IN THE ONCE FEARED RIGHTWING TOWN OF EUGENE TERRE’BLANCHE, BLACK RESIDENTS LIVE FREELY IN A DEMOCRACY
Throngs of community members in the JB Marks Local Municipality converged on the local hall to engage face-to-face with the North West government officials led by stand-in Premier Madoda Sambatha. The setting was Ventersdorp, a dorpie along the N14 motorway that was once synonymous with the rightwing Afrikaner politician Eugene Terre’Blanche, he of the infamous […]
NATIONAL POLICE COMMISSIONER FANNIE MASEMOLA HAS DONE NOTHING WRONG
I heard over one of the public broadcasting TV stations that the Acting Minister of Police, Professor Cachalia, has criticised the National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola, for returning 121 dockets that were under investigations to KwaZulu-Natal, where they originated. These are dockets on political and other killings that are reported to have been removed […]
DIRCO MOURNS HIGH COMMISSIONER TO KENYA, AMB MNINWA MJ MAHLANGU
It is with profound sadness and a heavy heart that the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Mr Ronald Lamola, announces the untimely passing of a dedicated family man and public servant, Mr Mninwa Johannes Mahlangu, who passed away on 24 August 2025, on his way to a South African hospital after a short illness. […]
“HIROSHIMA AND NAGASAKI” EXPOSES THE SIMMERING INEQUITIES IN THE UN SYSTEM
The first week of every August month in history exposes, in my view, the depths of the failures and deep-seated false pretenses of international diplomacy as a vehicle for civil resolve of differences and consensus-building mechanism. It was on August 6 and 9 respectively, 80 years ago when the US dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima […]
SCORES OF BC ADHERENTS HONOUR THE MEMORY OF MYEZA
Leading theologian, Professor Mamabolo Raphesu, led tributes to honor BCM founder, Muntu ka Myeza in Soweto on Saturday. He decried the poor leadership characterised by looting that has become synonymous with the country since the dawn of democracy. The meeting was organized by the Black Consciousness Movement – United to observe the 35th anniversary of […]
WHY PRIDE MONTH IS STILL A PROTEST, NOT A CELEBRATION
In South Africa, the month of June is not only Youth Month, it is also the international Pride Month. This is a commemorative month-long observance dedicated to the celebration of LGBTQ+ pride, celebrating the contributions of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people in local and international cultures and communities. South Africa is not only […]
THE STRUGGLE AND THE SPIRIT WORLD: ANCESTORS APPARITIONS, AND THE AFTERLIFE OF RESISTANCE
Beyond the Physical Battle While the liberation struggle in South Africa is often narrated through guns, chants, marches, and negotiations, another dimension operated in tandem, one largely unspoken, sometimes mocked, and yet profoundly real to many who participated. The spiritual dimension. The realm of ancestors. The invisible world of rituals, dreams, and prophecies. For many, […]
FREEDOM PARK TO HOLD A SYMPOSIUM ON YOUTH ACTIVISM TO COMPARE AND REFLECT ON DIFFERENT EPOCHS
Freedom Park, in collaboration with Keeloz Global Entertainment, will on Saturday June 21 hold a symposium to focus on the role of youth activism through different political eras, before and after the advent of democracy in 1994. The main theme of the day for the engaging intergenerational dialogue will be titled: Youth Activism: Then and […]
LUXURY, LAMENT, AND THE LITURGY OF POWER: THE CHURCHES AND THE POLITICS OF POST-LIBERATION SA
When the Pulpit Echoed the Trenches During the liberation struggle, the Church, in many of its denominations, was more than a sanctuary. It was a site of resistance, a haven for activists, a platform where sermons were steeped in justice. Reverends, priests, and preachers defied the apartheid regime not just with words but with active […]
DEMOCRATIC VICTORY IN VENEZUELA MARKS A NEW PHASE IN DEEPENING SOVEREIGHNTY
Once again, Venezuela has demonstrated the peaceful and democratic nature of its people in the face of violent fascist extremism. In a historic event, Venezuelans reaffirmed their irrevocable commitment to deepening the model of direct democracy that is being built within communities—far removed from the bourgeois vision of politics. On this path, the Bolivarian Revolution […]
WHEN REVOLUTION BECAME PROCUREMENT: COMRADES & CONTRADICTIONS
They stood shoulder to shoulder once, in boots and khakis, in underground cells and faraway capitals. They crossed borders at night, memorised ciphers, and whispered code names in the dark. They were comrades. Now they meet awkwardly at business-class lounges or government banquets, offering half-smiles and evasive eyes. They sign off on tenders and patronage. […]
PRESIDENT RAMAPHOSA ARRIVES IN THE US ON A TRICKY WORKING VISIT
The Red Carpet was roll-out as South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa arrived at the Joint Base Andrews Airport in Washington, US, for a high-stakes diplomatic visit. This working visit is aimed at mending the increasingly strained relationship between South Africa and the United States. Once considered a stable partner on the African continent, South Africa […]