Opinion and Analysis

Three infants die from polluted water in Northwest: Justice must be done

In early April 2014, violent service delivery protests erupted at Boitumelong at Bloemhof in Northwest. Residents, accusing Lekwa Teemane municipality councillors of corruption, maladministration and nepotism, torched the house of the mayor and demanded the municipality to be disbanded.

Melissa Fourie

Analysis | 9 June 2014

Cape Town’s informal settlements the same, despite facelift

Ruth Massey recently undertook doctoral research in Cape Town’s Makhaza and New Rest settlements. Here, she shares her concerns about the way informal settlements are being managed.

Dr Ruth T. Massey

Opinion | 5 June 2014

Fix our healthcare system so that we may live!

Access to the Constitution and constitutional education in isiXhosa is not an an added extra—it is a constitutional right, argue Tim Hodgson and Mluleki Marongo.

Tim Hodgson and Mluleki Marongo

Opinion | 4 June 2014

Unions get back to democratic basics

Misunderstanding and confusion about the platinum sector pay issue persists. And much of the media is to blame for repeating, without analysis, the public relations spin of the mining companies.

Terry Bell

Opinion | 2 June 2014

An ‘oasis of excellence’ in the arid karoo

For all the special pleading by the major teachers’ union, Sadtu and the assertions by basic education minister Angie Motshekga that all is well, our schooling system is in crisis.

Terry Bell

Opinion | 26 May 2014

Why should South Africa decriminalise sex work?

Two recent events brought the question of decriminalisation of sex work into the public eye. The first was the leaking of a draft policy document developed by Amnesty International advocating for decriminalisation of both the buying and selling of sex.

Ayesha Krige and Marlise Richter

Opinion | 23 May 2014

Government should do more to protect communities from companies that destroy environment

Tracey Davies explains how the Batlhabine community fought back against a mining company that ignored the law. She also argues that the Department of Mineral Resources should have done more to help.

Tracey Davies

Opinion | 20 May 2014

The myth of the lady with the lamp

Nursing unions and the media noted last week that Monday was a day dedicated to nurses, to those who treat the sick and the ailing. And, as they did so, they continued to perpetuate a myth.

Terry Bell

Opinion | 19 May 2014

Empty promises or promising new beginnings? South African government launches three-year gay rights campaign

Things are looking up, right? Just days ago, our beloved Caster Semenya was in the headlines of none other than the Daily Sun, not because her gender or hormone levels were, once again, put under a degrading spotlight, but because she had announced her soon-to-be marriage to her girlfriend.

Laura Pascoe

Opinion | 16 May 2014