With the death this week of Neville Alexander South Africa has lost one of it's greatest, and possibly least appreciated, sons. Political thinker & activist; teacher & author; academic of renown and genuine revolutionary Neville Alexander inspired generations...
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Q&A with Public Protector Thuli Madonsela
At a time when people's trust in the body politic is eroding fast, Public Protector Thuli Madonsela has emerged as a national heroine, almost universally revered for her refusal to bow to political pressure and a dedication to her office that few can emulate. Even in...
Neville Alexander 1936-2012 A prophet rather than a politician | by Francis Wilson
With the death this week of Neville Alexander South Africa has lost one of it's greatest, and possibly least appreciated, sons. Political thinker & activist; teacher & author; academic of renown and genuine revolutionary Neville Alexander inspired generations...
Marikana … from June 16 to August 16: 36 years
South Africa is by all accounts the world's richest country in terms of the value of its mineral resources. In 2010 these were valued at $2.5–$4.5 trillion. Mining is a lucrative business opportunity right now. The demand for commodities for the growing economies of...
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 Gavin Capps on Platinum
Amandla (A!): Is platinum the new gold for the South African economy and how has the global crisis impacted on the industry? GC: Platinum has historically been a relatively marginal metal in the world economy. South Africa has 88 percent of the world's known reserves...
And what of the women of Marikana? | by Samantha Hargreaves
More than two weeks have passed since the savage 16 August massacre at Marikana massacre and much has been said by government, the mine, the unions, and some civil society organisations. But we have heard little directly from the Marikana strikers, and almost nothing...
What the Marikana Massacre Highlights
by Shawn Hattingh The sight of policemen gunning down striking workers at Marikana was truly galling. Reports too have now emerged that on the day of the shooting some workers may have been executed far from the view of the press’s cameras; and allegations have also...
It’s the coal, stupid
South AfrIca's coal-fuelled development path delivers jobs that are less than decent and results in massively negative externalities – water contamination, air pollution, loss of farmland and community commons and livelihoods. With theexception of Sasol, coal is still...









