Over the past few weeks across the globe, governments have ramped up their responses to issues of migration as anti-immigration forces have gained the centre stage of politics and forced such responses. There are some who are calling it the era of ‘Enforcement Above All Else.’ Refugee Digest 96 – Migrants, Refugees and Displaced Persons […]
Despite being vaccine-preventable, measles continues to pose a serious health threat, particularly to young children and vulnerable communities. Prof. Talitha Crowley explains that measles “can lead to diarrhoea, pneumonia, blindness, encephalitis, and even death. Family Digest 69 – A Decline in Vaccinations – The Case of Measles by Lois Law
It is a cardinal rule of democratic governance that a country’s security services should not interfere in political matters, or comment on questions of policy that belong to the elected civilian government (except when asked to do so in their area of professional expertise), or publicly criticise their civilian superiors. Response – Policy and the […]
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 […]
The 26th of June is International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. Annually, the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG) commemorates this day as Substance Abuse Awareness Day. The use, misuse and abuse of alcohol, illicit drugs, over the counter and prescription medications (OTC/PRE) affect the health and well-being of millions of people […]
One of the hallmarks of the state capture era was the politics of patronage – numerous senior politicians, President Jacob Zuma chief among them, built up loyalty networks through the distribution of jobs in government and positions in public office, and by offering access to tenders and other forms of state spending. Democracy Digest 16 […]
In recent weeks we have witnessed yet another spike in xenophobic activity, especially with regard to what is now called medical xenophobia. Simply put, certain groups organise around the prevention of access to health services by foreign nationals, irrespective of status. This is happening despite court orders, clarification of provisions in the Constitution, and political […]
The theme of the 2025 National Women’s Day is ‘Building Resilient Economies for All’. This involves creating economies that can withstand and recover from shocks, while also ensuring equitable access to opportunities and resources for everyone. This requires a multifaceted approach that addresses economic, social, and environmental factors. Response – National Women’s Day 2025- Building […]
Plastic bottles, containers and packaging are an integral part of everyday life, but plastic and its associated chemicals can negatively impact human health through various pathways, including direct exposure to microplastics as well as indirect effects from plastic production, use and waste management. Microplastics, tiny plastic particles of less than 5mm, are found in the […]
Maternal health refers to the health of women during pregnancy, childbirth and the postnatal period. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), every day during 2023 over 700 women died from preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth.1 While South Africa has made efforts to improve maternal health services, including free antenatal care and antiretroviral […]
