Media archive
Thinking Rationally About Coronavirus COVID-19
Authored by Alex Broadbent Coronaviruses are ubiquitous (we find them wherever we look), and cause 5-10% of respiratory infections globally, rising to about one third
The fourth industrial revolution and the importance of disagreement
Authored by Alex Broadbent In healthy dialogue, there are always people who disagree, even if they are eccentric flat-Earthers. Something about human psychology seems to
Why a one-size-fits-all approach to COVID-19 could have lethal consequences
Authored by Alex Broadbent and Benjamin T H Smart Suppose you had the choice between two health policies, A and B. Policy A would result
The Role of Philosophy & Philosophers In The Coronavirus Pandemic
Authored by Alex Broadbent What is the point of philosophy? That’s a question many philosophers struggle with, not just because it is difficult to answer.
South Africa’s COVID-19 lockdown: cigarettes and outdoor exercise could ease the tension
Authored by Benjamin T H Smart and Alex Broadbent What do South Africa, China, Germany, the UK and the US have in common? That each
Lockdown is wrong for Africa
Authored by Alex Broadbent he biggest public health risk in Africa is not Covid-19, but the consequences of regional and global measures designed to reduce
Why heavy-handed policing won’t work for lockdowns in highly unequal countries
Authored by Karl Roberts, Alex Broadbent and Benjamin T.H Smart Many African countries have imposed lockdown measures stricter than countries in Europe and Asia in
Hunger, SA’s worst threat
Authored by Benjamin Smart and Kenneth Mokgathle AS South Africa deliberates on the next steps to take after the lockdown to stop the spread of
Parents shouldn’t fear Covid-19
Authored by Benjamin Smart On June 1, some of South Africa’s brightest young stars will head back to school after a long, unplanned, and very
Beyond the narratives of Africa’s doom and gloom
Africa has recorded successes on many levels which are often ignored by global media — and we need to embrace and celebrate our unique contribution
Covid-19 and the Emerging World Order: What Does it Mean for Africa?
THE recent outbreak of Covid-19 and the great powers’ actions and inactions have ignited debates on the post-pandemic world order. In a bid to assess
The great Covid-19 data debate
THE nexus between data and the Covid-19 pandemic has ignited global debate. In a bid to engage the significance of data in the ongoing efforts
Battling Covid-19 with Artificial Intelligence: What Will Work in Africa?
Co-authored by Abejide Ade-Ibijola Can AI really help? Many researchers and industry experts working in the Artificial Intelligence (AI) have claimed that AI holds the
SA’s mega-event lustre dims as inequality takes shine off 2010 Fifa World Cup success
Given South Africa’s domestic challenges that have been further exposed by the Covid-19 pandemic, it is clear it is not well placed to host the
South Africa’s leaders have had a crack at COVID-19: it’s time to give the people a go
Authored by Alex Broadbent South Africa is now ranked 5th in the world for COVID-19 active cases, 9th for cumulative cases, and 23rd for cumulative
Nigeria leads Africa’s race for space with ambitious satellite programme
Since Nigeria launched its first microsatellite, NigeriaSat-1, in 2003, the country has expanded its space programme and is now a continent-wide leader in the field.
How Should We Evaluate Lockdowns? Disentangling Effectiveness, Context, and Politics
Authored by Alex Broadbent, Herkulaas Combrink, Carleigh Krubiner, Benjamin Smart and Damian Walker How should we evaluate measures taken in response to COVID-19? An early
Mbeki and Obasanjo: case studies in the use of soft power in Africa’s interests
The concept of soft power has been part of the parlance of international relations for three decades. Soft power actors use non-coercive and persuasive means
The race for a Covid-19 vaccine reflects the emerging new world order
The race to produce the world’s first effective Covid-19 vaccine has become a battle for prestige between the US, the UK, Europe, China and Russia.
America’s tarnished hegemony: President Biden will have to do major damage control after Trump’s isolationism on the global stage
The American war on terror had a massive negative impact on its image across the globe and diminished its moral authority. Furthermore, the US-triggered 2008/09
Burna Boy and WizKid’s Grammys: Afrobeats As Source of Global Africa
Afrobeats as a global soundtrack is an essential component of achieving the objectives of AU’s 2021 as the Year of the Arts, Culture and Heritage.
Nigerian Diaspora: Uniting to promote peace and development
On Sunday July 25, Nigeria celebrated its 15th National Diaspora Day under the theme: “Diaspora Integration for National Peace and Development”. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s
Africa’s soft power in an age of global Afrophobia
…the book focuses on four key states in Africa: Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya and Egypt and seeks to Africanise the concept of soft power by
Ramaphosa’s state visit to Abuja: A big window has opened to rejuvenate Nigeria-South Africa relations
Nigeria-South Africa relations have experienced a roller coaster ride, from the antagonistic relations during South Africa’s apartheid era and Nigeria’s military epoch in the post-apartheid
The new scramble for Africa – Antiquated relationship with Europe unchanged while China and Russia show increasing interest in the continent
Despite the ambitions for equal partnership expressed at the recent Africa-EU summit, the outcomes of past summits and pledges give little confidence that we will
The Russia-Ukraine crisis and the security dilemma
On February 24, at the time of a United Nations Security Council meeting to prevent Russia from invading Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin declared a
No consensus on Ukraine crisis
THE Russia-Ukraine crisis that began on February 24 has divided academics and keen observers of international politics. In a bid to assess the direction of
Zelensky and Africa’s disunity on the Russia-Ukraine crisis
…China’s position on Russia has possibly influenced the stance of some African states, as it is Africa’s largest trade partner, having overtaken the U.S. in

Launch of report on myths associated with immigrants with SABC News
The UK Institute for Future Knowledge and the ISS are launching a report on the myths associated with immigrants and how xenophobia affects South Africa’s

ISS releases report into causes of xenophobia in SA
Newzroom Afrika with Thabo Mdluli In Conversation

New report sets out reasons why immigrants can’t be blamed for social and economic problems in South Africa
PowerFM with Thabiso Tema
5 xenophobic myths about immigrants in South Africa debunked by researchers
In South Africa, immigrants are often scapegoated as the root of socio-economic problems. In the post-apartheid landscape, Black African immigrants, mainly, from other African countries

5 xenophobic myths about immigrants in South Africa
Smile904.FM on The Honest Truth with Benita Vergatine

South African Police services given the green light to spot check foreigners
Channel Africa with Aphiwe Honono

COVID on the breadline
The documentary COVID on the Breadline was a partnership with the NGO Picturing Health. The film explores the impact of severe lockdown measures on poor
Postcard from Johannesburg: an immigrant’s tale
Happiness, a 40-year-old immigrant woman, has worked as a domestic worker in South Africa’s largest city, Johannesburg, for most of the 19 years she has
This week’s presidential election in Nigeria will have a significant impact on Africa and further afield
Nigeria faces many internal and external challenges, including insecurity, corruption, high levels of unemployment and declining influence in international affairs. The incoming president will have
The 2023 presidential election and the future of Nigerian democracy
Co-authored by Dr Adeoye O. Akinola, Head of Research and Teaching at the Institute for Pan-African Thought and Conversation (IPATC) On 25 February, Nigeria will
Higher education in South Africa still for a select few
Co-authored by Dr Anthony Kaziboni, Head of Research at the Institute for the Future of Knowledge To redress past injustices, colonialism and apartheid, the newly
Who is really to blame for failing healthcare?
Co-authored by Sonia Mabunda-Kaziboni, International Secretary at the Congress of South African Trade Unions The Johannesburg High Court recently issued an order affirming the right
The warrant of arrest for President Putin and its implications for South Africa
On March 17, 2023, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued a warrant of arrest for Russia’s President Vladimir Putin for alleged war crimes of unlawful

The Implications of AI Tools in Teaching and Learning: A case of ChatGPT
Dr Anthony Kaziboni, Head of Research at IFK, discusses the purpose and outcomes of the public lecture: The Implications of AI Tools in Teaching and
The implications of ChatGPT in teaching and learning
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has emerged as a transformative force driving the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR). The tech empowers us to analyse more efficiently complex data,