In just 10 years arguably one of the most highly politicised generations of youth has given way to one in which apathy is unprecedented and disenchantment with politics is acute. On Thursday the Independent Electoral Commission revealed that just below half the young people eligible to register to vote had done so during the final registration drive last weekend.

The Women’s Legal Centre (WLC) is taking the state to court to prove that it has a duty of care towards children at school, especially young girls. If the action succeeds it will set a precedent establishing that the state is liable for protecting children while at school. This could have wide-ranging reverberations in a country where almost a third of girls are raped at school.

”My son’s death is not any more special than anyone else’s,” says Lynne Vince-Jillings. She is just one of the thousands of South Africans to have lost a child at the hands of criminals. What has made Ivanne’s death different is that it forced his mother to channel her pain and anger into a campaign that encourages the public to take a pro-active stance against crime.

The widely welcomed agreement between pharmaceutical companies and the state’s competitions body — to issue multiple generic licences for anti-retrovirals (ARVs) — will increase supply and decrease prices of these life-saving drugs.

It is that time of year again, and the Mail & Guardian will as always rise to the occasion. Next week our bumper end-of-year edition will be out on Friday. Cutting-edge analysis, in-depth features, incisive wit and sophisticated charm pack its pages.

South Africa’s estimated 200 000 traditional healers will soon be regulated under the Traditional Health Practitioners Bill, to be enacted by Parliament next year. But many traditional healers are unaware of its contents and critics have raised various problems with its implementation.

Legislation passed three years ago to ensure stricter gun control is finally about to come into effect — and is facing harsh criticism from pro-gun lobbyists, who believe the police are unable to implement it. The Firearms Control Act, passed in October 2000, is expected to be implemented by the end of the year.

A toll-free suicide crisis line aimed at teenagers was opened late last week by the South African Anxiety and Depression Group (Sadag) to coincide with matric exams — and calls have already doubled since the start of the exams on Monday.
South Africa’s suicide rate is 17,2 per 100 000, higher than the global average of 16 per 100 000.

A staggering 70% of companies did not submit their employment equity (EE) reports by the October 1 deadline despite assurances from the South African Chamber of Business (Sacob) that all companies would comply.