Teens want HIV tests
By Katharine Child – Pupils want HIV testing and counselling in schools despite the objections of the Department of Education. Education Minister Angie Motshekga has denounced proposals for the testing of teenagers at school but a recent study shows that most sexually active pupils want to know whether they have HIV. The study by Sphiwe […]
Time to put people before politics
By Mmusi Maimane – For a protracted period we have seen events which have raised questions about Parliament’s relevance and its role in holding the Executive to account and its oversight function. President Jacob Zuma has sidestepped questions from Members of Parliament (MPs) and Cabinet Members have been absent when the time comes to answer […]
The reforms we need to tackle inequality
By Joseph Stiglizt – The reception in the United States, and in other advanced economies, of Thomas Piketty’s recent book Capital in the Twenty-First Century attests to growing concern about rising inequality. His book lends further weight to the already overwhelming body of evidence concerning the soaring share of income and wealth at the very top. Piketty’s book, […]
Who Are You Calling Corrupt? Good Governance Begins at Home
By Judith Cavanagh – Is claiming to be a leader in international development whilst presiding over structures that facilitate the loss of billions from Africa not a form of corruption itself? In July, I wrote about some research that Health Poverty Action published in collaboration with 12 other UK and African NGOs. This research compared […]
What the law has to say about evictions
By Sandra Liebenberg – The law on evictions has changed since the landmark Grootboom judgment in the Constitutional Court in 2000. But the recent spate of evictions and demolitions of shelters in informal settlements in the Western Cape – Lwandle, Philippi East, and Khayelitsha – must make the right to housing ring hollow for those […]
SPII responds to the establishment of the Ministry of Small Business in the Business Day
Brian Mathebula, Researcher working on the “Social Protection and Local Economic Development: Graduation” looks at micro/survivalist-enterprises from a policy perspective and what the scope is for this crucial component of business activity in SA. Please see link below to the full article in Business Day; https://www.bdlive.co.za/opinion/2014/07/02/survivalist-ventures-also-merit-state-support .
THE ROLE OF THE OPPOSITION PARTY IN A DEMOCRATIC COUNTRY
By Sizwe Mda – The National Ruling Party’s purpose is to deliver on its Mandate, to Govern the Country according to the Constitution and to ensure the “preservation and protection” of Human Rights. The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa has prioritized Human dignity and respect to all of the citizens. It is therefore […]
NUMBER OF VIOLENT PROTESTS ‘DOUBLED’
By Wyndhan Hartley – WHILE service delivery protests have remained largely constant over the past three years, the number that have turned violent has more than doubled, Parliament’s police committee was told on Wednesday. The quality of public order policing in the South African Police Service (SAPS) shot to prominence after the killing of Ficksburg […]
FEWER POOR GET FREE SERVICES ‘AS COUNCILS DIVERT FUNDING’
BY Carol Panton – FEWER indigent households are receiving the free basic electricity, water and sanitation — to which they are entitled — than five years ago, as municipalities spend the money the Treasury allocates for the services on other things, according to Statistics South Africa. The annual nonfinancial census of municipalities, released on Tuesday, […]
SADC, SANDF and the Lesotho coup that wasn’t
By Sapa, Reuters – Foreign ministers of three Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) member states will be discussing the recent events in Lesotho, the international relations and co-operation department (Dirco) confirmed on Sunday. “Foreign ministers of South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia are meeting tonight in Pretoria to talk about matters of Lesotho,” said Dirco spokesperson Clayson Monyela. […]
