South Africa’s Foreign Policy is failing its people. Part 2

Rwanda has trumped South Africa to become one of Africa’s geopolitical heavyweights whose sphere of influence spans from central to east to southern Africa. But its ascendancy was a long time coming and forged from shrewd policy that foresaw the changing geopolitical climate. In stark contrast to stagnant and outdated South…

ByGeorge PhilipasApril 7, 20250Comments

Africa agriculture Articles Economy exports imports Manufacturing South Africa tariffs trade deficit

South Africa’s Foreign Policy is failing its people Part 1

South Africa seems to have turned a corner recently, with cautious optimism replacing portends of a failed state in recent months. But when it comes to its foreign policy, it appears to be on the same well-trodden path. In particular, if the country doesn’t take action soon to support the AfCFTA –…

ByGeorge PhilipasOctober 8, 20240Comments

Africa Journalism Published South Africa Tourism

The Cape 1000 is Africa’s answer to the Mille Miglia

A 4-day 1000-mile trek through Cape Town’s hinterland for the Cape 1000 vintage car rally in early March 2022. A journey that took its participants through old, Dutch, colonial towns that time forgot through to epic mountain passes.

ByGeorge PhilipasApril 1, 20220Comments

Africa Democracy Journalism Published Russia Russia in Africa South Africa

For its own good, SA must take the regional lead against Russia

A focus on Russian interference in the southern African region reveals it is deeper and more ingrained than many might realise. And how the underhanded tactics of disinformation and the targeting of weak undemocratic leaders might pose a problem for South Africa itself – exacerbating an already, increasingly unstable region.

ByGeorge PhilipasMarch 3, 20220Comments

Africa Economy Published South Africa

Failure shows SA Companies should reconsider African strategy

A look at South African companies’ prospects on the continent, their past successes and failures and how this bodes in the immediate future in light of the recently-implemented AfCFTA. The Business Day (South Africa) article includes insightful comment from Ken Gichinga, chief economist at Mentoria Economics based in Nairobi and Simon Newton Smith, Commercial Executive…

ByGeorge PhilipasOctober 19, 20210Comments

Africa Manufacturing Published South Africa Trade

SA must clean up its act in Africa – Its future depends on it

The African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement (AfCFTA) should be the catalyst for a much-needed overhaul of South Africa’s foreign policy on the continent. Underfunded for too long, overstretched and ideologically shackled to the guilt of its apartheid past, it is time for a more pragmatic approach. The country’s future depends on it.

ByGeorge PhilipasSeptember 2, 20210Comments

Cyprus Cyprus Mail Greek-Cypriot Greeks Published South Africa

A sense of continuity for the South African Cypriot diaspora

A look at the Cyprus Brotherhood of South Africa and how they have survived and thrived since 1934.

ByGeorge PhilipasJune 21, 20210Comments

Debt Economy Kenya Published South Africa

Smart Cities in Africa. The Smart Move or another White Elephant that brings crushing debt

A shorter version of this article appeared in Business Day, South Africa on 23rd March 2020

https://www.businesslive.co.za/bd/opinion/2020-03-23-sas-smart-city-drive-may-not-be-such-a-clever-move/

Last month President Ramaphosa in his SONA heralded the forthcoming construction of a new 5G-ready smart city around Lanseria Airport in the next decade. With it, South Africa was belatedly thrust to the front of a Continent-wide rush to establish so-called smart and eco-friendly cities, seen as a means of jump-starting the so-called Fourth Industrial Revolution powered by digital technology.

ByGeorge PhilipasMarch 24, 20200Comments