Dr Bhaso Ndzendze Gift Sonkqayi NOTE FROM THE EDITOR T H E T H I N K E R CONTRIBUTORS TO THIS EDITION The University of Johannesburg acquired The Thinker in April 2019 f rom Dr Essop Pahad. Over the last decade, The Thinker has gained a reputation as a journal that explores Pan-Af rican issues across fields and times. Ronit Frenkel, as the incoming editor, plans on maintaining the pan-Af rican scope of the journal while increasing its coverage into fields such as books, art, literature and popular cultures. The Thinker is a ‘hybrid’ journal, publishing both journalistic pieces with more academic articles and contributors can now opt to have their submissions peer reviewed. We welcome Af rica-centred articles f rom diverse perspectives, in order to enrich both knowledge of the continent and of issues impacting the continent. Gift Sonkqayi holds a Master’s degree in Education f rom Wits University. His research interests include Af rican philosophy of education (i.e. indigenous knowledge systems), sustainable development, race, culture, identity, and class conflicts in education among others. His opinion and analysis have appeared on Mail and Guardian and the Sunday Independent among others. Bhaso Ndzendze is a senior lecturer  and head of department at the University of Johannesburg Department of Politics and International Relations. He is also a digital policy fellow at the Berlin- based Af rica Policy Research Institute. His most recent publications include AI and Emerging Technologies in International Relations  by the World Scientific Press and The BRICS Order: Assertive or Complementing the West?  Published by Palgrave Macmillan. His opinion on technology and policy has appeared in  Daily Maverick, The Independent and the Mail & Guardian. He holds a PhD in international relations f rom Wits University and has completed certificates on artificial intelligence and blockchain technology at MIT. - All contributing analysts write in their personal capacity Prof Ronit Frenkel Candice Chirwa Candice Chirwa holds a master’s degree in International Relations with her research having focused on menstrual health management and gender studies at the University of Witwatersrand. Candice has worked for the United Nations Population Fund as a Junior Consultant. Candice is the Founder and Director of an NGO called QRATE that focuses on creating publications for young children on social issues. Candice has been on several media platforms as a gender activist and commentator. In addition to academics and social activism - Candice serves her community as a Dramatic Arts Mentor and Coach. Her books include Perils of Patriarchy (2019) and Flow: the Book of Menstruation (2021). Miguel Dos Santos Miguel Dos Santos is a master’s candidate in Politics and International Relations at the University of Johannesburg with research interests in borders and resource based conflicts. Nadine Hakizimana Nadine Hakizimana completed her master’s degree in International Relations at the University of the Witwatersrand. Her research areas include gender, migration and comparative intellectual property protection in Af rica vis-à-vis the rest of the world. She is currently a Program Off icer at the World Intellectual Property Organization. Marcus Hollington Marcus Hollington is an International Relations master’s graduate f rom the University of the Witwatersrand, independent researcher and consultant. He has worked for numerous domestic and international f irms with interests in Af rica as well as non-governmental organizations of note. His main areas of expertise are international trade with a bias towards macroeconomic analysis and eco-environmentally f riendly energies in South Af rica’s logistics sector among others. He has published numerous articles within the aforementioned areas. Zimkhitha Manyana Zimkhitha Manyana is a professional Writing Consultant at the University of Johannesburg. He is also a f reelance monitor for the Parliamentary Monitoring Group (PMG). Manyana is an Oppenheimer Trust Fund holder towards his Master’s degree in Political Science obtained in 2021. He is currently pursuing a PhD in Politics with the University of Johannesburg focused on problematising the theory and practice of democracy in Af rica. Lesogo Masenya Lesego Masenya is an Economics PhD candidate at the University of the Witwatersrand. Her areas of research include employment, economic development across urban and rural settings in South Af rica. She has previously worked as an Economist for Eskom and Postgraduate Researcher at Acacia Economics. Candice Chirwa Candice Chirwa holds a master’s degree in International Relations with her research having focused on menstrual health management and gender studies at the University of Witwatersrand. Candice has worked for the United Nations Population Fund as a Junior Consultant. Candice is the Founder and Director of an NGO called QRATE that focuses on creating publications for young children on social issues. Candice has been on several media platforms as a gender activist and commentator. In addition to academics and social activism - Candice serves her community as a Dramatic Arts Mentor and Coach. Her books include Perils of Patriarchy (2019) and Flow: the Book of Menstruation (2021). Miguel Dos Santos Miguel Dos Santos is a master’s candidate in Politics and International Relations at the University of Johannesburg with research interests in borders and resource based conflicts. Nadine Hakizimana Nadine Hakizimana completed her master’s degree in International Relations at the University of the V o l u m e 8 8 / 2 0 2 1 CONTRIBUTORS TO THIS EDITION Witwatersrand. Her research areas include gender, migration and comparative intellectual property protection in Af rica vis-à-vis the rest of the world. She is currently a Program Officer at the World Intellectual Property Organization. Marcus Hollington Marcus Hollington is an International Relations master’s graduate f rom the University of the Witwatersrand, independent researcher and consultant. He has worked for numerous domestic and international firms with interests in Af rica as well as non-governmental organizations of note. His main areas of expertise are international trade with a bias towards macroeconomic analysis and eco- environmentally f riendly energies in South Af rica’s logistics sector among others. He has published numerous articles within the aforementioned areas. Zimkhitha Manyana Zimkhitha Manyana is a professional Writing Consultant at the University of Johannesburg. He is also a f reelance monitor for the Parliamentary Monitoring Group (PMG). Manyana is an Oppenheimer Trust Fund holder towards his Master’s degree in Political Science obtained in 2021. He is currently pursuing a PhD in Politics with the University of Johannesburg focused on problematising the theory and practice of democracy in Af rica. Lesogo Masenya Lesego Masenya is an Economics PhD candidate at the University of the Witwatersrand. Her areas of research include employment, economic development across urban and rural settings in South Af rica. She has previously worked as an Economist for Eskom and Postgraduate Researcher at Acacia Economics. Emmanuel Matambo Emmanuel Matambo holds a PhD in Political Science at the University of KwaZulu-Natal with a focus on the theory of constructivism. He is currently the Research Director at the Centre for Af rica-China Studies at the University of Johannesburg. He has published in numerous journals, book chapters as well as co- edited a volume on identity and xenophobia in contemporary Af rica. Charles Matseke Charles Matseke studied his Master’s in International Relations and Foreign Policy at the SARChI: Chair for Af rican Diplomacy and Foreign Policy at the University of Johannesburg and is a PhD candidate at the China Central Normal University. He is currently Program Manager for Af rica-China in International Forums. His main areas of focus are developmental policy and developmental foreign policy. He has published on these areas in various platforms. Anelisa Mzungulu Anelisa Mzungulu is an independent economist, with a Bachelor of Economics (Honours) f rom the University of the Witwatersrand. His research interests include development economics and the causes of prosperity in late developer states. V o l u m e 8 8 / 2 0 2 1 CONTRIBUTORS TO THIS EDITION The Journal for Progressive Thought www.thethinker.co.za Publisher English Department University of Johannesburg Kingsway Campus, Auckland Park, Johannesburg Tel:+27 11 559 2553 Editor Prof Ronit Frenkel thethinker@uj.ac.za Design & Art Direction On The Loose matt@ontheloose.co.za Tel:+27 83 302 8969 www.ontheloose.co.za Advisory Council Dr Ademola Araoye (Nigeria), Professor Puleng Lenka Bula (South Africa), Dr Faisal Devji (Tanzania), Professor Chris Landsberg (South Africa), Professor Tshilidzi Marwala (South Af rica), Professor Sabelo J Ndlovu-Gatsheni (Zimbabwe), Dr Morley Nkosi (South Africa), Dr Francis Onditi (Kenya) Professor Eghosa E Osaghae (Nigeria), Dr Mzulcisi Qobo (South Af rica), Dr Garth le Pere (South Africa), Professor Alioune Sall (Senegal), Addai Sebo (Ghana), Dr Mongane Serote (South Af rica), Professor Mammo Muchie (Ethiopia). Material in this publication may not be reproduced in any form without proper citation. Views and opinions expressed in The Thinker are not necessarily those of University of Johannesburg. They can accept no liability of whatsoever nature arising out of or in connection with the contents of the publication. © 2020 University of Johannesburg www.thethinker.co.za T H E T H I N K E R thethinker@uj.ac.za CONTRIBUTORS TO THIS EDITION Guest Editor - Dr Bhaso Ndzendze Guest Editor Gift Sonkqayi