Opinion and Analysis

Hope amid the horror of joblessness and exploitation

Hope springs eternal in the human breast. So wrote the much-quoted 18th Century English poet, Alexander Pope. And, although this has all too often described the
futility of chasing after rainbows and never finding a promised pot of gold, hope continues to sustain millions of people in situations that, to the more fortunate, might seem hopeless.

Terry Bell

Opinion | 25 July 2012

Satire and the spear

First we had the Spear, a painting by Brett Murray. Now we have the Dick, a cartoon by Jonathan — Zapiro — Shapiro. And this satire of a genital nature has, in both cases, caused the same polarised reaction: support or amused indifference on one side; expressions of outrage on the other.

Terry Bell

Opinion | 18 July 2012

Information Technology and the Treatment Action Campaign: successes and pitfalls

On 10 December 1998, about 10 people picketed outside St Georges Cathedral in Cape Town. They demanded that the state roll out a programme to reduce the risk of pregnant women transmitting HIV to their infants and for drug companies to lower their HIV medicine prices. This marked the modest beginning of the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC).

Nathan Geffen

Opinion | 18 July 2012

The indispensable role of progressive civil society

This is COSATU General Secretary, Zwelinzima Vavi’s, opening address to the Equal Education National Congress in Tembisa on 8 July 2012.

Zwelinzima Vavi

Opinion | 11 July 2012

Education crisis: More than book destruction

In an incredible irony, copies of Alan Paton’s Cry the Beloved Country were among the thousands of books shredded and dumped in what can only be described as an
orgy of destruction in Limpopo.

Terry Bell

Opinion | 11 July 2012

HakiElimu: The hope for education in Tanzania

Mary-Jane Matsolo recently visited Tanzania and met members of an extraordinary education activist movement called HakiElimu.

Mary-Jane Matsolo

Opinion | 11 July 2012

A life in history

This is a talk given by historian Shula Marks at the University of Johannesburg in May on the occasion of her receiving an honorary PhD. Marks is emeritus professor of history at the School of Oriental and African Studies of the University of London.

Shula Marks

Opinion | 11 July 2012

The inequality of murder

Doron Isaacs writes about the murder of Mnoneleli Ngubo, his friend and a fellow leader in Equal Education.

Doron Isaacs

Opinion | 6 July 2012

Of transitions, nonsense and historical distortions

“What the country now needs is growth with social justice. And this will require the state to play a major role in creating the conditions and dictating the policy direction of economic growth.”

Terry Bell

Opinion | 4 July 2012

White youth as part of a larger community

This is a speech given by journalist Waldimar Pelser at an Ndifuna Ukwazi seminar on 16 June.

Waldimar Pelser

Opinion | 27 June 2012

Political advisors must stay away from tenders

The authors argue that the recent findings by the Public Protector on the Western Cape Communications tender are not a storm in a teacup.

Fatima Hassan and Greg Solik

Opinion | 27 June 2012

SA Inc and the search for a real alternative

South Africa Inc is a “fronting” exercise in which the people of the country are the hapless stooges giving credibility to a governing elite.

Terry Bell

Opinion | 27 June 2012

The Role of White Youth in South Africa’s Struggle Movements

This is a speech given by Doron Isaacs, director of Equal Education, at an Ndifuna Ukwazi seminar on 16 June.

Doron Isaacs

Opinion | 20 June 2012

Brother, I do not want to bury you. Get treated.

Leo Mbobi tells of his struggle to get his ill brother treated for HIV.

Leo Mbobi

Opinion | 20 June 2012

Documentary shows Sonke’s struggle

Marcus Low reviews a new documentary about the work of Sonke Gender Justice, You Can't Just Fold Your Arms.

Marcus Low

Opinion | 20 June 2012

Witnessing the difference between a South African and US school

The right to education will not be realised as long as there is such massive inequality between schools across the world.

Morgan Dzakowic

Opinion | 20 June 2012