesn't know.
South Africa is one step closer to processed titanium alloys
Low-cost titanium alloys in South Africa could be used in non-aerospace sectors, such as car parts, medical devices, implants, jewellery and kitchen appliances.
Tropical cyclones in the South West Indian Ocean: new insights
As storm directions change, countries that are outside the usual tropical storm zones need to ready themselves.
Why South Africa’s copyright bill is good for digital archives
Libraries, archives, museums and galleries have finally been included in South Africa's contested new proposed copyright bill.
How Creative Commons works, and why it enables access to knowledge
Open access study material can help reduce the costs of education, improve skills and improve lives for millions of people.
Health professionals and cadavers: the quest for an ethical approach
Dissection is important for developing a range of skills, as well as moral and ethical training and a humanistic approach to patient care.
Science and science teaching are at a global crossroads
We need to think more deeply about how we can develop science more extensively on a global scale for the common good of all of humanity.
Panic over water in South Africa’s economic hub is misplaced
South Africa's Department of Water and Sanitation has plans in place to ensure adequate water supply until 2040 and beyond.
South Africa still has a long way to go on the right to food
Hunger affects people's health. It also affects their dignity and their ability to live full and productive lives.
South Africa’s TV actors have every reason to demand a better deal
South African actors are lobbying government to demand better working conditions and labour protection.
Who takes care of the elderly?
Care facilities are often considered a last resort in South Africa. Personal care is assumed to be provided by family and household members.
What affects people’s brain function as they grow older?
Researchers find the key factors behind poor cognitive function were related to levels of education, being a woman, marital status and being poor.
Tracking the impact of ageing in rural South Africa
Rapid population ageing has prompted researchers to study disease trends in older South Africans.
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A centrist political alliance in South Africa? Yes, but hard to get
South Africa's parliamentary system would make it difficult to achieve a fusion of parties.
Want to donate your body to research? What you need to know
Dissection plays an important role in introducing students to death by providing moral and ethical training as well as a humanistic approach to patient care.
Quarter century study on ageing in South Africa offers new perspectives
Research done over the past 26 years provides insights into changes across people's lives, helps evaluate interventions, and provides information for planning.
Study: Unhealthy ageing takes its toll on health and income
It's evident from research that while health influences economic well-being, the inverse is also true, economic well-being influences health.
What lost photos of Blue Notes say about South Africa’s jazz history
A rare set of photographs of South Africa's most famous jazz ensemble, the Blue Notes, has added valuable insights to the music archive.
Literature sheds light on the history and mystery of the Southern Ocean
The Southern Ocean, as artists have uncovered, is also a treasure trove of cultural narratives.
Why Africa can’t afford to be distracted by Trump
Trump’s bad example in the world’s oldest democracy can only comfort autocrats.
Did a large meteorite hit the earth 12,800 years ago? Here’s new evidence
Could platinum-rich dust associated with the impact of a very large meteorite have contributed to major climatic change and extinctions 12,800 years ago?
South Africa is planning more regulators: this is a bad idea
South Africa's independent regulators have failed. Instead of introducing new ones, alternatives need to be found.
Explainer: Why phenology is key in tracking climate change
Monitoring the timing of recurring biological events is key to understanding the effects of climate change.
50 years on: What we learned from South Africa’s biggest quake
There are three important issues to consider when thinking about quakes: what causes them; how to prepare and plan for them; and, how to move on afterwards.
Why corruption killed dreams of a better South Africa
25 years ago, citizens hoped a post-apartheid SA would be a fresh start. Today, political and business leaders stand accused of money laundering and bribery.
New copyright law will benefit South Africans with disabilities
South Africa's new Copyright Amendment Bill could help the country take an important step in tackling its own “book famine”.
How buildings in Johannesburg could benefit from green roofs
South Africa needs to develop low-cost housing solutions that are inherently comfortable and environmentally sustainable.
South Africa: a new narrative could tackle anti-migrant crisis
Faced with the same problem, South Africa is turning to the familiar toolkit to explain a recurrent problem.
Xenophobia: time for cool heads to prevail in Nigeria and South Africa
South Africa and Nigeria need to lead policy debates on long term measures to address migration in Africa.
Robert Mugabe: as divisive in death as he was in life
Robert Mugabe, the former president of Zimbabwe, has died.
Why South Africa’s plans for universal healthcare are pie in the sky
South Africa's planned NHI has no equivalent in any setting in the world. It's deeply flawed on a number of fronts.
The process of anti-patronage reform (Part Two)
Part Two of this series offer a process for dismantling South Africa’s patronage system.
The politics of South Africa’s patronage system (Part One)
Part One of this series describes the mechanics and architecture of South Africa’s patronage system.
Flights of healthcare fancy are for another time
The state is too broken to blunder on with universal healthcare.
The blind spots of ideology and journalism today
If you are confused about what is real, what is true, fact, propaganda or fiction, you are not alone; join the rest of the world.
South Africa’s 2019 poll showed dangerous signs of ‘insiders’ and ‘outsiders’
The election's result endorses other evidence that trust in South Africa’s constitutional settlement and its political institutions is steadily declining.
Ebola: how to manage in a crisis
Lessons from the West Africa: Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is currently grappling with the world’s second largest Ebola outbreak.
Hidden in plain sight
A fossil hidden in plain sight in South Africa turns out to be a new dinosaur.
How population data can help countries plan and tweak policy
South Africa’s data collection is constantly improving and Stats SA does a good job of making data available for analysis and research. Why is this important?
How our African ancestors made sound in the Stone Age
Researchers show how some bone artefacts from archaeological sites in South Africa's southern Cape region might have been used in sound production.
Investors push for positive global change in tailings management
An interesting development emerged from Brazil dam disaster: investors work with mining companies and regulators to improve tailings management systems.
Land reform that unleashes a rural economic miracle should be the goal
Migration from rural areas to cities can be slowed down with integrated agriculture value chains.
There’s a nugget of good news in the latest unemployment figures
The number of workers employed has actually gone up and the numbers of workers trying to find a job has gone up too.
South Africa’s universal man of uncommon passion
Johnny Clegg was a prophet, even if the ideal future he prophesied has not yet come to pass.
ARV breakthrough
Trial in South Africa confirms a new drug, dolutegravir, is an effective and well-tolerated ARV.
Migration and health: what southern Africa needs to do to plug the gaps
Health systems are generally structured around nation-states. Migration, especially across national borders, therefore leads to challenges.
Unique picture of migration patterns helps urban planning
Keeping track of migration and urbanisation is challenging. It's vital for population health that migration and urbanisation is well understood and planned for.
Southern Africa needs better health care for women and girls on the move
Health responses need to take on board the fact that the number of women and girls migrating across borders as well as within countries is growing.
South Africa’s healthcare system can’t afford to ignore migration
It's difficult to keep track of the medical records of patients on the move and some may be lost to follow-up, presenting further public health challenges.
We tracked South Africa’s sardine run over 66 years: here’s what we found
South Africa's annual sardine run is occurring increasingly late, and there have been instances where it doesn't happen at all. Here's why.
Why migrants must be part of South Africa’s universal health plan
Seven years ago the United Nations (UN) endorsed universal health coverage as key to sustainable development and global security.
There are lots of myths about flu: we debunk six of them
Despite the availability of vaccines for influenza – or flu – the virus continues to kill people across the world.
Neglected challenge of the 4IR debate
The roles and practices of companies like Google and Facebook must be investigated.
Mining-affected communities are in a crisis which present law cannot address
At the centre of the demands is the communities’ struggle for the industry and government to recognise the right to free prior and informed consent.
Zuma and Trump: half a world apart, yet similarly paranoid and dangerous
Within the space of a few days, we have been subjected to bizarre but carefully staged performances by both presidents.
Marxist scholar Harold Wolpe’s ideas still speak to South Africa’s problems
Reflections on the recent launch of a collection of essays, “Race, Class and the Post-Apartheid Democratic State”, on Wolpe’s scholarly contribution.
Technology can make collecting and analysing evidence for policy easier
There is more and more research being produced around the world every day. In total, about 3 million articles are published every year.
The historian reminding us we are close to the cliff's edge
The book, 'The Road to Unfreedom: Russia, Europe, America', helps make sense of the mess the world’s in
We need a social pact to secure the farming industry
Social pacts in agriculture, energy and mining, between business, labour and communities, will be crucial to lift market confidence and growth levels.
Evolution of ANC economic policy sheds light on squabble over the central bank
The recent squabble over the mandate of the South African Reserve Bank has very little to do with real economic policies.
How did elephants evolve such a large brain? Climate change is part of the answer
Elephants have long captivated our attention, partly because of their sheer size and majesty. But we’re also struck by their complex behaviour.
South Africa takes a quantum leap and joins the race
Quantum technologies are exploding and no longer the purview of laboratory experiments only.
People have skewed views on inflation. Why this matters
Countries that use an inflation target to anchor monetary policy pay considerable attention to expectations of future inflation.
The century of the African philanthropists is here, but wise choices must be made
African philanthropists have the capital, influence, local knowledge and moral authority to address pressing challenges that face the continent.
Ramaphosa’s vision needs to be wider than just attracting foreign investment
Unless the government regulates the economy effectively, it will generate growth that accrues disproportionately to those with wealth and power.
Young women in Soweto say healthy living is hard. Here’s why
Data from South Africa has shown that over two thirds of young women are overweight and obese.
South Africa should learn from Brazil about how to tackle ‘hidden hunger’
South Africa faces a double burden of hunger and malnutrition, on the one hand, and obesity with associated non-communicable diseases (NCDs), on the other.
Tropical cyclones are on the rise in southern Africa
Southern Africa has seen a rise in tropical cyclones recently. Why? Listen to Pasha 20, The Conversation Africa’s podcast on research.
Twelve steps to successful land reform
Developing and protecting agriculture-related industries will be crucial to creating jobs and achieving a just new order.
Adherence is delaying HIV elimination targets. What’s needed to break the cycle
As 2020 draws closer, the deadline to end AIDS by 2030 looms large. The aim is to achieve the ambitious targets of “90-90-90”.
Tribute to Raymond Louw: a great SA editor and determined activist
Veteran journalist Raymond Louw (93) passed away recently - a former editor of the Rand Daily Mail and tireless press freedom campaigner and mentor.
Past trends could explain why Senegal scrapped the Prime Minister’s office
Soon after Macky Sall was re-elected for a second, and final, presidential term he signed a decree that scrapped the office of the Prime Minister.
We tested baby food sugar levels in South Africa. This is what we found
South Africa has the highest rates of childhood obesity in the world, with an alarming figure of 13%.
There’s still so much we don’t know about the star-gazing beetle with a tiny brain
Edited extract from 'The Dance of the Dung Beetles', a new book authored Dr Helen Lunn and Professor Marcus Byrne published by 91心頭利 University Press.
A change of climate in the media?
Vishwas Satgar, Associate Professor at 91心頭利 contributes to a discussion about climate change and the media on Al Jazeera.
Structuring SA’s digital government: the road not traveled?
The potential capabilities afforded by digital technologies should not be ignored in the current stage of design of the future government administration.
In South Africa, unhealthy food choices are everywhere
Diseases linked to obesity are rising rapidly in South Africa. Listen to Pasha 20, The Conversation Africa’s podcast on research.
Ramaphosa’s cabinet: who and what’s needed to end South Africa’s malaise
South Africans recently went to the polls in a national election which the African National Congress (ANC) won by a wide margin.
How the ANC survived Jacob Zuma — and eked out a win in South Africa’s election
Under Zuma, democratic institutions bent but did not break. Just 15 months ago, South Africa’s democracy faced the gravest crisis in its 25-year history.
The struggles of black women in science
Ndoni Mcunu shares her journey of being a black woman in science on Pasha 18, The Conversation Africa’s podcast on research.
Study signals enduring racism in science
Each university and journal must reflect on its assumptions in biology, medicine, natural sciences, anthropology and the social sciences.
Why the Indian Ocean is spawning strong and deadly tropical cyclones
The Indian Ocean has made its mark on the global news cycle this year.
Why restoring accuracy will help journalism win back credibility
How removing senior sub-editors from newsrooms and creating "sub-hubs" have contributed to the rise of misinformation, propaganda and disinformation.
South Africa’s black middle class is battling to find a political home
South Africa’s black middle class is growing numerically – and growing politically restive.
Reporting on China in Africa is too binary. What needs to be done to fix it
So it’s not surprising that this has become an ever-expanding topic for both the media and researchers.
How South Africa ranks in the press freedom stakes
It’s pleasing that the latest World Press Freedom Index released by Reporters without Borders rates the state of press freedom in SA as “satisfactory”.
Heading to a region with malaria? Some simple steps to keep you safe
Every death from malaria is a tragedy. But many infections can be prevented.
2019 Elections: ‘Ramacynicism’ and leaps of faith
Voting for the ANC come the 2019 election will be a calculated but inescapably blindfolded leap of faith for many South African voters.
Electoral systems need urgent reform. South Africa is no exception
Is South Africa’s particular proportional representation system fit for purpose as popular support for the political system is steadily eroding?
Foreign policy priorities South Africa should pursue
South Africa continues to enjoy an unusual degree of international prominence normally accorded to states that are more powerful, or strategically located.
Cyclone Idai is over – but its health effects will be felt for a long time
People in Malawi, Mozambique and Zimbabwe have started trying to rebuild their lives after the devastation wrought by Cyclone Idai.
Light pollution: the dark side of keeping the lights on
New research show mounting evidence that increased lighting has a range of negative effects on all life on earth.
New fossil find may shed light on how sabre toothed predators evolved
Prehistoric bestiary is full of remarkable creatures and fearsome predators.
South Africa's plan to fight prejudice is full of holes
The South African government has launched a plan aimed at addressing pervasive prejudice in the country.
The legacy of Okwui Enwezor – the curator who exhibited Africa to the world
Over two decades Okwui Enwezor emerged as a dominant and highly influential voice in curatorial practice and contemporary art history.
Poor coverage of floods in southern Africa? Blame the media bosses
Local media coverage of the havoc and destruction caused by Tropical Cyclone Idai has been very poor and shows that traditional media is dying.
Africa cannot afford to take the back seat in one of the most important pursuits of modern science
The continent needs its own experts to harness Artificial Intelligence towards our local challenges and priorities in Africa.
Tropical cyclone Idai: The storm that knew no boundaries
This storm provides a grim prospect of the future of tropical cyclones in southern Africa, a region under continued threat from climate change.
Major battles have been won against TB. But the war isn’t over
We all need to advocate for more resources and better patient support. TB is everyone’s problem – not just the poor and forgotten.
How South Africa can improve community-based HIV services
South Africa introduced a community-based primary health care programme in 2012.
Managing diseases in African cities
Listen to Lenore Manderson, Distinguished Professor in Public Health and Medical Anthropology, in this episode of Pasha 10, The Conversation Africa's podcast.
Local solutions can boost healthier food choices
The crisis in health triggered by cheap food that’s high in fat and sugar is now well documented.
Why corruption in South Africa isn’t simply about Zuma and the Guptas
Corruption in South Africa isn’t simply a matter of bad morals or weak law enforcement.
It’s time to rethink how foreign languages are taught at universities
Many people underestimate the difficulty involved in learning a language. This is because language acquisition goes beyond comprehension.
South Africa must end its coal habit. But it’s at odds about when and how
SA is highly dependent on coal – almost 90% of its energy comes from coal-fired power stations. The urgency of change is clear on both global and local levels.
Cape Town has a plan to manage its water. But there are big gaps
The City of Cape Town – and southwest Africa more generally – experienced its worst drought on record between 2015 and 2018.
Why a guaranteed jobs scheme in South Africa would pay for itself
Among the biggest injustices of the past in South Africa is unemployment.
Religiosity, risky behaviour and young people: a South African case study
Alcohol and other drug use and risky sexual behaviour remain high among adolescents across the globe.
Postponement fuels lack of trust in Nigeria’s ability to hold fair elections
Nigeria has postponed its 2019 presidential elections. The Independent National Electoral Commission made the announcement hours before voting was scheduled to
What a major offshore gas find means for South Africa’s energy future
Many are celebrating that a promising show of natural gas has been discovered in deep water south of Mossel Bay. What is the significance?
New ways of thinking on health, arts and humanities are emerging in Africa
Medical and Health Humanities bring together academics, researchers, practitioners, creative artists, health care seekers and providers.
Curious Kids: how does thunder work? And why is it so loud?
The Conversation Africa's Curious Kids is a series for children in which we ask experts to answer questions from kids.
Eskom: our biggest threat
Explainer: Why South Africa’s energy generator is in so much trouble.
Want to be a woman in science? Here’s advice from those who’ve gone before
Each year on February 11, the United Nations marks the International Day of Women and Girls in Science.
The World Bank needs deep reforms to reflect a changing world order
The sudden resignation of World Bank President Jim Yong Kim has rekindled debate about leadership succession and the mission of the institution.
A democracy or a kleptocracy? How South Africa stacks up
Revelations emanating from the two commissions of inquiry indicate that South Africa stands in great peril of falling prey to kleptocracy.
Weighing up the costs of treating ‘lifestyle’ diseases in South Africa
Increasing need to treat people who have diabetes, hypertension, and hypercholesterolaemia to try to prevent their consequences.
Scientists split on South Africa’s winter and summer rainfall zones
South Africa is among a handful of countries that experience winter rainfall in some areas and summer rainfall in others.
Why delays to fixing health care are bad news for South Africans
The release of a final report about the state of competition in South Africa’s private health sector has been delayed again.
Why screen time needs to be limited
High levels of screen time, among babies, children and adolescents, are associated with potential harm.
New research shows lasers can create fractals
91心頭利 researchers prove the long-held theory by making the first direct observation of fractal light from lasers.
Should I be scared of lightning?
Curious Kids is a series for children in which we ask experts to answer questions from kids.
How global warming is adding to the health risks of poor people
There is mounting evidence of the impact of climate change on human habitat and health, on plant and animal life, on water resources and shorelines.
“Weather” and “climate” shouldn't be used interchangeably
To understand climate projections and climate forecasts you need to know the difference between “weather” and “climate”.
Crackdown in Zimbabwe
South African diplomacy on Zimbabwe can remain quiet – but it must get tough.
The Reserve Bank needs stability
Explainer: South Africa’s central bank – ownership, mandate and independence.
The need for real justice
The Central African Republic (CAR) provides hard lessons on what it means to deliver real justice.
The silly season ahead of the 2019 elections
The festive season is well and truly over but another silly season is upon us - election season.
Elections, the ANC and the Suspension of Disbelief
South African voters are cynical beings, but not immune to bouts of political magical realism.
South African journalist, author, militant and prisoner
Hugh Lewin has died in Johannesburg at the age of 79.
Why does malaria recur? Filling in the pieces of the puzzle
Some people suffer from repeated attacks of malaria. These can occur weeks to months or longer after contracting the disease.
Are universities teaching the right kind of economics?
South Africa joins global charge to overhaul undergraduate economics.
The complex reasons for South Africa’s organ donor shortage
At any given time, there are around 4300 people waiting for organ donations in South Africa.
Secrets of an ancient fossil’s brain and inner ear
Virtual images help researchers to present and explore new scenarios about how our ancestors lived and evolved.