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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,…

In a fix: Services in the capital Harare are stretched or broken. Transfers of funds from the national government are low and revenue collection by local government is curtailed. (Mustafa Kamaci/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)

Harare’s fiscal paradox: A devolved city starved of resources

By law, powers and functions are devolved to local government but the ruling Zanu-PF’s ideology is to control municipalities

The increase in, for example, white and yellow maize, us now at 7.75 million tonnes and 6.91 million tonnes, 16% higher than the 2023-24 season.

For better ways to produce food, look to the past

Answers to South Africa’s food system problems could lie in the pre-colonial epoch

Squeezed: Chris Arendse fixes his fishing net at his home in Strandfontein Pavilion in Cape Town. Small-scale fishers say the odds are stacked against them. Photos: Bongani Siziba

Fishing subsidies in the W. Cape: ‘Illegal fishing is our only option’

Fishers claim they are forced into illegal trawling because subsidies only benefit big vessels

Video

No one should be as rich as Elon Musk

The reactions to Elon Musk’s billionaire status are evidence that far too many South Africans have not fully grasped the destructive consequences of inequality. Entrepreneur Musk…

Equal distribution of resources will not close the access gap. Instead, resources must be deployed where they are needed most – and low-cost housing must move from the urban periphery too

Why a blanket approach to redressing spatial inequity is flawed

Equal distribution of resources will not close the access gap. Instead, resources must be deployed where they are needed most – and low-cost housing must move from the urban…

In Kenya, waste is collected twice a week and taken to a resource recovery facility, where the high temperatures in solar concentrators sterilise the waste. It is then turned into charcoal briquettes that are used as fuel. (Fredrik Lerneryd)

How our urine and faeces can be used to fuel growth and create a cleaner environment

Recycling human waste not only cuts down on landfill use but can also give birth to economically viable products such as fertilisers and fuel

(John McCann/M&G)

After the goldrush, coal addiction

Gold propped up apartheid, but it was depleted. The new fool’s gold is coal. Neither brought economic transformation

Foreign spaza shop owners told the press last week they blamed recent violent looting in Soweto on allegations of fake food in the township. (David Harrison).

Townships are still a world apart

Bids to unleash their economic potential have failed largely because the motives, networks and practices of the informal economy are ignored.

Adcorp offers to buy Australian workforce firm

Adcorp has put in an offer to buy 100% of Labour Solutions Australia, saying the final consideration would depend on the company’s earnings.

Peters unfazed by implications of an ‘outdated’ resource plan

Energy Minister Dipuo Peters is sticking to her guns on electricity policy.

Deadline looms for mining companies

There is nervousness in the sector as companies have to ensure they comply with the mining charter’s requirements by next year.

Billiton in strong position, chairperson says

BHP Billiton’s chairperson, Don Argus, said on Thursday that as a standalone company BHP Billiton is in a strong financial and operating position.

JSE mixed, but SAB climbs

South African stocks were a mixed bag with a weaker bias at noon on Thursday, but brewer SABMiller climbed on above-forecasts year end earnings. At noon, the all-share index was…

JSE stays weak on miners, world markets

South African stocks remained weak at midday on Tuesday with miners the worst causalities on easing metal prices, while falling overseas markets added to selling pressures. At…