In Spatial Justice: Transforming South Africa’s Divided Cities, Michael Mokobane examines the historical and contemporary forces shaping South Africa’s urban spaces, analysing the challenges and opportunities of creating more inclusive and equitable cities. South African cities are diverse and complex spaces where history and present realities intersect. As Mokobane notes, the legacy of apartheid is particularly evident in the spatial divides shaping urban life. These divides, designed to separate, control, and oppress, persist in post-apartheid South Africa, manifesting as physical and social inequalities across urban landscapes. Mokobane argues that every street, building, and neighbourhood carries the weight of the past. Spatial justice…
Sarah Nyengerai
Sarah Nyengerai is an academic and freelance writer based in Zimbabwe with a strong passion for social, cultural, economic and political issues that affect women. She believes literary works form the foundation for the dialogue required to sustain momentums of change and aims to bring attention to such matters. A member of NAFSA (Association for International Educators) and Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE), Sarah is actively involved in the advancement of education for women.
By Donald L Sparks, Published by Routledge FocusIn Southern Africa’s Blue Economy, Donald L. Sparks provides a concise study of the constraints and opportunities that the blue economy offers for southern Africa and the role that the South African Development Community (SADC) could play in promoting the sustainable use of its oceans and coastal resources.A key problem is that the world’s coastal and marine areas have been treated as limitless resources and dumping grounds. This has led to degraded coastal habitats, marine pollution, climate change, and overfishing. Additional challenges include rising ocean temperatures and acidification, which threaten fish stocks and…
Gabon: 50 Years of the Bongo Dynasty: A Tale of Power, Corruption, and Fall. By Gerome Rousseyon and Stephanie Blachart In Gabon: 50 Years of the Bongo Dynasty: A Tale of Power, Corruption, and Fall, Gerome Rousseyon takes an in-depth look at the Bongo family and their time in power for over half a century, establishing a political dynasty marred by corruption and human rights abuses. Although the reign of the Bongo dynasty was characterised by a long period of uninterrupted power, the author also analyses in great detail the tumultuous journeys of key political figures who influenced Gabon’s trajectory.Of particular significance…
Power, Patronage, and the Local State in Ghana, by Barry Driscoll, published by Ohio University Press, Athens, Ohio (2023) In Power, Patronage, and the Local State in Ghana, Barry Driscoll examines the unwritten rules and inner workings of clientelism (patronage and vote buying) in Ghana’s politically competitive environment and its impact on the local state apparatus. Driscoll puts forth that Ghana is a useful case study on competitive politics, mostly between the two main political parties, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP), for two main reasons. Firstly, Ghana’s history is representative of many developing countries in recent decades,…
By Joan Nyika and Megersa Olumana Dinka, published by Springer Nature (2023)Water management remains one of the most pressing issues of the 21st century and is projected to be a key limiting factor in global socioeconomic and environmental development.Globally, water resources are under threat due to rising pollution, urbanisation, and climate change. According to a UNESCO/United Nations (UN) Water Report 2020 (featured in the book), more than 685 million people from more than 570 cities worldwide will access freshwater at declining levels (by >10%) by 2050 as a result of environmental factors such as climate change. Similarly, a report by the…
A Just Transition: Making Energy Poverty History with an Energy Mix by NJ Ayuk; published by Made for Success Publishing (2022)A Just Transition by NJ Ayuk is a clarion call to various institutions, namely international bodies, non-governmental organisations, and African governments, to adopt a blended and balanced approach in the fight against climate change in a continent still battling with an energy poverty crisis. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), 600 million people in sub-Saharan Africa have no access to electricity, this amounts to three-quarters of the global population of approximately 940 million without access to reliable power. Ayuk asserts that a…
Ethics and Accountable Governance in Africa’s Public Sector, Volume One: Ethical Compliance and Institutional Performance. Edited by Kemi Ogunyemi, Isaiah Adisa, Robert E. Hinson, published by Palgrave Macmillan Ethics & Accountable Governance in Africa’s Public Sector Volume One explores accountable governance in Africa’s public institutions by examining the ethical issues affecting the management of public services and proffering solutions on the way forward. Volume One is part of a series featuring articles and case studies by various researchers and governance experts from across the continent seeking to assist in improving public service delivery. Literature on ethics and accountable governance…
