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News & Views by Terry Bell
Browsing All Posts published in »2011«
Africa, nuclear power and earthquakes
The massive earthquake off the coast of Japan in March triggered a ten-metre tsunami wave that swept up to 10km inland, devastating whole towns and villages. It also smashed into the Fukushima nuclear power plant causing widespread — and still ongoing — concern about the safety of such plants. This tragedy gave anti-nuclear power advocates […]
An SA winter of industrial discontent looms
May 13, 2011
Promises and appeals to political loyalty secured industrial peace in the run-up to South Africa's May 18 local government elections. But it could be a lull before the storm if the government, as employer, cannot honour all its promises.
The Concourt, the military and arson
May 7, 2011
A 12-year-old case of arson in the SA Navy, based on the controversial doctrine of common purpose, finally makes its way to South Africa's Constitutional Court. The result should have considerable impact, both within and outside the military.
A critical — largely ignored — wage battle looms
April 22, 2011
South Africa's annual battle over wages and conditions has this year been all but obscured by reports of political infighting focussed largely on the May 18 local government elections. Troubling news from Swaziland, Libya and Côte d’Ivoire has also tended to push this yearly tussle between bosses and unions into the background. Yet the 2011 wage round is arguably more critical than any in recent years — and will almost certainly have a direct bearing on the outcome of the May 18 poll.
A tale of two funerals
April 8, 2011
Both funerals were conducted with military pomp and included the flag of the African National Congress draped over the coffins. One was for a hero of the anti-apartheid struggle, the other for a reputed racketeer killed in a gangland drive-by shooting. Media publicity concentrated on the latter.
Resistance grows as the political edges fray
April 3, 2011
Trade unions around the world are being forced to fight back as a consequence of what many bankers claim is the “gradual recovery” of the word’s “fragile economy”. But, as the unions tend to point out, such improvements are paid for largely by the unemployed and working poor. “We are paying for their crisis,” is a common labour movement cry.
Farewell to an unassuming hero
March 27, 2011
Henry Gordon — ‘Squire’ — Makgothi 1928 – 2011 One of the most humble of a fighting generation of ANC leaders died this week (on 24/03/2011). Henry Gordon — “Squire” — Makgothi, teacher, defiance campaigner and treason trialist was perhaps the most unassuming of the leading figures in the liberation movement. Loyal, often to a […]
Union hopes for education for all
March 27, 2011
Education in South Africa, with few exceptions, is in a shambles and in dire need of major repair. That much was made clear in the mass demonstration outside parliament this week by thousands of school students supported by parents, teachers and the teacher unions. They were calling for equal, quality education for all. A few […]
Terry Bell Writes 
May 13, 2011
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