What democratic resilience means in today’s climate and what it will take to rebuild public confidence in democratic systems for the future

As democracies across the world face rising political polarization, declining public confidence, and growing pressure on institutions, one question is becoming increasingly urgent: how resilient are our democratic systems really? From elections and parliaments to courts and the media, institutions …

More than six decades later, what does meaningful African unity actually look like?

As Africa marks Africa Day, the continent finds itself reflecting not only on its progress, but also on the promises made in 1963 when African leaders united to form the Organisation of African Unity. It was a bold vision built on Pan-Africanism, liberation, economic independence, and the dream of …

The Practice: Why do so many postgraduate students still struggle with academic writing and critical thinking?

For many postgraduate students, academic writing can feel overwhelming, from developing a research topic and structuring arguments to navigating supervision, deadlines and critical analysis. While universities often expect students to arrive with these skills, many are still trying to figure out h…

Understanding the African Charter on Family Values, Rights and Freedoms

A proposed African Charter on Family Values, Rights and Freedoms currently under discussion within the African Union is raising alarm among human rights advocates, legal scholars, and civil society groups across the continent. The draft charter, championed by the African Commission on Human and Peo…

The Practice: What separates profitable Airbnb listings from those that struggle to get bookings?

More and more people are turning to short-term rentals and platforms like Airbnb as a pathway into entrepreneurship, tourism, and property investment. Social media is filled with stories of hosts generating passive income, building hospitality brands, and transforming ordinary apartments into profi…

Agritourism is changing what a working farm is in Africa today

Agriculture in the African continent is starting to look very different and a lot more interesting. Farms are no longer just about production; they’re becoming places where people go to learn, unwind, eat, explore, and reconnect with nature. That shift has given rise to agritourism, a growing space…

What is considered normal sexual curiosity and exploration during adolescence?

For many parents and carers, one of the most difficult parts of raising teenagers is navigating conversations around sex, curiosity, boundaries, relationships, and online exposure. Often, these conversations only happen after a moment of shock, discovering explicit content on a child’s phone, overh…

Fossil fuel narratives shape the way ordinary South Africans understand climate and energy discussions?

As debates around energy, development and sustainability intensify across South Africa (SA), questions are also being raised about power, representation, and whose voices are truly being heard in climate decision-making.  Fossil Ad Ban Advocacy Campaigner at Fossil Free SA, Noxolo Mfocwa recently …

Restoring ourselves beyond beauty culture: Prt 2

Previously on Unfiltered, we opened a conversation that asked difficult but necessary questions about how we see ourselves, the stories we inherit, the pressures we carry, and the silent ways in which identity can be shaped or shaken. In Part 2 of that conversation, we went deeper.  We turned inwa…

Unfiltered: Why is individuality still punished in beauty culture? Part 1

Beauty has always been more than appearance. It shapes who gets noticed, who feels accepted, and who is often left questioning themselves. While conversations around representation and self-expression have opened up in recent years, the pressure to fit certain ideals hasn’t disappeared, it has simp…