Disability and Access to Justice in Four African Countries: Strong Laws, Weak in Practice
Structural barriers such as inaccessible infrastructure and lack of transport options affect South Africa’s reputation as a disability-friendly country.
The Conversation
Africa’s Militaries Have Always Relied on Imported Weapons: Why a Shift to Homegrown Defence Is Now Under Way
Across Africa, governments are finding ways to reduce dependence on foreign arms suppliers and building capabilities they can control, maintain and adapt.
Can African Penguins Be Brought Back From the Brink? Better Designed No-Fishing Zones Could Help
A new court order seeks to protect African penguins, which are critically endangered.
Killer Beetles in the Baobabs: Researcher Warns of Risk to African Trees
A beetle that lays eggs inside the bark of trees has killed six baobab trees in Oman for the first time. Urgent measures are needed to stop it spreading to Africa.
Africa’s Public Finances Are in a Mess: A New Book Explains Why and What to Do
Public finance is the means through which societies either raise living standards or entrench dependence.
Indigenous Businesses Are Losing Millions to Fraudulent Firms. We Need Stronger Oversight
The federal government is spending more on contracts for Indigenous business, while finally tackling ‘Black cladding’ fraud. But those reforms don’t go far enough.
Snakebites: How to Avoid Them and What to Do if You’re Bitten
In sub-Saharan Africa, over 300,000 people are envenomed each year, leading to over 7,000 deaths and almost twice as many amputations.
Why African Coup Leaders Often Turn On the People Who Supported Them
Once in power, military rulers have little incentive to share authority.
Ramaphosa and a Stable Electricity System in South Africa: The Devils Are in the Detail
If conditions for private investment in the transmission infrastructure are not put in place, it’s likely that loadshedding will return in 2029.
African Indigenous Foods That Fight Inflammation May Help People With Diabetes – Research
Many African food groups significantly reduce oxidative stress linked to type 2 diabetes and lower the production of inflammatory markers.
History With a Human Face and Voice: How Museum Theatre Gets Kids to Care About the Past
Performance in museums can be one way that an interest in history, and in turn wider societal issues, is cultivated from a young age.
Water in the Dams, but South Africa’s Taps Are Dry: Essential Reads on a History of Bad Management
The answers to what needs to be done to solve the chronic water crisis in South Africa’s towns and cities have been known for some time.
Cape Town’s Wildflowers Are a World Treasure: Six Insights From a New Checklist
The latest checklist of Table Mountain flora shows that Cape Town is still a global hotspot for threatened flowering plants.
Activists in Ghana Are Forcing Extractive Firms to Account for the Harm They Cause – Corporate Abuse Study
Civil-society organisations are changing Ghana’s accountability landscape.
A New Wave of Romance Scams Is Washing Across the Internet – Here’s How to Stay Safe
In the lead up to Valentine’s Day, dating apps get busier – and so do scammers.
Clergy Wives in Ghana Can Be Powerful – But It Takes Constant Bargaining With Men
Ghanaian clergy wives constantly bargain for space.
East Africa’s Dismal Football Record Doesn’t Match Its Passion – What Needs to Happen
Why has international success evaded a region that’s so in love with the game?
New Rugby Rules for South African Kids Aim to Keep Them Safe: What Does the Research Say?
Tackling and contact in rugby should be slowly introduced to children to teach them how to do it safely.
A Giant Star Is Changing Before Our Eyes and Astronomers Are Watching in Real Time
The WOH G64 star looked to be accelerating to its end of life. But now astronomers are not sure that’s the case.
AI-Generated Text Is Overwhelming Institutions
People are using generative AI to flood courts with filings, legislatures with constituent letters and publications with submissions. AI detectors are no silver bullet.
Cape Town Project Tests What Hydroponic Farming Can Do in Urban Spaces
Hydroponic farming is a good way to grow fresh fruit and vegetables in South African cities where high levels of unemployment and poverty make these unaffordable.
Private Credit Rating Agencies Shape Africa’s Access to Debt. Better Oversight Is Needed
Rating agencies shape the policy space for pursuing development goals. Yet they remain private firms, operating under commercial incentives.
Nigeria’s Open Borders Promised More Trade and Free Movement: But Crossings Are Chaotic and Corrupt
Nigeria’s open borders promise trade but deliver exploitation.
Medicinal Plants Support Men’s Health in South Africa: Why This Knowledge Needs Safekeeping
Without systematic documentation, traditional plants’ uses could be lost or excluded from mainstream medical discourse.