POV Insights: 2023 Political wrap

The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) was under the microscope at a high-level symposium hosted by Nedlac and the Labour Research Service in Johannesburg. Delegates from 12 African countries agreed the trade pact could unlock growth, jobs, and integration. But concerns remain will AfCFTA fuel industrialisation, or accelerate job…

Frustrated residents of Ivory Park and Ebony Park in Midrand took to the streets, venting their anger over prolonged water cuts that have left homes dry for weeks. Protesters blocked Republic Road with burning tyres and debris, though police say the demonstrations remained relatively calm. Community leaders warn they will…

A Boschkop police officer is at the centre of a hostage drama that has gripped Mamelodi East. Shocked residents say they heard gunshots and screams as the officer barricaded himself inside a house with a Grade 12 learner and her mother. Tactical police units, negotiators, and TRT members surrounded the…

A boat from the Global Sumud Flotilla for Gaza was struck by a drone at Tunisia’s Sidi Bou Said port. The group says its vessel caught fire after being hit from above. All six people aboard were unharmed, but the incident drew crowds waving Palestinian flags and chanting “Free Palestine.”…

The University of Johannesburg has unveiled the shortlist for its prestigious UJ Prize for South African Writing. Celebrating excellence across genres, the prize recognises outstanding books published in 2024. In the Debut Prize category: Khumisho Moguerane’s Morafe, Siphokazi Jonas’s Weeping Becomes a River, and Anna Stroud’s Who Looks Inside. For…