What's behind violence in South Africa: a sociologist's perspective

Jan 18, 2020 11:49 am UTC| Insights & Views Life

The 2018 Global Peace Index listed South Africa as one of the most violent and dangerous places on earth, and getting worse. South Africa has a long history of violence. It was used as a tool of power and governance by...

Apple's share price has doubled, but there is a crunch coming – investors should watch out

Jan 18, 2020 11:46 am UTC| Insights & Views Business

Apple shareholders must be extremely happy with the companys performance in the past 12 months. The stock price is up 111% since the end of 2018, not to mention the US$3 (2.31) per share that the company has paid in...

We need to modernize how we measure national wealth

Jan 18, 2020 11:45 am UTC| Insights & Views Economy

I recently tried an experiment. I changed several light bulbs, and since one required a little rewiring, I sent my wife (also known as the majority shareholder) a bill for $110.50 (plus GST). In return, she sent me a bill...

Don't die wondering: apps may soon be able to predict your life expectancy, but do you want to know?

Jan 18, 2020 11:44 am UTC| Insights & Views Technology

When will I die? This question has endured across cultures and civilisations. It has given rise to a plethora of religions and spiritual paths over thousands of years, and more recently, some highly amusing apps. But...

The devil is in the detail when it comes to responsible investing

Jan 18, 2020 11:43 am UTC| Insights & Views Investing

With the recent flood of pledges by investors to turn up the heat on climate action, one might think that the investment industry was in the midst of a profound shift. If only that were the case. Officially, the...

Financial trading bots have fascinating similarities to people – we need to learn from them

Jan 18, 2020 11:43 am UTC| Insights & Views Technology

In 2019, the world fretted that algorithms now know us better than we know ourselves. No concept captures this better than surveillance capitalism, a term coined by American writer Shoshana Zuboff to describe a bleak new...

Finding answers to what makes -- or breaks -- South Africa's young cricketers

Jan 18, 2020 11:41 am UTC| Insights & Views Sports

Most of South Africas top players, such as the champion batsman and former national captain AB de Villiers, come from privileged, or relatively privileged, white backgrounds. So what environmental factors have enabled...