Poverty
latest news & developments
Billions sit idle as poor cry for help
Parliamentary committee members have voiced outrage after the Department of Social Development underspent R4.879 billion allocated for social grants, returning vital funds to the…
Looting as a Consequence of South Africa's economic exclusion
Thirty-two years into democracy, South Africans grapple with unfulfilled promises. Poverty persists, and social issues manifest in movements and looting, highlighting deep-seated…
The trillion-dollar man: Musk’s wealth milestone raises questions about inequality
Elon Musk's recent achievement of crossing the $1 trillion mark after SpaceX's stock market debut has not only rewritten financial history but also starkly highlighted the scale…
The Sahel region has become the gateway for jihadist terrorism in Africa
The three Sahelian countries — Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger — which have experienced military coups, have not been able to contain the growing episodes of terrorism they have…
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,…
A focus on one faltering building block
The country presents a clear illustration of how a weak social foundation constrains industrial development and reinforces structural inefficiencies but we can change that
Freedom in South Africa is incomplete until all SADC nations achieve genuine democracy
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…
The widescale abuse of Ukraine’s children by the State
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…
God’s gift of hope for new life
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…
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…
Editorial: Hunger in the land of plenty
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…
The falling down place
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…
Is South Africa sleepwalking towards prolonged violent upheaval?
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
The politics of the belly: Why poverty fuels, not suppresses, political engagement
Impoverished communities have a complicated relationship with political engagement, which is vital for their survival