University ranking systems are being rejected. African institutions should take note
The Sorbonne University, founded in Paris in 1253 and known globally as a symbol of education, science and culture, has just announced that, starting in 2026, it ...
Inequality in Africa: what drives it, how to end it and what some countries are getting right
The relationship between inequality and economic growth is a complex one, especially in Africa. Inequality is the result of a host of factors, including policy choices, ...
World maps get Africa’s size wrong: This must be fixed
The African Union has endorsed the #CorrectTheMap Campaign, a call for the United Nations and the wider global community to use a different kind of world map.
SA reading crisis: It’s not just the learners – it’s the system
A recent study reveals that reading comprehension in South African classrooms is often assessed using overly simple questions, out of step with curriculum policy. ...
Sudan’s war is an economic disaster: here’s how bad it could get
Since April 2023, Sudan has been engulfed in a devastating civil war that has turned into a national catastrophe. More than 14 million people have been displaced. ...
Rituals, fear and blood: the new face of SA’s gang problem
This column unpacks the rise of occult gangs in the Free State, where ritual murders and demonic symbols aren’t urban legends — they’re part of lived experience. ...
Why Trump wants to get his paws on Greenland
Trump is not the first US politician to try to buy Greenland
Can a superstar hippo help save Africa’s rainforests?
Moo Deng, whose name means “bouncy pork”, shot to fame soon after she was born in July this year, thanks to viral videos that showed off her cute expressions and ...
Deep complicity of ‘ordinary’ whites
Many academic studies have focused on black life under apartheid, but few on white life – and even fewer on the role of working-class whites in the system.
Protect yourself from financially abusive relationships with these three strategies
Women are more likely to experience financial abuse since it can happen in tandem with other forms of abuse.
South Africa’s Constitutional Court at 30: Successes and failures
Professor Emeritus of Public Law at the UCT Hugh Corder. says that the Constitutional Court has played a leading role in realising constitutional justice over the ...
Robo-advisors - the pros and cons of using AI in investing
Portfolios built by robo-advisers may also be more resilient during market downturns, effectively managing risk and protecting investments.
James Clavell’s ‘Shōgun’ is reimagined for a new generation of TV viewers
In the new series, Blackthorne is not even the sole protagonist.
With Beyoncé’s foray into country music, the genre might finally break free from the stereotypes that have long dogged it ...
Many non-listeners stereotype country music as being white, politically conservative, militantly patriotic and rural. And you can certainly find artists and songs ...
The rise of African prophets
The unchecked power of the leaders of Pentecostal churches
‘Wonka’: Timothée Chalamet shines in an otherwise pedestrian prequel
It’s decent distraction for the kids over the Christmas break – but don’t expect the intergenerational magic of ‘Paddington 2’.
Insulin injections could be replaced by rock n roll
While researchers are developing pills that resist digestion in the stomach and skin patches that monitor blood sugar and automatically release insulin, the most ...
Reign of terror lingers
For the Osage Nation, the betrayal of the murders depicted in ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’ lingers
What the David Beckham documentary tells us – and what it doesn’t – about controlling parents in sport
A poignant scene shows Beckham’s mother Sandra struggling with how hard his father Ted was on their son. Ted’s shouting often brought David to tears.
Watching movies for your mental health
Many of us enjoy sitting down to watch a good film because of the way movies can make us feel. A sad film might help us release our emotions, or a comedy might lift ...
Siya Kolisi: the South African rugby star’s story offers valuable lessons in resilience
Kolisi’s story defies the odds and highlights the power of resilience, the ability to bounce back from adversity, trauma or setbacks. It empowers other people to ...
As I lay me down to lie awake
There are many, varied reasons why people have insomnia including biological changes as we age or because of our hormones, physical or mental health issues, the ...
Return to the wild for farm rhinos
A new report has bad news for Earth’s five surviving species of rhino.
Should you feed child guests dinner? What #Swedengate tells us about food culture and social expectations
The act of eating is steeped in cultural practice. Food and eating possess cultural meanings that impose order on what is eaten, when, how and by whom.
Ultra-processed foods - this is what you as a consumer should know
Dietary guidelines use a range of euphemisms to refer to the presence or absence of processing. These ranged from canned, to frozen, packaged, ready food and instant. ...