Enter your keyword

Briefing Paper 563 – Mining and Extractive Industries in Africa by Lovedonia Mkansi

All over the world today extractable resources exist in large reserves that can be used as raw materials to feed into industries such as iron and steel production, energy generation and high-tech manufacturing. This makes mining a very significant industry that supports global economic development, but of course the process of mining dates back to pre-historic times, when people first dug up useful […]

Response – 7th March – The Cabinet Reshuffle by Mike Pothier

In January 2018, shortly after he became president of the ANC, Cyril Ramaphosa addressed the party’s 106th birthday celebrations in East London. Eagerly wielding a new broom, he said, “As you can see, this year we started on time. It’s a clear signal that things are changing. The NEC meeting also started on time. Nelson […]

Response – 2nd March 2023 – The Crime Statistics and Gender-Based Violence/Femicide by Lois Law

It is no secret that gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) is a pandemic in South Africa. On 17th February the Minister of Police, Bheki Cele, delivered an overview of the 2022/2023 quarter three crime statistics. There had been an 11.6% rise in all forms of contact crimes, with murder increasing by 10.1% and a 9.6% […]

Family Digest 53 – World Cancer Day by Lois Law

Cancer is a public health issue of major concern. According to the Department of Health (DoH), cancer is the second leading cause of death, globally. It is a non-communicable disease which is caused by abnormal cells dividing uncontrollably and, in so doing, destroying body tissue and resulting in tumours. “Cancerous tumours spread into, or invade, […]

Refugee Digest 73 – Migrants, Refugees and Displaced Persons by Peter-John Pearson

We live in an era of worsening setbacks for mobile people, especially in terms of their basic human rights. This is evidenced very clearly in many parts of the world. Increasingly, experts point to what they call ‘the primary and secondary barriers’ to the exercise of human rights. Refugee Digest 73 – Migrants, Refugees and […]

Response – 28th February 2023 – A Welcome Judgement on Asylum Claims by Peter-John Pearson

Last week the Acting Judge President of the Western Cape High Court, Judge Patricia Goliath, handed down a far-reaching judgement in which she declared sections 22(12)&(13) of the Refugees Act 130 of 1998, as well as Regulation 9 and Form 3 of the regulations under the Act, to be unconstitutional. She directed that the legislation […]

Briefing Paper 562 – The Decriminalisation of Sex Work by Lois Law

South African law criminalises all aspects of sex work, meaning that both the selling and buying. of sex are illegal. However, on 30th November 2022, Cabinet approved the publication of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Bill of 2022, which deals with the decriminalisation of sex work, for public comment.2 As the Bill makes clear, it will decriminalise sex work […]

Economic Digest 36 – Opening up the Rail Lines by Kenny Pasensie

Transnet, which has been struggling with management and operational problems, is finally in the process of seeking out private investment to help it mitigate inefficiencies and declining revenue. Private investment in SA’s ports and rail is one of the key areas of structural reform the government has identified in its overhaul of the economy in […]