THOUGHT LEADERSHIP - The African Mirror

Jan

21

2024

South Africa calls for a fair, equitable global governance system

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

THE world is faced with many challenges exacerbated by geopolitical dynamics and conflicts in various regions of the world. The wars taking place in Ukraine and Palestine are causing grave humanitarian and health crises and contributing to international instability. The supremacy of multilateralism as embodied by the United Nations Charter and international law is being undermined exactly when it is needed most. At a time when the world appears to be once again divided between east and west, the Non-Aligned Movement should continue to assert its independence based on our common values. South Africa remains steadfast in advancing its non-aligned…

Jan

20

2024

By The African Mirror

TB Joshua scandal: the forces that shaped Nigeria’s mega pastor and made him untouchable

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

TB Joshua was a world famous Nigerian televangelist, faith healer and Pentecostal pastor who established The Synagogue Church of All Nations. Three years after his death a BBC investigation alleges Joshua raped, tortured and abused several of his followers over a period of 20 years. There are allegations of child abuse at his Lagos compound and that he faked his miracles. Nimi Wariboko is a leading theologian and social ethics expert who wrote the book Nigerian Pentecostalism. We asked him about the forces that shape a ministry like Joshua’s and what might have allowed him to abuse his power in…

Jan

18

2024

By MATHATHA TSEDU

In Loving Memory of Sedupe Josiah Ramokgopa

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

SEDUPE Josiah “Rams” Ramokgopa was born in Orlando East, Soweto on the 25th of March 1937. He was the second-born child of Tobola Baldwin Ramokgopa and Mapula Frieda Ramokgopa (nee Madiba). When he was a young boy, his family moved across the river to Orlando West which is where he was raised in a family of political activists. Sedupe attended local schools and matriculated from Orlando High School in 1956. As a teenager in 1952, Sedupe became involved in the activities of the Defiance Campaign and was recruited to distribute pamphlets and copies of the New Age during this campaign…

Jan

18

2024

By The African Mirror

South Africa’s ANC marks its 112th year with an eye on national elections, but its record is patchy and future uncertain

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

THE speech President Cyril Ramaphosa delivered at the 112th birthday celebration of South Africa’s governing party, the African National Congress (ANC), on 13 January can be seen as the party’s opening election gambit: a stadium packed to capacity, the display of a united leadership, and an invocation of three decades of success, delivered by a leader firmly in control of his party. SANDY AFRICA, Associate Professor, Political Sciences, and Deputy Dean Teaching and Learning (Humanities), University of Pretoria The annual January 8 statement, unsurprisingly, was a 30-year self-assessment and is self-congratulatory. It was silent on the many failings under ANC…

Jan

18

2024

By The African Mirror

Uganda’s battle for the youth vote – how Museveni keeps Bobi Wine’s reach in check

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

UGANDA is one of the youngest countries in the world, with an average age of 15.9 years. Young people aged below 30 make up about 77% of the country’s population of 47 million people. Young people have legitimate and wide-ranging grievances, from unemployment to disenfranchisement. Opportunities remain limited, with two-thirds of Ugandans working for themselves or doing family-based agricultural work. REBECCA TAPSCOTT, Lecturer, University of York ANNA MACDONALD, Associate Professor, Global Development, University of East Anglia Yet, young people in Uganda haven’t coalesced as an electoral bloc. This is despite the emergence of a presidential candidate who champions youth issues.…

Jan

17

2024

By The African Mirror

South Africa has made its genocide case against Israel in court. Here’s what both sides said and what happens next

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP, EDITORS CHOICE

FOLLOWING the October 7 attack by Hamas, Israeli forces have carried out sustained attacks on the Palestinian-controlled territory, dividing the international community. Last week, the South African government presented a case to the International Court of Justice. They argued the Israeli government’s attack on Gaza, and especially the actions of its forces within Gaza since early October, could amount to genocide. PAUL TAUCHER, Lecturer in History, Murdoch University DEAN ASZKIELOWICZ, Senior Lecturer in History and Politics, Murdoch University Few cases that have gone before the court are as explosive and potentially significant as this one. Here’s how the hearings unfolded…

Jan

15

2024

By SETH ONYANGO, BIRD STORY AGENCY

South Africa transitions from apartheid victim to global advocate in Israel case

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP, EDITORS CHOICE

SOUTH Africa's unprecedented move to sue Israel for genocide at the ICJ, inspired by its own history of resistance to apartheid, is reinforcing Africa's heft in the increasingly combustible global geopolitical scene. The ICJ in The Hague will hear arguments from South Africa accusing Israel of committing genocide against the Palestinians in Gaza. The case, which has drawn support from several states, as well as human rights groups, is seen as a historic challenge to Israel's military actions and policies in the occupied territories. South Africa, which suffered under the brutal system of apartheid for decades, claims to have a…

Jan

14

2024

By The African Mirror

South Africa’s legal team in the genocide case against Israel has won praise. Who are they?

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

SOUTH African justice minister Ronald Lamola led a top legal team to argue the country’s genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on 11 January. NARNIA BOHLER-MULLER, Divisional Executive, Developmental, Capable and Ethical State research division, Human Sciences Research Council South Africa argues that Israel’s indiscriminate retaliatory bombing and siege of Gaza contravenes the Genocide Convention. More than 23,000 Palestinians, including at least 10,000 children, have been killed. Narnia Bohler-Muller, an international law and human rights law expert, says the South African legal team argued soundly that Israel’s actions in Gaza are genocidal, and tells us…

Jan

13

2024

By ABBEY MAKOE

The Herero people are scarred by the pain of Germany’s old “genocide”

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP, EDITORS CHOICE

ON January 12, 1904, the Herero people of Namibia revolted against the long-standing German colonial rule in search of their freedom. They had reached a point of saturation with the brutality of Germany’s occupation of their territory in what was then known as South West Africa. Armed to the teeth after secretly mobilising weapons to eject the unwelcome European imperialists, they encircled the German troops in what seemed like a final face-to-face with destiny.South West Africa had been under Germany’s colonial rule from 1884 until 1919, a total of 35 agonising years of living under the strict control of a…

Jan

10

2024

By The African Mirror

South Africa’s genocide case against Israel: expert sets out what to expect from the International Court of Justice

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

THE International Court of Justice (ICJ) will be holding public hearings on 11-12 January at the Peace Palace in The Hague, the seat of the court, in a case brought by South Africa against Israel. South Africa has accused Israel of violating the 1948 Genocide Convention in its military bombardment and siege of Gaza, which started after the deadly 7 October Hamas attack on Israel. Both Israel and South Africa have ratified the genocide convention. We asked human rights and international law expert Magnus Killander for his insights. MAGNUS KILLANDER, Professor, Centre for Human Rights in the Faculty of Law,…