Nouriel Roubini, the economist who famously predicted the financial crisis, said he is sticking to his view that the global economy is on course for the ‘perfect storm’ next year. At the same time, senior economist, Johann Els, at Old Mutual Investment Group South Africa (Omigsa), last week, warned that the best the world can hope for over the next few years is slow growth and that nothing more goes horribly wrong. 

The birthday of Nelson Mandela was celebrated last week, not only in South Africa, but also world-wide. Probably the word most associated with this international icon of peace and goodwill is 'reconciliation'. But with much of the present-day rhetoric and actions in this country it is not easy for most people to reconcile themselves with the process of reconciliation. 

A challenging start to her term awaited the first woman and first South African chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission after her election. South African Home Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma will have to move quickly to mend fences following a bruising election battle with her predecessor, Jean Ping of Gabon. At the same time developments on the continent, such as the conflict in northern Mali, require immediate attention.

Many countries across the globe, including South Africa, are ill-prepared to deal with the growing phenomenon of forced migration and refugees. “There is increasing recognition that existing legal categories of crisis-affected persons – such as refugees or internally displaced persons – may not fully capture the varied conditions of people in crisis situations, the many avenues used by persons to escape such situations, and the changing nature of circumstances over time,” according to Forced Migration Review (FMR). 

With increasing urbanisation and growing demand for food there is a need for advanced, more sustainable and efficient agriculture production. In order to reach these goals, technology and investment are required. Land acquisition with large-scale farming is one way. There are, however, important challenges for both “recipient” and  “investment” countries, according to  a recent research paper by Consultancy Africa Intelligence. 

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), used in drone warfare, have over the last three years, become the weapon of choice for the Obama Administration in the global war against terror. Unlike traditional pilots, who physically fly into the combat zone, drone operators, or pilots, as they prefer to be called, kill at the touch of a button. 

South Africa will boast a Super Rugby finalist for the fourth time in six seasons after the Sharks produced one of the finest away wins in the Vodacom Super Rugby season, thanks to their powerhouse pack and their accomplished backs against the Reds in Brisbane. Either the Sharks or the Stormers will now play in the final depending on the outcome of their semi-final encounter this coming Saturday at Newlands in Cape Town. 

The Olympic torch arrived in London by Royal helicopter in the past week to spend the night in one of the city’s most secure locations, the London Tower. The question is, who will carry South Africa’s Olympic flame when the Games start on Friday? Will it be a repeat of the Beijing shame, with only one South African making a podium appearance or will the South Africans fulfill Gideon Sam's prophecy of winning twelve medals at the 2012 Games? 

Thousands of South Africans celebrated the superb performance by Hashim Amla, the South African cricket team and Ernie Els, over the past couple of days. The Proteas are on the verge of becoming the number one team in the world and Els resurrected his golfing career in style by winning the British Open a second time on Sunday.