South Africa

Nelson Mandela’s Legacy was to Advance African Unity. I’m Living Proof

On 18 July 1918, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was born. In 1944, he became part of the African National Congress (ANC), formally joining the struggle against racial oppression and discrimination in South Africa. In 1952, he was arrested for the first...

Cape Town is Running Out of Water (Welcome to Our Future)

Cape Town is bracing for an unfortunate distinction: becoming the first major city in the world to run out of water. Severe drought over the past three years coupled with population growth means the city and its residents are bracing...

A Prominent Youth Leader Calls for Calm as Xenophobic Tensions Rise in Africa

Ed note. In recent weeks there have been a wave of attacks in South Africa targeting foreign populations, including Nigerians living in South Africa. Youth groups are major drivers of this violence, but they can also be part of the solution...

This Man Directed Refugee Policy for George H.W. Bush. He explains how the Refugee Ban is totally unprecedented.

Princeton Lyman was a long serving US Diplomat who has become one of the leading experts on African politics and policy. He most recently served as President Obama’s special envoy to Sudan and South Sudan from 2011 to 2013; but...

South Africa’s Jacob Zuma Keeps Getting Embroiled in Scandal…(and Keeps Bouncing Back)

Jacob Zuma is a larger-than-life figure when it comes to South African politics. For the past six years his presence has dominated headlines, with no shortage of scandal, controversy, and near fanatical adoration. Recent news of a call for a...

The #FeesMustFall Student Protest is Shaking South Africa to Its Core

People around Braamfontein know Father Graham Pugin and his generosity. When he protected Wits University students running away from police in the Holy Trinity Catholic Church, it was his way of supporting the community he cares for so dearly. When...

Will These African Languages be Lost forever?

The San are one of the oldest groups to inhabit Southern Africa. From Zimbabwe and South Africa, to Botswana and Namibia, the San people have their own repertoire of languages, easily recognizable by their use of clicks. The influence of...

“I was never prouder to be a young African.” The South African Student Protests Were a Lesson of a Lifetime

It all started at the University of Witswatersrand (Wits) in Johannesburg. By the end of the week, protests had spread across universities in South Africa. From the big universities with large student populations, to smaller, more modest-sized universities, everyone was...

This is What Inequality Looks Like in South Africa’s Most Prestigious University Town

Grahamstown is the picture perfect sleepy town. I live on top of one of its many hills. At night, I can get a clear view of my adopted home in its entirety. I turn left, and I see the cozy, picturesque...

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Podcasts

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Live From the UN General Assembly: Global Fund Replenishment | War Crimes in Ukraine | Clean Energy and the Run Up to COP27 (UNGA Day 4)

Live from the UN General Assembly: President Biden’s Speech and Other Key Moments | Pandemic Preparedness and Response (UNGA Day 3)

Live from the UN General Assembly: Food Security in Focus | The Global Refugee Crisis (UNGA Day 2)

Live from the UN General Assembly: The Key Stories to Follow During UN Week | What Happened at the Transforming Education Summit? (Day 1)

Europe is in the Midst of a Deepening Energy Crisis

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How to Win the Nobel Peace Prize — A Juror Explains