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Showing posts from June, 2025

The Surge: How Kidnapping Became South Africa’s Fastest-Growing Crime

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  The rain slicks the asphalt, streetlights reflecting in shallow puddles. In Johannesburg’s northern suburbs, a BMW glides to a stop at a red robot. A mother adjusts the rearview mirror while her child hums along to the radio. A dark sedan slides up behind her. Within seconds, a masked figure leans through the window, pressing a gun against her temple. She is dragged into the waiting car, her child left screaming at the curb. Scenes like this have become almost routine. In South Africa today, kidnapping is no longer confined to headlines about wealthy families or politicians. It has become an organised, adaptable, and highly profitable criminal enterprise that spans the country. From the busy streets of Gauteng to quiet townships in KwaZulu-Natal, kidnapping has become one of the most rapidly expanding forms of violent crime. From Footnote to Central Crime A decade ago, kidnapping was a minor blip in South Africa’s crime statistics. In the 2014/15 reporting year, the South African...
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Boko Haram

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A Boko Haram flag placed on a electrical pole For over a decade and a half, the shadowy group known as Boko Haram has cast a long, brutal shadow across Nigeria and the broader Lake Chad Basin.  From its enigmatic origins to its current splintered state, this Islamist militant organisation has defied numerous attempts at eradication, leaving a trail of unimaginable suffering, displacement,  and economic devastation in its wake.  This analysis delves into the genesis, ideology, operational methods, successes, failures, and the perplexing future of a group whose name has become synonymous with terror. Origins Boko Haram, officially known as Jama'atu Ahlis-Sunna Lidda'Awati Wal-Jihad ("People Committed to the Prophet's Teachings for Propagation and Jihad"), emerged in Maiduguri, Borno State,  northeastern Nigeria, in 2002.  Its founder, the charismatic preacher Mohammed Yusuf, initially advocated a non-violent approach, focusing on Isla...
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At a Diplomatic Crossroads: Recalibrating U.S.–South Africa Relations in a Multipolar World

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South Africa and the United States have experienced a diplomatic relationship characterized by both alignment and discord, influenced by mutual economic interests, ideological differences, and changing global dynamics. What started as initial commercial interactions in the 18th century has developed into a complex and sometimes contentious relationship, shaped by evolving strategic priorities, differing moral perspectives, and South Africa's increasing role as a middle power. Initial Interactions and Colonial Influences The origins of U.S.-South African relations trace back to 1799, when consular ties were first established in Cape Town, then under British control. In the 19th century, trade grew as American traders sought access to South Africa's burgeoning mineral wealth, especially during the diamond and gold rushes. Despite this increasing engagement, U.S. policy towards the region was largely influenced by British perspectives. During the Second Boer War (1899–1902), t...
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