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 hundreds waiting to take your place”
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, uplifting workers and enshrining their rights into law
The country presents a clear illustration of how a weak social foundation constrains industrial development and reinforces structural inefficiencies but we can change that
If we are to honour our freedom, we must also stand in sympathy with our neighbours, whose struggles remind us that democracy is never guaranteed. Their pain must be felt as our own and their hopes embraced as part of our shared destiny
Coverage of Ukrainian children often fixes blame on Russia and leaves the conduct of the Ukrainian government in the background, even though the evidence of exploitation, forced separation, weak oversight and institutional damage inside Ukraine’s own system is extensive and public
Easter people cannot ask, “Am I my brother’s keeper?” because Jesus, on Good Friday, died for all, not just the chosen few. Our brothers’ situations in Sudan, Palestine and Iran are our concern and we must stand with them when they are unable to stand on their own
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 trapped in poverty
Despite producing enough food, South Africa is experiencing a deepening hunger crisis. New research shows that even households receiving food aid are skipping meals — and children are going hungry
While the scars left by the April 2022 flash floods aren’t obvious to visitors to Inanda, the township just northwest of Durban, the collective and individual trauma, often left unspoken, continues to linger
There may not be an imminent threat of violence but we need to stabilise the course the country is on to prevent it in the future
Impoverished communities have a complicated relationship with political engagement, which is vital for their survival
With visionary leadership, ethical stewardship and strategic collaboration, artificial intelligence can help us leapfrog old limitations and create a more just, prosperous and sustainable society
But the Democratic Alliance has said it will boycott the dialogue that will take place over nine months, calling it a waste of time and money
Young people need to have discussions with their peers who have become apathetic and disengaged and volunteer in our communities to create a just society
There is no factual evidence that deindustrialisation, poverty, inequality and unemployment is caused by black economic empowerment, as argued by William Gumede
Thirty years on, the patience of the poor is wearing thin as they are subjected to tardy, disrespectful service
Adolescent girls and young women are blamed and shamed for falling pregnant, which affects how they are treated, the support they get, and the health services they reive
We urgently need more interventions to protect children and address the root causes of violence in the country
It is incumbent upon the government to alleviate poverty, the leading cause of divorce and separation in Uganda
The tragedy of miners trapped underground and the police’s Operation Vala Umgodi is an all-time low for human rights – the government of national unity must act now
The focus would also be on Africa’s high debt levels, financing the just energy transition and the strategic use of critical minerals
Quality education and broader support is crucial to breaking the cycle of intergenerational poverty
A study by the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund says the direct cost of child poverty is estimated to be about 9% of GDP
It’s expensive, time-consuming, limits people’s ability to work, get to school and hospital, and in some rural areas does not exist at all
Salimah Valiani’s beautiful, insightful anthology explores Johannesburg and its inhabitants
The political transition is a good opportunity for greater transparency about how the government shapes the economy
People in the Ekurhuleni area that is named after the MK party’s leader believe it will bring positive change
Six years in the making, the pair’s film explores racial and economic inequality in Cape Town
Traditional innovation often relies heavily on large-scale investments in infrastructure and trained workers, two factors that are often lacking in economically depressed areas
It is up to actors at all levels of society to rescue institutionalised prejudice that undermines the freedom and dignity of women and girls
Conflict transformation regards clashes as motors of change that keep social structures dynamically responsive to social needs
Poverty doesn’t need to be the future for 8.2 million South Africans living on less than $2 or R38 a day