The South African Civil Society Information Service
A nonprofit news agency promoting social justice. Seeking answers to the question:
How do we make democracy work for the poor?
A nonprofit news agency promoting social justice. Seeking answers to the question:
How do we make democracy work for the poor?
Glenn Ashton -
President Zuma has called for a national cleansing ceremony in order to restore moral values. But what is the real meaning of this ‘morality’?
Does he intend to stamp out corruption and promote non-sexism? Is he going to defend the values enshrined in our constitution? Or is he urging young people to respect their elders and exhorting women to get married before they have children?
In a nation comprised of many cultures, each subject to the pressures which accompany rapid...
There are 10 million Xhosa people in South Africa amongst whom many tribal customs remain strong. Every year thousands of teenage boys from the Xhosa tribe undergo a ritual circumcision, which according to ancient custom, will make them men. But there are growing concerns about circumcision ceremonies. In the past 10 years, more than 500 boys have lost their lives, while hundreds more have been mutilated. Despite its dangers, the practice shows no sign of abating due to peer and family...
Mandisi Majavu -
For a man who spent ten years on Robben Island fighting against a white supremacist apartheid regime, President Jacob Zuma comes across as seriously ill equipped when talking about issues related to race and culture. Generally speaking, his views on race and culture are primitive.
Recently he’s been quoted in the media as having said, “Spending money on buying a dog, taking it to the vet and for walks belonged to white culture and was not the African way.”
Granted he...
Glenn Ashton -
The recent announcement by President Zuma that certain traditional leadership positions would be not be continued when the incumbent leaders died was met by a remarkable lack of reaction and discussion in the media. A far more profound level of debate would certainly have happened in the affected rural areas where these chieftainships are to be phased out.
Against the bigger picture this was a cosmetic change to traditional and customary practice in South Africa. Surely we must continue to...
