The authors, Altman Solon’s Björn Menden and Switala Ventures’ Thomas Switala When the competition authorities last year finally approved Vodacom’s acquisition of a 30% stake in Maziv – the parent of Vumatel and Dark Fibre Africa – they quietly reshaped the rules of engagement for South Africa’s digital infrastructure market. For years, open access has been…
Not long ago, industrial work across Africa was defined by risk. In sectors like mining, ports, logistics and heavy manufacturing, dangerous conditions were seen as part of the job. Fatal accidents, equipment failures and human exposure to hazardous environments were often treated as operational realities rather than preventable outcomes. Today, that mindset is undergoing a…
The decline in the number of South African learners taking and passing pure mathematics – as opposed to the more rudimentary maths literacy – at high school level is going to have profound negative consequences for the economy, experts have warned. This is because digital skills and computational thinking are increasingly becoming crucial components of…
Africa’s 2026 elections must navigate a diverse array of complexities from conflicts to entrenched incumbents, growing youth restlessness, and external actor influences for citizens to be heard. Jump to … Follow us on WhatsApp | LinkedIn for the latest headlines Africa’s diverse governance tapestry is reflected in the 11 countries planning to hold elections in…
Minister Siviwe Gwarube hailed the Class of 2025’s NSC pass rate for climbing to 88%, the highest ever for more than 900,000 candidates, with KZN topping the provinces. Yet experts warn of low maths participation, slipping gateway subject performance, and sharp Grade 11-12 dropouts. Minister of Basic Education Siviwe Gwarube has announced that the National…
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ethiopian Airlines on Saturday officially started a US$12.5-billion (R205-billion) construction project for what officials say will be Africa’s biggest airport when completed in 2030 in the Ethiopian town of Bishoftu. The state-owned airline got the contract to design the four-runway airport in the town located around 45km south-east of Addis…
Africa — NEARLY one million babies are stillborn in Africa every year. Behind every stillbirth is a mother, a family and a story left untold. Most of these are preventable, many unrecorded, and too often invisible. Each number hides a moment of heartbreak, and every uncounted loss represents a missed opportunity to learn and to…
As 2026 opens, conflict remains a permanent global condition, not an exception. More than 185,000 political violence events were recorded in 2025, directly exposing 831 million people—16% of humanity—to violence. The new year has brought no respite: Venezuela’s government collapsed in a U.S. military operation, Russia deployed hypersonic missiles near Ukraine’s NATO border, and Sudan…
Climate change is no longer just about melting ice or hotter summers. It is also a financial problem. Droughts, floods, storms and heatwaves damage crops, factories and infrastructure. At the same time, the global push to cut greenhouse gas emissions creates risks for countries that depend on oil, gas or coal. These pressures can destabilise…
Africa’s tech ecosystem raised $3 billion in 2025, up 33% from the previous year, as investors returned to deal-making after a prolonged slowdown. Funding rounds closed, acquisitions went through, and activity rebounded across major markets, per a TechCabal report. Yet alongside the recovery, a series of high-profile deals failed to materialize, exposing a tougher investment…
