DEPUTY PRESIDENT MASHATILE’S YOUTH DAY SPEECH
“Today we honour and pay tribute to the valiant and fearless young people who stood at the forefront of the liberation struggle on June 16, 1976. Regardless of their youthful stature, the youth of 1976 stood strong in the face of the oppressive system of the apartheid regime. They faced death with unwavering determination, fuelled […]
THE 15TH THABO MBEKI AFRICA DAY LECTURE
Theme: The State of the Continent – Reigniting the African RenaissanceVenue: Johari Rotana, Dar es Salaam, United Republic of Tanzania | 18–25 May 2025 Foreword and Program Overview Under the distinguished aegis of the Thabo Mbeki Foundation (TMF), in strategic partnership with the University of South Africa (UNISA) and esteemed Tanzanian collaborators, the 15th iteration […]
THE “AFRIKANER REFUGEES” FALLACY EXPOSES THE MALADY IN SA-US RELATIONS
Never in the history of democratic South Africa has so few caused so much pain to so many and with impunity. The preposterous saga of a very tiny minority of Afrikaners who this week flew to the US under the utterly false pretense of escaping persecution has pooh-poohed Mandela’s dream of a South Africa for […]
THE DAY THE STRUGGLE WENT CORPORATE
There was no drumroll. No grand announcement. No whisper even. But it happened — quietly, suddenly, and irrevocably. Somewhere between the last exile’s return and the first BEE deal signed, the South African liberation struggle changed outfits. It swapped khaki fatigues and wood-handled AKs for navy-blue suits, Montblanc pens, and private equity portfolios. That day, […]
KEYNOTE ADDRESS BY DEPUTY PRESIDENT MASHATILE DURING LAUNCH OF THE TRANSFORMATION FUND
“It is always a privilege to be invited to gatherings of this nature, and I remain keen on engaging in dialogues that can advance our nation’s progress. This is because conversations regarding economic matters are crucial for fostering inclusive and sustainable development and improving participation in decision-making processes. They facilitate the equilibrium of economic development […]
FROM THE EDGES OF EXILE TO THE HEART OF HOME: A COLLECTIVE MEMORY REKINDLED
We didn’t plan it this way. None of us imagined a WhatsApp group could become a movement, but here we are, grown children of exile, of scholarship, of struggle, slowly circling back to one another after decades scattered across time zones, continents, and causes. What began as a gentle check-in from Vuyo Ntshona, “Are you […]
TURNING CONCRETE INTO COURAGE: CROSS-COUNTRY TRAILBLAZERS “GAUTA BMX”
Three determined cyclists from the Gauta BMX club have embarked on a monumental journey that has captured the hearts of millions of South Africans, and beyond. “There is no power for change greater than a community discovering what it cares about”. What was so momentously said by author Margaret J Wheatley was profoundly echoed closer […]
SADC EXPORTERS MUST UNLOCK NEW MARKETS TO SURVIVE THE TARIFF TSUNAMI
As the world continues to grapple with shifting global alliances and protectionist trade policies — triggered in part by the lasting ripple effects of Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs — the Southern African Development Community (SADC) finds itself at a crossroads. With traditional export markets becoming more volatile, regional exporters must begin charting a new path: one that prioritizes […]
THE WOES IN THE FIELD OF HUMANITIES ARE PALPABLE
Our country is rife with challenges! Unemployment, poverty, crime, poor service delivery, sewage spillages, diseases, potholes, lack of proper medical services, gender-based violence, gangsterism, educational challenges … Is that what the field of the Humanities and Social Sciences (HSSA) has achieved thus far? Humanities scholars and researchers work diligently to expand the field of the […]
GHANA GIVES IMPETUS TO AFRICA’S GIANT LEAP TOWARDS A BRIGHTER FUTURE
The New Year is now in full effect, and Ghana in West Africa has made a ground-breaking declaration that in future, all African passport holders will no longer be required to apply for visa when visiting the country. This grand step, announced by the recently out-of-office former President Nana Akufo-Ado during his final State of […]