East Africa: New Report Shows Alarming EAC Inequality Gap
BY IVAN R. MUGISHA & ERIC KABEERA Gains from integration among the five East African Community (EAC) states could be hampered by the enlarging inequality gap of the region’s citizens. A new report, State of East Africa Report 2013, by the Society for International Development (SID) and Trademark East Africa, highlights that unless drastic readjustments […]
The State of Class Struggle in South Africa
A. The world we live in today and our 20 years of “Democracy” It is impossible to deny that the world has seen the most severe crisis of the global capitalist system. And, there is no end in sight, to this crisis. More than anything else, what makes the current systemic and structural global crisis […]
Eskom declares power emergency, possible load shedding
By SAPA After a week of rain left coal stocks wet, Eskom says the country could experience power cuts after declaring an emergency. Eskom declared an emergency on Thursday morning and warned of possible power cuts. Spokesperson Andrew Etzinger said seven days of heavy rain had left coal stocks wet. Read full article here
Amcu blinks for the first time since Marikana
BY KARL GERNETZKY THE Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU) has softened its stance on a wage demand of R12 500 from strike-affected platinum producers. This is the first time AMCU has moderated its demands in eight months of wage talks and almost seven weeks of strike action. The politically sensitive figure of R12 […]
Mozambique: Labour Inspectorate Warns of Violations of Workers’ Rights
BY PAUL FAUVET Maputo — In 2013, there were 13,850 violations of Mozambican labour legislation that came to the notice of the General Inspectorate of Labour (IGT), the Deputy General Inspector, Paulino Mutombene, told a Maputo press conference on 25 February. He regarded poor labour relations as a by-product of increased investment. “The increase in […]
Africa: UN Human Rights Council Opens With Calls to Protect, Support Civil Society Activism
By UN News Service Noting that more and more people around the world are taking to the streets to lay claim to their rights, United Nations officials opened the latest session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva with calls for the protection of members of civil society who pursue justice in their countries. “Streets, […]
Boosting crop yields in Tanzania
The G8 last year launched a strategy aimed at boosting food production called the “New Alliance”. The idea is that governments free up land while agri-businesses bring expertise, technology and financial muscle. Tanzania is one of the six countries where the scheme is being rolled out first. Read full article here
Poor still losing out in African boom
Inequality on the continent has grown in the past decade as tax systems have failed to redistribute wealth, says Christian Aid. Soaring economic growth in many African countries is coming at the expense of the poor, according to a new report that urges governments to overhaul their tax systems to halt rising inequality. Despite a […]
Oxfam finds 85 elites as rich as 3.5-billion people
Oxfam finds 85 elites as rich as 3.5-billion people The world’s wealthiest people aren’t known for travelling by bus, but if they fancied a change of scene then the richest 85 people on the globe – who between them control as much wealth as the poorest half of the global population put together – could […]
AIDC Budget Statement: Its Full Circle Back to GEAR
The National Budget 2014 is a budget for the rich, the financiers, investors and credit rating agencies, argues the Alternative Information and Development Centre No one can accuse Finance Minister, Pravin Gordhan, of producing an election-year people’s budget. This is a budget for the rich, the financiers, investors and credit rating agencies. The Minister went […]
