The African Union Commission (AUC) elections held in Addis Ababa on February 15, 2025, have stirred up both political discourse and speculations about their impact on local politics in Kenya. The race for the position of AUC Chairperson saw Raila Odinga, Kenya’s former Prime Minister, face stiff competition from Djibouti’s Foreign Minister Mahmoud Ali Youssouf and Madagascar’s Richard Randriamandrato. After six rounds of voting, Odinga was eliminated in the final tally, with Youssouf securing 26 votes and Odinga managing 22.…

South Africa has a new chairwoman at the helm of the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS). My esteemed colleague, Dr. Karen Stander, a senior lecturer in the Department of Business Management at Unisa’s College of Economic and Management Sciences (CEMS), has stepped into a role riddled with complexities. Yet, her appointment, while worth celebrating—also signals something more troubling: the ever-persistent reality of the glass cliff. Dr. Stander’s appointment by the Minister of Higher Education, Dr. Nobuhle Pamela Nkabane, as…

The decision by Athletics South Africa (ASA) to deprive South Africans of televised national championships is an act of gross negligence, a betrayal of our sporting heritage, and an affront to the principles of development and transformation in sport.  This move is not just a failure in governance but a calculated abdication of responsibility. As someone who has been involved in sports administration since my days in SATISCO and through the establishment of federations that now govern our national sporting…

In the past few years, many of us have witnessed a troubling trend – politicians making decisions that feel increasingly out of touch with the realities of our daily lives. As infrastructures crumble and our local services wane, it is clear that the time has come for us to reclaim the reins of power from leaders who have lost sight of their communities. We find ourselves at a critical juncture where the need for change has never been more pressing.…

African leaders will gather again in Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital, for the 2025 African Union (AU) Summit on 17-18 February. This time it’s different, though. The meeting is taking place amid a different geopolitical context, and challenging socio-economic and security conditions on the continent.  Africa remains the poorest continent globally, with extreme poverty rates exceeding 30 percent in 23 of the world’s 28 poorest countries. According to the National Bureau of Economic Research, a US private non-profit research organisation,…

The United States has long positioned itself as a global champion of human rights, democracy and economic opportunity. However, its policies and decisions concerning South Africa, particularly regarding its white minority, have often been fraught with contradictions, suspicions and unintended consequences.  From the apartheid era through the post-1994 democratic transition, Washington’s involvement in South Africa has frequently exacerbated racial tensions and economic disparities. The recent surge in H-2A visas issued to South African farm workers, who are predominantly white, and…

Now that the dust has settled on the sexual harassment case filed by High Court secretary Andiswa Mengo against Eastern Cape Judge President Selby Mbenenge, I feel it is important to share my thoughts on the matter. This case highlights a crucial conversation about gender relations in South Africa, illuminating the complexities surrounding power dynamics, trust, and the pursuit of truth. It has become a pivotal moment for examining not only individual instances of misconduct but also the systemic factors…

South Africa enters the second transition against the backdrop of 30 years of democracy celebrations. We are reminded that the country’s freedom was not free and that people such as Dr Tlou Theophilus “Ranka” Cholo put their lives on the line against an oppressive regime. Rightfully, the freedom stalwart and former labour activist was honoured with the Isithwalandwe/Seaparankwe award, albeit in absentia during the recent African National Congress (ANC) 113th anniversary celebration in Khayelitsha, Western Cape. Dr Cholo’s honour was…

The Spring Festival is the largest and most important festival in China and among Chinese communities worldwide. Having experienced the festival for six years in China, I have developed a deep appreciation for its cultural, social, and economic significance. This celebration embodies essential themes such as family reunion, wishing for good fortune and well-being, social harmony, and preserving cultural heritage. In recognition of its importance, UNESCO added the Spring Festival to the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of…

The Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has been plagued by conflict for decades, leading to immense human suffering and widespread instability in the region. The situation has only worsened in recent years, with militia groups and external forces continuing to vie for control over the region’s wealth of natural resources.  The DRC’s North and South Kivu provinces have borne the brunt of this violence, resulting in displacement, human rights abuses, and a fragile security environment. As the conflict…