The Conversation
Athol Fugard: the great South African playwright who captured what it means to be human
11th March 2025 I was shocked to learn that the famous South African writer Athol Fugard had passed away. I had known his age to be 92 but somehow I never expected... →
The G20: how it works, why it matters and what would be lost if it failed
10th March 2025 South Africa took over the presidency of the G20 at the end of 2024. Since then the world has become a more complex, unpredictable and dangerous... →
Moving graves and people for coal mines: the devastating costs of mining in South Africa
10th March 2025 About 80% of South Africa’s electricity still comes from burning coal. The country’s 108 coal mines have resulted in many communities being forced... →
US trade wars with China – and how they play out in Africa
6th March 2025 Since taking office, US president Donald Trump has implemented policies that have been notably hostile towards China. They include trade... →
Royal Zulu divorce drama: South African traditions are having to change with the times
6th March 2025 African monarchies are important figures in their countries. In South Africa, many Zulu people are strongly tied to the royal family and indigenous... →
Pepfar funding to fight HIV/Aids has saved 26-million lives since 2003: how cutting it will hurt Africa
5th March 2025 The US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief has been a cornerstone of global HIV/Aids prevention, care and treatment for over two decades.... →
Maps showing China’s growing influence in Africa distort reality – but some risks are real
5th March 2025 Global power dynamics in Africa are shifting, with China eclipsing the influence of the US and France. China has become Africa’s single largest... →
Nigeria’s 2025 budget has major flaws and won’t ease economic burden
4th March 2025 There are doubts as to whether Nigerian president Bola Tinubu’s N54.99-trillion (US$36.6-billion) 2025 budget will lay a solid foundation for... →
Life after school for young South Africans: six insights into what lies ahead
4th March 2025 At the dawn of democracy in 1994, South Africa faced a sobering reality. Fewer than a third of 25- to 34-year-olds had achieved at least a matric... →
Land reform in South Africa doesn’t need a new law: the state should release property it owns – economists
26th February 2025 South Africa’s new Expropriation Act, which was signed into law by President Cyril Ramaphosa in January 2025, has been at the centre of a political... →
