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Editor's note
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Should African countries be given weapons as part of aid packages as recently mooted by German Chancellor Angela Merkel at the G20 meeting? Only if there are strict rules and regulations in place, argues Earl Conteh-Morgan.
The debate about Africa’s growing middle class has been largely uninformed and short of rigorous analysis. The biggest problem is that it’s failed to take into account issues like professional and social status, cultural norms and political orientation. Henning Melber explains why this is not a sensible way to go about defining a class.
Societies expect men to provide financially for their families. This means they often duck broader responsibilities like taking care of their children. But this isn’t always the case. Zoheb Khan sets out what some research in South Africa has uncovered.
This week marked the fifth anniversary of the Marikana massacre when South African police opened fire on striking mineworkers, killing 34. As Nduka Mntambo writes, a popular musical on this traumatic incident is nothing more than a song and dance version of an ineffectual commission of inquiry.
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Top stories
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Earl Conteh-Morgan, University of South Florida
German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s comments about weapons as part of development for Africa could have the opposite effect if conditions aren’t strict and democratic processes aren't followed.
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Henning Melber, University of Pretoria
We should be wary of simplified and sweeping explanations about the scope for potential social and political reforms the middle classes can promote.
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Zoheb Khan, University of Johannesburg
About 60% of children in South Africa under 10 years don't live with their biological fathers. But research sheds light on those who despite the pressures remain involved in their children’s lives.
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Nduka Mntambo, University of the Witwatersrand
It is five years since the Marikana massacre in South Africa - a related musical unfortunately contributes to the amnesia about the traumatic incident.
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Politics + Society
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Faith Kiboro, SMC University
Kenya's recently concluded general election has been described as a mixed bag of highs and the lows being the deadly clashes.
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Winnie Waiyaki, Daystar University; Maureen Onyango-Ngesa, Daystar University
It's important to understand the nature and extent of children's exposure to violence during general elections so they can be protected.
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Steven Friedman, University of Johannesburg
Unless parliament passes a motion of no confidence in him, which is not on the cards any time soon, Zuma's future depends on whether he's weakened in the African National Congress, not parliament.
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Bill Dixon, University of Nottingham
Five years on, no-one has been held to account for the Marikana massacre where 34 miners were shot dead by members of the South African Police Service in a single day.
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Prince Mashele, University of Pretoria
The bitter attitude of ANC leaders who spoke inside and outside Parliament before and after the no confidence vote added fuel to already existing public anger at the arrogance of the governing party.
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Carina Bruwer, University of Cape Town
South Africa is only one piece in a larger puzzle of the heroin trade along the continents east coast.
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Marius Pieterse, University of the Witwatersrand
Are different ways of governing emerging from South Africa's cities governed by opposition coalitions?
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Ben Cousins, University of the Western Cape
The conventional view is that insecurity of land tenure results from the lack of a registered title deed which records the property rights of occupants of land or housing.
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Health + Medicine
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Dr. J. Wanyoike-Gichuhi, University of Nairobi
Although the number of children conceived through in vitro fertilisation born with abnormalities remains extremely low, a recent study in Kenya shows that the risk of genetic disorders is higher.
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Jason Bantjes, Stellenbosch University; Mark Tomlinson, Stellenbosch University; Xanthe Hunt, Stellenbosch University
People with the same condition can respond differently to the same treatment. This is why personalised treatment is so important in all fields of medicine, including psychology.
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Rob Moodie, University of Melbourne
Unhealthy food corporations use various tactics to undermine public health policies aimed at tackling the scourge of non-communicable diseases like diabetes and obesity.
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Environment + Energy
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Andrew Slaughter, Rhodes University; Nelson Odume, Rhodes University
Heavy rains, poor and clogged drainage systems have made many towns and cities in Nigeria susceptible to massive flooding.
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Kanyiva Muindi, African Population and Health Research Center; Blessing Mberu, African Population and Health Research Center
Research in Kenya’s capital found average levels of hazardous solid and liquid particles in the air within households were three times more than the WHO recommended maximum level.
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Adam Hart, University of Gloucestershire
Rare colour variants of hunted African species have been known for a long time. Trophy hunters seeking novelty might pay more to hunt these unusually coloured animals.
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Business + Economy
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Miemie Struwig, Nelson Mandela University; Laura Best, Nelson Mandela University; Sibongile Muthwa, Nelson Mandela University
The rise of the middle class in Africa is fuelling consumer economies and protection policies. But they tend to be disconnected from sustainability issues.
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Arts + Culture
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Beth le Roux, University of Pretoria
Some have suggested that the publisher and author of 'Mandela's Last Years' were simply attempting to cash in on the Mandela legacy. This is not a basis for the withdrawal of a book.
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Science + Technology
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Christopher Trisos, University of Maryland; Charne Lavery, University of Cape Town; Laura Pereira, Stellenbosch University
A synthesis centre in Africa would massively improve the ability of researchers to understand complex scientific problems.
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Education
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Penelope Andrews, University of Cape Town
Some signs seem to suggest that students studying law are prone to mental health problems and substance abuse.
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Suellen Shay, University of Cape Town
Former vice-chancellor Jonathan Jansen argues that there is no future for South African universities.
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