THOUGHT LEADERSHIP - The African Mirror

May

05

2025

A tribute to Tex Rantao: Healer, warrior, and unsung hero of the liberation struggle

HEADLINES, THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

IN the tapestry of South Africa's liberation story, some threads shine with quiet brilliance—their strength felt but seldom celebrated in grand narratives. Such was the thread of Comrade Tax "Tex" Rantao, a man whose gentle smile masked the steel of his resolve and whose healing hands were as vital to the struggle as any weapon. When the brutal machinery of apartheid forced many of South Africa's bravest sons and daughters into exile, the Rantao family made the painful choice that thousands would make—to leave behind the land they loved to fight for its liberation from afar. For young Tex, this…

May

03

2025

By JOVIAL RANTAO

The Blood of the Poet: Struggle hero Benjamin Moloise’s Legacy

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

DAWN broke reluctantly over Pretoria Central Prison on October 15, 1985. The first rays of sunlight crept across the austere walls, casting long shadows that seemed to reach toward the cell of Benjamin Moloise. Three days. Just three days remained before the upholsterer-turned-poet from Soweto would meet his fate at the end of a rope. Inside his cell, Moloise sat quietly, pen in hand. The poems that had become his voice during two years on death row flowed onto paper with renewed urgency. "The storm of oppression will be followed by the rain of my blood," he wrote, words that…

May

02

2025

By JOSEPH FALZETTA

Aid cuts push South Sudan into uncharted territory

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

This story was originally published by The New Humanitarian.By Joseph Falzetta THOUGH the full impacts of the USAID funding cuts in South Sudan are still emerging, early signs point to their potential magnitude. In April, eight people died of cholera trying to find medical treatment after US-funded clinics in Jonglei State were shuttered. Healthcare services at transit centres receiving people fleeing the war in Sudan have stopped. And the UN warns that hunger is nearing record levels – an alarming benchmark in a country that is no stranger to famine. Yet reactions to the US funding cuts have been mixed…

May

01

2025

By SAMANTHA LAKIN

Rwanda’s genocide: why remembering needs to be free of politics – lessons from survivors

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

MEMORY and politics are inherently intertwined and can never be fully separated in post-atrocity and post-genocidal contexts. They are also dynamic and ever-changing. The interplay between memory and politics is, therefore, prone to manipulation, exaggeration or misuse by clever actors to meet a range of political ends. This also applies to Rwanda’s commemoration period (Kwibuka). It runs from April to July each year, dedicated to remembering the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi. I have been researching genocide memory in Rwanda for more than 12 years. My research focuses on memorialisation, meaning-making, and senses of justice rendered for individuals who lived…

Apr

30

2025

By SANDY AFRICA and MUSA NXELE

South Africa: state of the nation 30 years into democracy

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

JUST over 30 years after South Africa’s first democratic elections, public opinion is divided over how to evaluate the post-apartheid, democratic state. Characterisations range from “failed or failing state”, to “mafia state”, to the more optimistic “developmental state” committed to addressing historical patterns of injustice through decisive state intervention. The characterisations vary so widely because interpretations of the state are shaped not only by a complex empirical reality but also by competing theoretical and ideological perspectives. Some parts of the state appear dysfunctional, marked by failure, corruption, or capture. Others are viewed as evolving, contested, or in need of transformation.…

Apr

25

2025

By POPE FRANCIS

Pope Francis: Death is not end of everything, but a new beginning

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

I read with emotion these pages born from the thought and affection of Angelo Scola, dear brother in the episcopate and a person who has held delicate roles in the Church, such as having been rector of the Pontifical Lateran University, later Patriarch of Venice, and Archbishop of Milan. First of all, I want to express my deep gratitude to him for this reflection that combines personal experience and cultural sensitivity in a way I have rarely encountered. One — experience — enlightens the other — culture; the second gives substance to the first. In this happy interweaving, life and…

Apr

24

2025

By The African Mirror

Pope Francis’ testament

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

POPE Francis' testament, dated 29 June 2022, has been published, giving indications for his burial in the Basilica of Saint Mary Major. Miserando atque EligendoIn the name of the Most Holy Trinity. Amen. As I sense the approaching twilight of my earthly life, and with firm hope in eternal life, I wish to set out my final wishes solely regarding the place of my burial. Throughout my life, and during my ministry as a priest and bishop, I have always entrusted myself to the Mother of Our Lord, the Blessed Virgin Mary. For this reason, I ask that my mortal…

Apr

23

2025

By PAUL SAMASUMO

Pope Francis: A compassionate voice for Africa

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

AFRICA is mourning not only the loss of a spiritual leader for Catholics but also a man who was unafraid to champion unpopular African causes often ignored by mainstream media. These include stories of Africa’s vulnerabilities manifesting as conflict, exploitation, poverty and disease. Welcomed, accompany, support, and integrate It was as if the theme of migration chose Pope Francis. His first papal trip outside of Rome, in July 2013, was to the Italian Island of Lampedusa, where many young African migrants had died in a shipwreck in the Mediterranean Sea as they tried to reach the shores of Europe. On…

Apr

21

2025

By FRANCESCA MERLO

POPE FRANCIS’ PONTIFICATE OF PEACE, FOR PEACE

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

AT his last public appearance, Pope Francis repeated what had become a slogan in his pontificate of peace. Everyone knew to expect it at the end of his audiences, but never did it lose its strength. During the Easter Urbi et Orbi blessing, the day before he died, the Pope’s words echoed the countless appeals he had made over the years, urging world leaders to lay down arms and turn to dialogue. Even as he struggled, having asked someone to read his message on his behalf, his voice, albeit weak, resonated across St Peter's Square and screens across the world.…

Apr

22

2025

By JACKSON OKATA

Trump’s isolationism endangers Africa’s health systems

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

IN the recent past, the African continent has battled multiple epidemics, including monkeypox, Ebola, and Marburg fever. Undoubtedly, Africa’s healthcare system is shaky, and without international and donor support, it would quickly crumble. The World Health Organisation (WHO) and global health networks continue to play a crucial role in helping African nations establish functional public health systems and, at times, in managing disease outbreaks. For decades, the United States of America has been among the largest funders of global health networks, including the WHO. But recent actions by the Trump administration, including his withdrawal from the World Health Organisation and…