Illicit alcohol trade in South Africa: A growing concern for the economy and enforcement

Dr Shamal Ramasar|Published

The rising tide of illicit alcohol trade in South Africa poses a grave challenge, not just for law enforcement but for the very fabric of the economy. How are authorities ...

The High Cost of Deferred Dreams: How Economic Despair and Broken Hopes Fuel Human Trafficking in South Africa

Professor Jacob Tseko Mofokeng|Published

As millions of South African youth cling to their dreams amid rising despair, the time has come for urgent action. The government, academia, and society must unite ...

Green Shoots: Indlulamithi - To look above the trees

Ashley Green-Thompson|Published

What if the future isn’t fixed? Drawing on South Africa’s Indlulamithi Scenarios, this column explores how uncertainty, creativity and foresight can help us rethink ...

Democratic hopefuls turn against Israel ahead of 2028 primaries

Washington Post|Published

As 2028 Democratic presidential hopefuls navigate their campaigns, many are vocalising criticism of Israel, signalling a significant shift in party attitudes towards ...

Madlanga Commission faces digital denialism in fight against corruption

Jacob Tseko Mofokeng|Published

As the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry continues to unveil a murky world of corruption, a new legal defence strategy — digital denialism — emerges, posing unprecedented ...

Green Shoots: Human agency and the deification of the market

Ashley Green-Thompson|Published

As fuel levy relief sparks debate, questions arise about austerity, state support and the power of the market.

Trump risks falling in to the ‘asymmetric resolve’ trap in Iran − just as presidents before him did elsewhere

The Conversation|Published

This occurs when a stronger power with less determination to fight starts a military conflict with a far weaker state that has near boundless determination to prevail. ...

Access won't guarantee health: the silent gap in universal healthcare coverage

Dimpho Hlungwane|Published

A sobering reality unfolds as health systems grapple with the urgent need to transform access into tangible health outcomes. With millions still facing barriers ...

How space warfare is reshaping the future of global military conflicts

Bloomberg|Published

Explore how the next major global conflict may unfold beyond the earth, as military powers navigate the complexities of space warfare and their far-reaching repercussions. ...

The crushing cost of foreign folly

Zoubair Ayoob|Published

The predicted fuel price hikes — R5 per litre for petrol and a staggering R10 for diesel — are not merely statistical fluctuations; they are the harbingers of a ...

Green Shoots: The gravest crime against humanity

Ashley Green-Thompson|Published

Reflecting on history, reparations, and the enduring impact of slavery on Africa and the world.

Amid budget talks, youth unemployment remains a pressing concern for South Africa

Nkosinathi Mahlangu|Published

Seizing the moment: with South Africa's youth unemployment crisis looming large, the need for integrated solutions has never been greater. As discussions around ...

Banksy’s anonymity is what gave his art its power

Bloomberg|Published

The revelation that the artist Banksy is a 50-something man from Bristol, England, named Robin Gunningham, according to a Reuters report, has shaken the art world. ...

Only a certain type of leader wants his face everywhere

The Washington Post|Published

Of all the recurring features of authoritarianism I’ve seen, from Africa to Asia to the Middle East to post-Soviet Europe, none is more bizarre - or revealing - ...

AI is hitting the sweet part of the S-curve

Bloomberg|Published

The price of running a large language model has been dropping at a median rate of 50x per year. And yet OpenAI’s annualized revenue went from $2 billion in 2023 ...

South Africa’s Pelindaba blueprint: the way to end the Middle East nuclear crisis

Hügo Krüger|Updated

As Israel bombs Bushehr and Iran strikes Dimona, Pretoria must step forward – before Iran’s JCPOA compliance and Supreme Leader’s fatwa vanish forever

When news is frightening, don't panic

Frank Chemaly|Published

An “official looking” WhatsApp, quoting impeccable academic sources, swept around the country causing panic buying at petrol stations from Durban to Kuruman, from ...

It's SA Library week – so let’s close the libraries

Illa Thompson|Published

Libraries are amazing spaces – a place where you can be safe without needing to spend any money; where you can browse through novels; borrow reference books; use ...

A reason to celebrate on Human Rights Day? Or must we do more?

Judge Navi Pillay|Published

Human rights were not only violated in big public explosions. They were also violated by the relentless daily injustices of policies that affected where you lived ...