A record breaking crowd of fashion enthusiasts, punters and revellers converged at Greyville Racecourse for the 2025 Hollywoodbets Durban July, the largest horseracing event in Africa, on Saturday. The event showcased a mix of high-stakes horse racing, bold fashion statements and vibrant cultural expression under the theme “Marvels of Mzansi”. In the main event, The […]
The Freedom Charter was adopted in Kliptown 70 years ago, on 26 June 1955. Thousands of delegates travelled across South Africa — by train, by bus, on foot — to take part in the Congress of the People. They met under an open sky, gathered on a dusty field where a wooden stage had been erected. […]
5 Jul, 2025 | Admin | No Comments
Lesotho Highlands Water Project: Centre local voices in the climate change, conflict and peacebuilding nexus
The rise of conflicts in societies has been attributed to a multitude of factors ranging from political, socio-economic grievances to ethnic and religious hostilities. Poverty, land and food insecurity are worsened by conflict and climate change. What seems to be missing in the discourse is the interplay between climate, conflict and peace. The rise of […]
5 Jul, 2025 | Admin | No Comments
Public private partnerships can help close Africa’s infrastructure deficit
There is a consensus that Africa can increase economic growth by making significant investments in connecting infrastructure — the physical and digital networks that connect towns, cities and countries, enabling seamless trade and data exchange. This includes transport, communication, energy, as well as water and sanitation, which are vital for the free flow of people, […]
5 Jul, 2025 | Admin | No Comments
The Durban July: The good, the bad and the ugly of Africa’s grandest gallop
Each year on the first Saturday of July, South Africa’s most anticipated sporting and social spectacle gallops into the spotlight — a cultural jamboree known simply as the Durban July. Over time, the event has become more than just a horse race; it is a mirror of the nation’s aspirations, divisions and contradictions. At its […]
5 Jul, 2025 | Admin | No Comments
Sparrow-weaver nests help shape bird biodiversity in the southern Kalahari
Conducting fieldwork under the blistering 40ºC heat of the southern Kalahari, Lesedi Moagi had to time her outings to align with the activity of her research subjects — white-browed sparrow-weavers. “Some mornings, by 7.30am, it was already over 20ºC,” recalled Moagi, a master’s student at the University of Cape Town. “And the birds were already becoming […]
I have not been able to watch a single match of the football Club World Cup. I have glanced a bit at some games or caught up with the scores on social media. It is not just the crass commercialism of the enterprise. While the world cup has been taking place in the United States, […]
A defence witness told a judicial tribunal on Thursday that emojis exchanged in WhatsApp messages between Eastern Cape Judge President Selby Mbenenge and a junior legal professional were consistent with casual conversation, challenging claims that they were used to sexually harass her. Information and communications technology expert Vincent Mello testified that the messages — central […]
Tens of thousands of horse racing punters, fashionistas, foodies and other visitors who descend on eThekwini to party at the Hollywoodbets Durban July this weekend are expected to contribute around R700 million to the city’s GDP. Africa’s largest horseracing event, themed Marvels of Mzansi, is expected to generate significant economic activity and create 4 000 […]
4 Jul, 2025 | Admin | No Comments
A primer for the White House visit by West and Central African countries
A few months ago, the chairman of the Africa and Global Health Policy Subcommittee of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Senator Ted Cruz, hosted a roundtable discussion that tackled energy and critical mineral partnerships with the ambassadors and representatives of 19 African countries and the AU. Those African countries included Gabon, Mauritania and Senegal. Now, […]