Africa’s development banks are being undermined: the continent will pay the price: Ghana and Zambia’s official creditors are pressing them to default on loans to two African multilateral financial institutions: the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) and the Trade and Development Bank (TDB). These creditors, in effect, are demanding that the two countries prioritise repayments to …
One year on: South Africa’s coalition government boosted optimism, but will it last?: For the first time since the end of apartheid in 1994, the ruling African National Congress lost its parliamentary majority in 2024. After 30 years in power, it had to form a coalition with 10 other political parties to govern the country. …
Africa’s power pools: what the G20 can do to help countries share electricity: South Africa holds the presidency of the G20 this year. The group is made up of 19 of the world’s largest economies, the European Union and the African Union. A priority of South Africa’s G20 presidency is African connectivity: promoting cross-border energy …
Ocean currents can generate electricity – and our study shows Africa’s seas have some of the strongest: The world’s oceans cover more than 70% of Earth’s surface. They’re filled with currents, some much stronger than the fastest flowing large rivers. These currents can be harnessed as clean, marine renewable energy. Marine energy is much more …
Young men on South Africa’s urban margins: new book follows their lives over 10 years: South Africa’s young people, aged 15 to 34, who make up more than 50% of the country’s working age population, bear a disproportionate burden of unemployment. They have done so for more than a decade. Of this group, those aged …
Funding terror: how west Africa’s deadly jihadists get the money they need to survive: The west Africa–Sahel region has seen a proliferation of militant Islamist groups since the 1990s. One of the most vicious groups operating in the region is Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (Support Group for Islam and Muslims). The militant group emerged in …
South Africa’s honeybush sector must transform from its unjust past: what needs to change: The biodiversity economy is made up of businesses and economic activities that use living species and ecosystems to make profits without damaging the environment. But in South Africa, it is haunted by economic racism, with Indigenous people still not in control …
Colonial-era borders create conflict in Africa’s oceans – how to resolve them: Africa has 38 coastal and island nations. Their maritime industries – including energy, tourism, maritime transport, shipping and fishing – play a crucial role in developing these nations. Key to harnessing these resources are Africa’s maritime boundaries – lines on a map showing …
South Africa’s wattled cranes are no longer critically endangered: why the birds’ numbers are rising: Cranes are some of the world’s most majestic birds, with 15 species found globally. Four of these are found in Africa. The wattled crane in South Africa was in decline, but seems to have turned a corner. Its numbers have …
Southern Africa’s rangelands do many jobs, from feeding cattle to storing carbon: a review of 60 years of research: South Africa’s rangelands have always had great value for the country. These areas offer more than just grazing for livestock. They provide services like purifying water, storing carbon and conserving biodiversity. The grassland biome (28%), along …
Robust Creative Solutions Sets New Standards in Video and Photography Services for South Africa’s Evolving Visual Landscape: In an era defined by the power of compelling visuals, Robust Creative Solutions has emerged as a leading force in the South African media industry, offering a comprehensive suite of video and photography services that respond to the …
Tiny technology that can find pollution in South Africa’s water and trap it: Nanotechnology is the use of materials that are one-billionth of a metre (a nanometre) in size. One of its potential uses is to clean up whatever is contaminating water supplies. Analytical chemist Philiswa Nomngongo, a leading researcher in nanotechnology for water in …
South Africa’s shift from coal to renewables: how it’s going: Just over 74% of South Africa’s electricity still comes from burning coal. In 2021, the country negotiated the Just Energy Transition Partnership with Germany, the UK, France, the US and the European Union. They committed to providing South Africa with US$ 8.5 billion (R157 billion) …
Africa’s superfood heroes – from teff to insects – deserve more attention: Africa is home to a rich variety of incredible indigenous crops and foods – from nutrient-dense grains and legumes to unique fruits and leafy greens. Despite their value, many of these foods are often overlooked, under-celebrated, and under-consumed in favour of imported or …
Africa’s healthcare funding crisis: 3 strategies to manage deadly diseases: The increasing trend of reducing foreign aid to Africa is forcing the continent to reassess its approach to healthcare delivery. African countries face a major challenge of dealing with high rates of communicable diseases, such as malaria and HIV/Aids, and rising levels of non-communicable diseases. …
Power drives global affairs today, not rules – what Africa’s strategies should be: A new world order is emerging. The United States is no longer the sole force shaping global events; countries like China, Russia, India and the Gulf states are growing in influence. This shift has intensified global competition and made international cooperation more …
Fulani: new study unravels the genetic history of Africa’s largest pastoralist community: The Fulani people are Africa’s largest pastoralist group. There are between 25 million and 40? million Fulani people across 17 African countries, from the Atlantic shores of Senegal and Mauritania to Sudan. The Fulani have long intrigued social anthropologists with their complex cultural …
Why was South Africa’s ambassador to the US expelled? A view of the Ebrahim Rasool affair: In a rare move, the Trump administration expelled Ebrahim Rasool, South Africa’s ambassador to Washington, in mid-March 2025. In a post on X, US secretary of state Marco Rubio accused Rasool of hating the US and President Donald Trump, …