‘This variant has been r

‘Omicron is not a South African variant. It's a variant that was spotted and reported by brilliant South African scientists so fast the world has a chance to get on top of it. Could have originated anywhere.’

– Analyst Piers Morgan

‘In a democracy set-up, this is shameful. We got permission to demonstrate and this is uncalled for.’

– Former Malawian lawmaker Bon Kalindo after protesters were teargassed midway through a march to the council offices in the capital Lilongwe to present a petition

‘The quality of entries in the Vodacom Journalist of the Year has shown once again that the industry is strong and up to the challenges presented by world events and, more importantly, by events in South Africa… The journalists have, through their determination and resilience, once again made us proud to be South African.’

– Vodacom Journalist of the Year judging panel convener Ryland Fisher, applauding all journalists for the resilience in reporting throughout a pandemic and keeping the standard of journalism high

‘The art world can be a better place if every possessor of cultural artefacts considers the rights and feelings of the dispossessed.’

– Abba Isa Tijani, director-general of the National Commission for Museums and Monuments of Nigeria after New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art has returned three works of art to Nigeria that were looted in the 19th century

‘The conclusions reveal an insidious epidemic of sexism in Parliaments in Africa.

– IPU President Duarte Pacheco on a study that reveals that on average eight of every 10 women parliamentarians interviewed has experienced psychological violence in their legislature. Released ahead of this year's 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence campaign, the study was carried out by the African Parliamentary Union and the Inter-Parliamentary Union, a global organisation of national Parliaments.

‘We expressed our conviction that there is scope for dialogue among the warring parties in Ethiopia and that there is an urgent need for all parties to the conflict to commit to an immediate indefinite, negotiated ceasefire, and an all-inclusive political dialogue.’

– SA President Cyril Ramaphosa after meeting his Kenyan counterpart Uhuru Kenyatta