Opinion and Analysis
Let’s not focus only on the matric results
A focus on the matric results obscures problems lower down in the education system, writes Wim Louw.
Wim Louw
Opinion | 7 January 2015
ANC: from a heroic tradition to sleaze and crime
The ANC is one of the few political organisations in the world that has existed for over 100 years. It remains powerful electorally and although it received less votes than before in last year's national general election, it could well still be returned as the ruling party for the foreseeable future.
Raymond Suttner
Opinion | 6 January 2015
We need a definition of a living wage
Instead of focusing on percentage increases, wage negotiations should be based on a clear definition of a living wage, write Trenton Elsley and George Mthethwa.
Trenton Elsley and George Mthethwa
Opinion | 6 January 2015
Workers lose out as construction sector expands
The construction sector has grown enormously in the last 20 years, but the old system of cheap labour still prevails, writes Eddie Cottle.
Eddie Cottle
Opinion | 5 January 2015
The silver lining to those dark clouds of global turmoil
As another year draws to a close, the advice usually attributed to the Italian revolutionary, Antonio Gramsci constantly comes to mind: exercise pessimism of the intellect, but optimism of the will. I must admit that it has become a great deal easier over recent months to exercise pessimism of the intellect — and increasingly difficult to exercise optimism of the will to do something about changing things, domestically or globally.
Terry Bell
Opinion | 22 December 2014
Time for an economic alternative
The old ideas about economics are not working and we are in an unstable period, where alternative ideas should be considered, tested and grown, writes Sofie Geerts.
Dr Sofie Geerts
Opinion | 18 December 2014
Minimum wage debate: the old cheap labour system will get us nowhere
The low wage argument is a red herring, argue Gilad Isaacs and Ben Fine in the latest contribution to the minimum wage debate.
Gilad Isaacs and Ben Fine
Opinion | 17 December 2014
Cape Town congress shows how Rana Plaza offers hope for workers’ rights
Rana Plaza was the deadliest factory disaster in history. On April 23 last year a shoddily built eight-storey building in the Bangladeshi capital, Dhaka, collapsed.
Terry Bell
Opinion | 15 December 2014
Know Your Constitution: a challenge to students
This is a challenge to young people, and to law students in particular, to think about how we can use the law to effect change: we have a Constitution now, but what are we going to do with it?
Rachel Mazower and Isabeau Steytler
Opinion | 10 December 2014