In its first months of hearings, the Farlam Commission has shown us clear evidence of a bungled police cover up of a massacre, the National Union of Mineworkers' (NUM) own attempt to hide its role, and an alarming level of complicity between state and capital. The...
commission
What the frack: will shale gas develop or retard the Karoo? | by David Fig
The South African government lifted the moratorium on fracking on 7 September, opening the way for exploration of what's been sold as a massive shale gas resource beneath the beautiful, sparsely populated Great Karoo. Fracking (short for hydraulic fracturing) is a...
The slayings grow more sinister | by Ronnie Kasrils
Our initial horror and outrage does not subside but deepens. Evidence is emerging of a web of possible vengeance and extra-judicial executions. These point to a scenario as sinister and chilling as anything from our horrific colonial-apartheid history. Our gut...
Interview with Bench Marks Foundation chief researcher David van Wyk
Amandla (A!): Some labour experts insist that the platinum mines, which you call the wealthiest in the world, cannot accede to miners' wage demands and pay for corporations' social responsibility to affected communities. To what extent is labour broking affecting...
Unemployed People’s Movement Press Statement: Marikana Massacre Memorial Service in Grahamstown
Unemployed People's Movement Press Statement Marikana Massacre Memorial Service in Grahamstown A memorial service for all who fell in the Marikana Massacre will be held in the Anglican Cathedral in Grahamstown on Thursday 30 August 2012 at 4:00 p.m. People of all...
Marikana and the New Politics of Grief by | Jon Soske
In July 1981, 1,700 workers at the Penge asbestos mine in the Northwestern Transvaal struck after a bitter, two year struggle for recognition by the Black Allied Mine and Construction Workers Union. After four days, the mine owners fired all of the workers, who then...
Radio 786 Interview
On Radio786 in Cape Town from 9:30-10:30pm tonight, Ashraf was the interviewer, and to open, David van Wyk of Bench Mark Foundation (church-backed research group) did a terrific job setting out the extent of the crisis, including the social and labour plans which were...
Morsi wins Egypt’s presidential election
Muslim Brotherhood candidate declared the official winner with 13.2 million votes in second round. The Muslim Brotherhood's Mohammed Morsi has officially won Egypt's presidential election and will be the country's next president, the electoral commission has...
Egyptian junta installs Islamist Mursi as figurehead president | by Barry Grey
Egypt’s Supreme Presidential Electoral Commission on Sunday declared Mohamed Mursi, the Muslim Brotherhood (MB) candidate, the winner of the presidential election runoff held the week before in the midst of a political coup carried out by the ruling Supreme Council of...





