Jacob Zuma seems to be losing favour. Photo: Globovision via Flickr

It was not so long ago that ANC Youth League president Julius Malema said he would “Kill for Zuma”, but now it seems that President Jacob Zuma has fallen out of favour with the ANCYL and leaders within his own party. Could we soon see a new candidate stepping up to become president of the ANC? Or will there be a split in the ruling party – reminiscent of the COPE formation?

The Mail&Guardian wrote today that tensions are brewing within the party and the tripartite alliance, which will probably reach boiling point at the ANC National General Council (NGC)that kicks off on 20 September. News24 earlier reported that Zuma will not be attending the United Nations general assembly on the 23rd of September, as he is prioritising the ANC NGC. The presidential spokesperson denied that this was because of rumours relating to a planned revolt in the ANC.

Now the M&G is saying “many party leaders have their eye on higher office or want to punish Zuma for not rewarding them sufficiently for their support in the run-up to the ANC’s 2007 Polokwane conference”. They name Siphiwe Nyanda, the communications minister, Fikile Mbalula, the deputy police minister, and Malema.

Who will next feature on election posters for the ANC? Photo: Attawayjl via Flickr

The newspaper also reports that a group of ANC members including Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe, Human Settlements Minister Tokyo Sexwale and Lindiwe Sisulu are said to be banding together with Zwelinzima Vavi, Cosatu’s general secretary, and ANCYL members (including Malema) to make sure that Zuma does not serve another term as president.

Apparently these people are: “Discussing a return to such values as a rejection of corruption and a clear division between party and state”. This sounds much the same to what the members of COPE were saying when they split off from the ANC.

It has repeatedly been said by analysts that it would be good for the country’s democracy if the ANC had a strong party to oppose it. The possibility of perhaps losing an election would keep the ruling party on its toes and ensure better service delivery to the people of this country. COPE has failed to provide this opposition, not gathering enough votes in the national election and being plagued by infighting.

Is there perhaps hope in a new party? Will people have faith in a faction that includes Malema, seeing as this controversial figure’s popularity is plummeting?

Protesters in Mozambique are burning tyres to show their dissatisfaction with rising bread prices. Photo: MattWH72182

As you popped your two pieces of bread into the toaster for breakfast this morning, could you ever imagine not being able to afford this basic nourishment? Could you believe that people could die asking for cheaper bread?

This is what is happening in our neighbouring country Mozambique. According to News24 people are rioting, burning tyres and looting shops in protest of the rising bread price.  BBC reports that prices have risen by as much as 30% as the Mozambican currency has fallen against the strengthening South African rand. Wheat prices have also been escalating world wide.

Mozambican media has reported that the police opened fire on protesters and that six people were killed yesterday. But the police confirmed only four deaths, and said 142 people had been arrested and 27 wounded. Police have however, admitted that two children were among those killed.

News24 quote Horatio Antonio, a 45-year-old unemployed man, saying “People are angry because prices are going up: petrol, rice, water, electricity, everything.”

It is a trend that is happening throughout Africa at the moment. In Kenya, Somalia and Egypt there have been protests regarding the rising cost of living.

Could you imagine not having bread to eat? Photo: Jamieanne

In South Africa, citizens have also been left to the mercy of Eskom’s price hikes, which is making electricity extremely expensive.

If people do not have bread to eat, something is seriously wrong in a country. The story goes that just before the French Revolution, Marie Antoinette responded to the starving population’s cries for bread by saying: “Let them eat cake”, showing the inability of the aristocracy of the time to identify with the lot of the ordinary person. The Revolution took place to create equality between people and to prevent this from ever happening again.

But it seems that history is repeating itself. No longer is there an aristocracy, but there is an elite class that controls wealth in countries. Corruption persists and producers collude to push up prices. What has happened to ubuntu?

Mozambicans have seen the price of a loaf of bread rise by as much as 30% as the value of the national currency, the metical, has fallen against the South African rand.

The increase also comes as wheat prices have shot up around the world.

The civil servants strike has brought learning and health care to a standstill. Photo: Kool_skatkat via Flickr

South Africans are lucky to live in a country that has a Constitution which confers on its citizens many rights and freedoms. However, problems arise when you trample on someone else’s rights in the process of  practising your own.

Currently the members of the National Education Health and Allied Workers Union (NEHAWU), the Health and Other Service Personnel Trade Union of South Africa, the Public Servants Association, Democratic Nursing Organisation of SA and the South African Democratic Teacher’s Union (SADTU) are exercising their constitutional right to freedom of assembly, demonstration, picketing and petition.

These civil servants are on strike to demand a 8.6% increase with a R1 000 housing allowance. But in the process they are denying others their rights.

What about health and education?

According to the Constitution everyone has the right to basic education and further education. However, learning has come to a halt in schools across the country because teachers are striking.  Exams are just around the corner, but the Gauteng Education Department has decided to postpone the preliminary matric exams until the 3rd week of  September.

The Constitution also says that everyone has the right to health care. But health care practitioners are also striking and patients are being neglected. People who are sick, especially children, cannot fend for themselves. The Constitution says that everyone has the right to life and if the lives of these patients are put in danger because of the strike, their rights are being severely compromised.

Volunteers are helping out in schools and hospitals around the country, improving the plight of learners and patients slightly. But a speedy resolution will have to be found for this strike to avoid more rights being trampled on.

What do you think about the ongoing strike? How can it be resolved? Leave a comment below.

]]> http://www.developmentworks.co.za/blog/the-right-to-strike-vs-the-right-to-education-and-health-care/feed/ 0 http://www.developmentworks.co.za/blog/protection-of-information-bill-what-you-need-to-know-and-what-you-can-do/ http://www.developmentworks.co.za/blog/protection-of-information-bill-what-you-need-to-know-and-what-you-can-do/#comments Tue, 24 Aug 2010 14:22:41 +0000 admin http://www.developmentworks.co.za/blog/?p=1183

Judith February of IDASA said action is needed from civil society.

“The Protection of Information Bill is inherently unconstitutional.”

This is what Dr Laurie Nathan, research fellow at UCT’s Department of Environmental and Geographical Science, said at a discussion about the proposed Protection of Information Act and the Media Appeals Tribunal held at the Book Lounge in Cape Town last night.

Nathan, who is also affiliated with the Crisis States Research Centre at the London School of Economics, said that the principle of an open society is something which is found throughout our Constitution. The proposed Protection of Information Act will however, create a society of secrets.

Limiting rights

The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa says that anyone has the right to have access to any information held by the state, but the Protection of Information Bill aims to keep this information from citizens. According to Nathan, the Bill defines national interest and security so broadly that this definition can be used to keep any and all information secret.

The Constitution also states that everyone has the right to freedom of expression, including freedom of the press, artistic freedom and academic freedom. If the Protection to Information Bill is passed it will  cancel this freedom.

Nathan said that the issue of a Media Appeals Tribunal is something separate to the Protection of Information Bill. The fact that it has been lumped together with the Bill in debates has created confusion, which furthers the cause of those advocating for the Bill, he said. According to Nathan, the questions raised about ethics and the media make sense, but the proposed Media Appeals Tribunal is definitely not the vehicle to address this. Neither is the Protection of Information Bill.

What can you do?

The proposed Protection of Information Act is inherently unconstitutional. Photo: Zampano via Flickr

“When listening to Laurie Nathan I ask myself: ‘How can we stop this?’,” the writer Dr Sindiwe Magona said at the event. “If we don’t act now, it will become law. The freedom we fought for and gained in 1994 will shrink.”

Judith February, Head of IDASA’s Political Information and Monitoring Service, agreed that action from civil society is necessary to address this issue. IDASA is putting together a media statement entitled Let the truth be told: Stop the secrecy bill! which has been signed by more than 100 organisations. You can sign the bill by clicking here or by SMSing your name to 32759.

“People are making a mistake if they think this Bill will only affect journalists. In reality any information that an ordinary citizen applies for will be hidden. It will affect ordinary poor people more than anyone else.”

IDASA has been talking to grassroots organisations, who have before made use of the right to access to information from government. These organisations understand what the proposed Protection of Information Act will mean. They have also signed the media statement.

Furthermore, IDASA is mobilising community radio stations to reach the greatest number of people in South Africa.

February encouraged people to write letters to the newspaper and to flood Cecil Burgess’ inbox. (Burgess is the chair of the parliamentary committee that’s looking at the Protection of Information Bill.)

You can also attend another discussion on the proposed Protection of Information Bill tonight, which will be hosted by the Mail&Guardian at the Nelson Mandela Gateway (V&A Waterfront) in Cape Town.

Scientists at UWC are researching a male contraceptive. Photo: NIOSH via Flickr

Teenage pregnancy is one of the major problems faced by today’s youth. Girls fall pregnant at a very young age and are often left to deal with the consequences themselves, abandoned by the father and their family.

Some cannot see themselves as single mothers and give their children up for adoption or have abortions. In the worst and saddest of these cases, as was reported on the front page of The Times newspaper on 20 July 2010, mothers simply dump their babies.

Taking responsibility

Women often get the blame for these unwanted babies. People ask why they did not use contraceptive pills.  But men must also take responsibility. Not only are condoms freely available in clinics across South Africa, but the  University of the Western Cape’s (UWC) scientists, together with colleagues at the University of Missouri in America are now also conducting research on a male contraceptive pill, made from a plant extract.

According to the Cape Times, a molecule found in two varieties of olive trees and cloves, has been tested on males of three animal species including mice, rabbits and rats and was found to have a contraceptive effect.

This molecule also has some anti-cancer, anti-HIV, anti-ulcer and anti-microbial effects.

However, Cape Times states that the scientists will not be able to test the molecule on humans until they find out how its contraceptive quality actually works.