Opinion
Sunken Stories of the Not-So-Dark Continent: Unearthing South Africa’s Hidden Histories
The rugged coastlines of KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape conceal secrets beneath the waves secrets…
China and Africa Need to Further Align Development Strategies to Realise the Immense Potential of Economic Cooperation
Humming factories, bustling ports, and shuttling merchants highlight the vibrancy of China-Africa economic and trade…
Challenges to Africa’s Security Persist, But Long-Term Outlook Remains Positive
The world in 2024 was far from peaceful. The conflict between Russia and Ukraine has…
Civilisational Exchanges Represent a Crucial Step Towards realising a China-Africa Community With a Shared Future
In his keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the Beijing Summit of the Forum…
From Hunter to Hunted: Europe’s Sudden Target of US Imperialism
For centuries, Europe was the architect of global imperialism, carving up foreign territories and subjugating populations in pursuit of dominance. Driven by a potent cocktail of ambition, religious zeal and racial superiority, the expansion of the European empire ranks amongst the worst human disasters, especially for the world’s subalterns. The empire was built on exploitation, enslavement and violent subjugation and birthed the dreadful, unequal and racist modern world. Now, the tables have turned in the face of US Imperialism or…
How BRICS Strengthens Regional Digital Trade
The BRICS nations are constructing a fresh model for cross-border e-commerce. Through initiatives like the BRICS Pay System and a proposed independent financial infrastructure, BRICS is moving beyond merely participating in the global economy. BRICS Pay: secure, cost-effective solution for global digital tradeThe 14th BRICS Trade Ministers Meeting in July 2024 affirmed this direction, recognising that “E-commerce has become one of the most important drivers of global economic growth.” With the aim to expand its presence in global e-commerce through…
Africa Faces a Bright Economic Outlook Despite Internal and External Challenges
It’s that time of the year again when we find ourselves reflecting on the year that was and the year ahead. On the African continent, many countries are still recovering from the aftershocks of the COVID-19 pandemic and are doing so amid a fraught geopolitical environment. These tensions have, to some extent, created hurdles in the path of Africa’s recovery. The African Development Bank has attributed the economic slowdown on the continent to astronomical inflation caused by soaring food and…
Matric Results Conceal The Submerged Body of an Iceberg
The matric results came out this week: Free State came out tops, and Limpopo was at the bottom. At least that is what we are supposed to read from the percentages in order to be joyous or sad. The debate as usual will continue to focus on trivial things like the reasons why Limpopo is has the lowest pass mark or which kid got most distinctions. This is indicative of how far we continue to miss the point. South Africa…
Forum Urges the African Continent to Reinvent its Approach to Public Debt
In the heart of Abuja’s evolving financial district, an extraordinary gathering of Africa’s leading policymakers, business magnates, and international development partners took place in mid-December. The Debt Management Forum for Africa (DeMFA), convened on 16-17 December 2024, may well be remembered as a watershed in the continent’s ongoing struggle to tame the complexities of public debt. Under the auspices of the African Development Bank (AfDB), a key player in African economic development, and supported by a coalition of global and…
Should South Africa Continue Publishing Matric Results in Newspapers?
South Africa has a long-standing tradition of publish matric results in newspapers. In early January every year, many parents and their children wait anxiously for the publishing of matric results. Questions should be asked about the continued relevance of this tradition, even though it once symbolized transparency and accountability. We live in a time when mental health, privacy and equity are top priorities, as such, it might be both harmful and outdated to disseminate matric results publicly. One of the…
Trump’s Threat of Additional Tariffs on China, Mexico and Canada is a Continuation of Protectionist Policies That Benefit No One
US President-elect Donald Trump is set to ignite new trade wars with some other countries, including China. His announcement on social media on 25 November 2024 that he would impose additional tariffs on goods from China, Canada, and Mexico came as no surprise. The Republican Party leader, elected in November last year following his victory in the US presidential election, declared he would impose an additional 10 or 25 percent tariff on imports from these countries, pushing the global economy…
‘Going Home’, Temporality and Oscillation: The Endurance of South Africa’s Migrant Labour System
During the festive season peaks in December, millions of South African workers in big and mid-sized urban areas “go home” to spend time in rural labour reserves where they were born. This mass movement, which appears to be a deeply ingrained cultural practice, reflects something far more insidious: the enduring legacy of South Africa’s colonial and apartheid-era migrant labour system. This system, designed to exploit cheap black labour for the benefit of a white-controlled economy, has not only persisted but…
China’s New Law Boosts Energy Transition and Economic Development
China’s first energy law adopted by the 12th session of the Standing Committee of the 14th National People’s Congress, the country’s top legislature, on November 8, 2024, takes effect on January 1, 2025. This milestone marks a significant step forward in the modernization of China’s energy governance system and capacity, and this foundational and overarching legislation in the energy sector fully embodies the nation’s energy strategy and policy direction. It not only establishes a comprehensive institutional framework for China’s green…
How the US Tried to Replace International Law with its own Twisted Creation
While international law is based on equal sovereignty for all states, the rules-based international order upholds hegemony on the principle of sovereign inequality. The rules-based international order is commonly presented as international law plus international human rights law, which appears benign and progressive. However, this entails introducing contradictory principles and rules. The consequence is a system devoid of uniform rules, in which “might makes right.” International human rights law introduces a set of rules to elevate the rights of the…