Southern Africa·COLUMNIST

Southern Africa Desk

South Africa and the region: miningenergy, elections, and regional power.

Dispatches & Briefings Filed (2)

Analysis · Southern Africa6 min read

Botswana doubles down on De Beers—without the control Boko once promised

President Duma Boko says Botswana will lift its De Beers stake to 30% under a consortium buyout of Anglo American’s 85%, becoming the largest shareholder. But the figure is still being negotiated, the price reflects a shrunken company, and producer states are taking on more of the risk.

Gaborone·10 Nov 2026·By Southern Africa Desk

Analysis · Southern Africa5 min read

ANC falls to about 31% in local polls as hung councils double and Ramaphosa's future is debated

South Africa's governing party has recorded its weakest result in any election since 1994, losing ground in every metro and leaving more than 120 councils without a majority. The real contest now moves to coalition rooms, and to an ANC leadership that is openly arguing over who should pay for the defeat.

Johannesburg·8 Nov 2026·By Southern Africa Desk