Revolutions distinguish themselves as phenomena that change those who wield social power, replacing old ruling classes with new classes of rulers. In South Africa, the revolution that culminated in the 1994 April Democratic Breakthrough is always thought of as having...
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Palestine and Beyond: the Current Political Moment in the Middle East
An Exclusive Amandla! Interview with Gilbert Achcar A!: What impact has the conflict in Israel/Palestine had generally on the political situation in the Middle East? GA: Basically it's a further factor in radicalising the populations in the Arab world. You have...
Isolate Apartheid Israel now! Build a powerful mass movement in solidarity with Palestine!
The message from the estimated 150,000 marchers who took part in the 9th August Cape Town march in solidarity with Palestine was powerful, principled and unequivocal: South Africa must end its diplomatic relations with Israel. It is a betrayal of South Africa's own...
Interview with Gilbert Achcar by Brian Ashley, August 2014
Amandla!: What in your view are the factors that gave rise to the latest assault on Gaza and why did it happen at this time? Why has it taken such an exceptionally brutal form? Gilbert Achcar: The real qualitative escalation in brutality goes along with the drift of...
Book Review:Gil Scott-Heron-the last holiday-A memoir
Like all of us, Gil Scott-Heron was a profoundly flawed individual, battling his demons while reaching out for a seemingly illusive truth. What worth is there in our lives for the well-grounded, immacutely groomed Oprahesque superhuman role model for us mortals who...
Why Did The Heaven’s Not Darken? Fear and Loathing in Girl Killer SA
The life and death of Rene by Andre Marias This newspaper headline refers to the rape and murder of my niece Rene, 28 years ago. She was four years old at the time of her death on Xmas Eve, 1986. As is so often the case, she knew her killer and he was known to the...
The phony war in Ukraine
By Boris Kagarlitsky March 4, 2014 Why, do you suppose, war has not yet broken out between Russia and Ukraine? The answer is very simple: no one plans to go to war, and no one can. Kiev for practical purposes does not have an army, while the government that has...
Outcaste Cape Town give their opinions about living in the townships
I don't feel part of this country. It's for the whites and the darkies. And then they still want the Western Cape as well They are often racist towards me. The problem is Coloureds don't stick together, they think they can pick on us, because we don't stand together...
Chris McGregor and the Brotherhood of Breath
The morning of our father's 82nd birthday dawned with the news of Chris's death. We had known for some time that he was desperately ill and so had already booked a flight to France to go and visit him – ironically the flight was due to leave that very evening. Chris...

