Alex Matthews is a freelance journalist and politics blogger based in Cape Town, South Africa.
Alex has held a lifelong fascination with politics. Passionate about his country and continent, he is a firm believer in the sanctity of human rights, the importance of constitutional democracy, and the robust debate that should accompany it.
Blogging
Alex started blogging in January 2007, and ever since then has been shedding light on issues ignored or under-reported by mainstream media outlets.
Afrodissident, his blog, is a frequently-updated blend of commentary, analysis and satire that offers a lively examination of political and socioeconomic issues from a South African perspective.
A guest blog on GlobalPost.com, Afrodissident explores Africa’s challenges – from human rights and governance to poverty and corruption. Celebrating the continent’s development, the blog is a part of the global online conversation about Africa and its future. In both 2008 and 2009 it was a runner-up in South Africa’s annual Blog Awards for Best Politics Blog in South Africa and for the Best Original Writing on a South African blog. In June 2009 it was profiled as a “Blog to bookmark” by news and info portal iafrica.com.
Alex also blogs for The Huffington Post and for the Mail & Guardian’s Thought Leader.
In recognition of his political commentary, the Mail & Guardian named him one of the “300 Young South Africans you should take out to lunch” in June 2009.
Interviews
During the April 2009 South African elections, Alex had live TV interviews with Al Jazeera English and the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Alex has also been interviewed by the Foreign Policy Journal as well as for radio by Deutsche Welle (listen to the interview here) and the Austrian Broadcasting Corporation’s FM4.
The Soapbox
On April 27 Alex launched The Soapbox, an online platform where young South Africans can speak out about things they feel strongly about. In publishing these opinion articles by young South Africans, The Soapbox aims to provide a contemporary and relevant space for young people to air their views and for those views to be heard and engaged with. The Soapbox aims to fight political and cultural apathy and to foster tolerance and a culture of intelligent debate among young South Africans. Join The Soapbox Facebook group.
Contact
Should you wish to contact Alex, drop him a mail at alexgmatthews(at)gmail(dot)com
6 Comments
January 31, 2008 at 2:26 pm
Alex-your blog is like a cocktail from the planet bar: chic, well blended and easy to digest
March 4, 2008 at 4:02 pm
It’s so damn different-just love it! Kudos on failing PE in gr nine; I did too!
November 9, 2008 at 2:22 pm
Alex i must say that your blog is highly informative and thought provoking. It rocks.
November 10, 2008 at 2:44 pm
Thanks, Badisa.
Glad you like it
January 15, 2009 at 1:14 pm
Alex, slick layout on the blog. However, I see a lot of political rhetoric here but no mention of the land question, not just for Zimbabwe but Southern Africa as a whole. Whether Mugabe is in power or not there, why has ownership and control of their own land and resources been so delayed for Blacks? Should this not be a priority for the next administration? Most Black Americans do not believe the propaganda that Blacks are incapable of farming the land that they have farmed for millenia. Even in SA where Aparteid still persists economically, do the Oppenheimers, Rothchilds, Anglo American crowd and others still control a disproportionate share of the wealth? What is your position on this?
January 15, 2009 at 4:33 pm
@Kelsey
I have addressed the issues you’ve raised in a new post. Check it out here: http://afrodissident.wordpress.com/2009/01/15/education-the-key-to-prosperity-for-all/
Alex
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