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Political Economy

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The aftermath: Widows and female dependants faced the immediate shock of the Marikana massacre, wrestling with bureaucratic hurdles for compensation while managing unpaid care work amid profound poverty. Photos: Paul Botes/File
MARIKANA

When freedom failed the mineworkers

Fourteen years after the tragedy at Lonmin’s platinum mine in Marikana, the 16 August 2012 massacre remains a significant event in South Africa’s democratic history. The state’s…

  • Sinazo Kunene
  • Lubabalo Cengani
8 min read
South Africa is lagging behind in its transformation crusade, given that Standard Bank and Nedbank have less than 1% black ownership and neither have concluded black economic empowerment (BEE) transactions for a decade.
BLACK ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT BEE

South Africa’s transformation drive under scrutiny as JSE black ownership remains low 

There were replacement transactions at Old Mutual and Absa, with FirstRand, Sanlam and Capitec retaining black ownership. But Standard Bank and Nedbank have less than 1% black…

  • Brian Sokutu
5 min read
President Cyril Ramaphosa intends taking on legal review the section 89 independent panel’s adverse report on Phala Phala released earlier this week. (Brenton Geach/EPA)
ALAN HIRSCH

Consolidating government finances is a tall order

Ramaphosa needs to build broad political consensus if he is to have any chance of pursuing his fiscal and structural reform agenda

  • Jabulani Sikhakhane
12 min read