Category Archives: Contemporary South Africa
Nomboniso Gasa profile interview on PowerFM with Azania Mosaka
Magistrates attacked for treatment of rape complainants
Human rights watch slam SA police as ‘human rights threat’
There was a time during the struggle against apartheid when Human Rights Watch exposed the repression of the apartheid regime. Continue reading
Raymond Suttner, video interview on early Mandela, relationship with Sisulu and Mandela’s masculinities
The murky background to water shortage and killings in Mothutlung
Securing licence for Goldfields costs shareholders millions in shares to associates of former gangster Gayton McK
Pierre de Vos, Water is life, but the struggle for it is deadly
Important location of the battle for water in Mothutlung that has already cost three lives, allegedly as a result of police violence, in the context of constitutional rights, in the Bill of Rights and in judgments of the Constitutional court
Bling queen off hook as state messes up case
Brits Financial mismanagement and water supply failure not new
Mothultlung: where death is delivered faster than service
3 people killed by police, while water supply is sabotaged and water tank suppliers provide water whose quality is questioned
Continued protests over lack of water and police violence and killings in Mothutlung, outside Brits.
Protests continue and police appear to have thrown a man out of a Nyala leading to his sustaining severe head injuries
http://www.iol.co.za/news/crime-courts/cops-are-killing-us-1.1631690#.UtYj2v3H1SU
Carol Paton analyses the meanings and implications of the ANC election manifesto
Rebecca Davis and Thapelo Lekgowa, Dying for water in Brits: Protestors’ blood flows again
Police under fire for excessive force
Pollice in Tshwane Metro kill hawker without facing charges
Jan Rivombo a hawker was apparently killed when refusing to hand over fruit without any form of receipt to Tshwane Metro police. He joins a long line of people who have died in the last few year at the hands of the police, apparently for reasons that did not require the use of deadly force. No one has been charged with the offence, giving a sense that lawlessness is widely tolerated
http://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2014-01-13-analysis-never-forget-jan-rivombo/#.UtOOdf3H1SV
Pierre de Vos on suggestion that ANC might change constitution
I like this article by Pierre de Vos. I have two suggestions. In the sixth paragraph he speaks of those irritated by aspects of the constitution being driven by ‘traditional values’. I know and he makes clear that he is referring to the TCB, which in some cases entrenches dubious versions of tradition. My problem is of a different nature. Surely our belief in democracy is itself a traditional value, part of a long tradition? So my suggestion is that we should not allow that word to be appropriated by reactionaries. My second point is that in paragraph 3 de Vos provides a valuable basis for assessing when a constitutional amendment may be illegitimate. But I think it is time for concerned citizens to elaborate on what type of amendments should or could be entertained as enhancing and deepening our democracy. If we say, correctly, that there is nothing wrong with changing the constitution, it may assist debate to indicate what type of directions could be entertained in the future.
Raymond Suttner: Depoliticised ANC not equipped to address African/Indian business tensions in KZN
The tensions brewing in KZN between African and Indian business people over access to tenders could spark violence and death. (See City Press article below) Continue reading
Turmoil over alleged attempt to purge SAPS of senior MK officers
Two articles in the Mail and Guardian address the question of an alleged hit list within the SAPS, aimed at ridding the senior ranks of mainly former MK operatives. Continue reading
Raymond Suttner 