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South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa has characterised his fairly new tenure as one that will herald economic revival. As part of his plan, he has hosted two summits aimed at driving job creation and boosting investment. Danny Bradlow warns that these initiatives could have unintended negative consequences: they may benefit only the elite, which would deepen the country’s high levels of inequality and poverty.
Lesotho’s military budget has doubled since 2008 despite almost 60% of its population earning less than USD$1.90 a day. The country also ranks poorly on the UN’s human development index. With this in mind, Geoffrey Thomas Harris makes a strong case for scaling back Lesotho’s armed forces so that the money can be spent on the country’s impoverished citizens.
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A large number of poor South Africans live in informal settlements.
EPA/Nic Bothma
Danny Bradlow, University of Pretoria
Initiatives to boost South Africa’s economy could reinforce structural weaknesses without addressing the high levels of inequality.
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Lesotho military stands guard in Maseru, Lesotho.
EPA/STR/South Africa
Geoffrey Thomas Harris, Durban University of Technology
The demilitarisation of Lesotho's armed forces might give the tiny country the economic boost it needs.
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Politics + Society
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Bert Ingelaere, University of Antwerp; Andrea Guariso, Trinity College Dublin; Marijke Verpoorten, University of Antwerp
Women identify more with their government representatives based on ethnicity rather than gender.
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Environment + Energy
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Kevin Winter, University of Cape Town
South Africa is a water stressed country but crisis point can be avoided.
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From our international editions
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Romain Fathi, Flinders University
This year marks 100 years since the fighting stopped in the first world war. The commemoration of the armistice, Remembrance Day, remains potent but is also changing with the times.
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Peter Millington, University of Nottingham
Despite his playful optimism, Hawking recognised that the undiscovered laws of physics may prevent time travel.
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Pia Riggirozzi, University of Southampton
Left-wing governments failed to articulate a convincing alternative to neoliberal democracy – and the backlash has begun.
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Venkatesh Shankar, Texas A&M University
Chinese customers spend billions on Nov. 11. Why, and what does it mean for the global retail marketplace?
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