Inequality
latest news & developments
A new politics for Tshwane
This article critically examines the populist governance style in Tshwane, South Africa, contrasting it with the social democratic politics exemplified by Zohran Mamdani in New…
Kwanele Ngogela
Kwanele Ngogela is asking a question that many boardrooms have long avoided: what if tackling inequality is not just a social imperative, but a business one? It is a question…
SA's G20 triumph must not be allowed to fade
Six months after hosting the first G20 Leaders' Summit on African soil, South Africa's efforts to translate the Johannesburg Declaration into tangible change for the continent…
The migrant and the citizen: we need new forms of political community
South Africa's struggles with xenophobia, particularly against migrants from elsewhere in Africa, are not new. This article argues that blaming migrants deflects from deeper…
Education for liberation, dignity and empowerment: A call to action
This article reflects on three significant anniversaries: 70 years since the women's march against pass laws, 50 years since the 1976 Soweto uprising, and 30 years of South…
Climate models failing to reflect inequality and Global South realities, study warns
Scientists say dominant climate and biodiversity models rely too heavily on existing economic systems and overlook inequality, Global South perspectives and Indigenous knowledge,…
Solar powers Malawi’s mobile money boom but leaves the poorest behind
New research links rural solar adoption to mobile money use, while raising concerns about inequality
It is time for the Second Republic
Our private and political lives are always punctuated by upheavals and storms. These moments signal the direction we should take. The unfolding political and economic crisis in…
SA’s Constitution at 30, a shared compact
The belief that a constitutional text alone can transform society is as misplaced as the claim that it is the primary barrier to transformation. The Constitution can be a…
Reflections on workers’ regression, resistance and renewal
With millions of South Africans unemployed — particularly young people — employers wield enormous power. The message is clear: “If you don’t accept these conditions, there are…
Unionised workforce still ideal
We are proud of how far Cosatu has come since it was launched 40 years ago in Durban and the role it has played in ending apartheid, securing our constitutional democracy,…
Ramaphosa calls for ‘real change’ as SA marks 32 years of democracy
President Cyril Ramaphosa says South Africa’s democracy must be measured by its ability to deliver real, material improvements in people’s lives
SA marks 32 years of democracy amid deep inequality and joblessness
South Africa’s 32nd Freedom Day highlights both democratic gains and ongoing struggles with inequality, unemployment and poverty
No freedom without water
Across South Africa, communities are marking Freedom Day under the weight of an escalating water crisis, where unreliable supply, contamination and ageing infrastructure continue…
If we cannot see the most vulnerable, our development plans will always fall short
Development statistics tell us what has happened. They show us how many children have dropped out of school, how many young people are unemployed and how many households remain…