South Africa’s public protector this week called for a review of the role of the country’s central bank. Steven Friedman argues that the vitriolic responses to her proposal were overblown and exposed the ugly side of South Africa’s democracy while Cathleen Powell contends that, from a legal perspective, the public protector crossed the line. The public protector also ruled that a 30-year old bailout paid to a bank during the apartheid era should be repaid. Alan Hirsch argues that the public protector’s decision amounts to a wild goose chase.

Since its independence 57 years ago, the Democratic Republic of Congo has been ruled by leaders who have done little to unite the resource-rich country. Instead, they have ruled with an iron fist while plundering the country’s wealth. The hope was that President Joseph Kabila would break with the tradition of tyranny. But that hasn’t happened. Reuben Loffman reviews the country’s leaders as the anniversary of its 58th year of independence approaches.

Two little girls – Blessing and Favour – recently walked out of Kenyatta National Hospital in Nairobi three years after they were born as conjoined twins. Joseph Kimani Wanjeri explains how 50 medical experts separated the twins in 23-hour surgery, and the post-operative care they were given.

Should members of South Africa’s parliament be allowed a secret ballot in a vote of no confidence in the president of the country? This was the question the Constitutional Court answered this week, ruling that it was up to the speaker of parliament to decide. Marius Pieterse explains why giving MPs the right to vote in secret might be a bad move.