No matter how shocking the evidence of corruption in contemporary South Africa may be Continue reading
Category Archives: Contemporary South Africa
Zapiro cartoon on anniversary of Rivonia trial
Greg Marinovich on Farlam commission: obstacles in the way of arriving at truth on Marikana massacre
Raymond Suttner, The Problem of terminology in South Africa
When one talks about terminology that one prefers one risks being accused of being ‘precious’ or trying to be ‘politically correct’, Continue reading
Court order secured by ‘Equal Education’ to force Minister of Education to promulgate norms and standards for school infrastructure
Cape Town Metro police rough up blind busker
Johannesburg forced to withdraw advert based on false claims of quality of its services
Richard Pithouse, The antinomies of democracy in Durban
Steven Robins, How poo became a political issue
Raymond Suttner, Nelson Mandela as a model of manhood
Whereas earlier studies of gender concentrated on women, recent decades have seen a flourishing of literature on masculinities, Continue reading
Raymond Suttner, Notions of manhood: Initiation tragedies should not blind us to dangers beyond those that are part of public discourse
The ANC and the Minister of Health have correctly deplored the spate of deaths resulting from initiation practices, in the Eastern Cape and other areas. Continue reading
Athambile Masola, Black love, intimacy
NUM and LONMIN work in concert towards undoing AMCU gains
Lonmin, government and ANC alliance appear intent on inflaming situation on platinum mines through failure to recognise AMCU’s majority support
Athambile Masola, taxi drivers and the politics of space and security
Athambile Masola describes the daily experience of harassment in public transport. While gender equality is enshrined in our constitution the value is not part of the consciousness of most South Africans, men and women. A few years ago, there was a lot of talk about this constitution having created a crisis of manhood in South Africa. It is telling that that discourse is hardly heard any more, as there appears to be a continuing high tolerance of sexual abuse and harassment of women. The apprehensions of those practising aggressive masculinities seem to have been unfounded as freedom of movement of women remain under threat
Raymond Suttner, Why grieve over Mandela’s imminent passing?
I try to understand why I am so upset about Mandela’s imminent passing. Continue reading
Government and Alliance partners are unwilling to take proper steps to acknowledge status of AMCU
Government and Alliance partners are unwilling to take proper steps to acknowledge status of AMCU
Since the Marikana massacre it has become clear that ANC allied National Union of Mineworkers has been fast losing ground to AMCU. Government and alliance responses have been reckless, treating the displacement of NUM as quasi-criminal activity, notoriously describing AMCU as a vigilante union. This is no way to seek peace in the industry
The giant scandal that Zuma owns. (Mail and guardian editorial)
Cartoon, by Dr JackandCurtis, click to enlarge please
Raymond Suttner, Mandela:strong, tough and tender
There is a myth that to be strong and manly one cannot also be tender and gentle. Mandela, in a range of ways dispels any such myth. Thereby his life is a challenge to tough and violent masculinities, that are all too prevalent in South Africa today. For Mandela there were times where he found it necessary to fight, both as a boxer and in MK, times where he had to show his strength as in prison. But this photograph with a baby is only one of a range of manifestations of his tenderness.
Raymond Suttner 