At the Highway Africa conference, watchdog groups showcased six open data and accountability tools developed by Code4SA, presented by Wellington Radu and Levi Kabwato. These tools include Wazimap, Churnalism, NewsDiffs, Agenda Setter, Media Mic, and Media Diversity Index, each designed to enhance journalistic accuracy, transparency, and diversity. Media Monitoring Africa emphasizes data as a form of advocacy, while the tools aim to provide journalists, policymakers, and civil society with valuable insights and accountability mechanisms.

The African Investigative Journalism Conference (AIJC), now in its eleventh year, concluded with 250 attendees from 28 countries in Johannesburg, South Africa. The conference featured workshops, presentations, and the Carlos Cardoso Memorial Lecture, with a focus on investigative journalism tools and standards. Highlights included a diverse range of topics, data journalism workshops, and a talk by exiled Burundian journalist Bob Rugurika. The AIJC will merge with the Global Investigative Journalism Conference in 2017, bringing a global event with an African flavor to the region.

Highway Africa, the largest annual gathering of journalists in Africa, was hosted by Rhodes University’s School of Journalism and Media Studies in South Africa. The event focused on the intersection of the internet and media, discussing media sustainability, digital activism, and internet regulation. Key speakers included Alexandre Goudineau of Mada Masr, Susan Valentine of Open Society Foundation, and Comrade Fatsoo, a Zimbabwean YouTube celebrity. Issues such as media funding, the impact of hashtags, and the balance between media freedom and human rights were addressed. The African Declaration on Internet Rights & Freedoms was highlighted as a key document for journalists.

The first Southern African Investigative Journalism Conference took place in Gaborone, Botswana, with 175 journalists from 10 countries. Hosted by the INK Centre for Investigative Journalism and the University of Botswana Media Department, the event featured discussions on the challenges of reporting in Africa, including corruption and threats to journalists. Speakers shared personal experiences and offered tips for safe and effective investigative reporting. The panelists emphasized the importance of due diligence, security, and credibility in their work, and concluded that despite the risks, investigative journalism is a passion worth pursuing.

An uneasy calm prevails in Johannesburg following anti-immigrant violence that erupted in the city, resulting in at least six deaths and over 1,000 displacements. The violence, which began in KwaZulu-Natal, spread to Johannesburg, affecting areas like Jeppestown and Alexandra. President Jacob Zuma canceled a trip to Indonesia to address the situation, promising increased police presence. Local reporter Mina Demian noted the randomness of the attacks and the tension in affected neighborhoods. The situation remains tense but stable with a significant police presence.

Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, is set to hold presidential elections on March 28, with the race being too close to call.

Nigeria, Africa's most populous country, is set to hold presidential elections on March 28. The outcome is uncertain as the race is too close to call.

US President Barack Obama's visit to South Africa has sparked significant protests led by the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) and supported by various organizations, including the South African Communist Party and the Muslim Lawyer’s Association (MLA). The MLA has lodged a legal complaint seeking Obama's arrest for alleged war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide, citing his administration's drone attacks, Guantanamo detentions, and extrajudicial killings. Despite a court ruling that the matter is not urgent, the MLA remains hopeful for an eventual investigation by the National Prosecuting Authority or referral to the International Criminal Court.