Opinion and Analysis

Dying with dignity

Nelson Mandela may not be aware of it but he has got us talking about death; something we have never had the courage to do before. This is certainly a discussion he wanted us to have. As President of the country he appointed the South African Law Commission to write a report on end-of life issues, and it was Nelson Mandela himself who tabled this in parliament.

Sean Davison

Opinion | 6 August 2013

The Kurdish Question: Is a political solution possible?

A process has begun in Turkey which has the potential to find solutions to the Kurdish question.

Mansoor Jaffer

Opinion | 5 August 2013

Labour backs child beating ban

Sex scandals, amid accusations of conspiracy, strikes and ongoing fears of violence have dominated the news about trade unions over the past week and more. And the spectre of Wonderkop and the dead and crippled miners, both pre and post Marikana has continued to loom large.

Terry Bell

Opinion | 5 August 2013

World Cup or not, Brazilian protesters have had enough

South Africa and Brazil have quite a few things in common. Both are economic powerhouses and members of BRICS. They both play an important role in regional and global affairs acting as political advisors to their nearby countries.

Fabio da Graca

Opinion | 5 August 2013

Don’t be fooled: Zimbabwe’s land reform is no success

It is election day in Zimbabwe. This is a good day to reconsider the Zimbabwean land reform experience and what to make of it, especially as we consider what should be done about land reform in South Africa.

Jack Lewis

Opinion | 31 July 2013

Are we ready for universal breastfeeding in South Africa?

The government is discontinuing the provision of free formula milk at public health facilities. This policy is intended to promote exclusive breastfeeding for all mothers, including those living with HIV.

Vuyiseka Dubula

Opinion | 30 July 2013

The rights role of the labour movement

The discussion of socialism and nationalisation in this column last week has upset some trade unionists and at least one academic. They felt that the demands of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) of Julius Malema were equated with those of movements of the traditional Left.

Terry Bell

Opinion | 29 July 2013

What should be done about land in South Africa?

I think about land matters quite a bit, especially now that I’m living on a small holding in the Karoo. In 1999, I was invited to make a video showing the "challenges" (yes that was still an acceptable word back then) of land reform in the Free State.

Jack Lewis

Opinion | 24 July 2013

Solal Technologies actively promotes pseudoscience … and here’s how

Kevin Charleston explains why he stands by the comments a popular vitamin company is suing him for.

Kevin Charleston

Opinion | 23 July 2013

Zille’s misguided defence of Motshekga

Helen Zille may seem like an unlikely advocate for Angie Motshekga, but she is not. The two have come to each other’s aid on more than one occasion.

Doron Isaacs

Opinion | 23 July 2013

Red herring: Equating socialism with nationalism

Julius Malema’s Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) has now emerged as a new, self proclaimed, socialist party. It plans to stage a mass rally at Marikana on August 17, marking the anniversary of the bloody fracture in the local trade union and political environment.

Terry Bell

Opinion | 22 July 2013

Nkaneng: sorry symbol of a century of neglect

Living conditions of Lonmin workers show how exploitation and neglect continue on South African platinum mines.

Raphael Chaskalson

Opinion | 17 July 2013

We must confront the poisonous roots of the past

“History, despite its wrenching pain, cannot be unlived. But, if faced with courage, need not be lived again.” So wrote American author and poet Maya Angelou; providing an insight that seems highly pertinent to the South Africa of today, especially when considering the fraught situation in the mining sector.

Terry Bell

Opinion | 16 July 2013

Pay rises, policy alternatives and regime change

Trade unions are irresponsible and greedy, demanding double digit pay rises and so driving up inflation and threatening the stability of the currency and the economy. And while they criticise government policies, protest about the system or refuse immediately to accept government brokered deals, they provide no adequate explanations or alternatives.

Terry Bell

Opinion | 10 July 2013

MyCiTi: Why Cape Town needs a unique solution to public transport

BRT has become a buzzword when talking about creative transport solutions. However, it is only under very specific conditions that BRT provides the one-size-fits-all answer to a city’s needs.

Martin Eichhorn

Opinion | 10 July 2013

Labelling Israeli injustice

For three long years, activists across the country campaigned to ban Israel’s practice of falsely labelling goods that are made in its illegal settlements as "made in Israel". In April this year, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) issued a regulation banning this practice.

Jonathan Dockney

Opinion | 3 July 2013