insight Jozi News

   African Leaders Created the Crisis They Now Condemn By Noko Maleka | InsightJoziNews.org Every time xenophobic violence erupts in South Africa, the script never changes. African leaders rush to microphones. They condemn South Africans. They demand action. They speak of African unity, dignity and brotherhood as though they have spent decades protecting their own citizens. But where was this passion when their people were starving at home? Where was this outrage when corruption hollowed out their economies, when unemployment reached devastating levels, when political instability forced families to flee, and when millions lost hope in the very countries they called home? It is easy to condemn South Africa. It is far more difficult to confront the failures that forced your own citizens to leave. Let me be clear: there is no justification for violence, intimidation or humiliating anyone because they are foreign nationals. Every person deserves to be treated with dignity, ...

By Noko Maleka Johannesburg | 19 July 2026 Three years ago, I wrote an opinion article arguing that South Africa's economic system had become one that systematically deprived black-owned small businesses of opportunities to grow. Sadly, as I write this in 2026, my sentiments remain largely unchanged. The names of governments, ministers and political leaders may change, but for many entrepreneurs in Johannesburg's inner city, the daily struggle remains painfully familiar. Access to finance is limited, procurement processes are often viewed as inaccessible, red tape continues to frustrate innovation, and many promising businesses close their doors before they are given a fair chance to compete. As South Africa prepares for the 2026 Local Government Elections, voters are once again presented with an opportunity to decide who will govern our municipalities. These elections will be the first municipal elections held since the formation of the Government of Na...