The case for decriminalising the use of drugs

Drug abuse harms the individual, their family, community and country. As the drug trade increased globally, to save people from themselves, in 1970, US president Richard Nixon launched the “war on drugs”.

JP van Niekerk

Opinion | 9 September 2013

Chequebook justice

Oscar Pistorius’ bail application apparently showed how the justice system works when someone is arrested. But actually his hearing and release on bail were exceptional.

Nathan Geffen

Opinion | 5 September 2013

Study shows circumcision reduces HIV in “real-life” conditions

A South African study demonstrates for the "first time the effectiveness of male circumcision, in real-life conditions in curbing the spread of HIV", says its lead researcher, Bertran Auvert.

Michael Rautenbach

Brief | 5 September 2013

There should be no tolerance for anti-Semitism in Palestinian solidarity

A demonstration framed ‘as a silent protest against racism’ held at Wits University on 28 August turned out to be anything but an embodiment of the principles of the anti-racism it espoused when a small group of the protesters sang ‘dubula e juda’ (shoot the Jew).

Heidi-Jane Esakov

Opinion | 4 September 2013

Fracking: what are the facts?

Natural gas extraction is being promoted as the solution to South Africa's energy crisis. Shell and other energy companies want to harness the untapped reserves of natural gas below the Karoo using fracking. This is meeting stiff opposition, particularly from residents of the Karoo who are concerned about the risks.

Kerry Gordon

Feature | 4 September 2013

Poet’s in Gugulethu

News | 4 September 2013

SOS SAPS

News | 4 September 2013

Spaza music - a new urban culture

Spaza music is an expression of black, urban, hip-hop music. It originated among the youth in townships around South Africa.

Pharie Sefali

News | 4 September 2013

Qualified and unemployed

With almost 53% of its youth unable to find work, South Africa is facing one of the highest youth unemployment rates in the world, far higher than in comparable countries. While the International Labour Organisation (ILO) gives the youth unemployment rate as around 12% in sub-Saharan Africa and around 28% in North Africa, these high percentages are still far lower than they are in South Africa.

Nwabisa Pondoyi

Brief | 4 September 2013