Over 300 babies born across Gauteng public health facilities
Over 300 babies were born across Gauteng public health facilities on New Year’s Day.
Over 396 babies were born to mothers across the province on 1 January 2025. A total of 198 males and 198 females were born at public institutions.
Gauteng MEC for Health and Wellness, Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko, joined postpartum mothers in welcoming their newly born bundles of joy at the Leratong Hospital in the West Rand on Thursday.
The MEC handed over gift hampers for their babies. Across the province’s four academic hospitals, (Steve Biko, Dr George Mukhari, Chris Hani Baragwanath and Charlotte Maxeke), 79 babies were born, said the provincial Health Department on Friday.
The Tembisa and Kalafong tertiary hospitals saw the births of 42. Across regional and district hospitals including the Jubilee, Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital, 204 babies were born.
At community healthcare centres (CHCs), which include the Hillbrow CHC, Mofolo CHC and the Laudium CHC, 71 babies were born.
On Christmas Day, MEC Nkomo-Ralehoko welcomed babies born at Thelle Mogoerane Regional Hospital where she presented mothers with gift hampers.
On Christmas Day, the public health facilities in the province saw the births of 428 babies (206 males and 222 females). – SAnews.gov.za
Gauteng law enforcement arrests 1 160 on New Year’s eve
Gauteng police, working together with other law enforcement agencies, on New Year’s Eve arrested more than 1 160 people for various criminal offences, with about 900 of them being wanted suspects for serious and violent crimes.
The arrests were made during operations that were conducted in all the five districts – Johannesburg, Ekurhuleni, Tshwane, Sedibeng and West Rand.
“The integrated multidisciplinary operations resulted in over 1 160 people being arrested, including illegal immigrants and for crimes such as possession of unlicensed firearms, drunk driving, dealing in drugs, and possession of suspected stolen property, amongst others.
“The detectives arrested approximately 900 of the suspects during the overnight tracing of wanted suspects for serious and violent crimes,” the South African Police Service (SAPS) said on Thursday.
Inspections were also conducted at liquor outlets to ensure compliance with the Gauteng Liquor Act, as liquor is one of the influences behind contact crimes like murder, rape and assault.
“More boots were on the ground, as the police applied a zero tolerance approach to liquor outlets that do not comply with the law and this resulted in the closure of nine liquor outlets for non-compliance. Several seizures were also made during the operations varying from dangerous weapons, drugs, liquor, firearms and ammunition.
“The operation also saw a peaceful and jubilant crossover celebration in Hillbrow, which is infamous for recklessness and lawlessness during New Years’ eve celebrations,” SAPS said.
All the arrested suspects are expected to appear before various Magistrate’s Court from Friday, 2 January. – SAnews.gov.za
USD 20 million medium-term Islamic finance facility to expand non-woven fabrics production capacity through advanced Spunlace equipment.
API is Jordan’s leading non-woven fabrics manufacturer, producing essential materials for personal hygiene products, healthcare PPE including gowns and face masks, and agricultural applications.
The expansion aims to create substantial employment opportunities, strengthening Jordan’s industrial competitiveness and economic diversification.
Supports UN SDGs including Decent Work and Economic Growth, Industry and Innovation, and Partnerships for the Goals.
The Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD) (www.ICD-ps.org), the private sector arm of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group, has recently extended USD 20 million medium-term Islamic finance facility to Applied Plastic Industries Company (API), the leading manufacturer of non-woven fabrics in Jordan. The facility will finance capital expenditure for advanced Spunlace equipment, enabling API to establish a new production line and expand its manufacturing capacity.
The financing will enable API to acquire cutting-edge Spunlace technology, enhancing production efficiency and product diversification. This investment supports Jordan’s manufacturing sector modernization while contributing to the country’s broader economic development objectives through sustainable industrial growth.
Commenting on the financing, Dr. Khalid Khalafalla, Acting Chief Executive Officer of ICD, stated: “This financing facility exemplifies ICD’s strategic commitment to advancing industrial development across our member countries. By partnering with Applied Plastic Industries, we are making a targeted investment in Jordan’s manufacturing value chain that aligns with the nation’s economic diversification objectives. This transaction demonstrates the powerful role of Shariah-compliant finance as a catalyst for private sector expansion, job creation, and inclusive economic development. The expansion of API’s production capacity will strengthen Jordan’s competitive position in regional non-woven fabrics markets while creating meaningful employment opportunities that directly contribute to sustainable development.”
Mr. Radwan Khattab, General Manager of Applied Plastic Industries Company, said: “We are honored to partner with ICD, a globally respected development finance institution that shares our vision for sustainable industrial growth. This financing facility represents a transformational milestone for API, enabling us to acquire state-of-the-art Spunlace technology that will enhance our production capabilities and product quality. The investment will not only expand our market reach regionally but will also create substantial employment opportunities for Jordanian professionals and skilled workers. We are committed to contributing to Jordan’s economic development agenda and are confident that this partnership with ICD will strengthen our position as a leading manufacturer in the Middle East’s non-woven sector.”
This initiative advances ICD’s mission to foster sustainable economic development in its member countries. By channeling capital into Jordan’s manufacturing sector, the project aims to create substantial employment opportunities, enhance industrial competitiveness, and support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).
The expansion project aligns strategically with Jordan’s national objectives of fostering economic growth, creating quality employment opportunities, and advancing the nation’s vision of becoming a sustainable and competitive regional economy.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD).
For Media Inquiries:
Nabil El-Alami
Communications & Corporate Marketing Division Manager
Email: nalami@isdb.org
Follow ICD on:
X (formerly Twitter) @ icd_ps
LinkedIn @ icdps
Facebook @ icdps
YouTube @ icdps
About Applied Plastic Industries Company (API):
Applied Plastic Industries Company (API), established in 2019, is a prominent manufacturing entity in Jordan and a significant player in the Middle East’s non-woven sector. The company produces non-woven fabrics, calcium carbonate, masterbatch, disposable medical clothing, and non-woven reusable bags, leveraging its 540,000 tons annual capacity operated with state-of-the-art German machinery. Known for consistent growth and profitability, API employs 500 individuals and maintains a strong commitment to ongoing human resource development.
About the Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD):
The Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD) is a multilateral development finance institution and member of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group. Established in November 1999 and headquartered in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, ICD supports economic development in its 56 member countries by providing financial assistance to private sector projects in accordance with Shariah principles.
With an authorized capital of USD 4.0 billion and more than 25 years of operational excellence, ICD complements IsDB’s activities by promoting capital market development, best management practices, and enhancing the role of market economies. ICD holds strong credit ratings of A2 by Moody’s, A+ by Fitch, and A by S&P, reflecting its solid financial standing and commitment to sustainable development.
Traffic officers continue to maintain high visibility
With the festive season holidays drawing to a close, road users are encouraged to act responsibly and remain vigilant as heavy traffic is anticipated on all major routes nationwide this weekend.
Law enforcement officers will maintain high levels of visibility during this period.
“Motorists are advised to plan their trips carefully. They are advised to avoid travelling at night as evidence shows that most deadly crashes happen after sunset and in the early hours of the morning.
“Travel data analysed since the start of the festive season road safety campaign on 01 December shows that 21% of fatal crashes happen between 7pm and 10pm and 6% between midnight and 1am.
“These are the times when most head-on collisions have taken place claiming many lives,” Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) said on Friday.
Drivers are urged to take sufficient breaks to avoid fatigue.
The RTMC said speeding, drunken driving and reckless conduct will not be tolerated.
“Public transport operators are called upon to avoid overloading and to ensure that their permits are valid for the routes they operate on. Public transport operators are further called upon to desist from loading and off-loading passengers at unsafe spots as this increases the risk of pedestrian crashes,” RTMC said.
More than 4 700 public transport vehicles have been impounded for contravention of operator permits, while 12 600 vehicles have been discontinued for roadworthy related infringements.
“Motorists are also advised to check the weather forecast and ensure that they don’t drive through storms and are not crossing over flooded bridges.
“Motorists are reminded to reduce speed when driving in rainy conditions, increase the following distance between vehicles and have their lights on. Speed must also be reduced when driving past residential areas or pedestrian dense locations,” RTMC said. – SAnews.gov.za
The South African Police Service (SAPS) has successfully apprehended a 55-year-old man who is allegedly linked to a string of rapes and robberies spanning over two decades across Welkom, Thabong, and Bloemfontein.
The suspect’s run from the law ended recently after he allegedly attacked a 21-year-old female victim.
“The victim was walking home from town through the Magengenene graveyard when she was attacked and raped. Alert community members responded to the incident, chased the suspect, and successfully handed him over to the Mangaung police,” SAPS said on Thursday.
Preliminary investigations have revealed a “disturbing pattern of deception”.
The suspect reportedly posed as a “prophet” claiming that his ancestors required the victims to perform rituals in the graveyard.
Once at the Magangenene graveyard, he would persuade victims to undress for “cleansing”. He would then cut the victim’s hair and burn it on a nearby grave and proceed to rape the victims. The man would also rob the victims of their cellphones, claiming “witches” would use the devices to track them.
Detective work and DNA profiling have since linked the 55-year-old to seven additional cases of rape and robbery with five of them taking place in Mangaung, while two other cases happened in Welkom.
“The forensic evidence links him to crimes dating back as far as 1999. Records indicate the suspect was out on parole when he allegedly resumed his criminal activities in 2022. The recent graveyard attack marks the eighth case now officially tied to his name.
“The suspect is expected to appear in the Bloemfontein Magistrate Court shortly to face multiple charges of rape and robbery,” SAPS said.
The investigation is being spearheaded by Detective Sergeant Bessie Nthoba of the Mangaung Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit, Cold Case and Serial Rapist Division.
The SAPS believes there may be more victims who have not yet come forward.
Anyone who was victimised in a similar manner is urged to contact Detective Sergeant Nthoba on 082 886 8979, call the Crime Stop Tip-off line on 08600 10111, or report to their nearest police station. – SAnews.gov.za
The City of Cape Town has appealed to residents be more water-wise and minimise non-essential consumption due to excessive water usage over the past few weeks.
The City has set a collective water-wise daily usage target of less than 975 million litres per day (MLD) for the summer season.
This allocation was determined to mitigate the risk associated with below average or unpredictable rainfall during 2026, and to maintain a reliable water supply.
As of Wednesday, 31 December 2025, the average water usage stood at 1 025MLD, with the city’s dam levels at 70.5%.
“Currently, the City’s main supply dams are 19.2% lower than last year at this time and as a city, we have collectively and consistently been using over 1 000 million litres of water daily.
“While there is no immediate reason for concern, all Capetonians, visitors and businesses are encouraged to carefully manage their water use over the coming months,” the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Water and Sanitation, Zahid Badroodien, said.
Badroodien said early and sustained reductions in water use help protect water security, reduce the risk of sudden restrictions, and ensure that sufficient reserves are available should rainfall in 2026 be below average.
“Adjusting water-use habits now across households, businesses and the tourism sector will help build resilience against climate-related shocks and safeguard water supplies,” he said.
The City reminds the public of some key tips to keep water usage down:
Take short, stop-start showers or small baths. The maximum flow rate of new and replaced showerheads may not exceed seven litres.
Wash more with less, for laundry and dishes. Only wash clothes and dishes (pots, cups etc) when really needed. Washing and spot-cleaning can use less water.
Turn off taps and hoses when not using the water.
Only water gardens before 09:00 or after 18:00 to avoid evaporation losses.
Keep summer fun water-wise. Use water mindfully for children’s play and cooling. Use a wet cloth to cool down hot skin and avoid wasteful spraying of water. – SAnews.gov.za
APO Group (www.APO-opa.com) is hiring an Executive Assistant to the Founder and Chairman (fully remote).
APO Group is seeking a highly organised, discreet, and exceptionally reliable Executive Assistant to support its Founder and Chairman (www.Pompigne-Mognard.com). This is a position of absolute trust, requiring sound judgement, maturity, and the ability to operate seamlessly across both professional and personal matters.
The role is fully remote, but demands very high availability, flexibility, and a strong commitment beyond standard working hours, reflecting the Founder’s international schedule and responsibilities.
Key Responsibilities
Managing the Founder’s calendar, priorities, and scheduling with absolute discretion
Coordinating meetings, calls, and travel across multiple countries and time zones
Acting as a trusted point of coordination between the Founder and internal and external stakeholders
Preparing briefs, documents, correspondence, and follow-up notes
Ensuring continuity, organisation, and execution across ongoing priorities
Handling selected personal and family-related matters with sensitivity, confidentiality, and efficiency
Managing sensitive information with the highest level of discretion
Working Conditions & Availability
This role requires:
Significant availability, including evenings, weekends, and short-notice requests when necessary
Comfort operating in a high-pressure, fast-moving environment
A mindset oriented towards ownership, responsiveness, and reliability
This position is best suited to someone who views availability and discretion as core aspects of the role, not exceptions.
Profile Sought
Proven experience as an Executive Assistant or in a comparable senior support role
Exceptional organisational, communication, and prioritisation skills
High level of autonomy, accountability, and sound judgement
Strong attention to detail and anticipation of needs
Comfortable working remotely and independently
Fluent English required; additional languages are an asset
Compensation & Status
EUR 3,000 gross per month (approximately £2,600)
Paid directly by the company
Please note:
The selected candidate will be required to register as a freelancer (self-employed) or under an equivalent independent status in her country of residence and will be responsible for managing her own local taxes and social contributions.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of APO Group Jobs.
About APO Group:
Founded in 2007, APO Group is the leading pan-African communications consultancy and press release distribution service. The company specialises in elevating the reputation of organisations across Africa by combining deep-rooted African expertise with a global perspective.
Recognised for excellence and innovation, APO Group works with a prestigious portfolio of clients including Emirates, Canon, Nestlé, TikTok, UNDP, WHO and Coca-Cola. With teams operating across multiple African countries, the Group offers unmatched insight, reach and influence, with a clear mission: reshaping narratives about Africa and bringing inspiring African stories to a global audience.
The President of the Republic of The Gambia, President Adama Barrow has unveiled a plaque renaming the University of Gambia’s School of Agriculture and Environmental Services as Dr. Akinwumi A. Adesina School of Agriculture and Environmental Services. The historic occasion recognized and immortalized Adesina’s name, leadership, contributions to Africa, and his visionary role in the transformation of agriculture and food security on the continent.
Adesina, whose tenure as President of the African Development Bank Group (2015 to 2025), was marked by strategic development gains across the continent, pioneered a transformative High 5 program to Light Up and Power Africa, Feed Africa, Integrate Africa, Industrialize Africa and Improve the quality of life of the people of Africa. According to the Bank’s data, the program impacted on the lives of over 535 million people.
Under his leadership, the African Development Bank’s capital rose from $93 billion to $318 billion, the highest in the history of the Bank. The institution won several global accolades including the most transparent financial institution in the world, and best multilateral development bank in the world, while maintaining its AAA credit rating by global credit rating agencies.
Under Adesina’s leadership, the African Development Bank launched the Feed Africa strategy to transform agricultural sector and food production, which provided food security for over 104 million people.
In The Gambia, fulfilling a decades old dream since independence in the 60s, the Bank under Adesina’s leadership financed a now iconic and historic landmark bridge connecting The Gambia and Senegal. The new bridge seamlessly cuts travel time between both countries by hours and boosts trade and regional integration.
The decision of the Government of The Gambia and the University of The Gambia was communicated in a letter dated 27th November 2025 by the Honorable Minister of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology, Professor Pierre Gomez, who said, “Your tenure as President of the African Development Bank has been transformative, driving economic growth, poverty reduction and sustainable development across Africa. Your leadership in launching the Feed Africa Strategy and the Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT) initiative has revolutionized agricultural productivity and food security, empowering millions of smallholder farmers and enhancing climate resilience.
The citation adds, “Beyond your tenure at the African Development Bank, your pioneering reforms as Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture laid a foundation for modernizing the agricultural sector, boosting food production, and creating economic opportunities. Your tireless advocacy for leveraging agriculture as a catalyst for industrialization, job creation, and youth empowerment continues to inspire policies across the continent.”
Recognizing Adesina’s exceptional leadership, and his belief in the transformative power of Africa talent and ingenuity, the University said, “By naming our School of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences in your honor, we seek to immortalize your legacy and inspire our students to emulate your vision, determination, and passion for Africa’s development This decision reflects our profound appreciation for your exceptional leadership and enduring belief in the transformative power of African talent and ingenuity”.
In a letter of appreciation to President Barrow, Adesina said
“It is with great humility and a deep sense of gratitude that I write this letter to express to you my immense appreciation of the exceptional honor you have conferred on me , with the renaming of the School of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences at the University of The Gambia as “Dr. Akinwumi A. Adesina School of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences. It is a rare honor which immortalizes my name in recognition of my leadership in supporting the transformation of agriculture in Africa. It is an exceptional honor. I wish to convey to you, Your Excellency, my most profound gratitude and heartfelt appreciation for this exceptional honor. I look forward to visiting The Gambia soon to witness this monumental development which will remain ever green in my memory”.
Adesina also expressed his deep and appreciation gratitude to the Honorable Minister of Higher
Education, Research, Science and Technology, the Chairman and members of the Governing Council, the Vice Chancellor and the Dean of the School of Agriculture, of University of The Gambia.
In 2023, President Adama Barrow awarded Dr. Akinwumi Adesina the country’s highest national honor, the Grand Commander of the Order of the Republic in recognition of his leadership and immense contributions to The Gambia and Africa.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Victor Oladokun, Senior Advisor to Dr Akinwumi Adesina.
The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) has confirmed large numbers of dead white mussel, whelks and other shellfish being washed out at St Helena Bay and Elandsbaai on the West Coast.
Members of the public have been cautioned to refrain from eating the washed-out marine animals, as they carry significant health risks, rendering them unsuitable for consumption.
The dead shellfish, which washed up on Monday and Tuesday, indicates that they died after being paralysed, unable to burrow and then washed up.
“This is most likely due to the presence of a harmful algal bloom (HAB) or red tide. Red tides are algal blooms, that is, accumulations of large amounts of phytoplankton (single-cell algae) that are common during summer and autumn along the West Coast.
“This particular red tide is colourless and therefore not visible to the human eye, but paralytic shellfish poisoning neurotoxins are extremely toxic to humans.All shellfish, irrespective of being washed out or collected from shore or subtidal, should not be eaten,” the department said on Wednesday.
The department will continue to monitor the situation with respect to the extent of the red tide and resultant mass mortalities on the West Coast. – SAnews.gov.za
Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Devin Smart, Assistant Professor, Department of History, West Virginia University
As Kenya’s cities grew, more and more people left their rural homes and subsistence farming systems to go to urban settlements like Mombasa to find work. In the city, meals were paid for with cash, a major transformation in Kenya’s food systems.
A new book called Preparing the Modern Meal is an urban history that explores these processes. We asked historian Devin Smart about his study.
What’s the colonial history of Mombasa?
At the turn of the 20th century, the British were expanding their empire throughout sub-Saharan Africa, including the parts of east Africa that would become Kenya.
Map of Mombasa Island, 1963.British Library Collection/OUP
They built a railway that connected the port town of Mombasa on the Indian Ocean coast with the newly established Protectorate of Uganda in the interior. This created the foundations of the colonial economy and drove urbanisation.
While Nairobi grew in the Kenyan highlands, Mombasa became the most important port in east Africa. The city grew fast as people came to work at the railway, docks and in other parts of the urban economy.
After independence in 1963, cities like Mombasa carried on growing rapidly and more and more people started working in the informal sector, which included making and selling street food.
How did rural people get their food?
During the early 1900s, the cuisines of east Africa’s agrarian (farming) societies were mostly vegetarian. Much of the food people ate was grown in their own fields, though there were also regional markets.
These communities grew lots of staple crops like sorghum, millet, maize, bananas, cassava, and sweet potatoes. They also had legumes, greens, and dairy products as regular parts of their meals.
Ohio University Press
These ingredients were prepared into a variety of dishes, like the Kikuyu staple irio, a mash of bananas with maize kernels and legumes added to it. The Kamba often ate isio, a combination of beans and maize kernels, while the Luo who lived along the shores of Lake Victoria regularly included a dish called kuon as part of their cuisine. It’s a thick porridge of boiled milled grain (often millet), eaten with fish or vegetables to add contrasting flavours and textures.
In these communities, the daily meal was also defined by seasonal variety. Food changed depending on what was being harvested or what stores of ingredients were dwindling. These were also gendered food systems, with women doing much of the farming work and nearly all the cooking.
In my book, I consider the dramatic changes in how east Africans came by their food when they left these rural food systems for the city.
How was food organised in the city?
In Mombasa, they entered a food system organised around commercial exchange. My study is about Kenya, but the story it reflects is one that’s unfolded on a global scale. The shift from subsistence to commodified food systems, from growing your own to buying it from others, has been one of the central features of the modern world.
Government labourers, Mombasa, early 1900s.Herskovits Library/Humphrey Winterton Collection
By the 1930s, most people in Mombasa bought nearly all their food with cash, visiting small dried-goods grocers, fresh-produce vendors, and working-class eateries. In this urban food system, the seasonal variety of rural cuisines was increasingly replaced by the regularity of commercial supply chains.
Pilau, beans and chapati.Teddykip/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY
This was especially the case with staple grains. In the countryside, people ate a variety of grains, but in Mombasa maize meal and wheat became daily staples eaten year-round, transforming east African foodways.
Migration also changed domestic labour in the kitchen. Many migrant men now lived in homes without women, which meant they had to prepare their own food, often for significant periods of their lives.
However, the idea that cooking was the work of women proved enduring. When women joined these households in the city, they again prepared the family’s meals.
How did street food emerge?
By the 1930s, Mombasa had a fast-growing working class. The majority of the town’s workers spent their days in the industrial district, around the railway and port. Many also had to commute a considerable distance to work.
Hamisi Nyoka having a lunch of ugali and tripe stew.Onesmus Mutua/OUP
With the long working day of urban capitalism, returning home for a filling lunch wasn’t practical, which created strong demand for affordable prepared food at midday. As this was happening, many in the city also struggled to find consistent jobs and turned to informal trades like street food to earn a living.
This convergence of supply and demand led to the rapid growth of the street food industry around the 1950s, with people opening eateries in makeshift structures outside the gates to the port and in nearby alleyways, parks, and other open spaces.
What kind of food was served?
At these working-class food spots, a popular dish was chapati, an east African version of the South Asian flatbread. People could complement it with beans, meat, or fried fish, along with githeri, a mixture of maize kernels and beans (similar to isio).
A selection of breakfast offerings including beans, chapati and chai.Onesmus Mutua/OUP
In later decades, ugali, the ubiquitous Kenyan staple made from maize meal, became more common at street food eateries, as did Swahili versions of Indian Ocean dishes like pilau (aromatic rice with meat) and biryani (rice with meat braised in a spice-infused tomato sauce).
How were street food vendors policed?
The business model that made street food work in Mombasa’s economy also brought these vendors into regular conflict with the city’s administration. Street food vendors kept overheads and thus prices low because they avoided rents and licensing fees by squatting on open land in makeshift structures.
But, in an era of urban development and modernisation, many officials desired a different kind of city, one without this kind of informal land use and architecture. Authorities began campaigns to remove these businesses from Mombasa’s landscape, arresting vendors and demolishing their structures.
Mohammed Omar sells chai, coffee, mahamri, fried potatoes and mango juice.Onesmus Mutua/OUP
This also created a tension, though, because the city’s workers, including those at the port and railway who ran the most important transportation choke point in east Africa’s regional economy, needed affordable meals at lunch.
Given that informal trade had become essential to Mombasa’s economy, there were limits on how far these campaigns could be pushed. However, arrests and demolitions did still occur, and sometimes on a dramatic, city-wide scale, which made street food a precarious way to earn a living in Kenya’s port town.
For example, in 2001, the Kenyan government launched a massive demolition campaign to clear informal business structures from city sidewalks, parks and open spaces.
After the demolitions, many rebuilt and reopened their street food businesses, but in less visible parts of town and on side streets rather than main roads. Today, these eateries remain an essential part of Mombasa’s economy and food system.
What do you hope readers will take away from the book?
I hope that readers will see how food history helps us understand the ways that capitalism transformed the modern world.
The regional focus of the book is east Africa, but it explores themes relevant to the history of capitalism more generally, including the gendered division of household labour, the commercialisation of everyday needs and wants, and the political and economic struggles of working-class communities to find space for themselves in modern cities.
– Street food in Mombasa: how city life shaped the modern meal – https://theconversation.com/street-food-in-mombasa-how-city-life-shaped-the-modern-meal-266590