Quotes

‘When dictators die, I shed no tears. Especially those who murdered tens of thousands, and ruined their countries with disastrous policies. Even if they were the ‘liberators’ from another extractive regime, they are guilty of much, and can claim little respect.'

– DA MP Ghaleb Cachalia on Robert Mugabe
 

In a better world he could have been Zimbabwe’s Nelson Mandela. He had intelligence and a shrewd political instinct.

– The Independent in an editorial on Robert Mugabe's death

 

'Not you too, Chester!'

– President Cyril Ramaphosa on the death of rugby legend Chester Williams

 

'This is a victory for the Burkinabe people, a victory for democracy and the rule of law. Only the people, by their legitimacy, confer power.' 

– Lawyer Prosper Farama after a military court in Burkina Faso jailed two generals for masterminding a short-lived coup in 2015 against the interim government that took over after the removal of former President Blaise Compaoré. 

 

'The news of attacks on foreigners in SA will spread along migrant routes even before it appears on news sites. Every time a Zimbabwean is assaulted in central Johannesburg or a Somali-owned shop is looted in Tembisa, the shock reverberates across borders – through WhatsApp groups and social media and long-distance phone calls – and leaves scars that may never disappear. Not too long ago, SA was beloved by the rest of Africa. Now we are reviled – and we have only ourselves to blame.'

–  Analyst Simon Allison reflecting on how the Mandela miracle has faded across the continent

 

‘Our anger is misdirected at wrong people. Like all of us, our African brothers and sisters are selling their cheap labour for survival. The owners of our wealth is white monopoly capital; they are refusing to share it with us and the ruling party ANC protects them.’

– EFF leader Julius Malema

 

‘My body is not your crime scene.'

– A poster at a rally against gender-based violence in Cape Town last week.