Michael Andisile Mayalo

iol opinion writer

Why naming gender-based violence a national disaster is just the beginning

Michael Andisile Mayalo|Published

South Africa has declared gender-based violence a national disaster, but will this declaration lead to real change? This article explores the urgent need for enforcement, ...

Trump's rhetoric and its impact on South Africa's international relations

Michael Andisile Mayalo|Published

President Donald Trump's recent statements about South Africa signal a troubling shift in diplomatic relations, revealing deeper geopolitical motives and the potential ...

How belief, not money, powered Zohran Mamdani's campaign

Michael Andisile Mayalo|Published

Mamdani campaign became a movement powered not by money but by belief.

When the DA acts like opposition in a government they’re part of

Michael Andisile Mayalo|Published

The DA’s behaviour lately feels less like governance and more like political theatre, a performance for their base, rather than a commitment to collective leadership. ...

What the G20 really means for young South Africans

Michael Andisile Mayalo|Published

G20 gives Africa, a continent with the youngest population on Earth, a voice in conversations about global finance, trade, and development. But the key question ...

Why does service delivery only matter during global events?

Michael Andisile Mayalo|Published

When the dignitaries leave and the cameras are turned off, communities often return to the same conditions as before — broken systems, unfulfilled promises, and ...

Renewal without accountability: ANC’s paradox of self-correction

Michael Andisile Mayalo|Published

ANC's new buzzword is 'renewal'. But where is the accountability.

The PA’s Johannesburg power play: a stunt or a statement?

Michael Andisile Mayalo|Published

A party that can be publicly strong-armed into appointments is one that is rapidly losing its grip.

The GNU is a power game – not a people's project

Michael Andisile Mayalo|Published

The GNU, in its current form, undermines that trust.

Betrayal of the Rainbow Nation: freedom for a few, struggle for the many

Michael Andisile Mayalo|Published

From the promise of a 'Rainbow Nation' to the harsh realities of inequality, this article explores the ongoing struggles faced by South Africans, particularly those ...

What comes after the ANC? A cautionary perspective on South Africa's future

Michael Andisile Mayalo|Published

As South Africa faces a potential political shift away from the ANC, the implications of such a change raise critical questions.

The shift from revolutionaries to gatekeepers: a call for new leadership

Michael Andisile Mayalo|Published

Exploring the disillusionment of a generation with the leaders who once fought for justice, this article calls for a new vision of leadership that embraces change ...

The hollowing of leadership in South Africa

Michael Andisile Mayalo|Published

This obsession with image and materialism is not harmless. It erodes public trust and sends a dangerous message to young South Africans: that leadership is not about ...

South Africa Needs Action, Not Another Commission of Inquiry

Michael Andisile Mayalo|Published

The latest commission of inquiry into political corruption is merely a distraction from the urgent need for real action and accountability

Young people must get involved in politics to transform lives, not to escape poverty

Michael Andisile Mayalo|Published

Politics should never be reduced to a shortcut to personal enrichment. It should be viewed as a powerful platform to uplift communities, restore dignity, and build ...

Why South Africans are losing trust in their security forces

Michael Andisile Mayalo|Published

"South Africans are increasingly disillusioned with their security forces, feeling abandoned by a system that fails to protect them from crime and corruption. What ...

Why the DA's continued participation in the GNU undermines voter trust and market stability

Michael Andisile Mayalo|Published

The DA's decision to remain in the Government of National Unity raises questions about its commitment to accountability and market stability.

Youth Month 2025: The Reversal of Democratic Gains in South Africa

Michael Andisile Mayalo|Published

South Africa's youth unemployment rate has surged to 46. 1%, raising urgent questions about the future of democracy and opportunity in the nation. What does this ...

Unlocking Economic Growth: The Role of SMEs in China-Africa Trade Ties

Michael Andisile Mayalo|Published

Discover how a recent seminar by China's Ministry of Commerce is set to reshape economic cooperation between China and Africa, focusing on the crucial role of Small ...

The erosion of labour rights in South Africa

Michael Andisile Mayalo|Published

Workers' Day 2025 rings hollow under South Africa's Government of National Unity, as the celebration of workers' rights becomes a mere PR exercise. What does this ...

VAT Reversal: Is the DA Leading South Africa's Government of National Unity?

Michael Andisile Mayalo|Published

Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana's sudden VAT reversal raises questions about leadership within South Africa's Government of National Unity. Is the DA pulling the ...

South African MPs' Israel trip sparks controversy: Implications for national sovereignty

Michael Andisile Mayalo|Published

South African MPs from the DA and PA visit Israel amidst rising tensions over Gaza, raising critical questions about national sovereignty and foreign policy. This ...

The urgent need for child safety in South Africa: lessons from Cwecwe's story

Michael Andisile Mayalo|Published

We owe it to Cwecwe and the innumerable other victims of violence to ...

Ubuntu and South Africa's future: A national identity at risk

Michael Andisile Mayalo|Published

Ubuntu, the cornerstone of South Africa's identity, faces unprecedented challenges in a world marked by inequality and individualism. Can this powerful philosophy ...

Transforming job applications: the impact of digitising the Z83 form on young South Africans

Michael Andisile Mayalo|Published

Amid soaring youth unemployment, the South African government’s initiative to digitise the Z83 form represents a crucial step towards a more inclusive job market, ...