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
Unprecedented use of state security and ANC monitoring to prevent booing at launch of election manifesto
State security is being deployed through the intelligence services in particular, in order to ensure that the president is not booed Continue reading
ANC leadership prepares to defend Nkandla expenditure
One of the most problematic features in current political life, is that there is no real debate Continue reading
Foul play alleged over allocation of fishing licences, with seasoned fishermen denied licences
The allocation of fishing licences overseen by the acting Director General of Agriculture and Fisheries, who is also Treasurer of the MK Veterans association Continue reading
Richard Pithouse, Another annus horribilis for the ANC
Very insightful analysis of the decline of the ANC by Richard Pithouse. There are also some important remarks about organisations outside of the ANC, including the NGO sector, and the general absence of a powerful movement that can relieve the decadence and violence of the present.
Fresh questions over Nkandla’s running costs
Alleged irregularities in withholding and granting of fishing licences
Khadija Patel, Analysis; Motsekga’s class of 2013
South African matric pass rate increases but less enter and pass maths and science
Melanie Judge, Mandela’s lessons of reconciliation applied to gender divides
Raymond Suttner: Child rape and murder -now in Brakpan. Do we have tools for understanding?
The rape and murder of a young child in Brakpan is another tragedy in contemporary South Africa, Continue reading
Raymond Suttner 