insert_link Africa Continental Free Trade Area launches first trade shipment Industrialisation and Trade Minister, Lucia Iipumbu has participated in the first trade shipments under the African Continental FreeExportDiversification Trade Area at the Port of Durban in KwaZulu-Natal. Iipumbu says the implementation will diversify exports, boost productive capacity, accelerate growth, create more jobs, and promote economic inclusion. todayFebruary 1, 2024 21
insert_link Business / Economics South Africa is failing people who aren’t poor, but aren’t middle class either By Tinashe Mushayanyama, University of South Africa; Adrino Mazenda, University of Pretoria; Margaret Chitiga-Mabugu, University of Pretoria, and Mary Mangai, University of Pretoria Many South African households are trapped. They are neither poor nor middle class. As a demographic they hover above the indigence threshold financially. But they are not yet securely in the middle class. This aspirant middle class – individuals whose income is above the indigent […] todayJanuary 30, 2024 10
insert_link South Africa The World Court rescues international law from the Gaza rubble At the International Court of Justice, Nadeli Pandor, left, South Africa’s foreign minister, and Vusimuzi Madonsela, who led South Africa’s delegation to the reading of the court’s order concerning their country’s case accusing Israel of genocide, Jan. 26, 2024. The court found the allegations of such acts “plausible.” UN Photo/ICJ-CIJ/Frank van Beek. Courtesy of the ICJ In a speech on Dec. 4, 1997, commemorating the International Day of […] todayJanuary 29, 2024 5
insert_link Opinion Pieces ICJ ruling is a victory for human rights and justice “The Peace Palace, seat of the International Court of Justice, the Hague, Netherlands. The court is the principal judicial body of the United Nations.” Photo: United Nations via Flickr (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 Deed) By GroundUp Editors via GroundUp The ruling on Friday by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) is a victory for human rights and justice. Fifteen of the seventeen judges found that South Africa made a plausible case that the dreadful […] todayJanuary 29, 2024 13
insert_link Opinion Pieces UN genocide ruling won’t change Israel’s behaviour: three reasons why By Anthoni van Nieuwkerk, University of South Africa South Africa took Israel to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) over the latter’s military operation in Gaza, which South Africa calls acts of genocide. The excessive bombing campaign and wilful destruction of property, life and limb is hardly in dispute. Israel calls it legitimate acts of self-defense, following Hamas’s murderous incursion from Gaza on Israeli terrain on 7 October […] todayJanuary 29, 2024 6
insert_link South Africa Appointment of Thulasizwe Buthelezi as AmaZulu Prime Minister Sparks Hope for Royal House’s Future Kuthula Thwala, a lecturer in Historical Studies at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, expresses optimism about the appointment of Thulasizwe Buthelezi as the AmaZulu prime minister, seeing it as a source of renewed hope for the Royal House. The announcement of Buthelezi's appointment was made by King MisuZulu kaZwelithini during the Battle of Isandlwana commemoration. Following the passing of Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi, Thulasizwe Buthelezi takes on the responsibilities. Thwala, in a […] todayJanuary 29, 2024 4
insert_link Opinion Pieces The two faces of Jacob Zuma – former South African president campaigns to unseat the ANC he once led. Who supports him and why? By Susan Booysen, University of the Witwatersrand Former South African president Jacob Zuma’s political comeback builds on support from marginalised and angry constituencies within or close to the governing African National Congress (ANC). His vengeful but “loyal” rebellion against the ANC resonates with these political constituencies. In mid-December 2023, Zuma announced that he would be supporting the newly formed uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MK Party), rather than the ANC, […] todayJanuary 26, 2024 18
insert_link Namibia Hundreds attend bikers street procession at Otjiwarongo A group of 17 bikers from Angola and Namibia on Thursday held a street procession in Otjiwarongo’s Hage Geingob Avenue in preparation for their 2024 Africa Ubuntu Run show, which is set for Karibib on Sunday. The parade, led by Otjiwarongo Municipality traffic vehicles, started at the police roadblock north of town, and attracted hundreds of onlookers. Otjozondjupa Governor, James Uerikua and Chairperson of the Otjozondjupa Regional Council, Marlayn […] todayJanuary 26, 2024 14
insert_link Lifestyle J.M. Coetzee’s provocative first book turns 50 this year – and his most controversial turns 25 Photo of J.M. Coetzee: Laterthanyouthink, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA Andrew van der Vlies, University of Adelaide J.M. Coetzee, one of the leading novelists of our age, turns 84 this year. Last year, he published The Pole and Other Stories, his 18th book (excluding volumes of criticism, commentary, letters and translations). Its flowering of mature style confirms that this writer remains at the top of his game. Coetzee celebrates another […] todayJanuary 26, 2024 14
