Who is to blame for the medicines backlog?

The Medicines Control Council has for many years been severely criticised for the exceptionally long time it takes to register a medicine. It is not unusual for a medicine to become available in Europe, Australia, Canada and the United States years ahead of its appearance in South Africa.

Henry M. J. Leng and David Sanders

Analysis | 31 August 2015

What solution to a world in crisis?

Oh, when will they ever learn? It’s the last line in every stanza of a famous Pete Seeger anti-war song. And it is wholly appropriate this week as we digest the latest GDP figures against a background of ongoing crises especially in the steel, mining and manufacturing sectors. Along with, of course, the continuing collapse of the rand.

Terry Bell

Opinion | 31 August 2015

Coalition launched to decriminalise sex work

In the wake of Amnesty International’s vote to adopt a policy that supports sex work decriminalisation, the Asijiki Coalition for the Decriminalisation of Sex Work was launched in Cape Town on 27 August. The coalition consists of sex workers, activists, advocates and defenders of human rights.

Ashleigh Furlong

News | 28 August 2015

Making a living from pap

Ketayi Madzokere, 34, affectionately known as Mai Mutsa by Zimbabweans and her customers, is a soft spoken but determined business woman.

Tariro Washinyira

News | 28 August 2015

Parents claim victory in battle over Dunoon school

Dunoon parents and representatives of the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) reached an agreement on Thursday after weeks of argument over the use of mobile classrooms next to the Sophakama Primary School.

Pharie Sefali

News | 28 August 2015

Mothers march for quality care

Several hundred mothers, pregnant women, men and activists marched to the provincial legislature and parliament on Thursday to highlight problems accessing quality maternal and obstetric care in the Western Cape.

Mary-Anne Gontsana

News | 27 August 2015

Csaawu to raise R250 000 or face closure next month

The Commercial Stevedoring Agricultural & Allied Workers Union (Csaawu) has been going door-to-door on farms between Robertson and Ladysmith this week in a bid to raise enough money to keep its doors open.

Barbara Maregele

News | 27 August 2015

Who is funding our political parties?

The 2016 local government elections will be surely be heavily contested. Already in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Nelson Mandela Bay, the ANC, DA and EFF are gearing up for tough electoral battles. No doubt too, all the political parties will pour large sums of money into these areas. But quite how much political parties will spend on campaigning, no one knows, because of a complete lack of transparency in the funding of political parties.

Judith February

Opinion | 27 August 2015

Call for parliament’s HIV committee to be revived

Civil society groups have called for the revival of the Joint Parliamentary Committee on HIV & AIDS.

Bernard Chiguvare

News | 27 August 2015

Khayelitsha eviction case postponed

Residents of Newcastle informal settlement in Khayelitsha may have to wait another month to challenge the City of Cape Town over their eviction order.

Barbara Maregele

Brief | 26 August 2015

Khayelitsha Commission: it’s up to the Minister now, says Zille

Until national police minister Nathi Nhleko signs the Khayelitsha Commission of Inquiry recommendations, 90 percent of them cannot be implemented, according to Western Cape Premier Helen Zille.

Mary-Anne Gontsana

News | 26 August 2015

Court victory vindicates shack dwellers’ rights

A recent judgment in the Durban High Court has confirmed what shack dwellers, urban land occupiers and their lawyers have known for some time – the state’s habitual use of legal loopholes to evict land occupiers from their homes is unconstitutional. What’s more, Judge Mokgohla’s decision has finally showed up the courts as sharing responsibility for allowing these evictions to go on unchecked.

Daneel Knoetze

Analysis | 26 August 2015

Copyright bill will empower blind people

Just over two years after the books for the blind treaty was signed in Marrakesh, Morocco, South Africa has finally taken steps toward ratifying the treaty.

Marcus Low

Analysis | 26 August 2015

We will not be silent on crime, say Khayelitsha organisations

Around 200 people from several social justice organisations took part in a march to parliament on Tuesday, for safety, equality and justice.

Mary-Anne Gontsana

News | 25 August 2015

South Africa’s 5 million working poor

Every day millions across South Africa do arduous work in jobs that cannot keep them and their dependants out of poverty. These are the “working poor” and according to a new study, there are about five and half million of them.

Gilad Isaacs

Opinion | 25 August 2015