Opinion Archives - Page 2 of 3

NATIONAL DIALOGUE: Did you know that National Dialogue is for Presidency?

14Aug

By News SANo Comments

Opinion

NATIONAL DIALOGUE: Did you know that National Dialogue is for Presidency?

By Fumene G. Tsibani: President Cyril Ramaphosa, joined by Deputy President Paul Mashatile and Cabinet ministers, hosts the inaugural meeting of the National Dialogue Eminent Persons Group at the Union Buildings in Pretoria. ( Image: X/GCIS (File) I am personally aware that the National Dialogue in South Africa is led by the Presidency, as mandated by Section 83(c) of the South African Constitution. This emphasizes the President's role in promoting national unity and cohesion through inclusive and people-driven dialogue. As I reflect on the significance of national dialogue in South Africa, it is essential to recognize the President's pivotal role in leading this process, as mandated by Section 83(c) of the South African Constitution. The President's leadership is crucial...

THE PUBLIC HEALTH RISK WE’RE IGNORING: Medical xenophobia

25Jul

By News SANo Comments

Opinion

THE PUBLIC HEALTH RISK WE’RE IGNORING: Medical xenophobia

By Zenoyise John: (Image: Sandz) When a virus knocks at your door, it won’t ask for your ID. Let’s be honest: there is fear in our hospitals. Fear of overcrowding, fear of under-resourcing, fear that there's not enough for “our own.” But what happens when that fear leads us to make decisions that put everyone - citizen and migrant alike = in danger? When a sick foreigner is chased away from a clinic, some may feel justified. But let’s pause. What if that patient had tuberculosis? What if they had a contagious strain of meningitis? What if they had Ebola? When they are denied access to care, they don’t disappear = the danger simply shifts location, quietly multiplying among the very communities we claim to be protecting. South Africa has always carried itsel...

CROWN HIM: In the land of the vanishing fathers, Premier Mabuyane stood tall

18Jul

By News SANo Comments

Opinion

CROWN HIM: In the land of the vanishing fathers, Premier Mabuyane stood tall

By Zenoyise John: Caption:Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane walks away from the ibhoma, the sacred initiation hut, moments after ensuring his son's safe return - a rare display of presence, protection, and cultural pride in a time when many fathers are painfully absent (Image: Facebook) Let me be clear from the outset: I hold no brief for Premier Oscar Mabuyane. I am not a fan of his politics, nor do I admire his leadership record. But today, I set that aside - because some acts transcend politics. When Mabuyane took leave from his official duties to be present for his sons’ traditional initiation, he did more than fulfil a cultural obligation. He led - not from a podium, but from within his family. In a country buckling under the weight of absent fathers, h...

JUSTICE, NOT HASTE: Why President Ramaphosa’s response upholds constitutional integrity

15Jul

By News SANo Comments

Opinion

JUSTICE, NOT HASTE: Why President Ramaphosa’s response upholds constitutional integrity

By Dr Fumene George Tsibani: President Cyril Matamela Ramaphosa (Image: Facebook) A credible process was announced by the President of the Republic of South Africa, His Excellency Cyril Matamela Ramaphosa. In the absence of prima facie evidence, it is imperative that we uphold the principles of justice and fairness, as enshrined in our Constitution and the Bill of Rights. The allegations and accusations levelled against Minister Senzo Edward Mchunu, whilst troubling, do not in and of themselves constitute sufficient grounds for his suspension, but rather warrant a placement on special leave, as announced by the President. In the interests of justice and fairness, it is essential that we adhere to the presumption of innocence, a fundamental tenet of our legal system...

HONOUR: A call for unity, dialogue, and national dignity in honour of our late president, His Excellency Dr. Edgar Chagwa Lungu

26Jun

By News SANo Comments

Opinion

HONOUR: A call for unity, dialogue, and national dignity in honour of our late president, His Excellency Dr. Edgar Chagwa Lungu

By Willah Joseph Mudolo: Former Zambian President Edgar Lungu. (Image: J Cool Youtube) As Zambia navigates one of the most delicate and painful chapters in its modern history, I am compelled to speak not merely as a citizen but as a patriot who loves this land and who believes deeply in the moral and spiritual fibre that binds us together. The passing of our former Head of State, His Excellency Dr. Edgar Chagwa Lungu, has struck the heart of our nation. It has forced us to confront not only our grief, but also our values, our governance, and our collective identity as Zambians. The initial handling of this tragedy by government authorities, ranging from the restrictions placed on the former president’s travel to South Africa for urgent medical review to the disorg...

THE AUDACITY OF ELITE POWER DYNAMICS: A scathing critique

21Jun

By News SANo Comments

Opinion

THE AUDACITY OF ELITE POWER DYNAMICS: A scathing critique

By Thelela Ngcetane-Vika and Fumene George Tsibani: The authors suggest that addressing egregious imbalances in land reform must be predicated on restitution, redistribution, and reconciliation. (Image: courtesy of AgriSA) This treatise is precipitated by the tacit observation that the underdevelopment of Africa by Global North Royal Monarchies and their economic elites is often indirectly buttressed by the hubris of certain political analysts. These analysts have proximity to economic freedom due to their connections to political legends, revolutionary leaders, and South African liberators of the early 1940s towards the window of change in Africa in the 1960s. Their penchant for employing radical jargon, whilst conducting a superficial face-value analysis of our ...

THE ILLEGAL ATTACK ON IRAN: A decoy for Benjamin Netanyahu’s narrow political ends

15Jun

By News SANo Comments

International, Opinion

THE ILLEGAL ATTACK ON IRAN: A decoy for Benjamin Netanyahu’s narrow political ends

By Vijay Prashad: Iran flag (Image: Getty Images) Israel’s consistent attacks on Iran since 2023 have all been illegal, violations of the United Nations Charter (1945). Iran is a member state of the United Nations and is therefore a sovereign state in the international order. If Israel had a problem with Iran, there are many mechanisms mandated by international law that permit Israel to bring complaints against Iran. Thus far, Israel has avoided these international forums because it is clear that it has no case against Iran. Allegations that Iran is building a nuclear weapon, which are constantly raised by the United States, the European Union, and Israel, have been fully investigated by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and found to be unfounded. It is ce...

CONTRADICTION: Professor Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o’s cremation goes against his own anti-colonialism teachings, argues the writer

12Jun

By News SANo Comments

Opinion

CONTRADICTION: Professor Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o’s cremation goes against his own anti-colonialism teachings, argues the writer

By Tahir Mamdani Kenyan radical author and activist, Prof Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o (Image: Observer Witness) The death of Professor Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o marked the end of a towering literary and intellectual presence who, for decades, inspired Africa and the diaspora to confront the lingering legacies of colonialism. He was the moral and philosophical compass of postcolonial Africa. a man who rejected the English language as a medium of African expression, embraced Gikuyu as a political act, and called on Africans to decolonise not only institutions but the mind itself. In his celebrated book Decolonising the Mind, Ngũgĩ fiercely defended African languages and traditions as essential vehicles of memory, dignity, and cultural sovereignty. He saw African burial rituals not merely ...

BRIDGING THE GAP: How responsible short-term lending empowers South Africans

28May

By News SANo Comments

Opinion

BRIDGING THE GAP: How responsible short-term lending empowers South Africans

By Niresh Gopichand Niresh Gopichand is Risk Director at Atlas Finance and Director at MicroFinance South Africa (MFSA). In South Africa, where financial pressures weigh heavily on millions, short-term loans often carry an unfair reputation. They’re seen as a last resort, a debt trap, or even a sign of financial recklessness. But the reality is that when used responsibly, these loans can be a bridge to opportunity, helping families cover urgent costs, supporting entrepreneurs in growing their businesses, and providing a safety net in tough times. Many people associate short-term borrowing with mashonisas, unregulated lenders who charge sky-high interest and keep borrowers in cycles of debt. Others fall prey to online scams that promise easy money but end in financial disaster....

OF SONGS, STATESMANSHIP, AND STRATEGIC LAPSES: A disturbing reflection on the Oval Office encounter

25May

By News SANo Comments

Opinion

OF SONGS, STATESMANSHIP, AND STRATEGIC LAPSES: A disturbing reflection on the Oval Office encounter

By Zamikhaya Maseti: U.S. President, Donald Trump (Image: Getty) I could not sleep well last night. A peculiar restlessness gripped my spirit after watching the televised meeting between President Cyril Ramaphosa and President Donald J. Trump in the hallowed confines of the Oval Office in Washington, D.C. The initial Diplomatic Choreography unfolded with the kind of stiffness and performative politeness that characterises most bilateral meetings. But just when the South African delegation was easing into the rhythm of State Diplomacy, the unexpected happened: the ghost of a liberation song "Kill the Boer, Kill the Farmer" was abruptly summoned into the room by President Trump, weaponised with precision and intent. This was no accidental provocation. It was a calculated amb...