SPECIAL FEATURES - The African Mirror

Feb

14

2023

Radio in South Africa turns 100 – and collides with podcasting and streaming

SPECIAL FEATURES: ANALYSIS

THIS year marks 100 years since radio was introduced in South Africa, through “the first experimental broadcast at the Railway Headquarters in Johannesburg” on 18 December 1923. A century on, up to 94% of South Africans over the age of 15 confirmed in a recent survey that they owned a radio set in one form or other. Author SISANDA NKOALA, Senior Lecturer, Cape Peninsula University of Technology Radio remains firmly in place as the country’s most loved medium. Millions tune in daily to 40 commercial and public broadcast stations and over 250 community stations. Although other forms, like television, have…

Feb

04

2023

By The African Mirror

Explainer: Why has peace eluded South Sudan?

SPECIAL FEATURES: ANALYSIS

AARON ROSS AMONG the more ambitious hopes for Pope Francis' visit to South Sudan, this week is that it will give a jolt to a peace process aimed at ending a decade of conflict that has cost hundreds of thousands of lives. Government forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and opposition forces that back First Vice President Riek Machar signed a deal in 2018 that committed the two sides to share power and forming a unified national military. But implementation of that agreement has been slow and violence between rival communities has continued to flare up. Here are details about…

Feb

01

2023

By The African Mirror

The Badoo ritual gang created fear in Lagos: here’s what made victims vulnerable

SPECIAL FEATURES: ANALYSIS

VIOLENT cult gangs are well known in Nigeria. Though there are no statistics on their numbers and impact, Lagos State in southwest Nigeria has more than 10 of these groups controlling different areas. They operate in neighbourhoods and their memberships cut across age groups. They control certain territories as their own, extorting money from businesses and residents. Author OLUDAYO TADE, Communication/Security Consultant, Sociologist/Criminologist/Victimologist and Facilitator, University of Ibadan But the Badoo cult gang that operated in the Ikorodu area of the state between 2016 and 2018 was different. It was a violent ritual gang. The capture of its leader and…

Jan

27

2023

By The African Mirror

Analysis: Southern Africa calls the tune as great power suitors queue up

SPECIAL FEATURES: ANALYSIS

TIM COCKS and CARIEN DUPLESSIS SOUTH Africa and its neighbours were at the centre of a tussle for influence this week when top Russian and U.S. officials visited, offering a rare moment of leverage for governments on a continent more used to being buffeted by events than wooed. With a war in Europe pitting invading Russian forces against Ukraine's army supplied with Western arms, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen were both on the hunt for broader international support. For the countries of southern Africa, which maintain strong ideological and historical sympathies for Russia but…

Jan

28

2023

By The African Mirror

Non-racial South Africa: book shows debate on nation building is still relevant today

SPECIAL FEATURES: ANALYSIS

THERE has been much comment recently on the lack of representation of minorities in the leadership structures of South Africa’s governing party, the African National Congress (ANC). For Douglas Gibson, a former leader of the opposition Democratic Alliance (DA), the exclusively black composition of the ANC’s top leadership shows that the ANC is no longer committed to building one nation. He believes the ANC is clearly not a home for all. Look at its MPs, ministers, MECs, councillors, and mayors … The leadership has place only for black South Africans. For Gibson, the baton has been passed on to the…

Jan

20

2023

By The African Mirror

Al-Shabaab is just a symptom of Somalia’s tragedy – the causes are still in place

SPECIAL FEATURES: ANALYSIS

FOR at least 14 years now, the militant group Al-Shabaab has terrorised the southern region of Somalia. Its ambition is to impose a tyrannical dictatorship over the entire country through fear and brutality. To achieve its aims, it has sought to oust the Somali government and its foreign military allies. I have been a student of Somali political economy for over three decades. I predicted the collapse of the Somali state and political order 33 years ago. That analysis foretold the miserable conditions Somalis have endured since. The political and humanitarian catastrophe predates the terrorist group’s rise – thus, Al-Shabaab…

Jan

12

2023

By The African Mirror

People of colour: there’s a bias in how pictures are used to depict disease in global health publications

SPECIAL FEATURES: ANALYSIS

PHOTOGRAPHY is a powerful tool in storytelling and scientific communication. But it can also cause harm when used unethically. We started to realise how photographs can send the wrong message when we were approached, as a group of infectious disease specialists, to develop a presentation on resistance to antibiotics. Our audience was a clinical group in east Africa. Authors ESMITA CHARANI, Honorary Associate Professor, University of Cape Town MARC MENDELSON, Professor of Infectious Diseases, University of Cape Town The global health organisation that asked us to do this wanted to use its own branding on our teaching slides. But when…

Dec

20

2022

By The African Mirror

South Africa’s Ramaphosa: wounded president re-elected to party helm

SPECIAL FEATURES: ANALYSIS

PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa, the anti-apartheid champion who become one of South Africa's wealthiest businessmen, survived a challenge for the leadership of his party, days after he was spared impeachment proceedings over a scandal dubbed "Farmgate". He took on the presidency in 2018 after being elected party leader in 2017, vowing to root out corruption and fix the economy. But just as he was about to start campaigning for his second term, he faced calls to quit after an advisory panel found preliminary evidence that he may have committed misconduct. He has denied any wrongdoing and has not been charged with any crimes. Ramaphosa was…

Dec

17

2022

By The African Mirror

Eskom CEO quits: why finding a new head for South Africa’s struggling power utility won’t end the blackouts

SPECIAL FEATURES: ANALYSIS

FOR a multitude of reasons, Eskom CEO Andre de Ruyter’s resignation is a huge setback for the state-owned power utility and South Africa. It comes at a time when the utility, which produces 95% of the electricity used in the country, needs stable leadership. Stability is critical for success in the three key transitions Eskom needs to navigate. It needs to turn back the tide of state capture, and deliver a reliable electricity supply. It must reorganise the group into generation, distribution and transmission, and it must reduce its carbon footprint. Author DAVID RICHARD WALWYN, Professor of Technology Management, University…

Dec

15

2022

By The African Mirror

US-Africa summit: four things African leaders should try to get out of it

SPECIAL FEATURES: ANALYSIS

US president Joe Biden will be hosting African leaders at this week’s summit, as a group. This has its advantages. The 50 African leaders have the opportunity to articulate their common interests and adopt common positions at the gathering in Washington, DC. The priorities they should be focusing on are the following. African Union membership of the G20 group of the world’s largest economies. It is important for Africa to be represented in international conversations that concern the global economy, democracy and governance, climate change, health and security. Author CHRISTOPHER ISIKE, Director, African Centre for the Study of the United…