Latest Opinions
South Africa’s foreign policy is rooted in negotiation with all nations – a shifting global order makes this difficult
18th February 2026 Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, South Africa’s foreign policy has been under sustained international scrutiny. Its stance on the war... →
South Africa is moving away from coal – how mines and power stations could be used for green energy and farming
18th February 2026 Globally, nearly 7 000 coal mines, more than 2 400 coal-fired power plants and hundreds of coal rail networks, trucks and port terminals all make... →
Mediation can speed up justice in South Africa: legal scholar makes the case
18th February 2026 Communities in South Africa continue to be fractured by service delivery failures, crime and gang-related violence. The impact is felt by families... →
Could Africa's youth bulge help fill Europe's military ranks?
By: ISS, Institute for Security Studies 18th February 2026 Military recruitment increasingly reflects the same demand-supply dynamics that shape global civilian migration. In November 2025, Ukraine’s... →
Ramaphosa and a stable electricity system in South Africa: the devils are in the detail
16th February 2026 The strategic significance of the reference to energy reform in South African President Cyril Ramaphosa’s State of the Nation Address cannot be... →
Africa’s trade blocs were designed to unite the continent: four reasons they haven’t delivered
16th February 2026 In a rapidly fracturing world, regional integration could be a source of resilience for the African continent. The African Union agreed in 2019 to... →
Regional protection scheme needed for Sudan’s displacement crisis
By: ISS, Institute for Security Studies 16th February 2026 The massive scale and fast pace of displacement cycles have overwhelmed support systems in Sudan and neighbouring countries. Almost three years... →
Opinion: Does South Africa have a future without power cuts? Ramaphosa intervenes, but the drama isn’t over
16th February 2026 South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, in his 2026 State of the Nation address, announced that the country’s electricity transmission assets... →
Water in the dams, but South Africa’s taps are dry: essential reads on a history of bad management
13th February 2026 It’s become a common refrain in South Africa: there’s no drought, dams and reservoirs are full, but the taps are dry. The ongoing crisis has been... →
Five steps for Africa to thrive under the new US security strategy
By: ISS, Institute for Security Studies 13th February 2026 America will remain a vital partner, so African governments should expand, not reduce, their options to advance their interests. Relations with the... →
