Zohran Mamdani From Cape Town To Mayor Of New York City

Here’s how Cape Town-schooled Zohran Mamdani made New York City history The bedrock of Zohran Mamdani’s meteoric rise to mayor was a commitment to tackling the New York City’s crippling affordability crisis. By Tebogo Tsape 05-11-25 14:04 in Cape Town New York City mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani Zohran Mamdani at the Resist Fascism Rally in Bryant Park on 27 October 2024. This image accompanies a story about Zohran Mamdani making history as New York City's first Muslim mayor New York City mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani. Wikimedia Commons The Ugandan-born, Cape Town-educated Zohran Mamdani has clinched the New York City mayorship in a truly historic election. Democratic socialist Mamdani, 34, clinched the mayorship of New York City on Tuesday, 4 November 2025, capping a stunning political ascent that sees the charismatic politician defeat establishment rivals in a historic win focused on affordability. Mamdani – the city’s youngest mayor in over a century and its first Muslim leader – also makes history as the first mayor born in Africa and the first of South Asian heritage to lead America’s largest city. Born in Kampala, Uganda, his family – renowned in academic and film circles – later moved to the Mother City, where the young Mamdani attended St George’s Grammar School in Little Mowbray, Cape Town. His father is the distinguished post-colonial scholar Mahmood Mamdani, who taught at the University of Cape Town between 1996 and 1999. His mother is Oscar-nominated Indian filmmaker Mira Nair. Mamdani’s affinity for his African and Ugandan identity is partly attributed to his father’s work and activism. ‘Mayor Freeze-the-Rent’ battles Trump and affordability crisis The bedrock of Mamdani’s meteoric rise was a commitment to tackling the New York City’s crippling affordability crisis. Campaigning heavily on bread-and-butter issues, the former foreclosure prevention counsellor promised ambitious socialist policies aimed at alleviating the pressure on working-class New Yorkers. His key pledge centred on a four-year pause on rent increases for stabilised units, which earned him the nickname “Mayor Freeze-the-Rent”. His platform also advocates for free city bus service, universal childcare, along with higher taxes on the wealthy to fund these initiatives. This “people first” approach proved revolutionary in one of the world’s most expensive cities, drawing stark parallels with the housing struggles faced by citizens in metropolitan areas like Cape Town. The campaign leveraged immense grassroots support, mobilising a powerful movement backed by thousands of volunteers and small-dollar donors. The political battle drew relentless scrutiny, notably from former US President Donald Trump, who attacked the Democratic socialist by casting him as a “Communist Candidate” and threatening to withhold federal funding from New York City if Mamdani won. Mamdani, who became a US citizen in 2018, defiantly addressed his critics in his victory speech on Tuesday, proclaiming that New York will remain a city led by an immigrant. Zohran Mamdani: The seismic shift felt from Queens to Cape Town Mamdani’s journey – from Kampala to the madrasa classes at Cape Town’s Claremont Main Road Mosque to becoming a New York State Assemblyman and eventually mayor – is viewed as a powerful moment of political imagination across the Global South. Mamdani refused to apologise for his identity, saying he is “young… Muslim… a democratic socialist. And most damning of all, I refuse to apologise for any of this” in front of thousands on Tuesday evening. The ascension of the young millennial democratic socialist to lead America’s largest city, defeating political heavyweights like incument mayor Eric Adams, former governor Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa, is seen as confirmation of a desire among voters for a city that genuinely serves the many, not just the wealthy few. 'SA People' is hiring! Freelance writer positions available. Send us your CV

In Praise Of South African Wines

Saturday, November 8th 3-7pm South Africa Why South Africa? South African wine makes up less than 1% of all U.S. imports — yet it’s one of the most dynamic and inspiring wine regions in the world. When Peter Andrews, founder of Culture Wine Co., first visited, he discovered a thriving community of passionate, skilled producers making world-class wines through organic, biodynamic, and regenerative farming. Today’s generation of winemakers is redefining South African wine — crafting vibrant, energetic Pinotage and expressive single-varietal wines from grapes like Colombar, Palomino, and Fernao Pires. Beyond the wines themselves, what sets South Africa apart is its spirit of collaboration and inclusivity — a community genuinely invested in elevating one another. There’s never been a better time to explore South African wine, and we’re thrilled to share that story with you. Meet the Founder: Peter Andrews Join us in welcoming Peter Andrews, founder of Culture Wine Co., the only U.S. importer and retailer exclusively dedicated to South African wine. A 15-year wine industry veteran and DipWSET, Peter has worn many hats — from managing boutique wine shops and holding executive trade roles to teaching wine business at Johnson & Wales University, The Culinary Institute of America at Greystone, and through WSET programs. He’s also served on the board of the Glancy Wine Education Foundation and currently sits on the Program Development Committee for the Unified Grape Symposium, North America’s largest wine industry conference. Peter’s path began in the kitchen — after earning his culinary degree, he cooked across the U.S. and in Italy’s Friuli and Piemonte regions, where he fell in love with wine. That experience bridged his passion for food, history, and culture, inspiring him to earn an MBA and eventually launch Culture Wine Co. — a company built to champion underrepresented regions and the people behind the wines. What we'll be pouring: About Van Hunks Jan Van Hunks is a legendary Cape Town figure known for his love of adventure — and his infamous pipe-smoking contest with the devil, said to have created the “Tablecloth” of fog over Table Mountain. His spirit lives on through Van Hunks Drinks: sparkling wines made for fun, adventure, and accessibility, yet crafted with utmost care. The wines are produced by 14th-generation sparkling winemaker Matthew Krone, a lifelong specialist in bottle-fermented wines. Though the brand celebrates playfulness and approachability, the craftsmanship behind it is deeply serious — a perfect reflection of South Africa’s modern Cap Classique movement. Van Hunks Brut Cap Classique 70% Chardonnay and 30% Pinot Noir. Sourced entirely from Stellenbosch fruit, the Van Hunks Brut spends 36 months aging on the lees within the very bottle you’re holding. During this time, yeast autolysis develops its hallmark richness, fine texture, and toasty complexity — the hallmark of serious, Champagne-method sparkling wine. About Processus Processus is more than a wine label — it’s a journey of becoming. Founded in 2020 by curator Beata America and winemaker Megan van der Merwe, the project explores the intersection of art, ecology, and storytelling through wine. Together, they bring a holistic, intentional approach that honors both place and process, giving voice to minority grape varieties and the people behind them. Beata, also a curator at the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa, approaches wine as an art form — a sensory exhibition where each vintage tells its own story. Megan, currently winemaker and viticulturist at Beau Constantia, brings experience from both hemispheres, having produced wines in Paso Robles and Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Her dual artistry and scientific precision position her among South Africa’s most exciting rising stars. 2023 Processus Fernão Pires 100% Women-Owned. 100% Fernão Pires. Known in Portugal as both Fernão Pires and Maria Gomes, this duality inspired Processus to personify the label — a wine with many identities and an equally layered story. Brought to South Africa through Portuguese influence, Fernão Pires found an unlikely home here decades ago. Today, Processus sources from a nearly 40-year-old vineyard, farmed by four generations with deep-rooted care. Too often blended into anonymity, Fernão Pires finally takes center stage in this bottling. About Brookdale Estate Brookdale Estate is one of South Africa’s most exciting producers, located in Paarl and led by a new generation of winemaking talent. Founded by Tim Rudd and guided early on by Duncan Savage and Kiara Scott Farmer (first person of color to win winemaker of the year in South Africa), the estate is now in the capable hands of rising stars Shanice DuPreez and Xander Sadie. Their minimal-intervention approach and focus on sustainable farming have positioned Brookdale as a benchmark for modern South African wine — elegant, honest, and full of life. 2024 Brookdale Estate, Mason Road, Chenin Blanc The Mason Road Chenin Blanc is from a mix of young and old vines. The younger vines bring a freshness, while the older vines highlight the unique granite and saline mineral components of the vineyard. Most of the blend is coming from the young vines aged in stainless steel. 15-20% is coming from older vines that are aged in French oak, which gives depth, richness, and mineral notes. This creates layers of flavors and complexity with a long finish. Quite simply, this is a stunner of a wine at a very friendly price-point. 2022 Brookdale Estate, Mason Road, ‘Serendipity’ Rosé Syrah, Grenache and Cinsault made in a Provençal-style. Pale salmon hue and lifted aromas of hibiscus, fynbos, and wild strawberry. The palate is bright and red-fruited, showing raspberry, mulberry, and ripe cherry, balanced by refreshing watermelon notes and lively acidity. Subtle structure from neutral oak aging adds depth and length to the finish. 2023 Brookdale Estate, Mason Road, Syrah (Paarl) This bright, aromatic Syrah bursts with notes of violet, red cherry, and smoked olive tapenade, offering Rhône-like elegance with a South African edge. The palate is savory and lifted, framed by fine-grained tannins and a mouthwatering finish. It’s proof that young-vine Syrah can deliver both structure and grace when handled with care.

Tanzania: Police Fire On Protestors DUring Post-Election Rallies

Police Fire on Protesters in Tanzania During Post-Election Rallies Tanzania Clashes erupted in Tanzania on Thursday after demonstrations broke out following elections this week, with protesters disputing the results, Al Jazeera reported. Following a low-turnout election on Wednesday, in which the most prominent opposition candidates were disqualified, protesters took to the streets, burning a bus and a gas station, attacking police officers, and vandalizing polling facilities, the Associated Press wrote. In response to the unrest, the government shut down the Internet, deployed the military on the streets, and imposed a curfew on Wednesday evening in the commercial capital, Dar es Salaam, where most of the demonstrations took place. However, protests continued late into the night, with police firing tear gas and gunshots at crowds defying the curfew. A civilian and a police officer died during the rallies, according to Amnesty International. The organization called for an investigation into the police’s use of force against protesters. The government requested public servants to work from home on Thursday to limit the movement of non-essential staff. Roadblocks staffed by the Tanzanian army were set up across the country. Hundreds of demonstrators also breached security barriers to reach a road leading to the country’s main airport, but were stopped from entering it. The turmoil was set off by actions by the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi, or CCM party, in power since Tanzania’s independence in 1961, which attempted to retain office in Wednesday’s election by banning candidates from the two main opposition parties from running. Incumbent President Samia Suluhu Hassan ran against 16 candidates from smaller parties who carried out limited election campaigns. With vote counting still ongoing, the electoral commission has put Hassan in the lead in many constituencies, prompting fears of further tensions in the country, the BBC noted. The European Union called the vote a “fraud” that had been “unfolding for months.” Tanzania’s election is the latest on the continent to trigger unrest among voters, angry over attempts by longtime leaders or parties using repression to stay in power. For example, protests are ongoing after Cameroon’s recent elections, where leader Paul Biya won his eighth term at age 92.

Cameroon: Opposition Rejects Incumbent's Reelection

Opposition Rejects Incumbent’s Re-Election, Raising Fears of More Election Unrest Cameroon Cameroon’s opposition leaders this week rejected the results of the Oct. 12 presidential election that extended President Paul Biya’s four-decade rule, setting the stage for potential post-election unrest in a country already battling a separatist conflict, Reuters reported Tuesday. On Monday, the country’s constitutional council declared Biya, 92, as the winner with more than 53 percent of the vote. The announcement followed the council’s dismissal of eight petitions alleging electoral fraud, including ballot stuffing. The council’s ruling is final and cannot be appealed, with observers saying they expect more violence to break out. Sporadic protests erupted nationwide ahead of the official results and turned violent over the weekend. Supporters of the main opposition leader, Issa Tchiroma Bakary, clashed with police and blocked roads in the commercial capital, Douala. At least six people were killed during demonstrations on Sunday and Monday, according to the opposition. On Tuesday, Cameroonian authorities vowed legal action against Tchiroma, accusing him of fomenting the unrest, the Turkish state-run Anadolu Agency reported. Tchiroma and other opposition candidates have rejected the vote’s outcome and accused the constitutional council of being “nothing more than the rubber stamp of a tyranny.” Former presidential candidate Akere Muna pointed to suspiciously high turnout figures in Cameroon’s English-speaking regions – where a separatist insurgency has raged since 2017 – as evidence of manipulation. The European Union expressed “deep concern” about the polls, the unrest, and the police crackdown on protests. Meanwhile, Tchiroma has urged his supporters at home and abroad to march peacefully to “liberate Cameroon.” He previously declared himself the winner and published a tally on social media showing he won around 55 percent of the vote, based on what he claimed were returns representing 80 percent of the electorate, according to the BBC. Tchiroma warned that he would not accept any other outcome. Biya and government officials have repeatedly rejected the allegations of fraud, while also dismissing Tchiroma’s claims as illegal because only the constitutional council can proclaim official results. Biya, one of the world’s longest-serving leaders, has ruled Cameroon since 1982. If he finishes this eighth term, which ends in 2032, he will be almost 100 years old.

Sudan's Army Withdraws From Dafur Stronghold Amid Reports of Atrocities

Sudan’s Army Withdraws from Darfur Stronghold, Amid Reports of Mass Atrocities Sudan The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) have withdrawn from the city of el-Fasher, their last stronghold in Darfur, amid reports of mounting ethnically motivated mass killings by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), whose takeover marks a major turning point in Sudan’s 18-month civil war, raising fears that the country will split apart, Al Jazeera reported. Army chief Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan announced late Monday that his troops had retreated “to spare civilians” after what he called the “systemic killing” by the RSF. The retreat followed days of intense fighting that left el-Fasher, a city of more than a quarter of a million people, under RSF control. Humanitarian groups reported the looting of hospitals, civilians detained or executed, and thousands fleeing toward nearby towns. Satellite analysis by Yale University’s Humanitarian Research Lab indicated evidence consistent with large-scale killings by RSF fighters following their capture of the city, the Guardian wrote. The United Nations Human Rights Office said it had received “multiple alarming reports” of summary executions of civilians, particularly those belonging to non-Arab communities. The Joint Forces – who are allied with the SAF – accused the RSF of executing more than 2,000 unarmed civilians over the weekend, a figure that could not be independently verified. The RSF – a paramilitary group that grew out of the Janjaweed militias accused of atrocities in Darfur two decades ago – said it had “liberated” the city from “mercenaries and militias.” African Union Commission chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf condemned the “atrocities” and urged an immediate ceasefire and humanitarian access, Agence France-Presse added. The army’s retreat marks a turning point in the conflict between the military and RSF that began in April 2023 following a power struggle between Burhan and RSF commander, Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo. The war has since killed more than 150,000 people, displaced nearly 12 million, and plunged parts of Sudan into famine. Both sides have been accused of committing war crimes and other atrocities – allegations both sides have rejected. Observers noted that the army’s withdrawal leaves the RSF in control of all five state capitals of the Darfur region, effectively excluding the SAF from a third of Sudanese territory and cementing the paramilitary group’s parallel administration in Nyala, the capital of South Darfur. With Darfur now effectively under RSF rule and the army confined to the north, east, and center of the country, analysts and officials cautioned that the situation has revived fears of a national breakup reminiscent of South Sudan’s secession in 2011. That split followed decades of civil war and left Sudan permanently weakened, both politically and economically.

Mali Shutters Schools and Universities Amid Fuel Shortages Caused By Militants

Mali Shutters Schools and Universities Amid Fuel Shortages Caused by Militants Mali Mali suspended schools and universities across the country Monday as the military government continues to grapple with a fuel shortage caused by a weeks-long blockade imposed by al Qaeda-linked militants, the BBC reported. On Monday, Education Minister Amadou Sy Savane announced that all education institutions will remain closed until Nov. 9, adding that the government is “doing everything possible” to end the crisis. The landlocked West African nation has been hit by fuel shortages since early September, when jihadist militants from the Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin, or JNIM, announced a blockade on fuel imports. The militants have attacked convoys of fuel tankers attempting to enter the country or making their way to the capital of Bamako. Mali imports fuel supplies by road from neighboring African states, including Senegal and the Ivory Coast. Analysts told Reuters that the blockade is part of a pressure campaign by militant groups against the country’s military government. While the government said earlier this month the blockade was temporary, the crisis has persisted: Some fuel stations in Bamako have closed, and the capital’s usually crowded streets have fallen silent in recent weeks. The shortages have prompted fears of potential unrest. Last week, the US Embassy in Bamako announced that non-essential staff and their families would leave the country, warning that disruptions to fuel and electricity supplies “have the potential to disrupt the overall security situation in unpredictable ways.” Mali has been under military rule since Gen. Assimi Goïta seized power in a 2021 coup, amid growing public frustration over worsening insecurity caused by separatist and jihadist insurgencies in the north. Since then, both the United Nations peacekeeping mission and French forces – deployed more than a decade ago to combat the insurgency – have withdrawn from Mali. The junta has since turned to Russia and Moscow-backed mercenaries to confront militant groups. Share this story

Tanzania: "The Song Remains The Same"

The Song Remains The Same: In Tanzanian Elections, Voting Is Just a ‘Mere’ Formality Tanzania This summer, the Tanzanian government banned foreigners from owning and operating certain small-scale businesses in a move aimed at protecting and preserving job opportunities for locals. Under the new rules, foreigners are prohibited from participating in 15 specific business sectors, including small retail shops, eateries, salons, tourism businesses, mobile money kiosks, mobile phone services, small-scale mining, and radio and TV operations, among others. Trade Minister Selemani Jafo said foreigners had increasingly become involved in the informal sector and that these jobs are important for Tanzanians. The move, meanwhile, has generally been welcomed among Tanzanians amid growing concerns that foreigners, including Chinese nationals, have been encroaching on the smaller trades, the BBC wrote. The British news outlet noted that last year, traders at Dar es Salaam’s bustling Kariakoo shopping district went on strike to protest against unfair competition from Chinese traders. “We’ve welcomed this decision because it protects the livelihoods of Tanzanian traders,” Severine Mushi, the head of Kariakoo traders’ association, told Tanzania’s Citizen newspaper. The move by the government came in the run-up to national elections. But analysts say that attempts to please voters don’t mean much: When Tanzanians go to the polls on Oct. 29, they won’t have much choice anyway. “But this erosion of democracy will also come at the cost of (the country’s) economic potential,” wrote British think tank, Chatham House. The incumbent, President Samia Suluhu Hassan of the Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party, which has held power since 1977, took office after the death of her predecessor, John Magufuli, in 2021, and will face election for the first time. But her most serious challenger, opposition leader Tundu Lissu, has been imprisoned since April on treason charges due to his demands for electoral reform. His CHADEMA party has been banned from the election. Another prominent contender and ruling party defector, Luhaga Mpina, is also banned from running. That’s normal in the East African country, say analysts. Tanzania has had six elections since multiparty democracy was introduced in 1995, and the CCM has won them all, making it one of Africa’s longest-ruling independent parties, wrote the Institute for Security Studies. Much of this electoral dominance has resulted from exclusion, censorship, electoral fraud, and violence against the opposition, it added: “The current electoral situation shows that Tanzania is sliding further into a de facto authoritarian system where voting is reduced to a procedural coronation ritual for the ruling party.” Still, the country continues to slide: Since 2016, Freedom House has categorized Tanzania as “Partly Free” but almost a decade later, it has dropped to the “Not Free” category, signaling an increasingly authoritarian turn by Hassan, analysts say. When Hassan took office in 2021, there was hope that she would be a different kind of Tanzanian leader, one that would allow civil liberties, halt government repression, and promote the development the country so desperately needs. In the first year, she got off to a good start, say observers, promoting the “Four Rs” of reconciliation, resilience, reforms, and rebuilding, becoming a marked contrast to her predecessor, an authoritarian leader. The president released political prisoners, removed restrictions on media outlets, began working with the opposition, lifted a ban on opposition party rallies, and started a program of electoral reform. But that was then, before a crackdown on the opposition began last year, one that has been intensifying this year, and has included the abduction of and attacks on civil society activists, journalists, and religious leaders, as well as opposition politicians. “The façade of progressive change that had been constructed under (Hassan) is crumbling and could presage a return to authoritarian rule in Tanzania,” wrote World Politics Review. Now, according to the Council on Foreign Relations, October’s election promises to be a repeat of local elections in November, where many CHADEMA candidates were disqualified, and the CCM ended up winning 99 percent of the local races. That means the elections will be a missed opportunity for the country, especially economically, analysts say. Tanzania, a leading gold exporter worldwide, with abundant natural resources, and a growing economy, continues to grapple with deep poverty: Almost half of its 62 million people live on less than $3 a day, according to the World Bank. For many voters, small-scale farmers, informal traders, street vendors, and unemployed youth, the cost of living has become untenable, say observers. New rules banning foreigners from working in certain sectors won’t change that, just create tensions with other countries in the region that may retaliate against Tanzanians working in their countries and impose trade penalties. “People are tired,” one Tanzanian voter, Muhemsi, told Peoples Dispatch. “Access to dignified work, education, or health has become a privilege. Most ordinary people live in daily struggle while a few elites grow richer.” “ “The crisis isn’t just electoral, it’s systematic,” he added. “But people know what isn’t working. And they’re looking for alternatives.”