Editor's note

South Africa’s Minister of Finance presented the country’s budget to Parliament, proposing a range of measures to stabilise the economy and tackle debt. While the budget hinted at steps towards a less torrid financial future, the costs to ordinary citizens may be high, argues Seán Mfundza Muller. Sean Gossel and Misheck Mutize suggest that the long run of poor management at South Africa’s state owned enterprises may be over and Lee-Ann Steenkamp looks at the implications of the tax cuts that were announced.

Africa has the world’s richest fossil record. Julien Benoit maps out all the different evolutionary transitions they represent, and why it’s so important that students on the continent know about this powerful heritage.

Yesterday marked International Mother Language Day. Africa has more than 2100 languages, a sign of its linguistic diversity. H. Ekkehard Wolff suggests that it’s time they took centre stage.

Natasha Joseph

Science & Technology Editor

South Africa budget

South Africa's budget: first steps towards a recovery, but at what cost?

Seán Mfundza Muller, University of Johannesburg

Whether measures announced by Gigaba will stave off a downgrade of South Africa's local currency debt by one remaining rating remains to be seen.

No more mercy for bad behaviour at South Africa's state owned companies

Sean Gossel, University of Cape Town; Misheck Mutize, University of Cape Town

South Africa's 2018 national budget makes it clear that the slumber and corruption that has hampered state owned enterprises must come to an end.

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