Latest Opinions
Brenda Fassie’s 1997 hit song Vulindlela still raises questions about South Africa as a nation
12th July 2024 In 1997, South Africa’s most famous music star had a huge hit. Brenda Fassie’s Vulindlela became a national pop anthem, played especially at... →
AI propaganda campaign in Rwanda has been pushing pro-Kagame messages – a dangerous new trend in Africa
12th July 2024 At the end of May 2024, several media outlets led by the journalist network Forbidden Stories released a set of reports titled “Rwanda Classified”.... →
Paul Kagame has had an iron grip on Rwanda for decades – 6 essential reads on what keeps him in power
12th July 2024 There is little doubt that Paul Kagame will win the votes necessary to extend his 24-year rule in Rwanda’s general election on 15 July 2024. The... →
Casting doubts and casting votes - the real-world effects of false election fraud claims
By: Africa Check 12th July 2024 South Africa’s May 2024 elections were widely acknowledged as pivotal for the country. After 30 years in power, the ruling African National... →
Rewards and risks
By: Terence Creamer 12th July 2024 The decision to again uncouple the energy portfolio from mineral resources and appoint Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa as the new Electricity and Energy... →
African urbanisation: what can (and can’t) be learned from China about growing cities
11th July 2024 The economic growth paths of Asian and African countries have often been compared. China, with gross domestic product per capita of US$251 in 1987,... →
Double tragedy: the Zimbabwe farmers affected by illegal mining and climate change
11th July 2024 Smallholder farmers in rural Gwanda, a region in Zimbabwe that borders South Africa, have been affected by a double shock – a combination of heat,... →
Ethiopia’s national dialogue needs a reset
By: ISS, Institute for Security Studies 11th July 2024 Considering that major political movements and actors reject the ongoing dialogue, a temporary pause and recalibration should be considered. Since... →
South Africa’s 2022 census may not be accurate enough for official use: demographers explain what went wrong
10th July 2024 The 2022 South African census set an undesirable record: it is the census with the highest undercount among those where the undercount is measured... →
Extreme weather in South Africa is disrupting tourism – research tracks the impact on coastal areas
10th July 2024 South Africa has experienced some extreme weather events in recent months. These have included floods and an uncommon tornado in South Africa’s... →