Politics

Gaza, Israel and South Africa’s edge of reason

Photos of South Africa's national schools debate team wearing keffiyehs and pins with the Palestinian flag fuelled a hurricane of social media hate earlier in August 2014. Mandy de Waal interviewed members of the team and considers what can be learned from that perfect storm.

Mandy de Waal

Analysis | 27 August 2014

Commission finds “serious inefficiencies” in Khayelitsha policing

The Commission of Inquiry into Policing in Khayelitsha has identified “serious, overlapping (policing) inefficiencies”.

Daneel Knoetze

News | 25 August 2014

Obituary: Bishop David Russell

Bishop David Russell, who died last week aged 75, was deeply rooted in this land, participating fully in its trauma and its transformation.

Francis Wilson

News | 25 August 2014

Marikana massacre remembered in city centre

About 50 members of several social movements marched on Parliament and the Cape Town police station today in memory of the 34 miners killed by police at Marikana two years ago.

Daneel Knoetze

News | 15 August 2014

Magistrate says charges stand against sanitation activists

The trial of 21 Social Justice Coalition (SJC) members continued in the Cape Town Magistrates' Court today. The group are charged with unlawfully attending and convening a protest in September last year.

Daneel Knoetze

News | 24 July 2014

Cape Town’s protest permit system not supported by law, says City employee

The City of Cape Town's policy that requires groups, marchers and protesters to apply for a gathering permit is not supported by law. This was a concession made by one of the City's own officials, Noel da Silva, who is employed to consider such applications and to grant permits.

Daneel Knoetze

News | 23 July 2014

Premier called “racist girl” as tensions flare at Lwandle inquiry

Tensions flared during the second half of the Lwandle inquiry yesterday after Ses’khona leader Loyiso Nkohla referred to Western Cape Premier Helen Zille as a “racist girl”. The remark prompted an infuriated DA staffer, Jamie Turkington, to interject during Nkohla’s presentation.

Barbara Maregele

News | 22 July 2014

Does anybody remember AIDS?

This week thousands of activists, scientists and government officials will troop to Melbourne, Australia, to participate in the 20th International AIDS Conference.

Mark Heywood

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

The week in political activism

This week we explore local protests against Israel’s bombing of the Gaza strip, a human rights awareness clinic, and a month-long campaign to expose rape culture.

Michelle Korte

News | 17 July 2014

Judges Matter: the process is broken, so let’s fix it

South Africa needs greater public participation in the appointment of judges, say members of the Judges Matter coalition formed last month.

Michelle Korte

News | 16 July 2014

Judgment next week in Ses’khona case

Judgment will be delivered on 18 July in the case of Andile Lili and six others charged after the “poo protests” in the city in June 2013.

Pharie Sefali

Brief | 11 July 2014

Andile Lili sets sights on 2016 elections

Former mountain guide, expelled city councillor, leader of the Ses'khona People's Movement: who is Andile Lili? Pharie Sefali and Alide Dasnois spoke to Cape Town’s best known “poo fighter”.

Pharie Sefali and Alide Dasnois

News | 11 July 2014

Are editors crushing news of SA’s socialist dawn?

Activist-cum-political contender Mametlwe Sebei says news editors are actively excluding socialist issues from the public discourse. Jane Duncan of Rhodes says editors squash or are threatened by socialist ideas. Mandy de Waal looked into their claims.

Mandy de Waal

Analysis | 10 July 2014

Khayelitsha Inquiry final report delayed

The Inquiry into policing in Khayelitsha has delayed the release of its final report to 8 August. The report was due to be submitted to Premier Helen Zille on 11 July.

Adam Armstrong

News | 9 July 2014

War resisters across Africa headed for Cape Town

From 4 to 8 July, Cape Town will host the first ever War Resisters International Conference to be held in Africa. The Pan-African conference will bring together representatives of grassroots movements from over 25 African countries.

Shireen Mukadam

News | 27 June 2014