Opinion
Of social class and door mats
The question of class came to the fore this week with that arch free marketeer Ann Bernstein and the Centre for Democracy and Enterprise (CDE) hailing the potential growth of a global middle class, among them teachers. At the same time, the Democratic Teachers’ Union (Sadtu) concluded its conference, declaring teachers to be “revolutionary professionals, agents of change...in pursuit of socialism”.
Terry Bell
Opinion | 13 October 2014
Why judges matter: beyond the Dewani case
Not far from the High Court where Shrien Dewani is on trial for murder, the Judicial Service Commission is interviewing candidate judges. The Dewani trial is getting all the attention, but the selection of judges affects us all.
Rudo Chitapi
Opinion | 8 October 2014
The potential for economic change
Once again we are having calls from a number of trade unions for the private sector to exercise “social responsibility” in order to help build “a developmental state”. It is a far cry from 1996 when the combined labour movement presented alternative economic policy proposals.
Terry Bell
Opinion | 6 October 2014
Activists to Sonnenberg: City must engage constructively on sanitation
Yesterday the Social Justice Coalition (SJC) published a social audit of the state of municipal public toilets in Khayelitsha. Councillor Ernest Sonnenberg responded. This is a reply by the SJC's Axolile Notywala and Dustin Kramer to Councillor Sonnenberg.
Axolile Notywala and Dustin Kramer
Opinion | 2 October 2014
Apartheid geography and murder in Cape Town
Building a socially and racially integrated Cape Town will decrease our murder rate and other violent crime, writes Zackie Achmat.
Zackie Achmat
Opinion | 30 September 2014
How heritage got roasted
Wednesday was a public holiday: Heritage Day. And carnivore commercialism seems largely to have claimed it. For many — if not most — South Africans who could afford it, this was a day to indulge in and enjoy chisa nyama, the ubiquitous braai.
Terry Bell
Opinion | 29 September 2014
Braaing on Heritage Day: you may want to ask how that beef got to your plate
You probably wouldn't sprinkle antibiotics like sugar all over your breakfast cereal every morning, even if you were sick. There is, though, a good chance that you are in effect doing something similar today on Heritage Day. The steaks you are braaing, or the chicken being grilled is likely to contain traces of antibiotics.
Nicholas Ashby
Opinion | 24 September 2014
Heritage Day: is it a cultural event or just a chance to have fun?
Should we spend Heritage Day celebrating our culture or is it okay just to have fun? Young people interviewed by GroundUp had different views on the subject.
Pharie Sefali
Opinion | 23 September 2014
When rights clash with tradition
Is South Africa on the brink of a clash between the egalitarian concepts embodied in the Constitution and the Bill of Rights and the demands to retain undemocratic, feudal and colonial hangovers of the past? If so, it may be Swaziland that will provide the catalyst.
Terry Bell
Opinion | 22 September 2014