Every year, around August, the Office of the Auditor-General releases its Consolidated General Report on Local Government Outcomes, which lays open the parlous state of most of our municipalities. This year’s report, covering the 2023-4 financial year, shows that only 41 out of 257 municipalities achieved a clean audit – technically termed ‘an unqualified audit […]
In a video message to the Conference of the Parties (COP) 30 meeting in Belen, Brazil, on 17th November, Pope Leo XIV warned that the present efforts to safeguard the earth are not enough: “Creation is crying out in floods, droughts, storms and relentless heat. One in three people live in great vulnerability because of […]
Marginalization is a fundamental driver of multiple, intersecting vulnerabilities that are compounded by social, economic, and political factors which overlap and intersect to create unique experiences of discrimination and heightened vulnerability. These include lack of documentation, homelessness, unemployment, trauma, addiction, systemic failures and immigration status. BP 638 – Marginalisation – the Driver of Multiple Vulnerabilities […]
The last weekend in September is usually observed in the Roman Catholic Church as the Day of Prayer for Refugees and Migrants. This year it was shifted to the first weekend in October so as to align with the Jubilee Year focus on Migrants and Refugees around the world. The motto for this year, in […]
Despite nearly three decades of democracy, South Africa remains one of the most unequal societies in the world. The unemployment rate hovers near 31.9%, while youth unemployment is at 41.6%, and black South Africans own a disproportionately small share of productive assets.1 BP 637 – The Transformation Fund- A Possible Game-Changer by Kenny Pasensie
On 8th October the Minister of Home Affairs, Dr Leon Schreiber, via Ministerial Directive 21 of 2025, once again extended the validity of the Zimbabwean Exemption Permits (ZEPs) and the Lesotho Exemption Permits (LEPs), which were both due to expire on 28th November of this year. BP 636 – Refugee Permits- Another Extension, But Not […]
The commemoration of World Mental Health Day (WMHD) on 10th October is aimed at creating public awareness to make mental health a global priority. The theme for World Mental Health Day 2025 is ‘Access to Services – Mental Health in Catastrophes and Emergencies’. This focus highlights the critical need to ensure access to mental health […]
At the end of January 2026 the current National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP), Shamila Batohi, will reach retirement age of 65. She will leave office with something of a mixed legacy. BP 634 – Choosing the New National Director of Public Prosecutions by Mike Pothier
Climate change is increasingly seen as an emergency issue in the context of children’s rights, as they are uniquely vulnerable to climate change. It significantly impacts children, making them disproportionately vulnerable to its effects due to their unique physiological and developmental needs. BP 633 – Climate Change & Children’s Physical & Mental Health by Lois […]
In July 2025, the United States introduced reciprocal tariffs ranging from 10 per cent to 50 per cent on more than 90 countries. The move, part of a broader reciprocal trade strategy, was designed to pressure countries perceived as maintaining non-reciprocal trade barriers against American exports. In a move that resembled an episode of the […]
