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Global Power Plays and South Africa’s Strategic Tightrope

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US President Donald Trump Hey guys, It’s been a while since I last jotted something down here, and a lot has happened since my review of The Dark Prince. Frankly, the world has been on fast-forward, and Donald Trump, once again, is at the centre of the chaos. Internationally, we’ve watched Trump lurch from one provocation to the next: from the United States’ brazen illegal invasion in Venezuela and the kidnapping of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, on drug charges; to US Embassy wagging its finger at South Africa over maritime drills that included Iran; to Trump openly floating the idea of taking Greenland out of Danish control. Trump used his address at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos this week to do what he does best: talk about himself. He cast himself as the last true defender of “Western values” while berating European leaders for weakness, dependence, and a lack of spine. Then came the Greenland comments. With the world watching, he casually stated: ...
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BOOK REVIEW: Unmasking Paul Mashatile’s Rise in South African Politics

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As we step into a new year, I would like to extend a warm welcome back and express my gratitude for your continued commitment to reading, engaging, and sharing your thoughts.  The arrival of a new year often encourages reflection on themes such as leadership, power, and the pathways that shape those who aspire to govern. It feels particularly fitting, then, to revisit the stories that lie behind South Africa’s political elite . I recently completed The Dark Prince by investigative journalist and author Pieter du Toit. The book offers a detailed account of Deputy President Paul Mashatile’s formative years, beginning with his modest upbringing on a farm outside Johannesburg where he lived with his parents, and moving through his early involvement in anti-apartheid movements during his high school years. These formative experiences became the foundation from which Mashatile immersed himself fully in the struggles of ordinary South Africans , aligning with the masses and the marginal...
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Location: Johannesburg, South Africa
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Statement by President Cyril Ramaphosa at the opening of the G20 Leaders’ Summit

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Saturday, 22 November 2025 Distinguished Heads of State and Government of G20 Members and Invited Guest Countries, Heads of Regional Economic Communities, Secretary-General of the United Nations , Mr António Guterres, Deputy President of the Republic of South Africa, Mr Paul Mashatile, Ministers and Deputy Ministers, Heads of International Organisations, Members of the diplomatic corps, Ladies and gentlemen, Distinguished Guests, It is an honour and a privilege to welcome you all to the first G20 Leaders’ Summit to be held on African soil. We gather here at the Cradle of Humankind to affirm our common humanity. We gather here to affirm the value of partnership and cooperation, to finding common solutions to shared problems. Shortly before the dawn of a democratic and free South Africa in 1994, the founding father of our democracy President, Nelson Mandela, said:  “The time has come for South Africa to take up its rightful and responsible place in the community of nations.” Today, a...
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Location: Johannesburg, South Africa
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G20 Leaders' Summit Declaration 2025

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Click  here  to read the G20 Leaders' Summit Declaration
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Location: Johannesburg, South Africa
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Africa’s Democracy on Fire: Youth vs the Old Guard

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Cameroon's President Paul Biya What will it take to truly transform how we relate to politics and hold those in power accountable across Africa? From Antananarivo to Yaoundé, the continent’s youth are signaling that complacency is no longer an option.  In Madagascar, we witnessed a wave of youth-led protests that ultimately ushered in a change of guard — a new president now sits at the helm, propelled by the demand for transparency and renewal. Meanwhile, in Cameroon, the story unfolds differently.  A 92-year-old incumbent was declared the winner of what many describe as a sham election , one largely boycotted by young voters disillusioned with a stagnant political order. Frustration has boiled over into the streets, where young people have taken to protests, some resorting to torching politicians’ homes to make their anger and disillusionment impossible to ignore. And in Tanzania, President Samia Suluhu Hassan is running virtually unopposed after jailing key opposition figure...
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Malawi 2025: 85-Year-Old Mutharika Sworn In After Ousting Chakwera

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Outgoing president Lazarus Chakwera I can’t think of any groundbreaking projects or wide-ranging reforms that Lazarus Chakwera , the outgoing president of Malawi, implemented during his five years in the corridors of power at State House. The one thing that stands out is from November 2023, when it was reported that Chakwera’s administration had sent over 200 young Malawians to work on Israeli farms. This l abour export deal was pitched as a way to fight unemployment and boost economic recovery. But the initiative quickly came under fire. Opposition leaders and rights groups raised concerns about transparency and safety, especially given the ongoing conflict in Israel. That Chakwera lost to his 85-year-old predecessor-turned-successor, Peter Mutharika , is nothing short of a resounding vote of no confidence in his leadership—or lack thereof. According to the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC), Mutharika secured 56.8% of the vote, while Chakwera trailed far behind with just 33%. Ch...
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Location: Johannesburg, South Africa
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