Drivetime

AU pressured to resolve peace & security on continent

Since its inception in 2020 the African Union has been under pressure to resolve the extensive peace and security challenges facing the continent. In particular, it tried to address the limitation faced by its predecessor, the Organisation of the African Unity's (OAU), in this area. The biggest change has been…

24 Aug 2020 10AM 11 min

Traditional Western donors re-evaluating aid role

There are growing signs that the aid relationship between the Global South and Global North is changing fast. Many traditional Western donors are re-evaluating the role of aid while keeping a close eye on their own national interests. These changes may not be all bad, but are these the opportunities…

24 Aug 2020 10AM 13 min

Analysis: Ramaphosa letter justifies SA anger towards ANC

South African's have reacted to president Ramaphosa's letter to the ANC in which he justified the people's anger towards the ruling party. In the seven-page letter, Ramaphosa said while there has been some progress in tackling corruption and recovering money lost to government, more work still need to be done…

24 Aug 2020 10AM 13 min

SANZAF releases Annual Financial Statement

SANZAF has released its Annual Financial Statement (AFA). On line is Fayruz Mohamed, SANZAF national chairperson

21 Aug 2020 11AM 12 min

Book review: “The Fall” by Jen Thorpe

In today's book review, we have “The Fall”by Jen Thorpe. Hector#FeesMustFall protest leader, believes its time for the students to think a little bigger than toyi-toying. This creates problems for None', South Africa's president, who want no trouble for pesky students in a week she is launching an extraordinary zoo…

21 Aug 2020 11AM 19 min

Experian suffers data attack

Credit bureau Experian suffered a data attack which has exposed some personal information of millions of South Africans. Experian, the world's biggest credit data firm, generates credit reports and scores based on consumer borrowing and payment and habit, which are used by banks and retailers. But the Southern African Fraud…

21 Aug 2020 10AM 7 min

Study: CoV-2 transmission by rural communities

A study exploring how SARS-CoV-2 transmission by asymptomatic people in rural and urban households in South Africa has been launched. The study aims to find how many people in individual households in rural urban South Africa become infected with SARS-CoV-2 and how asymptomatic people transmit this virus ans how it…

21 Aug 2020 10AM 8 min

Middle East Report

In this week's Middle East Report in partnership with London based Middle East Monitor, we look at the following: -UAE-Israel normalisation: justification, reactions and its implications -Developments in Gaza amid Israel's punitive measures as Egyptian mediation delegation arrive. -Migration to Italy and Tunisia: (Italy to give $13 million to strengthen…

20 Aug 2020 11AM 23 min

Pakistan's Imran downplays feud with Saudi Arabia

Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan has played down differences with long time ally Saudi Arabia after his military chief visited Riyadh in a bid to ease a dispute over policy towards the disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir. Meanwhile Khan said Pakistan will never recognise Israel until there is a Palestinian…

20 Aug 2020 10AM 9 min

HTS abducts journalist Bilal Abdul Kareem in Syria

London based advocacy group CAGE have called on the immediate release of American journalist Bilal Abdul -Kareem. On August 13, in the northern Syrian town of Atmeh, masked militants affiliate to Hayat Tahir al- Sham (HTS) abducted the US independent journalist who runs the social media- based news agency On…

20 Aug 2020 10AM 14 min

UWC celebrates top women in scholarly work

The University of Western Cape (UWC) has initiated a digital magazine for top women who integrate community engagement in their scholarly work. The University is doing this to recognise excellence as part of their reward and recognition during the Women's Month. On line is Associate professor in Chemistry department at…

20 Aug 2020 1AM 14 min

Weekly Africa Report

In this week's Africa report, we look at the current hot spots on the continent: -Mali military seizes power in bloodless coup following months of political instability. -SADC commits support for Mozambique's terror threat -Angola court jails ex-president's son to 5 years for fraud. On line for comment is political…

19 Aug 2020 10AM 14 min

Support for president's pandemic response diminishes

An online multilingual COVID-19 Democracy survey has revealed that support for the president's handling of the pandemic response has diminished by 24 percentage points, falling to 61% popularity pre-Covid-19. So has the president's handling of the pandemic response diminished? On line is Dr Yul Derek Davids, Chief Research Specialist in…

19 Aug 2020 10AM 9 min

BLM divides parliament

A debate on Solidarity with the Black Lives Matter Movement was held during a virtual national assembly sitting on Tuesday. The motion, brought by the EFF's Floy Shivambu had political parties divided over the Black Lives Matter. The movement gained prominence following the brutal murder of an African- American man,…

19 Aug 2020 10AM 17 min

Hamas denounce Israel - UAE normalisation ties

Palestinian groups have denounced the normalisation of ties between Israel and UAE saying it does nothing to serve the interest of the Palestinian people. The deal was announced by US president Donald Trump, forestalling Israel's illegal plans to annex large swathes of the occupied West Bank. On line for comment…

18 Aug 2020 11AM 14 min

World Economic Report

In this week's world economic report, we look at the following: -Lockdown easing, is this the beginning of more economic crisis? -Why South Africa's black middle class matters in the Covid-19 milieu -G7 to consider debt freeze to low income countries. On line is Senior Research Fellow at the University…

18 Aug 2020 10AM 13 min

South Africa enters phase 2 of Covid-19 vaccine trial

Wits University has begun a second Covid-19 vaccine trial and screening of participants for the NVX-CoV2373. The phase 2 trial in South Africa will evaluate if the nanoparticle S-protein, in the Covid-19 vaccine known as NVX-CoV237, protects against Covid-19 disease in adults aged 18-64 years old. On line is Dean…

18 Aug 2020 10AM 11 min

AISA webinar discusses extremism in Mozambique

The Human Science Research Council's Africa Institute of SA (AISA) today held a webnar to address the issue of violent extremism in Mozambique. The aim was to contextualise the emergence of violent extremism in Mozambique and its implications for peace and security in Southern Africa. On line for comment is…

17 Aug 2020 11AM 19 min

Will the economy recover under level 2 lock down?

After five months of lockdown, South Africa is easing into level-2, with 97% of the workforce expected to return to work. According to economic data, the impact of the first few months of lockdown during which many sectors of the economy were forced to close down, resulted in 3 million…

17 Aug 2020 10AM 7 min

Covid-19 cases expected to rise in the next 10 days

As the country moves into level -2 of the nationwide lockdown, health experts have warned a second wave of Covid-19 should be expected. South Africa recorded 162 Covid-19 deaths in the past 24 hours and experts have warned the next 8 to 12 weeks are critical as the upsurge is…

17 Aug 2020 10AM 19 min