Kate Bartlett is a journalist based in Johannesburg, South Africa.

In South Africa, Racial Tensions Simmer Amid a Pandemic

12 Jun 2020  |  Foreign Policy  |  English  |  South African Politics

South Africa's response to the COVID-19 pandemic has been relatively successful, but it has also exacerbated long-standing racial tensions. The strict lockdown measures, while effective in controlling the virus, have highlighted deep-seated inequalities and sparked debates on social media and political discourse. President Cyril Ramaphosa's leadership is praised, but the enforcement of lockdown rules has been criticized for its heavy-handedness, particularly against poor black South Africans. The article discusses various incidents and statements that have inflamed racial tensions, including comments from political figures and social media reactions. The divisive rhetoric threatens to undermine the progress made in race relations since the end of apartheid.

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Tito Mboweni Cyril Ramaphosa Julius Malema Zelda La Grange Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma Bheki Cele Collins Khosa Glenda Gray Mbuyiseni Ndlozi Jacob Zuma Thabo Mbeki Donald Trump Jair Bolsonaro Nelson Mandela

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Malesela Maubane is a journalist and public strategist based in Polokwane, South Africa.

Corrupt officials must pay back the money

05 Jul 2021  |  mg.co.za  |  English  |  Unemployment

Veteran freedom stalwart and labour activist Tlou Theophilus Cholo condemns corruption in South Africa, particularly the misuse of coronavirus relief funds by government officials. He calls for immediate punitive action against perpetrators and suggests that recovered funds be used for socioeconomic development. Cholo criticizes the tender system for enabling corruption and emphasizes the need for developing young people's skills to aid economic revival. The article highlights the negative impacts of corruption, including economic loss, inefficiency, and rising debt levels, and calls for strengthening the judiciary to ensure corrupt leaders are punished.

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Tito Mboweni Tlou Theophilus Cholo Kofi Annan Mo Ibrahim Ellen Johnson Sirleaf

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I am a digitally savvy journalist and editor with a keen interest in collaborations, tracking political promises and solutions journalism. I recently completed a certificate course in investigative journalism from Wits. In my freelance career I have focused on cross-platform editing, project ...

ANALYSIS: Did poor people lose money in VBS bank’s collapse?

30 Sept 2019  |  www.citizen.co.za  |  English  |  Banking Scandal

The article examines the impact of the VBS Mutual Bank collapse on poor depositors, highlighting differing views on whether poor people lost money. While some argue that retail depositors with savings up to R100,000 were reimbursed, others point out that some depositors could not access their funds due to documentation issues. The liquidation process is ongoing, and it remains unclear how many poor people were affected. The article also discusses the broader implications of the government guarantee funded by taxpayers and provides data on savings among poor households in South Africa.

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Tito Mboweni Terry Motau Kuben Naidoo Sentletse Diakanyo Nhlanhla Nene Anoosh Rooplal Isobel Frye Patricia Koka

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Sumner Shagari Sambo is a journalist based in Abuja, Nigeria.

Sumner has always been passionate about television news journalism, working especially with start-ups to rejuvenate broadcasting across Nigeria and Africa. He recently joined one of Africa's newest and promising channels, News Central ...

Hunger, xenophobia threaten migrants during Covid-19 lockdown in South Africa

20 May 2020  |  newscentral.africa  |  English  |  Migrants

The Covid-19 lockdown in South Africa has exacerbated hunger and xenophobia among migrants, who rely on informal work that has dried up. Despite government aid initiatives, many migrants are excluded, leading to severe hardship. Non-profits and community groups are stepping in to provide food, but the situation remains dire. Criticism is directed at the South African government for institutionalized xenophobia and neglecting the needs of migrants, with calls for international support to address the crisis.

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Tito Mboweni Alfred Djang Amir Sheikh Cyril Ramaphosa Edward Mowo Sharon Ekambaram Dewa Mavhinga Thandeka Ncube Abdurahman Musa Jibro Collin Makumbirofa

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I'm an award-winning journalist working as an independent reporter and multimedia producer in southern Africa. I am currently based in Cape Town.

I have worked as a correspondent for global news agency AFP and Johannesburg's leading daily paper The Star, filing dispatches from the Central ...

Kigali’s trade-off: Sell and be arrested or starve

06 Mar 2019  |  mg.co.za  |  English  |  Economic Hardship

Rwanda's capital, Kigali, presents a clean and organized image, but its strict enforcement of laws against informal trading has led to severe consequences for street vendors. Theodosie Uwamohoro, a street vendor, died following a violent altercation with security guards. In response, the city built formal markets, but many vendors continue to sell on the streets due to the high costs and low profits in the markets. The city's crackdown on informal trading is part of a broader vision for a safe, clean, and green city, but it has been criticized for contributing to economic hardship and human rights issues. Finance Minister Tito Mboweni and Johannesburg mayor Herman Mashaba have praised Kigali's cleanliness, with Mashaba seeking to replicate its model in Johannesburg.

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Tito Mboweni Theodosie Uwamohoro Pascal Nyamulinda Bruno Rangira Marie-Chantal Rwakazina Paul Kagame Victoire Ingabire Herman Mashaba