Africa News

ViewDaya Reddy appointed interim vice-chancellor of UCT

Retired mathematician vows to “waste no minute” in tackling university’s challenges

ViewWildlife worries farmers bordering SKA nature reserve

Small predators harming sheep due to lack of “proper fencing” around giant radio telescope site

ViewSouth Africa launches national biodiversity biobank

Coordinating mechanism aims to bring order and improved research access to collections dating back centuries

ViewAfrica news roundup: 3-9 March

This week: a biosafety appointment, a search for academy members and a digital partnership

ViewStellenbosch wins R40m grant to fight HIV in rural areas

Project will use South Africa’s HIV surveillance programme to study shifting epidemic

ViewStudy highlights pandemic plight of SA’s women academics

Research speaks of chaos and burnout as lines blurred between work and home during lockdown

ViewRamaphosa names engineer as electricity minister

Former Tshwane mayor Kgosientsho Ramokgopa appointed minister for resolving South Africa’s ongoing energy crisis

View‘Marrying up’ in academia entrenches unequal partnerships

Desire to partner with top universities undermines south-south collaboration, conference hears

ViewStrong emotions as UCT confirms Mamokgethi Phakeng’s exit

Controversial vice-chancellor departs South African university after torrid final six months

ViewAfrica news roundup: 24 February to 2 March

This week: a cholera outbreak, a Malawi Wellcome appointment and a genomics gift from China

ViewClimate crisis ‘largely responsible’ for UCT fire, study finds

Weather that caused 2021 inferno at top South African university “very likely” to happen again

ViewSurvey finds most universities unprepared for loadshedding

South African universities face annual energy management reports and energy audits

ViewBlueprint for African genomics ‘moonshot’ unveiled

“Bold proposal” for $80m-per-year programme now squares up to challenge of finding funding

ViewMilitarised campuses should be avoided at all costs, say MPs

South Africa’s university safety crisis must not lead to an unhealthy learning environment, meeting hears

ViewSFA Foundation plans pandemic funding call

Grant management body’s programme will focus on early warning surveillance, vaccine R&D and public health

ViewAfrica news roundup: 17-23 February

This week: Stem teachers, routine vaccinations, open science and award nominations

ViewPrivacy watchdog raises concerns over Covid tracking data

Response from South Africa’s health department says sensitive data have been deleted and blames “miscommunication”

ViewNew research links with Russia ‘impossible’, says Stellenbosch

South African university’s comments follow vice-chancellor’s controversial meeting with Russian consul general

ViewSouth Africa extends R&D tax credits for 10 years

Finance minister Enoch Godongwana hopes reformed scheme will boost uptake

View‘Don’t fight it’: South African academics weigh in on ChatGPT

Change is inevitable but artificial intelligence can be used creatively, webinar hears

ViewAU summit appoints new director for Africa CDC

Congolese doctor Jean Kaseya chosen to steer continental disease control agency

ViewAfrica news roundup: 10-16 February

This week: Marburg vaccines, African penguins, a French Legion knight and Pretoria climate studies

ViewUCT appoints panel to investigate governance crisis

Panel is being chaired by judge Lex Mpati, chancellor of Rhodes University

ViewSouth Africa to explore points-based skills visas

Streamlined immigration rules could mean less red tape for foreign researchers

ViewSouth African fossil fuel giant invests in ‘green’ energy

Sasol funds four research chairs and six fellowships with National Research Foundation

ViewAids society to rotate conference regions from 2024

Africa’s turn will come in 2025 as global gatherings aim to improve access and equity

ViewCommonwealth survey highlights research funding disparities

Geographic location and economic status linked with access to funding and support

View‘Unclear’ how state of disaster will solve South Africa’s energy crisis

Researchers question move that grants government extraordinary powers

ViewSouth Africa’s tech startup performance plummets

Entrepreneurs urge government to take action as Africa’s former “wonder child” loses its lead

View‘Skilled workforce needed’ to meet vaccine manufacturing goal

Workshop considers how Africa can increase production of its own vaccines to 60 per cent