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International Day of Education 2025: AI and Education: Preserving human agency in a world of automation.

International Day of Education is an annual international observance held on January 24 and January 24, is held on January 24, is held on January 24, and is dedicated to Education. On December 3, 2018, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution proclaiming January 24 as International Day of Education, in celebration of the role of education for bringing global peace and sustainable development.

Global Economic Recovery and Resilience in a shock-prone system – Challenges and Opportunities for the G20

The advancement of globalization has led to an increase in network flows. This can be seen in the rise and expansion of trade blocs and alliances. These networks have since encouraged state interdependence and subsequently impacted their domestic economies. Whether informational, physical or financial, these network flows contribute to the global economy. The Group 20 (G20) is one such example that can showcase the network flows and their impact on the global economy.

The Future of Human Rights of Immigrants in a Changing World Order

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) is a foundational document adopted by the Nations General Assembly on 10th December 1948. It defines 30 essential human rights that are generally applicable to all individuals, irrespective of nationality, ethnicity, gender, or religion. The UDHR is a foundational basis for global human rights legislation and practices. [1]

Strengthening Institutional Advocacy: Anti-Corruption Effectiveness of Civil Society in South Africa

Corruption is pervasive and undermines democratic governance, economic development, and social justice worldwide. In South Africa, corruption has significantly eroded public trust in institutions and hindered efforts to achieve sustainable development (Mungiu‐Pippidi, 2023). Civil society organisations (CSOs) play a crucial role in addressing corruption through advocacy, policy engagement, and grassroots mobilisation.

G20 and Digital Transformation in South Africa: Reforms, Threats, and Opportunities.

The Group of Twenty (G20), an international forum comprising 19 countries and the European Union, represents the world’s largest economies (Hajnal, 2019). While South Africa is the only African nation in this influential group, its role provides a unique platform to address global economic challenges, including digital transformation. Digital transformation is the integration of digital technologies into all areas of society, economy, and governance. South Africa, as a country grappling with economic inequality, unemployment, and infrastructure deficits, digital transformation offers both unprecedented opportunities and formidable challenges.

Mechanisms for protecting whistleblowers in South Africa - Whistleblowing in South Africa: An Overview

Corruption remains pervasive in South Africa, affecting both public institutions and private entities. Despite the country's rich resources and a constitution that promotes transparency and accountability, the reality is that corruption has deeply entrenched itself in various facets of governance and business. High-profile scandals involving government officials and corporate leaders have marred South Africa's reputation on the global stage, leading to diminished public trust and economic instability.

Why gender-based violence remains an elusive challenge in South Africa

Gender-based violence (GBV) remains a pervasive and deeply entrenched issue in South Africa, presenting significant challenges to achieving gender equality and ensuring the safety of women and marginalized individuals. Despite the country’s progressive legal framework, including the Domestic Violence Act and the Sexual Offences Act, the prevalence of GBV continues at alarming rates. This article explores why GBV remains unresolved in South Africa, addressing socio-economic factors, cultural norms, and systemic inadequacies within law enforcement and judicial systems.

Where is Africa in a changing world? An active contributor or inert observer?

The global geopolitical landscape is shifting rapidly, leaving no nation untouched, and exerting significant pressure on nation-states and their governments, irrespective of their political and economic status, to adapt or perish in oblivion. There is no doubt that the world is in the throes of tremendous change.

The Higher Education Sector’s Articulation of Graduate Unemployment in South Africa Is Still Underdeveloped

The postsecondary education system in South Africa has experienced notable expansion in recent times, leading to a rise in accessibility. For a long time, the industry has been seen as essential to the social and economic mobility of its people. But even with the tremendous progress that has been made in increasing access to postsecondary education, the problem of graduate unemployment still exists.

Mitigating AI-driven disinformation during an electoral year

Disinformation refers to false or misleading information that is spread deliberately to deceive and cause harm to a person. Within an election context, disinformation typically involves the intentional spread of false information to undermine political adversaries, manipulating the voting process, or altering perceptions of the political landscape during an election.

Strategies for Empowering Citizens to make informed decisions at the ballot box 2024 elections in South Africa.

The survival of the voting process is dependent on citizens. They must be able to make informed decisions about their lives and futures. Citizen involvement is becoming more important to the functioning of democracies in the twenty-first century as public participation develops and deepens on a global basis. In today’s complex and interconnected world, citizen engagement is critical to allowing individuals to play an active and involved part in society.

Promoting tolerance and its implications for electoral outcomes in South Africa

Tolerance is the readiness to allow the expression of ideas and respect the rights and freedoms of others contrary to one’s opinion. In South Africa, tolerance in terms of electoral outcomes should be promoted as it is the central tenet of a liberal democracy. Since South Africa has overcome the era of apartheid and has now being transformed to a democratic system, the implications of tolerance for electoral outcomes are significant.

Will South Africa’s democracy survive 2024 unscathed?

In a worrying recent article, the Financial Times poses the uncomfortable question: can democracy survive 2024? It notes that a historic number of elections will take place around the world this year, but that autocracy is spreading, and young people are rejecting the democratic status quo.

Analysis of President Ramaphosa’s SONA 2024 Address: Addressing Key Priorities and Areas of Concern

I applaud Ramaphosa for his speech as it touched on all these “key priority” areas. However, it’s important to note that regarding youth unemployment, his speech doesn’t seem to factor in the urgency expressed by the 47% youth who are unemployed and dissatisfied according to Afrobarometer data.

Putting an end to conflicts and Prescriptions for a Peaceful Future: The Role of the International Court of Justice

Established as the judicial organ of the United Nations the International Court of Justice (ICJ) aims to promote international peace and security through the settlement of disputes among other functions. It has the broadest jurisdiction of any international court as it is the designated court for settling international matters. It therefore stands as a mechanism available for the peaceful settlement of disputes between United Nations member states.

Why Are We in the Era of Democratic Fatigue Syndrome?

There is something explosive about an era in which interest in politics grows while faith in politics declines. What does it mean for the stability of a country if more and more people warily keep track of the activities of an authority that they increasingly distrust? How much derision can a system endure, especially now that everyone can share their deeply felt opinions online? These are some of the questions I have been asking myself while South Africa, along with a few other democratic countries, heads to the 2024 election.

Beyond Language Barriers: Using Media to Facilitate Migrant Participation in Local Politics

In today’s increasingly diverse societies, ensuring equitable participation in local politics is imperative for fostering inclusive and representative governance. However, one significant barrier that often hinders the engagement of migrant communities in local politics is language. Overcoming this barrier requires proactive efforts to promote political literacy and provide accessible resources to migrants through media outreach initiatives.

Allowing the wealthy to rule us

IF there is one thing South Africa’s politicians prefer to winning votes, it is raising money. Which is why even very limited efforts to ensure that they are not told what to do by donors is under threat.

30 years democracy in South Africa: Lessons learned, challenges and opportunities.

South Africa’s journey toward democracy began in the early 1990s with the end of apartheid era. This era marked a significant shift in the country’s political landscape, with the setting aside of racial segregation and acceptance of multiracial democracy. In 1994, the first democratic elections were held and Nelson Mandela, who was the leader of the African National Congress (ANC) then, became the first black president.

South Africa facing a fiscal cliff: implications for socioeconomic development in 2024

The term “fiscal cliff” refers to a situation where a government faces a significant drop in revenue combined with increased expenditure, leading to a sharp deterioration of its fiscal position. This situation can arise from various factors, such as economic downturns, unsustainable debt levels, or inadequate budgetary policies. South Africa’s economy has exhibited dismal performance since its remarkable transition to democracy (Mail & Guardian).

The importance of safeguarding our democracy

This year, South Africa will be celebrating 30 years of freedom from a terrible political dispensation that limited the rights of citizens and their privileges. Therefore, citizens must take the time to reflect on how far we have come as a nation. While the government has taken significant strides in setting up laws and institutions to safeguard our hard-won rights, our democracy has faced threats that seek to undermine the Constitution and the institutions meant to protect it.

Cadre deployment: a political and administrative conundrum

There has been a lot of to and fro, claims and counterclaims in the media following the recent court case won by the opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) that compelled the ruling African National Congress (ANC) to hand over all records pertaining to the activities of its cadre deployment committee, particularly those from the period when President Cyril Ramaphosa chaired the committee.

Political sloganeering: implications on voter behavior and electoral politics

Whether in industrialized or developing countries, the form, philosophy, aims, and institutionalization of political parties all have a substantial influence on how well democratic systems function, contributing to the consolidation of democracy. Voters’ behavior has an impact on both the election method and outcome.

Living with reality – and making it work

The most obvious point about coalitions is that they are not, as many of their critics and even some of their admirers seem to think, a new political idea which we are free to accept or reject. They happen not because anyone wants them but because no-one can avoid them. If no party wins enough seats to form a government, parties need to get together to assemble a majority. It is a product of arithmetic, not policy choice.

The influences of digital technologies on citizens’ national identities

With the widespread unemployment rates in the African continent, people from all walks of life are seeking greener pastures elsewhere around the world. While some adopt nomadic practices in search of better means of survival, others settle in their new locations. In both instances, the African migrant remains rooted in his homeland through various technologies.