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News & Views by Terry Bell
A new dawn — or an impending storm
It was obvious from the first announcement last year about South Africa's minimum wage levels that they probably signalled storm clouds rather than any pale rays of a new dawn. However it is not only to the labour front that the purveyors of a promised new dawn should pay close heed.
Posted in: Inside Labour Column
SA — still awaiting a workers’ party
May 21, 2019
South Africa’s May 8 national and provincial poll effectively demolished an enduring myth, beloved of many bosses and union-bashing free marketeers: that union bosses call the shots and members blindly follow, doing exactly what they are told.
Posted in: Inside Labour Column
SA elections – a cry for a real alternative
May 17, 2019
Last week, if nothing else, most workers, employed and unemployed, showed that they are not gullible voting fodder; that they are dissatisfied with what is on offer in the parliamentary dispensation. This applied particularly to those in that important adult age bracket of 18 to 30. Most South Africans are probably more than ready for an alternative political dispensation
Posted in: Inside Labour Column
SA union secretary’s future in the balance
May 11, 2019
The future of Dennis George, the suspended general secretary of the Federation of Unions of SA (Fedusa) will be decided on Thursday. He has faced a disciplinary hearing about his controversial purchase of shares in AYO Technological Solutions and in being an effective "praise singer" for AYO and controversial businessman Iqbal Survé.
Posted in: General reporting
Flawed democracvy & words as weapons
May 4, 2019
'Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities.' So said French philosopher Voltaire. It is a statement worth bearing in mind in this digital age where distortions of fact and the manipulation and faking of news in both social and mainstream media is becom ing ever more prevalent.
Posted in: Commentary
Land & outlandish promises in SA
April 24, 2019
Land and its expropriation remains a common theme, along with the need to amend Section 25 of the Bill of Rights, as South Africa heads toward its sixth non-racial parliamentary election. But this is flawed sloganising: Section 25 allows for the expropriation of ANY PROPERTY, provided it is "in the public interest", for "a public purpose" and to provide "equitable access to the country's natural resources". Property, the section notes, "is not limited to land". The only proviso is that expropriation should be "just and equitable".
Posted in: Inside Labour Column
Let’s ditch myths about ANC’s glorious past
April 15, 2019
Accusations about the manipulation of ANC election lists are nothing new. Nor, for that matter, is evidence of corruption, nepotism and the existence of patronage networks. Because the "broad church" of this liberation movement made unity of the good, the bad and the ugly the priority. Continuing to cling to, and propagate, myths may only ensure that the disasters of the past will continue to be repeated.
Posted in: Commentary
Terry Bell Writes 
May 31, 2019
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