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Articles
Harnessing the Power of Local Economies in Building Sustainable Communities
by Edwin Mashigo, CEO of Ideafin Group, presented at the DDP Conference on Stregthening Local Economic Development in the Second Decade of Democracy in South Africa
Is the developmental state any longer appropriate in overcoming the “triple challenge” of development in South Africa?
by Adam Andani, March 2012
Decree of Reflection, Elevation of Hopes
A Synoptic Analysis of 2012 State of the Nation Address by Sifiso S. Kunene, February 2012
Survivor Rajbansi - the people's politician
by Imraan Buccus, 11 January 2012 - Called brilliant by some, an opportunist by others, this master organiser, socialiser and strategist’s legacy will not be forgotten
Tides of opportunity are changing
by Imraan Buccus, 25 January 2012 - Those seeking a better life or experience are now moving to places like Angola or Brazil as the lure of Europe fades
No famine in countries with press freedom
by Imraan Buccus, September 2011 - It has been a welcomed relief that the Protection of Information Bill has ‘been put on hold’ but it certainly does not mean that press freedom in SA is not threatened.
Opposing ‘tenderpreneurs’ in a democratic SA
By Imraan Buccus, October 2011 - The contradictions and levels of hypocrisy are in SA are stark. Nonetheless politics in SA is interesting and mind -boggling. But, then again, that old Chinese curse does make it clear enough that interesting times aren’t always good times.
Red October more nightmare than dream
by Imraan Buccus, 5 October 2011 - Leading SACP members are flaunting their wealth and political importance rather than promoting the aims and ideals of the founders of communism
Keeping the flame of critical scholarship alive
by Imraan Buccus, 2 November 2011 - Book reflects on problems and challenges confronting the new South Africa and its achievements
Mazibuko won't draw masses to the DA
by Imraan Buccus, 19 October 2011 - The party’s middle-class politics will never win popular support because it is essentially neo-liberal
Banning of that song is no solution at all
by Imraan Buccus, 21 September 2011 - The singing of divisive songs should not be banned lest this plays into the hands of those who argue against a free press and independent judiciary
Sharing the grief of September 11
by Imraan Buccus, September 2011 - Once again, people around the world will be remembering and paying tribute to the three thousand men, women and children who lost their lives in the atrocious events of September 11, 2001. No doubt, that event has changed the world forever.
Using the lessons of history
by Imran Buccus, 10 August 2011 - Norway is an example of nationalisation success. Here, a nationalised mine under scientific and professional control could pump profits into infrastructure and development
Getting on with life in an ordinary country
by Imraan Buccus, 7 September 2011 - As a people, we come from a deeply traumatic past. However, with all its faults, SA has a lot to be proud of.
Young people cannot accept an abnormal society
Imraan Buccus reflects - Young people want to play a greater role in determining the future of this country. Young people have a great responsibility; future generations would ask them where they were when South Africa began to degenerate. Part of that (moral) degeneration is the fact that SA is increasing becoming distinctly two nations – one fabulously wealthy and the other desperately poor.
Set the real Revenge of History in motion
bu Imraan Buccus, 24 August 2011 - The government’s challenge is to crack down not just on Malema but also on many other rich careerists...
Different strikes for different strikers
by Imraan Buccus, 27 July 2001 - THERE are many types of strikes and many kinds of strikers. There are strikes that make headlines and strikes that are only known at the place of work...
Public intellectuals must speak up
by Imraan Buccus, 29 June 2011 - South Africa needs voices of reason more than ever before, or we will be left with Malema-think
Government must get in touch with its people
by Imraan Buccus, 1 June 2011 - Citizens need to be able to communicate with those in power over issues that affect them and their communities
Ramadan, Muslims and Extremism
by Imraan Buccus, July 2011 - Muslims around the world will, next week, begin a month long fast as the month of Ramadan begins – the month when the holy book of Muslims, the Qur’an was revealed. During this month all adult Muslims are required to fast from dawn until sunset for the entire month...
New leader will not be able to reform IMF
by Imraan Buccus, 15 June 2011 - Global South must unite to take control of their economies and throw off the shackles of international organisations
Tolerance is key to plural co-existence
By Imraan Buccus, January 2011 - It’s been a bleak start to the New Year in many parts of the world. In the Borno State capital in Nigeria, suspected Muslim extremists from the Boko Haram group attacked the Victory Baptist Church in Alamderi and
Remembering those less fortunate
By Imraan Buccus, 18 May 2011 - Celebrating democracy at home, struggling for freedom in Palestine
Struggling for justice and freedom
by Imraan Buccus, 7 May 2011 - Today, even while we celebrate the reconciliatory efforts between Hamas and the PLO in Palestine, the levels of oppression and brutalisation of Palestinians continues. Who can forget the attack on Gaza a few years ago? The area remains devastated and is often in darkness because Israel shuts them off.
Rethinking the crisis of local democracy
by Imraan Buccus, 4 May 2011 - Too often, local councillors are being used to communicate government views downwards rather than community views upwards
Local government elections and rethinking the crisis of local democracy
By Imraan Buccus - 9 April 2011 - Since 2006 an unprecedented wave of popular protest has ebbed and flowed across the country.
World-class intellectual engagement
By Imraan Buccus, 23 March 2011 -- Great minds have assembled at a symposium that embodies one of democracy’s most important characteristics – open debate.
Mugabe’s Tunisia Day will come
By Imraan Buccus - 09 March 2011 - Dictators get nervous as the people rediscover their power
Academics and the real world
By Imraan Buccus - 23 February 2011 - The value of intellectual work should be in its contribution to a wider debate and to development, not some incestuous debate that no one else reads.
The people will rise up
By Imraan Buccus, 10 February 2011 - South Africa needs to take development seriously so that the poor begin to see real change in their lives
When anger outweighs fear, a regime is in danger
By Dr Devi Rajab, DDP Board Member - 9 February 2011
Our quest for goodness remains elusive
By Dr Devi Rajab, 30 November 2010 - For as long as peace is tied to politics, there will be no solution because there can be no peace without justice...
Reflections from Rwanda
by Imraan Buccus, 26 January 2011 - There can be no place in a democracy for any sort of racism, ethnic chauvinism and jingoistic language.
Race, class and the Dewani case
By Imraan Buccus, 15 December 2010 - Anni Dewani’s murder speaks volumes about social abandonment of the poor, vulnerability to media racism, fear and prejudice...
Time to stop R370m feeding frenzies.
By Imraan Buccus - The elite just cannot understand that extravagant spending is obscene in a country where poor people struggle to meet their basic needs.
Welcome contribution to critical debate
By Imraan Buccus - The New South African Review promises critical thought and lively debate on topics ranging from economy and education to ecology and crime.
Government, heal thyself and our physicians
By Dr Devi Rajab - The brain drain will continue unless medical experts are given reasons to stay. When they leave, our standards of health care fall.
Young people could lick the country back into shape
By Dr Devi Rajab - even as Julius Malema rants and raves, there is reason to believe that the future of South Africa is bright..
Class is cramping our democracy
By Imraan Buccus - Non-racialism is still the last frontier of SA's transformation, as consumerism and African chauvinism have clouded the issue for minorities.
Attack on press freedom more than a rights issue
Research has shown that a clamp on the media goes hand in hand with many other social ills
Debate focuses on ethical leadership...
By Raphael Wolf - Southern Mail, Wednesday, 8 September 2010
A changing perspective of faith
In the global limelight Muslims are considered to be extremists, but there has been an increasing attraction to a variety of expressions of Islam.
A burning issue of communication
News of a community setting schools alight pointsnot so much to frustration over poor service, but to rage over not being consulted.
Success of the World Cup means no excuses now
By Imraan Baccus -- It is up to us to make issues as big a priority as was the World Cup
Protection of Information Bill
By Dave Steward, Executive Director ( FW de Klerk Foundation) -- In George Orwell’s classic, 1984, ‘doublethink’ is the ability to hold two diametrically opposing views on the same topic at the same time. As Orwell put it “to repudiate morality while laying claim to it, to believe that democracy was impossible and that the Party was the guardian of democracy.” Doublethink appears to have been the mindset of the authors of the Protection of Information Bill that is currently before Parliament.
Political Tolerance on the Wane in South Africa
By Imraan Baccus -- Political tolerance has been seriously undermined in recent times in SA. It has declined in the sphere of party political contestation, within the alliance and between the ruling party, the state and the independent poor people’s movements.
Embracing the 'Untouchables'
By Imraan Baccus -- The children of indentured stock cannot remain invisible forever - pushed to the marginsby those whosecretly despise the indentured.
Make it a World cup for all, not only the wealthy
By Imraam Baccus -- Social cohesion and unity are only good things if they include everyone.
Remember the youth during the World Cup
By Imraan Baccus -- The same energy that South Africa put into preparing for the event should be used to build a future for our young people.
The World Cup will bring collective joy
By Imraan Buccus -- The Super 14 final in Orlando Stadium, Soweto, was a wonderful event. Here, again, we saw that South Africa is the undisputed world leader in rugby. This domination of world rugby is thrilling.
New Left
By Imraan Buccus -- Much has been said in South Africa about the need for political pluralism and the creation of uncertainty so that no party is guaranteed a victory at the polls.
We need a deepening of democracy
By Imraan Baccus -- Continuing on the path of an elite democracy, in which the majority is both politically and economically excluded, is simply not viable
The ANC's chickens are coming home to roost
By Imraan Baccus -- If media keep the light on the elites, the people will not allow this degeneration to continue.
Opposing ‘tenderpreneurs’ in our democratic order
By Imraan Buccus -- South Africa is indeed a weird country. The contradictions and levels of hypocrisy are stark. I would hasten to add that I don’t think politics is as interesting and mind -boggling anywhere else in the world; like it is in SA. But, then again, that old Chinese curse does make it clear enough that interesting times aren’t always good times.
Haiti is the island of the oppressed
By Imraan Buccus -- Haiti is not, as a newspaper recently claimed, ‘the island of the damned’. In fact Haiti is the island of the oppressed.
The Impact of Crime on Human Rights
This article talks about the challenges created by increasing crime levels on the maintenance of human rights within South African society.
The Role of the State in Securing Rights
The article discusses what role the state should play in securing rights in the contemporary era.
15 years of the South African Constitution
