Opinion
The Difficulty with De Kock
On 10 July 2014 the Minister of Justice, Michael Masutha, conveyed his decision to refuse Eugene de Kock’s application for parole to the public. His decision, although unsurprising, is unusual for having gone against the respective recommendations of the National Council for Correctional Services and the Correctional Supervision and Parole Board, who, in November 2013, recommended that de Dock be released on parole.
Clare Ballard
Opinion | 21 July 2014
A suggestion for how unions can help alleviate household debt
Official statistics note that South African household borrowings have declined slightly. However, we remain a nation wallowing in debt. And this applies from the government down to the humblest of families.
Terry Bell
Opinion | 21 July 2014
How the Seriti Commission is failing
The Seriti Commission's approach is undermining the public's right to know, explains Kholiswa Tyiki, a journalist and researcher with Right2Know.
Kholiswa Tyiki
Opinion | 18 July 2014
Why the sun will continue to burn in Langa
Last Wednesday, Langa erupted into massive protest that locked down the area with no way in or out of the township. To many, it seemed like the anger came from nowhere – yet frustration has been simmering here for months if not years.
Jared Sacks
Opinion | 17 July 2014
Do wage increases lead to greater inequality?
Recent articles in GroundUp by Gilad Isaacs on the conclusions to be drawn from the long platinum strike have prompted a vigorous debate about the nature of inequality in South Africa. Here economist Mike Schussler argues that demands for higher wages will lead to more inequality, not less.
Mike Schussler
Opinion | 15 July 2014
Over-population is not the problem
“The misery of people here is very great, with beggars innumerable and increasing every day....pigs and calves live better than they.” That rhyming comment could apply to the legions of the poor in many parts of the world today. And South Africa is no exception.
Terry Bell
Opinion | 14 July 2014
Stripping the tears of bleeding-heart feminists and other sex abolitionists
Are Cape Town city strip joints filled with sex slaves? Marlise Richter investigates.
Marlise Richter
Opinion | 11 July 2014
Towards an Understanding of Braamfontein Activism
Civil society activists in Johannesburg are usually associated with protest marches, t-shirts with cool slogans, and Braamfontein. As an employee of the South African Human Rights Commission, I attend meetings instead of protest marches and wear suits instead of cool t-shirts.
Kayum Ahmed
Opinion | 10 July 2014
Open letter to the Social Justice Coalition
Counsellor Ernest Sonnenberg has written an open letter to Phumeza Mlungwana, General Secretary of the Social Justice Coalition (SJC). This follows the report published by GroundUp on the SJC's toilet mapping initiative.
Ernest Sonnenberg
Opinion | 10 July 2014