Southern Africa

South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) said U.S. Ambassador Brent Bozell III expressed regret for comments he made about a South African court’s ruling on the controversial “Kill the Boer” chant. DIRCO confirmed the South African government summoned Bozell III, who took over the ambassadorial post last month, after he publicly criticized a court decision that found the chant did not amount to hate speech. The summons was intended to register the government’s concern over the ambassador…

President Duma Boko Addresses Death Penalty and Corruption Allegations In a recent statement, President Duma Boko of Botswana refuted claims suggesting he harbors opposition to the death penalty, labeling these assertions as "baseless." He emphasized that the Clemency Committee has not yet put forth any recommendations regarding executions for his consideration, reinforcing his commitment to uphold the legal framework of the nation. Boko's statements come amidst rising concerns over governance and accountability within…

South Africa’s proposed National Health Insurance (NHI) — billed by the government as the country’s most sweeping health overhaul since the end of apartheid in 1994 — is effectively frozen amid court challenges and constitutional clashes. Bhekisisa Centre for Health Journalism spoke with health economist Susan Cleary to explore whether the NHI is a wise way forward. The debate now centers on capacity, cost, equity and the political will required to remake a deeply unequal health system. The case for NHI is straightforward…

The UK Home Office has announced a significant policy shift, halting the issuance of study visas to nationals from Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar, and Sudan. This decision also extends to skilled work visas for Afghans, with the government citing rampant visa abuse as the driving force behind the change. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood emphasized that this move comes in response to a startling rise in asylum claims from individuals who first entered the UK legally on study visas. Official statistics reveal that asylum…

South Africa’s government on Monday urged citizens stranded in the Middle East to “take immediate advantage” of the resumption of limited commercial flights out of the region, while Kenya Airways announced special repatriation services between Nairobi and Dubai to help passengers displaced by days of attacks. The moves follow a period of disruptions that left many travelers unable to leave and prompted several African governments to coordinate emergency measures. South African officials appealed to nationals in affected…

Mosiuoa Lekota, the 77-year-old former leader of the Congress of the People (COPE) and a veteran of South Africa’s anti-apartheid struggle, has died, COPE confirmed Friday. Lekota, who stepped away from frontline politics in 2025, had been battling health problems in recent years. In a brief statement, COPE leader Teboho Loate said Lekota died “after a period of illness.” The Lekota family has asked for privacy, Loate said, and details about memorial arrangements would be announced in due course. Lekota was a former Robben…

Directive to force public servants into state healthcare ignites constitutional and capacity debate A government directive ordering public servants and senior officials to use the public healthcare system has thrown a spotlight on constitutional rights, public-sector capacity and political risk. Announced as part of negotiations over full government coverage of Public Service Employee Medical Aid Scheme (PSEMAS) fees, the move — slated to take effect on April 1 — has been met by legal and practical objections from former…

President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah's two sons have rejected as "a blatant lie" allegations by Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) leader Panduleni Itula that they are involved in Namibia's oil industry, issuing a forceful denial on Friday and accusing the opposition of politically motivated smears. Itula earlier linked Ndeli and Nande Ndaitwah — identified by the IPC as members of the country's first family — to the petroleum sector through their private business interests. The opposition leader said the family was…

President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah’s two sons have rejected as “blatant lies” an accusation by Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) leader Panduleni Itula that they are involved in the oil industry, saying the claims are politically motivated and threaten their safety and rights. Itula, whose party has positioned itself as a vocal critic of the ruling establishment, publicly linked Ndeli and Nande Ndaitwah to the petroleum sector through their private business interests. He said Ndeli’s company, Vaneli Foods, which was once…

Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana warned in his 2026 Budget speech that poorly run municipalities face the prospect of having national funds reduced if they fail to "clean up their act," signalling a shift by the national government from "oversight" to "active structural intervention" to stabilise local government finances. Godongwana told Parliament the move is aimed at improving the financial health of municipalities, many of which have long struggled with rising debt, weak revenue collection, and uneven service delivery.…