Litnet

Under the theme "Local Government Elections 2026 – Chances & Challenges for Municipalities to Fulfil their Constitutional Mandate" the event will explore key institutional, administrative and political dimensions of local governance ahead of the 2026 local elections.

"The main point is that it is exactly the sort of potential crisis that may explode, as the impression gains ground that the rules-based system under the UN and other bodies is impotent and toothless."

"Here we are, thirty-two years into our so-called non-racial, non-sexist democracy premised on human rights that are enshrined in our Constitution, and we have the minister responsible for arts and culture essentially banning an artist from participating in the Venice Biennial, because in his view, her work does not contribute to social cohesion in the country."

"Can AI imitate God? What is lost when one seeks guidance from a machine?" This video overview of an accredited LitNet Akademies (Godsdienswetenskappe) article by Anné Verhoef is generated by AI.

Are you a parent looking for videos, infographics and slides of educational materials to send to your school-aged child? AI quickly summarises and packages LitNet text material in various formats. | Is jy ’n ouer op soek na video’s, infografika en skyfies van verrykingsmateriaal wat jy aan jou skoolgaande kind kan aanstuur? KI kan LitNet-teksmateriaal opsom en blitsig in verskeie formate verpak.

AI quickly summarises and packages LitNet text material in various formats, such as podcasts, videos and infographics. | KI kan LitNet-teksmateriaal opsom en blitsig in verskeie formate (soos podsendinggesprekke, video’s en infografika) verpak.

"At the outset, I must make note, on the subject of identity, that I believe that we as human beings are wired to collect identities (plural) and discard identities, from the day we are born to the day we die, and these go way beyond notions of race, ethnicity, colour and nation."

Listen to a concise overview of Afrikaans content presented in the form of a podcast-style discussion by (American) AI hosts. | Luister na ’n baie kort oorsig van Afrikaanse inhoud in die vorm van ’n podsendinggesprek deur Amerikaanse KI-aanbieders. 

"The 22nd of November 2025 is a very special day. It is the 85th anniversary of the Holodomor."

"South Africa can learn from other countries and cities. Megacities as diverse as Bangkok, Beijing, Buenos Aires, Cairo, Dhaka, Jakarta, Calcutta, Lagos, London, Manila, Mexico City, New Delhi and Shanghai already use groundwater to varying degrees for water supply."

"These issues are not unique to Johannesburg, Cape Town and the other big cities (metros), but are very relevant in all municipalities."

"China’s Global Security Initiative (GSI) is designed to enhance China’s geostrategic position through coalition-building with partners that align with Chinese principles regarding international security and domestic law enforcement. Introduced by President Xi Jinping in 2022, the GSI represents one among several initiatives intended to reshape global governance structures in a manner favourable to China’s resurgence as a major power."

"All I saw was this one word: Rejected. My eyes blurred, and I couldn’t even read further to see why."

"I approach this space through the work of counter-narration, driven by my interest in critical heritage and its possibilities for restitutional justice and reparations. For me, the most meaningful form of reparation is truth-telling."

"The outcome of all this was going to have far-reaching consequences, which would shape the basis of international dispute resolution for the next 170 years – indeed to our own day. The CSS Alabama’s rise to posthumous fame was just beginning."

"The DA’s frustrations with the ANC are understandable; so are the Western Cape’s citizens’ grievances with crime and governance. But the remedy cannot be the slow dismantling of the very republic that holds us together."

"Africa is not merely a matter of geography. It is a wound still healing, a question still posed, a promise yet unfulfilled. For those of us who believe in her future, that work of memory and of resistance remains unfinished."

"Significant reform and skills improvement are needed if more deterioration in service delivery and public trust is to be avoided, but the political obstacles to municipal reform are significant. Many municipalities experience regular turnovers of mayors and senior officials, often due to party infighting, especially within coalitions."

"African democracy advocates, civil society and media professionals generally do not share their governments’ enthusiasm for Chinese security engagements, citing the widespread abuse of Chinese policing and mass surveillance systems. China is also frequently criticised for its regime-centric strategy, which many African observers believe entrenches authoritarian practices. African civil societies play a crucial role in scrutinising these security relationships to ensure they advance citizen interests."

"This is not the time for panic. It is the time for calm, for resolve, and for clarity. Let us remember who we are: a people who have faced down tyranny before."