INDIA TO USA: “WE’LL BUY WHAT WE NEED, NOT WHAT WE’RE TOLD”
India has made it clear: its energy security will not be dictated by foreign powers. Days before sweeping U.S. tariffs on Indian goods are set to take effect – including a 25% penalty for importing Russian oil – India’s ambassador to Russia, Vinay Kumar, reaffirmed that the country will continue to buy crude “from wherever […]
TRAFFICKED, TORTURED AND FORGOTTEN: THE MODERN ENSLAVEMENT OF HUNDREDS OF SOUTH AFRICANS
A mere month ago, it was reported that over 200 South Africans are currently stranded in Thailand, after having been lured into a sophisticated human trafficking ring with the false promise of employment in Myanmar. This comes after 23 South Africans were rescued, following their initial trafficking back in March 2025. They are among thousands […]
THE COST OF HYPOCRISY: GAYTON MCKENZIE AND THE WEAPONISATION OF THE K-WORD
When I first heard that Patriotic Alliance (PA) leader and Sports, Arts, and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie had repeatedly used the K-word on social media – South Africa’s most vile and violent racial slur – I wasn’t shocked. Instead, I was enraged! Not because I expected any better from him, but because once again, black pain has been put up for public debate, […]
NEGLECT OF CHILDREN AND THEIR EDUCATION MARS SA’S FUTURE
At a recent UNISA event in Cape Town, a primary school teacher recounted the heartbreaking story of *Shane, an eight-year-old boy from a single-parent home that was ravaged by drug-addiction, who was deemed a “troublemaker” at school. Like his older brother in the past year, little Shane would be gunned down in a gang crossfire […]
OURS IS COUNTRY WHERE “FITNESS IS A PRIVILEGE”
“Summer bodies are made in winter!” This is the popular chant across the globe, particularly at the start of the winter season. But in South Africa, this seasonal motivation underscores deep inequalities in access to health and fitness resources. The South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC), a mere two months ago, reported that our national […]
DIOGO JOTA: THE LOSS THAT ECHOES BEYOND FOOTBALL
The football world is in mourning following the sudden passing of Portuguese legend Diogo Jota, who was killed in a car accident in Spain on Tuesday evening. He was only 28 years old. He was travelling with his younger brother, 25-year-old André Silva – who was also a professional footballer – and was killed in […]
WHY PRIDE MONTH IS STILL A PROTEST, NOT A CELEBRATION
In South Africa, the month of June is not only Youth Month, it is also the international Pride Month. This is a commemorative month-long observance dedicated to the celebration of LGBTQ+ pride, celebrating the contributions of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people in local and international cultures and communities. South Africa is not only […]
REFLECTIONS ON YOUTH DAY 2025 – THE POWER OF OUR HISTORY AND IDENTITY
This year’s Youth Day commemorates 49 years since the June 16 Student Uprisings (also known as the Soweto Massacres), a crucial turning point in the liberation struggle of South Africa. In 1976, Soweto, the unbridled bravery of tens-of-thousands of schoolchildren ignited a countrywide rebellion, setting in motion a transformation that would define the future. The merciless killing of […]
BURKINA FASO’S TRAORE SIGNALS THE RETURN OF REVOLUTIONARY LEADERSHIP IN AFRICA
In Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso, a structure has risen that embodies more than just memory: it symbolizes vision, renewal, and resistance. It is the Thomas Sankara Mausoleum. The Thomas Sankara Mausoleum, designed by the internationally acclaimed Pritzker Prize-winning Kéré Architecture, is not merely a tribute to a distinctly revolutionary icon. It is a […]
AFRICA DAY 2025: INDEPENDENCE WITHOUT JUSTICE IS A FALLACY
On this year’s May 25th, Africa stands at a crossroads. As we mark Africa Day, we honor the historic formation of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) in 1963, now the African Union (AU). We must be earnest, however, in reflecting not only on the past, but also the present and future of Africa. It […]
PRESIDENT RAMAPHOSA ARRIVES IN THE US ON A TRICKY WORKING VISIT
The Red Carpet was roll-out as South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa arrived at the Joint Base Andrews Airport in Washington, US, for a high-stakes diplomatic visit. This working visit is aimed at mending the increasingly strained relationship between South Africa and the United States. Once considered a stable partner on the African continent, South Africa […]
STELLIES SQUATTER: A SYSTEM BENDING TO EXPLOITATION
In a scandal that has pierced the peaceful facade of SA’s wine country, Stellenbosch, a local man has been ordered by the High Court to repay nearly R1 million after years of slyly dodging rent and housing payments.Kevin Brown, once seen as an unassuming tenant, has cunningly exploited various legal loopholes for his own benefit. […]