Standing with Sex Workers: Why This Case Matters
South Africa Court to Rule on Constitutionality of Criminalizing Sex Work At the beginning of September, South Africa’s Western Cape High Court will hear a case that could finally end the criminalization of sex work in the country. It’s a moment decades in the making, which could bring real gains for the safety, dignity, and […]
US-Nigeria Weapons Sale Requires Rights Safeguards
Congress Should Condition Deal on Military Accountability, Rights Compliance The US State Department approved another potential multi-million-dollar weapons sale to Nigeria on August 14, citing support for the country’s efforts to fight terrorism and illicit trafficking. Yet the announcement is conspicuously silent on the Nigerian military’s record of serious human rights abuses and on what […]
West African Governments And Industry Leaders To Convene In Lagos, Nigeria This October, To Accelerate Industrial Revolution
West Africa stands at a defining crossroads. As global aid recedes and trade alliances shift, West Africa is being challenged to take ownership of its economic future through industrialisation, infrastructure development intra-regional trade, and strategic global trade expansion. To address these challenges, stakeholders from across the region will convene in Lagos from 21-23 October for […]
John Thompson And BECS Partner To Deliver Profitable Biomass Energy Solutions For African Industry
John Thompson, a division of ACTOM (Pty) Ltd and South Africa’s leading provider of industrial energy solutions, has announced a strategic partnership with Berkeley Energy Corporate Solutions (BECS), a specialist developer and supplier of biomass energy projects. Together, the companies aim to accelerate the deployment of reliable, renewable steam solutions to industrial customers in South […]
Airtel, Vodacom Sign Network Infrastructure Agreement To Drive Digital Inclusion
Airtel Africa and Vodacom Group have announced a strategic infrastructure sharing agreement in key markets including Mozambique, Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), subject to regulatory approvals in the various countries. The agreement marks a transformative milestone in promoting digital inclusion and expanding access to reliable connectivity across Africa. The initial partnership focuses […]
Changing The DNA Of Africa’s Payment Systems
Payments, people and strategy are key to opening up new ways of transacting in South Africa South Africa’s payment ecosystem is a tangle of legacy banks, fintechs, telcos and card schemes, all jostling for a slice of the transaction pie. It’s a space where smart and ingenious capture customer attention, and where people need to […]
The Evolving Role Of Custodian Banks In Investment Administration
By Adam Bateman, Head: Business Development & Strategic Partnerships, Investor Services and Johan De Bruyn, Head: Fund Services, Investor Services at Standard Bank CIB As pension fund investment portfolios grow larger and more diversified, the volume and complexity of investment data have seen investment administration taking a much more central role in how these funds operate. The […]
How Nigeria’s Factories Have Reinvented Supply Chains to Survive Naira Turmoil
Nigeria’s manufacturers are adapting to survive the turbulence unleashed by last year’s naira devaluation, which left businesses scrambling to source raw materials amid dollar shortages. Companies like paint maker CAP and glass producer Beta Glass have slashed import dependence, with local material sourcing jumping to 57% industry-wide. CAP now procures 90% of its calcium carbonate domestically, […]
Trump Plans to Reserve 30,000 US Refugee Slots for White South Africans
The Trump administration is set to dramatically reshape US refugee policy by capping admissions at around 40,000 in 2026, with nearly three-quarters of the slots reserved for White South Africans. According to US officials, roughly 30,000 spaces would be allocated to Afrikaners, a Dutch-descended minority that Trump has claimed is facing “persecution” in South Africa. Pretoria has […]
M23 Rebels Pull Out of Congo Peace Talks Amid Ceasefire Dispute
The M23 rebel group has abruptly suspended peace talks with the DR Congo government, accusing Kinshasa of violating their recent ceasefire agreement. The rebels, who control swathes of North Kivu including Goma, claimed government forces continued launching attacks despite an agreement reached in Qatar last month that forbade such moves. Kinshasa denies the charges, instead blaming M23 […]
