The pursual of South Africa’s finance minister by the country’s elite police unit could have dire consequences for the economy. Yet President Jacob Zuma appears not to care.
Micronutrient deficiencies are not well understood as an aspect of malnutrition. The problem is that such deficiencies increase a range of health risks.
Decolonising the curriculum is far more nuanced than replacing theorists and authors. Universities first need to define how they approach the development and dissemination of curricula.
Climate change and the current El Niño have left Africans more vulnerable than ever to hunger.
Philimon Bulawayo/Reuters
Economic growth alone won’t end hunger. Good policies and programmes are needed, too. Scientists and researchers have a role to play in these initiatives.
Kenyan youth chant in celebration before the arrival of Pope Francis at the Kasarani stadium in Kenya’s capital Nairobi.
Reuters/Thomas Mukoya
The African Union has identified youth as critical for development. But, a new survey reveals a wide gap between these aspirations and the reality of youth public engagement on the continent.
South African Airways is undoubtedly in crisis.
EPA/Udo Weitz
The costs to South Africa of maintaining the ownership of a national airline are proving to be unbearably expensive. It’s time to let the struggling carrier go.
Religious teachers can feel uncomfortable explaining the science of evolution to their pupils.
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Many South African teachers don’t accept the theory of evolution. They feel deeply conflicted when they have to teach it to their pupils as part of the life sciences curriculum.
Election officials scan voters’ identity documents during South Africa’s local government elections in Umlazi, Durban.
Reuters/Rogan Ward
Many municipalities in the South Africa don’t function properly because of poor management and administrative capacity. They don’t have enough appropriately qualified and experienced staff.
South Africa has claimed back its status of the largest economy in Africa, toppling Nigeria, due to the appreciation of the rand. What’s prompted the movement?
Young Kenyan entrepreneurs hard at work. Such enterprise must be encouraged.
Thomas Mukoya/Reuters
African governments and businesses must do more to assist young people by creating an entrepreneurial ecosystem to support them. Without this support, all of their potential may stutter and die.
Citizen scientists have a great deal to contribute.
Mount Rainier National Park/Flickr
As military organisations become less oriented towards violence, the traditional, aggressive, warrior-like culture of the military has to be balanced with new task requirements.
South Africa’s opposition Democratic Alliance party leader Mmusi Maimane.
EPA/Kim Ludbrook
Patronage and clientelism is slipping away from the ANC and accruing to those who pledge their political futures to the Democratic Alliance. It will have to guard against incumbency arrogance.
Not there yet: Mmusi Maimane campaigns in Johannesburg.
EPA/Kevin Sutherland
The ruling ANC has been seriously challenged by the Democratic Alliance, but South African politics is still about white privilege and black exclusion.
South Africa’s struggling economy may have played a big role in determining the outcome of the 2016 local government elections, but the future direction of economic policy remains uncertain.
South African universities are under enormous financial pressure. They also face a fresh round of student protests ahead of a decision on next year’s fees. Hard choices need to be made.
Distribution of cash can be useful for delivering child care.
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Science communication has grown in leaps and bounds over the past 60 years. It plays a crucial role in democratising science and making it less mysterious.
Teaching and learning from music often occurs spontaneously.
Mignon van Vreden
Dean Faculty of Health Sciences and Professor of Vaccinology at University of the Witwatersrand; and Director of the SAMRC Vaccines and Infectious Diseases Analytics Research Unit, University of the Witwatersrand