Viewpoint

Africa’s population growth exceeds that of other continents by a considerable margin. Within the next few decades, one in every four people in the world will live in Africa. This demographic shift represents one of the most significant long-term growth opportunities in the global food sector. Meeting the food needs of this rapidly expanding population, however, requires far more than increasing agricultural production.

The narrative about Africa’s technological future often relies on the narrow assumption that the continent must “catch up” with global innovation. However, this framing misses a critical point: Africa has never simply consumed technology. We adapt it, reshape it, and increasingly originate it. This is the essence of Africanisation: designing and deploying technology to respond directly to the continent’s cultural nuances, economic realities, and local challenges.

The recent discovery of the bodies of women in Ekurhuleni has understandably heightened concern about personal safety. Investigations are ongoing, and authorities have cautioned against speculation about links between cases that they have not established. But amid the headlines is a question worth asking ourselves: If I don't arrive where I'm expected, or don't come home, who will know?

Something is reassuring about US President Trump’s latest debacle on the White House lawn. It wasn't just that he was inaudible while cutting the ribbon for a new helipad. No impressive long-lens shots made him look magnificent. No press showed up to film the event. They all refused. After Trump banned journalists from CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from covering the event, other members of the White House ‘press pool’ refused to cover it as well

Predictions about the future of work have become commonplace. Every year brings forecasts about new technologies, changing job roles, and the skills employees will need to remain competitive. But as 2026 has unfolded, many of those predictions have moved beyond theory. They are shaping hiring decisions, influencing business strategy, and redefining what employers expect from their people.

South Africa’s mining industry has long been defined by what lies beneath the surface - vast mineral wealth that has shaped the country’s economy for more than a century. But as ore bodies become deeper, more complex and increasingly costly to access, the future of mining will no longer be determined by what we find underground alone. It will be defined by how intelligently we use the data above it.

South Africa has built one of the continent's strongest Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF) response systems. The next step, however, needs to focus on prevention, with business firmly and deliberately taking a defining role. Statistics from the Human Sciences Research Council show the extent of South Africa’s GBVF crisis.

South Africans have long embraced outdoor living, but modern homes are taking this connection a step further. Rather than treating the patio, braai area, pool deck or garden as separate spaces, homeowners are increasingly designing homes that connect inside and outside. These boundaries can open, close and adapt to suit how people use the space.

South Africa has recorded a significant drop in vehicle hijackings, but the numbers provide little reason for motorists to become complacent. According to the latest South African Police Service (SAPS) crime statistics, 3,811 vehicle hijackings were recorded nationally between April and June 2026. This represents an 18.2% decrease from the same period last year. However, the figure still amounts to about 42 car hijackings a day.

We quite rightly talk about the importance of planting trees. We talk about their role in absorbing carbon, protecting biodiversity and supporting healthy landscapes. These are important conversations. However, after many years working in forestry and the bioeconomy, I have come to believe that we sometimes make the relationship between people and trees sound shallower than it really is.