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Missed opportunity: African countries rich in minerals, agricultural land, energy resources and human capital have struggled to convert the assets into prosperity. Photo: Dominik Vanyi

Africa's great untapped wealth

South Africa's debate on undocumented migration often focuses on border control and job competition. This article argues that migration is a symptom of deeper issues,…

ActionSA, the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) and the uMkhonto weSizwe party (MKP) joined the group March on March in a march through central Durban on 26 March 2026. Photo: Action SA

South Africa’s migration crisis: hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil

For decades, Black South Africans and African foreign nationals have built communities together, a historical reality that challenges narratives of inherent xenophobia. However,…

Icon: Nelson Mandela was no saint

South Africa's debt to Africa

South Africa's freedom was never a purely South African achievement. The country liberated by African solidarity should not allow anger over migration to become an alibi for…

Compromised: Nelson Mandela did his time on the streets, in armed struggle and in prison... he did the best he could. He did not sell out. Photo: NMF

Nelson Mandela did not sell out

It was about two years ago that I discovered the name of one Gibson Makanda, apparently a historical figure of profound consequence the majority of South Africans do not know…

South Africa’s SADC’s moment

As South Africa prepares to host the 46th SADC Summit in Durban, the article reflects on the state of democracy in the region and SADC's challenges in upholding its commitments.…

Cape Verde is redrawing football’s map

Cape Verde's football team, the Blue Sharks, has emerged as a serious force on the global stage, challenging traditional hierarchies with their disciplined play and historic…

Malawian nationals are gathered to board bases home.

South Africa’s crisis of state authority and when citizens begin deporting people

South Africa is grappling with a crisis that extends beyond immigration, questioning the very essence of governance. Anti-immigration groups like Operation Dudula and March and…

External demand: Minerals must do more than leave the continent as raw materials. They must also support industrialisation, technology transfer, skills development, energy access and economic transformation.
 Photo: Open Society

The problem is not China; it’s Africa

A Zimbabwean expert argues that Africa's approach to China regarding critical minerals is outdated, rooted in Cold War politics and anti-colonial solidarity. The article contends…

 In recent weeks, anti-immigrant violence and intimidation have spread across several communities, forcing migrants to flee their homes, seek shelter in public buildings or even request repatriation to their countries of origin. (Paul Botes)

From victim to vanguard: Is South Africa at risk of becoming a villain?

South Africa's modern history, framed by "V" metaphors from victim to vanguard, now faces a critical juncture. Recent xenophobic attacks against African migrants raise…