PRESIDENT PUTIN’S CALLS TO RAMAPHOSA SIGNIFIES THE IMPORTANCE OF SA-RUSSIA RELATIONS

This week, Russian President Vladimir Putin called his South African counterpart, President Cyril Ramaphosa. The purpose of the telephone call was crystal clear and straight to the point. The Kremlin sought to brief Pretoria – first hand – about President Putin’s views over his recent globally publicized face-to-face talks with the US President Donald Trump […]

ZAMA-ZAMAS OF THE LIBERATION STRUGGLE

An exploration of memory, myth, and the posthumous mining of liberation credentials Gold from the Grave These days, it seems that to die in South Africa is to finally receive your liberation stripes. A friend sent me a link to a social media tribute the other day. The dearly departed was someone we had all […]

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 […]

WHEN REVOLUTION BECAME PROCUREMENT: COMRADES & CONTRADICTIONS

They stood shoulder to shoulder once, in boots and khakis, in underground cells and faraway capitals. They crossed borders at night, memorised ciphers, and whispered code names in the dark. They were comrades. Now they meet awkwardly at business-class lounges or government banquets, offering half-smiles and evasive eyes. They sign off on tenders and patronage. […]