The Makala Paradox: How Charcoal Powers the Congo While the World Demands Green

The Makala Paradox: How Charcoal Powers the Congo While the World Demands Green

Each evening, as twilight settles over Kinshasa, Goma, and Lubumbashi, the skyline is marked by rising plumes of grey smoke—a testament to the central role of makala, or wood charcoal, in Congolese daily life. Despite the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s (DRC) vast rivers and bountiful mineral resources, more than 90% of its population remains dependent on wood fuel and charcoal for cooking. For tens of millions, charcoal is not a mere preference but a necessity for survival. Charcoal’s domina

about 1 month ago
When African solidarity falters: Migrants face a new wave of exclusion in South Africa

When African solidarity falters: Migrants face a new wave of exclusion in South Africa

It has become a bitter refrain for Africans who are not South African citizens: witnessing, time and again, the resurgence of waves of anti-migrant tensions that strike without warning. Recently, the South African scene has been shaken by movements initiated by several local organizations and parties, including Bahambe, Dudula, March and March, the Patriotic Alliance, and others. Their methods involve brutal actions that, all too often, unfortunately border on dangerous, criminal behavior. Their

3 months ago
Cape Town Pastor’s Ordeal Sheds Light on Xenophobic Undercurrents in South Africa

Cape Town Pastor’s Ordeal Sheds Light on Xenophobic Undercurrents in South Africa

Cases of violence against foreigners have long cast a shadow over South Africa’s social landscape, flaring sporadically in towns and cities across the nation. But for Pastor Joel Banzolele Matulumba, a Cape Town resident and spiritual leader, xenophobia is not just a headline—it is a harrowing reality. In a chilling incident that unfolded in October 2024, Pastor Joel’s home in Parow, a suburb of Cape Town, became the stage for a violent attack that left a congregation shaken and a family forever

3 months ago
Expulsion of Refugees in Kensington and Bellville: UNHCR Consults Community Leaders in Cape Town

Expulsion of Refugees in Kensington and Bellville: UNHCR Consults Community Leaders in Cape Town

On Wednesday, May 13, 2026, a crucial meeting was held at the Scalabrini Foundation premises in Cape Town, bringing together the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and leaders of refugee organizations, including VAC (Voice of Africa for Change), to discuss the uncertain future of refugees residing in the Kensington and Bellville camps. According to Crispin Kasarombo, director of VAC and an eyewitness to the meeting, the purpose was to convey the decision of the Cape Town court

3 months ago
The Rise of E-Bike Delivery: South Africa’s New Generation on the Move

The Rise of E-Bike Delivery: South Africa’s New Generation on the Move

By OT Mulombo CAPE TOWN – The explosion of delivery services across South Africa has not only transformed how people shop and eat but has also rewritten the rules of employment for thousands, especially young people. As the demand for quick and efficient delivery grows, a new chapter is being written in the streets of cities: the age of the electric bicycle courier. Traditionally, cars and motorbikes dominated the delivery landscape. But in recent years, electric vehicles—particularly e-bikes—

3 months ago
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